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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20102219.tiff RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS MINUTES BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, COLORADO SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 The Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, met in regular session in full conformity with the laws of the State of Colorado at the regular place of meeting in the Weld County Centennial Center, Greeley, Colorado, September 22, 2010, at the hour of 9:00 a.m. ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by the Chair and on roll call the following members were present, constituting a quorum of the members thereof: Commissioner Douglas Rademacher, Chair Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer, Pro-Tem Commissioner Sean P. Conway Commissioner William F. Garcia Commissioner David E. Long Also present: County Attorney, Bruce T. Barker Acting Clerk to the Board, Elizabeth Strong Director of Finance and Administration, Monica Mika MINUTES: Commissioner Long moved to approve the minutes of the Board of County Commissioners meeting of September 20, 2010, as printed. Commissioner Conway seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA: Commissioner Garcia moved to add the following Presentation to the Agenda: 3) Dearfield 100th Year Anniversary Celebration —September 26, 2010; and the following New Item of Business: 4) Consider Amendment #1 to Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Agreement and authorize Chair to sign. Seconded by Commissioner Conway, the motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC INPUT: Doug Meyer, Weld County resident, indicated he spoke to the Board on September 8, 2010, about preparing for the most dangerous session in Congress and he submitted a document into the record on that date, marked Exhibit B. He stated the Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors (DREAM) Act has been included in the Defense Authorization Bill, and Senator Harry Reid wants to include the Clean Water Restoration Act, SB787; the Wildlife Corridor Conservation Act, HR5101; and the Consolidated Land, Energy and Aquatic Resources (CLEAR) Act, HR3534, all under the new Farm Bill. He stated that he previously invited the Board to attend a meeting last Wednesday in the City of Fort Morgan, and the attendees discussed this topic; however, none of the Commissioners were able to attend. Mr. Meyer indicated he submitted a document into the record on September 20, 2010, marked Exhibit A, regarding nine (9) reasons to avoid cooperating agency status. He stated the duty to coordinate is not subject to limitations, other than the failure of the local government to exercise the authority granted to it by Congress. He stated courts have determined if Congress defines a word in one (1) statute and uses the same word in a sister statute, it is intended to apply to all similar statutes; therefore, the criteria defined in the Federal Land Policy Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 applies to Minutes, September 22, 2010 2010-2219 I " �� Page 1 BC0016 every other Federal statute where Congress directs the agencies to coordinate with the local government. Mr. Meyer stated many State agencies are also obligated to coordinate with the local governments, for example, the State of California has over 25 State statutes requiring coordination. He stated State agencies may also be required to coordinate with the local governments when the agencies are linked to a Federal agency which is obligated to coordinate. Mr. Meyer indicated he found an item from Sharon Krogan in his files, who has spoken to the Board regarding 1041 powers, and she wants people to know the Aaron water pipeline project will be constructing a 60 to 120-inch pipeline with lift stations throughout the route to move water uphill, within the super slab corridor, and prime agricultural land will be in danger. Commissioner Garcia indicated he will research the matter. Commissioner Conway stated the DREAM Act was defeated yesterday afternoon, among other provisions in the Defense Authorization Bill, in a cloture vote; therefore, those issues have been addressed for the remainder of the legislative session. He stated the new Farm Bill will not be complete until the year 2012, and it is unlikely there will be any action regarding the existing Farm Bill in the remaining weeks of this legislative session. Mr. Meyer indicated many Bills cannot pass on their own; therefore, the Bills will be bundled and included as parts of other Bills, and he has heard this will be occurring within the new Farm Bill. Commissioner Conway stated he and Chair Rademacher attended a listening session conducted by Senator Michael Bennet and Congresswoman Betsy Markey at Aims Community College, where many items were discussed which may be included in the new Farm Bill. CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner Conway moved to approve the Consent Agenda as printed. Commissioner Long seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. PRESENTATIONS: RECOGNITION OF SERVICES, FAIR BOARD - HOLLEE HAYES: Chair Rademacher read the certificate into the record, recognizing Hollee Hayes for two (2) years of service on the Fair Board. Commissioner Conway stated he served with Ms. Hayes on the Fair Board over the past year, and she has been a valuable member. He thanked Ms. Hayes for her service to the citizens of Weld County. Chair Rademacher concurred with Commissioner Conway, and he stated the Fair Board is one (1) of the most difficult boards to serve on, and the Fair Board is very active. RECOGNITION OF SERVICES, AREA AGENCY ON AGING ADVISORY BOARD — DR. JERRY WEIL: Chair Rademacher read the certificate into the record, recognizing Jerry Weil for two (2) years of service on the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Board. Commissioner Garcia stated he served with Dr. Weil on the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Board, and Dr. Weil has been a great asset to the community and to the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Board. Commissioner Conway concurred with Commissioner Garcia, and he stated Dr. Weil takes his responsibilities seriously and he has been a valuable resource to the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Board. DEARFIELD 100TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION - SEPTEMBER 26, 2010: Chair Rademacher read the certificate into the record, recognizing September 26, 2010, as the 100th Anniversary of the Town of Dearfield. He commended Commissioner Garcia for his involvement with leading this effort. Commissioner Garcia stated that Commissioner Conway will be attending the celebration and he will read the certificate at the event. Commissioner Conway stated the activities this weekend would not have happened without Commissioner Garcia's diligence and tenacity. He stated Commissioner Garcia has successfully utilized available resources, for example, he utilized AmeriCorp to stabilize several buildings after a blizzard in the year 2007, and he has been active in obtaining recognition of the historical significance of the area. Commissioner Kirkmeyer commended Commissioner Garcia for his work on this matter. Minutes, September 22, 2010 2010-2219 Page 2 BC0016 COMMISSIONER COORDINATOR REPORTS: Commissioner Garcia stated tonight and tomorrow will be the final work session and meeting for the Northern Colorado Cultural Tourism Alliance. He stated there will be a meeting tonight, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., in the Del Camino area within the City of Longmont, and another meeting tomorrow, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Community Center in the City of Fort Lupton. He indicated the first two (2) meetings went well, and if anyone would like to attend, they should consider what they would want to show a visiting family member in their community and what makes Weld County unique. Commissioner Garcia indicated Weld and Larimer Counties are partners in a grant to complete tourism planning, and the Counties are collaboratively working to create tools for marketing the area, for the tourism sites and for those in the hospitality industry. Commissioner Kirkmeyer indicated she plans on attending the meeting tomorrow and she is looking forward to it. Commissioner Kirkmeyer commended Commissioner Conway for his role in organizing the Cattle Barons Ball, which is a premier fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. She stated the Cattle Barons Ball was last Saturday and it brought a great deal of people to Weld County and the event was excellent. Chair Rademacher stated he also attended the Ball, and he commended Commissioner Conway for doing a fantastic job organizing the event. Commissioner Conway stated the event was a team effort and there was an outstanding committee which planned the event, which Commissioner Kirkmeyer participated on, and he thanked Commissioner Kirkmeyer for her hard work towards making the event successful. He stated it was one (1) of the highest attended Cattle Barons Balls, which is special in these difficult economic times. Chair Rademacher stated more than 700 people attended the Ball. Commissioner Conway indicated he met with the Town of Erie last Tuesday, and the Town agreed to send a letter to the Governor supporting Weld County's request to delay the Emissions Program. He stated the Mayor of Mead has also indicated he will send a letter in support of Weld County's request; therefore, the number of entities that are requesting the Emissions Program be delayed is increasing, and he hopes the Governor will notice. He indicated the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will be providing information about the Emissions Program on Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the Aims Community College Administration Building; however, no public input will be allowed and a number of citizens are frustrated by that. Commissioner Long indicated that Colonel Skip Johnson, resident of Weld County and Commander of the 137th Space Warning Squadron, Colorado Air National Guard, has volunteered to travel to Kabul, Afghanistan, in November, 2010, and he has been appointed to be in charge of the entire United Nations command, under General David Petraeus. Commissioner Conway stated Colonel Johnson will be in his thoughts and prayers, and Chair Rademacher concurred. NEW BUSINESS: CONSIDER TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF CR 37 BETWEEN CR 80 AND SH 14: Janet Carter, Department of Public Works, stated said closure will commence September 27, 2010, through November 19, 2010, in order to construct a bridge. She stated the average daily traffic count for County Road 37 is 425 vehicles, according to a traffic count conducted in the year 2008, and magnesium chloride will be utilized for dust control on the gravel portion of County Road 80. She stated road signs, barricades, and message boards will be utilized to notify drivers of the closure. Commissioner Long moved to approve said temporary closure. Seconded by Commissioner Garcia, the motion carried unanimously. Minutes, September 22, 2010 2010-2219 Page 3 BC0016 CONSIDER NONEXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR UPGRADE AND MAINTENANCE OF CR 100 AND AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN - SLAWSON EXPLORATION (WESTERN DIVISION): Don Carroll, Department of Public Works, indicated this portion of County Road 100 is located approximately one (1) mile south of the location of the last two (2) nonexclusive license agreements he has presented to the Board, and the area north of the Town of Briggsdale is rapidly becoming developed. He stated this agreement is for County Road 100, between County Roads 73 and 75, to the Boomerang Well site. He stated staff has contacted the adjacent property owners and no negative feedback was received. In response to Chair Rademacher, Mr. Carroll confirmed the Board will likely be considering a number of nonexclusive license agreements for this area in the near future, and he stated he is currently working on several agreements for the area with various permitting agencies. Commissioner Long moved to approve said agreement and authorize the Chair to sign. Commissioner Garcia seconded the motion. Commissioner Kirkmeyer requested a contact e-mail address for Slawson Exploration, in order to invite the employees to attend a meeting on October 12, 2010. Ms. Carter indicated she has already extended the invitation to Slawson Exploration. There being no further discussion, the motion carried unanimously. CONSIDER STATEMENT OF OPPOSITION TO PROPOSITION 102: Bruce Barker, County Attorney, indicated the Board requested that he draft this Resolution, and the second paragraph of the Resolution indicates the two (2) changes which will occur to 16-4-105(3)(d), C.R.S., if Proposition 102 passes. He stated if the Proposition passes, the lawful criteria will be altered to prohibit the release of a defendant on an unsecured bond to supervision by a Pretrial Services Program, unless the defendant is arrested for a first offense on a non-violent misdemeanor; therefore, the number of defendants which are ineligible for a pretrial services program, and must remain in jail, will increase. In response to Chair Rademacher, Mr. Barker confirmed this would have an immediate and direct effect on the jails. Commissioner Kirkmeyer stated Proposition 102 would require more pretrial defendants to remain in custody, and she indicated that she supports a Resolution opposing Proposition 102, since it will increase costs to Weld County, and it will cause a successful program in Weld County to be severely limited. Commissioner Conway inquired about the fiscal consequences to the County if Proposition 102 passes. Doug Erler, Justice Services, commended the Board for placing this Resolution on the Agenda, and he stated Proposition 102 has many objectionable elements. He stated there are approximately 120 people in the Pretrial Supervision Program, with personal recognizance bonds, which is a "promise to appear" bond, and if Proposition 102 passes, those people will have to post a money bond, or they will have to stay in jail. He stated these are defendants the courts have deemed to be low-risk and the courts have set appropriate conditions of the defendants' pretrial releases. Mr. Erler stated if Proposition 102 passes, it will have a significant fiscal impact on every county in the State, and the Colorado Legislative Council has estimated it will have a fiscal impact in the amount of $2,500,000.00; however, he thinks that amount is severely underestimated, due to the daily costs of retaining defendants in jail. He stated this is an initiative driven by bondsmen to gain money and control, and decision making powers will be taken away from the courts, district attorneys, and county officials. Mr. Erler indicated Proposition 102 goes against everything pertaining to fair justice and it will have a societal impact, including impacting the Department of Human Services by preventing people to care for their families, as well as preventing people from retaining their jobs and paying taxes. Chair Rademacher inquired as to whether Mr. Erler has been tracking the polls in regards to Proposition 102. Mr. Erler indicated he has not had the resources available to track the polls on Proposition 102; however, he is concerned that Proposition 102 reads as a public safety measure to the common citizen when it really is not, and he hopes the voters will be able to envision the consequences which will occur if it passes. Commissioner Garcia stated he has worked on the Pretrial Services Advisory Board with Mr. Erler, and it includes judges, district attorneys, members from the community, Minutes, September 22, 2010 2010-2219 Page 4 BC0016 and the Public Defender. He stated the Pretrial Services Advisory Board has worked hard at ensuring the public safety, good supervision of the people in the Pretrial Services Program, and not letting people with a propensity to violent crime into the Program. He inquired as to whether Proposition 102 will remove the choice for people to participate in a Pretrial Services Program, as opposed to post a money bond. Mr. Erler clarified it will remove the choice of the courts, since if a court wants to utilize a Pretrial Services Program, it will be required to issue a cash property or commercial surety bond on the defendant, and the only time the courts will be able to assign an individual to Pretrial Services with a personal recognizance bond, is when it is a first offense for a non-violent misdemeanor, which is approximately .5 percent of the people who are arrested. He indicated Pretrial Services Programs typically supervise individuals on a commercial surety bond; therefore, Pretrial Services Programs assist the bondsmen in their business endeavors, and Pretrial Services Programs facilitate more court appearances than the bondsmen. Commissioner Kirkmeyer moved to approve said Resolution. Seconded by Commissioner Long, the motion carried unanimously. CONSIDER AMENDMENT #1 TO COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (CSBG) AGREEMENT AND AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN: Judy Griego, Director, Department of Human Services, stated this amendment was reviewed at a work session this morning and it affects Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. She stated the Department wants to add a new activity to the agreement, which is providing resources for food donations to the Weld County Food Bank, and the funds must be incurred by September 30, 2010. Commissioner Conway moved to approve. Commissioner Kirkmeyer seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES: The resolutions were presented and signed as listed on the Consent Agenda. No Ordinances were approved. Let the minutes reflect that the above and foregoing actions were attested to and respectfully submitted by the Acting Clerk to the Board. There being no further business, this meeting was adjourned at 9:36 a.m. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ELD COUN, RADO ATTEST: lnn n gla ademach r hair Weld County Clerk to the ar 1861 1/..- " - + rbara Kirkmeyq , Pro-Tem BY: iPDeputy Clerk to the Bo 14 1 Sean P. o. y (j C-77— ' m F. Garcia ^ David E. Long Minutes, September 22, 2010 2010-2219 Page 5 BC0016 Hello