Weekly Digest - Oct. 24, 2017
City of Golden /  911 10th Street  /  Golden, CO 
(303) 384-8000
Give wildlife a brake!

Wildlife Crossing

Now that it's getting cooler, elk and deer have started to use the at-grade wildlife crossing on US 6 again. Please slow down and pay attention to the flashing signals at the crossing. Elk are especially active between sunset and sunrise, so please be safe as you drive on US 6 between 19th Street and Heritage road.

 

It's also worth reminding everyone that the swimming pools, hot tub and sauna at the Community Center are now closed until mid-December for a major mechanical room renovation. More info below!

Please keep reading for all the many other things happening in Golden, and h ave great week!

Your friends at the City of Golden
Current Projects
Linking Lookout Logo
Linking Lookout (US 6 & 19th St. Interchange)
 
There will be intermittent short closures as landscaping and punchlist items are completed.
 
The project website remains up and active until we complete a couple of follow up activities:  a traffic study to verify that the intersection is working as expected and a noise study to verify the noise modeling that we did prior to construction. Results of those efforts will be posted to the website when they are complete in the next month or so.
 
Late last week and over the weekend, noise monitoring was completed. The noise monitoring evaluated the 6 &19 Interchange and evaluated the speed bumps that have been installed on Lookout Mountain Road to see if they have had a noise impact in the neighborhood.
Waterfall Says Goodbye for the Season

Winter is around the corner! The waterfall on Johnson and South Golden Rd has been taken down for the season.

Heritage Road Engineering Study

Bohannan Huston's draft version of Heritage Road has been received for review prior to public input. The study is available for review below. Also available for download is the engineering study recommendations presentation from the Oct. 23, 2017 meeting.
Upcoming Events
Ask an Attorney Event
 
Meet with an attorney about your legal issue for free at this pro bono event on  October 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the atrium of the Jefferson County Courthouse at 100 Jefferson County Parkway.

The public is invited to come in on a first come, first served basis to speak with an attorney for free for 15 minutes. Attorneys will be available from Family Law, Civil Law and Criminal Law.

Additionally, there will be tables from Metro Volunteer Lawyers and Jefferson County Child Support Enforcement.
Local Licensing Authority Meeting
 
The Local Licensing Authority will meet on October 25 at 2:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at 911 10th Street, Golden, CO.

For a full agenda of all items to be considered at the Local Licensing Authority meeting, please  see the meeting agenda .

For information on this or other upcoming meetings, please visit our 
Agendas, Minutes, Web Casts and Schedule page
Community Sustainability Advisory Board Meeting
 
The Community Sustainability Advisory Board (CSAB) will meet on October 25 at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers at 911 10th Street, Golden, CO.

At the meeting, CSAB will discuss the following:
  • Waste diversion efforts at summer events
  • Solar permit fees
  • Energy advisor discussion
  • Financial policy update
For more information, see the meeting agenda.

For information on this or other upcoming meetings, please visit our 
Agendas, Minutes, Web Casts and Schedule page
City Council Regular Business Meeting
 
The Golden City Council will meet on October 26 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at 911 10th Street, Golden, CO.

At the meeting, City Council will discuss the following:
  • Staff will provide Council with a financial update through the 3rd Quarter 2017. Discussion will occur on the City's overall financial condition, as well as on a fund by fund basis.
  • The City has received an appeal request from the Colorado School of Mines related to a Special Use Permit  for a parking garage structure at 1400 Maple Street. Planning Commission held a hearing on the SUP request at their September 6, 2017 meeting and recommended approval of the Mines parking garage, but subject to opening to vehicular traffic a currently closed block of 14th Street between Illinois and Maple Streets. City Council will conduct a hearing on the appeal request, based on the record of the Planning Commission hearing at tonight's meeting, and may take action at that time.
  • The City has received an application from the Colorado School of Mines (Mines) to vacate a parcel of City right of way generally including an unbuilt 14th Street alignment west of Maple Street. Planning Commission considered the request at two meetings and recommends approval of the vacation to facilitate a proposed Mines parking garage, subject to opening to vehicular traffic a currently closed block of 14th Street between Illinois and Maple Streets.
For more information, see the meeting agenda.

For information on this or other upcoming meetings, please visit our 
Agendas, Minutes, Web Casts and Schedule page
Opening Reception for How New is Modern at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum
 
The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum (RMQM) is proud to host an exhibition of modern quilts from a talented group of modern quilters - The Denver Metro Modern Quilt Guild.  How New is Modern, an exhibition of quilts designed and created by Denver-area modern quilters, explores well-known and classic designs in unique and unexpected ways. Using quilts from RMQM's own collection as inspiration, thirty-seven quilts present reimaginations of classic quilt patterns, utilizing bright colors, unusual fabrics, and intricate quilting.

On display from October 23 to February 3, 2018, How New Is Modern will provide all visitors to the museum with a fresh exploration of long favored traditional patterns, encouraging discussion between traditional and modern quilters. Also on display will be a collection of favorite quilts from the Museum's collection, including the traditional quilts that inspired  How New Is Modern.

An opening reception for the exhibit is scheduled from  6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, October 27. The reception is open to the public. The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum is open every day: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
 
On Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Golden Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its 14th opportunity in 7 years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to Golden City Hall at 911 10th Street, Golden, CO. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) 
 
The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. 

The following items  WILL NOT be accepted:
  • Needles & Sharps
  • Mercury (thermometers)
  • Oxygen Containers
  • Chemotherapy/Radioactive Substances
  • Pressurized Canisters
  • Illicit Drugs
  • Liquids
Community Exchange & Housing Resource Fair
 
Please join us on Oct. 30 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Golden Community Center, to review the recent history of residential growth in Golden, discuss the  2 options under consideration for the 1% system, learn about methods for generating local revenue to support income diverse housing options and what our neighbor communities do to increase and maintain their affordable housing.

In addition, if you are interested in learning what resources are available to help find affordable rental housing, purchase your first home or help you with home repairs, there will be representatives from multiple area agencies available to answer your questions and connect you with the available assistance.
JeffCo Innovators Workshop
 
Entrepreneurs, Innovators, Business Owners and Entrepreneur Wanna-Bees! Want to showcase your business, product, or innovation? Meet your neighbors and get valuable information on starting or running your business? Or developing your product idea into Reality? Make connections for collaborations? Join the FREE JeffCo Innovators' Workshop for our next meeting on October 30, 6 p.m. at Golden City Hall. Free refreshments will be available. While the workshop is free,  RSVP in advance to secure your spot.

This month's speakers
Whitney Painter, Owner of Buglet Solar Electric Installation; and
RJ Harrington, Jr. | President & CEO | Sustainable Action Consulting PBC; and
Theresa Worsham, City of Golden Sustainability Director

The JeffCo Innovators' Workshop is a free public service offered by the IX Power Foundation and the City of Golden's Economic Development Commission.

For more information, contact Deborah Deal, 303-277-9520.
Trick or Treat so Golden Can Eat
 
Canned Food Drive

Halloween isn't just about spooks and candy! The Colorado School of Mines Undergraduate Student Government may be coming to your door this Halloween, but instead of looking for treats, they'll take some canned goods instead.

 

Keep an eye out for volunteers coming to your door ready to collect your donations on Halloween.

All of the cans will go back to the Christian Action Guild to be donated to Golden community members in need.
Jefferson County Public Library
Golden Library Events - Oct. 24 - 31
 
To learn more about or register for these and other events happening at the Golden Library, visit JeffcoLibrary.org.
  • Lego Play and Build - Oct.24 & 31, 4 p.m.
  • The Story of Beer - Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m.
  • Workshop Wednesdays - Sewn Circuits (led bracelet) - Oct. 25, 4 p.m.
  • Homework Help - Oct. 25 & 26, 4 p.m.
  • Ukulele Wednesdays - Oct. 25, 6 p.m.
  • Interactive Program for Adults with Disabilities - Oct. 26, 11:30 a.m.
  • DIY: Beer Pint Glass Etching - Oct. 26, 5:30 p.m.
  • DIY Lab: Slime Science  - Oct. 27, 11 a.m.
  • Essential Skills for STEM Careers - Oct. 27, 3:30 p.m.
  • Stranger Things at the Library - Oct. 27, 6 p.m.
  • DIY Lab: CoderDojo - Oct. 28, 3 p.m.
  • Civic Matters: An Afternoon of film and discussion - Oct. 29, 12:30 p.m.
  • DIY Lab: Witches' Brew and DIY, Too! - Oct. 30, 5:30 p.m.
For more information or to register for programs that require pre-registration, please visit the Golden Library website.
Around Town
Take Advantage of the City's LED Business Grant Program before Nov. 1

LED Light bulb
Upgrading to energy-efficient lighting can be the easiest and quickest way to reduce monthly energy bills for any business. 

To assist businesses in making the switch, the City of Golden Community Sustainability Advisory Board offers grants to eligible businesses who have completed a LED lighting retrofit. A one-time $300 grant is available to City of Golden businesses that retrofit existing non-LED lighting fixtures to the LED technology. Pair this offer with Xcel Energy's business lighting rebates and start saving on your monthly electric costs immediately. 

Xcel's rebates are being cut significantly as of Nov. 1, so upgrade ASAP to get the best deal. For more information, visit the Sustainability Economic Health Page .
GCC Pools now closed through mid-December for mechanical room renovations

The Golden Community Center Aquatics Area (that's both swimming pools and the hot tub) is now closed for a major renovation of the mechanical room. The closure is expected to last through mid-December.

"What will happen during this major mechanical renovation?"
  • NEW pool filtration units
  • NEW pool sanitation units
  • NEW pool plumbing
  • NEW pool chemical controllers & feeders
"What do I do if I ONLY use the aquatics area?"

You can choose to keep your fitness up by using our indoor track area, cardiovascular machines, or free weight area.

If you feel that you won't use these areas, your membership can either be put on hold during that time (for full-pay members, also extending your expiration date by the number of weeks the aquatics area ends up being closed) or for monthly-pay members, you may select to have your payments suspended for that period of time.

Please continue to check with the Community Center guest services staff for updates.
Tree Limb Disposal through October 29
 
Downed tree limbs
The City of Golden has opened up the old recycling center at Hwy 93 and Golden Gate Canyon Road so that residents can drop off tree limbs for disposal. 

The heavy snow from early October did quite a bit of damage to our trees. The recycling center will be open through 29. This is for residents only, and only to dispose of broken tree limbs. 

No other yard waste will be accepted.
Residents invited to apply for new transportation board
 
After careful review and consideration for much of this year, City Council created a new citizen board to provide recommendations to staff and City Council regarding issues related to mobility and transportation. The new  Mobility and Transportation Advisory Board (MTAB) was created by  Ordinance 2058, adopted on July 13, 2017.

The Mobility and Transportation Advisory Board will be an advisory board focused on transportation and transit issues within the city. The board will provide a venue to evaluate the relationship between mobility of all types and the economy, sustainability, safety, land use, neighborhood integrity, and emergency response times; and study the importance of transportation access to health care, employment, education, housing, business, and recreational facilities. The board's recommendations will contribute to community and neighborhood plans prepared by  Planning Commission, and to policy and strategic decisions of  City Council.

The board will be comprised of seven members, each of whom shall be a resident of the city. City Council specifically intends that the Mobility and Transportation Advisory Board membership consist of a diverse and committed group of individuals with a variety of complementary skills, critical thinking abilities, and expertise as necessary to fulfill their duties.

Interested residents are encouraged to apply for this exciting new volunteer opportunity.  Apply online! The deadline for filing is October 31, 2017. Save November 30, in the evening for interviews with City Council.

For more information about the Mobility and Transportation Advisory Board, contact City Engineer, Joe Puhr at  jpuhr@cityofgolden.net.
Golden Jumps to Elite Status for Health

The City of Golden has a great reputation as a prime location to live, work and play. The City works hard to provide every opportunity for healthy living, and now our venture is award winning! We are honored to receive the award of "Elite Status" from LiveWell Colorado's HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign." HEAL, short for Healthy Eating, Active Living, recognizes Golden for its citywide commitment to creating an environment that fosters health, safety, wellness and physical activity for all residents and visitors.

A few examples of our efforts include changes to the City's Planning code, which requires all farmer's markets in town to accept SNAP benefits (Colorado's Food Assistance program). We have decreased water tap fees, making it more affordable for places to install water bottle filling stations and fountains. Vending machines located in the Golden Community Center and City Hall follow the USDA guidelines for healthy snacks and make access to them quick and easy.

Active lifestyles are encouraged in a wide variety of venues including (but not limited to) the new Ulysses Skate Park, bike skills park, well-maintained trails, an advanced kayak course on Clear Creek, the Splash Water Park, and an impressive golf course, Fossil Trace.

Transportation is easier than ever, with expanded Green Bus hours and connections to the Light Rail station; an expanded Bike Library which allows people of all ages to check out bikes at various locations throughout town; two Zip Cars available as part of a car-sharing service; and improved bridges that allow for better and safer traffic flow over busy streets for cyclists and pedestrians.  For our youngest residents, we have the annual 'safe routes' walk and bike to school days.

These are just a few examples of the City's efforts toward our Golden Vision 2030 goals. Golden is proud of our commitment to health and wellness, and excited to be one of a select few cities in Colorado to achieve Elite Status.