Parks and Public Landscaping Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2025 09 03

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Parks and Public Landscaping Advisory Board Minutes July 2, 2025 Page 2 of 5 referenced the high level of service provided by Parks dept. at low level of funding. • Finance department wants to avoid losing staff, but shortfall may cause loss of some seasonal employees. • Parks has begun internal discussion reduction of service levels. For example, reduced maintenance of city right of ways and irrigated other areas along streets • PPLAB members agreed to compose a memo, supporting the maintenance of Parks Operations Fund at current service levels, and requesting that Council not reduce Parks operations activities: To Louisville City Council: "PPLAB requests Council support the Parks Operation budget for 2026 at current the operational budget and service levels considering the anticipated underfunding levels of 2026. " • Competition for budget dollars comes from combining of Parks and Open Space Budgets in the Open Space and Parks ballot issue from last election. Open Space has been underfunded in years past and was need of support. Hundreds of acres are potentially available for purchase, and the Louisville Open Space Advocacy Group, and OSAB feel it is necessary to create and maintain a reserve for future open space acquisitions. When OS budget revenues exceed Ops costs, the excess goes to the Open Space reserve, which is a small but important contribution, considering the cost of OS acquisition. Wildwood property is close to final sale. • OS can't share additional funds with Parks, due to restrictions by OS/Parks sales tax levy. • PPLAB has only an advisory function for City Council, so possibly it may be restricted on advocacy for shortfall of Parks budget. • Council does not have an appetite for another sales tax initiative that would be so close to the last one, which has a 10-year sunset provision. • Gene said that the city has not done enough to retain or redevelop businesses to support economic vitality. He believes the city council could adopt a comprehensive plan with updated development codes that would encourage additional development and increase our tax base. • Staff member Vanessa is working to promote development of downtown slots and at Tech Park. City codes may be a barrier by causing extra expense, permits are expensive and difficult to get. We have extensive codes and approvals, favoring sustainability and inclusionary housing, which are restrictive to efficient restructuring of the business environment. The required "all electric" codes for new development are hypocritical, since 40% of our energy is from coal. Can council reconsider new energy code, and reduce requirements? Red Tail Ridge may create additional revenue when built. With King Soopers going to the former Lowes location, this may threaten Safeway and will leave a vacancy in the current King Soopers location. • Movie theater location is going to be a CU residential development, which will not contribute much to the city tax base. • Continuing with PPLAB Work Plan Review, John asked what current plans are for the planting areas at Community Park, which are currently looking overgrown City of Louisville Parks Division 749 Main Street Louisville CO 80027 303.335.4774 (phone) www.LouisvilleCO.gov 4