Every decade or so the City of Denver has the capacity to authorize General Obligation Bonds based on our bonding capacity.  These funds are used to restore, replace and expand infrastructure and capital assets across the city.  Many of you might remember the Better Denver Bond Campaign from 2007.  This campaign funded many projects throughout our city up to $550 Million.

This year the City will be bringing Bond authorization to you, the voters of Denver 2017.  This is an incredible opportunity for our city and I’m excited for our residents to be involved in building the future of Denver.  It is my aim to keep the "Fine" District 9 residents up to date on the process and continue to hear their input on what projects they would like to see elevated.  So, over the next couple of months I will have Education and Input sessions before this bundle of improvements comes before City Council.

The Mayor's administration has set up a process to vet all projects with six committees that will report out to the Executive Committee, which I sit on.  The following committees will evaluate everything:

• Arts and Culture
• City-Owned Facilities
• Parks and Recreation
• Safety Facilities
• Transportation and Mobility

Ultimately, the Executive Committee will make a recommendation to the Mayor, then back through City Council and finally to the Voters of Denver.

For more information on the process, input received from the community and general questions please visit the Denver 2017 GO Bond website.

This is your city and your money, let us know how you would like us spend it.

Thank you.

EVENTS

You are Invited to the Next Denveright Open House

Be a part of the game plan and join in on one of the upcoming open house events to help create the vision for our city’s parks and recreation system through Denveright. 

Tues., March 21, 2017
6p - 7:30p
South High School (1700 E. Louisiana Ave., Denver 80210)

Wed., March 22, 2017
6p - 7:30p
North High School (2960 Speer Blvd., Denver 80211)

Thurs., March 23, 2017
6p - 7:30p
Montbello Recreation Center (15555 E. 53rd Ave., Denver 80239)

Please visit the Denveright website for more information.

City Seeks Public Input to Draft 2016 Report on Housing and Community Development Programs

The Denver Office of Economic Development is seeking public input and comment to its draft 2016 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for local housing, economic development, public service, and neighborhood facilities programs.

When:  Wed., March 22, 2017 from 6p - 7:30p
Where: Swansea Recreation Center (2650 E. 49th Ave.)

When: Thurs., March 23, 2017 from 6p - 7:30p
Where: Montbello Branch Library (12955 Albrook Dr.)

The draft CAPER, which will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is now available for a public comment period through March 30, 2017.  This can be found on the Office of Economic Development website.

Open House to View Initial Plans for Brighton Blvd. 

Join the Mayor's Office of the National Western Center for an Open House to reintroduce the initial design plans for Brighton Blvd. from 44th to Race Court developed by the North Denver Cornerstone Collaborative with resident inout in 2015. This year, designers will further advance and refine these plans, so the City can secure a contractor in late 2017 or early 2018 to build the project.

When: Wed., March 22, 2017 (Anytime between 6p and 7:30p)
Where: Colorado Miners Community Center (4809 Race St)

Spanish interpretation, child care and light snacks will be provided!

NDCC Open House

Make sure your calendars are marked for Thurs., March 23rd for the NDCC Open House at Colorado Miners Community Center. Come to hear updates on neighborhood projects, to ask questions and share concerns with the project.

When: Thurs., March 23, 2017 at 9a - 10:30a or 6p - 7:30p
Where: Colorado Miners Community Center (4809 Race St)

Refreshments and Spanish interpretation will be provided!

Pleae contact Michael Sapp at (720) 865-9024 or via email Michael.Sapp@denvergov.org or Leesly Leon at (720) 865-3144 or via email at Leesly.Leon@denvergov.org

Are You Looking for a Summer Job? 

When: Wed., April 5, 2017 from 3p - 6p
Where: McNichols Civic Ctr. Bldg. (144 W. Colfax, Denver 80202)

Renters’ Rights and Fair Housing Law Workshop

This FREE community workshop covers Landlord/Tenant rights and various issues.

When: Sat., April 8, 2017
Time: Check-in at 11:30a/ Program from 12noon - 1:30p
Where: Valdez-Perry Branch Library (4690 Vine Street)

Speaker: April L. Jones, Esq.
Colorado Affordable Legal Services (CALS)

AND

When: Wed., April 19, 2017
Time: Check-in at 5:30p/Program from 6p - 7:30p
Where: Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library (2401 Welton Street)

Speaker: April L. Jones, Esq.
Colorado Affordable Legal Services (CALS)

Join Us in Celebrating Earth Day!

Earth Day Denver is an annual event held by the City & County of Denver’s Department of Environmental Health. The event will showcase approximately 50 exhibitors; each has been asked to provide an interactive display that demonstrates how Denverites can live more sustainably.

When: Fri., April 21, 2017 from 10a - 2p
Where: Skyline Park (Between 15th and 16th Streets)

HOPS FOR HOUSING

Have a Pint & a Slice to Support Home Sharing. All proceeds go to Sunshine Home Share Colorado

• 2 pints a slice of pizza FOR $15

When: Mon., May 1, 2017 from 5p - 7p
Where: Alpine Dog Brewery (1505 N. Ogden St./Off of Colfax,, near Ogden Theater)

Please visit the Sunshine Home Share Colorado website for more information or to buy tickets. You can also call (303) 915-8264.

Five Points Jazz Festival

Five Points Jazz Festival brings out close to 40 performances at eight different venues in the neighborhood and hundreds of people to listen to jazz and blues performances from across the country. This takes place along Welton Street in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. 

When: Sat., May 20, 2017 from 11a - 7p
Where: Along Welton Street in Historic Five Points

Vendor applications will be accepted through Fri., April 14th at 5p. 

Please visit the Arts & Venues website for more information or call (720) 505-3274.

Registration Open for 2017 Park Hill 4th of July Parade

Get ready - registration is open for the eighth annual Park Hill 4th of July Parade! Our neighborhood favorite has quickly become the largest Independence Day march in Denver, attracting dozens of entries from around the metro area.

Groups can register for FREE on the parade website at ParkHillParade.org. Neighborhood floats, community organizations and music entries are particularly encouraged to participate, with an emphasis on fun, festivity and patriotic spirit.

Get ideas by checking out photos from previous parades at Facebook.com/ParkHillParade.

This year’s event will once again begin at 1:30p on Tues., July 4 th and will go along 23rd Avenue from Dexter St. to Krameria St., followed by a street fair on Kearney.

The parade runs 100% on the support of sponsors and donations. Any organization interested in sponsorship should contact Justin Bresler, parade founder and organizer, at parkhillparade@gmail.com. Sponsorships start at just $100!

Anyone with questions about the parade can also contact Justin at (303) 918-6517.

NEWS

Spring 2017 Activity Guide  

Are you looking for a new way to meet your neighbors? To learn something new? To entertain your kids?

Please visit the Denver Parks and Recreation website to access their Spring 2017 Activity Guide.

Compassionate Neighbor Spotlight

LoDo Cares, a community volunteer organization that sponsors and coordinates philanthropic activities in Denver's lower downtown, has continued their annual tradition of dedicating the funds raised from their annual Holiday Project to the much-needed renovation and upgrade of The Barth Hotel's kitchen. 

In 2015, the funds raised from The Holiday Project helped to purchase a walk-in freezer and new dining chairs for The Barth Hotel. This past year, a beverage dispenser was purchased and soon a new commercial dishwasher and rack system.  

Located at the corner of 17th and Blake, The Barth Hotel Assisted Living Residence provides support and assistance to seniors and older adults with disabilities who enjoy the bustle and activity of the city.

Please visit the Barth Hotel, Senior Housing Options website to learn more about the LoDoCares program.

If You’ve beenThinking about Owning an Electric Car…

March is the month to make it happen. Xcel Energy has partnered with Nissan dealers in our Colorado service territory to offer brand new Nissan Leafs at deeply discounted prices.

For more information, please visit the Connect website, a blog by Xcel Energy. 

Denver Arts & Venues Announces Multiple 2017 Grant Opportunities

Denver Arts & Venues is pleased to announce three funding opportunities through IMAGINE 2020, Denver’s cultural plan.

DENVER’S URBAN ARTS FUND (UAF)
Now in its ninth year, UAF is a graffiti prevention and youth development program which facilitates the creation of new murals in perpetually vandalized areas throughout the City and County of Denver. The program has nearly 170 murals, abating vandalism on more than 227,000 square feet, and has engaged more than 2,760 Denver youth and 550 community participants in the development and installation of these murals.

• Call for proposals: Now - March 20, 2017
• Submission deadline: 5p on March 20, 2017
• Award Notification: April 2017

IMAGINE 2020 FUND
Now in its third year, the I2020 fund will help support and generate awareness of programs that take action on one or more of the seven vision elements of the cultural plan launched in 2014 for Denver. These are: 1) Integration, 2) Amplification, 3) Accessibility, 4) Lifelong Learning, 5) Local Talent, 6) Economic Vitality, and 7) Collective Leadership

• Call for proposals: May 3 - June 16, 2017
• Submission deadline: 5p on June 16, 2017
• Award Notification: July 2017

P.S. YOU ARE HERE (PSYAH)
Now in its fourth year, PSYAH is a citywide creative placemaking and neighborhood revitalization initiative that cultivates collaborative, community-led outdoor projects in Denver’s public spaces. PSYAH funds help support creative, short-term physical improvement projects that aim to transform our underutilized urban spaces to increase collaboration, honor heritage, build civic engagement, beautify neighborhoods, enrich communities, and inspire long-term change.

• Call for proposals: August 7 - September 15, 2017
• Submission deadline: 5p on September 15, 2017
• Award Notification: October 2017

Programs funded through these grants contribute to Denver’s economy and quality of life by offering unique experiences to residents and visitors, creating jobs, attracting a talented workforce, and strengthening the community.

UPDATES

Know Your Rights

The recent Trump Administration Executive Orders regarding immigration, deportation and travel have caused sincere confusion and concern in our communities. In the coming days and weeks, the Hancock Administration will be gearing up legal protections and supportive services and working with other providers to ensure immigrant and refugee communities have the resources they need and know what their rights are. That starts with empowering people with information and resources.

Denver has a history of welcoming immigrants and refugees and will continue to act as a welcoming city and an ally for all new arrivals.Are you concerned with the current climate on immigration reform?

Please Visit Denver’s Human Rights and Community Partnerships’ website to learn more about your rights as an immigrant in the United States. 

Find a Job in Denver!

Are you looking for work? Looking to change your career? Denver Workforce Services serves as a comprehensive employment and training resource for employers, jobseekers, TANF recipients, veterans, and youth throughout Denver. Having created a strong collaboration with contractors, we connect jobseekers with needed skills to secure sustainable employment, and we connect employers with a trained and ready workforce. 

Please visit the Office of Economic Development website to see what employment opportunities are available in and around the city. 

Water Main and Service Line Replacement Project Scheduled

This project began on Monday, March 13th and will occur on Larimer Street from 17th Street to 20th Street. Letters have been distributed to all businesses and residents in the project area and door hangers will be distributed a few days before the project begins. Denver Water anticipate the project will take about 2 months to complete.

The contact for this project is Eddie Hernandez, he can be reached at (303) 628-6563 between 7a and 5p.

2017 is the final year of Trash Cart conversion. 

By year-end all residents will receive trash cart service. There are about 35,000 homes left that still need to be converted.

To learn more about trash cart conversions and the expansion of the compost program, pleased visit the Trash and Recycling website.

Street Sweeping Season begins Tuesday, April 4!

Residential seasonal street sweeping begins Tuesday, April 4, and Denver Public Works needs your help to keep the Mile High City clean!

Denver Public Works Street Maintenance crews sweep residential streets from April through November and encourage you to SHOW YOUR PRIDE AND MOVE YOUR RIDE on your sweeping day!

Want a reminder about your street sweeping day?

• Residents can sign up for street sweeping reminders through pocketgov, the City’s mobile web application. Pocketgov provides user-friendly access to city services via mobile device or a home computer. After creating a simple user profile, residents can receive both email and text notifications.

Take the Vision Zero Survey

Do you think cars drive too fast down your street or know of a sidewalk blind spot where cars cannot see you? Maybe you know a place where the bike lane could use more protection from traffic or does not connect through to your destination?

Crash data only tells one side of the story, and we want to hear from Denver residents where they think our streets can be made safer. Denver residents and visitors are encouraged to visit the Vision Zero web page to take the map-based survey, select the location of their feedback and add it to the map before April 30, 2017.

Responses from the Vision Zero map survey will be used collectively by the city’s Vision Zero Technical Advisory Committee to identify patterns in behavior and street design to help set priorities for the Vision Zero action plan.

Sponsor a Bicycle Parking Spot Near You

With Spring just around the corner we wanted provide a reminder that Denver Public Works accepts applications for City-Funded bicycle parking in the public right-of-way year round. Applications are reviewed twice a year in the Fall and Spring.

For Spring program consideration, please submit applications by March 31, 2017. Property owners and businesses are encouraged to apply in order to receive bicycle parking that can benefit their community and establishment.

Please share this message with property owners, businesses and others that might be interested. You can visit the Denver Bicycyle Parking Program website to apply.

Denver Moves Update

State of the System Report:
The Denver Moves: Transit team recently released the State of the System Report, one of the first major milestones for the transit plan process. This existing conditions report paints the picture of transit service, access, and programs in Denver today and also looks at some of the actions other cities have taken to demonstrate success in delivering local and regional transit service.

Please visit the Denveright website to read the executive summary and report.

What We’ve Heard from the Community:
Since project kick-off in mid-2016, the Denver Moves: Transit team, in coordination with Denveright, attended community events, conducted surveys and stakeholder focus groups, and hosted a series of community vision workshops. We asked the community what they think about transit today and what their vision for transit is in Denver. Three key themes emerged about the kind of transit system the community wants: connected, high quality and healthy. This community input helps develop the Denveright vision as well as the transit plan goals and objectives.

Please visit the Denver Moves Transit: What We've Heard website to read a summary of community feedback.

Newsletter:

The latest transit newsletter, including a summary of what is next for the plan process, is available here.