The mountain area’s newspaper since 1958
WEEK OF JUNE 26, 2025
VOLUME 66 | ISSUE 32
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FILLING THE OVERPASS
No Kings rally draws 500 people to protest P6
County proposes new short-term rental regulations Changes would ease process, lower fees for operators BY JANE REUTER JANE@COTLN.ORG
using another form of longterm debt, the board voted in March to use a municipal financial tool called “Certificates of Participation”, also known as COPs, to finance the construction of its new facilities. Through the agreement, investors buy a share in lease payments generated by the project, essentially creating a tax-exempt lease for the public entity. EPRD then makes lease payments to a trustee, who distributes them to investors.
Jefferson County estimates that its unincorporated areas include more than 700 short-term rentals, fewer than 50 of which have the needed permits to legally operate. It’s a compliance rate so out of whack that county officials don’t blame property owners, but their own regulations. This year, they’re trying to fix that. “If you’ve got a regulation in place that has a complicated rate of 5% or under, I don’t think it’s fair to say it’s a problem of compliance,” said Russell Clark, Jefferson County planning supervisor. “There’s probably a problem with the regulations as well.” Clark said that’s in part because Jefferson County adopted its regulations on short-term rentals early, when they weren’t a permitted use and before their popularity became widespread. “We were probably one of the earlier counties to have rules on short-term rentals, when the only way you could do it was to rezone your property,” he said. “There was never a thought then that people down in the plains and suburban areas would have shortterm rentals. But clearly if you see a map of where they’re advertised in Jefferson County, you see a large number on the plains.” With an aim toward making compliance easier, faster and less expensive for short-term rental owners, the county is proposing a new set of regulations. It recently issued a draft of them, and wants the public’s feedback. The proposed regulations would re-
SEE RECREATION, P5
SEE RENTALS, P7
Recreation district board stretches voters’ money Board uses financing tools and in-house staff to make the most of available funds BY JANE REUTER JANE@COTLN.ORG
The Evergreen Park & Recreation District is finding creative ways to stretch voter-approved funds and finance its ambitious and pricey list of upcoming projects, including using certificates of participation and doing as much work in-house as possible.
Three major projects, including the construction of a new pool and gymnasium at Buchanan Recreation Center and the renovation of adjacent Buchanan Park, are expected to kick off this year at a total cost of about $14 million. EPRD is reserving another $2 million to renovate Wulf Recreation Center after the Buchanan projects are done, and for
other, smaller projects. Voters approved a propertytax extension in November 2023 that will provide about $1.4 million a year to the district. But it’s not enough to finance all the improvements district residents would like to see. On its own, the proposed Buchanan Rec Center natatorium — the most expensive project on the list — will cost $10 million. COPs on the job
Instead of issuing bonds or
SPORTS: 8 | VOICES: 10 | HAPPENINGS: 12 | PUZZLES: 19
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