Back to business as usual for the Lone Tree City Council after the recent study retreat.

Under Presentations, Lone Tree received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 2005. Other recipients (not announced at the meeting) include: the State of Colorado for nine straight years, the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) for 21 consecutive years, and St. Vrain Valley School District (only for two years, having apparently solved the problems that caused that $13.8 million shortfall in 2002.) Download the application here for 2006, if you are a member of the Government Finance Officers Association. Otherwise, you'll need a member sponsor.

In Public Works, a contract was approved for PBS&J (Peanut Butter, Saltines & Jelly?) to manage/inspect the construction of the RidgeGate interchange. Signing a private management company reportedly saved the City several million dollars, rather than letting CDOT handle it. CDOT is still having trouble getting out the paperwork (Intergovernmental Agreements) for several projects, including this one.

Speaking of paperwork, the Mayor said in Public Comments that our developing Parks and Trails Master Plan will now include transportation. Not transportation on roads, but trails and tunnels leading to commercial areas like the mall, Entertainment District and light rail station. I'm guessing the idea is: if residents want to bike or walk, we may as well lead them to the City's revenue producers. At Study Session, a Recreation Committee recommendation for one tunnel's cost estimate study was eliminated in favor of the more comprehensive, all-inclusive plan.

Also in Study Session, South Suburban wants the City to help pay for tennis court improvements recommended by the Recreation Committee, including a new backboard and benches with canopies. Some Council members recalled Dave Lorenz, Executive Director of SSPRD, commenting the $9,800 improvements were routine and not a problem. Now he says he wants indications of interest in leagues and tournaments prior to beginning work. There are, in fact, teams and competitions at the pool, which hasn't seemed to influence its improvement.

As far as the contentious Council procedure regarding how agendas are set and established, the Legal Department has been conducting a procedural investigation. City Manager Jack Hidahl will draft a policy statement and a new ordinance may define the matter sometime next month.

In Council Comments, the Mayor also referred to a performance venue community center. I think that was once called the cultural center. Sketch plans will be developed, followed by community involvement and public comment.

A $1,051 sculpture case was approved for the Lone Tree Recreation Center. As far as I could tell, no study was ordered, drafted, conducted, filed, amended or published, but I could have missed it.

I wish my kids studied this much.