Loveland council unanimously adopts consent agenda, enacting water-use and marijuana tax ordinances

The Loveland City Council voted 9-0 Tuesday to adopt its consent agenda, approving two second-reading ordinances without pulling either item for separate debate. The action enacted Ordinance 6839, which updates water-use and water-efficiency rules, and Ordinance 6840, which amends city code on marijuana taxation.

Before the vote, Mayor Patrick McFall asked whether any council member wanted to move a consent item to the regular agenda. No one did. A city staff member then read the two ordinances into the record as Item 4.1 and Item 4.2, and Council Member Zeke Cortez seconded the motion to approve the consent agenda. After roll call, staff announced the measure had passed with nine yes votes and no no votes.

Under the agenda's consent-agenda procedure, adopting the remaining items also adopted the staff recommendations for those ordinances. The first, Ordinance 6839, amends parts of Titles 13 and 19 of the Loveland Municipal Code to update and clarify water-use rules. Staff said the purpose is to modernize the city's water-efficiency regulations, improve clarity and enforceability, and promote responsible water use across residential, commercial and institutional sectors in line with Loveland's 2020 Water Efficiency Plan.

Among other changes, the water ordinance rewrites the city's section on wasting water to make it unlawful for a city water utility customer to waste water or negligently fail to take reasonable measures to prevent waste. It also authorizes notices of violation, repair periods, possible extensions approved by the utilities director, and possible temporary discontinuation of water service if corrective action is not completed. Another section gives the city manager or a designee authority to impose potable-water restrictions during a water shortage, projected shortage or other emergency affecting the water supply or distribution system.

The second measure, Ordinance 6840, updates sections 8.10.140 and 3.16.020 of city code to align with Ballot Issue 2F approved by voters in 2024. Staff said the ordinance requires each retail marijuana business to collect and remit a 5% excise tax on retail marijuana and retail marijuana products sold at the licensed premises, in addition to applicable city sales taxes. Both ordinances are listed to take effect July 21, 2026.