Thornton Civic Observatory

Tag: Thornton

  • City Council Planning Session Replay for May 20, 2025

    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

    Mayor Pro Tem Bigelow attended the meeting remotely.

    The city manager reported that council would be receiving a more in-depth update on joint work between Thornton and Northglenn on clearing encampments and remediation in the Badding Open Space with an estimated cost of $40,000 to the City of Thornton.

    Council asked how much of that cost was the responsibility of Thornton versus Northglenn. The city manager reported that it was entirely the responsibility of Thornton.

    The open space borders both municipalities, but the bulk of the property resides within the City of Thornton along with some property belonging to the Adams 12 Five Star School District.

    The Badding Open Space is just down the road and across I-25 from the Thornton City Hall and police department headquarters.

    The city attorney noted an email she sent to council regarding the executive order from Governor Polis regarding land use/zoning and affording grant priority to municipalities that follow state guidelines. Thornton had previously asserted that those state guidelines infringed on the right of municipalities to set their own guidelines.

    Six municipalities have filed suit against the governor, and the city attorney requested an executive session meeting with council to discuss the city’s position on that lawsuit.

    Adams County Regional Economic Partnership (AC-REP)

    Adam Krueger, economic development director for the City of Thornton, introduced Lisa Hough, president and CEO of AC-REP, who briefed the council on an overview of the new regional chamber of commerce.

    Hough described AC-REP’s vision as not just supporting businesses but also residents, such as with workforce development.

    Hough described a program to cultivate business leaders and encourage them to run for elected office.

    Hough name checks Meati as an example that, even though that company has had “issues,” shows how Adams County is a space for business growth and innovation.

    (Meati’s “issues” include their investor seizing their funds, leading to a shutdown and fire sale of its industrial property that Thornton had supported with incentives.)

    Hough explained that because Thornton is such a large business supporter, the city gets a number of perks at AC-REP, including board and committee members and a gratis foursome at the AC-REP golf tournament.

    The city’s annual dues to AC-REP are $15,000.

    Development Code Update

    Staff presented an overview of the final drafting stage of the code update process, which started in July 2023. The changes focus on new development and re-development.

    The presentation included a number of revisions to address developer comments on the proposed changes.

    There was discussion between council and staff about seeking compromise between developer preferences and resident preferences on different levels of housing density.

    Staff reminded council that the zoning updates in the code are intended to align with the already agreed upon comprehensive plan.

    There was a request to reduce the amount of tree equivalents required, which staff rejected given the lower turf requirements set by state law.

    At an earlier meeting, staff had proposed requiring detached sidewalks on all local streets. Council countered with a request for detached sidewalk requirements only on streets leading to parks and schools.

    Staff requested council reconsider given the role detached sidewalks play in supporting the city’s Vision Zero Action Plan. Council agreed to do what is best for Vision Zero and staff will reinsert requirement for detached sidewalks on all local streets.

    Council Member Martinez asked about increasing height in transit-oriented development zones to above the current five story limit (to six or seven stories).

    Staff explained that developers can make requests for waivers as part of the application and hearing process for specific sites but that council could consider zoning changes specific to TOD. Council Member Sandgren predicted considerable resident pushback on raising height limits, naming the Eastlake and the 104th and Colorado rail stations as examples.

    Staff describe commercial districts as job-producing areas. No data is shared on what percentage of retail workers in Thornton are also Thornton residents.

    Volunteer Recognition

    Staff presented on best practices for volunteer recognition, including practices in other municipalities. Many of those municipalities host an annual volunteer recognition event, which was staff’s recommendation to the city.

    Thornton does recognize volunteers within the city government. The recommendation is to recognize Thornton community volunteers.

    Severe Weather Update

    Staff reported on the city’s policies for severe weather.

    Staff noted that there are more fatalities from lightning than from tornadoes in Colorado.

    The city hosts an annual National Weather Spotter Training, though the most recent offering was canceled due to federal budget cuts. The city also offers Community Emergency Response Training (CERT).

    Staff explained that landlines are automatically added to the city’s CodeRED service but cell phones require individual opt-in. The presentation did not discuss traditional copper landline service that has been replaced by VoIP service.

    The city’s website has this guidance for VoIP services:

    “You do not need to update information for landline telephones at your home, if your landline is with a company that reports your number for 9-1-1 services. Some cable and VoIP providers do not subscribe to the 9-1-1 database. You must inquire from your phone company.”

    Staff explained that installing the CodeRED phone app does not automatically enroll the phone for notifications. The manual sign-up must be completed. Alerts can be received just through phone calls or texts; no smart phone app is required.

    In addition to CodeRED, there is a federal system that signals all cell phones within a target area.

    Staff reported that 5 of 43 metro area jurisdictions have tornado sirens and that other jurisdictions had sirens in the past but discontinued them. Sirens are intended to only alert those who are outside.

    Council Member Salazar noted how older residents may not know what CodeRED is, suggesting more outreach at the Active Adult Center.

    Council Member Martinez noted that only a small percentage of Thornton’s population is enrolled in CodeRED and suggested that the city set enrollment goals, keeping sirens as a backup plan if goals are not met.

    Federal Legislative Agenda Meeting Planning

    Staff reviewed which council members will be covering which topics to be discussed with the federal delegation on their June visit to Washington, DC.

    Council’s Policy on Electronic Participation

    This discussion followed up from the discussion in the last council update meeting.

    Current policy limits members to four meetings attended remotely per year (excepting any requirements for state or federal law). Members cannot participate in executive or quasi-judicial sessions electronically.

    In response to the point raised by Mayor Pro Tem Bigelow in the previous meeting that the mayor should not preside while participating remotely, staff interpreted the charter to indicate that the mayor cannot be treated differently than other council members and thus is able to chair meetings.

    Historically, there were no provisions for remote participation before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Council Members Ayala, Unrein, and Sandgren voiced support for keeping the procedure as is.

    Council Member Martinez described the challenge of getting recognized by the chair and other communication issues when the chair is remote and suggested following the model of some other municipalities where the mayor does not chair the meeting if remote.

    Thornton’s city attorney stated that in her opinion, that model would not be consistent with the city’s charter.

    Mayor Pro Tem Bigelow advocated for getting outside legal counsel to articulate the rationale behind the model and whether Thornton could implement the same policy.

    Mayor Kulmann determined that the consensus was to leave the current remote policy in place (with four on council supporting that position).

  • City Council Update and Meeting Replay for May 13, 2025

    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.

    Update

    The mayor announced that Council Member Acunto would not be attending and that Council Member Sandgren would be late. The mayor attended remotely.

    Council Member Martinez asked why the council code of conduct was scheduled to be voted on as a seprate action item rather than as part of the consent calendar package.

    City staff explained that there was a change in the wording between the first and second reading (the change from a simple majority to a two-thirds vote to find that a violation has occurred).

    Parks and Open Space Advisory Commission Interviews

    Note: council members identified themselves verbally so that the mayor, attending remotely, would know who is speaking. Usually, council members do not do this during the update meetings even though it can be difficult for those viewing the recording or attending remotely to identify who is speaking.

    Three commission applicants were scheduled for interviews. Only one was present for the interview process.

    All candidates were to be asked the same questions (available in the meeting packet).

    The candidate asked council what were the largest challenges they see for parks and open spaces in Thornton.

    Mayor Kulmann mentioned funding and access. Other council members mentioned the environment (e.g., water consumption for grass), the number of parks available, and homeless encroachment and safety.

    Council agreed to reschedule interviews and keep the call for applicants open because the commission currently has no Ward 1 representation.

    Council Remote Participation Discussion

    Council Member Martinez invited the council to consider whether it was time to revisit remote participation in meetings by members of the council given how conditions had changed since remote participation was first established at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Martinez stated that his perception was that remote participants had challenges engaging in-person participants during meetings and that remote participating was contributing to communication challenges between council members.

    Mayor Kulmann suggested adding the issue to a future planning session, at which point Mayor Pro Tem Bigelow accused Kulmann of trying to dodge the issue (27:59).

    Council Member Sandgren argued that if the council ends its remote participation, then all boards and commissions should end their remote participation.

    Bigelow stated the position that the council could either amend the remote option or follow the city’s charter guidelines that the Mayor Pro Tem chair the meeting if the mayor is not participating in-person.

    Bigelow agreed with Sandgren that council policy should align with boards and commissions, which should include the council having a code of conduct like the boards and commissions do.

    Council Member Ayala indicated that she would not be comfortable making a decision in the meeting and suggested a future planning session for further discussion. She noted that she advocated for the virtual town hall to meet the needs of residents who can not participate in person.

    Council Member Unrein echoed Ayala’s request for more time, and he noted that people on boards and commissions regularly make use of remote/hybrid participation.

    Council Meeting

    The mayor continued participation in the council meeting remotely. Council Member Acunto continued to be absent. All other members were present.

    The council passed resolutions recognizing the following: May 2025 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, May 2025 as Jewish Heritage Month, May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month, May 18-24, 2025 as National Public Works Week, May 26, 2025 as Memorial Day, and the 2025 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.

    25-year-old Thornton resident Peter Duong spoke on behalf of the Asian American Pacific Islander community. He invited council and the community to participate in metro area Asian American events and celebrations throughout the year.

    During discussion on the Mental Health Awareness Month resolution, Council Member Ayala shared her experience as a survivor of domestic abuse and spoke to the mental health challenges she has faced over the past year.

    Council Member Russell spoke of his work with veterans and the mental health challenge they face. Both Russell and Ayala urged people to reach out for support and to check in on those in their lives.

    Public Hearing on Building and Fire Code Revisions

    The city staff presented on the code revision process. Key revisions are highlighted in the meeting packet.

    No member of the public had signed up to speak in favor of or opposed to the hearing items. Per standard procedure, the mayor invited anyone who was present but had not signed up to speak.

    Thornton resident Dariush Namazi came to the podium to criticize the council for moving the audience participation portion of the meeting agenda to after the public hearings, explaining that it wasted the time of public who wished to speak.

    Audience Participation

    Staff reported that 7 people had signed up to speak in person and 2 online.

    The first speaker talked on the theme of “we are all one” and spoke out on the genocide in Gaza.

    The second speaker spoke on poor internet service in Thornton through Comcast and looked forward to hearing more on fiber availability in the city.

    The third speaker from Ward 1 asked the city to install Tornado warning sirens despite the cost and “not wait for a death to happen” (1:01:14). The speaker claimed that the city’s Code Red phone/email notification system does not work all the time.

    The fourth speaker condemned the transphobic comments from council members in a meeting the prior month. The speaker called out Council Member Sandgren for misusing an opportunity to recognize transgender community members as a way to talk about “predators” (1:03:35).

    The speaker criticized the mayor for amplifying the online posts of an unnamed man who describes the LGBTQ community as mentally ill.

    The speaker played a clip of Sandgren’s comments at a meeting where Sandgren talked about national sloppy Joe day as a way to trivialize the city’s land acknowledgment.

    The fifth speaker was Daruish Namazi, this time speaking in his right-wing persona “Danny Kulmann.” He sarcastically thanked Kulmann and Sandgren for speaking on women’s sports, presenting an over-the-top caricature of an anti-trans fanatic.

    After taking off his MAGA hat, he condemned Sandgren’s disregard for the city’s land acknowledgment and presented a brief history of the KKK’s takeover of Colorado governments in the 20th century.

    In contrast to Sandgren’s implications that trans people in Thornton are predators, the speaker referred to reports of a Thornton Christian youth pastor, Joshua Lucero, who has been arrested on sexual assault on a child.

    The sixth speaker also reported problems with the Code Red notification system. She also spoke about student school attendance being affected by limited service from RTD in the 120th and Washington area where there are several schools.

    The seventh speaker was the on-going complaint about the land acknowledgment.

    The eighth speaker asked how the new city logo was decided. The mayor reminded him that audience participation was not a time for dialogue. The speaker expressed disappointment with the new logo.

    An online participant also spoke on tornado sirens, noting how many sirens neighboring municipalities have compared to Thornton’s 0 sirens. The speaker expressed frustration at having reached out to the city last year and not found a resolution.

    Council Comments

    Council Member Martinez discussed constituent concerns with crime on 88th Avenue. Residents want to see more police on patrol in the area.

    Council Member Salazar echoed those concerns, noting that police unmarked vehicles was an insufficient response. She also thanked those who spoke in favor of tornado sirens.

    Council Member Ayala spoke on her experience with police department’s Citizens Academy program and how community policing works best when residents talk with and actively engage their neighbors.

    Council Member Sandgren described the early comments in audience participation criticizing her as “sharing their hate” (1:38:35). She doubled down on her protest of the land acknowledgment, insisting that Colorado never had slavery.

    Mayor Pro Tem Bigelow spoke on the virtual town hall scheduled for the next night, which she had wanted to be a hybrid online/in-person meeting and a meeting with a live (not pre-written and submitted) Q&A session.

    City Council Code of Conduct and City Mission, Vision, and Values

    The council unanimously passed the revised code of conduct (second reading) and the city mission, vision, and values.

  • City Council Planning Session Replay – April 29, 2025

    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.

    All members of council were present for the 4/29 meeting.

    Public Finance Tools

    Carolynne White of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP presented on economic development tools the city could use.

    She started the presentation by noting that development projects can only succeed when compromise is reached among all stakeholders and that development must generate revenue for the city.

    White described how urban renewal laws originally could be used to create affordable housing but that federal funding for such housing ended in the 1970s, leaving state and local governments responsible for funds (21:17).

    She defined blighted areas as those that consume more city resources than they contribute.

    [Commentary: This raises a question not considered in the presentation: How much revenue from development stays within the city vs. getting funneled outward and upward?]

    White explained that Urban Renewal Authorities have bond authority that is exempt from TABOR votes.

    Council Member Russell asked who makes the determination of a municipality’s primary business district under a Downtown Development Authority (DDA). He also asked whether a DDA can be created for an area that is planned to be a central business district in the future.

    White answered that the city council makes the determination. She reported that several Colorado DDAs have been formed on the premise of a future location for central business.

    According to the city manager, this presentation was connected to the “vibrant and purposeful development” language in the city council’s strategic plan.

    Organizational Review

    The Blackline consulting firm was hired from among 15 competitive bidders to provide an assessment of the city’s organizational structure.

    The firm’s representative explained that they will be interviewing council members in May.

    The firm plans to share its recommendations in August.

    The presentation and question-and-answer were focused on the big picture. The city manager does mention potential “restructuring” and “consolidation” (1:04:57), but there were no concrete indicators of how many city jobs could be eliminated.

    Update on Healthy Farmers Markets

    The update was presented by a group of city and Adams county staff.

    The funds the county has for produce vouchers are from COVID relief funding and will be spent after 2026. There are no current funds available for staffing of markets in 2025.

    The county is conducting a study for future options for markets.

    The presentation proposed two options: 5 partial day markets hosted at various Adams County locations with no funding required from Thornton or 5 partial day markets hosted in Thornton if the city can fund $19,443 for staffing. The second option would also provide 13 weekly pre-packaged boxes available for pickup.

    The city funding would be allocated from reductions and savings to be identified elsewhere in the city’s recreation department budget for contract services. No specific cuts have been identified yet.

    Multiple council members raised concerns about the city taking on funding responsibility for human services that could be seen as the county’s responsibility.

    Staff reported that the markets have traditionally served mostly a Thornton population since the program started in 2018.

    Council Member Sandgren called the proposal a “threat” to remove markets from Thornton if the city did not pay for staffing which the city has not previously paid for.

    An county representative explained that different municipalities have reached out to the county regarding expanding markets in their locations and that the county would be request staffing funds from those municipalities.

    Council Member Russell asked why volunteers couldn’t cover the staffing. Staff explained that the program currently uses many volunteers but that it hasn’t been able to get volunteers to stay the entire time from set-up throughout clean-up. Staff noted that current volunteers are older adults and that set-up required heavy physical labor.

    Council reached consensus to move ahead with the staffing option.

    Mission, Vision, and Values

    Staff presented draft language for proposed values for the city government, seeking feedback from the council:

    • Trust
    • Collaboration
    • Dedication
    • Excellence

    Definitions are available in the PDF packet linked at the start of this post.

    The council was favorable to the proposed language.

    General Updates from City Manager

    The city hall first floor bathrooms are once again open and operational

    The new police chief, Jim Baird, will be sworn in at the 5/27 council meeting.

    The city will be launching a new promotion campaign encouraging drivers slow down to avoid accidents and injuring pedestrians.

    Staff briefed council on the media and promotion plan for the virtual town hall scheduled for 5/14 at 7 pm. Questions can be submitted here.

    The city will be boosting ads for the town hall on Facebook, Instagram, and Next Door. The city reported good engagement on Next Door.

  • City Council Replay – April 22

    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.

    Update Session

    Council Member Sandgren will join virtually for the council meeting but is not at the update session. Council Members Acunto and Bigelow are absent.

    State Legislative Update

    The council received an update on state legislation with two weeks left in the legislative session.

    The briefing spent time on HB25-1296, which would provide reciprocity for food truck licensing and permitting between municipalities. At the time of the update, the city was opposed to the bill, but the bill has also received late amendments. The person briefing council indicated that the amendments do address previous concerns but that concerns remain.

    The mayor reported hearing rumors about a summer session to which she and the lobbyist agreed would be sad if true (said sarcastically).

    Update on the Environmental Sustainability Task Force & Master Plan

    Staff shared an estimated project schedule with completion for the master plan by the start of 2026.

    The city will create opportunities for community engagement and feedback, including a community-wide survey and workshops (with one potentially in May).

    Parks, Recreation, & Community Programs Visioning Plan

    The plan considers what the department and programs should look like in 20 years.

    The city only has one full-time staff for events like festivals. All other staff are taken on an overtime basis from other roles (26:00).

    Council Member Martinez suggested that there was insufficient opportunity for the council to provide feedback on the visioning plan (32:00).

    Staff explained that there will be opportunity as the process gets underway for council feedback, including feedback on drafts at 50% and 75% completion.

    Council Member Martinez suggested that the council do a workshop in a future planning session to give some big picture feedback early on in the visioning plan process. Council Member Russell supported that approach.

    Outdoor Pool Update

    The City Manager is requesting a budget adjustment to address short-term repairs to the city’s outdoor pools that came to light in recent audits. The pools are also approaching end-of-life. The immediate repairs would provide 3-5 years of continued use.

    Council Meeting

    Council Members Bigelow and Unrein were absent.

    The council recognized May 9, 2025 as Child Care Provider Appreciation Day in Thornton.

    Audience Participation

    The first speaker praises the city for the Eggstravaganza event the past weekend, which the city at late notice had to move indoors for weather. She also thanks the Parks and Recreation Department for working with the community.

    The second and third speakers spoke in appreciation of past support for the Thornton Tennis Association and asked the city to expand lighted courts at the city.

    The fourth speaker encouraged the city to continue to work on accessibility for autism. He stated that he supports a code of conduct for the council in general but cannot support the code as currently written for consideration of the council later in the session.

    The fifth speaker continued his ongoing condemnation of the city’s land acknolwedgement.

    The sixth speaker expressed thanks for the child care worker resolution. She reminded the council of the lack of capacity in the childcare sector due to low wages.

    Council Comments

    Council Member Sandgren said, “I think we all celebrated Easter last weekend.”

    Staff Reports

    The fire and police departments gave public safety reports.

    Council Member Martinez asked the interim police chief about efforts in the 88th Ave. corridor where residents have reported feeling unsafe. The chief explained that police are engaged in active efforts in that area and that the staff split between south and north Thornton is approximately 66/33%.

    Action Items

    The council considered adopting a code of conduct, which is the same language as was considered Dec. 3, 2024.

    Mayor Kulmann moved to require a two-thirds vote instead of a simple majority vote to censure a council member.

    Council Member Ayala supports Kulmann’s motion. Council Members Salazar and Martinez voted against the motion; the motion passed 5-2.

    The council unanimously passed the code of conduct.

  • City Council Replay – April 15, 2025 Planning Session

    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.

    CDOT Projects Update

    The council first heard an extensive update from CDOT and RTD representatives on road improvements and proposed projects on state highways in the Thornton area.

    The RTD Thornton Park-n-Ride (88th and I-25) has seen vast decrease in use, so the cost of a proposed I-25 median bus station proposal may no longer be justified.

    The 88th bridge over I-25 can be improved whether or not the median station is built.

    International Building and Fire Codes

    Staff provided a briefing ahead of a council meeting agenda item on code revisions scheduled for May 13.

    South Thornton Redevelopment Plan

    Staff provided an update on the projects approved by council last year.

    The unifying goal of the projects is “to encourage commercial reinvestment and community access to businesses in the south Thornton corridor through infrastructure investments and grant opportunities that improve mobility, pedestrian safety, and aesthetics.”

    The city will work with Adams 12 FutureForward on producing 40 metal art panels to be placed throughout Thornton medians and right-of-ways.

    Homelessness Policy Discussion

    The staff posed policy questions to the council to get council’s guidance on future approaches to homelessness.

    The presentation showed data on the increase in homelessness nationwide and in Colorado, noting that these data measures often under-measure homelessness.

    The presentation cited a 2023 National League of Cities on homelessness to describe causes of and responses to homelessness. Staff noted that the city was active, to a greater or lesser extent, in all response areas.

    The presentation noted that the Adams County homeless outreach team works in unincorporated areas of Adams County.

    Council Member Ayala asked staff for more information on what Adams County is doing and their funding situation so that city’s efforts can better coordinate with the county (1:59:00).

    Council Member Martinez asked about what capacity Adams County has with their current services. He also notes the absence of domestic violence shelters in Adams County compared to what is available in Denver.

    Council Member Sandgren said that warming shelters become de facto homeless shelters (2:04:00). She wanted to know what city resources are being used and how recreation staff are supported/trained to serve a homeless population.

    Sandgren noted that the homeless should be served at Community Connections, not in recreation department facilities that people are paying to use. {Note: the hours for the warming center are during the closed hours for recreation services.}

    Sandgren said that the county needs to pay for city services that the county is directing homeless to use.

    Sandgren asked the outreach team about their office hours and response time.

    The Thornton homeless outreach team currently has four members.

    Martinez asked about volunteer opportunities, and the outreach team representative said that volunteer positions were posted on the city website and that volunteers are active in support programs, such as meal distribution.

    Staff described the differences between a warming center and a homeless shelter, indicating the staffing impact for a warming center is minimal.

    Ayala noted that there are no homeless shelters in Thornton and asked about efforts to build a shelter in Adams County. Staff reported that discussions about shelters have been ongoing for years.

    Sandgren said that homeless are showing up at the rec center when it is not open as a shelter and asked how that situation is being dealt with. Staff said that they are working with the rec center staff and that any location used as a warming center would face this issue.

    Staff noted that unhoused people are resourceful in knowing what buildings are open at what hours, both public and private, as they seek shelter.

    Martinez asked if there is data on increased crime at the rec center. Staff did not have immediate access to that data but will follow up.

    Staff will be reviewing building options for warming centers for next winter.

    The Thornton Police representative explained that the police focus on criminal complaints and providing peace keeping support for other staff working with the homeless.

    Staff explained that there is a variety of camping ban legal language across the metro area. Thornton currently has no camping bans, only regulations about staying in flood plains, prohibition of tents, and a curfew for parks. Council may consider a criminal or civil camping ban in the future.

    Ayala expressed that the city should do more to expand support programs, including working with the county and other municipal governments, before turning to civil or criminal penalties that would only exacerbate the precarious situation of unhoused individuals.

    Salazar suggested creating an ad-hoc committee to get resident input. Martinez supported that idea to get input from residents and businesses.

  • Thornton Decides 2025 – Commentary for April

    Yesterday’s post reviewed information about city council candidates.

    Today’s post provides some commentary.

    Having multiple Democratic Party-aligned candidates within one ward race could split the vote so that a Republican-aligned candidate wins.

    Municipal races are non-partisan, so there will be no primaries. Candidates will not be identified by party on the ballot, but a review of campaign finance records helps clarify their affiliations.

    With the special election of Cherish Salazar in Ward 1 last month, Mayor Kulmann’s conservative alliance lost its majority, so there may be pushback from that quarter in the election.

    As the election gets closer, we can expect independent expenditure committees (IECs) to flood the city with ads.

    Candidates with the most financial backing from IECs may not be the best candidates for their ward as a whole.

    In recent years, the Thornton city government has favored business interests that have not produced quality employment or affordable housing for city residents. That may be changing.

    The council’s strategic planning session at the start of the year indicated a commitment to more mixed-use development, which would include more affordable housing and more jobs.

    However, that commitment resulted from voter pressure that has shrunk the conservative majority on the council in recent elections. The council’s support in this area will gain strength as the city elects candidates who are strongly aligned with that strategic goal.

    Salazar faced a flood of IEC mailers, yet she managed to win due in no small part to her engagement with the community.

    In those ward races with multiple candidates whose policies overlap, candidates should consider consolidating behind one candidate ahead of the onslaught of propaganda from wealthy interests.

  • Thornton Decides 2025 – April 2025 Update

    One seat in each of Thornton’s 4 wards is up for election in November, 2025. Incumbent term expiration dates are listed here.

    As of April 15, 10 council candidates have filed with the city. These filings do not guarantee that they have met eligibility requirements to appear on the ballot.

    Ward 1

    • Cherish Salazar

    Ward 2

    • Eric Montoya
    • John Alge
    • Rebecca Berner

    Ward 3

    • Devin Byrd
    • Peter Duong
    • Sam Nizam

    Ward 4

    • Drew Morris
    • Jason Anaya-Ledeboer
    • Amanda Pedrianes

    Both Eric Montoya and Sam Nizam have previously served on the council.

    None of the candidates have yet filed any financial reports.

    According to these guidelines from the Colorado Secretary of State, reports do not have to be filed until 60 days before the election (09/05/2025).

    Campaign donations tracked by the state’s TRACER database report the following:

    Cherish Salazar donated in 2024 to Democratic candidate Jacque Phillips (currently serving in the state house as representative for district 31).

    Eric Montoya has made past donations to the Adams County Democratic Party and Democratic candidates.

    John Alge has made past donations to the Adams County Democratic Party and Democratic candidates.

    Rebecca Berner has no record of donations in TRACER. She currently serves on the Thornton Active Adult Board.

    Devin Byrd has no record of donations in TRACER.

    Peter Duong has no record of donations in TRACER. He currently serves on the Thornton Ats, Sciences, & Humanities Council (TASHCO).

    Sam Nizam has made past donations to Democratic candidates and ran in the 2022 Democratic primary for Colorado House District 34.

    TRACER lists no contributions from a Drew Morris residing in Thornton. He has served on the Businesses of Thornton Advisory Commission.

    Jason Anaya-Ledeboer has donated to a Democratic candidate.

    Amanda Pedrianes has donated to a Democratic candidate and the Denver Democratic Central Committee.

  • City Council Meetings Replay for March 18, 2025

    PDF packets:

    Video replays:

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

    While this summary 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.

    Update Session

    First Briefing – State Legislative Update

    The first briefing was a state legislative update from Peggi O’Keefe with Clear Strategies. She reported that the state’s economic forecast was negative with an expected $1+ billion shortfall. The state budget is expected to be passed next week.

    The following is a selection of bills discussed.

    The city is in opposition to BD25-1147 Fairness & Transparency in Municipal Court, which would restrict municipal court penalties to the maximum penalty set by the state.

    The city has concerns regarding SB25-001 Colorado Voting Rights Act due to the state overriding home rule of the city, including for special elections.

    The city has concerns with HB25-1169 Housing Developments on Faith and Educational Land, which has passed the house but may be amended in the senate.

    The city supports BD25-1272 Construction Defects & Middle Market Housing, which Council Member Bigelow testified in favor.

    O’Keefe reported that the business community is opposed to HB25-1286 Protecting Workers from Extreme Temperatures. She did not share any perspectives from workers.

    The council’s stated concern is that the law would prohibit emergency workers from responding to emergencies in inclement weather and wants an amendment on that point.

    Second Briefing – City Process for Permanent Road Closures

    Under current city code, a permanent road closure requires a public hearing and an ordinance passed by council.

    Permanent closures would conflict with approved land use documents (plats) and with design standards in City Code Section 18-677.

    Staff described a process that would need to be followed to permanently close a road, including a one-year trial period.

    Staff discussed an example from the Glen Eagles Estates neighborhood (128th & Riverdale) that is experiencing high traffic to and from Riverdale High School, which a road closure could potentially address.

    At this point, staff’s recommendation is that the 128th & Riverdale intersection be improved by Adams County to address traffic issues given the challenges of closing a road.

    Council Comments

    Council Member Sandgren requested being able to attend conferences to wrap up work as she is in her last term. Council Member Ayala wanted to let staff know about April events: autism awareness month, Arab-American heritage month, and Earth Day.

    Council Member Martinez requests membership funding for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

    Council Meeting

    All council members were present for this meeting (one Ward 1 seat is still vacant pending the results of the special election).

    Resolutions

    Council Member Martinez added an item to the agenda to declare March 31, 2025 as Transgender Day of Visibility in Thornton.

    The council approved that resolution and a resolution declaring April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month in Thornton.

    During the council comments on the Transgender Day of Visibility resolution, Council Member Sandgren said that she believes that “fairness should be for everyone but not at the expense of erasing others.”

    Council Member Acunto was the sole vote against that resolution. The child abuse awareness resolution passed unanimously.

    Audience Participation

    Seven people signed up for in-person participation and two signed up online.

    The first speaker discussed an application to build a mobile phone tower, expressing concerns that his community was not given adequate notice of the application.

    The second speaker showed an election flier for Ward 1 candidate Eric Garcia. She said that the flier’s claim that Garcia had been endorsed by Thornton firefighters was a lie.

    She claimed it was hilarious that Council Member Sandgren would say that Garcia “walks the walk” because he walked away from Ward 1 residents asking him what he would do for his ward. The speaker described Garcia as Mayor Kulmann’s “puppet” in his previous term on the council.

    The third speaker also raised concerns about PAC mailers for the campaign, which misleadingly implied a firefighter endorsement. He asked council to condemn this activity and amend election code to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

    The fourth speaker reiterated that the Thornton firefighters union has not endorse Garcia, contrary to the claims in the campaign mailers.

    The fifth speaker, a recurring gadfly, continued his critique of the city’s land acknowledgment.

    The sixth speaker was the return of resident who speaks satirically as a right-wing extremist in order to criticize conservatives on the council. In the past, he was arrested under dubious circumstances with the charges later dropped.

    The seventh speaker is a representative from the CASA advocate organization who thanked council for voicing support in the child abuse resolution and encouraged residents to volunteer.

    The eighth speaker voiced concerns about the cell tower that was mentioned by the first speaker, suggesting it would hurt home values and is not appropriate for a residential area given that other towers are in industrial/commercial areas.

    The ninth speaker was Ward 1 candidate Cherish Salazar. She shared concerns from Ward 1, including about a sewage backup, recommending the Active Adult Center, and sharing condolences for a departed member of the community.

    Council Comment and Communications

    Mayor Pro Tem Bigelow discussed a financial literacy event at a local school, attending a bill signing for an accessibility law, testifying for the new building defects bill, and recognizing Ramadan and Purim celebrations.

    Council Member Russell spoke on his experience traveling to Washington, D.C. for the National League of Cities. He met with Representative Gabe Evans.

    Council Member Unrein also spoke on the National League of Cities events in D.C. The main topic of concern he saw from participants around the nation was housing affordability and availability. He also met with Rep. Evans.

    Council Member Sandgren described advocating for many areas in the D.C. trip.

    Sandgren addressed the campaign issue discussed in audience participation. She offered the “correction” that the mailer did not come from the candidate, although the audience participants seemed to be clear that the mailers were for the candidate, not from the candidate.

    At 48:27, Sandgren uses the transgender resolution to talk about safety in women’s spaces.

    Sandgren explained that her factoids (e.g., national blue-berry pancake day) are her way of protesting the land acknowledgment. She alleges that the land acknowledgment contains falsehoods.

    An audience member applauds Sandgren’s remarks and is not ruled out of order by the mayor.

    Council Member Ayala described speaking with a Cub Scout troop at Cherry Elementary. She described taking a waste water course during the D.C. trip.

    Ayala described how the campaign mailers were issued by an independent expenditure committee (IEC). She encouraged voters to identify the group sponsoring the mailers.

    She described her work supporting municipal election funding reform in Colorado (reducing the individual contribution limit to $400 from unlimited and increase the frequency of campaign funding disclosure reporting dates).

    Ayala encouraged residents to consider what actions are within the scope of the city government to address.

    Council Member Martinez amplified the concern about the mobile home sewage backup and requested staff to get more information.

    Martinez described advocating for the continued existence of tax-free municipal bonds to Representative Evans during the D.C. trip.

    Kulmann closes her comments by thanking those who “respectfully” engaged with council.

    Thornton Shopping Center Quarterly Progress Update

    Demolition is completed at the site. Environmental testing and clean-up is now underway.

    Planning for redevelopment is underway with an estimated issue of a request for proposals set for mid-2025.

    Public Hearing

    The hearing was on a conceptual site plan for an apartment conversion at 2513 E. 104th Ave. (Village at Sunny Acres Ambassador Apartments).

    The plan is to subdivide and convert an existing housing site from assisted living to multi-family units.

    This will require 97 new parking spaces.

    A public meeting was held August 19, 2024. Approximately 560 property owners were notified of the meeting (hybrid online and in-person), and no residents attended the meeting.

    Council voted to approve the conceptual site plan.

    Council/TASCHO Meeting

    TASCHO gave its annual report.

    Council/Thornton Development Authority Meeting

    TDA gave its annual report.

    Thornton Observer Reflection, Commentary, and Questions

    Will the city be as invested in defending home rule against federal government overreach at the hands of the current administration as they are alleged overreach by the state of Colorado?

    For at least two bills, the council and its lobbyist raised concerns about adverse effects on law enforcement and emergency responders as reason to oppose bills or support amendments without acknowledging the needs and concerns of residents that the bills were originally proposed to address.

    The council emphasized the city’s right to home rule in the update meeting.

    In a previous meeting, Council Member Sandgren said that it is the county, not the city, that should be responsible for addressing homelessness. It would seem that some on the council want home rule power while also shirking some of the responsibility that comes with that power.

    In the road closure presentation, Council Member Martinez noted how 30-40 people showing up at a ward meeting made an impact. If there is an issue affecting Thornton residents, showing up and communicating with council can support change for the better.

    The road closure discussion also highlights how the city pursues growth without always being able to address the unintended negative effects of that growth.

  • 03/04/2025 City Council Planning Session Reply

    The PDF packet for the session is available here. The video replay is available here. Click on the agenda item in the menu to the right of the video to go to that part of the playback.

    While this summary 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 packet for this planning session included a couple of informative documents, which are included in the above-linked PDF:

    • The summary report from the strategic planning conference
    • The 2025 legislative agenda, listing the city’s lobbying priorities

    On paper, the strategic planning summary has good commitments to housing and multi-modal transportation options, including pedestrian safety.

    The Legislative Agenda documents specific asks for state and federal lobbying priorities in 7 areas:

    • Local Control
    • Local Funding
    • Transportation
    • Public Safety
    • Water Security
    • Housing
    • Sustainability

    Session Highlights

    Council Members Absent: Bigelow and Sandgren

    The first item was interviews of two applicants for the Thornton Arts, Sciences, and Humanities Council (TASHCO).

    The second item was an informational update on the Ward 1 special election (election day March 25). The presenter compared municipal elections and elections coordinated with the county.

    While not required for municipal elections, the city is providing an in-person voting center, access to 24-hour ballot drop boxes, and translation of ballot materials in Spanish.

    The new council member will be sworn in April 8, 2025 (assuming no recount is required).

    The third item was a discussion of the city strategic plan framework—the big picture, long-term strategic focus areas that emerged from the conference the council members attended at the end of February:

    1. Connected Communities
    2. Vibrant and Purposeful Development
    3. Organizational Excellence (city administration)
    4. Safe, Supported, and Livable Communities

    The presenter asked for the council’s feedback in terms of phrasing, the definition for each focus area, and any additional priorities that should be considered.

    Council Member Martinez noted the importance of the city’s regional collaborations for support of connected communities (e.g., work with the Colorado Department of Transportation).

    The fourth item was another informational presentation to provide council travel date options for a federal lobbying trip to Washington, D.C. Traditionally, council has met with house and senate offices on one day and federal agency offices on the second day.

    The council discussed which member would be responsible for which of the seven priority topics.

    There was an update on state legislation, starting with a construction defects bill introduced by Representative Shannon Bird (HB25-1272). The presenter noted that many defect bills have been introduced in recent sessions. Other defect bills are also active this session.

    The fifth item was updates from council members at various regional boards, councils, and committees.

    Mayor Kulmann talked about her positive experience at a state of the city event at Brighton that was co-run by their chamber of commerce. Kulmann wants to do something similar in Thornton with our chamber of commerce.

  • 2/25 City Council Meeting Replay

    The PDF packet for the session is available here. The video replay is available here. Click on the agenda item in the menu to the right of the video to go to that part of the playback.

    While this summary 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.

    Session Highlights

    Council members absent: David Acunto (Ward 3, term expires 2027)

    The session began with a resolution and recognition of the city staff teams and employees of the year.

    Three other resolutions were approved, recognizing the following in Thornton:

    • March 3, 2025 as World Hearing Day
    • March 2025 as Women’s History Month
    • March 8 as International Women’s Day

    Public comment included a returning resident who had voiced concerns about disruptive neighbors and lack of code enforcement as the previous meeting. He indicated that the city had not been responsive to his previous comments.

    One speaker, who works at a gas station on 120th Ave., spoke of the need for the city to do more to assist the homeless, explaining that businesses cannot serve as warming centers during cold weather.

    Another speaker reminded everyone of the Ward 1 special election with ballots going out on 3/3. He encouraged voters to do their research on the candidates. This previous post has election resources.

    During the council members comments, Council Member Martinez (Ward 1) again spoke in support of the resident who had voiced concerns about neighbors.

    Martinez also spoke of his work with the National League of Cities and serving on its Hispanic committee as well as plans to host another workshop for mobile home residents and the Colorado Poverty Law Project in March.

    Council Member Ayala (Ward 2) spoke of addressing homelessness in terms of band-aid solutions vs. real long-term solutions, such as permanent housing. She argued that we can’t place responsibility for this complex problem solely on the police.

    Instead of blaming individuals, Ayala explained, the city must address systemic root causes that include low wages and high rents. She also noted that there is room for much more community aid as well.

    Council Member Sandgren (Ward 2) reported on her attending the Thornton Fire Department Survivor’s event and of a Chamber of Commerce event at Satire Brewing.

    Sandgren explained her opposition to using the Margaret Carpenter Rec Center as a warming center for the homeless during cold weather, expressing concerns that the building would be left a mess for staff who work the following morning, but she shared no reports or evidence of that concern being accurate.

    Sandgren indicated addressing homelessness in Thornton was the responsibility of Adams County, not the city.

    Sandgren also noted that it was National Clam Chowder Day.

    Council Member Russell discussed attending a Black History Month event at the governor’s mansion. He echoed Sandgren’s appreciation of the business networking event (1:26).

    Mayor Pro Tem Bigelow talked about the consent calendar, which often doesn’t get discussed. She highlighted the order of business change to move the public hearing portion of meetings to earlier in the meeting before audience participation.

    Bigelow also emphasized the city’s work for non-profits in or contributing to our city. She reads the list of the organizations the city will be supporting (see the 2/18 planning session replay post).

    Mayor Kulmann apologized for attending remotely while ill.

    Kulmann commented that the Environmental Sustainability Task Force is accepting applications for Ward 3 with a March 6 deadline and named regular city employment positions that were also currently open.

    Two reports were given at the meeting: the Business of Thornton Advisory Commission (BTAC) Annual report and the monthly budget update.

    Council Member Martinez asked for clarification on the differences in roles between the BTAC and the Chamber of Commerce. The speakers are not consistently in front of the microphone for this portion, so their responses are only partially audible.

    Martinez said that the growth in the Chamber of Commerce is good and might be better supported by BTAC in the future if there are distinct plans for how the BTAC can help the Chamber.

    The city Finance Director Kim Newhart gave the monthly budget update (1:44). License and permit revenue did not decrease as much as projected due in large part to the roofing permits after the hail storm. Sales tax revenue was $3 million less than projections but a 3.7% growth compared to 2023.

    The consent calendar was passed unanimously.

    There were no public hearings for this meeting.

    The final item was the financial incentive agreement with Kentro Group (KRF 470, LLC) for the development at Quebec and 144th south of E-470 (Ward 3).

    The incentive from the city is $15 million dollars with an anticipated sales tax revenue of $60 million in sales and use tax to the city over 10 years. The city’s priority is to keep businesses within the city borders.

    The council unanimously voted to approve the incentive agreement.