pitkin county - City of Aspen

PITKIN COUNTY
AT A GLANCE
GEOG R A P H Y  Covering 975 square miles, Pitkin County is located in the heart of the White River National Forest, surrounded by the spectacular peaks of the central
Rocky Mountains. Pitkin County includes the communities of Aspen, Snowmass, Woody Creek, Old Snowmass, Meredith, Thomasville, Redstone and portions of the town
of Basalt.
DEMOGRAPHICS  The population was 16,389 in the 2010 U.S. Census including 52% males and 48% females with a median age of 42.7. Ninety six percent of the
county’s population has at least a high school education with nearly 60% college educated.  At $64,381, Pitkin County has the fourth highest per-capita income of any
county in the United States. Sixty two percent of the population owns a home with a median value of $670,200. There are 12,953 housing units at an average density of 10
per square mile.
ECONOMY  Best known for its four world-class ski resorts — Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass, tourism is the mainstay of the local economy
with arts, cultural and recreational events providing a year-round attraction.
TRANSPORTATION  Highway 82 is the only major roadway in Pitkin County leading into and out of Aspen via I 70 at Glenwood Springs to the north and over 12,000
foot Independence Pass to the south. Public transportation is provided by the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) and is easy to use throughout the valley. The
Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is one of the busiest in the state, behind Denver International and Colorado Springs airports.
GOVERNMENT  With the county seat in Aspen, Colorado, Pitkin County was established in 1881 and became a home rule county in 1978. That means Pitkin County
has the authority to establish the organization and structure of the county government via a document known as the Pitkin County Home Rule Charter. A five-member board
of county commissioners and the staff are empowered to run the county operations in accordance with the charter. The Pitkin County Home Rule Charter is available online
at www.aspenpitkin.com.
 The first silver prospectors in the Roaring Fork Valley arrived in the summer of 1879, set up camp and staked claims at the foot of Aspen Mountain.
Before a permanent settlement could be established, news of a nearby Indian uprising prompted Colorado’s Governor Frederick Pitkin to urge the settlers to flee back across
the Continental Divide for their safety. Most of them did, and only a handful of settlers remained in the Roaring Fork Valley during the winters of 1879 and 1880. It wasn’t
until 1881 that Governor Pitkin signed legislation designating the boundaries of the new county, named Aspen as the county seat and appointed the first office holders in the
county. Today, the county maintains 265 miles of roads and 24 bridges. There are 32 departments ranging from the Airport, Assessor and Animal Safety to Clerk and Recorder,
Community Development and Communications.
H I S T O RY
PITKIN COUNTY ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES
Pitkin County embraces the following values to promote public trust and confidence in County Government.
STEWARDSHIP: WE STRIVE TO LEAVE OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNITY, PUBLIC ASSETS AND ORGANIZATION IN BETTER
OF HONESTY AND DEPENDABILITY IN THE CONDUCT OF COUNTY BUSINESS. EXCELLENCE: WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING
QUALITY SERVICES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE, ACCURATE AND INNOVATIVE TO MEET OUR COMMUNITY’S NEEDS. COLLABORATION: WE
WORK TOGETHER AS EMPLOYEES AND WITH CITIZENS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT, NON-PROFIT AND PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS
HELPING EACH OTHER SUCCEED IN PROMOTING AND ACHIEVING THE PUBLIC’S GOALS. OPEN COMMUNICATION: WE ARE COMMITTED
TO LISTENING TO OUR CITIZENS AND PARTNERS AND TO GIVING ACCURATE AND TIMELY INFORMATION. POSITIVE WORK
ENVIRONMENT: WE APPRECIATE DEDICATED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE EMPLOYEES AND SUPPORT THEIR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH.
www.aspenpitkin.com
Photo: Jill Costigan, Pitkin County Detention Officer
CONDITION THAN WE FOUND THEM FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. ETHICS: WE HOLD OURSELVES TO HIGH STANDARDS
REVENUES
EXPENDITURES
CORE FOCUS AREAS AND SUCCESS FACTORS
The diagram below shows the relationship between the three
Core Focus Areas in achieving the County’s mission and values.
PROPERTY TAX DISTRIBUTION
PITKIN COUNTY-23%
SCHOOLS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT-77%
FLOURISHING NATURAL
& BUILT ENVIRONMENT
$30,134,220 45%
CORE FOCUS
FLOURISHING NATURAL
& BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Roads
Community Development
Buildings
Transit
Open Space and Trails
Resource Recovery
Healthy Rivers and Streams
Translator
SUCCESS FACTORS
5%
5.8%
0.4%
0.2%
0.7%
0.4%
Law Enforcement and Jail
Ambulance
Emergency 911
Human Services
Healthy Community Fund
Housing
Library
1.
S4
GENERAL FUND
ROAD & BRIDGE
HUMAN SERVICES
TV & FM TRANSLATOR
AMBULANCE
OOL
7.5%
SCH
.1%
L7
PITA
HOS
LEY
VAL
%
EN
6.2
ASP
ION
ECT
ROT
EP
FIR
3%
11.
ES
LITI
IPA
NIC
MU
4%
11.
CTS
TRI
DIS
2%
ER
10.
OTH
ILS
%
TRA
1.5
ND
ND
EA
Y FU
PAC
NIT
NS
MU
OPE
OM
YC
LTH
HEA Y 3.3%
RAR
LIB
GENERAL SERVICES
1. Conserved natural resources and environment
2. Responsibly maintained and enhanced
County assets
3. Ease of mobility via safe and efficient
transportation systems
4. Well planned and livable built environment
LIVABLE & SUPPORTIVE
COMMUNITY
$15,831,982 24%
SAFE
COMMUNITY
HIGH
QUALITY
OF LIFE
CORE FOCUS
LIVABLE & SUPPORTIVE
COMMUNITY
SALES TAX RATES
VIBRANT &
SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITY
SUCCESS FACTORS
SUCCESS FACTORS
ASPEN, BASALT,
SNOWMASS VILLAGE
2.4%, 3.0% AND 3.5%
LEVIED BY AND FOR
THE EXCLUSIVE USE
OF THE MUNICIPALITIES
ASPEN, BASALT,
SNOWMASS
VILLAGE
1.14% MUNICIPAL SHARE
OF COUNTY 2% SALES TAX
ROARING FORK TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY (RFTA) 0.4%
PITKIN COUNTY 1.5%
DISTRIBUTED TO RFTA, ASPEN &
SNOWMASS FOR MASS TRANSIT
PITKIN COUNTY GENERAL
FUND 0.86% SHARE OF THE
COUNTY 2% SALES TAX
1. A sense of personal and community safety
2. Diverse and livable housing options
3. Self-sufficient individuals and families
4. Access to recreation, education,
arts and culture
5. Improved community engagement
and participation
CORE FOCUS
PROSPEROUS ECONOMY
HEALTHY
COMMUNITY
1. Sustainable economy
and employment
2. Affordable and quality health
care options
3. High performing County leaders,
teams and employees
4. Responsible and accountable
stewardship of County assets
PROSPEROUS
ECONOMY
$20,487,247 31%
PITKIN COUNTY HEALTHY
RIVERS AND STREAMS
0.1%
Election, Treasurer, and Assessor
Commissioners, Manager & Administrative Services
Airport
STATE OF COLORADO
2.9%
TOTAL SALES TAX RATE: 9.3% ASPEN, 10.4% SNOWMASS VILLAGE, 6.9% UNINCORPORATED PITKIN COUNTY
www.aspenpitkin.com
ELECTED OFFICIALS
BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
 Staff: 5
 Budget: $625,033
 Funding: General Fund
Regular public meetings
are held the 2nd and 4th
Wednesdays at 12:00 noon
and weekly work sessions on
Tuesdays at 10:00 am. All
meetings are streamed online
at www.aspenpitkin.com.
Televised on CGTV Channel 11.
 The 5-member Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is the decision-making board for Pitkin County, reviewing and
approving specific land-use issues such as special review, subdivision and planned unit development. They also review and approve
county, district and authority service plans and budgets and act as liaison to statewide groups and commissions and other
local governments. Commissioners represent specific residential districts in which they must reside during their terms but
are elected at large.
George Newman
Jack Hatfield
Michael Owlsley
Rachel Richards
Rob Ittner
 The Assessor’s office values all real and personal property, including mobile homes, residential and
commercial properties and agricultural land for property tax purposes. The Assessor determines the equitable
value of all real and personal property based on the market. Properties are assessed as of January 1st each
year. It is the job of the assessor to ensure that each taxpayer pays only his or her fair share of the taxes.
ASSESSOR
 Staff: 10
 Budget: $893,433
 Funding: General Fund
Tom Isaac
CLERK & RECORDER
 Staff: 10.5
 Budget: $1.5 million
 Funding: General Fund,
revenues
Janice Vos Caudill
 The Pitkin County Clerk and Recorder provides motor vehicle titling and registration, real estate
recording, marriage license issuance, voter registration and elections coordination, Board of County
Commissioner records management and liquor licensing with a focus on exceptional customer service and
innovative technology that affords the following online opportunities: motor vehicle registration renewals at
www.colorado.gov/renewplates; recording research and marriage license applications at www.pitkinclerk.org;
voter information at www.pitkinvotes.org.
 The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office assists the community in the mutual pursuit of a peaceful, safe,
and healthy environment. Education takes precedence over enforcement. In addition to general law
enforcement the Sheriff’s Office provides Animal Safety, Communications 911, the Jail, School Resource
Officer, Neighborhood Watch, traffic safety on Highway 82 and all county roads, coordination of
Mountain Rescue Aspen, Juvenile Investigations and support, and Emergency Management.
SHERIFF
 Staff: 62
 Budget: $5.9 million
 Funding: General Fund
Joe DiSalvo
Photos facing page (left to right starting with background photo): East of Aspen Trail ribbon cutting; Airport Master Plan Open House; Rachel Richards at USA Pro Challenge in Aspen;
Sheriff Joe DiSalvo and staff; Airport runway extension ribbon cutting.
www.aspenpitkin.com
DEPARTMENTS
ADMINISTRATION /
INTERNAL SERVICES




Staff: 27
Budget: $3.8 million
Facilities Capital: $2.1 million
Funding: General Fund
AIRPORT
 Staff: 25
 Budget: $8,600,000
 Funding: Airport revenues,
FAA and state grants
ATTORNEY
 Staff: 5
 Budget: $1,026,411
 Funding: General Fund
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
 Staff: 16
 Budget: $2,544,405
 Funding: General Fund
 Pitkin County Administration includes the offices of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), the County Manager,
Community Relations and the internal services of Finance, Human Resources and Facilities Management. The BOCC is the decisionmaking Board for Pitkin County. As a first point of contact for citizens, the County Manager directs the activities of various County
departments, prepares and recommends a multi-year County budget, and is responsible for agenda management and meeting
schedules for the BOCC. The County Manager works closely with the Community Relations Department on public outreach, the
Facilities Management Department on maintaining county buildings, grounds and assets, and the Human Resources Department on
defining and implementing the processes and policies necessary to attract, recruit and retain a quality workforce.
The Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is located three miles from downtown Aspen and less than a mile from the closest ski slope.
A recently completed 1,000 foot runway extension allows commercial airlines to fly farther and with greater capacity increasing the
possibility of more direct flights. To help reduce its environmental impact the airport monitors noise and responds to noise concerns,
only operating between 7am and 11pm. The airport budget is a self-sufficient “Enterprise Fund” and does not rely on property taxes.

 Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the County Attorney provides legal advice to the BOCC and county departments
and defends the county in actions filed against it as well as protecting the county's interests in accordance with its mission. The County
Attorney also serves as staff liaison for the county's Healthy Rivers and Streams Advisory Board and manages the Healthy Rivers Program.
Healthy Rivers and Streams board meetings, reports, studies and more can be found at www.pitkincountyrivers.com.
 The Pitkin County Community Development Department includes the Building, Planning and Zoning, and Environmental Health
Departments. Together, these departments work to preserve, protect, and enhance natural and built environments by collaborating with
the community in the creation and implementation of progressive development policies and standards. Community Development administers
land use, building and on-site waste water treatment regulations and provides consumer protection for restaurants throughout the county.
and state programs
HEALTH & HUMAN
SERVICES
 Staff: 13
 Budget: $2,329,817
 Funding: General Fund,
Healthy Community Fund,
federal/state allocations
 The Health and Human Services Section envisions a community that is diverse, vibrant and healthy where all people thrive. They strive
to reduce poverty, strengthen families, protect vulnerable children and adults, improve health, promote healthy aging and build a strong
and accessible community safety net. Through the work of their programs — Economic Services, Senior Services, Adult and Family Services,
Public Health, Community Grants and Veteran’s Services — they help citizens optimize their quality of life by building and providing
responsive, integrated and interdependent health and human services.
Photos facing page (left to right starting with background photo): Filmmaker, Elizabeth Boyles, and Open Space & Trails Director, Dale Will, at Sky Mountain Park; putting a bridge in place on
the Brush Creek bike trail; a bear cub that was part of an Aspen bear study; “Save a Life” Pitkin County AED class with highschoolers; Redstone Coke Oven restoration crew.
www.aspenpitkin.com
DEPARTMENTS
HOUSING AUTHORITY
 Staff: 13
 Budget: $2,900,000
County’s Contribution: $190,491
 Funding: Commissions,
rental income, fees, small
city and county subsidies
LIBRARY
 Staff: 21
 Budget: $3,906,991
 Funding: Property tax
mill levy, user fees,
and contributions
DIRECTORY
 The Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority assures the availability of desirable housing for persons currently employed in Pitkin
 A D M I N I S T R AT I O N
County, the handicapped, and other qualified persons. The Authority administers housing lotteries, markets home sales, brokers
home sales, manages short and long term rental properties, responds to complaints and or allegations of violations of the program,
enforces deed restrictions and program regulations, manages various rental properties, performs property maintenance. In
addition, the Authority provides educational outreach, publishes the Authority Guidelines, and manages the Authority website.
530 E. Main Street, 3rd Floor
Jon Peacock, Manager
The mission of the Pitkin County Library is to enrich our community by inspiring lifelong learning and providing access to
information and ideas. The library collection holds 108,568 books, 5,691 audio books, 24,682 music CD’s and LP’s, and 8,375
DVD’s and videos. The library subscribes to 296 magazines and newspapers and to 42 databases. Card holders can also borrow
from a rapidly growing digital collection that currently supplies access to 2,954 e-books, 3,674 downloadable audio-books, and
561 downloadable videos

 AIRPORT
920-5200
 D I S T R I C T AT T O R N E Y
920-5384
OPEN SPACE & TRAILS
 Staff: 7+8 seasonal
 Budget: $11,800,000
 Funding: Property
tax mill levy
The Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Department works to acquire, preserve, maintain and manage open space and
trails for recreational, wildlife, agricultural, access, and scenic purposes. Open Space and Trails manages 112 open space properties
comprising over 18,500 acres. Lands protected by this citizen-initiated program include privately owned lands placed under
conservation easements and county-owned parcels. The portfolio of conservation projects consists of agricultural properties,
important wildlife habitat, scenic landscapes and recreational properties.

 AT T O R N E Y
 Staff: 29
 Budget: $8 million
Capital Replacement: $6.8 million
 Funding: General Fund, highway
users’ tax, USFS shared revenue,
landfill tip fees, fleet services charges
TREASURER &
PUBLIC TRUSTEE
 Staff: 3.6
 Budget: $411,276
 Funding: General Fund
Pitkin County Public Works encompasses five departments: The Solid Waste Center manages waste diversion, recycling,
and the only landfill in the valley. Transportation/Engineering ensures state funds are available to meet the transportation needs
of the upper Roaring Fork Valley and refurbishes county roads and bridges. Road and Bridge provides maintenance, like snow
removal and drainage needs, to 264 miles of roads and 24 bridges. Fleet maintains over 160 vehicles and heavy equipment. Land
Management ensures compliance with Colorado noxious weed legislation.

The Treasurer and Public Trustee informs the public about property taxation, collects and distributes property taxes to
support Pitkin County and other public service entities, receives and deposits all other county revenue, responsibly invests county
money, and provides a mechanism for property owners to secure mortgage loans by holding property in trust. The Treasurer
also collaborates with Pitkin County staff and community members to develop the financial resources needed to achieve
the Board of County Commissioners' and community's vision.

 COMMISSIONERS
920-5180
920-5200
530 E. Main Street, 3rd Floor
Jack Hatfield • 923-4680
Rob Ittner • 948-7976
George Newman • 618-9972
Michael Owsley • 379-8933
Rachel Richards • 925-5366
 C O M M U N I C AT I O N S 9 1 1
 Staff: 1
 Budget: $857,515
 Funding: Property tax mill levy,
city and county subsidies
 The Pitkin County TV/FM Department maintains and operates a mountaintop translator system that rebroadcasts FM radio
and television signals to residents of Pitkin County and other portions of the Roaring Fork Valley. Those within line-of-sight of
one of the seven mountaintop translators may be able to receive basic television reception at no charge from the translator
system. Without increasing taxes, the FM & TV Department may research and facilitate the extension of wireless communication
and internet services within Pitkin County.
76 Service Center Road
GR Fielding, Engineer • 920-5206
 FINANCE
 GIS DEPARTMENT
 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
 LANDFILL
530 E. Main Street, 3rd Floor
Pat Bingham, Coordinator
920-5240
 TV & FM DEPARTMENT
920-5526
 L I B R A RY
120 N. Mill Street
Kathy Chandler, Librarian
920-5300
506 E. Main Street (basement)
Joe DiSalvo, Sheriff
920-5170
506 E. Main Street
Tiffany Wancura, Chief Deputy Treasurer
920-5395
920-5235
OTHER COUNTY PARTNERSHIPS
 HOUSING
920-5050
530 E. Main Street, Lower Level
Tom McCabe, Director
923-3487
 COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES
429-1900
 R F TA
32045 Hwy 82
Chris Hoofnagle, Director
920-5204
920-5432
76 Service Center Road
Jodi Smith, Manager
920-5331
485 Rio Grande Place
Bruce Romero, Acting Director • 315-2181
920-5046
0275 Castle Creek Road
Marty Ames, Director• 429-2861
 TREASURER
530 E. Main St., 2nd Floor
Dannette Logan, Director • 429-2792
 JAIL
 SENIOR SERVICES
920-5106
0405 Castle Creek Road
Nan Sundeen, Director
920-5310
920-5390
76 Service Center Road
Michael McAndrews, Director
 SHERIFF
455 Rio Grande Place, 2nd Floor
Mary Lackner, Director
 HR/RISK MGMT
 ROAD & BRIDGE
920-5220
530 E. Main Street, 2nd Floor
John Redmond, Director • 920-5225
485 Rio Grande Place
Don Bird, Director
Useful Public Service • 429-2053
 C O M M U N I T Y R E L AT I O N S
920-5070
76 Service Center Road
Kurt Dahl, Manager • 920-5438
 H E A LT H & H U M A N S E R V I C E S
130 S. Galena Street, 3rd Floor
Cindy Houben
TV & FM BROADCAST
SERVICE
920-5251
 E N V I R O N M E N TA L H E A LT H
530 E. Main Street, 1st Floor
Janice Vos Caudill, Clerk
PUBLIC WORKS
 E M E R G E N C Y M G M T.
76 Service Center Road
Brian Pettet, Director
920-5160
530 E. Main Street, 3rd Floor
John Ely, Attorney
 CLERK & RECORDER
 PUBLIC WORKS
 ENGINEERING & TRANSPORTATION 920-5206
920-5190
920-5232
920-5341
506 E. Main Street
920-5310
506 E. Main Street
Tom Isaac, Assessor
 OPEN SPACE
530 E. Main Street, 3rd Floor
Dale Will, Director
Tom Grady, Director • 920-5251
ReRe Baker, Safety Officer
Animal Shelter • 544-0206
 ASSESSOR
925-7635
506 E. Main Street (upstairs)
233 E. Airport Road
Jim Elwood, Director
Guest Services • 920-5380
 ANIMAL SAFETY
 COURTS
920-5420
405 Castle Creek Road
Liz Stark, Director
920-1905
0051 Service Center Road
Bus Schedule — Ruby Park • 984-8484
www.aspenpitkin.com
Courthouse Plaza
|
530 E. Main St. 3rd Floor
|
Aspen, CO 81611
|
www.aspenpitkin.com