GEOFFREY GARDELLA

Current Employment, Activities, Board Seats, Community Involvement 

• Computer engineer at Oracle
• Wadsworth Ditch Company Board
• Healthy Places Initiative Stakeholder Committee

Why are you interested in serving on the Arvada Fire District Board? 

I love Arvada, and believe our community is leading the way towards a new suburban ideal. I am looking for a way to be involved with and give back to this city. I hope to be a community voice on the board.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time on the Board? 

If elected to the board, I will be a strong advocate for the district. I will support the chief, firefighters and EMS as they adapt to the changes coming to Arvada. I will look to the professionals on the force for the vision, and help them achieve their goals. I will also bring an outside perspective to these efforts.

What impacts do you think you can make on the business community through this role? 

The business community and the fire district could benefit from frequent and structured interaction. If elected to the board, I will work to foster communication and collaboration between the two. I think the business community can help lead the way on fire prevention, and working together we can improve safety and save businesses money.

What do you see as the top three challenges facing the district in the next 5 years? 

The development at Candelas in the North-West will necessitate the building and staffing of a new station. That will mean growing the force by more than 10%. The district was forward-looking by securing the tax revenue for this, and now the work remains to begin the development process. 

The district is working with the police department on an active-shooter response program, to bring rescue personnel in to assist shooting victims sooner. Arvada's initiatives are at the cutting edge of response programs for this type of emergency. Some might say that they are "writing the book" on this subject

Current Employment, Activities, Board Seats, Community Involvement

• I am currently retired from the practice of Podiatric Medicine. I practiced here in Arvada and the west side of Jefferson County for over 42 years as a board certified Foot and Ankle Surgeon.
• I am on the board of directors of the Colorado Foot and Ankle Society and have served as president in the past. I also served 3 terms of the Board of Medical Examiners. I am currently president of my homeowners association.
• During the Harvest Festival I am one of the announcers along the parade route.
• Past member of local Optimist Club. Current member Arvada Elks Club and past trustee.

Why are you interested in serving on the Arvada Fire District Board?

I became especially interested in the fire department during the time they were establishing the ambulance service. I was unhappy with the business practices of Pridemark and the way patient transfers were handled from the hospital. As a result I was able to get the ambulance policy changed at Lutheran Hospital. After that experience I became interested in the activities of the Department and the services provided. I have gotten to know board members and toured the department facilities. Police and Fire are two the most integrated services in our community and I feel we have one of the best Fire Departments in the country. As 76% of the fire department calls are medical I feel my medical experience will be very valuable to the board and the department. Currently there are no other members of the board or persons seeking the position with physician experience.Though I have always been interested and involve since I retired I have found that I have a lot more time to become involved in the community and community activities and now I am able to pursue them more fully.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time on the Board? 

• First I intend to see that the high quality of service and standards of the department are maintained and continually improved. The department may move into community medicine and I intend to see that this is properly done, if implemented.
• The department has started an outreach program to independent and assisted living facilities and I would like to see this expanded. Also, community education increased to cut down on the number of service calls that could have been avoided.
• There is work to be done with builders in communities that are expanding, and which will require service, where financial support must be obtained to support expansion of the department.
• I would like to see the police and fire department fully integrated to work together in situations where there are wounded needing attention when under fire.
• Continue the path of excellence the department has shown.

What impacts do you think you can make on the business community through this role? 

• The biggest impact the department has on the business community is safety. As our community expands and changes it is important that the department stay current with all development in order to enable these services to be promptly delivered.
• By maintaining a top notch department we can use this as a selling point to entice business into the city.
• The department needs to be user friendly when working with businesses on compliance with fire codes.
• Most importantly I intend to see good stewardship of tax dollars. The $2 million plus budget and $1.2 billion dollar net worth of the department is a serious responsibility.

What do you see as the top three challenges facing the district in the next 5 years? 

• The top challenge will be expansion into the new communities.  This has to be handled very carefully and with the support of the builders of these communities.
• Next it is important to maintain full staffing of emergency vehicles, especially during any expansion. Currently the trucks and engines have four personnel, and this should be maintained. Other communities have had to cut back the number of persons supporting their vehicles and this can create dangerous situations.
• Third the department has limited funds and they must be carefully controlled by making good decisions regarding any spending and expansion. Maintaining top of the line personnel and equipment are critical.
• If the expansion to community medicine is made it must be done in the same cost effective way the ambulance service was incorporated.

 MATT M. KRAMER

Employed at Great-West Financial, in Denver, for past 31 years, in Systems.  Retired Arvada Firefighter, with 18 year of active service.  Served as Assistant Fire Chief, Training Chief, and Captain.  Arvada Fire Protection District Treasurer/Director for past 4 years.

Why are you interested in serving on the Arvada Fire District Board?   

I am interested in re-election to the Arvada Fire Protection District Board to help complete and continue the initiatives we have began over the last four years, as well as to keep moving the District forward in a fiscally responsible way, to ensure the best fire/rescue service is provided to the citizens of the District

What do you hope to accomplish during your time on the Board? 

I want to help ensure that the Fire District continues to be fiscally responsible while providing the best service possible to the citizens, while providing the safest working environment for the firefighters.   I want to maintain the current mil levy and ensure adequate budget reserves so we do not have to approach the citizens for a higher mil levy for many, many years, if ever.               

What impacts do you think you can make on the business community through this role? 

If we continue providing the same levels of service to the community that we currently provide, we will maintain our current ISO rating, which will keep the business community's insurance rates as low as they are.   This low ISO rating, and therefore lower homeowner insurance rates, also attracts more citizens to our District, which provide more business for the business community in Arvada.

What do you see as the top three challenges facing the district in the next 5 years? 

#1:  Candelas - we need to expand and grow as Candelas grows so we can provide the same service levels to the Candelas area as we do to the rest of the Fire District, and we need to do this within our current budget.                    

#2:  Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) Accreditation - we need to continue our accreditation efforts we have begun and actually receive our accreditation.   With this accreditation and our ISO Rating the Arvada Fire Department will be in the top tier of departments in the country.           

#3:  Grow the Fire Department as the entire City of Arvada grows, and be able to keep our same levels of service to the entire area we serve, within our current budget.

 Stephen LeGault

TOM MARKS

I am currently the Senior Project Manager and Health and Safety Officer for Custom Environmental Services, Inc. where I coordinate projects and oversee the company's Health and Safety Program involving regulatory compliance and providing a safe working environment for all employees.

I retired from Xcel Energy on July 12. 2011 after 37 years of service. While at Xcel Energy I held positions of Laborer, Apprentice Fitter, Fitter, Lead Fitter, and Manager of Gas Operations and Maintenance in Xcel's Boulder Division. I was a member of the IBEW for 27 years and served as steward for 17 years.

A proven leader, I managed a $1.7 Million per year O&M budget for 10+ years at Xcel Energy.

I am interested in serving on the Arvada Fire Protection District Board to get more involved in serving my community again. I am a retired captain with Arvada Fire, this dates back to when the department was all volunteer. After my retirement in 2011, I find that now I have more time to invest back in the community. I am currently supporting the AVA and YMCA.

What I hope to accomplish during my time on the Board is to maintain or improve the ISO rating to keep insurance rates down for the business owners and residents of the District. In attending a previous Board meeting they were discussing the implementation of a CAD system. While with Xcel Energy, I worked on a committee of six to implement MDT (Mobile Data Terminal) and CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) to gas and electric troubleman in the 8 states Xcel serves.  I believe this system will work great in the fire service, and with my past experience, this system can be implemented.

The impacts I can make to the business community in this role are keeping reduced insurance rates by maintaining and improving the various fire inspections so businesses are able to understand and comply with the regulations. Again this will keep insurance rates low and also offer a safe work environment for all employees.

I see four challenges facing the District in the next five years:

1) Improve quality of service on limited funds.

2) Education

3) Candelas

4) CAD System

All four items are tied to the first statement concerning limited funds. As a Board we must prioritize our spending. We must educate all in the District, schools, business and residents, this can be done with staff on duty. We must meet the needs of the new development out to the northwest. This would include the building of new firehouses, new apparatus and equipment, and most of all new employees to provide the service in this area. In this area we must also consider wild land fires, more grass land in this area, that must be prevented,  after seeing first hand what these fires can do, in Boulder and Colo. Spgs. I see a need for more education and mitigation efforts. I  acted as the Natural Gas Liaison to the Great Basin Incident Management Team for the Four Mile Canyon Fire September 8-18, 2010.

Tom "T-Bone" Marks loves Arvada as a leader who models integrity, innovation, and tenacious problem solving. .  I care about the community and have served the community for 20+years.  I am an accomplished leader and respected by those who know me. 

DON TAYLOR

PROFILE

Don Taylor and his wife Mary have lived in Arvada since 1993.  Together they have 4 children, and 3 grandchildren.  Their youngest daughter, Megan, is in

Don is a retired Sales and Leadership executive from the beverage industry, with a good portion of his career spent at Coors in Golden.  Don has managed staffs of up to 125 employees--meeting company goals, while helping to grow and nurture each individual.  Don has managed Budgets in excess of several million dollars. In addition,  Don has owned and operated his own business, here in Arvada.

Don has been an active volunteer in organizations such as: Salvation Army, St. Francis Center, United Way, Thanksgiving Dinners for the Homeless. Don has served on the Vestry of his church for three years, and has spent the last five years teaching Sunday School.

Don believes his business experience combined with his community out-reach make him a strong candidate to serve on the Arvada Fire Protection Board. 

WHY DON TAYLOR?

I am running for this position for a number of reasons:

1) First, having lived in Arvada for almost 25 years, I would like to give back, and serve this great community.

2) Having explored the many opportunities to serve on various Boards in the City of Arvada, I was struck by how many of the same names appeared on multiple Boards.  It looks like the "good old boys" network on steroids!

In case you have not yet checked your 2014 property statement, the Arvada Fire Protection District collects a levy of 14.8 mils.  The entire Jeffco Central Government Levy, is 17.4 mills - only 2.6 mills more than the City of Arvada! 

I feel it is time for an average tax-paying citizen-an "outsider" such as myself, to step up and serve on the Arvada Fire Protection District Board.  My goal is to bring: Openness, Accountability, Transparency and Communication to Arvada taxpayers. 

The men and women that make up the Arvada Fire Department are the best in the country.  I will work to support these outstanding men and women in their duties to protect the Citizens of Arvada.

Please note: I am not running for any other Board, because I believe any volunteer should devote their full talents and attention to one Board at a time.  

JEFFREY VAN ES

Current Employment, Activities, Board Seats, Community Involvement

Current Employment:

• GE Johnson Construction Company / Sr. Project Manager
• St. Anne's Catholic School Building and Grounds Committee
• Active member of Shrine of St. Anne Catholic Church
• Southern Exposure Home Building Experience - Juarez, Mexico
• Bicycling, Running, Skiing, and Golf
• Vice President of HOA Board of Directors
• AFPD Volunteer Firefighter from 2001 - 2009
• AFPD Volunteer consultant to Fire Station Construction projects 2007 - 2013
• AFPD Volunteer Instructor for Fire Academy Building Construction Course
• Arvada "Fill-Up-A-Can" Days
• Concerts for Kids Work Day

Why are you interested in serving on the Arvada Fire District Board?

I was raised in a family of volunteer firefighters that spans a combined eight decades of service.  Having a strong desire to continue this tradition, I volunteered as a firefighter upon moving to Arvada.  Following my years of service as a volunteer firefighter, I continued my involvement in the community by providing construction expertise to the AFPD on their construction projects.  I value the part every resident of Arvada plays in the continued betterment of the community in which they reside, and wish to bring my experience and dedication to causes related to the growth and betterment of Arvada as a whole.  Serving on the Arvada Fire District Board provides me an opportunity to continue to serve Arvada in a manner that affects every citizen within the AFPD boundaries, strengthening the ties that unite us as a community.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time on the Board?

I have worked in the commercial construction industry in Colorado for the past 20 years.  During that time I have managed construction projects ranging from $1 million to $120 million.  This leadership experience will be an asset in helping the AFPD maintain its responsibility to the citizens it serves, while offering insight to navigating projects in the future. 

My firefighter background gives me the insight necessary to understand the needs within the department as they relate to providing the highest level of service to its residents.  Having been on emergency calls, I understand the demands and extensive support it takes to safely respond to emergencies. 

The AFPD has been providing superior service to its citizens over the years.   As a board member, I hope to help the department in continuing this high level of dedication, while being integral in growing the level of excellence to the residents of the district. 

What impacts do you think you can make on the business community through this role?

In this role, I would be interested in bringing the business community and AFPD closer together as a team, united in the day-to-day lives of all residents.  The fire department is not one that solely responds to emergencies and performs inspections.  It is a department that collaborates with local businesses through community education, public safety, outreach and open communication.

What do you see as the top three challenges facing the district in the next 5 years?

The top three challenges for the district are:

Growth of the Candelas area in the Northwest portion of the city.  This area is growing quickly, and response times for the nearest fire station are lengthy.  Adding fire stations, equipment and especially staffing will become very important to budget concerns.

Integrated Community Medicine.  This has already been implemented in other metro fire departments and will be coming to Arvada.  AFPD has an opportunity to get ahead in this area and further supplement the transport service started a year ago.

Volunteer/reserve firefighter system.  Expansion and growth of the department and its services has changed the benefits of the volunteer/reserve system.  This is a great tradition in which this fire department was founded, but risk versus benefit will require evaluation with open minds.

RUSSELL WEISFIELD

Current Employment, Activities, Board Seats, Community Involvement:

I.T. Specialist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Why are you interested in serving on the Arvada Fire District Board? 

What do you hope to accomplish during your time on the Board? 

Government works best when it acts in the open view of a well-informed public.  As such, addressing the aforementioned open government issues will be among my top priorities.  Furthermore, during the campaign for the mill-levy increase it was indicated by proponents of the increase that if Proposition 101 and related Constitutional Amendments failed to pass, then the $2,000,000.00 requested in preparation for the passage of those laws would be rolled back.  Though the laws indeed failed to pass, the tax remains even as property values, and consequently the income of the Fire District,  increased.  I therefore intend to re-address the continuance of this portion of the mill levy.

What impacts do you think you can make on the business community through this role? 

Minimizing or reducing taxes will have a positive impact on members of the business community by allowing them to keep more of their income.  This is especially true when, as previously described, the income for the district can remain constant.  Additionally, a safe and flowing transportation network is inherently vital for businesses to thrive.  My knowledge of transportation issues and technologies, such as Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), will be important to businesses should the city or district expand.

What do you see as the top three challenges facing the district in the next 5 years? 

1) Maintaining top ISO ratings and accreditation throughout the district

2) Adjusting to changes in boundaries that may include less of Wheat Ridge and more of Arvada (e.g. in Adams County)

3) Preparing for the impact of the Gold Line completion and associated Transit Oriented Development (TOD)

BOB WILSON

Current Employment, Activities, Board Seats, Community Involvement:

• Retired from Western Area Power Administration, US DOE in 2010 (30 years in energy systems engineering).
• RTD FasTracks Sustainability Committee, 2007 to present.
• Arvada Gold Line Advisory Committee, 2002 to present.
• DRCOG Citizen's AdvisoryCommittee, 2013 to present.
• Arvada Fire Protection District Blue Ribbon Panel, 2010.
• Arvada Fire Protection District Citizen's Fire academy, 2011.
• Arvada Police Citizen's Police Academy, 2012.
• Arvada-Jefferson Kiwanis, 1997 to present; Board member 2002-2004.
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Denver Section; Treasurer 2009-2010, Financial Audit Committee 2011-2012.

Why are you interested in serving on the Arvada Fire District Board?

I would be honored to serve as a Director on the Arvada Fire Protection District to continue my many years of community service. I have particular interest in serving organizations that could benefit from my technical skills in energy and project management. The AFPD is an excellent organization and I would like to help guide this organization into the future.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time on the Board?

As a Director I will work with the Fire Chief and other Directors to:

• Continue a culture so the AFPD is awarded the high honor of accreditation by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), http://publicsafetyexcellence.org/agency-accreditation/about-accreditation-cfai.aspx).
• Learn more about and become an expert on the budget and its consequences,
• Encourage the migration from a fire protection district to a fire protection and prevention district.

What impacts do you think you can make on the business community through this role?

The business community is impacted by the safety services the AFPD provides. The EMTs and paramedics on the ambulances provide life services to the individuals in the business community. The Operation Division provides the traditional fire control services, thus minimizing injuries, possible loss of life, and damage to business properties. The AFPD and its Board of Directors sets policies that determine business and residential insurance rates. One measure of service is measured by the Insurance Service Organization (ISO, http://www.iso.com/About-ISO/Overview/About-ISO.html) ratings. The AFPD has a good rating of ISO 3, which means we have excellent fire protection service and low fire insurance rates.  As a Director I will work to provide excellent life safety, fire protection, and prevention and work toward an ISO rating of 2 to help keep our insurance rates low.

What do you see as the top three challenges facing the district in the next 5 years? 

In my opinion, the top three challenges are:

• To finish the application process and be awarded accreditation by the CFAI,
• Decide when to build Station 9 in the Candelas area. The decision will be a balance between costs and income. Income is based on the number of homes, businesses, and industries, their tax evaluation rate, and the tax revenue they generate. Costs are for the building and a staff of twelve (three shifts, four firefighters/shift) plus overhead. This runs about $1.6M/year.
• Continue to grow, improve, learn, and be an industry leader.