Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Study Session Notes 02/27/2012 SPECIAL STUDY SESSION NOTES CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO February 27. 2012 Mayor DiTullio called the Study Session to order at 8:13 p.m. Council Members present: Davis Reinhart, William "Bud" Starker, Joyce Jay, Kristi Davis, Mike Stites, George Pond, Tracy Langworthy, and Joseph DeMott. Also present: City Clerk, Janelle Shaver; Bruce Roome, Deputy City Clerk; City Treasurer, Larry Schulz; City Manager, Patrick Goff; City Attorney, Gerald Dahl; Community Development Director, Kenneth Johnstone; Planner II, Sarah Showalter and Sr. Planner, Sally Payne; staff and interested citizens . .1. Elected Official Report(s) Mrs. Jay reported from DRCOG. There is an opportunity for all the cities to embrace the improvement of 1-25 between Hwy 36 and 120th by adding interim managed lanes. All the cities agreed to support this even though it meant giving up some of their city transportation funds to help with this. Also the property tax exemptions for seniors will continue to not be available. Instead· some of the funds funds that are realized from this will be put into the OCF (the Older Colorado Fund) which will give money from the state to seniors who need help with food and transportation. Mr. Pond attended the JEFFT AAG [Jeffco Transportation Action and Advocacy Group] meeting. They presented the Jefferson County Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. Details of this plan are available on the Jefferson County website. Mr. Starker attended the CML Policy Committee meeting last week. All of the positions [on legislation] taken by CML were ones recommended by the legislative staff. 2. Staff Report(s) Because there had been time available at the pre-meeting, this information was summarized by Chief Brennan at that time. Smart 911 Smart911 is a software system which is designed to improve the ability of first responders to help community members who need help from the police, fire and emergency services. Smart911 is an addition to the current E9-1-1 system in Jefferson County. This system gives citizens of our community the ability to provide first responders with a household safety profile which is used by emergency first responders to better understand a situation. There is no cost associated with this system to the City or our citizens at this time. The Jefferson County E 9-1-1 Authority Board is paying for the first year costs which are approximately $95,000 for the ten PSAPs in Jefferson and Broomfield counties. The Advisory Committee to the Authority Board had concerns that once this program was implemented that the Authority Board needed to keep funding it yearly, providing there was adequate citizen participation throughout the county. However, the current Authority Board cannot commit funds for future Boards and therefore could not commit to more than one year (2012). The Board and the member agencies will need to prioritize funding this system along with other projects in upcoming years. As a courtesy to interested parties in the audience, it was agreed to proceed with the original Agenda Item #5 at this time. ~ Martensen School At the January 9, 2012 City Council study session, staff received direction from Council to develop a concept plan for how both the Martensen site and building could be used by the City. Mrs. Manwaring presented a very thorough Concept Plan which included possible ideas and costs associated with the acquisition, renovation and operation of the Martensen School property for a park site and possible recreation facility. 1) Conceptual site plan includes: A. Park amenities and locations (converting the ball field to a soccer field, an additional playground on the north side, the addition of a pavilion/shelter on the north side, provisions for more parking spaces on the Newland Street side, and youth sports storage areas in the two existing storage buildings on the northern perimeter) B. Suggested building footprint with room locations for fitness, dance, babysitting, licensed preschool, enlargement of the existing gymnasium, general programs, multi-purpose, and office. This would provide space for documented, needed uses that are not able to be provided at our current facilities C. Proposed demolition of the east and west classroom wings 2) Programming A. Current-1. Licensed Pre-School relocated from the Anderson Building; 2. Other existing programs could be relocated from the Active Adult Center, the Recreation Recreation Center, and the Anderson Building (if it should be torn down). The list of relocated programs could include Fitness, Dance and General Programs such as rentals, kettleball, active youth classes, martial arts, yoga, ballet, rentals, jazzersize, adult volleyball and basketball, youth basketball, CPR/First Aid, community meetings, and others). B) New-Potential new programs that could be offered include things such as kid fitness, parent/child programs, additional dance classes for all ages, additional general programming, expansion of the Pre-School program, and additional rentals and classes. Any new programming would provide new revenue to help offset the operating costs. 3) Budget A Aquisition ($1 ,022,880 estimated). Funding available through grants and Open Space funds from 2011-2015 B. Building. Park and Site Improvements ($2, 123,000 estimated) $1,450,000 available through grants, Open Space funds, and Conservation Trust Fund from 2011-2015 C $673.00 funding difference between available funding and estimated improvement costs D. Recommend a 4-year phasing plan for construction as funds are available E. Additional improvements could be started in 2016 when more funds become available 4) Annual Operating Costs --$303,233 for building, programs and park from the General Fund; annual impact to the General Fund would be $96,796 after Revenue offset --$206,437 for revenue projections CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION: Consensus for staff to: 1) Continue to negotiate with Jeffco R-1 School District for acquisition of the Martensen Site, and bring back to Council a negotiated price for discussion and potential approval for purchase. 2) Acquire an estimated value for the 44th & Kendall site and confirm the approval from Jefferson County Open Space to allow for sale of this site, transferring the proceeds from the sale for the acquisition of the Martensen site. 3) Prepare a suggested scope of programming, related costs, and possible revenue sources (e.g user fees, Open Space Funds, etc.). Agreed to have Mrs. Manwaring continue with agenda Item #4 4. Jeffco Open Space Request for $25,000 There is a long range plan to complete a trail entitled Plains to Peak which will ultimately connect from DIA to Glenwood Springs. Jefferson County Open Space is partnering with Clear Creek County to apply for a Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) River Corridors Initiative Grant. This grant will be used to help build about five miles of new trail and river access along Clear Creek from one mile east of the Mayhem Gulch Trailhead to the east entrance of Tunnel 6 in Clear Creek County. This Clear Creek Canyon segment along Highway 6 will allow for hiking, riding and running on the trail, fishing, gold panning, kayaking, rafting and floating on the creek, climbing, and birding. The cost of this project is over $13,000,000. Jefferson County is requesting that the cities of Lakewood, Arvada, Golden and Wheat Ridge each contribute $25,000 to show support for the project and help facilitate the success of the grant process. Recreation and Park Districts will be asked to contribute $10,000 each. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approving the matching fund request and appropriating the $25,000 in the 2013 budget. Staff requests consensus on either approving or denying the request to provide matching funds for the grant. A commitment letter is required by March 1, 2012. CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION: There was sufficient consensus to move forward with the letter and bring the approval of the expenditure forward to a Regular Meeting. Due to the lateness of the hour, Mr. Goff recommended postponing Original Agenda Item #3, the discussion of Priority Based Budgeting, to a future study session. The study session was adjourned at 9:37 PM.