The
Colorado Department of Revenue and
Governor's Office of Information Technology received funding during the 2014 and 2015 legislative sessions to replace the outdated Driver License System (DLS) and Colorado State Titling and Registration System (CSTARS). This project is called the Colorado Driver License, Record, Identification and Vehicle Enterprise Solution (
Colorado DRIVES).
The primary goal of this project is to provide a flexible, reliable, accurate and integrated solution for driver and vehicle services, as well as business licensing and revenue accounting.
This project is the cornerstone of the DMV Strategic Plan initiative to improve customer service and meet the Governor's goal of reducing wait times in state driver license offices.
Please note that title and registration services will be unavailable August 1-5, 2018. State driver license offices will be closed August 2-3, 2018. Online vehicle registration renewal and kiosk registration renewal in participating counties will remain available throughout this time. For more information, click HERE.
Mayor Marc Williams speaking about the Let's Go Colorado campaign for transportation
Want to get rid of Gerrymandering?
We want to thank the members of the community that attended our last town hall meeting. We apologize that we were unable to deliver on the presentation we promised on redistricting. Since Amendments Y & Z will be on your November ballot, I wanted to follow up with some information in this newsletter.
The 100-member Colorado General Assembly oversees the redrawing of Colorado's seven congressional districts every 10 years, after the census, as well as legislative redistricting. The process is governed by the state constitution, and maps are drawn by a commission normally made up entirely of partisans.
Currently, there is no requirement for any unaffiliated representation on the commission. Also, because it is mostly partisan, the courts have had to intervene when the legislature failed to get the job done. This has resulted in what is commonly known as Gerrymanding.
Last spring, the legislature unanimously referred SCR18-004 and SCR18-005 to the ballot. These measures would prohibit gerrymandering and create fair and competitive congressional and legislative districts. They will make Colorado a national model for putting effective representation of voters at the forefront of redistricting efforts. For more information or to learn more, we recommend visiting Fair Maps Colorado.
Pinnacol Foundation Scholars Dinner with scholarship awardee Lauryn Howlett
FRA approves extended
G-Line testing period
RTD has received approval from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to enter the next phase of testing for the G Line, using multiple trains more frequently starting July 20, 2018. While this authorization represents a significant step forward in the process to open the commuter rail line for passenger service, an opening date has not yet been announced.
To this point, RTD and its contractor, Denver Transit Partners (DTP), have been conducting limited testing along the 11.2 mile line between Union Station and Wheat Ridge. Beginning in July, testing of as many as three trains will take place every half hour starting as early as 3:30 a.m. and extending through 1 a.m. the following day.
This initial period with multiple trains is intended to help operators become familiar with the line. The next phase of testing will simulate the full daily service schedule of nearly 21 consecutive hours each day. During this phase, as many as six trains will be running along the line every day between 3 a.m. and 1 a.m. the following day, at 15- and 30-minute frequencies.
Mizraim Cordero from the Denver Metro Chamber presenting on transportation at the Arvada Chamber breakfast
Rachel Zenzinger
Rachel Zenzinger won election to the Colorado State Senate, representing District 19, in November 2016. She serves on the Senate Transportation Committee, Education Committee, and Statutory Revision Committee. She is also a member the CDOT Efficiency and Accountability Committee, School Finance Interim Committee, Transportation Legislative Review Committee, and the Statewide Internet Portal Authority. She also served as Senator for SD19 in 2014.
Legislative Town Hall
Please plan to join us for our monthly legislative town hall meeting on Saturday, August 18 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm, for a forum featuring the candidates running for RTD Board of Directors. Candidates for District L which serves a majority of Arvada, and District J which serves a majority of Westminster, will be in attendance.
We will meet at the Standley Lake Library in Arvada. Hope to see you there!
Presenting on Amendments Y & Z
Senior Property Tax Exemption Forum
Coloradans age 65 and older who own a home may want to consider attending a special August event to find out what changes may be considered for the senior homestead property tax program when the legislature convenes in January.
This event is sponsored by the Colorado Senior Lobby, Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging (SAPGA), and the Colorado Gerontological Society.
At the Great Schools, Thriving Communities petition celebration
Housing Resource Fair
A group of concerned citizens have begun working with the City of Arvada to address these issues and have organized the Arvada Housing Resource Fair. It will take place Saturday, September 29, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the APEX Community Recreation Center, 6842 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada. The event is free and open to everyone.
There will be information and resources about
Accessory Dwelling Units, "Aging in Place," financial assistance for low income households, the Essential Home Repairs program, home sharing, first-time home buyer assistance, rental assistance, and understanding fair housing requirements. I hope you'll mark your calendars now!
With Kathryn Wallace at the Arvada Festivals event "Arvada on Tap"
Tracking your Senator
In July I was the guest speaker for the
Arvadans for Progressive Action... I attended the
Statewide Internet Portal Authority (SIPA) board meeting... I attended the
Great Schools Thriving Communities petition collection event... I hosted the
Let's Go Colorado campaign at a special town hall meeting to discuss transportation ... I gave a presentation to the
Wheat Ridge City Council on Senate Bill 001 and the Let's Go Colorado initiative... I met with
Conservation Colorado to discuss air quality standards... Met with independent casino owners
Ed and Shirley Smith at the Sasquatch in Black Hawk... I attended the
CDOT Efficiency and Accountability Committee... I attended the
Arvada Chamber's 3rd Friday breakfast and spoke about Senate Bill 001... I hosted our
monthly town hall meeting at the Standley Lake Library... I volunteered for the
Arvada Festivals event
"Arvada on Tap"... I joined
Sen. Kerry Donovan in Paonia for a constituent event... I attended the
School Finance Interim Committee.
At the Sasquatch Casino in Black Hawk learning about gambling laws
If there is an event you think I should attend, please notify me!
Donations
Can you help us by making a contribution? While the campaign activity has concluded, we still need your help so that we may continue keeping in touch with constituents. Your contribution helps pay for events, direct mail, the website, newsletter, and other tools that make voters aware of what is happening down at the State Capitol. THANK YOU!
