2023 Year in Review

Financial Sustainability and Resilience

Build a leading government organization that manages all resources (meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs).

Bond Rating Evaluation

• Successfully increased standing to an Aa1 from previous Aa2 rating (ongoing)
  • Rating reflects the government’s ability to repay debt and debt-like obligations without consideration of any pledge, security or structural features. This is the second highest rating a municipal entity can achieve.

Bond Rating Evaluation: Enterprise Revenue

• Sewer Bonds: Target = Moody’s Aa3 (Insured) Moody’s Aa2 (Uninsured) 
  • Maintained Aa3 (Insured) and Aa2 (Uninsured) ratings (ongoing) 
• Water Revenue Bonds: Target = Moody’s Aa2 
  • Maintained Aa2 rating (ongoing) 
• Water Reclamation Bonds = Moody’s Aa2 (Uninsured) Moody’s Aa3 (Insured) 
  • Maintained Aa2 (Uninsured) and Aa3 (Insured, ongoing) 
• These ratings reflect Broomfield’s ability to maintain high liquidity paired with a manageable debt burden. The rating also reflects the system's expanding service area that exhibits high resident incomes.

General Fund Reserve Balance

• Continue to build operational reserves of operational expenditures (ongoing)
  • 2023 Goal (16.67%) = $3.3M additional contributions
  • 2024 Goal (18.00%) = $3.7M additional contributions

Diversification of Tax Base and Revenue Sources

• Support businesses and activities in growth of sales and use tax revenue at a rate above Broomfield’s residential growth plus 50% of the annual rate of inflation (i.e. 2021 - 4.2%)
• Grow Broomfield’s target business sectors (Finance, IT, and Professional Services) employment at or above the Denver metro area employment growth rate in the most recent three-year period (i.e. 2019-2022 - 3.4%)
• Encourage business growth (new/relocated firms and employment) to meet the target goal in the jobs/household balance in Broomfield at 1.3 jobs per household.

Catalytic Development

• Flatiron Redevelopment 
  • A site development plan was approved for the Phase I Village Redevelopment which includes redevelopment support. The plans include new internal drives, utilities, a 2.5 acre central outdoor amenity plaza, the dedication of a 2-acre park, as well as 49,628 square feet of new restaurant, retail and entertainment uses.
  • Phase 2 demolition is slated to begin in 2024 with the new retail construction occurring in 2024 and a site development plan for the Phase 1 residential apartment development is under review. 
• Baseline 
  • The developer expects to submit a site development plan for Center Street District in 2024. 
  • Site development plans were approved for the Baseline Parklands comprising 33 acres of open lands and trails amenities. 
  • Through October 2023, there have been permits issued to construct eight single family homes, 48 townhome units, and 142 apartment units within the Baseline development area. 
  • Through October 2023, two permits have been issued totalling 108,352 sf of commercial development (office/flex light industrial development on W. 160th Avenue). 
• Broomfield Town Square 
  • The site development plan was approved on September 12, 2023. The applicant anticipates submitting construction documents for review in 2024 and securing permits to begin construction in 2025.

Capital Asset Management

• Staff has worked to establish the core criteria for evaluating capital improvement projects of mandates, obligations, and critical. (complete) 
• In 2023, CCOB is at 49% ($31,929,302) new capital and 51% ($33,327,998) preventative maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and replacement

Growing Greener

To create a Broomfield where everyone can thrive tomorrow and for generations to come, it’s necessary to invest today in the community’s sustainable future.

Broomfield’s Oil and Gas Air Quality Monitoring Program

• Staff continues to work with the operator to reduce emissions related to pad operations, and more specifically, emissions during maintenance activities. In 2023, separator maintenance for the Livingston pad (internal cleaning of the separator) was conducted off-site reducing air events. 
• Broomfield remains active in regional and statewide rulemaking efforts for better air quality regulations using the findings from Broomfield’s Oil and Gas Air Quality Monitoring Program. 
• Public health concerns related to oil and gas development decreased from 37 in 2022 to nine in 2023, a 76% decrease. (ongoing)

Reduction of Broomfield’s Carbon Footprint

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction:  
  • City Council adopted state requirements for the energy code including refined electric vehicle infrastructure requirements as well as requirements for new developments to be solar-ready and electric-ready. Reducing building greenhouse emissions is an essential part of a community’s effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
  • City Council adopted Ordinance no. 2217 to modernize the off-street parking requirements including reductions in vehicle parking requirements for many land use categories, establishing parking reduction areas, and adding requirements for bicycle parking. 
  • Broomfield’s first residential solar co-op had 175 members and enabled 37 households to gain access to rooftop solar installations at negotiated group rates. 
  • Twenty-four households and 20 small businesses accessed enhanced energy audits, including basic energy efficiency upgrades, at no cost. 
  • Broomfield Days included the first-ever e-bike and electric vehicle showcase, and about 200 LED kits were distributed. 
• Zero Waste: Based on data provided by licensed haulers, Broomfield’s 2021 waste diversion rate was 22% and the 2022 waste diversion rate was 20%. Note: 2023 data will not be available until Q2 2024. 
  • City Council reviewed options for increasing residential waste diversion and directed staff to begin a Request for Proposal for City-contracted waste, recycling and compost services (the RFP closes December 19; if Council approves a contract in 2024, services would begin in 2025). 
  • The Broomfield Recycling Guide was created as a resource to help people determine where to recycle items that are not currently accepted in curbside recycling programs.

Quality and Sustainable Water Utility Operations

• Water Conservation Programs (irrigation controllers, household fixtures, rain barrels, toilet replacement) netted a water savings of 5,297,466 gallons, which exceeds total water savings in 2022 by 22%. 
• Increase in residential participation in conservation programs offered through partnership with Resource Central. 
  • Garden in a Box: 100% participation with all garden kit discounts sold in three days. 
  • Slow the Flow Sprinkler Evaluations: 99.6% participation including four homeowner association communities and 50 residential properties 
  • Lawn Replacement: 57 residential lawns removed, equaling 24,151.50 square feet of turf replaced with waterwise landscaping 
• Rolled out the new large Property Turf Replacement Rebate Program to incentivize Broomfield homeowners associations and businesses to convert water intensive turfgrass to more waterwise landscape. (ongoing) 
• Broomfield is a participant in the Chimney Hollow Reservoir Project which will turn existing Windy Gap water rights into a more reliable water supply for the future. (ongoing) 
• Using a water reclamation system to reuse treated wastewater to irrigate parks, homeowner association green spaces and other areas. (ongoing) 
• The city introduced and the city council approved a new landscape ordinance which will promote native and more waterwise landscaping in new development throughout Broomfield. (completed) 
• A new Drought Response Plan, to thoroughly evaluate the city’s vulnerability to drought under various future water supply and demand scenarios, was completed. It also included a Drought Communication Plan.

Fleet Electrification

• Production capacity to include battery and electronic chip availability is the limiting factor to date in achieving early target goals. The supply capacity is expected to improve by the end of 2024 allowing Broomfield to make significant gains in achieving future targets and goals related to the electrification of CCOB’s Fleet. 
• Through the efforts of Public Works’s Fleet Division, the City and County of Broomfield was awarded 2023 Partners of the Year by Drive Clean Colorado. Specifically, Broomfield was recognized for long standing peer leadership and for constructive feedback on grants and incentives that have helped improve the process and program for fleets and municipalities in the state. Drive Clean Colorado (DCC), a Clean Cities coalition designated by the U.S. Department of Energy, is a non-profit organization that delivers a variety of programs to accelerate the equitable adoption of clean transportation with the vision of cleaner air and economic growth for Colorado.

Mobility

Transportation is a basic human need which affects the quality of life every day. Broomfield residents require transportation to get to work, school, medical facilities, recreational amenities, shopping, and community and social activities.

Transportation Planning

• Completed the Active Transportation Wayfinding Plan and Midway Blvd. Multimodal Action Plan. Implementation of plans are ongoing. 
• Completed construction of Industrial Lane Bikeway (Phase 1) from Commerce St. to US 36 Underpass. (complete) 
• Completed construction of Bike N Ride Shelters, supported by a grant. Four secured bicycle shelters will be in operation for east and westbound Flatiron and Broomfield Stations, supporting the top recommendation from the 2014 US 36 First and Final Mile Study. Maintenance, marketing and operations are ongoing. 
• Continued review of all land development proposals to ensure accessibility and multimodal connectivity of site plans. (ongoing)
• Broomfield secured a total of $10.65 million in outside funds to advance the design of Midway Blvd. as a multimodal corridor, construct the Airport Creek underpass, construct W. 120th Ave. (local) as a complete street, and planning funds to support Broomfield’s first Transportation Safety Action Plan. 
• Broomfield secured $10.2 million for advancing the pre-construction CO 7 activities from Brighton to Boulder. 
• Broomfield supported a successful regional application to support $9.2 million for two years of pilot operations of the CO 7 transit starter service between Brighton and Boulder starting in 2025.

Traffic Engineering

• Twelve of 28 traffic mitigation requests were reviewed and met the criteria, all within a 60-day timeframe. Six were completed in 2023 (6th Ave, Netta, Summit, 125th, Perry, Broadlands). One location on 152nd was deferred for a future CIP project with larger scale improvements needed. Five locations are planned to be evaluated, designed, or installed in 2024 (14th, Alcott, Quail, 123rd, and Broadlands East of Lowell). (completed)
• Ten pedestrian crossings have been improved including leading pedestrian intervals, audible ped buttons, rectangular rapid flashing beacons, signage and crosswalk markings (ongoing)
• In 2023, 8.5 miles of bike facilities were improved. These improvements ranged from adding new bike lanes, shared lane markings, green conflict markings or widening existing bike lanes. (ongoing)
• 100% of signalized intersections are at Level of Service D or better.

Safety: Reduced Crash Rate

• The 2023 Fatality Crash Rate per 100,000 population is 33, below the national average and the Broomfield 5-year average. 
• The 2023 Injury Crash Rate per 100,000 population is 127.4, below the national average but higher than the Broomfield 5-year average. 
• The Broomfield Municipal Court and PD collaborated to create a local Alive@25 program taught by Broomfield officers for Broomfield youth drivers to enhance driver safety.

Thriving, Diverse and Safe Community

Being welcoming is much more than being friendly, tolerant, or peaceful. We believe truly welcoming places have intentional, inclusive policies, practices, and norms which enable all residents to live, thrive, and contribute fully.

Community satisfaction with quality of customer service of the City and County of Broomfield

• On the 2023 Community Survey, 80% of respondents regarded the overall quality of City and County Services as “excellent” or “good,” which ranks Broomfield “much higher” than national and Front Range benchmarks.

Housing Opportunity and Development

• Completed the 2023 Housing Needs Assessment Update focusing on ways to preserve current income aligned housing stock, prevention of displacement through programmatic efforts, and development of income aligned housing in both for rent and for sale markets 
• Funded programs to assist aging adult/senior renters 
• Provided health and safety home rehabilitation efforts to a number of families and individuals at or below 80% AMI 
• Created access to legal services for over 35 residents 
• Over 500 income aligned units (including 78 for sale homes have been committed to and/or under construction as of August 2023
• 195 households applied to the senior property tax refund program in preparation for the 2023 increase.

Opportunity to Attain and Maintain a State of Mental Well-being to Thrive in our Community

• Over 500 kits of Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal medication, have been distributed through Broomfield’s Public Health clinics, Library and Municipal Courts to community members. 
• Over 160 community members have participated in a mental health or substance use training through the Community Initiated Care project. 
• Ran the Lift the Label campaign in Broomfield, which is the first time a municipality has run the campaign in a localized way. This campaign generated over 1.7 million impressions in the two months it ran, and ran in both English and Spanish. 
• Three local community organizations have been participating in a regional effort as Mental Health Ambassadors to reduce stigma and have reached approximately 2,000 Broomfield community members with stigma-reduction messaging and outreach efforts. 
• Broomfield Public Health, in collaboration with community partners, held 49 events designed to engage youth in substance use prevention strategies 
• A Broomfield Court Navigator was hired to connect those within the community with services to assist with a variety of needs including mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, housing and food insecurity and work and educational development. Over the last year, 161 individuals have worked with the navigator. 
• The municipal court has expanded the Community Connections Court to target those who are high risk, high need and provide them with services to divert both juveniles and adults out of the criminal justice system by connecting them with community resources.

Diverse Engagement of Underserved and Underrepresented Communities

• The Development, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team’s equity statement is shared during the mandatory Foundations in Equity & Bias Training for all CCOB employees and our New Employee Orientation - setting the groundwork and expectations for all service delivery and community interactions.
• With the use of our citywide language access program we tracked over 250 hours of interpretation services in 25 different languages.

Community Engagement regarding Public Safety

• The Broomfield Police Department has maintained an overall lower crime rate per population compared to the metro area agencies.

Emergency and Disaster Planning and Response

• Through the Emergency Management Preparedness Grant (EMPG), the Colorado 
• Emergency Preparedness Assessment (CEPA), and the Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP) staff continues to develop program priorities and resource allocation. (ongoing) Emergency Preparedness web section within the the Broomfield.org website as a community resource (complete) 
• In 2023 staff participated in, or led, five exercises, seminars or table tops to work on relationships with partners to increase communication and interoperability. These include an evacuation exercise, cybersecurity regional exercise, water distribution table top, wildfire response table top and a reunification seminar. (ongoing)

Organizational Health

Employee turnover rate

• The City and County of Broomfield’s turnover rate in 2023 is 13.10%, a decrease of 2.7%
  • CCOB’s turnover rate is approximately 3% less than the average for governmental agencies in the Denver/Boulder area. A competitive compensation philosophy to attract and retain top talent has contributed to the decreased turnover rate over the past year.
  • Enhanced employee recognition and employee engagement efforts in 2023 are anticipated to further contribute to the organization’s ability to continue to decrease the turnover rate in 2024. (ongoing)

Employee Training and Development

• The Development, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion department, in partnership with Human Resources and IT, rolled out Broomfield’s first ever Learning Management System in January 2023 to make learning and development more accessible to our CCOB staff. (ongoing) 
  • As of December 1st, more than 6,112 training hours have been completed; the annual target was 3,800 hours
• The Broomfield Police Department completed 125 hours of training per officer 
  • The national average for ongoing training for officers is 21 hours per year and the Colorado POST requires 24 hours of training each year.