Record of Proceedings
Foothills Park & Recreation District Regular Board of Directors meeting
May 27, 2025
A virtual attendance option was made available through Microsoft Teams.
Call to Order
Director Lodice called the regular meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Director Lodice led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
Roll Call
Director Hanson, Present (virtual); Director Lodice, present; Director Daughtrey, Absent; Director Writz, Present; Director Trimble, Absent.
Ronald Hopp said that Directors Trimble and Daughtrey had previously notified staff that they would not be 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 May 27, 2025 agenda as submitted. Director Hanson seconded the motion. Poll of the Board: Director Hanson, yes; Director Lodice, yes; Director Writz, yes. The motion was approved.
Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
Motion: Director Writz moved that the Foothills Board of Directors approve the minutes of the April 22, 2025 board meeting as submitted. Director Hanson seconded the motion. Poll of the Board: Director Hanson, yes; Director Lodice, yes; Director Writz, yes. The motion was approved.
Community Comments
There were no community comments.
Decision Items
May 6, 2025 Election Results/Election of Officers
Ronald Hopp noted that it had previously been determined that Director Writz ran unopposed for Ward 4, so she was automatically elected. Referring to the memo provided, Mr. Hopp said the election that took place on May 6 resulted in Director Lodice being re-elected with 961 votes. Scott Lamer had 531 votes. Mr. Hopp acknowledged that the Oaths of Office for Directors Writz and Lodice have been administered prior to the board meeting.
Mr. Hopp pointed out that this agenda item includes Election of Officers and opened the floor for board discussion and a motion for Election of Officers for Chair, First Vice Chair, Second Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary.
Motion: Director Lodice moved that the Foothills Board of Directors re-elect the current slate of director offices: Phil Trimble, Chair; Michael Hanson, First Vice Chair; Ali Lodice, Second Vice Chair; Cynthia Daughtrey, Treasurer; Gina Writz, Secretary. Director Writz seconded the motion. Poll of the Board: Director Hanson, yes; Director Lodice, yes; Director Writz, yes. The motion was approved.
Executive Director’s Report
Highlighting the report provided, Mr. Hopp pointed out that the District has reinstated the Foothills Adaptive Baseball program at Jason Jennings Field and expressed appreciation for staff’s efforts to bring it back. It has been very well received.
Mr. Hopp discussed that the Board had previously approved a memorial bench and plaque at Governor Grant Park. A person in the Parkside community had bought a tribute bench to honor Kathleen Jameson and her husband. Since that time, another person who was very active in the HOA, Jerry Chamberlin, has passed away. They would like to change the plaque to honor Jerry Chamberlin. Mr. Hopp pointed out the verbiage included in the packet.
Mr. Hopp reported that Becky Richmond, Alec Hines and he met with the president and the hockey director from Littleton Hockey Association (LHA). He recalled that a previous Board had entered into a ten-year agreement for ice time with LHA, it started in 2020. From the District’s and LHA’s perspective, it has gone very well, Mr. Hopp discussed. LHA has expressed an interest in having the District consider extending their agreement beyond the expiration of 2030. Mr. Hopp said that if staff decide to make that recommendation, the agreement would come before the Board for an extension.
Mr. Hopp discussed that the 2024 audit was just completed and it was the last year of a three-year contract with Forvis Mazars LLP. They have indicated an interest to continue the contract for another three years, Mr. Hopp explained, and they have provided some fee structures. That contract would be approved by the Board and would possibly be brought to the June board meeting.
Dennis Weiner elaborated, overall, the relationship has been good, Forvis has been providing the District with a solid audit. Mr. Weiner went over the fees they have proposed with no increase for the 2025 audit, and then a three percent increase each year thereafter, with the extension that they are proposing.
Mr. Hopp discussed that the last time the District changed auditors, it was Board-driven to look for another auditor. Staff are seeking direction from the Board as to whether they want staff to consider a different auditor or reengage with the current auditor. Mr. Weiner recognized that the last time staff did the RFP process, we issued the first RFP and received no responses, we then issued a second RFP and had one response which was Forvis. He talked about the labor market challenges for accountants and auditors. Recognizing it is up to the Board, Mr. Weiner indicated that from his perspective for year four through six, the District would be well off staying with Forvis. There was discussion and questions were answered.
In answer to Director Lodice, Mr. Weiner stated his opinion is that the only reason we would want to switch auditors is if we thought Forvis did a bad job or if we thought we could beat the fee. He expressed he is not convinced we could do any better from an audit perspective, and doesn’t know about the fee, but suspects we would have one interested party and that would be Forvis. Mr. Weiner added that the three-year pricing Forvis has provided is contingent on us not going out to bid. Board consensus was gained to stay with Forvis.
Mr. Hopp reported that the District’s four outdoor pools opened on Saturday. He mentioned that the aquatics supervisor resigned about a month ago and recognized Derek Eberhardt, and his staff, for doing a lot of work related to that.
In answer to Director Writz, Mr. Hopp gave an update on the upcoming BMX event. Staff will bring in bleachers, moving them from various ball diamonds at Schaefer Athletic complex, temporarily, for their weekend event in July. With that, BMX has removed their bleachers. Mr. Hopp said he, Colin, and Becky met with the president of Mile Hi BMX in late April or early May and felt much more comfortable with their ability and have issued them a permit for the event that is going to happen July 18 – 20. Mr. Hopp talked about numbers of people attending and parking.
Discussion Items
Finance Update
Dennis Weiner reported the District’s financial update through the end of April this year. Speaking about details in the report provided, Mr. Weiner went over total District year-to-date operating revenue, total year-to-date operating expenditures, net operating loss, non-operating revenue and expenditures.
Looking at the bottom line through April, Mr. Weiner concluded that net revenue was better than planned.
Adjournment
The regular meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m. The next regular board meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
Submitted by: Richelle Riley, Recording Secretary