Denver INC Delegate Meeting Minutes

Sept 10, 2016

Denver Police Dept. – District 3

1625 S University Ave.

Denver, CO 80210

Meeting called to order at 9:04 a.m. 37 members signed in.

Washington Park East neighborhood sponsored this month’s meeting. Tim McHugh, President of the association, addressed the crowd and thanked Denver Police District 3 for hosting the meeting.

CM Paul Kashmann: Welcomed everyone to City Council District 6. Spoke briefly about the “garden court” and small lot multi-unit housing moratoriums. CPD is discussing changes to small area plans for the 78 statistical neighborhoods in Denver. Stated: 44% of the city does not have a small area plan at all. Considering grouping neighborhoods into 19 “pods”, beefing up staff and shortening the planning process. Sidewalk working group: Current process is not cost effective for homeowners and not efficient for the city. Considering several options to come up with money for several hundred miles of sidewalk in the city. Email Paul.Kashmann@denvergov.org with any ideas you have for budgeting and financing capital projects.

Meeting minutes for August 9, 2016 delegate meeting: Approved: 31 yes, 2 abstain.

9/11/16 1:00 PM: Civic Center Park. Food, speakers, activities in remembrance of 9/11/01.

Don’t forget about the candidate forums for elections this November! If you want to have an event at your RNO, please let INC know. If you have questions, please send them to INC so we can try to get them addressed at local forums. Montview Presbyterian Church is hosting a ballot issue forum on 10/6 5:30pm.

INC Committee Reports

ZAP: Margie Valdez: Zoning and Planning Committee refers the following motion to the delegation for

Discussion:

1. RNO states no notification to communities. Humboldt Historic district was not notified. Land use law firm believes the approval was in error because the intent of the 2010 rules were intended to preserve existing buildings, and avoid assemblage of lots.
2. Yes vote: support RNO in their appeal at the Board of Adjustments. No vote: against the RNO’s appear at the Board of Adjustments.
3. One member reminds us to consider the unintended effects of these types of moves by the Board of Adjustments. Does not feel this is anti-growth.
4. One member reminds us to consider more progressive thoughts regarding the use of alternative modes of transportation rather than parking.
5. One member reminds us that even progressive cities like Portland still require parking.
6. One member reminds us that we still need better multi-modal transportation.

Vote: Yes 26 No 4 Abstain 7

Discussion:

1. IHO has not worked because of its structure and because we are not building condos right now. Property tax element: $1/month to each property that will be part of a mil levy. One-half of money will come from development impact fees, and one-half will come from a small mil levy on property taxes.
2. One member believes developers will not be paying their share, but is still in favor.
3. Denvergov.org/housing – more details.
4. One member brought up a concern that developers will find a way to get out of paying their fair share, pushing all of the burden on home owners.
5. Overall funds are supposed to bring in $15,000,000 per year, no sunset. The goal is 6,000 housing units over the next 10 years.
6. Private and quasi-public housing developers will be used to build the affordable housing.
7. One member addressed the issue of multiple fees that are currently being added onto homeowners, some of whom cannot afford everything that has recently been added and is currently being proposed.

Vote: Yes 26 No 1 Abstain 10

Transportation: Joel Noble: Three speakers this month, two in SE Denver. Speer-Leetsville Study for improvements on traffic flow – timing of lights, better mass transit, roadway improvements. Transportation Solutions (Stewart Anderson): Working in Cherry Creek and DU areas. Statewide transportation: Plans to become the #1 biking state in the nation by 2019. 20% of all bicycle tourism revenue comes to Colorado right now. Next meeting in 2 months. If you know of specific corners/intersections that need to made a priority: Send information to your Councilperson or JJ. There is also an online survey at www.denveright.com.

Charity: Boys & Girls Club very thankful for last month’s donations of school supplies.

PARC: Cindy: Discussing key issues for Parks & Recreation with the updating the Game Plan. What is missing? What are the challenges? Where are there growth opportunities? How do we provide adequate recreation space as density increases, and how do we make it more accessible? There is a need to infill with open spaces as we grow. Analyzing what recreation might look like in 20 years. Climate Change – what effect will it have on our parks (e.g., water, etc.). What are your thoughts about what you would like to see in the next 20 years, what issues do you see? Take the survey at denveright.org.  Attend one of the first community discussions gathering input from residents are on Oct 4 and 5.  denveright.org will have the time and locations. Contact Cindy Johnstone, a task force member working on updates for the Game Plan, to share your thoughts or comments.  Cindy.Johnstone@comcast.net

Denver Public Schools Update: (JJ will upload copy of PowerPoint slides)

Anne Rowe: President of the Board of Education.

Student enrollment growth in DPS: 2006 enrollment = 73,013, 2016 enrollment = 92,280. Graduation growth rates: 2006 graduation rate = 2,664, 2016 graduation rate estimated = 4,314. 17 multi-pathway high schools dedicated to multiple learning styles.

2006 Qualified AP Tests = 936, 2016 qualified AP tests = 3,162. Concurrent enrollment options are also increasing.

Denver Plan 2020 Goals

Mark Ferrandino: CFO of DPS

New capacity: New facilities or expanded capacity at existing campuses.

Quality learning environments: School-driven investments at all facilities built prior to 2006.

Facility maintenance: Fixing deficiencies and making investments I facility cooling and sustainability.

Technology and safety

Bond: if approved, the bond proposal is not expected to increase the property tax rate. While the approval of a bond would require an increase in debt, we do not project a property tax rate increase to repay bonds.

Mill levy override: DPS is considering asking voters to bring us to the state cap for mill levies (4.2 mills annual, decreasing over time as assessed value grows).

Michael Kiley: Representing DPS Comes First. Schools need more investment. Need more teachers, cooling and technology in buildings. However, 2012 bond and mill were not used as proposed by DPS.

1. Purchased and remodeled new administration building. Taxpayers not informed. Grew to $80 million price.
2. Women owned business only received 27% of the projects, and minorities owned businesses only awarded 11%.
3. Charter spending is not as transparent as regular DPS schools.
4. Money intended for arts education resulted in 30 new teachers but no data on impact.

Recommends we fight to make sure all monies collected go to local schools before anything else. We also need disclosures on how much will go to overhead costs. We also need to cause full disclosure from charter schools.

SCFD Refunding Bond: 1 penny on $10 tax raises $50M per year for arts and sciences in Denver. Please vote YES on 4B for the next 12 years.

Meeting Adjourned: 11:00 am