View of NTM from STM
Photo by Liz Erickson
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Wednesday, May. 28th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- All day - Golden History Tours
- 9-11AM - Golden Walks
- 10AM - Dinosaurs in Golden
- 10:15-10:45AM - Toddler Time - Registration Required
- 3-5PM - Virtual/Call In: Hard Times Writing Workshop
- 5-8PM - Bingo Night and Dinner
- 6PM - Trivia Night
- 6-8:30PM - Community Sustainability Advisory Board Meeting
- 6:30-8PM - Waterwise Yard Seminar - Waterwise Gardening at Higher Elevations (Virtual)
- 6:30-8PM - Up2Us Golden Meeting
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
8:30AM Special Events Review Committee @ City Hall
The Special Events Committee will review the May Golden Bike Cruise and discuss several upcoming events, including:
- Farmers Market
- June Movies and Music in the Park
- Foothills Art Center Festival
- June Golden Bike Cruise
- Bike to Work Day
They will consider grant applications from:
- Golden Schools Foundation
- American Legion for 4th of July activities
- Golden Civic Foundation Summer Jam
- Foothills Art Center Artsweek Festival
They will begin assessing the costs that the city incurs in supporting special events.
Location:
City Hall Council Chambers
911 10th Street (Map)
When:
8:30AM on Wednesday, May. 28th
10AM Dinosaurs in Golden @ Golden Community Center
Join Kermit Shields, a volunteer with Dinosaur Ridge, as he explores the ancient creatures that once roamed the Golden-Morrison area. Learn how local fossils and rocks reveal fascinating stories from our prehistoric past!
Location:
Golden Community Center
1470 10th Street (Map)
When:
10AM on Wednesday, May. 28th
5-8PM Bingo Night and Dinner @ American Legion Post 21
Bingo is open to the public. Everyone is familiar with Bingo, and there is a sign-up sheet at the Club (walk-ins are welcome, too).
Pulled Pork Sandwiches with potato salad and dessert - $8
This is a fund-raiser to help the Legion pay for sewer line repair!
More information
Location:
American Legion Post 21
500 9th Street (Map)
When:
5-8PM on Wednesday, May. 28th
6-8:30PM Community Sustainability Advisory Board Meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers
- Meeting Agenda
- Watch the meeting streaming live starting at 6PM
- Attend the meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers - 911 10th Street - (map)
- Provide public comment during the meeting, starting at 6PM.
"The Board will review a new report on the impacts to future affordable projects from the 2025 International Building Codes, the proposed “electric-preferred” building codes, other examples of electrified affordable projects and potential new incentives for solar systems."
"Staff will provide an update on recent developments in federal and local policy and the Board is expected to discuss potential opportunities for commercial building energy efficiency incentives." Pages 5-10 of the meeting memo go through a number of relevant current and upcoming changes.
A new group calling themselves Sustainable Golden sent an invitation to the board to attend their first meeting tomorrow night:
The founders of SG recognize that we must act aggressively if the City is to achieve its crucial sustainability goals.... We’ve heard repeatedly from members of the City Council that, while they are supportive, that they can move farther and faster if citizens speak loudly, articulately, and with a common voice to urge more aggressive actions in support of our common goals.
Location:
City Hall Council Chambers
911 10th Street (Map)
When:
6-8:30PM on Wednesday, May. 28th
Understanding the Budget #10: Property Taxes - part 4 - The Mill Levy
While Loretta is a member of the Citizens' Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC), these articles reflect Loretta's personal understanding and do not represent positions of the CBAC.
The last article described the basics of calculating property tax. This article will describe how the property tax is distributed based on the Mill Levy.
The 2024 total Mill Levy for most properties within the city limits of Golden is 90.8060. As a comparison, these are sample mill levies for properties near Golden.
- Pleasant View: 89.3580,
- Lookout Mountain: 105.2310
- Arvada: 96.8690
Golden's Portion of the Mill Levy
Golden voters approved a ballot initiative in November 2023 to increase the mill levy. The initiative requested a mill levy increase to establish a dedicated, ongoing funding mechanism for the Golden Fire Department rather than continuing to fund the Fire Department out of General Fund revenues. This increased Golden’s mill levy from 12.3400 to 18.3400 in 2024. The taxes generated from the 12.3400 mill levy go to the General Fund. The taxes generated by the additional 6.0000 mill levy go directly to the Golden Fire Department Fund, which was established within the budget in 2024.
Downtown Golden's Additional Mill Levy
Within the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) boundary (see the area outlined in blue at this link), there is an additional mill levy of 5.000. Golden Downtown General Improvement District (GDGID) adds an additional mill levy of 1.7520. (GDGID is approved at 2.3520 but has been reduced to 1.7520 as described in GDGID Resolution 24-03.) This results in a total mill levy of 97.5580 for downtown properties.
So, if the majority of property tax does not go directly to the City of Golden, where does it go? Here is the breakdown of the Mill Levy for Golden properties.
Mill Levy for Most Properties in Golden:
- Jefferson County School District: 44.4880
- Jefferson County: 26.9780
- Two Urban Drainage and Flood Control entities: 1.0
- City of Golden General Fund: 12.3400
- City of Golden Fire Department Fund: 6.0000
Total: 90.8060
Mill Levy for Downtown Properties in Golden:
- Jefferson County School District: 44.4880
- Jefferson County: 26.9780
- Two Urban Drainage and Flood Control entities: 1.0
- City of Golden General Fund: 12.3400
- City of Golden Fire Department Fund: 6.0000
- Golden Downtown Development Authority (DDA): 5.000
- Golden Downtown General Improvement District (GDGID): 1.7520
Downtown Total: 97.558
The full "Understanding the Budget" series is available here.
Live Music for Wednesday, May. 28th
- 6-9PM Derek Hall @ Miners Saloon
Miners Saloon - More Live Music
4-8PM Chrispy @ Mountain Toad
6PM Live Music @ Rock Rest Lodge
For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar
Golden History: The Proto Plan
The World of Tomorrow, circa 1969 - homes on the mesas and a tramway to downtown
Click to enlarge
These days, the City of Golden has lots of plans. We have a Transportation Master Plan, a Clear Creek Master Plan, a Parks Master Plan, an Open Space Master Plan and a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. We have a series of neighborhood plans, and the One Plan to Rule Them All–the Comprehensive Plan.
The Golden Opportunity Plan preceded all of these. It was commissioned in 1969, at a time when suburban sprawl was radiating out of Denver like a seismic wave. Many in Golden feared that we would lose our individual character. Some feared that having a plan would impede growth. Others feared that not having a plan would impede growth. The consultant who wrote the plan pronounced that “We should not and cannot demean humanity by stopping growth.”
The Golden Opportunity Plan included several interesting ideas.
1) The 12th Street residential area would be redeveloped into stores and offices. The houses there were considered old and tired and in need of urban renewal.
2) 12th Street would continue west to intersect with Hwy 6. This would go through School of Mines land (past the football stadium). The Mines president said he would be amenable to that, provided the City approved shutting down Illinois Street through the campus.
3) 12th Street from Ford all the way to the School of Mines would become a pedestrian mall.
4) North and South Table Mountain would be developed for residential use. Since it would be expensive to bring water and sewer service to the mesas, the plan suggested that those homes rely on wells and septic systems.
5) Since it would be expensive to build roads to the mountaintop, the plan recommended an aerial tramway from South Table Mountain to downtown Golden, and another from Lookout Mountain to downtown Golden.
The plan was presented to the Planning Commission in 1970. After that, it languished and was never approved by City Council. In October of 1971, the City Attorney asked Council to vote on the plan, because he said our zoning regulations were invalid until the plan was approved.
The Planning Commission discussed it again in 1972. They recommended that Council pass it, with a few caveats. They thought the aerial tramways were a bad idea because they went over people’s houses. They said we needed a lot more parks and should make an inventory of historical sites. Golden businessmen were protesting the idea of turning 12th Street into a pedestrian mall, because it would cause traffic snarls.
City Council finally reviewed the plan in August of 1972. They approved everything except the zoning pages (which was what the City Attorney had said they most needed). Without the zoning sections, the plan had no legal force.
After that, the plan was only referred to with a notes of derision.
In 1973, a Transcript editorial said, “Golden had a plan once, remember it? It was the Golden Opportunity Plan and it sat around for a year before council decided to approve it. It has since, it seems, been placed squarely on the shelf where it will probably stay and the devil take the city’s future.”
In 1974, the Planning Commission asked City Council to either resurrect or bury the plan. Council did neither.
For years afterward, people would ask what happened to the Golden Improvement Plan. The question echoed in Transcript articles into the 1980s.
Weather
This Afternoon: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny. High near 71, with temperatures falling to around 66 in the afternoon. East northeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then patchy fog. Mostly cloudy. Low around 51, with temperatures rising to around 53 overnight. West northwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Wednesday: Patchy fog and a slight chance of rain showers before 9am, then patchy fog and a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9am and noon, then showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny. High near 69, with temperatures falling to around 59 in the afternoon. North northeast wind 3 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday: Patchy Fog then Showers And Thunderstorms, 69°F
Wednesday Night: Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 49°F
Thursday: Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 67°F
Thursday Night: Partly Cloudy, 52°F
Friday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 79°F
Friday Night: Partly Cloudy, 55°F
Saturday: Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 77°F
Saturday Night: Mostly Clear, 57°F
Sunday: Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 84°F
Sunday Night: Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 59°F
Monday: Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 79°F
Monday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy, 56°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, Joy Brandt, Tom Reiley, Michael Mason, and the Colorado Railroad Museum, Goosetown Station
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, 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, Cynthia Merrill Tamny, Stephen Pero, Meg Van Ness & Steve Kalasz, Steve & Karla Schaefer, Bud Rockhill, Steve Enger, Kristie Brice & Mike Schwartz, The Golden Hotel, Kurt & Janet Siegfried, Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch, and Robert Thresher.
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, 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, Rose McLaughlin, Cameron Chambers, Joyce Gravina, Patrick Klein, Barb Robie, and Mary Rains, Richard Caldwell, Janice Waring, Sam & Marilyn Baron, Carmen Johnson
Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser, Mel Perkins, Bob Hamilton, Kim Linton, Steve Stevens
