1. El Paso
County
Colorado
2011 Town Hall Meetings Commissioner Darryl Glenn Commissioner District 1

2. Presentation Overview
District 1 Capital Improvement Projects
Military Economy & Outlook
2012 Fiscal Outlook
Citizen Engagement Survey
Redistricting and Realignment

3. District 1 Capital Improvement Projects Completed in 2011

4. Timberview Filing 2 Subdivision Acceptance
Location:
Bridle Creek Court and Lamplight Drive / Furrow Road intersection
Description:
Install a drainage system with inlet; establish and stabilize roadside ditches; replace culvert
Funding Source:
$52,243 / Subdivision Improvement Agreement Collateral (called by BoCC to finish drainage not done by developer)
Although there were not a lot of dollars involved – this project solved a long term drainage problem caused when the developer didn’t finish the project as required by the subdivision agreement. The Commissioners called the collateral bond posted by the developer to complete the drainage work.

5. Highway 105 Guardrail Installation
Location:
Highway 105 at Monument Academy Charter School
Description:
Installation of approximately 460 feet of guardrail along north side of road
Funding Source:
Materials on-hand / Road and Bridge
Due to the close proximity of the school this was a safety concern for parents. They requested the guard rail and work was done this Spring.

6. District 1 Capital Improvement Projects Under Construction in 2011

7. Hodgen Road Improvements
Location:
State Highway 83 to Black Forest Road
Description:
Safety Improvements – Improve vertical alignment; intersection site distance; add auxiliary lanes; reduce impact of drifting snow
Funding source:
$13.1M / PPRTA Capital
This is a major PPRTA Capital Project expected improve safety for motorists, reduce drainage issues and make it easier to keep the road open during snow storms.

8. District 1 Capital Improvement Projects Planning / Design Stage in 2011

9. Black Forest Road / Burgess Road Intersection
Location:
Intersection of Black Forest Road and Burgess Road
Description:
Reconstruction – Improve the vertical alignments; add auxiliary lanes; improve drainage; upgrade traffic signal
Funding:
Estimated $1.85M (total project); $800,000 currently funded for utility relocation and Right of Way acquisitions from Road & Bridge Funds

10. County Line Road / Black Forest Road
Location:
County Line Road from Thunder to Black Forest Road; Black Forest Road from County Line to Walker
Description:
Safety Improvements – County Line / Black Forest intersection, drainage; add pavement
Funding:
Estimated $6.5M (total project); Currently approved $800,000 from Road and Bridge Funds for Right of Way Acquisition and Utility Relocation

11. County Line Road Improvements
Location:
I-25 to Furrow Road
Description:
Safety Improvements-add shoulders, improve drainage, reconfigure horizontal and vertical profile west of Furrow Road and realign the intersection at Furrow Road and provide turn lanes
Funding:
Est. cost – $7M-$7.5 M / PPRTA Capital

12. Baptist Rd (West) Improvements
Location:
I-25 to Mitchell Ave
Description:
Planning and alternative traffic flow analysis.
Baptist Rd Widening Mitchell to I-25 and Baptist RR Xing.
Evaluate appropriate improvements for the corridor, including construction of a grade separated RR crossing
Funding:
Study – (approx) $181K / PPRTA Capital
Project – (approx) $11M / PPRTA Capital /BRRTA/Other
The railroad crossing west of I-25 is a safety threat as the area grows. There is only one way in and out of this neighborhood and we’ve had several days in the past couple of years when railroad work on the crossing made it difficult to get in and out of the area.

13. Highway 105 Improvements Location: I-25 to SH 83 Description:
Examine capacity and safety issues for the corridor and recommend improvements to address the identified issues
Funding:
$300,000 / Road and Bridge (only study is funded)
Project website:

14. Gleneagle Enhancement
Location:
Gleneagle from Jesse to Wuthering Heights Drive
Description:
Pedestrian safety improvements
Funding:
Est. $119,000
$95,000 Federal Funds
$24,000 EPC Road and Bridge

15. Beacon Lite Road Improvements
Location:
County Line Road to Wakonda Way
Description:
Safety Improvements – Horizontal and vertical alignments
County Line / Beacon Lite intersection and drainage
Pave road
Funding:
Est. $2.8M TBD
This road was built decades before current standards for County Roads and modern traffic counts. Safety and drainage improvements are badly needed.

16. District 1 Capital Improvement Other Project Updates

17. Doewood Gate Location:
Doewood Drive from Ridgeview Circle to Chisholm Trail
Description:
Vacate a portion of Doewood Drive
Remove gate
Add emergency vehicle and maintenance access and turnaround at both points of termination.
Status:
Survey Complete, Meetings to be scheduled with Fire Dept and adjacent property owners
Doewood Drive
Chisolm
Trail
Gate Location
Ridgeview Circle

18. Northgate Boulevard Improvements
Location:
Struthers Drive from Gleneagle to Northgate Boulevard
Description:
Shoulder and ditch erosion
Built by Developer formed Struthers Road District Bonds
No storm drain system
As a result, regular reconstruction of the shoulder is required.
Status:
Shoulder/ditch line repaired to address the immediate safety hazard
Ultimate solution requires curb and gutter and storm drain system.  
This is another area where the original construction of the road did not properly account for drainage and it’s an ongoing maintenance issue for the county.

19. Fox Run Regional Park Master Plan Calls for:
Restroom, Parking Lot and Trail Improvements
Construction of Off Leash Dog Park
Public Input Process Spring of 2012
Construction in Summer of 2012
Funding: $100,000 from Regional Park Fees

20. Black Forest Regional Park
Master Plan Updated in 2010 Identified:
Needed Parking, Well, Restroom and Trail Improvements
Required Upgrades to Signage
Required Initiating Mistletoe Mitigation Plan
Funding:
$400,000 From Developer (Cathedral Pines)
$200,000 From GOCO Grant
Scheduled Completion in Fall of 2012

21. Pineries Open Space County Accepted 1070 Acres in 2007
Master Plan Completed in 2010 Requires:
Five Miles of Trails with Trailhead Parking and Restroom
Outdoor Classroom and Appropriate Signage
Cost: Est. Phase One Projects - $460,000
Funding: Regional Park Fees and Grants (still needed)

22. Military Economy & Outlook

23. Economic Impact of Military Installations
Total Impact: $5.5B
From an economic development and jobs perspective, our five military installations contribute more than five Billion to the local economy each year so its very important that we do everything we can to help them perform their respective missions efficiently in our area – rather than look elsewhere.

24. Military Economy

25. Military Economy

26. Military Outlook
Military is dealing with $450B in cuts over the next 10 years – painful but doable
There is much concern about the “doomsday” scenario:
Super Committee allows sequestration to occur (i.e. it does not come up with $1.2T in cuts over the next ten years)
This automatically triggers a defense share for those cuts of about $500B more over ten years, beginning in FY13
Such cuts would span across personnel, major programs, entitlements, etc.

27. Military Outlook On a positive note…
Army leadership is confident that the Combat Aviation Brigade is on track
The MILCON is planned and in the FY12 budgets
Received briefing from by MG Joe Anderson, the incoming Commanding General for the 4th Infantry Division and Ft Carson

28. Veterans Cemetery Update
El Paso County Kane Ranch is Preferred Site by the Veterans Administration
Fountain Has Adequate Water for the Site But VA Funds Cannot be Used to Build the Required Pipeline Estimated at $1.2 Million
Stakeholders Including El Paso County, El Pomar and Others Working on Solution
Outlook is Positive
The City of Fountain may be able to provide some funding through cost recovery as water is used and a developer in the area may participate because the pipeline could also serve future growth.

29. 2012 Fiscal Outlook Understanding the Budget

30. Understanding the County Budget
2012 Budgeted Revenues $235.7M Less: Restricted Funding Sources ($100.1M) Less: Legally Restricted Uses ($ 48.9M) Revenues Within BoCC Discretion $ 86.7M Only 36% of the 2012 Budget is within BoCC discretion

31. Examples of Restricted Funding
Enterprise Zone Contributions by Private Citizens to Non-Profits
Fees Paid by Trash Haulers to Offset Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste
Lotto Funds Restricted for Parks
Developer Fees for Specific Transportation Needs
*These cannot be used to offset jail inmate food and medical costs and other required services.

32. Use of Discretionary Revenue

33. Discretionary Revenue vs. Population Growth

34. Annual Cost Per Citizen

35. How Did We Offset the Decreasing Discretionary Revenue?
2006 – 2009 Historical Budget Reductions (in Millions)

36. 2012 Fiscal Outlook Proactive Financial Strategies

37. Proactive Financial Strategies
“Turning Point”
Operational Sustainability
In 2009, County achieved operational sustainability
Stopped using one-time funding sources to address on-going operational needs
Projected budget shortfall for 2012 due to current market conditions and Property Tax Revenues
Established savings strategy
Conservative Revenue Estimates
Frozen Positions not filled
Incorporated expenditure restrictions

38. Proactive Financial Strategies Historic Percentage Held In Reserves
Good Economic Times

39. Proactive Financial Strategies
Breakdown of 39% Operational Reserve

40. Proactive Financial Strategies
2010 Strategic Moves Project
With the increasing cost of failing infrastructure
Backlog of $385M
County created the “Strategic Moves” project
Using only available restricted revenue sources
Utilizing One-time market opportunities
Addressed 52% of Critical Capital Needs ($199M)
Currently working on a new critical capital needs master plan

41. Proactive Financial Strategies
County Bond Rating Improved in 2010
Aa2
“County’s strong credit characteristics...historically well-maintained financial operations with healthy fund balances...” Moody’s
“Moody’s expects that the County’s financial position will remain healthy, given conservative budgeting practices and consistently improving financial results....”
- Moody’s

42. Proactive Financial Strategies
County Bond Rating improved in 2010
“El Paso County’s financial performance and reserve level position continue to be in our opinion, very strong..” Standard & Poor’s
“Standard & Poor’s deems El Paso County’s management practices “good” under its Financial Management Assessment methodology ....” Standard & Poor’s

43. 2012 Fiscal Outlook Current Financial Condition

44. Current Financial Condition
From a Financial Perspective, we are doing everything we should and more!
Conservative in our spending
Fiscally responsible with taxpayers dollars
Living within our means
Addressed over 50% of our Major Capital Needs without any increase in taxpayer dollars
Proactively established an Operational Savings to weather the storm in

45. Current Financial Condition
During the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, we have actually been able to improve our financial situation
But at what cost?

46. Current Financial Condition
Operating Budgets:
Are at the operational level they were in 1996:
No “Across the Board” operational increases since 1996 as:
Cost Drivers (Price Index) increased 38.7%
Service Drivers (Population) increased 30.1%

47. Current Financial Condition
Personnel Budgets:
eliminated 195 positions and froze 100 positions
Federal Cost of Living (COLA)
National Increases were 21.7%
El Paso County only provided 5.0%
High Turnover Rates
On average, employers have 5% turnover, El Paso County has 22% turnover
Industry studies show it costs an additional 49% of that position’s salary each time a turnover occurs in training

48. Average Salaries (in thousands)
Provided by Support Services - EBMS
This means County employees are paid on average 34% less than our competitors

49. Number of Full-Time Employees
vs. Population Growth

50. Citizens Served Per Employee
This means on average, County Employee’s workload has increased 20%

51. 2012 Fiscal Outlook In Summary
El Paso County is a fiscally responsible, strong, sustainable organization
However, the County still has $48.5M of Critical Needs both on-going and one-time
Now that the County has built operational savings, the responsible and appropriate thing to do is to start addressing those Critical Needs

52. County Strategic Plan Citizen Engagement Survey

53. Citizen Engagement Survey
Online public input survey
Conducted in the summer 2011
1,300 respondents

54. Citizen Engagement Survey
Quality of Life Issues
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Not Sure
El Paso County as a place to live
33%
52%
13% 2% 0%
El Paso County as a place to raise children
30%
48%
14% 3% 5%
Overall quality of life in El Paso County
27%
55%
15%
El Paso County as a place to retire
28%
43%
17% 7%

55. Citizen Engagement Survey
County Statements
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not Sure
I receive good value for my County taxes
11%
51%
20% 5%
13%
I understand how County funding is allocated and services I receive 8%
40%
27% 7%
18%
I am pleased with the overall direction of the County
41%
31% 9%
14%
The County listens to its citizens
33%
29%
22%

56. Citizen Engagement Survey
Funding / Efficiency
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not Sure
I support the expansion of shared city / county services
44%
39% 6% 5%
I support a minor increase in my property taxes to enhance County services
28%
24%
23%
20%
I support a minor increase in sales tax to support enhanced County services
30%
18%
19%

57. Citizen Engagement Survey
Top Five Community Issues
Employment Opportunities
Drugs / Alcohol Abuse
Quality of Road System
Crime
Child Abuse

58. Citizen Engagement Survey
Top Five Most Used County Services
Visited a County Park
Utilized the County Website
Voted in El Paso County
Registered a Motor Vehicle
Visited a County Nature Center

59. Citizen Engagement Survey
Top Five County Priorities*
Fire Protection Services
Road Maintenance
Crime Investigation Services
Emergency Management Services
Public Safety Efforts
(*If additional funding is available)

60. Redistricting and Realignment
Congressional Districts
State Lawmakers
Board of County Commissioners

61. Congressional Reapportionment
The Colorado General Assembly Is to Draft a New Congressional District Map After the Census
But They Couldn’t Reach an Agreement
Two Lawsuits Are Pending in Denver District Court
The Court Will Determine a Map and a Ruling is Expected in December of 2011

62. General Assembly Redistricting
Appointed Bipartisan Panel Takes Public Comment and Drafts Initial map
The Committee Seeks Public Comments On The Plan
A Final Plan is Drafted After The Comments and is Submitted for Approval to the Colorado Supreme Court
The Colorado Supreme Court Has Until December 14, 2011 to Rule

63. Redistricting
Once redistricting and reapportionment are approved by the Courts new boundaries and precinct lines are drawn (in December)
Total number of precincts will be reduced
Fewer polling places and fewer election judges are needed as more citizens choose mail in ballots.

64. Redistricting Continued
Clerk and Recorder plans to renumber precincts by School District Boundaries as follows:
0-199   Colorado Springs D-11
200s     Academy District 20
300s     Lewis Palmer D-38
400s     Falcon D-49
500s     Eastern Plains School Districts
600s     Harrison D-2 & Widefield D-3
700s     Cheyenne Mtn. D-12 and Manitou D-14
800s     Fountain-Fort Carson 8 and Hanover 28
900s     Special (e.g. overseas)

65. Impacts of Redistricting
County Clerk Wayne Williams is currently named as a plaintiff in the Congressional Redistricting lawsuit
We are fighting to keep El Paso whole
Our five military bases give us a valuable position on the Armed Services Committee
We also hope because of our large population that we will have 8 State House Districts completely within the boundaries of El Paso County

66. County Commissioner Realignment
Done every two years by the County Clerk
Population Must Remain Balanced
Open and Public Process With a 30 day Comment Period
Relatively Minor Adjustments Were Made
Approved Unanimously by the BoCC

67. Commissioner Darryl Glenn
Phone:

68. Questions?