The GOLDEN INFORMER City of Golden Community Newsletter September / October 2003
This edition of The Golden Informer is a celebration of some recent additions that make Golden more attractive than ever as the best place in Colorado to live, work, and play. We hope you will send this In This Issue. . . . photo album to your family and friends around the world and use it to brag a little about the wonderful place you call home. Letter from Mike Bestor City Council Members During last year’s drought, your City Council directed that the long-planned Guanella Reservoir Leadership Golden Forum should be built immediately, and if you drive up Highway 40 just past the town of Empire, you will Election Day - Not Far Away! see the dam and reservoir taking shape. It will start filling this winter from the West Fork of Clear PHOTO ALBUM Creek and will hold over 1,800 acre feet of water – enough to insure that Golden can weather any Guanella Reservoir Project drought, for many years. Even with this new resource we must continue to practice smart water use and conservation. See the story on page 8 for details on how our dedicated City employees will help Art in Public Places you in that effort. The Washington Ave. Bridge Clear Creek Trail Most improvements to this City happen because individual citizens band together to make something Fossil Trace Golf Club happen. The Public Art Program is a great example where City staff plays only a supportive role to Splash Water Park the Movers and Shakers who cause good things to happen. Today we enjoy the Fossil Trace Golf Clear Creek Water Activities Course and The Splash only because our citizens, by the hundreds, made this happen. Not only are Concerts in the Park golf courses and aquatic parks wonderful attractions by themselves, but they provide summer and Water Conservation part time jobs for Golden’s teenagers and retired citizens. GURA News Treemendous The kayak course is providing an attraction for many people who never have, and never will, sit in a Employee Profile kayak, but do enjoy tubing, fishing, and panning for gold. The kayak course joins our Clear Creek Calendar of Events Trail and the new and exciting Washington Avenue Bridge to provide a vital and exciting outdoor New Golden Cook Book gathering place – joining our unique downtown with the sights and sounds of Colorado. I hope you enjoy this change of pace issue. I know you appreciate the Informer and join me in reluctantly saying goodbye to Tami Johnson, who made this newsletter what it is and who now moves on to new adventures. We will all miss her but we will work hard to continue her tradition of constantly improving The Golden Informer.
Sincerely, Mike Bestor City Manager Contact Your Council Members The GOLDEN INFORMER is produced and published by the City Manager’s office and mailed as a news and information source for all residents in Golden.
All City departments contribute Dave Shuey Bill McKee Mayor material for use in this At Large District One Charles Baroch publication. Comments on the (303) 279-1770 (303) 279-3214 District Two [email protected] [email protected] (303) 278-9697 newsletter format and content [email protected] are welcome. Please write to the City of Golden, 911 Tenth Street, Golden, CO 80401 Attn: Office of Public Affairs; or call (303) 384-8119, or e-mail [email protected]
ISIT US ON THE V WEB Mayor Pro Tem Marcie Miller Robert Nelson Gwyn Green cityofgolden.net David Ketchum Ward Two Ward Three Ward Four Ward One (720) 341-5271 (303) 279-2594 (303) 271-1500 (303) 279-5911 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Departmental Contributors The City of Golden can only provide you with the highest level of service if you maintain & MANAGEMENT TEAM contact with City Council members and city staff. Please feel free to contact them at any time by calling or writing to 911 10th Street, Golden, 80401.
City Manager: Mike Bestor City Council meets at 7:30 pm on the second and fourth Thursday of each month and welcomes comments from the public.
Planning and Development: Steve Glueck
○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Public Works: Dan Hartman Know the Issues – Vote Wisely! Election Day—It’s not that far away! Police Department: Bill Kilpatrick th City Clerk: Susan Brooks The Leadership Golden Alumni This year Golden will participate in the November 4 Association and the Golden Transcript coordinated election with Jefferson County and that Parks & Recreation: Charlie Fagan with support of the City of Golden, will means mail ballots. This year’s election will include be conducting a Candidate’s Forum on the two district seats, election of the Mayor and three Finance: Jeffrey Hansen Tuesday, October 21st from 6:30 to 9:30 charter amendments. pm in the Foss Auditorium at the Fire Department: John Bales Mark you calendars: American Mountaineering Center, 710 Public Affairs: Tami Johnson 10th St. The forum will feature debates • Last day to register to vote: October 6, 2003. by representatives of political groups on • Mail Ballots will be mailed no later than October Human Resources: Teresa Reilly both the pro and con sides of ballot 22, 2003. City Attorney: Jim Windholz initiatives. In addition, the candidates for district council seats and mayoral • Election Day November 4, 2003. All mail ballots candidates will be invited to outline their must be returned to Jefferson County Clerk by 7 pm. positions and respond to questions GOLDEN INFORMER TEAM developed by the sponsors. Anyone with • Not sure you are registered? Contact the Jefferson Tami Johnson: Public Affairs Specialist suggestions for candidate questions can County election department at (303) 271-8111. Heather Grimshaw: Contributing Writer send them by mail to the Golden If you need to register or change your address within Transcript, attention of Joe Ross or email Susan Roméo: Professional Images Golden, you may do so at the Golden City Clerk’s office, them to [email protected]. 911 10th Street from 8 – 5, Monday – Friday. Or at the For more information call Ed Dorsey at Jefferson County Election Department at 100 Jefferson A (303) 384-9923. County Parkway. For more information call (303) 371-8111. 2 Guanella Resevoir
Congressman Udall and Mayor Charles Baroch
3 Around Golden
Public Art in Golden
Cowboy’s Day Off
Return of the Cutthroat Winter Wind on the Mesa
Helping Hands
The Cowboy
Buffalo Bill Cody
Washington Avenue Bridge
Trail along Clear Creek Square & Commons
4 Golden Recreation
For tee times call (303) 277-8750.
5 Golden Recreation
6 Golden FUN!
Kayaking,rafting, tubing and canoeing in Clear Creek
Concerts In The Park
Police Chief Bill Kilpatrick and Libby
7 Water Conservation Efforts Take the Form of Green Thumb
When it comes to water conservation in the city of Golden Topics for the series education is key, says Fran Phillips, environmental specialist. titled Golden Knowing that outdoor water conservation gives residents Panoramas: A Resident’s “the most bang for their buck,” she focuses much of her Guide to Water energy on garden design, plant selection, and disease Conservation in the control. In addition to conserving water it connects people Landscape ranged from to their city in unique and rewarding ways. “Garden Design” and “Plant Matter” to The secret to success, she says, is recognizing the gardening “Drought-Tolerant realities of Colorado and adapting your style accordingly. Trees” and “Hard “Luckily most residents really like the natural beauty of Scapes” for people who Colorado and they’re attracted to what’s native here,” says want options for patios Phillips. “I’ve seen garden design give people such a sense and paths. Local of satisfaction, a real sense of what they’re capable of, and landscape architects, also Mother Nature really got people’s attention last year.” garden designers, and water conservation To help residents create and maintain water-smart or experts taught the Xeriscape gardens the city’s Public Works department, courses, and more than 760 people registered. “Using nature where Phillips works, offers classes on garden design, as our guide we taught people how to incorporate those designs schedules “Sleeping” and “Waking” garden tours to at home,” says Phillips. The seminars attracted an average of 100 illustrate how gardens appear during different seasons, and people per night, despite blizzard conditions. Phillips taped the distributes free materials such as water meter probes, rain sessions and will loan tapes out from her office. gauges, and free mulch to help residents know when to water. Phillips also serves on The Lawn Watering Group, a group of community members that drafted a drought plan for the Front For indoor Range. Working with Westminster, Aurora, Denver, Loveland, conservation, the city Greeley, and other cities, the group has created a uniform offers free toilet dams approach to help eliminate the confusion that occurred last and diverters, available summer with varying water restrictions. through the Utilities Department along with Gardening in Golden new water conservation The subtle and sustained beauty of Xeriscape gardens has brochures. Golden become more accepted and popular across the state and the annually distributes city’s three demonstration gardens – that feature water- about 500 packages of conservative plants – generate weekly calls. “People will these free goodies to pass a garden, like a plant, and want to know the name. help residents conserve They want to know where they can buy it,” says Phillips, water, though Phillips who worked with students and parents to design a Xeriscape says she often feels like garden at Shelton Elementary School in 2000. she’s “preaching to the choir” to residents who Recently receiving her Master Gardener designation at are already committed Colorado State University, Phillips enjoys learning new things to the conservation of water. every week that she can convey to Golden residents through the myriad of programs her department offers. “I really “It’s a great little city. There are so many wonderful people appreciate the opportunities I’ve been given here,” says who live here and work here,” says Phillips who has worked Phillips. She works directly for Dan Hartman, director of for the city for the last nine years. During that tenure she Public Works who is “so supportive of the staff,” says Phillips. has hosted annual Xeriscape seminars to sold-out audiences. “He lets people do what they do well.” This year she organized seven consecutive classes that were co-hosted by local specialists and ran January 29-March 12. So far that approach has paid off in spades.
8 GURA News
Did you know that the Golden Urban Renewal Authority funds and supports the following service projects? Thanks GURA for The festive holiday lights on Washington Avenue that provide the seasonal ambiance to the downtown. $300,000 in Washington Regularly scheduled power washings of the downtown sidewalks to support the hard work of our merchants in keeping the sidewalks clean and the downtown Avenue bridge, looking fresh and appealing to residents, downtown employees, and visitors. trail and The costs to hang, change and replace the attractive seasonal and special landscape happenings lamp post banners. improvements. The popular Saturdays Farmer Market arose out of the Urban Renewal Board’s partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce and many other people. And for bringing Pentax to town! Regular maintenance of the public restroom on 12th Street.
These and many more service projects by the Urban Renewal Board contribute to making a beautiful, clean and appealing downtown Golden and are in addition to physical improvements like Clear Creek Square, new creek trails and the Washington Avenue bridge project.
What are your thoughts? Over the past 15 years many new residents have moved into the Golden community bringing different interest and expectations of what Golden’s downtown should offer to residents and visitors. Even long-time residents’ tastes and expectations have changed over time. Strengthening small town vitality is a continuous process. Members of the GURA board would very much like your ideas and input.
The question is: What additional retail stores, or restaurants, or beverage places would you like to see in the downtown?
Golden Downtown “IDEA COUPON” for building Small Town Vitality
My ideas for retail stores or restaurants or beverage places are:
Name (optional) Contact information (Optional)
Mail to: Golden Urban Renewal Board, 1111 Washington Ave., Suite 115, Golden, CO 80401 or fax to: (303) 279-4162 or e-mail to: [email protected]
9 Treemendous Extraordinary Service
The cool, wet spring we enjoyed was a Professional virtual lifesaver for many plants after Dave Ackerly the tremendous stress of 2002’s The City of Golden believes that our employees are drought conditions. our most important asset. Our commitment to Nevertheless, that excellence in service to the citizens of Golden is wonderful weather realized through the contributions of individuals. Four was responsible for times a year, the Employee Recognition Committee the increased recognizes the achievements, accomplishments and incidence of an often unnoticed nuisance - the obstruction contributions of city staff. Nominations for recognition of sidewalks and streets by overgrown vegetation. demonstrate excellence in performance and customer We should all be aware that City of Golden ordinance service, actively builds partnership with other prohibits any property owner’s vegetation from creating an colleagues and contributes new ideas for the benefit impassible or hazardous obstruction to either pedestrian or of the City of Golden. Our selection this quarter for vehicular traffic. Any growth which infringes upon a public the ESP (Extraordinary Service Professional) sidewalk must be removed. Any growth which impedes the Employee goes to Dave Ackerly. passing or parking of passenger vehicles and/or commercial/ maintenance traffic must be removed. And finally, any In early 2003, members vegetation that unsafely obstructs the vision of motorists at an of the Golden Police intersection also must be removed. These guidelines usually Department were tasked translate into the following specifics: with going through a lot of garbage for evidence in The space along a public walk shall be kept clear to an important case. A trash a height of 8 feet. Any trees or large shrubs which hang over into the truck delivered the trash space of a public street shall be kept clear to a height to the city shops and of 14 feet. dumped the mess on the At intersections, any shrubbery, flowers, or floor of the garage bay. hedges shall be maintained at a height of 3 feet or None of the officers involved were very eager to dive less, and any trees shall be kept clear of limbs to no into the sea of garbage. less than 8 feet above the ground. Dave Ackley walked by the bay and expressed an It should be noted that specific situations may require a more interest in what was happening. Officers explained or less strict interpretation of these measurements. what they were looking for and it appeared this was going to be a needle in a hay stack venture. Dave asked We all know how quickly vegetation can grow out of control if he could help and he was instructed what to look for. and how we don’t even notice that the street or walk has Dave literally dove right into the pile and in a short become less accessible. That is why you will often see City of Golden employees stopped alongside the road removing time found a crucial piece of evidence. obstructions to sight and safe passage. We receive many calls to mitigate obstructions every year. Please do your best to Dave’s willingness to jump right in and assist other city assist the community in keeping the sidewalks and streets free employees demonstrates our ability to work effectively of infringements and hazards. It is a task all property owners as a city, working for a common goal — the service of should pay a bit more attention to. There is just too much the Golden Community. vegetation out there for City of Golden staff to handle alone.
10 Calendar of Events September/October Astor House Museum Golden Pioneer Museum Golden Public Library www.AstorHouseMuseum.org www.GoldenPioneerMuseum.com http://jefferson.lib.co.us Ongoing in 2002 Library closed Mon. Sept. 1 for Labor Day Through September 27 Through October 31 The Golden Pioneer Museum is For Kids - After School Fun Women Who Shaped the West “From Traveler to Plow Chaser: delighted to present “The Pot of 4 pm Sept. 24 Women Who Shaped the West” Featured women include: Margaret “Molly”Gold at Brown, the End “China” of the Rainbow”Polly Bemis,, The Visual World of the Deaf Through October Anniean exhibit Oakley, honoring and photographer one of 7 pm Sept. 24 LauraGolden’s Gilpin. most successful “Ida’s Garden”: Visit our favorite Literacy Volunteer Fair exhibit – take in the lovely sights and businesses, The Jolly Rancher. October 11 and 18 12:30-2:30 pm Sept. 8 fragrances of an 1800s Victorian garden. Golden Cemetery Tours Elderhostel - 11 am Oct. 11 October 11 and October 18, 2003 Tickets $15 for non-members, $12 for Halloween Cemetery Tours museum members. 90-minute walking On the half hour from 3 pm – 5 pm tours begin every half-hour from 3 pm to 5 pm. Reservations required. Tickets are $15 per person or $12 for Call for details Not appropriate for young children. members. Reservations required. (303) 279-4585. Call for reservations (303) 278-3557. Call for information (303) 278-7151.
Clear Creek History Park The Rocky Mountain American Mountaineering www.ClearCreekHistoryPark.org Quilt Museum Center (CMC) September 6 www.RMQM.org www.cmc.org “BBQ at the Homestead” Fundraiser Through October 11 October 9 6 - 9 pm nd You won’t want to miss this event! We Gallery I: Inspirations from Lakota CMC is sponsoring the 2 Annual art will have a BBQ, 19th century dancing, Legends: Quilts and Paintings exhibition and sale “Where the music, and a silent auction. Tickets are Gallery II: Checkmate: Art Quilts Mountains Meet the Sky,” Mountain $25 per person. Call for reservations. Festival featuring the works of 27 October 24 & 25 5 pm – 9 pm artists, both painters and sculptors, October 13–January 3, 2004 Halloween Harvest Festival renowned for their interpretation of the Gallery I: The Fabric of Their Our annual “non-scary” event features landscape and its wild inhabitants. The Lives: Quilts by Men friendly spooks from Colorado’s past, Mountain Festival kicks off with a Gala games and crafts for the little ones, Gallery II: Colors of Guatemala: Opening on October 9 from 6:00 to trick-or-treating, hot cider, and ghost 9:00 pm. The show runs through stories around the campfire. Come in For more information, visit our web October 19. Tickets for the Gala are costume if you like! Admission charged. site or call (303) 277-0377. $65 for CMC members, $70 for all Call (303) 278-3557 for more informatin. others. Call (303) 279-3080 x 193.
Foothills Art Center Miners Alley The Jefferson www.FoothillsArtCenter.org Playhouse Symphony Orchestra August 30 – October 26 October 26 7 pm Rocky Mountain National September 6 & 7 Season Premier Watermedia Exhibition Final Weekend: th Concert This 30 annual exhibit is One Act Festival a national showcase of Mahler’s gigantic musical examination of watercolor artists. Juror for 2003 is Dr. September 12 – October 18 the Human heart and soul, performed Harold Gregor of Illinois, who teaches a Original Production of “Poof!” A with the lilt of Enesco’s Rhapsody and watercolor workshop beginning July 14. play with magic the romantic poem of Griffes, with flute soloist Liz Hicks-Kimmey. Sunday, September 21, 1-4 October 24 Rocky Mt National Watercolor Demo Opens Italian American Green Center, Colorado School of th Day with RMNW artists and in Reconciliation Mines Campus. 16 & Cheyenne. conjunction with Foothills Annual Art Pre-concert activities begin at 6:30 pm & Attic sale. 1224 Washington Avenue, Suite 200, Golden, CO. (Above Foss Drug Store) Call (303) 278-4237 for details/tickets. Visit our web site or call (303) 279-3922. Call for details (303) 935-3044.
11 HOLY GUACAMOLE, BATMAN! Last Chance! Guess what’s coming to Golden? Golden Farmers Market Golden City: Saturdays September through October 4 Tastes and On Jackson Street between 12th & 13th Streets. Come mingle with your neighbors! Traditions, that’s what! Enjoy breakfast burritos, fresh soups, quiche, salads and pasta. Smell the This fabulous new book, arriving on local shelves November 1, 2003, is the aroma of cut flowers, BBQ, fresh bread latest creation from the Golden Cultural Alliance, those terrific people that and kettle korn. Over 30 vendors. Call (303) 279-3113 for more bring you February’s Heart & Soul of Golden celebration. The cookbook, now on information. Come early! the presses, can be pre-ordered for the suggested retail price of $19.95.
Golden City: Tastes and Traditions is filled with recipes gathered from volunteers and staff members of Golden-area nonprofits, including museums, Kiwanis Wine Tasting the theater, the symphony, the Visitors Center, the Library and many more. This Golden treasure includes interesting anecdotes from Golden, as well as Community Benefit history, arts, culture, and incredible photography.
Proceeds from sales of Golden City: Tastes and Traditions benefit Saturday, September 27 Golden-area nonprofit organizations. What a bonus! 7:00 - 9:00 pm Colorado School This thoughtful and elegant gift is far more than a cookbook. You will of Mines at the discover a Golden souvenir filled with local pride and warmed with fun Green Center. and friendly charm. Your purchase supports Golden-area non-profit organizations. Pre-order your copies of Golden City: Tastes and Traditions $10.00 per person. today for only $19.95, plus tax, at www.goldencookbook.com or visit your local Golden Cultural Alliance member. This project was sponsored by the Call Bob Brown at (303) 384-3775 for Golden Civic Foundation. additional information. Visit Our WEB SITE HALLOWEEN www.cityofgolden.net Friday, October 31 3 - 6 pm
The downtown merchants CITY OF GOLDEN PRST STD are pleased to provide safe 911 Tenth Street ECRWSS family fun this Halloween. U.S. POSTAGE Golden, CO 80401 PAID GOLDEN, CO PERMIT #26
POSTAL PATRON Contact (303) 279-3113 for more information.