Want to know what happened at the most recent Town Council Meeting? We have you covered! Recaps will be posted on ParkerOnline.org the day after every Town Council Meeting.
PUBLIC HEARINGS AND SECOND READINGS
Public Hearings
Pope Property Annexation Eligibility
Town Council passed a resolution finding that an application by Denver Pope Family Limited Partnership for a largely undeveloped parcel located at the intersection of Dransfeldt Road and Twenty Mile Road is eligible for annexation into the Town. The property is known as the Pope property (also Flat Acre Farm), and it is used for seasonal agri-tainment and commercial recreation uses. The parcel is traversed by Cherry Creek, has substantial areas of 100-year floodplain and, as a result, has major constraints to future development. As a result of this resolution’s approval, a Feb. 6, 2023 public hearing has been scheduled for Town Council’s consideration of the applicant’s annexation petition and zoning application.
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
Ordinances
Contractor Registration Requirements
The Town of Parker has long required most types of contractors to be registered with the Building Division of the Community Development Department to perform construction work in the Town. Town Council approved this ordinance that expands the Town’s Contractor Registration Program to include additional types of contractors that will be require registration by the Building Division when doing construction work in the Town.
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
Slope Easement Vacations
Town Council approved an ordinance that vacates two slope easements that were acquired to facilitate the construction of Pine Drive south of Mainstreet. The easement vacations have been requested by the property owner to accommodate development in these areas. The slope easements were acquired by the Town as part of an agreement in which the Town received right-of-way, easements and other property in exchange for removal of the property’s obligation for reimbursement for a portion of the cost to construct Pine Drive. Thus, with no direct payment associated with the acquisition of these slope easements, no reimbursement is proposed to be required for this vacation.
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
Cottonwood Meadows Tributary Agreement Amendment
The Town of Parker and the Mile High Flood District (MHFD), formerly the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, have identified the Cottonwood Meadows Tributary as a reach of major drainageway requiring rehabilitation to support existing and future Town growth. To this end, the Town and MHFD have executed an intergovernmental agreement for the design and construction of flood control improvements on Cottonwood Meadows Tributary. Town Council approved via ordinance an amendment to this agreement that will bring in additional funds from the MHFD to complete funding for the construction of the project.
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
Upper Jordan Road Tributary at Bradbury Ranch Agreement Amendment
The Town of Parker and the Mile High Flood District (MHFD), formerly the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, have identified the Upper Jordan Road Tributary as a reach of major drainageway requiring rehabilitation to support existing and future Town growth. To this end, the Town and MHFD have executed an intergovernmental agreement for the design and construction of flood control improvements on Upper Jordan Road Tributary. Town Council approved via ordinance an amendment to this agreement that will bring in additional funds from the MHFD to complete funding for the construction of the project.
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
Pikes Peak Drive Sidewalks Project - Statement of Intent to Acquire Property Interests
Town Council approved an ordinance to provide notice of the Town’s intent to acquire needed permanent sidewalk easements and temporary construction easements for proposed improvements on Pikes Peak Drive between Mainstreet and the Sulphur Gulch Trail. The Town is currently in the design phase for an upcoming capital improvement project known as the Pikes Peak Drive Sidewalks Project. The project proposes to make sidewalk and pedestrian lighting improvements to Pikes Peak Drive between Mainstreet and the Sulphur Gulch Trail. The project’s main goal is to widen the existing sidewalk, which is not currently ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant and add pedestrian lighting to improve pedestrian mobility, capacity and comfort along this stretch of roadway. The improved sidewalk width will vary between six and eight feet, depending on existing site improvements and landscaping. Integral colored concrete sidewalks and pedestrian lighting like the adjacent section of Mainstreet will be utilized for consistency. The Town is currently anticipating construction of the improvements in 2023. This approved ordinance authorizes staff and consultants to initiate the acquisition of the needed permanent and temporary easements.
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
Resolutions
Mill Levy Adjustments Resulting from Legislative or Constitutionally Mandated Reductions
Town Council approved a resolution amending existing service plans and the Town’s model service plan to allow for a mill levy adjustment due to legislative changes, in addition to constitutional changes. In November 2020, the State’s voters approved Amendment B, which repealed the Gallagher Amendment and provided the General Assembly with the authority to decrease the assessment rate in the future. Since then, the General Assembly has passed legislation in each year that has reduced the assessment rate for different classes of property. The Town has been approached by counsel for several metropolitan districts, which have service plans that were originally approved by the Town, requesting a solution to allow the districts to adjust their mill levies for legislative changes in the assessment rate, similar to how they are authorized to do so for constitutional changes. This resolution allows metropolitan districts with previously approved service plans to amend their existing service plans to include specific language to allow for a mill levy adjustment due to legislative changes, in addition to constitutional changes. The resolution also amends various sections of the Town’s existing model service plan to conform to the mill levy adjustment language.
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
CONSENT AGENDA
First Readings - Second Readings Scheduled for Dec. 5
2023 Property Tax Mill Levy Certification
The Town of Parker must certify a mill levy to Douglas County prior to Dec. 15, 2022, in order to collect property taxes for the 2023 budget year. The proposed mill levy of 2.602 mills is the same as the prior year. The voters exempted Town revenues from the TABOR amendment, so the restriction to an increase of the local growth factor plus inflation does not apply. The Town cannot increase the mill levy without a vote of the citizens. The owner of a home valued at $500,000 would pay $90 per year in property taxes to the Town of Parker in 2023
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
Parker Water and Sanitation Easement Amendment
This ordinance proposes to amend an easement granted by the Town to Parker Water and Sanitation District (PWSD) over a portion of Tract B, Mountain View Senior Center Filing No. 1, Minor Development. This easement was heard and approved by the Town Council on June 6, 2022, however, the easement agreement provided by PWSD was subsequently discovered to be inadequate for their needs. The original agreement allowed for water infrastructure to be located within the easement, but PWSD has requested that sanitary sewer infrastructure be permitted within the easement instead. That is the only requested change to this easement agreement.
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
North Parker Road Operational Improvements - Water Quality Facility Agreement
This ordinance proposes to enter into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to codify responsibility for operation and maintenance of a water quality facility that will be constructed by the Town with the upcoming North Parker Road Operational Improvements Project. This project is nearing completion of the design and approval by CDOT to advertise the plans. One of CDOT’s remaining requirements is related to a water quality device that is required to treat stormwater runoff from new pavement that the project will add to Parker Road. In accordance with regulations for the Cherry Creek Basin, a stormwater treatment manhole will be constructed to provide water quality treatment for runoff from new pavement. CDOT’s policy is that, for local agency projects such as this one, the local agency is required to assume responsibility for maintenance and operation of the water quality facilities. The proposed IGA codifies this requirement.
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
Hess Ranch Planned Development Zoning Amendment
The applicant, LB Parker Owner, LLC, has proposed an amendment to the Hess Ranch Planned Development (PD) zoning to relocate a planned elementary school site on Spirit Trail Parkway west of Chambers Road further west on Spirit Trail Parkway. This proposal, supported by Town staff, will provide Douglas County School District (DCSD) with a better site for the future development of a school and provide the Town with a larger community park in a future development phase. To accomplish this, the applicant also proposes to relocate planned residential lots affected by this revision from one planning area to another without increasing the total approved residential yield or density. The applicant has proposed this amendment to the PD zoning in response to a request by DCSD for an alternative school site and with their support.
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
Retail Delivery Fees and Carryout Bag Fees Sales Tax Exemption
During the 2021 legislative session, the Colorado legislature passed a bill that imposes a $0.10 fee on each single-use carry-out bag provided to consumers beginning on Jan. 1, 2023. Additionally, the legislature passed another bill that imposes a $0.27 fee on purchases of tangible personal property delivered to consumers in a motor vehicle beginning on July 1, 2022. Both of these fees are currently subject to the Town’s 3% sales and use tax. Staff is requesting that Town Council approve an ordinance to exempt these fees from the Town’s sales and use tax.
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
Motions, Contracts, Resolutions, Proclamations, Agreements
Town Manager Employment Agreement
Town Council passed a resolution approving the second amendment to the Town’s Manager’s Employment Agreement, which provides for a 7.07% merit increase to compensation. The Town Council participated in the position’s performance evaluation process.
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
Sidewalk and Pedestrian Lighting Easements
Town Council passed three separate resolutions approving acceptance of the conveyance of permanent sidewalk/pedestrian lighting easements for proposed public improvements on Pikes Peak Drive between Mainstreet and the Sulphur Gulch Bridge. In 2021, Town Council approved a conceptual design for the project, which is currently in the final design phase. Staff is working to finalize easement acquisitions necessary to construct the project. To accommodate the proposed public improvements, acquisition of permanent and/or temporary easements is required from 15 property owners along the project limits. As of this date, there are a total of 14 temporary and 12 permanent easements required. Four of the 12 permanent easements required will be dedicated by a plat. The remaining eight permanent easements will be dedicated by separate agreements and require acceptance by Town Council by resolution. The easements associated with this resolution are necessary to accommodate new public sidewalks and pedestrian lighting and to ensure the long-term operation and maintenance of this infrastructure
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
Rowley Downs Permanent Land Easement
Town Council passed a resolution accepting a permanent land easement from the Rowley Downs Homeowner’s Association (HOA) to construct a concrete trail between Tallman Gulch Trail and Seibert Circle. The Parks and Recreation Department has been working with the Rowley Downs HOA to construct a trail spur off of the existing Tallman Gulch Trail. Funding for this project is part of mitigation funding obtained from Xcel for the recently installed electrical transmission line. As part of this funding, the HOA requested the existing eight-foot-wide soft surface trail spur connecting an existing 10-foot-wide concrete trail to Seibert Circle be paved to match the Tallman Gulch Trail through the neighborhood. Additionally, this project improves an existing dirt single-track trail to a ten-foot wide concrete trail from Seibert Circle to Omaha Avenue. In order to construct this trail, appropriate easements and license agreements will be needed to cross Xcel, Town and HOA property.
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
Small Business Saturday Proclamation
Town Council made a proclamation designating Saturday, Nov. 26 as “Small Business Saturday” in the Town of Parker and urging Parker residents, and communities across the country, to support small businesses and merchants on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, as well as throughout the year.
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
Contracts Over $100,000
One contracts over the amount of $100,000 was awarded by Town Council: A performance agreement with Give 5 Productions, Inc., in the amount of $120,000 for production services for “Escape to Margaritaville,” which will be presented in June/July 2023 at the PACE Center.
Approved 5-0 (In Favor: Barrington, Diak, Hendreks, Poage, Rivero)
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Recognition of 2022 Parker Civic Academy Participants
Certificate of Recognition - Micah Bernhardt, High School Art Educator of the Year