Loveland City Council to tackle marijuana, oil and gas code, more – Loveland Reporter-Herald

The Loveland City Council didn’t meet last week, but it’s making up for it Tuesday with a packed schedule that covers a wide range of pressing topics, from marijuana dispensaries to the homeless shelter code to a sales tax increase. Members will also vote on a new slate of oil and gas regulations and could go into executive session to discuss potential candidates for the vacant municipal judge position.

Referendum measures

Loveland voters could face up to six questions on the City Council ballot in November, depending on how members vote Tuesday. Among them are three potential amendments to the city charter, two of which deal with term limits for elected city officials. A third would allow the City Council to fire two of its direct reports — the city manager and the city attorney — with a majority vote instead of a majority.

Two potential revenue measures for the city are also on the table Tuesday. The first is renewing Loveland’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) Repeal Act, which would allow the city to keep any excess revenue instead of returning it to taxpayers.

Since TABOR was passed in 1992, Loveland voters have approved four repeals of the law, which have generated an additional $51 million for the city. The most recent one expires at the end of 2024.

A second measure could be to ask voters to approve an increase in the nonfood sales tax from 3% to 4%, with or without a 12-year sunset. The increase would help fill an estimated $10 million to $12 million budget shortfall the city faces in 2025.

Finally, the City Council will make the final decision on whether to ask voters to allow marijuana dispensaries to operate in Loveland, even though the application has been rejected at least twice since 2010. Voters may also be asked whether to impose an additional excise tax on retail dispensary sales.

But even if council members decline to take further action, Loveland voters will likely still face the question. On Monday, Autumn Todd, one of the sponsors of the citizen initiative on marijuana dispensaries, submitted signatures on a petition to the Loveland city clerk and is confident she will meet the threshold. Todd also agreed to withdraw her signatures if the council approves its own ballot initiative.

Oil and Gas Regulations

After discussions about the ballot measure, the City Council will finally have a chance to vote on updated oil and gas regulations that city development staff and outside consultants have been updating since late last year.

The new rules, if passed, would meet or exceed standards set by both Larimer County and the state Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC), according to Matt Sury, an oil and gas attorney who helped with the process.

Among the updates are restrictions on areas in the city where oil and gas development will be allowed, as well as new setbacks of up to 2,000 feet from “sensitive” areas like schools, medical facilities and retirement homes. There are also stricter standards for noise regulation, air quality and dust control.

Last month, the city Planning Commission voted 6-3 to recommend approval of the new regulations, despite several commissioners calling for greater setbacks in open spaces.

Homeless Shelter Code Update

Amid growing controversy over a planned homeless shelter at First Christian Church (2000 N. Lincoln Ave.), the City Council will reconsider last month’s vote to approve a new section of the city’s Unified Development Code regarding homeless shelters.

The new code, approved in second reading on July 14, adds a formal definition of “homeless shelter,” limits it to non-residential areas and sets special standards, including requiring fencing and others.

During the new business debate, Councilman Steve Olson will ask his colleagues to consider adding language prohibiting construction of such structures on the U.S. 287 and U.S. 34 corridors in Loveland. Such a provision would invalidate the First Christian Church proposal.

Candidates for municipal judges

If they get that far, the City Council will wrap up Tuesday’s meeting by reviewing candidates for the Loveland municipal judge position, one of its three direct reports.

The seat has been vacant since late April, following the departure of Judge Geri Joneson, who held the position for almost eight years.

Due to the confidential nature of the discussion, council members may decide to hold it in a closed session.

How to participate

The Loveland City Council will meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the City Hall Building, 500 E. Third St.

Comments from members of the public will be accepted in person or via Zoom.

Those wishing to join the meeting via Zoom can use the ID 975 3779 6504 and password 829866, as per the meeting agenda.

The meeting will be broadcast on Comcast Channel 16/880, Pulse TV Channel 16 and streamed on the city’s website at lovgov.org/tv.

Tuesday’s agenda packet is available on the Loveland City Council website at lovgov.org or cilovelandco.civicweb.net.

Originally published: August 5, 2024 at 2:32 PM