1. What is the Apex PRD bond election about?
The bonds that built the Apex Center in 1998 will be paid off in 2017. Based on extensive public input
and professional assessments of community needs, the Apex PRD Board of Directors is considering a
proposal to renew the existing bond to build/renovate six district facilities. If approved by voters, renewal
of the $25 million bond for 20 years would fund six building/renovation projects, without incurring new
taxes.
2. When is the election proposed to be held?
Tuesday, May 3, 2016.
3. How will the election be conducted?
This election is proposed to be a mail ballot election. The ballots are required to be mailed to eligible
electors (voters) in Apex Park and Recreation District between April 11 and April 18.
4. What if I am not registered to vote?
To register to vote or update your address, go to GoVoteColorado.com.
5. What are the projects that are being proposed to be built?
The six projects are:
• Secrest Recreation Center—Neighborhood Recreation Center including teen center and indoor therapy
pool
• Fitzmorris Site Center/Pool—Neighborhood recreation center, and outdoor pool
• Arvada Tennis Center—Renovation of existing 8 courts including lights and fencing; structure to
enclose 4 new courts including associated construction expenses
• Lutz Sports Complex improvements—New 4-plex fields only; parking lot; lighting; landscaping;
restroom/concession building
• Apex Center renovation - Splash pad addition, renovation of child watch area and aquatics area
• Long Lake Ranch Regional Park Improvements—2 new fields with backstops; additional lighting to
complete lighting the 5-plex; restroom/concession building; 2 new sports turf fields to serve lacrosse,
rugby, football; parking & lights
6. How much is each facility proposed to cost to build?
• Secrest Recreation Center—$7,442,806
• Fitzmorris Site Center/Pool—$4,895,931
• Arvada Tennis Center—$5,760,810
• Lutz Sports Complex improvements—$4,310,000
• Apex Center renovation, splash pad addition—$1,553,895
• Long Lake Ranch Regional Park Improvements—$4,285,000
7. What is the total estimated project budget?
The total estimated project budget is approximately $ 28,019,775. Of that, $25,000,000 would come from
the proposed bond, $3,100,000 is the amount the City of Arvada would contribute toward an outdoor
pool/rec center, and $19,775 would come from the Apex PRD General Fund.
8. Will my taxes be raised to pay for the projects?
Property taxes are based on your property’s assessed value by the county every two years. The mill levy
taxpayers are paying now is based on this assessment and the amount needed to pay the debt. Each year
the mill levy is calculated based on the amount of debt payment and the assessments in the area. The mill
levy cannot exceed the amount of debt owed, and since there has been growth in the District the mill levy
is currently at its lowest rate in the history of the bonds.
9. What is the current amount on my tax bill for the Apex Park and Recreation
District Mill Levy?
The amount cannot exceed what is needed to cover the annual obligation. For 2016, the mill levy is at its
lowest at 1.412, which equals $11.24 per year for every $100,000 worth of house.
10. What is the average property value within Apex Park & Recreation District?
The Average Total Actual Value for Apex Park and Recreation District for only SINGLE FAMILY
HOMES is $314,004.81.
The Average Total Actual Value for Apex Park and Recreation District for ALL PROPERTIES is
$329,024.13 (This includes exempt, personal property, commercial, etc.).
11. When will the proposed projects be completed?
•
•
•
If the election is successful, the bonds will be sold in fall of 2016 and the project design can be
commenced once the funding is available. The expected completion time from design to facility
opening is:
Neighborhood Recreation Centers (Fitzmorris and Secrest): 16-24 months
Arvada Tennis Center: 9-12 months
Athletic Fields ( Lutz - 8-10 months; Long Lake – 6-9 months)
•
Apex Center renovations: 12 months
•
12. How are we assured that the projects proposed on the ballot will get built?
Colorado law requires that municipal bonds be used for the specific purposed identified in the election
question, so in this instance, the funding raised can only be spent on this purpose
13. Will the facilities pay for themselves or will there be a need to increase taxes/fees
to pay for the new facilities?
The public process held in 2014 recommended that the bond only be undertaken if facilities could pay for
themselves. In this instance, the six total projects are projected to be self supporting in total (meaning
some will generate more income than cost to operate, and others by their nature will generate less, with
the total cost of operations for all projects being cost neutral).
14. Did all of the money from the last bond get spent?
Yes, the bonds passed in 1998 to build the Apex Recreation Center will be paid off in total in 2017.
15. Why doesn’t the proposed bond renewal include repairs to George J. Meyers
Pool?
Engineers have told us that the pool’s expected lifespan is 8-9 years from now. While that seems far in the
future, planning to replace such a major asset takes a long time. The primary challenge is that replacing a
50-meter pool such as Meyers would cost $28-$30 million in 2016 dollars. That cost is about the same as
the total amount for all six projects listed on the May 3 ballot proposing the renewal of the existing Apex
PRD bond. These six projects were identified after a thorough public input-gathering and community
needs assessment process.
Another issue is that Meyers Pool is actually owned by the City of Arvada, so it is their asset to plan for
and replace. Apex PRD simply operates the pool under an agreement with the City. However, because it
is such an important community asset, Apex PRD, the City of Arvada, and Jeffco Public Schools (the
school district is a stakeholder, as many of its high school swim teams use the pool for practice and
competition) are already in conversations about how a three-way partnership could get the pool replaced.
A shared coordinating committee made up of representatives from the City of Arvada and Apex PRD
meets quarterly to brainstorm ideas about how to meet this funding need, and all parties are trying to find
a creative, proactive path to replacement.
16. How do I know if I live in the Apex PRD?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Go to the following website: Jefferson County Property Record System
Next, click on the Address button
Type your house number in both the From and To fields and the name of your street in
the Street Name field
Click on Submit Query
Click on the Schedule Number next to your address
Click on the Tax and Value Information tab
On the bottom half of the Tax and Value information, your tax districts are listed
Look for Apex Park and Rec, NJP&RD or Apex Park & Rec Dist
If any of these is listed under your tax districts, you are a resident of Apex PRD and you are
eligible for an Apex Park and Recreation District Resident ID.
17. Would the SilverSneakers program be offered at the new Fitzmorris and Secrest
recreation centers?
Yes, we intend to host the SilverSneakers fitness program at both of these centers. The same
enrollment guidelines would apply, and details on the specific classes available would be
announced after the opening of the proposed facilities.
If you have feedback or questions about the proposed ballot issue, please contact
[email protected] or call 303-403-2518. For more information about Apex Park and
Recreation District, visit apexprd.org.