Greeley City Council Inaugurates New Leadership, Sets Agenda

A new chapter for Greeley begins as the City Council convenes for the first time on March 5, 2024. The meeting will see the swearing-in of two new council members and the city’s first new mayor in eight years. The council has welcomed five newly elected members, including Brian Rudy and Ryan Roth, both stepping into their roles for the first time.

Rudy, elected to represent Ward 4, expressed enthusiasm about the future of Greeley. “We got a lot of big things going on in Greeley right now. I’m looking forward to making sure we do the projects we need to do for our citizens on time and on budget,” he stated. Rudy, who previously served as a city council member and mayor of Evans, won his election with 49.7% of the vote, according to final unofficial results from the Weld County Clerk and Recorder. He will succeed Dale Hall, who won the mayoral race with 55% of the vote.

Roth, a public relations and events coordinator for ALLO Fiber, secured his at-large seat with 53% of the vote, replacing outgoing council member Brett Payton. Hall, now the mayor, is eager to kick off several major projects, including the Downtown Civic Campus, the Greeley-Weld County Airport, and the Catalyst project, which is currently facing zoning challenges from a proposed referendum.

“I’ve really never thought that I was going to be the mayor,” Hall remarked. “But I’m very pleased to be able to shepherd some of the projects that we’re working on to fruition and help benefit the way they come down for the betterment of Greeley.”

Recognizing Service and Setting Priorities

One of Hall’s first actions as mayor will be to declare March 5 as “John Gates Day,” honoring the outgoing mayor for his years of dedicated service in various capacities, including the police department and city government.

Rudy plans to dive into council matters immediately, focusing on transparency regarding the Catalyst project. “I’m going to have a lot more information than I have now as of Tuesday night. I’ll be able to get some of the executive session material,” Rudy noted. He emphasized the importance of sharing details with the public as soon as possible.

The new council will also enter an executive session to receive legal advice about the referendum challenging the Catalyst project. Tommy Butler, councilman for Ward 1, expressed optimism about the fresh perspectives the new council members will bring. He stated, “I am very excited to get to work with the new folks… it means we might have some folks to do some things that we haven’t looked at in the past.”

Looking Ahead: New Roles and Responsibilities

Elected members Deb DeBoutez and Johnny Olson secured reelection by substantial margins, while Melissa McDonald will continue her term as at-large councilwoman through 2027. With Hall’s transition to mayor, the council must also select a new mayor pro tem, alongside discussing council succession and assignments to various boards and commissions.

Other agenda items include reviewing several boards and commissions, such as the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee and the Downtown Development Authority. The council is also expected to address the upcoming resignation of City Manager Raymond Lee, with Brian McBroom, the Community Development Director, stepping in as acting city manager.

The inaugural meeting will begin at 18:00 at City Center North, located at 1001 11th Ave. For those interested in the full agenda, it can be accessed at greeleyco.portal.civicclerk.com. As Greeley embarks on this new governance phase, the community watches closely for developments that promise to shape its future.