e-Talk in 10
October 2009
From the office of Councilwoman Jeanne Robb
1232 E. Colfax Avenue, Denver, Colorado, 80218
303.377.1807
Jeanne.Robb@denvergov.org
In This Issue:
- New Central Denver Recreation Center -
- Zoning Code Update Joint City Council and Planning Board Listening Sessions –
- Public Meeting to Discuss New Crime Lab Design and Construction October 1st –
- Living Streets Initiative Public Workshop and Open House –
- Last Voter Registration Date for November Election is Monday, October 5th –
- Parks and Rec Needs Volunteers to Put the Beds to Bed on October 24th –
- Fall is Coming and so is the 2009 Denver LeafDrop –
- Street Closures: Denver Marathon October 17th and 18th and Columbus Day Parade October 10th –
- New Pay by Phone Parking Meter System in Cherry Creek North –
- Check Out New Denver Parks Maps –
- 2010 Budget Tightening Creates Opportunities for Savings and Partnerships –
- Denver Energy Challenge Provides Additional Incentives for Residents to Purchase Renewable Energy –
- Opening on Independent Audit Committee –
- Making Things Easier and Cheaper at the Denver Municipal Animal Shelter –
- Denver’s Anti-Idling Program Reminder –
- Morey Neighborhood Center Reopened Wednesday, September 2nd –
- First Friday Art Walks and New “Connect the Dots” First Friday Art Shuttle October 2nd –
- Department of Environmental Health is Moving -
- Upcoming Events -
- City Council Meetings and News –
- Upcoming Events Calendar –
New Central Denver Recreation Center
The November 2007 bond issue allocated $11 million for land acquisition and design services for a new recreation center to serve the central Denver area. A 2006 Recreation Needs Assessment Survey showed there to be a gap in recreation center service for central Denver. To view maps of the central Denver need click here and for a more centralized map click here.
I want to thank everyone who joined Parks and Recreation, Councilwoman Madison and myself on Tuesday, September 15 at the Denver Botanic Gardens for an informative public meeting and open house to gather public input on site selection for a new recreation center in the central Denver area. Nearly 150 citizens viewed various renderings and lists of pros and cons of 6 different locations that were considered during the process. They then saw more specific renderings and discussed preferences of the final two possible sites: new construction surrounding the Congress Park pool or acquisition of the former Church in the City, Colfax and Josephine. To view the powerpoint presentation, a list of public comments and questions, site plan options for Congress Park and Church in the City, and other site evaluations, please click here.
While no process is perfect, I have worked very hard to be sure that central Denver residents have a choice of locations for a new recreation center. While it has been challenging, to say the least, it’s also a great opportunity for central Denver. Parks and Recreation and my office will be taking comments for the next week or so, but as was stated at the meeting, a decision must be made quickly since the City has a ninety day option to buy the Colfax and Josephine site. Next week, the Denver Parks and Rec Department will present an update on the September 15th meeting and the two sites to the Parks and Rec Advisory Board (PRAB). This meeting is Thursday, October 8th from 6- 8 pm. Please click here to view the location and agenda.
Zoning Code Update Joint City Council and Planning Board Listening Sessions
SAVE THE DATE for joint City Council and Planning Board Public Listening Sessions on the New Zoning Code for Denver on Wednesday, November 18th from 5:30 – 8:30 pm and Thursday, November 19th from 1-4 pm at the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80201, Room 4.F.6. The format of the meeting will call speakers up in order of sign-up for questions or comments for a 3 minute time period. Arrive up to 30 minutes prior to the meeting for speaker sign-up and to review materials.
We had two District 10 zoning meetings this summer. Additionally, Nora, Caitlin, and I have attended and tried to listen to as many neighborhood discussions as possible. Many neighborhoods have submitted comments to CPD and my office. Most of the comments have been about which zone districts are appropriate for the various neighborhoods and areas of District 10, but some of the comments have been about setback, height and other dimensions.
Now Community Planning and Development is working on calibrating and refining dimensions for both residential and commercial structures. The Urban Land Institute has been very helpful in analyzing the commercial forms and the AIA has been looking at commercial and residential forms as well. There is still a lot of work to be done!
The Denver City Council took the first step toward establishing a new zoning code for Denver this past Monday, September 28th, by unanimously passing a Resolution #103 laying out a tentative schedule and process for implementing the code. Council considers extensive notification, outreach and public input imperative to successfully adopting and applying a new zoning code and map.
The proposed schedule includes the following target dates:
• Late October 2009: Publication of a semi-final draft, revised to reflect comments from the Round 3 public meetings and to correct typographical and format errors will be posted online at www.NewCodeDenver.org.
• November 18 and 19, 2009: Day and evening listening sessions held jointly by City Council and Planning Board for public comment.
• December 22 2009 - Publication of the final draft on www.NewCodeDenver.org on or before this date.
• January 6, 2009 – Public Hearing held by Denver Planning board
• January 13, 2009 – City Council Blueprint Denver Committee consideration of final draft
• January 21, 2009 – Community, Planning and Development (CPD) files bill for an ordinance for the new code to be considered by City Council.
• January 25, 2009 – First reading of the bill by City Council
• February 22, 2009 – Final consideration of zoning code bill by City Council, following a formal public hearing. If the bill passes, it becomes an ordinance, or city law.
If at any step in this timeline, the Planning Board or the City Council decides the code is not ready to move forward, the dates could be pushed out to allow for more work and refinement.
The resolution also provides details about the 4 month transition period following the new code's implementation. The resolution states that the new code and map shall be effective upon final publication of the ordinance adopting the new zoning code and map. However, during a 4-month transition period, persons may continue to apply for development review or zoning permits under the old code and map or, alternatively, may elect to apply for development review or zoning permits under the new code and map. This does not allow someone to submit for a zoning map amendment (re-zoning) under the new map and code. An application for a re-zoning pending before the effective date of the new code and map will be returned to the applicant (with no additional fee) to be submitted in compliance with the new Code.
Public Meeting to Discuss New Crime Lab Design and Construction October 1st
The first in a series of public meetings to gather community comments regarding the new bond funded Denver Police Crime Laboratory will be held Thursday, October 1, 2009 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Wellington E. Webb Municipal Building, (Conference Room 1.B.6) located at 201 W. Colfax Avenue. The public should enter the building and pass through security at the Court Street entrance.
At the meeting, the project management/architect team will make a brief presentation on the current plans for the facility, which will be followed by an opportunity for questions and comments by the public. The Crime Lab will provide new, state of the art criminal investigation facilities to enhance Denver Police operations in bringing resolution to crimes. The Lab, located on 14th Avenue between Cherokee and Delaware, will be a stand-alone, multi-story building. Construction of the $36 million dollar bond-funded facility is anticipated to begin in summer of 2010, with completion targeted before the end of 2011.
The Crime Lab is funded through the City of Denver’s $550 million voter-approved Better Denver Bond Program, which is renovating and constructing facilities that touch citizen’s lives – including public safety, roads, libraries, parks, recreation centers, child care sites, hospitals, City buildings and cultural facilities. The program is pumping millions of dollars into the economy and helping to preserve and create jobs across the region. Over 280 projects are part of this effort; more than 55 are complete, another 60-plus are in construction, and many more are in design. The improvements are scheduled for completion by 2012. Projects are being accelerated as possible, with most of them slated for completion by 2011. F or more information see www.denvergov.org/betterdenver.
Living Streets Initiative Public Workshop and Open House
A Living Streets Initiative (LSI) Public Workshop and Open House is coming to your area! Denver’s Living Streets Initiative team has been working hard to plan several opportunities to explore the principles behind the national complete streets/living streets movements and how we are moving forward with our efforts in Denver.
Why do we call it the Living Streets Initiative? It’s because we are trying to bring pedestrian life to the streets and in that process we can live healthier lives. Living Streets are vibrant places where people of all ages and physical abilities feel comfortable using any mode of transportation (walking, biking, transit, or private auto). By integrating the street with the adjacent built environment, Living Streets add value to communities. By encouraging the creation of great places with transportation options that work for everyone, Living Streets can simultaneously promote healthier living, economic development, and increased mobility instead of enhancing one of these goals at the expense of the others.
The initiative’s primary goals include:
• Make the city accessible for all ages and abilities
• Improve community health and the built environment
• Enhance the “people trip” carrying capacity of our corridors
• Encourage better utilization of urban land near transit
• Increase the return on investment in infrastructure improvements
• Make investments that incorporate sustainable, best management practices
Meeting Locations: All meetings are from 6 – 8 pm
Northeast – Wednesday, October 14th, Montbello Recreation Center, 15555 E. 53rd Ave.
Southeast – Thursday, October 15th, Schlessman YMCA, 3910 E. Yale Ave. at Colorado Blvd.
Southwest – Tuesday, October 20th, Athmar Recreation Center, 2680 W. Mexico Ave.
Northwest – Wednesday, October 21st, Highlands Masonic Center, 3550 Federal Blvd.
Central – Thursday, October 22nd, EXDO Event Center, 35th St. and Walnut St.
The workshops will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn more about living streets and to provide important feedback on the benefits, barriers and trade-offs associated with Living Streets. For more information about the initiative and the workshops, please visit www.denverlivingstreets.com.
The East Colfax Plan and West Colfax Plans focused on land use and transportation. The first implementation steps of these plans brought us form-based zone districts for Main Streets. Now in addition to concentrating on the form of the buildings, we need to concentrate on the form of the streets and sidewalks. Thus the City has identified the need for a more comprehensive, coordinated approach to corridor planning, not just for Colfax but al our major transportation corridors. In fact, First Avenue/Alameda/Leetsdale is the sample study corridor for the project.
Last Voter Registration Date for November Election is Monday, October 5th
The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. To save money during these tough economic times, the upcoming election will be conducted by mail only. There will not be early voting at polls or voting at polls on Election Day. In 2008, 174,600 Denver voters voted by mail out of 278,224 ballots cast.
Denver voters can assist the Denver Elections Division’s preparation for this mail ballot election by making sure that the address information on your voter record is correct. Monday, October 5th is the voter registration deadline. You must be registered to vote by that day in order to get a ballot in the mail. To check your record, voters can go the Colorado Secretary of State elections website at www.sos.state.co.us, and click on “Verify Your Voter/Ballot Status” or call 3-1-1.
Voters should make sure to follow the instructions on how to properly complete their ballot. Ten percent of the mail ballots from the November 2007 election were improperly marked with check marks, circles and other marks that could not be counted by electronic ballot counters, and contributed to a delayed vote count. Most voters will mail in their ballots to the Elections Division. They must be received at the Elections Division no later than 7 pm on Election Day in order to be counted.
Under a recent change in state law, ballots will be mailed to voters starting 22 days prior to the election instead of 30 days prior to the election as in past years. Thus, mail ballots will be mailed to voters between October 13th and 16th. Beginning October 26th through Election Day on Tuesday, November, 3rd mail ballot drop-off sites and service centers will be open.
The November 3rd election ballot will include the following issues:
• Ballot initiatives. To find out about potential ballot initiatives, click here. This link provides information about status of ballot initiatives and provides the proposed ballot text.
• Election of Denver School Board members for four districts. There are 11 candidates for the four seats, only one of whom is an incumbent. The districts are in southwest Denver, northeast Denver, central Denver and at-large.
This November, make your voice heard! For more information on the voting options or issues, call the Denver Elections Division at (720) 913- VOTE (8683), 3-1-1 or my office 303-377-1807. You can also visit the Denver Elections Division website.
Parks and Rec Needs Volunteers to Put the Beds to Bed on October 24th
Volunteers are needed at Civic Center and Cheesman Park on Saturday, October 24th from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm to remove annual flowers, drag tarps, load flowers in trucks, over-turn dirt, and dig dirt at the annual Put The Beds to Bed event. Groups, families, and individuals from the neighborhoods and surrounding area are encouraged to participate. All tools will be provided for the project. It is suggested you bring your own gloves and water bottle. Dress for any weather. Do not bring pets. Please call Denver Parks and Recreation volunteer hotline at 720-913-0330 or email: dprvolunteers@denvergov.org to register. Please specify you are interested in working at Civic Center or Cheesman Park and the number of volunteers.
Fall is Coming and so is the 2009 Denver LeafDrop
Fall is upon us and so is the annual ritual of raking leaves. Did you know that organic materials such as food, food-soiled paper and yard debris account for 58% of what is thrown away in Denver? Denver Recycles’ LeafDrop program once again will be providing options for Denver residents to compost their leaves and avert them from the dump.
If you can, try and reuse and recycle your leaves by digging them into the garden, composting them or using a lawn mower to mulch small amounts into the lawn. This adds nutrients and helps the soil retain moisture. Home composting and mulching information can be found by clicking here. Remember to never sweep your leaves into the street. This clogs up storm sewers and street sweeper vehicles. If you can’t reuse your leaves at home, take them to a LEAFDROP site this fall and Denver Recycles, a program of Solid Waste Management, will ensure they are composted. Please note that leaves must be tied or secured in bags. If you can use paper yard debris bags (found at most hardware and home improvement stores), they can be composted with the leaves. You can also treat your Halloween jack-o-lantern to a second chance and compost it with LEAFDROP. Then, reclaim your leaves next spring in the form of rich compost at the Treecycle Mulch Giveaway and LEAFDROP Compost Sale. Reclaim your leaves next spring in the form of rich compost at the 2010 Treecycle Mulch Giveaway & LeafDrop Compost Sale.
Drop-off locations:
• 10 am – 4 pm Sundays, November 1, 8, and 15
◦ Northwest – Sloan’s Lake Park, 17th Ave. at Sheridan Blvd.
◦ Southwest – John F. Kennedy High School, Newland St. and Brown Place
◦ East Central – Cranmer Park, 3rd Avenue and Clermont Street
◦ Southeast – South High School, Louisiana Ave. and Franklin St.
◦ Northeast – Smiley Middle School, 26th Ave. and Holly St.
• 7 am – 2:30 pm, Monday – Friday (closed Holidays), October 5 – December 4
◦ Havana Nursery, 10450 Smith Road, just south of I-70 and Havana St.
◦ Denver Solid Waste Transfer Station, 7301 E. Jewell Ave., Quebec St. & S. Cherry Creek Drive
For more information or to check for extreme weather cancellations call 720.865.6810 or visit DenverGov.org/DenverRecycles
Street Closures: Denver Marathon October 17th and 18th and
Columbus Day Parade October 10th
On your mark, get set, go! On the mornings of Saturday, October 17th and Sunday, October 18th the Denver Marathon Kids Race and Denver Marathon will start and finish downtown in front of the State Capitol. On October 17th, the Denver Marathon Kid Race begins. There is a short course for younger kids (.05 mile) and a longer course for older kids (1 mile) both starting and ending in Civic Center Park. To learn more please click here. On Sunday, October 18th the Denver Marathon will start in Civic Center Park and will travel past many of Denver's major landmarks such as the Denver Public Library and the Denver Art Museum, loop its way through LoDo highlighting Larimer Square, Pepsi Center, Union Station, and Coors Field, then wind through City Park, Cheesman Park, and Washington Park and their neighborhoods creating a community- wide celebration throughout the city. The final stretch of the Marathon will run through Denver's art district on Santa Fe Drive past the Museo de las Americas to the finish line and a post-race festival in Civic Center Park. Several streets in the Denver area will be closed for runners so please anticipate traffic delays and detours. Please click here for a list of all road closures and a map of all road closures.
On Saturday, October 10th, the Columbus Day Parade will be marching throughout the downtown area. The parade starts at 14th St. and WB W. Colfax Ave., proceeds to Court Pl., right turn onto Court Pl to 15th St., left turn onto 15th St. to Welton St., right turn onto Welton St., parade proceeds to 17th St., right turn onto 17th St., 17th St. to Broadway, right turn onto SB Broadway to the 1400 block of Broadway, where the parade goes by a reviewing stand and finishes. To learn more, visit http://www.columbusdayparade.org/
New Pay By Phone Parking Meter System in Cherry Creek North
Motorists in the Mile High City now have a convenient, new payment option when parking in the Cherry Creek neighborhood. Starting in mid- October, you should start seeing signs for the Verrus Pay by Phone service popping up around Cherry Creek North Business District for on-street parking. This exciting new pilot option will provide drivers with new tools to track parking, extend their parking time and provide proof of payment from the convenience of their mobile device.
Your Feedback is Needed
This six month pilot is designed to determine the impact Pay by Phone will have on customers, infrastructure management and Right-of-Way Enforcement. Previously, we have heard concerns from drivers with small children that parking, walking to the parking kiosk and then back to the car is cumbersome and unsafe. Hopefully, this pay by phone option will help ease some of that concern. I strongly encourage drivers to provide Public Works with their feedback. Public Works has established a brief survey at www.denvermeter.com aimed at collecting public opinion on this new option. The website will be open for comments when the service debuts in mid-October.
How to Use Pay By Phone
• To use the service, motorists must first sign up for a free Pay by Phone account online at www.paybyphone.com or by calling Verrus at 1-888-480-PARK (7275). Information requested will be the motorist's mobile phone number, license plate and credit card number.
• Once signed up with a free pay by phone account, users simply call the toll free number from their mobile phone and key in the location number that is posted on the meter or nearby signs and the amount of parking time desired.
• The appropriate total, plus a 35-cent service fee including the text message reminder cost, will be charged to their credit card. A history of transactions is viewable any time the user logs into their account.
Reduce Parking Citations
The Pay by Phone system also gives citizens a way to reduce the chance of receiving a parking citation. A text message reminder can be sent to the user’s phone minutes before their time expires, and parkers also have the ability to call back and add additional parking time remotely from any phone.
Check Out New Denver Parks Maps
Enjoy Denver parks with a new point of perspective! ParkArt maps are now available for each of Denver’s Parks showing a graphic representation of each Park and its major features. These maps are available at Find a Denver Park. Once on the ‘Find a Denver Park’ Web page, select a Park from the list and an information bubble will appear on the map pointing out the location of the Park. The information bubble gives you cross streets, a list of Park amenities, and link to an updated ParkArt map for that specific Park.
In addition, an updated citywide Parks map is available online at Citywide Parks Map (PDF).
2010 Budget Tightening Creates Opportunities for Savings and Partnerships
25 Denver Parks and Recreation Employees Will Work Seasonally at DIA
In an effort to become more efficient citywide, 25 Denver Parks & Recreation employees began training this week and will work full-time at Denver International Airport for the next six months. This is a great opportunity for both agencies. It fills an important need for the airport during the winter and allows Denver to preserve city jobs that will come back to work in the parks next summer.
The employees will work at the airport under a “shared services” partnership between the City’s departments of Aviation and Parks & Recreation. Much of the work will involve snow removal that was performed last winter by a contractor, Snow-Go, whose contract was not renewed.
The partnership saves city positions that might have been subject to layoffs in what is normally a slow time for Parks & Recreation workers. The employees also will work alongside DIA maintenance workers, performing light trade work such as changing filters, etc. until snow season hits.
The seasonal reassignment of the Parks & Recreation workers will save the agency approximately $700,000. The money invested by the airport would have been allocated to the Snow-Go contract.
Denver Public Works Solid Waste Management Partners with Denver Public Schools to Provide Trash and Recycling Services
Denver recently announced the formation of a partnership where Denver Public Works Solid Waste Management (SWM) will provide trash collection services to all Denver Public Schools. In addition, Denver Recycles, a program of Solid Waste Management, will roll out a district-wide school recycling effort over the next year.
The formation of this partnership is another example for how Denver and DPS employees are working to cut costs and gain efficiencies in the services they provide. DPS will pay the City for collection services, and through this agreement DPS will be able to defer the purchase of new garbage trucks and save on operational costs, saving several hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next five years. Denver Solid Waste Management will generate revenue for this service and gain collection efficiencies since many schools will become part of existing residential trash collection routes.
In addition to trash collection services, Denver Recycles will begin rolling out recycling collection services to all schools during the 2009-2010 school year. The recycling collection service will be complemented by an education and outreach program designed for DPS students. Recycling will also provide collection efficiencies and present schools with the ability to reduce the amount of waste disposed from their facilities, thus reducing landfill disposal costs. Solid Waste Management will in turn generate revenue on the sale of the recyclables, lowering its cost to provide service to DPS.
Denver Energy Challenge Provides Additional Incentives for Residents to Purchase Renewable Energy
The City & County of Denver, Xcel Energy, Denver Public Schools, the Governor’s Energy Office, and the Sierra Club have teamed up to help Denver residents reduce their carbon footprint while helping ten local high schools fund clean energy projects.
The program provides residents with a new incentive to register for Xcel Energy’s Windsource program. This incentive includes a donation for each new registrant, which will help fund energy efficiency or renewable energy projects at North, South, East, Montbello, West, Manual, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, and Kennedy High Schools.
Available through Xcel Energy, Windsource allows residents to purchase some or all of their electricity from renewable sources for a small premium over the cost of purchasing electricity from traditional sources. School donations will be awarded on a points system based on the amount of renewable energy Denver residents register for before May 9, 2010. Each school is eligible to earn up to $12,500 towards funding renewable energy or energy efficiency projects.
In 2007, the City & County of Denver launched the Greenprint Climate Action Plan, which aims to reduce the city’s per-capita greenhouse-gas emissions by 10 percent by 2012 through a combination of policy changes and supporting and promoting renewable energy projects.
Details about the Denver Energy Challenge can be found at www.Denverenergy.org. For a complete listing of the selected schools and their locations, please visit: www.Denvergov.org/Transportation
Opening on Independent Audit Committee
As you may recall, in 2008, a Charter change went into effect regarding the Dept. of Finance and the Auditor’s Office where the creation of a new independent Audit Committee was formed. The Audit Committee has seven members, two of whom are appointed by City Council.
On January 7, 2008, Mr. Robert Haddock and Mr. Charles Husted were appointed as City Council representatives to the Audit Committee. Mr. Haddock’s term ends January 1, 2012 and Mr. Husted’s term ends January 1, 2010. I want to thank Mr. Husted for his service on the Audit Committee where his expertise and past experience contributed greatly to the independent oversight of City operations.
Denver City Council is looking for a qualified individual to represent them on the Audit Committee. Please note that, with the exception of the Auditor, no member of the Audit Committee shall hold any other office or employment with the City and County while serving on the Audit Committee. Members of the Audit Committee shall be appointed on the basis of education or experience in accounting, auditing, financial management, or related fields of expertise. The term for this appointment is four years. If you are interested, please send your resume to Debra Bartleson by October 31, 2009 at Debra.Bartleson@denvergov.org or contact her with any questions. If you are interested in learning more about the Independent Audit Committee, tune in to the Denver 8 TV City Council Finance Committee discussion on Wednesday, October 21st from 1:30 – 3:00 pm.
Making Things Easier and Cheaper at the Denver Municipal Animal Shelter
World Rabies Day was celebrated on Monday, September 28. Any mammal can be infected with Rabies. Some of the most common animals that transmit the infection are raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes and coyotes. When untreated, rabies in humans is almost always fatal. It is estimated that every year 30,000-40,000 US residents are potentially exposed to rabies, requiring human rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). People exposed to rabies can expect to receive a series of five shots for vaccination and to slow the spread of the virus until the body can produce its own antibodies. This series of shots can cost from $1,500 to $2,500, and any animals that have contracted the virus would have to be euthanized.
Although the majority of rabies cases occur in wildlife, most humans are exposed to the virus as a result of an encounter with an infected domestic animal. Keeping pets, including cats and dogs, up-to-date on vaccinations, is a primary means of helping to prevent rabies in humans and domestic animals.
Denver Municipal Animal Shelter provides low cost vaccinations, including rabies every Wednesday and Thursday. Dog vaccinations are Wednesdays from 2:30 until 4:45, and cat vaccinations are Thursdays from 3:30 until 4:30. The cost is just $35, which includes rabies, distemper/parvo, and a one-year Pet License. The Denver Municipal Animal Shelter is located at 678 S. Jason Street. Additional information about Denver Municipal Animal Shelter vaccination clinics can be found at www.denveranimalshelter.org.
Denver’s Department of Environmental Health recently launched a new website for the Animal Care and Control Division. The new site is only a part of the improvements the division is making in response to the Humane Society’s evaluation, and in anticipation of the new shelter voters approved in 2007. Construction of the new facility is expected to begin in early 2010.
Animal Care and Control and Information Technology Services staff have been working since June to edit content and reformat the site to make it more customer-friendly. Some changes that you’ll find while exploring the new site include improved language and graphics, and easier to use navigation to find commonly used services such as online pet licensing. Another addition to the site is the redesigned and more prominently displayed donation page that includes a list of items frequently needed at the shelter. Donors can also make monitory contributions online. The proceeds are designated to fund projects that improve the lives of the animals at the shelter. Animal Care and Control anticipates that the new web site will contribute to more adoptions and recovered pets from the shelter. Animal Care and Control also hopes to attract more Shelter volunteers and donations with the improved web site and social marketing.
To view the new Animal Care and Control site visit: www.denvergov.org/animalcare or www.denveranimalshelter.org.
Denver’s Anti-Idling Program Reminder
Did you know that idling for just 1 minute produces as much carbon monoxide as smoking 3 packs of cigarettes? Did you know that in the Denver metro region idling is responsible for 40,000 tons of air pollution a year and over 400,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually?
For environmental and safety reasons, remember not leave your vehicle running in your garage or driveway to warm it up during the fall and winter time.
Idling your vehicle can also be quite damaging for the environment. Here are some common misconceptions about idling:
• Myth: An engine should be warmed up before driving
• Reality: While the engine must be warmed up, idling is not an effective way to warm up your vehicle. For cars with fuel injection (almost all vehicles built since the late 1980s) idling for even 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting the engine, and it is only necessary to warm the engine up for 30 seconds before driving away, even on the coldest winter days.
• Myth: Idling is good for your engine
• Reality: An idling engine is not operating at its peak temperature, which means that fuel does not undergo complete combustion. This leaves fuel residue that can deposit on the spark plugs and increase fuel consumption by up to 5%. Also, water condensation in the exhaust system can reduce the life of the exhaust system.
Not only is idling bad for your car, and bad for our air quality, it’s also against the City and County of Denver Municipal Code (Chapter 4, Section 4-43). This limits idling to 5 minutes per hour with exceptions for cold temperatures (less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit), emergency equipment and auxiliary power equipment. Persons reported for violating this ordinance will be sent a letter informing them of the ordinance and potential penalties. If the situation is excessive or repetitive an inspector will investigate. To report a violation, call 3-1-1 and ask to speak with Environmental Health.
While we all love a warm car, this behavior invites car thieves and the number of stolen vehicles increases during this time. Last year, hundreds of people had their vehicles’ stolen while they were left running unattended.
Morey Neighborhood Center Reopened Wednesday, September 2nd
Come and use the pool, weight room, two gyms, and indoor running track in the fitness facility! The fitness facility is open Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm. (Pool hours, Mon. 5 – 7:30 pm, Wed. 5-6:30 pm). No membership is required. Adults $3 per visit, Seniors $2 per visit, Youth $1 per visit.
Various evening classes for adults are available:
Mondays: Spanish II, Beginning Computers, Water Aerobics, Knitting in the Neighborhood, Pilates I
Wednesdays: Adult Group Swim Lessons, Intermediate Computers, Yoga, Pilates II, and Spanish I
Morey Neighborhood Center is located at 14th and Emerson Streets (inside Morey Middle School). Call or email now to register: phone (720) 424-0791, email moreyneighborhoodcenter@dpsk12.org, website http://mnc.dpsk12.org.
First Friday Art Walks and New “Connect the Dots” First Friday Shuttle October 2nd
Beginning on First Friday, October 2nd, art patrons can travel on a free luxury shuttle coach with an on-board guide between the Santa Fe Arts District and the Golden Triangle Museum District. For the first time, art lovers will have easy access to over 100 art galleries, museums, cultural centers, restaurants and shops.
The “Connect the Dots” year-round Art Walks shuttle coach will run continuously from 5:30 – 9:30 pm on the following route: Osage Light Rail Station -> Santa Fe Drive at 10th Avenue -> West High School Parking Lot at 10th Avenue and Galapago Street-> 11thAvenue at Cherokee Street -> the Denver Art Museum Entrance at 12th Avenue. The shuttle coach then returns to Osage RTD station making the same stops on the way. The full loop takes under 20 minutes.
On October 2nd, the Santa Fe Drive First Friday Art Walk will include a special exhibition at Access Gallery (909 Santa Fe) featuring the seven murals created by youth artists at the 2009 CHUN Capitol Hill People's Fair. The People's Fair Mural Project was a team mural painting competition taking place on-site at the People's Fair, with the goal of giving local youth a creative outlet for self-expression. Please stop by and enjoy these amazing murals, created by talented local artists.
Department of Environmental Health is Moving
Denver's Department of Environmental Health has moved as of September 28th from the Webb Building and is now located at 200 W. 14th Avenue (Bannock & 14th), just one block south of the City & County Building and across the street from the Denver Art Museum. You may remember the building as the old Permit Center which was renovated as part of the 2007 Bond. Phone numbers and faxes remain the same. For more information, please contact 720-865-5429.
Upcoming Events
· CHUN’s 40th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, October 1st. Forty years ago, a group of neighbors banded together in opposition to the proposed conversion of 11th and 12th Avenues into one-way streets. The neighbors won their fight, and CHUN was formed. CHUN designates ten “neighborhoods” within its borders: 1st and 22nd Aves., Broadway & Colorado Blvd. CHUN will hold a special celebration at the Denver Botanic Gardens (with music by Hazel Miller) in honor of their 40th anniversary. Tickets may be purchased through the CHUN office for $75 per person; sponsorship opportunities are also available! The keynote speech by former US Rep. Pat Schroeder, a CHUN founding member. Please call 303-830-1651 for more information. To learn more, click here.
· Bank On Denver, Community Partners Workshop Tuesday, October 6th 2 pm. Bank on Denver is an exciting new initiative that will increase the number of residents that have access to bank accounts, financial education and other asset-building opportunities. The city would like your help in designing and implementing this initiative. Your participation is needed to create a successful program. To learn more about the Bank on Denver Program visit: www.milehigh.com/bankondenver.
· Victorian Horrors at Molly Brown House, 1340 Pennsylvania, October 16, 17, 23, and 24. Join in for an evening of theater that has been described as entertaining and downright creepy. The wicked writings of long-dead authors come to life in the dim, flickering candlelight as Edgar Allan Poe, HG Wells and others haunt you with tales of the macabre. This is the perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit for adults and children alike. Performances are open to the public and will take place the last two weekends of October on 17, 18, 24, and 25. The Museum also offers daytime performances in October for local school groups. Click here to learn more or purchase tickets on-line.
· CHEnergy Fest Saturday, October 24 from 10 am – 2 pm. The Capitol Hill Green Team invites residents to the CHUN Community Center, 1290 Williams Street (north end of Cheesman Park). This event is designed to help residents take actions that will conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Come enjoy free food and live music, and learn how to save money and reduce energy consumption at home. Residents can sign up for a free street tree, free curb-side recycling, a low-cost home energy audit, and Xcel’s Windsource program, which allows residents to purchase wind energy for their homes. Free home energy audits, weatherization and energy upgrades are available to some households, depending on income. Significant rebates are available to everyone. To volunteer for the day of the event or for more information, contact Cody Galloway via e-mail or 303-830-1651.
· Bicycle Film Festival, October 28-31. Celebrate the bicycle in diverse forms with four days of bike rides, art show, concert, block party, and of course, film at various Denver venues. Get the full program schedule and tickets at www.bicyclefilmfestival.com.
· The 16th Annual Denver Police District 6 free Halloween Party for Kids of Capital Hill Saturday, October 31 from 4 – 7 pm at the 1566 Washington Police Station. Last year, approximately 2,000 children and their families attended the event. District 6 police like hosting this party to provide a safe trick-or-treat environment for youngsters, with an added benefit of providing a positive interaction between the police and the children and their families. This party is 100% community funded. For more information, contact 820-913-2906 or email dist6halloween@hotmail.com.
· The third annual free “Boo & Brew” will scare its way onto East Colfax on Saturday, October 31st. The East Colfax neighborhood businesses in the “Bluebird District” between Elizabeth and Monroe will be decorated in the spirit of Halloween and handing out candy for the kids and special events for adults. Kids join neighbors and friends in your best costume for fantastic trick-o-treating from 1 – 4 pm at decorated establishments along Colfax Avenue. Adults’ events will be held Halloween night from 7 pm – 2 am. The area will rise from the dead to provide the Third annual Boo and Brew event. For more information, click here.
· November 1, 2009 is the end of Daylight Savings Time. Remember to set clocks back (fall back) one hour that night at 2 am. As debuted last year, Daylight Saving Time will last four weeks longer this year and will end on the first Sunday in November rather than the last Sunday in October as it has in the past. Congress extended DST to save energy. Three weeks were added to the beginning of DST and one week to the end.
City Council Meetings and News
City Council meets every Monday at 5:30 at the City and County building (14th and Bannock St., 4th Floor, Room 451). Sign up for the speaker’s list starts at 5:30pm. The hearings take place after first reading and the exact time depends on where the bill is listed on the agenda.
The Mayor submitted the first draft of the budget on Tuesday, September 15. The last few weeks of September have been spent in department budget presentations to the Mayor and Council for questions and further review. In this challenging fiscal climate, the hearings for Denver’s 2010 budget carry more import than ever. To view Mayor – Council 2010 Budget Hearings, please click here. On Monday, October 19, the Mayor will submit his final budget to City Council. On Monday, October 26, City Council holds a public hearing on the budget. Following the public hearing, but no later than the end of the first Council meeting in November (November 2), Council members may offer motions to amend the budget – 7 votes are required to amend. The Mayor may accept or reject these by Friday, November 6. On Monday, November 9, Council may override the Mayor’s rejection of any amendment – 9 votes are required to override a veto. Council votes on a motion to adopt or reject the budget. If Council rejects the budget, the Mayor may put the budget, as amended, into effect.
Upcoming Events Calendar
A "Meetings of Neighborhood Interest" calendar has been added to the "Residents" page on www.denvergov.org. Click here to go directly to the calendar. Check out the City of Denver’s event calendar www.denver365.com. To share your event with others add it to the left hand side of the homepage and be sure to indicate from the pull down menu which part of the city your event is in.
DAY
EVENT
TIME
PLACE
Thurs
Oct 1
Crime Lab Public Meeting
5 – 7 pm
Webb Municipal Building
201 W. Colfax Ave., Room 1.B.6
Thurs
Oct 1
CHUN 40th Anniversary Gala
5:30 – 8:30 pm
Denver Botanic Gardens
1005 York St.
Sat
Oct 3
Free Admission at the Denver Art Museum
Denver Art Museum
100 W 14th Avenue Pkwy
Sun
Oct 4
Free Admission at Denver Museum of
Nature and Science
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
2001 S. Colorado Blvd.
Mon
Oct 5
City Council Weekly Meeting
5:30 pm
City Council Chambers
City and County building
14th and Bannock St., 4th Floor, Room 451
Tues
Oct 6
1st Avenue Public Meeting
5:30 – 7:30 pm
TBD
Tues
Oct 6
First Tuesday on the Fax
5:30 – 7 pm
TBD
Wed
Oct 7
Free Admission at the Denver Zoo
Denver Zoo
23rd and Steele, north of City Park
Mon
Oct 12
City Council Weekly Meeting
5:30 pm
Tues
Oct 13
Colfax Business Improvement District Board Meeting
10- 11 am
Alta Court Conference Room
1490 Lafayette #108
Tues
Oct 13
Country Club Historic Neighborhood Meeting
5:30 – 7 pm
Guaranty Bank
3301 E. 1st
Tues
Oct 13
Mayfair Neighborhood General Meeting: Councilwoman Robb speaking on Zoning Code Update
7 – 8:30 pm
Palmer Elementary
995 Grape Street
Wed
Oct 14
Happy on the Hill
5:30 – 7 pm
TBD
Thurs
Oct 15
Golden Triangle Third Thursday
5 – 7 pm
Golden Triangle Historic Walking Tour
Thurs
Oct 15
Cherry Creek East Neighborhood Meeting
6:30 – 8 pm
Young Americans Bank Bldg
1st and Monroe
Mon
Oct 19
City Council Weekly Meeting
5:30 pm
City Council Chambers
City and County Building
14th and Bannock St., 4th Floor, Room 451
Wed
Oct 21
Cherry Creek Steering Committee
5:30 – 7:30 pm
Daniels Fund Building
101 Monroe St.
Thurs
Oct 22
Cheesman Park Advocacy Group
5:30 – 7 pm
Tears McFarlane
1290 Williams St.
Thurs
Oct 22
Living Streets Initiative Public Workshop and Open House
6 – 8 pm
EXDO Event Center
35th St. and Walnut St.
Fri
Oct 23
Denver City Employee Furlough Day: Most Denver City and County Offices Closed
Fri
Oct 23
Free Admission at Denver Botanic Gardens
Denver Botanic Gardens
1005 York St.
Sat
Oct 24
CHEnergy Fest
10 am – 2 pm
CHUN Community Center
1290 Williams Street
Sun
Oct 25
Free Admission at the Denver Zoo
Denver Zoo
23rd and Steele, north of City Park
Mon
Oct 26
City Council Weekly Meeting
5:30 pm
City Council Chambers
City and County Building
14th and Bannock St., 4th Floor, Room 451
Wed
Oct 28
Colfax on the Hill Monthly Board Meeting
3:30 – 4:30 pm
L2 Arts & Culture Center (formerly Colfax Events Center), 1477 Columbine
Sat
Oct 31
Halloween
Sun
Nov 1
Daylight Savings Time Ends – set clocks back one hour at 2 am
Mon
Nov 2
City Council Weekly Meeting
5:30 pm
City Council Chambers
City and County Building
14th and Bannock St., 4th Floor, Room 451
Tues
Nov 3
Election Day – Mail Ballot Only
Tues
Nov 3
First Tuesday on the Fax
5:30 – 7 pm
TBD