July 12 Weekly Digest
City of Golden /  911 10th Street  /  Golden, CO 
(303) 384-8000
A Fiery Summer

Heli Water Drop
There are currently four wildfires raging in Colorado, and over the weekend and yesterday, two more fires were fought and extinguished around Golden. The Hogback fire, ignited by a piece of trash that blew out of a truck and hit power lines, burned about 5 acres near Golden, shutting down WB I-70 at C-470 for several hours. The fire was eventually contained Saturday evening with the hard work of twenty firefighters from seven different agencies, including Golden, and a chopper that dropped several buckets of water on the fire. The fire yesterday was a smaller grassfire at Heritage Road and Hwy 40 and, thankfully, extinguished relatively quickly. A roman candle is the suspected source of ignition.

The Golden Fire Department does a great job of keeping the community safe, but asks that the community, in turn, help them out by using common sense when conditions are this ripe for fires. Be aware that stage 1 fire restrictions are now in place (read below for more information on that). Some additional tips include:  Create a defensible space around your home if you live in a wildland/urban interface area.  Do not discard cigarettes, matches, and smoking materials from moving vehicles, or anywhere on park grounds. Be certain to completely extinguish cigarettes before disposing of them.

Please read on to see more of what's happening in Golden, and have a happy, fire-free week!

Your friends at the City of Golden
Current Projects
Linking Lookout Logo
Linking Lookout (US 6 & 19th St. Interchange)
 
Saturday work will occur most Saturdays for the foreseeable future.

Grading will continue for the roundabout at 19th and at Elm St. in anticipation of pouring concrete curbs and sidewalks on the north side of 19th St.

Subbase and final grading continues for the ramps. Paving the new ramps started on the 11th of July and will continue through July 22nd. Contractor is now targeting a traffic changeover from US 6 mainline to the ramps Sunday night July 24. (This is a delay of one week from earlier schedules).

On July 21 and July 22, a section of 19th Street will be paved to connect the new ramps and allow the traffic changeover. This paving will disrupt traffic on 19th Street and will result in delays.  Alternate routes are suggested.

Please note, these plans can change at any time depending on weather and other factors. 
Follow us on Twitter!
Follow us on Twitter for real-time updates! You can also get lots of project information, including maps and long-term plans at LinkingLookout.com.
2016 Utility Replacement

Installation of new water mains is complete on Plateau Parkway and Sharon Parkway and crews are moving to 10th St. east of Vasquez.
2016 Concrete Replacement

Fasick Concrete began working in the Mountain Ridge neighborhood last week. They will be replacing deficient curb, gutter and sidewalk as well as ADA improvements in advance of upcoming paving operations.
New Water Meter
Water Meter Replacement project

Replacements continue citywide with approximately 2,200 meters replaced to date.
 
Contact Les Major at 303-384-8170 or Keith Mehls at 303-384-8171 with questions regarding this project.
Upcoming Events
Economic Development Commission Meeting
 
The Economic Development Commission will meet tonight, July 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the Golden Public Works Building at 1445 10th Street in Golden.
 
At the meeting, the following will be considered:
  • The recent City Council request for budget input.
  • Pharmajet / Corporate Center event update
  • Pharmajet / Downtown event update
  • Communications updates
For more information on this or other upcoming board meetings, please visit our Agendas, Minutes, Web Casts and Schedule page
Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Meeting 
 
The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board will meet tonight July 12, at 7 p.m. in the Golden Community Center at 1470 10th Street in Golden. (This meeting was rescheduled from July 19)
 
At the meeting, the following will be considered:
  • Highway 6 Elk Crossing discussion with Dan Hartman
  • Board Capital Improvement Priority Document Approval
  • Parks and Recreation Advisory Board 2016 Election
  • Director's report
For more information on this or other upcoming board meetings, please visit our Agendas, Minutes, Web Casts and Schedule page
City Council Meeting 
 
The Golden City Council will meet July 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 911 10th Street in Golden.
 
At the meeting, the following will be considered:
  • Consent Matters (all items listed will be treated as one item and one vote. For a full list of items included, please see the  Meeting Agenda.)
  • Presentation of the 2015 CAFR
  • City Council is continuing to solicit public comment regarding suggestions to implement a parking management system in the downtown area to increase the available supply for visitors, downtown residents, and downtown employees by encouraging all day parking by CSM patrons to move back on to campus. Council must decide whether to move forward with such a program and seeks community input. City council is expected to provide direction shortly after tonight's discussion.
  • City council will consider adoption of an ordinance that provides notice to Xcel Energy of the city's intent to acquire all the street lights within the city of Golden, either through negotiated purchase or through eminent domain if necessary, as provided by the city franchise agreement.
  • Direction On Process For City Partnering With CDOT For TAP Grant For Wildlife Crossing US6
  • Appointment to Fill Vacancy on Community Sustainability Advisory Board 
For more information on this or other upcoming board meetings, please visit our Agendas, Minutes, Web Casts and Schedule page
Coffee with a Councilor - North Neighborhoods

Join District 2 Golden City Councilor Casey Brown for coffee and conversation on Saturday July 16 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Council Chambers. Stop by the Farmer's Market first, then join us next door at City Hall! This is a great opportunity to bring up issues of interest to you that are happening in Golden, and the north neighborhoods in particular. Open to everyone!
Golden Farmers Market

The Golden Farmers' Market runs every Saturday through October (except for during Buffalo Bill Days on July 30), from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Located west of the Golden library, the market includes a variety of vendors offering everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to homemade jams, soaps and locally sourced honey. There are also plenty of kids activities, food trucks and more.
Jefferson County Public Library
Golden Library Events - July 12-19
  • Lego Play and Build (July 12 & 19, 4 p.m.) -You're never too old (or young!) to play with LEGOs! Join the Golden Library all-ages LEGO Play and Build program. Build something based on the month's theme or use your imagination! Everyone is welcome, just drop-in. Space is limited, however, and program is limited to 45 participants.
  • Public Event: Your Medicare Options (July 12, 6 p.m.) - Informative meeting about Medicare options. Seniors will learn the ins and outs of choosing healthcare to fit their needs and budget. We will go through your rights, any changes to the system as well. So have your question ready!   
  • Tween Coding Camp (July 12, 13, 14 & 15, 2 p.m.) - Who knows? You might become the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. Get acquainted with computer programming, improve your creative problem solving and have fun at this five-day camp. We'll explore the basics of computer programming and skills needed to pursue a career in this expanding field. You'll learn how to program using Scratch visual programming language, Cubelets robot blocks and some HTML. No experience necessary to join, but you'll have some after the week! Registration Required.  Suitable for: Grades 5-8
  • DIY Explorer (July 14, 4 p.m.)Do you like to invent, create, and re-imagine things? Join Golden's DIY Special Explorer's Club! Whether it's working with soft circuitry, creating pixel art or programming a robot to run a maze, we'll do an awesome hands-on activity each month. Suitable for: Grades 6-12
  • DIY Lab (June 14, 5:30 p.m.) - Do you like to tinker, invent and reimagine things? Drop in and use our DIY space to get creative. All ages are welcome during our weekly open lab. Kids, if you're under 12, please bring your grownup to join and supervise you.
  • Get Your Giant Game On (July 16, 12 p.m.)Feeling a little bored this summer? Switch it up to giant "board"! Families and those who are kids at heart are welcome. Come play giant board games at the library.
For more information or to register for programs that require pre-registration, please visit the Golden Library website .
Downtown Development Authority Meeting
 
The Downtown Development Authority will meet July 18, at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers at 911 10th Street in Golden.
 
For more information on this or other upcoming board meetings, please visit our Agendas, Minutes, Web Casts and Schedule page
Around Town
Temporary fire restrictions now in effect
 
With the current risk for wildfires rated "High" and weather forecasts showing an extended period of dry weather, the City of Golden has instituted a temporary stage 1 fire restriction effective as of noon on July 11, 2016.
Stage 1 fire restrictions:
  • Building, maintaining, attending or using any fire or recreational campfire, except a recreational fire within a permanently constructed fire grate in a developed park, campground, private residence or picnic area. (NOTE: For permitted private residential recreational campfires, citizens are strongly encouraged to contact the Golden Fire Department dispatch center at 303-384-8045 to advise of start and finish times to alleviate smoke check responses.)
  • Smoking at a recreation site, or while stopped in an area of at least six feet diameter that is barren or cleared of all combustible material.
  • Open Fire and Open Burning, including "bon fires" that require a permit from the Golden Fire Department. (NOTE: Burn permits issued and not executed prior to the effective date of these temporary fire restrictions shall not be authorized unless approved by the Golden Fire Department on the day of execution.)
Exemptions approved under temporary Stage 1 fire restrictions:
  • Use of liquid or gas fueled appliances
  • Approved wood pellet grills
  • Charcoal barbeque grills not closer than 30 feet from an undeveloped area
  • Portable outdoor fireplaces not closer than 30 feet from an undeveloped area
  • Welding and cutting torch appliances (as described in the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Notice Order ) may only be operated in an area no closer than 30 feet from an undeveloped area.
  • Recreational fires not closer than 30 feet from an undeveloped area
  • Permitted fires by persons with a permit specifically authorizing the prohibited act such as professional fireworks displays. Contact must be made with the Golden Fire Department to verify the status of permits issued prior to the establishment of burn restrictions.
  • Fire Department/District training fires
  • Burning of explosive wastes by manufacturer or explosives in areas zoned for industrial use, when the burning is supervised by the Golden Fire Department.
  • Open fires or open burning by any federal, state, or local officer in the performance of official fire suppression functions

Thank you for your diligence to keep our city and County safe! Please note that JeffCo went to Stage I Fire Restrictions as well. If you have any questions, please email the Fire Prevention Division of the Fire Department at  FireInspections@cityofgolden.net.
4th Suspect Arrested in Golden Home Invasion and Stabbing
 
Fugitive Cody Aaron Jones, DOB: 3-4-96, turned himself in to the Golden Police Department on July 7, 2016. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Mr. Jones on May 18. He is alleged to be the fourth person involved in a home invasion robbery and stabbing that took place in Golden on May 16, 2016.

The District Attorney's Office has charged Jones with 28 counts, including Attempted Second Degree Murder, First Degree Assault, Burglary, Menacing, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Robbery, and False Imprisonment.

Cody Jones is one of four people who have now been arrested and charged in the incident. Two adults, Caleb Williams, 21, and Julia Johnson, 19, are set for preliminary hearings. Williams' preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 28 and Johnson's preliminary hearing will be July 12. A Petition in Delinquency was also filed accusing one juvenile male, DOB: 7-6-98, with 21 counts.
Caleb Williams remains in custody at the Jefferson County jail. He is being held on $500,000 bond.

Julia Johnson's original bond was set at $250,000. On June 7 her bond was modified to $25,000, which she posted. The court ordered numerous terms as conditions of her bond.
Cody Jones is being held at the Jefferson County jail on $500,000 bond.
Public Works Citizens Academy registration now open!
 
Have you ever wondered how Golden's water is treated? How we maintain and repair infrastructure? How we map and track water, sewer and street-related assets within the community? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should join the Public Works Citizens' Academy. This free 20-hour program, which is geared toward adults, kicked off on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 1.

It will include interactive hands-on training activities, tours of City facilities and presentations by Public Works staff. This program will include one Thursday evening, three Tuesday evenings and two Saturday sessions. To conclude the program, graduates of the Academy will be awarded Certificates of Completion at an October City Council meeting.

The registration deadline is Friday, Aug. 26. The class size is limited, so please register early.

Police Citizens' Academy now accepting applications
 
The Golden Police Department is accepting applications for the 2016 Citizens Academy. 

The Academy is set to begin August 17 and is scheduled for 11 weeks of classroom and skills education.  Academy attendees will learn what police officers and police employees do in the performance of their duties and the rules and laws that guide them.
 
The Academy combines classroom presentations with hands-on activities to provide the participants with a comprehensive experience. Participants will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays, and two Saturdays for firing range and driving track training. 

Throughout the course of the Academy, participants will be exposed to K9 patrol, drug enforcement, traffic accident investigations, communications, patrol duties and realities, DUI traffic enforcement, the Jefferson County Regional SWAT team, a tour of the Jefferson County Jail, crime scene investigations, firearms simulator, taser and driving track training.

The Golden Police Department began conducting an Adult Citizens Police Academy in 1995. We felt that exposing citizens to knowledge about police work would help them to better understand and relate to police involvement in the community. Our hope is that the graduates of the Citizens Academy will share this knowledge with others in the community.

Water Conservation - Cycle and Soak
 
One important message resulting from sprinkler system inspections conducted in Golden is that residents with clay soils need to use a watering technique called "cycle and soak" to promote infiltration and prevent runoff. Clay soil absorbs water very slowly, but most sprinkler systems have high precipitation rates that apply water very quickly. As a result, sprinklers often apply more water than the soil can absorb and the excess water runs off the lawn, and down the gutter.
 
Cycle and soak irrigation involves watering for several short cycles, separated by enough time for the water to soak in. This practice results in a deep soak, but without water lost to runoff. For clay soils, the Center for Resource Conservation recommends watering for three cycles of seven minutes each, with an hour in between each cycle. Such cycles are easy to set with most control clocks using the multiple start times function.
 
Cycling saves a significant amount of water that would otherwise be lost to runoff. It also helps encourage deeper root depth, healthier lawns and reduces nonpoint source pollution from runoff.
For more tips and information, contact the Center for ReSource Conservation at ConservationCenter.org or by calling 303-999-3820 x217.

Slow the Flow