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Home My WebLink About20013214.tiff OFFICE OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS • if • 915 10TH STREET 1 P.O. BOX 758 GREELEY, COLORADO 80632 C, WEBSIPH:PHONE: 336- 204 PHONE: 970-336-7204 FAX: 970-352-0242 COLORADO November 13, 2001 Weld County Council FOB 758 Greeley CO 80632 Dear Council Members: Upon concluding the 2002 budget work sessions, the Board of Weld County Commissioners believes that more resources are needed for roads. Weld County continues to experience increased growth. One area in which growth manifests itself is on the county roadway system.The impact is on both paved and gravel roads. The service level expectations have increased and tolerance for the status quo is becoming more and more unacceptable to the traveling public. On gravel roads, complaints include washboard surfaces, lack of crown, dust, narrow traveled way, and muddy surfaces, to name a few. On paved roads there is also more and more traffic related to growth. A transportation impact fee study shows that by 2020, over$68 million will be needed for roadway improvements in Southwest Weld County alone,and another$79 million in roadway improvements will be needed in the Windsor/Severance area west of Greeley. The impact fees will cover approximately 50%of the anticipated costs. In these two high growth areas alone, a$73+million gap in funding exists between now and 2020 for paved roads. During the last ten years, Weld County's population has grown 37.3%, or an average of nearly 4% per year. Inflation in the same time frame has averaged over 4% per year. Meanwhile, Weld County government has not exceeded the 5% property tax limitation. Much to the credit of past commissioners and county employees, Weld County has been able to meet the service demands in most areas. The one area that is an exception is in the road and bridge service area. It will become a crisis situation in the near future as growth continues to impact the road system and place even higher demands on it. For the safety and welfare of the citizens of Weld County, we are asking for your help in solving this problem. With the TABOR amendment and the Weld County Home Rule Charter's 5% property tax limitation, there is little room for additional resources. However, in the 2002 budget there is a rare opportunity to seek additional property tax revenues above the 5% property tax limitation, stay within the TABOR limitation, and still reduce the mill levy for the Weld County taxpayers. In the 2002 budget, there is a difference of $2,675,472 between the 5% property tax limitation and the TABOR limitation. This difference in the assessed value will allow us to reduce the mill levy by 1.49 mills, or 7%, and still levy the additional $2,675,472. /G< "te2001-3214 i/ - i9 -© / Weld County Council Page 2 November 7, 2001 The levying of the additional amount above the 5% limitation is provided for in Section 14-7 (2) of the Weld County Home Rule Charter. This section provides that the County Commissioners may ask the County Council to grant an increased mill levy above the 5%property tax limit if additional funds are needed. However, no such excess levy shall be granted that would allow a greater revenue than would be produced by applying the previous year's mill levy to the current year's assessed valuation. The additional levy of$2,675,472 above the 5%limitation would require a mill levy of 20.548, which is 1.49 mill below the previous year's mill levy of 22.038. Therefore, the requested amount fits within the authority of the County Council to grant approval. The request would be the first time since the TABOR Amendment was passed in 1992 for Weld County to go to the TABOR limit, unlike all other local jurisdictions in Colorado who do so routinely. As pointed out earlier, the 5% limitation has allowed Weld County to keep up with inflation since TABOR was passed, but it has not allowed property tax revenues to keep up with the growth in the county during the last five to ten years. The area that has suffered the most in this county is the transportation system. We propose earmarking the entire amount of$2,675,472 for road and bridge purposes in the 2002 budget and subsequent years. With the municipal 50% share back provision of road and bridge county property taxes levied on properties within municipalities, under state law the municipalities would receive$652,310 of the added county property tax. The net increase retained by the county for road and bridge purposes would be $2,023,161 in 2002. Therefore, in accordance with Section 14-7(2)of the Weld County Home Rule Charter, the Board of Weld County Commissioners has determined that Weld County is in need of'additional funds for county roads and bridges and hereby formally submits the question to the Weld County Council for an increased levy for a total levy amount of $45,619,589 for fiscal year 2002. The County Commissioners unanimously recommend your approval of this request for the safety and welfare of the citizens of Weld County. County staff has prepared a draft resolution for your consideration. Thank you for your assistance and cooperation in this and ail matters. Very ly yours, . J. Geiie, Chair Af///i,l4-4).„ 11. �! Glenn V�aaem William H. Jerke O.11, ` l David E. Long Robert D. Masden cc: Don Warden BOARD OF WELD COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S REQUEST FOR 2002 INCREASED LEVY TO WELD COUNTY COUNCIL I. Section 14-7(2) Weld County Home Rule Charter A. Text of Section 14-7(2) B. Process II. Why the Request Can Be Made For 2002 A. Weld County Home Rule Charter 5% Limitation B. TABOR Limitation C. Difference of$2,675,472 D. Reduced Mill Levy (1.49 mills or 7%) E. Oil and Gas Properties are 61% of the Increase III. Why the Request Is Being Made A. Growth: Urban Versus Rural Roads B. Needs 1. Gravel Roads 2. Dust Abatement ($40,000-$55,000/mile to stabilize, plus $4,000/mile /year to maintain) 3. Paved Roads 4. Transportation Impact Fees Study ($147 Million by 2020) IV. Use of Funds A. Gravel Roads 1. Two Additional Grader District ($145,500) 2. Overtime for Flexible Hours ($51,250) 3. Mix Materials ($50,000) 4. Roving Maintenance Crew ($289,200) B. Paved Roads ($1,543,812) 1. Strategic Road System Development 2. Map of Strategic Roads 3. Improvements a. Safety Improvements b. Pavement Enhancements c. Width of Overall Roads d. Shoulder Enhancements C. Municipal Shareback ($652,310) V. Summary of Request councdpresentatlon . Section 14-7 -- Limitation on Annual Tax Levy. (1) Limitation. Except as otherwise provided herein, all ad valorem tax levies for county purposes, when applied to the total valuation for assessment of the County, shall be reduced so as to prohibit the levying of a greater amount of tax revenue than was levied from ad valorem taxation in the preceding year plus five percent(5%) except to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon. (2) increased levy -- procedure. (a) If the Board be of the opinion, the amount of tax limited by the preceding Section will be insufficient for the County needs for the current year, it may submit the question of an increased levy to the County Council, and the County Council shall examine the needs of the County and ascertain from such examination the financial condition thereof, and if in the opinion of a majority of the County Council that the County is in need of additional funds, the Council may grant an increased levy for the County in such amount as it deems appropriate, and the County is authorized to make such increased levy. However, no such excess levy shall be granted which will allow a greater revenue than would be produced by applying the previous year miil� levy to the current year's assessed valuation. (b) In case the County Council refuses or fails within fifteen (15) days after submission to it of an adopted budget to grant such increased levy, or all of it, or in the event an increase beyond that which the Council is authorized to grant is sought, the question may be submitted to the qualified electors of the County at a general or special election called for that purpose. PROPERTY TAX LIMITS 2002 2002 HOME RULE CHARTER 5% $ 42,944,117 2000 MILL LEVY LIMIT: 2002 Assessed Value $ 2,220,107,879 Maximum Mill Levy .022038 2002 Property Tax Allowed $ 48,926,737 MAXIMUM PROPERTY TAX LIMIT: 2001 Total Base $ 40,768,177 COL 3.50% Growth 8.40% TOTAL 11.90% X 1.1190 Maximum Property Tax Limit $ 45,619,589 LOWER LIMITATION: MILL LEVY Home Rule Limit $ 42,944,117 19.343 Maximum Mill Levy 48,926,737 22.038 Maximum Property Tax Revenue (TABOR) 45,619,589 20.548* COMPARISON TABOR TO HOME RULE: 2002 TABOR $ 45,619,737 2002 HOME RULE 5% 42,944,117 DIFFERENCE $ 2,675,472 *MILL LEVY REDUCTION 1.490 MILLS OVER 2001 MILL LEVY • WHY IS THE REQUEST BEING MADE A. Growth: Urban Versus Rural. The majority of the county roadway system was originally constructed to provide all weather farm to market transportation services to unincorporated areas. Residential growth within towns and unincorporated areas has changed the character of the traffic using these roads. - An annual traffic growth rate of four percent is commonly used for most highway systems. Many of Weld county's arterial and collector roads have experienced double to in excess of eight fold increases in traffic volume standard over the last 10 years. (See Map). B NEEDS: 1 . GRAVEL ROADS: Many of Weld County's grave! roads are experiencing heavier traffic volume that cause many complaints about washboard surfaces, lack of crown, dust, narrow traveled way, and muddy surfaces to name a few. The service level expectations have increased and tolerance for the status quo is becoming more and more unacceptable to the traveling public. 2. DUST ABATEMENT: Current traffic counts indicate Weld County has at least 80 miles of gravel roads with traffic volumes exceeding 200 vehicles per day. State clean air regulations require the responsible governing entity to abate the dust when traffic counts exceed 200 vehicle per day. Practical dust abatement ranges from paving to dust palliatives. Dust palliative techniques range from stabilized bases costing $40,000 per mile and $4,000 per year to maintain thereafter to multiple annual surface treatments at $2,500 per application. 3. PAVED ROADS: Many are approaching life expectancy of 20 years. Shoulder widths are deficient or non- existent. Many need upgraded to urban standards to handle the traffic volume. A strategic transportation system of paved arterial roads is needed and the need will grow over the next 20 years as growth continues. 4. TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE STUDY: The transportation impact fee study done for the Windsor and Southwest Weld high growth areas call for $147 million of road improvements by 2020. The impact fees will pay for only 50% of the projected improvements. FELSBURG HOLT St ULLEVIG LAR MER COUNTY I Mead lie „ 12s.so0 •••• 'L10a . 66 NCR 30-� tl,eao 3 120 +i o rco CO .'N. 180a 1600 —I 1800 700 I 190 140 o :, • 12.25L0, f;� / 2100 O — 210 -SOO:40(04 2 �-- o� _crt :I Longmont . �,tl„� m 15.200 T 1800^ WCR 2 16.400 ,18 17,000 cI c c Y O ts 8: $ s•103 180 N- A _ 160 t60 8700 7500 1100 0 cc c CI �� 0 400 o.0214 rI 0i 300 i ro 's 500 �' 240 m a ' r f c / 400 x- 710 4. en ....., Q 5 12,700' I 300 WCR 14 c a` 12,2001 1 ao1 V 0 11,700, Q; tnl 400 i - n 80 �'' 600 ` d 200 JI o e o o114:•• )130 of r so I 120 cv � 60 0 +l o w ?a Q F'I WCR 8: 13.000 23,00 24,00 t 25,000 .•500 6500 `j 1800 VI 0 VI CO 1 400 81 . � O N CCI I .0\ r 3600 1600 ! 4900 al N O c F f�4 m 1800 2100 800 c - y to 04 WCR 21 7 2400. 1600 r I 21,000 cn r Northglenn as ' CC Broomfield T U LEGEND Figure 9 Study Area Boundary SOUTHWEST STUDY AREA /\ YEAR 2020 DAILY TRAFFIC FORECASTS North Weld County Impact!mss 86-897 7/8/99 FELSBURO LA-RIMER COUNTY# � .., ;,c.±, Mead . C H O LT & ----WCR • _ ��, ;,y� �— ULLEVIG r \ i WCR 24 119 = y == • ail ° lZ �• i r . Fe '' ' � - �.. , ^' .r'd I•,, Y ,.}'i �.'�. • I .I '� d WCR1d ¢ T 9 �. V- .P4.4 ',� I '- E - 'I {rr .✓ J i .• ,i. :;- . WC . t - �,\ Via4•41 ' . d N N. \:..\...\. • rr \\\ \ e / , 1P�f CTl 2 •' .'1 \ `. -j•. -. � e Lo,-- c� Rroomfield r Northgienn r is c O 2 CC C C.) 3 3 LEGEND goillIMIN = Pave Ras*f4ead IIIIIMININ = Pave lE•rieom-Road ammism m Improve Urban Road S aa►dard ® = Widen to 4 Laioss �� r� haffic Signal II,M ,IN„s = Short Range Needs SOUTHWEST STUDY AREA [7\j = Long Range Needs CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT NEEDS North Weld County Impact^eas 98-237 7/15199 rp--AC.G:.-.tLv..v — 4,ry CV f HOLT Q a ULLEVIG IG •••:,-` `� 600 300 1300 300 300 WCR 84 \ • . o•, cot . co cc\ ev In TI N er ' tr 0 19700 i 9000 14 I �I 8700 IA N 130 300 WCR 80 „,, sDa 500 W .,i U 40 300 ,,,1. G a o c ,° a N t T '�:!.`;-.;.7 a 400 Tom/' 300 .-.4- :� V. 180 .o- '141 - o Ear. 0 300 :.,• �.` c `,::;•N 4. • �,•: 400 500 1. ``.'~� WCR 78 ;* - `��.: a Si' a `�, • _ a1 0, n :. .,;� ii Severance I ti: � - 0 i 4900 0 3300 a., M 9700 8400 " \ WCR 74 i -' -o / o I as oI o, mr. 220 1 240 500 ,80 290U a. C c I . y c C Cto I` i ' 130 0, 740r�. 300 W o, 170 Cg Z rs € c c y3 • 7 N f �� Q t 4-,— Li* nee cI Q_ a 1 r w a) J `' m 31000t m M t r to • e• 8000 .- ai a' I /f t° ml Yi• River _ WCR 62 LJ .. 1500 4100 900 y� 7 .. - ;� 57 9,,ool m ., 1600 34 /535,6 a . WCR 60 o � .:- .... :� i to o /'- 1 a o of r uai ` � ' / _ �1» m S t� m ,n•1c 58,600 1 55,200 + u' 34 �10 32,700 00 ' iF.ci �+ rte.. I 257 .745 , 1 LEGEND = Study Peat ihaandery figure 8 WINDSOR STUICre AREA I/\ YEAR 202O DAILY TRAFFIC FORECASTS tt art% Wald Cowry islaws0 Fees 06427 7I si31 cm C11 el In Pi FELSBURG a ( HOLT LT & U c.27='''�� ULLEVIG J' -"-J 1 WCR84 ..■ I I Z 1 t _ .yam-v' ' �IC�R8c3 - - - -- _ ' 3 te ; = Cif .slt7i-.ice. ,.., WCR76 v Severaillimmillince 1 / .: -. WCR74 _ tifyli Un = i 02.....:10 ,,,,,,„il i .iz Il itlitill do"; 'I • 2 s ' /I <Fr< g, , r� NIFIHNI4 HH ,1�. ;rye �+ •)4:l to p Rtver > r r „ 7 \_-; ; ._, 'T7'l•J<•i 62 �: ■-:1' 1 Httl+f ,W ..�'�y •� • !. •.• 7 _gig '„r 1 257 /://d ° i W R fi0 ..�' : 11/ 34 •:If:go, • .... .... oli = r" ' .0",, ,/.0, w'� LEGEND CD e Pave Rural Road h'"7041,81. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII =. Pave Urban Road IIIIIIIIIIMINII a Improve Urban Road Standard IIIMIIIMIN1 a Widen to 4 Lanes Figure 1 1 a Trait°Signal WINDSOR STUDY AREA 77-1 llgpIIIIMI It .• Short Range Needs MEM. Long Range Needs CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT NEEDS North Weld County Imoeat Faee 98-237 3/498 COUNTY COUNCIL LEVY BUDGET ADDED RESOURCES: Additional Levy $2,675,472 USES: Municipal Shareback - $652,310 Gravel Road Improvement Plan: Option 1 (Two Additional Grader Districts) 145,500 Option 2 (Overtime for Flexible Hours) 51,250 Option 3 (Mix Material) 50,000 Option 4B (Roving Maintenance Crew) 289,200 Integrate the Strategic Road System, Acceleration of Capital Improvement Plan, and Dust Abatement Program 1,487,212 Total Use of Resources $2,675,472 countycoucillavyplan ' lI GRAVEL ROAD MAINTENANCE OPTIONS Weld County continues to experience increased growth. One area in which growth manifests itself is on the County roadway system. In particular,the gravel roadway system continues to absorb additional traffic. As a result, service level expectations have increased and tolerance for the status quo is becoming unacceptable. Complaints range from concerns about washboard surfaces, lack of crown,dust,narrow traveled way, and muddy surfaces to name a few.The following are options which are currently being explored: OPTION No. 1. INCREASE GRADER DISTRICTS FROM 30 TO 32. One new district will be generally located between WCR 100 and WCR 126 and west of US 85. The second district will be in the Ft.Lupton/Hudson/Keenesburg/Prospect Valley areas The new"north" district will reduce current Districts 12 and 15 (now both about 111 miles)by approximately 75 miles. The "new" Districts 12 and 15 will have 70 and 77 miles,respectively while the newly created district will have 75 miles. The new"south" district will have 36 miles and will reduce current Districts 28 (now 68 miles) and 29 (now 79 miles)by approximately 10 and 17 miles,respectively, and District 30 by about 9 miles. COSTS Annual Costs: Personnel: Two Service Worker III's (assume 30%benefits) - $75,500 Q000 Equipment Depreciation&Maintenance(two units) - $145,500 0.0 Total Annual Costs Capital Costs: Two motor graders-$300,000 COMMENTS: The two general areas identified have been particularly problematic based on the experience of the Motor Grader Division supervisory staff. These areas can be typically quantified as having increasing traffic due to development. j. Consistent with the philosophy of"Maintenance First." RECOMMENDATION: Approval ' 4 OPTION No. 2. CONSIDER OVERTIME HOURS FOR MOTOR GRADER OPERATIONS DEPENDENT ON WEATHER CONDITIONS. This option is based on the general fact that the best results for gravel road blading are obtained when some moisture(rainfall)is present on the road. If a moderate rainfall event occurs before or near the first portion of the work week,a district operator can utilize that moisture to his best advantage. Should the event occur near the end of the work week,an opportunity could be lost. Heavier rainfall events may preclude or limit normal work week operations. This assumption is not universal. As an example, roads which consist of more sandy soil may be graded with the presence of significantly more moisture content than those which have higher "clay" content. Work district motor grader operators on voluntary extended work weeks when weather condition,as noted above, are appropriate. This requires paying overtime. COSTS Labor: Median Hourly Rate: $15.50/Hr.,Overtime Rate=$23.25/Hr. Assume 10 hour work day and 2 days per precipitation occurrence Assume 10 grader district operators could effectively use the precipitation occurrence and 10 separate precipitation events. 1~uel: 200 grader days, 50 gallons of fuel at$1.80/gal.=$18,000 Total Cost-$51,250 COMMENTS: This option would provide additional flexibility to deal with gravel road maintenance under ideal road conditions with the cooperation of motor grader operators. RECOMMENDATION: Approval 1 • OPTION No.3. MATCH PIT MATERIAL WITH GRAVEL ROAD NATURAL GRAVEL ROAD MATERIAL. Practice has been to use pits closest to a particular road segment to for material supply when graveling a road. The reason for this approach is economics of transportation. This tends to place more sandy material on a sandy road or more silty material on a silty road,as examples. This concept would emphasize the opposite. COMMENTS: This Option will require longer haul distances thus impacting transportation costs. Contract and Department Trucking will increase. To better assess these increases will require a review of soils mapping across the County and comparisons made with the composition of pit materials available. Soil testing may be required to ensure proper proportioning. Given higher transportation costs,the options are to either decrease the Annual Graveling Plan or increase transportation costs (probably Contract Trucking). Consistent with"Maintenance First"philosophy. NOTE:A longer term issue may be the fundamental lack of"binder" or-200 material in some of our pits. This finer material, while the key source of dust on roads,is useful in holding the other portions of the gravel roadway mixture together. In-situ sources of gravel and sand with an optimal mixture are relatively rare. A longer term approach may be the acquisition of"soil" borrow pits to haul and mix with the sand/gravel material available in many pits. COSTS: $50,000. • RECOMMENDATION: Pursue this Option • 1 OPTION No.4. "RECONSTRUCTION" OF GRAVEL ROADWAYS Seasonal Roving Road Maintenance Crew. Assign two full time and 3 seasonal employees tanker plus one water consisting of two 2 person crews (one motor grader and one tractor/water tanker to rove between the two crews)to supplement routine maintenance on the heaviest traveled most difficult to maintain gravel roads. Each grader district could identify roadway segments which are particularly difficult to keep in acceptable condition. It is expected that at least two of these crews would be required at a minimum(a third may be required to properly cover the south grader districts). With two crews,the expectations are to cover the most difficult to maintain 180-200 miles of }� gravel roads once every three months(3-4 times per year dependent on weather). Routine grader maintenance will also continue on these roads. Water is the key element in cutting and re-shaping these difficult road sections. It will require two tankers to supply sufficient water for this type of activity. A third tanker would be used to alternate between the two crews depending on access to water and road conditions. 1r The activity would include watering,re-grading,watering and rolling the existing surfaces. Rolling would be accomplished using the "grader attached" rubber tired rollers in inventory. COSTS Annual Costs: 2 Service Worker III's $ 75,500 3 Seasonal Employees - $ 74,700 Estimated Equip. Depreciation&Maint. - $ 119,000 Water - $ 2 00 Total Annual Costs - $289,200 Capital Costs: 2 Motor Graders - $310,000 3 Tractor/Tankers - $270,000 Total Capital Costs-$580,000 COMMENTS: This Option has potential. It allows flexibility in addressing routine"hot spots" and areas which may have seasonal problems(ie.heavily used harvest roads).• RECOMMENDATION: Approval f IMPROVEMENTS A. SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS: Intersection improvements, vertical alignment upgrades of existing roadways, and horizontal alignment improvements. B. PAVEMENT ENHANCEMENTS: 80 miles of roadway require overlays over the next 2-4 years to avoid the necessity of complete reconstruction based upon updated pavement management system information. C. WIDTH OF ROADS: Need for auxiliary lanes at higher volume intersections and additional lanes to maintain traffic carrying capability. D. SHOULDER ENHANCEMENTS: Widen or construct shoulders on existing roadways to improve carrying capacity and safety. Cost / Program Comparison Table 2-B YEAR ACTIVITY I LOCATIONS USING COUNTY FORCES COST 1 28 miles of Structural Road 13 from Hwy 66 to WCR 46 Overlay by County forces. Road 35 from Hwy 85 to WCR 44 $1,626,800 Road 17 from WCR 54 to WCR 56 Road 1 from WCR 34.5 to WCR 38 Road 32 from Platteville to WCR 31 Road 21 from Hwy 392 to WCR 74 Road 74 from WCR 51 to WCR 39 Road 74 from WCR 29 to Eaton Road 33 from WCR 66.5 to WCR 70 3 Miles Contract Design $150,000 2 12.5 miles of Structural Road 33 From WCR 70 to Pierce $697,200 Overlay by County forces. Road 6 From 1-25 to WCR 15 Road 22 From WCR 41 to WCR 49 4 Miles Contract Design Locations to be determined $200,000 4 Miles Contract $800,000 ROW,Utilities,Drainage _ 3 7 miles of Structural Overlay Locations to be determined. $406,700 by County forces. 4 Miles Contract Design Locations to be determined $200,000 4 Miles Contract $800,000 ROW,Utilities,Drainage 4 miles of Shoulder widening $400,000 4 7 miles of Structural Overlay Locations to be determined. $406,700 by County forces. 4 Miles Contract Design Locations to be determined $200,000 4 Miles Contract $800,000 ROW,Utilities,Drainage 4 miles of Shoulder widening $400,000 5 7 miles of Structural Overlay Locations to be determined. $406,700 by County forces. 4 Miles Contract Design Locations to be determined $200,000 4 Miles Contract $800,000 ROW,Utilities,Drainage 4 miles of Shoulder widening $400,000 2 Hello