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Harvest Party a big hit

Below: Oct. 31: An estimated 1,000 people enjoyed games, candy, jumpers, costumes, and fun at this year’s free event at Creekside Middle School sponsored by Forest Ridge Community Church. Photos by Jim Kendrick.

Below: Dustie Minton tries his luck with the football toss. 

Below: Sydney Stewart is helped in the coin toss game by her mother (L) and volunteer Katie With (R). 

Below (L to R): Dee Dee Eaton and Gail Wilson were elected to the Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Board of Education on Nov. 1. Courtesy photos

On Nov. 1, Dee Dee Eaton and Gail Wilson were elected to represent Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Director Districts 1 and 3.

Eaton received 58 percent of the 4,762 votes cast for Director District 1, while her opponent Jerrel Schubert received 42 percent.

Wilson received 34 percent of the 5,131 votes cast for Director District 3. In that race, John Magerko received 29 percent, Tom Roddam received 20 percent, and Georgeann Hughes received 18 percent.

The Town of Monument ballot measure to reallocate sales tax revenue was approved, with 70 percent of the 863 votes cast.

Elimination of term limits for Tri-Lakes Fire Protection District directors was approved, with 56 percent of the 2,951 votes cast.

This information is based on the final unofficial results posted on the El Paso County Clerk & Recorder’s Web site at http://car.elpasoco.com/elemain.asp.

Below: Vision Development’s Director of Development Rick Blevins (L) and consultant planner John Maynard of NES, Inc. (R) answer questions from the Monument Planning Commissioners (L to R) Kathy Spence, Ed DeLaney, Lowell Morgan, and Larry Neddo on Sept. 28 regarding their plans for the new Jackson Creek Commerce Center on the northeast corner of Jackson Creek Parkway and Leather Chaps Drive. Standing at the wall on the right is County Commissioner Wayne Williams. Photo by Jim Kendrick

On Sept. 28, the Monument Planning Commission (PC) approved plans for the first phase of the Jackson Creek Commerce Center, located on the northeast corner of Jackson Creek Parkway and Leather Chaps Drive.

The developer of the Timbers at Monument, south of the Home Depot, had asked that their Preliminary Plat and Preliminary Planned Development (PD) Site Plan be once again continued. Instead, the commission tabled them. When the Timbers proposals are ready for PC and Board of Trustees (BOT) consideration, notice of the hearings will again be posted on the property and advertised in the paper.

Developers of Promontory Point and Monument Ridge, next to Jackson Creek on Baptist Road, presented sketch plans and requests for annexation.

While there has been considerable discussion between developers and town staff regarding the four potential annexations near Jackson Creek, no firm proposals have yet emerged for Home Place Ranch or the Baptist Camp. Citizens have had difficulty knowing when to attend PC hearings on these developments due to numerous schedule changes. The August PC meeting was canceled, and the September meeting was postponed two weeks to help the developers. The October meeting was postponed a week and then canceled because the developer wasn’t ready.

The required quorum of four commissioners was present: Chairman Ed Delaney, Kathy Spence, Larry Neddo, and alternate Lowell Morgan. Commissioners Eric Johnson and John Kortgardner were absent.

Commissioner Tim Davis recently resigned after having missed every PC meeting since his appointment by the BOT Jan. 18. Morgan has since served as an alternate, substituting for Davis throughout the year.

A second vacancy on the PC was created when Travis Easton—a Jackson Creek resident and civil engineer for Nolte and Associates, the engineering consultant firm for the Triview Metropolitan District and the Timbers development—was appointed to the BOT on Sept. 19 to fill one of two vacant trustee positions. Easton replaced former Trustee Scott Meszaros, who resigned to apply for the long-dormant town clerk position.

Johnson resigned after this PC meeting, effective Oct. 26, creating a third PC vacancy. He moved to Douglas County, after taking a new job in Denver.

Town residents who wish to apply for appointment to a vacant PC position should contact Town Manager Cathy Green at 884-8013 or cgreen@townofmonument.net.

Preliminary Plat unanimously approved: Director of Development Services Tom Kassawara noted that 60,203 square feet of retail space are planned on 10 acres. The zoning is Planned Mixed Use Development. Timber Creek Drive, the main east-west access road connecting Jackson Creek Parkway and Leather Chaps Drive, will be a public road maintained by Triview per its intergovernmental agreement with the town.

Morgan asked if there were any grading issues. Kassawara said that grading on the site by Vision Development, Inc. was begun before his department created the requirement for grading permits, but there are no apparent grading issues. He added that some details on the detention pond needed to be resolved. There was no public comment.

Preliminary PD Site Plan unanimously approved: Kassawara stated that the PC would be reviewing only two of the five planned structures on the site, a 4,000-square-foot Ent Federal Credit Union office near Jackson Creek Parkway and a 20,606-square-foot, two-story office building near Leather Chaps Drive, in the center of the parcel. There are two additional general retail building sites for a 14,700-square-foot building on Old Forest Point Drive at the south corner of the parcel and two strip center buildings with 13 units of 2,400 square feet each on the north side of Timber Creek Drive. The developer will have to return to the Planning Commission and Board of Trustees for approval of the plans for the latter two sites.

Kassawara recommended two conditions of approval.

The first condition would require construction of a second right-turn deceleration lane on southbound Leather Chaps, to the south of the depicted deceleration lane for Timber Creek Drive. The addition would be for the secondary Leather Chaps entrance south of the two-story office building. Kassawara said the proposed counts in the traffic study do not require this change, but line-of-sight issues due to the curve of Leather Chaps from south to west at this access might.

The developer’s consultant traffic engineer had not yet submitted an analysis of the curvature/sight-line issue for the town’s consultant traffic engineer to review and approve. Kassawara said he would administratively rescind this condition if the consultants’ analyses show the deceleration lane is not needed.

The other condition of approval was an additional note in the PD design guidelines that would specify 9-foot-by-18-foot parking spaces instead of the 9-foot-by-19-foot spaces called for in the Regency Park design guidelines that apply east of I-25. The PD guidelines would supersede the 1987 Regency Park guidelines for this parcel.

Rick Blevins, Vision’s Director of Development, said he had no problem with the two conditions, noting that cars were larger in 1987 and that the smaller space length is also part of the Monument Marketplace PD guidelines.

There was no public comment.

Spence asked for an additional design guideline requirement for outside tables for office workers, to help minimize pedestrian traffic across Jackson Creek Parkway from this parcel to the Marketplace. She also asked for smoking areas to be shown on the plan and that the areas not be visible from the Parkway or Leather Chaps. Spence also asked that specific guideline wording be added that would require screening of service areas, trash bins, and mechanical equipment.

Blevins agreed, and Kassawara said his department would ensure that the revision to the guidelines is part of the final PD Site Plan. Blevins also noted that there would be a 35-foot-wide landscape buffer as well as a masonry screen at the north end of the parcel.

Spence asked about the maximum height of the buildings and whether signs would be compatible with those for the Marketplace. Blevins said the maximum height of equipment-screening parapets would be about 48 feet, though the Regency Park regulations allow a maximum of 100 feet. Signs will be similar to those for the Marketplace, though smaller. Spence said she wanted four-sided architecture due to the visibility of all sides of each building from adjacent roads. Kassawara said there would be, though the rear facades would have fewer windows. Spence concluded by saying she wanted the development to have a "smooth flow" to its design to avoid the "choppy look" of commercial developments in Colorado Springs.

Jackson Creek resident Jim Dorsey asked about parapet screening of rooftop equipment, noting that King Soopers’ roof equipment is not screened for adjacent houses at higher elevations. Kassawara said the town code had been changed since King Soopers was built to ensure screening from all aspects, where possible.

Jackson Creek resident John Chinnock asked if there would be a common architectural theme for the five buildings. Kassawara said there would, due to the requirements in the town’s comprehensive plan and the level of detail in the PD design guidelines for the parcel, which are similar to those for the Marketplace.

A resident who did not identify herself asked if there would be bicycle lanes on Leather Chaps. Blevins said there would be 5-foot-wide sidewalks for pedestrians but no bike lanes, since the road is already completed. Kassawara noted that the 1987 Regency Park regulations do not call for any bike lanes.

The site plan was unanimously approved, with the two conditions noted above.

During a two-hour hearing, landowner Ray Marshall, of Landco, sought concurrent approval of his annexation proposal, rezoning request, and a PD sketch plan for the parcel, now named Walters Promontory Pointe. This parcel is the former 117-acre Vern Walters Ranch, north of Baptist Road and Gleneagle Drive, between the Jackson Creek and Kingswood developments. Notices of the PC hearing were posted on the site and mailed to adjoining property owners.

The site sketch plan in Kassawara’s proposal package showed that Triview has a west-to-east easement across the northern end of the parcel, providing access to the district’s water storage tank at the northeast corner of the property.

A different approach: Annexations are regulated by Colorado statutes with a tight 60-day timetable. In the past, developers seeking town annexation have also sought concurrent approval of Final Plats and Final PD Site Plans, often with developer metropolitan districts, a very complicated review process for the staff, PC, and BOT, given the annexation timing constraints.

Although far less specific development information was provided in the sketch plan, Kassawara’s summary document noted that the PC’s task was to determine if the proposed annexation complies with the town’s and county’s current comprehensive plans and to make recommendations to the BOT on any development requirements that should be included in the proposed annexation agreement.

Town Manager Cathy Green gave a short overview of the annexation request and Kassawara’s development summary package, after saying she is still in charge of long-range town planning. Green, a planner throughout her career, was originally hired as the town planner, then was elevated to the town manager after the departure of Rick Sonnenburg. Kassawara, a career professional engineer, was then elevated from his town engineer position to head the restructured Development Services Department when the planning department was eliminated.

Green noted the southern 39-acre portion of the narrow rectangular parcel had already been annexed by the town. The county zoning of the remainder is currently RR-3, 5-acre lots or larger. Landco requested rezoning of the whole parcel to town Planned Residential Development (PRD). The definitions for PRD zoning differ among the town, Triview, and the county–a source of confusion for the commissioners and trustees.

Green said the density in the proposed development ranges from three to five dwelling units per acre. Green said the Walters parcel is in Priority Area 1, the Monument Urban Growth Area, of the town’s updated comprehensive plan.

Kassawara’s summary document noted this town annexation designation means that the parcel is "most easily served by existing infrastructure and special districts." Triview has already allocated the required number of taps to the developer. He added that the designation applies where "land is considered appropriate for annexation and development, and does not present problems which are associated with sprawl."

Kassawara’s summary also noted the El Paso County 2000 Tri-Lakes Comprehensive Plan called for low-density development on the parcel, with RR-3 zoning and 5-acre lots. He further noted this comprehensive plan statement: "Monument’s expanding sphere of influence means that development happening in and around the Town will develop to more contemporary, suburban standards rather than the rural standards promoted by the county."

Kassawara’s document also noted the Tri-Lakes Plan calls for an east-west regional trail across the property, and a north-south "major transportation connector" or "major collector" road through the parcel to help connect Gleneagle Drive to Furrow Road. The El Paso County Department of Transportation comment letter on the proposal had asked that the sketch plan be referred to the county’s Major Thoroughfare Task Force.

Kassawara suggested that the PC recommend to the BOT that the proposal comply with comprehensive plans and that the annexation agreement address trails, park and open space dedication, buffers next to adjoining rural land uses, Baptist Road improvements, and public schools.

Landco’s consultant planner, Terry Schooler of William Guman & Associates, gave an overview of the proposal as well. He noted that the single main street through the narrow parcel was "not a highway," and flow would be slow on the curved road that follows the existing contours of the site, to take advantage of the views in all directions. A 60-foot "major collector" right-of-way with no home driveways would connect Gleneagle Drive to the eastward extension of Lyon’s Tail Drive.

The timing of installation of a traffic light at Baptist and Gleneagle will depend on when traffic counts meet the minimum requirements for the warrants. The rest of the north-south road would be residential and would have a 50-foot minor collector right-of-way with curves, driveways, and stop signs to slow traffic for child safety.

Schooler said that the controversial connections of this single north-south road to a north-south collector for Home Place Ranch and to two residential Jackson Creek streets, Lyon’s Tail and Walters Creek Drives, were a requirement for inclusion imposed by Triview’s District Manager Ron Simpson and also by town staff. Both these latter internal intersections were proposed to have all-way stop signs.

Schooler said there would be a segment of the county trail connecting the Santa Fe Trail to Fox Run Park that would run along Walters Creek Drive, then further east to the rock outcroppings near the water storage tank. There will be trees and berms along the north side of Baptist Road to reduce traffic noise and a 10-foot sidewalk. The developer will also donate right-of-way land to the county for widening Baptist Road.

Guman Land Planner Jillian McColgan presented the details of the 330 residential lots. She said that there would be:

All front setbacks are 20 feet and rear setbacks are 25 feet. House prices will range from $400,000 to $650,000. Minimum spacing between western homes and those of Jackson Creek will be 80 feet. Minimum spacing between eastern homes and those of Kingswood would be 145 feet.

County Commissioner Wayne Williams attended this meeting to personally reinforce the county transportation department’s collector requests. He noted the sketch plan showed a single north-south residential road with numerous driveways and stop signs. However, this single road should be a major collector that connects Gleneagle Drive, also a major collector, to another "major collector" through Home Place Ranch that intersects Higby Road.

Williams also said that Landco’s required major collector would have to have a connection to the Baptist Camp development’s major collector through the Landco parcel. Williams noted that no Baptist Camp connection was shown on the Landco proposal. He said the town should require the Baptist Camp connection to conform to the county’s Major Transportation Corridors Plan. The town should also require elimination of the driveways and stop signs and widening of the 50-foot right-of-way to meet county major collector requirements for the new road’s full length. The county will require all of these changes if the 78 acres are not annexed.

Numerous Jackson Creek and Kingswood property owners expressed concerns about:

Schooler rebutted, saying that this was a sketch plan of "what might be" rather than a firm proposal for final approval. He said the expensive houses would produce a "value match with existing homes, if not a match in actual acreage." Schooler also noted the town would require all the drainage issues to be resolved before final plan approval, if the property is annexed.

Schooler went on to say that nearly every Gleneagle resident who had attended previous presentations opposed the extension of Gleneagle Drive to the north as a collector. Nearly every Jackson Creek resident opposes the connections with Lyon’s Tail and Walters Creek Drives. The county, town, Triview, and the Baptist Camp developer were forcing the connections, not Landco. Schooler concluded by saying, "We’ve shown more than we should have" to get the sketch plan approved.

McColgan said that the adjacent residents "all complained" about the requirement to go to the post office to pick up the certified letters for a previous information meeting held by Guman in Town Hall. Some residents did not pick them up. Regular mail was used for the hearing notices, rather than certified mail as required by the statutes. Green said "The word got out, you’re here."

Upon learning that certified mail was not used by McColgan, the commissioners voted unanimously to continue the sketch plan. There would not have been enough time to send out a new notice by certified mail at least 15 days prior to the scheduled PC meeting on Oct. 12. The PC meeting was then delayed a week to Oct. 19, by a unanimous vote. Public notice of PC annexation hearings by certified mail is not required by statute, so the commissioners returned to the annexation issue.

Morgan asked what benefit there was in the proposed annexation for the town. Green said that the town needed the sales tax revenue from the parcel to pay for the proposed police building. Morgan noted that purely residential annexations are a money loser for the town, because infrastructure maintenance, snow plowing, and police services, among others, cost more annually than the property tax raised within the development, after buildout.

Morgan said the town had never annexed property without approving the final development plans simultaneously. Green replied that the statutes only require that the parcel fit the guidelines for annexation in the town and county master plans. Morgan added that he couldn’t approve the construction of any more new homes along Baptist Road until the bridge over I-25 is widened. The other commissioners agreed.

Green asked the commissioners to explain how the annexation proposal was not in compliance with the comprehensive plans. Spence said the development was "way too dense" to provide appropriate transitions to the existing developments. Green countered that the average density of 8,000 square feet per lot was roughly equal to that of the adjacent Jackson Creek housing clusters. Spence replied that such high densities were only appropriate to single-story patio home developments that preserve adjacent lots’ views. Neddo agreed with Spence.

A motion to continue the annexation decision until Oct. 19 also passed unanimously. This PC meeting was later canceled when the developer was not ready to address the issues raised.

AP Baptist Road, LLC sought concurrent approval of its annexation proposal, rezoning request, and PD Sketch Plan for the 30-acre Barber-Miller-Schmidt parcel on Baptist Road directly across from the King Soopers center. The developer proposes commercial buildings along Baptist and New Struthers Road and residential in the corner adjacent to Chaparral Hills. The parcel would be included by Triview, if annexed, but with town Planned Development zoning rather than Triview zoning.

This parcel is also in Priority Area 1, the Monument Urban Growth Area, of the town’s updated comprehensive plan. Kassawara wrote that the Tri-Lakes plan "identifies this land as mixed use or non-residential." It is zoned R4 by the county, a type of planned development. The county plans for this parcel have always called for mixed community commercial and residential, a major factor in the defeat of the Wal-Mart Supercenter proposal last year.

Two different PD sketch plans showed 16.73 acres of commercial space with alternative arrangements of 10 separate buildings including a bank, hotels, restaurants, a drugstore, a small retail strip center, and a gas station on the northeast corner. A large detention pond is planned for the southwest corner, next to New Struthers Road, as was proposed by Wal-Mart. No details were provided on either sketch plan as to the type of residential housing that might be built.

Kassawara noted that the commissioners were not approving anything specific on the sketch plan, just that "the land uses and densities being proposed are acceptable."

Kassawara noted that the only written comments received were from traffic engineering consultant SEH, Inc. The report recommended against approving the developer’s request that the Jackson Creek Crossing intersection on Baptist Road be converted to a full motion intersection with left-turn lights in all directions. The intersection is currently right-in/right-out only westbound at the King Soopers center, with no access to this parcel. It will be upgraded by the county to a ¾-motion intersection with left turns only from Baptist Road to Jackson Creek Crossing in both directions and no traffic light.

The SEH report also noted that the minimum spacing for traffic lights on a major arterial is one-half mile, while the separation between Jackson Creek Crossing and Jackson Creek Parkway is only 870 feet.

However, Mayor Byron Glenn told the Baptist Road Rural Transportation Authority on Feb. 2 that the town would annex the county road and convert this intersection to full motion and pay for the traffic light after the county transportation department completes all the improvements being paid for by the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority, without town participation.

Kassawara’s summary document suggested the same recommendation by the PC to the BOT for this development as for Promontory Pointe.

Green suggested that the PC continue the decision on the sketch plan until the next meeting due to insufficient time to get written comments back from citizens, utilities, and other interested parties. Land Planner Perry Thomas, of Thomas & Thomas, also said he would like to go forward with the landowner’s annexation request for a mixed use.

Thomas noted that "stepped separate building pads" were used, rather than a large flat pad like the Wal-Mart proposal, due to the variations in elevation and steep slopes on the site. He also observed that the landowner has had several requests for participation from hotel chains. The landowner has expressed willingness to participate in any public improvement fee plan to provide early private financing of widening the Baptist Road bridge over I-25.

There was no citizen opposition to the proposal during the public hearing. Family of Christ Lutheran Church representative, Ron Little, and Chaparral Hills residents Debbie and Don Grandia and Pete McKinney expressed concerns about:

Green said there would be public hearings that would require planned development guidelines and very complete descriptions not contained in the two differing conceptual sketch plans.

Spence suggested that the restaurants be next to the hotels so guests could walk to them easily, after noting that patio home residents would probably like being adjacent to the proposed commercial uses. Morgan said again that the bridge over I-25 could not handle the additional traffic the development would generate, despite the needs of the town that would be met by the proposed commercial uses, which he called "the right businesses in the right location." He added that New Struthers would be of little help until it is completed to Northgate.

Project Engineer Virgil Sanchez, of ESI Inc., agreed with Morgan on the need for commercial property owners to work together to accelerate bridge construction. Kassawara said the town was working on the public improvement fee method of private financing for the improvement.

After further discussion, the PC unanimously approved the annexation proposal without conditions. A motion to continue the sketch plan passed 3-1, with Morgan voting no. He said he couldn’t approve a site plan on principle, when there is no resolution of the bridge issue in sight.

Kassawara announced that referrals from the county for the town’s comments on county developments near the town would only be presented at PC meetings in the future and no longer considered at BOT meetings.

The meeting adjourned at 10 p.m. The next meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 in Town Hall, 166 Second St. The Planning Commission normally meets on the second Wednesday of the month.

The Monument Board of Trustees interviewed a candidate to replace former Trustee George Brown and approved a grant of $6,000 for the Lucretia Vaile Museum on Oct. 3. Trustees Tommie Plank and Gail Drumm were absent.

Trustee comments: Mayor Byron Glenn directed Public Works Director Rich Landreth to have his staff clear the weeds from the undeveloped property on the northeast corner of Second and Front Streets and send the property owner, who lives in Denver, the bill, as has been done previously.

Glenn said that he wanted to amend the agenda to postpone appointing a new trustee until Oct. 17. The board approved unanimously. Two Jackson Creek residents were listed on the agenda, Dr. Marc McClure and Tim Miller, but Miller was not present.

McClure said he has lived in Monument for two and a half years and runs his own maxillo-facial surgery practice. He said he had been treasurer of the Hands of Hope Hospice, served on the board of directors for the Open Door Food Kitchen in St. Joseph, Mo., and also helped with trail building there. He stated that these experiences should help him make "intelligent and thoughtful consideration" of town finances, population growth, and limited water supply.

In response to questions from Trustees Frank Orten and Dave Mertz, and Glenn, he said he was not up-to-date on the activities of the board but was interested in the town’s finances, has time to serve, and is interested in public service, though he has no interest in politics. Orten noted that McClure had not come to hear the audit report, and added the report "was a good one."

McClure said growth and new businesses are inevitable, but rather than restricting them, the town should control them so that "infrastructure is present for that growth." McClure said I-25 was a "disaster" and the county could not keep up with growth. He said he is neither pro-growth nor anti-growth.

Rogers Davis and Jim Sawatski asked the board for a contribution to the Lucretia Vaile Museum in Palmer Lake. They noted that the museum, though not in Monument, is regional in nature and is the primary preserver of the town’s history. The board unanimously approved a donation of $6,000 for 2005 and budgeting for a similar contribution in 2006, both from the board’s discretionary fund.

Glenn reported that the town would match the $6,289.58 contributed to Hurricane Katrina relief by town employees with the maximum amount allowed by a previous board resolution, $5,000. Officer Kevin Swenson donated $2,170 of sick-day pay. David Just of the American Red Cross accepted the check from Glenn, said that there were 1,800 hurricane evacuees in Colorado Springs, and noted that the organization stands ready to help local residents in a disaster as well.

The board unanimously approved an amendment to town ordinances regarding previously unregulated excessive noise on private property. Police Chief Jake Shirk noted that the amendment was needed as an additional tool to resolve noise complaints such as loud stereo complaints in townhomes with common walls. Town Attorney Gary Shupp wrote the proposed amendment.

Other paragraphs deal with offensive conduct or language, threats, fights, discharge of a firearm, and the display of a weapon. Shirk said the amendment does not modify or limit the state self-defense statutes regarding use of deadly force in a home invasion, often called the "make my day" law.

The board unanimously approved a temporary transfer of the Mandarin House liquor license to the new owners, who will change the name of the restaurant to Hikari Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar. The Mandarin House is moving from Monument Plaza to Monument Marketplace, where it will seek a new license.

The Hikari owners have submitted all the proper paperwork for a permanent liquor license, but the required investigations were not yet completed. The town is not required to issue a permanent license to Hikari if all the investigation results are not positive.

The board unanimously approved a temporary road closure of the McShane Place cul-de-sac for an annual HOA picnic on Oct. 9.

The board unanimously approved the 50-page August financial report without discussion. There were no disbursements over $5,000.

The board scheduled a special meeting on Oct. 17 to discuss the first draft of the 2006 budget.

The board scheduled a special dinner workshop session with the Triview Metropolitan District on Oct. 19 to discuss aligning their separate development regulations.

The staff has scheduled its "Christmas" party for Dec. 9 at the Air Force Academy Officer’s Club.

The board will consider passing a resolution to impose a lien on an abandoned property on Washington Street for the cost of cleaning up the lot.

Green said the board should consider passing an ordinance restricting use of train horns at night, from midnight until 6 a.m., even though some jurisdictions have had difficulty with enforcement.

Glenn suggested that the board pass a resolution asking the county to better examine traffic impacts on the town and region for nearby county developments that they consider, and to use standard engineering practices and common sense.

The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

Town Manager Cathy Green administers the oath of office to newly appointed Town Clerk Scott Meszaros (above) and Trustee Tim Miller (below). Photos by Jim Kendrick

The Monument Board of Trustees (BOT) held a 2006 budget work session during a special meeting on Oct. 17. During the regular board meeting, former Trustee Scott Meszaros was sworn in as town clerk. The board interviewed two Jackson Creek residents to replace former Trustee George Brown. After one walked out of the meeting, angry because trustees said they did not think there should be another Jackson Creek resident on the board, the board then appointed the one who remained. Trustees Dave Mertz and Gail Drumm were absent.

Treasurer Pamela Smith presented the 20-page draft of the 2006 budget. She emphasized that all the figures listed in the draft were conservative on revenues to make sure that they were unlikely to be short of cash at the end of the year. Some of the highlights for comparing 2006 with 2005 were:

Smith reported that the 12 percent franchise fee that the town has used to tax its water system had been dropped in the draft budget. The purpose of the franchise fee tax was to move restricted revenue from the town’s one-cent water sales tax and/or excess water bill payments out of the water enterprise to the general fund, to fund other town requirements. Without the franchise fee, no water enterprise fund revenue could have been reallocated and spent for other town purposes. The limitation is based on Colorado statutes regarding public enterprises and the restriction in the 1989 ballot issue language that created the water sales tax, which says the sole purpose and permitted use for the sales tax revenue is the town water system.

Mayor Byron Glenn noted that water system revenue will decline sharply due to the near complete buildout on the west side of I-25. This buildout will eliminate collection of tap fees, which are typically used to pay for water system capital improvements or repairs. The town does not provide water to the east side of I-25, where the majority of town residents live and where most future tap fees will be generated.

Funds for future Monument water infrastructure repairs and upgrades will have to come from operating revenues, which may necessitate rate increases. Elimination of the 12 percent franchise fee should postpone this potential rise in rates, though the BOT still wants to reallocate the unspent restricted water sales tax revenue to pay for a larger police department building, other new municipal buildings, or new water or water rights.

Town Manager Cathy Green said the franchise fee revenue is no longer needed for the general fund. Smith agreed. Trustee Frank Orten said that the water system should support itself as an enterprise.

Glenn said that the town needs to consider dissolving the water enterprise. Town Attorney Gary Shupp said that the town would need to determine the legal ramifications of this action.

In previous years, personnel costs for some supervisors and employees were arbitrarily divided between several categories of budget expenditure lines. Costs for workmen’s compensation and insurance benefits were treated differently. Smith said she is ending this practice and simplifying the accounting of direct pay and benefit costs under the administration account within the general fund.

Orten asked the board to increase the police budget for a new police officer position in 2006. Police Chief Jake Shirk insisted his most critical need was replacement of three worn-out vehicles, all with over 100,000 miles of very hard use. He said if excess funds remained available after meeting the vehicle requirement, his department could do a better job of drug investigation and enforcement if he had one or two more officers.

Shirk added that he had planned to ask for additional staff in 2007. He noted it takes about a year to advertisethe position, conduct interviews, select a candidate for background and physical screening tests, and then train the candidate to go out on patrol.

Shirk also noted there had been an 18 percent increase in calls for service and a 70 percent increase in DUI arrests by the department. This sometimes leads to problems with adequate back-up on difficult calls, despite "mutual assistance that is invaluable" from Palmer Lake and the county. The rise in DUI arrests also increases the dangers within the undersized police building. After further discussion, the board approved adding funds to pay a new officer for the last seven months of 2006. However, there is still no budget for cleaning up the hazardous wastes if a "meth" lab is discovered in town, a job that would cost at least $10,000.

The bulk of the special meeting was spent on answering the trustees’ questions about what specific line item amounts represented, how the money was to be spent, if it was to be matched with grants, and how revenue shortfalls and unexpected expense risk could be handled. The board agreed to review the draft budget so that their additional questions and comments could be addressed at future budget work sessions in November. The budget must be approved at a public budget hearing and submitted to the state no later than Dec. 15.

Copies of the draft budget are available for citizen review at Town Hall.

Business owner John Dominowski asked that every effort be made to provide funds for curb, gutter, and sidewalk improvements so that downtown business owners can remain competitive with all the new businesses on the east side of I-25. He noted that he had been asking for these for 13 years. Glenn acknowledged the need but said the town’s new master drainage plan needed to be completed first, before a curb and gutter program could begin.

The special budget meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m and the regular meeting was called to order.

Glenn asked Public Works Director Rich Landreth about the status of his request to have town staff remove weeds from the empty lot on the northeast corner of Second and Front Street. Landreth said he had looked at the property and had passed on Glenn’s request to his staff. Glenn asked Landreth to write a letter to the office park on Second Street next to the Santa Fe Trail.

Glenn asked if the town entrance sign was incomplete since there did not appear to be lighting at night. Landreth said there were electrical circuits but the breaker kept tripping; the contractor has been asked to come and make a repair. Glenn asked if the town could complete the project by putting up the flagpoles—which had been cut out of the original project—using remaining board contingency funds. The flagpoles were cut due to large cost overruns. Kassawara said that the Colorado Department of Transportation had said no to curbs and gutters around the sign.

Glenn said there had been articles in the Gazette and Tribune about the ballot question that included comments that he characterized as "truthful in some ways, not so truthful in others." Glenn did not discuss the content of the articles. He said he wanted to clarify some issues and tie down the amount of money that might be involved in renovating the Assembly of God church building, a less costly option than new construction on an empty lot.

Green said the only cost that seemed firm so far was the renovation cost of about $1 million. She asked that the cost discussion be deferred until the scheduled executive session for real estate negotiations, but a final number should be available within a week. Glenn agreed and said, "We messed up by not putting a specific number" in the wording of the ballot issue, but could post an estimate at Town Hall, as soon as it was known.

Dominowski said the police building subcommittee had spent 18 months on the project and estimated that the cost range would be $2 million to $2.5 million, half of the cost for a new building. He said he did not know if putting out a number before the next board meeting, after the election, would be effective. He asked the board to announce the total cost before the election at a special meeting and have the town attorney draft an ordinance that specified a monetary cap on the cost of renovation.

Dominowski said that the town owned a lot donated by the Wahlborg developers that had been expected to be used for a new police building; it could be sold to help finance the building. He also said they may have done a poor job of "getting the message out" on how the proposal to renovate the church had evolved.

Orten agreed with both suggestions, reiterating the critical need to replace the police department’s 900-square-foot office trailer. Trustee Tommie Plank said it was unfortunate that some readers might believe the town was "doing something nefarious" due to the tight timing of adding the ballot question. She noted the question was not a bond election that would change the town’s property tax mill levy, but rather just asked the voters to change the restricted use of the money already being collected. "I would hate for any articles that had been published to scare the voters by making them think we’re trying to pull a fast trick on them."

Orten also said that Jackson Creek residents "have one vote just like everyone else in Monument does" and are paying taxes just like everyone else, but people in the older part of town may be looking at Jackson Creek as a "cash cow" since they have to pay for their own roads, water, and sewer through the Triview Metropolitan District. He said that the only service received by Jackson Creek residents from the town is police service and so they "pay taxes twice for the same things."

Dominowski responded by saying that Triview would go away when the district’s debt is paid off. However, Triview has not been able to pay all the bond interest it owes during any recent year.

Glenn said that the board would produce a definite cap for the proposed ordinance by the end of the meeting, after the executive session. He then asked Smith to provide some financial data regarding the ballot issue under question in the articles.

Smith distributed a document from which she gave a lengthy presentation. She said the "one-cent sales tax does not go into the water enterprise fund." Up to 10 percent of an enterprise’s annual revenues can be tax revenue, which is defined by TABOR as a "grant." The town has further limited that amount to 9 percent to protect the enterprise’s legal status. The portion constituting the amount allocated to the enterprise fund is about 15 percent of the sales tax revenue. Another 40 percent of the sales tax revenue pays for water-related debt service. The remaining 45 percent of the sales tax revenue is being saved because it is unspendable due to TABOR and the restrictive language of the 1989 ballot question, and is accumulating in an account called Reserved Fund Balance for Water Fund.

Smith said that if the ballot question were approved, there would be no change in the maximum amount of sales tax revenue being spent on water expenses. Only the remainder would be re-allocated. She also stated that there are no plans to raise water rates and that eliminating the 12 percent water system franchise fee would leave an additional $133,000 within the water enterprise. Green added that the town needed to reallocate that money in the past to be able to continue general operations but the loss of water tap fees led to the elimination of the franchise fee.

Smith also said the 1 percent "Sales Tax Revenue is not frozen by TABOR limitations" and "the tax has not raised more than was needed for the water fund, but is restricted" by TABOR’s 10 percent grant limitation. Smith noted that no financial data were required to be part of Question 2A because it does not ask for a tax increase. "After the government facility is built, all funds will revert back to acquisition, storage, and delivery of newly acquired water and water rights."

Larkspur resident George Brown said that Monument Sanitation District Manager Mike Wicklund’s comments about the ballot question quoted in the Tribune were not based on his attendance at BOT meetings, even though he "works 100 feet away" and if he has questions, "come over" and raise them. While a trustee, Brown served on the police building subcommittee. He said Green would work hard to find the minimum amount needed for renovation of the church building. He concluded, "We can’t let the police department continue to be in a double-wide, thank you, and I don’t get emotional."

Linda and Ted Suta, owners of the vacant building between the 7-11 and the Broiler Room on Highway 105, offered the structure and all the vacant property behind it to the board as an alternative to the church building at Second and Jefferson Streets. She said, "I’m sure we can work out a deal" and asked the board not to sign a contract with the church until they could make a competing offer. Glenn asked Green and Shirk to meet with the Sutas as soon as possible.

Two Jackson Creek residents, Rick Mealer and Tim Miller, and one Santa Fe Trails resident, Board of Adjustment member Carl Armijo, were listed as candidates on the agenda. Mealer was absent; he was found to be ineligible because he has only lived in Monument since April. Armijo was also absent, "due to hunting." In addition to Miller, Jackson Creek resident, Dr. Marc McClure was in the audience. He had been previously interviewed by the board on Oct. 3.

Miller said he was an Air Force officer who works at the Academy and was retiring after 20 years on Nov. 1 and wanted to continue public service by helping "make Monument an even better community" for his two daughters to grow up in.

Glenn said Armijo had worked with him on developer issues in Castle Rock. Armijo is a civil engineer who is construction manager on that town’s staff. Orten said he worked with Armijo on the town’s Board of Adjustment. Glenn said the political environment on the board would be better with three rather than two trustees from downtown. He asked Miller and McClure if they would be willing to serve on the Planning Commission. Miller said he was surprised by Glenn "basing his decision on where I live."

Orten agreed with Glenn on not having a fifth Jackson Creek resident on the board. Plank said it was a moot point due to the upcoming election in April that might lead to all seven trustees coming from Jackson Creek.

McClure said he was concerned about the "pre-conceived process" of filling the vacancies and noted that the advertising signs did not say there was a restriction on residence of applicants. He pointed out that three Jackson Creek residents had applied and "the one you want is not even here." Armijo did not attend either October board meeting. McClure said he didn’t "want to play politics" and never considered Monument not being a unified town. Glenn said he could not escape the political atmosphere. McClure said he would have preferred Green and the trustees to have been honest with him. "I feel like I’ve wasted my time," he said and withdrew.

Miller asked what the board would have done if Armijo had not volunteered, since the board was not looking at applicant qualifications but "basing it on where they live." Glenn said, "It is my responsibility to make sure the town is well represented on the board." Plank replied, "I’m sorry, it’s not your responsibility." Glenn said, "I take it personally." Plank said "You may take it personally but that should not be your criteria." McClure walked out of the meeting without comment after this exchange between the trustees.

Brown asked to speak and said, "Byron, you can’t satisfy the people that aren’t here tonight that will throw stones" because they can never be satisfied. He added that Armijo had good qualifications that should be considered, regardless of his absence.

Green said, "The mayor is not the only decision maker here. Everyone gets to vote." Plank asked Town Attorney Gary Shupp if the town could have geographic districts for members like the D-38 board. Shupp said, "I’ll have to look it up."

The first trustee vote was a 2-2 "tie" between Armijo and Miller. Miller won the second vote and was immediately sworn in by Green.

Kassawara made the same presentation on the development as the one he gave to the Planning Commission on Sept. 28. (See article on page 1 for development details and issues.)

Kassawara noted that a traffic engineering analysis the town had requested at the Planning Commission hearing showed there was no line-of-sight requirement for an additional right-turn deceleration lane at the secondary access to Old Forest Point Drive due to the curvature of Leather Chaps Drive at that location. As a result, Kassawara had dropped the Planning Commission’s tentative condition requiring this second deceleration lane on Leather Chaps from the proposed ordinance. He added that the turn radius of the curbs at this right-in-right-out-only access would be widened in lieu of the extra turn lane.

There was no citizen comment during the public hearing. There was a brief discussion where Kassawara explained the documentation and the procedures of the town’s review and approval process for developments to Miller. The trustees unanimously approved an ordinance for the Preliminary Plat and also approved a second ordinance for the Preliminary PD Site plan, with the same two conditions recommended by the Planning Commission.

The board unanimously approved an ordinance prohibiting railroad locomotives from using their air horns within the town boundaries between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. However, there are still some negotiations that are required to be made with Union Pacific Railroad, even though the presence of a concrete center island, automatic gates, flashing lights, and ringing bells at the Second Street crossing partially relieves the engineers and conductors of otherwise routine air horn blasts. Engineers are still free to sound the air horn whenever they observe circumstances "requiring due care" and warning blasts are deemed necessary for safety.

Miller asked "Why not 10 p.m.?" Plank responded that Synthes runs 24 hours and changes shifts at 10 p.m.

The board also unanimously approved an ordinance that rescinded a 1982 resolution that gave water, at no cost, to the railroad property adjacent to Second Street in return for being able to lease a portion of the railroad property. The town leased an 80-foot-wide strip on the eastern edge of this railroad property and used it as the western edge of Limbach Park. The town purchased the strip of land at the end of last year, making the 1982 ordinance obsolete. The cost of the "free" water provided to Union Pacific for 2005 will be about $36,000. The railroad will be billed for the water starting in January.

The board unanimously approved a resolution appointing former Trustee Scott Meszaros as town clerk. His appointment expires at the first BOT meeting in 2007. Appointments normally run for two calendar years. He was sworn in immediately by Green.

The board unanimously approved a resolution "finding the proposed annexation area known as Monument Ridge to be in substantial compliance" with Colorado statutes. The resolution set the BOT public hearing date for Nov. 21, 2005, which is more than 30 days, but no more than 60 days, after approval.

The board unanimously approved a resolution that "supports and encourages El Paso County to require county developers to address potential adverse traffic impacts that their developments may have on the surrounding roadway systems" that serve other developments near and adjacent to the town. Glenn noted that the county did not ask for the impact on Monument in traffic studies during its review and approval of the Higby Estates and Struthers Ranch developments.

The board unanimously approved a resolution approving a new telecommunication service contract from a new provider. The three-year contract with Insure Telecom/Cbeyond Telecommunications Company has the following benefits: waiver of the $500 installation fee, credit of $500 for the early termination fee for the existing contract with Xpedius, three annual credits of $495. These total $2,485. Additionally, there will be annual routine billing savings of $4,400 for a total switchover savings of $15,685.

The board unanimously approved a resolution for purchase of new administrative, utility billing, and accounting software. Smith dropped the service order and cemetery modules from the original vendor proposal, but added modules for court management. The total cost for the licensed software and modules, training, conversion, and setup is $40,485 for the finance department, $11,100 for the water enterprise fund, and $9,750 for the court department. The maintenance cost is $790 per month with a two-month credit after training.

The board unanimously approved a disbursement of $63,002.33 to Triview for property tax at a mill levy of 6.408.

Green reported that developer Jamie Huff, of Tecton Corporation is interested in purchasing the land dedicated to the town by the developer of the Village Center at Woodmoor at the time the Wahlborg property was annexed. This lot had been in consideration as a possible location for new town police and courtroom buildings. Green said that Monument’s aging seniors have no choice but to leave town when they can no longer maintain their own homes or have limited mobility, because there are no appropriate options here. The nearest suitable housing is in Colorado Springs. She said this proposal plus a similar one for downtown Monument meet needs the board should support.

Green asked the trustees to determine their availability for setting up a community-wide meeting in a large facility such as Big Red or Grace Best Elementary School.

Green reported that the preliminary estimate for renovating the Abundant Life Church building to meet police department and town staff requirements was $1,421,738. She also gave trustees a table that listed 15 options for costs between $1.5 million and $3 million and lease purchase terms of 10 to 20 years.

Green reminded trustees of the working dinner with the Triview board on Oct. 19.

Green announced the formal dissolution of the Parks & Landscape Advisory Committee. A citizen’s committee organization meeting is planned for January, which would not be subject to posting and advertising of the public meeting "sunshine" laws or a responsibility of the BOT. Also, nonresidents can join the new volunteer committee. Committee volunteers will be responsible for scheduling and organizing meetings as well as taking and publishing minutes.

Kassawara reported that engineering consultant Ayres Associates, Inc. had begun work on the town’s new master drainage plan even though the contract would not be ready for board approval until Nov. 7. The plan will probably cost $75,000 to $100,000.

Landreth reported that Steve Sheffield had been transferred from the Water Department and promoted to streets/parks foreman following the departure of Ray Fisk. The upgrade of the water line to Limbach Park has been completed; paving and sidewalk construction has begun. Bids for the new water treatment plant have been reviewed and accepted.

The board went into executive session at 8:30 p.m. for real estate negotiations. After returning to open session, the board announced a cap of $2.5 million for the use of water sales tax revenue to pay for the purchase of the existing church buildings and the renovations. Costs that exceed this cap must be paid for from revenues in the general fund. The ordinance enacting this spending cap will be on the agenda for the next board meeting on Nov. 7, if Ballot Question 2A is approved by the voters on Nov. 1.

The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.

The Monument Board of Adjustment (BOA) unanimously approved a front setback variance of 5 feet for one corner of the Rocky Mountain Oil Change Center at Highway 105 and Second Street on Oct. 12. The center is about to be renovated and expanded northward to add a 95-foot long carwash. The length of the carwash was reduced from the 120-foot length previously approved in the amended site plan, to improve setback compliance and traffic flow on all sides of the expanded center. Trustee John Kortgardner was absent.

The average setback for existing building frontages on Highway 105 between Second Street and Third Street is 38 feet, in accordance with the town code. The northeast corner will be 33 feet back from the highway. The front façade is not parallel to the highway, and the southeast corner will be 39 feet back. (The front façade of the adjacent Broiler Room restaurant is considerably closer to the highway but was constructed before the current code was created.)

Director of Development Services Tom Kassawara said the proposed setback wouldn’t be noticeable or create a precedent. He noted that owner John Savage is adding "considerable upgrades to the façade of the existing and proposed buildings, as well as landscape improvements, which would improve the main entrance" of downtown Monument.

Kassawara also reported that the Tri-Lakes-Monument Fire Marshal also prefers the amended configuration due to improved emergency vehicle access. BOA member Don Smith noted that there were two non-negative comments submitted by nearby property owners.

Board Chairman Leon Johnson announced that this was his last meeting. Although he has moved only a short distance within the local area, he will no longer be a town resident. The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.

Town residents who wish to apply for appointment to the vacant position should contact Town Manager Cathy Green at 884-8013 or cgreen@townofmonument.net. The board meets in Town Hall only when required, usually before a Planning Commission meeting.

Below: Looking south, Lavelett Park is squeezed between Beacon Lite Road (on the left) and Woodworth (on the right). Town Manager Cathy Green is seeking suggestions on alternative uses of the park. Photo by Doug Krieger

Click here or on the photo to zoom in

The Monument Parks and Landscape Committee held their final meeting as an official advisory group to the Board of Trustees on Oct. 13. Members John Savage and Linda Pankratz attended; Toni Martin and Bob Watson were absent. The town provided pizza and soft drinks for attendees. Town Manager Cathy Green introduced new Public Works Director Rich Landreth, who summarized his qualifications. Landreth mentioned that he has particular expertise in the effective use of irrigation systems, having worked at several golf courses, including Broadmoor South in Colorado Springs and Tamarron Resort in Durango. He has also owned an irrigation company.

Green reviewed the committee’s past successes, as well as the present state of Monument’s parks and plans for the future. Green expressed the hope that although the committee in its present form was dissolving, interested community members would form an unofficial group to help guide town beautification, as well as park expansion and improvements.

Green cited staff time constraints as the main reason for the dissolution of the advisory committee. Several key town officials resigned or retired during the past year, including former Town Manager Rick Sonnenburg, former planner Mike Davenport, and Public Works Director Tom Wall. Most recently, Parks and Streets Foreman Ray Fisk was replaced by Steve Sheffield. The large turnover in staff resulted in increased responsibility for remaining town employees, particularly as new staff familiarized themselves with their positions. Duties associated with committee meetings, such as creating and distributing meeting agendas, assembling member packets, attending the meetings and writing up minutes took too much time away from more pressing official business.

One of the committee’s most recent successes is the new Monument entrance sign at the intersection of Highway 105 and Second Street. Unrealized projects initiated by the Historic Monument Merchants Association (HMMA), approved by the committee and budgeted for 2005 by the Board of Trustees (BOT), will carry over to next season. Previously approved matching grants from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) have not been completely spent, and will be used for some of these future improvements. Landreth and Green outlined plans for next year.

One priority is to improve the appearance of the park. Landreth plans to consolidate playground equipment and delineate the area so that gravel doesn’t spill into the grass. The poor condition of the soil is partly to blame for failure of grass to flourish; soil samples have been sent to Colorado State University for testing to determine what amendments will be needed to provide a good base for sod. Well-prepared soil will also reduce the need for fertilizer. Landreth wants to use environmentally friendly organic fertilizers, which aren’t toxic and won’t contaminate stormwater runoff.

A new 1-inch water line has been installed, which will feed a planned irrigation system and eventually permanent restrooms. Landreth also plans to install curbs, gutters, and sidewalks along Front Street. Initially he had also hoped to provide angle or perpendicular parking on the east side of the park, but the street is probably too narrow for anything other than parallel parking spaces.

Landreth said he wants to reduce sod overall, but plans to install a semicircle of high quality sod in front of the area where the band shell will eventually be built to provide a comfortable seating area for an audience.

Because the park is very narrow and borders Beacon Lite Road, a relatively busy street, Green expressed concern about the safety of the existing playground. She suggested the idea of removing the playground equipment and turning the park into a combination walking path and water conservation demonstration garden. At present, no definite plans exist to remove the equipment, but Green would like public input on ideas of how to best utilize the long, narrow space.

In the fall of 2004, Woody and Cathy Woodworth of High Country Store, in cooperation with the HMMA, created a plan for small town gardens in Limbach and Lavelett Parks, at the old Arch, in front of Town Hall, and around Well 3 near the intersection of Second Street and the Old Denver Highway. The Parks and Landscape Committee and Board of Trustees approved the plan. The board also approved $22,000 in funding of the projects from its annual $60,000 discretionary community development account for flowers, grasses, shrubs, decorative rocks, and irrigation systems.

Green and Landreth cancelled plans for two of the plantings. Town Clerk Irene Walters already plants and maintains flowers in front of Town Hall. The town plans to dismantle the Well 3 building when a newer well near Trails’ End is drilled, making green screening unnecessary.

Previously earmarked allocations will be distributed between the Arch, Lavelett, and Limbach. Green and Landreth hope to start on-the-ground planning in March, install irrigation and lay out beds in April, and plant with the help of community volunteers in May. Community members interested in volunteering for the project are encouraged to watch for announcements of upcoming opportunities.

Green indicated she would like to sell the town’s public cemetery to a private corporation, contract out maintenance duties, or pay a professional corporation to take over. She said that mowing and trimming around the stones was very time-consuming. Green would like to free up crews to devote more time to streets and parks. In addition, she pointed out that office staff has neither the time nor training to properly assist grieving family members with burial arrangements.

Ultimately, town officials would like to see the lake become a recreation center for Monument, with a swim beach, fishing, and use of non-motorized watercraft such as paddleboats. Landreth would like to upgrade the picnic facilities, and eventually construct a trail around the lake’s circumference. Green expects the lake level to be 10 feet higher by next summer, which should considerably improve its appearance.

Pankratz asked whether the Colorado Commercial Revitalization Association (CCRA), which visited the town last summer, had submitted its findings. CCRA is a non-profit agency composed of planners, architects, landscape architects, marketing executives, park experts, and other professionals who visit small towns for a nominal fee and make recommendations intended to help revitalize the community.

Green replied that the town had received a draft, but not a final report. She said the information was good advice, but maybe a bit too general in its scope.

Before adjournment, Green returned to the subject of forming another informal committee. She would like to see the group take the lead in setting its own goals, which might be to review ordinances and advise staff. Or the committee could choose to concentrate on improving specific parks and streetscaping. The group could also serve as an advocate for an increase in the quantity and quality of local bike trails, an issue that has not been a high priority in the past.

Green listed the responsibilities, formerly performed by town staff, which a new committee would have to assume. Members would be responsible for selecting meeting dates and times, setting the agenda, keeping minutes, and electing officers. She offered the use of the Town Hall meeting room at times when it was not being used for Monument business.

In the past, members of the Parks and Landscape Committee were chosen by the BOT, and were required to reside or own a business in Monument. Unlike the old committee, membership would not be restricted; any interested parties could join. The group could set its own rules.

An additional advantage would be the ability to lobby staff and the BOT for approval of specific projects and budget items, a practice formerly prohibited for committee appointees.

Green said she would continue to welcome input on developer plans, which will be made available for review in the Town Hall meeting room during normal business hours. Any interested individuals, not just former committee members, may look at the plans and fill out a comment sheet, which will also be provided. Input received will be reviewed by staff and included in the developer’s packets.

It was unanimously decided that an organizational meeting would be held at Town Hall in January to determine whether there is sufficient interest to form an unofficial advisory committee. Green and Landreth expressed a desire to see the continuation of the committee in some form, hopefully by motivated individuals wanting to positively influence the future of Monument. The meeting time and date, when established, will be posted at Town Hall and published in the Tribune and Our Community News.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:40 p.m.

After a lengthy and acrimonious exchange, the Palmer Lake Town Council approved a sign for the Inn at Palmer Divide being built on Highway 105. The council also approved a sign for Overby Real Estate and retroactively approved every other town sign. Trustee Jim Girlando was absent.

Five new business licenses were approved by consent:

Fire: Trustee Gary Coleman reported that Fire Chief Phillip Beckman and firefighter Nora Birt were in New Orleans for a week of volunteer rescue service. He noted that the Palmer Lake Volunteer Fire Department and town would try to learn from New Orleans’ mistake of never practicing their evacuation plan.

While attending the meeting of the North Group (the group that organizes mutual aid between regional fire districts) earlier in the week, Coleman had learned that the region’s Multi-Agency Response Team was renamed the Palmer Divide Public Safety Group. Their first action will be an evacuation drill coordinating the efforts of the police, fire, and school district officials, once state and FEMA grant funding have been obtained.

The fire department calls for September included 7 medical, 2 fire, 3 traffic accidents, 1 public assist, and 3 m