[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6393152,"mediaKeyId","2107870-65dede44a40b3d934e4cabed706e41e3","parentId",2107870,"title","Council supports staff recommendation to lease discovered mineral rights in Weld County to operator Bayswater","audioSeconds",75,"startMs",1525000,"endMs",1600000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107870-65dede44a40b3d934e4cabed706e41e3&start=1525&end=1600","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107870-65dede44a40b3d934e4cabed706e41e3/thumbnail_1525000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6393152/Thornton-City/Adams-County/Colorado/Council-supports-staff-recommendation-to-lease-discovered-mineral-rights-in-Weld-County-to-operator-Bayswater","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393152-5128875425e3081cc894846fdb81de79/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440064&Signature=Sy2uS-8M-~Rh8XngKSYbIOVwhAvt82kGlv-dFQ~9qXK~5Rl4ZJoO6IIscshYYzFs-7Rz~t4p3sRwIaRhlIvM4FTaaqd03NYUX1tGrxsiu-lvp0vMcJAHP5EYDdwWYyF5dckDyYeQt7UARHbSD6WakSmO387X7C0iA7IcaeXF1vtuM4BoDB3odPbouwfgoTlFqvp-OCjMFs23t2FDxMghWW0m5ynX9BeJw9RT7mlq0iF7xUo4ENc9XoNIB96UvgXsluKM6FCIygSXKLZbQJyCP~-9XeZKOdG46zbLAOFvh5cFYd2I9zyfakVnSyijuClDR5dIcIqimE1TkiPFpvo79Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Thornton CO","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","City staff told Thornton City Council that updated title work had identified previously unrecognized mineral ownership interests in a Weld County farm that falls within an oil and gas spacing unit. Staff recommended entering a standard three‑year lease with the operator Bayswater; council raised no objections and asked staff to proceed.

Staff said the city owns a portion of the mineral rights on a 183‑acre parcel within a 1,280‑acre spacing unit where the operator is drilling wells. Because modern horizontal drilling can access minerals that previously were not economically recoverable, initial title work identified the interests during the operator’s permitting and lease‑assembly process. Staff reported that the offer on the table includes an upfront lease bonus of approximately $122,500 and a standard 20% production royalty; staff estimated near‑term royalty receipts in the neighborhood of $400,000 from the unit’s production profile, while noting that production typically declines over time.

Staff emphasized that mineral lease or sale revenues flow to the city’s water fund for historically related water‑project purchases; the city has executed leases and, in past years, sold some lower‑producing mineral interests. Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about the alternatives — leasing versus outright sale — and about how forced pooling statutes work if an owner does not sign a lease. Staff explained that selling mineral interests can produce a larger one‑time payment but eliminates future royalties, whereas leasing provides ongoing royalty income tied to production; forced pooling is available to operators but includes a statutory compensation structure.

Council members raised no objections to staff’s recommendation; staff said it will proceed with the lease paperwork under the terms described and will return with administrative confirmations as appropriate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Thornton City Council Planning Session - January 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff reported that new title work identified city‑owned mineral rights on a Weld County parcel; council raised no objections to staff’s recommendation to enter a standard three‑year lease with the operator Bayswater, which carries a one‑time bonus and expected royalty revenue.","taxTitle","Thornton City, Adams County, Colorado","taxId",5596,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393157,"Council names two judges for NIOP student design challenge after debate over ward representation",937,6838000,7775000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107870-65dede44a40b3d934e4cabed706e41e3&start=6838&end=7775","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107870-65dede44a40b3d934e4cabed706e41e3/thumbnail_6838000.jpg","/articles/6393157/Thornton-City/Adams-County/Colorado/Council-names-two-judges-for-NIOP-student-design-challenge-after-debate-over-ward-representation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393157-91722beb5cfd2ead91c73b72d18e5022/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440064&Signature=aB~wnuY7WrVZ1-KyW9w7up3JgtmINa9jEGUzAT8X1Zye5MsiqTNRlv-P0gxxovlkKNpjZ1oa8AQB8auRYqeCdy-hZ5ZqpOUTL5doaVel72qO1XrqeKpU5cKSUMNFObkeh7DhAkXscVqleXmTNBZtSciDjmv0NIS1FL2~GUbNaRbJJkij0IK0CWeZ6Tujmiu8vsY6GP7Lo7eEbukaB8aWU7QKoOfizhYnZhQrOHtWylXKkSJjWLdQa~lkhGJg67um6tDC7ZcTqWWelDguBubiNWV-5vgyWOjAk8WgWP~7POPbzfyq59UIwxjhrl7o00wVRIUxhaPBXyZ7~fUvQwyzXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thornton City Council designated two councilmembers to serve on a judging panel for a student design challenge (NIOP) tied to ideas for the Thornton Shopping Center and acknowledged public concerns about how the selection was handled.

Councilmember Justin Martinez and Councilmember Chris Russell were identified as the city’s judges for the NIOP (National Institute of Real Estate) student competition. The judges’ role is to evaluate student teams’ proposals; staff and council emphasized that the competition produces idea generation and that any proposals that arise from the competition will still return to the full council and to staff for formal evaluation and community input.

During the meeting councilmembers raised procedural concerns. Several councilmembers said the opportunity and the decision path had not been discussed broadly enough among the full council before two members volunteered to serve; others raised the sensitivity of the Thornton Shopping Center as an issue that has drawn community activism and noted residents had asked for direct ward representation in the judging process. Councilmembers said the competition itself is not a decision on development of the site; it is intended to generate concepts and raise the profile of the property to developers and professional evaluators.

Staff said the events and final presentations are open for councilmembers to attend and that the city will post the appointments on the consent agenda next week so the council can formalize the designation. Councilmembers asked staff to ensure the process is transparent and to provide schedule and public access information for the events.","After a late debate about ward representation, Thornton City Council designated Councilmembers Justin Martinez and Chris Russell as judges for a commercial design competition tied to the Thornton Shopping Center; some councilmembers raised concerns about process and neighborhood representation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393162,"Thornton Council interviews candidates and recommends nine members for new environmental sustainability task force",6778,132000,6910000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107870-65dede44a40b3d934e4cabed706e41e3&start=132&end=6910","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107870-65dede44a40b3d934e4cabed706e41e3/thumbnail_132000.jpg","/articles/6393162/Thornton-City/Adams-County/Colorado/Thornton-Council-interviews-candidates-and-recommends-nine-members-for-new-environmental-sustainability-task-force","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393162-06e33d6ead87423a9d9535e0631dd328/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440064&Signature=SPp~oWvjYRihPC0qZghXvm0JrzrJx~75NJu~QvZ~igshI5XW-r7sFlMnxkAj6WZdQNYX6ocre4ePFLnclfGC9ZL9VfbwLEiz46BQtiXbzYJNdfssuwv~88q9OatXbqKFurK~HnvoT9QJq~owFkz6XhVCoPgXY733P5sbQLXvuRnO94k3lWxqM5vrM7Pig9usxnZMrAwE~4kgzlvEAW91P8eV24agdxJqR66o2Kwfxau9OAmgpWK6vPaS5yCUKPSFr1TZJ~RP8tmQdtX4FBC7DkqwzDzriBPfq5Ryj0OGx9RXrk8AruG7UiOktCqDrYMt-hBq1UUGQYbtCYXfp-6yBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thornton City Council conducted interviews with applicants for a newly formed Environmental Sustainability Task Force and identified nine recommended appointees to fill the panel that staff will bring back for formal appointment by resolution.

The interviews were conducted as part of the council’s implementation of a November 19 resolution creating the task force. Council members and staff told applicants the panel’s stated purpose is to advise the council on sustainability policy, community outreach and program recommendations, and to help refine a staff‑prepared sustainability action agenda. The city posted the application on Nov. 20 and closed it Dec. 20; the packet included 17 applications and staff scheduled interviews for 15 applicants.

Council members said they sought a mix of professional and community perspectives and emphasized that the task force should focus on pragmatic, implementable recommendations. Candidates who interviewed included residents, business representatives and sustainability professionals. During deliberations councilmembers named these nine recommended appointees: Araceli Navarro; Tracy Cressman; Todd Battistelli; Vivian McVey; Peter Duong; Barbara Wilson; Stacy Lambright; Miranda Swanstrom; and Andrea Wambach. Councilmembers said staff will draft the formal appointment resolution for the council to consider at a future meeting.

Councilmembers also described an expected timeline: staff and the new task force will begin work early in the year so that any budget requests coming from task‑force recommendations can be considered in the 2026 budget process. Councilmembers said they expect the panel to advise staff and council and to seek community input as part of drafting recommendations.

Staff noted that revenues for the city’s water projects historically helped fund purchases of some of the land parcels that include mineral rights; any mineral lease or sale revenues are tracked in the water fund and are separate from general fund budget deliberations.

The council asked staff to return with organizational details, including meeting schedules, staff support, and how the group’s recommendations will be routed to the full council for consideration.","After a month-long application period, Thornton City Council interviewed applicants for a newly created nine‑member Environmental Sustainability Task Force and identified nine recommended appointees; formal appointments will be returned to council by resolution.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council supports staff recommendation to lease discovered mineral rights in Weld County to operator Bayswater

Council names two judges for NIOP student design challenge after debate over ward representation

Thornton Council interviews candidates and recommends nine members for new environmental sustainability task force