Adams County Annual Report 2011-12 by Adams County, Colorado

Adams County Report to the Public 2011-12

Contents

Sunshine Award Adams County Earns Sunshine Award

Board of County Commissioners 4 Budget 2012 6 Career Expo 9 Economic Development 9 Elected Officials 10 Assessor 10 Clerk & Recorder 10 Coroner 11 District Attorney 11 Sheriff 12 Surveyor 14 Treasurer 14 Emergency Management 15 Extension Office 15 Front Range Airport & Spaceport Colorado 16 Housing Authority 17 Human Services 17 Open Space Sales Tax Report 20 Planning for Growth 26 Public Health 27 Public Trustee 28 Public Works 28 Public Works – Transportation 29 Stormwater Awareness 31 Sustainability 31 Sunflower photos: © Karen Wilson Johnson 2012

Adams County Fair Budweiser CPRA RODEO COUPON Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012

We are proud to announce that Adams County received the Sunshine Award, earning a perfect score for government transparency on the county website. Sunshine Review released the names of the winners of the third annual Sunny Awards on March 8, 2012. We are honored to receive the Sunny Award and will continue to expand the online transparency portal to ensure our citizens have a full picture of the county’s finances. Sunshine Review is a nonprofit organization dedicated to state and local government transparency. The Sunshine Review collects and shares transparency information using a “10-point Transparency Checklist” to evaluate the content of every state and more than 5,000 local government websites. Sunshine Review collaborates with individuals and organizations throughout America in the cause of an informed citizenry and an accountable government. This report is printed on Forest Stewardship Council A.C. (FSC) paper. The FSC promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests.

Good for One Admission Must Present Coupon For Free Admission Ages 3 Years and Under Free No Copies Accepted Coupon Not Good For Parking

2012 Adams County Fair! One Great County! One Great Fair! Wednesday Aug. 1 – Sunday Aug. 5

Adams County Regional Park Complex, Brighton United Power Grandstand Events Thursday, Aug. 2 • 7 p.m. Budweiser CPRA Rodeo & Mutton Bustin’ Friday, Aug. 3 • 7 p.m. NSPA Truck Pull Saturday, Aug. 4 • 7 p.m. DDRA Demolition Derby Sunday, Aug. 5 • 1 p.m. La Tricolor, Univision Colorado y Las Delicias Presentan Dia de la Familia Special Days at the Fair Thursday, Aug. 2 • 8 a.m. – Noon Senior Day Entertainment, free breakfast, resource fair and bingo with prizes Friday, Aug. 3 • 10 A.M. – 3 p.m. 9NEWS Kids Day at the Fair Bungee jumps, bounce houses, petting zoo, educational resource booths

Bromley Companies Entertainment Stage FREE Entertainment Daily

Saturday, Aug. 4 • 10 a.m. – 1 a.m. $ 25 unlimited rides wristband Good all day until closing

Friday, Aug. 3 • 8 p.m. Karaoke Fest

Sunday, Aug. 5 • Noon – Midnight Dollar Ride Day or purchase a $ 25 unlimited rides wristband Good all day until closing

Carnival Specials Wednesday, Aug. 1 • 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. Sneek-A- Peek night at the Fair! $ 12 unlimited rides wristband (Wednesday only) Thursday, Aug. 2 5 p.m. – Midnight $ 20 unlimited rides wristband (Thursday only) Friday, Aug. 3 • 10 a.m. – 1 a.m. Kids Day Special $ 11 unlimited rides wristband until 5 p.m. (must be purchased prior to 4 p.m., full price after 5 p.m.) Adults $ 25 unlimited rides wristband (Friday only) Wristbands available all day

FREE parking Wednesday, Aug. 1 Fair Information Hotline: 303.637.8011

For a complete Fair schedule or to buy Grandstand tickets online, go to www.adamscountyfair.com. Become a FAN of the Adams County Fair on Facebook for up-to-date information and the opportunity to win great prizes at www.facebook.com/AdamsCountyFairCO! Budweiser CPRA Rodeo Coupon (shown at left) – Good for One Admission

Adams County Board of Commissioners

W. R. “Skip” Fischer, District 1

Alice J. Nichol, District 2

Erik Hansen, District 3

2011 was the year that brought us Open Adams: A strategic framework for responsibly serving our community with integrity and innovation. May 23, 2012 marked the first anniversary of the county’s reform effort. We acknowledge that while more changes need to occur, several important changes were made and the county progressed to a new era of transparency, accountability and trust. With these significant operational changes, Adams County Government changed from “doing business with a handshake” to achieving a sweeping seven-point reform initiative. This shift forms the basis of Open Adams, the county’s new strategic framework. It supports continual improvement and promotes a culture of excellence. Within Open Adams, the county’s vision is to provide a safe, healthy environment to work, raise families and build businesses. Looking to the future, Adams County is committed to its mission of responsibly serving the community with integrity and innovation. Open Adams in Action Recognizing the need to strengthen Adams County’s business practices, the county has made a significant shift to a new business model that focuses on continual improvement and a culture of excellence. The county is moving to performance budgeting. Decisions are now being made strategically as we align priorities to outcome-based service delivery. Internally, investments were made over the past year to improve the organizational culture and foster change through transparency, accountability and trust. The return on this investment is already evident as we move from reform implementation to organizational transformation. We are proud to have earned an A+ on our newly created internet Transparency Portal from Sunshine Review, a nonprofit entity dedicated to holding governments accountable for disclosing financial information. Adams County now stands with Douglas County as the only two counties (out of 64) in Colorado to have earned a perfect score! While a vast majority of our employees have never lost their commitment to serve the community for the highest public good, being under the scrutiny of criminal investigations and wrongdoings has tested our organization to its core. But thanks to an unwavering commitment from our employees to serve our community with integrity and innovation, we have a new set of guiding values that will restore the public trust. For example, our Public Works employees implemented significant controls in their operations. As a part of the county’s efforts to become more transparent and accountable to its citizens, Public Works has taken measures to streamline processes and invest in technology and software programs to help track projects and provide better services. To this end,

the department has collected extensive county infrastructure data to better maintain and manage the roads, bridges and other assets within the county. Please refer to the Public Works’ section on page 28 for further explanation and highlights of some of the positive changes underway. We hope you take a few minutes to read this report to learn what Adams County is doing to improve the quality of life in our community. It is often said that county government is “where the rubber meets the road” because county government services are woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. This is literally evident with the progress of many transportation priorities, including the groundbreaking in June of the South Westminster Station on the Northwest corridor and the opening of the Pecos Street Grade Separation last November. Refer to page 29 for more information on the county’s transportation priorities. From being a safety net for our most vulnerable community members to planning for growth and development, county government provides numerous services both visible and unassuming that impact the quality of citizens’ lives. It is our sincere desire that our leadership helps create a better place for families to live, work and play. It is our pledge to continuously improve to meet the changing needs of a vast and diverse population, and it is our commitment to be responsible stewards of the county’s resources. Stay in touch as we continue to serve you by following county updates on our website at www.adcogov.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter! Be sure to check out our annual report promo on Facebook during the month of August for a weekly chance to win free golf at Riverdale. Please enjoy the annual report—it is an accountability report of your tax dollars at work. And, be sure to head to the Adams County Fair & Rodeo, Aug. 1-5, 2012. It is a fun time for your whole family from the young to the young-at-heart. The rodeo coupon for Thursday, Aug. 2, is on page 2 under the Table of Contents. See you at the fair!

Seven-point Reform Accomplishments 4 Centralized purchasing processes so money is spent wisely

4 Added reforms based upon citizen input

4 Established an internal audit function

4 Put ethics reforms in place and retained the services of an independent ethics officer

4 Filed Federal RICO charges against individuals involved in the Quality Paving scandal to recover stolen tax dollars 4 Put reforms into place to keep elected officials from profiting from their positions

4 Established departmental operations with additional checks and balances, including centralized supervision under the county administrator

Budget 2012 County Revenue Sources 2012 Total Revenue Budget: $411,134,173 (not including proprietary funds)

All Other Sources $75,376,030 or 18%

Property Tax $118,761,802 or 29%

Highway Users Tax $7,353,675 or 2% Specific Ownership Tax $7,700,000 or 2% Investment Earnings $1,070,124 or 0%

Sales Tax $31,180,498 or 8%

Social Services $169,692,044 or 41%

2012 General Fund Revenues & Expenditures Total Revenues: $156,331,067 Intergovernmental $11,910,060 or 8% Licenses and Permits $713,680 or 0%

Fines and Forfeitures $1,501,800 or 1% Charges for Services $21,929,966 or 14%

Interest and Investment $1,400,400 or 1% Miscellaneous $3,567,200 or 2%

Other Financing Sources $13,899,103 or 9%

Property Taxes $101,408,858 or 65%

Total Expenditures: $162,036,040* Economic Opportunity $143,712 or 0%

Public Safety $69,047,890 or 43%

Culture & Recreation $3,511,701 or 2% Conservation of Natural Resources $570,332 or 0% Public Works $7,924,225 or 5% Health & Welfare $3,428,463 or 2%

General Government $77,409,717 or 48%

* The $5.7 million difference between revenues and expenditures is the use of General Fund balance budgeted for 2012.

Property Tax Calculation & Distribution of 2012 Property Tax Revenue

229,100 x 7.96% $ 18,236.36 x 0.110689 $ 2,018.56 $

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 ) Total Taxes Paid

The County’s Portion of Property Tax Distributed by Fund

Property Tax Distribution

Developmentally Disabled $1,138,618 or 1%

City 5%

Social Services $10,424,774 or 8.8% County 25% Schools 53% Special District 17%

General Fund $ 101,438,858 or 85.4%

Road and Bridge $5,759,544 or 4.8%

General Fund Key Revenue Trends General Fund Revenue – Property Tax Trend $ 110,000,000 105,000,000 100,000,000 95,000,000

$103,936,084

$106,393,007 $106,009,836 $102,727,548 $101,438,858

$97,657,347

90,000,000 2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012 Budget

General Fund Revenue – Interest on Deposits Trend $ 15,000,000 10,000,000

$10,656,434 $7,541,614

5,000,000 0

$3,601,393 $2,871,992 $2,346,241

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

$1,400,400

2012 Budget

General Fund Revenue – Building Permits Trend $ 1,500,000 1,000,000

$1,033,333

5,000,000 0

2007

$977,791 $579,803

$607,730

2008

2009

$615,036

2010

2011

$650,000

2012 Budget

2012 Original Budget: General Fund Allocations by Elected Office* County Commissioners District Attorney $636,063 or 1% $14,907,443 or 9% Coroner Assessor $1,595,017 or 1% $3,797,819 or 2%

Remaining Departments $75,481,798 or 47%

Sheriff $57,033,329 or 35%

Surveyor $16,549 or 0% Treasurer $1,655,032 or 1%

Clerk & Recorder $6,915,990 or 4%

* Before supplemental and carryover requests

2012 County Sales Tax Revenue Budget & Recent Trends

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 2011:

Adams County (unincorporated)

1,603,202

Arvada

62,729

Total Sales Tax

Aurora

998,861

$32,000,000

Bennett

46,740

30,000,000

Brighton

746,216

28,000,000

Commerce City

748,272

26,000,000

Federal Heights

187,399

Northglenn

628,922

24,000,000 2007 Actual

2008 Actual

2009 Actual

2010 Actual

2011 Actual

2012 Budget

Total Sales Tax by Component

Thornton

2,061,082

Westminster

1,165,347

Total Distribution

8,248,774

Sales Tax Rate For Unincorporated Adams County

$25,000,000 20,000,000 15,000,000

SCFD Sales Tax

0.10%

10,000,000

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%

5,000,000

2006 Actual

2007 Actual

Transportation

2008 Actual

n Open Space

2009 Actual

2010 Actual

n Capital Facilities

2011 Actual

2012 Budget

n Detention Facility

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 22.

Career Expo

Economic Development

he Adams County Board of Commissioners sponsors the annual Adams County Commissioners’ Career Expo for eighth graders in the county. The Career Expo is the largest event organized by the Adams County Education Consortium, a 501(c)3 nonprofit sister agency to Adams County Economic Development. Its mission is to build a link between business and students to create the workforce necessary for our employers and to provide links for students exploring their best professional fit. This single event engages counselors and students in interest inventories, discussions on professionalism and appropriate questions to ask when engaging with business professionals. The Career Expo accommodates the entire eighth-grade population in Adams County and is the largest event of its type in Colorado. It is the first ever hosted by commissioners of any county in the state and in eight years has touched over 35,600 students. Over 5,500 students attended the Nov. 15, 2011 event, asking questions of area professionals from industry and education about occupations they were considering. Students were asked to speak with three representatives from business and industry and one from post-secondary education to collect as much career-specific knowledge as possible. Eighty-three percent of the students visited with one or more industry professional and 86 percent visited with education representatives. Survey results showed remarkable shifts in student understanding of necessary post-secondary education. When asked if they knew what courses they would need after high school, students demonstrated a 20 percent gain in knowledge after the Expo. To learn more about the Adams County Education Consortium, call 303.453.8515 or visit www.adamscountyeducation.org.

dams County Economic Development, Inc. (ACED), a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization and the county’s designated economic development agency for almost 30 years, promotes quality jobs and a strong tax base through retention and attraction of primary businesses and capital investment. In 2011, ACED reported 3,702 new primary jobs and $1.4 billion in new capital investment by primary employers.

Three high-visibility projects highlighted 2011’s business attraction activity: n GE Solar announced plans to build the nation’s largest solar panel manufacturing facility in Aurora in Adams County. GE Solar’s $300 million capital investment is the largest deal in ACED’s history. The company will employ 355 workers in Adams County. n ACED supported Gaylord Entertainment’s proposed hotel and convention center project as a signature development opportunity to spur growth along the E-470 corridor in Adams County. n ACED committed leadership and resources to the exciting development of Spaceport Colorado at Front Range Airport. As the state’s newest aerospace asset, Spaceport Colorado will support and serve the growing, privately-financed commercial space industry in Colorado. In cooperation with local partners, ACED led a countywide economic development plan as part of the governor’s “bottom up” initiative to create a blueprint for statewide economic development. ACED developed its first five-year strategic plan which provides clear goals, direction and measurement for the county’s business retention and attraction efforts. This plan focuses ACED’s resources to achieve maximum results and helps create alignment with the economic development goals of the county’s municipalities. In 2011, ACED’s Business Retention team conducted 70 in-person interviews with local company leaders representing 828 existing jobs, 201 projected new jobs and $13 million in planned new capital investment. ACED is the designated administrator for the Colorado Enterprise Zone (EZ) program in Adams and Arapahoe counties. In 2011, EZ businesses reported $196.4 million in capital investment for the prior year and qualified for more than $4 million in state tax credits. As the economy recovers, ACED will continue to be a catalyst for business activity and success.

Elected Officials Gil Reyes, Assessor

Budget: $3,797,819 or 2.34% of the General Fund The Colorado State Constitution states that the Assessor’s Office shall “Discover, list and value all property within the county.” This includes residential, commercial, industrial, vacant land, agricultural, agri-business, mining, business personal property, oil and gas, and possessory interest. In Colorado, a reappraisal of all property is done in odd-numbered years. The Assessor’s Office reviews all land transactions to ensure that they are true, legal “arms length” agreements. This ensures that the selling price is truly an objective residential market value. Many times, a person will sell to a family member at a huge discount, which is not a true residential market value. We also see transactions where a buyer pays a higher price than market value; this does not reflect the true market. This also includes foreclosure sales, unless that type of sale is the prevalent market for an economic neighborhood. The process of reviewing transaction documents and deeds is a tedious and time-consuming process, but it ensures an accurate reflection of the open market. The Assessor’s Office continues to attend Emergency Operations/FEMA training sessions in disaster response. The office is responsible for damage assessment in the event of a disaster in Adams County, including the municipalities within the county. The Assessor’s Office will have an Oil & Gas Pipeline and Collateral Equipment audit performed by an outside auditing company in 2012. The projected revenue is a minimum of $500,000.

Karen Long, Clerk & Recorder Budget: $6,915,990 or 4.27% of the General Fund

The Adams County Clerk & Recorder and staff are dedicated to providing outstanding customer service to county residents and businesses in three vital areas—elections, motor vehicle titles and registrations, and real estate recording. The Clerk & Recorder’s Office provides extended office hours for your convenience: Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., excluding holidays. Elections 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy. Suite E3102 Brighton, CO 80601 720.523.6500 • 720.523.6266 (fax) In mid-February 2011, the Elections Office moved from its Westminster location to the new Adams County Government Center in Brighton. Our new space in the building covers 37,247 square feet and is contained within one contiguous area, making election preparation more efficient and expedient. We processed 132,375 transactions through SCORE, the statewide voter registration system, during 2011, including 1,896 address changes voters made by using the new Online Voter Registration system accessed via www.govotecolorado.com. As of Dec. 31, 2011, 67.91 percent of active voters now choose to receive their H H H H H H H H Adams County Voter Registration Statistics (as of December 2011) Total Registered Voters 235,846 Active Registered Voters 131,248 Inactive Registered Voters 104,598 Affiliation Statistics Minor Parties Republican Unaffiliated Democrat H H H H H H

.75% 26.15% 36.86% 36.24% H H

ballots by mail rather than venture to Early Voting centers the two weeks prior to the election or to a Vote Center on Election Day. The busy 2012 Presidential General Election will require many election judges. If you are an active registered voter in Adams County and have interest in working a long, but rewarding day on Nov. 6, 2012, please contact the Elections Office at www.adams.elections@adcogov.org for additional information, including the associated pay plan.

Motor Vehicle Titles and Registration 720.523.6010 • Fax: 720.623.6011 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. In 2011, motor vehicle staff assisted 353,433 walk-in customers, completed 718,169 title, registration and lien transactions, including 19,797 online renewals. Most vehicle registrations can be renewed online at www.colordo.gov or mailed to our main office in Brighton. Our ability to staff our offices is solely dependent on the economic health of the county. When the economy takes a downturn, staffing in our offices is sometimes unable to keep up with customer service demands. As a convenience to Adams County residents and businesses, our Motor Vehicle offices now accept credit cards. We also issue marriage licenses at each of our Motor Vehicle offices.

Recording and Marriage Licenses 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy. Suite E2400, Brighton, CO 720.523.6020 • Fax: 720.523.6009 2011 Accomplishments 46,487 eRecording documents 88,941 recorded documents 2,073 marriage licenses issued 23,229 walk-in customers 132,375 transactions We strive to conduct ourselves with the utmost integrity and professionalism. We look forward to serving you in the near future. Visit our website at www.adcogov.org. If you wish to visit our Elections website, go to www.adamscountyelections.org or the state of Colorado’s website at www.govotecolorado.com.

Monica BroncuciaJordan, Coroner Budget: $1,595,017 or .98% of the General Fund

“It is a great honor and privilege to be entrusted with the role of interacting with citizens during one of the most devastating times of their lives. Although there is nothing we can do to replace the loss they are experiencing, it is my hope that some peace may be found in knowing that the employees of this office are competent, dedicated professionals who are passionate about serving the living through caring for the deceased.” Monica Broncucia-Jordan The Coroner’s Office is devoted to serving the community with integrity, competence and compassion. The staff of 12 work diligently to accurately determine the manner (natural, accident, suicide, homicide or undetermined) and cause of death of individuals who die within the statutory jurisdiction of the office. This is accomplished through a fair, ethical

Investigators Zaruba and Hoover alongside the Coroner’s Office mass fatality trailer. The office participates in ongoing training in preparation for a devastating event.

and competent investigation of the death performed by qualified and trained individuals. Every death occurring in Adams and Broomfield counties is reported to the Coroner’s Office. In 2011, the office completed a total of 3,126 death reports and conducted 458 autopsy examinations. 2012 marks the second year the office has operated under the administration of Coroner Broncucia-Jordan. The office continues to make positive strides, ensuring efficient, competent, costeffective and improved services for the citizens of Adams and Broomfield counties. However, there are still many projects that Coroner Broncucia-Jordan plans to complete during her tenure. By the conclusion of 2012, she hopes to establish a volunteer advocate pilot program specific to the needs of the Coroner’s Office to improve communication with citizens and provide additional support and resources to the bereaved. The community continues to benefit from the vast improvements made to the Coroner’s Office by increasing the individual and collective education and experience levels of the staff in 2011. This was also a year focused on building relationships and increasing community awareness. The coroner and management personnel conducted multiple death investigation training sessions for law enforcement professionals. The coroner

staff spoke at numerous schools ranging from elementary through university level and participated in multiple community outreach events for those whose lives were affected by the death of a loved one. Additionally, through improved day-to-day operations, interagency relationships have improved with hospitals, law enforcement and mortuary establishments.

Don Quick, District Attorney

Budget: $14,907,443 or 9.20% 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 our citizens. Our dedicated and hard-working prosecutors and staff work toward those goals every single day. Caseloads and Trials In the last three years, our District Attorney’s Office has taken more cases to trial than any other jurisdiction in the state. In 2011 alone, we filed nearly 3,800 felony cases. This included 14 first-degree murder cases, one second-degree murder case, seven vehicular homicide cases and 52 attempted murder cases. We also

filed 343 felony assault cases, 40 sexual assault and attempted sexual assault cases, 222 sexual offenses on children, 299 burglary cases, 55 aggravated robberies, nine attempted robberies and 249 theft cases. Our office prosecuted 651 juvenile cases in 2011. We also prosecuted 33,662 misdemeanor and traffic cases. Information Technology A major focus of our office in 2011-12 has been implementing the final phase of our five-year IT plan. This effort has involved a significant investment of office resources. However, in today’s world of increased case loads and limited financial resources, efficiency and cost-effective measures are essential. To that end, we are working to convert all paper files to electronic files, streamlining the process of filing and prosecuting cases. In the future, our IT system will allow us to accept digital submission of documents from our law enforcement agencies and handle all our cases electronically. Our IT personnel also provide security for the information we are required by statute to keep confidential, helping to improve the presentation of our cases to judges and juries. Victim Witness Services Unit The District Attorney’s Office is committed to seeking justice for victims of crime. This commitment is demonstrated through the work of our Victim Witness Services Unit. In 2011, our advocates and volunteers assisted over 32,117 victims 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. We are piloting a program to better serve adult and adolescent sexual assault victims. In addition, the Crime Victims Compensation Program served 2,686 victims, providing $1,499,247.24 in financial compensation. Crime Prevention We continue to be tough on crime and smart about crime. The best public safety strategy is to prevent crime from occurring. Our Fraud Prevention Program provides information and tools to Adams County citizens, primarily seniors, to minimize their risk of becoming victims. In 2011, we provided 141 prevention presentations to over 2,800 residents. The DA’s Office is also a founding partner of the Adams County Youth Initiative. This is a countywide collaborative committed to decreasing delinquency and substance use, while increasing high school graduation rates. Over the last seven years, we have experienced a 42 percent decline in juvenile filings. Another prevention effort of the DA’s Office is the Diversion Program. Diversion works with first-time, juvenile and adult non-violent offenders by providing supervision and counseling to repay victims and prevent future crime. In 2011, the community was also repaid in 3,684 hours of useful public service by diversion clients. We are very fortunate to have terrific and talented 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.

Doug Darr, Sheriff

Budget: $57,033,329 or 35.20% of the General Fund 2011 was both a challenging and productive year for the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. A very difficult economy resulted in a substantial reduction in staffing and funding for law enforcement and jail operations. In spite of the reductions, the efforts of our hard-working personnel resulted in a very successful year filled with achievements. The Colorado Crime Information Center reported a five percent reduction in crime in unincorporated Adams County for 2011. In fact, crime prevention and proactive/ aggressive community policing strategies have contributed to crime reduction in the unincorporated areas of the county by more than 47 percent since 2003. This includes both violent and property crime. It is not an accident that the Sheriff’s Office has become one of the most productive and effective law enforcement agencies in Colorado. Improvements in our policing philosophies and strategies include active participation with 57 different community groups and the

Lieutenant Karl Smalley, in a “death” costume, at Bennett High School during the ‘Every 15 Minutes’ demonstration.

Upper left: An Adams County Sheriff’s Office Explorer fingerprints a child at the 8th Operation Free Bird at Rocky’s Autos. Above: Sheriff Darr hands a graduation certificate to an inmate who has successfully completed a culinary program, In2work (inmate 2 work). Left: Shadow Ridge Middle School students organized a toy drive in which students gave their stuffed animals to less fortunate children within their community.

business community, focusing on building relationships and trust with those who live and work in Adams County. Crime Prevention deputies are responsible for two citizen academies each year designed to provide citizens an opportunity to experience life as a law enforcement officer. The curriculum identifies a multitude of resources available to anyone who needs them. Patrol deputies responded to 68,625 citizen calls for service, initiated action on 43,783 occasions and wrote 12,601 case reports. Traffic Safety and Enforcement deputies made 773 DUI arrests. Our Community Resource Team was created to work with citizens to identify and solve problems before they get worse. They may be involved in complex investigations, surveillance, warrant sweeps or specialized enforcement operations. In 2011 they were responsible for 17 successful projects to address crime prevention through environmental design.

agencies to employ a DNA analyst. Forensic DNA operations have been remarkably successful. Many serious criminal investigations have been solved with the most sophisticated science available. In 2011, jail operations were very challenging and included an average daily inmate population of 1,098. A total of 15,575 inmates were booked into the jail during 2011, while 15,771 were released during the year. Consultants from the National Institute of Corrections performed a Justice System

Analysis which reviewed detention facility practices, pretrial programs and community-based correction programs. The consultant met with local government, criminal justice and community representatives. The analysis helped officials better understand the demand for jail beds and provided a foundation for managing current beds and resources. The analysis was conducted at no cost to the county. Last year, the Sheriff’s Office operated two Adams County Peace Officer Standard and Training (POST) academies. Instructors also provided education and training for cadets with Aims Community College. Both operations have been exceptionally successful and many graduates now serve as Adams County deputies. 2012 promises to be a successful year as well. We are engaged in a 10-year project to build a Regional Law Enforcement Training Center. Training operations will include emergency vehicle operations, firearms training, arrest control skills training and other educational opportunities for dozens of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. It will be the first of its kind in Colorado. We are expanding the forensic operations of the Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab. Cutting edge science operations are necessary to solve many complex criminal investigations. We are leading a multi-jurisdictional effort to create an emergency operations plan to deal with cases of missing and exploited children. We strive to do our very best for children throughout the community.

Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team carries a telephone pole during training.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is one of only six Colorado law enforcement

Tim Thoms, Surveyor Budget: $16,266 or .01% of the General Fund

The Adams County Surveyor, when authorized by the board of county commissioners, conducts surveys as neccessary.

Brigitte Grimm, Treasurer

Budget: $1,655,032 or 1.02% of the General Fund The primary responsibilities of the Treasurer’s Office include: n Providing annual tax notices n Collecting property tax n Distributing tax revenues to underlying authorities (cities, schools, fire, water and special districts) and n Investing tax dollars on behalf of Adams County. Method of Payments We offer taxpayers several options to pay their property taxes: payments by mail, by phone or 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. The treasurer is currently researching electronic tax notices. Electronic statements have saved counties tens of thousands of dollars annually in paper and postage. By taking advantage of this secure option, we can provide taxpayers additional flexibility by ensuring receipt of tax notices regardless of their location. Military families and businesses have expressed great interest in this option. Interest Earned Concerns related to the European crisis, downgrade in U.S. debt, sluggish economic recovery and an increased

U.S. debt ceiling are just a few of the many issues in 2011 that contributed to our country’s difficult economic climate. These concerns have had a direct impact on interest earnings nationwide. Despite these issues, Adams County interest earnings for all county funds in 2011 are approximately $2.6 million. 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, approximately $4.5 million of unpaid 2010 taxes (payable in 2011) were collected. This amount represents nearly one percent of the total property tax revenue. Premiums paid by the investors totaled over $168,000. The next internet tax lien sale starts Oct. 10, 2012. Details of the sale can be found on our website at www.adcogov.org. If you are interested in becoming an investor, or want to take advantage of our next free investor web training seminar, please call 720.523.6160. Foreclosure Excess Funds In certain limited instances, there may be excess funds available to a homeowner when their home is sold through the foreclosure process. If the public trustee is unable to locate the owner of such funds, the money is transferred to the treasurer and held in escrow. In the fall of 2012, a list of unclaimed funds will be available on the Treasurer’s Office website. Until that time, you may receive a list by contacting us at treasurer@adcogov.org. 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 nearly 4,000 hours of tax services and prepared over 5,000 federal and state tax returns in 2012. Hundreds were assisted in areas other than

income tax filings and thousands of telephone inquiries were handled regarding tax returns. The Treasurer’s Office has added two additional sites and recently implemented electronic filing at the time of preparation. This speeds up processing and avoids delays in transmitting. For those unable to wait in line, we recently provided locations to allow drop off of tax paperwork and pick up of 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. Making Progress, New Mission and Vision In 2011, the Treasurer’s Office extended operational hours to 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. As a result, we are now serving you an additional 7.5 hours every week. We are happy to report this added convenience came without increasing expenses. Mandatory training for all employees, multiple levels of cross-training, increased operational hours, increased web visibility and upgraded hardware and software have resulted in a new level of service and professionalism. In October 2012, the treasurer plans to further upgrade the website with self-serve options offering access to more services for the convenience of the taxpayer. Treasurer Brigitte Grimm states that aligning with the needs of citizens is the number one focus. Today, people expect online access, accuracy and transparency.

Emergency Management Are You Prepared?

Extension Office

o you know what to do in the event of a disaster? Are you ready if a flood, fire or tornado strikes your home or community?

The Adams County Office of Emergency Management works day-in and day-out to ensure the county and its citizens are prepared to respond quickly and appropriately in the event an emergency occurs. The office has goals to develop a robust emergency operations center and emergency operations training programs. In 2011, the Office of Emergency Management received a grant to move its operations center to the Government Center in Brighton— resulting in increased efficiencies, physically, financially and administratively. It also hosted a portion of the regional Operation Mountain Guardian emergency exercise in which over 100 agencies and emergency organizations participated. Looking ahead, the goal is to increase training sessions so community partners are prepared should disaster strike Adams County. The Office of Emergency Management also oversees ambulance licensing and coordinates the Local Emergency Planning Committee which compiles information on hazardous material facilities. While Adams County is committed to being a trusted leader in emergency management, we want to emphasize personal preparedness as the most effective and primary method for being ready. For more information, visit www.co.adams.org/oem and follow us on Facebook.

Register your cell phone for FirstCall emergency notification: Be ready! In an emergency situation where there’s a significant risk, FirstCall contacts home landline phone numbers for residents of Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn and Unincorporated Adams County. Now emergency alerts can also be sent to cell phones, but you must register your cell phone number. This service is free—and you can reregister the same cell phone number under different addresses (home, school, work). Some of the notifications that you might receive include: • Missing children or persons • Major structure fires • Hostage situations • Hazardous material spills • Shootings • Natural disasters. To register a cell phone for FirstCall, visit https://alertregistration.com/adamscountyco. You can also sign up for non-emergency “Notify Me” alerts on the Adams County website: www.adcogov.org. “Notify Me” alerts include community event announcements, public hearings, public safety announcements and more! FirstCall should be considered a supplemental notification system. Weather alerts can be received via a NOAA weather radio and by monitoring the news media. The following Adams County municipalities support their own independent notification systems: Arvada, Aurora, Federal Heights, Thornton and Westminster. Visit each city’s website for more information.

olorado State University Extension has been assisting Coloradoans since 1914. It serves 59 counties which represent diverse landscapes and populations. CSU Extension-Adams County is your connection to the research, technical information and expertise of your land-grant university. The department offers a wide-range of services— strengthening families, advancing agriculture, empowering youth and managing natural resources. In 2011, CSU Extension-Adams County provided programs for more than 18,354 youth and adults. For a complete overview of services visit www.colostate.edu/depts/coopext/adams/. Did you think 4-H was just for farmers’ kids? Think again. 4-H fosters life skills in all youth, ages 5-19, through projects involving natural resources and family and consumer science. It is also expanding into science, technology, engineering and math. Both urban and rural children develop strong leadership, organizational and public speaking skills. Agriculture and natural resource agents are available to address specific landowner problems, from managing weeds and offering master gardener classes to fire protection and beetle kill. Consumer Science Training is also offered covering financial literacy, adult communication, parenting and anger management. Last year, the Adams County Small Acreage Program assisted landowners in developing and improving their properties—handling over 1,200 phone calls and 1,400 email requests and making over 100 site visits. Partnering with local conservation districts, the program distributed over 9,000 trees to landowners in the area. The Horticulture Program served 1,018 clients in 2011, with 36 volunteer master gardeners donating over 1,000 hours of service to Adams County. In addition, the Horticulture Program won the 2011 Plant Select Showcase Garden Award for its Xeric Demonstration Garden located at the Adams County Regional Park. For over 100 years, CSU Extension has met the needs of Colorado communities. Discover this great resource and help us build a stronger, healthier Adams County. Eight-year-old Lauren Kornman has been active in Adams County Mini 4-H since she was four years old. She is excited to show Gumdrop at the Market Swine Show during the Adams County Fair. Good luck Lauren!

Front Range Airport and Spaceport Colorado

id you know Colorado has the nation’s second strongest aerospace economy? Over 188,000 residents are in space-related jobs or employed by private space companies, bringing in $4 billion in annual revenues to the state—and the momentum continues to build. Why? Because one of the largest general aviation airports in the U.S., Adams County’s Front Range Airport, is on its way to becoming a spaceport, a first for Colorado. On December 7, 2011, Governor John Hickenlooper formally announced his request that the federal government designate Colorado a spaceport state, with Front Range Airport as the state’s first spaceport site. Colorado will join Alaska, California, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia as designated spaceport states—part of a global hub. Spaceport designation allows a facility to offer suborbital tourism, travel and cargo transport from one point to another on Earth. Many consider commercial space—with untapped opportunities for transport, tourism and economic development—as the next frontier in America’s transportation system. No vertical launches are planned at Front Range, unlike most of the other eight certified U.S. spaceports. Instead, space planes—an emerging technology—will use standard runways and jet engines to take off and land, switching to rocket power above 50,000 feet. Spaceport Colorado has already achieved a major milestone with the passage of Senate Bill 12-35, limiting liability for spaceflight activities. Senate Bill 12-35 captured the attention of the nation’s spaceport watchers as it passed both houses with full support and was signed by Governor Hickenlooper on April 19, 2012 at the Colorado Space Coalition Luncheon held in Colorado Springs during the 28th Annual National Space Symposium. Before spaceport operations can begin, Front Range Airport must go through a six-month application process to obtain a horizontal launch spaceport license through the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation. It is feasible that the license could be obtained as early as fall of 2013, following a six-month application review process. The terminal underwent renovation in 2011 to meet the standards of fractional aircraft operators, as well assist in marketing Spaceport Colorado. Renovation included a state-of-the-art customer service center, pilot lounge, weather room and conference and meeting rooms. In addition, upgrades were made to the Aviator Bar and Grill—a full-service restaurant and bar with expanded seating and refrigeration to allow a higher level of aircraft catering as well as event catering in the terminal and executive hangar.

It sounds like science fiction, but commercial spaceflight is fast becoming a reality. In June of 2012, NASA and the FAA announced they had signed an agreement to establish licensing standards for commercial missions to the International Space Station. Just the name “Spaceport Colorado” is already bringing business to Front Range Airport. For the same reasons that Front Range can be a spaceport, i.e. remote but convenient and excess capacity, it can be a local terminal for Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) operations. Seizing the opportunity at hand, Front Range Airport is negotiating with a company that will operate a fullmotion Airbus-320 simulator for airline pilot training. That training will morph into “remote pilot” training for UAS and then “space pilot” training.

Housing Authority

he Adams County Housing Authority (ACHA) owns and manages 1,142 affordable housing units, providing over 3,900 county residents a place to call home. By administering 1,460 housing choice vouchers and 42 public housing units for the elderly and disabled, ACHA is able to provide even more families with quality, affordable housing options. 2011 Program Highlights: In 2011 the Housing Authority was the managing partner of the Adams County Neighborhood Stabilization Program. ACHA has been responsible for spurring the growth of at least 20 private companies and providing over 115 private sector jobs. This program, launched in 2009 with grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is administered in partnership with Adams County and the Colorado Division of Housing. The purpose of the program is to fund construction and rehabilitation activities that will help to stabilize local communities faced with high numbers of foreclosures. To date, there has been a total investment in the local economy of $7.3 million.

In 2011, ACHA received a grant to provide energy efficiency improvements to the apartments at the Village of Greenbriar in Westminster. The money enabled ACHA to provide the 236 affordable housing units with new energy efficient hot water heaters, thermostats, windows and doors, as well as to improve the insulation in the buildings. Whether staving off homelessness, preventing foreclosure, providing affordable housing opportunities or stabilizing local neighborhoods, the Adams County Housing Authority continues to benefit Adams County residents through its programs and services. For more information, please visit us at www.adamscountyhousing.com.

Human Services

Adams County Housing Authority is a HUDapproved Housing Counseling Agency, providing county residents with education and resources regarding the home buying process, mediating landlord/tenant disputes and providing foreclosure prevention services. In 2011, the housing counseling team served more than 2,000 families. In the fall of 2011, HUD launched the Emergency Home Loan Program (EHLP). ACHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Housing Counseling Department was selected by Colorado Housing and Finance Authority to administer the EHLP program for the state. ACHA was one of the top five agencies in the nation submitting applications and receiving approvals. Because rent is not the only expense for residents each month, ACHA continues to seek ways to help residents save money on utilities.

The Human Services Department works to protect children and at-risk adults, to administer cash, food and medical assistance benefits to eligible Adams County residents, and to ensure that all children receive the financial and medical support they deserve from each parent. 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. To accomplish these goals, it works with partner agencies to assist those in need. 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 2011, Adult Protective Services received an average of 63 adult protection referrals and managed 112 cases per month. Child Support Enforcement Program Child Support Enforcement collections, distributed to custodial parents to help support their children, continued to increase in 2011, exceeding $31.6 million. Services are available to citizens with a $20 application fee, which is waived for those receiving public assistance. Children & Family Services In 2011, the Children & Family Services Division received 8,486 reports of child abuse and neglect involving 12,000 children. The Children & Family Services Division completed 3,428 child abuse and neglect assessments involving over 6,500 children. Social casework services, including case management, out-of-home placement and in-home services were provided to over 1,200 children and their families. Caseworkers completed 22,460 face-toface contacts with children and parents in 2011. Over 135 Adams County foster homes provided out-of-home care for an average of 679 children who had experienced abuse or neglect. Of that total, 569 children (84 percent) were placed with relatives or in a foster care family setting. During 2011, 448 children/ youth left foster care. Of those, 155 (35 percent) were reunited with their parents, 80 (18 percent) were placed with relatives, 155 (35 percent) were adopted, 30 (6 percent) youth were emancipated, and 28 (6 percent) youth were transferred to another agency.

Colorado Works/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Colorado Works is Colorado’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Applicants who are either pregnant or have dependent children and meet other eligibility requirements, can receive monthly basic cash assistance payments, help with emergency household expenses and/or services such as counseling, job training, prenatal and parenting education, military family assistance, medical clinics and housing assistance. In 2011, 3,676 new applications were processed and a monthly average of 1,028 open cases received assistance or information about programs funded by TANF. Approximately 3,500 families were served, in core case management programs in 2011, including TANF Basic Cash Assistance, post-TANF and the CHOICES vocational training program. Approximately 28,000 families were served through the 25 programs funded by TANF, including vocational training, housing assistance, military family assistance and others that promote self-sufficiency. 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 2011, 2,979 new applications were processed and 2,760 open cases were managed per month. These efforts resulted in about $10.6 million in benefits being distributed to Adams County’s needy in 2011. Adult Medical Assistance Medical Assistance is available to eligible individuals through various Medicaidbased programs, such as Home and Community Based Services, Spousal Impoverishment, Nursing Facilities and Supplemental Security Income, as well as the Old Age Pension Health and Medical Care Program. During 2011, Adams County had a monthly average of 6,610 Adult Medical Assistance Only cases, representing a four percent increase over 2010.

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 provides medical and dental coverage for eligible children age 18 and under who do not qualify for Medicaid. The department handled an average Family Medicaid monthly caseload of 21,118. This is an eight percent growth over 2010. Head Start During the 2010-11 school year, 609 children and their families received high quality services through Adams County Head Start. This is a federally funded program that provides comprehensive early childhood education services to preschool-aged children in low-income families residing in Adams County. Food Assistance (FA or SNAP) Food Assistance assists low-income households with monthly food benefits —supplementing the household’s nutritional needs for the month. With the economic downturn, Food Assistance has experienced significant growth to meet the nutritional needs of Adams County. We served on average 20,450 households each month in the Food Assistance program, which is an increase of 18 percent from 2010. During 2011, over 21,228 households applied for Food Assistance benefits and over 36,000 reapplied for assistance. Over $88 million in benefits were distributed to Adams County households in 2011. 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 2011, over 13,300 Adams County households were assisted with LEAP.

Veterans’ Service Office The Veterans’ Service Office assists veterans, surviving spouses and dependent children in filing claims through the Veterans’ Administration and aids in the appeals process through the Board of Veterans’ Appeals in Washington, D.C. In 2011, the office assisted 2,467 veterans and their families and helped generate $5.6 million in VA benefits. 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. Our commitment is to help each job seeker develop a customized career path. Scholarships are available to eligible adult and youth participants for training and education to build job skills. In 2011, the center served over 67,000 customers and 442 employers. Individuals interested in using Colorado Workforce System resources may register online at www.connectingcolorado.com. Applicants may register for classes or workshops and apply for scholarships by contacting the Workforce & Business Center at either of two locations: 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy., Brighton 3538 Peoria St., Ste. 511, Aurora

Children & Family Services On any given day, there are approximately 25 Adams County children who are legally freed for adoption and still need adoptive families. They have been abused or neglected and 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.

Brandon, 9 1/2 Brandon is active and has a good sense of humor. He rides a bike with training wheels. He enjoys building with Legos, playing with toys and reading about the solar system. He can often be found searching for insects and reading about them. Brandon continues to make progress in his overall development. He is curious and has many questions about his environment. He needs a twoparent adoptive family, with a stay-at-home parent who understands his needs and enjoys watching him accomplish tasks on his developmental level. Brandon requires a structured, stimulating and nurturing environment.

Isaac, 9 Isaac is full of energy and likes to be on the go. He likes playing foosball and sports. Isaac makes friends easily. He enjoys being the center of attention and will openly talk about whatever is on his mind. Isaac is very smart and curious; he likes to know how things work. With support, he performs at grade level in all his subjects. Isaac would benefit from firm and loving structure. He needs an active family who can keep him busy. Isaac would do better as the youngest in his adoptive family.

Twillil, 11 Twillil is an enthusiastic boy full of positive energy. He enjoys building with Legos and playing with cars. Twillil would benefit from a patient, confident adoptive parent who can 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 instruction 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.

Rose 12, George 11, Dacoda 7 Rose is a smart, sensitive girl and talented writer. She is caring and helpful with her little brother. She thinks things through and takes time to consider others. Rose would do well with a nurturing mother. George is smart and enjoys reading and playing outside. He is exploring who he is and where he belongs. George needs a nurturing family with a strong male role model who will be patient with him as he works through his feelings. Dacoda is a happy, smiling, little boy. He is charming and fun to be around. He gets along well with both adults and children. Dacoda is full of energy and likes to be moving. He has made amazing progress while in foster care. He uses a wheelchair and requires lifting. Rose, George and Dacoda would benefit from an adoptive family who can address their individual needs and show them how special they are.

Could you be the adoptive parent for any of these children? Call 303.412.5118 or visit www.adcogov.org to learn about the adoption process and other waiting children. 19

Open Space Sales Tax Report 2011

Lambertson Lakes

ear Citizens, This is the 13th year for the Adams County Open Space Sales Tax Program. Next year will mark the halfway point of the program which began in 2000 and sunsets in 2026. It has been an outstanding program for the citizens of Adams County. The Adams County Open Space Program had a record year in 2011. Over $3 million was distributed directly back to Adams County jurisdictions for use in their parks and open space programs. These funds were used for a variety of projects from tree planting and community events to updating equipment at recreation centers. The grant program awarded almost $12 million in grants for projects throughout Adams County. The projects included five land purchases of close to 150 acres, multiple trail construction projects, park renovations and recreation center enhancements. The spring 2012 grant cycle was particularly difficult for the Open Space Advisory Board (OSAB). We were lucky with the previous two grant cycles, spring 2011 and fall 2011, when we were able to fully fund all project requests. In contrast, during the spring 2012 grant cycle, there were 22 project applications requesting almost $12 million with only $9 million available to award. In the end, the OSAB was able to fund 21 of the projects, either fully or partially. Because the applicants took a second look at their requests and made significant cuts to their own budgets, the OSAB was able to ensure that most of the projects received financial support from the Open Space program. As the OSAB chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the applicants for making those cuts and helping the board make these difficult decisions. Parks, open spaces and trails are valuable components of our community. The Open Space Advisory Board is proud and honored to represent the citizens of Adams County and make recommendations for them to the county commissioners who are the stewards of this sales tax and who ensure that parks, open space and trails continue to be an important part of Adams County. Ed Hickel, Chairman Adams County Open Space Advisory Board

Open Space Advisory Board

L-R: Merle Menin, Christy Dowling, Gloria Rudden, Edwin Hickel, Scott Jaquith, John Strider, Susan Worth

The Open Space Sales Tax was approved by Adams County voters in 1999. The sales tax is one quarter 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 2 percent is allocated to administration costs n 30 percent is distributed back to the jurisdiction where the tax was generated n 68 percent is awarded through a competitive grant program The Open Space Advisory Board, a seven-member board appointed by the county commissioners, reviews all grant applications and makes funding recommendations. The Board of County Commissioners makes the final decision on all grant applications. To date, the Open Space Sales Tax has generated just over $97 million for parks, recreation and open space projects throughout Adams County. The Open Space Advisory Board meets on the fourth Thursday 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.

2011 Open Space Sales Tax Funds Distribution (30 percent of funds) Arvada

23,236.05

Aurora

387,382.05

Bennett

17,371.95

Brighton

276,026.96

Commerce City

276,897.27

Federal Heights

69,217.26

Northglenn

232,524.48

Thornton

762,254.01

Westminster Unincorporated Adams County

431,023.81 591,800.68

Total 3,067,734.52 $

Eastlake Heritage Trail

Planning 2% Land Acquisition 29% Park & Trail Renovation 29% Operations, Maintenance, Services 9%

Savings for Park & Trail 1%

Barr Lake State Park

Barr Lake Appreciation Day

2011 Open Space Sales Tax Grant Distribution (68 percent of funds) From the fall of 2011 to spring of 2012, the Open Space Sales Tax Grant Program allocated $11,779,073.60 to these projects: ADAMS COUNTY 112th Ave. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 120th Ave. South Platte River Pedestrian Bridges & Trail Project Roger Harvey, 303.637.8005 Project Summary: This project includes design and construction of a 290-ft. bridge over the South Platte River, design and construction of a 70-ft. bridge over the Bull Seep Canal and two miles of gravel surface on the South Platte River Trail between 112th Ave. and 120th Ave. Grant Award: $675,000 Clay Street Community Trail Marc Pedrucci, 303.637.8014 Project Summary: The Clay Street Community Trail will be a new multi-use 10-ft. wide concrete trail in southwest Adams County connecting the Guardian Angels neighborhood to the existing Clear Creek Regional Trail. Grant Award: $1,500,000 Anythink Libraries Wright Farms Nature Explore Park (Sponsored by City of Thornton) Pam Sandlian-Smith, 303.405.3299 Project Summary: Anythink Librariesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Nature Explore outdoor classroom will provide children spaces for building, exploring natural materials and making music and art at the Wright Farms branch near Holly St. and 120th Ave. Grant Award: $66,687

Aurora Darby Lateral Trail Underpass Tracy Young, 303.739.7166 Project Summary: This grant will fund construction of a trail underpass at Tower Road near 38th Ave. to eventually link a regional trail to the High Line Canal Trail and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Grant Award: $133,297 Singletree Park Shade Structure Tracy Young, 303.739.7166 Project Summary: The city of Aurora will construct a Shade Structure and seating within the off-leash dog park area of Singletree Park located at E. 58th Ave. and Dunkirk St. Grant Award: $20,000 Star K Buffer Acquisition Pat Schuler, 303.739.8947 Project Summary: Grant funds will help purchase 34.162 acres of buffer property directly adjacent to the Morrison Nature Center and Star K Ranch. Grant Award: $1,500,000 Urban Naturalist Education Initiative Mary Ann Bonnell, 303.859.8911 Project Summary: The overall goal of this project is to increase awareness and appreciation for basic natural resource concepts for the urban and suburban family. Grant Award: $3,500

BARR LAKE Barr Lake State Park 7th Annual Lake Appreciation Day (Sponsored by Adams County) Michelle Seubert, 303.655.1495 Project Summary: Lake Appreciation Day is an annual event at Barr Lake designed to increase public awareness of water quality and other issues facing lakes and waterways through volunteer work and fun activities. Lake Appreciation Day this year is July 14, 2012. Grant Award: $2,770 BENNETT Civic Center Park Phase I Trish Stiles, 303.644.4506 Project Summary: Civic Center Park will include a trailhead, a trail to the west connecting to the Community Center, a community garden, an area for a farmers market and a veterans memorial at Highway 79 and S. 1st St. Grant Award: $647,150 Park-to-School Trail Connection Trish Stiles, 303.644.4506 Project Summary: Sidewalks, striped bike lanes and crosswalks will be installed near the school campus and along Palmer Ave. to connect with the existing trail system. Grant Award: $32,560 Trupp Park Phase I Trish Stiles, 303.644.4506 Project Summary: Trupp Park is a 7.1-acre community park in the town of Bennett that will be redeveloped. This project will include drainage and water quality improvements that will serve as a foundation for future recreational enhancements. Grant Award: $50,000 23

Bennett Parks and Recreation District Pool ADA and Senior Enhancements Project (Sponsored by Town of Bennett) Chris Raines, 303.644.5040 Project Summary: To increase the safety and accessibility of the Bennett Parks and Recreation Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pool, located at 455 S. First St., BPRD will install ADA doors, non-skid mats and an ADA staircase in the therapy pool. Grant Award: $65,000 BRIGHTON Eagle Preserve Acquisition Gary Wardle, 303.655.2135 Project Summary: These funds will help purchase 42.2 acres adjacent to Lutz Lake, Higgins Lake and Meggers Lake at approximately Eagle Blvd. and S. 27th Ave. Grant Award: $400,000 COMMERCE CITY Fairfax Park Renovation Phase 2 Active Traci Ferguson, 303.227.8788 Project Summary: Fairfax Park Renovation Phase 2 Active includes a re-designed court area with two basketball courts, two tennis courts and the undergrounding of power lines in and adjacent to the park along Fairfax Dr. and 69th Ave. Grant Award: $529,000 Fairfax Park Renovation Phase 2 Passive Traci Ferguson, 303.227.8788 Project Summary: Fairfax Park Renovation Phase 2 Passive includes a perimeter trail, additional landscaping, new large shelters and associated tables, BBQ grills, trash cans and a new parking lot. Grant Award: $465,000 Gifford Park Improvements Traci Ferguson, 303.227.8788 Project Summary: This park, located at 6120 Monaco St., will receive updates including replacement of the plastic playground border with concrete, additional play components, a new shaded bench and a new table top. Grant Award: $13,000

Background: Don Anema Memorial Skate Park

Recreation Center Enhancements Karen Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell, 303.289.3751 Project Summary: The project will include Youth/Teen enhancements, Senior Lobby enhancements and infrastructure enhancements to the Commerce City Recreation Center located at 60th Ave. and Parkway Dr. Grant Award: $325,579 Eagle Creek Metropolitan District Eagle Creek Park Renovations (Sponsored by City of Commerce City) Jeff Erb, 303.770.2700 Project Summary: The Eagle Creek Park Renovation will enhance existing park amenities and add new park features, including a climbing wall and half-court basketball court. Eagle Creek Park is located near 96th Ave. and Highway 2. Grant Award: $120,000 NORTHGLENN Danahy Park Renovation Amanda Peterson, 303.450.8950 Project Summary: The city of Northglenn will renovate Danahy Park, replacing the playground and updating site amenities. Danahy Park is located at Roseanna Dr. and Livingston Dr. Grant Award: $67,608 Jaycee Park Improvements Brian Magnett, 303.450.8899 Project Summary: This grant will fund improvements to the 10-acre Jaycee Park, including ball field amenities and fencing, lighting and site amenities at the dog park and restroom renovations. Jaycee Park is located at Leroy Dr. and Irma Dr. Grant Award: $135,000 Pedestrian Underpass at Washington St. on Grange Hall Creek Pam Acre, 303.450.8792 Project Summary: Northglenn will construct a trail underpass on Grange Hall Creek at Washington St. just north of 104th Ave. Grant Award: $435,727

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) Creating a Legacy of Open Space Stewards in Adams County (Sponsored by Adams County) Kacie Ehrenberger, 303.659.4348 Project Summary: Funds will support a position to lead family programs, camps and community outreach at public events and venues, as well as fund scholarships to cover program fees, busing fees and other costs for schools, teachers and families. Grant Award: $64,593.60 RMBO Environmental Learning Center Phase II (Sponsored by City of Brighton) Kacie Ehrenberger, 303.659.4348 Project Summary: This project will complement and expand the Environmental Learning Center through habitat restoration, outdoor restrooms, a park host site and shade for the outdoor classroom. Grant Award: $111,370 THORNTON Big Dry Creek Open Space Preservation and Protection Diane Van Fossen, 303.255.7843 Project Summary: This project will preserve and protect the Big Dry Creek Open Space at 148th Ave. and Williams St. Grant Award: $145,967 Jaycee Park

Big Dry Creek Property, North of 144th Ave. Diane Van Fossen, 303.255.7843 Project Summary: The city of Thornton purchased 59.29 acres of open space along the Big Dry Creek, between Washington and York Streets, north of 144th Ave. Grant Award: $335,081

Little Dry Creek Proposed Commuter Rail Station

Brantner Gulch Regional Trail Underpass at Holly Street Diane Van Fossen, 303.255.7843 Project Summary: This is for construction of a Brantner Gulch Regional Trail bicycle and pedestrian underpass at Holly St., between 123rd Ave. and Holly Cir. East. Grant Award: $361,071 Chemical Application Sprayer Diane Van Fossen, 303.255.7843 Project Summary: The city of Thornton is purchasing a large capacity chemical sprayer to be mounted to the back of a utility vehicle to spray noxious weeds on city open spaces. Grant Award: $600 Lambertson Lakes Master Plan Implementation Diane Van Fossen, 303.255.7843 Project Summary: This project includes preservation and protection of the Lambertson Lakes farm property located at 100th Ave. and Washington St. near original Thornton. Grant Award: $449,245 Pecos Park Rehabilitation Diane Van Fossen, 303.255.7843 Project Summary: This grant will be used to rehabilitate Pecos Park, located near Niver Creek Middle School at Pecos St. and 96th Ave. Contouring and irrigation improvements are planned as well as new site furniture and a skatepark. Grant Award: $530,834 Thornton Disc Golf Course Diane Van Fossen, 303.255.7843 Project Summary: This grant will fund the design and construction of Thorntonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 18-hole disc golf course. Each hole will include concrete tee pads, two basket pin locations and a map of the hole. The disc golf course will be located at Springvale Park and Marshall Lakes/Riverdale Parks located north and south of 136th Ave. east of Holly St. Grant Award: $37,000

Thornton Disc Golf Course Trees Diane Van Fossen, 303.255.7843 Project Summary: This grant is for the purchase and installation of 60 trees at Thorntonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new disc golf course located at Springvale Park and Marshall Lakes/ Riverdale Parks located north and south of 136th Ave. east of Holly St. Grant Award: $18,000

McKay Overlook Open Space Acquisition Heather Cronenberg, 303.658.2142 Project Summary: The city of Westminster will purchase 6.953 acres of land located northwest of McKay Lake along 144th Ave. and Zuni St. to expand the 126-acre McKay Lake Open Space area. Grant Award: $448,700

Westminster Federal Boulevard Trails David Loseman, 303.658.2125 Project Summary: The city of Westminster will construct 4,735 feet of trail along the west side of Federal Blvd. between 92nd Ave. and 97th Ave. and also between 115th Crt. and 119th Ave. Grant Award: $87,500

Westminster Hills Elementary School Open Space Acquisition Heather Cronenberg, 303.658.2142 Project Summary: This grant will be used to acquire 5.12 acres at the Westminster Hills Elementary School site, 80th Ave. and U.S. 36, for open space directly adjacent to the Westminster Hills Park. Grant Award: $408,564

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 located just south of the proposed RTD FasTracks South Westminster Station near 70th Ave. and Federal Blvd. Grant Award: $1,538,670

Westminster Public Safety Recognition Foundation Westminster Public Safety Art Project (Sponsored by City of Westminster) Jim Cloud, 303.465.2198 Project Summary: The Westminster Public Safety Art Project is located at the Westminster Public Safety Building and will honor current, past and future public safety employees for the heroic and day-to-day services they provide. The project will include two life-size bronze figures placed in front of a collage of public safety images on bronze and granite panels. Grant Award: $55,000

Planning for Growth Plan and Transportation Plan and developing a Hazard Mitigation Plan that will be integrated into both the Comprehensive and Transportation Plans. This project is one of the first of its kind in the nation because the Hazard Mitigation Plan will be truly integrated into the land use and transportation plans. The project received a grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs based on this unique approach. The project officially began in May 2012 after extensive preparations. n

Public outreach will continue throughout 2012 as the county is looking for valuable input from residents, business owners, property owners and other stakeholders. If you are interested and would like to get more involved, please contact the Planning & Development Department at 720.523.6800 or email Stacey Nerger, long range planner, at snerger@adcogov.org.

The Planning & Development Department collaborated with the Town of Bennett, Arapahoe County and DRCOG to finalize the I-70 Corridor Economic Assessment, and participated in the kick-off and completion of the town’s Comprehensive Plan.

An Intergovernmental Agreement with RTD was executed for the Gold Line and Northwest Rail corridors in Adams County. This included formation of a citizen-based committee to review and approve the aesthetics at the train stations at Federal Blvd. and Pecos St. We continue to participate with RTD, cities and other agencies on the Gold Line, Northwest Rail, U.S. 36 Corridor, North Metro, the east corridor as it passes through the county and the Northeast Area Transit Evaluation, which looks at long-term transit needs in Commerce City, unincorporated

Officials from Adams County, the City & County of Denver and the Denver Urban Renewal Authority were recognized by DRCOG for partnering in the redevelopment of a major 78-acre urban infill site located near 52nd Avenue and Washington Street.

Highlights of Notable 2011 Accomplishments: n

The Planning & Development Department worked closely with a wide variety of partners, including Adams County Economic Development, Adams County Community Development, the Denver Urban Renewal Authority, the City & County of Denver and EFG Brownfield Partners, to facilitate the remediation and redevelopment of the former Asarco facility in the Globeville neighborhood. Operations at the plant included smelting and refining metals from 1886 until 2006. Adams County and the City & County of Denver adopted a joint urban renewal plan for the site in 2011, with a unique and creative package of financing tools, including a HUD Section 108 loan of up to $10 million from Adams County and a Community Development Block Grant of $750,000 from the City & County of Denver. The result is a 78-acre urban infill site prime for remediation and redevelopment along with creation of up to 1,000 jobs and one million-square feet of commercial/industrial space. This project was recently awarded a Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Local Government Award for collaboration and was one of nine projects within the metropolitan region to achieve such recognition. Recognizing current economic conditions that continued to pose challenges to development in 2011, the Planning & Development Department prepared a temporary policy extending certain

vested development rights and allowing administrative amendments to certain permits. This policy, adopted by the Adams County Board of Commissioners, recognizes that additional flexibility or phasing options may help encourage commercial, industrial and residential development in the short term until greater economic recovery occurs. n

The Planning & Development Department continued to provide key assistance implementing and coordinating the objectives of Open Adams. The department is managing the Quality of Life Survey for a comprehensive measurement of residents’ opinions on the quality and value of services provided by the county. This survey also provides general indicators of quality of life within the county. A report will be finalized and made available to the public later this year. Adams County is in the process of updating the county’s Comprehensive

Unprecedented residential and commercial growth in coming years must be balanced with Adams County’s traditional agricultural roots.

Public Health Adams County and Brighton. For more information on transportation in Adams County, please visit our website page at www.adcogov.org/transportation. n

The department worked with property owners, developers, neighbors and other key partners on several transit-oriented development projects in the Clear Creek Valley of Southwest Adams County near planned light rail stations at Pecos St. and Federal Blvd. The Planning & Development Department created the county’s first notification system related to oil and gas permits through Colorado’s Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. This has provided increased awareness concerning these activities and has also provided a direct link for citizens and other local governments to connect with the state to comment on pending permits and other issues. In this spirit, planning staff members have presented at meetings around the region and have become the county’s primary department for education on the topic of oil and gas development. This has fostered a regional understanding of this issue. Adams County now provides information about pending permits and copies of notification letters for public review on our website at www.adcogov.org/ planning/oil&gas. The Planning & Development Department provides regular demographic analysis based on 2010 Census results. These results are continually updated as data is released by the U.S. Census Bureau. In this capacity, the department serves as the county demographer.

Adams County experienced a 21 percent growth in population between 2000 – 2010 and the county is projected to continue to grow rapidly into the future. Projections indicate that the county’s population will double by 2040. Planning and facilitating this growth will be an important long-term effort that will shape the county’s future. The planning staff looks forward to working with residents, property owners, elected and appointed officials, community partners and others to achieve continued progress in 2012.

ri-County Health Department (TCHD), your “Adams County Health Department,” is well known for providing childhood immunizations and restaurant inspections, but thanks to a national grant, they have become involved in obesity prevention efforts in Adams County. TCHD was awarded a two-year, $10.5 million Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant designed to help address the obesity epidemic in Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties. Using proven, sustainable strategies, such as policy and environmental change, helps make healthy choices for nutrition and physical activity more accessible, more appealing and more affordable to Adams County residents. These range from funding hiking trails, playgrounds and community gardens, to improving nutritional choices in school cafeterias and vending machines, and supporting media campaigns that teach children and their parents about the necessity of healthy food and physical activity. TCHD provided grants to seven Adams County school districts—Mapleton, Adams 12, Adams 14, Adams 50, Brighton, Bennett and Strasburg—to increase access to healthy food and physical activity, including: n

Creating or enhancing school district wellness or health advisory committees and school policies that increase healthy food options in school cafeterias and eliminate unhealthy foods

Funding improved school playgrounds and adaptive physical activity resources for disabled students

Developing new bicycle and skateboard racks to encourage bicycling and non-vehicular travel to schools

In addition, 31 Adams County schools participated in Active Schoolyards Active Minds, a program designed to create functional and inviting schoolyard environments and foster academic success through increased physical activity for students. TCHD awarded community grants to Adams County, Bennett, Commerce City, Rangeview Library District and Thornton to support access to healthy food and increase physical activity, including: n

Installing new community and school gardens

Creating dozens of new outdoor fitness, playground and sports-related stations

Updating or creating comprehensive bicycle, pedestrian and transportation plans, including safety signage and street striping

TCHD also conducted an advertising campaign in English and Spanish to raise awareness about cutting back on extra calories from sugar-sweetened beverages, which account for more added sugar in our children’s diet than any other food. These drinks include soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, flavored water and sweetened tea. TCHD sponsored the Flat 14ers initiative, which encourages school children and adults to increase their level of physical activity by “climbing” virtual 14,000-foot mountains in Colorado. Flat 14ers is a fun, easy way to convert minutes of walking, running, cycling or playing sports into steps toward reaching the summit of a 14er. These Tri-County Health Department projects are vital to Adams County since making healthy choices related to food and physical activity is proven to lower the risk of cancer and heart disease. The grant is now complete, but the benefit to our community will last for decades. For more information, visit www.tchd.org or www.tchd.org/cppw.htm. 27

Public Trustee Carol Snyder, Public Trustee

he Adams County Public Trustee is not an elected official but is appointed by the Colorado Governor. Carol Snyder is serving her second term as the public trustee. The office processes all Releases of Deed of Trust (mortgages on real property when they are paid off or refinanced), as well as foreclosures for real property located in Adams County. We are a fee-funded office and do not receive taxpayer funding from the state or county. The public trustee is not an advocate for borrowers or lenders, but is a “neutral” intermediate administrative agent to assure that Colorado law is followed and that all parties can exercise their legal rights according to Colorado law. Public trustee foreclosure auction sales are held every Wednesday (except legal holidays) at 10 a.m. at 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy., Suite W1000 in Brighton. Please visit the Adams County website for further information regarding the Public Trustee’s Office. During 2011, the Public Trustee’s Office experienced decreases in the volume of both releases and foreclosures, which can be attributed to state and federal efforts to stop the high numbers of foreclosures, along with the “flat” real estate market in general. Even though loan interest rates have been at historic lows, many potential buyers have not had jobs or have not had sufficient down payment funds available to them in order to qualify for loans. In 2011, we processed nearly 43 percent fewer foreclosures than we did at the height of the foreclosure crisis in 2007. Accordingly, since we are fee-funded and have earned less fee revenue over the past few years, we have reduced staff and concentrated on cross-training so staff members can perform several different tasks necessary for our work. We are accountable to the county commissioners, the Governor of Colorado and the Department of Local Affairs for the financial efficiency of our office. We report to all three of those offices on a quarterly basis.

Foreclosures processed since the foreclosure crisis started in Adams County in approximately 2006:

2006 – 4,330

2009 – 5,646

2007 – 6,210

2010 – 4,761

2008 – 5,631

2011 – 3,553

Public Works

o help manage, track and maintain county roadways, the Public Works Department is using science and engineering through its new Transportation Asset Management System (TAMS). As a part of TAMS, the Construction Management and Inspection section completed a road inventory which will be used to track the county’s assets and manage resources more efficiently. The county maintains over 2,600 lane miles with over $640 million invested in these facilities. Public Works will start using TAMS to develop the 2013 road and bridge budget by running fiscal scenarios to maintain the county’s overall road system at an acceptable level of service.

Signals Bridges

Misc. Concrete

Assets in “TAMS”

Signs

Pavements (Roads)

Lights Storm Sewer

For additional information about the day-to-day activities and accomplishments of the department, please go to www.adcogov.org/pw.

Community Project Dupont 3 South, Phase II Project In 2011, the county hired Edge Contractors to construct street and drainage improvements in the Dupont neighborhood. Commerce City and South Adams Water and Sanitation District participated financially in the $2.7 million project, which was completed in April 2012. The project was completed on time and under budget. The county has invested approximately $20 million in street and drainage improvements in the Dupont community since 1990. With the completion of this project, the county will have one more phase of improvements in the community: an 84-inch pipe to connect the street drainage system to the South Platte River. We anticipate completing this last phase within the next couple of years, subject to available funding.

priorities

Examples of implementation since mid-2008

Work to include transparent and consistent bidding practices

Over $45 million in projects have been awarded to multiple contractors following a consistent and standardized process.

Maintain accurate record-keeping

Every construction project undergoes an internal audit.

Better execution of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

We’ve adopted what are called “standard pay items” on our projects that are consistent with the state of Colorado’s construction practices. This helps the county receive more competitive bids and better construction quality.

Increase integration and tasking of all Public Works sections

Geographical Information Systems (GIS), housed in the Engineering section, was expanded to serve the data and mapping needs of all Public Works sections.

Emergency/Inclement weather readiness

The Highways and Fleet sections participated in a series of emergency exercises to be prepared for emergency responses. GIS developed snow route maps, identifying primary and secondary routes.

Defining departmental processes and interface

Maintenance agreements with cities were updated to ensure all county roads are covered by the county or one of its cities.

Responding to new economic realities

Increase of in-house services: All construction projects are managed in-house instead of hiring outside consultants. The Highways section performs bridge maintenance and replacement, pavement crack seal treatment and constructs select paving projects.

Good steward of the public’s money and trust.

Fleet reduced its operational budget by 10 percent in 2011 (approximately $400,000).

Public Works – Transportation

Two of the county’s priority road projects in 2011 were the Washington Street Phase III Project and the completion of the long-awaited Pecos Street Grade Separation. Pecos Street Grade Separation Project Pecos Street was returned to the community in 2011! The long-awaited opening of the Pecos Street Grade Separation took place on Nov. 17, 2011, with special guest Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Greg Nadeau traveling from Washington D.C. to celebrate the completion of the county’s $38.9 million priority project. Over 100 guests attended the grand opening ceremony, including school children, their parents and the administration from the local Guardian Angels School. The students created original transportation-themed artwork which is displayed along the walking path over the bridge. Pictures from the opening ceremony are available on the county’s transportation section of the website: www.adcogov.org/transportation. Washington Street Phase III Project The $7.8 million project provided widening and drainage improvements between the Union Pacific Railroad tracks north of 58th Ave. and 70th Ave. The county hired Scott Contracting. Work began January 2011 and was completed in June 2012—on time and within budget. Pecos Street Grade Separation Project

Regional Transportation Priorities

The county continues to work with its cities to prioritize needed transportation improvements. This process has been governed by an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) among the county and its cities since 2000. Below is the 2010 updated collaborative list of priority projects we continue to work on with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Regional Transportation District (RTD) and Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG): Road & Bridge Projects (Sorted by Priority) I-25 widening from U.S. 36 to 120th Ave.* State Hwy. 44 (104th Ave.) widening from Riverdale Rd. to U.S. 85* State Hwy. 85 & 120th Ave. Interchange* State Hwy. 128 (120th Ave.) widening from Pecos St. to Lowell Blvd.* State Hwy. 287 (Federal Blvd.) widening from 84th Ave. to 104th Ave.* State Hwy. 85 & 60th Ave. State Hwy. 7 at I-76 Interchange* State Hwy. 85 & State Hwy. 44 Interchange State Hwy. 7 widening from 164th Ave. to Holly St.* State Hwy. 95 (Sheridan) improvements from 87th to 91st* Eastern Adams County State Hwy. 79 grade separation with the Union Pacific Railroad in Bennett* Multi -Modal Priority Projects (No Ranking Implied) n Completing FasTracks by 2020* n Park & Ride structures at the following FasTracks Stations: South Westminster Station at 71st Ave. and Irving St. (part of EAGLE P3 – Phase II FasTracks)* Federal at Clear Creek Station (part of EAGLE P3 – Phase II FasTracks) New Park & Ride at I-25 and 144th Ave.* New Park & Ride at I-25 and State Hwy. 7* n Adams County Federal Heights Call-n-Ride* n Discuss capital improvements to enhance Rural Transit Options n Discuss capital improvements to enhance Senior Transit Options n Transportation Management Organization for Adams County* *Projects moving forward in 2012

For more information or to check the status of the countywide list of priority transportation projects, county-only projects, studies and other transportation-related programs, visit the transportation page at www.adcogov.org/transportation on the county’s website or contact Jeanne Shreve, transportation coordinator, at 720.523.6847.

1 PRIORITY: I-25 Improvements

In 2011, two important steps were taken to improve the I-25 corridor:

Planning for the extension of the existing managed lanes from U.S. 36 to 120th Ave. n Starting a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study. n

For the managed lanes, at the time of the writing of this annual report, much progress has been made. CDOT procured a $15 million TIGER IV grant to help fund the construction of the $44 million managed lanes in June 2012. Adams County, along with Thornton, Federal Heights, Broomfield, Northglenn, Weld County, CDOT and RTD are contributing financially to the project as well. Construction on the managed lanes is anticipated to begin in 2013 and take approximately 12 months to complete. Our project was the only Colorado application to receive federal TIGER IV funding! In addition to the managed lanes project, the PEL study will identify ways to improve travel conditions on I-25 between U.S. 36 and State Hwy. 7. The PEL study is anticipated to be complete by early 2013. Providing opportunities for public participation in the PEL study is required and highly encouraged by the county. Visit www.adcogov. org/transportation for additional information.

Stormwater Awareness Adams county Stormwater Utility Implementation project What You Need To Know: Impacts of EPA Mandated Stormwater Regulations for Unincorporated Adams County

tormwater is the runoff after rain and snow storms. As stormwater travels over the urban landscape, its flow increases because roads, parking lots, rooftops and other hard surfaces keep it from absorbing into the ground. This runoff creates a flood risk and picks up many pollutants from these hard surfaces. The EPA’s Clean Water Act regulations require Adams County to implement a Stormwater Quality Management Program. The program includes storm sewer systems for capturing and treating stormwater before it damages rivers, lakes and streams. The EPA regulations also mandate measures to decrease water pollution through increased maintenance of stormwater drainage systems, detecting and eliminating illicit discharges, controlling construction site runoff and implementing best management practices. Non-compliance with EPA Clean Water Act regulations can result in large fines for Adams County and, in certain instances, individual property owners. Adams County identified the critical regulations, capital investments and maintenance programs it must implement and that must comply with the EPA’s stormwater regulations. An initial round of public meetings was recently completed with residents and business owners of unincorporated Adams County. The Board of County Commissioners considered many funding options before selecting a stormwater utility. In 2013, the stormwater utility will charge a fee to all property owners in unincorporated portions of Adams County, west of Shumaker Road. This stormwater fee will be proportional to the amount of hard surfaces on each property, including building roofs and paved parking areas. To view a short video on stormwater issues in unincorporated Adams County, please visit www.adcogov.org/ stormwater.

Sustainability Program

he Adams County Sustainability Program was established in 2009 to advance the county’s commitment to a sustainable future for its citizens and the environmental well-being of the community. The vision of the program is to establish a balance between the financial, community and environmental health of the county. The guiding document for the Sustainability Program is the Resolution to Approve Adams County Sustainability, which was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners in 2010. The resolution authorizes county Green Team members to identify and promote sustainable practices in the county that save tax dollars, assure clean land, air and water, and improve working and living environments that allow the county to thrive today and in the future. The county Green Team consists of approximately 30 employees from across the county who are dedicated to advancing the policies, initiatives and educational efforts of the sustainability program. The program has realized a number of accomplishments. Among them was the creation of the sustainability coordinator position, which is the first position in the county dedicated to advancing the county’s Sustainability Program. This coordinator works hand-in-hand with the county Green Team. Below is a list of other notable accomplishments achieved since the founding of the program. Completed $2.5 million in energy efficiency upgrades at the Detention Center. Implemented through the coordinated efforts of the Sheriff’s Office, Facility Planning & Operations Department and the Sustainability Program, this project is projected to save over 1.1 million kilowatt hours of energy, more than 13,000 gallons of water and $200,000 annually n

Implemented recycling in county buildings

Promoted alternative transportation options for employees during a Commit to Commute Green Campaign

Completed Greenhouse Gas inventory for county buildings

Worked with the IT Department to install energy-saving software in employee computers n

n Developed a Sustainability Management Plan for internal operations

Constructed a community garden

The county identified three key goals for internal operations for 2012. The goals aim to reduce energy consumption by 10 percent, reduce fuel consumption by five percent and increase waste diversion rates by 10 percent. Achieving these goals will save tax dollars, reduce pollutants released into the air and save important natural resources. The sustainability coordinator and Green Team members plan to work simultaneously on achieving these goals while seeking opportunities to begin expanding the program out into the larger community.

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Denver, CO Permit No. 353

General election Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012 Adams County offers three convenient methods for voting: n Requested

Mail-In Ballots will be mailed the week of Oct. 15th. Vote from the comfort of your home and take your time. Request a mail-in ballot online at www.govotecolorado.com.

Adopt -A-Pet at the Adams County Animal Shelter

n Early

Voting available at six locations in Adams County, Oct. 22 – Nov. 2, 2012.

n Early

Voting and Election Day Vote Center locations will be posted on our website at www.adamscountyelections.org. Please check for a location near you.

10705 Fulton St., Brighton, CO 80601 • 303.288.3294