Berthoud Town Board 8/27/24
By Nanci Wendland
MAIN TOPICS
- CFO for Thompson School District explains needs that would be met by mill levy on ballot.
- Results of a 2024 Parks, Open Space, Recreation, and Trails Survey shows resident priorities.
- Berthoud wins a Silver Telly Award for a video honoring businesses.
- Golden Links Senior Group requested $20,000 for excursions and a bus.
The consent agenda was unanimously approved, and it included these items:
- Aug. 27, 2024, meeting agenda
- Aug. 13 meeting minutes
- June 2024 Financial Information
- Aug. 2024 Board Report
- Sustainability Plan Contract awarded to Cumming Group. The attachment states that the town intends to prepare a Plan that addresses sustainable transportation & air quality, water & land management, energy and resource management, and green & healthy building.
- As a separate item, the board unanimously approved the purchase of Handy Ditch and LLDC Water Shares. Attachment states that the Town’s long-term strategy is to develop its water rights portfolio by acquiring ditch shares on the Big Thompson River whenever available. Also, the Town’s 2020 Water Resources Master Plan recommends that the Town continue to acquire Loveland Lake shares for non-potable irrigation use.
The Town of Berthoud received the Silver Telly Award for the 2023 Berthoud Business Appreciation Breakfast video (26:03 of the video) honoring the businesses of Berthoud. The Telly Awards honors video and television across all screens. The owner of AdSortium Media, Ben Price, produced the video and submitted it for the award. Price said production of the video was less than $100,000 and served as a thank you to Berthoud businesses.
Residents Nancy Weber and Carol Weiser requested $20,000 to fund excursions and transportation for the Berthoud Golden Links senior group in Berthoud. The group’s 30-40 participants meet every Thursday.
Board members asked Nancy and Carol to submit a list of what the funds would be used for and estimated cost. Town Clerk Samora said there are several different ways to help them. He said sharing resources with the Parks and Recreation department might be available to them.
Thompson School District CFO Gordon Jones updated the board on a $13M special mill levy that will appear on the November ballot for voter approval. If approved, the mill levy will help cover the following expenses the current budget lacks funding for:
- Air conditioning for numerous schools in the district
- Roofing and water damage to several older schools
- Long list of maintenance needs for many of the district schools
Jones said Thompson School District has 30 schools, approximately 2200 employees, 15,000 students, and the district covers approximately 362 square miles. One of the trustees asked if the district could use state and federal funding to help with the costs. Jones said state and federal monies are typically for educational purposes, not for facility maintenance.
The Town Board of Trustees directed staff and the PORT Committee to develop a Parks, Open Space, Recreation, and Trails (PORT) Survey. Town staff hired RRC Associates to support the development and distribution of the 2024 survey, and to perform data analysis of the results in a final summary back to Town staff. 5,376 surveys were mailed to Berthoud residents, and RRC received 836 responses. Below are some of the key findings from the survey (details are in the packet):
- The Berthoud Recreation Center and Trails and Waggener Farm Park are the most frequently used facilities. 21% of the sample responded that they visit at least once a week. Of the additional parks, nearly three-quarters (72%) of respondents’ report visiting Fickel Park in the past year and 25% have visited the Berthoud Dog Park.
- The Town of Berthoud parks and recreation amenities that were rated as most important are parks, trails, and open space/natural areas. Following in importance are the leisure pool area, workout facilities and playgrounds.
- Overall, the future amenities deemed most important include bike/running trails, outdoor pool, natural areas, and an amphitheater. Conversely, a skate park, an ice rink and a pump track were rated as the least important.
Respondents were also asked why the amenities they chose were important to their household. Some common themes from responses were:
1. Family and Community Activities:
- Engagement for All Ages: Emphasis on facilities that cater to both children and adults, supporting family friendly activities.
2. Health and Wellness:
- Exercise and Fitness: High priority on fitness facilities like gyms, pools, and trails for physical health and mental well-being.
3. Accessibility and Connectivity:
- Safe and Connected Paths: Demand for better infrastructure to ensure safe and accessible travel to parks and recreational areas.
4. Maintenance and Development:
- Upkeep of Existing Facilities: Importance of maintaining and improving current parks and amenities.
5. Recreation and Leisure:
- Variety of Recreational Options: Desire for a diverse range of recreational activities and facilities to cater to different interests and needs.
The board agreed they would schedule a special work session to review the survey data. Town Clerk Samora also thought the survey results should be a part of the 2025 budget talks.
The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Next meeting is Sept. 10, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom, or in-person at 807 Mountain Ave., Town Board Room, Berthoud, CO
Questions To Consider
Is the Golden Links program for older residents the only activity program for seniors in Berthoud? How many residents of Berthoud would benefit from a senior program?
Did responses to the PORT survey downgrade a skate park and ice rink because kids who use them generally don’t open surveys like this?
Members Present
Mayor William Karspeck, Mayor Pro Tem Sean Murphy and Trustees Karl Ayers, Chris Kurtz, Brett Wing and Tim Hardy. May Albrecht was absent.
Others Present
Town Administrator Chris Kirk; Town Clerk Christian Samora; Town Attorney Erin Smith; Deputy Town Clerk Lexi Weissman; LC Sargeant Justin Wiliamson; Director of Finance Cindy Leach; Senior Planner Tawn Hillenbrand; Anne Johnson; Public Works Operation Manager Keith Knoll; RRC Associates Kaitlyn Haskovec; Thompson School District CFO Gordon Jones; Nancy Weber; Carol Wieser.
Documents
From the Town website – “The Town of Berthoud is governed by a seven-member Board. The Mayor and Trustees are the policy makers elected to represent the community and to concentrate on policy issues that are responsive to the needs and wishes of the community.”
*Citizen Observers further the commitment of the League of Women Voters to its principle of Citizens Right to Know, however, we are not acting as journalists. Omissions and errors are possible. It is assumed that users of this information are responsible for their own fact-checking. This could include contacting a government clerk, conversing with an elected official or staff, and/or asking us to speak to the Observer who attended.