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This time around we report on Golden's 2008 budget, including efforts to increase funding for road replacement. Golden police target noise in the Beverly Heights area. City Council votes to seek funding support for a pedestrian bridge accessing the new light rail station at the Jefferson County building. Also discussed are the public notification process, proposed changes to the historic preservation code. And we share some news from the campaign trail.
1. The City's 2008 Budget and Increasing Road Replacement Funding
2. Golden Police Target Noise in the Beverly Heights Area
3. The Proposed FasTracks Pedestrian Bridge
4. Improving the Public Notification Process
5. City Council Considers Proposed Historic Preservation Changes
6. News From the Campaign Trail
7. City Council Meeting Agenda: Thursday, September 27
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1. The City's 2008 Budget and Increasing Road Replacement Funding
City council will begin discussing the 2008 budget at our study session tomorrow night by focusing on capital expenses like roads, trails, and other infrastructure. We will adopt a 2008 Capital Budget and make adjustments to our ten-year capital plan. Unlike many other cities, we place a great deal of emphasis on maintaining what we have (instead of periodically asking the voters to approve bonds to catch up on overdue maintenance). Consequently, our budget includes significant funding devoted to maintaining our water and wastewater systems, our fire engines and other vehicles, our roads, and the rest of our infrastructure.
However, the condition of our roads is one concern I've heard a lot about while walking door-to-door this summer and have seen for myself in a number of places around town. Compared to most communities in the Denver Metro area, our roads are in pretty good shape, and we've been making progress at reducing the number of our roads in poor condition. After last year's tough winter, while most of our neighbors were struggling with massive pothole problems, it was mostly business as usual for us because our roads were generally in good shape to begin with. Still, there are quite a few roads in bad shape, and it's really frustrating if you happen to live near or have to drive on one of them. Over the past year our revenues from our sales and use tax audit program have been significantly in excess of what we expected, and I am going to propose tomorrow night at our city council meeting that we use some of those funds for a one-time boost to our roads program. That won't fix the problem but it will help accelerate our progress a bit.
Two other projects we hope to be able to complete in 2008 are additional noise mitigation along Highway 93 and the completion of the trail connection between Illinois St. and the 6th Avenue and Kinney Run trails. The proposed ten-year plan also includes a Golden Heights sound wall, improving pedestrian and bike safety at the intersection of 6th and 19th, the construction of a trail on the south side of Clear Creek, and significant sidewalk improvements connecting Golden Ridge, Golden Terrace, Eagle Ridge, and Heritage Dells. I would welcome any thoughts on my proposal to increase funding for road repair or anything else related to the budget.
2. Golden Police Target Noise in the Beverly Heights Area
When I walked through the Beverly Heights area over the summer, one of the issues I heard the most about was noise on 19th St. and Lookout Mountain Road. Councilor Joe Behm and I talked with the Golden Police Department about the many concerns and the result was a commitment to give the area some extra attention. Some of Golden's traffic patrol team focused on the area over the last two weekends and ended up writing quite a few noise-related citations. I believe they will do the same next spring and throughout the summer. The Golden Police Department has also been working on a long-term solution. They've been collaborating with several Golden bars (those with a lot of motorcycle riders as patrons) on a "Silence is Golden" education campaign encouraging folks to be community friendly in their riding and driving. We should see posters around town before the next season starts in the spring. I'll write more about this when they launch the program.
3. The Proposed FasTracks Pedestrian Bridge
Last week city council voted 5-2 to apply for federal funding to help cover the costs of a pedestrian bridge connecting the new light rail station at the Jefferson County building with the parts of Golden on the other side of 6th Avenue. We are expecting the new station to open in 2012, providing light rail service between Golden, Denver, and other parts of the Denver Metro area. While we might not get the federal funding on this first attempt, it seems worthwhile to apply since a pedestrian bridge will allow everyone who lives or works in Golden Ridge, Heritage Dells, Tripp Ranch, and Eagle Ridge to easily bike or walk to the light rail station without having to cross 6th Avenue at an intersection. We won't have to decide whether or not to actually build the bridge for some time, but our decision last week means that we at least have a shot at getting the funding to make it happen. Incidentally, our plan includes at least $200,000 for sidewalk improvements across the area (as I mentioned above). Mary Weaver and Lynn Timpeiro both voted against applying for the federal funding.
4. Improving the Public Notification Process
At our study session on Thursday night we will discuss a proposal to expand the city's requirements to notify people of land use proposals. The proposed changes include expanding the requirement to include everyone within 500' (instead of the current 300' requirement) of a proposed project, to do a better job of including mobile home residents and renters, and to increase the time period for announcing neighborhood meetings from ten to twelve days. When it comes to letting folks in the community know about land use proposals, I am very much in favor of erring on the side of caution. I would much rather notify too many people than risk not telling folks who might be affected. I'm happy to explain the details of this proposal to anyone who is interested.
5. City Council Considers Proposed Historic Preservation Changes
Some time ago city council directed the Historic Preservation Board to recommend a way of strengthening our historic preservation code. City council will be discussing HPB's proposal tomorrow night at our study session. Our current code really only does two things: it requires that a homeowner in an historic district ask HPB for their advice before undertaking a renovation (although the homeowner can ignore the advice), and it allows HPB to prevent demolition of a structure for no more than 180 days to provide time for working out an alternate solution with the homeowner. This "stay of demolition" is intended to be used rarely and only where a structure of extremely high historic value is at risk. It has only been used once (the Caretaker's Cabin at Big Tree) in the two and a half years I've served on the council.
The key points of their draft proposal:
- For "non-contributing structures" in designated historic districts, HPB would conduct an advisory review but the homeowner would not be required to follow the advice.
- For "contributing structures" in designated historic districts, HPB would have the authority to approve or deny exterior alterations and additions based on clear design standards and guidelines.
- City council would have the authority to designate "Local Historic Landmarks," and HPB would then have the authority to approve or deny exterior alterations and additions just as with contributing structures.
- The standards and guidelines would be much clearer and more objective, so decisions about proposed projects should be more consistent and predictable. This makes sense to me - if the rules are clear from the beginning it should make the process more predictable and more fair.
Soon after I was elected to city council we created an historic preservation fund ($50,000/year, although I proposed and council agreed to kick-start the fund by doubling it in the first year), but while having some money to work with helps it may not be enough to save our most precious historic structures. I am very interested in hearing what you think about the proposal, and if you don't like it I would love to hear your thoughts about alternative approaches to doing a better job of preserving our historic heritage in Golden.
6. News From the Campaign Trail
The election for Golden's next mayor is in full swing. As one of the candidates I'm having a great time walking door-to-door all over Golden, meeting a bunch of folks, sharing my vision for Golden, and hearing about your issues and concerns. There are three of us running, each with a very different vision for Golden and approach to being mayor, and I encourage you to learn about all three of us when you make your decision about who to support. This election is an all-mail ballot election, meaning that everyone who is registered to vote will get a ballot in the mail. If you aren't registered at your current address you must do so by October 9th. The ballots are scheduled to go out in about three weeks, and you'll have until the official election day - November 6 - to get them in.
I'm excited to report that we'll have our yard signs back from the printer next week. If you support my campaign for mayor and want a yard sign, just send me an email and let me know. If you haven't decided whom to support yet, I encourage you to visit my web site or call or email me to learn more about my vision for Golden. I also encourage you to call the other two candidates and ask them the same questions. Mary Weaver's phone number is 720-217-5294 and Mayor Baroch's phone number is 303-278-9697.
7. City Council Meeting Agenda: Thursday, September 27
Our next city council meeting is a study session and is scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday), September 27th, at 7 p.m. You can download the agenda on the city's web site.
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Jacob Smith
Golden City Council
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(303) 216-1680
smithforgolden.com
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