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 Announcements
Dog Park Master Plan

Denver Parks and Recreation wants to create healthy relationships between dogs and their owners… and non-dog owners in city parks.  Part of that effort will come through a Dog Park Master plan, and they need your input.  

Public input meetings will be held in June and the final master plan recommendations are expected in the fall.

 

Disabled Parking Enforcement Program (DPEP)

You can help protect the rights of the disabled by volunteering with DPEP.

The Disabled Parking Enforcement Program (DPEP) needs volunteers to enforce disabled and handicap parking within the City and County of Denver, on both public and private property.

If you are interested in applying for training, call the  Office of Disability Rights at  720-913-8482

 

"Keep it Clean from Drain to Stream" Campaign

Three Denver agencies are teaming up to promote clean water practices – and this means you can get a free supply of dog poop bags and a mini bag dispenser. Public Works, Environmental Health and Parks and Rec want you to help keep the City’s waterways clean and the giveaways are part of the campaign.  Pet waste that isn’t picked up leaves bacteria that washes into storm drains and waterways that might increase health risks to humans. Register for the bags and dispensers online at KeepItClean.org or by calling 311.    

 

Cash Back for Qualified Homeowners

Greenprint Denver is a partner in “2008 Insulate Colorado.”  The program offers cash back rebates to qualifying homeowners who install insulation and upgrade air sealing measures.  Rebates are on a first come, first served basis with about 100 available.  Go to www.EnergyScience.org or call 303-216-2026 to find out more.

 

Volunteers Needed

Denver depends on volunteers to serve on more than 100 City and County Boards and Commissions.  Several of these have openings for new members.  Some of those vacancies are on the Community Corrections Board, Denver Planning Board, Women’s Commission and Denver Housing Authority.  For more information on Denver’s Boards and Commissions, contact Anthony Aragon at 720-865-9034.

 

CFL Recycling Available

Compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs, contain small amounts of mercury and must be recycled appropriately.  Drop-off used CFLs at any Ace Hardware store in the state.  And learn more about recycling the energy saving lights at the State’s Department of Public Health and Environment website.

 

Understanding Denver’s Foreclosures
Learn more about residential foreclosure filings in our City. The report is available online.  It’s called “Understanding Mortgage Foreclosures in Denver” and is available at:
www.milehigh.com.  For information about the study, call 720-913-1999.
 

Child Care Assistance
The Denver County Child Care Assistance Program can help low-income parents working full time to find adequate child care.   The program helps parents working full or part time, parents looking for work, teen parents in middle and high school, parents going back to school, and parents attending ABE, GED, or ESL classes.  Eligibility is also based on family size and income. 
 
To find out more call
303-604-1043, or go to www.DenverGov.org/CCAP.
 

  
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 Denver Update: October 30 - November 5, 2009
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 City News Briefs

Medical-Marijuana Measures Mulled

“This is cannabis capitalism run amuck, it’s the fastest growing business in our city”

 

-   Charlie Brown

   City Council Member

   District 6

 

It’s not just the media taking note of the City’s newest growth industry…Denver City Council held an informational briefing this week to get a clearer picture of how - or whether - the City will play a role in regulating medical marijuana dispensaries.

    

Colorado voter’s passed Amendment 20 nine years ago this week.  The measure allows for the growth, consumption or dispensing of marijuana IF you are a medical marijuana patient or a primary care-giver to a patient… but it also created a legal riddle…

 

“It was legal to have the medical marijuana on the receiving end, but there was a complete unknown on the dispensing end.”

 

David Broadwell

Assistant City Attorney

City Attorney’s Office

 

This issue has become a bit more complicated by a recent opinion from the Federal Department of Justice that said they were going to take a more relaxed view toward Federal enforcement in States, like Colorado, that have medical marijuana laws. 

 

Council members heard from several city agencies ranging from Excise and license and environmental health to zoning, treasury and the police department on their experiences with the phenomenon.

And State Senator Chris Romer, who’s Senate District covers parts of several Council Districts, was also present to speak to regulation at the State level.

 

“I think a robust and I mean a very robust regulatory environment is probably where I lean.  And let me also be very clear that within that regulatory environment the way Denver manages that program should be different than the way that Greely or Pueblo manages that program.”

 

Sen. Chris Romer (D)

District 32

Colorado State Senate

 

Often holding opposing views on other city issues, District 6 Councilman Charlie Brown and District 7 Councilman Chris Nevitt disagreed on how much regulation the burgeoning industry should face BUT both did agree that the City should start seeking sales tax from the dispensaries since the city provides the same overall services that are in place to any other business or resident in Denver.

 

Voters Reject Initiative 300

Denver’s coordinated election yielded some remarkable results for the Car Impound law - and - a shakeup on the D-P-S School Board.

 

Most notably, was the defeat of Ballot Initiative 300 – which was back on the ballot for revisions just a year after the measure was approved last fall. 

 

300 sought to modify the bill known as the Vehicle Impound law by removing an arresting officer’s discretion when stopping an unlicensed driver.  It also contains specific wording that would have to be applied to a suspect’s immigration status. 

 

Voters resoundingly defeated the measure – effectively retaining an officer’s discretion in deciding whether to impound a vehicle after a stop or not based on circumstances and their experience.

 

School Board Results

It was a record turn-out for a School-Board Race. The non-partisan races will change the make-up of the board as only one incumbent ran in the four races so now there will be three new faces joining the group – And the results ran the full gamut of results  - with one landslide;  one, barely carrying a majority; and another just gaining a small plurality of votes.

 

In the At-Large race engaging voters from across the city , Mary Seawell soundly defeated Christopher Scott.

 

In Southwest Denver’s  District 2,  Andrea Merida squeeked by  Ismael Garcia with barely over half choosing her for the seat.

 

School District 3 located in East Central returns incumbent Jeanne Kaplan, who ran unopposed.

 

And Northeast Denver hosts School District 4 – where Nate Easley led a field of five candidates to earn the school board seat with just over a third of votes picking him for the job.

 

These new board members will work directly with Superintendant Tom Boasberg. Boasberg was hired just this year to replace the Michael Bennet when he was taped for the US Senate. You can hear from the new Superintendent  who joined us here at Denver 8 for a discussion of Denver Public Schools greatest challenges and opportunities. 

 

There’s a last chance for you to can learn these for yourself, in our Issues and Options program. The two final replays of the program are this weekend,

Saturday morning at 11:30a.m. and then the next day Sunday also in the morning that time at 10:00 a.m. 

 

Denver’s Ambassador Street

A very select group of voters also approved a plan to give Downtown Denver’s 14th street a makeover to become Denver’s ‘Ambassador’ street.

Private property owners along the entire 12 block length between Market Street and Colfax Avenue approved the formation of a General Improvement District to which they will contribute $4 million of the $14 million over all cost for streetscape improvements.

 

Sidewalks will be expanded, making room for outdoor seating, ground floor shopping and dining – all to create a diverse, visitor-oriented corridor leading to the Colorado Convention center, Denver Performing Arts Center and new hotels.

200 more trees will be added to the street along with improved, increased street signage.

 

The ambitious plans are meant to complement the 16th street mall and expand the area that attracts and accommodate visitors and locals alike.

 

Seedco Audit Report

Denver is finding out how distressing it is to learn that you’ve hired someone to do work that you could do better yourself.

That’s the lesson being learned from an audit of Seedco Financial Services. 

 

Seedco was first retained by the Office of Economic Development in 2007 to provide funding and technical assistance to small businesses, non-profits and major commercial projects in low income and distressed Denver communities.  Seedco is funded by the city… through Community Development Block Grants from the federal government.

 

Denver Auditor Dennis Gallagher released a much anticipated – and highly critical audit of Seedco on Monday.

 

Several performance deficiencies were found – including the failure to meet job creation goals, and to comply with the terms of the contract.   The audit also found at least one questionable loan that may not be in compliance with federal requirements for the funds.

 

Gallagher noted that three years into their contract with Denver, Seedco is performing like a start-up company rather than living up to their reputation as an efficient entity.

 

Furthermore, he added that the City’s own Office of Economic Development’s loan performance far outperformed Seedco in both 2008 and 2009 – which, as he pointed out is both good news and bad news.

The Seedco contract is scheduled for consideration in the Neighborhood, Community and Business Development committee meeting this coming Tuesday. 

 

Graffiti Vandal Eats Words

In a case of eating one’s words –  a graffiti vandal who once bragged that he’d never be caught, was found guilty by a Denver Jury last week.

 

The case is actually a considerable break-through for Denver Police.

 

Timothy Barajas was convicted of three counts of criminal mischief, three counts of defacing public property and one count of trespassing.

He is scheduled to appear for sentencing on December 29, and  could face up to 36 months in the Denver County Jail.

 

Barajas was the leader of a Denver area tagging crew.  Many more members of that gang have also been identified and arrested this year.

While criminal enforcement is an important aspect of dealing with the graffiti problem, there is much more to this issue…

We have more on efforts to curb the spread of graffiti throughout Denver – that’s coming up in our Safety committee report.

  
 Weekly Council & Council Committee Meetings

Denver City Council Meeting

 

 

Citizens Speak

Council Members have spent months considering the 2010 budget.  Now, faced with the final opportunity to amend Mayor Hickenlooper’s revisions – their discussion centered on hopes for the Summer Youth Employment program.

 

The program has been cut from finding meaningful employment opportunities for 500 young people – down to 200.  And during last weeks public hearing received the most vocal support from among those who spoke

 

Councilman Doug Linkhart had stated he was prepared to amend the budget to increase support for the youth programs… but this week rather than bring a definitive measures to secure those funds, he instead placed his confidence in collaboration.

 

“I have received sufficient assurance from the Mayors Office and Workforce Development that we’re going to find additional resources.  We’re going to do all we can to stretch the dollars that we have to be creative with the money that we do have.”

 

-   Doug Linkhart

   City Council

   Member-at-Large

 

Options include using adult training dollars, and using stipends instead of salaries.  TANF dollars just received by the state are a possibility, as well as bank fund programs that might sponsor additional youth.

 

“This is something substantive and it does give them more than a paycheck so let’s now ask the private sector to begin to consider how they might employ our young people in the summer. Months that will help the city go a long way in addressing this issue.”

           

-   Michael Hancock

   City Council Member

   District 11

 

Increase Revenue

Council also expressed gratitude to remaining city employees for their forthcoming contribution to the balanced budget.

 

“Additional furlough days, higher rates on health insurance and obviously facing in some ways retirement dollars that are going to have to come out of individual pay rolls from city employees.  We couldn’t have balanced this budget without that support and I think city employees deserve to be recognized. I wanted to make sure they knew that I cared about that.”

 

-   Rick Garcia

   City Council Member

   District 1

 

Other revisions to the final document made earlier by the administration include

  • Restoring reduced hours to libraries based upon Library board prioritization
  • Continued operation of Byers Library for one more year
  • Halting the transition of the La Alma Recreation Center to non–profit organizations until the community input process is completed. 
  • And limiting employee furlough days in 2010 to four.

The council did not make any amendments at its’ last opportunity to do so.   Next Monday the 2010 budget will be up for final adoption.

 

Denver City Council Preview

Since that completes our look back - now let’s continue our  look ahead to the November 9 meeting of Denver City Council.  In addition to the budget, there is just one public hearing on the agenda.

 

That is Council bill 369 which changes the zoning at 3463 and 3585 Blake Street from industrial uses to Residential Mixed Use-30 for a residential development.


 
 Greenprint Committee
 

Denver Balances its Bicycle Options

Denver has long tired to indentify itself as a bicycle-friendly city – but that view is on the line.  The state this year, adopted legislation amending laws regarding bicycles and other personal wheeled vehicles.  The city, now has to amend its own code to match, And in doing so faces a number of ambiguities.  Even to the point of seeking outside help. 

 

The amendments affect bicycles, electrical assisted bicycles, Segways and neighborhood vehicles – similar to golf carts - among others. 

 

Some of the issues being conformed to new State legislation include speed limits, clearances that motorists must allow for bicyclists, equipment requirements – and rules for riding on sidewalks.  Generally, sidewalk access for a personal wheeled vehicle is acceptable only for purposes of parking. 

 

The City is working to settle any code issues in time for the launch of a new, public bike-share program this spring. 


 

Public Works
Committee
 
Denver's Mall

For an afternoon or evening downtown, Denver residents are often headed to something centered around the 16th Street Mall. 

 

A few months ago we reported on the mall’s revitalization that’s being brought about by renovating the pavements and fixtures.  Now the City is tweaking the retail piece of the equation by clarifying and changing the vender rules for the 16th Street Mall. 

 

The changes will affect how carts are configured.  Further the city will refine the practice of allowing one party of record to be responsible for multiple venders – a concept of called “cluster permits” – 

 

Promoters of the plan are hoping to change awareness by turning the idea of the 16th Street Mall into the 16th Street Marketplace.


Safety Committee
 
Handwriting on Walls  

Now here’s our follow-up on Graffiti mentioned at the top of the program…Plan on seeing less graffiti defacing walls and buildings around town as Denver refines its efforts to erase this problem from the city. 

 

Council has recognized graffiti control as one of its top priorities this year with the goal of prevention, enforcement and abatement. 

 

The City has appointed a Graffiti Task Force that’s actively pursuing efforts to curb graffiti through targeted programs. 

 

One of these programs involves redirecting the artistic urge into more acceptable means of expression.   The Urban Arts Fund is distributing $50,000 to nine organizations for the creation of positive art opportunities – such as mural programs, art classes and workshops. 

 

Officials have their work cut out for them.  So far this year over 2,200,000 square feet of graffiti has been removed – a space as big as an 8-foot wall spanning the distance from Denver to the Eisenhower Tunnel. 


 

Economic Development
Committee
 

Opening the Gates at DIA

United Airlines’ friendly skies are going to have a slightly reduced access here in Denver as DIA finds itself facing an unusual problem for an airport these days.  With almost all of its gates already leased to airlines, the airport is looking for ways to increase gate capacity.  A number of expansions have been designed – but with an estimated build-out time of two years, the airport finds itself facing a delay in supporting its carrier demands. 

 

United Airlines holds a long-term lease on forty gates in Concourse B.  The carrier has agreed to relinquish leasehold rights to 5 of those gates for a period of 6 years in return for a lump sum payment of $12,500,000. That may sound like a lot but it’s actually a cost effective option for the airport.  The amendment provides flexibility and allows for future traffic growth.

  
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