WHAT ARE CEF's? At issue is the $2,984,620 removed from the City of Loveland Fire Department Capital Expansion Fund (CEF). The funds were collected as fees on new development during Loveland's building boom and are required by state law (29-20-104.5) to be used only for the purpose for which they were collected. Loveland has relied on CEF's since the early 1980's to fund the capital improvements needed to provide city services to a growing population. Loveland's Fire CEF's were accumulated from fees that were established as the result of studies conducted each year (per state law) to determine the value of capital assets, equipment, fixtures and life saving equipment needed to expand the fire service commensurate with Loveland's growing population. However, not all developers have paid these fees. Local developer McWhinney received an initial waiver for Centerra construction and more recently was permitted to construct a 300 unit multi-family housing development only paying a percentage of the CEF's required in the past to other residential developers. Future residents of McWhinney's 300 unit apartment complex will expect full city emergency services so existing infrastructure will need to be stretched even further to accommodate more Centerra residents who have not contributed their "fair share" in funding local emergency services. |
Has Council Land Speculation Created A Safety Hazard For Loveland Residents? |
City of Loveland Definition: Capital Expansion Fees "The City of Loveland has utilized Capital Expansion Fees as a method to meet the capital needs of our growing community since the mid-1980s. The fees are set based on studies that indicate the impacts that result from different types of construction, the major categories being residential, commercial, and industrial. Capital Expansion Fees for Fire, Police, General Government, Library, Museum, Parks, Recreation, Open Lands, and Trails are based on the value of capital assets, equipment, fixtures, and furniture and unspent prior years’ CEF contributions" |
Loveland's Rural Fire Protection District Truck |
What the "Incident Investigation Report" States "On Saturday April 17, 2010, at approx. 2327 hrs, Loveland Fire and Rescue (LFR) Engine 5 (E5) was dispatched to an outside smoke investigation in an area of 41st and Boxelder. Initial dispatch reports indicated a large amount of white smoke coming from the residence at the corner of 41st Street and Boxelder Drive. After numerous calls and reports that a specific structure was involved, dispatch upgraded to a structure fire response. LFR Engine 5 (E5) and Squad 2 (SQ2) were the first fire supression crews. Battalion Chief Greg WARD (BAT1) was the Incident Commander of the fire scene. LPD Detective Scott HIGHLAND was the lead investigator from the Loveland Police Department." The response times listed show the first three units arriving at "2333 hrs." |
Funding Scheme Oct. 2007 letter to council explaining the way the property purchase is going to be funded (final numbers from the November '07 meeting differ slightly due to staff adjustments between meeitngs) "The City will internally finance the 402 property purchase. The city council capital reserve will provide $1.6 million upfront and the money will be advanced from the accumulated capital expansion fees for fire ($3.2 million) and recreation ($2 million). The city council capital reserve will repay the capital expansion fees at the average interest rate being earned on the City’s investment portfolio for the preceding twelve months, adjusted annually. The City is using the same interest criteria prescribed by the City Charter Section 13-3 (b) for inter-fund loans from the utility funds. The loan is structured with a ten year term, loading the principal repayment in the last five years of the repayment schedule." |