Adams County

The meeting commenced with the approval of the January 2021 meeting minutes. A significant portion of the discussion involved regulatory and legislative updates from DHS CISA regarding the CFATS program, including national statistics on screened facilities and updates on the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning the potential removal of Class 1 Division 1.1 explosives. Discussions also covered the progress of the voluntary program, including the development of best practices guidance, tools, chemical security exercises, and an incentivization program. Furthermore, severe cybersecurity threats were highlighted, including an uptick in ransomware attacks targeting water/wastewater, healthcare, and chemical facilities, and specific incidents like the SolarWinds Orion hack and the Microsoft Exchange Server vulnerability. Updates from Adams County representatives focused on the ongoing management and demobilization of COVID-19 testing clinics. The Tri-County Health Department update covered staffing challenges due to COVID-19 response efforts and anticipated changes in public health orders.

The meeting called to order on September 27, 2021, included updates on legislative and regulatory matters. Updates from Fran covered the upcoming launch of a voluntary program in November with a new website, and details on 'Operation Flashpoint,' a joint partnership with the Office for Bombing Prevention focusing on retail establishments selling items that can be used to make a bomb. The presentation also highlighted the explosion of cyber threats, specifically ransomware, leading to the launch of a complete webpage with resources at sisa.gov/stop-ransomware. Additionally, the 2021 Chemical Security Summit was announced as a virtual event across three consecutive December Wednesdays. Updates from Tri-County Health Department included the information that Douglas County is no longer part of the department, operating on a contract basis until the end of 2022, and an assessment of future public health services for Adams and Arapahoe Counties is underway. The meeting also addressed several spill reports, including sewage backups in Thornton, a gas smell at an oil well in Brighton, a milky white substance in the South Platte River attributed to a Brighton line discharge, diesel fuel spill in Commerce City, and a minor diesel spill on I-25 in Northglenn. New business featured a presentation by Kathy Orcutt, Priority Telecommunications Specialist for CISA Regions 8 and 10, detailing free services available to critical infrastructure sectors to maintain communication resiliency during network degradation or congestion, leveraging existing technology.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the agenda. A key segment involved recognizing and celebrating the Adams County Fire Department for earning national accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, which confirms their adherence to industry best practices. During public comment, representatives from United Power discussed their cooperative model, noting that they are owned by their members and operate not-for-profit to deliver electricity at the least cost possible. They detailed the retirement of allocated capital credits totaling \$5.5 million across the membership, with \$44,976 returned to Adams County members this year. New business included a resolution approving the purchase of a second Agilis ballot sorting system, licensing, and maintenance agreement for the Clerk and Recorder Elections Department to accommodate county growth, totaling a not-to-exceed cost of \$435,485.50.

The public hearing commenced with roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance. Key discussion centered on public comments regarding oil and gas drilling permits, particularly Synergy's operations near Wadley Farms and the approval of 22-26 wells by the COGCC without a local Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Commissioners expressed disappointment regarding communication breakdowns with the oil company and emphasized ongoing efforts to engage with oil companies and state agencies to protect residents from air pollution and traffic impacts. The board was also urged to support local control measures and advocate for legislative changes. New business included the approval of an amendment to an existing agreement with Pictometry International Corporation for aerial imagery services, utilized by the Assessor and Sheriff departments. Additionally, the board approved the renewal of an annual edocs software maintenance agreement with Open Text, which manages approximately ten million documents across government and human services. County attorney consultation occurred regarding a sign code interpretation issue stemming from a Board of Adjustment case, involving a request for a hardship variance for sign height due to confusing ordinance language regarding the 'cornice line'. A study session was requested to address this clarification.

This document outlines the second public meeting concerning roadway improvements for West 70th Avenue, specifically from Pecos Street to Broadway Street. The primary objectives of the project are to enhance safety and mobility for bicyclists, pedestrians, transit users, and drivers, with a focus on improving access to two nearby schools. The presentation reviewed feedback from the initial public meeting, where top concerns included sidewalks, bike facilities, and road conditions, with speeding being the most important element. Three preliminary design alternatives were presented for public input: Alternative 1 (Landscaped Median with new sidewalks in west/middle sections and five improved crossings), Alternative 1a (Same as Alt 1 plus a shared-use path on the north side of the east section), Alternative 2 (Landscaped Median, sidewalks, shared lane markings in the west section, buffered bike lanes in the middle/east sections, requiring lane reduction), Alternative 2a (Landscaped Median, sidewalks, buffered bike lane on the south side of the east section, and a shared-use path for the majority of the corridor), and Alternative 3 (Landscaped Median and sidewalks, but reverting to two lanes in each direction, which was noted as the most expensive and lacking bicycle facilities). The session also covered next steps, which involve refining the designs based on current input to develop a final design, followed by finalizing right-of-way plans and anticipating construction to begin in the summer of 2024.