Location: Colorado Open Space – 5161 Sheridan – Inspiration Point

Executive Board Present: Loretta Koehler, Vice President; Steve Nissen, Treasurer; Hank Bootz, Maggie Price, Jane Potts Delegates-at-Large; Joel Noble, Transportation Committee; Cindy Johnstone, PARC Committee; Greg Sorensen, Budget Committee; Amy Duclos, Education Committee;

Meeting was called to order at 9am by Vice President Loretta Koehler.

Anna Bishop, Colorado Outward Bound School Development Director gave a welcome. OB has 11 regional schools in 30 counties. Their goal is to instill positive character and leadership skills.

Common Consumption Areas

Erica Rodgers, Policy Analysis with Excise and License spoke to the process for Common Consumption Areas (CCA) Entertainment Districts (ED) and Promotional Association (PA).

CCA – where a group of liquor licensees businesses can designate an area where patrons may consume alcohol outside of that business premises where alcohol was purchased. State Legislature approved in 2011. Aurora, Greeley, Glendale and Black Hawk have CCA’s. This would eliminate the need to bring in alcohol trucks as local business could sell their product to be consumed outside their premises. Full document on denvergov.org

Diana Helper Memorial Service

Steve Nissen announced the service for Diana will be May 18, 11am at University Park United Methodist. Donations will go to the Alliance Center.

Denver Decides

The Denver Municipal Runoff Election Forums will be held on May 21 and 23 at the Denver Art Museum, 6-10pm. The forum is a collaboration of League of Women Voters, Historic Denver, Inter Neighborhood Cooperation and Denver TV8. The forums will be recorded to be available the following day on the Denver Channel 8. All are welcome to attend.

Councilwoman Robin Kniech – Supportive Housing Neighborhood Engagement Working Group

Now that Initiative 300 did not pass – now what. She is establishing informal conversations of property owners, neighbors and the people who need the services to create a better understanding of who is and will be doing housing projects, who will be impacted and how to best work together. DHA has a $50M Bond that will be used around the city. To get involved or get more information contact Robin or her assistant Polly Kyle at 720-337-7712.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Transportation – Joel

– Eight major bike lanes funded by GoBonds are complete.

– Colorado Legislature ruled against red light cameras in Colorado – as a safety measure

– SB175, vulnerable person law, increased the fine when a pedestrian, hwy worker or biker is struck from 4 points and a fine to loosing driving license.

-Bike Streets Project – is mapping quiet, comfortable area map for casual biking

– 16th Street Mall will move all shuttle lanes to the center, and will keep and reuse granite.

Education – Amy

This past week saw the tragic shooting and death of one student at the STEM School in Douglas County and the 3-day lockout at South High Denver. DPS has sent no specifics to the public. They plan to host a Town Hall on Communications with Rep Alex Garnett, the DPS Board and Superintendent. The Education Committee is new. Amy asked for INC committee members so they can meet and begin taking action as needed.

Measure 302 (Olympics in Colorado) – Owen Perkins

The choice to have a vote as to whether or not Colorado should host the Olympics will be on this coming city ballot June 4.

National Wildlife Federation

Brian Kurzel with NWF and Sudhir Kudvas (owner of three centrally located bars) told us about Denver becoming certified to be a Community Wildlife Habitat. Individuals, neighborhoods, schools, churches and businesses can get certification. It would produce water and pollinator habitat gardens large and small throughout Denver to beautify and enhance places where Denverites spend their time and give refuge to wildlife. Sudhir is renovating his patio spaces to be more attractive to patrons (an important factor when deciding where to be outdoors) with landscaping that will certify his business as habitat friendly. People with certified gardens will receive free admission to the Botanic Gardens.

NWF.ORG/Rocky-Mountain-Region.

Submitted by

Jane Potts