Bill in the Morning
Photo by Richard Luckin
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Tuesday, May. 28th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- All day - Golden History Tours
- 8AM-3PM - Passport-palooza
- 9-10AM - Women's Exercise and Bible Study
- 9:15-9:45AM - Baby Time
- 10AM-12PM - DeLong Park Weedbusters
- 10:15-10:45AM - Preschool Time
- 1:30PM - Triad - Senior Safety
- 2-3:30PM - Social Media: Basics
- 5:30-7:30PM - Bike Walk Golden Trail Etiquette Booth
- 5:30-9PM - The Golden Bicycle Cruise
- 5:30-8PM - Continuing Exploration of the Elements of Art
- 6-8:15PM - Wine Tasting Event
- 6-8PM - Trivia Tuesdays
- 6:30-8:30PM - Team Trivia Tuesday
- 6:30PM - City Council Regular Business Meeting
- 6:30-8:30PM - Bar Bingo Night
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
6:30PM City Council Meeting
Photo by Joyce Davell
Public Comment
The meeting will begin with public comment. Several public hearings are scheduled tonight. Comments on those topics will be accepted as part of the hearings. Comments on any other subjects must to given at the beginning of the meeting. If you prefer providing written comment, send it to publiccomment@cityofgolden.net. Any written comments received before 3PM will be added to the online meeting packet.
Consent Matters
Consent matters are considered uncontroversial, not requiring discussion. The first consent matter is approval of a $2 million contract for concrete replacement. The second is a plan to begin spending money from the storm drainage fund, primarily for the Lena Gulch project. The City expects to issue up to $7 million in tax-exempt bonds to finance the project. The proceeds of that bond sale would go to reimburse the storm drainage fund.
Proclamations
The will read proclamations regarding LGBTQ+Pride Month and National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
Lutheran Hospital
The Philanthropy Office from the new Lutheran Hospital being built in Wheat Ridge will tell Council about the project.
Jefferson County Public Schools
The Superintendent will provide information about the public school system.
Public Hearing: Change to Municipal Code re: site improvements
Current municipal code covers requirements and time frames for grading (moving dirt on) a construction site. The updated code will broaden the requirements to include not only grading but installing infrastructure such as water and sewer connections, stormwater collection devices, and sidewalks.
Resolution regarding fees for Site Improvement Permits
The item includes the schedule for fees based on the valuation of the work. The fees range from $1 to $6,169 for the first million dollars, and goes up from there for each $1K above $1 million. Plan Review Fees of 65% of the permit fees will also be assessed, plus credit card fees, outside consultant review fees, etc.
Public Hearing: Multi-family workforce housing on the Kilgroe Property
The Planning Commission considered this plan and concluded that, though they do want more affordable housing in Golden, and there is public transportation available near the Kilgroe Property, the north end of town is unsuitable for affordable housing, due to lack of amenities.
Public Hearing: Increasing the Amount of Economic Incentive the City can provide to developers
The City wants to increase the amount of economic incentive they can offer developers without voter approval from $100,000 to $177,000. This amount will increase over time to keep pace with inflation.
Note: at present, the City can circumvent the $100,000 limit by offering the subsidy through GURA. The most recent affordable housing project in the East Street neighborhood received $100K from the City and an additional $400K from GURA (Golden Urban Renewal Authority).
Public Hearing: Regulating "certain commercial recreational activities" on Clear Creek.
This ordinance will authorize city staff to limit tube sales during peak periods.
8AM-3PM Passport Palooza
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. RSVP today.
Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility
100 Jefferson County Parkway (map)
First Bike Cruise of the Season
A family-friendly Bicycle Cruise that takes place on the last Tuesday of the month from May to September. Beer, Bands and Bikes!
May 28 - Super Heroes!
June 25 - Barbie & Ken
July 30 - Olympics (Red White & Blue)
August 27 - Jimmy Buffett/Margaritaville
September 24 - Lighted ZOMBIE Prom
Hope to see you cruisin' this summer!! More information
Armory Parking Garage
14th and Arapahoe (map)
Visit with Bike Walk Golden at their tent site to learn how to be a trail user who leaves others feeling great. Grab a giveaway as a thank you. More information
Live Music for Tuesday, May. 28th
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: Charter Amendment Limiting Development Subsidies
Development Deals of the 1990s
Tonight, City Council will be voting to amend a long-standing part of our city charter. I asked Don Parker, a Golden-based attorney who led the effort to limit subsidies for developers, to explain why the limit was enacted in the first place.
By Don Parker
I was part of the group of people who circulated petitions in 1999 and 2001 to get a charter amendment on the ballot to limit development subsidies. We were inspired by the City having given six figure subsidies for development of a couple of shopping centers and their having given smaller subsidies for various commercial developments. Also the City as well as the County and the State governments had offered subsidies to encourage a Nike headquarters to be built on the top of South Table Mountain in 1997. Our group wanted to limit the City government from giving or even offering development subsidies in the future. We lost in 1999 but we tried again in 2001 and that time it passed. (We also put an Amendment for direct election of the City’s Mayor on the ballot in 2001 which also passed. Before that the Mayor had been elected by the City Council from among its members.)
Unfortunately (in my view) it is a common practice in Colorado and many other states to give development subsidies, and for developers and businesses to benefit from communities competing for sales tax revenue and for other developments. It is usually a transfer of money from taxpayers to usually wealthier folks. So we wanted an extra check on that power by requiring voter approval for most development subsidies.
The Charter Amendment that passed says in part that “ The City may not grant development subsidies or incentives in connection with the establishment, expansion, retention , or replacement of a business or any commercial, industrial, or residential development except…” The exceptions are: 1) anything voters approve, 2) amounts limited to $100,000 for low-income housing, senior housing, and improvements to historic structures, and 3) $25,000 for anything else.
The charter amendment does allow for inflation increases in those limits. So the City Council is planning to consider increasing those limits by the inflation rate since 2001 at its upcoming Council meeting on Tuesday May 28. That will raise the limits to about $177,000 and $44,000 and then allow for automatic annual inflation increases each year thereafter. Council members and staff have expressed interest in bringing more affordable housing developments to Golden so the focus now on raising the limits may be related.
The Charter Amendment also requires that the recipients of the subsidies place and maintain a sign on the property for five years thanking the taxpayers and stating the dollar value of the subsidies and incentives given.
Weather
Overnight: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Northwest wind around 6 mph.
Tuesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. North northeast wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. Southwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday Night: Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 53°F
Wednesday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 81°F
Wednesday Night: Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 54°F
Thursday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 78°F
Thursday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 50°F
Friday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 73°F
Friday Night: Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 53°F
Saturday: Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 80°F
Saturday Night: Partly Cloudy, 54°F
Sunday: Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 83°F
Sunday Night: Partly Cloudy, 57°F
Monday: Sunny, 85°F
News Relating to Golden - May 28, 2024
Golden baseball prepares for tough climb in 4A state tournament
By Dennis Pleuss
Colorado Preps
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Golden’s baseball team is exactly where it was a year in the Class 4A double-elimination state tournament.
The No. 2-seeded Demons (26-3 record) are back in the Final 4 for the second year in a row after dominating Palisade 15-5 (5 innings) in an elimination game Saturday, May 25, at Erdle Field at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs... Read more...
Why are there so many bronze statues in Golden?
By Eden Lane
CPR News
A stroll through downtown Golden offers the opportunity to explore an exceptional collection of Western art, including dozens of striking bronze sculptures scattered throughout the city.
The diverse pieces all reflect the rich history, culture, and values of the community... Read more...
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, Golden History Museum, Miners Alley Playhouse, The Golden Mill, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden History Tours, Morris & Mae Market, Miners Saloon, Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden Hayride Outpost, Tom Reiley, Bud Rockhill, Michael Mason, Lisa DeCaro and Len Matheo, John and Andi Pearson
Friends:
($50-99.99/month or $500/yr)
Tall Pines Painting, Baby Doe’s Clothing Paul Haseman, Donna Anderson, Carol & Doug Harwood, Beth Bidwell, Stephanie Painter, Greg Poulos, and Joy Brandt
Supporters:
($25-49.99/month or $250/yr)
Laura King and Scott Wilson, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Forrest Jones, Barry & Liz Bettis, Cheryl & Tom Schweich, Marjorie Sloan, Chris and Joyce Davell, Rick Flint, Forrest Jones, AC Development, Cynthia Merrill Tamny, and Stephen Pero
Members:
($10-24.99/month or $100/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, Casey & Gina Brown, Sandy Schneider, Mark and Cathy Pattridge, Cheryl G Leidich, Jen Rutter, Carol Abel, 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, Lynne Haigh, Elizabeth Hilliard, Frank Young & Terre Deegan-Young, Kathy Hirons & Jack Markin, Jess & Anthony Monasterio, Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch, and the Golden Transcript
Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson
