We are having elections for President, Secretary and (3) Delegate-at Large positions. I need not tell you that it is vital for our future to elect Directors that share the same neighborhood zeal our past officers held. There are also open positions on the Safety and Education Committees. Please step up and take an active part in your INC.
Chair Margie Valdez convened the meeting of the INC Zoning and Planning Committee and led discussion of about several important ongoing topics:
The Director of the Department of Excise and Licenses, Ashley Kilroy, Legislative Analyst Nathan Batchelder and Assistant City Attorney Reggie Newbine summarized a proposed major revision to the Department’s Hearing Policies and Procedures for liquor, cabaret and marijuana hearings. There will be a public hearing on the proposal in early May before the Department. They indicated that some proposed changes result from the fact that a number of recent evening hearings (some going past midnight) have caused inconvenience to all parties concerned. The goal of the proposed changes is to make the procedures fair and streamlined and to clarify and standardize the policies and procedures for all types of hearings. The Policies and Procedures were last revised in 2013 and reside in 2 different documents. The Department established a working group last August, including 2 representatives of Registered Neighborhood Organizations. If the proposals are adopted:
at least 25 signatures will be necessary to request an evening hearing (as opposed to the current 10).
Guest Speaker – Councilwoman Robin Kniech – Discussion of the General Obligation (GO) Bond
Robin is one of two ‘at-large’ councilpersons in the Denver City Council since 2011. She provides an annual newsletter, which was passed out to the meeting attendees.
At the outset of her service in 2011, Denver was in a very challenged posture (like many post-recession cities). For example, library hours were sporadic, construction was just beginning to reawaken and unemployment hovered around 10%. The environment has considerably changed for the positive today. The prior period has surfaced today in current voids in spending gaps and project delays and cancellations.
Robin spends most of efforts with ‘big picture’ issues, although she periodically gets involved in smaller specific projects. A good example of the former is that every square foot of development in Denver pays a fee toward a low-income housing fund; the first time ever. This is particularly pertinent as HUD is cutting back on this kind of disbursements.
Our first presentation was from Stephen Rijo, Denver Public Works Transportation Transportation Demand Management program administrator. This very timely topic comes just as many discussions in neighborhoods and at City Council are turning towards how we can find ways to address congestion in our growing city (and our growing region, with a large number of trips coming in and out of Denver every day).
PARC was reminded that the portion of this meeting regarding a proposed large music festival at Overland Golf Course site was strictly to be focused on “process.” This appeared to mean both the current process OSE is going through to make a decision on permitting this event, and a more permanent process to follow for future situations like it. If a contract is signed it will be for a period of 5 years. A great amount of time and energy already has been expended in OSE meetings with numerous groups to garner input.
A audio transcript of this process discussion can be listened to below. Please press the play arrow to hear. or Click to download and play on your own device
( All RNOs should send a representative to this meeting.) Above is the link to the Excise and Policies Draft Hearing Policies and Procedures for your review prior to the meeting this Saturday and the explanation for the proposed changes. Please review prior to the meeting so that we will prepared for the presentation. Thank you. Margie
