City Treasurer Update August 15, 2013

Monday night I attended the Metro District’s first strategic visioning session to update its renewable water efforts.  The process will run several months, then determine costs for a renewable water solution for the community.  Why does this matter to the City Treasurer?  After we see the numbers for the costs of renewable water solutions we can then see if there’s enough money left in the community to fund the operation of the City.

Currently the City does not have the revenue needed to meet its obligations.  Bills are paid every month, except the big bill, which is street repairs.  I’ve asked that a few dollars be spent to hire an independent qualified person to determine what the cost of street repairs actually is, but it seems a majority of the current members of the City Council do not want to know that number.  One council member made a guesstimate on their own.  It appears the estimate follows reasonable methodology, though I personally have no background to speak to how accurate the number truly is.  He believes the costs run to a couple million dollars a year for a few years, and then tapers down a bit.  I asked around beyond that effort.  A well informed individual on the topic, who is a non-combatant in such discussions, pegged the number higher, at two to three million dollars per year.  In 2013, City Council voted to spend just $500,000 for street repairs.  Conditions proved worse than anticipated, and that number got bumped to $750,000.  I support the Council’s action to increase the spending on streets.  That figure is less than half of the Councilman’s estimate, and maybe only 25% of the non-combatants estimate.  I do not believe we’re currently heading in the right direction on this topic.  The City doesn’t have enough money to do everything it wants, and actually, I’m plenty OK with that.  However, the City does not appear to have the amount of money to do what it needs to do.  And that’s not a good thing in my view.

You need to know that these street repairs needs are not one-time figures, but annual costs.  The longer you don’t fund the needed work, the more the needed work adds up, and worsens.  Roads don’t simply go unpaved.  Their condition deteriorates through normal use and weathering.  When you finally do repair roads that have been neglected, the costs to fix things can get exciting. 

What should we do?  Get a real estimate of the cost to maintain the streets, explain the situation to voters, then ask voters if they want to pay what it costs to have a City, or not.  If we’re $3 million short per year, and there are 3,000 homes, an average cost is $1,000 a year per household, or about $84 per month.  Either it’s worth it to you, or it’s not.  Let’s take a little time and a little bit of money to firm up that rough estimate, put it out there, and let voters say what they want to do.  This isn’t difficult.  You just have to want to do it.  If you’re OK with the cost of water, and with the cost of paving the streets, then you might want to pay a little more to have a rec center, or a city building, or a robust library, or other community amenities.  These things all cost money, and some things are likely a higher priority than others. 

The other financial matter we should think about is the cost to fulfill the entitlements that were granted when new zoning was provided to LaGae North, The Canyons, and LaGae South.  Fees paid by land use interests will cover most of these costs.  We just need to make sure we maintain a robust ability to fulfill the tasks for which we are obligated.

City Council recently conducted interviews for the City’s 7^th manager.  I asked the candidates the same standard question, “What’s the biggest issue facing the City?”  The guy who didn’t get hired said, “Figuring out how to pay for the streets”.  The guy who said, “Figuring out a vision for what the City wants to be when it grows up” starts October 7^th. 

The election for Treasurer, Mayor, Clerk, and one council member in each Ward is coming up in late October to early November.  But the deadline to sign up to run for those offices is fast approaching.  You have to get some other residents to sign your petition to run for office.  If you’re thinking about running, right now is the time to get that lined up.  If anyone is thinking of running for Treasurer, I’d be happy to share my thoughts if you’re interested.  I am not planning to run for a second term.

There’s a ballot question about whether you should elect the Treasurer, or have the City Council appoint the Treasurer.  You may be wondering if we should even have a City.  It’s a fair question, but you must acknowledge the horse is out of the barn.  If you’re happy to get your financial points of view from the City’s communications firm, let the Council appoint the Treasurer.  If you’d like someone who’s not paid by the Council to share views on the financial condition of the City, you might want to elect the Treasurer.

Thanks again for the opportunity you have given to me.

Open House Scheduled for LaGae South (Castle Pines Town Center)

An open house is scheduled for the Castle Pines Town Center (LaGae South) for Wednesday, March 14, 2012 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Castle Pines North Community Center located at 7404 Yorkshire, Castle Pines, Colorado 80108. As with the prior open house, developer representatives will be on hand to discuss the project.

The Castle Pines North Plannng Commission has recommended approval of the proposed project.  The Castle Pines North City Council may consider the proposal at their meeting on March 27th.

State House For Teen Suicide Prevention 63-0

On Monday, the state House Education Committee heard testimony on a bipartisan joint resolution in support of teen suicide prevention.  The Colorado Youth Advisory Council, a group of young people from around the state, brought the resolution to the committee.  If you'd like to read a news story on the effort, the link is:http://www.coloradonewsagency.com/2012/01/24/legislature-step-up-the-fight-against-teen-suicide

The committee voted 13-0 for the resolution, with all 13 members signing on as co-sponsors.

On Wednesday, the full House heard the resolution, with ten members of the House speaking in support of the resolution.  The House then passed the measure 63-0, with all members signing on as co-sponsors. 

The resolution now goes to the Senate for consideration. If it passes, a Task Force of members of the legislature will be formed this summer to consider ideas for legislation in the 2013 General Assembly session.  The effort is aimed at raising awareness and reducing stigma, and specifically sharing "warning signs" with teachers in our schools, as well as how to access resources so that competent mental health care professionals can be put in touch with teens in need of assistance.  The resoluiton suggests the observance of Natioanl Suicide Awareness Week, September 4 - 10.

I was one of the witness before the House Education committee.  They asked for the perspective of a parent who had been directly impacted by the issue.  So, I told them what it was like, that teen suicide was preventable, that teen suicide was unnecessary.  It was not easy to speak on the topic in that forum.  I imagine it was not easy for the legislators to listen.  But, if it helps a teen somewhere along the line, it's the right thing to do, and worth it.

There is an organization here in our area that works with teen suicide prevention.  It's called Second Wind Fund.  http://www.swfmd.org/.  They do a very fine job.  Their funding comes from donations.  I donate money to them when I can.

Whether you're Secretly a Democrat or Secretly a Republican....

I just read a post from a candidate that captures what I think we should be talking about in our community.  It's written by Stephen Allen, candidate for City Council in Ward 3.  Regardless of who you intend to vote for, or your party affiliation, please take a moment to consider his words.  They are right on track.  They matter.

 Dear Friends and Neighbors,

My name is Stephen Allen and I am a candidate for Castle Pines City Council in Ward 3. Let me introduce myself. I am a nine-year resident of Castle Pines. My wife and I moved to the Castle Pines community to raise our family. We feel this is a very special place to live.

I decided to run for City Council because I am concerned about the direction of the current City Council leadership and want to make a change. I share the frustration of many residents who have taken the time to attend City Council meetings, spoken out about issues that concern them, and feel those concerns have been dismissed or ignored.

I believe the current City Council has become preoccupied with issues that do not reflect the interests of the majority of citizens, like pursuing the dissolution action against the CPN Metro District, and voting to authorize an urban renewal authority, which was rejected by an overwhelming majority of voters at the ballot box in November 2010.

If elected to City Council I will pursue three priorities:

Integration. I believe the City cannot move forward with integration without ending the litigation with the Metro District. Since the current City Council voted to dissolve the Metro District in February 2010, the City and Metro District have collectively spent over $500,000.00 on the dissolution litigation.

I believe there is no benefit to continuing the lawsuit. I have been attending City Council and Metro District meetings over the past two years. I have seen the chilling effect of the lawsuit. The elected leaders of the City and Metro District are talking at each other (through their attorneys) and not with each other. I think that is a disservice to our community. Also, if the lawsuit continues, the City is not likely to see any cost savings from integration of services, which was the City's justification for the lawsuit.

The irony is that residents of Castle Pines fund both the City and Metro District though their taxes and mill levies. So, essentially, the citizens of Castle Pines are funding the lawsuit. I personally do not think we are getting a good return on our investment. If elected, I would vote to withdraw the dissolution petition and end the lawsuit. I believe that is the only way the City can move forward and work cooperatively with the Metro District to achieve an integration of services plan that would benefit the citizens of this community.

Transparency. The job of the next City Council is to restore the trust of the citizens of Castle Pines. I believe there are legitimate concerns about transparency and openness in the operation of our city government.

One of the issues is lack of notice and opportunity for the public to provide input in the decisions made by City Council. The City provides the public with the minimum required notice of its agenda for any given City Council meeting. I think the City can do a better job of providing advance notice of its agenda and of public hearings where the input of the citizens is needed. If elected, I would advocate for laws that promote more openness and greater transparency in the operation of city government.

Road Maintenance. I believe that City Council must plan for the future. When the citizens of Castle Pines voted to incorporate, the City took on the responsibility of maintenance of city streets and roadways. That should be a funding priority for City Council.

Although the City Council recently approved funding for pavement repair, the City still needs to study the long-term costs of maintaining those roadways. If elected, I would support a study to determine the costs of maintaining city roadways on a life-cycle basis. Once the City has this information, the City Council can make informed decisions about how to pursue funding for this priority.

Thank you for being an interested and engaged citizen. If you have friends and neighbors in Ward 3 who might be interested in supporting my candidacy, please forward this e-mail to them. If you would like to talk with me or meet some of the other candidates, there will be an open house on Sunday, Oct. 23, from 1- 4 PM at the Merrill's home, 7360 Winter Berry Place.

Please come and invite your friends and neighbors!

Stephen Allen
Candidate for Castle Pines
City Council, Ward 3

City of Castle Pines, Ward 3, includes the neighborhoods of HOA#1, HOA#2, The Retreat, Huntington Ridge, Claremont Estates, Lagae Ranch and the Lodge at Castle Pines.

Comments on Proposed 2012 Budget - City of Castle Pines

Balancing a budget can prove difficult in places like Washington DC.  Similarly, staff has recommended to Council that they adopt another deficit budget for Castle Pines.  Council is planning to spend $1.2 million more than will be taken in for 2011.  Next year Council is asked to spend $223,233 more than it takes in. 

As for money coming into the city, you’re forecast to pay $400,000 for franchise fees associated with utilities and cable TV.  You’re expected to pay $630,000 in fees to the City that are associated with buying a new car.    

What value do you receive in return?  $120,000 pays basic legal services, with an additional $45,000 earmarked for suing ourselves.   $156,000 buys 30 hours a week of City management services.  $132,000 buys 83 hours a month producing financial statements.  “City Hall” rent is $85,000 at a time when we should share space with the Metro District.  $158,000 runs a park with no revenue.  At the same time the Metro District already has a parks manager, and Master Association dues aimed at parks sit idle.  $75,000 will explain to you what a great job is being done by the City, and $16,000 televises Council meetings.  $21,000 pays to ask you to pay more tax to the City, exactly why has yet to be determined. 

Council will consider staff’s proposal.  They can change any item prior to approval.  Oh, that they would.

What’s good news in the budget?  $1.3 million is aimed at our streets.  This time last year staff assured us we only needed to spend $200,000 on street repairs.  While that estimate changed, we still have not determined overall costs to maintain our streets over time. 

You should ask why.

Happily, fresh faces on the new council will soon be seated.  When that happens, talks with the Metro District Board can restart.  I suggest the attorneys and employees be kept out of the room.  Talks should not begin with a list of items to negotiate.  Instead, start with building a social relationship upon which to base the business relationship.  Once you find out you can get along, then start easing into the more substantive discussions. 

When this process produces results, Council can then adopt a revised budget to reflect the opportunities mentioned above.  It’s always important to consider the future, but the next three months need to be focused on slashing costs, and putting our own house in order.

Council Vaults City into Denver Post Headlines One More Time

Castle Pines fight to dissolve Colorado special district gets pricey

By Carlos Illescas
The Denver Post

 

A battle between Castle Pines and a special district over the city's quest to integrate the district into the city is getting expensive and ugly.
More than $500,000 has been spent by Castle Pines and the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District since early 2010, when the city started legal dissolution proceedings.
Much of that has gone to lawyers, consultants and others hired by either side.
The city says that by integrating the metro district into the city, it will be able to provide services at a cheaper rate and save taxpayers money.
But the metro district doesn't trust the city and thinks Castle Pines isn't working with them to come up with the best solution.
So, now the issue is playing out in

(Click for larger map)

court.
The metro district provides services that include water, wastewater, storm draining, and parks and open space to about 3,200 customers.
The district was formed in 1984 and has provided services for Castle Pines residents since then.
After residents voted in 2007 to incorporate as a city, leaders envisioned consolidating the district into the city, but keeping related taxes to provide services or to fund other improvements.
The metro district recently received an extension until February to come up with a dissolution plan. Should the judge approve it, the issue will be decided by voters.
City officials say integrating the metro district into the city would save about $500,000 annually. About half the savings would be in salaries paid to the metro district's manager and finance director.
There would be other savings from consolidation.
Metro district residents now pay high fees and property taxes just for district services — 41 mills, more than half of which covers debt service.
"We want to cut taxes and fees, but we can't do that until we integrate services," City Councilwoman Kim Hoffman said. "It streamlines the process, for no other reason than to make it easier for people to work with us having one entity."
Dwight Kemp, a Castle Pines North Metro District board member, said some of the animosity stems from the timing of the dissolution by the city.
Both sides had been discussing how to proceed, he said, when the council suddenly moved to eliminate the metro district altogether.
"We felt like the city aborted all of our efforts to integrate and do what's best for the community," Kemp said. "The city said, 'You have to go away.' "
While most of the council favors dissolution, Mayor Jeff Huff is against it, saying he wanted more time to study the issue.
Huff also says the money spent by both sides fighting this has gotten out of hand and that it's only going to get worse.
"I expected it would create a protracted legal action, and there would be no assurance of what the outcome would be," Huff said.
Metro district resident Donald Reese agrees that the legal battle is already too costly. But he said, "I don't see how the city can function with an arm out there that doesn't have as much transparency than you would think."

Local Editor Rips Council for Lack of News of Council Election

"City Council Members, 

I am shocked the the city did not find this important to include in their last Citizen or to submit to the local community newspaper.  I would think it important to solicit as much community participation as possible?  Does the city have any plan for communicating this information to its residents? 

http://www.cpngov.com/cityclerk/election2011/index.php. 

Also, three months ago (May 10) was the last update on the city's "Latest News" section of the website. Is there any way to have more current information posted on the city's website or disseminated to local media?" 

Signed, by editor of local paper