Commissioner Mendez to Chair Board in 2001 

Also on January 9^th the County held its annual reorganization meeting, with the Commissioners choosing Jana Mendez to serve as the Chair of the Board in 2001 and Paul Danish as Vice-Chair. Commissioner Ron Stewart will serve as chair of the Boulder County Consortium of Cities. Mendez will also serve on the boards for Workforce Boulder County and for the Recycling and Composting Authority, as well as chair the Boulder County Human Services Coordinating Council. Danish will also serve on the Rocky Flats Coalition of Local Governments Panel, the Denver Regional Council of Governments Board of Directors, and the Urban Drainage and Flood Control Board of Directors. 

At the reorganization meeting the Commissioners also re-appointed department directors and other County officials. In addition, the Board appointed more than 70 residents to County advisory boards and commissions. The Board is recruiting residents to fill vacancies on several of these advisory boards. Call Carol Gardinier in the Commissioners= Office at 303-441-3500 for more information about these vacancies. 

The Commissioners adopted a $174,078,814 Boulder County Budget for 2001 in a public hearing December 12th, including $10 million in grants. The 2000 County Budget adopted in December 1999 was $170,538,639. The Commissioners also certified a 2000 mill levy of 22.245, less a temporary credit of 2.410 mills, making the net mill levy 19.835 mills, which includes a TABOR refund of $669,578. 

Some significant items in the 2001 budget include:

• A new AWorthy Cause@ fund that will benefit local non-profit human service agencies and those they serve. The revenues will be generated by the 0.05 percent sales tax approved by Boulder County voters in the November election.

• A budget increase of $1.76 million to the Capital Expenditure Fund to continue to build and remodel facilities for County offices.

• A downward adjustment in the Recycling and Composting Fund budget to $4.75 million, reflecting the anticipated cost of completing construction and bringing the new recycling facility on line, in addition to operating costs for the facility.

• An increase that reflects a 3% salary adjustment for all County employees in response to the market conditions, plus a 3 to 6% variable merit pool. 

The 2001 Boulder County Budget breaks down into the following funds:

General Fund: $80,058,271

Road Fund: $10,653,060

Social Services Fund: $18,174,096

Grants Fund: $10 million

Recycling Fund: $4,750,000

Developmental Disabilities Fund: $887,250

Emergency Rescue Services Fund: $1,948,998

Worthy Cause: $2,258,400

Retirement Fund: $7,956,961

Conservation Trust: $430,000

Internal Service Fund: $9,447,439

Open Space Bonds CIT I: $11,308,259

Open Space Bonds CIT II: $6,181,325

Capital Expenditures: $9,895,270

Capital Improvement Trust: $129,485 

For more information about the 2001 Boulder County Budget, call Budget Manager Margaret Parish at 303-441-3499. 

Concerning Northwest Parkway 

In a January 9^th public hearing, the Commissioners voted to approve the document officially titled the Intergovernmental Agreement Amending the Southeast Boulder County, South 96^th Street, Dillon Road, and U.S. 287 Area Comprehensive Development Plan Intergovernmental

Agreement. Local government parties to the plan include Boulder County, and the Cities of Broomfield, Lafayette and Louisville. The Northwest Parkway Authority is also a party to the

agreement. To date, Broomfield, Lafayette and Louisville have approved the amended IGA. The Northwest Parkway Authority will consider the IGA at a January 23^rd meeting.

The amended section 4.3 of the IGA outlines how financing proceeds from the Northwest Parkway will be allocated, including the following:

• $36 million will be allocated from the initial Parkway financing proceeds as well as other Authority revenues for improvements to Dillon Road ($12 million); South 96^th Street ($12 million); and West Midway Boulevard ($12 million).

• $20 million will be allocated for open space acquisitions, including perpetual conservation easements and fee title acquisitions. The agreement calls for the Authority to allocate a minimum of $10 million from the initial Parkway financing proceeds and then pay an additional

• $10 million for open space acquisitions from Authority revenues on or before December 21^st, 2008. The open space acquisitions must be within the plan area of the IGA and revenues from the Authority will be divided among the local government parties to the IGA. 

For more details about this amended IGA for the Northwest Parkway, call County Attorney Larry Hoyt at 303-441-3435. 

Commissioners Approve Cardinal Millsite Purchase for Open Space 

After several public hearings to consider the matter, on November 21^st, 2000, the Commissioners approved acquiring the Cardinal Millsite property for open space. The County will acquire about 195 acres of the 265-acre property, which includes patented mining claims west of the first haripin turn on the Caribou Road above Nederland. Two patented millsites are located closest to Caribou Road. The millsites contains a well-preserved mining camp that likely dates from the 1900s. This acquisition will preserve a large tract of fairly pristine forested land from development. The project will also result in the restoration of one of Boulder County=s best preserved mining camps. 

As part of the purchase agreement, the County will agree to create five small lots around the existing historical structures on the millsites for the landowner to retain. Conservation easements covering each residential lot would prohibit the construction of any new structures, but would allow remodeling of existing historical structures and would allow one single family residence on each lot. Any future construction on the lots would be subject to all applicable land use regulations. All building permits would also be reviewed by the County=s Historical Preservation Advisory Board since the structures are more than 50 years old. In addition, any future use of the millsite as a museum would require the landowners to apply to the Land Use Department for approval. 

The County will pay $2000 per acre for the first 175 acres conveyed for open space, and $3000 per acre for any additional open space lands. For more information, call Parks and Open Space Director Ron Stewart at 303-441-3500. 

Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Year 2000 Major Update Public Hearing Tuesday, January 23^rd, at 11:00 a.m. The Board will consider proposed policy revisions and amendments to sections one through eight of the BVCP. The BVCP Year 2000 Major Update is a joint process between Boulder County and the City of Boulder. For more information, call Long Range Planning Manager Pete Fogg at 303-441-3930. 

Consortium of Cities Will meet Wednesday, February 7th, at 7:00 p.m. at the City of Longmont City Council Chambers in the Civic Center Complex, 350 Kimbark, Longmont. For more information, call Intergovernmental Relations Director Dickey Lee Hullinghorst at 303-441-3500. 

Boulder County Days In Longmont Thursday, February 1^st, in Lafayette Tuesday, February 6^th, and in Gunbarrel Monday, March 12^th. For more information, contact the Commissioners= Office at 303-441-3500. 

Planning Commission Meets Wednesday, January 17^th and Wednesday, February 21^st. Both meetings begin at 1:30 p.m., with the Commission taking a dinner break and then reconvening at 7:00 p.m. The meetings are in the Commissioners= Hearing Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse. Fore more information, contact the Land Use Department at 303-441-3930. 

Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee Met Thursday, January 11^th at 7:00 p.m. and Thursday, February 8^th at 7:00 p.m. in the Commissioners= Hearing Room (location listed above). For more information, contact the Parks and Open Space Department at 303-441-3950.

County Offices Closed Monday, January 15^th, in observence of Martin Luther King, Jr=s Birthday; and Monday, February 19^th in observence of Presidents= Day. 

Contract and Bid Awards 

• For Courthouse West Wing suspended acoustical ceiling with ASI Acoustics

• Specialities ($14,967)

• For Courthouse West Wing carpet with CBS Carpets ($20,745)

• For Court Building insulation to RG Insulation ($15,140)

• For Sundquist Building carpet to Sterlings Carpet ($23,250)

• For Sundquist Building light fixtures to Colotex Electric Supply ($19,002) 

• For fire alarm and sprinkler system inspection with EST Service ($21,415) 

• For Novell products to HPW, Inc. ($14,710) 

• For environmental education in schools and collection to Eco-Cycle ($88,433)

• For Transfer Station and spring clean-up to Western Disposal (estimated $67,295) 

• For Skid Steer and Trailer to BobCat of the Rockies ($41,551) 

• For telephone system maintenance service specifications to Verizon, Inc. ($215,955)

• For telephone system expansion and upgrade to Verizon, Inc. North

• Broadway Expanstion $51,383; Recycle Center $20,698; Longmont Courthouse ($69,325)

• For four-wheeled mechanical street sweeper to Faris Machinery ($155,600) 

• For Courtouse West Wing ceilings with Acoustics & Specialities ($14,967)

• For Sundquist Building windows with Hillcrest Glass ($32,200)

• For Courthouse West Wing carpet and base with CBS Carpets ($20,745)

• For Sundquist Building carpet with Sterlings Carpet & Tile ($23,250)

• For Courthouse East Wing granite installation with Rock & Company ($40,496)

• For Sundquist Building ceilings with All Area Acoustics ($12,500)

• For Longmont Courthouse insulation with R.G. Insulation ($15,140)

• For Courthouse West Wing remodel with AMI Mechanical ($109,972) 

• For the 2001 EcoPass program with RTD ($52,199)

• With non-profit Hospice of Boulder County ($8,190) 

• For Carolyn Holmberg Preserve/Rock Creek Farm concrete work with Concrete Structures, Inc. ($20,320)

• For the Pella spillway with G.L. Hoff Company ($91,307) 

• For child support genetic testing with Laboratory Corporation of America (up to $20,000) 

• For 3-year contract for yard waste drop-off with Western Disposal Services (estimated $6,000 per year) 

• For 63rd Street reconstruction project with DeFalco/Lee Construction ($2,057,059)

Boulder County News is published every other month by the Board of County Commissioners. The purpose of the newsletter is to provide information concerning Boulder County Government to Boulder County municipalities and others interested in County information. Whenever possible, contact names and phone numbers are included. Please direct comments and suggestions to the editor, Margaret McKinney, Public Information Officer, at 303-441-3399, or E-mail: mmmco@co.boulder.co.us.