The URL can be used to link to this page

Browse Search

Home My WebLink About750995.tiff j r' LARIMER - WELD RE( TONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS ' j 4 - RHONE (303) G8)-3288 A • t � ROOM 201 �'�� } 201 EAST 4th STREET �'� 'rf Yr .- LOVELAN D, COLORADO 80537 February' 14 , 1975 Mr. J. L. Johnson, Chairman The Weld County Home Rule Charter Commission P. 0. Box 758 Greeley, Colorado 80631 Dear Mr. Johnson: Thank you for your letter of February 6, 1975, wherein you invited me to make a presentation on the Larimer-Weld COG to the Weld County Home Rule Charter Commission. Your invitation is accepted with pleasure, and I shall attend the March 6 meeting. Incidentally, I had promised to send you the following materials on the Rocky Mountain National Park wilderness designa- tion, and they are enclosed herewith: 1. Copy of letter dated August 26 , 1974, to Roger Contor, Superintendent, Rocky Mountain National Park, from COG Chairman Glenn K. Billings and Glenn Prosser, Chairman of the COG Special Com- mittee on Rocky Mountain National Park Proposed Wilderness Classification. 2. Copy of memorandum dated August 14 , 1974 , , from COG Director to COG Special Committee on Rocky Mountain National Park Proposed Wilderness Classification. 3 . Copies of the appropriate pages from the Rocky Mountain Environmental Statement--Wilderness Recommendation, which are titled "Potential Wilder- ness Additions. " Again, thank you for the invitation to appear before the • Home Rule Charter Commission. Cordial your , , „r:_c_,. iftra Richard D. acRavey RDM/cs Director Enc. J`� LARIMER - WELD REGIONAL_ COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTr, '2910011, PHONE (3031 GG7 3288 ROOM 201 201 LAST ati 5-1REL1 LOVE! AND pL UNADO 8053/ March 6 , 1975 LARIMER-WELD COG 1. SPOKESMAN (RESEARCH AND INFORMATION) a. Denver Sewer Study--Impact upon southern Weld County (see attached statement--page 1--by Glenn K. Billings, Chairman, Larimer-Weld COG, to State Water Quality Con- trol Commission) . b. Denver Water Study--Impact upon Larimer and Weld Coun- ties (see attached letter--page 8--from Glenn K. Bill- ings to Robert Farley, Executive Director, Denver Regional Council of Governments) . c. Rocky Mountain National Park Proposed Wilderness Area (see attached letter--page 12--from Glenn K. Billings and Glenn Prosser to Roger Contor, Superintendent, Rocky Mountain National Park) . 2. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING a. RTD and Property Tax Levy b. Federal and State Action Plan c. Technical Assistance, e.g. , City of Greeley, City of Fort Lupton, etc. d. Draft Application on Rural Public Transportation Systems 3. REGIONAL PLANNING a. See attached letters on evaluation--page 14--between Colorado Division of Planning and Larimer-Weld COG. b. COG Land Use & Transportation Planning Committee c. COG Goals and Objectives Task Force d. COG Open Space Task Force 4. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING ASSISTANCE (701 PROGRAM) a. Plans and Studies Funded in Weld County, City of Greeley, etc . b. Technical Assistance to Weld County Municipalities (1) 1973-74--$ 7 ,500 (2) 1974-75--$12 , 500 5 . REGIONAL A-95 CLEARINGHOUSE (AUTHORITY TO REVIEW AND COMMENT ON 140 FEDERAL PROGRAMS) a. Local Input, e.g. , DRCOG Sewer Study, Metro Sewer Plant, etc. b. Constructive Comments and Negative Comments (examples will be discussed) --Not Rubber-Stamping 6 . COG'S AREA AGENCY ON AGING a. Objectives (see attached letter--page 24--from Richard D. MacRavey to Dr. Walter Weese, who resigned 1/31/75) b. Funding to Local Agencies, e.g. , Greeley Meals on Wheels Program, Windsor Nutrition Center, etc. c. One Staff Person Instead of Four d. COG Area Agency on Aging Committee 7 . COG'S HUMAN RESOURCES PROGRAM a. Accomplish the Following Human Resources Program Priori- ties: (1) Evaluate community human resources programs as to their effectiveness, funding mechanisms, community relationships and make recommenda- tions as to improving the social delivery system. (2) Establish a mechanism for the input and advo- cacy for disadvantaged citizens into the COG planning process. (3) Search, evaluate and advise member local gov- ernments on federal grants and loans that might be available for their use and benefit. (4) Promote and plan for job development, train- ing, and employment opportunities for low income and marginally skilled individuals. b. See attached memo--page 27--from Ms. Alice Mack, COG Human Resources Field Representative, to Mr. John B. Lopez , Director, Colorado Office of Human Resources . c. Completing Larimer County Human Resources Directory 8 . AIR QUALITY MAINTENANCE PLAN--LOCALLY PREPARED, NOT STATE- PREPARED -ii- 9 . AREA-WIDE WATER QUALITY (WASTE TREATMENT) PLANNING (ALSO CALLED "208" PLANNING) a. Corps of Engineers or COG 10. THE LARIMER-WELD COG WILL CONTINUOUSLY REEXAMINE ITSELF TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS WHERE NECESSARY (SEE ATTACHED MEMORANDUM--PAGE 31-- FROM LARIMER-WELD COG GOVERNING BOARD) STATEMENT BY GLENN K. BILLINGS, CHAIRMAN LARIMER-WELD REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND ITS CONSULTING FIRMS--E_CI AND TOUPS--ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN PRESENTING ALTERNATIVE WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR THE LARIMER-WELD REGION OF THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN WATER DUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN AND SEEKING INPUT AND COMMENT ON THESE PLANS . ' HEIR EFFORTS OF CONSULTATION WITH CONCERNED CITIZENS HAVE BEEN MADE THROUGHOUT THE STUDY, WHILE TOTAL AGREEMENT ON THE CONSULTANTS ' RECOMMENDA- TIONS WAS NOT ACHIEVED AT THE RECENT PUBLIC HEARINGS, THE OPPnR - TUN1TY TO BE HEARD WAS ALWAYS PROVIDED THROUGHOI'T THE STUDY LiLORI , THE LARIMER--FIELD REGIONAL COUNCIL OE GOVERNMENTS 11OVFRNING HOARD IS CONFIDENT THAT THE STATE WATER QUALITY CONTROL COMMISSION WILL CAREFULLY EVALUATE THE VARYING OPINIONS PHISENTLD AT TNF PUBLIC HEARING OH AUGUST 28 BEFORE MAKING A FINAL DETERMINATION ON WHAT ALTERNATIVE PLAN 1S BEST FOR. EACH SUB--AREA WITHIN THE LARIMER- WELD REGION OF THE LOWER SOUTH PLATTE SUB-BASIN , IN REGARD TO THE DENVER AREA PORTION OF THE SOUTH PLATTE STUDY, IT CAME TO THE ATTENTION OF WELD COUNTY CITIZENS AND THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT PORTIONS OF WELD COUNTY WERE MATERIALLY AFFECTED BY THE PROPOSED DENVER REGION STUDY, THE DENVER REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS AND ITS CONSULTANT, AT NO TIME DURING THE COURSE OF THE THREE-YEAR STUDY, MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO CONTACT THE -1- STATEMENT BY GLENN K. BILLINGS - 2 AFFECTED GOVERNMENTS AND CITIZENS IN WELD COUNTY; AND, FURTHERMORE, DRCOG AND ITS CONSULTANT MADE NO EFFORT TO APPRISE ANYONE IN WELD COUNTY OF ALTERNATIVE PLANS UNDER CONSIDERATION OR GATHER INPUT FROM WELD COUNTY AGENCIES ON WELD COUNTY' S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE REALIZATION THAT PORTIONS OF WELD COUNTY WERE EVEN BEING AFFECTED BY THE DENVER PLAN CAME ABOUT BY CHANCE : NAMELY, A FEBRUARY, 1974, VISIT TO THE DRCOG HEADQUARTERS IN DENVER BY WELD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF MEMBERS, WHO HAPPENED TO NOTE IN A REPORT THAT CERTAIN PROPOSED REGIONAL SEWER FACILITIES AND SLUDGE FARMS WERE LOCATED IN WELD COUNTY, IT WOULD SEEM REASONABLE THAT DRCOG AND ITS CONSULTANT SHOULD HAVE INVOLVED WELD COUNTY CITIZENS AND THEIR ELECTED OFFI- CIALS IN THE DENVER STUDY, PARTICULARLY WHEN PORTIONS OF WELD COUNTY WERE BEING MATERIALLY AFFECTED BY SUCH STUDY, THE WELD COUNTY CITIZENS AND THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD HAVE BEEN EX- TENDED THE SAME OPPORTUNITY WITH THE DRCOG STUDY THAT THEY HAD THROUGH THE EXCELLENT AND THOROUGH EFFORTS OF THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND ITS CONSULTANTS DURING THE SOUTH PLATTE BASIN STUDY, THIS SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED BEING KEPT ABREAST PERIODICALLY DURING THE COURSE OF THE STUDY, PARTICULARLY, OF THE ALTERNATIVE PLANS UNDER CONSIDERATION, AND BEING ALLOWED TO MAKE SUCH INPUT AS NECES- SARY ON ANY PORTIONS OF THE STUDY AFFECTING THEM, IT APPEARS THAT WELD COUNTY CITIZENS AND THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE BEING GIVEN ONE CHOICE IN THE DENVER STUDY: IN ESSENCE, WE ARE BEING TOLD TO -9- STATEMENT BY GLENN K. BILLINGS - 3 ACCEPT THIS PLAN BECAUSE THEY HAVE DECIDED THAT "THIS IS WHAT IS TECHNICALLY BEST. " OUR QUESTIONS ARE SIMPLY, (1) TECHNICALLY BEST, FOR WHOM? AND (2) HOW CAN WE INTELLIGENTLY ANALYZE WHAT IS BEST FOR US IF WE WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THE THREE-YEAR STUDY PROCESS? WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT DRCOG HAS ADOPTED ONLY THAT PORTION OF ITS STUDY WHICH AFFECTS ITS JURISDICTION AND CERTIFIED SAME TO COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN ITS REGION, NEVERTHELESS, THE ENTIRE PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES PROPOSALS AFFECTING WELD COUNTY, HAS-- AS WE UNDERSTAND IT--BEEN SUBMITTED TO EPA AND THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. PARENTHETICALLY, A COPY OF A MAP SHOWN IN FIGURE VII-1f) OF THE FINAL VOLUME 1 OF THE DRCOG WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT REPORT IS ATTACHED. THE CITIZENS OF WELD COUNTY AND THEIR ELECTED REPRE- SENTATIVES RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT, BEFORE ANY ACTION ON THE WELD COUNTY PORTION OF THE DRCOG WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN IS TAKEN BY EPA AND THE STATE WATER QUALITY CONTROL COMMISSION, THE FOLLOWING TAKE PLACE : 1. PROVISION FOR COMPLETE INVOLVEMENT OF WELD COUNTY CITIZENS AND THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ALL OF THE ALTERNATIVE PLANS, INCLUDING LOCATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR SLUDGE FARMS AND REGIONAL-TYPE SEWER PLANT FACILITIES . -1- STATEMENT BY GLENN K. BILLINGS - 4 2 . ESTABLISHMENT OF A MECHANISM WHEREBY ADE- QUATE INPUT, COORDINATION, INFORMATION AND FACT- GATHERING CAN BE INSURED, ESPECIALLY WHERE PROPOSED PLANS AFFECT AREAS OUTSIDE DRCOG's JURISDICTION, PERHAPS SUCH A MECHANISM COULD BE A STANDING COMMIT- TEE COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE STATE, DRCOG AND L-WCOG , 3 . REQUIREMENT THAT CERTAIN QUESTIONS BE AN- SWERED IN WRITING BY ALL OF THE CONSULTANTS--BLACK & VEATCH, TOUPS AND ECI : A. WILL ECONOMY OF SCALE BE JUS- TIFIED AND OBTAINED BY THE EXPENSIVE OUT- FALLS AS SET FORTH IN THE DRCOG STUDY? IN OTHER WORDS, IS THIS THE MOST "COST EFFECTIVE" SOLUTION? B. WHAT PROVISION HAS BEEN MADE IF A DISASTROUS FAILURE OCCURS WITH A REGIONAL PLANT? C , WHAT PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE IF ONE OF THE MAJOR OUTFALLS BREAKS OR IS ACCIDENTALLY CUT, THEREBY POLLUT- ING SURROUNDING LAND AND WATER AREAS? IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IF A BREAK OCCURS IN AN OUTFALL? STATEMENT BY GLENN K. BILLINGS - 5 D. WHAT PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE WHERE THE OUTFALLS CUT ACROSS OTHER UTILITY LINES? E. WHAT IS THE COST FOR AUGMENT- ING WATER FOR SUCH FACILITIES? HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS ON EXISTING WATER RIGHTS BEEN CONSIDERED BOTH AS TO COST AND AS TO EFFECT ON THE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY? F . SINCE ANY LOCATION OF SUCH FACILITIES IN WELD COUNTY WILL ENCOUR- AGE EXPANSION OF THE DENVER METROPOLI- TAN AREA, WHAT CONSIDERATIONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO ITS IMPACT UPON THE WELD COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? G. WHAT CONSIDERATIONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE IMPACT OF REGIONAL PLANTS, SLUDGE FARMS AND OUTFALLS UPON PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND WITHIN WELD COUNTY? WELD COUNTY, AS YOU KNOW, IS THE NUMBER TWO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION COUNTY IN THE NATION. STATEMENT BY GLENN K. BILLINGS - 6 H. WHAT CONSIDERATIONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE WATER QUALITY MANAGE- MENT PLANNING EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND ITS CONSUL- TANTS IN THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN? I . HAVE THE EPA GUIDELINES FOR WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT BASIN PLANS BEEN SCRUPULOUSLY FOLLOWED, PARTICULARLY THOSE RELATING TO LOCAL INPUT AND COOR- DINATION WITH AFFECTED JURISDICTIONS? J . HAS CONSIDERATION BEEN GIVEN TO OTHER MEANS OF DISPOSAL OF SLUDGE, SUCH AS GASIFICATION, INCINERATION, ETC. ? THE CITIZENS AND THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN WELD COUNTY AND IN THE LARIMER-WELD REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS WANT IT TO BE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO FULL PARTICIPATION IN ANY PROPOSED SEWER FACILITIES WHICH AFFECT THEIR AREA; AND, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THEY HAVE HAD THAT RIGHT THOROUGHLY SATISFIED, THEY ARE OPPOSED TO ANY PLAN, INTERIM OR OTHERWISE, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO EVENTUAL LOCATION OF MAJOR SEWER FACILITIES WITHIN WELD COUNTY. 9/17/74 -6- — ti an j I Y;S/f WJILA SCAY'/Cf AREA.; 1000 REGIONAL WAsrewArfR 5✓5L1M tIGENP. • Regional Plant ° Satellite Plant --iii—Raw Wastewater Transfer • --i.-Primary Effluent Transfer / +o :�_ — •t Service Area Boundary La,.E�Code No. for Facilities Serving 11. ,:: Tributary Areas Table Ill-13) r I�� -`� , _ T � -- .Bifbry-5o7Ptat • t I r -�� . _ I FITT- II / a ' 4` II li.may. � �' t'.� It �F►�I► '®, " 4 � ' It C "_ . I ,\ :, '. - , 11--:-r\-- , ..-Y-----rrg , 1. rsr `. s II ICI ri t - - e i , . , . ' tiS.C.•Weird e 1 7 ( -7- December 11, 1974 Mr. Robert D. Farley Executive Director Denver Regional Council of Governments 1776 South Jackson Street Denver, Colorado 80210 Dear Mr. Farley: This is in reference to the preliminary drafts of the Denver Metropolitan Water Requirements and Resources (1975-2010) Study prepared by the Denver Water Department. We would like to offer the following observations about the documents that we have received from you: 1. The impact upon the agricultural economy in southern Weld County and what can be done to preserve that economy is not addressed in the study. The study appears to be predicated upon an ever- enlarging metropolitan area and an organizational delivery system for that expanding metropolitan area. In other words , the metropolitan area is so committed to domestic water delivery systems that it says in so many words, "We don' t care about the agricultural economy around us . " 2 . The study, in our opinion, is guilty of perpetuating in the mind of the city dweller that he has access to unlimited water, especially when it is assumed that domestic users have priority over agricultural users. Parenthetically, what are domestic users--golf courses? lawns? recreational lakes? The farmer who provides food for the city dweller is completely ignored. There is no attempt to recognize the foresight and amount of work that the agriculturalists had to do in order to develop irrigation water. Again, no attention whatsoever to the impact upon the agricultural economy in the study--just deliver, deliver, deliver domestic water to an insatiable metropolitan area. We note on page xviii the following: "Conversion of water from other uses, primarily agricultural , will continue to in- crease the domestic supply. " -R- Mr. Robert D. Farley -2- December 11, 1974 3. We object to the use of the water supply criterion adopted by the Denver Regional Council of Governments which says that the water supply objec- tives are " . . .the provision of sufficient water of appropriate quality to meet human, environmental, recreational , industrial and other water related needs and desires of the Denver Region. . . . " Again, we note that there is no mention of agriculture, unless you construe that "other water related needs" includes agriculture. However, agriculture, which means food for people to eat, should be at least as important as recreational needs. 4. There is no evidence in the study that any attention was paid to the Weld County Compre- hensive Plan, especially since the southwestern cor- ner of Weld County is included in the primary study area. The Weld County Comprehensive Plan is founded upon two basic determinations : a. "That agriculture must be preserved, protected and expanded for the economic and environmental well- being of all people of Weld County, the State of Colorado and the United States" ; and b. "That business, industrial and residential development must be accommodated at the least cost to the public treasury and agricultural inter- ests and with maximum benefit to the present and future urban populations. " 5. It also occurs to us that the question should have been examined as to what the impact of each of the alternatives would be upon growth in the entire state of Colorado. 6 . What, if any, provision was made to relate this water study effort to the Front Range study effort of the Bureau of Reclamation and to the land and water resources study of the Corps of Engineers, and, finally, to the study presumably being prepared by the Colorado Water Conservation Board? 7 . We would like to raise the question of some lawyers as to whether or not Article XIV, Sec- tion 17, of the State Constitution (Constitutional -9- Mr. Robert D. Farley -3- December 11, 1974 Amendment No. 3) , adopted by the people in 1970, has repealed by implication the authority of the General Assembly to create an independent metro- politan water service agency. This question, in regard to alternative D, should have been examined thoroughly in the study. 8 . We question the wisdom of allowing the Denver Water Department staff to perform the study versus a neutral professional consultant. It is very difficult to accept the Denver Water Depart- ment as an objective, unbiased researcher in the preparation of this study. Its implied "expropri- ation" of a portion of the water resources of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, a project planned, sponsored and being paid for by the taxpayers and water users of northern Colorado, is highly ques- tionable. While no firm recommendations were made, the very evident, implied conclusion is that alter- native D is the recommended solution, even though those agencies and areas which have planned ahead wisely would "actually be bearing the burden of bringing the other agencies up to desirable service, and as a result, the customer' s costs would prob- ably increase. " This "Robin Hood" type of approach is somewhat less than acceptable to the citizens of northern Colorado. 9 . The membership of the Denver Metropoli- tan Water Study Committee should have included representatives from areas other than the City and County of Denver and the Cities of Aurora, Arvada and Commerce City. In other words, representatives from affected entities elsewhere along the Front Range should have been included in this committee. It is hoped that the above views will be incorporated in the final study presented to the Colorado General Assembly and, specif- ically, to the six-member Denver Metropolitan Water Study Committee. Sincerely yours, Glenn K. Billings Larimer-Weld COG Chairman Weld County Commissioner GKB/cs -10- Mr. Robert D. Farley -4- December 11, 1974 cc: The Honorable Fred E. Anderson, President, Colorado State Senate The Honorable G. Hank Brown, Majority Whip, Colorado State Senate The Honorable Ronald H. Strahle, Minority Leader, Colorado State House of Representatives The Honorable James D. Lloyd, Majority Whip, Colorado State House of Representatives Mr. Jack Hibbert, Water Resources Engineer, Denver Regional Council of Governments Mr. James L. Ogilivie, Manager, Denver Water Department -11- ..e>% • (f LARIMER G. WELD REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS PHONE (3031 647 3:00 ROOM ^01 201 LAST 4th S ItECT LOVELAND,COLORADO 60537 August 26, 1974 Mr. Roger Contor Superintendent Rocky Mountain National Park Estes Park, Colorado 80517 Dear Superintendent Contor: The corrective addendum to the Final Environmental State- ment for the proposed wilderness classification of Rocky Mountain National Park dated June, 1974 , which deals with potential , wilder- ness additions should be a part of the legislation passed by the Congress on the Rocky Mountain National Park wilderness area. This specific correction on potential wilderness additions reads as follows: The areas recommended as potential wilderness addi- tions include 200 acres of Federal lands with life tenancy and 279 acres in private ownership, but do not include Federal lands subject to water rights. The private lands included as potential wilderness additions include 9 acres immediately within the national park boundary in the southwest portion of the park; and 270 acres east of the Bighorn Ranger Station in the northeast portion of the park. The corrected area of recommended potential wilderness additions total 479 acres. The legal , economic and environmental impact of including any federal lands involving water rights in the potential wilder- ness area would be significant. Parenthetically, the inclusion of federal lands involving water rights as potential wilderness area would have the following adverse effects: (1) create a loss of valuable water rights dating back over 100 years as a result of changing the "point of taking" and (2) require construction of new water storage facilities outside the park boundaries which could destroy areas of prime wildlife habitat. Thus, we whole- heartedly agree with the corrective addendum statement cited above. Secondly, the subject of weather modification is not pre- cluded in a wilderness area . Therefore , it is recommended that the legislation recognize the need for the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct a weather modification program in the wilderness area if such a program is found to be desirable. -12- Mr. Roger Contor -2- August 26, 1974 Thirdly, a committee should be established to assess the impact that the wilderness area designation will have on the local governments surrounding the park and, furthermore, the committee should be charged with the responsibility of developing solutions to deal with this impact. In other words, the wilderness Envir- onmental Statement deals only with the impact of the wilderness proposal on park lands, but it does not deal with the possible effects of the proposal upon lands outside the park boundaries . Some of the possible effects that come to mind are: private camp- ground growth, new refuse disposal sites, possible parking lots for people to park their cars when using park buses, etc . Such a committee, created by a Memorandum of Understanding between the various parties, should include the Park Service, the Forest Service, State Division of Local Planning, the county governments, municipalities , Regional Council of Governments and any other state and federal agency which should be involved in the studying of such impacts and seeking solutions therefor.. The Larimer-Weld Regional Council of Governments wishes to take this opportunity to commend the officials of the National Park Service for their willingness to meet and consider the affected local governments ' views on this important subject. Sincerely yours, Glen Prosser , Chairman L-WCOG Special Committee on Proposed Wilderness Area for Rocky Mountain National Park Glenn K. Billings , Chairman Larimer-Weld Regional Council of Governments GP/cs cc: U. S. Senator Peter H. Dominick U.S. Senator Floyd K. Haskell U.S. Representative James P. Johnson Larimer-Weld Regional Council of Governments Governing Board Colorado Division of Local Planning -13- NOV 1 1974 N Colorado John D. Vanderhoof / Governor Division of Planning 1575 Sherman Street / Denver, Colorado / 80203 Department of Local Affairs Philip H. Schmuck /Director Phone / (303) 892-2178 November 15, 1974 Mr. Richard D. MacRavey, Director Larimer-Weld Regional Council of Gov'ts. Room 201 - 201 East Fourth Street Loveland, Colorado 80537 Dear Mr. MacRavey: In response to your letters of October 7 and 23, concerning the Larimer-Weld Regional Comprehensive Plan, first let us express our appreciation for the opportunity to evaluate the several documents transmitted, together with the commentary in your letter. It seems a salutary move to ask for an outside appraisal of the work, even though under the circumstances ours must be done rather hastily. It would of course be presumptuous of us to "grade" your COG's compre- hensive planning effort. Only those who are directly concerned--the citizens of the region--can really measure the worth of the analyses and plans presented. It is to be hoped that the exposure of the citizens to the planning process has been and continues to be not only to each separate "product" as it appears but to their interrelationship, to the effect of one on the others, to the total plan at whatever stage. It is also to be hoped that, more than exposure, there has been and continues to be ongoing participation in the process of developing the plan elements. Only if these conditions exist can there be successful imple- mentation of the plans. With the understanding, then, that as outsiders we can only make superficial observations, we respond to your request for comments on the Larimer-Weld Comprehensive Plan at the present stage of development as follows: 1 . The land-use element has been treated in more than one document. In addition to the Regional Development Plan, the open-space studies of course deal with land use, as do the various housing efforts. The Development Plan, published in 1972, is a good general guide for growth in the central portion of the region, with appropriate caveats respecting floodplains and reservoirs, development in the mountainous areas, etc. There is no evidence in the report _1 A_ Mr. Richard D. MacRavey November 15, 1974 Page 2 that the plan is based on local development plans, however. Unless a regional plan does incorporate local considerations, it will hardly be a viable plan, nor will it receive local support or adoption or implementation by the local governing bodies. (We would be interested to learn how many local governments have adopted this 1972 plan.) The open-space plan is considerably more specific with respect to this aspect of land-use planning. The work done to date, as evidenced by the COG publications, represents a good base from which to develop more detailed land-use plans, building upon local community plans. The mechanism for accomplishing this will in part be contained in the data processing system being developed over the period 1973-75. 2. The housing studies to date are quite acceptable as the "housing element of the comprehensive plan" --no matter what a chart in this office may indicate (the chart probably is saying that since Larimer-Weld is still working on its housing element, it is therefore not yet complete.) The general conclusions and recommendations of the regionwide study and the Greeley-Evans area study are well drawn and will continue to have applicability beyond their 1972 and 1973 publication dates. But, as the COG knows and appreciates, the data contained in those reports are already obsolescent; hence the present effort (under P-116 and P-125 contracts), to provide continuously updated information by location, will have tremendous value if the system proves effective. 3. Water/sewer. The idea expressed in your letter that the several water/ sewer plans developed by the COG are "moot" because of new federal planning requirements does not appear entirely logical. The COG studies contain some detailed plans for communities, whereas the Comprehensive Water Quality Management Plan prepared for the Colorado Department of Health is general and requires localized planning. If the COG's detailed plans do not in all cases readily fit into the basinwide plan, either can be modified. Combined, these several studies should comprise the basic water/sewer element of the regional plan, provided citizenry and officials accept them as such and proceed with intelligence and patience to their modification and implementation. 4. The open-space documents appear to be especially valuable, and to fulfill the requirements for that element of the comprehensive plan. (Please see comments contained in the review of reports transmitted by letter of October 18.) 5. Parks and recreation are treated, as you indicate, in the open-space studies, especially in the initial report. The impression that this is adequate treatment is probably correct, yet for the sake of many individuals in the region whose -1 C_ • Mr. Richard D. MacRavey November 15, 1974 Page 3 interests center primarily in recreation, it would probably be well at some stage to undertake a park/recreation study, extracting much material from the open- space studies but supplementing with inventories, evaluation, and plans relating to local facilities available for regional purposes. 6. Public facilities and servicing. You are correct in stating that the 1971 inventory and the Development Plan listing of A-95 projects do not constitute the public facilities and services element of the regional comprehensive plan. This type of planning should probably be considered, although in fairly low priority since much of the content of such a study will also be included in other parts of the planning program. 7. Economic development/employment. "General Economic Conditions" and the "Region 2 Economy in 1970," being the results of substantive studies, are useful tools in the consideration of the economic development of the region and its communities. "Economic Analysis: the Planner's New Clothes?" (undated) reports on metholology, and would seem to be of dubious value in the comprehensive-planning context. (This whole area of economic development, insofar as it relates to physical planning, persists in my mind in being a function, like population, underlying all the other considerations of the comprehensvie plan but involving, more than most of those other considerations, a weighing of alternatives--the "what if" concept of Gulley's study. ) 8. Transportation. The Weld County Highway Plan (1971) is based on certain general principles--but no regional development data. One must conclude that this "plan" is actually no more than an index to the areas which need study, and therefore of value to the Transportation Planner. It is hardly proper to call either the highway study or the Weld County Municipal Airport Plan regional studies, although they may later be coupled with other studies to become a part of the regional plan. 9. Population. See 7, above. 10. Storm drainage. The documents on file indicate that a good beginning has been made in this area. Work on storm drainage will undoubtedly be accelerated as the localities of the region undertake the identification of areas of state concern under H. B. 1041 . In summary, it is certainly correct to state that Larimer-Weld does have a comprehensive plan--it being understood that the term really means compre- hensive planning, the ongoing process of refining, updating, improving, and functionalizing the work that has been done. Mr. Richard D. MacRavey • November 15, 1974 Page 4 In the past you have commented extensively on regional considerations of citizen participation and affirmative action. As these considerations become more crystallized, perhaps it would be well to set down in publishable form a summary of goals, organization, programs, methods, etc. in these areas. Finally, it is now important that all of us involved in the 701 program give close attention to the environmental considerations of every element of planning. How this can best be done will of course depend upon various factors in each region; general guidelines are contained in Section 2 of Chapter 4 of HUD's Handbook I, copy of which is enclosed. Again, thanks for letting us share your concern for making the comprehensive planning effort as meaningful as possible. Cordially you s, John D. McLucas Senior Planner JDL/btm L/btm Enclosure p.s. The documents will all be returned to you soon; preferably as someone comes to Loveland or goes to Denver. October 23, 1974 Mr. Philip H. Schmuck Director Colorado Division of Planning 1575 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203 Dear Mr. Schmuck: This is in reference to my letter of October 7, 1974 , wherein I requested the Division staff to review and evaluate the existing elements of the Larimer-Weld Regional Comprehensive Plan. This request is predicated on the need for us to receive an outside evaluation on what has been accomplished to date and, furthermore, what needs to be done or to he improved upon. The following elements of the Larimer-Weld Regional Comprehensive Plan are submitted herewith: U 1. Land Use--Document titled "Regional r--� Development Plan, Larimer-Weld Region. " This In document contains the goals and policies (pages 4 through 10) , the text of a development plan (land use) (pages 11 through 16 and pages 32 through 33) and a map attached to the back cover depicting the regional growth plan. Parentheti- cally, it should be noted that land use planning J7 is viewed as a building-block approach in the Larimer-Weld Region--i.e. , first, municipal plans, then the county plans for the unincorpor- ated area and then the regional plan which sup- posedly harmonizes areas of regional concern. 2. Housing--Although a regional housing study is currently underway, there have been three housing study documents completed in the Region, namely: (a) "Inventory and Analysis of Housing in the Larimer-Weld Regional Planning Area," (b) "An Analysis of Housing in the Greeley- Evans Area, " and (c) "A Manual of Housing Assis- tance, Weld County, Colorado. " I HAVE A QUESTION AS TO WHY THE "INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS OF HOUSING IN THE LARIMER-WELD REGIONAL PLANNING AREA" COULD NOT SUFFICE FOR THE HOUSING ELEMENT. AS YOU KNOW, THE DIVISION INDICATES ON ITS MASTER CHART THAT -18- Mr. Philip H. Schmuck -2- October 23, 1974 THE LARIMER-WELD REGION STILL HAS NOT COMPLETED THE HOUSING ELEMENT. HOWEVER, IN VIEWING OTHER HOUSING ELEMENTS IN THE STATE, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE AFOREMENTIONED "INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS" IS COMPARABLE TO THEM. 3. Water and Sewer--The following docu- ments are considered to be the water and sewer plans: (a) "Water and Sewer Facility Plan, 1972, for Weld County," (b) "Water and Sewer Facility Plan, 1972, for Larimer County, " and (c) "Functional Water and Sewer Plan for Larimer and Weld Region. " These documents sufficed for HUD certification on water and sewer. IT WOULD APPEAR, HOWEVER, THAT, IN LIGHT OF THE FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT, AS AMENDED IN 1972, WITH ITS RESULTING 303, 201 and 208 PLANNING l [] REQUIREMENTS, ALL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED REGIONAL WATER AND SEWER PLANS ARE MOOT. TITS, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER THE 303 BASIN PLAN RECENTLY COMPLETED BY TOUPS AND ECI FOR THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WOULD SUFFICE AS REGIONAL PLANS. Also enclosed in this packet is the Executive Summary of the three-volume Comprehensive Water Quality Management Plan for the South Platte River Basin, 1974. 4. Open Space--Documents titled "Larimer- Weld Regional Open Space Study and Comprehensive j7 Plan" and "Functional Open Space Plan" are in- cluded herein as the open space element. i 5. Parks and Recreation--Although there is no parks and recreation planning study ger se, the two open space plans do deal with parks and recreation, and, therefore, my question is, would they suffice and be counted as the parks and recreation element? It is the feeling among some of the planners in this area that open space, parks and recreation plans are closely and directly linked to one another, and the open space studies were completed with that understanding in mind. 6. Public Facilities and Services--In 1971 a public facilities inventory for Weld County was completed with 701 monies. However, this is the extent of the work on this element to date. -19- Mr. Philip H. Schmuck -3- October 23, 1974 Although there is reference on page 33 of the document titled "Regional Development Plan, Larimer-Weld Region" that the major public facilities of the Region have been reported in the A-95 project notification and review 'system, this, of course, in my opinion, does not con- stitute the public facilities and services ele- ment of a Regional Comprehensive Plan. r" 7. Economic Development/Employments-To � 'J date there have been three studies on economics analysis prepared for the Region, namely: (a) "General Economic Conditions, Interim Report, " (b) "The Economic Analysis: The Planner' s New Clothes, " and (c) "The Region-2 Economy in 1970 and Its Implications for Future Growth. " rrt8. Transportation--The "Regional Develop- ment Plan" for the Larimer-Weld Region of 1972 , on page 33 makes reference to the transportation plan, which consists of two maps, namely, the thoroughfare plans in each county of the Region. These maps are enclosed. Also, in 1971, a high- way plan and airport plan for Weld County was .J completed with 701 funds, and this document is enclosed. 9. Population--The population element is dealt with in the 1974 study titled "The Region- 2 Economy in 1970 and Its Implications for Future \'\ /7 Growth" (see pages 1, 26-31 and 35-44) . There is also reference to population projections in r the "Regional Development Plan"" for the Larimer- I' Weld Region of 1972 on pages 32, 35 and 17-19. 10. Storm Drainage--Essentially, one study has been performed by the planning staffs on drainage, and this is titled "Drainage Plan" of 1973 and includes five maps--Big Thompson drain- age, Cache La Poudre drainage, Windsor drainage, Greeley drainage and Firestone-Frederick-Dacono drainage. In addition, the Corps of Engineers has performed, since 1971, three flood plain information reports titled "Big Thompson River, Loveland, " "Cache La Poudre River, Volume I, Fort Collins," and "Cache La Poudre River, Volume II, Greeley. " All of these documents are included in this packet. -20- ' . t. Mr. Philip H. Schmuck -4- October 23, 1974 In addition, I am including two other items that should be helpful to you as a frame of reference in your effort to evaluate the various elements of our Regional Comprehensive Plan. These two other items are: 1. Script for slide presentation on the Regional Comprehensive Plan (for the Larimer- Weld Region) . Pn 2. A list of the various projects under- taken with 701 monies since 1971. Since some of the documents that are part of this packet are the only ones in existence, I would greatly appreciate all of the plans, studies, maps, etc. being returned to this office for our permanent files. Also, I am most anxious to receive your evaluation of these various elements of the Comprehensive Plan as quickly as..possible. I realize that your office has [. many demands; however, anything that you can do to expedite !i this request would be helpful to us. Sincerely yours, lb i Richard D. MacRavey Director RDM/cs Enc. 1 -21- October 7, 1974 Mr. Philip H. Schmuck Director Colorado Division of Planning 1575 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203 r=Dear Phil: I IL. Ij This is in reference to the Regional Comprehensive Plan. le21 As you know, the State Division of Planning "Red Book, " titled Comprehensive Planning Assistance Handbook for Regional Planning Organizations, sets forth ten required elements as (I1) aking up the plan. These elements are: I , ! I (1) land use; (2) housing; (3) water and sewer; H (4) open space; (5) parks and recreation; (6) public J; facilities and services; (7) economic development/ employment; (8) transportation; (9) population and (10) storm drainage. I f^ fihe optional elements are: (11) comprehensive health planning; (12) historic preservation; (13) education; (14) public safety and (15) other. The Colorado Revised Statutes, Chapter 106, Article 2, '/Section 5, provides the following on the adoption of the Master 1 Plan and the contents thereof: j5 ` ; (2) (a) It shall be the function and duty of a regional planning commission to make and adopt a regional plan for the physical development of the territory within the boundaries of the region, provided that no such plan shall be effec- tive within the boundaries of any incorporated muni- cipality within the region unless such plan shall be adopted by the governing body of such municipal- ity for the development of its territorial limits and under the terms of paragraph (b) of this sub- section (2) . (b) Any plan adopted by a regional planning commission shall not be deemed an official advisory plan of any municipality or county unless adopted by the planning commission of such municipality or county. -22- Mr. Philip S. Schmuck -2- October 7, 1974 In addition, Chapter 106, Article 2, Section 6, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, 1963, as amended, provides the fol- lowing on surveys and studies relating to the preparation of the Master Plan (Comprehensive Plan) : 106-2-6. Surveys and studies. In the preparation of a county or regional master plan, a county or regional planning commission shall make careful and comprehensive surveys and studies [! �1 of the existing conditions and probable future growth of the territory within its jurisdiction. The county or regional master plan shall be made with the general purpose of guiding and accomplish- ing a co-ordinated, adjusted, and harmonious devel- opment of the county or region which, in accordance with present and future needs and resources, will I1 best promote the health, safety, morals, order, j convenience, prosperity, or the general welfare of the inhabitants, as well as efficiency and j economy in the process of development, including such distribution of population and of the uses of land for urbanization, trade, industry, habitation, __1 recreation, agriculture, forestry, and other pur- r ; poses, as will tend to create conditions favorable _J to health, safety, transportation, prosperity, civic r activities, and recreational, educational and cul- tural opportunities; will tend to reduce the wastes of physical, financial, or human resources which result from either excessive congestion or excessive scattering of population; and will tend toward an /77. r efficient and economic utilization, conservation and production of the supply of food and water, and Ij of drainage, sanitary, and other facilities and ij resources. Both the statute and the Division of Planning Handbook, Volume II, are quite clear in their requirement that a regional organization shall complete a Comprehensive Plan. In light of those requirements, it would be appreciated if you and your staff would evaluate the existing elements of the Comprehensive Plan for State Planning and Management Region 2 at your earliest possible convenience. This document will be transmitted to you under separate cover. Sincerely yours, Richard D. MacRavey Director RDM/cs -23- rif" Ga% LA(-Ilk/1kI.F2 - WELD REGION:=.L CCJL.;NCR_ OP GOVI I INh^i_fJT:; \\ 4IUr^8 201 CAST 410`` SIRCCT LOVCLAND. COLORADO A0S3] • January 21, 1975 Dr. Walter E. Weese Director of Planning for the Elderly - Larimer-Weld Regional Council of Governments 201 East Fourth Street Loveland, Colorado 80537 Dear Dr. Weese: It is my understanding that the major objective of an Area Agency on Aging is the development and completion of a comprehen- sive and coordinated system for the delivery of social services to the elderly, hereinafter referred to as the "plan. " Furthermore, it is my understanding that the steps involved in completing the aforementioned "plan" are: 1. Identification of the needs of the elderly in the Larimer-Weld Region. 2 . Identification and assessment of existing delivery services to the elderly. 3 . Identification of gaps in terms of the identified needs of the elderly and the ability of existing services to meet those needs. 4. Development of alternative solutions to deal with the gaps determined in step 3--e.g. , better coordination procedures , creation of new services where necessary, consolidation of certain existing services where extensive duplication occurs, etc . -- which will be submitted to the Area Agency on Aging Committee for decision as to what alternative or com- bination of alternatives should be recommended and included in the "plan. " 5. Based upon the decisions made by the Com- mittee, a "plan" will be prepared and submitted to the COG Governing Board for action and ultimate re- ferral to appropriate agencies for implementation. You are hereby directed to complete the various aforemen- tioned steps within the time frame set forth below: -9d- Dr. Walter E. Weese -2- January 21, 1975 Step 1 (Identification of Needs) --This step should be completed by no later than the end of February, 1975. In view of the fact that you have been working on this step since last summer and the questionnaires are completed and ready for the compu- ter, there should be no problem in completing this step by the end of February, 1975. Step 2 (Identification/Assessment of Delivery Services) --This step should be completed by no later than the end of February, 1975. As you know, Ms. Alice Mack, COG Human Resources Field Representative, has done extensive work in the identification and assessment of existing resource agencies that also provide services to the aging, and, therefore, her work should be of great assistance to you in complet- ing this task. Also, you have already done some work in this step; thus, this completion date should be no problem. Step 3 (Gaps) --This step should be completed by no later than the end of March, 1975. Step 4 (Alternatives) --This step should be completed by no later than May 15, 1975. The Area Agency on Aging Committee should be convened as many times as necessary in order to make decisions on the alternatives . In addition, the public should be en- couraged to attend such meetings for input purposes. Step 5 (Complete Plan) --This step should be completed by no later than June 30, 1975, and a plan ready for submission to the COG Governing Board at its July meeting. The above decisions on deadlines were made by me based on knowledge of how long it took to complete such a plan by the planner for aging employed by the Oregon District III Planning for Aging Committee--that is, eight months. Since you have been on the job approximately eleven and one-half months, there should be no problem in your completion of this plan by June 30, 1975. Incidentally, as you know, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Larimer-Weld COG and the Larimer-Weld AAA executed on April 3 , 1974 , provided that the following would be completed and submitted to the COG Governing Board before December 31, 1974 : "a comprehensive and coordinated system plan for the delivery of social services to the elderly. " To my knowledge, this plan was never completed. -25- .w Dr. Walter E. Weese -3- January 21, 1975 If you have any comments about the above decisions and dead- lines, I am willing to discuss them with you and modify them if I am convinced that such modification is justified. Sincer€t' yours, / 2 d•• / • ill ). ha d D. acRavey ' ir for RDM/cs -26- • • • December 31 , 1974 TO: John B. Lopez, Director, Colorado Office of Human Resources FROM: Alice Mack, Human Resources Field Representative, Region Two SUBJECT: Interim Report In response to your memo of November 1 , 1974 , requesting an interim report, the following information is provided: (a) A list of current projects and activities in which I am involved includes the following: (1) Systems analysis of human resource pro- grams and the delivery system as a whole by inven- torying an initial 60-base agencies . An inventory form (questionnaire) developed with local expertise is administered through interview; two-thirds of these are complete as of this date. (The purpose of the analysis is to determine duplications and overlap, • define the degree of present coordination and to ana- lyze possible changes in the delivery system. ) (2) Supervision of the compilation, publica- tion and distribution of a community resources direc- tory, a Council of Governments pilot project which will serve as an example of a needed resource docu- ment for the region. (3) Investigation of the feasibility of Region Two ' s attempting a change in the human delivery system through the concepts of services integration. (4) Research on CETA (Manpower) programs and funding in order to provide recommendation to the Council of Governments Board. (5) Provision of information on federal fund- ing sources when requested by elected officials or agencies. (6) Participation in organization building of the Council of Governments, including structuring of committees, roles and functions , etc. -27- John B. Lopez -2•- December 31, 1974 (7) Advice to each of the Region' s two counties, through memos, discussions and so forth, on the direction and role for their respective de- partments of human resources. (8) Joint projects with other Larimer-Weld COG staff members, such as developing, in coopera- tion with the COG transportation planner, an approach for funding from the Rural Highway Transportation Demonstration Program. I also coordinate with the director of the Area Agency on Aging on such projects as developing an information and referral system and will coordinate even more in the future. (b) It is impossible to compute the dollar value for the above projects and activities , with the exception of the directory project, valued at approximately $2, 000. (c) To date, no dollar value has been generated through my activities, either directly or indirectly. (d) A list of the boards and committees I sit with as a representative of the Council of Governments includes the following: (1) Larimer County Human Resources Board (ex-officio) . (2) Area Agency on Aging (ex-officio) . (3) Greeley Human Relations Commission (ex-officio) . (4) Governor' s Balance of State Manpower Council (alternate for Commissioner Billings) . (5) Loveland Inter-Agency Council (atten- dance) . (6) Weld County Inter-Agency Council (attendance) . (7) Northeast Colorado Criminal Justice Planning Council (frequent attendance) . (e) My current short-range goals and objectives include the following: (1) Finish the inventory of agencies, ana- lyze the results and evaluate what changes can be made to improve the system and the programs within the system. -28- • John B. Lopez -3- December 31 , 1974 (2) Assist in shaping the development of an information and referral system in each county (as required for the aging program and because it is an obvious regional need in the field of human services) . (3) Assist the COG transportation planner in developing data ana a regional approacn towara gaining funding under the Rural Highway Transporta- tion Demonstration Program. (4) Set up the Human Resources Advisory Com- mittee, including membership, A-95 review procedures, and development of goals and objectives. (5) Participation in federal, state and local partnership efforts to develop an approach toward building a model human service delivery system. (f) A list of the short- and long-range needs which could not be addressed without the existence of my position includes all of the activities enumerated above. In addition, the long-range needs would include comprehensive social planning and anything the region might undertake in the area of services integration. (g) The state and federal agencies with which I currently work include: (1) The Colorado Office of Human Resources. (2) HEW, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. (3) Colorado Counties, Inc. (h) Attached is a statement presented to the Council of Governments Board in October which summarizes my activities and approach. (i) I believe my primary value to the Council of Governments is to help local officials understand the fragmentation and ineffi- ciency of the present human delivery system and to help them find the information and tools to deal with the situation, thereby re- ducing costs, improving service and increasing local accountability. Besides assisting local officials in making decisions about funding and system changes . I believe my work will form the basis for the introduction of planning concepts in the human resource area and that, because this takes place within the framework of the Council of Governments, it will lead eventually to an integration of physical and human resource planning. -29- r • • John B. Lopez -4- December 31, 1974 (j ) No major problems have yet been experienced in address- ing state and/or federal agencies, with the exception of some com- munication problems involving state versus local decision-making with the Department of Social Services, Division of Services for the Aging , and the Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Manpower. Notable cooperation and good communication have been ptnerienCed wit-h the hffire of Human Resources, at the state level . and with 0E0 and HEW (Intergovernmental Affairs) at the federal level. It is anticipated that more problems may be experienced with state and federal agencies in the future as the results of our inventory and analysis dictate requested changes in state and federal policies and regulations. AM/cs -30- 1 I :? ! C'I I . . `it OF GOVERNMENTS I'IIONE (30 I) bid d:NN IN It IN1 'DI .`0I I HhI IIII '.I Itl1 I I ,M1'I I /ANI I,I'IAI III!/AIII' riu•• I/ September 13 , 1974 TO: Local Government Members of Larimer-Weld COG News Media in Larimer-Weld Region FROM: Larimer-Weld Regional Council of Governments Governing Board Members and Alternate Members SUBJECT: Statement as a Result of the COG Retreat Held in Estes Park, September 12-13, 1974 1. The Larimer-Weld COG will perform planning and research on subjects that are of regional nature. At no time will the Larimer-Weld COG perform any operating services (i.e. , operating a bus system, refuse disposal operation, etc. ) . If any service is deemed necessary and is a regional-type service, such service shall be operated by a general-purpose government or a combination of general-purpose governments through contractual agreements. 2. It is the goal of the Larimer-Weld COG that all plan- ning performed will provide a firm foundation and basis upon which elected officials can make sound decisions which will be in the best interests of the Region. Furthermore, the research is to be directed toward providing improvements in existing services so that the citizens of the Region will get the best use of their tax dollar. 3 . It is intended that the Larimer-Weld COG shall perform a minimum of functions and activities. The emphasis is to be upon quality of programs and not upon quantity of programs. -31- - , - • COG Members and News Media -2- September 13 , 1974 4. It is the intent of the Larimer-Weld COG in dealing with the important subject of human resource planning that staff efforts will be directed to the inventory of social delivery systems in order to ascertain how these programs and the system as a whole can improve themselves, knowing that the goal is to do the best possible job for their clientele at a reasonable cost to the citizens in the Region. 5. The Larimer-Weld COG should, through the A-95 review process, encourage efficient delivery of services and discourage duplication. 6. The Larimer-Weld COG pledges to the citizens of the Region the opportunity to make input in all regional planning efforts. Such planning efforts will only be meaningful if they recognize and accommodate diverse views and recommendations of all citizens. 7. Finally, the Larimer-Weld COG will continuously re- examine itself to make improvements where necessary. -32- Hello