Record of Proceedings
Foothills Park & Recreation District Regular Board of Directors meeting
March 25, 2025
A virtual attendance option was made available through Microsoft Teams.
Call to Order
Director Trimble called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Director Trimble led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
Roll Call
Director Hanson, Absent; Director Lodice, Present; Director Daughtrey, Present; Director Writz, Present; Director Trimble, Present.
Also in Attendance: Paul Rufien, District Counsel; Ronald Hopp, Executive Director; Dennis Weiner, Director of Finance and Administrative Services; Becky Richmond, Director of Recreation; Colin Insley, Director of Parks, Planning and Construction; Randy Meyers, Director of Golf; Richelle Riley, Recording Secretary; other Foothills staff and members of the public.
Potential conflicts of interest were disclosed pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes 18-8-308(2), 24-18-109(3)(a), 24-18-110, and 32-1-902(3).
Approval of Agenda
Motion: Director Lodice moved that the Foothills Board of Directors approve the March 25, 2025 agenda as submitted. Director Daughtrey seconded the motion. Poll of the Board: Director Lodice, yes; Director Daughtrey, yes; Director Writz, yes; Director Trimble, yes. The motion was approved.
Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
Motion: Director Lodice moved that the Foothills Board of Directors approve the minutes of the February 25, 2025 board meeting as submitted. Director Writz seconded the motion. Poll of the Board: Director Lodice, yes; Director Daughtrey, yes; Director Writz, yes; Director Trimble, yes. The motion was approved.
Community Comments
There were no community comments.
Decision Items
Energy Performance Contract Phase III
Referring to the memo provided, Ronald Hopp reminded the Board that the District has had two phases of Energy Performance Contracts and elaborated; Phase III is to address end-of-life type of equipment. He recognized that in the 2020 and 2024 mill levy extensions, water conservation and energy efficiency were outlined, and making sure equipment is addressed. The Phase III project does do that.
Mr. Hopp outlined the project goals and project justifications listed in the memo. He observed that prices continue to escalate and performing major projects sooner rather than later is going to be more cost effective, and some cost savings will be realized with these improvements.
Referring to the chart and memo provided in the packet, Mr. Hopp detailed the major projects staff are looking at doing at Edge Ice Arena, Ridge Recreation Center, Maintenance Service Center, Clement Park Maintenance Building, Foothills Golf Course, Meadows Golf Club, Peak Community & Wellness Center. Mr. Hopp pointed out the chart outlining each project, the cost associated, and the total guaranteed maximum price. He discussed revenue sources for the project that were part of the capital project information provided to the Board in January. Mr. Hopp said the Colorado Energy Office reviewed and approved the proposed contract amendment with McKinstry. He acknowledged that Terry Green was in attendance to answer any questions on specific projects.
Director Lodice questioned the Foothills Golf Clubhouse Building Automation System, it’s a newer building, why wasn’t this a consideration before. Mr. Hopp said there is a building automation system that was specced with the overall building, but it is not the one we have for all of the other buildings. Staff thought it would be more efficient to be part of the same system. Director Daughtrey asked why we didn’t use the same system for that as the other ones. Mr. Hopp explained it wasn’t addressed at the time it was planned. In answer to Director Writz, Mr. Hopp said McKinstry is the general contractor for the project.
Mr. Hopp suggested the Foothills Golf Clubhouse Building Automation System could be eliminated from the project and use the secondary system. There was discussion, Mr. Hopp and Terry Green answered questions from the Board. Mr. Green discussed giving the contractor the challenge of bringing the system in at a cheaper price. The Board agreed. There was discussion and acknowledgment that Foothills Golf Clubhouse Building Automation System is one percent of the project. Director Trimble said he would like to see us squeeze it a little bit if we could, but not worth spending a lot of man hours to whittle it down, ultimately move forward. Mr. Hopp confirmed it makes sense to see if there is a way to incorporate that at a more reasonable rate.
In regard to changing the motion, Director Trimble recognized the motion authorizes the Executive Director to execute documents as discussed. He clarified the Board is giving staff the option of moving forward with it if it is determined after discussion that we can’t reasonably get the price down.
Motion: Director Writz moved that the Foothills Board of Directors approve the staff recommended Energy Performance Contract Phase III, totaling $5,122,407.00 funded by District Capital Funds budgeted for 2025 and further authorize the Executive Director to execute all required documents as discussed, subject to staff and legal counsel approval. Director Lodice seconded the motion. Poll of the Board: Director Lodice, yes; Director Daughtrey, yes; Director Writz, yes; Director Trimble, yes. The motion was approved.
Executive Director’s Report
Highlighting the report provided, Mr. Hopp pointed out that he, Becky Richmond and Colin Insley met with a gentleman who invented a disc golf rental box and wants to install it at Fehringer Ranch as a test. If it is successful, Mr. Hopp said the District will share in some of the revenues.
Mr. Hopp pointed out photos of the progress related to the bike sculpture that is going to be installed at the trail head of the Dutch Creek Trail by the Ridge as it proceeds west. He said the District has contracted with a gentleman who works for the District, and is part of the Men’s Club, to do a mural at Foothills Golf Course on the east side of the driving range building.
Distributed to the Board was an article about a major recreation complex that is proposed to be built south of the District along Waterton Canyon Road in the Sterling Ranch area, Mr. Hopp discussed.
Mr. Hopp added that the election is set for ballots to be mailed the week of April 14th in Ward 3. The two candidates are Ali Lodice and Scott Lamer. In Ward 4, the one candidate was Gina Writz, so she did not have to run for election.
Mr. Hopp discussed that the Mile High BMX group, which is an organization that leases land and operates the BMX track at the Schaefer Athletic Complex, applied to host a national event at the site in 2025. They were successful with receiving the bid and it is scheduled for the weekend of July 18 – 20. They are estimating there could be as many as 2000 riders and 7500 spectators on a daily basis. Staff plan to have meetings with the organizers to talk about parking, trash, site logistics, all those sorts of things, and any permits they might need.
Mr. Hopp discussed that staff noticed on social media last Sunday that BMX brought in some bleachers that were donated to them from Bandimere Speedway. They had volunteers installing them. Mr. Hopp and Mr. Insley met with BMX on site and had serious concerns with the bleachers that they are in the process of installing. Mr. Hopp noted that the agreement with BMX states that they need to clear all projects with the District. They did not notify the District that they had these bleachers donated, and just brought them in.
Using PowerPoint, Mr. Hopp showed photos of the bleachers, and talked about their condition, installation and safety concerns. He observed they are probably 75 feet long and 15 rows up. Mr. Hopp gave the Board a bleacher inspection check list that was provided to BMX for them to respond to, the response was that they would take care of all of it, and talked about how they would address ADA accessibility. Mr. Hopp said the bleachers are about 18 feet from the ground at the tallest part. Director Daughtrey advised to shut them down until we get verification on the permits, reach out to Colorado Special Districts Property and Liability Pool and have them look at it, this has to stop, we are at risk. Board discussion ensued about the condition and safety concerns of the bleachers. Concerns were expressed about kids playing on it, Mr. Hopp indicated the facility is fenced in and closed and controlled.
Regarding risk, Paul Rufien said BMX is the first line of liability, the District is the second line. Discussion continued. Mr. Hopp reiterated staff are very concerned and wanted to bring it to the Board’s attention. Director Lodice expressed it appears they are trying to cut corners. Mr. Hopp suggested our first step is to notify them that these bleachers are not allowed, if there is concurrence from the Board. The Board concurred, Mr. Hopp can work with Mr. Rufien to notify them, Mr. Hopp discussed.
Mr. Hopp explained that the District’s agreement with Mile High BMX has a clause saying they have a 20-day cure period and then we can proceed towards termination of the agreement if they don’t comply. He noted that the agreement ends in August, we will need cooperation and if the national event does proceed, staff will be paying attention to that and whether or not the agreement gets extended.
Discussion Items
Finance Update
Dennis Weiner reported the District’s financial update for the end of February. Highlighting the report provided, Mr. Weiner went over total District year-to-date operating revenue, total year-to-date operating expenditures, net operating loss, non-operating revenue and expenditures.
Looking at the bottom line through the end of February, Mr. Weiner concluded that net revenue was better than the budget.
Executive Session
Contract Negotiations per 24-6-402(4)(e), C.R.S.
Director Trimble announced that no business will occur after the Board comes back from Executive Session. The regular session will close the meeting.
Motion: Director Daughtrey moved that the Foothills Board of Directors move into Executive Session for Contract Negotiations pursuant to Colorado Revised Statute 24-6-402(4)(e). Director Lodice seconded the motion. Poll of the Board: Director Lodice, yes; Director Daughtrey, yes; Director Writz, yes; Director Trimble, yes. The motion was approved.
The regular meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Executive Session started at 6:50 p.m. and ended at 7:17 p.m. The regular meeting reconvened at 7:18 p.m.
Adjournment
The regular meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m. The next regular board meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Submitted by: Richelle Riley, Recording Secretary