Board of County Commissioners Business Meeting - Regular Meeting

Let's go ahead and come to order, please. Welcome everyone to the Tuesday, 05/12/2026, Board of County Commissioners business meeting. We will begin today with an invocation from Reverend Darren Kessler. Reverend.

Thank you. Please join me. Father, we thank you that in this public place, we're able to pray and that leaders desire to have prayer for your wisdom, that for the guidance upon them, and I pray for that, that they'd be stewards of the leadership entrusted to them. And I pray for all people public public that, Lord, this would be a time of community engagement. And may we be respectful of each other as well as knowing we are speaking and operating under you as sovereign God. So we just pray for your wisdom, your guidance, for you to be with the people in this meeting now in your name, Jesus. Amen. Amen. Once again, Darren, thank

you so much for your words of grace and peace to begin us off. Very much appreciated, sir. If everyone will please stand and join me for the pledge of allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America

and to the republic for

which it stands, one nation under God under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Alright.

Turning to the county attorney for the purposes of certification of the agenda.

Yes, sir. The county attorney's officer reviewed all items on the agenda. You have appropriate jurisdiction over these matters.

Thank you, counselor. Commissioner, any any disclosures or items on this agenda? No. None for me. Nor I. Commissioner Layton is representing the county at the Aurora State of the City, and so he will be joining us at his earliest convenience to make his way back to the Promised Land in Gods County. We're going to go ahead and start with some ceremonies and proclamations. And first up, we have recognition of Police Week presented by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. And I think I saw I not only saw the under sheriff, I see the sheriff. Yeah, come on up, under sheriff.

You don't get to sham your way out of this one. Sheriff, we had a great opportunity to tour the EOC, but then we saw your great staff over at the dispatch center this morning. Had a great opportunity to speak with their with the leadership of that organization. Of course, was I think it was just a great opportunity to see everything. So thank you for your staff's hospitality for us this morning to be over there.

Absolutely. I'm sorry I couldn't join you. But yes, I have amazing people and Douglas County is better for it. So thank you.

You sent your chief and she probably knows more than you do about all that She does. Stuff,

No question about it. All right.

Sheriff, if you could please.

Absolutely have a resolution for the Board of County Commissioners. But before I read the resolution, I just want to stress that the men and women of law enforcement, the men and women who are on the front line wearing the badge going to calls for service. Just the Douglas County Sheriff's Office alone, we average 50,000 calls for service annually and that's just calls from citizens. That does include citizen contacts, traffic stops, things like that. And we're extremely proud of the work that the men and women do of our with our organization.

But the fact of the matter is is Douglas County has become more dangerous. Douglas County, our deputy sheriffs, our police officers within the county, they're facing more and more incidents where subjects are more willing to use force against our deputies. So to have this acknowledgment means a lot to my staff and I appreciate it. Resolution proclaiming May 2026 as law enforcement week in Douglas County honoring the service and sacrifice of those law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty while protecting our communities and safeguarding our democracy. Whereas the there are approximately 900,000 law enforcement officers serving in communities across The United States including the dedicated members of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and whereas since the first recorded death in 1796, more than 24,000 law enforcement officers in The United States have made the ultimate sacrifice and had been killed in the line of duty, including deputies Wayne Bryant in 1978, deputy Ronald m King 1999, deputy Zach Parrish in 2017, and detective Joe Pollock in 2021.

And whereas the names of these dedicated public servants are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC and whereas the service and sacrifice of all officers killed in the line of duty will be honored during the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's thirty eighth Annual Candlelight Vigil at eight p. M. On Wednesday, 05/13/2026 and whereas the Candlelight Vigil is part of the National Police Week which takes place this year on May eleventh through sixteenth and includes events and memorials across our across our nation's capital. Whereas May 15 is designated as peace officers Memorial Day in honor of the fallen officers and their families and US flags should be flown at half staff. Therefore, be it resolved that the Board of County Commissioners, the County Of Douglas, Colorado, formally declares May 2026 as law enforcement week in Douglas County and publicly salutes the service of law enforcement officers in our community and in communities across our nation.

All right. Thank you very much sheriff. Discussion among the

board. Jason. Jason.

Do we care to hear from the under sheriff?

Yep. Thank you, commissioners. It's an honor to be here. Both the sheriff and I have been out at the National Wall. And I can tell you and all the folks here, it is a humbling experience to say the least. And I thank you so much for letting us come here today and present this resolution.

Thank you, under sheriff. Board?

Well, thank you. Not letting you come here, but thank you for honoring us with your presence. You too lead a tremendous force that keeps the people of Douglas County safe, we can never say thank you to you enough. This is just a very small moment where we as the board and we as a county can really just pause and take a moment of day, recognize you, your team, and really the human beings behind it, the families behind it. Law enforcement, we know so often, it's those high stake moments, those moments that we have in our community that shock and appall and scare us.

And it's our boys in blue that show up and make those split second life changing decisions. But really, it's like the folks that we were meeting with this morning that just day in and day out, twenty four hours a day, three sixty five days a year on Christmas and Thanksgiving, during the Super Bowl, all the time I'm out there keeping us safe and there's a lot of, and I can speak for my family too, there's a lot of sacrifice for the family who misses those folks at Thanksgiving dinner, who misses them at the late nights and early mornings and lunch shifts. So it is with deep gratitude that I have for the particular professionalism and leadership of our sheriff's office here in Douglas County who keeps some who keeps us safe. And to the families behind it, just a great deal of gratitude from the whole Douglas County community.

Thank you, Commissioner. Well, I think of a resolution like this to recognize Police Week as something that maybe we want to do, maybe we you know, need to do. But absolutely something we get to do to recognize the efforts of the police in our county, in your office, Sheriff. As you know, my daughter is a law enforcement officer here in the state. And so it's times like this that I really hope we're not alone among other local governments in recognizing the efforts, the sacrifices that our police go through every day.

And yeah, sure, some shifts are better than others, but the ones that are not better are actually pretty bad. And by the way, Sheriff, we're reminded today that you and I served here in Castle Rock on the Public Safety Committee for a couple of years, that was reminded of me. Even way before at the time you were a sheriff, when you were, what, a lowly captain or something like that? Something like that. Something like that.

Even volunteering extra time here in the hometown that you lived in and at the time to make sure that the strategic planning here in the municipality was sound and partook of your advice as a law enforcement professional. So thank you for everything you do, Sheriff, and you too, Undersheriff. We very much appreciate it. Well, Board, we do have a resolution that was presented to us by the County Sheriff. How would we like to dispose of this resolution?

Mr. Chair, I will move the resolution to recognize Police Week and ask for a favorable vote.

I will second that. Further discussion?

Just a great thank you and to the families that have lost loved ones, especially here in Douglas County, God bless all of our families here.

And by the way, Sheriff, another thing, just a personal recognition for you. And of course, the under sheriff, you're a part of this, too. Morale in the force has been on an upturn ever since you came on board. You're a great leader. You're the leader the people of Douglas County need, the leader that the people of Douglas County deserve. If there is no further discussion, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Resolution is adopted. Thank you, sheriff.

Thank you, undersheriff. Is it time for a Drew? Well, then the sheriff and the undersheriff, they can't go away. Matter of fact, they might have to bring more people up. How cruel.

Our next item on on the agenda is a resolution proclaiming May 2026 as mental health awareness month. Laura Sinconi, Douglas County mental health division manager presenting.

Good afternoon commissioners. Laura Sinconi representing this resolution this afternoon. Before I read the resolution, I just want to thank the board for the time to introduce this in the month of May 2026. Each May, Mental Health Awareness Month is recognized to elevate mental health, raise awareness, educate the public about mental health conditions, and reduce the stigma associated with mental health conditions as well. I would also like the board to know that we have some representatives joining this afternoon from Douglas County Health Department and Advent Health to offer comment regarding a new partnership and campaign for mental health promotion and stigma reduction.

So Chair, if it's all right, I'd proceed with reading the resolution and then move to our partner comments.

Please do, Laura.

Thank you. Whereas mental health is an essential part of overall health and mental health conditions affect many in our communities, in Colorado, twenty six percent of adults and twenty three percent of youth age 12 to 17 experience a mental health condition each year. And whereas approximately one half of chronic mental health conditions began early in life around age 14 and three quarters by age 24. Yet people often wait years, on average ten years, after symptoms first appear before receiving help. And whereas addressing stigma, increasing knowledge and awareness of common mental health conditions can close this gap and improve outcomes, and whereas suicide remains a leading cause of death in Colorado.

Although statewide youth suicides declined in 2025 to their lowest point since 2007. Douglas County has experienced an increase in youth suicides in the last year. Whereas the 2025 Colorado Health Access Survey reported encouraging improvement, a 50% increase in Coloradans talking to their health care professional about mental health, improved care access overall, but especially for children, youth, and middle aged adults, improved self reported mental health for adults thirty to sixty four, and a halt to a trend of increasingly poor self reported mental health for the first time since 2016. Whereas the Douglas County Mental Health Collaborative, founded in 2014 under the leadership of the Board of County Commissioners to address gaps and inefficiencies in the mental health system includes over 50 organizations working to strengthen systems of care and improve health outcomes. Its current initiatives include suicide prevention, mental health first aid training, targeted partnerships across public health, justice, treatment, and crisis intervention sectors, community education, stigma reduction, and expanding access to crisis services.

And whereas DCMHC launched the community response teams or CRT in May 2017, which to date have served over 11,500 people, prevented over 1,900 unnecessary emergency department visits for mental health crisis, avoided six fifty six jail bookings, returned first responders to service over 7,700 times, and saved more than $11,000,000 in public safety and health care costs. CRT serves the entire county every day of the week. And whereas DCMHC launched the care compact in 2020 and the youth care compact in 2024 to provide care coordination for Douglas County residents living with mental health conditions, substance use disorder, intellectual and developmental disabilities or delay, and unmet basic needs. To date, the care compact has served over two forty adults resulting in reductions in the use of crisis and emergency services, and the youth care compact has served 98 families. These programs represent a cutting edge to meaningful care and support as the Care Compact is a nationally recognized program by the National Association of Counties.

And whereas Douglas County further demonstrated its commitment by establishing a mental health division within its Department of Human Services in 2024 and dedicated over $6,000,000 of the county's American Rescue Plan Act funding to mental health initiatives, including veterans mental health services, youth and family crisis support, suicide prevention, CRT and care compact expansion, community education, men's mental health, and the implementation of nine eighty eight known in the state as the Colorado Mental Health Line. And whereas the DCMHC encourages early identification and treatment, mental health education, connection, and community engagement to end stigma and support recovery.

All right. Thank you so much, Laura. Appreciate it. Who do we have to speak on this as well?

So we have Laura Larson, Assistant Director of Community Health from the Health Department Doctor. Jesse Lohr, Chief Medical Officer at AdventHealth, and Director Michelle Fuentes, who's the Director at AdventHealth Castle Rock, as well as Brian Tuchillo, Director of Community Outreach.

All right. Very good. Well, Assistant Director Larson, would you like to come forward?

Thank you, Commissioners. Laura Larson with Douglas County Health Department. We're very excited about our partnership between the health department, the mental health division, and our folks at AdventHealth, Castle Rock, and Parker, and our shared commitment around improving the well-being of all individuals that live in Douglas County. At the Health Department, our community health team is committed to supporting mental health at every stage of life. This includes the perinatal period for new and expecting families through childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood.

And it also includes men over the age of 25, our aging population over the age of 55, and veterans and first responders in the county as well. Through our Healthy Families partnership of Douglas County, our team helps connect parents with resources, education, and support to promote healthy development, reduce isolation, and encourage early intervention when concerns arise. We also prioritize adult and youth mental health by partnering with schools, community organizations, and other local providers to increase awareness, reduce stigma, and connect people to available support services here in the county. As Laura mentioned, we do offer mental health first aid training. That's through a partnership with the Mental Health Division.

That training is an evidence based model and equips residents, educators, first responders, and other community leaders with tools to recognize the signs of a mental health challenge, appropriately support people who may be experiencing a challenge, and respond appropriately by connecting them to resources and help to avoid a crisis in the future. All of these combined efforts focus on building stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities where our residents feel supported, informed, and empowered to seek the help when needed. At this time, I'd like to go ahead and invite our friends from AdventHealth to come up and say a few words.

Thank you, director. That'd be great.

Good afternoon commissioners.

Good afternoon.

I am standing here on behalf of AdventHealth Castle Rock and unfortunately my colleague Mike Gable, the CEO over at AdventHealth Parker was unable to be with us today but he and I together as well as with Jesse and Brian have been meeting with our partners at the county for some number of months now trying to figure out how we can best make a dent in in the mental health crisis that's happening and I think Mental Health Awareness Month is a perfect place for us to start because if we can work together to reduce the stigma, I think we can start to draw people into receiving the help they need. At AdventHealth, we look at the whole person and so mental health really fits into that. When I say whole person, I mean not just the physical well-being of a person but their mental and spiritual well-being as well. And so this really ties in with who we are as an organization, ensuring that people can seek the help when they need it. Our program is designed to meet people where they are offering support for individuals and families that are facing stress, depression, grief and other mental health challenges.

Our whole person approach focuses not just on treating symptoms but on helping individuals build long term resilience, connection and overall wellness. And so we're excited to continue to venture down this road with Douglas County Mental Health and the Douglas County Health Department as we figure out how to forge a way to reduce the stigma of mental health and create opportunities for people to access health care when they need it. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am. And I think I heard Doctor. Lohr.

Good afternoon. I don't know if I have a lot to add to that. I clinically, my background is in emergency medicine and I've had the opportunity working here in Castle Rock for the last eleven years to see the impact of mental health on the youth and the adult population here, and I am thrilled to be part of the partnership with Douglas County Mental Health to be able to attack that problem to start way upstream of where I get to see patients in the emergency department to create wellness and resilience and reduce the stigma and make sure that they're getting the care in the moments when they really need it and not only when they have a crisis.

Thank you very much, doctor. Thank you. Appreciate it. Brian Trujillo Molina.

All right. Thank you. I just also wanted to briefly add to what has been said and extend my gratitude to our partners at the Health Department and also the leadership from Michel Fantress and Mike Gobel, the CEOs of the hospitals to ensure that as we identified mental health stigma in our community health needs assessment that we ensure that we were collaborating on initiatives that increase capacity and reduce burdens. So we're really grateful for the health department's leadership at ensuring that we're continuing to be aligned for the next three to five years and the work that we're doing together. We find the right funding sources and we invite the right leaders at the table to ensure that we tackle this epidemic.

So thank you. Thank you, sir. Very much appreciated. And

Manager Cinconi, I guess that's everybody that I can recall you mentioning. Is there anyone else you'd like to call forward?

No. Good memory. That's everyone.

Very good. Alright. Let's bring it back to the board. Board, how would we like to dispose of this resolution?

Well, thank you, Mr. Chair. And I do believe one of our goals, and it's been said here several times today, was glad to hear it, in taking this moment to to pause and break and really draw awareness to mental health awareness, month is, just this very thing that's been said a couple times to reduce the stigma, to have that open dialogue. I hope that, folks do have that open dialogue and that do seek help. There on the screen is a QR code that takes you to doug douglas c o dot gov slash mental health resources, a tremendous website, just our county website, and it has dozens and dozens of great resources for whatever someone might be looking for.

You know, you might be on Kaiser and you're not sure where to go. It will direct you there. You might be a new mother and don't know where to go. It will give you several options there. So promoting this open dialogue, important to me during my time, especially at the Capitol and now as accounting commissioner, it's one of those things that we have the awareness moment of the resolution for the month, but really it's something that we deal with every day in our jobs. I know before I joined the board, the heart team, which is our homeless engagement, is one of those just innovative things. It seems like Douglas County is

on the

forefront of all of the mental health supports for our community that many counties just or cities or even states are far behind on. I think of school mental health, where I dedicated much of my time at the Capitol in the last several years, working with the Castillo's and others to improve safe to tell, to make sure that that had some flaws in it and it needed to be improved. To start the I Matter program, I was very proud to have started that with my colleague from across the aisle who served Aurora well at the time. The I Matter program is and also, of course, where every school age kid in the state of Colorado can, without having to put a credit card in or pay a fee or anything, can get that mental health twenty four seven support. Youth mental health has been a lot of my personal work, here in the community, George, I know or Commissioner Thiel, I know you've done a tremendous amount even for our seniors in providing mental health for our veterans, of course.

And the vision of Heroes Hollywood has that incorporated into its future vision that I hope to see come to fruition today. So very happy that we're able to have this dialogue today, have this moment where anyone watching, anyone participating can, of course, just Google it and go to the website there to get any health needed. And I hope it is a moment for us all to check on our friends and families, our neighbors, our our parents, and our children. Just just do a little check-in and make sure everything is okay because I think we all, whether we seek help or not, have some sort of mental health. We all deal with stress.

We all have to drive in traffic, and it could be minor as something of an anger issue or staying up, having trouble sleeping for for days on end, or it could be something even more serious that requires help. But there is help for all of us, And I encourage the community to seek it when needed.

Thank you, Commissioner. I think that's great. I was so happy. Always got a lot of comments when we had the mental health initiative back in the mental health initiative days. And then we were forming our County Health Department about, Hey, shouldn't we be integrating mental health in with the health department?

And so I'm really glad we're able to do that. Assistant Director Larson, I know that's been a big part of your work. And I think it's just great the way it's working out. I do need to mention the work of our past colleague, your predecessor Commissioner, Commissioner Laura Thomas. This is one of the truly passionate initiatives that she was dedicated to.

And she devoted a lot of resources of the county to bringing us to this day. And so I wanted to take a moment to recognize her efforts and let everybody know that it paid off. This is now no longer some sort of independent initiative. It's something that we have integrated into the county's organization and for good reason. Reason. So with that said, Commissioner, how would we like to dispose of this resolution that has been presented by the by Manager Larson? Sencone. Thank you, Mr.

Chair. And it's an honor for me to make the motion because it's my official capacity. But of course, on behalf of all the groups and we heard from AdventHealth today, we know there's so many groups that really is the mental health or the rubber meets the road for people's lives. So on behalf of the community and all the fantastic folks that we work with on a regular basis and work with the people at Douglas County on a regular basis, I move to adopt the resolution proclaiming May 2026, Mental Health Awareness Month. And I will second. Any further discussion? All in favor say aye.

Aye. Aye. And the resolution is adopted. Thank you very much Laura and Laura. And thank you very much, our AdventHealth partners. But you're not allowed to leave yet because now we need you guys to come up and we're gonna take a photo. Believe that's next

up to

bat. Yeah.

Come on in.

I have to get here and

get the sun.

What's up? Okay. Alright. Our next item is citizen recognition of Heather Thompson, All Health Clinician presented by Chris Mays, Veterans Services Offices Supervisor. There's Chris. Come on up sergeant major. You have the floor.

Thank you. Good afternoon commissioners.

No, no, no. You must speak into the microphone sergeant major.

What a great time for this recognition as Mental Health Awareness Month is in place. We felt this was the perfect opportunity. I continuously tell Laura and Doug about Heather through the last few years based off our partnership with All Health Network and this specific clinician. And I've seen the veterans and their families firsthand after interacting with Heather and All Health Network. So we wanted to take a few minutes to recognize her, but more importantly to to talk about how important mental health is, but just as important with veterans.

And I think a lot of individuals hear the saying or may see something publicly or on social media that may say 22 a day. And and what 22 a day means is Essentially 22 veterans a day take their life across The US. So we're trying to do with Douglas County Veterans Service Office and All Health Network and Heather is to ensure we do our part and what we have seen is the the positive strides and the the positive numbers that have been affected in a positive way just with what we've done with this program that we put together. So without taking any further time here, want to take a few minutes to talk about Heather and and recognize her. So Heather is a clinician that has been awarded the clinician of the year by the Colorado Providers Association for 2026.

Heather is a ROTC graduate of Baylor University and served as an Air Force officer. So Heather has the understanding of what veterans go through and what they encounter before, during and after their service. Heather then went on to earn her Master's degree on the Denver Seminary. She is a strong advocate for reducing stigma, strengthening community partnerships and expanding access to mental health resources. Heather's path into this field was rooted by a lifelong commitment to service, but early in her life she was moved by an encounter with a woman fleeing domestic violence, an experience that shaped the passion for ensuring people can access the help they need and what I will tell you is I have sent Heather veterans that have been on their fourth and fifth deployments to Southwest Asia.

I have sent her Vietnam veterans with two or three assignments. I have sent her males and females with military sexual trauma. And to indicate how specific and thorough she is, when we do any type of submissions with VA, VA has yet to question anything regarding what she puts in her documents. And VA is very, very tough on proving things that occurred that are non combat related. And in this case we have zero, but the positive we hear veterans over and over talk about how great she is.

And here's the last example and I gave it to her earlier. Heather's out of the office on vacation. She has a son graduating from CSU and her parents are here in town. But earlier today I was telling her I received a call. Had a marine call me said I served in Afghanistan and I was talking to my neighbor and he's telling me about this program that he's seeing this person by the name of Heather and he gave me your name. He says I want to talk to Heather. I had some tough times. I'm having some tough times and sure enough in her inbox there's a referral today from a marine based off of who they know Heather is. So with that, please join me in congratulating Heather Thompson on achieving and thanking her for the extraordinary service she provides to Douglas County veterans.

Yeah, she's an ROTC commissioning. We can can make her talk.

Good

afternoon. Thank you for inviting me out today and for the recognition. It means a to hear these kind words from Chris and to hear all the feedback. And so I really appreciate the opportunity that I was given an offer a year and a half ago to come out and serve the veterans. Little did I know at that time how many veterans I would be able to serve and how many wonderful people I've been able to meet and to support throughout this program. Thank you.

Well, thank you. Now, normally, I mean, this is a little bit of a landmark moment because you got an Army Sergeant Major saying something nice about an Air Force officer veteran. Yeah, it's a unique. It's a special occasion and heck, you might have another one saying something nice here in a second of an Army officer veteran. Very good. Board, obviously we have this recognition before us. Any comments?

Well, you. Heather, thank you. Heather, thank you so much for being here today. I've heard amazing things about you well before today. Tremendous work helping veterans get back to citizen life, helping veterans with PTSD, providing the therapy that is needed.

I wish it sounds like we need to clone her and get her everywhere because I've just heard amazing things about the results that you have provided to our community. It's more mean, it's therapy, yes, but really, you're a lifesaver. And for us to take a moment and just say thank you for saving lives, thank you for stepping in the gap and helping someone realize that there is a light at the end of that road and there's good reasons to live and good reasons to thrive in a daily life. We as a community can't say thank you enough.

Well, thank you, Commissioner. Thank you, Heather. I think our veterans, a lot of people say we'll say something. The veterans should go down to the VA for the services they need or the services they want. And what we oftentimes forget is that, no, it's not the services they need, want, it's the services they earned.

They paid it forward. You know, we all did. Whether, you know, wearing a uniform doing clerical work, wearing a uniform out in the field doing the work I did, Sergeant Major in the combat engineers like you. It doesn't matter. The bottom line is our service veterans are maybe many of them don't look like young people anymore.

But they came to us as young people willing to step forward for our sacred republic and wear the uniform. And sometimes when you wear the uniform, it makes you a target. Other times, I don't know, I got to drink beer on three continents, So it was all right by me. But thank you very much for helping your neighbors and your brothers and sister veterans. All right. Well, county manager, a little advice on this one. We do have recognition. Is there a vote required or can we just go ahead and say and commissioner, we're committed to this recognition, aren't we?

Yes, sir.

All right. Well, in that case, ma'am, if you'll please come come forward, we actually have a certificate for you.

And her parents are here. If we could

bring them forward as well.

Heck yeah. Bring the whole family up, Chris. You get up here too. But, yeah. No. Everybody.

All house. I do. Parents? I do. She brought a staff. Heather had me worried because I sent her a reminder email this weekend and it was out of office on vacation. Oh, okay.

All right. Let's get into our consent agenda. The consent agenda will be taken generally on one vote. All matters will be decided on one vote without discussion among the board. Any board member can remove an item from the consent agenda for further consideration by the board and taking a public comment. Do we have a motion on the consent agenda?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move to approve the request on items A through I and K through Y of the consent agenda. Item J has been pulled from this consent agenda.

I will second. Further discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Consent agenda is adopted.

Okay. Moving to the regular agenda. Our first item is an intergovernmental agreement amended amendment between the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Douglas and the State of Colorado Department of Transportation regarding financial contribution towards construction of the Broadway And Highlands Ranch Parkway intersection improvement project. Douglas County project number is CI20204. Benjamin Pierce, PE Capital Improvements project manager presenting for staff. Go ahead, Ben.

Good afternoon, commissioners. Thank you for having me today. As you just mentioned, I'm here today to talk about an IGA amendment for the Broadway And Highlands Ranch Parkway intersection project. And for for just a little bit of reference, the location of the project in some kind of landmarks in the area, it's just to the west of the new senior center in Highlands Ranch on Highlands Ranch Parkway. You can actually see it come on the bottom right hand side of this picture while it was still under construction.

And then, you know, we're also kinda near the the disc golf, the West Fork Disc Golf Course on the the property kind of on the Northwest corner there. Just a little bit of wayfinding. So a little bit of a background on the project or reminders since I think we've been up here before talking about the project, but the the project is really to improve the safety and operations of the Broadway And Highlands Ranch Parkway intersection. So what that will include is widening of about 12 feet on the West side of Broadway and also widening of Highlands Ranch Parkway to about 12 feet to the south side. So on Broadway, the primary reason for the widening of the pavement is to add an additional southbound to eastbound left turn lane.

Right now, there's only a single turn lane there. And, you know, part of the impetus for this project was a safety concern where the that single left turn lane would back up into the general purpose lanes, creating a safety issue and higher than what would be expected rear end crashes and things of that nature. So the additional turn lane will provide additional capacity for that left turn lane, keeping those cars out of the through lane. In the interim, between when the project was kind of, developed, in 2021 and now, our traffic division has, made some modifications to the signal timing to kinda create a Band Aid fix to help address some of the safety concerns. But that is just an internal improvement and additional capacity for that southbound to eastbound left turn lane is definitely needed for, you know, long term safety and operations of the intersection.

And on the Highland Range Parkway side, we'll be widening to the south by about 12 feet. For those of you who have, you know, been on this road, especially going eastbound eastbound here, you'll know that the that inside most through lane becomes one of the eastbound to northbound turn lanes, which can be a bit confusing for drivers at times, and confusion, as we know, leads to safety and and operational issues. So the extra pavement that will be widening is really to add a third through lane that'll be continuous through the intersection to match the typical section of the roadway both east and west of the intersection. So that will be three through lanes in both directions and then the two eastbound to northbound left turn lanes. And as you can see on the diagram here, there will be some the hatched area is showing where we're actually gonna be adding additional pavement, but then kind of the gray area is showing where we'll need to do some additional restriping of the existing pavement that won't be replaced as part of the project to make all of the lane configurations match

with, you know, what will be

expected out there. So and the reason for the widening being on both sides of the intersection is really so that, you know, when you bring an extra lane into the intersection, you still have to have somewhere for them to be on the other side of the before they can merge back in. And then lastly, as part of this project, we'll be replacing the traffic signal that's out there right now. So with the addition of the widened pavement and, additional turn lanes, a longer mast arms and a new signal system will be necessary, including fully upgraded traffic signal controllers. So a little bit of background on the IGA.

In November 2021, the initial IGA was executed between Douglas County and CDOT to receive $1,250,000 in federal highway safety improvement program funds. So this is a federal program that's executed through the state where they every year in about February, they do a call to projects and local agencies such as Douglas County can submit requests for funding to deal with safety safety issues on our roadways. So this is only for off system roads, meaning roads that are not owned and maintained by CDOT. Both Broadway and Highlands Ranch Parkway are roads that are owned and maintained by Douglas County. So of the original $1,250,000, it is a 10% local match required for federal HSIP funding.

And so 1,125,000 would be in direct federal federal funds with a minimum of a $125,000 in local match. As we were progressing the project, and well, the original project was only for the Broadway the Broadway portion of the improvement. So just the North South Road because that was the more obvious safety issue. There was a documented crash issue with that, single left turn lane backing up into the general purpose lanes. So the scope of the project was just the Broadway portion and signal modifications.

As we got through the project and we're, progressing our design, it became clear that separating the Highland Ranch Parkway widening from the Broadway widening presented some challenges in terms of both physical challenges and how do you, you know, have separate construction projects either at the same time or splitting it into two separate construction packages, and it it made sense for us to combine those projects. And looking for additional funds, our traffic division requested additional HSIP funding through CDOT's call for off system projects in 2024. And in April 2024, Douglas County was notified that we've that we'd be receiving additional funds for the projects, including both the Highlands Ranch Parkway and the Broadway portions of the project. So the additional funding was $2,750,000, which breaks out to be, $2,475,000 in federal funds with an additional $275,000 minimum of local match. So now moving on to the IJA amendment, we're combining both the initial already executed IJA that provided funding to the project with the additional funds.

So now it'll be a total participation amount of $4,000,000 with $3,600,000 being in federal funds with a minimum $400,000 in local match. The project design is currently at about 90%, so we're through our final office review with CDOT. So the general configuration of the project has been agreed to by CDOT and is more or less set. And our main focus right now is acquiring the necessary right of way to construct the project. So on the South Side Of Highland Ranch Parkway in particular, there's a handful of commercial properties that we need to acquire additional easements and some fee right of way in order to have the room to be able to perform this widening, and a little bit on the West Side Of Broadway as well.

The we've also in over the course of the last year or so, been working on relocating private utilities, you know, gas lines, electric lines, telecommunication lines that are in conflict with our projects. So we've been working with proactively with our partners at Xcel and other telecom communications companies to get those out of the way so that we can construct the project in a streamlined fashion and limit the disturbance to the traveling public when this project goes to construction. Our construction cost is currently estimated to be about $7,200,000. So with the $3,600,000 in federal funds, we're looking at about a 50% local match. And specifically with this funding source of the highway safety improvement program funds, they tend to be focused on this this would be a a large project for h seven.

So usually, it's a little more targeted on specific locations, you know, turn lane additions, more minor modifications. So for the county to receive, you know, $3,600,000 in federal funding is really a it shows how important this project is and how strong of a case Douglas County has for getting this additional funding to, you know, work on this safety and operational project. When we do go to construction, Douglas County will be overseeing project construction with oversight from the Colorado Department of Transportation because they are the stewards of the federal funds. So it'll be a CDOT local agency project similar to other projects like US 85 and our County Line Road project that are currently underway. And right now, we're on track track to begin construction in early twenty twenty seven.

So like I said, our plans are pretty much ready. It's really just a matter of finalizing our right of way acquisitions, which we hope to accomplish by the end of the year or early next year, and also making sure that we're receiving all the proper CDOT clearances to be able to get approval to go to advertisement with the project with full concurrence from our partners over at the Colorado Department of Transportation. So with that, staff recommendation is approval of the IGA amendment to receive additional funding for the Broadway And Highlands Ranch Parkway intersection improvement project, Douglas County project number CI2021Dash024. And, I'd be happy to answer any any questions that, the board has at this time.

Alright. Board questions for Ben?

I have none. Thank you, Ben.

No questions for me. I know this is a project that we have all been engaged in over the past really several years, even before I came a county commissioner, at least on the campaign trail. This intersection was always a hot topic. And to be able to see us, right on the verge of breaking ground on the improvements, and to get to this point, very big thank you to your team. Very big thank you, to the whole team we have here at the county.

And I can't help but think of art at a moment like this. Don't wanna, I guess, get too far into that at this moment. But really for the people of Douglas County and for the people of Heinz Ranch, this is an intersection I I know I am my family goes through, at least once a day, typically, and there are a lot of potholes. There's a big need for improvement. There's that one lane that's going straight, all of a sudden it's a turn lane, and it's kind of confusing.

So the improvements are very, very well needed and very happy to be here and for us to be able to do it. We as a county, we rarely do anything on our own. Talk Link on Demand or even our parks and recreation. We don't do anything completely on our own. So for us to provide about 50% of the money and have 50% come back to the taxpayers at Douglas County through the federal government, very impressive feat of very conservative budgeting along with being able to do something great for the people at Heinz Ranch. So thanks to you and your whole team.

Thank you, sir.

Yeah, I don't have any questions, Ben. I mean, I know this is one that we've been tracking on for a while on the CIP to bring in Commissioner Leiden excuse me, Commissioner Van Winkle. I agree. I mean, I think the real win on this is how we're leveraging federal and state dollars in order to get this project that just kind of for the folks that live in Highlands Ranch, it seems local. I'm sure for others in the county, it might seem like a local Highlands Ranch issue.

But any time we can leverage federal dollars, state dollars to help us meet our capital improvement plan goals, I think is great. So I do not have any questions. And if there are no questions

So, Mr. Chair, and I don't know if you have the answer to this. I remember hearing it, it's been several months. How many vehicles travel through this intersection every day? Do you know that?

I don't know off the top of my head, but I do know it's I believe either the second or third busiest intersection we have in Highlands Range.

Okay.

So it's two major arterials crossing, and so it's very high traffic volumes, but I I don't have the numbers off the top of my head. Okay. Sorry.

No. Thank you. Yeah, it's definitely a busy street. Want to say like more than half the times that I am in Highlands Ranch, I'm right there at that intersection during the trip. Okay, well, any further questions from the board? Let's go ahead and go to public comment. I do not have anyone signed up to speak on public comment. But at this time, is there anyone who would like to speak on public comment on this project? Seeing none, let's bring it back to the board. Board, we do have an IGA amendment before us. How would we like to dispose of it?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we approve an intergovernmental agreement between the board of county commissioners of the county of Douglas and the state of Colorado Department of Transportation regarding financial contribution towards construction of the Broadway And Highlands Ranch Parkway intersection improvement project. This is Douglas County project number CI2021Dash024.

And I'll second that motion.

Okay. There is a motion and second for the discussion. All right. All in favor of approving this IGA, say aye.

Aye. Aye.

And the IGA with the state is approved. All right. Thanks, Ben. Appreciate it, man.

Thank you.

All right. Our next item is three budget reallocation and award of construction contract Castle Rock Construction Company of Colorado LLC in the amount of $6,579,818.08 for the Highland Ranch Parkway, Broadway to Burnwood project Douglas County project number is CI2020. And Amy I always struggle with your name, Amy. I'm so sorry. It's all good. Everybody Just introduce yourself for the record presenting for staff.

Good afternoon Commissioners, Amy Strathopoulos presenting for staff. And I'm going to continue the conversation on Highlands Ranch Parkway. I'm pleased to present the Highlands Ranch Parkway Broadway to Burntwood reconstruction project. I think as many of us know Highlands Ranch Parkway was built in the eighty's so this makes it about 40 years old and a typical concrete pavement is the lifespan is about 30 to 50 years old. So this pavement lived a good life but as you can see, there is extensive cracking, there's heaving, the sidewalk is cracked.

We're repairing this over and over and we've reached the point where the time and money it's taking to repair this is not worth it and so it's time to reconstruct. This graphic shows the extent of the project. So we will be East Of Broadway so I do want to point out this project is different than the one Ben just spoke about. We will be East of the intersection. This will be constructed this year and Ben's project will come after but the project teams have been in course close coordination on our tie in spots.

So the scope of this project is we will remove and replace the sidewalk, curb, gutter and pavement. We're going to put back brand new concrete pavement. We are going to install concrete medians. We will upgrade the curb ramps to make them ADA compliant. We are going to install a new traffic signal at Ridge Glen Way where the, new senior center is and this is in partnership with Highlands Ranch Metro District.

They've agreed to fund the cost of the signal And during design, we identified the, Burntwood signal as being needed for replacement, so we will be replacing the signal at Burntwood Way. And when we're done, this will be a smooth and safe corridor. So if we zoom in on a cross section of the road, this is taken from the plan set, so there's a lot of information. It's a little hard to read, but, you can see the fourteen' wide center raised median. That's all concrete.

Eleven' travel lanes, a seven' bike lane, eight' sidewalk. So what we're putting back is very, very similar to what's out there. This is a very straightforward project. We'll install a 2% cross slope on the road to improve drainage and this will improve the durability of the road. So we're hoping to get another forty or fifty years out of this one.

We have selected Castle Rock Construction Company as contractor. The contract amount is $6,579,818.08. Notice to proceed is June 1, so construction will start the Monday after school gets out, and the project length is four months. On behalf of staff I would like to recommend the approval of the construction contract award to Castle Rock construction for CI twenty twenty six-five in the amount of $6,579,818.08. Thank you.

Thank you. Questions from the board for Supervisor Strathop? Strathop? For Amy.

It's very pretty

when she says it. I know. She says it so great. It very hurts my tongue. I'm

so sorry. It's great attempt, Chair. Better than I could do. I have no questions. Thank you.

No, much like the project before, this is one that's been on our radar, very much connected to the project that we just discussed earlier. I will say I have heard from more than one on a very regular basis, seniors that love the new senior center, visited all the time, but they do have it's just impossible. It's such a busy part of Highlands Ranch to turn left out of the senior center. So to have a light there for the public safety, for all of our seniors coming and going, and we do have our county human services office there as well. So for that that getting that traffic light done, I know Douglas County, we're gonna we're gonna pay for it, build it, and then, yeah, I believe it's a metro district will be paying us back over time.

Yep. That's just fantastic work for the people at Hines Ranch. And, I think I can see the puddles from here. So very excited to get this construction start just as soon as school is over.

Yeah. Don't have any questions for you, Amy. I mean, is the concrete pavement maintenance in Highlands Ranch has been something that we've been tracking definitely since I came on the board just because the pavement's that old. Thirty years, if you can get thirty years out of concrete pavement in this environment, you're doing good. You're really lucky.

And so that's the time for these big pavement projects up in Highlands Ranch. And I know this is an area, like you said, Kevin, we could see the potholes from here. And not even looking at the board guys, could look out the window and see the potholes from here in a couple of places. So I'm glad we're getting it squared away. And then, yeah, that traffic light I know that once we opened the senior center, of course, with the Highlands Ranch Metro District, immediately we were being asked for that.

So it's great that we're able to work it in on this project. So I have no questions. Board, any further questions before we go to public comment? I did not receive anyone signed up for public comment on this matter. Is there anyone who would like to make public comment? And hearing none. Board, we do have the budget reallocation and award of construction contract before us. How would we like to proceed?

Mr. Chair, I appreciated the presentation from staff and certainly this made sense in my mind. If it does please the Board and there's no further discussion, I'll make a motion to approve a three budget reallocation and award of construction contract to Castle Rock Construction Company of Colorado LLC in the amount of $6,579,818.08 for the Highlands Ranch Parkway, Broadway to Burntwood project Douglas County project number CI2026005.

I second the motion.

All right. There is a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. All right. Budget reallocation and construction contract is awarded. All right. Moving on to our next agenda item, commissioner comments. Commissioners, comments.

You know, I do have

a comment and first and foremost wanted to say thank you to my colleagues for your grace. Earlier this afternoon, I had the opportunity to attend the State of the City of Aurora, and many people may not know that Aurora is a little part of my district, or at least District 1 has a little piece of Aurora just North of Parker. I was really proud to hear Mayor Kaufman and that team discuss some of the things that they've accomplished this last year. But most notably is a joint partnership with Douglas County around the Aurora Navigation Campus. And if you're not familiar with that, it is a former hotel that has been converted into a location where people that are experiencing homelessness can receive not only shelter but wraparound services, including mental health care, job counseling, bilingual services, health care itself, substance use disorder treatment, and a whole host of really great case management all under one roof.

We have partnered as a county with them, and I know our HEART team, our Homeless Engagement Assistance Resource team, again, a navigator paired with law enforcement, does use that facility. And what's amazing about it is there's zero barrier to entry. So you really can get into that facility immediately without applications and a wait time. Those beds are available, and we do have guaranteed beds. That was part of what we negotiated with Aurora and that team up there.

So all that to say, it is based off of a wonderful military colleague, Jack Briggs. I won't try to mess up his title, and I usually do, so I'll leave that to the chair to correct me once I get through my comments. But Jack Briggs started the Springs Rescue Mission and had this concept of incentive based sheltering, where if you show up, you get a bed. But if you do a drug test, maybe you get a better bed. If you get a job, maybe you get even improved services and better accommodations.

So if you haven't been to the Aurora Navigation campus or heard about it, the top tier is almost like a hotel room. The entry level Tier one is cots, and then it goes up to Tier two and Tier three, where it really is like temporary housing, which is fantastic for people that have achieved these great milestones. So I'm really proud of that, and I just wanted to share one story that he has shared for the first time publicly. Mayor Kaufman, every Friday, actually spends the night in the Tier 1 portion of the Aurora Navigation Campus. So he sleeps not in the nice bougie hotel rooms, but literally in the cots.

And there's a picture of him, I think, just with like Beats headphones on. You know, I think his military service probably lent itself to being able to sleep overnight in this particular facility. But then he wakes up the next day and he serves breakfast on Saturday. And I wanted to commend him on that. I did tell him that in person, but just in my mind, that's a true example of public service and he's got to know some of the people that he's living alongside on those days. So anyway, just a great partnership and wanted to highlight that. Thank you, Chair.

All right. Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner, any comments?

Our fairgrounds is firing on all cylinders right now. Of course, we are already preparing some great concerts this year for the fair and rodeo coming up. And we have other large events, big national events really coming to the fairgrounds for the first time in quite a while. But on just even the dog show front, We held our first, the Roaring Fork Kennel Club brought their first event to Douglas County last year. And since then, we have actually been taking some events from neighboring counties from faraway places too.

The Border Terrier National Event, which is a nationwide Border Terrier dog show coming here to Castle Rock to our fairgrounds. The roaring the Plum Creek Kennel Club, has always been based here in Castle Rock, but they've never they've always gone to Arapahoe County Fairgrounds to hold their events. They're leaving Arapahoe County coming here. And then the Colorado Springs Kennel Club is, examining leaving Colorado Springs to come here. When these events happen, they sell all the hotels in town.

The restaurants are packed with with dog lovers and, dog people, and it is bringing an awful lot of economic development also to the Castro Rock and Douglas County area. So just a small update on one of those little initiatives that we've had in our past is working very well, is just maximizing those fairgrounds, not just for the fair and rodeo, but year round.

All right. Thank you, Commissioner. So this morning Commissioner Layton missed out hobnobbing with our friends and colleagues up in Aurora. But thank you for representing the county for the state of the city with Mayor Kaufman. But Commissioner Van Winkle and I, we were able to go and do an inspection of the county emergency operations center That's actually over in the Justice Center where the jail is. Sorry about that, Kevin. Didn't mean to toss that at you.

That's all

I'm always on alert.

Just keeping you on your toes, pal. Fantastic. I mean, I was really pleased to see what our staff has been able to do with some of the technology tools that we have budgeted here in the last few months. Not so much in anticipation of a fire season, but just as in anticipation of the fact that we live in a fire prone area, a wildfire prone area. We have heard many pleas to have evacuation planning from some of our out communities, specifically think of Roxboro, Perry Park.

And we actually got to see a simulation with the software we use, the planning software that we have now, of an evacuation of Roxboro that I think we really need to look to probably share with the community at one of our town hall meetings guys so that they can see the kind of planning that we can model on a computer and then turn that into real on the ground planning to keep our residents safe. And I thought it was amazing. We saw another one of a wildfire simulation of a wildfire that actually did occur over the wintertime in kind of the Southeast portion of the county. And the simulation was virtually identical to the actual fire progression without of course, in the actual fire progression, we had emergency response, but we got to see the simulation of what would happen if we had no fire crews responding. And so, as a planning tool, I just thought it was invaluable.

I really give a lot of credit to our county manager and, of course, our emergency operations staff. And then, of course, we kind of talk through how things would if the worst does happen and we do need to respond and what are we going to be doing, not only as your commissioners, but what is your government here in the county going be doing to try to keep everybody safe. So I felt well, I felt very a lot of gratitude for the great work our staff do, but it made me feel very good that if the worst does happen here this fire season, I'll tell you what, we got the tools. We can address it. And bad things happen.

Bad things happen to good people. But I think we have the tools to minimize the bad happening to more people. So you missed out, Abe. We'll have to hook you up with another inspection

one

of these days. But you'll love it. With all the work you've done with wildfire safety, I think you'll feel as confident in our ability to respond, I think, as I do. I'm really tempted to tell everybody, Go out. If you're a resident, go out and sign the petitions that are going on because that's for five commissioners. Because that way, we get to have eight more years. But we're not of one mind, so I'll avoid pushing that too hard. But if you are inclined, please do go and inquire. Commissioner, so moving on to other business. Poor, is

there other business? Well, I don't have other business, but I'm texting fast and furiously. Got really good news for the Board of County Commissioners, for Douglas County, and for the state of Colorado. Our Douglas County bill, Senate Bill 2,615 to protect children and make sure that the bad guys in human trafficking go to jail has passed. So we are super excited about that.

Looking forward to hopefully a bill signing this week or next. I know I'm supposed to be in DC here the next day, so we'll be balancing schedules. But I just wanted to thank this board, our staff, our lobbyists, our communications team for supporting this. I said this the other day, but this bill would not have gone forward if both of you hadn't said yes to me and to our lobbyists to carry this. And it's been two years in the making, about two and a half years.

Last year, it did not pass, it was very challenging and heartbreaking for many. But this is a big deal. And I just want to reemphasize that in the state of Colorado, currently under current law, you can get probation for solicitation of a child. Now that this bill has passed, that is all going to change. So again, I wanted to say thanks to you guys for that. And hopefully we'll have a bill signing soon.

All right. Very good. Commissioner, you know, if it passed today, I believe you can feel rest assured there's important work to be done in D. C. That you and Kevin are scheduled to go to. You should go. Don't worry about it. It's I did a little inquiry through the other person that lives at 931 Eaglestone Drive and the governor will not be getting to it this week. But you can feel watch your calendar next week is the word that came through. Commissioner, any other business for the county?

Colleagues, I do need to inform you that Planning Commissioner Ed Rhodes did give me a call this morning. He will be resigning from our Planning Commission. He's been having some health challenges over the last year. I don't know if you've noticed the number of meetings that he has had to medically excuse himself from. So he has made the decision to open up his seat and resign.

And so we will be looking to and just as a reminder, he is a District 2 appointee. So I'll do my best to get some good candidates that we can consider for approval to the Planning Commission here in the coming weeks. All right. Any other business gentlemen, county manager, any business other business, county manager's report?

26 pages. Happy to address any questions.

Any questions for the county manager on the county manager's report? All right. You're getting off easy today, Doug. That's because you keep briefing us all the time. I appreciate it. All right. Folks, we're going to get that brings us to the end of our agenda. We are going to head and adjourn. Our next business meeting will be held on Tuesday, 05/26/2026 at 01:30 p. M. We are adjourned. We will take a break and flip the room and technology for our land use and public hearing, and we will return and get moving on that as quick as we can. Thank you all for your patience.