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What's Happening in Golden - Tuesday, Jan. 14th, 2025

News and events in Golden, Colorado. Tuesday, Jan. 14th, 2025

,   and  Barb Warden
13 min read
Click to enlarge

Holiday-Lit History Park

Photo by Joyce Davell
Click to enlarge

What's happening in Golden today?

Events for Tuesday, Jan. 14th

Golden History Tours
Team Trivia Tuesday
Trivia Tuesdays

For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar

6PM City Council Study Session @ City Hall


6PM STUDY SESSION: COMMUNITY MARKETING PROGRAM

Tonight's City Council meeting will be preceded by a study session (6-6:20PM) to discuss the Community Marketing Program (aka, Visit Golden). This program has a $600,000 budget, funded by a fee that Golden businesses voluntarily contribute for purposes of joint marketing.

Some of the merchants aren't entirely satisfied with the way the City has managed the program. In recent years, they employed a full-time employee to run the program. She, in turn, hired consultants. The Marketing Manager,who lived a considerable distance from Golden and telecommuted much of the time, left the job a year ago. The position has been empty since then. The City's Economic Development Manager has been providing staff support. The consultants have been filling in, and doing good, professional work, but they are based in Colorado Springs and Boulder County.

Visit Golden has also been tied into an astonishingly expensive web hosting contract ($70K/yr).

The merchants would like to try a different approach: they want to set up a stand-alone non-profit (similar to the Golden Chamber and the Golden Welcome Center) managed by a board of business owners from different areas around the city. It would be staffed by a "Field Marketing Manager," based in or near Golden, who will spend more time meeting with the business owners and learning exactly what they want to market and how they want to present their businesses. They propose having this new, Golden-based organization manage the marketing program, while continuing to use City services to post agendas, budgets, etc., and to broadcast meetings.

Councilors Vitry and Reed have spent considerable time over the past year studying Visit Golden, and they will bring their recommendations to the rest of Council in tonight's study session.

6:30PM City Council Business Meeting @ City Hall

Public Comment

The meeting begins with public comment. If you want to address Council, you will have three minutes to speak. Any public comments received by email before 3PM will be posted in the meeting packet after 3 (so check back then!).

Bike Lanes

Following Public Comment,the Director of Public Works will provide Council with an update on bike lanes. No additional information is available.

Tonight's meeting packet is HUGE, and our Councilors have more than earned their (rather scanty) wages in reading it. Despite this, it should be a fast meeting because all of the decisions are in the consent agenda. This means that the issues are considered non-controversial, not needing discussion, and everything will be approved at once, with one vote.

Any councilor wishing to discuss one of the issues can request that it be removed from the consent agenda and discussed and voted on separately.

These are the items on the Consent Agenda:

a) Approve the minutes of the last two meetings (Dec 3rd and Dec. 17th).

The small building with peaked roof is 711 12thSt.

b) Conveyance of Easement to 711 12th LLC
Banks Insurance, long housed at 711 12th Street (map), negotiated a deal with GURA when the south parking garage was built. They agreed to sell some of their property so GURA could build the garage, but they would six parking spaces for the exclusive use of their business, plus a side entrance to the garage for their use. The door was added and the parking spaces reserved, but it was recently discovered that the agreement was never signed. The Banks building is now about to be sold, so they want the agreement to be officially signed off. Tonight is the first reading. It will be finalized on January 28th.

c) Adoption of 2024 Model Traffic Code and Re-Adoption and Clarification of Adventure Van and Food Truck Definition Language
This document goes into a lot of detail about where and whether you can park vans, trailers, RVs, or food trucks on the street, so if those are topics of interest to you, review this document. Tonight is the first reading. There will be a public hearing and a vote on January 28th.

d) Housing Covenant for 1211 Avery Street
The company building 43 apartments at 1211 Avery Street (map) agreed to keep the rents affordable for low (zero percent to 50 percent AMI), moderate (51 percent to 80 percent AMI) or middle (81 percent to 120 percent AMI) income tenants for 15 years. They have learned that they can get extra "sustainability" points if they extend the time to 20 years, so they are requesting that change. Tonight is the first reading. There will be a public hearing and a vote on January 28th.

e) Creating an Arts & Culture Commission
Council plans to create a new Arts & Culture Commission with a 9-member board. Only 5 of the members would need to be Golden residents. The Mayor would appoint the members. They plan to hire a new half-time staff member to support this commission. The Public Art Commission would be folded under this new group, but the current $80K allocated for public art would remain earmarked for that purpose. The new Commission would allocate a portion of the lodging tax to Golden Arts & Culture organizations. The Golden History Museum has been under the purview of the Parks & Rec Board, which has always been a strange connection. They will now be moved to this new board. Tonight is the first reading. There will be a public hearing and a vote on January 28th.

f ) Phase 3 Zoning Code Rewrite - Process, Procedures, and Notice Requirements
This lengthy document details when building projects can be approved by staff or when they must go to the Planning Commission, when they must have a public hearing, or when they must go to City Council. It proposes to eliminate the need to publish public notices in a newspaper (The Golden Transcript) in favor of publishing them on City websites. It describes how affordable housing projects will be fast-tracked. Tonight is the first reading. There will be a public hearing and a vote on January 28th.

g) Phase 3 Zoning Code Rewrite – Use Regulations
This even more lengthy document details requirements for many comfort and quality of life elements such as density and parking requirements and details what uses will be allowed in each zone. Tonight is the first reading. There will be a public hearing and a vote on January 28th.

h) Final Plat for the Golden Overlook Subdivision

i) Intergovernmental agreement with the Jefferson County Crime Lab

j) Awarding a $1,844,092 contract to Muller Engineering to design a detention pond in the future South Neighborhoods Park.

k) Designating where the City will post public notices
Public notices will be posted on the City's website and on a bulletin board inside City Hall.

l) Awarding a $189,700 contract to Brown and Caldwell, Inc. for a Comprehensive Condition Assessment and Master Capital Improvement Plan for the Water Treatment Plant

m) Amending the IGA between Golden and neighboring fire districts regarding ambulence and medical services.

n) Adopting a corrected budget

o) Buying a new fire engine for $676,149.

p) Another correction to the 2025 budget

Proclamations

l)

5-7PM VIBE @ Five @ Craft Coworking


VIBE@FIVE is Golden's Happy Hour! Come join other members of the Golden Chamber of Commerce for this "Very Important Business Event" - VIBE!

This event is for members of the Golden Chamber of Commerce and their guests as well as for members of the Golden Young Professionals.

Become a member

Stop in for a quick hello and a refreshment right after work and a chance to get to know fellow members of the Golden Chamber of Commerce and Golden Young Professionals. This is a great networking and socializing event. 

This month's VIBE @ Five will be at Craft Coworking.

Craft Coworking Golden
430 Indiana St. Suite 100
Golden, CO 80401

Fees/Admission

Free for Chamber Members and Golden Young Professionals as part of membership

Passport-Palooza Tomorrow @ the Jeffco Courthouse

Need a new passport? Jefferson County is hosting a Passport-Palooza tomorrow to help you get it done. They expect a crowd, and are no longer accepting reservations, but you can go to the courthouse between 8AM and 3PM and get in line. As long as you're in line by 3PM with all of the required documents (learn more about those), they will help you!

Twice a year the Jefferson County Clerk & Recorder's Office provides passport processing with no appointment necessary. If you are filing for a new passport, your passport has expired by more than five years, or are getting passports for your children, this is the event for you. From 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., stop by with all of your documents, a checkbook, and your application—we'll get you ready for fall and winter travel.

Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility
100 Jefferson County Parkway (map)

Live Music for Tuesday, Jan. 14th

Click to enlarge

  • More Live Music
    6PM     Karaoke with Linda @ Dirty Dogs Roadhouse
    6PM Open Bluegrass Pick Night @ Over Yonder Brewing

For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar

Golden History: Liquidating the Bank

Rubey Bank Building at 12th & Washington – Golden History Museum collection
Click to enlarge

88 Years Ago
The January 14, 1937 Colorado Transcript reported on the sale of remaining assets of the Rubey National Bank. This was the last phase of liquidating Golden’s hometown bank.

In March of 1933, President Roosevelt declared a Bank Holiday to end a nationwide run on the banks. Banks were allowed to reopen after auditors examined their books and determined that they were sound. Unfortunately for Golden, the Rubey Bank was never approved to reopen.

Woods & Rubey Bank – Golden History Museum collection

The Rubey Bank began in 1893 when W.S. Wood and Jesse Rubey bought the National Bank of Commerce. Jesse’s brother Harry worked in the bank and eventually rose to become its president. When W.S. Wood retired in 1915, the bank was renamed from "Woods & Rubey Bank" to "Rubey Bank."

Bank President Harry Rubey died in 1925. Shortly before his death, he sold his bank stock to brother Jesse, who returned to Golden to run the bank for two years. At that point, E. A. Phinney became the bank president.

“Dawn of the West,” the mural in the Mountaineering Center (now owned by CoorsTek), was donated by Jesse Rubey in honor of his late brother Harry –enlarge

For about six months after the bank closed in 1933, Phinney stayed on as “Conservator.” During that time, the bank was open to allow access to safe deposit boxes, but accepted no deposits and allowed no withdrawals.

In September of 1933, John Q. Adams was appointed as receiver. While there was pressure on Adams to sell the bank’s assets as quickly as possible, so that depositors could regain at least some of their deposits, Adams proceeded in a slow and methodical way to examine the assets and sell off those that would bring reasonable returns. In 1933, property and bond values were quite depressed, but within a year or two, they began to regain their value.

The Transcript’s first estimate of what depositors could expect to receive was 65% of their money. Adams paid the first “dividend” to the bank’s depositors in April of 1934–13 months after the bank had closed. This first installment was 37-1/2% of the funds that depositors had placed in the bank.

A second dividend followed in June of 1935, which returned an additional 30% of deposits. The Transcript–feeling more optimistic at that point–thought that the final proceeds might reach 80% or even 90% of deposits.

In the end, after that final sale of assets in January of 1937, depositors received 102.44% of the money they had deposited in the bank.

First National Bank of Golden from the Golden History Museum collection – enlarge

Golden was so pleased with Receiver Adams that they asked him to stay and start a new bank. He did, and in June of 1937, the First National Bank of Golden opened in the Rubey Bank building.

Four years is a a long time for a town to be without a bank. In 1935, the Transcript commented that One of the most valuable assets of Golden is idle…. The vaults of the Golden bank…contain not a single dime. Folks must now, for security, resort to those primitive methods, the old clock, the bedtick, and the old sock.

When the new bank opened in June of 1937, the Transcript wrote that Golden had been lucky.

No one has been murdered for their money and there have been no organized robberies for cash hauls…. For the last four years there has been scarcely a business house in the town that, in order to cash checks and to accommodate its patrons, has not had to carry more cash on hand than was felt to be really safe.

Weather

Overnight's Weather

Overnight: Mostly clear. Low around 18, with temperatures rising to around 20 overnight. West wind around 10 mph.

Tuesday's Weather

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High near 38, with temperatures falling to around 29 in the afternoon. West northwest wind 7 to 12 mph.

Tuesday Night's Weather

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 18. West wind around 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly Clear, 18°F

Wednesday: Sunny, 46°F

Wednesday Night: Mostly Clear, 30°F

Thursday: Sunny, 57°F

Thursday Night: Mostly Clear, 33°F

Friday: Partly Sunny then Light Snow Likely, 45°F

Friday Night: Snow, 17°F

Saturday: Snow, 18°F

Saturday Night: Chance Light Snow, -5°F

Sunday: Slight Chance Light Snow, 6°F

Sunday Night: Slight Chance Light Snow then Mostly Cloudy, -8°F

M.L. King Jr. Day: Mostly Sunny, 17°F

Supporters

Many thanks to the people and organizations who support What’s Happening in Golden?  If you would like to support local news, please CLICK HERE!

Sponsors:
($100/month and up)
Buffalo Rose, Buglet Solar, Foothills Art Center, Golden City Brewery, Golden Cultural Alliance, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, The Golden Mill, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden History Tours, Miners Saloon, Golden Hayride Outpost, Unite Fitness, Tom Reiley, and Michael Mason

Friends:
($50-99.99/month or $550/yr)
Tall Pines Painting, Baby Doe’s Clothing, Goozell Yogurt & Coffee Paul Haseman, Donna Anderson, Carol & Doug Harwood, Beth Bidwell, Stephanie Painter, Greg Poulos, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Mary & Don Parker, Saré Merrigan, The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Joy Brandt, and Vic DeMaria

Supporters:
($25-49.99/month or $250/yr)
Laura King and Scott Wilson, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Forrest Jones, Barry & Liz Bettis, Cheryl & Tom Schweich, Marjorie Sloan, Chris and Joyce Davell, Rick Flint, Forrest Jones, AC Development, Cynthia Merrill Tamny, Stephen Pero, Meg Van Ness & Steve Kalasz, Steve & Karla Schaefer, Bud Rockhill, Steve Enger, and Kristie Brice & Mike Schwartz

Members:
($10-24.99/month or $110/yr)
Brad Miller & Julie Bartos, Holly Thomas, Jim and LouAnne Dale, Ann Pattison, Thomas Hoffman, Carol Abel, Brian Quarnstrom, Sandra Curran, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Kathy Smith, Karen Smith, Carlos & Nancy Bernal, Robert Storrs, Michele Sannes, Elaine Marolla, Dixie Termin & Ron Miller, E Tom Hughes, Crystal M Culbert, Patrick A. Madison, Alice Madison & Jim Kalivas, Deb Goeldner, Christopher Ball, 6th Chair Home Services, Dot & Eric Brownson, Rosemary Coffman, Emeline Paulson, Sandy Schneider, Mark and Cathy Pattridge, Cheryl G Leidich, Jen Rutter, Frani R Bickart, Jennings and Litz, Bill Sedgeley, Nancy Hughes, Justin L Wade, Kathi Eggers, Traci Case, Donna Owen, Leslie D Lutz, Karen Oxman, Catherine Skokan, Ross Fraser & KC Gilliland, Lynne Haigh, Elizabeth Hilliard, Frank Young & Terre Deegan-Young, Kathy Hirons & Jack Markin, Jess & Anthony Monasterio, Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch, Heather Duncan, Lee Ann & Pete Horneck, Carol Cameron, Cheryl Williamson, San Daugherty, Jim Garner, John and Carol McEncroe, the Golden Welcome Center, the Golden Transcript, Koshare Eagle, Ken and Colleen Krantz, Traci Neuman Lacey, Jo Barber, Jamie Cookinham, Kermit Shields, Meridee Cecil, Vicki Olson, Colleen & Michael Ramey, Nancy & Pete Torpey, Jax Baker, Simon Maybury, John & Carol McEncroe, and Rose McLaughlin

Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser

Highlights