Location:  Montbello Recreation Center

Call to Order by George Mayl at 9:15 am

Announcements

• George Mayl mentioned upcoming Panasonic City Tour, August 24, from 5 – 6pm. RSVP to erniediedrich@gmail.com by August 22.  The DenverNOW project is a partnership between The City of Denver and Panasonic. The goal is to build a prototype housing development near DIA that uses advanced technologies to construct a future, more sustainable Denver.
• Fran Nagiri noted the North Metro Denver group formed to unite north Denver neighborhoods from Sheridan to Central Parkway, N limits to 38^th, want to add Inspiration Point. She also mentioned Kiewit (I-70 contractor) is requesting a noise variance for late night work. Hearing on issue is Sept 6 at City County Building.  She offered a petition in opposition to the noise variance available for signing by interested members.
• Rocque Akram from the Be Well initiative of the Stapleton Foundation shared about their program, a ground-breaking, grassroots movement of area neighborhoods coming together to take charge of their health and wellness. More information can be found at http://www.bewellconnect.net/.
• Eric Penn – City Council Candidate for District 8 in attendance
• Miguel Ceballos-Ruiz – also City Council Cndidate for District 8 in attendance
• Joan Mobley, Hardness Heights Neighborhood Association, is new Commission on Aging member – interested in working with INC to get info to seniors around Denver.
• Group Housing Initiative Public Meeting @ McNicols building Aug 14 from 5 – 8
• Cards out side for Barry Burch – still looking for people for Boards and Commissions.
• Info available outside on to give commentary to League of Women voters for event on Oct 13 on Channel 8

Introductions of INC Board Members Present

Minutes

Moved by Tom Mobley (Harkness Heights Neighborhood Association) and seconded by Loretta Koehler (Baker Historic Neighborhood Association) to approve July 2018 Delegate Meeting minutes.  Minutes approved:  unanimously with quorum at 20

Committee Reports

Parks & Rec – Maggie Price, Co-chair

• Last Meeting Dan Goldhammer discussed drought, irrigation and soil.
• Update on 1-year pilot program for alcohol in the parks – have sent letter to Happy Hayes with comments: less glass trash, concerns about drunkenness and liability.
• Red Rocks planter box proposal – concerned about impacting historical elements in Red Rocks’ attempt to add more special seating.
• Park Hill Golf course development put off for 5 years as Arcis renewed lease. Arcis has initiated legal action against Clayton Early Learning.
• Fairfax land swap – city proposing to trade with developer for what is supposed to be public park inside a private development. Go to INC website > library > INC video library for recordings of meetings on this issue.
• There is a proposed tax increase for parks and open space; note the funds are not for rec centers
• Next meeting, Tuesday, September 18 at 2020 S Monroe, (Brookdale). Speaker is J Williams on eco-system restoration of S Platte River – pros and cons of plan.
• There is a new Task Force involving Happy Haynes, Scott Gilmore, and others to work with city agencies to revise/create regulations about use of bikes, scooters, etc. in parks.

Transportation – no representative present

Zoning and Planning – no representative present

Other Business

On-line Petitions

• Dominic Vaiana, Deputy Director of Operations for Excise & Licenses, Emily Backus, Denver Department of Public Health and Environment and Bobby Dishell, CU Law Student, introduced a program they are involved with as part of the Government Entrepreneurial Leadership Accelerator, a program that supports governments to encourage innovative problem solving to pressing public policy challenges.
• Teams had 7 weeks to prepare proposals for presentation to the governor, mayor, and Tech Stars representatives. The goal of the proposals is to improve liquor license application/notice/comment process by putting it on-line.
• There is a public meeting Monday September 17 at 6 pm on the 4^th floor of the Webb Municipal Building, 201 W Colfax Avenue where the proposed process changes will be presented. A sample of the proposed new posting sign was shared.
• Objective is effective neighborhood engagement through on line petitioning
  • Issue – liquor license processes – normally to apply, a business distributes petitions to demonstrate there are needs and desires for the license
  • Simultaneously, neighborhood/RNO, etc. can distribute a petition against license, if desired, requiring volunteers to go door to door, have in-person meetings, etc.
  • Way most neighborhoods find about proposed license is posting on premises – issue signs have been only in English. However, 18% of Denver residents are Spanish-first speakers.  As well signs included a lot of legalese and meeting date/time may not have worked for many members of the public who might otherwise want to comment.
• Proposed solutions
  • Notice sign text revised to be better for laypersons, include key points only and be in English and Spanish.
  • Sign includes website link and 311 reminder for individuals to use for commenting
  • Website being developed for Pocket Gov for on-line petitioning system
    • Goal to increase access and signer validity via automatic vetting of signer name/address (via DMV database: name, DOB, address)
      • Signer must be 21+
      • Is signer’s address in designated area?
      • Is this real person – DMV, NCIC, property records
    • Website designed to replace manual signer checking process currently being done via city attorney’s office
    • For petitions, do not have to be registered voter, just need to be a resident of record in pertinent area, age 21 or older.
    • Team also suggesting notifications be sent to local libraries and other public places in pertinent area.
    • Another positive will be ability to watch status of license petition responses (pos/neg) on neighborhood’s needs and desires for license (required by statute). It has not been decided whether to publish names of signers.  Audience suggested process allow individual to decide whether or not their name can be shown
    • Similar changes made to Denver Elections petitions showed validity improvements from 70% to 97%
    • Challenge process is same process
    • According to Case Law, amount of discretion to give petitions is determined by Director
  • If roll out of proposed liquor license project has positive outcomes, it is likely to be replicated for cabaret and possibly hotel restaurant licenses and in other departments with similar use cases.
  • This presentation will be available on INC website
  • More info: https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/denver-business-licensing-center.html and public meeting Monday September 17 at 6 pm on the 4^th floor of the Webb Municipal Building, 201 W Colfax Avenue.  Presentation .pdf:  https://gallery.mailchimp.com/71f53d0c4a0c1f1ea234d0ffd/files/8b93c4ee-a8cc-4086-8602-f3c39c9a1750/Pitch_Deck_6.25.18.pdf

• Question/Comments
  • How many liquor licenses are denied? Margie Valdez noted that only three licenses have been revoked in past 10 years at the hearing level.
  • Margie continued and noted that it is very, very difficult for a neighborhood to oppose a liquor license. Need to literally drag neighborhood people to hearing, must request evening hearing, and then we are against sophisticated attorneys & staff.
  • Many more licenses are denied via setbacks before getting to the hearing level.
  • Rather than denial or outright rejection at hearing, often neighborhoods enter into Good Neighbor Agreements which attempt to address neighborhood concerns.

Doors open Denver (DOD) – Pauline Herrera Serianni – Executive Director of Denver Architecture Foundation (DAF)

• DAF Overview – The Denver Architecture Foundation inspires people to explore our dynamic city, experience the importance of design to our quality of life and envision an exceptional future for Denver. DAF strives to deliver excellent public programming and events with a strong past, present and future focus.
• DOD is flagship event, taking ~1/3 of annual budget
• This year is 14^th year, formerly held in April to coincide with architecture month, but weather was consistently poor, so switched to September.
• This year DOD will be on Saturday and Sunday, September 22 & 23.
  • Participating sites are generally open from 10 am – 4 pm
  • Over 60 sites participating – schedule has been posted
  • ~150 expert guided tours @ $10 each
  • 73 Arts & Culture activities sponsored by Bonfils Stanton Foundation
  • This year focusing on neighborhoods for first time, elected areas Five Points and Highlands, each with 12 – 15 sites open.
  • DOD recruiting volunteers, mostly for greeting, attendance tracking, and providing information at sites as well as some tour guide opportunities.
  • Webiste: https://denverarchitecture.org/ To sign up to volunteer, scroll down and click on “Volunteer with Doors Open Denver”.  Volunteer trainings are Sept 13 (Th) 5:30 – 7:30 and Sept 15 (Sat) 10 – 12, both at Oz Architecture, attendance at one training required.
  • Steve Nissen, Alamo Placita Neighborhood Association and INC Treasurer, presented to Pauline INC’s donation of $1,000 to the Denver Architecture Foundation in support of Doors Open Denver.

Around the City

• Loren Mattingly – Lower Downtown Neighborhood Association (LODONA)
  • Recently held blood drive with Bonfils bloodmobile parked at Union Station
  • Focus of next meeting on August 15 is Rockies Mixed Use development plan for parking lot south of Coors Field.
  • Trying to bring more neighborhood activity / involvement to get board to 15 members
• Judy Trumpeter – Uptown on Hill
  • Saturday, August 25^th, from 2 – 6 pm, is the 31^st annual “Uptown Sampler”. See the website uptowndenver.org for more information on this annual fund raising event.
  • Concerned about city sidewalk effort to offer alternatives to ripping up stone sidewalks and replacing with concrete.
• Greg Sorenson – FANS for Cheeseman park
  • 2nd Sunday each month is car-free day in park
  • Neighborhood has concerns about parking around the park, especially with development at 16th & Humboldt which is introducing a large number of residences and no parking.
• Tom Carlin – Green Valley Ranch (GVR) Citizens Advisory Board
  • Noted that GVR is home to 30,000 folks and growing, with a similar population in nearby Montbello and about 10,000 in Parkfield. This population of about 70,000 is a growing percent of the total Denver population and therefore they are trying to encourage more INC participation of RNOs in this area.
  • Last week Taste of Ethiopian held – great event
  • Continue to have Wednesday evening concerts & farmers markets at GVR rec center & amphitheater
  • This month state land board finishing contracts at GVR Blvd & Tower Road. Community hoping for amenities, particularly a grocery store as area is food desert
• Roger Callender – La Alma/Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association
  • Also concerned about sidewalk project and how historic flagstone sidewalks are handled
  • Meet 4^th Wed of each month – getting good participation
  • YoYo Ma came to Youth on Record in Mariposa Plaza day after his Red Rocks concert
  • General challenge is keeping RNO voice in front of developers
  • New Denver Housing Authority building near the 10^th & Osage light rail stop is changing the skyline in the area.
• Amber Clark – College View Neighborhood Association
  • Laredo Heights update – purchase completed – developer looking to rezone and add some commercial – neighborhood groups working to stay informed and heard.
• Susan Payne – Washington Park East Neighborhood Association
  • Just finished 8^th neighborhood wide yard sale, 1^st Sat in Aug. It went well.
• Eric Penn – Candidate for City Council –Montbello resident
  • Acknowledges the challenge of getting representation in area
  • Holding a Back to School Wellness Fair on August 25 from 11 to 3 at the Montbello Recreation Center. There will be school supplies and health/wellness screenings.
  • On September 22 will be the annual Montbello Live event – started 2 years ago – featuring a 5 k run, 1 k walk, and FEASTival.
• LaMone Noles – City Park FANS
  • Fairfax Park land swap – city gets 675,000 to build park from developer – to city council later this month
  • City Park maintenance dipping again – Tom Morris has written a letter noting alge back in lake, dead grass, lack of irrigation, some safety matters – concerned is funding issue
• Miguel Ceballos-Ruiz – Candidate for City Council – Montbello resident
  • Many challenges in area. com said Montbello one of hottest neighborhoods – inviting gentrification
  • Another issue is transportation – being closer to Aurora than Denver – I-70 project will exacerbate issue
• Mary Jane Giordano – Golden Triangle Association
  • Three individuals from Golden Triangle participated in CU Boulder demographic study meeting aimed to learn about neighborhoods and impact on health (project info https://www.colorado.edu/project/dbase/about )
  • Final Fridays in Golden Triangle continue August and September; come and visit museums, restaurants, galleries, etc.
  • Gala Fund Raiser is being held Oct 11 at the historic Evans School
• Ann White – Montbello 2020
  • We are part of neighborhood plan for NE Denver and are giving feedback to help get amenities to increase neighborhood safety and ability to safely age in place
  • Working with Girl Trek, Walk to Connect and many other organizations to offer Montbello Walks, a, program of daily, weekly, monthly and themed community walks.
  • Also have the Senior Steppers program aimed at getting more seniors to rec center. Want to recognize the support of local businesses for events.
• Jim Slotto – Capital Hill United Neighborhoods (CHUN)
  • Tom Morris – has a bench dedicated to him (while still living – rare thing)
  • CHUN having its 11th annual wine tasting event on Wednesday, September 12 at 5:30. Join in for this great way to interact with mid-city neighbors – big event/fund raiser –   https://www.chundenver.org/event-calendar1.html#!event/2018/9/12/11th-annual-wine-tasting-1
  • Will be hosing November 10, 2018 INC delegate meeting – pleased about that – has been long time
• Mimi Florance – Swallow Hill Neighborhood Association.
  • Current issue – sidewalks – concerned about historic district and flagstone sidewalks
  • As Ogden Theater has grown, the size of the vehicles coming to the theater, are out-stripping the size of the alley, tree lawns, etc. and things are being damaged. Have begun dialogue with AEG Live, operator of the Ogden Theater.
  • Group Living Advisory Committee – they will be discussing the problem statements developed by the sub-groups at the Open House on August 14 at McNichols building from 5:30 – 8 pm – Everyone encouraged to attend.
• Loretta Koehler – Baker Historic Neighborhood Association
  • Second Mimi’s advice to attend Group Living meeting – list exists of ‘impacted neighborhoods’ related to the group living initiative – note that religious organizations are exempt from this initiative
  • Want communities to push for mapping of group living instances
  • Baker Ice Cream Social being held today at Daily Park, sponsored by Sweet Action Ice Cream
  • Marijuana industry representatives helped a lot with neighborhood cleanup – much appreciated
  • El Diablo redevelopment is in process, aim to provide affordable housing for those at 60% AMI
  • Site of old Kmart on Alameda also site of major new, 8-story residential apartment development
  • Old Mi Casa – think it has changed hands – not sure what is going on
  • HUGE changes going on in neighborhood in general
• Tim O’Byrne – West Washington Park Neighborhood Association (WWPNA)
  • Dealing with same issues as many other neighborhoods, especially regarding historic flagstone sidewalks
  • Also have concerns about all the scooters zipping around
  • Invites everyone to attend the WWPNA Heritage Home tour, September 8 from 10 – 3. More information at http://www.wwpna.org/
• Steve Nissen – Alamo Placita Neighborhood Association
  • Sidewalk issue – town hall in process at this time at Botanic Gardens on issue
  • Concerned that citizens have only 45 days to address sidewalk issues if receive a notice – concerned about demand prompting vendors to raise prices, ….
• Katie Fisher – University Neighbors Neighborhood Association
  • Current nightmare is all building/development projects in neighborhood are delayed 6 months as city cannot keep up
  • US Army Corps of Engineers feasibility study of Harvard and Weir Gulch and Harvard Gulch is nearing completion. The study’s objective is to identify potential improvements that could reduce the flood risk to numerous structures that are in high flood-risk areas in the Harvard Gulch and Weir Gulch watersheds. The study will be looking at alternative alignments that will use existing public property wherever possible to minimize private property acquisition.  Concern is that Urban Drainage, Parks and Rec and other stakeholders all have major plans for Harvard Gulch that appear to be not coordinated, not communicating.  As well, there is an outstanding question of whether changes will impact any private land/dwellings.
• Fran Frain Aquirre – Unite North Metro Denver (Sunnyside also involved in Globevill Elyria-Swansea)
  • Thank you to INC for letter against extension of I-70, but as it is still proceeding, maybe INC wants to speak up again
  • Joan Seeman – researcher from Sierra Club – looking at Construction Complaint data – 183 complaints about construction, but only 1 citation issued and fines. Kiewit was fighting that one fine, but eventually paid.
  • Kiewit requesting noise restriction variance – watch Ditch the Ditch Facebook page – lawsuit with Sierra club still in play
  • Black carbon soot – big problem – how can we address public transportation that is cleaner, reliable, comprehensive?
• Myles Tangalin – Congress Park Neighbors Inc.
  • Regarding historic flagstone sidewalks – city has not looked at fixing flagstone sidewalks due to mobility issues – flagstone difficult for wheelchairs – that is big issue
  • If resident, receives a sidewalk repair notice, with estimate for repairs and suggested contractors does not reply, city will just address and bill you. Costs can be income adjusted.
  • Congress Park had 250 – 350 people to its ice cream social – great
  • Botanic Gardens new science center building in process
  • BRT meeting – see Colfax Connects website https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/denver-department-of-public-works/projects/current/colfax-corridor-connections.html/ – project at construction drawing steps –big implications for neighborhoods – major goal to get folks out of cars with efficient transportation
  • All big plans have been released for Public Comment through October – comprehensive plan has been updated – check Comp Plan for areas of change and density settings
  • Started a Safety Committee that is focusing especially on 8th avenue initially
  • 9th & CO project – large AMC theater announced – it with office buildings and residences expected to significantly impact traffic in area
• Bob Lorenz – Inspiration Point Neighborhood Association
  • Held meeting in park to celebrate and plan neighborhood
  • Congratulate Montbello for Northface grant for climbing area – we would like to emulate
  • Just got $2+ million for playground and other improvements
  • Still lacking noise barriers on I-76 & I-70 as well as not repairing those damaged via accidents (or even removing some existing)

Project Spotlight – The Denver Study of the Built and Social Environment (DBASE)

Jake Carias – PhD student, CU Boulder – jake.carias@colorado.edu

• https://www.colorado.edu/project/dbase/about
• Have been observing RNO meetings around city
• Will be distributing preliminary surveys in few weeks to learn about characteristics and operations of Denver RNOs. Surveys will be distributed to individuals who have responded to project outreach to date.
• Also working to facilitate inter – RNO communications – especially questions from RNOs to RNOs which can be added to this survey
• Second survey will be to individuals in selected neighborhoods – array of demographics – to be able to refine survey instrument on their health, social values, safety … Goal couple months from now.
• Eventual goal to assist in getting grants from NIH to be able to more comprehensively collect information from all census tracks. Data to be gathered, both survey and biological, would aim to identify genetic signs of stressors to try and correlate biological and survey info
• Summary – goal to be most comprehensive data collection in city of Denver and to make all information public to support communities in their efforts.
• Creating GIS database – mapping project taking all Denver open-source maps, combining them all to make accessible to RNOs – interactive mapping that shows zoning, business/building type, – hope to release preliminary version in 2 weeks
• Follow project on Facebook – Denver Study of the Built and Social Environment

Be thinking about next may elections and getting people involved

Meeting adjourned 11:30 am