Record of Proceedings
Foothills Park & Recreation District Regular Board of Directors meeting
June 25, 2024
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: Ronald Hopp, Executive Director; Becky Richmond, Director of Recreation; Derek Eberhardt, Assistant Director of Recreation; Dennis Weiner, Director of Finance and Administrative Services; 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 Writz moved that the Foothills Board of Directors approve the June 25, 2024 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 Writz moved that the Foothills Board of Directors approve the minutes of the May 28, 2024 board meeting as submitted. 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.
Community Comments
There were no community comments.
Decision Items
Board Policy Manual Review Update
Ronald Hopp acknowledged that staff and the Board have been working since September to update the Board Policy Manual and these are the last three policies.
Mr. Hopp discussed the Parks Naming and Renaming Policy with changes in red. He talked about a request for a park renaming about five years ago and the Board struggled with that request, and ultimately decided not to rename the park. The requesting parties went on and named a ballfield which was accepted by that Board. There was discussion and Mr. Hopp answered questions from the Board.
Mr. Hopp described the Matching Funds Policy, with no changes recommended. Director Daughtrey pointed out on the second page under Project Review and Analysis, there should be a space between for and a. Mr. Hopp discussed staff have no changes for the Prairie Dog Management Plan. There was discussion and questions were answered. Mr. Hopp clarified no suggested changes to the Prairie Dog Management Plan and expressed appreciation for Director Writz’s comments.
Motion: Director Daughtrey moved that in the effort to update the Board Policy Manual, the Foothills Board of Directors approve the attached policy recommendations as amended. 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 thanked the board members who were part of the various open houses and dedications for Sixth Avenue West Pool, Columbine West Pool and Foothills Golf Course Clubhouse.
Mr. Hopp pointed out the continued concerts at Clement Park. Red, White & You is Wednesday, July 3rd at Clement Park, more volunteers are needed.
Mr. Hopp discussed that he, Sean Kitners, and Sarah McAfee met with a Jefferson County Open Space trails coordinator to review future trail connections. Mr. Hopp recognized that after the Dutch Creek Trail, most of the District’s major trail corridors will be completed. He said staff will continue to monitor and see if there are any future connections where the District can apply for grants.
Tomorrow is our Bike to Work Day event and staff meeting at Clement Park, Mr. Hopp explained.
Mr. Hopp thanked the Board and staff for support while he was out.
Discussion Items
Item 1: Finance Update
Outlining the report provided, Mr. Weiner presented the District’s financial update through May 31st of this year and went through highlights of the report. He outlined total District year-to-date operating revenues, total District year-to-date operating expenditures, net operating loss, non-operating revenue and expenditures.
Mr. Weiner concluded that as a result of all of the District’s activity, net revenue was better than the budget.
Item 2: 2024 Mill Levy Extension Election Capital Improvements
Mr. Hopp recalled that at the March meeting, we talked about all of the projects, in great detail, that were accomplished with the 2017 mill levy election. We are talking about having a question on the November 2024 ballot to extend, without raising taxes, the 2.75 mill levy into perpetuity.
Using PowerPoint, Mr. Hopp talked about the projects that would likely be promoted as part of the 2024 mill levy extension.
As a review, Mr. Hopp gave an overview of the 2.75 mill levy that was approved in 2017 with 58 percent approval. It had a nine-year sunset and if it is not extended, it will expire at the end of 2026. If it is not extended, Mr. Hopp discussed property tax revenue that the District will not be collecting in 2027 and future years, it would be detrimental to the District’s overall services.
Mr. Hopp went through things the 2.75 mill levy funded. All 32 park and trail site improvements, in addition to other things that were promoted, will have been accomplished by the end of 2024 and early 2025. He pointed out there were also Information Technology projects, facility repairs, and major equipment.
If extended, Mr. Hopp said the District would continue to provide the enhanced services that we were able to add in 2017 including: in irrigated parks – better turf quality, fertilizers, overseeding, aeration, better tree quality, improved inspections and replacements, landscape bed maintenance, weed management, playground maintenance, water conservation, graffiti and vandalism mitigation. Improvements in native non-irrigated park areas – continue better vegetation removal, noxious weed removal, trail maintenance, inspections and repairs, tree pruning, noxious tree removal. Also would provide better preventative maintenance enhancements, energy conservation measures, aesthetic improvements in facilities.
Mr. Hopp discussed parks and trails projects and accomplishments. Instead of the 32 sites that have already been done, staff have identified sites that have not yet been addressed, Mr. Hopp discussed those items. He recognized there will always be other parks and other improvements that were not addressed with initial projects that staff will be addressing in future years.
Mr. Hopp discussed updating recreation facilities, improvement and continued improvements to all existing parks, recreation, golf, and maintenance facilities.
If the extension fails, Mr. Hopp recognized it is a decrease of nearly 30 percent of the District’s property tax revenues; $4.8 million in year 2027, and probably growing after that. He indicated it is likely that the services looking to be reduced would be the non-cost covering or non-revenue producing areas of the District, which is primarily parks. It also would mean that there would be no capital repairs or improvements. Mr. Hopp talked about the negative impact to the 15-year financial forecast.
Mr. Hopp went over the draft ballot language, not a formal approval at this time. It was sent to the consultant who has assisted the District in the past with polling, she offered suggestions and Mr. Rufien has reviewed, Mr. Hopp discussed. There was discussion, and consensus on the ballot language.
Mr. Hopp went over the next steps. It is a mail ballot election, district-wide, election day is November 5th.
Executive Session
Director Trimble announced that no business will be conducted after the Board comes back out of Executive Session. The Board will come back long enough to adjourn the meeting.
Contract Negotiations per 24-6-402(4)(e), C.R.S.
Motion: Director Daughtrey moved that the Foothills Board of Directors go into Executive Session for Contractual Negotiations per Colorado Revised Statutes 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 6:49 p.m. Executive Session started at 6:55 p.m. and ended at 7:32 p.m. The regular meeting reconvened at 7:33 p.m.
Adjournment
The regular meeting adjourned at 7:33 p.m. The next regular board meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
Submitted by: Richelle Riley, Recording Secretary