September 2021

Hi everyone — Here’s my update for September 2021.  Read on for updates about fun events in October, new public art, the November election ballot question, Brightview Landscaping, the 2022 Town Budget, Rocky Flats lawsuit update, and more…

Chili & Beer Fest 

Superior Chili & Beer Fest will be held on October 9th, 2021 at Community Park.  We have 16 community cooks signed up and tickets will go on sale soon.  We’ll have a Beer Garden featuring 7 different breweries and several restaurants will also be serving food.  There will also be different bands providing entertainment.  

Taste of Nepal & Nepal Art Show

Unfortunately, the Superior-Khandbari Sister City Project has cancelled their “A Taste of Nepal” event due to COVID concerns.  However, the Nepal Art Show will still occur at the Community Center on Saturday and Sunday (October 2-3), which will be free and open to the public.  Be sure to like this Facebook page for updates on our Sister City Project.  https://www.facebook.com/SuperiorKhandbariSisterCities

Public Art

Our next public art installation will be installed at the entrance to the Oerman-Roche trailhead parking area, along the west side of McCaslin Blvd.  This piece of art will include large (5-foot wide) metallic rings.  Thanks again to our amazing CAPS Committee for continuing to bring public art to Superior.

Brightview Landscaping Company

At the September 13, 2021 Town Board meeting, the Board made the decision to re-bid our landscape contract.  Please continue to send the Town Board feedback on how you feel about the landscape services here in Superior.  We’ll be making a decision on who will be providing our landscaping for next year at an upcoming Town Board meeting.

Rocky Flats Lawsuit & the Rocky Mountain Greenway Trail

In 2012 the U.S. Dept. of Interior and the State of Colorado formed a partnership for the creation of the Rocky Mountain Greenway trail project, which seeks to create a continuous bike path/trail from the Rocky Mountain Arsenal near DIA to Rocky Mountain National Park.  This plan involves routing a multi-use trail directly through Rocky Flats.  Although FWS performed an environmental study when the Refuge was first created in 2004, FWS did not perform an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to adequately study any environmental issues that could arise at the location of the newly designed path.  

Superior filed a lawsuit in July 2018 in an effort to compel FWS to follow the law and evaluate these issues.  I believe FWS should err on the side of public safety before opening up Rocky Flats for public recreational use and that a transparent and complete evaluation of the environmental and public health impacts of FWS’s decisions is necessary before they take any action.  

Unfortunately this month, a United States District Court Judge disagreed with Superior and declined to order a comprehensive EIS before construction of the bike trail.  The Town Board has not yet discussed its options going forward — which should occur over the coming weeks.  

Sales Tax Ballot Question

On this November’s ballot, the Town of Superior is proposing a net 0.28% sales and use tax rate increase which will be dedicated exclusively to fund transportation projects.  If passed, taxpayers will pay an additional 28 cents for every $100 spent in Superior.  For the Town, it will mean an additional $1 million in revenue for 2022 and $1.6 million in 2023 (and each year thereafter).  Spend some time on the Superior Streets website for a long and helpful list of FAQs: https://www.superiorcolorado.gov/departments/public-works-utilities/streets/superiorstreets

Superior Community Center Update

If you haven’t yet checked out the Superior Community Center, now is the time.  There is live music on most Friday and Saturday nights.  My kids love “The Spot” — which is the youth activity space that has study tables, foosball, air hockey, and a ping pong table.  In addition, an upright piano is now in place for use by community center visitors during normal operating hours (although use may be restricted at times due to scheduled programs and events – yoga, live music performances, etc.)

If you’re interested in renting meeting space at the Community Center, all fees to use rooms in the Superior Community Center by Town residents and resident businesses/organizations have been waived for the year, for up to two reservations per month!  To book a room, please visit: https://www.amilia.com/store/en/town-of-superior/shop/facilitybookings

If you’re interested in learning more, sign up for weekly emails from the Town or head over to the recreation programming page on the Town’s website and filter on location = Community Center.  Also, follow the Town of Superior’s Facebook page which advertises Community Center programs and special events (like live music) weekly.

2022 Town of Superior Preliminary Budget

DISCLAIMER: The preliminary Town Budget packet is over 218 pages long.  What follows below is a very abbreviated summary of some interesting points.  If you are interested in seeing the actual budget, please follow this link.  Also, please note that this is just a preliminary draft and is subject to change.  If you’d like to participate in our budget meetings, consider attending our upcoming Town Board meetings where we’ll be discussing the budget in depth.  

Revenues & Assumptions

Sales/Use Tax Revenues are critical for town operations and represent the majority of General Fund Operating Revenues.  End of year projections for 2021 sales tax revenues are 2-3% above 2020 actuals.  Brick and mortar store sales remain strong, on-line sales continue to grow, and the Superior Marketplace sales tax incentive payment will be satisfied before the end of 2021 (with these new revenues flowing to the General fund). 

The Town’s sales tax rate is 3.46%, broken down as follows:

•  2.7% Town General Fund
• .3% Capital Improvement Fund
• .3% Open Space Fund
• .16% Superior/McCaslin Interchange Metropolitan District (SMID) – Expires 12/31/2022

Note, the .16% SMID sales tax expires at the end of 2022.  On the ballot this November is a net .28% sales tax increase, which seeks to repurpose the existing SMID .16% sales plus an additional .28% which will be dedicated entirely to transportation projects.  This sales tax increase is not factored into the Town’s budget at this time. 

The property taxes that we pay vary depending on where you live in town (for instance SMID mills are only assessed against properties located in and around the Superior Marketplace and the diverging diamond bridge over US-36).  Here’s a breakdown of the property taxes that we pay in Rock Creek: 

• BVSD – 47%
• Boulder County – 23%
• Mountain View Fire District – 20%
• Town of Superior – 9%
• Urban Drainage & Northern Co. Water – 1%

As you can see, the property taxes that you pay to the Town of Superior only make up about 9% of the total property taxes that each and everyone of us pays to live here.  Also, although the Town of Superior is authorized to collect up to 12.127 mills, the Town Board has consistently, over the past decade and a half, reduced the total amount or mills assessed on each home in Superior.  This practice will continue into 2022 and the Town will only assess 7.93 mills (reflecting a 4.197 mill levy reduction).  As a result, the property tax rates that you will pay to Superior in 2022 will remain constant and are calculated as follows: 

• Town General – 7.93 mills 
• Town Library – 1.5 mills
• Superior/McCaslin Interchange District (SMID) – 22.97 mills

Debt

Debt is an important tool in a low-interest rate environment for the Town to finance its operations and growth.  Superior reached its high point of outstanding debt in 2006 — $71.5 million. Now, the total outstanding debt is $33.2 million. The largest portion of outstanding debt is attributable to Superior Metropolitan District 1 (SMD 1) for water and sewer plant construction and water right purchases.

In 2022, cumulative debt principal and interest payments will be $3.68 million.  Over the 2022-2026 financial planning horizon, outstanding debt principal balances will be reduced by over $17.6 million, or on average more than $3.5 million annually.  

Here’s a chart of our Town’s debt over time:

Spending

In 2022, the Town of Superior is budgeting for approximately $43.5 million in expenditures. This amount is broken down into four separate budgets.  Here are the projected 2022 expenditures for each budget:

• Town of Superior = $27 million
  • General – $17.95 million
  • Capital Improvement Plan – $5.5 million 
  • Landscape Fee – $1.8 million
  • Open Space – $980k
  • Open Space Debt – $664k

• Superior Metropolitan District #1 = $10.8 million
  • This money is used to pay for our water, sewers, and storm drainage.

• Superior Urban Renewal Authority (SURA) = $4.25 million
  • This money is used to pay the Downtown Superior Property Tax and the Superior Marketplace Debt Service, which is retiring this year.  A percentage is also transferred into the Town of Superior’s General Fund and debt service.

• Superior McCaslin Interchange District = $1.35 million
  • This money is used to pay for the McCaslin Diverging Diamond.

Here’s an overview of several big projects (and their price tags) that are coming up in 2021:

• Windy Gap Firming Project.  This item is related to the construction of Chimney Hollow Reservoir ($600 million project — Superior’s contribution is $31.5 million), which will secure our drinking water for the future. ($1.125 million debt service)
• Wastewater Treatment Plant & Drinking Water Treatment Plant Improvements.  Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements: WWTP Sludge Dewatering & Thickening Upgrades ($575,000), WWTP Biological Nutrient Removal ($400,000).  Drinking Water Treatment Plant improvements: Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection upgrades ($950,000), which will result in less chlorine in our drinking water and better pathogen and virus control.  Clariflocculator Rebuild/Replacement ($265,000) and Solids Handling Facility ($250,000).  
• McCaslin Transmission Watermain. This project will provide funding for a new, upsized transmission watermain to serve Original Town. The project will boost pressure and provide redundancy for overall town supply.  ($250,000)
• US-36 Bike Trail extension.  From Avista under 88th Street to Flatirons Crossing Drive. ($1.815 million with Superior’s share estimated at $445,000, due to grants from DRCOG/federal government).
• Street Work.  Mill & overlay Sycamore Street near the Superior Marketplace.  ($800,000).
• Promenade to 88th Street Extension.  This project provides for the extension of Promenade Drive from Downtown Superior to 88th Street. ($600,000).
• Street Maintenance.  Regular street maintenance tasks include crack sealing of asphalt, pothole patching and repairs, and miscellaneous concrete replacement throughout the Town. ($400,000).
• Tennis Court Improvements.  New lighting system – $175,000, Resurface four tennis courts – $15,000 (done every 5-6 years courts will be closed for light project), windscreens for all courts – $10,000.
• Trees, Plants, and Shrubs.  ($280,000).
• Wildflower Park Improvements.  Finish project that will renovate Wildflower Park and include soil amendment, sod, seat wall around volleyball court, irrigation modifications, poured in place for playground, enclosure around climbing net structure, annual wildflower/pollinator planting. ($100,000).
• North Pool Rebuild & Bathhouse Design.  ($300,000).
• Sustainability Projects.  EV Charging Stations, lighting, and water treatment plant improvements ($85,000).  We are also purchasing to EVs to replace aging town vehicles.
• Comprehensive Plan Updates.  The Town will hire a consultant to complete a targeted update to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan by looking at undeveloped property in Town: • Bolejack Property • Steward Property • 76th Street Properties.  The process will include extensive community engagement. ($250,000).
• Downtown Superior Civic Space.  The Downtown Superior master developer will be building civic space for the Town. Town budget is for furniture, fixtures and equipment for this space.  ($300,000).
• Oerman-Roche Incline.  ($500,000).

First Fridays, Thirsty Thursdays, & Lowdowns with Trustee Lacis

Want to talk one-on-one about Town issues?  Love Superior?  Hate Superior?  Tell me about it.  Shoot me an email at markl@superiorcolorado.gov and we’ll find time to schedule a Lowdown with Trustee Lacis.  Or, consider attending Virtual First Fridays on October 1st from 7:45am-9:15am.  If Friday mornings don’t work for you, keep an eye out for a Thirsty Thursdays on an upcoming Thursday evening at the Community Center as well!