City Council Planning Session Replay for June 17, 2025

PDF of meeting packet – 83 pages

Video replay – 2:41:49

Click on the agenda item in the menu to the right of the video to go to that part of the playback.

While the summary below is intended to be fair, it may contain errors and is ultimately one person’s interpretation. All interested parties are encouraged to view the relevant portions of the meeting recording to come to their own conclusions.

The summary is not comprehensive but notes highlights from the session.

Meeting Start

The city manager noted that there is an intergovernmental agreement between the city and the North Metro Fire District regarding training facilities that expires at the end of 2025.

The plan is for a short-term extension of the agreement along with a study to consider longer-term options, which will be discussed in a joint meeting between the city and the district scheduled for Sept. 30.

The manager also reported on a meeting between city staff and RTD regarding the 144^th and York station that is part of the planned continuation of the N-Line commuter rail. Conversations are underway with landowners in the area.

Strategic Plan Update

Four teams have been working on the strategic plan process for the city (environmental scan, outcome measures, goal themes/statements, and actions—develop/prioritize).

The teams have been using an ecosystem mapping tool recommended by Council Member Martinez based on experience at a National League of Cities meeting.

Staff presented on the language used for the strategic focus areas based on feedback from council (12:14).

Staff presented on key themes associated with the four strategic focus areas: Connected Communities (16:10), Vibrant and Purposeful Development (19:23), Organizational Excellence (23:46), and Safe, Supported, and Livable Communities (30:23).

The organization in “organizational” refers to the staff and departments of the city of the Thornton.

During discussion of the approach to measuring work in these areas, Council Member Unrein encouraged staff to solicit feedback from the lowest level possible in terms of city geography to represent the diversity of viewpoints across the city.

Bond Allocation

Staff sought guidance from council on awardees for the 2025 Private Activity Bond funds from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), which are to be awarded to support affordable housing efforts.

Since 2018, funds have been allocated for first-time homebuyer assistance programs as well as new construction and renovation of affordable and low-income housing (47:00).

The city sent invitations for proposals to 64 housing organizations. Three organizations responded (47:40). One proposal was for new construction, one for renovations, and one for homebuyer purchase assistance.

Staff did not recommend two of the three proposals (51:44), making a sole recommendation in favor of the renovation project. That project would update housing that will remain deed-restricted as affordable for a 30-year period. The project is one block outside the city limits.

City Charter Amendments

The city attorney elaborated on 3 possible charter amendments discussed at an earlier meeting: term limits (to clarify role of partial terms), mayoral vacancy, and voter signature requirements for initiatives and referenda.

Council were presented with several possible term limits amendments (1:04:00). Council came to a consensus that any time over a year served should count as a full term in order to honor the spirit of Colorado’s term limit requirements.

Regarding an amendment to create a special election for mayoral vacancies after one year served, concerns were raised about the cost of such a city-wide election (contrasted with the lower costs for an election in one ward). Council Member Acunto suggested that if voters approve the amendment, then they approve the increased costs.

Council reached consensus to move forward with an amendment to have a special election for mayoral vacancies after one year served.

Regarding voter petitions for initiatives, the charter currently requires 10% of registered voter signatures gathered within 21 days. With Thornton’s 2023 voter registrations, that requirement is 8,800 signatures (1:14:15).

The statewide requirement is 5%. Denver sets a 2% requirement.

Council Member Ayala described her experience working with a group that attempted a ballot initiative only to find the current requirements impossible to meet (1:17:30). At the same time, she did not want the requirements set so low that nuisance initiatives proliferate.

Ayala suggested a 3% requirement with a 90-day timeline. 3% would be 2600 voters. The council discussed differing opinions on the number of signatures and the time frame. Council Member Martinez recommended seeking more information about similar efforts in comparable municipalities before making a decision.

The city attorney presented on three other potential amendments: allowing delegation of some inter-governmental agreement approval work to city staff, adding spouses to the anti-nepotism provision, and allowing council’s designees to grant revocable permits in addition to the council.

Mayor Pro Tem Bigelow suggested that council member absence policy needed clarification as well to include planning sessions in addition to regular council meetings.

There was discussion about excused vs. unexcused absences and whether the charter language needed to be updated to conform to current laws regarding leave.

July 4^th Update from Policy and Fire

The police department provided an update on fireworks law awareness and enforcement. Fireworks-specific enforcement will being June 20 and continue through July 9^th using both marked and unmarked vehicles.

The fire department is distributing fireworks signs and posting on social media.

Staff wanted to set expectations that police and fire demand for fireworks enforcement will likely exceed response capacity (1:58:00).

Washington Square Business Improvement District

The properties east of I-25 between Washington, 120^th, and 128^th were under an business owners association that dissolved in 2023. Since then, irrigation and landscaping maintenance issues have arisen, leading to code violations.

The city can create a business improvement district to tend to these issues if 50% of the assessed value commercial property owners in the district sign a petition.

The district would be able to raise revenue in a more equitable manner than the previous association (where only a few businesses were paying for upkeep of common property throughout the area).

Sex Offender Residency Ordinance

Staff presented an update on the discussion from the Feb. 18 2025 planning session where council requested creation of residency restrictions on sexually violent predators (a specific class of sex offender under state law). According to the presentation, there are currently four such classed individuals within Thornton.

The code amendments will not change other restrictions for other classes of sex offenders set elsewhere in city code (2:19:46).

The new restriction would exempt those who had established residency before the revised ordinance goes into effect, and it will not apply to recognized areas created by the city after the person established lawful permanent residence.

Other Discussion

Council Member Martinez reported on a meeting with CDOT on Thornton-area projects.

Council Member Ayala requested that the council consider revisiting the city’s marijuana dispensary ordinances to allow for dispensaries to open north of 128^th. Staff will work on an informational presentation and schedule it for Sept. or Oct.