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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
At the start of the meeting, Council Member Martinez requested that an item be added to the agenda, hearing a request for sponsorship from Generational Opportunities that will be holding a basketball tournament during Thornton Fest.
The group also does fundraising work for youth, including a school supplies drive. The group is recently started and has just received nonprofit status through the secretary of state’s office. They requested $2500 sponsorship from the city, which would come from the parks department budget.
Also at the start of the meeting, staff reported that they had shared with council questions submitted for the 5/14 virtual town hall. Questions can be submitted here until Fri. 5/9 at 5:00 pm.
State Legislative Update
This was the last week of the regular legislative session. A special session may be called in the summer if needed to address funds lost from federal cuts to Medicaid.
Peggi O’Keefe, lobbyist with Clear Strategies, reported that HB25-1147 (consistent penalties in municipal courts) has passed, which the city opposes. Various municipalities are lobbying that the governor veto the bill.
HB25-1269 (building decarbonization) has been amended to address concerns and has passed.
HB25-1272 (construction defects) has passed. The lobbyist implied that the policy priorities of “a very Democratic state legislature” were in tension with providing accessible, affordable housing (20:07). The lobbyist made no comments regarding builders selling homeowners a bill of goods on defective properties.
The lobbyist reported that HB25-1295 (food truck licensing reciprocity) was amended to address concerns and passed.
Recommendation for the Distribution of 2025 Thornton Assistance Funds (TAF)
City staff and volunteer members of the Thornton Assistance Fund committee reported 40 applications requesting funds totaling $670,256.64. The city has available $307,800.00 to be distributed. They described the formula used to rank requests.
The team reported that the housing category was the highest priority of requests.
Council members asked several questions to clarify the process used to rank requests and award funds.
Council voiced no objections to the recommendations of the committee.
88th Avenue Corridor Study Update
The short-term recommendation is to reduce lanes from Pecos to Grant and add protected bike lanes.
A medium-term plan includes widening the sidewalk from Washington Street to Colorado Boulevard, which would address a commonly voiced public concern.
A long-term plan includes adding a multi-use path between Corona Street and Devonshire Boulevard, which would provide pedestrian and bike access to homes that front that section of 88th.
Protected Bike Facility Study
The study looked at three corridors:
- 128th Ave from I-25 to York St.
- Pecos St from Milky Way to 92nd Ave/Thornton Pkwy
- Huron St from 84th Ave. to 88th Ave
The plans for all three corridors propose raised bike lanes.
Other Discussion
Council Member Acunto described information about the Broomfield senior citizen/emergency responder lockbox program, which was shared via constituent email.
Council Member Sandgren mentioned a group organizing events to commemorate the U.S. 250th/Colorado 150th founding anniversaries and requested the city look into combining such events with Thornton’s 70th anniversary.
Mayor Pro Tem Bigelow asked how often the Environmental Sustainability Task Force was meeting and whether they could look into the two different standards Northglenn used in recent municipal office construction. Staff reported that the task force would likely be meeting with more frequency in the rest of the year. The task force has only met once so far.
Council Member Ayala raised the concept of the blue envelope program to communicate unique needs to facilitate safe and successful interactions with law enforcement. Staff indicated the Thornton Police are currently in the early stages of considering the program.
Council Member Martinez reported a vendor who did an analysis of short-term rental listings in Thornton that found 200 rentals. Martinez noted how other municipalities have enacted lodging taxes on short-term rentals that is spent on supporting affordable housing.
Thornton’s lodging tax (7%) is not currently spent on affordable housing efforts. He requested permission for staff to study a potential 9% short-term rental tax.
Thornton Civic Observatory 