WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. — The Wheat Ridge City Council gave staff consensus Monday, Oct. 20, to draft legislation aimed at reducing long-lasting utility markings on streets and sidewalks and to explore enforcement and cleanup cost recovery.

City staff said the markings—used to identify buried utilities after 811 locates—are often left on pavements for years. “They may come out and they do their pothole, and they’re gone in half a day, but the marks remain for years,” Kent said, describing the typical contractor behavior.

Why it matters

Council members described frequent resident complaints about the visibility and permanence of utility paint on sidewalks, driveways and public art. Members said the city needs a practical way to require more durable temporary methods, hold contractors accountable and avoid repeated use of harsher chemicals for removal.

What council discussed

- Proposed measures: Staff outlined options including requiring water-soluble paint for locates, specifying time limits for removal or fading, placing permit conditions tying cleanup to right-of-way permits, and using the city’s cost-recovery authority to bill contractors that fail to restore surfaces.

- Enforcement and responsibility: Staff said responsibility for cleanup would normally rest with the party that pulled the right-of-way permit; if a private homeowner did not pull a permit, the city could hold franchise utilities (for example, Excel) responsible under franchise agreements. Staff suggested placing the new requirements on right-of-way permits so contractors are put on notice when they obtain permits.

- Removal methods: Staff discussed removal techniques used in other cities—commercial solvents sometimes called “elephant snot,” and other cleaners used for graffiti removal—but cautioned that removal may not wholly eliminate deep or permanent marks; the goal is to encourage water-soluble products and faster cleanup.

- 811 and locating law: Councilors and staff reiterated that state law requires calling 811 before digging and that utilities must respond to locate requests; the proposed city ordinance would not change the 811 requirement but would regulate how locating marks are applied and removed on city surfaces.

Council direction and next steps

Mayor and councilors asked staff to draft ordinance language reflecting the discussed options and to coordinate outreach with utilities and 811 stakeholders. Councilor Weebill said he would seek consensus to move the item forward, and the mayor confirmed consensus was present to advance legislation for council consideration. No formal recorded vote was taken; staff will return with draft code language and proposed enforcement mechanisms.

Quotations

- “They may come out and they do their pothole, and they’re gone in half a day, but the marks remain for years,” Kent said of contractor locates.

- “Do we have consensus to move this item forward to talk about legislation that would address this?” the mayor asked; councilors indicated agreement.

Ending

City staff will draft an ordinance and plan outreach to utilities, franchise partners and the 811 center. Councilors expressed broad support for stronger rules to keep public surfaces free of permanent locate markings.