SUBJECT:
Title
A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Erie Requesting that the Weld County Board of County Commissioners Adopt a Resolution Referring a Ballot Question to Certain Town of Erie Voters to Annex All of the Town of Erie into the Regional Transportation District, and Authorizing Town Staff to Work with Weld County to Accomplish the Same
Body
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Development
Department
PRESENTER(S): Miguel Aguilar, Senior Transportation Planner
First Name Last Name, Title
POLICY ISSUES:
By direction of the Town Council’s strategic policy direction, staff is working to expand transit services including service from the Regional Transportation District (RTD). Some properties in Erie have not been annexed into the RTD. To expand transit services, and to be eligible for TRD grants, annexing all properties within the Town into the RTD is needed.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Approve the Resolution and proceed with the RTD Annexation process by asking the Weld County Board of County Commissioners to approve a Resolution referring a Ballot Question to the owners of property in Erie that are not already within the RTD.
End
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
Town staff are working with RTD to expand transit services in Erie. To fully implement transit improvements that serve the whole community, the portions of the Town outside of RTD will need to be annexed. Annexing these areas will allow all residents to take advantage of RTD programs and parking.
State statutes provide different ways to annex properties into the RTD. Staff researched these ways and concluded the most feasible is to ask the Weld County Board of County Commissioners to permit the Town of Erie to ask its residents who reside in Weld County and outside of RTD whether they should annex into RTD and be subject to a 1% sales tax on all purchases in the areas in question or to remain outside of RTD.
This path has certain deadlines to meet including submitting the resolution and survey of the land in question to the RTD board, developing the ballot question language, and submitting the ballot question to the election official.
Erie voters who live in Weld County and outside of RTD will be asked the question on election day and if approved to annex into RTD, all changes would apply 30 days after the election.
Based on Council direction during the April 16 Council Study Session, staff discussed this issue with the Weld County Board of County Commissioners on April 22. During that discussion most members the County Board said they would support allowing Erie residents in the areas outside the RTD to vote on annexation. Accordingly, the Town Attorney and staff are working with Weld County staff to prepare a Resolution for the County Board to consider. This Resolution from the Council will be included in the packet of materials submitted to the County to support favorable action on the County Resolution.
COUNCIL PRIORITY(S) ADDRESSED:
ü Engaged and Diverse Community
ü Well-Maintained Transportation Infrastructure
ü Safe and Healthy Community
ü Effective Governance
ü Environmentally Sustainable
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Resolution No 24-068