Commissioners to send revised letter on proposed federal public‑lands sales; discuss roadless rule, wildfire funding, emergency‑management thresholds and HVAC‑‑

Jefferson County commissioners used their reports period on June 24 to coordinate a response to newly reported proposals related to federal public‑lands sales, to discuss potential impacts of proposed FEMA funding and threshold changes, and to note a statewide discussion about HVAC licensure.

On federal public lands, commissioners reviewed a draft letter and resolution intended to voice county concern about proposals to transfer or sell federal lands. Commissioners asked staff to update the letter to broaden language beyond a single amendment, to add text on the roadless rule, and to include local visitation context for the county’s OpenSpace system. Commissioners discussed whether to send the letter to the county’s full Colorado delegation, copy statewide partners such as CCI and CCAT, and share drafts informally so other counties can coordinate. County staff said they would make edits and distribute the revised letter; commissioners indicated support for moving the letter forward and discussed bringing a resolution back for possible approval at the July 8 meeting or by a special or strategy‑and‑planning meeting if needed.

Commissioner Trisha Kerr and others suggested citing OpenSpace visitation to demonstrate local impacts; staff noted visitor‑count estimates range from about 7 to 10 million and that the department is working to confirm current figures.

Commissioner Sensing and others reviewed a CCAT update and a MAC (Metropolitan Area Coalition) conversation about changes to FEMA cost‑share thresholds and other federal disaster policies. The briefing cited a leaked FEMA memo indicating potential increases in the thresholds for presidential disaster declarations and increases in uninsured public‑loss thresholds, and it noted concerns about stricter cost‑share rules and possible exclusions for certain hazards (for example, snowstorms). Commissioners discussed inviting Nate Whittington (not present) back for a briefing and drafting a regional letter — possibly coordinated through MAC — to reflect emergency‑management leaders’ concerns and recommend steps for state and federal advocacy.

Separately, commissioners reported that a task force discussion moved forward on the possibility of pursuing a statewide HVAC licensure to improve workforce quality in support of clean‑energy goals. The board gave direction to continue engagements with state legislative contacts and to return with additional information as that process develops.

Commissioners asked staff to circulate revised drafts, coordinate with partner counties, and return the resolution for consideration on a near‑term agenda.