HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200025.tiffMINUTES
WELD COUNTY COUNCIL
October 21, 2019
The Weld County Council met in regular session in full conformity with the Weld County Home
Rule Charter at 6:30 p.m., Monday, October 21, 2019, at the Weld County Administration
Building, 1150 0 Street, Greeley, CO.
ROLL CALL:
The meeting was delayed for 9 minutes due to Councilman Stille getting a flat tire. Councilman
Abernathy stopped to assist him and there wasn't a quorum due to Councilmember Teksten's
excused absence. The meeting was called to order at 6:39 by President Brett Abernathy.
CouncilmembersTonya L. Van Seber, James Welch and Gene Stille were present, constituting
a quorum of members. Councilmember Teksten had an excused absence. Also present was
Council Secretary Linda Kane.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA :
Councilmember Abernathy made a motion to add to New Business continued information
regarding CR 47. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Stille and carried.
APPROVAL OF DOCUMENTATION:
Approval of September 16, 2019, Minutes
Councilmember Stille made a motion to approve the September minutes, seconded by
Councilmember Welch, and the motion carried.
REVIEW PROGRAM:
Don Warden, Director of Finance and Administration
Jennifer Oftelie, Budget Manager, was also present. Mr. Warden said the budget process
typically starts in May; and a presentation to County Commissioners is given in September. inal
budget is adopted Dec. 11
Weld County is one of the few local governments in the nation with no debt and no sales tax.
The county relies heavily on oil and gas production, currently under threat by Senate Bill 181.
Mr. Warden said the full impact of the bill won't be known for a couple of years.
A The 2020 budget continues to emphasize long-term planning and investment consistent
with the Weld County Strategic Plan and the Strategic Investment Plan for the future of Weld
County. The 2020 budget addresses:
1) Investment in the long-term
2) Continuing to strengthen financial management
3) Improving county operations
4) Investing in technology
5 Focusing on employee engagement and workforce development
2020 Highlights include:
1) Assessed value increased 34.13%, or $3.939 billion primarily due to oil and gas.
2) Add 75.0 FTE in county departments to cope with growth and workload demands.
3) The new Department of Oil and Gas Energy will be staffed with 15 FTE to regulate oil
and gas operations under SB 19-181 with full cost recovery through permit fees.
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2020-0025
4) With the passage of HB 19-1278 there will be a Presidential Primary, and new election
mandates increasing the costs of elections by nearly $1.5 million in 2020.
5) Public Trustee function will move under the County Treasurer July 1, 2020, and no
longer be a Governor's appointee.
6) The creation of two new District Court judges required increasing the staff of the District
Attorney by 5 FTE, and the Sheriff by 6 FTE for a total cost of $1,138,331.
7) Sheriffs Office will transition the management of criminal records and evidence from the
Greeley Police Department contract to bringing the two functions in-house by January 1,
2021.
8) 29.00 FTE in the Sheriffs Office will be added in 2020.
9) Open a Southwest Weld Substation booking function to serve south county law
enforcement agencies.
10) Fund increased salary adjustments for all sworn Sheriff officers to be competitive with
other Front Range law enforcement agencies for recruitment and retention of officers.
11) The public safety information system (Spillman) will be updated or replaced.
12) Communications will phase in recovering 40% of costs through user fees versus 20%.
13) Fund the oil and gas revenue fluctuation reserve in the Contingency Fund at $60.0
million.
14) Capital investment in the county's information technology infrastructure for data center
storage and fiber redundancy total $2,250,000.
15) The 2020-2024 Capital Improvements Plan for facilities is funded at $75,275,000.
16) Complete construction of the $45 million jail expansion.
17) Construction of a new Coroner's morgue.
Councilmember Abernathy asked if citizens can find the capital improvement plan for next
year. Mr. Warden said the information is available online in the budget information.
Councilmember Van Seber asked about the jail expansion. Mr. Warden confirmed it will likely
need to be expanded again in 7-8 years based on demographics and population growth. She
also asked about a second annex in southern Weld County. Mr. Warden said it's part of the
2024 capital improvements plan to provide a mirror image to the building already there. He said
the county is considering building a jail down there, too.
Please see addendum 1 for a full review of Mr. Warden's presentation.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
There was no public comment.
NEW BUSINESS:
Coordinator Reports/Councilman Reports
There were no councilmember reports.
Continued Discussion of Additional Signage Needed for CR 47
Councilmember Abernathy presented a letter to Council to give to the Board of County
Commissioners requesting signage at the intersection of CR 47 and Hwy 392.
Councilmember Abernathy made a motion to present the letter to the SOCC as a
unanimous request from Council, it was seconded by Councilmember Stille, and passed
unanimously.
See the letter in addendum 2.
OLD BUSINESS:
Continued Discussion of Whistleblower Program
Councilmember Van Seber said a whistleblower program can be substantiated by looking at the
number of lawsuits the county has faces in the last two years. She suggested simplifying language
that already exists within the County's Charter. She said putting information on the Council's web
page is one option, including language that states anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
She said it would be important to state Council is one place to voice whistleblower concerns, but
it would also be important to list information for the Independent Ethics Commission.
Councilmember Van Seber said she was recently approached by a potential whistleblower and
she'd been trying to lead that person down the correct path to resolution. She said the
whistleblower was undetermined on how to move forward and Councilmember Van Seber
questioned how Council would help.
Councilmember Abernathy said a program needs to exist in order for Council to help potential
whistleblowers. He said Council has no punitive ability to make a change at this point. He said he
would be in favor of adding language to the web site as Council's answer to a whistleblower
program.
Councilmember Van Seber made a motion that information be added to Council's page on the
web site that states if you are a constituent of Weld County and you have a concern about an
elected official or employee, you may call Council at this number; or you may file a complaint with
the Independent Ethics Commission at their number with their link. She said a disclaimer would be
needed to the effect: Upon receiving information about a concern, the Weld County Council will
make every effort to keep confidentiality, however, should an investigation ensue, anonymity may
not be guaranteed. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Stille, and passed unanimously
In a final comment, Councilmember Welch said he would be absent at the November meeting.
ADJOURNMENT:
By acclamation, the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
November 18, 2018Cit re dent 7tt Abernathy
11- \S
Council Secretary, Linda ane
At1/41 IIAJ,11
2020
PROPOSED
BUDGET
2020 BUDGET PLAN
THE 2020 BUDGET CONTINUES TO EMPHASIZE
LONG-TERM PLANNING AND INVESTMENT
CONSISTENT WITH THE WELD COUNTY
STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE STRATEGIC
INVESTMENT PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF WELD
COUNTY. THE 2020 BUDGET ADDRESSES:
1) INVESTMENT IN THE LONG TERM
2) CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT
3) IMPROVE COUNTYOPERATI0NS
4) INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGY
5) FOCUS ON EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
2020 FINANCIAL CONDITION
• No Debt
• No Sales Tax
• One Time Expenses of $77Million
• One of the Lowest Mill Levies Among Colorado Counties at 15.038
Mills
• Beginning Fund Balance of $113,660,000
• Projected Ending Fund Balance $171,511,239
• Fully Funded Pension Plan
• Proposal to Reduce Retirement Plan Investment Return Assumption
from 7.00% to 6.50% by December 31,2019
Oil and Gas Revenue Fluctuation Reserve in the Contingency Fund of
$60 Million
• 2020-- 2024 Capital Improvement Plan for facilities funded at
$75,275,000
• Preliminary Assessed Valuation up 34.13% at $15.479 Billion Due to Oil
and Gas
• Oil and Gas Assessed Valuation Up 45.33 %
• Complete Construction of a $45 Million jail Expansion
ALL FUNDS REVENUE
2020 REVENUE
TOTAL $506,731,178
(2019 $430,651,336)
Proprietary Services
$33,706,303
70A,
Fund Balance
$113,660,000
22%
Miscellaneous
$24,109,545
5% ChgforService
$11,499,426
2%
_, , 7 7,,_
Licenses/Permits
$6,880,000
1%
Intergovernmental
$67,679,862 Fees
13%
$14,109 600
3%
Net Property Tax
$222,116,442
44%
Other Taxes
$12,970,000
3%
ALL FUNDS EXPENDITURES
TOTAL S345,219,939
(2019 S315,256,967)
Contingency
$10,000,000
Auxiliary Capital
3010
Public Vv'a{ks $984,554
$9,048,1 1 0%
Social Services 3%
$45,777,213
13%
Proprietary Services
$37,206,303
11%
Miscellaneous
$9,390,258
3%
Human Services
$9,213,562
3%
111119
Road & Bridge
$65,077,509
19%
$17,957,000
5%
r
Health
$12,694,543
4%
Public Safety
$77,055,896
22%
Culture/Recreation
$1,129,110
0%
General Government
$49,685,875
14%
C
2020 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
Assessed value increased 34.13%, or $3.939 billion primarily due to oil and gas.
Add 75.0 FTE in county departments to cope with growth andworkload demands.
The new Department of Oil and Gas Energy will be staffed with 15 FTE to regulate oil and gas
operations under SB 19-181 with full cost recovery through permit fees.
With the passage of HB 19-1278 there will be a Presidential Primary, and ne
mandates increasing the costs of elections by nearly $1.5 million in 2020.
Public Trustee function will move under the County Treasurer July 1, 2020, and no longer be a
Governor's appointee.
The creation of two new District Court judges required increasing the staff of the District
Attorney by 5 FTE, and the Sheriff by 6 FTE for a total cost of $1,138,331.
Sheriffs Office will transition the management of criminal records and evidence from the
Greeley Police Department contract to bringing the two functions in-house by January 1, 2021.
1 29.00 FTE in the Sher iffs Office will be addedin 2020.
2020 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
Open a Southwest Weld Substation booking function to serve south county law enforcement
agencies
Fund increased salary adjustments for all sworn Sheriff officers to be competitive •with other
Front Range law enforcement agencies for recruitment and retention ofofficers.
The public safety information system (Spillman) will be updated or replaced.
Communications will phase in recovering 40% of costs through user fees versus 20%.
Fund the oil and gas revenue fluctuation reserve in the Contingency fund at $60.0 million.
Capital investment in the county's information technology infrastructure for data center
storage and fiber redundancy total $2,250,000.
The 2020 2024 Capital Improvements Plan for facilities is funded at$75,275,000.
Complete construction of the $45 million jail expansion.
Construction of a new Coroner's morgue.
Class
Vacant
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Agricultural
Natural Rsc
Oil&Gas
State Assd
Total Value:
Less TIF Value
Net Total:
TOTALTAXABLE PROPERTY
2018 Final
Assessed Value
79,1971730
1,860,220,890
9331156,520
958,904,240
214,145,980
22,5441990
6, 828, 903, 860
866,954,700
$ 11,764,028,910
$ (223,986,514)
$ 11,540,042,396
2019 Prelimina(Y
Assessed Value
108,572 550
$ 2)284,105,630
$ 1,144,816,910
$ 1,102,691, 410
$ 2041962,980
$ 25,725,340
$ 9, 924, 273, 010
$ 933,460,400
Change$
$ 29,3741820
$ 423,884,740
$ 211, 6601390
$ 143,787,170
$ (91183,000)
$ 3,180, 350
$ 3, 095, 369,150
$ 66, 505, 700
$ 15,728,608,230 $ 3,984,579,320
$ (2491971,472)
$ 15,478,636,758 $ 3,938,594,362
37.09%
22.79%
22.68%
14.99%
-4.29%
14.11%
45.33%
7.67%
TOTALTAXABLEPROPERTY
Value Changes 2018-- 2019
Weld Preliminary
Assessed Value by Type
2019
State Assd
Vacant
1%
6%
Oil & Gas ---
63%
Resident ial
15%
Commercial
7°/o
Industrial
7%
Agricult ural
1%
Natural Rsc
0%
FIVE YEAR
CAPITAL PROJECT PROGRAMS
2020,2024
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....2023
• • * • • ' °
..::::::...::202,::::°::::
• • • • • '
Jail Capital Reserve
$29,237,000
$14,578,000
$1,529,000
$2,735,000
$8,270,000
$2,125,000
Jail Equipment
861,000
861,000
0
0
0
q
SE Weld Building
6,000,000
0
6,000,000
0
0
0
SO Range/Training
10,000,000
0
0
5,000,000
0
5,000,000
Misc Projects
8,907,000
3,296,000
1,756,000
1,350,000
1,415,000
1,090,000
PW Projects
4,220,000
1,750,000
500,000
750,000
350,000
870,000
Human Services
1,500,000
1,500,000
0
0
0
0
Office Building Business
Park
3,300,000
3,300,000
0
0
O
0
Weld Plaza Building
3,750,000
750,000
750,000
750,000
750,000
750,000
SO Evidence
2,000,000
2,000,000
0
0
0
0
SW Weld Building
1,000,000
0
0
0
0
1,000,000
Car Wash
3.000-000
3 000 000
n
n
n
n
Justit,e Cent
,500,
0
TOTAL
$75,275,000 I $32,535,000 $10,535,000 $lo,585,000 I $1o,785,000 I si o,835,000
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RE: County Road 47 and HWY 392 intersection northbound signage
Board of County Commissioners:
Barbara Kirkmeyer
Steve Moreno
Mike Freeman
Sean Conway
Scott James
Per Weld County charter Article XIII, Section 13-8 (6), relating to the duties of the council to review all
aspects of county government.
It has been brought to the attention of the Weld County Council by citizens and those who use
northbound County Road 47 that a very dangerous intersection exists at Highway 392 and County Road
47. At this location, the newly completed county road 47 ceases to be a 5 lane concrete highway shortly
after the flashing stop sign at the intersection. It appears that the installation of the flashing sign has
helped with the number of accidents at this location. We are requesting in addition to this new stop
sign additional signage prior to the intersection be erected as soon as possible.
Multiple accidents have occurred at this intersection resulting is life threatening injuries as well as
several fatalities. Considering that many of the people who travel this road are both citizens, friends
and relatives of this Council as well as visitors to our county, we feel that the new signage should be put
in place immediately. Nothing can completely stop all accidents at any intersection, however at this
location it is the opinion of Weld County residents as well as the Weld County Council that this action
will save lives and injury in the future.
As a unanimous council, we have voted on and approved a motion for the request of an official act by
the BOCC.
Please review the attached photos for reference of the location of the intersection and the concerns it
creates for travelers.
The Weld County Council is requesting that the BOCC directs the county public works department,
specifically those responsible for road signage, to provide the following signage improvements.
• Provide a new S'x3' rectangle sign signifying the end of the 5 lane concrete roadway (highway as
perceived by travelers).
• This sign should be installed on the east side of County Road 47, approximately 1000' before the
intersection of County Road 47 and Colorado State Highway 392.
• The sign should detail arrow and red octagon of an impending stop ahead as well as a
notification to all drivers approaching intersection that HIGHWAY ENDS 1000 FEET.
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