Northglenn approves $73,112 communications assessment with Joy Riot after debate on Spanish outreach

City Council unanimously approved CR 46 on March 9, authorizing a communications and marketing assessment with Joy Riot LLC with a not‑to‑exceed amount of $73,112. City Manager Heather Geyer told council the project will evaluate communications tools, staffing and engagement, provide a gap analysis and deliver an implementation roadmap intended to produce a unified brand and more consistent outreach.

Joy Riot co‑founder John Armstrong described a three‑part approach: information immersion, stakeholder engagement (including a community survey and interviews), and a gap analysis leading to a start‑stop‑continue implementation roadmap. The city manager said staff expanded planned stakeholder interviews from 10 to 16 and included more front‑line staff in the process; she said the project is scheduled to run through mid‑October and noted the contract is a not‑to‑exceed amount.

Council questioned how the project would engage the city’s Spanish‑speaking population (about a third of residents cited in the meeting) and why translation and Spanish focus groups were listed as add‑ons—translation cited at $4,600 and focus groups at higher incremental costs. Councilmember Nowicki moved to add the $4,600 translation add‑on; that motion was withdrawn after the manager said she would rework the scope to include language‑access elements within the existing not‑to‑exceed figure and reduce certain in‑person travel and stakeholder touches to keep within budget. Council voted to approve the base contract at the $73,112 amount.

Councilmembers who supported the contract said the assessment is intended to modernize the city’s communications, future‑proof outreach and better align messaging across departments, and noted hiring of a communications director is expected to follow. Several councilmembers asked staff to return with a clearer scope and timeline for inclusion of Spanish‑language outreach and to ensure results are actionable for the incoming communications director.

Votes at a glance: CR 46 (Joy Riot contract) — approved unanimously; CR 54 (agricultural lease at wastewater plant) — approved unanimously; CR 55 (Danahee Park playground renovation) — approved unanimously; CR 57 (Xcel Partners in Energy phase 2 MOU) — approved unanimously; CR 58 (affirmation of federal nondiscrimination compliance) — approved unanimously; CR 59 (appointment of independent hearing officer) — approved unanimously.

What’s next: Staff will return with a revised scope that folds in Spanish‑language engagement and a clear plan for how the assessment’s recommendations will be implemented and handed off to the new communications director.