| September 2012  National Night Out Jump Rope Contest In this Issue Welcome The Bottom Line Larger Than the Sum of Our Parts Urban Tapestry City Snapshots Find Us on the Web www.denvergov.org/robinkniech  Follow Robin Kniech, Denver City Council At-Large   Follow us on Twitter @KniechAtLarge 
Public Notices Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by sharing with friends. Learn how here. Free Energy Advising and Low-Cost Energy Loans here. What Makes a Healthy Denver? Six Public Meetings (Sept. 22-Oct. 16th) childcare included, public input needed. More: Upcoming Events Oktoberfest- Sept 21-30th Denver's Ballpark Neighborhood Rock n Roll Marathon & Half-Marathon- Sept. 22nd starting 7:15am, Downtown Denver Taste of Colorado- Aug. 31st-Sept. 3rd, Downtown Denver For more city events click here.
Useful Numbers Police Non-Emergency: (720) 913-2000. Denver Recycles: (720) 865-6900 Call 3-1-1 for: Graffiti Removal Non-Emergency & Info Parking Management Neighborhood Inspection Services Noise Violations Animal Control Permits & Licenses | A Message from Councilwoman Kniech What do you do when you have a really important policy issue with passionate advocates and critics on all sides clamoring for change, but no one has touched the issue for 10 years while the economy has changed, and you are limited in the approaches you can take to solve it? Why, you make it your highest policy priority, of course. Regular Big Picture readers might think I’m referring to de-brucing. While building a sustainable financial future for Denver is my highest overall priority, and you can read an update on that below, the policy I’m referring to today is Inclusionary Housing. Inclusionary Housing is a policy to mitigate the loss of affordable housing opportunities when new development projects either directly replace affordable homes with more expensive versions, or indirectly drive up prices by increasing real estate values in a geographic area, making it too expensive for regular working families, like teachers or medical technicians. More than a decade ago, Denver adopted an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance intended to ensure the availability of home ownership opportunities for Denver’s moderate income families. While these families also need affordable rental housing options, court decisions have made that much harder to do in our law. Denver’s ordinance has succeeded in creating some new affordable homes, helping many families buy their first place and live in stability, without having to move around if prices rise around them. But it has also resulted in too high a rate of foreclosures, and has failed to create homes in some of the most expensive neighborhoods where we want to keep a mix of incomes, like downtown, where developers have paid a cash fee in lieu of building affordable units. And the Ordinance doesn’t work as well as it could for the developers who partner with us to create the units. So, based on recommendations from Mayor Hancock’s Housing Task Force and other stakeholders and experts, I will be leading an effort to work with the administration on updating the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. The process will take 12-18 months and will include a set of short-term changes to help existing IHO homeowners and developers address un-sold homes, and a more comprehensive re-write to better calibrate the economic aspects of the ordinance to a changing housing market that should work better for both moderate income families and developers. Stakeholders will have input along the way so stay tuned for updates... .jpg) Councilwoman Robin Kniech Back to Top
The Bottom Line: Referendum 2A, City Revenue Restoration and Spending Plan to Appear on November Ballot On Monday, August 20th City Council PASSED Bill 12-0566, an Ordinance placing the following measure 2A on the November 6 ballot. The measure will read: Without increasing any tax rate or adopting any new tax, and in order to pay for improvements to police, fire, streets, Denver Public Library, parks, after-school and summer programs for children and such services as specified in City Council Bill 12-566 and published on the city’s web-site, shall the City and County of Denver be authorized to collect, retain and spend all tax revenue derived from the city’s existing gross tax rates to the extent those revenues exceed the constitutional limitation on tax revenue, also known as TABOR, beginning in 2013, provided that in no event shall the city increase the maximum lawful property tax rate without prior voter approval as required by Section 20(4)(a) of Article X of the Colorado Constitution, and requiring specific annual reporting requirements by the Manager of Finance to the mayor, the city auditor and the city council on the disposition of these funds? There will be an election on November 6, 2012. Click here for more information on how to vote. Back to Top
Larger Than the Sum of Our Parts: Mountain Parks Owned by Denver, Enjoyed by the Region and Beyond Today as the Front Range and Metro Denver face increasing tensions between urban development and the open spaces that make Colorado great, we all benefit from a decision made by the people of Denver 100 years ago. In 1910 Denver voters passed a property tax mill levy to acquire land to be preserved as Mountain Parks for residents of cities to enjoy within a short drive of Denver. The result is more than 14,000 acres, including both the parks listed below, which were built for enjoyment, as well as many undeveloped peaks that are preserved as natural wilderness and part of our beautiful foothill landscape. Although envisioned as an escape for Denver residents, today’s Mountain Parks are enjoyed by residents from across the region, as well as visitors, and in many cases are operated more efficiently through strong partnerships with neighbors like Jefferson County. Unfortunately the mill levy that funded the parks expired in the 1950s, so we take care of all 14,000 acres for less than $1 million/year (including fire prevention and recreation management). Master planning is underway to make sure these parks continue to be cared for and treasured for another 100 years. A low and high Ropes Challenge Course for team training, a fun family reunion outing, or to expose challenged youth to their own inner Strength? Yep, Denver has one in Genesee.
Urban Tapestry: A Photo Collage of Denver’s Diversity Elyria Swansea Globeville Business Association .jpg) .jpg) Denver Housing Authority Event .jpg) .jpg) Denver Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, Photos Courtesy of Lynne Lawlor Photography
City Snapshots ► Certifiably Green Denver The City & County of Denver, Department of Environmental Health has joined the Downtown Denver Partnership in launching Certifiably Green Denver, a free, environmental assistance program to help businesses reduce costs and become more efficient by becoming more sustainable. Certifiably Green Denver provides environmental certification programs for restaurants, auto repair facilities, and office and retail businesses. To date, the program has: •Diverted more than 1,200 tons of landfill waste through recycling or composting •Saved 237,822 kilowatt hours of energy. •Saved 470,000 gallons of water. ► A Taste of Colorado Voted Best Annual Festival in 2012 by Westword readers, A Taste of Colorado brought to you by the Downtown Denver Partnership, hosts more than 50 of Colorado’s favorite food establishments that will be selling a wide variety of food options. Festivalgoers can also shop in more than 280 Marketplace booths for original arts and crafts, home and gift items, furniture, jewelry, imports, and more. Over the course of the four days, the Main Stage will feature 7 national acts, with others to be announced in the coming weeks. There will be a continuous menu of music featuring rock, country, jazz, blues, and ethnic music and dance groups. The four-day, free admission, food, music, and entertainment Festival will take place Labor Day weekend, Aug. 31 through Sept. 3, in Downtown Denver’s Civic Center Park.
More information here. ►Access to Free, Healthy Food for Kids this Summer When the school bell rings for summer, the last thing on a student’s mind is what they will eat during vacation. But for many students across Denver, access to healthy, nutritious meals becomes limited in the summer months. That’s why the city’s Mayor’s Office of Education and Children has teamed up with service providers throughout the city to offer free meals and snacks until August 24. The program is free for kids under the age of 18 and there are no income or eligibility requirements. To find a food site near you, visit here. ► Health on the Hill Join Denver Parks and Rec as they showcase the newly renovated Ruby Hill Park featuring the "Health on the Hill" fitness challenge. Learn about circuit training, sculpt your physique, build muscle mass and improve your abilities with an 8-week challenge. The challenge begins September 8th and goes through October 27th. For more information and to register, visit here. ►Low Cost Broadband Program The world has gone digital. Internet service has become essential for success. That’s why Comcast has created Internet Essentials.This service is available to households with children who receive free or reduced price school lunches through the National School Lunch Program. While participating in Internet Essentials, customers will receive internet for $9.95 a month with no price increases, activation fees or equipment rental fees. Also, participants are eligible to receive a low cost computer at initial enrollment for about $150. See if your family is eligible. Back to Top |
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