• Hosts: Obi Ezeadi and special guest Councilor Jack Johnson.

    The purpose of this Town Hall was to create an open forum for residents to directly share their concerns, ideas, and questions with their city council representatives. 65% of Westminster is comprised of HOAs yet we do not have a strong relationship between the city government and our HOAs. But I believe that direct engagement is crucial for effective governance, especially when addressing the unique needs of different neighborhoods.


    I've pulled this meeting summary together to ensure that everyone, including those who couldn't make it, is fully informed about what was discussed and the actions we are taking. 

    • Councilor Jack Johnson, a newly elected city councilor was a special guest and he provided an excellent explanation of the city's budgeting process. He detailed how the city plans its calendar year budget, from setting strategic goals in February to passing the final budget in October. He highlighted that this process is a key opportunity for residents to submit project requests and influence city investments, especially for critical infrastructure needs.

    • You can submit budget requests to us as your City Council directly. Email me: oezeadi@westminsterco.gov

    • Weclarified that while city staff handle technical work and project prioritization, residents should directly contact City Council with their needs. Council members can then advocate to staff on behalf of the community, ensuring that resident concerns are elevated and addressed. Councilor Johnson added that resident complaints are vital because city staff cannot be present in all neighborhoods and might miss issues that don't immediately result in accidents.

    • Traffic Calming and Road Design: We explained that the primary factor influencing how fast people drive is the road's design, not just speed limits or enforcement. We shared an example of how repainting lanes to make them thinner on 112th Avenue significantly reduced speeding and racing complaints, demonstrating that physical design changes can be highly effective in slowing traffic.

    • New Water Rate Setting Process: We detailed the new Water Task Force, a community-based group of about ten residents. This task force is actively learning about the city's water system and will develop a set of recommended water rates for City Council, aiming for a more transparent and community-driven process than in the past.

    • Urban Renewal Areas (URAs) and Development: We explained that Westminster has two main Urban Renewal Areas: Downtown Westminster and North Huron (north of 136th). We clarified that while Downtown Westminster often receives more public attention because the city owns the land, significant effort is also being invested in developing the North Huron URA into a commercial corridor to serve northern residents, even if this work is less publicly advertised due to private land ownership. 

    • Homelessness Response - "Continuum of Compassion": We outlined Westminster's approach to homelessness, which prioritizes connecting unhoused individuals with resources like housing. And we explained Westminster’s new $375,000 investment in rental/mortgage assistance to help people achieve self-sustainability. We explained that this preventative approach is more cost-effective and sustainable than simply displacing people, with enforcement being an escalation only if initial supportive efforts are refused. And also mentioned the role of park rangers and homeless navigators in these efforts.

    • Childcare "By Right" Zoning: We shared that a recent landmark amendment to the city's comprehensive plan now treats childcare as essential infrastructure. This change allows childcare providers to open centers "by right" in any zoning district, removing a significant barrier that previously hindered the establishment of new childcare facilities.

    • Regional Fire Training Center: We clarified that the new fire training center being built is designed for regional collaboration. Other fire districts, such as North Metro Fire, will be able to pay to use the facility, which is expected to reduce recruitment times for firefighters across the region.

    • Challenges in Cross-City Recreation Partnerships: We elaborated on the complexities of forming regional recreation agreements with neighboring cities like Broomfield. And explained that these partnerships involve navigating the different debt obligations and mill rates of various recreation districts to ensure equitable agreements for all residents, making the process detailed and time-consuming


    ACTION ITEMS

    Finally, below is the exact email I just sent to the City Manager and City Council, detailing all of the action items derived from our discussion tonight to help the Home Farm community:

    City Manager & Council,
    Councilor Johnson and I just had the Home Farm Town Hall tonight and we discussed a wide range of issues. This email summarizes several critical concerns and action items identified. We believe some of the issues raised require immediate and serious attention from staff (and if necessary also include relevant items below as community budget requests).

    Note: If staff needs a Council poll to prioritize more immediate action here please let us know so it can be requested. 


    1. 128th Avenue / Home Farm Lane Intersection Safety:
    The safety situation at the 128th Avenue and Home Farm Lane intersection is a critical and immediate concern that warrants urgent attention beyond the planned Fall warrant analysis. While staff's previous analysis in December 2024 did not warrant a signal, new context from the community highlights severe and ongoing dangers:

    1. Residents report observed speeds of 50-60 mph, significantly higher than the posted 45 mph limit, exacerbated by drivers racing to merge lanes.

    2. The presence of students (from the new high school there) further compounds the risk, making it extremely difficult and dangerous to pull out from Home Farm Lane, particularly for westbound traffic cresting the hill at high speeds.

    3. The previous installation and subsequent removal of a flashing crosswalk, despite community need, has also caused significant frustration. It’s not clear why those items were removed, but this is a significant public safety concern that needs creative safety interventions, including potential road design changes like thinner lanes, lowering the speed limit, and installing pedestrian crosswalks, rather than waiting for the Fall study. This issue requires a re-evaluation much sooner than currently planned.

    2. Discrepancy in Home Farm Water Rates
    There is a serious concern regarding the water rates applied to Home Farm residents. They said they have individual meters and pay directly to the City, but despite that some residents report paying significantly higher rates (potentially triple) compared to neighbors outside their specific area of Westminster. I have requesr them to send me a copy of the water bill and if there is a disparity I can bring this specific use case to the Water Task Force for discussion.

    3. Deteriorating Streetlight Infrastructure
    The deteriorating condition of fiberglass streetlight poles in the Home Farm neighborhood, which have been in disrepair for many years, presents a significant safety and aesthetic concern. Despite previous reports, these poles remain unfixed. We need to determine ownership for these specific lights and ensure a clear plan for their urgent repair or replacement. I have asked them to send us specific locations so that staff can help determine ownership and take action if it is our responsibility. 


    4. Unmanaged Park Entrance Landscaping
    A critical aesthetic and safety concern exists at the park entrance at the end of the Keystone cul-de-sac, where landscaping on city property is unmanaged and includes a tree that is nearly down. A request was previously submitted to staff, but no action has been taken. Please attend to this issue.

    5. Dangerous Sidewalk Gaps on 128th Avenue
    The absence of sidewalks between Huron and Zuni on the north side of 128th Avenue, particularly near a school entrance, is a dangerous gap in pedestrian infrastructure. This area is a known hotspot for accidents involving pedestrians and must be prioritized within the city's mobility plan to ensure safer passage for residents, especially students.


    6. Other Community Feedback:

    1. Google Fiber Project Hold: Residents are concerned about the temporary hold on Google Fiber installation in Home Farm due to design changes, noting initial activity followed by a lack of progress.


    2. North Westminster Inclusion: There is a strong sentiment among the 397 homes in Home Farm that North Westminster often feels overlooked in city planning and receives services last, compared to downtown Westminster


    3. Improved communication regarding city-wide investments, including the North Huron URA, is requested


    4. Cross-City Recreation Partnerships: Residents expressed interest in our current efforts to explore formal agreements with neighboring cities like Broomfield (e.g., Paul Derda Rec Center) to provide more affordable and convenient access to recreation facilities for North Westminster residents. Councilor Johnson explained that this should also consider equitable debt obligations.


    5. Childcare Crisis & Affordability: Strong interest expressed in our current efforts to 

      prioritize ways to make chilcare affordable.


    6. Homelessness & Open Space: We discussed the city's compassionate approach to homelessness, focusing on connecting individuals with housing and resources rather than immediate removal. Residents appreciated the approach and assurance that rangers and homeless navigators are actively monitoring open spaces, especially given past incidents, is important. 

    Overall, everyone appreciated the outreach and they are hopeful some needed action may come out of this event. The running theme across traffic, water, and streetlight issues is a perceived accountability gap and their opinion that direct reports go nowhere. This is an opportunity for us to rebuild trust with the residents of this HOA and take action about these important issues in our jurisdiction. 

  • Obi Ezeadi and special guest Councilor Adam Barajas.

    TBD.

  • TBD