Golden Informer - Winter 2024

GoldenInformer WINTER 2024

A Look Ahead Into

the New Year!

photo by F4D Studios INSERT: 2024 RECYCLING AND COMPOST CALENDAR

2024 Golden City Council

Laura Weinberg Mayor

Lisa Vitry District One

Rob Reed Ward One

Paul Haseman Ward Two

Patty Evans District Two

Don Cameron Ward Three

Bill Fisher Ward Four

303-384-8179 lweinberg @cityofgolden.net

303-358-0444 lvitry @cityofgolden.net

303-503-5945 rreed @cityofgolden.net

303-513-2310 phaseman @cityofgolden.net

720-295-0080

720-295-4370 dcameron @cityofgolden.net

303-588-3389 bfisher @cityofgolden.net

pevans @cityofgolden.net

To contact the entire City Council, email: citycouncil@cityofgolden.net.

City of Golden Department Managers

Scott Vargo City Manager 303-384-8010 svargo@ cityofgolden.net

Carly Lorentz Deputy City Manager 303-384-8012 clorentz@ cityofgolden.net

Sandra Llanes City Attorney

Joe Harvey Police Chief

Kasey Beal Fire Chief

303-597-5211 sllanes@ cityofgolden.net

303-384-8030 jharvey@ cityofgolden.net

303-384-8090 kbeal@ cityofgolden.net

Jeff Hansen Finance

Kristen Meier Human Resources

Meredith Ritchie Communications

303-384-8020 jhansen@ cityofgolden.net

303-384-8017 kmeier@ cityofgolden.net

303-384-8132 mritchie@ cityofgolden.net

2 | Winter 2024

Monica Mendoza City Clerk

Tammy Tucker Parks and Recreation

303-384-8014 mmendoza@ cityofgolden.net

303-384-8120 ttucker@ cityofgolden.net

Anne Beierle Public Works 303-384-8153 abeierle@ cityofgolden.net

Jiles McCoy Innovation and Technology

Rick Muriby Community & Econ. Dev.

Theresa Worsham Sustainability

Sarah Vaine Thriving Communities

303-384-8063 jmccoy@ cityofgolden.net

303-384-8098 rmuriby@ cityofgolden.net

303-384-8117 tworsham@ cityofgolden.net

303-384-8075 svaine@ cityofgolden.net

A Letter from Our Mayor

In This Issue

Happy New Year from Mayor Laura Weinberg

5 Welcome New City Councilors 6 Residents Vote on Two Ballot

Happy New Year, Golden! It is hard to believe it has been four years since I first wrote those words as your mayor. I am grateful to be able to continue serving Golden and excited for what the next four years have in store.

The current stability in City leadership, finances, and operations means we are prepared to embrace the future. Large projects such as the Clayworks development, new Colorado School of Mines buildings, and investments in South Golden in the Colfax corridor will affect Golden in the coming years. These projects will define the built environment in the City for decades to come.

Smaller projects, both in footprint and finances, are important ones that will address the quality of life for those of us here now and in the future.

Prioritizing the issues of visitor impacts, noise mitigation, traffic calming and safety, and affordable living will focus on keeping Golden a great place to live.

This year, I am interested in looking at communications beyond the many channels the City uses to share information. Elected officials and community members can improve how we engage in real-life dialogue in a time of prevalent social media to build productive connections. Golden is still a small town, and we are all connected by about one degree of separation. Leaning into our identity means it is easy to reach out to set up a meeting over coffee or send an invitation to a neighborhood get-together so we can learn about and share ideas for the City.

This is going to be a great year in Golden. Let’s go make it happen together.

Laura Weinberg City Council Meetings Council Chambers City Hall, 911 10th St. 6:30 p.m. ________________________________________________

January 9* & 23 February 13* & 27 March 5* & 26 ________________________________________________

Issues and One Measure

Department 7 Police

Workweek Pilot

GPS Tracking 7 Snowplow

and Work Sustainably 8-9 Live

Aging in Place 10 Support

10 Healthy Housing for Golden 11 S enior Focus Group 12 Dinosaur Fossil Finds New Home

13 R ecreation Updates 14 H ave a Lead Service Line?

15 About Town 16 Get Involved 17-18 Sales Tax Refund Form Calendar 19 Community

More information on many of the following articles can be found by scanning this QR Code – with the website undergoing a full redesign at this time, the code will help get you more information on many topics during the transition.

Public comment is welcome on the agenda at all regular business meetings.

You may also send comments to City Council directly at councilcomments@cityofgolden.net. * Study sessions begin at 5 p.m. Check online for up-to-date information at cityofgolden.net/agendas.

Winter 2024 | 3

Connect with the City of Golden Visit us: cityofgolden.net Engage with us: guidinggolden.com Call us: 303-384-8000 Email us: cityofgolden@cityofgolden.net Contact

Email

Phone

Main Switchboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cityofgolden@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8000 Non-Emergency Dispatch (Police & Fire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-980-7300 24-Hour Water/Sewer Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8158 Affordable Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cityofgolden@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-597-5221 Animal Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . codeenforcement@cityofgolden.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-980-7300 Backflow Prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . backflow@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8170 Building Department. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . building@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8151 Building Permits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . building@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8151 City Clerk’s Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . clerks@cityofgolden.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8015 City Manager’s Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8011 Clear Creek RV Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . rv@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-278-1437 Code Enforcement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . codeenforcement@cityofgolden.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8048 Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . communications@cityofgolden.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8000 Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . financegroup@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8000 Fossil Trace Golf Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . golf@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-277-8750 Golden Community Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . goldenparksandrecreg@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8100 Liquor Licensing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . clerks@cityofgolden.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8015 Municipal Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . court@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8006 Museum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . goldenhistory.org/contact. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-278-3557 Parks Department. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . parksandrec@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8100 Pavilion Rentals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . parksandrecreg@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8100 Planning Department. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . planning@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8097 Police Records. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pdrecords@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8035 Public Works. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pubworks@cityofgolden.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8151 Right of Way Permits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . building@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8151 Sales & Use Tax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . salestax@cityofgolden.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8024 Special Events Permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . events@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-277-8728 Streets Department. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cityofgolden@cityofgolden.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8160 Sustainability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . goldensustainability@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8117 Trash & Recycling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . customerservicedenver@republicservices.com . . . . . . . 303-277-8727 Utilities Division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8170 Victim Outreach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . victimoutreachinfo@gmail.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-202-2196 Water Bills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . utilitybilling@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8026 Water Quality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . utilitybilling@cityofgolden.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-384-8181

4 | Winter 2024

Welcome New City Councilors A Message from Lisa Vitry, District 1 Happy New Year, Golden! As your newly elected City Councilor for District 1, I am honored to serve the residents and businesses of our great City. I am humbled by your passion to continue to make Golden a place where you and your family can thrive. I look forward to representing your voices on City Council and engaging with you to collaborate and develop ideas to navigate the opportunities and challenges we will face in the next four years. I am confident our entire City can unite as one community to support each other, our local businesses, and our first responders.

As a board-certified medical technologist with 30 years of clinical and leadership experience, I am excited for our residents to have a fire department that can respond faster and provide service and support for increasingly critical medical emergencies.

I believe we need to be stewards of land and protect and preserve our open space. I look forward to representing the community when engaging with the Parks, Recreation and Golf division, on their many projects, including the Open Space Master Plan. Golden is located in the Wildland Urban Interface, and our open space, parks, views and vistas are what make our City a beautiful place to live.

Stay In Touch Get the Latest on What’s Happening in Golden Sent to Your Inbox While the Informer may be quarterly, there are a number of ways to access up-to-date information happening around the City, delivered straight to your email.

• Interested in receiving a weekly update from the City?

Sign up for Golden’s newsletter, the Weekly Digest, at cityofgolden.net.

• Want to participate in surveys and provide meaningful feedback on City projects?

I am confident our City will provide more social support and resources for our seniors. I have participated in meetings and focus groups that I believe will have tangible and sustainable outcomes.

Register at guidinggolden.com.

We are a kind, inclusive, and resilient community. I believe this is the character and culture of our great City that will never be extinguished, as long as we continue to work together and support each other.

• Looking for athletic programs, activities, camps, or memberships?

Thank you for the opportunity to work with you and represent and support your voice. Please feel free to contact me at lvitry@cityofgolden.net.

Sign up for the monthly Parks and Recreation email at rec.cityofgolden.net.

A Message from Patty Evans, District 2

• Want to stay in the know on emergencies?

Happy New Year, Golden! I’m honored to have the privilege of representing District 2 on your City Council. I’ve lived in downtown Golden for 15 years, and I have served on the Planning Commission for nearly 10 years. I look forward to bringing that experience and perspective to Council.

Sign up for Lookout Alert at smart911.com.

Throughout the election season, I spent a lot of time knocking on doors and talking to people. In all my conversations, I heard common themes–a desire to maintain our small-town character, concerns about the impact of visitors, and overall, an optimism about Golden’s future. I’m embracing that optimism in my new role as Councilor.

Golden has lots of opportunities and challenges in front of us, both short and long term. We can tackle big-picture questions around how our community grows and our values for Golden, while also being responsive to short-term issues that affect the day-to-day lives of our residents. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and digging in.

• Check us out on social media: @cityofgoldencolorado /cityofgoldencolorado @CityofGolden /GoldenGov

We are a better community when we’re united and see the best in each other.

I’m hopeful for our future and excited to represent District 2 on Council.

Please feel free to reach out to me at pevans@cityofgolden.net.

Winter 2024 | 5

Residents Vote for Fire, Lodging Tax and Updated City Charter Language

Photo credit 5280 Fire

On November 7, 2023, Golden residents voted on two ballot issues and one measure to bring changes to the City in 2024: FIRE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONAL COSTS Residents approved a property tax of six mills that must be directed to fund the fire department’s capital needs and operational costs. This amount is based on the gap that exists between historic City funding levels of a primarily volunteer-based department (approximately four mills) and funding for the appropriately resourced combination fire department (a total of 10 mills).

Revenue generated from the proposed property tax will be applied to operational costs of the fire department, including attracting, training, and retaining the necessary numbers of firefighters in the fire department, which will result in the betterment and safety of our community.

ADDRESSING VISITOR IMPACTS FROM LODGING TAX Residents voted to allow the City to continue to collect, keep, and spend the revenues from the lodging tax

6 | Winter 2024

consistent with the original voter approval to address visitor impact. Revenue in 2022 addressed the Clear Creek Corridor, including increased parking and code enforcement activity, safety messaging and signage, trash and recycling infrastructure, and trail and pathway improvements; Thriving Community grants to over twenty nonprofit community organizations supporting food and rental assistance, youth programs, arts and culture, and many other local nonprofits; the Ore Cart Shuttle established in 2023; and planned upgrades to three downtown Golden public restroom facilities and Ulysses Park improvements.

CITY CHARTER LANGUAGE Residents voted to update language in the Home Rule Charter to reflect the City’s commitment to an open, participatory, and responsive government. The City will exchange outdated language with modern phraseology.

City of Golden 3-Month Update on Police Department 4-Day Workweek Pilot On July 10, 2023, the City of Golden launched a 4-day workweek pilot at the Golden Police Department (GPD) in which all GPD employees moved from a 40-hour workweek to a 32-hour workweek. The pilot reached the midway point of the 6-month trial on September 30, 2023. The GPD has collected data on various metrics to help determine its success and explore opportunities to expand the program to other City departments.

The overall findings from the midway point of the pilot are promising. With safety and service of the community as the City’s top priority, the assessment measured over 100 metrics, with increased productivity in many areas.

Using tools for time management, meeting efficiency, and process improvement through classes, training, and evaluations, the data shows many areas of improvement and some opportunities for further evaluation. You can find the 3-month review on Guiding Golden under “New Ways of Working.”

Golden Police Department continued to collect various metrics through the end of the pilot period on December 31, 2023, and will hold a 6-month review of the findings on February 8, 2024. Check Guiding Golden and the City of Golden calendar for meeting time and location.

Making Snowplow Efficiencies Through GPS Tracking Public Works unveiled its newest addition to improvements and efficiencies during winter storms, PlowOps, at the start of the 2023 snow season. Taking a recommendation from the City of Greenwood Village, Golden invested in PlowOps, which is a platform that uses GPS technology to map snow routes and track plows.

Plow routes are downloaded into the program, and a GPS tracking device shows the progress plows are making on the routes. When transitioning between drivers, the new driver knows exactly what is left to plow. When additional crews step in to help, the route is mapped in the truck, making it easier for the team to know what is left to do. After launching the program in-house earlier in the year and testing on streetsweeping and snow routes, the team is thrilled to have this tool available to increase efficiency and customer service in the City.

During snowstorms, information about where City plows are working and where they have already plowed will be available at cityofgolden.net/snow-plows.

Wondering about how Golden develops routes and performs snow removal? View our Snow and Ice Control Plan.

Winter 2024 | 7

LIVE & WORK SUSTAINABLY

Nominate a Sustainability Champion The Golden Sustainability Awards are an opportunity to recognize the businesses, community groups, individuals, and students who inspire us to live more sustainably.

Know of a sustainability hero that is leading Golden toward a greener future? Golden’s Community

8 | Winter 2024

Sustainability Advisory Board (CSAB) is looking for nominations for the following categories:

• • • •

Student Individual Business Community Group

Nominate a person or group for the 2024 Sustainability Awards by completing the online nomination form by March 24 at cityofgolden. net/sustainabilityawards.

City Council will present the awards in celebration of Earth Day in April.

Don't Miss Out on 2024 Garden in a Box Discounts beautiful waterwise garden kits tailor-made for Colorado yards.

Golden discounts are first come, first served and will sell out quickly through the Resource Central website (select “City of Golden Water” as your provider to be eligible)!

Wondering when to get started on this year’s landscaping projects?

Professionally designed for Colorado yards, Garden In A Box kits are easy to use and can help you save water compared to a traditional grass lawn.

The City of Golden partners with Resource Central to offer a limited number of $25 discounts on

Sign up to get on the interest list at resourcecentral.org/gardens for updates on new Garden In A Box options and sneak-peeks like the Bees & Blooms Garden! The interest list will also provide access to early previews and purchasing, seasonal reminders, and occasional special offers directly from Resource Central.

Hot tip: Even if you signed up in years past, you’ll need to sign up again for this year’s information.

Why Join the 2024 Garden in a Box Interest List?

You’ll be first to know when the perennial garden kits debut in January.

Resource Central will notify you when gardens are available for purchase during the two sale seasons–March and June.

Irrigation Rebates Available The City of Golden is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of water conservation, helping our community use water more efficiently, and providing incentives to help you get there!

There are many simple ways that you can increase your water savings by using water more efficiently in your home and yard. This year, the popular smart irrigation technology rebate

program is back! You could receive up to $100 for installing water-saving technology like rain sensors and smart irrigation controllers at your residential or commercial property.

Applicants must be registered users of Aquahawk Alerting to qualify.

Be prepared for irrigation season and find out more at cityofgolden.net/ sustainabilityrebates.

Not a registered Aquahawk Alerting user?

Sign up at goco.aquahawk.us.

Winter 2024 | 9

Support for Aging in Place in Golden The opportunity to age (and thrive) in place is an important value for the City of Golden. With housing, food, and utility costs continuing to rise and creating more challenges for people living on fixed incomes, the City recognizes the impact on older adults who want to stay in Golden but may have difficulties doing so.

Senior Resource Center work closely with City staff to coordinate services such as small home repairs, yard and home upkeep, and snow removal. The greatest barrier to many of these agencies is a lack of volunteers.

If you are looking for a way to give back locally, consider volunteering by visiting cityofgolden.net/volunteer.

The Thriving Communities Division helps to address these challenges by connecting people of all ages to benefits assistance such as food, Medicaid and Medicare, social security, disability, rental , and eviction prevention.

Staff also work closely with local food banks, the faith community, and other regional and local non-profits to help people access resources.

The Community and Economic Development Division has held listening sessions with two of the affordable housing complexes for seniors to learn more about transit needs and consider ways to adjust existing services to better serve older adults.

Organizations such as A Little Help, Age Wise, and the

If you or someone you know needs support and services, contact Sarah Vaine, Director of Thriving Communities, at svaine@cityofgolden.net.

Healthy Housing for Golden Over the past year, the City of Golden has been working with the National League of Cities to build a Healthy Housing Strategy for our community. Healthy Housing is a broad umbrella that can encompass many issues such as weather protection, functioning heat, running water, updated carbon monoxide detectors, and reduction in harmful exposures to radon, lead, etc.

City staff identified three main action strategies within the vision to achieve a healthier community for all: 1. Complete inventory of lead service lines to homes as the foundation for a lead service line replacement initiative.

2. Implement resident-targeted education programs related to indoor health and safety hazards.

3. Establish a rental registry to assist in identifying housing health hazards.

10 | Winter 2024

Residents can help by actively participating in one or all of the strategies outlined above. See page 14 if you think you might have a lead service line.

The City is also in the initial steps of the creation of a Rental Registry. As this project develops, City staff will seek input from tenants, landlords, property managers, and various other community members to offer a wide variety of perspectives.

Finally, City staff are working to identify the resources and education materials that would be most beneficial to the community to assess and address potential health and safety in your own home. If you have a suggestion, please email Lauren McKinney at lmckinney@ cityofgolden.net.

If you would like more information on the Healthy Housing program in Golden, please visit guidinggolden.com/healthy-housing.

Seniors Provide Insight and Ideas in Focus Groups at the Golden Community Center As a result of the October 13, 2023, Golden Years Reception, Recreation Division staff conducted a series of five well-attended, enthusiastic focus groups.

Community members were invited to attend one or all five discussions on topics ranging from programming inside and outside of the Golden Community Center to education and volunteer opportunities. These discussions generated ideas and opportunities for operations and programs, and conversations will continue with regularly scheduled Front Porch Friends meetings.

Early outcomes from the focus groups included:

• Additional opportunities for seniors in the

Future outcomes will include:

• Collaborative efforts with the Thriving Communities Division to offer resources and recreation staff to offer programming through the Front Porch, and

• Continued conversations on future engagement and opportunities.

City staff held a follow-up engagement meeting on November 30. Future engagement meetings will be held regularly at the Golden Community Center; a specific date and time will be determined by participants in late December. All older adults are welcome to attend.

community to participate and be heard.

WOULD YOU LIKE MORE INFO? To receive more information on these and other activities impacting seniors, please sign up or update your email address at cityofgolden.net/ FrontPorchNews to receive the Front Porch Newsletter.

Winter 2024 | 11

Dinosaur Fossil Finds a New Home

In early October, a volunteer with the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge (FDR) noticed that one of the dinosaur tracks was in danger of falling from the rock wall. An exploratory visit by the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge and Morrison Natural History Museum assessed the risk to the fossil. The initial assessment discovered that over 40% of the block containing the track was no longer attached to the wall, and the City of Golden was notified of the imminent risk of damage.

A second visit involving the FDR, City of Golden staff, and History Colorado confirmed the precarious nature of the block. All agencies agreed that removal as soon as possible was the best option for preserving the track for future education and inspiration, given the

12 | Winter 2024

impending winter weather. A fall would likely shatter the block and render the fossil useless in the process.

As stewards of the land and our ancient history, the City was excited to work alongside our partners to quickly act and get the fossil to a more secure location, where it could be viewed in perpetuity.

A team of City staff and paleontologists made a Herculean feat to meticulously encase the track in a protective jacket and remove it over a two-day period, with the sun shining and absolutely perfect temperature. City staff supported the move of the fossil to its final home at the Golden History Museum, where it is on prominent display.

Updates to the Great Golden Outdoors Parks and Recreation City staff are working on several renovations to improve popular existing amenities. Ulysses Park, Grampsas Sports Complex, and outdoor public restrooms at three locations will all receive significant upgrades.

Whether you enjoy sports, pickleball courts, or accessible services, the coming year is certain to bring some exciting changes for Golden:

ULYSSES PARK Planning continues for athletic field renovations, allowing for a variety of sports to utilize the redesigned area where Ballfields 1 & 2 are currently located. Ballfields 3 & 4 will see irrigation, infield, and lighting improvements, and a new centralized building is planned to serve the park with universal restroom access. The dog park will move to the Northwest corner of the park and be expanded.

Parking will also be expanded on the north end of the park, and the playground will delight kids of all ages with new features. A public art component is also planned in collaboration with the Public Art Commission.

RESTROOM UPDATES – Coming Spring 2024 The City will be making significant improvements to the Lion’s, Parfet & Astor House restroom facilities, including making them universal and family-friendly. While the aesthetics will remain similar to uphold the design of our City, there will be a significant increase in functionality. While the restrooms are being renovated, portable toilets are available near the structured facilities.

GRAMPSAS PICKLEBALL COURTS – Coming Summer 2024 Construction on four lighted pickleball courts at Grampsas Park is slated to begin in early 2024.

In addition to the courts, the park will feature a new pavilion, improved access with additional sidewalks, and renovations to the parking lot.

Winter 2024 | 13

Have a Lead Service Line? Golden May be able to Help!

Golden is committed to providing safe drinking water to all our residents and does so by consistently complying with all regulations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Recent revisions to the SDWA’s Lead and Copper Rule require the City of Golden to create a mapped inventory of water service lines throughout our public water system. This project specifically focuses on investigating single-family and apartment homes built before 1940.

Verifying lead service lines consists of two options: 1. Physically verifying the line entering the home (it is possible to determine what type of line you have by looking at it—usually in a dusty crawlspace), or 2. “Potholing” between the water meter and the house.

Potholing is a technique that uses a large vacuum truck and high-pressure sprayer to dig small holes (around 6–12 inches) over the service line to see what type of line it is. (Don’t worry—we’ll put it back how we found it!)

While Golden’s water does not contain lead because of safeguards like our robust water treatment plant, lead can leach from galvanized or lead plumbing in your home, which is why it’s important to identify and replace lead lines.

In early 2024, residents who may have lead or galvanized lines will be contacted by City staff to conduct service line inspections on your property using the methods mentioned. Any lead or galvanized line identified by the City will be replaced later by the City at no cost to residents. Replacing service lines can typically cost $10,000, so participating in this effort is not only a cost savings to you but a reduction in risk to you and y our family.

To be eligible for a no-cost lead or galvanized service line replacement, property owners must consent to the inspection during this initial inventory phase. Keep an eye out for a letter in the mail and an update in the digital Weekly Digest of when those letters will arrive. Have questions? Visit guidinggolden.com/lead-service-lineinventory or contact Kerry Major at kmajor@cityofgolden.net.

Ore Cart Shuttles Hit Exciting Benchmark of 25,000 Rides The Ore Cart shuttle bus service, a partnership between the City, Colorado School of Mines, and the West Line Corridor Collaborative, has provided over 25,000 rides since mid-June for residents, students, employees, and visitors. Currently, riders are able to connect via three routes–Gold, Silver, and Tungsten –between downtown Golden, the Mines Campus, central Golden, and the RTD Jefferson County W Line station. The Iron Route pilot program, which was an on-demand shuttle serving the RTD Ward Road G Line station, concluded at the end of November due to the end of its grant funding.

The City of Golden and Colorado School of Mines continue to track the success of the three fixed Ore Cart routes and anticipate changes to the Gold Route in early 2024 to better serve the area between

14 | Winter 2024

Iowa Street and the Mines campus. Many of these rides were previously served by the Iron Route.

A City Council study session to discuss proposed changes will be scheduled in early 2024. For more information and the latest ridership summary, please visit guidinggolden.com/transit or contact Matt Wempe, Principal Planner, at mwempe@ cityofgolden.net or 303-215-8884.

Photo credit Sam Hille Clear Creek Shot @hilleadventures

ABOUT TOWN New Business-to-Business Website Launches in 2024!

Small business owners need a lot of information to open and operate their businesses. To help, the City of Golden is offering a new digital tool for small businesses, Golden B2B, which consolidates frequently asked questions in one easy-to-use website. Ranging from answers to basic questions on what type of business you operate to how to apply for local permits and licenses, Golden B2B navigates you through various resources, opportunities, and requirements. Golden B2B provides a central location for you to explore business information at your convenience. Check out Golden B2B by visiting b2b.cityofgolden.net/. Developed by Qwally, a Golden startup, Golden B2B moves at the speed of business.

Need more assistance? City staff are always available to work with you. Contact Robin Fleischmann, Economic Development Manager, rfleischmann@cityofgolden.net, or Baxter Richardson, Economic Development Specialist, brichardson@cityofgolden.net.

Visit Golden Tourism Economic Impact Study to Provide Valuable Visitor Data

Clayworks Project Underway on Ford Street Demolition is underway at the former CoorsTek 9th Street campus, now called Clayworks.

A new site plan is under review

by City staff at 800 Ford Street for the first new building, which includes a partially preserved building. The new building will have 171,327 square feet of office space that will house the global headquarters for CoorsTek, 10,542 square feet of ground-level restaurant and retail space, and the façade matching the historic Ford Street brick buildings. The site plan includes two levels of underground parking and public open space.

For more information, please visit guidinggolden.com/ planning-projects.

The City of Golden’s Economic Development and Community Marketing Department is in the process of completing a Tourism Economic Impact Study to estimate the direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts on the Golden area economy from expenditures by visitors. The findings will include total sales and revenues generated by the Golden tourist industry and total full-time and part-time jobs generated by tourism in Golden. The study will also provide an estimate of the fiscal benefits and contributions of the tourism and visitor industry to the City of Golden.

For more information/updates on the study, visit visitgolden.com/about-us.

Winter 2024 | 15

GET INVOLVED Coming this Summer, Please Join us for Golden’s Public Works Community Academy Have you ever wondered:

• How is Golden’s water treated?

• How do we maintain and repair our infrastructure?

• How do we map and track water, sewer, and street-

interactive, hands-on training activities, tours of City facilities, and presentations by Public Works staff.

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then join us for the Public Works Community Academy.

Participants will receive all necessary safety equipment and will have the opportunity to experience simulated Public Works working conditions including an opportunity to ride along in a snowplow during the 2024/2025 snow season.

This free, 20-hour program, which is geared toward adults, will kick off Wednesday, July 31, 2024, and will meet weekly through September 4. It will include

If you are interested or have specific questions about the program, please contact Shakira Hollis at 303-384-8152 or shollis@cityofgolden.net.

related assets within the community?

2024 Board and Commission Openings Board and commission members help shape the future of Golden. Members bring expertise and ideas to the forefront, interact with and represent all of the segments of the City, and provide input for informed and inclusive decisions. Be part of building a Golden where everyone can thrive by applying today for one of the vacancies.

Golden City Council is recruiting applicants to fill the following appointments:

• Community and Sustainability

• Mobility and Transportation

Board – Meets the 4th Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m.

(3 vacancies)

Board – Meets the 4th Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. (3 vacancies)

• Planning Commission –

Authority – Meets the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. (1 vacancy) Applicants must reside, be a business owner, lessee, or own real property in the downtown development district.

• Investment Advisory

• Downtown Development

• Historic Preservation Board – Meets the 1st Monday at 6:30 p.m. (5 vacancies)

16 | Winter 2024

Meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

(4 vacancies)

To find out more about the board and commission application process, visit cityofgolden.net/ government/boardscommissions.

Committee – Meets quarterly (1 vacancy)

Applications will be available on the website February 5, 2024. The deadline to apply is March 8, 2024, at 5 p.m. Interviews are scheduled with City Council the evening of Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

For additional information or questions, contact the City Clerk’s Office at 303-384-8014 or clerks@cityofgolden.net.

2024 Claim Form for 2023 Sales Tax Refund The sales tax refund is limited to senior, low-income or disabled individuals who have lived within the city limits of Golden for at least 90 consecutive days in 2023 and cannot be claimed as a dependent on any other person’s tax return.

The refund amount for 2023 is $125. This will be adjusted for partial year residency in Golden and partial year at age 65. Please email salestax@cityofgolden.net or call 303-384-8024 with questions.

Please check one box only:

q q

Senior Refund (must be 65 years or older) Low Income Refund Proof required. Attach a photocopy of one of the following: • State of Colorado Property Tax/Rent/Heat Rebate approval notification • Proof of Medicaid benefits • Proof of LEAP eligibility • Proof of eligibility for food stamps

q

Disabled Refund Proof required. Attach a photocopy of one of the following: • State of Colorado Property Tax/Rent/Heat Rebate approval notification • Proof of full benefits from Social Security Disability Income, SSI or the Department of Human Services • Proof of total disability from a public or private insurance plan

Please print or type: Name: Mr(s).

Age: Name: Mr(s).

Age:

Date of Birth: Date of Birth:

Physical Address:

Golden, CO ZIP

Mailing Address:

City

State

ZIP

Phone: How many months did you reside in the city limits of Golden during 2023?

Were you claimed as a dependent on any other person’s income tax form?

Signature:

months

q yes

q no

Signature:

This form must be submitted by no later than April 15, 2024.

Refund Donation Option: You have the option to donate your refund to a City of Golden program or department by checking one of the boxes below:

q Golden Volunteer Fire Department q Golden Cemetery q Other City program or department (please identify): Office Use Only: Account #01-3031-61900

STR Vendor #

q Golden History Museum & Park q Community Grant Program q Golden Senior Front Porch

Received

Payable

Formulario de reclamación de 2024 para el reintegro de impuestos a las ventas en 2023 El reintegro de impuestos a las ventas se limita a las personas de la tercera edad, de bajos ingresos o discapacitadas que hayan vivido dentro de los límites de la ciudad de Golden durante al menos 90 días consecutivos en 2023, y no puedan ser declaradas como dependientes en la declaración de impuestos de otra persona. El monto del reintegro de 2023 es $125. Este monto será ajustado por año parcial de residencia en Golden y por año parcial a los 65 años. Si tiene preguntas, envíe un correo electrónico a salestax@cityofgolden.net o llame al 303-384-8024.

Marque solo una casilla:

q q

Reintegro para las personas de la tercera edad (debe tener 65 años o más)

Reintegro por bajos ingresos Se requiere comprobación. Adjunte una fotocopia de uno de los siguientes documentos: • Notificación de reembolso de impuestos a la propiedad/alquiler/calefacción del estado de Colorado.

• Prueba de beneficios de Medicaid • Prueba de elegibilidad para el LEAP • Prueba de elegibilidad para cupones de alimentos

q

Reintegro por discapacidad Se requiere comprobación. Adjunte una fotocopia de uno de los siguientes documentos: • Notificación de reembolso de impuestos a la propiedad/alquiler/calefacción del estado de Colorado.

• Comprobante de beneficios completos proveniente de los pagos por discapacidad del Seguro Social, SSI o Departamento de Servicios Humanos.

• Comprobante de incapacidad total de un plan de seguro público o privado.

Escriba en letra de molde o con computadora: Nombre: Señor(a) Edad:

Fecha de nacimiento:

Nombre: Señor(a) Edad:

Fecha de nacimiento:

Domicilio: Dirección postal:

Ciudad

Golden, CO

Código postal

Estado

Código postal

Teléfono: ¿Cuántos meses residió dentro de los límites de la ciudad de Golden durante el 2023?

meses

¿Se le declaró como persona dependiente en el formulario de declaración de impuestos de otra persona?

Firma:

qsí qno

Firma:

Este formulario debe enviarse a más tardar el 15 de abril de 2024.

Opción para donar su reintegro: Tiene la opción de donar su reintegro a algún programa o departamento de la Ciudad de Golden, marcando una de las siguientes casillas:

q Golden History Museum & Park q Programa de subvenciones comunitarias q Departamento de Bomberos Voluntarios de Golden q Cementerio de Golden q Golden Senior Front Porch q Otro programa o departamento de la Ciudad (indique cuál): Solo para uso oficial: Account #01-3031-61900

STR Vendor #

Received

Payable

GOLDEN COMMUNITY CALENDAR . . . . . . . Jan.–Mar. 2024 For City event updates, additions, and current information, visit visitgolden.com/events.

Wednesday, Jan. 6, 10–11 a.m. Coffee with Councilors

Join your Councilors in the Golden Community Center Bear Creek South room (1470 10th St.). This month’s event focuses on a new year and new ideas. Please bring your ideas for speakers and content for Coffee with the Councilors in 2024. We want to learn what you want to hear about and discuss at CWC. What is on your mind? What are your concerns?

Monday, Jan. 8, 7 p.m. Golden Concert Choir Spring Rehearsal Start

Join the Golden Concert Choir for its spring rehearsal season at the Calvary Episcopal Church from 7 p.m.–9 p.m., Monday evenings through the spring concert on May 4, 2024.

Friday, Jan. 12–Sunday, Jan. 14 The Colorado Cowboy Gathering

2024 marks 34 years of exploring, presenting, and preserving cowboy heritage, traditions, and entertainment. During the gathering, cowboy poets, western singers, and old-fashioned yodelers bring to life the joys and hardships of the American West. Tickets and information: coloradocowboygathering.org

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 5:30–6:30 p.m. Creek Update Meeting

Join City staff in Council Chambers to provide feedback on new ideas for managing the creek in the new year and learn about what the City is doing to manage the creek now. Visit the City calendar at cityofgolden.net for more information on events and meetings.

Friday, Jan. 26–Sunday, Jan. 28 Ullrgrass Beer and Bluegrass Festival

Get your furry boots and Viking horns out! It’s time for Ullrgrass, the three-day festival named for the Norse God of Winter, that highlights local talents as well as some well-known bluegrass performers. The festival features a costume contest, troubadours, and beer from over 30 breweries. Held at Parfet Park. Info, tickets, and band schedule at ullrgrass.com

Saturday, Feb. 3, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Goldens in Golden

Celebrate golden retrievers on National Golden Retriever Day in downtown Golden with lots of fun, fanfare, fluff, and photo opportunities. Festivities include Pup Meet and Mingle in Parfet Park, free pup cups, and so much more. Trained, friendly, and leashed dogs are invited, and owners are kindly requested to please clean up after their dog. The City is monitoring the spread of the canine respiratory virus and will provide event updates on our website if plans change.

Saturday, Feb. 3, 10–11 a.m. Coffee with Councilors – Golden Community Center Bear Creek South room

This month’s event features Golden Fire Chief Kasey Beal who will share his vision and plans for the Golden Fire Department and be available to answer any questions and address any concerns.

Thursday, Feb. 22–Sunday, Feb. 25 Colorado Environmental Film Festival

This annual event highlights environmental films, representing local, national, international, and youth filmmakers. The live festival takes place at the Green Center at Colorado School of Mines, with an Eco-Expo and live Q&A sessions with filmmakers. A virtual encore presentation will be available until March 3rd. Tickets and info: ceff.net

Thursday, Feb. 29 19th Annual Ethics in Business Awards Nominations Due

Each year, the Rotary Club of Golden seeks nominations from the public of organizations in our community, both forprofit and not-for-profit, that demonstrate the highest standards of ethical business practice, integrity, and civic and social responsibility. All nominations received by February 29, 2024, will be evaluated by students in the ethics class at the Colorado School of Mines. Make a nomination at ethics.goldenrotary.org/nomination-form/.

Saturday, Mar. 2, 10–11 a.m. Coffee with Councilors – Golden Community Center Bear Creek South room

This month’s event features Nola Krajewski from the Golden Chamber of Commerce. Nola will present the mission and vision of the Chamber and provide information about how the Chamber supports local businesses.

Saturday, Mar. 30, 10 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt

Join the Kiwanis Club at Parfet Park for the annual Easter Egg Hunt! The “hunt” starts at 10 a.m., and it doesn’t take more than a few minutes for all the eggs to be gathered up, so plan to arrive early! Children up to age 10 are welcome. For questions, please email Diane Tiberi at dtiberi@cityofgolden.net.

Winter 2024 | 19

PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID GOLDEN, CO PERMIT #26

POSTAL PATRON

The Golden Informer

is produced and published by the Golden City Manager’s Office and mailed as a source of news and information to all residences and businesses inside the City limits. Comments on The GoldenInformer are welcome.

Please write to: City of Golden, 911 10th St., Golden, CO 80401. Or email: communications@cityofgolden.net

Photo submitted by Sam Hille Clear Creek Shot @hilleadventures