Record of Proceedings
Foothills Park & Recreation District Regular Board of Directors meeting
January 27, 2026
A virtual attendance option was made available through Microsoft Teams.
Call to Order
Director Trimble called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Director Trimble led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
Roll Call
Director Hanson, Absent; Director Lodice, Present; Director Brainard, Present; Director Writz, Present; Director Trimble, Present.
Also in Attendance: Paul Rufien, District Counsel; Ronald Hopp, Executive Director; Dennis Weiner, Director of Finance and Administrative Services; Becky Richmond, Director of Recreation; Derek Eberhardt, Assistant Director of Recreation; Colin Insley, Director of Parks, Planning and Construction; Randy Meyers, Director of Golf; Richelle Riley, Recording Secretary; other Foothills staff and members of the public.
Potential conflicts of interest were disclosed pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes 18-8-308(2), 24-18-109(3)(a), 24-18-110, and 32-1-902(3).
Approval of Agenda
Motion: Director Writz moved that the Foothills Board of Directors approve the January 27, 2026 agenda as submitted. Director Brainard seconded the motion. Poll of the Board: Director Lodice, yes; Director Brainard, yes; Director Writz, yes; Director Trimble, yes. The motion was approved.
Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
Motion: Director Lodice moved that the Foothills Board of Directors approve the minutes of the December 9, 2025 board meeting as submitted. Director Writz seconded the motion. Poll of the Board: Director Lodice, yes; Director Brainard, yes; Director Writz, yes; Director Trimble, yes. The motion was approved.
Community Comments
Foothills Foundation Check Presentation. Justin Phillips, president of the Foothills Foundation, along with other foundation members, presented a check to the District. The check being presented is from a collaboration of efforts from last year by the Foothills Foundation when they hosted a golf tournament and served beer and were a sponsor for Red, White & You, Mr. Phillps explained.
Mr. Phillips discussed that going into 2026, the foundation would like to give back through scholarships for kids that can’t afford to do some of the District’s programs. The foundation will help construct playgrounds, clean up parks and compliment what the District does in the community.
The Foothills Foundation was thanked by the Board, and a photo was taken with their members who were in attendance and the Foothills Board of Directors.
Decision Items
Memorial Bench Application
Referring to information in the packet, Colin Insley discussed that there is a memorial bench application from the Osborne family who lost their son recently. They are asking to place a bench at Hine Lake at Easton Regional Park. He pointed out information and location map included in the packet.
Motion: Director Lodice moved that the Foothills Board of Directors approve of a memorial park bench in remembrance of Christopher F. Del Masto as requested by the Osborne family to be placed at Robert A. Easton Regional Park. Director Writz seconded the motion. Poll of the Board: Director Lodice, yes; Director Brainard, yes; Director Writz, yes; Director Trimble, yes. The motion was approved.
Executive Director’s Report
Mr. Hopp elaborated on the scholarship program in which the Foothills Foundation would like to participate. Staff are working out details with them.
Highlighting the report provided, Mr. Hopp said the District is having a job fair on February 22nd.
Mr. Hopp reported that after a very successful Foothills Art Market last year, it will happen again on Saturday, April 11th.
Mr. Hopp discussed that at the last board meeting, we had a conversation about the fact that Director Trimble and he would be missing the March 24th board meeting, but it is the February 24th board meeting that they will miss.
Becky Richmond provided an update on CCCAP funding.
Discussion Items
Item 1: Finance Update
Dennis Weiner presented the District’s financial update for the year 2025. Highlighting the report provided, he went over total operating revenues for the year, total operating expenditures for the year, net operating loss, non-operating revenue and expenditures.
Looking at the bottom line for 2025, Mr. Weiner concluded net revenue for the year was favorable to the budget.
Item 2: 2026 Planned Capital Improvements and Equipment
Referring to information in the packet, Mr. Hopp presented the proposed 2026 capital improvements and equipment list to the Board. He said staff are not seeking formal approval but would appreciate the Board’s feedback. The amount of $19,607,047 in the budget represents an increase compared to 2025 for a variety of reasons that are outlined in the budget, Mr. Hopp discussed.
Using PowerPoint and the list provided, Mr. Hopp detailed 2026 capital improvement projects and equipment items for Recreation, Parks, Information Technology, Golf and answered questions from the Board. Mr. Hopp discussed Miscellaneous Capital and talked about SB-35 funds that possibly could be used in the Weaver Hollow Park project. He discussed funding for unallocated future large capital projects. Mr. Hopp talked about the draft proposal for the irrigation system at Foothills Golf Course, and said we are waiting for the Meadows Golf Club irrigation evaluation. For 2021 COP Projects, Mr. Hopp said there is a little bit of money left over on the Dutch Creek Trail. Mr. Hopp indicated staff will proceed with those items.
Mr. Hopp elaborated on Visioning/Master Plan Consulting. Using a PowerPoint presentation, he provided background on significant benchmarks that have happened in the District, a lot of them funding mechanisms, and detailed projects that have been accomplished. In 2020, a District Master Plan was developed in-house, and it has been a guide for what capital improvements are planned. Mr. Hopp recognized a lot of things have been accomplished in that Vision 2030 Master Plan.
In the meantime, programs, recreation facilities, parks, trails, golf courses are near or at capacity, Mr. Hopp explained. There is not a lot of room for doing much better than we already are doing. He recognized that we can be happy and complacent with where we are, but the general sense from staff is how do we take this to the next level. Staff are proposing to do a significant Master or Strategic Plan, yet to be determined what that looks like, Mr. Hopp discussed. He discussed the difference between a Master and Strategic plan. Whether we do both or one or the other, it would be in consultation with an outside firm. He explained how it would guide our decision making and outlined benefits it would provide including public engagement. We have capital funds to do that and have a consultant in mind that is a Colorado-based firm, Mr. Hopp discussed. He recognized it would be a major focus for 2026.
Director Trimble expressed being in favor of this. Mr. Hopp answered questions from the Board. He showed an example of a strategic plan and what the process was for Hyland Hills and other entities and confirmed he would email those links to the Board. Director Lodice suggested that the consultant we are thinking of using could come and talk to the Board, Mr. Hopp agreed. Director Writz questioned how we can better meet the needs of our community and service people that are financially struggling. Mr. Hopp explained that typically we would identify stakeholder groups, key demographic aspects would be taken into consideration, and different areas of the community would be engaged, and he elaborated.
Mr. Hopp concluded staff will proceed with these items and reminded that a Capital Improvements and Projects report is put in every board packet.
Item 3: Year-end Quarterly Reports
Dennis Weiner reported the financial performance of the Administration Department for 2025. He touched on highlights for Human Resources and Information Technology for the fourth quarter of the year as provided in the packet.
Becky Richmond reported 2025 financial information for the Recreation Department. She provided highlights for Facility Operations; Fitness Programs; Arts, Events & Active Adults; Children’s Programs; Aquatics; Edge Ice Arena; District Athletics; Youth Sports; and Indoor Sports as provided in the packet.
Randy Meyers distributed a 9-Year Golfer Summary for Foothills Golf Department to the Board. 2025 closed out the Golf Department’s highest performance year in all categories, Mr. Meyers discussed. He reported financial performance for the Golf Department and detailed highlights for Foothills Golf Course and Meadows Golf Club as provided in the packet.
Colin Insley reported overall 2025 finances for the Parks, Planning & Construction Department. He provided highlights for Parks Administration, Fleet Services, Urban Parks, Kipling Villas, Regional Parks, Park Rangers, and Clement Park as provided in the packet.
Ronald Hopp discussed that the Marketing & Community Outreach Department has been busy supporting all of these great departments with promotions of programs, website updates, social media, and those sorts of things. He recognized that they continue to work through our digital accessibility process. Mr. Hopp provided highlights for the department as provided in the packet.
Executive Session
Personnel Matters per 24-6-402(4)(f), C.R.S.
Motion: Director Lodice moved that the Foothills Board of Directors move into Executive Session for Personnel Matters per Colorado Revised Statute 24-6-402(4)(f). Director Writz seconded the motion. Poll of the Board: Director Lodice, yes; Director Brainard, yes; Director Writz, yes; Director Trimble, yes. The motion wasapproved.
Director Trimble announced the Board will be in Executive Session and once they come out of Executive Session, there will be no other business and the meeting will adjourn.
The regular meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Executive Session started at 7:45 p.m. and ended at 8:24 p.m. The regular meeting reconvened at 8:25 p.m.
Adjournment
The regular meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Submitted by: Richelle Riley, Recording Secretary