COUNTY OF SUMMIT

STATE OF COLORADO

RESOLUTION 10-17

A RESOLUTION OPPOSING PROPOSITION 101 AND AMENDMENTS 60 AND 61, URGING THE VOTERS OF FRISCO TO VOTE AGAINST THESE PROPOSITIONS AND AMENDMENTS AND URGING THEM TO EDUCATE THEIR  FAMILY AND FRIENDS ON THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS THEY WILL HAVE ON THE STATE OF COLORADO.

 WHEREAS, Frisco and state voters will have the opportunity at the November 2 statewide general election to protect the fiscal health of local governments by defeating Proposition 101, Amendment 60 and Amendment 61; and

 WHEREAS, Proposition 101 will force cuts to education, transportation and other state services hurting the quality of life and the state’s workforce; and 

WHEREAS, Proposition 101 would cut the state’s operating budget by $1.6 billion affecting funding for schools, colleges, prisons, firefighters and police and water and sewer systems; and

 WHEREAS, Proposition 101 would hurt the ability of local governments to maintain already inadequate roads and bridges and provide public transportation by cutting the state transportation budget by 28%; and

 WHEREAS, Amendment 60 limits property taxes causing a reduction in school funding projected at $1.87 billion dollars annually; basically requiring that all lost local funds be replaced by state dollars; eliminating any taxes exceeding the published amount in any voter approved tax increase, and requiring that local government pay for all costs and attorneys fees when sued; and

 WHEREAS, Amendment 60 repeals the current voter-approved authority of local governments to permanently keep property taxes above their constitutional limits, essentially reversing the citizens of Frisco vote to keep said funds (“De-Bruce”); and

 WHEREAS, Amendment 60 will require the state to cut funding for important services resulting in job losses throughout the state; and

 WHEREAS, Amendment 60 requires the state to compensate schools for the loss of property tax funding, resulting in reducing or eliminating other state functions in order to comply; and

 WHEREAS, Amendment 60 may leave many citizens worse off financially as many entities will have to increase fees to compensate for their loss of tax revenue; and

 WHEREAS, the ability to finance long-term capital improvements like required water and wastewater treatment plants, recreational projects, fire stations, and other public facilities are dramatically impaired by the restrictions on debt financing as proposed by Amendment 61; and

 WHEREAS, Amendment 61 would eliminate the state’s ability to incur debt and impose a debt limit on local government of 10% of assessed taxable value of real property which limits borrowing for necessary projects; requires a reduction in current tax rates as bonds or other borrowings are repaid even when said borrowing is not paid from tax revenues; and places a ten-year limit on future bonded debt causing amortization on large borrowings to become compressed; and

 WHEREAS, Amendment 61 will place the full burden of paying for state infrastructure on today’s taxpayers instead of using smart planning and sharing the cost with future residents who still benefit from the improvements; and

 WHEREAS, Amendment 61 will make it extremely difficult for our local school districts to attain the no-interest short term loans that they use to keep their schools up and running while waiting for property tax revenue in the spring; and

 WHEREAS, these measures individually and collectively significantly reduce or otherwise restrict both state and local revenues in a number of different ways including but not limited to: specific ownership taxes, telecommunication taxes, state income taxes, state-shared revenues to assist municipalities with local street and transit improvements, other state grants and loans to help local government, and property taxes; and

 WHEREAS, the following services and programs in the Town of Frisco will be limited or curtailed because of the numerous restrictions and revenue reductions proposed by these three measures including the school district, street maintenance, water and sewer enterprises and special districts; and

 WHEREAS, the reduction in tax revenue to the state would likely cause Colorado’s small businesses and rural businesses to be inundated with significant fee increases and licensure to bridge the gap of the $4.2 billion deficit; and

 WHEREAS, the loss of state funding will cause a severe loss of jobs, the majority being private sector jobs in transporta­tion, health care and construction. This is in addition to the 110,000 jobs already lost in Colorado due to the recession; and

 WHEREAS, a number of prominent individuals, newspapers, and organizations are voicing opposition to these measures as not being in the best interests of Colorado and of local communities; and

 WHEREAS, provisions of state law do allow the Town of Frisco to put forth this resolution as a statement of opposition to the measures known as Proposition 101, Amendment 60, and Amendment 61;

 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF FRISCO, COLORADO THAT:

 The Town hereby expresses its vigorous opposition to Proposition 101 and Amendments 60 and 61 and urges the voters of Frisco to vote against these propositions and amendments and to urges them to educate their family and friends on the negative impacts they will have on the state of Colorado.

 INTRODUCED, READ AND ADOPTED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF FRISCO, COLORADO THIS 24th DAY OFAUGUST 2010.

For more information regarding the ballot measures please follow the links to the power point presentation and memo that were presented to the Town Council.

 The master planning process for the Peak One Parcel began in 2007 and was finalized in 2008; it was a collaborative public process that involved over 200 citizens, residents and business owners.  In August, 2009, the Town of Frisco entered into a partnership with Ten Mile Partners, LLC, for the development of the Peak One Neighborhood.  The project will result in a year-round residential neighborhood of 70 homes owned by local working professionals and their families.  Construction of the neighborhood began earlier this summer.

 The Town of Frisco will receive the Excellence Award during the APA Colorado’s Annual Conference in Steamboat Springs in October. The APA (American Planning Association) is a non-profit organization that focuses on providing leadership, education and support for community planning.  Through state chapters, the organization has been facilitating community development across the United States since 1978.

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Please contact Deborah Wohlmuth at deborahw@townoffrisco.com for more information.

“We wanted to take a completely different approach to this year’s annual report,” explains Town Manager Michael Penny.  “The new report is easier to read and full of useful information about the Town of Frisco.”

The 2009 Community Scorecard outlines the Town’s goals for 2009 and measures how well the Town accomplished these goals.  It also includes citizen feedback by incorporating data from the 2009 Community Survey.  Through the document, citizens will also learn interesting tidbits about the Town.

“Our citizens will know a lot more about the town they live in after reading this document,” says Penny.  “And it’s fun to read!”

Citizens can read the Community Scorecard online now.  They can also learn more about it at the Frisco Town party on Saturday, May 22^nd immediately following Countywide Clean-Up Day.  Town staff will be available to answer questions not only about the scorecard, but about daily operations, as well.  Afterwards, the community can enjoy the Colorado bluegrass sounds from “Cottonwood Acoustic” They take the stage starting at 3 p.m.

For more information about the 2009 Community Scorecard, please contact Amy Stoehrmann, Executive Assistant, at 970-668-9126 or amys@townoffrisco.com.

Phase I of the PRA Master Plan includes a tubing hill, bike park, day lodge, terrain park, and roadway and parking improvements. 

“These new activities are positive changes for Frisco and will make the PRA and our community more appealing to both locals and visitors,” says Pelham.

DHM Design, Oz Architecture, and Peak Land Consultants joined forces to design the new PRA amenities.  The general contractors for the construction are The Weitz Company and Columbine Hills Concrete.

For more information about the PRA groundbreaking or the PRA project, please contact Rick Higgins, Assistant Public Works Director at 970-668-9151 or rickh@townoffrisco.com.

“We were hoping for an earlier start date,” High Country Conservation Center Energy Programs Manager Jon Kinstad stated, “but the complexity of working within the state program requires that we wait until all the systems are set up.”

The systems Kinstad refers to are the website database and rebate processing that will allow any Colorado resident to enter their zip code and obtain current local and state information and subsequently process their rebate forms.

Rebates will be offered for numerous energy efficiency upgrades, including energy audits, ENERGY STAR appliances (like refrigerators, dish washers, and clothes washers), insulation and air sealing improvements, boilers, hot water heaters and other items.  Rebates will also be offered for renewable energy systems, like solar hot water, solar PV, and small wind systems.

“The rebates will be on top of existing rebates from Xcel Energy that are currently being offered,” Kinstad explained, “plus you can still get federal tax credits for many of these upgrades.”

In addition to the rebate program, Summit County Government will be providing a low-interest loan program for residents to complete energy efficiency improvements.  The loan program will be rolled out at the same time as the rebate program in late March or early April. 

The loan program is different from a traditional loan through a bank and will allow homeowners to borrow money and repay it through their property tax bill over 10 years.  High Country Conservation Center will assist Summit County Government in the administration of the loan.

“To qualify for the loan program, residents will be required to have an energy audit from a qualified auditor,” Kinstad explained, “and be willing to share their energy bills for a year before and after the improvements.”

The loan program is intended to help local residents take steps to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and save energy and money and can only be used for such purposes.

Kinstad offers this advice to people wanting to maximize rebates or take advantage of the loan program: “First, get an energy audit.  An audit is required for the loan program and although an audit isn’t required for all these programs, it’s the best way to make an informed decision on how to spend your money.  Next, wait until the rebate program details are officially announced.  The rebates will not be retroactive and can not be applied to work done before the rebate program is released.”

For more information on either the loan or the rebate program or how to find a qualified energy auditor, residents can contact the High Country Conservation Center at 668-5703.

For more information on available energy rebates, click here.

This international certification program began more than 15 years ago and today there are only 247 marina managers worldwide.  Of that number, only two are in Colorado – Phil Hofer at the Frisco Bay Marina and Bob Evans at the Dillon Marina.  The requirements to obtain the CMM certification are rigorous:  five years marina general manager experience with management of marina operations, improvements and ten days of intense course work, focusing on marketing and customer service, personal development, management skills, environmental compliance, safety and health and much more. 

Hofer has been the manager of the Frisco Bay Marina for five years.  Hofer moved to Colorado in 1988 to attend Colorado State University.  Hofer has held a variety of jobs in the high country, including lift operator, ski patroller, dock hand, and service technician.  Hofer worked as the Dillon Marina Assistant Manager before taking his current position in 2005.  Hofer is a member of the Colorado Marine Dealers Association and was voted a Board Member of the Colorado Marine Dealers Association in February.

The CMM certification is the only credential of professionalism in the marina industry; this designation provides the Frisco Bay Marina with a manager who is qualified, professional and committed to marina management as a career, as well as one who is more up to date in the latest procedures, techniques, and industry regulations and requirements.

• School funding
• Senior services
• English classes (ESL)
• Head start
• Health Services
• Community Colleges
• Programs for Veterans
• Public Libraries
• Housing and Community Development
• Public Transportation
• Youth Recreational Services
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) food grants

In addition, the Census results are important because they affect political representation (seats in Congress), election district boundaries, and can be used to make important planning decisions on issues such as health care, housing, economic development and emergency preparedness. 

The Census questionnaires in the Town of Frisco will be delivered to the front doors or residential units- NOT PO Boxes.  The people residing at that location will be required to fill the Census forms and mail them back.  If a form is not filled out, Census workers will visit that location up to six times.

Click here for important Census safety information.

At the meeting, citizens will learn the requirements to run for office, the Fair Campaign Practices Act, who can serve as an elected official, and much more.  Town clerks from Frisco, Dillon, Breckenridge, Silverthorne, Blue River and the County will be on hand to deliver valuable information and answer any questions about the April election.

The Town of Dillon and Silverthorne have four seats open in the upcoming election, including the mayor. Frisco and Breckenridge both have three seats open. Blue River has three trustee seats open.  The first day to start circulating petitions for all of the open seats is Monday, February 15.  Since government offices are closed in Dillon and Silverthorne on Monday, February 15, candidates in those towns can pick up petitions on Friday, February 12, but cannot circulate them until Monday.  

For more information on the candidate forum, please contact the clerk in your municipality: Frisco Town Clerk Deborah Wohlmuth at (970) 668-9122; Silverthorne Town Clerk Michele Miller at (970) 262-7304; Breckenridge Town Clerk Mary Jean Loufek at (970) 453-3167; Dillon Town Clerk Jan Thomas at (970) 262-3406; Summit County Clerk Kathy Neel at (970) 453-3471; or the Blue River Town Clerk at (970) 485-1572.