Body
Department of Community Development
Reference: Various Sections Chapter 17 of the Municipal Code - Oil and Gas Code Amendment
To: Mayor Kenneth J. Kreutzer and Members of City Council
Through: Philip A. Rodriguez, City Manager
Marv Falconburg, AICP - Assistant City Manager
Holly Prather, AICP - Community Development Director
Prepared By: Joshua M. Tetzlaff, AICP - Associate City Planner
Date Prepared: October 16, 2018
PURPOSE
Following a City Council study session on September 11, 2018, during which the City Council directed staff to bring back an ordinance banning injection wells within the City, City staff is presenting an amendment to the current oil and gas regulations pertaining to injection wells within Section 17-64. Along with adding a "Prohibited Facilities" section, the amendment will update a few definitions and code references. Because City Code can only be modified via ordinance, City staff is bringing forward the code amendment in ordinance form to be voted on by the City Council.
STRATEGIC FOCUS AREA
Safe, Active, and Engaged Community
BACKGROUND
The Brighton Municipal Code contains provisions for oil and gas facilities that were last updated in 2015. At that time, the code worked for the needs of Brighton. As oil and gas activity has increased across the state, it has become clear there are additional measures Brighton needs to take in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens.
In June of 2018, City Council voted to place a six-month moratorium on all injection well activity within city limits. At that time, the City Council asked staff to do research on injection wells and to report back with a recommendation as to whether injection wells should be allowed to exist within the City. With the assistance of Matt Sura, the City's oil and gas consulting attorney, staff presented their research to City Council at the study session on September 11, 2018. After some discussion, the City Counci...
Click here for full text