July 2021

CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL Upcoming Aurora City Council CULTURES AND TRADITIONS Town Meetings Aurora’s annual showcase of international cultures and traditions returns at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 21. Join us at this virtual event for performances from around the This publication went to print in early world, the Parade of Nations featuring immigrants and refugees, an International June. Please call 303.739.7015 or Fashion Show, and much more. visit AuroraGov.org/TownMeetings Global Fest will air live on to confirm meeting times and dates. the city’s Facebook page Some meetings may be transitioning (Facebook.com/AuroraGov) from virtual to in-person. Visit and AuroraTV.org. Learn more AuroraGov.org/TownMeetings for about the event, including virtual meeting links and physical timing and performance lineup, at AuroraGov.org/GlobalFest. meeting locations. Ward I Town Meeting Council Member Crystal Murillo • Aug. 26, 6-7:30 p.m. ENJOY THE SUMMER WITH • Sept. 23, 6-7:30 p.m. NEW CITY EVENTS Ward III Town Meeting Council Member Marsha Berzins Carnival on the Plaza Ward III-only picnic Squeeze in one last summer bash before the • July 24, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. school year begins. Carnival on the Plaza, one of the city’s newest events, will bring all Ward IV Town Meeting sorts of carnival games, treats and activities Council Member Juan Marcano to Fletcher Plaza, 9800 E. Colfax Ave., from • July 14, 6:30-8 p.m. noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4. Admission • Aug. 11, 6:30-8 p.m. is free. For more information on this event and others throughout the • Sept. 8, 6:30-8 p.m. community, visit AuroraGov.org/Events. Ward V Town Meeting Park Lights & Movie Nights Council Member Alison Coombs Get cozy at a variety of our city parks for • July 7 (cancelled) family friendly movies on the big screen during • Aug. 4, 6-7:30 p.m. the month of September. Our outdoor lawns • Sept. 1, 6-7:30 p.m. are the perfect place to end the day with food Ward VI Town Meeting trucks, popcorn, candy, snacks and pre-movie Council Member Françoise Bergan entertainment before the big screen shows some of the most classic movies. For more information, including dates, • July 21, 6-8 p.m. locations and featured movies, visit AuroraGov.org/Events. • Sept. 22, 6-8 p.m.

COVID-19 UPDATES Mayor Mike Live For the latest information on public health orders, vaccines, testing sites and 3 p.m. Fridays more, visit COVID19.Colorado.gov, TCHD.org or AuroraGov.org/COVID-19. For • Join Mayor Mike Coffman for a live resources and updates related to the status of city facilities during COVID-19, stream with weekly conversations visit AuroraGov.org/COVID-19, and follow us on our social media @AuroraGov on on issues affecting Aurora. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and on our agency account on Nextdoor. Reach Facebook.com/AuroraGov/Live out to Access Aurora with questions and concerns during regular business hours at 303.739.7000 or [email protected]. and AuroraTV.org

303.739.7000 • AuroraGov.org • Follow us @AuroraGov • AuroraTV.org The city of Aurora Communications and Marketing Department produces this newsletter. Contact us at [email protected]. New Gun Club and Programs help with homeownership If you are looking to purchase a home, struggling to stay in your existing Quincy intersection home, or are a qualifying older adult who wants to tap into your home’s equity, the city’s Community Development Division may be able to help NOW FINISHED through the Home Ownership Assistance Program. The final phase of the Quincy Avenue/Gun Club As an approved counseling agency by the U.S. Department of Housing Road intersection improvement project has and Urban Development, the program offers free pre-purchase wrapped up, unveiling a new configuration with counseling for individuals and families wishing to buy a home. new turn lanes geared to alleviate congestion. Potential homebuyers who meet income and residency guidelines may qualify The $12.8 million project, which started in for down-payment and closing-cost financial assistance, depending on the late 2019, features a partial continuous flow purchase price of the home. Call 303.739.7911 for more information. intersection. These types of intersections are If you are unable to make rental payments because of financial hardships more efficient and reduce delays and travel related to the COVID-19 pandemic, applications are being taken through the time—a much-needed solution for the area, state’s Department of Local Affairs Emergency Rental Assistance Program. which is close to the Aurora Reservoir and Call 1.888.480.0066 for details. Arapahoe County Fairgrounds. Foreclosure prevention counseling is available to homeowners who have found “The county’s first partial continuous flow themselves in a default or foreclosure situation with their mortgage servicer. intersection addresses one of the citizens’ top Counselors can provide information on special programs from HUD and priorities, congestion,” said James Katzer, Arapahoe other agency loans, as well as help homeowners understand their rights and County Transportation Division manager. responsibilities. Call 303.739.7911 to find out more. The major change to this intersection is for For qualified adults age 62 or older who have equity built in their homes, motorists traveling either north or south on counselors can assist with information on reverse equity mortgages, Gun Club Road. Motorists traveling northbound which can help provide extra income for an improved quality of life. Call on Gun Club Road and intending to travel west 303.739.7914 to ask questions. toward E-470 are now directed to new left turn lanes that appear well before the intersection. The new lanes allow northbound motorists to bypass the intersection and turn left earlier to access westbound Quincy Avenue and then enter E-470. Motorists traveling southbound on Gun Club Road and intending to turn east on Quincy Avenue are now directed to new left turn lanes well before the intersection. The new lanes allow motorists also to skip the intersection to go east on Quincy Avenue. The project is a partnership between Arapahoe County and the city of Aurora. Visit ArapahoeGov.com/QuincyGunClub for additional project information. Colfax Canvas returns to arts district Organizers of the Colfax Canvas Mural Festival are accepting submissions now for the 2021 festival scheduled from Sept. 3 to 5. Submissions to the inaugural event in 2020 were by invitation only, but the Colfax Canvas’ Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Advisory Committee designed a submission application for 2021 to help bridge the gap in mural Get the latest local festival processes. To start the application process or learn more, visit ColfaxCanvas.com/app. news on AuroraTV Sponsorship opportunities also are available by emailing [email protected]. It’s never been easier to find out what’s With the changes in public health restrictions related to COVID-19, the happening in your community. second-annual festival should offer visitors a more festival-like atmosphere AuroraTV, the city’s nationally recognized with vendors, food trucks and musicians. Details will be available at municipal television station, provides local news ColfaxCanvas.com or on Facebook and Instagram @ColfaxCanvas. coverage every week on its award-winning Colfax Canvas Mural Festival organizers also facilitated a mural of National Aurora Now program. In additional, AuroraTV Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, which was painted by artist Chelsea broadcasts and live-streams Aurora City Council Lewinski, a 2020 Colfax Canvas participant. The mural was painted on the meetings, and airs public affairs programming wall of Pasternack’s Pawn Shop off of East Colfax Avenue near Dayton Street. and other informational programs focusing on city services, community events and more. “Young women like Amanda (Gorman) are so important to our youth,” Lewinski said. “…I hope that the young girls in the neighborhood will be Programming may be viewed on Aurora Comcast able to walk by and see this young woman and be inspired by her story.” channels 8 and 880 and at AuroraTV.org. Simple steps, better air: Let’s all do our part The metro area’s air quality does not meet current federal standards, but everyone can find a simple step to help create cleaner air, according to the Regional Air Quality Council. Emissions from cars, trucks, vans and motorcycles are some of the largest contributors to ground-level ozone in the area. Use MyWaytoGo.org to track your trips and try one new way to avoid driving alone twice this week. Skipping two car trips each week and replacing them with other ways to get around decreases traffic congestion and improves air quality. Consider combining trips to run errands and requesting deliveries after 5 p.m. when possible. CITY CENTER VISION: When you do drive, avoid idling for more than 60 seconds to prevent pollution and save on gas. For more information, visit Draft plan available for review EnginesOff.com. Driving a low- or zero-emission vehicle like The city of Aurora is asking for feedback from residents and an electric vehicle is a common-sense way to create better businesses at EngageAurora.org on the draft City Center area plan. air locally. Colorado offers tax incentives to make owning an electric vehicle that much easier, and the network of charging The city initiated a study of the City Center area in 2020 stations around the Front Range continues to grow. to develop a vision and strategy for creating Aurora’s new downtown district. City Center is located east of I-225, on either On hot, sunny summer days, fill up your car after 5 p.m. side of Alameda Parkway, which includes the Aurora Municipal and stop at the click to prevent gasoline vapors from turning Center, the Town Center at Aurora mall, as well as a number into air pollution. Use low-VOC (volatile organic compound) of other shopping centers, office buildings and apartment or water-based cleaners, paints and other products communities. This area has long been an important shopping around the house. Switch to electric lawn equipment (visit and employment area for Aurora and opportunity for new MowDownPollution.org for information on the Regional Air development and investment is strong. Quality Council’s lawn mower exchange program) and mow after 5 p.m. when possible. To complete the study, the city asked the community to describe To receive ozone alerts from June 1 to Aug. 31, send what they wanted to see in City Center’s future. That feedback BetterAirCO to 21000 on your cell phone or go to was used as the foundation for the draft City Center area plan. SimpleStepsBetterAir.org to sign up by email. The community asked for more of everything—more choices in shopping, dining, living, jobs and entertainment, more activities and opportunities for people of all ages, and more to offer the community and entire region. City Center can be a powerful economic engine for the city, a community gathering place and a source of pride that redefines Aurora. The city’s new draft plan for the area aims to capture that vision, and city staff would like to know whether the plan adequately describes our community’s vision for City Center’s future. Visit EngageAurora.org to review the plan and provide input by July 31.

Door-to-Door and more: NEW TRANSIT-ORIENTED Disposal and recycling options As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability, the city DEVELOPMENT OPENS IN of Aurora offers residents free and low-cost recycling opportunities year-round. These options keep hazardous materials out of CENTRAL AURORA landfills, where they may leach into our water systems. It’s been two years since the groundbreaking ceremony for Safely dispose of household chemicals such as lawn care products, Parkside @ City Center, 14531 E. Alameda Ave., but the pesticides, motor oil and more through our Door-to-Door city’s next mixed-use development adjacent to transit is Household Hazardous Waste program. After scheduling a pick-up, opening this summer. residents receive a disposal bag, list of materials accepted and The development features 216 market-rate, multifamily complete instructions. apartments, a parking garage for residents and 36,000 square The door-to-door program fee is $10, with a limited number of feet of retail, including Parkside Eatery food hall, Cheba Hut monthly appointments available. For information or to schedule a “Toasted” Subs, The Daily Grind, Deeply Rooted CBD Cafe and pick-up, call 303.249.0086 or visit HHWDisposal.com. Spa, Five Guys and The Halal Guys Gyro and Chicken. Aurora Water’s Household Chemical Roundup, typically held Parkside @ City Center is located within an Aurora urban in September, has been canceled for 2021. Visit the city of renewal district along the R Line, just north of the Metro Aurora’s web site for numerous other ways to recycle other Center Station. For the latest on opening dates and more, unwanted items, including paint, electronics, mattresses and visit ParksideAurora.com. more. For information, visit AuroraGov.org/Recycle. AUGUST WATERING SCHEDULE Three days per week

POP-UPS ROTOR HEADS ROTARY NOZZLES

5 9 14 MINUTES MINUTES MINUTES CYCLE-AND-SOAK TECHNIQUE Depending on your sprinkler head type, water for the suggested number of minutes above, wait an hour, then repeat two more times.

QUESTIONS? 303.739.7195

ENTER TO WIN OUR WATER-WISE LANDSCAPE AWARD If the beauty of your water-wise landscape turns heads in your neighborhood, enter to WATER-WISE LANDSCAPE win Aurora Water’s Water-wise Landscape Award. The annual award recognizes a DESIGNS AND REBATES commitment to conserving water and Unlike most turf lawns, water-wise landscapes thrive in Aurora’s dry climate. protecting the environment through Not only are they drought tolerant, these low-water yards often require less attractive, low-water landscaping. Just maintenance while adding color and texture to your landscape. Need help submit an application and three high- with your outdoor plan? Sign up for a free water-wise landscape design. resolution photos of your yard to enter. A landscape architect will help you select the low-water plant materials, If your landscape wins, you’ll have bragging hardscape elements and features that suit your lifestyle and taste. rights and receive a $100 credit on your Whether you use our free service or design it yourself, your new landscape water bill. Nominations of friends’ or may qualify for a $3,000 rebate when you replace at least 500 square feet neighbors’ landscapes are also accepted. of healthy bluegrass with a low-water landscape. Call 303.739.7195 or visit Visit AuroraWater.org for information and to AuroraWater.org and click on “Landscaping” for details and requirements for apply. Questions? Call 303.739.7195 both of these programs.

WaterWater BillingBilling Questions:Questions: 303.739.7388303.739.7388 •• ServiceService Questions:Questions: 303.326.8645303.326.8645 •• AuroraWater.orgAuroraWater.org