Jefferson County Newsletter - July 01, 2008

Jefferson County's Budget Prioritization Featured in Magazine :

Jefferson County is featured on the cover of the June issue of Public Management magazine, published by the International City and County Management Association (ICMA), with the headline, "Prioritization: The New Reality in Budgeting?" The magazine's lead story, a six-page article by Jefferson County Budget Director Jon Johnson, Business Process Analyst Chris Fabian and former budget employee Scott Collins, talks about the county's prioritization process that began last year to help avert a $12 million budget shortfall in the general fund.

Read the article: Getting Your Priorities Straight

ICMA was the first of several national organizations to spotlight Jefferson County's budget process, focusing attention on the way the county rallied together with all elected and appointed officials, department and division directors, employees and citizens to find solutions.

Why is Jeffco's budget process so unique that governments around the country want to know more about it? It's simple. Not easy, but simple. In a message to county employees, County Administrator Jim Moore said, "We all worked together. Our county commissioners enlisted the help of all the other elected officials, appointed officials and the county administrator's Leadership Team together in an Organizational Review Committee.  Collectively, we looked at the services provided by the county and prioritized them according to their ability to meet the county's goals."

It was a unique, inclusive, and collaborative way of doing things. Everyone was invited to comment, to be creative and challenge the status quo. No idea was considered too offbeat for consideration.

"It is because of this working together that we were successful," Moore said. "The budget staff and I have been invited to share the lessons we learned with other governments across the country. Jefferson County is considered a leader in this field. Every Jeffco elected official and employee should take pride in this very significant accomplishment. I look forward to working with all of you as we continue this process with the 2009 budget."

Decision Made on Library District :

Jefferson County Public Library will remain a part of Jefferson County Government. After two evening hearings on the proposed formation of a library district, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) voted 2-1 not to accept the proposal by the Jefferson County Public Library Board of Trustees to separate from the county and become a library district.

The Commissioners commended the library for the outstanding service it offers the citizens of Jefferson County and the commitment of employees and volunteers of the library. After reviewing all the information presented, the BCC felt it is in the overall best interest of the county to keep the current structure.

Commissioner Kevin McCasky commented at the time of his vote that he believes that the citizens of Jefferson County have benefited greatly from the outstanding library system and that it is a jewel in the crown of Jefferson County. He praised the committed employees and hardworking, dedicated Library Board of Trustees.

Referring to the data that had been presented by the county and library staffs as they each analyzed the potential impacts of a separate district on library employees, county government, library patrons and county citizens, McCasky said he had heard the analyses for almost two years and been struck by the disparity of the data presented; but added "I have heard nothing to convince me that citizens will see an improvement in library services and nothing that compels me to sever the library's positive relationship with the county."

In her vote against the proposal, Commissioner Kathy Hartman said she can understand the library's desire to gain control of both administrative costs and revenues. But her concerns are with the control and accountability to the voters and taxpayers, as a library district board would be appointed and not controlled by a vote of the people and in fact would add another layer of separation. By statute, county commissioners appoint committees that then appoint library district board members unlike other special districts in Colorado where voters directly elect board members.

Hartman also is concerned about library services in the southern portion of the county.  More than 100,000 residents live in South Jeffco south of Highway 285 and east of C-470, yet it has only one of the county's 10 libraries. With the library giving Westminster $500,000 a year under the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with that city, the underserved South Jeffco area could get even less service.

Commissioner Jim Congrove cast his vote for the library to separate from the county and form a library district, but did not comment when voting.

In a presentation to the BCC made by Administrative Services Director Todd Leopold and Acting County Attorney Ellen Wakeman, the concerns of county staff regarding financial and service implications were outlined. One negative impact covered in the presentation was that although $4.3 million of costs to the county (like payroll costs) would be transferred to the district, another $510,000 in costs previously shared by the library will remain to be redistributed to all other county departments, affecting the budgets for all other county services. These costs include basic functions of government like accounting, human resources, information technology and others.

Wakeman also discussed the IGA that Westminster would require the library to sign if it becomes a district. The IGA would require the library to pay the city $500,000 per year, increasing in future years, without requiring Westminster to use the money to enhance library services in Jeffco.

Jefferson County Assessor Jim Everson submitted a letter outlining his concerns with the formation of a district, including phasing out county administrative services to the library over five years rather then immediately eliminating them at once; revising the IGA with Westminster to ensure that no funds from the library district would be used for anything other than new library services; and being able to demonstrate that the proposal of a new district is either neutral or positive for Jefferson County taxpayers. He concluded by saying, "I would hope that the County Commissioners would require that these issues be satisfactorily resolved prior to granting approval."

Other Jeffco elected officials also shared their thoughts via a joint letter read by District Attorney Scott Storey who said the proposed district comes at a time when the county is experiencing challenging budget issues. This joint letter had the support of Storey, Sheriff Ted Mink, Treasurer Faye Griffin and Coroner Katherine Loughrey-Stemp. They expressed the common concern that the separation of the library would increase the internal service fund amount attributable to each of the elected official's budgets. "The bottom line is that we will be paying more for services provided by the county, and we will be forced to reduce services to maintain our target budget requirements . . . If the BCC grants the Library Board's request, the Sheriff will be forced to cut an additional $250,000. This will result in a reduction of resources which will have a negative impact on public safety."

Storey said that two years ago when the county realized it had a budget crisis, the elected officials initially hunkered down in their own departments and had a "self-serving attitude" about how the budget crisis would affect only their own areas. But as they worked together through the Organizational Review Committee and other efforts, they developed a team spirit, stepping back and looking at things more holistically. "I look at my responsibilities not just for the DA's office, though that is my primary one, but with the well being of the county as a whole." 

A grim picture was presented from the Library Board that, if the library remained as a component of the county, its expenditures would outpace revenues, draining their reserves and making the library unable to serve the citizens and eventually having to close down altogether. However, county staff pointed out that the majority of the cost-saving measures the library was proposing could be done while still within the county system. The savings of $200,000 in cost allocations paid to the county would be more than offset by the $500,000 payment to Westminster, so no operational benefit was inherent to a change to a district. The library provided no specific analysis that showed that creating a district alone would alleviate its budget issue. 

The consensus of the Board of County Commissioners and staff, who have worked for the last two years to analyze the impact of the library separating from the county, is that the Jefferson County library system has operated very successfully as a relatively independent unit of Jefferson County government and there is no reason it can't continue to do so. The system has grown and thrived and been noted as one of the best in the state with nearly 20 awards for service and outstanding achievement.

As Jefferson County Administrator Jim Moore stated in his letter to citizens dated June 13, "We are proud of the library services provided to our citizens. Let's not mess with success."

New c-470/Alameda Interchange Open Ahead of Schedule :

The new interchange at C-470 and Alameda opened ahead of schedule on June 26, 2008.

The full movement interchange establishes an important transportation element in the area by providing an alternate access route to the US 6/Union/Simms and C-470/Morrison interchanges, which currently serve the Lakewood area, particularly Green Mountain.

Contemplated since the inception of C-470, the Alameda Interchange finally came to fruition last year through the collaboration of Jefferson County, City of Lakewood, Town of Morrison, Colorado Department of Transportation and the Green Tree Metropolitan District. Jefferson County loaned $6 million and the City of Lakewood loaned $3 million so the interchange construction could move forward.

The interchange not only provides a solution to traffic, it serves as a seed for economic development. Having a transportation network that is efficient and effective and contributes to the local economy by attracting primary jobs is a goal of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners. The direct access to C-470 and nearby I-70 makes it attractive to corporations.

In Jeffco, for every one dollar of taxes homeowners pay, businesses pay three dollars. This revenue enables the county to maintain the transportation system and provide law enforcement and other services. It also brings in the major share of revenue to operate Jeffco Schools.

The Environmental Assessment (EA) was completed in 1999 with a Finding of No Significant Impact. The EA findings included a recommendation to partially close Alameda Avenue west of C-470 (over the Hogback), assisting the preservation of Dinosaur Ridge paleontological elements and increasing safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. This decision was made jointly by Jefferson County, the City of Lakewood and CDOT, and was validated through the EA process. Dinosaur Ridge, which has been designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service, will remain accessible for visitors. The restricted access with the partial closure will allow access for emergency vehicles and provide a safe environment for pedestrians and bicyclists to view the fossils on Dinosaur Ridge.

The new C-470/Alameda interchange also provides access between C-470 and the north end of the Rooney Valley.

The Rooney Valley lies on both sides of C-470 along the Dakota Hogback south of I-70 to Morrison Road and includes land in unincorporated Jefferson County, the City of Lakewood and the Town of Morrison.

Jefferson County Clarifies the Use and Possession of Fireworks :

With the Fourth of July rapidly approaching, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office would like to clarify Colorado law as it applies to the use and possession of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Jefferson County.

A good rule of thumb: any device that explodes or leaves the ground is most likely illegal in Colorado. Illegal fireworks include but are not limited to firecrackers, cherry bombs, bottle rockets, M-80's and Roman candles. It is illegal to sell, use or possess non-permissible fireworks in unincorporated Jefferson County. Additionally, all fireworks are prohibited in Jefferson County Open Space Parks, Denver Mountain Parks and Forest Service lands.

Colorado law defines permissible fireworks as any device that does not explode or leave the ground. Examples of permissible fireworks are cylindrical or cone fountains, sparklers, toy smoke devices, snakes and glow worms. Keep in mind; while permissible fireworks may seem harmless, they continue to account for many fireworks-related injuries each year. 

To report illegal fireworks, residents may call the Jefferson County fireworks hotline at 303-271-8025. Residents may also call the hotline for information on where to purchase legal fireworks and for a list of area public fireworks displays.

Jefferson County deputies will strictly enforce illegal fireworks violations in the unincorporated areas of the county this coming holiday. Any person who violates the laws pertaining to the sale, possession and/or use of fireworks commits a class three misdemeanor and may face a fine of up to $750.

For more information on fireworks safety, visit our Web site at www.jeffcosheriff.com.

Jefferson County Food Drive Assists Local Food Banks :

The Board of County Commissioners issued a proclamation supporting the 14th Annual Jefferson County Employee Food Drive, sponsored by the Department of Health and Environment and the Department of Human Services. It ran from June 10 - June 17, 2008.

This drive is crucial because donations and food stocks are typically lowest during the summer months. Donations from this food drive are given to the Jeffco Action Center, Arvada Food Bank and Evergreen Christian Outreach Center.

Jefferson County employees contributed over 2 tons of food (5,483 lbs.) and approximately $417 this year, which is tremendous considering the high food costs. As usual however, employee's stepped up to the plate and contributed to a great cause.

Submit Your Photos of Jefferson County!

Do you have interesting or dramatic pictures of Jefferson County? Share them with our readers!

The photos will be showcased on the Jefferson County Web site and one may be selected each month to appear in the county's eNewsletter.

Visit the Jefferson County Web site for all of the details and specifications on how to submit.

Airport Open House Update Goes Here :

Waiting on updated info from airport on number of people attending, most popular events, etc. Don't know how much, if any, of the content below will be included.

Three time U.S. National Aerobatics Champion Patty Wagstaff headlined a day of aviation entertainment (in the sky and on the ground) at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport's annual Open House on June 7. 

The Open House is from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is free to the public. The airport expects more than 100 aircraft on display and 20,000 people in attendance.

Wagstaff is the only woman to win the national aerobatics title and is a six-time member of the U.S. Aerobatic Team. She will perform aerobatics in her high-performance Extra 300S airplane. The 350-horsepower, propeller-driven plane was built in Dinslaken, Germany by Walter Extra. She has won numerous aviation awards and her Goodrich Extra 260 airplane is on display at the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum, in Washington, D.C., where it hangs next to Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega. This is her first time performing in the Denver metro area.

She joins loud, heart-pounding and fast demonstrations from Air Force and Navy fighter jet teams, the Coast Guard C-130 Hercules, WWII bombers and assorted flybys. The Open House also includes educational and entertaining ground displays of military aircraft, Warbirds, corporate jets, U.S. military exhibits, war heroes and more. The Jeffco Airport Association (JAA) will host its annual "fly in" which includes an estimated 80 airplanes.

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic :

Table Mountain Animal Center is hosting a low cost spay/neuter clinic on June 19. There will also be a time for vaccinations and licenses. Available slots fill up fast, so please call early.

Busters Natural Pet Supply
27122 Main St #125
Conifer, Co. 80433
(at the new Conifer Safeway shopping center)

Saturday, June 19 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Spay/Neuter by appointment only
Dogs: $60 (no dogs over 55 lbs.)
Cats: $40
Rabbits: $75

Walk-in vaccination, microchip and dog license station at the same location
from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Walk-ups welcome
Cat vaccines: $30 (includes rabies, distemper)
Dog vaccines: $35 (includes rabies, bordetella, distemper)
Microchip: $35 (Can also be done at any time at TMAC during regular business hours for both cats and dogs. Price includes registration)
Jeffco Dog License: $15, altered; $30, unaltered

With the addition of the mobile vet clinic, Table Mountain Animal Center also offers low cost spay/neuter procedures. To make an appointment for a spay/neuter procedure please call Shell at 303-278-7575 x 105 or through email at customercare@tablemountainanimals.org.