Town Administrator June 19, 2019

Open Space and Trails Advisory Board.
I enjoyed attending the OSTAB meeting last week during which the Advisory Board reviewed the Coal Creek Channel Restoration Conceptual Design Report. That report describes the water quality, habitat and open space impact causes by channel erosion and loss of sediment in Coal Creek. The erosion is also threatening to damage roadways, utilities and private property as well. The Report outlines various actions the Town might take to mitigate those problems. It is a big and expensive issue that will take a long time to address, I asked the OSTAB to review the report and let me and the Board of Trustees know where it fits in with OSTAB’s other priorities. I am always impressed with the level of expertise and dedication among advisory board volunteers, and OSTAB is no exception. Thank you for your service to the Town of Erie!

Oil and Gas.
Deputy Town Administrator Farrell Buller, Barb Green and John Sullivan (the Town’s special oil and gas legal counsel), and I met with Jeff Robbins, Director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, COGCC staff, and representatives from Crestone Peak Resources. Crestone had asked for the meeting to discuss Crestone’s application for the Acme pad, which the COGCC will be considering within the new regulatory framework enacted through SB-181. During the meeting, Crestone suggested the Crestone/Erie Operator Agreement provides a robust framework that covers the requirements Crestone anticipates the COGCC will implement through the rule-making process to implement the provisions of SB-181. Director Robbins indicated that as part of the COGCC’s work, he and the COGCC staff will be looking closely at the Crestone/Erie Operator Agreement, as well as other operator agreements.

Bike to Work Day.
Wednesday, June 26 is Bike to Work Day. If you can, please join me in biking to and from work that day. I am fortunate to be able to ride my bike from home to Town Hall following the Coal Creek Trail almost the entire way. It is a beautiful ride, but does take me about 90 minutes to ride the entire route, so I will have to get up early next Wednesday! As a challenge to all Town employees, I will take to lunch anyone who rides farther than I do that day (28 miles round trip) on a non-motorized bike (while I celebrate anyone who rides an e-bike, I don’t have one yet, so the competition has to be fair). I hope I get to take several Town employees to lunch, and I look forward to swapping biking stories with you!

Parks and Recreation

National Trails Day celebrations were a resounding success! More than 30 kids and adults helped add mulch around Erie Lake.

The Erie Community Center had zero safety infractions during a recent inspection from our insurance carrier!

Balloon Lands North Water Reclamation Facility

Most Erie Thing of the Week - Balloon lands near Water Treatment Facility
Photo cred: John (aka Eric) Coyle

Public Works

Because of a malfunction of a component at the North Water Reclamation Facility staff has been diligently monitoring the plant 24/7 to ensure unhindered service. We appreciate their hard work and dedication and will be sure to correct this single point of failure in our upcoming capital project. For now parts are on order.

The Erie Parkway bridge schedule for the week included a finished pour of sidewalks on Tuesday, a curb rail pour on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, a electrical conduit installed on Monday, and roadway embankment material placement on Tuesday and Friday. Installation of storm sewer and inlets are scheduled this coming week.

The American Water Works Association, established in 1881, held its Annual Conference and Exposition in Denver this week. We had a strong turnout from Public Works staff who were able to attend national-level workshops, technical sessions and cutting-edge technology in the exhibition area.

Human Resources

The Parks and Recreation Director position closed and we received 46 applications. Interviews will begin soon.

Human Resources is in the process of automating the performance evaluations. Not only does this modernize our processes, but with the decrease of paper aligns with our overall sustainability efforts.

Did you know on average it takes 80 additional employees to fully staff our Community Center during peak season? Human Resources partners with Parks and Recreation to fill these seasonal roles: parks maintenance, camp counselors, concessions/guest service and lifeguards. To date we have hired 57 people to fill those openings.

Police

Officers attended “Chopper Go” training on Wednesday at the Community Park Soccer Field. This training was provided by Airlife.

Officer Brandon Ohnstad was recently chosen to fill the third detective vacancy and started his new duties on June 10.

Officers Steven Williams and Joel Mayns were also recently selected to take over School Resource Officer (SRO) positions when SVVSD returns for the fall semester. Officer Williams will be the SRO at Soaring Heights and Officer Joel Mayns will fill the second SRO slot at Erie High School.

Sergeant Cummings is offering a free Liquor Training Program for liquor licensee owners and employees on Sunday, June 30, 2 - 4 p.m. RSVP soon!

Sustainability Volunteers

Eco-cycle is looking for volunteers during the Concerts in the Parks. Eco-cycle is working to keep as much of the events' waste from going to the landfill as possible. They need Zero East Station 'Goalies' in two-hour shifts during the concerts. Last summer they diverted 83% of materials at the concerts. Visit the Eco-cycle signup page for more information.

Economic Development

The Town wants to make sure there is the right amount of parking and that we plan all transportation improvements—including the Moffat Street Bridge—and mobility options for getting to, around, and from Downtown Erie in a way that is safe, convenient, and compatible with the character of Downtown.

You are invited to an Open House to discuss traffic impacts into Historic Downtown on Wednesday, July 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Erie Community Center. Email downtown@erieco.gov to RSVP. For more information, and to view the Downtown Parking and Circulation plan visit the webpage.

MVFPD Groundbreaking

Congratulations to Mountain View Fire Rescue on the groundbreaking of a new 23,100 square foot maintenance facility being constructed at 5322 County Road 7. Construction will begin this summer and the project is scheduled to be complete in May of 2020. For more information visit www.mvfpd.org.