What Just Happened with Greeley’s Petition to Repeal Ordinance 15, 2025?

What Just Happened with Greeley’s Petition to Repeal Ordinance 15, 2025?

Hey there, neighbors—time for our friendly, slightly witty, and totally helpful neighborhood scoop on what’s going on in Greeley. If you’ve heard chatter about Ordinance 15, 2025 and wondered what it actually means (and whether it’s up for a vote), I’ve got you covered.

1. What Is Ordinance 15, 2025?

So, let’s unpack the “what in the world” part:

Back on May 6, 2025, the Greeley City Council passed something called Ordinance No. 15, 2025. This wasn't a parking ticket ordinance—this was big.

• It authorizes the city to use Certificates of Participation (COPs) to finance early development of a massive West Greeley project—including an arena, ice center, hotel, water park, and related infrastructure. greeleyco.gov+6Speak Up Greeley+6Speak Up Greeley+6

• The plan unlocks roughly $1.1 billion in financing. And yes, to secure it, the city is putting up 46 public buildings—think City Hall, police stations, fire stations—as collateral. KUNC+1

• Known as the Catalyst (the entertainment district piece) and Cascadia (the mixed-use neighborhood), the proposal aims to boost construction activity, generate long-term jobs, and bring in steady tax revenue—without raising taxes citywide. Speak Up Greeley+3Speak Up Greeley+3KUNC+3

In short: it’s a huge, ambitious public-private financing plan to transform West Greeley—and potentially the city’s future.

2. The Petition That (Almost) Was

Naturally, not everyone was thrilled. A group named “Greeley Deserves Better” launched a petition to repeal the ordinance, arguing it saddled taxpayers with too much risk while giving the developer no equity stake. Speak Up Greeley+8greeleydeservesbetter.com+8Speak Up Greeley+8

They filed their initiative on August 6, got enough signatures, but someone raised a protest on August 8, claiming the petition might be misusing the initiative process. A public hearing followed on August 26. greeleyco.gov+2X (formerly Twitter)+2

3. The Hearing Officer’s Final Word (August 31, 2025)

Cue Hearing Officer Karen Goldman, who (in my best legalese imitation) dropped the hammer: the petition wasn’t about policy—it was administrative in nature, and therefore not something voters get to decide on via ballot. That meant the “sufficient” stamp went away and the petition was officially off the table (no pun intended). Facebook

4. What It All Means—In Plain English

a) Ordinance 15 isn’t going anywhere—at least not through a popular vote. The public won’t get to vote “yes” or “no” on this one.

b) Any change now has to go through the City Council. If community members want revisions—or to kill it—they’ll need to work with policymakers directly.

c) It sets a precedent. If future petitions challenge administrative actions instead of legislative ones, they'll likely get shut down too.

5. Final Thoughts: Why Greeley Should Keep an Eye on This

This isn’t just a legal technicality—it's about how our town chooses to grow (or not). The project could transform West Greeley into a magnet for jobs, tourism, and vibrant neighborhood life. But with that potential comes risk—massive debt obligations, and taxpayer exposure if things go sideways.

As your friendly Realtor and local guide, here’s my take: staying informed on how these projects are financed is just as important as knowing your mortgage rate or roof condition. Because let’s be real—this stuff shapes our city’s neighborhoods, budgets, and even our real estate market down the road.