HOST: Brookdale University Park, 2020 S. Monroe St., Denver

Quorum present: 38 Delegates representing 30 neighborhoods

WELCOME

• JJ Niemann, INC President, welcomed all and thanked Brookdale for hosting and providing food and beverages
• Barbara Aragon from Brookdale facility welcomed INC and advised tours were available to any who had interest.
• Councilman Paul Kashman, District 6 gave an overview about the international diversity within his district the University Park area. He told us South High School represents students from 70 countries and has an immigration-welcome attitude and focus.
• Councilwoman Kendra Black, District 4 talked about a district-wide survey they completed which revealed that “bike-ability” and safe pedestrian are key issues of concern in her district. They have started a good neighbor program to address snow removal and safety aspects on walkways. She also mentioned they plan a pop-up event with vendors to show “what could be” in terms of retail expansion to meet growing walkable neighborhood needs.
• Diana Helper, University Park Community Council, thanked Brookdale for hosting this meeting and the PARC’s committee meetings.

MINUTES
Margie Valdez made a motion to accept minutes from the January 14 delegate meeting; second by Caroline Schomp. Motion passed: [31 Yes 0 No 7 Abstain]

GENERAL – JJ Niemann

• INC’s elections are forthcoming in March. Positions for Vice President, Treasurer and two Delegate-at-Large board seats are open for election. Only delegates of member organizations (RNO) are eligible to run for office and dues must be current. Advise if interested in serving.
• Secretary position is open for appointment if anyone is interested in serving, INC would like to renew both Education and Public Safety committees – step up if interested.
• INC has 68 renewed RNO members and 24 Associates as of this meeting. Remember to renew!

• Excited to have one more year as president.
• JJ and Drew Dutcher (INC Board) both attended recent Denver Right Think Tank meeting. Reported there were 35 of the 60 who are on this task force in attendance.

ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER- Jane Potts, Chair

• Gave a very positive, upbeat recap of the dinner. 247 attendees, Mayor and 12 Council members in attendance
• Acknowledged each of the sponsors and especially Visit Denver who is the presenting sponsor for the 13^th year. Thanked Jane Lorimer for additional sponsor recruiting.
• Kudos: Gayle Rodgers for managing the auction and other committee members who worked the event. Darcy Wilson who did a good job as emcee despite a sore throat.
• Great feedback, raised about $3000 from the auction and the Dinner incurred no debt

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Parks & Recreation (PARCs)– Maggie Price, Co-Chair

• Last meeting featured Aaron Goldhamer attorney for former Colorado Attorney General; JD MacFarlane who is suing the City of Denver regarding placement of stormwater facility in City Park Golf Course; Christine O’Oconnor also provided information about Globeville Landing Park and the “ditch” that could provide further toxicity to the South Platte River. Portions of the ditch are on a superfund site.
• February speaker is Auditor Tim OBrien. We will cover some of his more recent audits on Denver Parks and Recs and the Zoo.  Meeting at 6PM, 2020 S. Monroe, February 21.

Zoning & Planning (ZAP) – Margie Valdez, Chair

• A lawsuit was filed February 3 by the sponsors of Initiative 300, the Cannabis Social Consumption Committee.  The plaintiffs are requesting the Court to rule that the Colorado Department of Revenue regulations prohibiting liquor licensed establishment to permit the consumption of marijuana and/or marijuana products on any licensed premises be declared void and in conflict with Initiative 300 which was passed by residents of Denver. INC will post court documents filed by the parties on its web-site.  The advisory task force will continue to meet to develop rules for social consumption.  The rules will be issued by the Department of Excise and Licenses are the conclusion of the task force meetings and recommendations.
• 6250 small lot parking exemption issue.  City Council is working with the Humboldt Street group and the Zoning and Planning Committee to draft amendments to the Text Amendment discussed at the January delegate meeting.
• Citizens Academy put on by INC/ZAP and Excise and Licenses is scheduled dfor March 29, April 10 and April 24.  The Academy will be held at the Blair-Caldwell Library.  It will be a series in education about marijuana 101, 201 and representing a RNO at a public hearing.  The application to attend the Academy will be posted on the INC web-site.  Those wishing to attend will be able to complete the application on line.  The number of attendees will be limited to 50-55.
• The challenge to the Mt.Gilead (Cedar and Monaco) zoning will be held by a 3-judge panel of the state Court of Appeals on March 7.  Please plan to attend if at all  possible (see INC web-site for details).
• Next ZAP meeting is February 24 from 9:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. at 1201 Williams, 19th floor.

Transportation – Joel Noble, Co-Chair

• Joel recognized JJ for attending February’s City Council open comment time, at which JJ thanked City Council for coming to INC’s Annual Awards Dinner.
• The next Transportation Committee meeting will be on Thursday, March 9th, from 6pm to 8pm at 1201 Williams St., 19th Floor. Agenda being finalized now. One hot topic is Transportation Demand Management (TDM), and we’ll be looking to educate ourselves about what techniques fall under this idea and how/if neighborhoods should advocate for “TDM” approaches. Denver Public Works has a relatively new position to focus on this, who we will invite to an upcoming meeting. 
• Of the four citywide plans in motion under the Denveright umbrella, three are transportation/mobility related (Blueprint, Transit, and Peds/Trails). We have many RNO reps on each plan, and co-leading the task forces on most. 2017 will be a big year for all the Denveright plans, and the Transportation Committee will be emphasizing active neighborhood participation citywide as the plans the begin to move into draft concepts.
• Transportation Committee hosted two lunchtime hardhat tours of the entire Civic Center Station redevelopment, above ground and below.

INC DENVER RESIDENTS’ ISSUES SURVEY WRAP UP – Jane Lorimer

• Mini-summary handouts shared (printing courtesy Denver Water)
• Rollout completed – presentations made by Survey Task Force members to Mayor’s staff representatives to neighborhoods and all 13 City Council members.
• Survey was deemed valid and credible and generated good conversations between INC and City leaders
• Full summary document mounted to INC’s website
• Board approved repeating the survey in 2017

SPECIAL PROGRAM – Neddra Nibblet, Program Manager, Keep Denver Beautiful
Promoting the Great Denver Cleanup Day on Saturday May 20, 2017
Addressed recycling, graffiti removal, large item pickup
For more information: www.denvergov.org/kdb
See feature article in INC March 2017 Newsletter

AROUND THE CITY

Diana Helper – University Park Community Council

Wants members to share how to involve large apartment/condo complexes into residential neighborhood organizations and what are good ways to introduce ourselves to renters in these buildings.

• Golden Triangle Association has developed a program and invited members to email them:admin@GoldenTriangleofDenver.com
• Another responded “have a party or a picnic”

Requested: When the City builds new structures, do a traffic study before the build to gauge the impact of traffic increases generated by new buildings. Feels developers should be required to cover cost of study and remediation.

AE – UCAN

To generate neighborhood relations, go door to door. Don’t underestimate the value of personal reach and partnerships

Hank Bootz –City Park FANS

Re INC survey statement: Why don’t citizens trust engineer decisions about “the ditch” – The ditch is a 40-foot deep trench between Brighton and Colorado Blvd that will cut through a Superfund toxic waste site, one of twenty in Colorado. Community involvement did not mean not letting neighbors weigh in as to whether they WANT a project filled with economic and environmental risks. Go to www.CPFAN.org for more information about town hall meetings. A recent one drew 150+ people protesting the project direction. There is growing momentum and a law suit in process.

John Riecke – INC VP, The Shire of Capitol Hill

Announced changes for CHUN – re-energizing as all volunteer staff and has new faces.
People’s Fair has been transferred to a for-profit company
McFarland House (13^th & Williams St) was formerly CHUN office and is now available to rent for special events.

Steve Nissen – INC Board, Alamo Placita

• Encouraged homeowners to fill out graffiti removal forms. Says Denver does a great job of removing graffiti even on brick surfaces.
• Please sign the condolence card passing around for Eugene Tepper, who recently lost his wife.

Tom Carllon – Green Valley Citizens Advisory Board

Wanted to introduce himself to the group. Green Valley now encompasses over 10,000 homes and is just about built out.

Councilwoman Gilmore (Dist 11) has begun a campaign plan to help get the far northeast part of Denver more recognition.

George Mayl – Cory-Merrill

The City challenges us too much to plan, so how do we get more participation?
We have the votes so the City needs to listen to us.

Meeting adjourned 11:40am
Submitted by Jane Lorimer