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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20151028.tiff E Davis Richard Kirk Mueller Graham & DECEIVE® 303 892 7456 kirk.mueller@dgslaw.com L A W Stubbsu.P JUN 19 2015 COMM SS COOK June 4, 2015 Cara McKeller Docket Assistant Board of Assessment Appeals Colorado Department of Local Affairs 1313 Sherman Street, Room 315 Denver, CO 80203 Re: Petition to State Board of Assessment Appeals Re Noble Energy, Inc. v. Weld County Dear Ms. McKeller, Pursuant to your email dated May 29, 2015 directing that Noble Energy, Inc. should list on its above-referenced petition the value assigned to the subject property and Noble's estimate of the value even though the appeal does not involve a challenge to valuations or assessments, I enclose herewith a revised petition listing the information you requested. You also indicated that the "letter of decision" from the Weld County Board of County Commissioners was not complete and that "there must be a decision" for each schedule number. Unfortunately, Weld County did not provide a letter or the decisions you described. Rather, the Commissioners signed a "Resolution" (mailed on May 5, 2015 per the attached postmarked envelope and submitted with Noble's original petition) stating that because Noble did not challenge the valuations or assessments of its property, the petition did not meet the "statutory requirements for consideration for abatement or refund." Accordingly, Weld County deemed it "necessary to dismiss" the petition rather than deny it. I do not represent Weld County and cannot explain the distinction between a dismissal and a denial. In any event, Assistant County Attorney Brad Yatabe verified, in response to an e-mail from me, that he did not believe any letter was prepared because the Commissioners decided to dismiss the petition. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. R. Kirk Mueller YLL:ft,. Davis Graham 8c Stubbs LLP 1550 17th Street, S ite 500 • Denver, CO 80202 • 303 892 9400 • fax 303 893 1379 • DGSLAW.COM Can� cO/a4/i5- CC ell; Assn adis-102 8 ID/aa A-50090 PETITION TO STATE BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS For Office Use Only 1313 Sherman Street, Room 315 Phone: (303)864-7710 Denver,Colorado 80203 Fax' (303)864-7719 Docket No. Fee: Y N ChecklCredit Card tt Date: May 12, 2015 P rt Property Owner: Noble Energy, Inc. Subject Property: Rural Weld County, Colorado Street Address City Schedule Number(s): 025 38103 + (see attached schedule) _ Attach separate sheet if necessary ❑Board of Equalization Appeals the decision of the Weld iaBoard of Commissioners Dated:5/12/15 County 0 State Property Tax Administrator This Appeal concerns: IOValuation !a Refund/Abatement ❑Exemption OState Assessed Tax Year: 2012-13 The subject property is currently classified as: ElAgricultural 0 Commercial DExempt ElIndustrial CiMixed Use ONatural Resources pJ Oil&Gas ID Personal (]Possessory U Producing (Residential 0 State Assessed ❑Vacant Land Interest Mines 2012: $21,809.891 2012: $21,809.891 Actual Value assigned to subject property: 2013: $29,255,990 Petitioner's estimate of value: 2013: $29,255,990 Estimated time for Petitioner to present the appeal: 60 minutes or 1 hours. Not fess than 90 minutes. Board will allow equal lime to County or Property Tax Administrator. Appearance: D Petitioner will be present at the hearing OPetitioner will appear by telephone Vi Petitioner will be represented by an agent Petitioner is responsible for calling Me Board at 003-065-Saw O Petitioner will be represented by an attorney on the scheduled dale and time of hearing{Mountain Thee Zero) Q Petitioner would like to appear by video conference Petilioner must contact rho Board at 303.806-5000 al least 20 days In advance of the scheduled hearing ie confirm availability of video conference equipment If the property owner is an entity,it must appear under the representation of an attorney licensed in Colorado except as tolbws. A closely held entity may he represented by an officer of the entity as long as the amount in controversy does not exceed 510.000.exclusive of costs,Interest or statutory penalties. A closely hold entity can have no more than three owners. See Section 13-1-127,C.R.S. A closely hold entity that will ha represented by an officer of the entity must provide a letter to the Board with this petition slating that it has no more than three owners and that the tax amount at Issue does not exceed 515,000 as of August 7,2013.A trust filing a petition as of August fl,2012 may be represented by a trustee,an attorney or an agent. Filing Fee: q None Petitioner is appearing pro se(self-represented)and has not filed more than two Petitions with the Board of Assessment Appeals during this fiscal year(July 1—June 30). ❑ $ 33.75 Petitioner is appearing prose(self-represented)and has filed more than two Petitions with the Board of Assessment Appeals during this fiscal year(July 1 —June 30). $101.2.5 Petitioner will be represented by an agent or by an attorney. In the space below, please explain why you disagree with the value assigned to the subject property Petitioner's mineral leaseholds in rural Weld County are not legally within the boundaries of Sand Hills Metropolitan District and should not have been taxed. Too, the Weld County District Court has held that the District lacked proper authority to impose taxes from 2011 foltivard. Required attachments to this form: Rt Assessor's or Property Tax Administrator's Notice of Valuation or Notice of Denial O Decision of County Board of Equalization, County Board of Commissioners or Property Tax Administrator Attachments required under certain circumstances: ❑ A notarized Letter of Authorization if an agent will be representing Petitioner ❑ A list of names, last known addresses and telephone numbers of co-owners or parties directly interested in the subject property if applicable. Certificate of Service I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Petition to the State Board of Assessment Appeals and attachments were mailed, faxed or hand delivered to: O Board of Equalization Weld 0 Board of Commissioners County O State Property Tax Administrator at the following address: 1550 O Street, Greeley, Colorado 80632 on 6/3/15 Date I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Petition to the State Board of Assessment Appeals and attachments were mailed,faxed or hand delivered to all co-owners or parties directly interested in the subject property on 6/3/15 . Date I hereby certify that four (4) true and correct copies of the foregoing Petition to the State Board of Assessment Appeals and attachments were mailed or hand delivered to the Board of Assessment Appeals at 1313 Sherman Street, Room 315, Denver,CO 80203 on 6/3/15 Date (One copy may be faxed to the Board but the original and two additional copies must be mailed or hand delivered.) Petitioner's Mailing Address is Required Even if Petitioner is Represented by An Agent or Attorney (per C.R.S. p,39-8-109 4/11e. • Signature f Age C7 or Attorney m Signature o Petitioner R. Kirk Mueller Mark Patteson Printed Name Printed Name (24e- 1550 17th Street, Suite 500 1625 Broadway, Suite 2200 Mailing Address Mailing Address Denver, CO 80202 Denver, CO 80202 City, State, Zip Code City, State,Zip Code Telephone: 303-892-7456 Telephone: 303-228-4000 Daytime number E-Mail: Kirk.Mueller@dgslaw.com E-Mail: Mark.Patteson@Nbleenergy,com Attorney Reg. No.: 16746 It is the Petitioner's responsibility to notify the BAA of any change of address. Petitioners are strongly encouraged to read the Instructions and Rules of the Board of Assessment Appeals prior to completing this Petition Form. The Instructions and Rules are available on the Web at www.dola.Colorado.gov/baa or may be requested by phone at 303-866-5880. • AV �•Yt ; • N U w N N f •. } O tip. i w0v N w co 111 ��� CO 10 Z w O o ao WI- coo w Li O co CC in U N n W COOL] w O w UrCL.(.9 PETITION TO STATE BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS For Office Use Only 1313 Sherman Street, Room 315 Phone: (303)864-7710 Denver, Colorado 80203 Fax: (303)864-7719 Docket No Fee. Y N Check/Credit Card P Date: May 12, 2015 Property Owner: Noble Energy, Inc. Subject Property: Rural Weld County, Colorado MAY 1 8 2015 Street Address City Schedule Number(s): 025 38103 + (see attached schedule) WELD COUNTY Attach separate sheet if necessary COMMISSIONERS' Board of Equalization Appeals the decision of the Weld 0Board of Commissioners Dated: 5/12/15 County 0 State Property Tax Administrator This Appeal concerns: i0Valuation 0 Refund/Abatement O Exemption ❑State Assessed Tax Year; 2012-13 The subject property is currently classified as: ❑Agricultural 0 Commercial ❑Exempt El Industrial °Mixed Use ❑Natural Resources pa Oil &Gas ID Personal ❑Possessory 0 Producing °Residential UState Assessed O Vacant Land Interest Mines Actual Value assigned to subject property: Petitioner's estimate of value: Estimated time for Petitioner to present appeal: N t essthhan 30 minutes. Board will allowt es or 1 hours. equal time to C unnty or Property Tax Administrator Appearance: °Petitioner will he present at the hearing °Petitioner will appear by telephone 0 Petitioner will be represented by an agent Petitioner is responsible for calling the Board at 303-866-5880 I21 Petitioner will be represented by an attorney on the scheduled dale and time of hearing(Mountain Time Zone) Petitioner would like to appear by video conference Petitioner must contact the Board at 303-866.5880 at least 20 days In advance of the scheduled hearing to confirm evailabiily of video conference equipment If the property owner is an entity,it must appear under the representation of an attorney licensed in Colorado except as follows. A closely held entity may be represented by an officer of the entity as long as the amount in controversy does not exceed$10,000,exclusive of costs,interest or statutory penalties. A closely held entity can have no more than three owners. See Section 13-t-127,C.R.S. A closely held entity that will bo represented by an officer of the entity must provide a letter to the Hoard with this petition stating that It has no more than three owners and that the tax amount at issue does trot exceed$15,000 as of August 7,2013.A trust filing a petition as of August 8,2012 may be represented by a trustee,an attorney or an agent. Filing Fee: Q None Petitioner is appearing pro se (self-represented)and has not filed more than two Petitions with the Board of Assessment Appeals during this fiscal year(July 1 —June 30). ❑ $ 33.75 Petitioner is appearing pro se(self-represented) and has filed more than two Petitions with the Board of Assessment Appeals during this fiscal year(July 1 —June 30). gl $101.25 Petitioner will be represented by an agent or by an attorney. In the space below, please explain why you disagree with the value assigned to the subject property Petitioner's mineral leaseholds in rural Weld County are not legally within the boundaries of Sand Hills Metropolitan District and should not have been taxed. Too, the Weld County District Court has held that the District lacked proper authority to impose taxes from 2011 forward. anti L14:+ CCE016 C -eA(6y6)letSR- 118 o(6-1Oag 5-.21-.?015 Reg u' d attachments to this form: Tp essor's or Property Tax Administrator's Notice of Valuation or Notice of Denial Decision of County Board of Equalization,County Board of Commissioners or Property Tax Administrator Attachments required under certain circumstances: 0 A notarized Letter of Authorization if an agent will be representing Petitioner 0 A list of names, last known addresses and telephone numbers of co-owners or parties directly interested in the subject property if applicable. Certificate of Service I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Petition to the State Board of Assessment Appeals and attachments were mailed,faxed or hand delivered to: ❑Board of Equalization Weld �$oard of Commissioners County {❑' tate Property Tax Administrator at the following address: 1550 O Street, Greeley, Colorado 80632 on S'1 /J-r i — . Date I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Petition to the State Board of Assessment Appeals and attachments were m iled,faxed or hand delivered to all co-owners or parties directly interested in the subject property on 5 / r' Jr /.) Date 1 hereby certify that four(4) true and correct copies of the foregoing Petition to the State Board of Assessment Appeals and attachments were mailed or hand delivered to the Board of Assessment Appeals at 1313 Sherman Street, Room 315, Denver, CO 80203 on ` I ' / ' • Date (One copy may be taxed to the Board but the original and two additional copies must be mailed or hand delivered.) Petitioner's Mailinn Address is Required Even if Petitioner is Represented by An Agent or Attorney (per C.R.S. 39-8-109 (\ . 7/7711--- Signature of ent r Attorney PI Signature o Petitioner . 9 9 �.- R. Kirk Mueller Mark Patteson Printed Name Printed Name 46" 1550 17th Street Suite 500 1625 Broadway, Suite 2200 Mailing Address Mailing Address Denver CO 80202 Denver CO 80202 City, State, Zip Code City, State, Zip Code Telephone: 303-892-7456 _ Telephone: 303-228-4000 Daytime number E-Mail: Kirk.Mueller@dgslaw.com _ E-Mail: Mark.Patteson@Nbleenergy.com Attorney Reg. No.: 16746 It is the Petitioner's responsibility to notify the BAA of any change of address. Petitioners are strongly encouraged to read the instructions and Rules of the Board of Assessment Appeals prior to completing this Petition Form. The Instructions and Rules are available on the Web at www.dola.Colorado.gov/baa or may be requested by phone at 303-866-5880. 2 2 } : 7 < y / % § � / ( � § z < S $ � w ) / _ ! On o ruin (M. Zr0 / cc CD co \ \ co @ { $ o in od ] ) y \ ) . « �. RESOLUTION RE: ACTION OF THE BOARD CONCERNING PETITIONS FOR ABATEMENT OR REFUND OF TAXES - NOBLE ENERGY, INC. WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, State of Colorado, duly and lawfully called regular meeting held on the 9th day of March, 2015, at which meeting there were present the following members: Chair Barbara Kirkmeyer, and Commissioners Mike Freeman, Sean P. Conway, Julie A. Cozad, and Steve Moreno, and WHEREAS, notice of such meeting and an opportunity to be present were given to the taxpayer and the Assessor of said County, with said Assessor, Christopher Woodruff, being present, and taxpayer, Noble Energy, Inc., being present and represented by Kirk Mueller, Attorney, and WHEREAS, at said hearing the Board deemed it advisable to continue said matter to March 16, 2015, to allow the County Attorney adequate time to research and determine whether the Board of Weld County Commissioners or the Board of Adjustment Appeals has statutory jurisdiction to hear the matter; and then again to April 15, 2015, to allow for the matter to be heard by a full quorum of the Board, and WHEREAS, on April 15, 2015, the Board of County Commissioners has carefully considered the attached petitions, and is fully advised in relation thereto. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, that the Board deems it necessary to dismiss the aforementioned petition as it does not meet Colorado State statutory requirements for consideration for abatement or refund. CUA5Q. 5)4 ..rrto ti d QM21-, b nlohla ,- 2015-1026 AS0090 TAX ABATEMENT PETITIONS - NOBLE ENERGY, INC. PAGE 2 The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 15th day of April, A.D., 2015. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 4bKirkmeye "y D COUNTY, COLO ADO ATTEST: $6u+te`rt/ Cy( ;� r, hair Weld County Clerk to the Board ( { 1 Mike Freeman, Pro-Tem BY: y- Clear. -t'e Dee°P ILL to tie Board EXCUSED ean�P. Conway ozad 116I 4C9 County /rney :.1v• oreno 5/i ` �I Date of signature: 2015-1028 AS0090 Davis Richard Kirk Mueller Graham& 303 892 7456 I. A W StubbsuP kirk.mueller@dgslaw.com October 22, 2014 Via Federal Express &Email Weld County Board of Commissioners Christopher M.Woodruff c/o Rafaela A. Martinez, Deputy Clerk of the Board Weld County Assessor 1150 O Street 1400 N. 17th Street Greeley, CO 80632 Greeley, CO 80631 RAMartinez@weldgov.com coodruff@weldgov.com Re: Noble Energy, Inc.'s Petitions for Abatement and Refund of Taxes Certified by Sand Hills Metropolitan District and Collected by Weld County Honorable Members of the Board and County Assessor: On behalf of Noble Energy, Inc. ("Noble"), I enclose herewith three "Petitions for Abatement or Refund of Taxes" covering the years 2011, 2012, and 2013, requesting the refund of ad valorem taxes levied upon and paid by Noble to the Sand Hills Metropolitan District("Sand Hills" or"District"). You will recall that I previously lodged petitions for abatement on behalf of Bill Barrett Corporation ("BBC") and Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. ("Bonanza")with respect to ad valorem taxes paid to Sand Hills and collected on its behalf by the Weld County Assessor's office. Like BBC and Bonanza, Noble believes Sand Hills has "erroneously or illegally" levied taxes on its property (see C.R.S. §39-10- 114 et seq.)for the reasons that are described in detail in the pleadings and briefs of record in lawsuit currently pending in the Colorado District Court, District of Weld County,styled Bill Barrett Corporation and Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. v. Sand Hills Metropolitan District, et at., Case No. 2013CV030928(the "Litigation") in which Noble has been named as an "involuntary plaintiff." In particular, Noble believes the severed mineral interests it owns in the vicinity of Sand Hills are not properly included within the District's boundaries. Sand Hills was created in 2004 and originally located wholly within the boundaries of the Town of Lochbuie. Commencing in 2009,Sand Hills transplanted itself to a location thirty miles away in rural Weld County known as 70 Ranch,which is owned by Robert Lembke,after Mr. Lembke filed a petition to include his ranch in the District pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-401(1)(a). Among other things, Noble contends that Mr. Lembke, who also sits on the Sand Hills Board of Directors, lacked authority to bring within the District's boundaries the real and personal property belonging to Noble given that he is not, as the statute requires, the "fee owner. . . of one hundred percent" of Noble's property. Various other examples of erroneous and illegal actions by Sand Hills are described in the pleadings and briefs of record in the Litigation which further mandate that the taxes paid by Noble be refunded. See generally, Amended Complaint in the Litigation, copy attached hereto as Exhibit A. 1550 17th Street,Suite 500 • Denver, CO 80202 • 303 892 9400 • fax 303 893 1379 • DGSLAW.COM 3440120.1 Weld County Board of Commissioners, c/o Rafaela A. Martinez Christopher M.Woodruff October 22, 2014 Page 2 Noble has, without hesitation, paid substantial tax revenues and otherwise supported Weld County and myriad local governments and special districts within Weld County. Noble respectfully submits, however, that the actions of Sand Hills are improper, and its petitions for refund/abatement of taxes should be granted. Sincerely, a C:7 ' R. Kirk Mueller DAVIS GRAHAM&STUBBS LLP Attorneys for Noble Energy, Inc. Enclosures cc: John R. Lefebvre,Jr.,Weld County Treasurer(via email) Brad Yatabe, Assistant Weld County Attorney (via email) EXHIBIT A DATE FILED:January 3,2014 4:31 PM DISTRICT COURT, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO FLING ID: 46D55B4D4DD51 Weld County Courthouse CASE NUMBER:2013CV30928 901 9th Ave. Greeley, Colorado 80631 Plaintiffs: Bill. Barrett Corporation and Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. Involuntary State of Colorado; Plaintiffs: Weld County, Colorado; and Noble Energy, Inc. v. Defendants: Sand Hills Metropolitan District, f/k/a Altamira Metropolitan District No. 6; United Water and Sanitation District; and the Town of Lochbuie, Colorado A COURT USE ONLY A Richard Kirk Mueller, #16746 Ann T. Lebeck, #42424 DAVIS GRAHAM & STUBBS LLP 1550 Seventeenth St. Suite 500 Denver, CO 80202 Telephone: 303-892-9400 Case No. 2013 CV 030928 Facsimile: 303-893-1379 E-mail: kirk.mueller@dgslaw.com Ctrm. Division 5 ann.lebeck@dgslaw.com Attorneys for Plaintiffs Bill Barrett Corporation and Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. AMENDED COMPLAINT Plaintiffs Bill Barrett Corporation ("BBC") and Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. ("Bonanza Creek") state and allege the following for their Amended Complaint against Defendants Sand Hills Metropolitan District, formerly known as the Altamira Metropolitan District No. 6 ("Sand Hills" or the `District"), visited water and Sanitation District (`TJnited Water"), and the Town of Lochbuie, Colorado ("Lochbuie" or the "Town"): INTRODUCTION Defendant Sand Hills was organized with Lochbuie's approval in 2004 for the purpose of developing 1,496 single family home units and 70,000 square feet of commercial space within the Town's boundaries. After several years of inactivity and zero revenue, Sand Hills transplanted itself from a small area within Lochbuie to an isolated area owned by Sand Hills' president Robert (`Bob") Lembke some 30 miles away and began collecting millions in taxes from oil and gas producers operating within its new boundaries. In nearly a decade's time since its organization, Sand Hills has done nothing to develop housing units or commercial space in Lochbuie. Instead, using taxes collected under its 2004 service plan, it has prepared rough engineering designs of fanciful water collection and delivery systems to accommodate estimated future growth in the Weld County region. On December 23, 2013, the newly self-described "regional special district" obtained Lochbuie's approval of a"modified" service plan by which the District will provide special favors to the Town while developing "regional improvement" projects paid for entirely by taxes on the District's few inhabitants. PARTIES, JURISDICTION, AND VENUE 1. Plaintiff BBC is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 1099 18`h Street, Suite 2300, Denver, Colorado 80202. 2. Plaintiff Bonanza Creek is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 410 17`h Street, Suite 1400, Denver, Colorado 80202. 3. Defendant Sand Hills Metropolitan District, formerly known as the Altamira Metropolitan District No. 6, is a special district organized under Title 32 of the Colorado Revised Statutes with its principal office at 7995 Prentice Avenue, Suite 103E, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111. Sand Hills' President is Bob Lembke and its designated contact person is Sue Blair, CRS of Colorado, LLC, 7995 Prentice Avenue, Suite 103E, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111. 4. Defendant United Water and Sanitation District is a special district organized under Title 32 of the Colorado Revised Statutes with its principal office at 7995 Prentice Avenue, Suite 103E, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111. United Water's President is Bob Lembke and its designated contact person is Sue Blair, CRS of Colorado, LLC, 7995 Prentice Avenue, Suite 103E, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111. 5. Defendant the Town of Lochbuie, Colorado is a body politic and statutory town located in rural Weld and Adams Counties, Colorado. 6. Involuntary Plaintiff the State of Colorado is a body politic with an interest in the subject of this action and is so situated that disposition of thic action in its absence might impair or impede its ability to protect that interest or expose other parties to a substantial risk of incurring double, multiple or otherwise inconsistent obligations by reasons of that interest and, hence, should be joined as an involuntary plaintiff pursuant to C.R.C.P. 19(a). In addition, to the - 2 - extent this Amended Complaint requests declaratory relief(see Eighth Claim for Relief, infra), C.R.S. § 13-51-101 et seq. and corresponding C.R.C.P. 57 provide that entities so situated "shall be joined" to the litigation. C.R.S. § 13-51-115; see also C.R.C.P. 57(j). 7. Involuntary Plaintiff Weld County, Colorado, is a body politic with an interest in the subject of this action and is so situated that disposition of this action in its absence might impair or impede its ability to protect that interest or expose other parties to a substantial risk of incurring double, multiple or otherwise inconsistent obligations by reasons of that interest and, hence, should be joined as an involuntary plaintiff pursuant to C.R.C.P. 19(a). In addition, to the extent this Amended Complaint requests declaratory relief(see Eighth Claim for Relief, infra), C.R.S. § 13-51-101 et seq. and corresponding C.R.C.P. 57 provide that entities so situated "shall be joined" to the litigation. C.R.S. § 13-51-115; see also C.R.C.P. 57(j). 8. Involuntary Plaintiff Noble Energy, Inc. ("Noble") is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business located at 100 Glenborough Drive, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77067 and an office at 1625 Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80202. Noble has an interest in the subject of this action and is so situated that disposition of this action in its absence might impair or impede its ability to protect that interest or expose other parties to a substantial risk of incurring double, multiple or otherwise inconsistent obligations by reasons of that interest and, hence, should be joined as an involuntary plaintiff pursuant to C.R.C.P. 19(a). In addition, to the extent this Amended Complaint requests declaratory relief(see Eighth Claim for Relief, infra), C.R.S. § 13-51-101 et seq. and corresponding C.R.C.P. 57 provide that entities so situated "shall be joined" to the litigation. C.R.S. § 13-51-115; see also C.R.C.P. 57(j). 9. This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to Art. VI, Section 9 of the Colorado Constitution, which provides that the district courts "shall be trial courts of record with general jurisdiction, and shall have original jurisdiction" in all civil cases. 10. Venue is proper in this judicial district pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-207(3) because this Court approved the organization of Defendant Sand Hills in 2004. GENERAL ALLEGATIONS 11. The preceding allegations are incorporated as though set forth fully herein. 12. Plaintiff BBC is an oil and natural gas exploration and development company with assets in the Rocky Mountain region. 13. Plaintiff Bonanza Creek is an exploration and production company focused on the extraction of oil and associated liquids-rich natural gas in the United States. 14. Plaintiffs BBC and Bonanza Creek operate in Weld County, Colorado, and within the current boundaries of Defendant Sand Hills. Noble, an independent energy company, also operates in that area. - 3 - 15. Plaintiffs BBC and Bonanza Creek are subject to and have paid ad valorem taxes levied by Defendant Sand Hills as further detailed herein. Noble is also subject to and has paid ad valorem taxes levied by Defendant Sand Hills. 16. Defendant Sand Hills is party to one or more "funding agreements" by which it transfers money it has raised in ad valorem taxes levied upon Plaintiffs BBC and Bonanza Creek to United Water and Sanitation District. 17. The Board of Directors of Defendants Sand Hills and United Water include three or four of the same individuals, including Bob Lembke who is or at relevant times was the president of both districts. Bob Lembke is also the owner of the surface property that is contained within and comprises the boundaries of the Sand Hills District. 18. Plaintiffs BBC and Bonanza Creek pay severance tax revenues to the State of Colorado. A portion of these severance taxes collected by Colorado is returned to Weld County and local communities therein. 19. The ad valorem taxes collected by Sand Hills from Plaintiffs BBC and Bonanza Creek reduce the severance tax revenues that the State of Colorado collects and thereby reduce the revenues the State of Colorado provides to Weld County and local communities therein. Organization of the Altamira Metropolitan District No. 6 20. Defendant Sand Hills was organized in late 2004 under the name "Altamira Metropolitan District No. 6." The District was formed in conjunction with five other metropolitan districts identified as the Altamira Metropolitan Districts Nos. 1 through 5. 21. The District's boundaries at the time of its organization in 2004 were located entirely within the Town of Lochbuie, Colorado. 22. On October 6, 2004, Lochbuie approved the service plan for the District. A copy of the service plan for the Altamira Metropolitan District No. 6 is attached as "Exhibit A" (the "2004 Service Plan"). Based on the approved 2004 Service Plan, on November 12, 2004, the Weld County District Court issued an Order and Decree organizing the Altamira Metropolitan District No. 6. 23. The District's actions were, from its inception until December 23, 2013, governed by the 2004 Service Plan. The 2004 Service Plan 24. The 2004 Service Plan states that the District's purpose was to provide the of a residentialneighborhood called the"A ltan. ra infrastructure to support construction a �uuuuui Development" in the Town of Lochbuie, near the intersection of Weld County Road 4 and Weld County Road 37. In particular, the District was formed to "finance, construct and install local - 4 - and regional public improvements, including streets and traffic signals, and water, sewer, storm drainage and park, open space and recreation facilities" for the Altamira Development on land encompassed within the District and Altamira Metropolitan Districts Nos. 1 through 5. See Exhibit A at 1, 3-4. 25. The 2004 Service Plan further states that the District "will work closely and cooperate with the Town to serve and promote the health, safety, prosperity, security and general welfare of the Altamira Development's inhabitants." Exhibit A at 4. Exhibits to the 2004 Service Plan identify and describe various improvements such as asphalt pavement, landscaping, gutters and sidewalks, fire hydrants, water mains, sanitary sewers, manholes, "Turn-a-bouts (including Curbing and Landscaping)," storm sewers, drainage facilities, and "Neighborhood Park Landscaping." See Exhibit A at Exhibit F at 1, 2-3. 26. Upon information and belief, Sand Hills has not constructed, or even begun the construction of, any of the features or projects described in its 2004 Service Plan. Inclusion of 70 Ranch, LLC Property and Activation of the District as a Funding Mechanism for United Water 27. From 2005 through the end of 2009, Altamira Metropolitan District No. 6 had zero revenue and zero expenditures. 28. On November 25, 2008, the District's Board of Directors, including Bob Lembke, approved certification of a mill levy of 51.118 mills for its "general operating expenses." At the time of the District's mill levy certification, the District's Board of Directors certified that the District's gross assessed valuation was $60, so that its revenue for the 2009 year would be $0. 29. In April 2009, Bob Lembke—owner of 13,000 acres of property known as 70 Ranch, LLC ("70 Ranch") — filed a "Petition for Inclusion" with the Sand Hills Board of Directors seeking to include the ranch within the District. A copy of the Petition for Inclusion is attached as Exhibit B. The petition was filed pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-401(1) (a), which provides that the "fee owner or owners" of"one hundred percent of any real property" may petition to include such property within a special district. 30. The 70 Ranch property is located outside of, and approximately 30 miles removed from, the Town of Lochbuie. Although the 70 Ranch property reportedly has less than ten human inhabitants, it is the site of significant mineral exploration and production activities by companies such as Plaintiffs BBC and Bonanza Creek who own various subsurface mineral rights at the ranch. 31. Bob Lembke's Petition for Inclusion described, by metes and bounds, approximately 13,000 acres of surface land and recited that Bob Lembke was the"fee owner" of the described property and that "no other person, persons, entity or entities owns any fee interest in the Property." See Exhibit B at 1. The petition did not include or describe any real property in the nature of subsurface mineral interests at the 70 Ranch and did not purport to include nor, - 5 - pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-I-401(1)(a), could it have included the real property mineral interests owned by Plaintiffs BBC and Bonanza Creek. 32. Within a few days, the District's Board of Directors (including Bob Lembke) approved Bob Lembke's petition for inclusion of the 70 Ranch property. The inclusion of the 70 Ranch property was finalized on April 28, 2009, by Order of the Weld County District Court. 33. On November 24, 2009, the District's Board of Directors approved a budget and mill levy certification for the following year. The certification was based on the newly included 70 Ranch property. However, despite the fact that they were not part of the newly included surface property at 70 Ranch, the certification included the subsurface mineral leasehold interests owned by Plaintiffs BBC and Bonanza Creek. The gross assessed valuation was $17,785,350 and the Board of Directors approved a mill levy certification of 55.000 mills (for its "general operating expenses"). 34. The 2010 budget adopted by the District on November 24, 2009 earmarked $912,275 for an "IGA [Intergovernmental Agreement] Payment" even though the District at that time had not entered into any intergovernmental agreements. 35. In April 2010, Sand Hills entered into a "funding agreement" with Defendant United Water (the "United Water Funding Agreement"). A copy of the United Water Funding Agreement is attached as Exhibit C. In the United Water Funding Agreement, Sand Hills pledged to "remit to United on a monthly basis as received, Net Revenues of Sand Hills." See Exhibit C at 2, § 3.1. 36. Upon information and belief, the boundaries of United Water circumscribe a small, vacant tract of land with no residents in Elbert County owned by Bob Lembke, or one of his family members or entities. 37. In addition to Bob Lembke, who is president of both United Water and Sand Hills, at least three other individuals are members of the Board of Directors of both the Sand Hills and the United Water and Sanitation District. 38. Also in April 2010, the District moved for, and the Weld County District Court issued, an Order Confirming Change of Name from Altamira Metropolitan District No. 6 to Sand Hills Metropolitan District. Upon information and belief, the name "Sand Hills" is inspired by the remote and desert-like landscape of the 70 Ranch property. Exclusion of the District's Original Boundaries 39. On April 27, 2011, Sand Hills moved for an order excluding from its boundaries that land originally comprising the Altamira Metropolitan District No. 6 in Lochbuie. The next day, the Weld County District Court granted Sand Hills' motion. - 6 - 40. As a result of the March 30, 2009 inclusion of the 70 Ranch property into Sand Hills, and the April 27, 2011 exclusion of the Town of Lochbuie property from Sand Hills, the District encompassed only the 70 Ranch property that is entirely outside of and approximately 30 miles removed from the Town of Lochbuie. 41. Despite the fact that no property in the Town of Lochbuie is contained within Sand Hills' current boundaries and, as described below, the only tax revenues collected by the District have been paid by inhabitants of the District's current boundaries at 70 Ranch, the District and the Lochbuie Board of Trustees wrongfully continue to operate as though Lochbuie retains jurisdiction over the District's activities. The District Collects Millions in Taxes 42. Each year since December 2008, Sand Hills has certified a mill levy for its "general operating expenses." Through this mill levy certification, Sand Hills has collected millions in property taxes from owners of subsurface mineral interests at 70 Ranch including Plaintiffs BBC and Bonanza Creek (and its affiliates and subsidiaries), among others (such as Involuntary Plaintiff Noble), despite the fact that such mineral interests are not included in the District. 43. Upon information and belief, Sand Hills has transferred substantial sums of the mineral taxes it has collected to Defendant United Water and Sanitation District. 44. Pursuant to Colorado's mineral tax code, the ad valorem taxes collected by Sand Hills from Plaintiffs BBC and Bonanza Creek give rise to a credit against, and therefore reduce, the severance taxes payable to the State of Colorado. Moreover, because the State of Colorado returns a significant portion of the severance tax revenues it collects to local jurisdictions, Sand Hills' ad valorem taxes reduce the revenues available to Weld County and its localities. 45. To date, and despite inquiries made to Sand Hills, it remains unclear how the funds generated by Sand Hills' tax levies have been used, although it is apparent that none of the funds were used to finance the activities set out in the 2004 Service Plan. Upon information and belief, much of the tax revenue has been channeled to Defendant United Water and other special districts with which Bob Lembke is involved. The District Abandons the 2004 Service Plan and Proposes to Pursue Different Activities Pursuant to an Amended Service Plan 46. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-207(1), a special district such as Sand Hills must conform its activities as far as practicable to its approved service plan. Sand Hills has taken virtually no steps to implement the 2004 Service Plan and its activities to date have deviated widely from those set forth in the plan. - 7 - 47. After inquires by oil and gas producers within the District, including Plaintiffs, about how their ad valorem tax revenues were being spent, the Sand Hills' Board of Directors began developing drafts of a proposed modified service plan to legitimize its activities. 48. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-207(2), a special district may make material modifications of its approved service plan only by petition to and with the approval of the governing body of the county or municipality that approved the creation of the special district. In April 2013, Sand Hills submitted a revised service plan to the Town of Lochbuie, followed by another "Updated and Revised" service plan in September 2013. A copy of the September 2013 "Updated and Revised" service plan is attached as Exhibit D. 49. The "Updated and Revised" service plan, like the original 2004 Service Plan, states that the District will make "local" improvements within Lochbuie by building such things as streets, sidewalks, curbs and sanitation for the Altamira Development in Lochbuie, but states — in addition—that the District will provide various "regional improvements" in Weld County such as the construction of water truck depots and a"reservoir and recharge site" within the District's boundaries, as well as a 36 mile-long pipeline to convey water from Kersey to Brighton, Colorado. See Exhibit D at 7. 50. The "Updated and Revised" plan also calls for payment by Sand Hills to the Town of Lochbuie to repair Lake Henry, a reservoir located in and belonging to Lochbuie that has fallen into disrepair. Indeed, to encourage a "yes" vote by the Board of Trustees on its proposed "Updated and Revised" service plan, Sand Hills committed to deliver a cashier's check in the amount of$1.35 million to the Town immediately upon approval of the "Updated and Revised" plan. See Proposed Stipulated Order to Joint Motion for Entry of Stipulated Order herein, Filing ID 350978A0D95C6, at9[l.c. 51. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-103(20), a special district must provide services for its inhabitants and, pursuant to § 32-1-203(2) and Colorado case law, there must be a sufficient need by and benefit to the taxpayers within a district's boundaries for the proposed services. 52. There is no need within Sand Hills' boundaries at 70 Ranch for the services described in the 2004 Service Plan which would be provided 30 miles away in the Town of Lochbuie. Likewise, there is no need for any of the services described in the "Updated and Revised" service plan, many if not most of which would occur outside the boundaries and vicinity of the 70 Ranch and some of which will benefit Lochbuie's inhabitants only. 53. Taxpayers within the District's boundaries at 70 Ranch, including Plaintiff Bonanza Creek, notified Sand Hills that there is no need for the types of public infrastructure and improvements described in the "Updated and Revised" service plan and that the improvements would be of no benefit to the taxpayers within the District. See August 23, 2013 letter to Sand Hills' counsel, Miller & Associates, Exhibit E hereto, at 1. Given that the District did not implement the activities described in its 2004 Service Plan, and in the absence of any need for the services described in the "Updated and Revised" plan, these taxpayers called upon the - 8 - District to prepare and file a petition for dissolution pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-701 et seq., and to return the taxes it has collected to the taxpayers. Id. at 2. Sand Hills has refused to honor these requests. 54. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-202(2.1), a special district's proposed service plan may not be approved if a petition objecting to the service plan is filed "by the owners of taxable real and personal property, which property equals more than fifty percent of the total valuation for assessment of all taxable real and personal property to be included in such district." On December 6, 2013, BBC and Bonanza Creek filed a petition objecting to the proposed "Updated and Revised" plan tendered by Sand Hills and verifying that they owed real and personal property comprising more than fifty percent of the total valuation for assessment of all taxable real and personal property within the District. See December 6, 2013 letter to Town of Lochbuie's counsel, Maureen Juran, Exhibit F hereto, at 1. 55. On September 16, 2013, without having secured approval to amend its 2004 Service Plan, Sand Hills filed a "notice" with this Court declaring its intention to undertake the "planning, design, construction and financing" of myriad "facilities and improvements in Weld County." See "Notice of Intention Pursuant to § 32-1-207(3)(b) Sand Hills Metropolitan District, Weld County, Colorado," Filing ID No. 205241870941, Case No. 04CV1743 (Dist. Ct., Weld County, Colorado), Exhibit G hereto. The improvements described in the September 16, 2013 notice were entirely unrelated to any activities set forth in the District's then operative 2004 Service Plan but tracked the activities described in the District's proposed (but not yet approved) "Updated and Revised" service plan. In sum, Sand Hills gave notice that it intended to break the law and, accordingly, Plaintiffs initiated this lawsuit. 56. After this suit was filed, Sand Hills reversed course and decided to seek formal approval of its Updated and Revised Service Plan from the Town of Lochbuie. A public hearing on the plan was held by the Town of Lochbuie Board of Trustees on December 17, 2013 at which representatives of Plaintiffs BBC and Bonanza Creek presented statements and testimony in opposition to the plan. On December 23, 2013, in a four-against-three vote, the Board of Trustees approved the "Updated and Revised" service plan. 57. Upon information and belief, the following day, the Town received from the District a cashier's check in the amount of$1.35 million—not a penny of which was raised by taxes on property or citizens in Lochbuie— for the purpose of repairing Lochbuie's Lake Henry, a project that provides no benefit to the taxpayer inhabitants of the District who were the source of the money. FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Injunctive Relief Against Defendant Sand Hills Based on District's Improper Assessment of Taxes in Violation of C.R.S. § 32-1-1101(1)(a)) 58. The preceding allegations are incorporated as though set forth fully herein. - 9 - 59. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-1101(1)(a), a special district may levy and collect taxes only upon "taxable property within the special district." 60. When Robert Lembke petitioned to include his property within Sand Hills, he did so pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-401(1)(a) which provides that the "fee owner or owners" of"one hundred percent of any real property" may petition to include such property within a district. 61. Mr. Lembke's petition identified and described only the surface estate of which he was the sole owner and did not purport to include, nor could it have, the subsurface mineral interests belonging to Plaintiffs BBC and Bonanza Creek and Involuntary Plaintiff Noble. 62. Despite the fact that Mr. Lembke did not petition for, and Sand Hills and the Weld County District Court did not approve, the inclusion of the subsurface mineral interests belonging to Plaintiffs BBC and Bonanza Creek, the District has certified and collected taxes from these mineral interests since 2009. 63. Accordingly, Sand Hills has exceeded its authority and improperly collected revenues and an injunction should issue as described in the Prayer for Relief infra. SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Injunctive Relief Against Defendant Sand Hills Based on District's Failure to Conform With 2004 Service Plan in Violation of C.R.S. § 32-1-207(1)) 64. The preceding allegations are incorporated as though set forth fully herein. 65. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-207, a special district must "conform so far as practicable" to its approved service plan. 66. Since its inception in 2004, Sand Hills has not provided or attempted to provide any of the services or facilities for which the District was organized despite the fact that it has collected in excess of$4 million in ad valorem taxes pursuant to that plan. 67. Sand Hills now intends to expend funds raised pursuant to the authority it was granted in its 2004 Service Plan on projects described for the first time in its newly approved Updated and Revised Service Plan and, upon information and belief, has already delivered $1.35 million to the Town of Lochbuie to repair Lake Henry, a project not even mentioned in its 2004 Service Plan. 68. Accordingly, Sand Hills has failed to conform to its 2004 Service Plan and an injunction should issue as described in the Prayer for Relief infra. - 10 - • THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Injunctive Relief Against Defendants Sand Hills and the Town of Lochbuic Based on the Improper Approval of Service Plan in Violation of C.R.S. § 32-1-207(2)) 69. The preceding allegations are incorporated as though set forth fully herein. 70. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-203(1), the "approving authority" with respect to the creation and operation of a special district is the board of commissioners in the county in which the district is located. The sole exception to this rule occurs when a district's boundaries are located "wholly" within the boundaries of a municipality in which event the municipality may be designated as the "approving authority." Id. 71. At the time of its organization in 2004, Sand Hills was located wholly within the Town of Lochbuie's boundaries. Since the District included the 70 Ranch property in 2009, however, it has never thereafter been located wholly within the boundaries of Lochbuie. Indeed, commencing in 2011 and through the present, no part of the District is located within the Town. 72. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-207(2), a special district may make material modifications of its approved service plan by petition to and with the approval of the governing body of the municipality that originally approved the creation of the special district. However, such modifications must happen"in substantially the same manner as is provided for the approval of an original service plan . . . ." Id. The "manner" for approving an original service plan is set forth in C.R.S. § 32-1-203(1) which, as noted, dictates that the "approving authority" is the board of county commissioners within whose boundaries the district is located. 73. While Sand Hills and the Town of Locbbuie have continued to operate as though the Town remains the proper approving authority for the Updated and Revised service plan, the Town was divested of its jurisdiction under C.R.S. § 32-1-203 in 2009 (or, at the latest, in 2011) when the District transplanted itself to the 70 Ranch location. 74. Moreover, the District's modified plans constitute a radical departure from its original service plan that cannot properly be characterized as a "modification." A "metropolitan district" by definition provides for its "inhabitants," yet Sand Hills' modified plan—propounded after the District transplanted itself to a new location—provides services specially benefiting non-inhabitants like the citizens of Lochbuie, as well as "regional" projects for the benefit of unspecified users. Effectively Sand Hills has become a "regional metropolitan district" whose newly-authorized activities may benefit users outside of its boundaries, perhaps even outside of Weld County. As such, assuming that there is even authority for such a creature, it must follow the procedures for the organization of a new district set forth at C.R.S. § 32-1-203(1). 75. An injunction should issue as described in the Prayer for Relief infra. - 11 - FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Injunctive Relief Against Defendants Sand Hills and the Town of Lochbuie Based on the Improper Approval of Service Plan in Violation of C.R.S. § 32-1-202 (2.1)) 76. The preceding allegations are incorporated as though set forth fully herein. 77. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-202(2.1), no service plan proposal by a special district may be approved if a petition objecting to the service plan is filed "by the owners of taxable real and personal property, which property equals more than fifty percent of the total valuation for assessment of all taxable real and personal property to be included in such district." 78. On December 6, 2013, BBC and Bonanza Creek filed a petition objecting to the proposed "Updated and Revised" plan tendered by Sand Hills and verifying that they owned real and personal property the value of which exceeded fifty percent of the total valuation for assessment of all taxable real and personal property within the District. 79. Despite the petition from BBC and Bonanza Creek, on December 17, 2013, in a four-against-three vote, the Board of Trustees approved the "Updated and Revised" service plan. 80. An injunction should issue as described in the Prayer for Relief infra. FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Injunctive Relief Against Defendant Town of Lochbuie Based on Judicial Review of Lochbuie's Final Action Pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-206(2) and/or C.R.S. § 24-4-106) 81. The preceding allegations are incorporated as though set forth fully herein. 82. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-206(2), the approval of a petition for organization of a special district may be reviewed by a district court upon petition of any interested party and the approval of a service plan may be denied upon a determination that the decision was arbitrary, capricious or "unreasonable." Sand Hills' petition to modify its service plan should have been presented as a petition for organization of a new district and, accordingly,judicial review should be conducted pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-206(2). 83. In the alternative, Lochbuie's approval of Sand Hills' "Updated and Revised" service plan is a final agency action reviewable pursuant C.R.S. § 24-4-106 upon petition of an aggrieved party and subject to reversal by this District Court. 84. Plaintiffs herein are "interested parties" pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-206(2) and appeared and presented objections to the Town of Lochbuie regarding the "Updated and Revisal" service plan Plaintiffs are glen ^artres adversely afferterl and aggrieved nnrci,ant to C.R.S. § 24-4-106 and had party status at the proceedings before the Town of Lochbuie regarding the "Updated and Revised" service plan. - 12 - 85. The Town of Lochbuie's decision should be reversed as "unreasonable" pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-206(2) and as arbitrary, capricious, a denial of statutory right, contrary to constitutional right, power, privilege or immunity, in excess of statutory jurisdiction, authority, purposes or limitations, not in accord with procedures or procedural limitations and otherwise contrary to law and not supported by the record pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-4-106. 86. In particular, in addition to the violations of Colorado constitutional, statutory and case law described in Claims One through Four above, the Town of Lochbuie acted unreasonably, arbitrarily and capriciously in approving the District's "Updated and Revised" service plan given that 1) Sand Hills' inhabitants and taxpayers have no need for the improvements and services described in the "Updated and Revised" service plan and 2) will receive no meaningful benefit from the improvements and services described therein. 87. In addition, the Town of Lochbuie acted unreasonably, arbitrarily, capriciously, and in contravention of law in approving the District's "Updated and Revised" service plan by diverting District taxes to its own use, thereby depriving the State of Colorado, Weld County, and local communities the benefit of severance tax revenues. 88. In further addition, the Town of Lochbuie acted unreasonably, arbitrarily, capriciously, and in contravention of law by approving the District's "Updated and Revised" service plan that is vague, ambiguous and lacking in specific descriptions or commitments to construct projects or provide services in violation of C.R.S. §§ 32-1-202(2) and 32-1-203(2), such that the District could not be held accountable to "conform" its activities to its plan as required by C.R.S. § 32-1-207O). 89. An injunction should issue as described in the Prayer for Relief infra. SIXTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Injunctive Relief Against Defendant Sand Hills Compelling Refund of Revenues Pursuant to TABOR Amendment, Colorado Constitution, Article X, § 20(1)) 90. The preceding allegations are incorporated as though set forth fully herein. 91. Pursuant to Colorado's "Taxpayer Bill of Rights," Colorado Constitution, Article X, § 24(a) ("TABOR"), voter approval is required in advance for "any new tax, tax rate increase," or"mill levy above that for the prior year . . . ." 92. Pursuant to TABOR, Colorado Constitution, Article X, § 20(1), "revenue collected, kept or spent illegally . . . shall be refunded with 10% annual simple interest" to the taxpayers along with costs and reasonable attorney fees. 93. Upon information and belief, the only approval by taxpayers for the collection and expenditure of tax revenues by Sand Hills has been pursuant to the 2004 Service Plan. Sand Hills has, through its funding agreement with United Water and otherwise, collected and - 13 - disbursed revenues on matters or projects entirely unrelated to the services described in the 2004 Service Plan. 94. Accordingly, Sand Hills has illegally collected and disbursed tax revenues and must refund those revenues with interest. 95. A mandatory injunction should issue as described in the Prayer for Relief infra. SEVENTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Injunctive Relief Against Defendants United Water and Town of Lochbuie Compelling Return of Revenues Illegally Collected By and Received From Sand Hills Based on Doctrines of Constructive Trust and/or Unjust Enrichment) 96. The preceding allegations are incorporated as though set forth fully herein. 97. Upon information and belief, as a result of the actions described above, Defendant United Water has received revenue collected and obtained illegally by Sand Hills and has otherwise benefited from Sand Hills' illegal imposition and collection of taxes. 98. Also as a result of the actions described above, Defendant Lochbuie has received $1.35 million of revenue collected and obtained illegally by Sand Hills. 99. The funds and other benefits received by Defendants United Water and Lochbuie were received and obtained at the expense of the District's taxpayers, including without limitation Plaintiffs BBC and Bonanza Creek, and Involuntary Plaintiff Noble, and at the expense of Involuntary Plaintiffs Weld County and the State of Colorado. 100. Defendants United Water and Lochbuie received these funds and benefits under circumstances that would make it unjust for them to retain the funds and benefits. 101. Therefore, a constructive trust should be imposed upon the funds received by Defendants United Water and Lochbuie from Sand Hills, and/or Defendants United Water and Lochbuie should be deemed to have been unjustly enriched by their receipt of such funds and/or benefits, and the amount received should be returned to Sand Hills for refunding to its taxpayers. 102. A mandatory injunction should issue as described in the Prayer for Relief infra. EIGHTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Action for Declaratory Relief pursuant to C.R.S. § 13-51-101 et seq.) 103. The preceding allegations are incorporated as though set forth fully herein. - 14 - 104. Pursuant to Colorado's Declaratory Judgment Act, C.R.S. § 13-51-101 et seq., this Court has the "power to declare rights, status, and other legal relations" of the parties herein. C.R.S. § 13-51-105. 105. Plaintiffs BBC and Bonanza Creek seek declarations including, without limitation, that: (a) Since its organization, Sand Hills has not provided or attempted to provide any of the services or facilities in the 2004 Service Plan for which the District was organized and by which it was bound until at least December 2013 nor has it otherwise conformed with that plan; (b) The real property interests belonging to BBC and Bonanza Creek at the 70 Ranch were not and are not included within the District and the District had and has no power or right to certify taxes upon such property; (c) The District's inclusion of surface property at the 70 Ranch and exclusion of property within Lochbuie from its original boundaries (i) divested the Town of Lochbuie's approving authority over the District, and (ii) constituted a material modification of its 2004 Service Plan or the creation of a new district either or both of which required approval by the Weld County Board of Commissioners; (d) Sand Hills' actions — including, without limitation, entering into a funding agreement with United Water and Sanitation District and transferring $1.35 million to the Town of Lochbuie to repair Lake Henry— are unauthorized, illegal, and ultra vires because those actions (i) lack any link to the 2004 Service Plan or district inhabitants, (ii) do not address any need or bestow any benefit upon taxpayers within the District, and (iii) were not approved by taxpayers as required by TABOR; (e) Because BBC and Bonanza Creek, as owners of real and personal property allegedly contained within the boundaries of the District, the value of which exceeds fifty percent of the total valuation for assessment of all taxable real and personal property, filed an objection, the "Revised and Updated" service plan should not as a matter of law have been approved; (f) The Town of Lochbuie erred in approving the "Revised and Updated" service plan because, without limitation: 1) there was no need for the improvements and services described in the plan by the inhabitants and taxpayers of Sand Hills, 2) there would be no meaningful benefit to the inhabitants and taxpayers of Sand Hills from the improvements and services described in the plan, 3) the plan improperly diverts funds that would have been paid to the State of Colorado, Weld County, and local communities, and - 15 - 4) the plan is vague, ambiguous and lacking in specific descriptions or commitments to construct projects or provide services in violation of C.R.S. §§ 32-1-202(2) and 32-1-203(2), such that the District could not be held accountable to "conform" its activities to its plan; and (g) Pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-701 et seq., the District should be dissolved. PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs Bill Barrett Corporation and Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. respectfully request that the Court enter judgment in their favor and against Defendants Sand Hills Metropolitan District, United Water and Sanitation District, and the Town of Lochbuie, Colorado, and grant relief as follows: 1. A preliminary and permanent injunction against Defendant Sand Hills prohibiting it from certifying mill levies, collecting taxes, making expenditures, transferring any of its assets or revenues, or taking any actions in furtherance of its 2004 Service Plan or "Revised and Updated" service plan; 2. A declaration of the rights, status, and other legal relations and obligations of the parties as described in the Eighth Claim for Relief above; 3. A preliminary and permanent injunction against Defendant Sand Hills ordering it to refund all revenues collected by it to Plaintiffs and other taxpayers, including all remedies provided by TABOR, Colorado Constitution, Article X, § 20(1); 4. A preliminary and permanent injunction against Defendants United Water and Lochbuie ordering them to return all amounts received from Sand Hills for Sand Hills to refund to Plaintiffs and other taxpayers; 5. An order directing Sand Hills Metropolitan District to implement dissolution proceedings pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-701 et seq.; 6. Costs; 7. Reasonable attorneys' fees; 8. Pre-judgment and post-judgment interest to the extent permitted by law; and 9. Such other and further relief as the Court may deem proper and just. - 16 - Dated this 3"' day of January, 2014. Is/R. Kirk Mueller R. Kirk Mueller, #16746 Ann T. Lebeck, #42424 DAVIS GRAHAM &STUBBS LLP Attorneys for Plaintiffs Bill Barrett Corporation and Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. - 17 - CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on this 3`° day of January, 2014, a copy of the foregoing AMENDED COMPLAINT was filed and served on the following via the Integrated Colorado Courts E-Filing System(ICCES): Darrell G. Waas Mikaela V. Rivera Waas Campbell Rivera Johnson & Velasquez LLP 1350 Seventeenth Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 waas@werlegal.com rivera @wcrlegal.com Counsel for Defendant Sand Hills Metropolitan District Service upon newly added defendants and involuntary plaintiffs will be made pursuant to C.R.C.P. 4. /s/Tamara A. Stires - 18 - PETITIONS FOR ABATEMENT OR REFUND OF TAXES • PETITION FOR ABATEMENT OR REFUND OF TAXES County: WELD Date Received (Use Assessor's or Commissioners'Date Stamp) Section I: Petitioner,please complete Section I only. Date: October 16, 2014 Month Day Year Petitioners Name: Noble Energy, Inc. Petitioner's Mailing Address: 1625 Broadway,Suite 2200 Denver Colorado 80202 City or Town State Zip Code SCHEDULE OR PARCEL NUMBER(S) PROPERTY ADDRESS OR LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY See Exhibit A See Exhibit A Petitioner requests an abatement or refund of the appropriate taxes and states that the taxes assessed against the above property for property tax year(s) 2012 and are incorrect for the following reasons: (Briefly describe why the taxes have been levied erroneously or illegally,whether due to erroneous valuation, irregularity in levying,clerical error or overvaluation. Attach additional sheets if necessary.) Petitioner's estimate of value: $872,991.90 (2011 )and $ ( ) Value Year Value Year I declare, under penalty of perjury in the second degree,that this petition,together with any accompanying exhibits or statements, has been prepared or examined by me,and to the best of my knowledge,information and belief,is ?cueeam? . Petf� Daytime Phone Number( 303 ) 2284000 Noble Energy,er's Signature Inc. Noble Inc. By Daytime Phone Number f Agent's Signature' 'Letter of agency must be attached when petition is submitted by an agent If the Board of County Commissioners,pursuant to§39-10-114(1),C.R.S.,or the Property Tax Administrator,pursuant to§39-2-116.C.R.S., denies the petition for refund or abatement of taxes in whole or in part,the Petitioner may appeal to the Board of Assessment Appeals pursuant to the provisions of§39-2-125,C R.S.,within thirty days of the entry of any such decision,§39-10-114.5(1),C.RS. Section it Assessor's Recommendation (For Assessor's Use Only) Tax Year Tax Year Actual Assessed Tax Actual Assessed Tax Original Corrected _._ Abate/Refund ❑Assessor recommends approval as outlined above. If the request for abatement is based upon the grounds of overvaluation,no abatement or refund of taxes shall be made if an objection or protest to such valuation has been filed and a Notice of Determination has been mailed to the taxpayer,§39-10-114(1)(a)(I)(D),C.R.S. Tax year: Protest? 0 No ❑Yes (If a protest was filed,please attach a copy of the NOD.) Tax year: Protest? 0 No 0 Yes (It a protest was flied,please attach a copy of the NOD.) ❑Assessor recommends denial for the following reason(s): Assessor's or Deputy Assessor's Signature 15-DPT-AR No.920-66/11 FOR ASSESSORS AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS USE ONLY (Section III or Section IV must be completed) Every petition for abatement or refund tiled pursuant to §39-10-114,C.R.S.shall be acted upon pursuant to the provisions of this section by the Board of County Commissioners or the Assessor,as appropriate,within six months of the date of filing such petition,§39-1-113(17),C.R.S. Section III: Written Mutual Agreement of Assessor and Petitioner (Only for abatements up to$10,000) The Commissioners of County authorize the Assessor by Resolution No. to review petitions for abatement or refund and to settle by written mutual agreement any such petition for abatement or refund in an amount of$10,000 or less per tract, parcel, or lot of land or per schedule of personal property, in accordance with §39-1-113(1.5),C.R.S. The Assessor and Petitioner mutually agree to the values and tax abatement/refund of: Tax Year Tax Year Actual Assessed Tax Actual Assessed Tax Original Corrected _- Abate/Refund Note:The total tax amount does not include accrued interest,penalties,and fees associated with late and/or delinquent tax payments,if applicable. Please contact the County Treasurer for full payment information. Petitioner's Signature Date Assessor's or Deputy Assessor's Signature Date Section IV: Decision of the County Commissioners (Must be completed if Section III does not apply) WHEREAS,the County Commissioners of County,State of Colorado,at a duly and lawfully called regular meeting held on / / , at which meeting there were present the following members: Month Day Year with notice of such meeting and an opportunity to be present having been given to the Petitioner and the Assessor of said County and Assessor (being present—not present)and Name Petitioner (being present--not present),and WHEREAS,the said Name County Commissioners have carefully considered the within petition,and are fully advised in relation thereto, NOW BE IT RESOLVED,that the Board(agrees--does not agree)with the recommendation of the Assessor and the petition be(approved--approved in part—denied)with an abatement/refund as follows: Year Assessed Value Taxes Abate/Refund Year Assessed Value Taxes Abate/Refund Chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners'Signature County Clerk and Ex-officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners in and for the aforementioned county,do hereby certify that the above and foregoing order is truly copied from the record of the proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners. IN WITNESS WHEREOF,I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this day of Month Year County Clerk's or Deputy County Clerk's Signature Note: Abatements greater than$10,000 per schedule,per year.must be submitted in duplicate to the Property Tax Administrator for review. Section V: Action of the Property Tax Administrator (For all abatements greater than$10,000) The action of the Board of County Commissioners, relative to this abatement petition, is hereby ❑Approved ❑Approved in part$ ❑ Denied for the following reason(s): Secretary's Signature Property Tax Administrator's Signature Date 15-DPT-AR No.920-66/11 T i-) Vl O In In O O 0 O O In o in o to O Iff to 0 O to In In In Lel V1 Vl In 0 0 C to V W N N M N In N h O1 V1 O V V O W N LO O h lD M V N W N N N N W V v-I O al N co Ol V al N N W V co M N m h O al O N V N N Ni o N Q = a M CO 'Cr ID N M e-1 CO CO W V CT al N NN N LO N N ID O M Cl LID M NV V O O In N. 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Petitioner's Mailing Address: 1625 Broadway, Suite 2200 Denver Colorado 80202 City or Town State Zip Code SCHEDULE OR PARCEL NUMBER(S) PROPERTY ADDRESS OR LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY See Exhibit A See Exhibit A Petitioner requests an abatement or refund of the appropriate taxes and states that the taxes assessed against the above property for property tax year(s) 2012 and are incorrect for the following reasons: (Briefly describe why the taxes have been levied erroneously or illegally,whether due to erroneous valuation,irregularity in levying,clerical error or overvaluation. Attach additional sheets if necessary.) Petitioner's estimate of value: $1,038,785.55 (2012 )and $ ( ) Value Year Value Year I declare, under penalty of perjury in the second degree, that this petition,together with any accompanying exhibits or statements, has been prepared or examined.by me,and to the best of my knowledge, information and belief,is trz, rred,an I^SG. Daytime Phone Number( 303 ) 228-4000 etitioner's Signature iii" Noble Energy,Inc. By Daytime Phone Number( ) Agent's Signature' 'Letter of agency must be attached when petition is submitted by an agent. If the Board of County Commissioners,pursuant to§39-10-114(1),C.R.S.,or the Property Tax Administrator,pursuant to§39-2-116,C.R.S., denies the petition for refund or abatement of taxes in whole or in part,the Petitioner may appeal to the Board of Assessment Appeals pursuant to the provisions of§39-2-125,C.R.S.,within thirty days of the entry of any such dedsion,§39-10-114.5(1),C.R.S. Section II: Assessor's Recommendation (For Assessor's Use Only) Tax Year Tax Year Actual Assessed Tax Actual Assessed Tax Original Corrected Abate/Refund ❑Assessor recommends approval as outlined above. If the request for abatement is based upon the grounds of overvaluation,no abatement or refund of taxes shall be made if an objection or protest to such valuation has been filed and a Notice of Determination has been mailed to the taxpayer.§39-10-114(1)(a)(I)(D),C.R.S. Tax year: Protest? 0 No 0 Yes (If a protest was filed,please attach a copy of the NOD.) Tax Fl u ❑Ye` 1 Y ..a.. . ... .Y ... of ..... copy v D.) ❑Assessor recommends denial for the following reason(s): Assessor's or Deputy Assessor's Signature —~ 15-DPT-AR No.920-66/11 FOR ASSESSORS AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS USE ONLY (Section III or Section IV must be completed) Every petition for abatement or refund filed pursuant to ¢39-10-114,C.R S.shall be acted upon pursuant to the provisions of this section by the ♦ Board of County Commissioners or the Assessor,as appropriate,within six months of the date of filing such petition,§39-1-113(1.7),C.R.S. Section III: Written Mutual Agreement of Assessor and Petitioner (Only for abatements up to$10000) The Commissioners of County authorize the Assessor by Resolution No. to review petitions for abatement or refund and to settle by written mutual agreement any such petition for abatement or refund in an amount of$10,000 or less per tract, parcel,or lot of land or per schedule of personal property, in accordance with§39-1-113(1.5), C.R.S. The Assessor and Petitioner mutually agree to the values and tax abatement/refund of: Tax Year Tax Year Actual Assessed Tax Actual Assessed Tax Original Corrected Abate/Refund Note:The total tax amount does not include accrued interest,penalties,and fees associated with late and/or delinquent tax payments,if applicable. Please contact the County Treasurer for full payment information. Petitioner's Signature Date Assessor's or Deputy Assessor's Signature Date Section IV: Decision of the County Commissioners (Must be completed if Section Ill does not apply) WHEREAS,the County Commissioners of County, State of Colorado, at a duly and lawfully called regular meeting held on / / , at which meeting there were present the following members: Month Day Year with notice of such meeting and an opportunity to be present having been given to the Petitioner and the Assessor of said County and Assessor (being present--not present)and Name Petitioner (being present—not present),and WHEREAS,the said Name County Commissioners have carefully considered the within petition, and are fully advised in relation thereto, NOW BE IT RESOLVED,that the Board(agrees—does not agree)with the recommendation of the Assessor and the petition be(approved--approved in part—denied)with an abatement/refund as follows: Year Assessed Value Taxes Abate/Refund Year Assessed Value Taxes Abate/Refund Chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners'Signature County Clerk and Ex-officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners in and for the aforementioned county,do hereby certify that the above and foregoing order is truly copied from the record of the proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners. IN WITNESS WHEREOF,I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this day of Month Year County Clerk's or Deputy County Clerk's Signature Note: Abatements greater than$10,000 per schedule,per year,must be submitted in duplicate to the Property Tax Administrator for review. Section V: Action of the Property Tax Administrator (For all abatements greater than$10,000) The action of the Board of County Commissioners, relative to this abatement petition, is hereby ❑Approved ❑Approved in part$ ❑ Denied for the following reason(s): Secretary's Signature Property Tax Administrators Signature Date �15-DPT-AR No.920-66/11 1 • 0 0 0 In 0 V) V) V) V) O 0 V) V) V1 0 V) 0 0 LO V) Vl 0 0 0 In 0 in 0 tD CO Cr) CO N O) 0 M CO ID O) M 0) In N DI 0) 00 r1 en Ct D) 0 M M 0 In 0 ,� ti W N in> O O . 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Date: October 16,2014 Month Day Year Petitioners Name: Noble Energy, Inc. Petitioner's Mailing Address: 1625 Broadway,Suite 2200 Denver Colorado 80202 City or Town State Zip Code SCHEDULE OR PARCEL NUMBER(S) PROPERTY ADDRESS OR LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY See Exhibit A See Exhibit A Petitioner requests an abatement or refund of the appropriate taxes and states that the taxes assessed against the above property for property tax year(s) 2013 and are incorrect for the following reasons: (Briefly describe why the taxes have been levied erroneously or illegally,whether due to erroneous valuation,irregularity in levying, clerical error or overvaluation. Attach additional sheets if necessary.) Petitioner's estimate of value: $1,401,986.37 (2013 )and $ ( ) Value Year Value Year I declare,under penalty of perjury in the second degree,that this petition,together with any accompanying exhibits or statements, has been prepared or examined by me,and to the best of my knowledge, information and belief,is true,correct,and complete. i Daytime Phone Number( 303 ) 228-4000 Petitions s Sig tire"- Noble Energy,Inc. By Daytime Phone Number f Agent's Signature* 'Letter of agency must be attached when petition is submitted by an agent If the Board of County Commissioners,pursuant to$39-10-114(1),C.R.S.,or the Property Tax Administrator,pursuant to§39-2-116,C.R.S., denies the petition for refund or abatement of taxes in whole or in part,the Petitioner may appeal to the Board of Assessment Appeals pursuant to the provisions of§39-2-125,C.RS.,within thirty days of the entry of any such dedsion,§39-10-114.5(1),C.RS. Section II: Assessor's Recommendation (For Assessors Use Only) Tax Year Tax Year Actual Assessed Tax Actual Assessed Tax Original Corrected Abate/Refund ❑Assessor recommends approval as outlined above. If the request for abatement is based upon the grounds of overvaluation,no abatement or refund of taxes shall be made if an objection or protest to such valuation has been filed and a Notice of Determination has been mailed to the taxpayer,§39-10-114(1)(a)(I)(D),C.R.S. Tax year: Protest? 0 No ❑Yes (If a protest was filed,please attach a copy of the NOD.) Tax year: Protest? 0 No ❑Yes (If a protest was filed,please attach a copy of the NOD.) ❑Assessor recommends denial for the following reason(s): Assessor's or Deputy Assessor's Signature —' 15-OPT-AR No.920-66/11 FOR ASSESSORS AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS USE ONLY (Section 111 or Section IV must be completed) Every petition for abatement or refund filed pursuant to §39-10-114,C.R.S.shall be acted upon pursuant to the provisions of this section by the Board of County Commissioners or the Assessor,as appropriate,within six months of the date of filing such petition,§39-1-113(1.7),C.R.S. • Section III: Written Mutual Agreement of Assessor and Petitioner (Only for abatements up to$10,000) The Commissioners of County authorize the Assessor by Resolution No. to review petitions for abatement or refund and to settle by written mutual agreement any such petition for abatement or refund in an amount of$10,000 or less per tract, parcel, or lot of land or per schedule of personal property, in accordance with§39-1-113(1.5),C.R.S. The Assessor and Petitioner mutually agree to the values and tax abatement/refund of: Tax Year Tax Year Actual Assessed Tax Actual Assessed Tax Original Corrected Abate/Refund Note:The total tax amount does not include accrued interest,penalties,and fees associated with late and/or delinquent tax payments,if applicable. Please contact the County Treasurer for full payment information. Petitioner's Signature Date Assessor's or Deputy Assessor's Signature Date Section IV: Decision of the County Commissioners (Must be completed if Section Ill does not apply) WHEREAS,the County Commissioners of County,State of Colorado, at a duly and lawfully called regular meeting held on / / ,at which meeting there were present the following members: Month Day Year with notice of such meeting and an opportunity to be present having been given to the Petitioner and the Assessor of said County and Assessor (being present—not present)and Name Petitioner (being present—not present),and WHEREAS,the said Name County Commissioners have carefully considered the within petition, and are fully advised in relation thereto, NOW BE IT RESOLVED,that the Board(agrees—does not agree)with the recommendation of the Assessor and the petition be(approved—approved in part--denied)with an abatement/refund as follows: Year Assessed Value Taxes Abate/Refund Year Assessed Value Taxes Abate/Refund Chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners'Signature County Clerk and Ex-officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners in and for the aforementioned county,do hereby certify that the above and foregoing order is truly copied from the record of the proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners. ,IN WITNESS WHEREOF,I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County thi day of Month Year County Clerk's or Deputy County Clerk's Signature .Note: Abatements greater than$10,000 per schedule,per year,must be submitted in duplicate to the Property Tax Administrator for review. Section:r: Action of the Property TaxAdministrator 'tratoi Action(For all abatements greater than$10,000) The action of the Board of County Commissioners, relative to this abatement petition,is hereby ❑Approved ❑Approved in part$ ❑Denied for the following reason(s): Secretary's Signature Property Tax Administrator's Signature Date 1$-DPT-AR No.920.66/17 V _ a rn in I-I CO m m CO o CO " LO v 0 .Nn .o C0 o o .n. n e m m a o. 0 o m N a N 0 .°. m 0 -N. n. m ai v ,o o .. .; a N 10 o N o, m n o o m ro N of " .. ,o of .. .; < d -1 a x i o N a L''' M N o 0 o O N a .Nn o a o 0 o n o N a 0 m n m ry CO N m n m 0 n n ..I in N in n m .. 0 n a 0 0 0 o 0 m ao 0 m 0 0 0 n n m c F f m ry m a ry o n .+ ry .. an o e v N .n o ..� N �.+ c .+ .. 10 n vi o o a m " n rn in el o N N Z.- n G Z :i c r 41 Ea> NNNNNNNNNNNNN .n .n .n N .n N .n an .n N N N N N N N N N N N .n N N N N N N .n O a O+1 a .Nn O co a o in m a .n N co in N N ry N b r.. m e M N m in N Ne a 0 O v 0 O 0 COM M . 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CO m N co n r., m O N O .n v .. N m n in to 0 0 N m 0 0 0 m m N N n N m r-- La 0 m m 0 0 0 N 0 0 0 0 0 CO 0 n n 0 0) 0 0 .m. N a an DO CO v 0 CO CO0 0 .m. CO ry 0 P iv! iN in N 0 N N N re roNi O1 min m COen m C NI w 0 n ti .N. N .N. Nr ti .N. .Ni .Na , .Ni .N. N N. .Ni .N. .N. .N. .N. .N. .Ni .N. n n n n .N. .N. N .N. Ni .N. .N. .N. .N. .N. .N. .N. .N. O C K. O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O .. N M O NnelZ .0 h CO .. .. . N .I N N N N .. N N N N N N N N N N m m m m ee.M M M M m en a o CO T O .. N M O N O N CO O, O .. N m DATE PILED:March 19,2015 I :44 AM DISTRICT COURT, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO CASE NUMBER:2013CV30928 Weld County Courthouse 901 9th Avenue Greeley, CO 80631 Telephone: 970-475-2400 Plaintiffs: BILL BARRETT CORPORATION and A COURT USE ONLY A BONANZA CREEK ENERGY, INC., Involuntary Plaintiffs: Case No.: 2013 CV 30928 STATE OF COLORADO; Division: 5 WELD COUNTY, COLORADO; and NOBLE ENERGY, INC., v. Defendants: SAND HILLS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT, f/k/a ALTAMIRA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO.6; UNITED WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT; and THE TOWN OF LOCHBUIE, COLORADO. ORDER REGARDING OUTSTANDING MOTIONS FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT THIS MATTER is before the Court on Plaintiff's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment filed February 7, 2014, as well as an Amended Motion filed September 26, 2014, Defendant Sand Hills Metropolitan District's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment filed March 14, 2014, and Defendants Town of Lochbuie, Sand Hills Metropolitan District, and United Water and Sanitation District's Cross motion for Summary Judgment filed September 10, 2014. The Court has reviewed the motions, the responsive pleadings, and hereby proceeds as follows: I. Factual and Procedural Background Plaintiff Bill Barrett Corporation ("BBC"), is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Denver, Colorado. BBC is an oil and natural gas exploration and devebpment company. Plaintiff Bonanza Creek ("Bonanza) is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Denver, Colorado. Bonanza is an exploration and production company focused on the extraction of oil and associated liquids-rich natural gas. Both plaintiffs operate in Weld County and within the current boundaries of Sand Hills Metropolitan District. Plaintiffs claim injunctive relief, alleging that Defendants have failed to conform to the 2004 Service Plan in violation of C.R.S. § 32-2-207(1). They further seek injunctive relief, alleging Defendants failed to provide needed services or benefits for taxpayers in violation of C.R.S. §§ 32-1-103(20, 32-1-203(2). Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief for the alleged improper approval modification of the service plan in violation of C.R.S. § 32-1-207(2). Lastly, Plaintiffs seek relief through a declaratory judgment pursuant to C.R.S. § 13-51-101 et seq., ultimately dissolving Sand Hills Metropolitan District. Sand Hills Metropolitan District, formerly known as the Akamira Metropolitan District No. 6, is a special district organized under Title 32 of the Colorado Revised Statutes with its principal office in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Defendant Sand Hills was organized with Lochbuie's approval in 2004 for the purpose of developing 1,496 single family home units and 70,000 square feet of commercial space within the Town's boundaries. At the time of its organization in 2004, the District's boundaries were located entirely within the Town of Lochbuie, Colorado. Sand Hills, to date, has not constructed, or begun construction of, any of the features or projects described in the 2004 Service Plan. On November 25, 2008, the District's Board of Directors approved certification of a mill levy of 51.118 mills for its "general operating expenses." At the time of the District's mill levy certification, the District's Board of Directors certified that the District's gross assessed valuation was $60, so that for 2009 the revenue would be $0. On April 27, 2011, Sand Hills moved for an order excluding from its boundaries that land originally comprising the Altamira Metropolitan District No. 6 in Lochbuie, which was granted the next day. As a result of the March 30, 2009 inclusion of the 70 Ranch property into Sand Hills, and the April 27, 2011 exclusion of the Town of Lochbuie property from Sand Hills, the District encompassed only the 70 Ranch property that is entirely outside of and approximately 30 miles removed from the Town of Lochbuie. Defendant United Water and Sanitation District is a special district organized under Title 32 of the Colorado Revised Statutes with its principal office in Greenwood Village, Colorado. 70 Ranch, LLC owns some but not all of the mineral interests beneath the surface of its property. See Hayes Affidavit, Exhibit 3. 70 Ranch, LLC leases its oil and gas interests to Plaintiff Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. ("Bonanza'). See Oil and Gas Leases, Exhibit 3. Bonanza began leasing the oil and gas interests from 70 Ranch, LLC on July 1, 2012, three years after the 70 Ranch was included in Sand Hills. Bonanza leases mineral interests from other mineral estate owners beneath the 70 Ranch. On April 30, 2013, Bonanza and 70 Ranch, LLC entered into an Amended and Restated Surface Use Agreement ("Bonanza SUA"). The Bonanza SUA identifies all of Bonanza's leasehold interests at the 70 Ranch. See Bonanza SUA, p. 34-41, Exhibit 7 to Sand Hill's response. Many of Bonanza's leaseholds at the 70 Ranch predate the inclusion of the 70 Ranch into Sand Hills, and were acquired by assignment. See Bonanza's Response to interrogatory No. 6, Sand Hills Exhibit 8. Bonanza owns no mineral interests at 70 Ranch. it merely leases mineral interests owned by others. Id. BBC also leases mineral interests at the 70 Ranch. See Lease Assignment 2 Agreements, Exhibit 9 to Sand Hills' response. BBC purchased its leaseholds on July 10, 2011. See BBC's Response to Interrogatory No. 6, Exhibit 10 Sand Hills' Response. As with Bonanza, BBC's leases were in effect at the time of the inclusion of 70 Ranch in Sand Hills. BBC also owns no mineral interests at 70 Ranch; it too only leases interests owned by others. See Exhibit 9, Ex. A to Sand Hill's response. 11. Standard of Review "C.R.C.P. 56 authorizes the resolution of issues of law on motion for summary judgment." Evans v. Rhoades, 497 P.2d 337, 338 (Cob. App. 1972) (citing Carter v. Carter, 366 P.2d 586 (Cob. 1961); Dunford v. City of Thornton, 483 P.2d 977 (Colo.App. 1971)). Summary judgment is a drastic remedy and should be granted when there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. C.R.C.P. 56(c); Raygor v. Bd. of County Comm'rs, 21 P.3d 432, 435 (Colo.App. 2000). "A material fact is simply a fact that will affect the outcome of the case." Peterson v. Halsted, 829 P.2d 373, 375 (Cob. 1992). Not every argument relating to an issue of fact presents a genuine issue of material fact for trial. Premier Farm Credit, PCA v. W-Cattle, LLC, 155 P.3d 504 (Cob. App. 2006); Burman v. Richmond Homes Ltd., 821 P.2d 913 (Cob. App. 1991). "The purpose of the summary judgment is to permit the parties to pierce the formal allegations of the pleadings and save the time and expense connected with a trial when, as a matter of law, based on undisputed facts, one party could not prevail." Mt. Emmons Min. Co. v. Town of Crested Butte, 690 P.2d 231, 238 (Cob. 1984) (citation and quotation marks omitted). "The burden of establishing the lack of any genuine factual issue is on the moving party, but once this burden is met, the opposing party must then demonstrate that a controverted factual question exists. If the party opposing summary judgment fails to meet this burden, then the court may properly enter summary judgment on behalf of the moving party as long as the operative legal principles entitle it to such judgment." Pueblo West Metro Dist. v. Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy Dist., 689 P.2d 594, 600-01 (Cob. 1984) (citations omitted). The court must give the nonmoving party any favorable inferences that may reasonably be drawn from the facts, and all doubts must be resolved against the nonmoving party. Friedland v. Travelers Indem. Co., 105 P.3d 639, 643 (Cob. 2005). However, "even where 'it is extremely doubtful that a genuine issue of fact exists,' summary judgment is not appropriate." Mancuso v. United Bank of Pueblo, 818 P.2d 732, 736 (Cob. 1991) (quoting Abrahamsen v. Mountain States Tel & Tel. Co., 494 P.2d 1287, 1290 (Cob. 1972)). A genuine issue of material fact cannot be raised solely by means of argument. Sullivan v. Davis, 172 Cob. 490, 495-96, 474 P.2d 218, 221 (1970). The party opposing a motion for summary judgment cannot rest upon the allegations or denials in its pleading, but must, rather produce specific facts showing there is a genuine issue for trial. Fed. Land Bank of Wichita v. Deatherage, 739 P.2d 905, 906 (Cob. App. 1987). As to Lochbuie's actions in approving the Revised Service Plan, pursuant to C.R.S. § 32- 1-206(1), the standard of judicial review is whether the governing body's action was arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable. As stated in State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co. v. City of Lakewood, 788 P.2d 808 (Cob.1990), the Supreme Court held that a city council's action in 3 approving an initial petition to organize a special district within existing municipal boundaries was a quasi-legislative action, which was not subject to certiorari review under C.R.C.P. 106(a)(4). III. Issues to be Resolved (A) Whether the Real Property Owned by BBC and Bonanza Creek is "Included" Within the Special District, and therefbre, Whether it can be Taxed by the District This issue revolves around the statutory meaning of C.R.S. § 32-1-401(1)(a), specifically whether it requires or contemplates the consent or participation of mineral leaseholders in an inclusion petition. Plaintiffs assert that when Mr. Lembke and Sand Hills added new surface area to the District, that they failed to bring with it the subsurface mineral interests owned by BBC and Bonanza at 70 ranch. Therefore, Plaintiffs assert that Plaintiffs' property interest should not have been taxed by the District. While it is clear that Plaintiffs own a real property interest in the leaseholds, what is not clear is whether that property interest is the type of property interest which was contemplated by statute to be required to consent in order to be included in a special district. The property located at 70 Ranch is a piece of property where at least some of the mineral rights have been severed, and are not owned solely by Mr. Lembke. BBC and Bonanaza have mineral leaseholds at 70 Ranch, and do not own any of the surface estate. Plaintiffs assert that because Mr. Lembke does not own the severed mineral leasehold interests belonging to BBC and Bonanza, as well as others, he could not, and did not, petition to include those leasehold interests within the District pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-401(1)(a). Therefore, Plaintiffs argue that the only real property included within the District at 70 Ranch is the surface land owned 100% by Mr. Lembke, concluding that the mineral leaseholds owned by Plaintiffs are not within the district. (i). Whether the Special District Act Requires Metropolitan Districts to Provide Benefits for their Inhabitants Plaintiffs assert pursuant to C. R.S. §32-1-103(10) that the purpose of a metropolitan district is to provide two or more of certain identified benefits, for example, fire protection, mosquito control, parks and recreation, for its inhabitants. Plaintiffs argue that none of the improvements described in the 2004 Service Plan provide a benefit to Plaintiffs or their properties. Additionally, Plaintiffs note that the Special District Act does not authorize or even describe "regional" districts. Defendants argue that while special districts are required to provide benefits to their inhabitants, they are not required to exclusively benefit their inhabitants. Specifically, Defendants point to C.R.S. § 32-1-1101(1)(k) which provides that special districts have the 4 power to furnish services and facilities without the boundaries of the special district and to establish fees, rates, tolls, penalties or charges for such services and facilities. The Court finds no constitutional violation based upon this argument raised by Plaintiffs. (ii). Whether Sand Hills Violated the Colorado Constitution's Requirements of Uniformity of Taxation when it Taxed its Inhabitants to Construct "Regional" Improvements Plaintiffs assert that Sand Hills violated Article X, § 3, of the Colorado Constitution which requires that each property tax levy be uniform upon all real and personal property not exempt from taxation located within the territorial limits of the authority levying the tax. Plaintiffs assert that this has been violated by Sand Hills attempt to provide benefits for a region which encompasses two entire counties and unspecified other areas, with taxes imposed on just a small portion of inhabitants within that region. Defendants argue that because taxes are levied uniformly within Sand Hills, there is full compliance with Colorado Constitution's uniformity clause. Defendants further argue that the Constitution only requires uniformity of taxation within the boundaries of the District and does not preclude expenditures outside of the limits of the taxing entity. The Court finds persuasive Defendants' assertion that were the Plaintiffs' interpretation to prevail, that all political subdivisions, including counties and municipalities would be prohibited from engaging in any activity that benefits anyone outside of its boundaries without violating the Constitution. There would not be a way for governmental agencies to pool resources or otherwise collaborate on joint projects which involved money. The Court therefore finds no Constitutional violation on these grounds. (iii). Whether the United States and Colorado Constitutions Require Special Districts to Provide Benefits to Taxpayers that Correspond to Taxes Paid Plaintiffs assert that Sand Hills has violated the due process clauses of the Unites States and Colorado Constitutions by imposing ad valorem taxes on Plaintiffs property at 70 Ranch for the purpose of making improvements for the benefit of the Altamira Development in Lochbuie and other regional improvements for the benefit of Weld and Adams Counties. Defendants assert that Plaintiffs confuse ad valorem taxes with special assessments and the requirements of each. Specifically, "Unlike special assessments, ad valorem taxes are imposed to defray the general expenses of government. Bloom v. City of Ft. Collins, 784 P.2d 304, 307 (Cob. 1989). In contrast, an essential characteristic of a special assessment is that it must confer a special benefit to the property assessed. Id. at 308. Because ad valorem taxes are imposed to support general government expenses, it is not necessary that any special benefit accrue to each taxpayer. Id.; see also Bradfield v. Pueblo, 354 P.2d 612, 616 (Cob. 1960) ("due process of law does not require every taxpayer to be individually consulted relative to the 5 levying of a tax of a general nature"). Defendants' Response filed October 27, 2014 pages 8 and 9. The Court finds that based upon this argument raised by Plaintiffs that there is no violation of either the United States or Colorado Constitutions. (B) Whether the town of Lochbuie was and is No Longer the Proper "Approving Authority"for the Sand Hills District (I) Municipalities are "Approving Authorities" Only for Districts Located Entirely Within their Boundaries Plaintiffs assert that starting in 2009, when the District was relocated to 70 Ranch, which is not contiguous to Lochbuie, that Lochbuie lost its ability to be the "approving authority" for the Sand Hills District. It is undisputed that no part of the District currently lies within the boundaries of Lochbuie. Plaintiffs assert that Sand Hills has violated C.R.S. § 32-1-203, which states that the board of commissioners of each county "which has territory included within the proposed special district ... shall constitute the approving authority." Specifically, that C.R.S. 32-1-203 provides that it is only when the boundaries of a proposed district are "contained entirely within the boundaries of a municipality" that a town can be vested with approving authority. (ii) Whether Municipalities Can, by the Vehicle of a Special District, Impose Taxes on Citizens and Property that are Not Within their Boundaries Plaintiffs argue that it is unlawful and unconstitutional for Lochbuie to authorize the district to collect taxes from property and citizens who have no contact with Lochbuie. As the District is located outside of Lochbuie's municipal boundaries, the argument is that by approving Sand Hills' request for authority to tax property at the 70 Ranch, Lochbuie is effectively levying and collecting taxes on persons and property entirely outside of its jurisdiction. Specifically, Plaintiffs point to Lochbuie voting "yes" on the District's proposed 2013 Revised Plan, where Lochbuie collected a check from the District in the amount of $1.35 million to pay for repairs to the Town's reservoir. The entire $1.35 million was raised by ad valorem taxes on the property located at 70 Ranch. a. Whether Sand Hills Improperly Transferred Funds to Lochbuie and United Defendants contend that because the funding agreement between United and Sand Hills provides that Sand Hills and United will jointly determine how funds are to be spent that the funds were properly transferred. Additionally, Defendants represent that funds remitted to United have only been spent in developing the plans for the projects and preparing the Revised and Updated Service Plan, and not spent on any projects in the Revised and Updated Service Plan. 6 (C) Whether the District Materially Departed from the 2004 Service Plan Without Prior Approval and Without Properly Modifying its Plan Prior to December 23, 2013, Defendants assert the District was operating pursuant to its 2004 Service Plan which called for the construction of infrastructure "for the use and benefit" of a residential and commercial subdivision in Lochbuie. 2004 Service Plan attached to Plaintiff's Brief as Exhibit A, at 3. Pursuant to the 2004 Service Plan, the District was authorized to fund "any combination of the improvements" identified as "streets and traffic signals, and water, sewer, storm drainage and park and recreation facilities . . . for the Altamira Development." Id. at 5, 6. In sum, the District proposed, and Town of Lochbuie approved, imposition of ad valorem taxes to pay for only those projects associated with the Altamira Development as described in the 2004 Service Plan. Plaintiffs assert that by December 2013, the District had collected over $4 million in ad valorem taxes pursuant to the 2004 Service Plan, however it did not implement any of the projects described in the plan. However, starting in April 2010, Plaintiffs allege that without notifying or seeking approval from Lochbuie, the District's Board of Directors decided it would institute an expanded and more regional role. Plaintiffs Ex C at 3, 2013 Revised Plan. Beginning in 2010, the District began expending funds developing plans for various projects described in its 2013 Revised Plan as "regional improvements" to be constructed in both Weld and Adams Counties. (i). Whether the 2013 Revised Plan was Improperly Approved Over the Objection of Owners of Property Valued in Excess of Fifty Percent of the District's Total The Court addresses this issue briefly as it has found that as of 2013 the District was not a legal entity under the statute based upon the lack of a legal governing authority. To the extent that this argument is based upon Plaintiffs' objection to the plan, that argument must fail. (ii). Whether the 2013 Revised Plan is Impermissibly Vague and Conflicts with the Requirements of the Special District Control Act As the Court has determined that as of the adoption of the 2013 Revised Plan there was no longer a legal governing agency, the Court does not address this issue, as the plan is already determined to be without authority. (iii). Whether the Town Abused its Discretion and/or Acted Unreasonably in Approving the District's 2013 Revised Plan Defendants contend that based upon the information Lochbuie had before it, including the future need for water, that Lochbuie did not arbitrarily, capriciously, or unreasonably approve the amended service plan. However, based upon the finding that Lochbuie no longer had jurisdiction once the special district was completely removed from its boundaries, the Court finds that Lochbuie had no ability to approve the 2013 Revised Plan. 7 (D) Whether Plaintiffs are Barred from Relief Pursuant to TABOR Plaintiffs assert that there has not been taxpayer approval for collecting taxes from Plaintiff. TABOR requires voter approval for any new tax, tax rate increase, mill levy above that for the prior year, valuation for assessment ratio increase for a property class or extension of an expiring tax or a tax policy change directly causing a net tax revenue gain to any district. See Cob. Const., Art. X, §20(4)(a). Defendants assert that the District has held two elections authorizing tax increases and corresponding mill levy increases, in 2004 and 2012. The Court can find no violation of TABOR. However, the Court finds that as of April 27, 2011, and therefore prior to the 2012 election, Sand Hills was no longer a viable District in that it has no legal governing authority, and therefore any actions would be null and void. (E) Whether Sand Hills Should be Dissolved Pursuant to C.RS. §32-1-701 As the court has found the District is currently operating with no legal authority, it has no ability to conduct business, including the collection of taxes. The Court notes C.R.S. § 32-1-701 governs dissolution of special districts. Pursuant to the procedures outlined in that statute, the Court has no authority to dissolve the same. However, it appears in order for the now stated purpose of Sand Hills, a new district will need to be formed with the proper governing authority. IV. Defendant Sand Hills Metropolitan District's Position (A)Plaintiffs' claim that their Leasehold interests are not properly taxed by Sand Hills is barred by the statute of limitations and for failure to exhaust administrative remedies The court has addressed the issue of whether Plaintiffs must exhaust any administrative remedies prior to bringing this matter by separate order. The court has determined that the matter cannot be addressed administratively, and so Plaintiffs are not barred from pursuing relief in this action. Defendant Sand Hills asserts that Plaintiffs' leaseholds are properly taxed by Sand Hills. Specifically, that Plaintiffs' claims are not tenable under a plain and logical reading of the Special District Act. Sand Hills cites to C.R.S. § 32-t-401(l)(a) which provides: "The boundaries of a special district may be altered by the inclusion of additional real property by the fee owner or owners of one hundred percent of any real property capable of being served with facilities of the special district filing with the board a petition in writing requesting that such property be included in the special district. The petition shall set forth a legal description of the property, shall state that assent to the inclusion of such property in the special district is given by the fee owner or owners thereof and shall be acknowledged by the fee owner or owners in the same manner as required for conveyance of land." Sand Hills notes that nothing in this statute requires or contemplates the consent or participation of mineral leaseholders. Sand Hills notes that 70 Ranch, LLC is the only fee owner 8 of the 70 Ranch that was initially included in Sand Hills. Therefore, a petition from 70 Ranch, LLC was all that was required for its inclusion. Sand Hills notes that under Colorado tax law and the Colorado Constitution, mineral leaseholds, like all other taxable real and personal property, are taxed based on the location of the surface estate. C.R.S.§32-1-1101(l)(a) provides that a special district has the power to "levy and collect ad valorem taxes on and against all taxable property within the special district." Plaintiffs do not dispute that their leaseholds constitute taxable property. Instead, Plaintiffs contend their leases cannot be taxed because they were not specifically identified in the inclusion petition for the 70 Ranch. However, nothing in §32-1-401(1)(a) requires that all taxable property associated with the property included within a special district be identified in the petition, or that the owners of all taxable property consent to inclusion. Sand Hills asserts that Plaintiffs' argument is illogical in that it requires that every taxable interest must be specifically identified in the inclusion petition or it is immune from taxation. Plaintiffs' interpretation would yield absurd results. C.R.S. §32-1-103(22) defines "Taxable property" as "real or personal property subject to ad valorem taxes." If all taxable property had to be identified in an inclusion petition, that would require the fee owner to identify every leasehold, improvement, structure, and residence, and all personal property associated with the land. This would also require a separate inclusion petition every time any such taxable interest was added to the land. The Act is not so onerous. Nor is there any legal authority supporting such a reading of the Act. Rather, the plain meaning of the Act is that only the surface owner can petition for inclusion of the property into a special district. Pursuant to a separate statute, §32-I- 1101(1)(a), that special district then has the authority to levy and collect ad valorem taxes on "all taxable property within the special district. " Further, Sand Hills states that Plaintiffs' reading of §32-1-401(1)(a) also contradicts the Colorado Constitution. Two sections of the Colorado Constitution expressly authorize Sand Hills to collect taxes from Plaintiffs, irrespective of their consent to inclusion. Cob. Const. Art. X, § 30)(a) states: "Each property tax levy shall be uniform upon all real and personal property not exempt from taxation under this article located within the territorial limits of the authority levying the tax." Pursuant to this section, property is taxed based on its territorial location, not the owners' consent. Because the 70 Ranch surface indisputably was properly included in Sand Hills and Plaintiffs' mineral leaseholds are within the territorial boundaries of Sand Hills, their interests are properly taxed by Sand Hills In addition, the Colorado Constitution, Article X, § 10 states: "All corporations in this state, or doing business therein, shall be subject to taxation for state, county, school, municipal and other purposes, on the real and personal property owned or used by them within the territorial limits of the authority levying the tax." Plaintiffs are corporations doing business in Colorado who have mineral leaseholds that are within the territorial limits of the Sand Hills district. Thus, their leaseholds are properly taxed by Sand Hills. Sand Hills relies on the fact that assessors statewide have interpreted and applied the statute to allow taxing of mineral interests contained within a special district. However, the 9 Court does not necessarily rely on this as the authority is being questioned in this action, and does not appear to have been addressed or resolved previously by a trial or appellate court. Sand Hills asserts that new legislation, as of June 6, 2014, HB1371, contradicts Plaintiffs' claims. However, the court finds this argument not persuasive as to any years other than 2013, when that oil and gas leaseholds in Colorado be taxed based on the location of the leasehold. HB1371 provides that the method of taxing oil and gas leasehold production be based according to the location of the wellhead. (B)Lochbuie is the only jurisdiction with statutory authority to approve modifications to the Sand Hills service plan. Sand Hills states that part of the Sand Hills district remains within Lochbuie's boundaries (see Exhibit 19 attached to their brief filed June 10, 2014). However, it appears to the court that the territory which is currently located within the boundaries of Lochbuie was included in December 2013, after the lawsuit was filed. Exhibit 19 of Plaintiffs' reply. From April 28, 2011 to December 5, 2013, no portion of Sand Hills existed within Lochbuie's boundaries. V. Lochbuie's Position Lochbuie's position is that its actions can be set aside only if found to be arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable pursuant to the Special District Control action. See C.R.S. § 32-1- 206(1). Lochbuie's position is that the proposed infrastructure is needed because existing service is inadequate. There is no water delivery service to the 70 Ranch. No local government provides municipal type services to either the proposed Altamira development or to 70 Ranch. Lochbuie concedes that the Revised Service Plan contains material changes from the original Service Plan approved by the Town; Board in 2004. The Town correctly notes that pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-207(2)(a) that material modifications of a service plan originally approved may be made only by petition to and approval by the governing body of the municipality that has adopted a resolution of approval of the special district pursuant to § § 32-1- 204.5 or 32-1-204.7 in substantially the same manner as is provided for the approval of the original service plan. A. Whether the Revised Service Plan is Impermissibly Vague Plaintiff alleges that the Revised Service Plan is impermissibly vague. Specifically, Plaintiff asserts that there is no project which the District has committed to complete in the Revised Plan. C.R.S. § 32-1-202(2),(c) and (e) require that a service plan include not just a description of the proposed services, but also a preliminary engineering or architectural survey showing how the proposed services are to be provided, and a general description of the facilities to be constructed. 10 VI. Analysis It is undisputed that Sand Hills did not build the improvements associated with the Altamira Development. At this time, the plan has been amended to build a regional water infrastructure. A regional water infrastructure is an improvement to the property, which would affect not only the property being taxed, but would greatly improve access for a regional area, as indicated in the plan. This changes the essential character of the original plan which was for the development of water resources for a very specific planned residential and commercial development. The plan was amended with the Town Board of Lochbuie approving the Revised Service Plan on December 23, 2013, after the District had essentially abandoned the original intent of the plan, and was taking steps in furtherance of a plan that had not yet been adopted. Essentially, the adoption of the new plan was a retroactive approval of what the District had already done. As there was no property existing within Lochbuie's boundaries from April 28, 2011 until December 5, 2013, after the filing of this lawsuit, Lochbuie lost its authority to be the governing authority as of April 28, 2011. This loss of authority cannot be cured, more than two years after the fact, including after the filing of suit regarding this specific issue. Lochbuie cannot be the governing authority as this would result in an unconstitutional result under Section 32-1-207(2)(a) as applied here because — under the Special District Control Act — the entity with approval authority acts as a check on a district. However, no Lochbuie citizen is impacted by Sand Hills, the 70 Ranch taxpayers are unrepresented in the Town, and the Town is improperly enabling taxes on property and citizens beyond its borders. See id. at 10-12; Colorado Constitution XX, Sec. 6. See People in Interest of O.C., 308 P.3d 1218, 1221 (Cob. 2013) ("[W]e strive to avoid statutory interpretations that conflict with the Colorado or United States Constitutions"). This court will not engage in a statutory interpretation which results in Lochbuie authorizing taxing of persons or entities beyond its borders. At the time Sand Hills moved to 70 Ranch, there was no longer a municipality available to be the governing authority. The only legally available governing authority was Weld County. Section 32-1-204.7 echoes the basic rule in C.R.S. § 32-1-204.5(1) that a municipality may govern only those districts located "wholly" within its borders. Liikewise, Section 32-1- 207(2)(a)'s reference to what happens when a district includes territory in a county or municipality with no other territory in the district at most recognizes that a boundary change may itself constitute a material modification of a service plan and that the inclusion of new territory may trigger other governments' rights. The changing of boundaries, and the change of name on April 12, 2010, following the inclusion of the 70 Ranch property and the Board of Directors instituting and expanded and more regional role cannot be viewed as anything other than a "material departure" from the original service plan pursuant to C.R.S. § 32-1-207(2)(a). This is not a simple boundary change; again, the entire district was removed from the confines of Lochbuie's boundaries to be located at that time entirely outside of Lochbuie's boundaries. The entire character of the special district was changed. 11 In the end, it matters not whether Lochbuie's actions were arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable as Lochbuie no longer had the authority to take action as to the Special District given the lack of the district being contained within the town of Lochbuie. As to the issue of whether C.R.S. § 32-401 contemplates the inclusion of leaseholds in those property owners who would be required to petition for inclusion, the court looks first to the statute. Section (l)(a) proves "The boundaries of a special district may be altered by the inclusion of additional real property by the fee owner or owners of one hundred percent of any real property capable of being served with facilities of the special district filing with the board a petition in writing request that such property be included in the special district." Unfortunately, there does not appear to be case law, or other guidance for the court in making the determination whether it was contemplated that leaseholds would be required to consent when the 100% owner of the surface rights consents. The Court agrees that the leaseholds owned by Plaintiffs are a real property interest. Further, as stated by the Court of Appeals in Keller Cattle Co. v. Allison, 55 P.3d 257, 262 (Cob. App. 2002) essentially that the duration of a mineral interest may be in fee simple, in fee simple determinable, for life, or for a fixed term of years. The case does not stand for the proposition that all severed mineral rights interests are somehow fee interests as appears to be the position of Plaintiffs. Here, the Court cannot find that the property interest held by Plaintiffs is one which can be characterized as being held by a fee owner or owners. It is undisputed that Plaintiffs possess leasehold interests, and are not, in fact, owners of the mineral interests in fee simple. Therefore, the court cannot find that C.R.S. § 32-401 was violated by the inclusion of the subsurface property rights held by Plaintiffs without their consent, as there was no requirement that Plaintiffs consent to the inclusion of their property interests in the district. However, given the Court's finding as to the loss of authority as of April 28, 2011, this point becomes moot, at least as of that date. For the time period of April 29, 2009 to April 28, 2011, Defendants' property was properly included and therefore subject to the taxation by the Special District. VII. Conclusion IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiffs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment be granted as to actions taken by the Special District counLncing at the time the district was removed from Lochbuie, April 28, 2011. At that time, the Special District lost its legal authority to collect taxes. Plaintiffs are entitled to a tax refund for those taxes paid for tax years 2011, 2012, and 2013 as previously determined by this Court in its order dated June 26, 2014. The Defendants' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment as to the authority to tax Plaintiffs from April 29, 2009 to April 28, 2011 is hereby granted. 12 DATED: March 19,2015 BY THE COURT: 0)‘46;43 Julie C.Hoskins District Court Judge This document was filed pursuant to C.R.C.P. 121, § 1-26. A printable version of the electronically signed order is available in the Court's electronic file. 13 RESOLUTION RE: ACTION OF THE BOARD CONCERNING PETITIONS FOR ABATEMENT OR REFUND OF TAXES - NOBLE ENERGY, INC. WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, State of Colorado, duly and lawfully called regular meeting held on the 9th day of March, 2015, at which meeting there were present the following members: Chair Barbara Kirkmeyer, and Commissioners Mike Freeman, Sean P. Conway, Julie A. Cozad, and Steve Moreno, and WHEREAS, notice of such meeting and an opportunity to be present were given to the taxpayer and the Assessor of said County, with said Assessor, Christopher Woodruff, being present, and taxpayer, Noble Energy, Inc., being present and represented by Kirk Mueller, Attorney, and WHEREAS, at said hearing the Board deemed it advisable to continue said matter to March 16, 2015, to allow the County Attorney adequate time to research and determine whether the Board of Weld County Commissioners or the Board of Adjustment Appeals has statutory jurisdiction to hear the matter; and then again to April 15, 2015, to allow for the matter to be heard by a full quorum of the Board, and WHEREAS, on April 15, 2015, the Board of County Commissioners has carefully considered the attached petitions, and is fully advised in relation thereto. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, that the Board deems it necessary to dismiss the aforementioned petition as it does not meet Colorado State statutory requirements for consideration for abatement or refund. CCyAsQ. 5./4 .f 10�➢cdCnt 2015-1028 AS0090 TAX ABATEMENT PETITIONS - NOBLE ENERGY, INC. PAGE 2 The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 15th day of April, A.D., 2015. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS W D COUNTY, COLO ADO ATTEST: Waittiot, (d rte_;A hair�fft� `+ rbara Kirkmeyer, Weld County Clerk to the Board (L —{ � Mike Freeman, Pro-Tem BY. I lt+ De LA,Dy Clerk to lie Boar EXCUSED eean�P. Conway APPROV A I � �:\%dJ`• ozad 11.61 ;,..,.. Countyhneyref 'a v-� oreno Date of signature: 2015-1028 AS0090 Esther Gesick From: Brad Yatabe Sent: Monday, April 13, 2015 10:38 AM To: Mueller, Kirk Cc: Esther Gesick; Robert J. Frick Subject: Noble Abatement to be placed on April 15, 2015, Board of County Commissioner Agenda Kirk, The Noble abatement petition related to the taxes paid to Sand Hills Metropolitan District for tax years 2012- 2013 will be on the Board of County Commissioners hearing agenda this Wednesday, April 15. The meeting commences at 9:00 a.m. here at the 1150 0 Street Administrative Building in the Centennial Hearing Room. Please let me know that you received this email and whether you intend to be present or not, or if you want to request the date pushed further out. It is possible to have you attend telephonically if that is more convenient. Sorry for the short notice but I was just informed of this addition to the agenda. I am copying the Clerk to the Board, Esther Gesick, who handles scheduling of agenda items, and Bob Frick as well. Thanks. BRAD YATABE ASSISTANT WELD COUNTY ATTORNEY 1 150 O STREET MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 758, GREELEY, CO 80632 TEL: (970) 356-4000 EXT. 4396 FAX: (970) 352-0242 t' STATEMENT OF CONFIDENTIALITY& DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS EMAIL MESSAGE AND ANY ATTACHMENTS IS ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, AND INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY NAMED ABOVE. IF THE READER OF THIS MESSAGE IS NOT THE INTENDED RECIPIENT, YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT ANY DISSEMINATION, DISTRIBUTION, OR COPYING OF THIS EMAIL IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS EMAIL IN ERROR, PLEASE CEASE VIEWING THE CONTENTS, NOTIFY THE SENDER IMMEDIATELY BY REPLY EMAIL, AND PERMANENTLY DELETE THIS EMAIL AND ANY ATTACHED MATERIALS. 1 PETITION FOR ABATEMENT OR REFUND County: WELD Date Reit (use Assessor's or Commissioner Date Stamp) Section I: Petitioner, please complete Section I only. OCT / 2014 October 16,2014 i� Date: WEiLD COUNTY ASSB$SOR Month Day Year GREELEY, COLORADO Petitioner's Name: Noble Energy, Inc. Petitioner's Mailing Address: 1625 Broadway, Suite 2200 Denver Colorado 80202 City or Town State Zip Code SCHEDULE OR PARCEL NUMBER(S) PROPERTY ADDRESS OR LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY See Exhibit A See Exhibit A Petitioner requests an abatement or refund of the appropriate taxes and states that the taxes assessed against the above property for property tax year(s) 2012 and are incorrect for the following r�ipfly` 'E D describe why the taxes have been levied erroneously or illegally,whether due to erroneous valua I levying, clerical error or overvaluation. Attach additional sheets if necessary.) FEB I 2015 WELD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Petitioner's estimate of value: $1,038,785-55 (2012 )and $ ( ) Value Year Value Year I declare, under penalty of perjury in the second degree,that this petition,together with any accompanying exhibits or statements, has been prepared or examined by me, and to the best of my knowledge, information and belief, is true_correct, an��. ( 1 ��(/' Daytime Phone Number( 303 ) 228-4000 .1 etitioner's Signature p[i Noble Energy.Inc. 1lL'/ By Daytime Phone Number J ) Agent's Signature' 'Letter of agency must be attached when petition is submitted by an agent. If the Board of County Commissioners,pursuant to§39-10-114(1),C R.S.,or the Properly Tax Administrator,pursuant to§39-2-116,C.R.S., denies the petition for refund or abatement of taxes in whole or in part,the Petitioner may appeal to the Board of Assessment Appeals pursuant to the provisions of)39-2-125,C.R.S.,within thirty days of the entry of any such decision,§39-10-114.5(1),C.R.S. Section II: Assessor's Recommendation (For Assessor's Use Only) Tax Year 2L( [_ Tax Year Actual Assessed Tax Actual Assessed Tax odginall) 11 V/r/ d l j 1,; 't 11 'I U "I l a's / . 1/, &'{ c1 Corrected Za 2 l 1 (�y j l X r U 1 . 3--I Abate/Refund �i /7 {/i Y� ❑Assessor recommends approval as outlined above. If the request for abatement is based upon the grounds of overvaluation,no abatement or refund of taxes shall be made if an objection or protest to such valuation has been filed and a Notice of Determination has been mailed to the taxpayer,§39-10-114(1)(a)(l)(D),C.R.S. Tax year: Protest? O No 0 Yes (If a protest was filed,please attach a copy of the NOD.) .ax year: ❑No ❑Yes (ifaa, ass31.:5.3hcopy o.a .....:DD.) 2015-1028 / o.... 5555, Pied, Assessor recommends denial for the following reason(s): C. 17,54 IU<'s 1�.,J�l'Li..) }.x- i� Ci2.t.t x,�7.1� 1 ,'V 1.4.1-td (If LL"' 7T •(i 1105 I 1J.11. r,� ,_I- -1 ti / 6/ r'i 4.7 _ r I - Assessor' De Assessor's Si Lure 15-DPT-AR AR No.920-66/11 )'_./ r. c: G,. +L I 1.f"1 _,-r' ry 4 455-Y. ( >r 12.�r-,fi x_ ..�-f ../t-� -c 542 r'- FOR ASSESSORS AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS USE ONLY (Section III or Section IV must be completed) Every petition for abatement or refund filed pursuant to $39-10-114,C.R.S.shall be acted upon pursuant to the provisions of this section by the Board of County Commissioners or the Assessor,as appropriate,within six months of the date of filing such petition,§39-1-113(1 7),C.R.S. Section III: Written Mutual Agreement of Assessor and Petitioner (Only for abatements up to$10,000) • The Commissioners of County authorize the Assessor by Resolution No. to review petitions for abatement or refund and to settle by written mutual agreement any such petition for abatement or refund in an amount of$10,000 or less per tract, parcel, or lot of land or per schedule of personal property, in accordance with§39-1-113(1.5), C.R.S. The Assessor and Petitioner mutually agree to the values and tax abatement/refund of: Tax Year Tax Year Actual Assessed Tax Actual Assessed Tax Original Corrected Abate/Refund Note.The total tax amount does not include accrued interest,penalties,and fees assodated with late and/or delinquent tax payments,if applicable. Please contact the County Treasurer for full payment information. Petitioner's Signature Date Assessor's or Deputy Assessor's Signature Date Section Iv: Decision of the County Commissioners (Must be completed if Section III does not apply) WHEREAS,the County Commissioners of County, State of Colorado, at a duly and lawfully called regular meeting held on / / , at which meeting there were present the following members: Month Day Year with notice of such meeting and an opportunity to be present having been given to the Petitioner and the Assessor of said County and Assessor (being present—not present)and Name Petitioner (being present--not present), and WHEREAS,the said Name County Commissioners have carefully considered the within petition,and are fully advised in relation thereto, NOW BE IT RESOLVED,that the Board(agrees--does not agree)with the recommendation of the Assessor and the petition be(approved--approved in part—denied)with an abatement/refund as follows: Year Assessed Value Taxes Abate/Refund Year Assessed Value Taxes Abate/Refund Chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners'Signature County Clerk and Ex-officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners in and for the aforementioned county,do hereby certify that the above and foregoing order is truly copied from the record of the proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this day of Month Year County Clerk's or Deputy County Clerk's Signature yrrN Section Abatements greater than$10,000 per schedule,per year,must be submitted in duplicate to the Property Tax Administrator for review. -Y V: Action of the Property Tax Administrator (For all abatements greater than$10,0001 The action of the Board of County Commissioners, relative to this abatement petition, is hereby ❑Approved ❑Approved in part$ ❑ Denied for the following reason(s): Secretary's Signature Property Tax Administrator's Signature Date 15-DPT-AR No.920-66/11 0 0 0 to o in In If) In 0 0 M In to o in 0 0 in In in 0 0 0 In 0 to o tD 00 M CO N Cl 0 M 00 ID CI M Cl In CO c-1 Cl CO - M V Cl 0 en M 0 to 0 ) > O O rl W N itl O V MR N M oo O ci O to tD ati 4 N O N ri of V6 M M 00 CO CO N CO N V td 0 In In tD IN O N d rl 10 0 N CO N N N M V tD C N -a n 00 id ID en rl N Ln d Vl d M In ID tD 00 LO V V d Ol d M to O CT N O = Fo Dl M C In Lr M CO l r l/1 tD M rh vl N l0 O O N In o V1 CT Ni. rl Cn c-i CO D. ci N M c-I ci ci r-i c-I c-I .-I v-I N ✓ a x Ti C co co ) d To o O Y J y d m C IS) a VT VT VT VT VT VT`N VT N VT VT VT VT VT VT VT VT VT VT VT VT VT VT VT VT N VT VT a 0 0 0 In 0 In In In 0 0 0 0 In 0 In 0 0 In 0 to O In vt in 0 to 0 O 4.I N 7 tD rl tD to r CO rl n d' N O r a- 0o co n to 00 ci m n oo ci N 00 V co L O 00 W Cl to O M N N N In O Cl Cl Ni ID In 4 CO tD N V N M M ci In N CO O 00 c-1 to ci N rl N OM Cl Cl d' CO 00 torn to M of Cl Cl to O In 0 ci ci N C t C ID N 0 In N O v--I C M M M CO d O Le) N In M M CO of d M to O of d c-I �,I O of M N M CO to In N In tD M M to N lD O O N d' O to N GIN Cl c-I c-I CO = _ '�+ ci N M c-I rl - 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N m N m m N m N m m m m m m m m a N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N • N N rI r1 r1 rl N - rI Ln In VI UI 0 VI Ul N UI VI UI Ul UI UI Vl u1 UI O O 00000o O O O O 0 0 0 0 0 O o0 K F N_ X OI co NOIOCOOIONINNOMMMM a Ul QO U In VI UI in lO ID ID 10 10 in 0 10 l0 N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q O Z 203 o r1 N m Q Q Q o r1 Q o LU o rI N O N N N N N CO HI UI LO in Q VI UI LID VD W LID W N H H Q N UI N U1 UO H m m M OIDOCIHIHHHHHHH M M m m U N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N U In UI In LA VI 1.01 VI U1 VI N VI UI In VI Ul UI a 01 a1 a, of a, al a) m al a1 m0 Ol DI m 01 2 J W W W W W IL W 2 W 2 W W Ul PETITION FOR ABATEMENT OR REFUN I r , `• SI,VED , County: WELD Date 'ecelved �� -.3i(Use Assessor's or Commissi Ira DateStamp) OCT Section I: Petitioner, please complete Section I only. // J 2014 'J Date: October 16,2014 w D COUNTY ASSESSOR Month Day Year GREELEY, COLORADO Petitioner's Name: Noble Energy, Inc. Petitioner's Mailing Address: 1625 Broadway, Suite 2200 Denver Colorado 80202 City or Town State Zip Code SCHEDULE OR PARCEL NUMBER(S) PROPERTY ADDRESS OR LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY See Exhibit A See Exhibit A Petitioner requests an abatement or refund of the appropriate taxes and states that the taxes assessed against the above property for property tax year(s) 2013 and are incorrect for the following reasons: (Briefly describe why the taxes have been levied erroneously or illegally,whether due to erroneous valuation,irregulari )q , levying,clerical error or overvaluation. Attach additional sheets if necessary.) REC N ED RFf. 1 ` 201 WELD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Petitioner's estimate of value: $1,401,986.37 (2013 )and $ ( ) Value Year Value Year I declare,under penalty of perjury in the second degree,that this petition,together with any accompanying exhibits or statements, has been prepared or examined by me,and to the best of my knowledge, information and belief, is true,correct, and complete. / y 303 228-4000 • /“.._....2--- J �� Daytime Phone Number( ) GGGl_./ Petitioners Sig ��n� Noble Energy,Inc. HT-- / l. By Daytime Phone Number( ) Agent's Signature' 'Letter of agency must be attached when petition is submitted by an agent. If the Board of County Commissioners,pursuant to§39-10-114(1),C.R.S.,or the Property Tax Administrator,pursuant to§39-2-116,C.R.S., denies the petition for refund or abatement of taxes in whole or in part,the Petitioner may appeal to the Board of Assessment Appeals pursuant to the provisions of§39-2-125,C.R.S.,within thirty days of the entry of any such decision,§39-10-114 5(1),C.R.S. Section II: Assessor's Recommendation � (For Assessor's Use Only) Tax Year;0//3 Tax Year ,.1 Actual Assessed Tax Actual Assessed Tax Ongm I F I�S 1 190 $2-5�K*�V1 i S I(3`I`1197`4'iz Corrected 1/112-5CICID $25)I%'i K4q P143941-17I31- Abate/Refund '! U (`1 ❑Assessor recommends approval as outlined above. If the request for abatement is based upon the grounds of overvaluation,no abatement or refund of taxes shall be made if an objection or protest to such valuation has been filed and a Notice of Determination has been mailed to the taxpayer,§39-10-114(1)(a)(p(D),C.R S. Tax year: Protest? ❑No ❑Yes (If a protest was filed,please attach a copy of the NOD.) Tax year: Protest? ❑No ❑Yes (If a protest was filed,please attach a copy of the NOD.) Assessor recommends denial for the following reason(s): —I ct,etua l value' has beef Cat le AiLl �rra,-+14-1 T"^'" C^"4-' i s`^e- 04 uoh.eiws car-oci-S(Ara Mils K.eetyo '(st ta-i it y P •• __bic- w5evClb (c ac�eu5tAn iD ci o:A ,O0_ I1 4SS � " An C . lsorrsS4te J 15-OPT-AR Na 920-66111 FOR ASSESSORS AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS USE ONLY (Section III or Section IV must be completed) Every petition for abatement or refund filed pursuant to 1 39-10-114,C R.S.shall be acted upon pursuant to the provisions of this section by the Board of County Commissioners or the Assessor,as appropriate,within six months of the date of filing such petition,§39-1-113(17),C.R.S. Section III: Written Mutual Agreement of Assessor and Petitioner (Only for abatements up to$10,000) The Commissioners of County authorize the Assessor by Resolution No, to review petitions for abatement or refund and to settle by written mutual agreement any such petition for abatement or refund in an amount of$10,000 or less per tract, parcel, or lot of land or per schedule of personal property, in accordance with§39-1-113(1.5), C.R.S. The Assessor and Petitioner mutually agree to the values and tax abatement/refund of: Tax Year Tax Year Actual Assessed Tax Actual Assessed Tax Original Corrected Abate/Refund Note:The total tax amount does not include accrued interest,penalties,and fees associated with late and/or delinquent tax payments,if applicable. Please contact the County Treasurer for full payment information. Petitioner's Signature Date Assessor's or Deputy Assessor's Signature Date Section IV: Decision of the County Commissioners (Must be completed if Section III does not apply) WHEREAS,the County Commissioners of County,State of Colorado, at a duly and lawfully called regular meeting held on / I ,at which meeting there were present the following members: Month Day Year with notice of such meeting and an opportunity to be present having been given to the Petitioner and the Assessor of said County and Assessor (being present--not present)and Name Petitioner (being present--not present),and WHEREAS,the said Name County Commissioners have carefully considered the within petition, and are fully advised in relation thereto, NOW BE IT RESOLVED,that the Board (agrees--does not agree)with the recommendation of the Assessor and the petition be(approved--approved in part--denied)with an abatement/refund as follows: Year Assessed Value Taxes Abate/Refund Year Assessed Value Taxes Abate/Refund Chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners'Signature County Clerk and Ex-officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners in and for the aforementioned county,do hereby certify that the above and foregoing order is truly copied from the record of the proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners. IN IWITNESS(WHEREOF,I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County �thi5 day of Month Year County Clerk's or Deputy County Clerk's Signature LNote. Abatements greater than$10,000 per schedule,per year,must be submitted in duplicate to the Property Tax Administrator for review. ( Section V: Action of the Property Tax Administrator id" strator (For all abatements greater than$10,000) The action of the Board of County Commissioners, relative to this abatement petition, is hereby ❑Approved ❑Approved in part$ ❑ Denied for the following reason(s): Secretary's Signature Property Tax Administrator's Signature Date 15-DPT-AR Na 920-66/11 - --- - -- - - - - - -- - ul n m N m O CO co co N n o mn mn a o -+ o n m m o+ N • IC m m m o a m o o N NC N N: N o .: n to m o m o 00 o m o .+ m N m 'c';'.. e o ti d ' ' o a 01 0o co. - .t 4 4 e erg d d -� ,y S u r' o N m m o N oN N o a o o nu m O ^ 0 0 .°:, a m m H O a -i pp ry co m ry m n o n N `m m m m a o 0 0+ 'o m m o o m n m o o N > ry -+ ry -+ o 0 o N On o -+ n m Sri a -+ - N ,6 ry `m - m ,v ^ .. �o n ti .. m Ill .n. ry ry to e N o m ni > m C cIss E n' '^ in 0 .n -n .n .n in in -i- ,n .n ,n ,n .n .n in ti H .n .n .n H .n if, ti an tec ,n ,n .n 0 an. .n .n 0 h -n ,n .n H O a ^' Ott -' 0 ill uai r-1 c v"i M DO �' no N r°ii a e al n ry m c m m ,co m `° no en -+ N m -0. m o v m 0 V N N m a 9 00 o o n m n O, n 0 0 m co 0 N C r6 CO N CO m Cr,, m N N m o 4 o N o N CO al cn LO W 0 m m O, N 00~ in O N o ' m ni o < ry -+ -+ -. ri o v d m ui o .4 n N ,o Er; dr. m o4 3 n to N N 00 N ry ., m C -tall • O ,n in F in in in N in ,n N N in N N N ,n an N an N in an ,n an in in N N in ,n N in an N N an N N in N n' a` r ry N N N c v e ry -+ a m 0 0 0 o a+ o m o 0 00 N en o i 0 O O ry o 00 0 OO, 000 , 0 „ o „ .0 .0 .0. .,,. .0 b ` ' „ „ 0 , 000 , 00' N m -C o a o 0 0 0 0 o N O m -. 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- 0 0 0 .-+ m m m m a a u Y, -� N m m m m m m m m m m m m m p 3 m Q N N N NNNN N N N N N N N O 0 .-1 0 a a a .-i 0 0 VI 0 N N .4 0 Vl N 0 0 V1 V1 0 0 V1 0 V1 V1 Vf VI 0- 0_ 00000000000000 00 VI N_ O X N N N N m m m N 0 t0 l0 tD NN HN no ao N N N N N N on N N N N N N a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Z ~ < 0 .y a0 a m 0 tD co a N W N 01 ti Z • V1 tD tD on m m a Vl o lO l0 a a m a N in V1 4n tO tap to o .-I m m m Ol 01 in in J O a a .+ a a a a a m m m m a a N N G V N N N N N N N N NNN 0000 00 H U In o In o V1 1n V1 V1 V1 an V1 In In o • 01 0l 01 Cl 01 01 01 on 01 co 01 al Ol 01 01 01 0 W W W W W W W W W W LLIW W W 00 H CLERK TO THE BOARD PHONE: (970) 336-7215, EXT. 5226 86 FAX: (970) 352-0242 1150 O STREET JJ P.O. BOX 758 GREELEY, COLORADO 80632 GOUN February 13, 2015 Noble Energy, Inc. 1625 Broadway, Suite 2200 Denver, CO 80202 RE: SCHEDULE NUMBER: O2538103+ (2012 and 2013) Dear Property Owner: This is to advise you that the Weld County Board of Commissioners will hear your petition for abatement or refund of taxes on the property described as: Various Parcels (Please See Attachment). The meeting is scheduled for March 9, 2015, at 9:00 a.m., in the Chambers of the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, Weld County Administration Building, 1150 O Street, Assembly Room, Greeley, Colorado 80631. The Assessor is recommending that the Board Deny your petition. You are not required to be present at this hearing; however, this is your opportunity to have your position heard, particularly if your position is opposed to the Assessor's recommendation. If you intend to submit any documentation in support of your position for this hearing, all such documentation must be submitted to the Office of the Clerk to the Board and to the Weld County Assessor's Office at least seven calendar days prior to the meeting date in order for it to be considered at the scheduled hearing. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me at (970) 336-7215, Extension 5226. Sincerely, ( CL661-010-, SifOOELit afaela A. Martinez Deputy Clerk to the Board cc: Assessor Hello