Members Present: Chris Berry, City of Lafayette; Tom Davidson, City of Louisville; Sheridan Garcia, Town of Nederland; Clark Griep, City and County of Broomfield; Mark Hamilton, Town of Superior; Tom McCoy, City of Longmont; Mark Ruzzin, City of Boulder; Ron Stewart, Boulder County; Staff Dickey Lee Hullinghorst and Sheree Stroud

Sheridan Garcia, Town of Nederland, reported that the Board approved a re-zone and P.U.D. for six workforce housing units in cooperation with Boulder County Housing. This is the final project from a 99 ballot issue. They also approved the P.U.D. for a Park n’ Ride on Highway 72. They moved to approve a Memorandum of Understanding between the Town, the Governor’s Office of Energy and Conservation for a project to convert wood chips from forest thinning to produce electricity. They are working to solve the problem of the roof collapse at the Community Center during the big snowstorm and received a FEMA payment of $3,000 to help with that project. They held an Economic Summit to discuss how to enhance the local revenue base.

Tom McCoy, City of Longmont, told members that the City has gained access to rights of Lake McIntosh and will create a master plan for a park. Longmont has budget woes and is looking at a voluntary retirement program.

Mark Ruzzin, City of Boulder, agreed that budget issues present a significant challenge. Boulder is looking at a $14 million cut in the 2004/2005 budget and that may result in about 100 layoffs. There will be a presentation in July and a public hearing process. The fall election is likely to see two tax measures – a dedicated tax to open space and a general fund initiative to address expiration of public safety and other programs. The Open Space Board of Trustees is completing a Visitors Plan to guide future planning. A presentation on prairie dogs revealed that Boulder is close to not having any more properties conducive to prairie dog relocation. Westcor will present a plan to the Council regarding Crossroads Mall.

Tom Davidson, City of Louisville, reported that the new police and municipal court building would soon be going up for bid. The Council will present a ballot issue for a property tax increase to fund a new library.

Clark Griep, City and County of Broomfield, told members that they recently lifted mandatory water restrictions and requested that citizens follow a voluntary program aimed at a 10% reduction. They have sent out a survey on a smoking ban to see what the citizens want. The Mayor is going to Washington, D.C. to help with funding requests for the Wadsworth Interchange. They held an open house for the Master Plan Update Process. They will launch the Alternative Engagement for kids who are winding down from the end of school and Saturday is the Broomfield Trail Adventure Walk/Run event to showcase different trail portions.

Chris Berry, City of Lafayette, said the new Albertson’s opened and the Council also approved a King Soopers. Those and Exempla Health Center will create new employment. He mentioned the philosophy they try to follow: "Grow for need, not greed". They received final approval on their application to join the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. They will not buy shares but new development would bring in water shares. They have also teamed with Boulder and Boulder County to open the 75^th Street Pipeline. The project was completed just before the deadline to preserve the Eagle Nesting Area. They have also passed an ordinance that a percentage of new development must be affordable. Lafayette announced the purchase of 117 acres of open space in the Warembourg parcel and thanked Commissioner Stewart for the County’s help with this project. They are updating their Comp Plan and will draw a growth boundary to the north. The Council passed a user fee for the Lafayette Library and they would really like to pursue the creation of a Regional Library Authority.

Mark Hamilton, Town of Superior, reported that diversification of water supplies worked well. They worked with Erie and Louisville on water projects and netted a DRCOG Award for Cooperation. Their Financial Department won a two COFA awards for their budget. The big news is the restructuring of government bodies that will go on the ballot this fall. They are also trying to put financial policies in place outlining how funds from a mill levy would be handled if the ballot issue passes. They have been presented with a dilemma regarding an historic site that is located half in the town limits and half in the County. The owner doesn’t want the buildings. The McCaslin Interchange received Independent Utility Status for the southwest corner of the cloverleaf. The Council opposed a mail-in ballot for the November ballot issue election but now that the County has approved mail-in ballots for their election, the Council is struggling with what to do.

Ron Stewart, Boulder County, said the County is working on moving the Regional Trails Plan funded by the tax approved in 2001 and have set trail priorities which include: Coal Creek/Rock Creek; Longmont/Niwot/Gunbarrel/Boulder; St. Vrain feeder canal; Longmont/Lyons; Railroad Tracks Boulder to Erie; and others. They are implementing Ballot Issue 1A from 2002 by using funds to offset human services cuts. There is about $3 million so far and they are determining which agencies and departments need to retain services. There are other planning efforts underway for trail opportunities along the St. Vrain Corridor. They hope to open Caribou Ranch by fall 2004 and are working on a management plan. There probably will be two County ballot issues this fall including a modest expansion of the jail and an alternative correctional system and the continuation of the Worthy Cause Sales Tax. This tax funded capital projects and the County is working with non-profits to determine what uses Phase II could address. Commissioner Stewart believes the mail-in ballot system is viable because it results in a 60% vote, which is much higher than average in a non-general election year. Such participation shows that this is what the people want. Another factor is that the County’s election equipment is outdated and inaccurate. They are issuing an RFP for new equipment that would be in place for the 2004 presidential election.

Chris Berry moved to approve the minutes from the April 2, 2003 meeting. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Thom Swanson told the Consortium that this application was actually submitted to the state last month. The project will consist of twelve units for seniors in Lyons. They are working with the Town of Lyons and have leased the land from the town. They hope to begin construction before the end of the year. Tom McCoy moved to support this grant request. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Commissioner Stewart told the group that a list of appointments to the RTC had been prepared and included a good variety of groups with the exception that one more representative of the environmental/civic groups needs to be appointed from southeast Boulder County. Ms. Hullinghorst explained that Mary Blue and Dick McLean will attend from RTD and will alternate their attendance. Chris Berry mentioned that Lafayette would like the right to appoint a member to the Technical Committee at a later time. Commissioner Stewart said that any jurisdiction can come forward later and in fact, there has not yet been an appointment from Lyons. Clark Misner thought that it would be wise to include someone from the US 36 Mobility Group. Everyone agreed they could be included as an ex oficio member. Mark Hamilton wanted to add the language "in coordination with RTD" in the group’s purpose statement. Tom McCoy moved to approve the appointments, recognizing that an additional appointment from the civic/environmental groups needs to be made. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

There was discussion of possible topics for the RTC. Work on the Eco-Pass issue with RTD is an immediate issue. Commissioner Stewart said that the Technical Committee should meet and prepare data for the RTC. The first meeting will be the dissemination of a lot of information to the committee.

Jeff Zayach, Boulder County Public Health Department, reported that the County is well prepared to control the mosquito borne disease of West Nile Virus. There is a very collaborated and coordinated effort in place. He said there has been a huge increase in West Nile Virus between 1999 – 2002 and 2003 will probably be even higher, although it may have been under-reported in the past. The disease was previously concentrated around major drainages, but since this has been a wet year, it will be more widely dispersed this year. The increase is due to a transition of the species that appears in the west that is a more aggressive human feeder. The east coast variety tended to feed on animals. The trend is usually that the second or third years are worse because no immunity has developed yet. Boulder County’s focus is on biological or manual control. 2% of the total program is chemical control. There is surveillance of mosquito traps. Testing results are received within 24 hours and when positive are found, that specific area would be informed and targeted control efforts immediately put in place. They are also trying to educate at-risk populations such as the elderly although it has been difficult to locate all aging populations. There is bird testing. Many horses have been vaccinated so there may not be many horse positives. Encephalitis is another mosquito borne virus so this will help control that disease, too. Mr. Zayach commented on the excellent communication between jurisdictions, including state and local government. He stated that Animal Control officers have also been educated on the disease. If symptoms are found, health officials will be notified immediately. The next step would be notifications to the public and possibly a reverse 911 system could be used to get people inside their homes quickly.

Tom McCoy said Longmont has a 3-step program including voluntary restrictions. Their major supply, Buttonrock Dam, has already run over. Chris Berry reported that Lafayette instituted a mandatory restriction program last summer that resulted in a total reduction of 50%. Currently, restrictions are 3 days a week and people have learned to be more water-wise. Mark Hamilton said that Superior had mandatory 2 days a week at peak of the drought but this year they have a voluntary program although no watering can be done in the heat of the day. They are looking at a water budget that would allocate water to household needs. Clark Griep said that Broomfield’s previous 2 day a week mandatory restriction was lifted and citizens have been asked to voluntarily cut outdoor consumption 10%. There is a permanent ordinance in effect regarding wasting water. Mark Ruzzin said Boulder is on a voluntary program with a 10% reduction goal and they will re-evaluate at the end of July. They just issued an RFP to do a rate study for a water budget. They currently have block rates to encourage conservation. Tom Davidson said Louisville can implement water restriction by executive order so they react quickly if need be. Their system is based on direct flow and storage is full so there are no restrictions in place. Typical users have learned not to waste water and usage has dropped. Rates are tied to increased consumption. Sheridan Garcia reported that Nederland never initiated any drought control measures.

The next meeting will be on August 6 in Louisville.