COLORADO GIVES DAY
This is Colorado Gives Day–an especially good day to contribute to the causes you support, because all donations will be subsidized with additional funding.
In addition to several Golden-based cultural and charitable organizations, I support the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition. As the saying goes, “sunlight is the best disinfectant!”
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN GOLDEN TODAY?
9AM Golden Seniors – Coffee Klatch @ Golden Visitors Center
9-10AM Women’s Exercise and Bible Study @ First United Methodist Church
9:15-9:45AM Baby Time @ Golden Library
10AM-5PM Holiday Art Market @ Foothills Art Center
10-10:45AM Storybook Tour @ Colorado Railroad Museum
10:15-10:45AM Preschool Time @ Golden Library
10AM and 1PM Wild West Walking Tour
10AM and 1PM Wild West Short Tour
1-3PM Hexie Ladies – English Paper Piecing Enthusiasts @ Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum
2-4PM Microsoft Excel: Basics @ Golden Library
5-7PM Snowoked – Board waxing night! @ Morris & Mae
Pop up ski and board waxing night alongside the Avalanche Awareness course and meet the author of Colorado’s new ski thriller book, The Procedure. $15 for a beer + wax. More information
5:30-6:30PM Kindergarten Information Night @ Mitchell Elementary School
5:30-7:30PM Textile Society @ Golden Library
5:30-8PM Exploring the Elements of Art @ Foothills Art Center – SOLD OUT
SEE THE COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS.
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CITY MEETINGS
5-5:30PM City Council Study Session @ City Hall
The Thriving Communities Director will recap the Special Events that Golden hosted during 2023, reviewing challenges faced (parking, trash) and successes (shuttles, using the Mines K lot). They will consider replacing the 4th of July fireworks with a drone show. They need to secure a vendor this month, so will require a quick decision. Foothills Art Center has offered to move their ArtsWeek from July to June, which would put it before peak tubing season starts. The Chamber’s Fine Arts Festival (mid-August) occurs at the same time as Mines move-in, so they are considering relocating from 11th Street to Parfet Park. Learn more….
5:30PM Golden Downtown General Improvement District (GDGID) Board Meeting @ City Hall
From the meeting memo:
Primary expenditures in 2023 included professional services for the comprehensive parking study and an engineer analysis of the south garage recommended repairs, as well as capital repairs for both garages.
The budget for 2024 is for $231,378 and includes up to $150,000 for parking related capital projects in the parking garages and lots. This budget proposal also includes a contribution of up to $25,000 for the continued professional services related to the comprehensive parking study initiated in 2022. The budget anticipates a projected 2024 ending fund balance of $656,500, to be used for future projects.
Learn more….
The Board (City Council) will approve the proposed budget and mill levy for 2024. Learn more….
A Brief History of the GDGID:
The Golden Downtown General Improvement District was formed in 1959 to collect tax that would be used to purchase off-street parking. At that time, the City estimated they would collect about $4000/year for the new organization.
After the GDGID was formed (and tax collection had begun) a group of downtown residents sued to have it dissolved. They said that Council had not followed the necessary procedures and that the group had been formed illegally. The case went to the State Supreme Court, which agreed with the residents, and the GDGID was dissolved.
Council moved again to form a GDGID in 1963, and this time it passed and was undisputed. In March of 1968, the Transcript reported that in the previous three years, the City and the GDGID had purchased land and constructed the following parking lots:
24 spaces south of 12th, between Washington & Arapahoe
24 spaces north of 12th, between Washington & Arapahoe
48 spaces at 12th & Jackson
50 spaces north of 11th, west of Arapahoe
By the late ’60s, they had begun negotiations to acquire the Astor House and demolish it to build another parking lot. Public sentiment had begun to turn regarding demolition of historic buildings, so the Astor House was preserved.
The GDGID board consists of the currently-serving City Councilors. Since 1963, they have met at least once a year.
6:30PM City Council Regular Business Meeting @ City Hall
Council will accept in-person public comment at the beginning of the meeting. They also accept comment via email sent to PublicComment@CityofGolden.net. Comments sent before 3PM will be added to the meeting packet.
Consent Agenda
The Consent Agenda includes a $800,731 contract to build pickleball courts in Grampsas Park. They will appoint Brad Miller to replace Heather Schneider on the Downtown Development Authority.
The Consent Agenda also includes a contract that would hire Foothills Regional Housing (formerly Jeffco Public Housing) to manage the lease on a house the City owns at 1020 Archer Street (map). The City bought this house for $720,000 in 2021 so they could use the land as part of the Heart of Golden project. Since this isn’t likely to happen soon, they want to rent the house as an Affordable Housing unit. The meeting memo states that Foothills Housing has already offered it for lease. The proposed lease will run to October 31, 2024. Learn more….
They will hold several public hearings:
2023 Budget
The Finance Director will present a Supplemental Appropriation to cover several new expenses.
The General Fund will be increased by $200,000 for the new Thriving Communities Director position, $140,000 for traffic control and tube monitoring along Clear Creek and $100,000 to cover increases in the trash program.
The Wastewater Fund will be increased by $70,000.
The Cemetery Fund will be increased by $135,000 to cover part-time salaries, headstones and markers, irrigation improvements, and roofing on storage bins.
The Insurance Fund will be increased by $200,000 to cover additional claims and premiums.
The Workers Comp & Unemployment Insurance Fund will be increased by $15,000 to cover an increase in claims.
2024 Budget
They will approve the 2024 Budget and Capital Improvement Plan. This includes hiring 8.5 new City employees and a 5% raise for all employees. For an overview of the City’s major projects for 2024, see the budget memo.
Mill Levies
They will set the mill levies for the General Fund Property Taxes (12.340 mills), Fire Department Property Taxes (6 mills), and Downtown Development Authority Property Taxes (5 mills). According to the memo, “a homeowner in the City of Golden with a house valued at $600,000 will pay an estimated $450 in general property taxes to the City and $219 for the Golden Fire Department.“
Annexation Amendment in Canyon View
They will approve an amendment to the Kilgroe property annexation, which will change the rear setback for about 16 residential lots in the Canyon View subdivision. Learn more….
Executive Session
They will end with an Executive Session (no public, no cameras) to do the evaluations of the Hearing Officer and Municipal Judge.
SENIOR SANTA
The Golden Senior Santa program provides holiday gifts to local seniors experiencing health or financial challenges.
The program coordinates with a local senior apartment building and Seniors Resource Center to identify seniors who don’t have family nearby and would welcome some holiday cheer.
Gifts are collected through a combination of companies who promote it among employees and retail businesses who promote it to their customers.
Gift tags can be picked up at at Launch Espresso, Windy Saddle Café or Connects Workspace. Gifts should be returned unwrapped with the tag. Another option is to shop on the Amazon Wish List at bit.ly/seniorsantagolden.
TRIVIA
6PM Trivia Tuesdays @ Golden Mill
6:30-8:30PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Buffalo Rose
6:30-8:30PM Bar Bingo @ VFW Post 4171
LIVE MUSIC
6PM Karaoke with Linda @ Dirty Dogs Roadhouse
6PM Open Bluegrass Pick Night @ Over Yonder Brewing
6:30-8PM 5th Grade Orchestra Concert @ Bell Middle School
7-8:30PM Rock Concert @ Golden High School
GOLDEN HISTORY MOMENT
88 Years Ago
The December 5, 1935 Colorado Transcript reported that Golden was surrounded by Denver projects. The Roosevelt-era Federal government was investing in many public works projects, and Denver was taking advantage of the opportunities.
West of Golden, the Civilian Conservation Corps was building roads and shelter houses in the Denver Mountain Parks. North of Golden, plans were underway for Denver Water’s Ralston Reservoir. South of Golden, crews were busy building Red Rocks Amphitheater.
The Transcript article explained how Denver’s projects might benefit Golden. It speculated that Denver might improve the roads in Jefferson County, to help tourists reach the Mountain Parks. It conjectured that Golden might be able to purchase water from Denver via the new reservoir.
As for Red Rocks…well, actually the article didn’t mention Red Rocks Amphitheater. The Transcript paid very little attention to that project. There were, however, several articles on a much smaller amphitheater being constructed in Camp George West.
Red Rocks Amphitheater was completed right before the War, so it was a number of years before it saw much use. The Camp George West amphitheater proved to be wildly popular with rattlesnakes, so it was never much used. It’s still there, and still full of snakes.
Thanks to the Golden History Museum for providing the online cache of historic Transcripts, and to the Golden Transcript for documenting our history since 1866!
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DECEMBER SPONSORS: Buffalo Rose, Buglet Solar, Foothills Art Center, Golden City Brewery, Golden Cultural Alliance, Golden History Museum, Golden Super Cruise, Miners Alley Playhouse, The Golden Mill, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden History Tours, Morris & Mae Market, Miners Saloon, Joy and Jack Brandt, Tom Reiley
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Ongoing Monthly Supporters:
Tall Pines Painting, Baby Doe’s Clothing, Golden Community Garden, Carol & Doug Harwood, Jennings & Litz, Bill Fisher, Brian Quarnstrom, Casey & Gina Brown, Cheryl & Tom Schweich, Robert Storrs, Karen Smith, Sandy Curran, Paul Haseman, Michele Sannes, Kathy Smith, Crystal Culbert, Pat Madison, Donna Anderson, Ann Pattison, Carol & Don Cameron, Tom Hughes, Emeline Paulson, Susan Gray, David Smith, Karen Oxman, Laura King & Scott Wilson, Bill Sedgeley, Mariane Erickson, Carol Abel, Dot & Eric Brownson, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Deb Goeldner, Rosemary Coffman, Jim & LouAnne Dale, Francine Butler, Elaine Marolla, Dixie Termin & Ron Miller, John & Andi Pearson, Chris Ball, Tom Hoffman, Patrick & Lisa Vitry, Alice Madison & Jim Kalivas, Lora Haimes, Nancy & Carlos Bernal, and Stephanie Painter, Holly Thomas
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