New Animal Shelter Is 45 Percent Complete and Within Budget
The Table Mountain Animal Center's new facility in Lakewood, to be known as the Foothills Animal Shelter, is scheduled to open on time in late July, despite a cold, wet fall and winter that could have delayed construction.
 
The project was 45 percent complete as of the end of December and has an estimated completion date of July 16, according to the staff briefing that Commissioners received. The facility should be fully roofed within 30 days.
 
In addition to a $3 million cash contribution, Jefferson County has issued $5.2 million in Certificates of Participation to be paid back from dog-licensing revenue.

County Sees High Number of Requests for Joint Venture and Conservation Trust Fund Grants
The Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC) received requests for nearly double the amount of money it had available to award in Joint Venture Grants and Conservation Trust Fund dollars in 2010, Acting Community Resources and Open Space Director Amy Ito told Commissioners during the Community Resources Department's regular update.
 
Seventeen agencies, including six cities and 11 recreation districts, requested about $3.67 million in Joint Venture Grant Awards. OSAC recommended awarding $2 million in what staff called the "year of the playground." Grants included $250,000 to the city of Golden for a universally accessible playground and splash park, and $300,000 to the city of Arvada to complete the skate park at O'Kane Park.
 
Eleven agencies applied for nearly $287,400 in Conservation Trust Fund dollars. The county had only $150,000 to award. Organizations that received funding include Friends of Dinosaur Ridge for $15,000 to enhance Dinosaur Ridge near Morrison; the Ken Caryl Ranch Metropolitan District for $19,600 to renovate the Cathy Johnson Open Space Trail; and West Denver Trout Unlimited for $30,000 to conduct stream restoration in Clear Creek Canyon.
 
Ito also briefed Commissioners on several other Open Space and Community Resources issues, including: 

• A grand opening this spring for the Hildebrand Ranch Park in South Jefferson County. The county widened Deer Creek Canyon Road, improved drainage and a trail crossing, and created a 50-car parking lot. Open Space is currently finishing signage, fencing and temporary restrooms.
• Installation of signage for reserved equestrian parking until noon at selected parks: Alderfer/Three Sisters - west lot, Lair o' the Bear, Mount Falcon - east and west lots, and Matthews/Winters. After noon, those areas will become first-come, first-served parking for all parks users.
• New Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) projects on U.S. Highway 6 in Clear Creek Canyon. CDOT outlined for Open Space these future projects, which include new lighting and signs near the tunnels, emergency call boxes, video cameras, remote weather stations, cell towers, variable message signs, road closure gates, and a wildlife bridge near State Highway 119 and U.S. Highway 6.
• Fairgrounds' community meetings on proposed zoning changes for a full-video marquee sign.
• The CSU Extension's partnership with the Governor's Energy Office and Energy Outreach Colorado to provide energy efficiency training for residents and property managers at low-income housing properties.
• The Colorado Arts and Crafts Society Winter Symposium at the Boettcher Mansion in late January.

• New inmate housing building for work release and community corrections
• A new central heating and cooling plant
• Expansion of a detention area, investigation evidence storage, crime lab and sheriff's records
• Relocation of the facility's laundry
• A lobby remodel to allow video visitation
• A briefing room addition

In 2007, Reilly Johnson Architecture developed a two-phase, 25-year master plan for the detention center. Phase I will be funded through the county's 2009 issuance of Certificates of Participation. Commissioners approved the contract at the Jan. 12 hearing.

BCC Reinstate Savings Incentive Policy
Commissioners approved reinstating a savings incentive policy for department budgets that helped the county save $2 million in 2008.
 
The policy asks departments to examine their operational budgets to identify savings opportunities. Departments that save money could request as much as half of their savings be re-appropriated to them for one-time expenses in the following year's budget. The county first enacted this policy in 2007 and realized $2 million in savings in 2008 as a result.
 
Administrative Services staff proposed reinstating the policy in light of the potential for county revenues to level off or decline this year. Commissioners will still have final approval on how the re-appropriated savings is used in the following year's budget.