HomeMy WebLinkAboutbocc.work.session.07152003MINUTES OF BOCC WORK SESSION JULY 15, 2003
.,-- APPROVED BY BOGC:
MIN UTES OF WORK SESSION ON ¢~/3 ~ ~ ~
Date: July 15, 2003 Meeting Start Time: 12:00 pm
Commissioncrs present: Commissioners not present:
X Jack Hatfield ~'] Jack Hatfield
X Dorothea Fan-is [--] Dorothea Fan'is
X Michael Ireland [--] Michael Ireland
X Shellie Roy ~] Shellie Roy
X Patti Clapper [~ Patti Clapper
WORK SESSION ITEM: Memos of Interest
STAFF DIRECTION:
l. Bell Policy Center Request lbr $500 funding re: TABOR thrum - BOCC will support w/$500
donation and would like to attend the forum. Staffwill schedule it on future agendas.
2. Secretary of State Election Meeting- the Board will not attend.
WORK SESSION ITEM: Future Agendas/Agenda Requests
STAFF DIRECTION:
1. July/August vacations - Commissioner Clapper will be at a NWCCOG retreat on 8/28 &29,
Commissioners Clapper and Farris will be attending a wildfire meeting on 8/18,
Commissioners Hatfield, Roy and Farris will attend the CCI Mountain District meeting.
Commissioner Roy will be out 8/17-23~d. Commissioner Ireland will attend a NWCCOG/Rural
Resort Region meeting on 7/24.8/5 court, 8/13 STAC
2.Meeting reminder - August 14th Lewis/Little Cloud is set at 10:30 am.
3. DOW BBQ invitation - August 7, RSVP by July 18th. Commissioner Clapper, Hatfield &
Farris will attend.
4. Holy Cross - Board agreed to continue the land use review to August 13th and seek 15-day
extension from Holy Cross.
5. Commissioner Hatfield will not attend the August 1st CCI meeting. Commissioner Farris will
attend.
6.AH 3 agenda item is listed twice on the August 13th regular meeting agenda.
WORK SESSION ITEM: Open Discussion
STAFF DIRECTION:
1. Airport Master Plan. Staff sought clarification regarding Mr. Larry Ya~v's participation per
Shellie Roy. The Board will not appoint him but he should have access to any public
information.
2. 2002 Budget Surplus. The Board received copies of the current audited financial report for
2002. Discussion ensued regarding the current financial condition, one time-savings and the
contemplated 2004 budget process. Commissioner Clapper inquired about the landfill contract
and requested work session time to review it, as she felt it has been fractionalized over time and
she would like the Board to review it in its entirety. Commissioner Roy requested that
prioritization be given for thnding ora full-time weed manager. The Board complimented
Finance staff on the overview memo regarding the financial report.
3. Commissioner Farris requested an update on the historic regulations, and inquired if the
Redstone Historic Preservation Committee was being authorized for certain decisions as
discussed. The Board also asked tbr staffto consider the appropriateness of lilting thc
Redstonc moratorium prior to approval of the historic regulations.
4. AVH Annexation - Commissioner Clapper was provided the information she requested.
Discussion ensued regarding the discount given to the City for their health insurance program
for City employees as part of the annexation agreement. The Board directed Commissioner
Roy to contact AVH Board member John Sarpa to seek clarification.
5. Commissioner Ireland provided an update of thc allocation [brmulas lbr transportation funding.
6. Commissioner Hatfield requested a Board letter regarding the appropriate use of federal health
and human service ['unds for travel lbr President Bush. The Board directed lcttcrs of inquiry to
our federal representatives.
7. Commissioner Farris requested an update on the Lime Kiln project. She also requested a letter
of support to the PUC fbr thc removal of zone charges. She further commented on the Healthy
Forest Initiative and USFS road plans, and comments from the Frying Pan caucus. The USFS
will be looking at road plans for the White River Forest, and staff needs to get involved by
checking out the maps at the local [brest offices. The BOCC directed staff(Brian Petter) to
review the roads within the forest and determine which we would recommend keeping, for what
purpose, and which ought to be closed. The RS 2477 issues, on what constitutes a road, arc
also a factor.
WORK SESSION ITEM: Agricultural Classification, Tom Isaac
STAFF DIRECTION: Assessor Tom Isaac provided an overview. Commissioner Hatfield indicated
the Board is concerned about what is a true agricultural use for tax purposes. Isaac indicated that the
landowner must provide proof of the agricultural use, and that there must be compliance with state
guidelines. Commissioner lreland indicated that no profit need be shown, only intent to make a profit
needs to be shown, and Isaac concurred. A lease to another party for agricultural purposes would also
be sufficient. There does need to be proof of revenue coming in. Commissioner Clapper asked if land
under a residence can be taxed differently, and Isaac indicated that the legislature has not gone there
yet. Thus, land under a residence may not be taxed at all, because only acres used in production are
taxed. Commissioner Clapper asked if everyone has to prove agricultural status every two years, and
isaac said no, not everyone. Commissioner Ireland said there are 281 properties of less than 35 acres in
the County that are classified agricultural. He suggested that the BOCC prohibit agricultural uses for a
profit in these smaller properties once they come in for a residential approval. Isaac indicated that
during the revaluation process an effort is made to ascertain any changes in use. Commissioner Ireland
stated that classifications of agricultural arc an abuse on half-acre or full acre parcels. He suggested
that agricultural uses be by special review and that the loss of tax benefits be considered as part of the
review. Commissioner Farris asked if zoning made a difference. Isaac indicated that the tax
classification is based on actual use, even if it is illegal. Discussion ensued.
Commissioner Farris opined that only land zoned as agricultural should get an agricultural
classification. Commissioner Roy asked Isaac to share his opinions on the benefits of an agricultural
classification, which he did. He indicated that we all enjoy the rural aspects of the county and that the
agricultural classification is one incentive to kecp it rural. He also indicated that most of the tax comes
from improvements, not from the land itself. Commissioner Ireland said that the loss of tax revenue to
all-taxing entities is huge, that the cutting of hay is often only for harvesting the tax benefit, not for true
agricultural purposes. He believes that the wealthy would take care of their property regardless of
whether they get a tax benefit. Holly McLain stated that she struggles to keep her ranch, which she has
had for 29 ycars. She needs the hay for the winter, hay that is produced on the adjacent properties with
the huge homes. She thinks the ranches still need the tax breaks as long as they do it right. They do
provide green open spaces, which would be a shame to replace with homes. The small ranchers like
her get caught. Shellie Burke has a 35-acre ranch, which was subdivided offa 70-acre ranch. She
expressed a concern about what is a viable ranch, and disagreed with state law thai. includes breeding
and selling horses. Absentee owners could have two brood mares, as exists now, where the horses are
neglected and abused because the owner knows nothing about breeding or care of horses. She also
indicated that horse boarding does not qualify, but it should. Isaac said that the legislature considers
horse boarding a commercial use. Commissioner Roy suggested that legislation requiring a
proibssional onsite manager might help with some of these issues. Herb Klein offered two
suggestions: require the residence to bca separate lot, restrict the agricultural lot. Isaac indicated that
he could then classify thc land under thc residence as residential, not agricultural. The other thought
was to require a fiscal impact analysis like the city requires on timeshares, or do an impact fee to offset
the lost revenues. His point was that we should not penalize the people legitimately providing all the
beauty and open space of the agricultural uses. Discussion ensued.
Commissioner Ireland stated that there should be definite criteria to separate true agricultural uses from
the scams. Commissioner Hatfield asked Isaac how to implement Herb Klein's first suggestion. Isaac
responded that if the BOCC subdivides, he would tax the property as such. Commissioner Ireland
thought that would not reach the scams. Commissioner Farris agreed that there should be a minimum
lot size or other criteria for agricultural uses, but there are some legitimate agricultural uses on smaller
lots. Commissioner Roy expressed concerns about creating disincentives to care for the land. Holly
McLain requested that the BOCC not restrict the commercial uses on land, because she has to get very
creative to earn money from the land. Commissioner Hatfield suggested that we have a work session
with John Ely to follmv up on Commissioner Ireland's ideas in a way that does not conflict with state
law. The BOCC concurred with this direction.
WORK SESSION ITEM: CMC Economic Impact Update, Jacque Whitsitt
STAFF DIRECTION: Colorado Mountain College Board member J'acque Whitsitt provided an
overview o f the many of th e unique services provided by CMC and the findings o f their economic
impact on local communities. Discussion ensued.
WORK SESSION ITEM: CCI Legislative Issues for 2004, Debbie Quinn
STAFF DIRECTION: Debbie Quinn reviewed the survey results provided by CAST last year.
Discussion ensued. Legislative issues identified by the Board include:
1. Instream water rights. The Board suggested requesting a change so as to not require a structure.
2. Transferable Development Rights. The Board did not want the discussion to be inclusive of 35-
acre parcels.
3. Transit. Protection of the existing I0% in the SB 1358 sales tax revenue for transit funding.
4. 160 acres.
5. Tax Relief/RETT/TABOR.
6. Gallagher Amendment for vacant land. Create a new category for second homes and vacant
land.
7. Endangered Species Act.
8. Public Lands/Roads.
9. Motor vehicle designation for bicycles - clarification of conflicts with
bicycles/pedestrians/vehicles.
WORK SESSION ITEM: Joint Meeting with Financial Advisory Board, Debe Nelson
STAFF DIRECTION: Martin Flug reviewed the report lb~wvarded by the Financial Advisory Board.
Six resort counties were used for comparative analysis including Garfield, San Miguel, Routt, Teton,
Summit, and Eagle. Mr. Flug stated that looking at overall revenues, Pitkin is one of the highest users
of revenue. He further reviewed the risk allocation of the County's revenue streams. He suggested that
Board adopt a long-term plan to reduce the amount of volatile revenues (property tax is 26% and sales
tax is 74%) and shift the balance to less or non-volatile revenues. Discussion ensued. Commissioner
Ireland stated his support and encouraged a 10-year plan. Commissioner Hatfield expresscd concern
about losing the ability and desire ora government to respond when there is a change in an economy.
Discussion ensued. Commissioner Ireland suggested the use of employment as an indicator for
comparison. FAB members provided clarification to Board members. Discussion ensued.
Adjourned at 4:30 pm.
Prepared by: Respectfitlly submittcd:
· ' 'Fl~qlher Smith, Com'fffy Mana ·
5hlary ger Silvia Davis, Clerk and Recorder