Record of Proceedings
Foothills Park & Recreation District Regular Board of Directors meeting
September 24, 2024
A virtual attendance option was made available through Microsoft Teams.
Call to Order
Director Hanson called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Director Hanson led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
Roll Call
Director Hanson, Present; Director Lodice, Present; Director Daughtrey, Present; Director Writz, Present; Director Trimble, arrived 6:51 p.m.
Also in Attendance: Paul Rufien, District Counsel; Ronald Hopp, Executive Director; Dennis Weiner, Director of Finance and Administrative Services; Becky Richmond, Director of Recreation; Derek Eberhardt, Assistant 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 Writz moved that the Foothills Board of Directors approve the September 24, 2024 agenda as submitted. Director Lodice seconded the motion. Poll of the Board: Director Hanson, yes; Director Lodice, yes; Director Daughtrey, yes; Director Writz, 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 August 27, 2024 board meeting as submitted. Director Writz seconded the motion. Poll of the Board: Director Hanson, yes; Director Lodice, yes; Director Daughtrey, yes; Director Writz, yes. The motion was approved.
Community Comments
There were no community comments.
Decision Items
Item 1: Resolution in Support of November 5, 2024 Ballot Issue
Mr. Hopp indicated for the Board’s consideration is a Resolution in Support of the November 5, 2024 ballot issue. He reminded that the District is conducting a coordinated election with Jefferson County to extend the District’s current operational mill levy that if not extended, would expire at the end of 2026.
Mr. Hopp explained that once the resolution is passed to conduct an election, the District cannot do any advocacy type of campaigning, it would have to be done by an advocacy group for the District. The Board can pass a Resolution of Support that says what the District is doing, Mr. Hopp detailed the resolution.
In answer to Director Writz, Mr. Hopp explained that this does not hamstring the District to not consider something in the future. If successful, this will extend the 2.75 mills into perpetuity. If the District finds itself in a financial situation where we need to ask for additional revenues either through operational mills or through bond issues, we can go back to the voters in the future. Mr. Hopp made clear the Board has already approved the resolution to move forward with the election, this is a resolution demonstrating support as a Board.
Motion: Director Daughtrey moved that the Foothills Board of Directors approve Resolution No. 24-006 in support of the mill levy continuation as discussed. Director Lodice seconded the motion. Poll of the Board: Director Hanson, yes; Director Lodice, yes; Director Daughtrey, yes; Director Writz, yes. The motion was approved.
Item 2: Memorial Bench Application
Referring to the information in the packet, Colin Insley said staff received a memorial bench request from Sharon Routa in memory of her mother and sister who passed away. They lived near Sunrise Creek Park and used the park extensively.
Motion: Director Writz moved that the Foothills Board of Directors approve the request from Sharon Routa to place a memorial bench in Sunrise Creek Park. Director Lodice seconded the motion. Poll of the Board: Director Hanson, yes; Director Lodice, yes; Director Daughtrey, yes; Director Writz, yes. The motion was approved.
Executive Director’s Report
Highlighting the report provided, Mr. Hopp made the Board aware of an issue with the Miracle League of Metro Denver (MLMD). Staff were made aware that MLMD announced on their social media platforms that they were moving. Staff were not aware that they were considering moving, Mr. Hopp explained. Mr. Rufien has been actively engaged with their attorney on renegotiating the joint-use contract with them. They moved to a Denver site. Mr. Hopp discussed that staff are evaluating the feasibility of the District programming the field. He reiterated the District has worked with MLMD since 2005, they moved on without notification that they were considering doing that. Mr. Hopp answered questions from the Board.
Mr. Hopp pointed out that some staff virtually attended several sessions of the SDA Annual Conference.
A member of the public had come to a couple of board meetings with concerns about a fence, Mr. Hopp discussed. The Board asked staff for a recommendation related to fencing adjacent to the Executive 9 fence on Foothills Golf Course. The citizen had initially requested $14,000 for the District to participate financially to repair the fence owned by their HOA, she lowered the request to $5,000. Mr. Hopp related to the Board that there are 2,649 homes throughout the District that back up to District-owned property, many of those probably have fences. In his 16 years of being with the District, Mr. Hopp said he does not recall a time when the District has financially participated in the replacement or refurbishment of a privately-owned fence. In situations where the District has caused a problem with a fence, the District takes responsibility for that. In this case, we do not feel like the District has a responsibility. Mr. Hopp pointed out that the residents had never expressed a concern with the water prior to the HOA looking into repainting the fence. As a result, due to the age of the fence and having not received any prior complaints, and the fact that it is privately owned, staff is recommending that the District not financially participate in the refurbishment or restoration of the fence. Mr. Hopp added that golf staff have been asked to remove or let a strip of the turf adjacent to the fence convert to native grasses, so water is not continually going up against that area. There was discussion and Board consensus to accept the recommendation from staff.
In answer to Director Writz, Mr. Hopp talked about the beavers at Sanctuary Park. There are beavers in the pond that is in the middle of Meadows Sanctuary, Williamsburg II, Songbird and Falling Waters subdivisions. Staff manages them, he explained. There are some people in that area who believe the beavers should be mitigated or relocated and there are people who want to leave them alone. The District met with them and convinced the residents there that we would continue to monitor the beavers and leave them alone. Mr. Hopp and Mr. Insley explained what staff are doing so the beavers are not causing too much damage and taking down trees. Mr. Insley recognized there has not been any complaints of trees being down by the beavers as of late.
Mr. Hopp provided an update on the November 5th election.
Discussion Items
Item 1: 2025 Proposed Budget Estimates
In accordance with Colorado Revised Statutes 29-1-105 and 106, staff are required to submit the 2025 budget estimates to the governing Board by October 15, 2024, Mr. Hopp said. In order to satisfy legal requirements, staff will present estimated revenues and expenditures for the 2025 budget year. Mr. Hopp pointed out a document in the packet that reflects the estimated expenditures equal to estimated revenues for 2025 for a balanced budget. The budget is provided for public inspection at the front desk at the Peak, Budget Hearing in December has been published in the Jeffco Transcript.
Using PowerPoint, Mr. Hopp gave a brief overview of the 2025 Proposed Budget. He added that at the October meeting, staff will provide a general overview of the whole budget, Administrative Services and Golf staff will provide more detailed information about their specific budgets. During the November meeting, Recreation and Parks staff will provide more detailed information about their specific budgets. Mr. Hopp said in December the Board will be asked to consider a final budget along with resolutions for Adoption of Budget, Appropriation of Funds and Certification of Mill Levies. Mr. Hopp reminded the Board that if there are things they want to have addressed, or any changes, provide those to staff as we go through the process at the October and November meetings. At the December meeting, staff should have the final product.
Mr. Hopp went over significant estimates for items included in the budget that have not been finalized, and significant assumptions included in the budget. At this point in time, the 2025 budget is balanced. There are total estimated revenues of $38,563,325 and total estimated expenditures of $38,563,325. He reiterated that the bottom line will probably change between now and December.
Mr. Hopp referred to legislation that has been going on with the special session. Starting with the Gallagher Amendment in 2020, Dennis Weiner has been doing a good job of keeping abreast of that. Mr. Weiner gave an overview of all the legislation and how it is impacting our District. He said for tax year 2024, which is collected in 2025, there is no impact from House Bill 24B-1001. Using PowerPoint, he gave a summary of rates that will change and a summary of the potential impact on the District resulting from House Bill 24B-1001 rate reductions. Mr. Weiner reiterated there is no impact expected related to the 2025 budget year but gave the Board an idea of what this looks like in the future for the District and the need to take this into account for long range planning and discussed.
Item 2: Finance Update
Referring to the report provided, Dennis Weiner presented the District’s financial update through August 31st and detailed the highlights. He discussed total District year-to-date operating revenues, total District year-to-date operating expenditures, net operating loss, non-operating revenue and expenditures.
Mr. Weiner reported that bottom line, net revenue was better than the budget.
Director Writz asked for an update on the issue Maureen Sielaff had brought to the Board. Mr. Hopp said staff worked with the HOA and Ms. Sielaff. We hired a hydrology engineer to assess the issue. The hydrologist did not think the water coming off the slope was causing any significant drainage issues for their property. There was a social trail that went down that general direction that the hydrologist felt could potentially accumulate water, so we agreed to remove that, Mr. Hopp explained. The HOA contracted with a landscaper to do a whole new drainage system within their development, he explained. Mr. Hopp said it has been satisfactorily resolved, both by the District and the HOA.
Adjournment
The regular meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m. The next regular board meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
Submitted by: Richelle Riley, Recording Secretary