MAY BUILDING DEPARTMENT VALUATION AND FEES MONTHLY REPORT $8,000,000 $7,000,000 $6,000,000 $5,000,000 $4,000,000 $3,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 $0 $7,337,794 Valuation $1,957,965 UP 74.7% May-2015 May-2014 $120,000 $100,000 $80,000 $60,000 $40,000 $20,000 $0 $113,552.24 Fees $41,506.81 UP 63.4% May-2015 May-2014 MAY 2015 2015 2014 Residential Commercial Mechanical Year to Date Prior Year Number of Permits 5 2 30 16 Valuation $1,354,640.00 $ 7,337,794.00 $1,957,965.00 Permit Fees $9,491.25 $43,325.03 $13,523.14 Plan Review Fees $5,925.26 $27,683.34 $11,256.44 Use Tax $5,167.50 $2.69 $29,102.81 $7,687.30 Impact Fees $8,366.44 $12,664.92 $8,832.68 Mechanical Fees $222.04 $776.14 $207.25 TOTAL FEES $28,950.45 $0.00 $224.73 $113,552.24 $41,506.81 Certificate of Occupancy/Completion 6 22 26 Inspections 31 114 180
MEMORANDUM TO: BOCC FROM: Linda Luther-Broderick, OSR Coordinator Date: June 17, 2015 RE: Comment letter to Norwood Ranger District, Forest Service, regarding Nordic trails in the Trout Lake and Matterhorn areas The attached letter responds to a May 26, 2015 letter from the Forest Service soliciting comment on a proposal to add and reconfigure ski trails in the Matterhorn and Trout Lake Nordic ski areas. I have been in close communication with members of the Telluride Nordic Association, and it is my understanding that the county comments align with Nordic s comments on this matter. Suggested motion to approve and sign the attached letter commenting on the Forest Service proposal, per the letter dated May 26, 2015, to add and reconfigure ski trails in the Matterhorn and Trout Lake Nordic ski trail areas.
June 17, 2015 SAN MIGUEL COUNTY B O A R D O F C O M M I S S I O N E R S ELAINE FISCHER ART GOODTIMES JOAN MAY USDA Forest Service Norwood Ranger District Judy Schutza, District Ranger P.O. Box 388 Norwood, CO 81423 Dear Ms. Schutza: San Miguel County received your letter of May 26, 2015 seeking comments on a proposal to add and reconfigure ski trails in the Matterhorn and Trout Lake Nordic ski trail areas. The county is disappointed that so few of our comments from the Dec 2014 comment period are addressed in this proposal. The county supports the creation of the 1.0 kilometer New Hidden Valley Trail and expanded parking at the Priest Lake area now referred to as the Matterhorn Nordic area. The county supports the proposed 1.9 kilometer groomed trail in the Lizard Head Meadow area of Trout Lake Nordic ski trail area. The county supports installation of signage at the top of Lizard Head Pass to delineate areas open to snowmobiles. The county does not support elimination of groomed Nordic trails at the top of Lizard Head Pass as a way of addressing potential skier vs snowmobile conflict since the entire Trout Lake Rio Grande Southern railroad grade Nordic groomed trail is open to snowmobiles. The county does not support the elimination of grooming on the Upper Railroad Grade, Trout Lake Nordic ski trail area due to avalanche hazard. The stated avalanche hazard can be mitigated and has been managed by the Telluride Nordic Association for the past 20 years. The county questions your stated reason for closing the top of Lizard Head Pass to a groomed Nordic ski trail as a way of mitigating impacts to the Canada lynx. Recent decisions by the US Fish and Wildlife Service exclude the Southern Rockies because they do not believe the Southern Rockies contain the physical and biological features lynx need in the quantities and spatial arrangements necessary to support lynx populations over time. In Sept 2014, the USFWS revised the Endangered Species Act protections for the Canada lynx, declaring Colorado unsuitable for critical habitat. Because an Endangered Species Listing is complicated, we respectfully request a meeting between FS and interested stakeholders to discuss alternatives to closure of the top of Lizard Head Pass to Nordic grooming. Given that the entire Telluride Ski Area along with 24 other alpine ski areas encompassing 82,704 acres in the Southern Rockies exist in lynx habitat, we find it hard to believe that a single 1.9 kilometer Nordic groomed trail is so detrimental to lynx passage/habitat that no alternative or mitigation can be found. P.O. BOX 1170 Telluride, Colorado 81435 (970) 728-3844 FAX (970) 728-3718
San Miguel County Page 2 of 2 This proposal fails to address or acknowledge the fact that when the Nordic groomed trail to the top of Lizard Head Pass is eliminated, the Trout Lake Trestle area will become the only parking area for Nordic skiing on the Trout RGS RR grade because most skiers will choose not to slog 1.9 kilometers for a round trip slog of 3.8 kilometers to reach a groomed trail. Parking at Lizard Head for Nordic skiers will become a moot point, especially for skate skiers. The result will be a large increase in traffic down a rural-residential one-lane road to a dead end turn around with very limited parking at Trout Lake Trestle in frequent heavy-snow conditions. The portion of the Trout Lake Road in question is only plowed if there are more than four new inches of snow Monday Friday or eight inches on weekends and then only when the snow maintenance contractor completes whatever other priorities come first. San Miguel County s OSR program is a proud partner with TNA, and part of our contribution is to pay for the winter snow maintenance of the road and parking area. That cost ranges between $5,000 and $10,000 for a season beginning in November and ending in early April. We are committed to budgeting at this level if revenues allow, but we are not able to increase winter maintenance. The county does not support the Norwood Ranger District s larger vision to focus and encourage use of the Matterhorn Nordic area if that larger vision ultimately results in phasing out Nordic grooming in the Trout Lake area. Matterhorn and Trout Lake offer different ski experiences. Matterhorn does not have the scenic views or the wilderness characteristics of Trout Lake, but more importantly Matterhorn does not have the snow. In order for this proposal to work, the FS must provide for/allow the following 1) a groomed Nordic trail to the top of Lizard Head Pass, and 2) additional parking at the top of Lizard Head Pass. Otherwise the proposal will create more problems than solutions and leave the expense of the problem solving to others. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, COLORADO BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Joan May, Chair
SAN MIGUEL COUNTY B O A R D O F C O M M I S S I O N E R S ELAINE FISCHER ART GOODTIMES JOAN MAY June 17, 2015 Honorable Michael F. Bennet Honorable Cory Gardner Honorable Scott Tipton 261 Russell SOB 354 Russell SOB 218 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515 Fax: 202-228-5097 Fax: 202-224-6524 Fax: 202-226-9669 Dear US Senators Bennet and Gardner and US Representative Tipton: The purpose of this letter is to communicate the support of the San Miguel County Board of Commissioners for legislation to clean up abandoned hardrock mines in the San Juan Mountains. The Good Samaritan Cleanup of Abandoned Hardrock Mines (S 1443) was a good legislation prototype. We would like to see this bill reduced in scope to provide for a pilot test within Colorado. As you know, Southwest Colorado, and San Miguel County in particular, is dotted with hundreds of abandoned mines, many of which are sources of heavy metal pollution and acidity in the headwaters of our rivers. Current laws and regulations make it difficult, if not impossible, for well-intended, non-responsible parties to perform much needed mine remediation for fear of long-term liability. Good Samaritan legislation would help assure well-qualified and capable citizens and organizations to perform liability-free mine remediation work in our county. The San Miguel County Board of Commissioners supports efforts to make Good Samaritan legislation a priority. You have our strong support. This common sense legislation will encourage improved water quality for our region while creating jobs and improving our quality of life in San Miguel County. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance in advancing this important legislation. We greatly appreciate your leadership on this very important issue. Sincerely, SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, COLORADO BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Joan May, Chair Cc: John Whitney Darlene Marcus Ty Churchwell P.O. BOX 1170 Telluride, Colorado 81435 (970) 728-3844 FAX (970) 728-3718
MEMORANDUM TO: BOCC From: Linda Luther-Broderick, OSR Coordinator Date: June 17, 2015 Re: Ratification of a letter of commitment to provide matching funds for a grant application to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. OSR staff requests ratification of a letter of support and commitment signed by the Chair and dated June 5, 2015 for grant applications by Montezuma Land Conservancy to purchase two conservation easements on properties in San Miguel County. The properties in question include a 200-acre parcel on Beaver Mesa and 4 separate parcels under the same ownership in the Egnar area totaling 1680 acres. The Beaver Mesa parcel is mapped Gunnison Sage-grouse habitat, and grouse have been observed on the property. Some 450 acres of Egnar area parcels are mapped occupied habitat and the remainder is mapped critical (potential) habitat for GUSG. All of the Egnar parcels are mapped winter elk habitat and some of the parcels are mapped winter concentration areas for mule deer. Suggested motion to ratify the Chair s signature on a letter of support for two grant applications to the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Protection Program for funds to purchase two separate conservation easements and commit $75,000 for each easement for a total of $150,000 to come from the Open Space and Recreation Fund 2016 budget.