Broomfield Taxpayer Matters

July 29, 2024

This newsletter contains the following stories and information:

Attend the next Make Your Voice Heard event - Freedom is Worth Fighting For
North Water Tank project FINALLY approved, and at a higher cost
Water and Sewer Infrastructure Rate Hikes - Wow!
Another Charter Amendment is coming, this one to increase the Mayor's term length
Council Expense Report - Quarter Two
Council Agendas for July 30th and August 13, 2024
City Council member contact information

Pay Attention to these upcoming items in the Agendas:

July 30th - Special Session
5A. Expense Report for Elected Officials - 2nd Quarter 2024
6B. Request for Executive Sessions Regarding the City and County Manager's Annual Performance Review
7D. Potential Charter Change Ballot Question re: Length of Term for a Mayor - First Reading
August 13th - Regular Meeting
5A. 2023 Audit and Review of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
7A. Public Hearing - Charter Ballot Question Ordinances - 2nd Reading
7B. Contracted Waste Hauling Ordinance - First Reading

Please let us know if you plan to attend by registering here.

“Well done is better than well said.”

― Benjamin Franklin

Local News

Our next "Make Your Voice Heard" session will be held on August 31, 2024, and we would love to have you join us!

"Freedom is Worth Fighting For"

Saturday, August 31, 2024 from 1-3PM

Check-in begins at 12:30pm

Please register today to join us at this informative session.*

* Event Location: will be in Broomfield, exact location will be sent after sign up is completed.

Broomfield Taxpayer’s Mission is to raise the awareness of Broomfield taxpayers of by arming them with information regarding the policies of the City and County of Broomfield that impact us civically and financially.

We empower citizens to ask the hard questions, demand truth and accuracy, and request changes in the public policies of our municipal government and elected officials that limit citizens’ economic and personal freedoms.

* Broomfield Taxpayer Matters is a 501(c)4 organization. We reserve the right to accept or reject any reservation request for this event.

" Knowledge is power. Information is power. The secreting or hoarding of knowledge or information may be an act of tyranny camouflaged as humility. " - Robin Morgan

City Council FINALLY Approves Plan For Partially Buried North Water Tanks

Well, after more than 300 days of no official action, the Broomfield City Council voted 8-2 to approve the plan for the North Broomfield water tanks.

At the July 23 2024 City Council Meeting, the City Council officially reviewed the proposed options to either (A) partially bury the water tanks at a new revised cost of $93M...up from $80M last September, or (B) fully bury the water tanks at a cost of $100M. The City Council voted to go with "option A", and approved the partially buried tanks.

Here's the frustrating part. The City Council approved essentially the same plan that was in front of them on September 26, 2023 which they voted to send back to the City Staff to provide an alternative plan to fully bury the tanks. Now, the city finds itself effectively back to the same project that it looked at almost a year ago. Except now, there has been wasted staff time, additional consulting costs, lost time, and yes overall higher costs for the project.

The project will not begin until 2026 and is dependent on the 50% water rate increase the city council and city staff are now pushing, more on that in the next story.

Third Water Rate Increase in 3 Years Heading Our Way, and This One is a Doozey

We're learning more about the proposed water rate increase, and the story is not getting better the more that we hear about.

In the Study Session review of the Enterprise Funds on July 16, 2024, we learned our utility rates will be going up once again. If what is was discussed in the staff memo occurs, this will be the 3rd water rate increase in three years.

The average bill will go up to $119.90, a 50% increase in 1 year, or a 77% increase since 2022. It will raise Broomfield's average water bill from the 10th lowest in to the 4th highest among cities in the metro area.

We discussed the history of water rate hikes in the July 15th, 2024 newsletter, so let's talk about the meeting. First, a discussion by Director Rutt about what an Enterprise Fund is:

First here is a description of what the Enterprise Fund is from Broomfield Public Works Director Ken Rutt

Next, a discussion about the severe deterioration of our water system and the lack of personnel to fix three water main breaks that happened last year....

And, now this "crisis" is coming front and center half way through 2024, as the City Council has been fixated on everything from pay raises, to charter amendments, to their own "focus session" in March.

Now, the City Council and City Staff are attempting to explain (and blame) the situation as a full blown emergency where the only answer is to raise your base water rates...again...but this time by 50%.

The City Staff tried to justify the approach at the July 25th public forum on the enterprise fund, but residents are none to happy with the city's approach. City Manager Hoffman suggested that, working with City Council, they will hold two "town hall" forums in the next few weeks, where the "pissed off" citizens can directly voice their concerns.

We'll keep you posted on when and where these town hall forums might take place.

“The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant." - Maximilien Robespierre

ANOTHER Charter Ballot Measure Coming, This One to Increase the Mayor's Term Length

With everything going on around the enterprise budget and water infrastructure issues, the City Council has seen fit to spend more time on a new measure for the November 2024 ballot.

This time, at the Tuesday July 30, 2024 City Council meeting, they are looking to increase the length of the Mayor's term from 2 years to 4 years. (Agenda item 7E)

It's not enough that they already have several charter measures going to the ballot. Now they are back for more, once again focusing on increasing their power, rather than addressing the real problems facing the community.

Please email the city council at council@broomfieldcitycouncil.or g and let them know your thoughts on this ballot measures.

Please also attend the July 30 City Council Meeting, 6PM at One Descombes Drive in Broomfield and speak the the City Council directly about the newest ballot measure.

Council Expense Report - 2nd Quarter

The Broomfield Council has been very busy spending your money on their travel. Some Councilmembers have been overspending their budgets and taking travel money from other councilmembers. Does this sound fair or equitable? Do those councilmembers think they are more important than other councilmembers?

Their spending is already at about 52% of the allocated travel and training budget. They are raising your water rates, but won't cut back on their travel budget?

Especially in the age of ZOOM meetings. It appears they don't really care about how much they impact your budget, but they can't possibly be expected to rein in their spending.

After all, it is for your own good because they know more than you, care more than you, and don't listen to you.

Upcoming City Council Meetings - Please let us know if you plan to attend by registering here.

July 30, 2024

Special Session - 6:00 p.m.

Agenda

Meeting Commencement (1)

1A. Pledge of Allegiance

1B. Review and Approval of Agenda

Petitions and Communications (2)

Councilmember Reports (3)

Public Comment (4)

Reports (5)

5A. Expense Report for Elected Officials - 2nd Quarter 2024

Consent Items (6)

6A. BOE Approval of Hearing Officer Recommendations on Property Tax Protest Petitions

Resolution 2024-93

6B. Request for Executive Sessions Regarding the City and County Manager's Annual Performance Review

Action Items (7)

7A. Continued - Public Hearing - Summit Classical Academy Portable Building SDP Amendment

Resolution 2024-67

7B. Public Hearing - Vista Pointe PUD Plan Text Amendment and Comprehensive Plan Amendment

Resolution No. 2024-96

7C. Approving a $2 M Loan from the Housing Development Fund to Ulysses Development Group for the Harvest Hill Development

Resolution No. 2024-76

7D. Potential Charter Change Ballot Question re: Length of Term for a Mayor - First Reading

Ordinance 2248

7E. Public Hearing - Mixed Use/TOD and Rezoning Changes 2nd Reading

Ordinance 2222

7F. Public Hearing - Markel Property Rezoning to OS District 2nd Reading and Comprehensive Land Use Amendment

Resolution No. 2024-77
Ordinance 2236

7G. . Public Hearing - Wottge Property Rezoning to OS District 2nd Reading

Ordinance 2237

Mayor and Councilmember Requests for Future Action (8)

Adjournment (9)

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August 13, 2024

Regular Meeting - 6:00 p.m.

Agenda

Meeting Commencement (1)

1A. Pledge of Allegiance

1B. Review and Approval of Agenda

Petitions and Communications (2)

Councilmember Reports (3)

Public Comment (4)

Reports (5)

5A. 2023 Audit and Review of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

Consent Items (6)

6A. Approval of Minutes

July 23, 2024

6B.US 287/120th Sidepath Infill Construction Agreement

Resolution No. 2024-102: Amendment One
Resolution No. 2024-103: Norra Concrete

6C. Approving an Agreement for Traffic Signal Pole Replacement

Resolution No. 2024-91

6D. Potential Ballot Question Regarding DA Term Limits

Resolution No. 2024-75: From two consecutive four-year terms to three

6E. Northmoor Park Playground Construction Agreement

Resolution No. 2024-104

6F. Mile High Water License Purchase - Two Tap Requests

Resolution No. 2024-98

6G. HyperFiber Master License Agreement

Resolution No. 2024-63

6H. Intrepid Fiber Master License Agreement

Resolution No. 2024-99

Action Items (7)

7A. Public Hearing - Charter Ballot Question Ordinances - 2nd Reading

Resolution Nos.

7B. Contracted Waste Hauling Ordinance - First Reading

Ordinance 2242

7C. Nonprofits Grant Program and Possible Distribution of Add'l Funds from Property Tax and Grant Funds

Resolution No. 2024-100

Mayor and Councilmember Requests for Future Action (8)

Adjournment (9)

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Contact the City and County of Broomfield

Contact your City Council or City Staff about one of these stories:

Mayor - Guyleen Castriotta

gcastriotta@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

720-607-1527

Ward 1 -

James Marsh-Holschen

jmarshholschen@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

720-507-9184

Kenny Nguyen

knguyen@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

303-438-6300

Ward 2 -

Paloma Delgadillo

pdelgadillo@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

720-916-6406

Austin Ward

award@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

303-817-0991

Ward 3 -

Deven Shaff

dshaff@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

970-344-8032

Jean Lim

jlim@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

303-349-2745

Ward 4 -

Laurie Anderson

landerson@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

920-378-9654

Bruce Leslie

bleslie@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

210-324-5750

Ward 5 -

Todd Cohen

tcohen@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

720-900-5452

Heidi Henkel

hhenkel@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

303-349-0978

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