Adams County Annual Report 2012-13 by Adams County, Colorado

2012-13 Report to the Public

CONTENTS 4 6 9 10

15 15 16 16 19 25 26 29 30 30 31 31

Board of County Commissioners Budget 2013 Economic Development Elected Officials Assessor Clerk & Recorder Coroner District Attorney Sheriff Surveyor Treasurer Emergency Management Front Range Airport and Spaceport Colorado Housing Authority Human Services Open Space Sales Tax Report Parks & Community Resources Planning for Growth Public Health Public Trustee Public Works Stormwater Pollution Sustainability

This report is printed on Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC®) certified paper. The FSC promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests. facebook.com/adamscountygov twitter.com/adamscountygov vimeo.com/adamscountygov

CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COMMITTEE The Adams County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee was formed in May 2012 to bring together leaders from criminal justice agencies, local governments and communities from across Adams County to explore best-practices and develop innovative solutions to challenges within our local criminal justice system. By working collaboratively, the committee is able to find creative solutions that are not possible when organizations work independently. Under the leadership of Chief Judge C. Vincent Phelps, the Adams County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee has made several key recommendations to the local criminal justice system stakeholders, including: n

ways to reduce the jail population by reducing sentence lengths for non-mandatory sentences;

the development of a standardized bond schedule cap, promoting equality for how offenders are treated among jurisdictions;

the creation of programs to remind citizens of their upcoming court date, thereby reducing the number of arrest warrants issued; and

methods for collecting unpaid fines and fees, also reducing the number of arrest warrants issued.

The committee’s current projects include: n

redirecting low-level offenders to more appropriate, communitybased rehabilitation programs to reduce the jail population and better serve the community;

developing a web-based program that will improve communications between organizations and jurisdictions;

introducing a pilot program offered by District Attorney Dave Young to bring juvenile diversion options to municipalities; and

identifying opportunities for inclusion in specialty courts (e.g. drug court, mental health, veterans) so citizens can access resources that are relevant and most beneficial to their particular situation.

The committee members look forward to continuing their collaborative efforts to address issues facing the local criminal justice system today and in the future. The committee will continue to recommend evidence-based solutions that promote public safety and are the most financially sound for Adams County, its cities and countywide stakeholders.

! ADAMS COUNTY FAIR BUDWEISER CPRA RODEO COUPON Good for One Admission •

THURSDAY, AUG. 1, 2013

Must Present Coupon For Free Admission • Ages 3 Years and Under Free No Copies Accepted — Free Parking

2013 ADAMS COUNTY FAIR! One Great County! One Great Fair! Wednesday, July 31 – Sunday, Aug. 4 Adams County Regional Park Complex, Brighton United Power Grandstand events Thursday, aug. 1 – 7 p.m. Budweiser CPRA united Power Mutton Bustin’ Friday, aug. 2 – 7 p.m. NsPa Truck Pull saTurday, aug. 3 – 7 p.m. ddra demolition derby suNday, aug. 4 – 2 p.m. univision & La Tri Color Fiesta day

United water and sanitation district entertainment staGe FrEE Entertainment daily CArNivAl SPECiAlS WEdNEsday, JuLy 31 $15 unlimited ride wristbands Thursday, aug. 1 $20 unlimited ride wristbands Friday, aug. 2 Kids day special $11 unlimited ride wristbands until 3 p.m.

sPecial days at the Fair Thursday, aug.1 Baby Boomers & Beyond Breakfast, 8 a.m. – Noon Entertainment, free breakfast, resource fair and bingo with prizes

$25 unlimited ride wristbands after 3 p.m.

Friday, aug. 2 9NEWs Kids day at the Fair agriland, Chaotic Kingdom Obstacle Course, Educational resource Booths, horse Belly Blaster Bouncer, Lagoon of doom, Petting Zoo, Pony rides, redneck games—all taking place in the Platte Valley Medical Center Children’s Pavilion

saTurday, aug. 3 $25 unlimited ride wristbands

$1 off an unlimited ride wristband when you donate a canned food item to benefit local food pantries (sponsored by 9Cares Colorado shares)

suNday, aug. 4 dollar ride day or $25 unlimited ride wristbands

Alexandra “Alex” Nelms 2013 Adams County Fair Queen Come check out the 4-H animals: pigs, goats, sheep, steers, horses, chickens, ducks, turkeys, alpacas and rabbits Try some great food: red velvet funnel cakes, chocolate covered dill pickles on a stick, glazed donut hamburgers, funnel cake swirls on a stick and so much more!

FrEE Parking Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Fair information Hotline: 303.637.8011 Become a Fan of the adams County Fair on Facebook and get up-to-date information as well as the opportunity to win great prizes!! facebook.com/AdamsCountyFairCO Budweiser CPrA rodeo Coupon. Good for one admission (facing page).

adamscountyfair.com

ADAMS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Serving the County with Innovation & Integrity

Eva J. Henry, District 1

Charles “Chaz” Tedesco, District 2

Greetings Adams County Residents! Adams County is a great place to live, raise a family and grow a business. As your Board of County Commissioners, we are proud to represent our vibrant community of over 450,000 people who call Adams County home. Adams County offers current and future residents a diverse array of attractive amenities, including a strong transportation system, access to a wide range of housing options from affordable to executive, and an enviable parks program that boasts 400 miles of groomed trails and 41,000 acres (64 square miles) of parks and open space countywide. Thanks to the Adams County taxpayers, who approved an Open Space Sales Tax in 1999 and again in 2004, more than $110 million has been generated to preserve urban and rural open space while protecting wildlife corridors, water quality and the county’s rich agricultural heritage. For a full 2012 report on the Adams County Open Space program, please turn to page 19. A true transportation system encompasses roads, bike and pedestrian trails, transit, air and rail service. We are focused on maintaining our existing system as we plan for needed improvements to support our growing and robust community. In partnership with our cities, we advanced two key regional transportation corridor projects in 2012: the north I-25 managed lanes project and the RTD north metro corridor. We are also working with the Colorado Department of Transportation to design and construct a widened South Platte River Bridge at 104th Ave. and finishing up the design on the Clay Community Trail in the southwest area of the county. We anticipate construction on all four projects to begin in late 2013. In addition to the anticipated construction of the RTD north metro corridor later this year, ongoing construction of the FasTracks corridors that traverse the county (I-225, U.S. 36 bus rapid transit, East, Northwest Rail and Gold Line) is moving forward.

Erik Hansen, District 3

Transportation innovations are not limited to Adams County’s roads and railways. Front Range Airport is well on its way to becoming Spaceport Colorado. In fact, the groundbreaking project achieved a major milestone in 2012 by raising the necessary funds for a spaceport license. In the near future, Spaceport Colorado will become a national leader in aerospace research and manufacturing. When it comes to innovation at Front Range Airport, the sky’s the limit! Adams County continues its relentless dedication to economic development. Thanks to our economic development partner, ACED, we have been able to add 2,268 new jobs to the county, along with $440 million in new capital investments this past year alone. And more jobs are on the way—stay tuned for more exciting announcements in the near future! Over the past year, much has been reported on our negotiations with Denver on how and where economic development would occur at DIA. In 1988, a pact between Denver and Adams County voters, known as an intergovernmental agreement, allowed Denver to annex 54 square miles of land. Denver’s reasons for acquiring the large amount of land were to create a buffer that would prevent airport-urban issues from reoccurring and to operate a safe airport. The annexation agreement included land use restrictions and stated that economic benefits from DIA would go to Adams County and its municipalities as a way to create equity to the people of Adams County. We are committed to negotiating in good faith while protecting the interests of those we serve by enforcing the agreement that was signed by both parties. In 2012, Adams County voters approved a ballot question that expands the size of the Board of County Commissioners from three to five commissioners. Just last month, we approved the map that creates the additional two commissioner districts. In 2014, voters will elect the two new commissioners and in January 2015, the county will be represented by five commissioners residing in specific geographic districts, but will be voted on countywide. All five commissioners will serve Adams County at large.

Another big change for the county will be the appointment of a new county manager this summer. With the upcoming retirement of the county administrator, the county is expanding the role of the top administrator position to provide more operational authority so the Board of County Commissioners can serve in a higher-level policy capacity. We are pleased with the recognition we continue to receive for our work around transparency and maintaining an open government. This past March, Adams County once again earned the Sunshine Award, earning a perfect score for government transparency on the county website. We are honored to receive the Sunny Award and will continue to expand the online transparency portal to ensure our citizens have full access to the county’s finances. Sunshine Review, a nonprofit organization dedicated to state and local government transparency, evaluates the content of more than 5,000 government websites. For the past four years, they have announced the names of their Sunshine Award winners to help advance accountability in government. Transparency goes hand-in-hand with good communication, and we are committed to providing you with the best communication possible. We are also committed to hearing directly from you as we try to understand our complex community needs, and serve our community through responsive and responsible delivery of services.

communicate with you and your family and want you to have a better understanding of how county government works to provide services. With 1,800 county employees, we are able to provide services that help keep our community healthy and safe through safety-net social programs for our most vulnerable community members, responsive public safety, good roads, quality of life amenities and thoughtful planning to prepare for economic growth and the infrastructure investments needed for a functioning community. To learn more about your county government, we hope you read through this report to see what we have accomplished in 2012 and to understand the county’s 2013 budget. One of the county’s most treasured traditions is the Adams County Fair. The fair is just days away and we hope you bring your family to help celebrate summer fun at its best at the Adams County Regional Park! The rodeo coupon for Thursday, Aug. 1, is on the inside front cover. We are proud to partner with 9Cares to sponsor a food collection for Adams County food pantries. Bring a can of food to the fair on Friday, Aug. 2, and you will receive $1 off an unlimited ride wristband for that day. It is a great family opportunity while helping those who are hungry in our community. See you at the fair!

We recently created a new department called Neighborhood Services. Our most direct services to our unincorporated residents are now centralized. This will help to advance our goal of working closer with our neighborhoods to better meet the needs of our residents. We have started evening “Meet and Greet” public meetings with our Adams County residents. We want to

BUDGET 2013 2013 COUNTY rEvENUE SOUrCES Total revenue Budget: $426,686,620* (not including proprietary funds)

highway users Tax $8,000,000 or 2%

all Other sources $77,095,628 or 18%

Property Tax $121,286,569 or 28%

specific Ownership Tax $8,200,000 or 2% investment Earnings $2,075,888 or 1%

sales Tax $36,024,662 or 8% social services $174,003,873 or 41%

2013 Consolidated Budgeted Expenditures Personnel 139,855,247.00 29.62% Charges for Services 224,455,911.00 47.54% Total Expenditures: $472,075,891 Operating & Maintenance 13,078,678.00 2.77% Debt Service Charges for services 13,960,011.00 $224,455,911 or 47.54% 2.96%Other Financing uses $15,856,809 or 3.36% Governmental Services 36,524,883.00 7.74% Capital 28,440,352.00 Capital Personnel 6.02%$28,344,352 or 6.02% $139,855,247 or 29.62% Other Financing Uses 15,856,809.00 3.36% governmental services $36,524,883 or 7.74%

debt service $13,960,011 or 2.96%

Operating & Maintenance $13,078,678 or 2.77%

* Total revenue noted does not include proprietary funds. With these funds included, the revenue total is $459,465,415. The $12.6 million difference between total revenue (including proprietary funds) and total expenditures represents a spend down of fund balances.

Property Tax Calculation & Distribution of 2013 Property Tax revenue 229,100 x 7.96% $ 18,236 x 0.110689

Assumed Market Value of Home Residential Assessment Rate Assessed Value Average Mill Levy of 110.689 (including the county’s mill levy of 26.806 ) $ 2,018.56 Total Taxes Paid $

The County’s Portion of Property Tax Distributed by Fund

Property Tax Distribution special district 17% schools 53%

social services $10,608,010 9% road & Bridge $5,860,779 5%

developmentally disabled $1,158,630 1%

County 25%

general Fund $103,659,149 85%

City 5%

General Fund Key revenue Trends Property Tax Trend (includes TiF reductions) 

$103,939,136 $103,153,989

$104,000,000

$103,659,149

$102,566,248

$101,893,267

$102,000,000

$101,089,861

$100,000,000 $ 98,000,000 $ 96,000,000 $ 94,000,000

$94,221,663

$ 92,000,000 $ 90,000,000 $ 88,000,000 2007

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013 Budget

Building Permits Trend

interest on Deposits Trend $12,000,000 $10,000,000

2008

$ 1,200,000

$1,033,333

$10,656,434

$977,791

$ 1,000,000

$ 8,000,000

$7,541,614

800,000

600,000

400,000

200,000

$ 6,000,000

$3,601,383

$ 4,000,000

$3,413,607

$ 2,000,000 $1,000,000 2007

2008

2009

2010

$2,491,636 $2,459,210

2011

2012

$1,584,312

2013 Budget

$579,903

2007

2008

$607,730

2009

$615,036

2010

2011

$668,893 $650,00

2012

2013 Budget

2013 General Fund Allocations by Elected Office

Clerk & recorder $6,189,927 or 4% Coroner assessor $1,706,178 or 1% $3,963,964 or 2% County Commissioners $637,869 or 0%

For a thorough discussion of the 2013 budget, please reference the 2013 Adams County Budget Book at www.adcogov.org (begin at Consolidated Budget Summary pg. 58.)

district attorney $15,390,118 or 10%

s h ap

remaining departments $72,351,039 or 45%

sheriff $58,825,870 or 37%

Treasurer $1,305,159 or 1%

surveyor $17,810 or 0%

2013 County Sales Tax revenue Budget & recent Trends Total Sales Tax $40,000,000

$ Adams County (unincorporated) 2,414,845 Arvada 153,670 Aurora 1,730,798 Bennett 60,646 Brighton 1,138,328 Commerce City 1,176,097 Federal Heights 293,177 Northglenn 984,547 Thornton 3,061,014 Westminster 1,698,070 $ 12,711,192 Total Distribution

$35,000,000 $30000,000 $ 25,000,000 $ 20,000,000 $ 15,000,000 $ 10,000,000 $ 90,000,000 $

5,000,000 2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013 Budget

Total Sales Tax by Component Transportation

$25,000,000

Open Space

Sales Tax rate for Unincorporated Adams County

Capital Facilities

$20,000,000

$15,000,000

$10,000,000

$ 5,000,000

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Adams County returns a portion of its Transportation Sales Tax revenue to the city where the tax was collected. The amount returned to each jurisdiction in 2012 (excludes Capital Facilities Sales Tax):

2012

2013 Budget

SCFD Sales Tax

0.10%

Adams County Open Space Sales Tax*

0.25%

Adams County Transportation (0.2%) & Capital Facilities (0.3%) Sales Tax

0.50%

RTD Sales Tax (west of Box Elder Creek)

1.00%

State Sales Tax

2.90% 4.75%

* Adams County also returns a portion of its Open Space Sales Tax revenue to the city where it is collected, see page 19.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Adams County Economic Development (ACED) is a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization whose mission is to attract and retain primary employers and jobs and grow the tax base in Adams County. For 30 years, ACED has served as the county’s economic development arm by helping new businesses relocate to the county and providing existing businesses with the support needed to grow and thrive. ACED accomplishes the objectives of its mission through its core competencies, which include: Prospect Development, Business Retention and Expansion Program, Enterprise Zone Administration, Comprehensive Real Estate Database, Incentive Packages, Research and Demographics, Trade Show and Industry Association Representation, Publications and Customized Reports and Economic Impact Studies. In 2012, Adams County was awarded the prestigious “Large Community of the Year Award” by the Economic Development Council of Colorado for its regional collaboration projects, major attraction efforts and targeted retention plans. ACED helped companies like Niagara Bottling, Oneida Cold Storage, Cummins Rocky Mountain and Intrex Aerospace relocate or expand to Adams County, resulting in 2,268 new jobs and $440 million in new capital investment.

marketing effort from all 11 economic development agencies in Adams County. In its inaugural year, the event brought together resources from 24 regional business resource providers, including small business development, financing, workforce, government contracting, utility, healthcare, state of Colorado and federal agencies to 140 attendees. This year’s event was held July 11, 2013. ACED continues to be a connector, catalyst and conveyor for the business community. Thanks to the Board of County Commissioners’ strong support, Adams County is positioned to be the leader in driving economic vitality and sustainable business growth. ASArCO redevelopment Aerial Map

ASArCO redevelopment Adams County and the City and County of Denver are working jointly with Enviro Finance Group on the remediation and redevelopment of the former Globe Plant located at 52nd Ave. and Washington St. At the end of the clean-up phase, this 78-acre urban infill site is expected to create up to 1 million square feet of commercial/industrial space and approximately 1,000 jobs. ACED played a critical role in the project and will help market the development to commercial and industrial users to bring jobs to Adams County. Adams County Connects Adams County Connects was an inaugural regional business resource event on Aug. 23, 2012 that targeted primary employers from across Adams County. The event was the first of its kind to include event planning and a joint

ELECTED OFFICIALS Gil rEYES, ASSESSOr

Budget: Budget: $3,963,964 or 2% of the General Fund The Colorado State Constitution creates the office of assessor for the purpose of “discovering, listing and valuing all property within their respective county.” The categories of property include residential, commercial, vacant land, industrial, agricultural, agribusiness, mining, oil and gas, possessory interest and business personal property. In Colorado, a reappraisal of all property is done in odd-numbered years. This year, the Adams County Assessor’s Office conducted a reappraisal of all property categories except those that are under the jurisdiction of the state. Examples of the state-assessed industries are telecommunications, railroads, airlines and public utilities. The market for residential properties is slowly recovering in Colorado. We have seen this recovery within Adams County; however, commercial and industrial growth continue to struggle due to the restrictive loan processes of the banking industry. The agricultural industry continues to be impacted by the statewide drought conditions, including eastern Adams County. The only industry in Adams County that continues to grow at a record pace is the oil and gas industry. The Niobrara oil and gas field extends from the Wyoming/Colorado border south to Elbert County. A vast portion of this field extends under Adams County, and the oil and gas industry is busy mapping out the location of the resource and acquiring drilling rights. The Adams County Assessor’s Office contracted with a third party vendor to map out and value all the oil and gas pipelines, along with oil and gas wells, storage tanks and other collateral equipment. The purpose of this was two-fold: (1) to ensure we had the correct information so the pipeline and equipment was properly valued and accounted for; (2) for safety concerns, we need to know where all pipeline is

buried. We will have the locations in GIS format and will provide the information to the Adams County Planning Department, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Adams County Emergency Management, the Colorado Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Department of Homeland Security. We continue to work with the Emergency Management staff to prepare for any potential disaster, whether natural or manmade. Our response team continues to participate in training exercises in preparation for a disaster.

KArEN lONG, ClErK & rECOrDEr Budget: Budget: $6,189,927 or 4% of the General Fund

Adams County Clerk & Recorder Karen Long and staff are dedicated to providing outstanding customer service to county residents and businesses in three vital departments: recording (including marriage and civil union licenses), motor vehicle titles and registrations and elections. The Clerk & Recorder’s Office provides extended office hours for your convenience: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays.

MOTOr vEHiClE TiTlES and rEGiSTrATiON

(Including title and registrations and marriage and civil union licenses)

720.523.6010, Fax 720.523.6011 www.adcogov.org/motorvehicle 2012 Accomplishments 744,648 title, registration and lien transactions 33,779 online renewals 778,427 transactions 350,140 walk-in customers Most vehicle registrations can be renewed online at www.colorado.gov/ renewplates or mailed to our main office in Brighton. As a convenience to Adams County residents and businesses, our motor vehicle offices now accept credit cards. In addition, we issue marriage and civil union licenses at our Motor Vehicle offices. MOTOr vEHiClE OFFiCES Aurora

3449 N. Chambers Rd.

Bennett

355 4th St. (Bennett Town Hall)

Brighton

4430 S. Adams County Pkwy., Suite E2100

Commerce City 4201 E. 72nd Ave. Westminster

8452 Federal Blvd. and 12200 Pecos St.

ElECTiONS rECOrDiNG

(Including marriage and civil union licenses)

4430 S. Adams County Pkwy. Suite E2400, Brighton, CO 720.523.6020, Fax 720.523.6009 www.adcogov.org/recording 2012 Accomplishments 55,797 eRecording documents 102,027 OTC recorded documents 2,141 marriage licenses issued 159.965 transactions 14,716 walk-in customers

4430 S. Adams County Pkwy. Suite E3102, Brighton, CO 720.523.6500, Fax 720.523.6266 www.adamscountyelections.org ADAMS COUNTY vOTEr rEGiSTrATiON STATiSTiCS (as of December 2012)

259,563 Total Registered Voters 181,247 Active Registered Voters 78,316 Inactive Registered Voters Affiliation Statistics 1.01% Minor Parties 25.34% Republican 37.44% Unaffiliated 36.21% Democrat

From mid-December 2011, through January 2012, the election’s staff spent hundreds of hours creating new precincts following the state’s redistricting and reapportionment. This once-per-decade responsibility ended just as the office began preparing for the busiest presidential election season in history. n

In the 2012 election, 95.27 percent of active voters voted.

Transactions in the statewide voter registration system increased more than 10,000 over the number of transactions in 2011.

35,382 voters registered to vote or updated an existing record by using the online voter registration system, www.govotecolorado.com. 137,418 (73.57 percent) of Adams County voters chose to receive their ballot by mail, rather than voting early or on Election Day.

The Clerk & Recorder and staff strive to serve customers with the utmost integrity and professionalism and look forward to serving you in the near future.

MONiCA BrONCUCiAJOrDAN, COrONEr Budget: Budget: $1,706,178 or 1% of the General Fund

The Coroner’s Office is mandated by the state of Colorado to investigate the manner and cause of death of all individuals who die within the jurisdiction of the office. The Coroner’s Office is an independent agency that works on behalf of the deceased to obtain the truth about the death. The coroner’s primary responsibilities include: n

Determining and certifying the manner (natural, accident, suicide, homicide or undetermined) and the cause of death (injury, disease, or combination of the two) responsible for the physiological disturbance that resulted in death.

Positively identifying the deceased.

Identifying the deceased’s legal nextof-kin and notifying the next-of-kin of the death. Securing the deceased’s property for return to the deceased’s legal next-of-kin.

Contrary to popular belief, forensic autopsies are not performed on every deceased individual. Autopsies are an investigative tool; they are performed as required by Colorado law and in accordance with national forensic standards of practice. CASElOAD

(includes both Adams & Broomfield Counties) YEAR DEATHS AUTOPSIES ExPENDITURES

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

2575 2996 2913 3033 3128 3200

349 386 234 245 458 447

1,258,594 1,447,766 $ 1,378,657 $ 1,225,603 $ 1,348,302 $ 1,369,240 $

COMMUNiTY OUTrEACH The Coroner’s Office staff continues to make community outreach and education a priority. The staff provides death investigation training and instruction to community professionals and organizations. The office offers college internship opportunities and delivers presentations at numerous schools, ranging from elementary through university level. Staff is also involved in multiple community outreach events throughout the year, including Operation Free-Bird, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Donor Dash and various education/career expos. For more information on the Coroner’s Office, please visit us on the county website: www.adcogov.org.

STAFF 2013 marks the third year the Coroner’s Office has operated under the administration of Coroner Broncucia-Jordan. The office has a relatively small staff; in addition to the coroner, the office employs 12 individuals, including management personnel, clerical personnel, pathology personnel and a staff of eight death investigators. The death investigators are responsible for responding to and investigating death scenes. Investigative staff is scheduled to cover 24 hours a day—every day of the year—typically resulting in only one or two investigators working simultaneously at any given time. Also, the office’s new Volunteer Survivor Advocate program provides additional support and resources to the bereaved. BrOOMFiElD Through an intergovernmental agreement, the Coroner’s Office also serves the City and County of Broomfield (Adams and Broomfield counties share the 17th Judicial District). This agreement generates additional revenue for Adams County and provides the City and County of Broomfield with a vital service.

DAvE YOUNG, DiSTriCT ATTOrNEY Budget: Budget: $15,390,118 or 10% of the General Fund

The mission of the District Attorney’s Office is to pursue justice through the fair and ethical prosecution of criminal offenders; to seek justice for victims of crime; and to create a safer community for all citizens. Our dedicated and hard-working prosecutors and staff strive toward these goals every single day. CriMiNAl PrOSECUTiON, CASElOADS AND TriAlS Each year, the District Attorney’s Office prosecutes more felony jury trials per attorney than any other jurisdiction in the state. Among district attorneys offices in the metro area, we ranked first for the number of county court trials (204) and fourth for the number of felony trials (127) prosecuted in 2012, while ranking fifth for the number of attorneys in our office (60). In 2012, we filed 3,757 felony cases and 36,959 misdemeanor and traffic cases. The felony cases included 13 first-degree murder cases, two vehicular homicide cases and 62 attempted murder cases. We filed 369 felony assault cases, 45 sexual assault and attempted sexual assault cases, 193 sexual offenses on children, 332 burglary cases, 51 aggravated robberies, 11

16 attempted aggravated robberies, 297 theft and 277 identity theft cases. Our office also prosecuted 605 juvenile cases in 2012. This year, we began sending a prosecutor to the scene of all homicide cases to work with law enforcement during the investigative stage of the case. We believe that having the prosecutor involved at the beginning of the case strengthens our prosecution of homicide cases and helps ensure that we have what we need to prove the case at trial. With the increased use of wiretaps and the steady volume of complex drug cases, the office recently added a drug prosecutor to the staff who will coordinate drug cases and work closely with the North Metro Task Force. Our office has established a drug court and mental health court with special probation programs to work with offenders to reduce recidivism by helping them obtain the treatment and services they need. We plan to establish a similar veteran’s court to offer similar services to veterans who commit crimes. Another goal for the coming year is to establish a specialized economic crime unit to handle white-collar crime and consumer fraud. CriME PrEvENTiON We continue to be tough on crime and smart on crime. The best public safety strategy is to prevent crime from occurring. Knowledge gives power and control to our citizens over would-be criminals. Our Fraud Prevention program provides information and tools to Adams County citizens—primarily seniors—to minimize their risk of becoming victims. Throughout 2012, we gave presentations to various community and professional groups in Adams County about consumer fraud and identity theft. These presentations remain an important focus of our office. The DA’s Office will offer its first annual Citizen’s Academy this fall to educate the public about the legal process and the work we do. The DA’s Office is a founding partner of the Adams County Youth Initiative (ACYI). ACYI is a countywide collaboration of

organizations, governmental entities and individuals committed to decreasing delinquency and substance use among the county’s youth, while increasing high school graduation rates. The Diversion Program is another prevention effort of the DA’s Office. Diversion works with first-time juvenile and adult non-violent offenders by providing supervision and counseling to repay victims and prevent future crime. The 17th Judicial District is one of only three jurisdictions in the state to offer an adult diversion program and has done so for 34 years. In 2012, participants in the Diversion Program paid $69,175 in restitution and performed 4,207 hours of useful public service. viCTiM WiTNESS SErviCES UNiT The District Attorney’s Office is committed to obtaining justice for victims of crime. This commitment is demonstrated through the work of our Victim Witness Services Unit. In 2012, our advocates and volunteers assisted more than 26,000 victims and witnesses through the criminal justice process. Victims are treated with dignity and respect as we help them during a difficult time in their lives. For years, we have offered specialized services to child victims. Two years ago, a pilot program was begun to better serve adult and adolescent sex assault victims. In 2012, the guidelines for the 17th Judicial District Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) were finalized and are now being implemented. SART was formed to ensure that sexual assault cases are investigated and prosecuted with consistency and respect for victims by law enforcement, prosecutors, medical and human service providers and victim advocates. The goal of the SART program is to prevent sexual assault victims from being re-traumatized by the legal process and to combat the stigma of sexual assault through education of the public. The Crime Victims Compensation program served 1,921 victims in 2012, providing $1,670,639 in financial compensation. In addition, the Victim Assistance and Law Enforcement (VALE) grant program provided $1,367,495 to 33 agencies that provide services to crime victims in the 17th Judicial District.

iNFOrMATiON TECHNOlOGY AND PUBliC iNFOrMATiON A major focus of our office in 2012 was the implementation of a new case management system (JustWare) that interfaces with the state’s judicial information sharing system (CICJIS) as well as our electronic document and evidence management system. We converted the out-of-date electronic document management system in Broomfield to allow for central management of all case-related information. We continue to convert paper files to electronic files and increase the amount of information we receive electronically from law enforcement agencies, which streamlines the process of filing and prosecuting cases. In the future, our IT system will allow attorneys access to all case-related information directly from Justice Center courtrooms, which will greatly increase the productivity of deputy district attorneys and support staff. Our IT personnel continue to provide security for the information we are required by statute to keep confidential. We also provide support for our prosecutors in the courtroom, helping to improve the presentation of our cases to judges and juries. We are redesigning and expanding our website to contain more useful information to the public and have also established a Facebook and Twitter presence so members of the public can stay in touch more closely with the work we do. We encourage citizens to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to receive consumer fraud alerts, news and updates from our office. facebook.com/17thJudicialDistrictAttorney Twitter: @da17colorado

We are fortunate to have a talented and dedicated staff working for the residents of Adams and Broomfield counties. We look forward to continuing to serve the people of our community with tough and fair prosecutions, along with smart crime prevention programs and partnerships with law enforcement and community groups to make our communities safer places in which to live. www.adamsbroomfieldda.org

DOUG DArr, SHEriFF Budget: Budget: $58,825,870 or 37% of the General Fund

The year 2012 was one of the most challenging years yet for the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Previous budget cuts and staff reductions resulted in the closure of several jail housing units and 192 fewer active beds. It became necessary to limit space for the lowest level non-violent municipal offenders while continuing to hold more serious and violent inmates who may pose a risk to our communities and children. The Board of County Commissioners restored 13 of the positions in an effort to provide some relief (i.e. the staffing necessary for jail operations). Realistically, it will take nearly 18 months to recover and fully restore operations. In the meantime, Adams County criminal justice agencies will be involved in the implementation of an Evidence-Based Rick Assessment project to determine which offenders should be in the jail and which ones can be safely supervised in the community. CriME DOWN iN ADAMS COUNTY The Colorado Crime Information Center reported an additional three percent reduction in crime in unincorporated Adams County for 2012. It is more effective to reduce and prevent crime than to simply react to it. Since 2003, proactive/aggressive community policing strategies have helped reduce crime by more than 48 percent in our local neighborhoods. We’ve worked hard to make Adams County a safer and healthier place to work, live and raise a family. CiTizENS’ ACADEMY The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is proud to include a Citizens’ Academy program to its menu of community services. Designed to familiarize the citizens of Adams County with their Sheriff’s Office, the Citizens’ Academy provides an inside look at several key Sheriff’s Office functions, including the Bomb Squad, SWAT, K-9 Unit, Firearms Training, Crime Lab, Posse, Search and Rescue and Dispatch. Come join us for the next Citizens Academy!

FlATrOCK TrAiNiNG CENTEr After 11 years we are in the final stages of building a state-of-the-art regional law enforcement training center—the first of its kind in Colorado. The facility, known as Flatrock, will provide numerous local, state and federal law enforcement agencies with all the features necessary for quality instruction, including firearms training, emergency vehicle operations, defensive tactics and academics. It will be the new home of the Adams County law enforcement training academy. With the new center, law enforcement officers will be able to better prepare for the variety of challenges faced each and every day in the defense of our communities. FOrENSiC OPErATiONS We are in the initial stages of an expansion of forensic operations within the Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab. In addition to DNA science, operations will include several fields of investigative experts, including ballistics and tool-marking examinations, computer forensics, fingerprinting analysis, digital photography, handwriting analysis, drug testing/identification and chemical/ bomb analysis. Many serious criminal investigations have been resolved through use of these sophisticated scientific technologies. These services must be available for crime fighting in Adams County. COMMUNiTY OUTrEACH Over the years, the Sheriff’s Office has had the pleasure of participating in many community events. These include: n

Operation Free Bird - the Sheriff’s Office teams up with local businesses to help families in need during the holidays

Colorado Special Olympics - the Sheriff’s Office raises money for the Special Olympics by fundraisers such

Aurora Citation Award

as Tip-A-Cop, the Polar Plunge, and the Torch Run n

Senior Fishing Festival – the Sheriff’s Office volunteers host a senior fishing event at the Adams County Fairgrounds

Cops Fighting Cancer – Sheriff’s Office staff, along with other law enforcement agencies, team up to visit and provide gifts to children at Children’s Hospital during the holidays

Christmas Crusade –the Sheriff’s Office partners with KYGO Radio Station to provide Christmas gifts for children.

We are truly honored to be a part of these and many more community events every year. POST ACADEMiES Each year, the Sheriff’s Office conducts two Adams County Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) academies. Instructors provide education and training for cadets with Aims Community College as well. Both operations have been exceptionally successful; many graduates now serve as Adams County deputies. We would like you to know that we are committed to citizen safety and satisfaction while building the trust and confidence of the people we serve. Don’t forget to visit our website; www.apps.adcogov.org/sheriff/ and our social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

Operation Free Bird

TiM THOMS, SUrvEYOr Budget: Budget: $17,810 or .0% of the General Fund

The Adams County Surveyor, when authorized by the Board of County Commissioners, conducts surveys as necessary.

BriGiTTE GriMM, TrEASUrEr Budget: Budget: $1,305,159 or 1% of the General Fund

The primary responsibilities of the Treasurer’s Office include: n

Providing annual tax notices;

Collecting property tax;

Distributing tax revenues to over 300 underlying authorities (cities, schools, fire, water and special districts);

Investing tax dollars on behalf of Adams County.

iNTErEST EArNED Continued concerns relating to the sluggish economic recovery, sequestration, high unemployment, and the European fiscal crisis are a few of the many issues in 2012 that contributed to a challenging investment environment. Despite these issues, Adams County interest earnings for all county funds in 2012 was approximately $1.8 million— exceeding the forecast by over $300,000. iNTErNET TAx liEN SAlES Every November, an internet auction is used to take unpaid real estate and mobile home property taxes to a tax lien sale. Through this process, $3,565,531.81 of unpaid 2011 taxes (payable in 2012) was collected. This amount represents nearly one percent of the total property tax revenue. Premiums paid by the investors totaled $205,494. The next internet tax lien sale for 2012 taxes (payable in 2013) starts Oct. 9, 2013. Details of the sale can be found on our website at www.adcogov.org. If interested in 14

becoming an investor, or if you want to take advantage of our next free investor web training seminar, call 720.523.6160. FrEE FEDErAl and STATE iNCOME TAx PrEPArATiON PrOGrAM The Adams County Treasurer’s Office proudly sponsors a free Federal and State Income Tax Preparation program that continues to draw increased participation. Our tax program is offered to individuals and families with incomes of $50,000 or less. Working collectively with the IRS and the state of Colorado, our certified volunteers offered over 4,000 hours of tax services and prepared over 5,000 federal and state tax returns in 2013. Hundreds were assisted in areas other than income tax filings, and thousands of telephone inquiries were handled regarding tax returns. The Treasurer’s Office implemented electronic filing, which speeds up processing and avoids delays in transmitting. For those unable to wait in line, we recently provided locations to drop off tax paperwork and pick up completed returns at a later date. Please visit our website for times and locations for the 2013 tax program or call 720.523.6163 if you are interested in becoming a certified tax preparer. The best part—there is no cost to the volunteer to participate in this program. CONTiNUOUS CYClE of iMPrOvEMENT The Treasurer’s Office is in a continuous cycle of improvement with transparency, process, accountability, innovation and customer service. We extended operational hours to 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. (from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.), resulting in an additional 7.5 hours of service every week. We are happy to report this added convenience came at no additional cost, and we have received positive feedback to maintain the new hours. Our commitment to serving our citizens is always our top priority. We encourage and welcome input on how we can continue to serve you better. Please email us at treasurer@adcogov.org or call 720.523.6160 to share your ideas. “It has been my pleasure to serve you and I look forward to an exciting year of unprecedented progress.” – Brigitte Grimm, Adams County Treasurer

The Treasurer’s Office is dedicated to providing a new government experience in three essential ways—accountability, innovative technology and service without boundaries. here are a few of the exciting new projects we have been diligently working on in the past year: “NEW” rEAl TiME rESUlTS We offer taxpayers several convenient options to pay their property taxes—payments by mail, by phone and online. The cost-effective online and phone services are used by thousands of taxpayers every year and continue to increase in popularity as they reduce time, effort and expense for both the taxpayer and the Treasurer’s Office. Effective this fall, all activity will reflect “real time” results. That means taxpayers will no longer have to wait two days to confirm payment has processed. Once payment has been submitted, taxpayers will have the option to view the payment and print a receipt. This will save time and money for both the citizen and the Treasurer’s Office. Of course, we always welcome citizens to come to our office to pay in person. We have a few new faces that look forward to serving you. Treasurer Brigitte grimm says, “When you are here, please ask to see me. i always enjoy meeting and visiting with the citizens of adams County.” “NEW” WEBSiTE and SOFTWArE august 2013 marks the launch date for our new website and software. These upgrades offer unprecedented self-serve options and access to many new services. Brigitte grimm maintains that aligning with the needs of citizens must be a top priority. she states, “Today, citizens expect online access, accuracy and transparency. 2013 is the year we are able to make those expectations a reality, and we are very excited about it,” “NEW” ElECTrONiC STATEMENTS Electronic statements will be available for 2014 taxes, payable in 2015. This option will save adams County tens of thousands of dollars annually in paper and postage. By taking advantage of this secure option, we look forward to providing taxpayers additional flexibility by ensuring receipt of tax notices regardless of location. Military families and businesses are especially interested in this option. “NEW” SOCiAl MEDiA social Media is new to the Treasurer’s Office this year. This tool allows us to provide you with vital information related to mailing dates, legislative changes (e.g. senior exemption), due dates, payment options and more. The Treasurer’s Office has recently been added to the adams County Facebook page, so please be sure to “like” us at facebook.com/adamscountygov to ensure you receive all of our updates. Later this year, we will introduce additional social media options.

We would love to hear from you. If you have ideas about what you would like to see posted, please call us at 720.523.6160 or email treasurer@adcogov.org.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT In June 2012, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the Emergency Management staff moved from the Sheriff’s Substation in Commerce City to the new Government Center in Brighton, which brought new efficiencies and increased opportunities for coordinating and partnering with other county employees who provide essential services to county residents. The new Adams County EOC, which opened in July 2012, is the disaster support and coordination center for the county. The relocation and technological improvements in the new EOC were funded by a 2011 FEMA grant, along with funding from the Board of County Commissioners and tremendous support from the county Information Technology Department, Facility Operations and the Planning Department. Since the EOC’s opening, Emergency Management has held over 30 disaster exercises, drills, trainings and workshops. Last fall, the county participated in the Regional Tornado Exercise “Operation Vortex,” which included numerous local responders from the metro area, multiple municipalities, neighboring counties and the state Emergency Operations Center. The Office of Emergency Management and the county are working hard to prepare for the unexpected and you should, too. Individual preparedness means taking responsibility for yourself, your family and your business by knowing your local hazards and taking steps to make a plan and build an emergency kit.

rEGiSTEr YOUr CEll PHONE WiTH THE FirSTCAll EMErGENCY NOTiFiCATiON SYSTEM—BE PrEPArED! In an emergency situation, the Adams County Communications Center (ADCOM911) may send out an emergency notification to your cell phone or land line phone. This ADCOM FirstCall notification system covers land line phones within the jurisdictions of Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn and unincorporated Adams County. Alerts can also be sent to cell phones within the county, but individuals must register their cell phone numbers.

FRONT RANGE AIRPORT and SPACEPORT COLORADO Front Range Airport is a key part of Adams County’s infrastructure—not only because of the services it provides today as a successful regional airport, but also because of its future potential. Front Range Airport is on the path to becoming Spaceport Colorado: America’s Hub for Commercial Space Transportation, Research and Development. Adams County has invested $21.5 million in Front Range Airport. For every $1 invested by the county, other public and private entities invested $5.23 in the airport. The largest single investor is the Federal Aviation Administration, who has contributed over $51.6 million, followed by the private sector with $34.3 million. All together, Front Range Airport is valued at over $300 million today. A spaceport in Colorado? Sounds fantastical, but it’s true. Innovative planning at Front Range Airport has leveraged millions of dollars that have been invested in the necessary infrastructure. Front Range Airport is in the ideal location for such an enterprise; it is conveniently located in the northeast quadrant of the Denver metro area, which is projected to be the largest area of growth in the metropolitan area. In fact, employment in the district is expected to grow twice as fast as the total Denver metro area between now and 2025. Additionally, Denver International Airport is only six miles to the northwest, making the connection between DIA and Front Range Airport or Spaceport Colorado a mere 18 minutes. How can a spaceport that is only six miles from the world’s 13th busiest airport succeed? Spaceport Colorado will attract research and development companies, aerospace manufacturing businesses, support industries, investors, educational partners and future space passengers. DIA will serve as a convenient method of accessing Spaceport Colorado, providing regional, national and international access. Because of the close proximity of DIA and Spaceport Colorado, airspace collaboration will be key between the two airports and the FAA to support space flight operations at Spaceport Colorado. Adams County has a successful track record of working together with the FAA, and the county is committed to finding innovative solutions that keep DIA operating as one of the world’s premier airports as we develop Spaceport Colorado into one of the world’s premier spaceports.

To register a cell phone for the ADCOM911 FirstCall system, visit alertregistration.com/adamscountyco/. Some of the emergency notifications you might receive include: n n n

Amber alerts for missing children Evacuations or shelter-in-place Hazardous materials spills

n n n

Hostage situations Major structural fires Natural disasters

The following jurisdictions support their own notification systems: Arvada, Aurora, Federal Heights, Thornton and Westminster. Please visit each city’s website for more information.

HOUSING AUTHORITY The Adams County Housing Authority (ACHA) addresses the housing needs of Adams County residents through the provision of affordable housing units and other housing services, such as housing counseling and rent and utility assistance. ACHA continues to change with the times, increasing and adapting services to help those affected by the slow economic recovery. 2012 Program Highlights ACHA served more than 15,600 county residents through its housing services, including providing homes for more than 5,000 individuals through the Housing Choice Voucher program and more than 1,500 households at ACHA-owned and managed properties. ACHA also partnered with other agencies to provide an additional 1,194 affordable homes in the county. While ACHA offers a large number of affordable units, there has been an increased demand for services. To meet the growing needs, ACHA continues to pursue new construction development opportunities for affordable housing and the acquisition of existing apartment communities for conversion into affordable housing. In late spring 2012, ACHA purchased Village at Yorkshire, adding 200 units to its portfolio of 13 properties. This property will undergo substantial rehabilitation. New large-scale development projects include Westminster Station—a 68-unit property for senior and disabled residents adjacent to the future rail station near 71st Ave. and Federal Blvd. in Westminster. ACHA is pursuing diverse funding sources to make this project a reality. ACHA’s Housing Counseling department served more than 2,000 households through foreclosure prevention, homeownership and rent and utility workshops, and individual follow-up meetings with counselors. While the rate of foreclosures has decreased in the county, ACHA is still seeing many households struggling with finances and in need of assistance. Homeowners who

are currently facing financial difficulties, are in imminent default or in foreclosure can get free professional assistance from a HUD-approved housing counselor to explore different options to keep their house. This includes applying for a loan modification to cure the loan or taking advantage of many refinancing vehicles, thereby reducing their mortgage payment. To schedule a one-on-one session, please call our Counseling Services Hotline at 303.227.2719 or visit our website at www.adamscountyhousing.com to enroll in one of the foreclosure prevention seminars. Expanding Partnerships ACHA is expanding partnerships with Adams County Human Services, along with for-profit and non-profit organizations. The Blue Ribbon Commission to Address Homelessness brings together elected officials (commissioners, mayors, district attorney and law enforcement), schools, county and state staff and key partners from the business and faith community to develop a plan to alleviate homelessness in Adams County.

HUMAN SERVICES The Adams County Human Services Department works to protect children and at-risk adults; administer cash, food and medical assistance benefits to eligible Adams County citizens; and ensure that children receive financial and medical support. The department is committed to building strong communities by promoting the safety, independence and stability of individuals and families. It has a responsibility to serve the Adams County community with integrity and innovation. PUBliC ASSiSTANCE and ADUlT SErviCES Adult Protective Services Adult Protective Services receives and investigates reports of mistreatment and self-neglect of at-risk adults who are unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect or exploitation. In 2012, Adult Protective Services received an average of 62 adult

protection referrals and managed 120 cases per month. To report suspected adult maltreatment call 303.227.2348 Adult Financial Programs Public assistance grants are available for individuals who meet income and resource guidelines. Programs include Aid to the Blind, Aid to the Needy Disabled, Burial Assistance, Home Care Allowance, Old Age Pension and Supplemental Security Income. In 2012, Human Services processed 3,399 new applications and managed 2,576 open cases per month, resulting in the distribution of $11,030,880 in benefits to Adams County’s needy adults—a six percent increase over 2011. Call 303.227.2348 for more information. Adult Medical Assistance Medical Assistance is available to eligible adults through various Medicaid-based programs. These include Home- and Community-Based Services, Spousal Impoverishment, Nursing Facilities and Supplemental Security Income, as well as through the Old Age Pension Health and Medical Care Program. During 2012, Adams County had a monthly average of 9,300 Adult Medical Assistance Only cases, representing an eight percent increase over 2011. Call 303.227.2348 for more information. Family Medicaid and Children’s Health Plan Plus (CHP+) Family Medicaid is a public health benefit program for families, children and pregnant women who meet program and income guidelines. The Colorado Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) provides medical and dental coverage for eligible children age 18 and under who do not qualify for Medicaid. The department maintained an average Family Medicaid monthly caseload of 22,287—a 5.5 percent increase over 2011. Call 303.237.2334 for more information. Child Support Enforcement Program Child Support Enforcement collections, which are distributed to custodial parents to help support their children, continued to increase in 2012, exceeding $31.6 million. Services are available to citizens with dependent children for a $20 application

fee, which is waived for those receiving public assistance. Food Assistance (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP) Food Assistance helps low-income households with monthly food benefits, supplementing the household’s nutritional needs for the month. During 2012, we served on average 22,411 households each month—an increase of 10 percent from 2011. Over 24,528 households applied and 43,000 reapplied for assistance, with over $93 million in benefits distributed to Adams County households in 2012. Call 303.237.2350 for more information. Colorado Works/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides cash assistance to needy families and administers programs designed to prevent dependence on government benefits. These programs include job training, out-of-wedlock and teen pregnancy prevention, job retention and in-home supportive services to help stabilize child only/kinship families. TANF also supports the local domestic violence shelter and housing agencies. In 2012, 4,450 new applications were processed and a monthly average of 1,055 cases received TANF Basic Cash Assistance. In addition, 3,138 families were served in core case management programs, including TANF Basic Cash Assistance, post-TANF and the CHOICES vocational training program. TANF can make a big difference in people’s lives. Call 303.227.2332 for more information. low-income Energy Assistance Program (lEAP) This program provides financial assistance to low-income households that meet eligibility guidelines to help pay part of their winter home heating costs. Applications are accepted from Nov. 1 through April 30. LEAP also assists with home heating system repairs. In the winter of 2012/13, LEAP assisted over 10,626 Adams County households. Call 303.227.2378 for more information.

Workforce & Business Center The Adams County Workforce and Business Center builds valuable community partnerships to match employers with job seekers, provide career and training opportunities and ensure a job-ready workforce now and in the future. Classes and workshops include career coaching and computer tutorials. The Workforce Center is committed to assist each job seeker in developing a customized career path. Scholarships are available to eligible adult and youth participants for training and education to build job skills. In 2012, the center served over 55,000 customers and 560 businesses. Call 720.523.6900 for more information. Head Start Head Start is a federally funded program that provides comprehensive early childhood education services to preschool-aged children in low-income families living in Adams County. During the 2012–13 school year, 632 children ages three to five and their families received high-quality services through Adams County Head Start. In the fall of 2013, 354 of these students will transition to kindergarten better prepared for academic success. Transitioning families are equipped with the tools needed to advocate for their child’s education and to be better connected to their communities. Call 303.286.4141 for more information. veterans’ Service Office The Veterans’ Service Office assists veterans, surviving spouses and dependent children in filing claims through the Veterans’ Administration. It also aids in the appeals process through the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. In 2012, the office assisted 2,500 veterans and their families and helped generate $6.3 million in VA benefits. Call 303.227.2107 for more information.

“After being laid off after years of steady work, my family and I were worried about getting evicted and how we would meet other expenses. TANF helped me with transportation and housing expenses and the CHOICES program paid for truck driving school. I’m driving a truck now and my wife is getting training through CHOICES as well. I’m so glad we have programs like this.” —TANF program participant

“Thank you with all my heart for the training, encouragement, support and help given me over the past five plus years in my effort to find permanent employment. Last month, I got my dream job with a fantastic group of people and I couldn’t be happier. Thank you for all you did to take my family out of the realm of jobless to employed. We honestly couldn’t have done it without all of you!” —Workforce Center client

“I want to thank you once again for all your assistance. I cannot believe how swiftly we heard back after you stepped in. My mother and I are so grateful. Going to the VA government center cost my mother long delays and tons of stress. With your help, she will now be able to keep her home and the memories that she and my father shared there. Thank you. If we had not come to you, I know that mom would never have received any monetary payments. Your honesty and generous assistance are gratefully appreciated.” —One grateful family, who through assistance from the Veterans’ Service Office, was able to obtain $1,500 in monthly benefits.

CHilDrEN and FAMilY SErviCES In 2012, Children and Family Services received 8,943 reports of child abuse and neglect involving 12,597 children. The division completed 3,553 child abuse and neglect assessments involving over 6,840 children. Child welfare services, including case management, out-ofhome placement and in-home services, were provided to over 1,200 children and their families. Caseworkers completed 19,271 face-to-face contacts with children and parents. Over 121 Adams County foster homes provided out-ofhome care for an average of 242 children who had experienced abuse or neglect. In 2012, 95 percent of the children whose cases closed during the year achieved permanency. Of those children, 471 (48.7 percent) remained in their home, 132 (13.6 percent) were returned home, 208 (21.5 percent) were placed with relatives, 109 (11.3 percent) were adopted, 27 (2.8 percent) were emancipated and 21 (2.1 percent) ran away or were incarcerated. The division has improved services by: n

Establishing a new partnership with the Community Reach Mental Health Center and Mountain Land Pediatrics to provide timely medical and mental health assessments for children in foster or kinship care. The goal is to ensure these children have access to medical and mental health care.

Implementing a program called KEEP that avoids the unnecessary removal of children from their families by providing up-front immediate services during crises and support of parents and children when children are returned to their families.

Creating a Benefit Navigator position that will provide direct and timelier services to clients eligible for Temporary Aid to Needy Families and other services to meet basic needs.

CHilDrEN NEEDiNG FOrEvEr HOMES On any given day, there are approximately 25 Adams County children who are legally freed for adoption and still in need of adoptive families. They have been abused or neglected and therefore have experienced trauma and loss in their young lives. Most require therapy or individual education plans to address their special needs. The children profiled below are representative of those who wait. While awaiting adoption at the time of publication, some may have since found their forever family. Alyciana, 12 Alyciana wants an adoptive family who is active and will allow her to participate in activities. She likes shopping, swimming, dancing and listening to Justin Bieber and One Direction music. Alyciana enjoys individual attention from adults. She would benefit from an adoptive family who could help her trust and allow her to express herself. Alyciana would benefit from clear expectations and choices to feel some control in her life. Her adoptive parents should be skilled at avoiding power struggles. Jovan, 12 Jovan is an active guy with many interests. He enjoys camping, fishing and riding his bike and scooter. He also likes books, puzzles and video games. Jovan has a large collection of Star Wars action figures that he values. He is bright and likes to learn. He is independent and enjoys being a leader. Jovan requires structure and consistency and a high level of supervision. Jovan would benefit from having a patient, loving adoptive family who would give him a lot of individual attention. He would do best in a home with no other children or just one older child.

Twillil, 12 Twillil is an enthusiastic boy full of positive energy. He enjoys playing with cars, dinosaur figures and stuffed animals. Twillil would benefit from a patient, confident adoptive parent who could set appropriate limits. He needs a lot of individual attention to help him understand and accomplish tasks on his developmental level. He needs concrete help and instructions to gain skills and confidence to act independently. Twillil does better with peers or older children, and would do best with no younger siblings in the home. zachary, 13 Zachary is a sweet boy with a bright smile. He is skilled at taking things apart and rebuilding them. Zach is a good helper around the house. At school Zach receives support to help him reach his potential. He should have a highly skilled adoptive family willing to manage his needs and help him with his coping skills. His adoptive parents should be able to provide Zach a high level of supervision. It would be best for Zach to be the only child or the younger child with just one older sibling in his adoptive family. Could you be the adoptive parent for any of these children? Call 303.412.5118 to learn about the adoption process. visit the adoption page at www.adcogov.org to see our new Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gallery featuring our waiting children.

OPEN SPACE SALES TAX REPORT 2012

Dear Citizens, The Open Space Advisory Board is proud to announce another successful year of funding open space, parks and trails projects. Since the last Report to the Public in the summer of 2012, the Open Space program has distributed an additional $3.3 million in collected sales tax directly back to Adams County jurisdictions for use in their parks and open space departments. The rest of the collected fundsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;nearly $7.4 millionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;were distributed through our grant program. During the fall 2012 and spring 2013 grant cycles, the Open Space program received 32 grant applications. The Open Space Advisory Board recommended full funding of 31 of the projects to the Adams County Board of Commissioners, for a total additional investment in open space, parks, and trails of just under $7.4 million. Projects included 26 acres of passive land purchases (land that is not designated to become a recreational park) and purchases of almost 128 acres of land for future parks, including 102 acres for a large community park in northern Commerce City. These grant-funded projects included playground and park renovations in Strasburg, Northglenn, Brighton, Thornton and unincorporated Adams County; trail development in Westminster and Aurora; planning projects in Aurora and Bennett; and environmental education opportunities at Barr Lake State Park. For the last year, the Open Space Advisory Board and Open Space staff have been working to revise the policies and procedures that govern the entire Open Space program. The current policies and procedures are approximately five years old and, while they still provide valuable guidance for the program, there were some issues that needed to be addressed. The entire process has been guided by the principles of transparency and consensus building. We have adhered to these principals by including all of our stakeholders (jurisdictions and organizations that receive funding from the program) in the discussions of how to improve the policies and procedures. This has included staff discussions with all of these organizations individually, a survey of issues sent to all stakeholders, including the Open Space Advisory Board members, and subcommittees formed to address particularly controversial or complex issues. The new policies and procedures document when adopted, will provide additional guidance and clarification to make the program even better. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every citizen of Adams County for their continued support of the Open Space program. By continuing to shop and spend in Adams County, you support all the wonderful projects throughout the county. Thanks to the citizens of Adams County, 2012 was a spectacular year, bringing in almost $11 million for open space, parks and trails. With summer in full swing, we encourage you to explore your local parks and open spaces. Please look for our Open Space sign that designates project funding. Hopefully, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see you out there! Gloria Rudden, Chair Adams County Open Space Advisory Board

Tanglewood Creek regional Trail 20

Open Space Advisory Board

Front: Merle Menin (representing City of Arvada), Edwin Hickel (Unincorporated), Chair Gloria rudden (Unincorporated), Susan Worth (Unincorporated), John Strider (City of Brighton), vice Chair Christy Dowling (Unincorporated). Back: Scott Jaquith (City of Commerce City).

2012 Open Space Sales Tax Funds Distribution

Trail Construction & renovation 3%

(30 percent of funds) Arvada

40,989.29

Aurora

460,649.29

Bennett

16,138.26

Brighton

302,988.83

Commerce City

312,686.52

Federal Heights

78,005.42

Northglenn

261,989.78

Thornton

814,781.95

Westminster

451,915.79

Uninc. Adams County TOTAl

642,614.73 $

3,382,759.86

The Open Space Sales Tax was approved by Adams County voters in 1999. The sales tax is Âź of one percent, or 25 cents on every $100 purchase and is authorized through 2026. Proceeds from the sales tax benefit parks, recreation and open space projects countywide. Funds are distributed in three ways: n n

Two percent is allocated to administration costs 30 percent is distributed back to the jurisdiction where the tax was generated 68 percent is awarded through a competitive grant program

Open Space Maintenance & restoration 4%

Other 9% recreation Center renovations 25%

land Acquisition 17%

Park Construction & renovation 39% Planning & Design 3%

The Open Space Advisory Board, a seven-member board appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, reviews all grant applications and makes recommendations for funding to the commissioners. The Board of County Commissioners makes the final decision on all grant applications. To date, the Open Space Sales Tax has generated over $108 million for parks, recreation and open space projects throughout Adams County. The Open Space Advisory Board meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the Adams County Regional Park and Fairgrounds. For more information, please visit our website at www.adcogov.org or call 303.637.8039. 21

2012 OPEN SPACE SAlES AUrOrA TAx GrANT DiSTriBUTiON Star K ranch Trailhead Education (68 percent of funds) Mary Ann Bonnell, 303.859.8911 Project Summary: The city of Aurora will From fall 2012 to spring create a kiosk to educate and orient visitors 2013, the Open Space and users of the Star K Ranch, Sand Creek Sales Tax program allocated Regional Greenway and the High Line Canal Trail. Star K Ranch is located at $7,392,359.79 to the 16002 E. Smith Rd. following projects: Grant Award: $5,000 ADAMS COUNTY 88th Avenue Open Space restoration and recreation Development Marc Pedrucci, 303.637.8014 Project Summary: Adams County plans to restore and enhance habitat areas and develop recreational amenities on this 220-acre property located at 9500 Riverdale Rd. (near 88th Ave. and Colorado Blvd.). A trailhead parking lot, restroom, picnic shelters, fishing access improvements, trails and educational and interpretive signage will be constructed on site. Grant Award: $700,000 rotella Park Master Plan improvements Marc Pedrucci, 303.637.8014 Project Summary: Adams County plans to improve Rotella Park, located near York Street and Coronado Parkway South. This project includes a new parking lot with lighting, drainage and irrigation improvements, picnic shelters, a restroom enclosure on the west side of the park, playground equipment, landscaping, signage and site furnishings. Grant Award: $600,000

Star K Connection Tracy Young, 303.739.7166 Project Summary: The city of Aurora will construct a soft surface trail and colored concrete low water crossing to connect the High Line Canal Trail (a regional trail) to the Sand Creek Regional Greenway Trail (south of the Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, located at 16002 E. Smith Rd.). Grant Award: $160,000 Sand Creek improvements Tracy Young, 303.739.7166 Project Summary: The city of Aurora will make improvements to the ponds at Sand Creek Park, located at 2700 North Peoria St., just north of the Fitzsimons campus. Enhancements include providing a liner so the ponds will hold water, providing edge plantings, and installing an improved circulation system. Grant Award: $425,000

Star K ranch Buffer Site restoration Pat Schuler, 303.326.8947 Project Summary: The city of Aurora will re-seed and restore the recently purchased 34.162-acre buffer property adjacent to the Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, located at 16002 E. Smith Rd. Grant Award: $83,795 Montview Park renovation Planning & Design Tracy Young, 303.739.7166 Project Summary: The city of Aurora will complete the planning and redesign of Montview Park, located at 1901 N. Chester St. A concurrent project, the Westerly Creek Flood Mitigation Project, will enlarge the creek channel and have significant impact on the recreational amenities at the park. Grant Award: $45,000

BArr lAKE STATE PArK rookery Trail (Sponsored by Adams County) Michelle Seubert, 303.655.1495 Project Summary: Barr Lake State Park, located at 13401 Piccadilly Rd., plans to finish the final section of its Rookery Trail, located in the wildlife refuge area of the park. Six hundred feet of trail will be reconstructed, and the riparian shrub and tree community around the trail will be restored. Grant Award: $6,600

Big Dry Creek Greenway Acquisition Marc Pedrucci, 303.637.8014 Project Summary: Adams County purchased a 13-acre property along Big Dry Creek just south of 144th Ave. at Washington St. The county is seeking reimbursement for a portion of this purchase which preserves natural resource habitat, floodplain and scenic views, and provides a trail corridor for the future Big Dry Creek Trail. Grant Award: $110,000 Sand Creek

8th Annual lake Appreciation Day (Sponsored by Adams County) Michelle Seubert, 303.655.1495 Project Summary: Barr Lake State Park, located at 13401 Piccadilly Rd., will hold its 8th Annual Barr Lake Appreciation Day on July 13, 2013. This event engages volunteers to learn about the park and water quality issues while cleaning shorelines, eradicating noxious weeds and completing other projects throughout the park. Volunteers are rewarded with lunch and an afternoon full of fun activities. Grant Award: $2,239.75 Nature Center Scope (Sponsored by the City of Brighton) Michelle Seubert, 303.655.1495 Project Summary: Barr Lake State Park, located at 13401 Piccadilly Rd., will purchase a scope and mount it near the nature center. The scope will be a memorial to long-time volunteer Lee Rowe, who recently passed away. Grant Award: $1,390.63

BENNETT Centennial Park Planning Trish Stiles, 303.644.3249 Project Summary: Centennial Park, located at Madison Way and Hancock Court in Bennett, is over 20 years old and in need of a complete redesign to address safety issues and ADA compliance. The town of Bennett was awarded funds for the design of the new park. Grant Award: $5,000 Kiowa Creek Trail Engineering Trish Stiles, 303.644.3249 Project Summary: The town of Bennett plans to engineer and design the Kiowa Creek Trail connection from King Soopers to an existing trail in Arapahoe County at Kiowa Bennett Rd. and C.R. 6. Funds requested for this project are for the trail sections in Adams County. Grant Award: $36,000

BriGHTON Benedict Park Phase 1 renovation Gary Wardle, 303.655.2135 Project Summary: The city of Brighton will renovate Benedict Park, a 22-acre community level park located at 1701 Skeel St. Renovations include removing the existing pool and skatepark and installing a splash pad, sand volleyball court, skateboard area, trail, plaza, shelter, restroom, site furnishings and landscaping. Grant Award: $511,800 Benedict Park renovation Phase 1, Part 2 Gary Wardle, 303.655.2135 Project Summary: The city of Brighton will renovate Benedict Park, located at 1701 Skeel St. Renovations include a sand volleyball pit, splash pad, skate spot, park shelter, the addition of a prefabricated restroom and the renovation of an existing restroom, expansion of the parking lot, security lighting and cameras, site furnishings and site work (grading, utilities, irrigation, etc.). Grant Award: $137,378

COMMErCE CiTY Future Second Creek Community Park Acquisition Traci Ferguson, 303.227.8788 Project Summary: Commerce City plans to acquire a 102-acre parcel near the intersection of 112th Ave. and Potomac St. for a future community-level park. This site, along with 35 acres of land Commerce City owns to the north, could in the future include such amenities as an athletic complex, playground, court game area, swimming pool, walking paths and preserved natural areas. Grant Award: $440,000

Pioneer Park improvements Traci Ferguson, 303.227.8788 Project Summary: Commerce City plans to remove the rarely used BMx track on the east side of Pioneer Park and replace it with multi-use fields. They also plan to add a restroom enclosure to this side of the park and install shade structures at the sprayground. Pioneer Park is located at 5950 Holly St. Grant Award: $50,000

NOrTHGlENN Danahy Park renovation Amanda Peterson, 303.450.8950 Project Summary: The city of Northglenn will renovate the existing tennis courts and playground surfacing at Danahy Park, located near Roseanna Dr. and Livingston Dr. These components will be completed in conjunction with an overall renovation of this park that was partially funded by the Open Space Sales Tax in the February 2012 grant cycle. Grant Award: $62,122 Pedestrian Underpass at Washington St. on Grange Hall Creek Pam Acre, 303.450.8792 Project Summary: The city of Northglenn will construct the Grange Hall Creek Regional Trail pedestrian underpass at Washington St. north of 104th Ave. in cooperation with a larger urban drainage project. Grant Award: $100,000 recreation Center locker room renovation Amanda Peterson, 303.450.8950 Project Summary: The city of Northglenn will renovate the locker rooms at the Northglenn Recreation Center, located at 11701 Community Center Drive. The current communal showering areas will be renovated to create private showering areas and family changing areas and to allow men and women direct access to the swimming pool. Grant Award: $200,000

STrASBUrG ElEMENTArY SCHOOl Strasburg Elementary Playground renovation (Phase 1) (Sponsored by Adams County) Marc Tayler, 303.622.9215 Project Summary: The Strasburg Elementary School, 56729 E. Colorado Ave., plans to remove the existing play equipment and surfacing and install new, age-appropriate equipment and new poured-in-place safety surfacing. This project also includes design for the next phase of the playground renovation. Grant Award: $100,065

STrASBUrG METrO PArKS and rECrEATiON DiSTriCT Facility Signage (Sponsored by Adams County) Angela Graf, 303.622.4260 Project Summary: The Strasburg Metro Parks and Recreation District plans to install signage at each of their parks located in Adams County. The signs will be placed at 1932 Burton St., 1852 Wagner St., 56423 Westview Ave. and 56401 Sunset Ave. Grant Award: $5,000 North Baseball Field renovation (Sponsored by Adams County) Angela Graf, 303.622.4260 Project Summary: The Strasburg Metropolitan Parks and Recreation District plans to improve their North Baseball Field, located at 56305 Sunset Ave. The project includes infield renovation, shade structures over the spectator area, landscaping and site furnishings. Grant Award: $43,500

Common Grackle

THOrNTON 98th Avenue & riverdale road Park land Extension Diane Van Fossen, 303.255.7843 Project Summary: The city of Thornton plans to purchase a 14.1-acre parcel of land near 98th Ave. and Riverdale Rd. that will expand a future community-level park. The site is adjacent to 50 acres of land currently owned by the City of Thornton. In the future, both sites will be developed into a park that will serve a variety of needs, including play fields. Grant Award: $256,343 Thornton Sports Complex Expansion Diane Van Fossen, 303.255.7843 Project Summary: The city of Thornton plans to purchase 11.5 acres of future park land located at 104th Ave. and McKay Rd. (adjacent to the Thornton Sports Complex). This purchase will include 7.5 water shares from the Colorado Agricultural Ditch Company which will be used to irrigate the site. Grant Award: $497,520 Northaven Park and Greenway rehabilitation Diane Van Fossen, 303.255.7843 Project Summary: The city of Thornton will rehabilitate the 14.5-acre Northaven Park and Greenway, located at 4485 Northaven Circle. This project includes replacing the existing irrigation system, the addition of sod to increase the size of the multipurpose play area and the addition of a playground for the neighborhood. Grant Award: $565,302

villAGES AT BUFFAlO rUN PrOPErTY OWNEr’S ASSOCiATiON Bison Neighborhood Park (Sponsored by Commerce City) Kevin Holdren, 720.974.4130 Project Summary: The Villages at Buffalo Run Property Owner’s Association plans to construct a neighborhood park at 117th Ave. and Jasper St. The park will include playground equipment for toddlers to preteens, a BMx bike pump track, volleyball court, horseshoes, picnic area and

enhancement of the existing landscaping and fencing. Grant Award: $75,399

WESTMiNSTEr little Dry Creek Park and Open Space John Burke, 303.658.2126 Project Summary: The Little Dry Creek Park and Open Space will be a 35-acre multi-use facility uniquely located just south of the proposed RTD FasTracks South Westminster Station near 70th Ave. and Federal Blvd. The first phase of this project will relocate and stabilize Little Dry Creek, making it accessible to the public. A fishing pond will be constructed and a unique open space area created. Grant Award: $901,005 Bushnell Open Space Acquisition John Carpenter, 303.658.2121 Project Summary: The city of Westminster plans to purchase a 2.83-acre property north of 122nd Ave. and east of Zuni St. The property is near the Big Dry Creek and directly adjacent to land owned by the City of Westminster for open space. The land will expand the buffer around the Big Dry Creek and preserve upland habitat for wildlife. Grant Award: $225,000 Tanglewood Creek regional Trail Sarah Washburn, 303.658.2226 Project Summary: The city of Westminster plans to construct a segment of trail along Tanglewood Creek (part of the I-25 Regional Trail). The city also plans to make some creek and wetland improvements to prevent further erosion of the creek channel. Tanglewood Creek is located near Delaware St. between 120th Ave. and 128th Ave. Grant Award: $434,000 Big Dry Creek Open Space Buffer Heather Cronenberg, 303.658.2142 Project Summary: The city of Westminster plans to purchase a 9.91-acre buffer property near Big Dry Creek at 112th Ave. and Sheridan Blvd. This property is a priority one acquisition for the City’s Open Space Advisory Board as it will expand the buffer around Big Dry Creek, preserve floodplain, and preserve upland habitat for wildlife. Grant Award: $607,899

PARKS & COMMUNITY RESOURCES Our mission is to develop and operate an interconnected and growing system of parks, trails, open space and facilities that preserve and maintain areas having ecological, cultural, agricultural and historical significance. We are a county parks department with recreational trails, open lands, agricultural lands and parks that complement and enhance the facilities and leisure services provided by our neighboring municipalities. Citizens of Adams County indicated high user satisfaction ratings through our recent citizen poll. Customer service feedback reveals residents and visitors appreciate and enjoy our facilities. Adams County Parks & Community Resources offers: n

Four community parks and public grounds located in unincorporated Adams County: City View Park, Twin Lakes Park, Steele Street Park, Rotella Park and the ever-popular Adams County Regional Park.

Over 22 miles of off-street recreation trail integrated with trail head access points along the Clear Creek, Little Dry Creek, Niver Canal and the South Platte River.

Warm water fishing opportunities at Elaine T. Valente Open Space, Jim Baker Reservoir, Twin Lakes, 88th Avenue Open Space, Rotella Lake, Debetz Lake and, of course, the Regional Park lakes.

County fairgrounds—home of the annual Adams County Fair as well as a venue for more than 2,200 public and private events annually.

More than 4,500 acres of open space preserved for working farmlands, wildlife habitat, floodplain protection, scenic view sheds and passive recreational use.

Management and distribution of the Adams County Open Space Sales Tax, returning on average almost $2.5 million back to our local communities each year for open space acquisition, park development, environmental education and maintenance.

As a department, customer service and safety are our highest priority. Staff strive to keep facilities clean and safe and work hard to listen and respond to our user requests. Regularly scheduled staff training, park and playground inspections and trail runs, help insure a safe, year-round user experience. Adams County parks, trails and open spaces attract thousands of visitors to our community, increase property values, contribute to water quality and storage, encourage healthy lifestyles and increase local sales tax, all of which have a direct citizen impact and benefit to the community. With the trend toward connecting our cities parks with Adams County regional facilities, use of Adams County’s parks, trails and open space increases each year. Looking to the future, Adams County Parks & Community Resources plans to make significant investments in the implementation of the Regional Park Master Plan, updating fairgrounds facilities with upgrades to the water, sewer and storm drainage systems, and replacing some of the buildings that have reached their useful life. Adams County has been constructing the South Platte River Trail for more than 25 years and, with the cooperation of a few key land owners, we have cleared the

way for completion by the end of 2015. With cooperative efforts by the county’s Public Works Department, residents can look forward to construction of the Clay Community Trail project. Long-awaited improvements at Rotella Park will soon be off the drawing board and built. The improvements include improved parking facilities, restrooms, internal trails, lighting and landscaping. One other significant and long-awaited park development will occur at the 88th Avenue open space property that will include new fishing opportunities, passive recreation facilities and trail improvements. It is only through the generosity of the residents of Adams County, the high value our elected officials and citizens place on our natural environment and the Open Space Sales Tax, approved by Adams County voters, that we are able provide these community assets for future generations.

Park crews constructing the South Platte river Trail

PLANNING for GROWTH The Adams County Planning & Development Department provides a wide variety of professional services to the citizens of Adams County. These include development review services of land use applications, ongoing work to develop and update long-range plans for growth and development within the county, providing outreach and support for neighborhood planning issues, maintaining the county’s Development Standards and Regulations and a variety of other special projects. Comprehensive Plan Through a process called Imagine Adams County, the Planning Department worked extensively with the community in 2012 to develop a new comprehensive plan for the county. The plan was adopted in November after extensive community outreach throughout the year. In a unique, integrated and multi-disciplinary effort, the plan was updated along with the Transportation Plan, the Parks, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan and the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment. This allowed for true integration and coordination of several interrelated planning documents. The Adams County Comprehensive Plan is the official policy document of the Adams County Board of Commissioners and the Adams County Planning Commission. The plan provides a concise statement of the county’s objectives for future development within unincorporated areas of the county and in municipal growth areas. It establishes goals, policies and strategies to:

Guide daily decision-making regarding future growth and public investment in the county over the next 10 to 20 years;

Promote intergovernmental coordination at a local and regional level;

Guide future growth and promote public and private investment;

Coordinate activities and investment with other county plans, including the Transportation Plan; Open Space, Parks and Trails Master Plan; Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment and other neighborhood and subarea plans;

Protect the health, safety and welfare of Adams County’s inhabitants; and

Promote a more sustainable and resilient Adams County.

Through the Imagine Adams County planning process, the county evaluated the costs and revenues of various types of development, including residential, commercial and industrial, to ensure fiscally responsible development occurs. The plan is intended to provide increased predictability for Adams County residents, property owners, business owners, school districts and others regarding the county’s future. The plan is meant to be a dynamic document that can evolve and respond to changing conditions. Clean Harbors In November 2012, Adams County resolved a long-standing issue related to the Clean Harbors Deer Trail facility, which is a private landfill in the far southeastern corner of the county. The Board of County Commissioners approved an Amended Certificate of Designation (CD) for the Clean Harbors Deer Trail Facility to allow for the continued treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste and for the treatment, storage and disposal of lowlevel radioactive waste. Throughout a multi-year process, the county engaged a highly qualified technical consulting firm to establish strict parameters for the facility that will ensure the protection of public health. Approval of the amended CD was a significant step toward resolving the years of negotiations and litigation related to the types of waste than can be accepted at this facility. The facility will be monitored by a number of health and regulatory agencies to ensure the safety of the county’s residents. Midtown Brookfield Residential secured approvals for the first residential phase and one commercial block within the Midtown Development in unincorporated Adams County. This phase will have 156 homes and 13,500 square feet of office and commercial space. The new master planned community is located in southwestern Adams County, at the intersection of

Pecos St. and 68th Ave. The community is bounded by 68th Ave. to the north, the Clear Creek to the east, 64th Ave. to the south and Federal Blvd. to the west. The Midtown at Clear Creek Community is anticipated to have a maximum of 1,608 homes and approximately 6.7 acres of commercial uses. This development will enhance the vibrant Pecos Street corridor. The developers of Midtown first submitted the overall development plan for this project in 2006. After the economic downturn, the project was put on hold for several years. The first final development plan for the project was approved in the summer of 2012. The initial construction began in summer of 2012 and the official groundbreaking ceremony occurred on Sept. 27, 2012. The first five model homes opened at Midtown on March 16, 2013. Welby Subarea Plan and University of Colorado – Denver Partnership Over the course of many years, Adams County has worked with neighborhoods to develop neighborhood plans to guide future decisions. These plans include items such as vision statements, community characteristics profiles and recommendations for implementation. The county has worked closely with communities such as the Berkeley neighborhood and Strasburg to develop a plan and have it adopted by the Adams County Planning Commission. During updating of the Adams Comprehensive Plan in 2012, the residents of Welby expressed a great deal of enthusiasm for planning within their neighborhood. A large group of Welby residents voiced their interest in working with the county to complete a more detailed study of the Welby area. As a result, Welby was identified in the Comprehensive Plan as an area of opportunity for future strategic planning. The county also entered into a unique partnership with the Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning program at the University of Colorado Denver. Four graduate courses focused on planning issues in the Welby neighborhood in spring 2013. This work will be used in the neighborhood planning process.

The general planning boundary for Welby is the neighborhood bounded by I-25, 88th Ave., I-76 and the Platte River. Welby is an area with a diverse mix of uses that includes single and multi-family residences, commercial businesses, agriculture and industry. The diverse mix of uses and eclectic character is valued by area residents and reflects its unique history. However, as the diversity of uses in the area has increased over time, conflicts between these different uses have emerged (e.g. conflicts between the residential neighborhood and industrial operations). The purpose of the Subarea Plan is to complete a more detailed analysis of the area, which would include: n

Inventory of agriculture, residential, commercial and industrial uses

Inventory of assets and constraints

Inventory of infrastructure (roads, sidewalks, water, sewer, etc.)

Identify development trends

Prepare a new land use plan which demonstrates which land uses should be allowed or permitted in certain areas.

The planning process for the Welby Subarea Plan started in February 2013. The plan is still in the early stages of development, and meetings are taking place regularly. If interested in becoming involved in the Welby Subarea Plan, please submit your contact information (name, address, phone and email) to welbyplan@adcogov.org or contact Joelle Greenland, long range planner, at 720.523.6851.

Community Outreach One of the many characteristics of good planning and development is to listen to the voices of our community. This approach ensures we are in tune with the neighborhoods and businesses of our community to help policy makers make informed decisions. During 2012, the Planning & Development Department had a goal to engage with the Adams County community by attending and convening a variety of community meetings from topics ranging from development proposals, zoning regulation amendments, regional economic advancement, the Adams County Comprehensive Plan, health initiatives and various other projects. Planning staff attended over 50 meetings within the community during 2012. At the mid-point of 2013, the staff has attended more than 35 community meetings, placing the department on track to exceed its goal of attending at least 40 meetings throughout the year. We plan to enhance our goal to encourage stakeholder communication by creating business groups and associations in the coming years. This will add to our growing number of neighborhood groups in Adams County and assist the department in establishing a balanced approach to urban, rural and community development. Business Associations Just as Adams County has encouraged and supported the formation of neighborhood groups over the years, the county will soon launch a new initiative to encourage and support the formation of neighborhood business associations. The Planning & Development Department’s vision is for organized business groups to develop

partnerships with neighborhood groups for area visioning; establishing goals for neighborhood/business district revitalization; collaborating on physical improvements and neighborhood/ business district projects; and fostering local economic development. Adams County recognizes that neighborhood businesses provide local residents with goods and services; serve as venues for bringing together members of the local community; and help sustain an area’s quality-of-life. Active business associations play an important role in a community’s revitalization and in defining a community’s character, identity and sense of place. Contact Michael Weaver at 720.523.6853 to learn more about this endeavor. Household Chemical Collection Program Last year, the Household Chemical Collection program held two events designed to encourage residents to safely dispose of products such as oil-based paint, items containing mercury, gasoline, cleaning chemicals and degreasers. The program successfully diverted 124,000 pounds of household chemical waste from going into landfills in 2012. The program is open to residents of Brighton, Commerce City, Federal Heights, Thornton

residents discussing ideas for developing Welby Neighborhood

and unincorporated Adams County. Each participating city pays a share of the total program cost in proportion to the number of residents who use the service. The next event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013, at the Thornton IMC building, 12450 Washington St., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, contact Craig Tessmer at 720.523.6841. Federal Boulevard Framework Planning & Health impact Assessment Starting in 2013, Adams County will lead a planning effort to evaluate the Federal Blvd. corridor in the general area from 52nd Ave. to 72nd Ave. The county plans to create a framework plan that examines the opportunities and constraints for making improvements to the Federal Boulevard corridor, with possible outcomes and action items outlined for a future corridor plan. The framework plan will provide guidance

Midtown exterior street scene

for future planning, transportation and economic development investments along this important north-south corridor, which has experienced disinvestment over several decades and is challenged by health and safety concerns for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians alike. This will be a multi-disciplinary process that will include planning, engineering, transportation, economic development, community development and community and business participation. Within this segment of Federal Blvd., there are two commuter stations that will be a part of the RTD FasTracks system, both scheduled to open in 2016. Policymakers, business owners and potential developers are eager to maximize the benefits that a major transportation investment like the two commuter rail stations can bring to Adams County. The county will work collaboratively with several local partners on this project, including Tri-County Health

Department, Westminster, Denver, Federal Heights and the Colorado Department of Transportation. This project was recently awarded a grant in order to conduct a Health Impact Assessment in a parallel process to the framework planning effort. Tri-County Health Department will work with Adams County and other local government planning and community partners to inform the planning process and provide recommendations for better health outcomes, particularly in the areas of reducing obesity and reducing traffic accidents. The assessment will have a specific focus on the commuter stations at 60th Ave. and Federal Blvd., and 71st Ave. and Irving St. Supported by Kaiser Permanente Colorado and the Pew Charitable Trust, the health impact assessment will seek to build regional capacity for conducting future health impact assessments in the greater Denver area.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Tri-County Health Department serves Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties. Four of these offices are in Adams County and comprise the Adams County Health Department. The public health icons that help spell the word “Innovation” represent some of the many vital services offered by Tri-County Health Department. Left to right: Immunizations; child care facility inspections; emergency preparedness and response; family planning and disease prevention; household chemical roundups; women’s health; nursing services; injury prevention; nutrition services; and restaurant inspections. All of these innovative services are offered in English and Spanish to reach the maximum number of Adams County citizens. The majority of TriCounty Health Department services are provided free of charge, with some

In addition, Tri-County Health has been monitoring the clean-up of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. The transition into a National Wildlife Refuge is especially gratifying, as it has eliminated environmental hazards and become a tremendous asset for the community. Visit www.tchd.org to discover all the ways that Tri-County Health Department keeps the residents of Adams County healthy or call your local office for information about services offered.

services offered on a sliding fee scale. These services are vital for everyone’s health. They include: n

Disease prevention and control

Food service inspections

Childhood and adult immunizations

Family planning services

WIC nutrition services

TB, HIV/AIDS and STD screening

Tri-County Health Department Aurora: 303.341.9370 Brighton: 303.659.2335 Commerce City: 303.288.6816 Northglenn: 303.452.9547 North Broadway: 303.426.5232

Screening and referrals for heart disease and diabetes risk Breast and cervical cancer screening and referral

In Adams County, Tri-County Health Department annually performs an average of 2,000 restaurant inspections, gives 10,000 immunizations to prevent diseases, serves 13,000 people through the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program and helps recycle or safely dispose of over 123,000 pounds of household hazardous waste.

PUBLIC TRUSTEE SUSAN OrECCHiO, PUBliC TrUSTEE The Adams County Public Trustee is appointed by the Governor of the state of Colorado. Susan Orecchio is currently serving her first term as the Public Trustee. The Public Trustee system was established in 1894 to protect the rights of borrowers, lenders and lien holders. The office is “fee funded” and receives no taxpayer funding through the county’s General Fund. The duties of this office are activated when a borrower signs a Deed of Trust associated with a promise to repay a debt. In the Deed of Trust, the borrower grants the lender a lien on his or her real property as security against the money being borrowed. When the loan is satisfied, the lender asks the Public Trustee to release the lien from the property. If the loan is not satisfied and a borrower goes into default (stops making payments as stipulated in their promissory note), the lender may exercise its right to demand the Public Trustee to foreclose on the secured property. The Public Trustee is not an advocate for borrowers or lenders, but is a neutral intermediate administrative agent assuring that all parties can exercise their legal rights according to Colorado foreclosure law.

During 2012, we continued to see a decline in the number of foreclosures filed in Adams County while the volume of releases increased. This may be an indicator of an improving real estate market due to an increase in jobs, allowing people to take advantage of the historically low interest rates. Accordingly, staffing levels in our office have decreased, and the remaining staff is cross-trained to work in all areas of the office as needed. We are accountable to the Governor of Colorado and the Board of County Commissioners for the efficiency of our office and report to both on a quarterly basis.

PUBLIC WORKS In 2012, the Public Works Department launched its Transportation Asset Management System (TAMS)—a software program that enables the county to track its assets and manage resources more efficiently. The county has invested over $640 million in 1,364 lane miles of paved roads and over 1,600 lane miles of gravel roads. Public Works used TAMS to develop the 2013 road and bridge budget by running fiscal scenarios to maintain the county’s overall road system in good driving condition. For more information on Public Works projects, TAMS, programs and mission, visit www.adcogov.org/pw, or contact Rene Valdez at 720.523.6961.

Signals

FOrECLOsurE sTaTisTiCs 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

4,330 6,210 5,631 5,646 4,761 3,553 3,182

Misc. Concrete Pavements (roads) ASSETS iN “TAMS”

lights

Bridges Signs

Storm Sewer

PrOGrAMS THAT iNvEST iN OUr COMMUNiTiES: Community revitalization Program Continuing Mobility and Drainage Enhancements in Southwest Adams County: Over $3 million was invested in 2012 to start the design on the Clay Community

Trail and Drainage Project and complete street and drainage improvements in the Goat Hill community. In 2013, over $7 million is budgeted to complete the design and start construction on the Clay Community Trail and portions of the associated drainage channel, as well as to finish plans to widen and accommodate multi-modal improvements on Lowell Blvd. and W. 60th Ave. Public Works looks to leverage noncounty funds for projects. Both the Clay Community Trail and 60th Ave. improvements are two examples of competitive grant funding. Once completed, these improvements will help protect residents and businesses in the Goat Hill and Guardian Angels neighborhoods from future severe flooding events. The improvements will also enhance bike and pedestrian connectivity between communities and the future RTD Gold Line and Northwest Rail commuter rail corridors. Safe routes To Schools (SrTS) Project In partnership with Mapleton School District, the county received $198,000 in SRTS funding and over $400,000 in Community Development Block Grant monies to complete a sidewalk on the north side of 78th Ave. between Washington and York streets. Bridge Program The county has 118 major bridges and 82 minor bridges/large culverts. Seven major bridges and 11 minor structures will be repaired or replaced in 2013 with a budget of $700,000. Street Maintenance Program In 2013, this $8 million county program will include preventative maintenance and minor improvements to existing streets, including milling and repaving, concrete repairs and limited reconstruction. Capital improvement Program With the completion of Washington Phase III in 2012, the county is finishing up the design of Phase IV between 52nd and 58th avenues. in 2013. For more information on specific programs and projects, please visit the county website at:

www.adcogov.org/transportation

STORMWATER POLLUTION What is stormwater runoff? Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks and streets prevent stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground. Why is stormwater runoff a problem? Stormwater can pick up debris, chemicals, dirt and other pollutants and flow into a storm sewer system or directly to a lake, stream, river, wetland or coastal water. Anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged untreated into the waterbodies we use for swimming, fishing and providing drinking water.

THE EFFECTS OF POllUTiON… Polluted stormwater runoff can have many adverse effects on plants, fish, animals and people. n

sediment can cloud the water and make it difficult or impossible for aquatic plants to grow. sediment also can destroy aquatic habitats.

Excess nutrients can cause algae blooms. When algae die, they sink to the bottom and decompose in a process that removes oxygen from the water. Fish and other aquatic organisms can’t exist in water with low dissolved oxygen levels.

Bacteria and other pathogens can wash into swimming areas and create health hazards.

debris-plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles, and cigarette butts-washed into waterbodies can choke, suffocate or disable aquatic life like ducks, fish, turtles and birds. household hazardous wastes like insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, used motor oil and other auto fluids can poison aquatic life. Land animals and people can become sick or die from eating diseased fish and shellfish or ingesting polluted water. Polluted stormwater often affects drinking water sources. This, in turn, can affect human health and increase water treatment costs.

What is Adams County doing to educate its residents who live in unincorporated Adams County regarding stormwater quality? The Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act requires Adams County to implement a Stormwater Quality Management program in unincorporated Adams County. As part of the program, Adams County promotes education and awareness to the public through a variety of community events, town halls, neighborhood meetings, informational handouts and training.

Why is public education and awareness important? Over the last couple years, the stormwater management team has seen a significant drop in the number of illicit discharge cases reported as well as the number of violations issued for illicit discharges. This coincides with Adams County’s efforts to increase public education and awareness. The more the stormwater management team is able to educate the people in unincorporated Adams County, the better the quality of our waterways. What is a stormwater utility? A stormwater utility is a mechanism to fund the cost of services directly related to the implementation of the Stormwater Quality Management program. Did Adams County adopt a stormwater utility? Yes, Adams County adopted a stormwater utility fee to implement Adams County’s Stormwater Quality Management program in unincorporated Adams County, west of Schumaker Rd. The stormwater utility fee will finance the design, installation and maintenance of stormwater management systems in unincorporated Adams County, west of Schumaker Rd. Who is impacted by the stormwater utility fee? The stormwater utility fee will be charged to all property owners in unincorporated Adams County, west of Schumaker Rd. What’s the current status of Adams County’s Stormwater Quality Management program? The Adams County Board of Commissioners convened a citizen task force to provide recommendations concerning the current stormwater management program. A resolution was adopted on April 1, 2013 establishing a Stormwater Management Citizen Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to assist in the evaluation of the county’s current stormwater operations, stormwater infrastructure needs, rate structure associated with the stormwater utility and other areas of concern raised by the citizens of Adams County and provide recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.

How do i learn more about Adams County’s Stormwater Management program? To learn more about the Adams County Stormwater Management program, please visit www.adcogov.org/ stormwater_program or call the Stormwater Hotline at 720.523.6400 or email swq@adcogov.org. Reference: United States Environmental Protection Agency. A Citizen’s Guide to Understanding Stormwater (EPA 8330B-03-002) [Brochure].

SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM The Adams County Sustainability program serves to identify and promote sustainable practices, initiatives and policies that save tax dollars, support local businesses, protect the health of its employees and citizens and assure clean land, air and water for our environment. Program achievements to date include: n

Reduced costs by $225,000 annually

Reduced energy use in county buildings by six percent

Reduced fuel consumed by eight percent

Increased waste diverted from the landfill by 17 percent

Implemented composting program at the Animal Shelter

Installed energy-saving software on county computers

Stocked county buildings with paper towels and toilet paper made of sugar cane pulp

Constructed a community garden

In addition, program staff is in the process of identifying opportunities to expand efforts into the community and to increase partnerships with residents and businesses to advance sustainability efforts throughout the county.

ADAMS COUNTY ANiMAl SHElTEr & ADOPTiON CENTEr ADOPT YOUr NEW BEST FriEND!

adams County animal shelter & adoption Center is offering extended hours this summer to better serve you. starting June 15 through sept.15, 2013 the animal shelter will be open the following hours: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

vOlUNTEEr!

are you a pet lover who wants to help, but already have your perfect furry companion? Need a walking buddy but can’t commit to a full-time responsibility? Please consider volunteering at the shelter. Our volunteers make a difference in homeless pets’ lives every day. For more information on our rewarding volunteer program, visit our website.

VisiT ThE adaMs COu NTy aNiMaL shEL TEr & adOPTiON CENTEr This suMM Er TO FiNd ThE PEr FECT PET FOr yO ur FaMiLy.

Adams County Animal Shelter & Adoption Center 10705 Fulton, Brighton, CO 80601 303.288.3294 www.adcogov.org www.facebook.com/adamscountyanimalshelter