On Monday, October 26^th, at the City Council Bond Implementation Committee, Parks and Recreation presented their recommendation, unanimously supported by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, for City Council to authorize the expenditure of $6 million to purchase the former Church in the City site at Colfax and York for a future central Denver Recreation Center. The agenda item was forwarded out of committee for a vote by City Council in the coming months. To view the video of the Bond Implementation Committee, click here.

The November 2007 bond issue allocated $11 million for land acquisition and design services for a new recreation center to serve the central Denver area. The remaining $5 milllion will be used for design of the new Recreation Center and saved until future funds become available for construction. A 2006 Recreation Needs Assessment Survey showed there to be a gap in recreation center service for central Denver. To view maps of the central Denver need click here and for a more centralized map click here.

We struggled to find a large enough site that could be purchased, that had proximity to a park for outdoor recreation, that offered opportunities for partnerships with other private or public entities, and that was accessible especially to those who have no other recreational alternatives. I, for one, was determined to present a choice to Central Denver residents. Fortunately and unfortunately, proposed private development on the “Church in the City” site became unfeasible after the economic downturn at the end of 2008. By the end of this summer, the City’s real estate department had done a remarkable job of securing an option to purchase the property.

As soon as that happened, we were ready to present two alternatives to Central Denver residents - a covered pool and first phase center in Congress Park or purchase of the land and design for a center at Colfax and Josephine. An overwhelming majority of those who attended the September public meeting at the Botanic Gardens favored the Colfax site. To view the powerpoint presentation, a list of public comments and questions, site plan options for Congress Park and Church in the City, and other site evaluations, please click here. I want to thank each and every person that attended the public meetings, called, or wrote a letter or email expressing their thoughts on the location and I want you to know that I took them into great consideration during my decision making.

So imagine a great rec center! Although we don’t currently have enough money to build a recreation center, we have plenty of time and creative talent to help us plan a great place. We could partner in small or large ways with Denver Public Schools/East High School. We could work with St. Charles Town Company, who currently owns the gas station on the corner, to create a mixed-use development and town center. We will look for non-profit partners to help us provide recreational services. This opportunity will be worth the wait and worth the time spent in planning. A Central Denver Recreation Center offers a new paradigm for recreation centers in our City.

Draft 3 of New Denver Zoning Code Available Today, Joint City Council and Planning Board Listening Sessions, CPD “Office Hours” for the Public,

Highlights of Use and Process Changes in the New Code

I want to alert you that Community Planning and Development (CPD) will be posting Draft 3 of the New Denver Zoning Code today, Tuesday, November 3, on the New Code website: http://www.newcodedenver.org. This near-final draft will include the previously posted interim revisions to Article 7 (Urban Center) and also incorporate substantial input from the commercial and residential community following the release of Draft 2. Additionally, our office has posted two summaries on the District 10 website. One summarizes highlights of proposed use changes in the new code, and one summarizes highlights of process changes in the new code. Check them out. We also sent them to RNO leaders and zoning contacts last week.

The City still wants your input and there are multiple opportunities to comment on Draft 3 of the New Code. You may use the comment feature on the New Code Website or attend any of the following Listening Sessions and New Code Office Hours in November. Of course, I will continue to be available to meet to discuss any remaining concerns or you may submit letters or emails.

Thank you for your ongoing interest and involvement in the New Code Denver effort. City Council is pleased with the level of participation we’ve received from the commercial and residential communities through public meetings, e-mails, phone calls, letters and website interactions – all of which will help Denver deliver a new zoning code that offers clarity, predictability economic opportunity, and preservation of Denver’s outstanding quality of life.

Denver City Council and Denver Planning Board are hosting two public listening sessions in November on the proposed New Zoning Code. These joint sessions are designed to hear your comments and questions before the final draft and the formal hearing. Come Join Us On:

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm (Sign–up to speak between 5 pm and 5:30pm)
Thursday, November 19, 2009 from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm (Sign-up to speak between 12 noon and 12:30pm)

Both sessions will be held in the Webb Municipal Building, 201 W. Colfax Avenue, Fourth Floor Conference Rooms, 4G2/4F6. The sessions will be held in a public hearing format. Speakers are limited to 3 minutes with one opportunity to comment or ask a question over the course of the two listening sessions.

Input will be used to inform the final draft code to be released in December. The listening sessions will be aired live on Denver 8 TV and can also be viewed after the listening sessions at http://www.denvergov.org/Denver8TV/Denver8TVHomePage/tabid/384122/Default.aspx

Zoning Code Team members from Community Planning and Development will be available to answer questions from the general public about particular issues that relate to your property during CPD New Code “Office Hours” on:

Tuesday, November 10^th from 4 - 7 pm
Thursday, November 12^th from 11 am to 2 pm

Check the New Code Denver website http://www.newcodedenver.org/ for exact room locations in the Wellington E. Webb Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave.

The remainder of the New Zoning Code process, as announced by City Council in September, is expected to be as follows:

Mid-December 2009 – Zoning Code staff will make final revisions to the New Code following the Listening Sessions
December 22 2009 - Publication of the final draft on www.NewCodeDenver.org on or before this date.
January 6, 2010 – Public Hearing held by Denver Planning Board
January 13, 2010 – City Council Blueprint Denver Committee consideration of final draft
January 21, 2010 – Community, Planning and Development (CPD) files bill for an ordinance for the New Code to be considered by City Council.
January 25, 2010 – First reading of the bill before City Council
February 22, 2010 – Final consideration of zoning code bill by City Council, following a formal public hearing. If the bill passes, it becomes an ordinance, or city law.
4 month transition period from date of new code’s implementation.

Council Studies Policies for Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Recent television and print media have carried stories about Colorado’s newest growth industry - medical marijuana dispensaries. Colorado voters passed Amendment 20 to the Colorado Constitution allowing the possession and use of marijuana for medical reasons, primarily pain relief and debilitating diseases, 9 years ago. But there has been a lack of clarity about where users could legally obtain the marijuana. Based on a decision by the Colorado Board of Health early this year, medical marijuana dispensaries have started to flourish in the state and in Denver. About 28 municipalities have adopted regulations for these dispensaries.

This week Council heard from State Senator Chris Romer and was briefed by the city attorney and city department officials regarding their experiences and concerns with this new business model. To view the briefing, click here.

In coming weeks, I expect Council to consider clear and simple legislation that can be enacted now while we wait for more definitive work from the State Legislature this winter. We respect the will of the majority of voters who supported the legalization of medical marijuana as a health care model. We have a responsibility to provide safe access to those who need medical marijuana and who qualify for it. Elements of our legislation will probably include background checks for owners, prohibition of consumption of marijuana on the premises, spacing requirements from schools and other dispensaries, typical health inspection for edibles sold on site, and administrative fees for these regulations. Most of us on Council also believe that the sale of medical marijuana should be subject to city sales tax.

Chickens in the City: What Do You Think?

More and more major cities and small towns are adopting ordinances that allow people to raise chickens as pets and to collect their eggs as a food source for their family. There is a good possibility that Denver will be considering this in the near future. I want to know what you think!

Current Denver ordinances allow ownership of chickens, goats, ducks and other animals after going through a permitting process. Proponents argue that the current permitting process can be cumbersome (takes around 2 months) and expensive ($150 - $300).

Currently, to have chickens you must go through review and inspection by both Denver Animal Care and Control and get an administrative exception for use from the Denver Zoning Department. So far this year, 8 households have gone through this process. The applicant must post a notice on their property for 10 days, starting a 30 day public comment period. This allows time for neighbors and local neighborhood associations to share their opinions on the decision to approve, approve with conditions or deny the use permit. Then the Zoning Administrator makes a decision. Depending upon the decision, either the applicant for the use permit or neighbors can appeal the decision to the Board of Adjustment (group of 5 qualified citizens appointed by the Mayor to review Zoning Administrator decisions).

In discussions of a possible ordinance, inspection and permitting by Denver Animal Care and Control would remain, but the Zoning Administrative Review process would be eliminated.

I want to know what you think! Would you object to your next door neighbor having up to 6 chickens (no roosters) without your ability to share your opinion through the Zoning Administrative Review process? Please click here to take my survey.

To learn more about the current inspection and permitting processes and view newspaper articles and websites on this issue, please click here.

Cheesman Park Bond Improvements Beginning

I wanted to provide you with an update regarding the highly anticipated Better Denver Bond Improvements planned for Cheesman Park. In 2007, voters approved just over $2 million for replacing the irrigation system in Cheesman and $990,000 for other improvements. One of the first priorities in the Cheesman Park Master Plan was improving the pedestrian experience and the trails in the park.

Safer Pedestrian Experience

The first phase of work that started in October and will continue through December 2009 is the installation of 7 raised pedestrian crossing tables, 1 speed hump and additional stop signs and crosswalks to slow traffic and minimize conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles. All park road entries will be posted 3-way stops, and trail crossings at these points have been shifted closer to the stop signs for safer crossings.

To improve pedestrian safety, all park road entries will be restriped with crossings occurring at the 3-way stops instead of mid-block as they are now.

Cheesman Pavilion Roof Repair

Repairs to the historic Pavilion Roof recently started and will continue throughout November. To view Denver Parks and Recreation design and construction plans for this project and projects throughout the city, click here. Repairs are also planned for the Cheesman Fountain in spring or summer 2010.

Improved Trail System

Cheesman Park’s trail system offers different recreational experiences while also meeting ADA design requirements. The popular soft surface running trail on the park perimeter will remain with some improvements to its alignment. A concrete loop trail has been added in the big meadow and the 8^th Ave. sidewalk will be upgraded to concrete. Consistent with the adopted master plan, two parallel walks lined with mature Linden trees and benches will create a promenade or Unter Den Linden on the west side of the park. To view the schematic design for the improved system of park trails that will be implemented click here.

New Irrigation System

While the irrigation system replacement and improvement will generally not be visible to the average park user, these improvements will greatly enhance the park. Irrigation system replacements are intended for the second phase currently planned for January through June 2010. The improvements include the installation of a new irrigation tap, new irrigation mainline and renovation of the entire irrigation system throughout the meadow (middle) area of the park. Portions of the meadow will be closed to public use during this construction.

For further information regarding this project please contact the project manager at Denver Parks and Recreation, Ruth Murayama. She can be reach at 720-913-0613 or ruth.murayama@denvergov.org.

1^st Avenue from Colorado to Steele Improvement Study

Last year when safety concerns along 1^st Avenue between Colorado Blvd. & Steele Street prompted discussions with the Cherry Creek East & North Neighborhood Associations, some merchants and Public Works, it became evident that what was really needed was a plan of renewal and improvement along the length of that corridor between Colorado Blvd. & Steele Street. In working with the city’s budget office, I was fortunate to secure $75,000 for developing a plan to enhance the streetscape, support commercial development and develop traffic calming measures to improve safety. A small working group including neighborhood representatives, commercial interests, Public Works and planning consultants are now meeting to talk about developing a vision for the 1^st Avenue corridor.

Study Area
The study area includes seven blocks east of the 1^st Avenue and Steele Street intersection from Steele to Colorado Boulevard. The study will concentrate on improvements that fall within the prescribed study area but will certainly consider the larger context of the Cherry Creek area as well as the overall traffic patterns and travel shed movements as outlined in the Strategic Transportation Plan (2008).

The study will look at east-west and north-south connections within the study area for all modes of travel and determine potential infrastructure and streetscape improvements including but not limited to:

Safe and pedestrian-friendly connectivity
Safe crossings and linkages across 1^st Avenue
Consistent sidewalk and streetscape elements
Improved bike connections to the Cherry Creek Trail and other major bike routes.
Traffic calming measures

Timeline
The study is scheduled to be completed by the end of November. The findings and recommendations will be integrated into the Cherry Creek Neighborhood Plan Update scheduled to begin in Fall 2009. The 1^st Avenue Improvement Study process includes two open house public meetings to discuss progress and findings.The first one was held on October 6^th, 2009; a second one will occur in the November/December timeframe.

More information on the study is located on the following website:

http://www.denvergov.org/Infrastructure/1stAvenueSteeletoColoradoStudy/tabid/435012/Default.aspx

Veteran’s Day Parade Saturday Nov. 7th

The City and County of Denver will host the annual Veteran’s Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 7^th beginning at 10 am. Prior to the parade, there will be a presentation of a Bronze Star for Valor to a fallen soldier’s widow. Immediately following the parade, there will be a tribute to fallen Iraq and Afghanistan veterans from Colorado at the Colorado Veterans Memorial in Civic Center Park. The parade is organized by the City and County of Denver and the Denver United Veteran’s Council and will honor veterans and those in active military service. The parade has been held by the City and County of Denver since 1942.

The Parade will start and end in Civic Center Park and will proceed down surrounding streets. The parade will proceed via 14th St. to Court Pl. then to 15th St. and Welton St, east to 17th St., then south on Broadway to 14th Ave. The reviewing stand will be located between Colfax and 14th Ave. on Broadway.

Parade inquires should be directed to Andrew Grieb, Parade Chairman, Denver United Veterans Council, at 303-283-1801 or George Cassidy, Denver County Veteran Services Officer, at 720-944-3501. Tribute inquiries should be directed to Tim Drago at 303-756-0338. Inquiries can also be directed to denvervetparades@gmail.com.

Trash and Recycling Collection Schedules for Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and City Furlough Day

City and County of Denver offices will be closed on:

Wednesday, November 11th, in observance of Veteran’s Day
Thursday, November 26^th in observance of Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 27^th Citywide Furlough Day

Trash and recycling collection Services are as scheduled:

Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, November 11^th, trash and recycling will be picked up as regularly scheduled. Services will not be delayed for the Veterans Day holiday.
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26^th, trash and recycling will not be picked up. Solid Waste will work on a delayed schedule (Thursday on Friday, Friday on Saturday) following the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Citywide Furlough Day, Friday, November 27^th, trash and recycling will be picked up as regularly scheduled. Services will not be delayed for the furlough day. However, services will operate on a one day delay caused by Thanksgiving Day.

Denver parking meters will be free on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11^th and Thanksgiving Day, November 26^th. Denver parking meters are free on all City-recognized holidays and on Sundays.

Fall is Here and so is the 2009 Denver LeafDrop

The snow sure did speed up the fall of leaves this year, so the annual raking begins! Did you know that organic materials such as food, food-soiled paper and yard debris account for 58% of what is thrown away in Denver? Denver Recycles’ LeafDrop program once again will be providing options for Denver residents to compost their leaves and avert them from the dump.

If you can, try and reuse and recycle your leaves by digging them into the garden, composting them or using a lawn mower to mulch small amounts into the lawn. This adds nutrients and helps the soil retain moisture. Home composting and mulching information can be found by clicking here. Remember to never sweep your leaves into the street. This clogs up storm sewers and street sweeper vehicles. If you can’t reuse your leaves at home, take them to a LEAFDROP site this fall and Denver Recycles, a program of Solid Waste Management, will ensure they are composted. Please note that leaves must be tied or secured in bags. If you can use paper yard debris bags (found at most hardware and home improvement stores), they can be composted with the leaves. You can also treat your Halloween jack-o-lantern to a second chance and compost it with LEAFDROP. Then, reclaim your leaves next spring in the form of rich compost at the Treecycle Mulch Giveaway and LEAFDROP Compost Sale. Reclaim your leaves next spring in the form of rich compost at the 2010 Treecycle Mulch Giveaway & LeafDrop Compost Sale.

Drop-off locations:

10 am – 4 pm Sundays, November 1, 8, and 15
- Northwest – Sloan’s Lake Park, 17^th Ave. at Sheridan Blvd.
- Southwest – John F. Kennedy High School, Newland St. and Brown Place
- East Central – Cranmer Park, 3^rd Avenue and Clermont Street
- Southeast – South High School, Louisiana Ave. and Franklin St.
- Northeast – Smiley Middle School, 26^th Ave. and Holly St.
7 am – 2:30 pm, Monday – Friday (closed Holidays), October 5 – December 4
- Havana Nursery, 10450 Smith Road, just south of I-70 and Havana St.
- Denver Solid Waste Transfer Station, 7301 E. Jewell Ave., Quebec St. & S. Cherry Creek Drive

For more information or to check for extreme weather cancellations call 720.865.6810 or visit DenverGov.org/DenverRecycles

Dog Park Master Plan Update

In July, Denver Parks and Recreation selected 15 people to serve on its Stakeholder Committee regarding the Dog Park Master Plan and Policy recommendations. I want to thank three District 10 constituents for giving of their time and serving on this committee: Jay Rust, Rachel Jacobs and Tanner Johnson.

The role of this group is advisory in developing and providing ideas for the improvement of existing dog parks and the planning of new dog parks as it pertains to location, design criteria, environmental and water quality considerations and general policy recommendations and enforcement recommendations. The Stakeholder Committee is comprised of (2) members from Parks and Recreation Advisory Board; (3) members from the Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC); (15) citizens (dog owners, non-dog owners, trainers, vets); and (1) appointee from City Council. They met numerous times over the summer and fall to discuss the master plan draft and recommendations to provide their input and expertise. The process to date has included thorough analysis and evaluation of Denver’s existing dog parks in addition to significant investigation of local and national best practices.

The Stakeholder Committee identified various needs/desires of the community:

Bringing Denver’s existing dog parks up to a more sustainable level of service and include amenities such as benches, water, and shade. The City has $200,000 budgeted to make such improvements in 2010, but there is no budget for developing new parks or for off-leash areas yet.
Recognizing significant gaps in dog park service area from roughly Colfax Ave. south down to Hampden Ave. and from roughly the east side of the I-25 corridor east to Quebec St. (Both internal and external committees recommended and agreed to Denver’s regional, fenced dog parks serving a roughly 2-mile radius area.)
- Committee DRAFT recommended parks to be considered for 1 or 2 additional regional fenced dog parks to fill the gap areas in service include:
  - Cook Park
  - Vanderbilt Park
Considering off-leash hours / off-leash dog sites to fill any remaining gap areas of service, particularly in higher density neighborhoods. However, policies on how these areas would work need further development prior to discussing potential locations and sites. The financial model is not yet complete. In tough financial times, that’s important. Also Council will need to consider ordinance changes for off-leash areas in Parks but the committee has yet to year what those changes would be. Currently, the committee is discussing the use of portions of City Park and a downtown park or publiclty-owned land. Other regional parks like Cheesman, Washington, Berkeley, Sloan’s Lake, Ruby Hill, Bear Creek/Bear Valley, Stapleton Central Park and Parkfield were discussed, but are not currently being considered for the pilot program. Policy items pertaining to off-leash hours / off-leash dog sites being discussed by committee include:
- Entrance and rules for Off-Leash Areas
- Fee for usage and for identification of dogs and owners who have paid the fee.
- Off-Leash hours and Timing
- Fines
- Liability
- Enforcement

The planning process is expected to recommend some draft policies and plans for public input this fall 2009. Parks and Recreation would then hold various public forums. If approved, the first priority would be to upgrade existing off-leash parks and establish two new fenced areas.

People interested in staying abreast of the master plan process can submit their email contact information to DenverDog@Denvergov.org and will be added to the master distribution list for periodic updates. The City will also be asking for additional input throughout the process in the form of short electronic survey that will be sent to the contact list, as well as hosted on the Denver Parks and Recreation Web site at www.denvergov.org/parksandrec.

Denver Parks and Recreation Policy Changes and Public Hearing Dates

Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR) is working with the DPR Advisory Board on two policies, Public Notification & Civic Engagement and Admissions Based Events. The draft of the Public Notification and Civic Engagement Policy is posted for public comment on the City website and distributed city-wide to stakeholders. A public hearing will be held at the La Alma Recreation Center on Thursday, December 10th at 6:00pm. After the public hearing, the DPR Advisory Board has 45 days to make a recommendation to the Manager of DPR. This will be followed by a presentation to the City Council Public Amenities Committee. Finally, the policies are formally adopted by the Manager of DPR.

Public Notification and Civic Engagement
It is the policy of Denver Department Parks & Recreation that Denver's residents have ample opportunity for input on proposed actions which would impact Parks or Facilities, planning, policies, development, uses or programs for Parks or Facilities; on surrounding neighborhoods or the City as a whole; and that the public process follow the guidelines set out in this Public Notification and Civic Engagement Policy. DPR is committed to substantial, systematic, and ongoing public participation. DPR seeks to involve, as a standing ethic and practice, the voice of the public in proposals with respect to Parks and Facilities which could significantly impact the Parks and Recreation system and the benefits and uses derived by the public.

Effective civic engagement is based on the following core principles: accountability, equity, transparency, responsibility, accessibility, openness, diversity, effectiveness, flexibility, communication and listening. DPR strives to engage the public with strong mechanisms for listening and responding to concerns, strives to be respectful of the public's time and efforts, and strives to effectively communicate through the uses of improved technology.

To view the actual draft language, please click here.

Admissions Based Events
Increasingly over the years, citizens and event organizations have contacted DPR to clarify the implementation of admissions based events in the Denver park system. To ensure a broad level of participation, DPR invited a diverse group of individuals and organizations to join in the discussion including representatives from all City Council offices, 20 members of festival and concert promoter groups, 9 Park Advocacy Groups, and 15 Neighborhood Organizations (targeting those entities located around parks that were more likely to be impacted by such a policy). After two years of research, deliberation and policy development, the Task Force recommended the Department create a policy addressing admissions based events in DPR Park Facilities. Taking into consideration scope, neighborhood impact and based on reasonable parameters and permitting guidelines, the Department of Parks and Recreation identified Park Facilities currently listed as Festival sites for Admissions Based Events subject to the specified restrictions and permitting procedures.

The purpose of this Admissions Based Events Policy is to establish the policy of the Department of Parks and Recreation and implement respective rules and regulations regarding the permitting of admissions based events in DPR parks and related facilities. It is the intention of the DPR to provide the citizens of Denver the broadest range of opportunities to enjoy admissions based events held in DPR parks and related facilities subject to the qualifications, restrictions and criteria of this Policy.

Posting of the actual draft language on the website is coming soon.

If you are interested in having a DPR representative come to a neighborhood meeting and present these or other policies, please contact chantal.unfug@denvergov.org or angela.casias@denvergov.org. Don't forget you can post your comments online at www.denvergov.org/parksandrec.

General Household Energy Tips to Save Money and Be Green

I wanted to provide you with a few easy tips to help you live a greener life and possible save some green while doing it!

Turn off the TV, VCR, stereo or radio when not in use.
Turn off the water when brushing teeth or shaving.
Don't use the toilet as a wastebasket or ashtray - it wastes water every time you flush it.
Activate the "sleep" feature of your home office equipment (PC, fax, printer, scanner, monitor) so they automatically power down when not in use.
When shopping, refuse a bag if you don't need it. Cashiers are often on autopilot, bagging even single items.
Do you really need to use individual plastic bags for produce at the grocery store? For some items you might, but for others you can just put it in your shopping basket.
Bring your own cup to your favorite coffee shop. You'll save energy, most coffee shops give a discount, plus coffee always tastes better in real cup.

Denver Now Taking Applications for LEAP (Low-income Energy Assistance Program)

The cold front that stormed through last week caused many goose bumps and forced many people to pull out winter clothes and turn on their heat. Soon, many people will receive their first heating bill of the season, which may cause some financial anxiety.

The good news is there is a heating cost assistance program, called LEAP that helps people who qualify with their home heating costs and heating-related emergencies by paying a portion of their heat bill. Applicants may also be eligible to receive free furnace tune-ups, air sealing and insulation. The best part is these services are free.

People who qualify are eligible to receive the LEAP benefit one time each season, which runs Nov. 2, 2009 – April 30, 2010. Last year, 17,967 Denver County households applied for LEAP. To qualify for LEAP, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, pay heat costs to an energy company or as part of rent, and meet these income guidelines:

Number of People in House	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Highest Monthly Income Before Taxes	$1,670	$2,1246	$2,823	$3,400	$3,967	$4,553	$5,129	$5,706

The LEAP application process is simple. Simply call 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1.866.432.8435), request an application, fill it out and mail it in. You can also download an application from www.denvergov.org/leap or visit the Denver Human Services East office located at 2855 Tremont Place, Richard T. Castro Building, 1200 Federal Blvd, or Montbello Human Services Offices, 4685 Peoria St.

2009 Xcel Energy Denver Gas Pipe Replacement Project Done in November

Xcel Energy has good news for residents and businesses in City Council District 10! The company plans to have the remaining gas pipe replacement projects in the district completed in November.

In September, Xcel Energy completed work replacing gas pipe along 17^th Avenue from York to Clarkson, and along 14^th Avenue from Harrison to Milwaukee.

What follows is a list of projects Xcel Energy plans to have completed this month. Please note that all end dates are tentative as progress on projects may be impacted by inclement weather.

Cook St. & Ellsworth Ave. – Nov. 6
4^th Ave. between Jackson & Josephine – Nov. 13
- Additional streets impacted by this project include:
  - Jackson St. between East 2nd Ave. and East 4th Ave.
  - East 4th Ave. between Jackson St. and Columbine St.
  - Columbine St. between East 4th Ave. and East 5th Ave.
  - Josephine St. between East 3rd Ave. and East 6th Ave.
Denver Country Club and E. 4^th Ave – Nov. 13
- Additional streets impacted by this project include:
  - East 1st Ave. from Marion St. to High St.
  - East 4th Ave. from Humboldt St. to Race Court
  - Race Court from East 4th Ave. to East 3rd Ave.
  - East 3rd Ave. from Race Court to Vine St.
  - Race St. from East 3rd Ave. to East 4th Ave.
  - Lafayette St. from East 1st Ave. to East 3rd Ave.
  - Franklin St. from East 1st Ave. to East 3rd Ave.
  - High St. from East 1st Ave. to East 4th Ave.
Steele St. between 1^st & 2^nd Aves. – Nov. 13

All projects are part of the company’s five-year, $350 million project to replace nearly 100 linear miles of natural gas pipeline in the Denver metro area that will result in continued reliable gas service for current and new customers. Xcel Energy thanks all the residents and businesses impacted for their patience and understanding as we complete our first year of projects.

The public can track the progress of Xcel Energy’s Denver Gas Pipe Replacement project online by clicking here. Residents also can sign up to receive email alerts and updates and ask questions about the project by sending an email to infocolorado@xcelenergy.com. Questions also can be answered by calling Xcel Energy’s customer care line at 1-800-895-4999.

As a reminder, because natural gas has no odor, Xcel Energy adds a harmless chemical called mercaptan that has been described as having a rotten egg or sulfur-like smell. If you think there might be a gas leak in or near your home, immediately leave the area. When you are a safe distance away, call Xcel Energy’s emergency gas line at 1-800-895-2999 or 911. Never use a phone, cell phone, electrical switch, lights, garage door openers, matches or anything that may create static or a spark in an area where there might be a gas leak.

Metro Wastewater Cherry Creek Rehabilitation Project on University, Speer and 1^st: COMPLETED!

Since late March, we have all been enduring the traffic impacts from this project as we drive along Speer Blvd. between the Cherry Creek Mall and the Pepsi Center. Our patience has prevailed, and the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District is now wrapping up the major sewer rehabilitation project to repair about four miles of pipes in Denver.

The final phase of this project began along Speer Boulevard near Denver Health last week. Project managers indicate that completing this final section will impact traffic along southbound Speer Boulevard between 11^th and 8^th Avenue. The work will include closing up to two lanes and should be wrapping up any day. This phase of the sewer rehabilitation is part of a larger project that started in 2008. The Metro District uses a method called “cured-in-place” that allows existing sewer pipes to be repaired by inserting a liner into the pipe while it’s still in the ground. This state-of-the-art technique minimizes surface disruptions.

Metro Wastewater regrets any inconvenience during the project, but the work was necessary to prevent more costly and disruptive repairs later. The Metro Wastewater Reclamation District (the wastewater treatment agency for metropolitan Denver) has a continuous program for the inspection and rehabilitation of its interceptor sewers. This program is intended to identify and repair sewers before there is a catastrophic failure occurs. The Metro District Board of Directors contracted with Spiniello Companies for rehabilitation work on various sections of the interceptors in need of repair running along Cherry Creek starting near the Cherry Creek Mall & University and traveling west down 1^st Avenue and Speer to Wewatta Street.

The Metro District plans to spend about $1.3 billion on capital improvements over the next 10 years, with $128 million going toward sewer improvements. The estimated price tag for this rehabilitation project is $8.6 million. The Metro District treats about 140 million gallons of wastewater a day and is the largest wastewater treatment agency in the Rocky Mountain West. If you have any questions concerning the project, please contact the Metro District’s Project Manager, Kelsey Gedge, at (303) 286-3357 or Mary Dechant, Governmental Programs Administrator, at (303) 286 3467.

3-1-1 Sure Stays Busy!

The 3-1-1 Call Center recently released their yearly report summarizing 3-1-1 calls from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009. The report shows various 3-1-1 case and call metrics for the City and County of Denver as a whole, as well as each City Council District separately. The report certainly shows that while some issues are concerns for Denver residents across the city, other issues are more important to certain areas of the city. During the year, a total of 320,364 people called 3-1-1 and 42.75% of their calls were able to be immediately resolved by the 3-1-1 agent without requiring further follow-up. In District 10, 24,664 people called 3-1-1 during the year with 42.39% of their calls being immediately resolved.

The 3-1-1 service is designed to provide one number to call for all of your City and County of Denver non-emergency questions, problems and concerns. Please continue to use 9-1-1 for emergencies. The 3-1-1 Call Center is staffed by City employees who are trained to assist you with your issue. The Call Center is located in the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Building at 201 West Colfax Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80202. To learn more visit: http://www.denvergov.org/311/311HelpPage.asp or call 3-1-1.

Top 12 Topics City-wide		Top 12 Topics in District 10
Area Category/Topic	% of Cases	Area Category/Topic	% of Cases
Permit & Inspections/ Neighborhood Inspect	9.21%	Permit & Inspections/ Neighborhood Inspect	6.71%
Solid Waste Trash Collection	8.55%	Assessment Records	6.41%
Animal Care & Control Animal Control	7.46%	Animal Care & Control Animal Control	6.01%
Solid Waste Recycle-Collection	6.34%	Police Dept Administrative	5.66%
Animal Care & Control Animal Shelter	5.37%	Solid Waste Recycle-Collection	5.38%
Assessment Records	4.93%	Solid Waste Trash Collection	5.34%
Police Dept Administrative	4.42%	Animal Care & Control Animal Shelter	4.32%
Administration County Court	1.97%	Parking Mgmt Parking Ticket	2.38%
Excise & Licenses Business Licenses	1.59%	Excise & Licenses Business Licenses	1.95%
Solid Waste Graffiti	1.46%	Motor Vehicle Customer Service	1.76%
Motor Vehicle Customer Service	1.42%	Administration County Court	1.72%
Street Maintenance Street/Alley	1.32%	Street Maintenance Street/Alley	1.70%

Nominate a Person or Group for the Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts

The Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant and lasting contributions to the arts in the City and County of Denver. 2008 winners include: Charles Burrell, Denver Young Artists Orchestra, Su Teatro, and The Bloomsbury Review. The 2008 Mayor’s Cultural Legacy Award was given to Noel Congdon.

Nominations may be for:

Individual artists, other individuals or collaboratives
Educators and educational institutions
Service and/or support to the arts

Nominating is easy! It takes only three simple steps:

Description of the nominee’s projects, activities or service, including when these efforts took place
Statement as to why the nominee’s contribution to the arts is significant and lasting
Supplemental materials – letters, brochures, etc.
Note: Self-nominations are welcome.

Visit www.Denvergov.org/MayorsAwards to learn more or submit your nominations online. The deadline is December 4, 2009 at 5 pm.

Get a Deal on Last Minute Tickets: 2 For the Price of 1!

The Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with Visit Denver, recently announced a new, last-minute 2 for 1 Ticketing program. The new DENVER 2 for 1 TIX program means great savings for you on last-minute tickets to music, theater, museums and much more. You can visit the website or sign up for a free weekly Denver 2 for 1 TIX offer via email. Some of the recent savings include: 2 for 1 Tuesday at the Starz Film Festival, 2 for 1 for a Swallow Hill Halloween concert, 2 for 1 to see The Second Tosca at The Arvada Center for the Arts and 2 for 1 to Vox Phamilia: Redux Performance.

Morey Neighborhood Center New Sessions Starting Now

New sessions starting now! Register for various evening classes for adults:

Mondays: Spanish II, Beginning Computers, Water Aerobics, Knitting in the Neighborhood, Pilates I

Wednesdays: Adult Group Swim Lessons, Intermediate Computers, Yoga, Pilates II, and Spanish I

Come and use the pool, weight room, two gyms, and indoor running track in the fitness facility! The fitness facility is open Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm. (Pool hours, Mon. 5 – 7:30 pm, Wed. 5-6:30 pm). No membership is required. Adults $3 per visit, Seniors $2 per visit, Youth $1 per visit.

Morey Neighborhood Center is located at 14th and Emerson Streets (inside Morey Middle School). Call or email now to register: phone (720) 424-0791, email moreyneighborhoodcenter@dpsk12.org, website http://mnc.dpsk12.org.

Denver 8 TV Wins 7 Top Awards Including Best Government TV in the US

As you scroll through TV channels, make sure you stop and watch channel 8! The City of Denver’s municipal access cable television channel, Denver 8 TV, received top honors for its DNC related programs and several other first place awards at this year’s Government Programming Awards national video competition held October 2, 2009 by the National Association of Telecommunication Officers and Advisors (NATOA) during their national convention.

Among 7 top awards that Denver 8 TV won, it continues to define “best practice” and lead the nation in providing top quality coverage of Public/Community Meetings. This year Denver 8 TV’s coverage of the Independent Audit Committee of the Auditor’s Office took first place and the Citizen Oversight Board coverage received a third place finish extending Denver 8’s notable service to additional agencies of the city. Denver 8 TV has a long history of success in this category garnering multiple first place awards over the years for its City Council coverage.

The NATOA Government Programming Awards honor the highest quality of municipal government television programming and represent the extraordinary achievements by local governments in the production of quality programming for our nation’s citizens.

Denver 8 TV, a service of the City & County of Denver, reaches every cable television subscriber in the City – approximately 125,000 homes. Denver 8 TV also manages a Web site www.DenverGov.org/Denver8TV , which offers its complete television programming service via the Internet to the City, region, and world. Denver 8 provides streaming video of Denver 8 TV programming. You can view the channel live as it is scheduled, or you can watch a wide variety of videos on demand, including archived coverage of City Council meetings and all City-produced local shows for convenient access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Upcoming Events

· 3^rd Annual Denver Arts Week November 6 – 14. Join in starting the weekend of Nov. 6 – 8 for an expanded, city-wide First Friday art walk, a return of “Night at the Museums,” and the new “Sunday on Stage.” The celebration of the city’s arts and culture will boast more than 100 events, including free or discounted museum admission, films, theatrical performances, backstage tours and artist demonstrations. For a complete list of events, visit www.DenverArtsWeek.com. Visit www.Denvergov.org/DOCA to download a new Denver Gallery Guide to help you get around.

· 3^rd Annual Denver Plein Air Arts Festival Exhibition November 10 – December 31 at the Denver Public Library, 10 W. 14^th Avenue Parkway, 7^th Floor. During the month of September, more than 100 artists painted in Denver’s beautiful Golden Triangle and Downtown areas. 280 pieces were submitted for a juried competition and 120 were selected by the judges for this Exhibition. While you are visiting the Festival Exhibition visit other Golden Triangle Museums as well. For more information, please click here.

· Macy’s at Cherry Creek or Park Meadows Community Shopping Day to benefit Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation Saturday, November 14. Buy a $10 ticket and help support the programs of Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation. All proceeds form tickets sold will be donated to the Dollar Dictionary Drive to annually provide a dictionary and thesaurus for every Denver Public School 3rd grader. Your ticket entitles you to a 10-20% discount off almost everything at Macy’s, plus an additional $10 off of one purchase of $25 or more. Plus, you can enter to win a $500 Macy’s Shopping Spree! To buy your ticket, contact Steve Nissen at 303-733-8524 or Pennissen@cs.com.

· Colfax Business Improvement District Annual Neighborhood Meeting Tuesday, November 17^th from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. The event will be held in the Santa Fe Room at the Ramada Downtown Denver, 1100 E. Colfax Ave. Come and join the CBID Board of Directors and staff for appetizers and refreshments while networking and receiving an update on CBID events and other important news in the district. This meeting was originally scheduled for October 28^th, but was cancelled due to last week’s snow storm. Attending this event is free. Please RSVP by calling 303-832-2086 or emailing stephanie@colfaxave.com.

· Starz Denver Film Fest November 12 – 22. Come and view over 200 films from around the world, panel discussions, workshops and filmmaker receptions. A 7:30 pm red carpet premiere screening of Precious will kick off this year’s event on Thursday, November 12 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House at 14^th and Curtis in the DCPA. Tickets for regular festival screenings will be $10 for Denver Film Society members and $12 for non-members. Call 303-595-3456 or visit denverfilm.org for more details or ticket purchases.

· Backyard Bang Rail Jam Saturday, November 21 at noon, Hosted by Salomon Snowboards and the Art Institute of Colorado. For this free community event, a temporary snowboarding hill is planned to be constructed on 12^th Street which will be closed from Grant to Lincoln. This event will attract some of the best up and coming snowboarding pros and amateurs from the Rocky Mountain Region. To learn more visit the Art Institute of Colorado website.

· “Grand Illumination” Annual Holiday Lighting of Union Station, Larimer Square, 16^th Street Mall and City and County Building Friday, November 27^th from dusk - 6:45 pm finale. Throughout the evening, costumed Yuletide carolers, arts and crafts for kids, free treats at local restaurants and coffee shops and visits from Colorado Rockies mascot Dinger “Claus” will greet participants as they journey from Union Station to Civic Center Park. The evening will start at Union Station, 17^th and Wynkoop, at dusk when the historic train station and festive tree outside will be lit. From there, the 16^th Street Mall will come alive. Then at 6:45 pm join live bands and entertainment and 9 News in Civic Center Park for the annual holiday lighting of the City and County Building at 14^th and Bannock, a tradition that started in 1935. Through a donation from Wal-Mart, the City and County Building has been retrofitted with LED lamps. Over the two months the holiday display is lit, the new, energy efficient LEDs will use 70% less energy.

City Council Meetings and News

City Council meets every Monday at 5:30 at the City and County building (14^th and Bannock St., 4^th Floor, Room 451). Sign up for the speaker’s list starts at 5:30pm. The hearings take place after first reading and the exact time depends on where the bill is listed on the agenda.

Upcoming Events Calendar

A "Meetings of Neighborhood Interest" calendar has been added to the "Residents" page on www.denvergov.org. Click here to go directly to the calendar. Check out the City of Denver’s event calendar www.denver365.com. To share your event with others add it to the left hand side of the homepage and be sure to indicate from the pull down menu which part of the city your event is in.

DAY	EVENT	TIME	PLACE
Tues Nov 3	Election Day – get your mail ballot in!
Tues Nov 3	1^st Tuesday on the Fax	530 – 7 pm	Mataam Fez 4609 E. Colfax Ave.
Sat Nov 7	Free Admission at the Denver Art Museum		Denver Art Museum 100 W 14th Avenue Pkwy
Sun Nov 8	Free Admission at the Denver Zoo		Denver Zoo 23^rd and Steele, north of City Park
Mon Nov 9	City Council Weekly Meeting	5:30 pm	City Council Chambers City and County building 14^th and Bannock St., 4^th Floor, Room 451
Mon Nov 9	Congress Park Tavern Neighborhood Meeting	7 pm	Heitler Hall National Jewish
Tues Nov 10	Zoning Code CPD “Office Hours”	4 – 7 pm	Room TBD, Webb Municipal Building 201 W. Colfax Ave.
Tues Nov 10	Country Club Historic Neighborhood Meeting: Councilwoman Robb speaking	6:15 – 7:45 pm	Denver Country Club 1^st and Gilpin
Wed Nov 11	Veteran’s Day – City Offices Closed
Wed Nov 11	Free Admission at the Denver Zoo		Denver Zoo 23^rd and Steele, north of City Park
Wed Nov 11	Happy on the Hill	5:30 – 7 pm	TBD
Wed Nov 11	Living Room/City Hall Liquor License and Zoning Issues Neighborhood Meeting	5:30 – 7 pm	1041 Acoma, 3^rd Floor
Thurs Nov 12	Zoning Code CPD “Office Hours”	11 am – 2 pm	Room TBD, Webb Municipal Building 201 W. Colfax Ave.
Thurs Nov 12	Mayor’s Design Awards	6 - 8 pm	L2 Arts & Culture Center 1477 Columbine
Thurs Nov 12	Bellevue Hale General Neighborhood Meeting	7 - 9 pm	Goodstein Conference Room Physician’s Office Building of Rose Medical Center 4500 E. 9^th Ave.
Thurs Nov 12	CHUN Neighborhood 4 and Unsinkables Meeting	7 pm	1301 Pennsylvania
Sat Nov 14	Monthly Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation Meeting	9 am	Denver Water Three Stones Building 1600 W. 12^th Ave.
Mon Oct 16	City Council Weekly Meeting	5:30 pm	City Council Chambers City and County Building 14^th and Bannock St., 4^th Floor, Room 451
Tues Nov 17	Colfax Business Improvement District Annual Neighborhood Meeting	5:30 – 7:30 pm	Ramada 1535 East Colfax
Tues Nov 17	Cherry Creek North Neighborhood Association	7 pm	Daniels Fund Building 101 Monroe St.
Tues Nov 17	11^th and Gaylord Development Update Meeting	7 pm	Tears McFarlane, Annex 1290 Williams St.
Wed Nov 18	Joint City Council and Planning Board Listening Sessions	5:30 – 8:30 pm	Room 4.F.6/4.G.2, Webb Municipal Building 201 W. Colfax Ave.
Thurs Nov 19	Joint City Council and Planning Board Listening Sessions	1 - 4 pm	Room 4.F.6/4.G.2, Webb Municipal Building 201 W. Colfax Ave.
Thurs Nov 19	Golden Triangle Third Thursday	5 – 7 pm	Fainting Goat 846 Broadway
Sun Nov 22	Free Admission at Denver Museum of Nature and Science		Denver Museum of Nature and Science 2001 S. Colorado Blvd.
Mon Nov 23	City Council Weekly Meeting	5:30 pm	City Council Chambers City and County Building 14^th and Bannock St., 4^th Floor, Room 451
Mon Nov 23	Excise and License Hearing for Congress Park Tavern	6 pm	2^nd floor, Webb Municipal Building 201 W. Colfax Ave.
Wed Nov 25	Colfax on the Hill Monthly Board Meeting	3:30 – 4:30 pm	L2 Arts & Culture Center (formerly Colfax Events Center), 1477 Columbine
Thurs Nov 26	Thanksgiving – City Offices Closed
Fri Nov 27	Denver City Employee Furlough Day – City Offices Closed
Fri Nov 27	“Grand Illumination” Annual Holiday Lighting of Union Station, Larimer Square, 16th Street Mall & City & County Building	6:45 pm	City and County Building 14^th and Bannock St.
Mon Nov 30	City Council Weekly Meeting	5:30 pm	City Council Chambers City and County Building 14^th and Bannock St., 4^th Floor, Room 451
Tues Dec 1	First Tuesday on the Fax	5:30 – 7 pm	TBD
Sat Dec 5	Free Admission at the Denver Art Museum		Denver Art Museum 100 W 14th Avenue Pkwy
Mon Dec 7	City Council Weekly Meeting	5:30 pm	City Council Chambers City and County Building 14^th and Bannock St., 4^th Floor, Room 451

This electronic newsletter was prepared by Councilwoman Robb and her staff in her office on city computers. Therefore, it was paid for by taxpayer dollars.

* E-Talk in 10 is posted on our website at the following link:

http://www.denvergov.org/CouncilDistrict10/NewslettereTalkin10/2009Newslettersetalkin10/tabid/433180/Default.aspx

* If you would like to UNSUBSCRIBE to this newsletter, please respond to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line

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