August 10, 2019 – Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Call to order – quorum present 35

Welcome by Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca who stated her goal is to show communities what is possible and to listen because the will of the people is at the front of her team’s agenda. She asked that INC keep the City leaders in the loop

Welcome by DMNS, host of this meeting, made by Ed Ed Scholz, VP Finance & Business Operations. Slide presentation about updates at the museum.

• Envision an empowered community that loves understands this community
• Two million people were served in 2018
• Museum has over 1800 volunteers.
• Talked about updates made and how neighborhoods participated
• Used to be a race track next door.
• Parking issue has existed since 1945. Currently use propery parking lots, arrivals via bus passes, renting local lots, Lyft discounts.
• No building expansion. Work with community to build the needs.
• Dedicated to STEAM and STEM for kids
• Blending in open space for Nature Play
• Institute for Science & Policy

Emmett Hobley was presented as newly approved by the INC Board to serve on the board. He will be voted in by delegates at the September meeting. He represents Montbello Neighborhood Improvement Assn.

Minutes

Motion to approve minutes from July 13, 2019 Delegate meeting made by Jane Potts, seconded by Steve Nissen. Passed unanimously.

Resolution to Preserve Park Hill -Cindy Johnstone, Maggie Price (Co chairs PARCs)

Resolution was read to the attendees.

Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb addressed attendees in support of the resolution.

• This would not take place if this were Wash Park and sites like Willis Case will be slenderized.
• It all reverts to the City Park, I70 and drainage projects. It is vital that we don’t replace trees with concrete. Smart business doesn’t buy a $24Mil land deal unless they will make money. Not our job to help developer make good on investment. Developer must keep and maintain so it is not bulldozed.
• Grass can’t speak for itself and we need to submit this resolution to City Council and further ask to save space.
• Full comments see Channel 9/KUSA

Motion to approve the Resolution made by Greg Sorenson, second by Katie Fisher. Passed: Yes 33, No 0, Abstain 2

Special 2020 Census Presentation – by Xlomara Sanchez US Census Bureau

• Why is census important – to be able to prove needs for Federal funding – $675Bil distribution of Federal funding depends on population in areas
• Citizenship question is not on the form. There are 9 questions.
• People requested to fill out census are those living in the home as of April 1
• Because of immigration sensitivities it is important for us to reach out to the Latino community to build trust.
• Libraries are partnering to collect data as well as various schools
• The census will be conduction in four ways: In Person, online, mail, phone
• Online self-response starts around Mar 9 and public will have about 2 weeks to fill out before they will be contacted by mail
• Data is secure and protected by Title 1 and undocumented residents are also protected by the same law.
• Homeless counts will be supported by those who are trusted within the homeless community and address will be where they get help
• University students are counted as residents at the place they live the most time so if an out of state student lives in Denver the majority of the year, they would be counted into Denver census.
• Requesting INC to spread the word to fill out the 2020 Census reports

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Transportation- Joel Noble

Slide presentation- For more information– BikeStreets.com

Unanimous support in INC Transportation Committee for community led project presentation regarding where it is safe to bike (non motor). The program is called Bike Streets Project. The goal is to map out low stress, low traffic bike routes and print those routes to paper maps.

Motion below made by Joel, second by Katie Fisher

INC encourages the City of Denver to include the identified “Bike Streets” — existing, shady, low-speed streets suitable for bicycling with families and children and those looking to avoid higher-speed roads — in the next revision of the Denver Bike Map.

Motion passed: Yes 29, No 0, Abstain 1

Next Transportation meeting: 1201 Williams St, 19^th Floor

PARCs – Maggie Price

Last meeting was refining the resolution. No meeting until September 17. Meeting is at Brookdale, 2020 S Monroe St, Denver at 600P

City of Denver bought Groundcovers Nursery, 4301 East Iliff Avenue and will convert to a park.

Zoning & Planning/ZAP – Loretta Kohler (INC VP) for Ean Tafoya

Last ZAP meeting notes (June) are posted online HERE

Next meeting: August 24 – 1201 Williams St, 19^th Floor

Topics: Tiny home villages, Affordable housing equity report, Loretto Heights.

Adrian Brown – Equitable housing report will be based upon Sloan’s Lake issues and this report will consider this topic for all neighborhoods.

City is entertaining RFP for consultant to get builders to build affordable homes and pricing as such.

INC Annual Awards Dinner – Jane Potts, Chair

• Annual awards dinner is INC’s 45^th year of the dinner celebration. It will be held at the Holiday Inn Cherry Creek which will sport a new name by dinner date which is February 12, 2020

• The committee is meeting this month. Soon forms will be open to gather auction items.

Education – Jane Potts for Amy Duclos

• INC is an equal partner in Denver Decides. The other partners are TV8, Historic Denver and Denver League of Women Voters. Denver Decides conducts ballot forums and candidate debates.
• DPS Candidate debates are scheduled September 26- location TBD
• INC’s October 12 delegate meeting will host ballot initiatives presentations at Arrupe Jesuit HS and this event will be filmed by TV8

Sustainability – Loretta Kohler for Ernie Diedrich

• Building a platform for the committee and the depth and breadth of scope for this new committee within INC
• Aligning with other organizations such as Resilient Denver to add depth and clout to our efforts
• Next meeting: Wednesday, September 25th, 6:30-8:00 pm at the Daniels Fund building.

AROUND THE CITY

Susan Payne Wash Park EastWest

17^th Annual 4^th of July celebration and prizes for best decorated bikes, municipal band – big success

Laura Liske – Golden Triangle

Socials on Final Fridays, will be at Martin Plaza. Maps detailing Final Friday activities and locations are available the night of the event at the concierge table at the south end of Martin Plaza (at Acoma Street and 12th Avenue, near the cows sculpture)

Patricia Mulligan Mayfair

Concert in Park to be held August 24. Music and food trucks 10^th & Jersey

BYO chairs

Greg Sorensen –

St Francis Center, t to provide help/housing for people who don’t have housing but are employed August 14, 1601 E 14th

Katie Fisher – University Neighbors

Schools start up soon and University Hills/Park has lots of construction and very little parking. Please be aware if in the area and especially near DU campus.

Frank Locontore- Colfax BID

Colfax Works is still running successfully. INC presented a Star award for the program in 2019. Program is running for whole year. Work is available to those seeking a way to afford their own housing. Work includes grounds maintenance, removing graffiti and other clean up duties along Colfax.

Bike Streets – September (Avi Bike Streets West Wash)

Bikestreets.com/September

Jammie Darrell- Green Valley Ranch

Lots of development, congested with traffic and difficulty to get grocery stores and trying to build retail.

Cindy Johnstone – FANS Wash Park

Algae build up in park which is being sprayed with herbicides to get rid of it.

Aug 15 Tour of the big gardens along Downing 6-7p and must sign up

Jim Slotta –Capital Hill/ CHUN

50^th year celebration of the organization will feature wine tasting at Botanical Gardens chundenver.org. Tickets required.

CHUN plans renovations to building at 13^th/Williams. Building for meeting events – plan developed

CHUN Climate Crisis Committee – Jolon Clark, President Denver City Council presented an ordinance the city is planning. Questions about what is platform and how to fit in with all others to stop global warming.

Adjourn