Highlands Ranch Metro District. Community Report 2018

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1 Highlands Ranch Metro District Community Report 2018

2 An evolving community Highlands Ranch at 37 years young is a vibrant, evolving community that has nearly reached buildout with a population of 96,000. Our community was, for decades, growing, and the focus was on development. Today, as commercial property development is nearing completion in Central Park, the Metro District focuses on the maintenance of established and maturing infrastructure. We see it all around us. Wooden fences are being replaced along arterial parkways with fence made of Trex recycled composite material. Our streets have all been built, so now the Metro District Public Works staff collaborates with Douglas County to identify streets, curbs and sidewalks in need of repair or replacement. Park playgrounds are being replaced with newer, more advanced designs and materials. We re seeing the population age in place, as Douglas County predicts that by 2030, nearly 25 percent of the county s population will be age 60 and older. As a result, the services we deliver are evolving with the evolution of our community. This report reviews the accomplishments of 2017 and looks ahead to our goals for I hope you enjoy reading about the evolution of this great community and how the Metro District Board of Directors is working to meet those changing needs. Jim Worley, Chair, Highlands Ranch Metro District Board of Directors 2

3 The Metro District Board of Directors Vicky Starkey Vice Chair Allen Dreher Treasurer Renee Anderson Director Mark Dickerson Director Carolyn Schierholz Director Nancy Smith Director We ve lived in Highlands Ranch since Northridge was the only community center, Wildcat Reserve Parkway went no farther east than Broadway. Since then, we ve seen lots of changes for the better: three more recreation centers, three high schools, the Backcountry Wilderness Area and the East-West Regional Trail. The town centers are functioning as intended, providing convenient, walkable shopping. More restaurants that s definitely an improvement. There are many more people and I hope we ll see an increase in locally owned business, but access is still good and the views superb. Still a phenomenal place to call home. ~ Quinn Kayser-Cochran, Westridge resident 3

4 Studying the needs of Highlands Ranch s Older adults In 2017, the Metro District conducted a senior feasibility study to examine the direction for active adult programs and services in Highlands Ranch. The study involved listening to seniors, their family members and community organizations. An Active Aging Adult Work Group, which includes representatives from our partners, the HRCA, Douglas County Libraries, Douglas County Sheriffs Office, Douglas County, the Highlands Ranch Senior Club, as well as members at large, and Metro District staff, convened this year. The group is tasked with studying requirements for a potential active aging adult facility, locations, as well as the content of services and programs to be hosted at the facility. The work group is also working to identify long-term goals for the Metro District s Active Adult Programs and Services (AAPS). AAPS offerings are available throughout the year in the Messenger magazine and at highlandsranch.org. When I first moved to Highlands Ranch in 1982, Broadway ended at Southpark Drive. We waited anxiously for Village Inn to open as the first restaurant. As the years have flown by and development is almost complete, I look in awe at how the community has grown. The growth has been pretty consistent with the intent of the original master plan, which is a credit to the original planning. The vision that Mission Viejo started with has been tweaked over the years, but still was realized as Highlands Ranch has been successful. Being part of the planning and building process for 31 years has been challenging and rewarding. One of the things that set Highlands 4

5 e n h a n c e m e n t s to t h e h i s to r i c Ma n s i o n The Highlands Ranch Mansion, at a stately 127 years old, continues to evolve. Work continues to enhance the Mansion and surrounding Historic Park grounds. In 2018, a new paver drive is being added on the north side of the Mansion. The primary goal of the design was to be true to the historic landscape while improving the space for events and pedestrian circulation, said Brittany White, Metro District park planner, who is the project designer. The tree-covered drive leading to the Mansion s entrance, is a popular location for private events and wedding ceremonies. The addition of the paver drive will improve the surface for this purpose. A new website was also launched in 2018 to showcase the historic facility. The new site is more user friendly, and features photo galleries showcasing the diversity of indoor and outdoor events celebrated at the Mansion, as well as a calendar of open hours, community events, chapters of historic information, volunteer opportunities and more. Visit highlandsranchmansion.com to learn more. Ranch apart is the open space and how those areas have developed and changed over time to become wildlife habitat and recreational corridors with trails. It reflects the vision that Mission Viejo had and is, I think, a major contributor to the attractiveness of this community. ~ Forrest Dykstra, Highlands Ranch resident and Engineering Manager, Highlands Ranch Metro District 5

6 Fire rescue and emergency services Changing In December 2017, the Metro District Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve an intergovernmental agreement with South Metro Fire Rescue. This agreement was the first step in a process of unification, whereby Highlands Ranch would be included within the South Metro service area and receive fire rescue services from South Metro. An election on this issue was held on Tuesday, May 8 and the inclusion passed, so unification of services will move forward. For more information about the election and the future fire and emergency services in Highlands Ranch, please visit the Fire & Rescue pages of highlandsranch.org. Socialize & engage with us There are a number of ways to learn about the Metro District s upcoming events, news and project updates. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Nextdoor offer opportunities to stay up to date on local news. In addition, fact sheets, project updates and links to valuable resources are featured on our website at highlandsranch.org. Stay in the know by connecting with the Metro District today. Send an message to info@highlandsranch.org to sign up for monthly enewsletters. 6

7 Priority based budget process helps guide Metro District Most organizations know what they do and how they do it, but why do they do it? In 2017, the Metro District began the process of priority based budgeting to answer that question. Historically, the Metro District has presented the annual operations budget based on department activity. This tells a reader how much each department spends each year, but it doesn t communicate how that amount contributes to fulfilling desired outcomes. These include: Attractive and healthy place to live Cultural and recreational opportunities for all ages Safe and prepared community Well-planned and maintained infrastructure Good governance Priority based budgeting provides a picture, for the community, of how closely the dollars we are spending align with the desired results. The Metro District Board of Directors established result definitions to communicate why the Metro District exists. Staff evaluated the programs offered to determine how each program contributes to the results. Below is a summary of how the dollars spent on those programs align to the results. Quartile 1 has the strongest correlation and Quartile 4 is the weakest. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 $4,861,356 $4,533,077 $1,306,384 $12,479,708 This view of program costs will aide in the board s decision making process when evaluating community needs, satisfaction of service levels, and costs to provide various programs. Understanding the value added to the community by the specific programs and their associated costs will help allocate financial resources based on the relative value and priority of the programs. 7

8 The 2018 budget: Managing challenges & opportunities The 2018 budget is a balanced allocation of resources to meet the continuing needs of the Metro District to serve residents of Highlands Ranch. The budget was developed to meet short-term goals while keeping a long-term perspective. The 2018 budget, approved and adopted by the Metro District Board of Directors on December 12, 2017, anticipates total expenditures of $70,153,073. This represents a decrease of $4.5 million from the 2017 budget. The 2018 budget anticipates an increase in revenues of $2.8 million, or four percent, when compared to the 2017 budget. This includes budgeted tax revenues, which are expected to increase by 8.6 percent or $2.3 million, including specific ownership taxes. The total certified mill levy applied to the certified assessed value for 2018 collection is unchanged from 2017 at At the board s direction, the budget focuses on the needs, challenges and opportunities the Metro District will face in the future. The potential for use of any available funding includes: Balancing the annual operating budget Major Repair funding Enhanced fire and emergency services Other top issues identified for future funding consideration includes: Metro District involvement in the development of the community s last significant business area Senior facility needs An ice arena Expenditures 2016 Actual 2017 Projected 2018 Adopted Percent Change from 2017 Operations $21,938,256 $24,715,320 $25,097, % General Government 550 2,000 2, % Water and Wastewater 31,927,850 32,700,000 33,055, % Debt Service 8,513, ,400 4,052, % Capital Outlay Capital Projects 4,938,367 11,392,998 4,263, % Intergovernmental Reserved Capacity 3,488,508 5,306,860 3,682, % TOTAL $70,806,715 $74,653,578 $70,153, % 8

9 2018 Property Tax by Activity 2017 mill levy comparison collected in Highlands Ranch Metro District Taxes by other organizations Metro District The Meadows Mill Levy For $400,000 Home Ken Caryl Stonegate Bowles Metro District Per $100,000 of Value Fire & Emergency Services $ $43.54 Parks & Open Space $ $38.29 Public Works $13.94 $3.49 General Government $22.57 $5.64 Finance & Administration $23.55 $5.89 Miscellaneous Capital $2.88 $0.72 Major Repair $12.08 $3.02 Debt Service $82.80 $20.70 Capital $39.17 $ $ $ Roxborough Learn more about the Metro District s finances in the Transparency section at highlandsranch.org. 9

10 Outdoor recreation projects The Metro District s recreation programs continue to serve more than 14,000 youth and adults with activities from lacrosse to T-ball, and tennis at Lebsack Tennis Center to skateboard programs at Redstone Skate Park. Residents are staying active through pickleball and hikes, and are learning about the beauty of Colorado through outdoor education programs like Nature EdVentures. These programs bring together people of all ages, teaching healthy habits, encouraging a natural curiosity, and a love for the outdoors. Click the Recreation tab at highlandsranch.org to learn about upcoming programs. The Past is Inspiring, the Future Looks Bright As the infrastructure in Highlands Ranch matures, we can reflect on the past to appreciate the history of our region at the Highlands Ranch Mansion & Historic Park. At the same time, we look to a bright future, full of promise. We see an evolving tree canopy over our community, which was once a mixed grass prairie with few trees. Our community is nearing buildout, development is coming to a conclusion, and the future in Highlands Ranch looks bright as new families call Highlands Ranch home, new businesses look to locate here, and taxes remain among the lowest in the region. Central Park Final Commercial Development The 100-acre Central Park property being developed east of Lucent Boulevard and south of Town Center Drive, will feature a three-acre park that will be owned by the Metro District. The Douglas County Sheriff s Office s communications tower, which is in the park, will enhance emergency communications around the community. By early 2019, this area, the last large commercial area to be developed in Highlands Ranch, will also include a sixstory UCHealth hospital, restaurants, homes, and a mix of retail, recreation and commercial businesses. 10

11 Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project The Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project came about as the result of a growing demand for water as Colorado s population continues to increase. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determined Chatfield Reservoir can accommodate an additional 20,600 acre feet of water storage for water supply without compromising its flood control function. This additional storage space will be used by municipal and agricultural water providers to help meet the diverse needs of the state. Highlands Ranch customers will see the benefits with increased surface water storage for Centennial Water, serving Highlands Ranch. The reservoir is undergoing recreational modifications and environmental mitigations to address the impacts of additional water storage. To learn more about the project, please visit chatfieldreallocation.org. 11

12 62 Plaza Drive Highlands Ranch, CO highlandsranch.org