CenCON

 Monthly Reports by Sue Rosser

Highlights from the Monday, August 26^th CenCON meeting

18^th Judicial District Community Engagement Director Aurora Ogg reminded us that on January 1, 2025, the 18^th Judicial will split into two districts.  We, in Arapahoe County, will remain the 18^th; Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln Counties will become the newly created 23^rd Judicial District.  We voters in the 18^th will elect a new District Attorney (DA) in the upcoming November election because our current DA, John Kellner, has decided not to run for re-election.  Some prosecuting attorneys and other staff members who serve in the current 18^th may also leave to serve in the new 23^rd if they live in any of the three counties in that new district.  Much work has been done to make this split as smooth as possible, but some challenges will likely arise in this first year of change.

Arapahoe Libraries Manager of Community Events Holly Whelan shared these upcoming events:

• Call for artists 18 years or older of all skill levels.  Now is the chance to share your talents with the community by showcasing your work in library galleries! The application process is open through October 31. Visit www.arapahoelibraries.org/art-galleries.  Additional questions?  Call 720-603-8606.
• Active Minds presents 2024 Colorado Ballot Choices on Thursday, October 10 from 6:30 -7:30 p.m. at Koelbel Library.  Each ballot proposal will be reviewed, and arguments for and against will be presented.  Also presented will be a brief history of Colorado’s referendum and initiative process, and the legislation that has resulted from it.  This same program will then be on Zoom on Tuesday, October 15, from 6 - 7 p.m.  Register at www.arapahoelibraries.org and then find either option on the events tab at the top of the homepage to access the calendar or call 303-LIBRARY (303-542-7279).
• Holly highly recommends the Zoom presentation, “Meet librarian Mychal Threets,” on Tuesday, October 22 from 6-7 p.m., for tweens, teens, and adults.  Mychal is a PBS resident librarian and viral TikTok sensation.  Hear about his love of libraries and their importance for readers of all ages.  See registration info above.

Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Deputies/Community Resource Specialists Michael McKnight, whose area of responsibility includes Willow Creek, and Dennis Meyer gave info about safety programs:

• The main responsibility of these two deputies is crime prevention.  They discussed the new Dog Walker Watch program, developed by the National Association of Town Watch.  Not just for dog walkers, this program encourages neighbors to be alert for suspicious activity, enhancing the partnership between law enforcement and the community to reduce crime.  Report unusual situations to ACSO’s non-emergency number, 303-795-4711.  Always call 911 in an emergency.   
• ACSO has a home security survey.  To schedule a home security walk-through, call 720-874-3750 to have Deputy McKnight do a home inspection to suggest areas where security can be improved.  To learn more about both programs, Google Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and then the program. 
• ACSO has also installed FLOCK license plate readers in four Centennial locations to catch stolen cars.
• Identity theft is on the rise.  The federal website to report online crimes is www.ic3.gov

District 4 Centennial City Council member Don Sheehan’s report included this information:

• Mapping technology is on the city’s website, www.centennialco.gov.  Search for maps and open data, which will show zoning, street sweeping, snow plowing priorities, permits, special districts, HOA and civic association locations, street rehab projects, council districts, development plans, and much more.
• Centennial is now in the middle of budget season; a budget study session was held on September 9.
• The city is buying our streetlights (traffic signals are already ours) from Xcel.  This will be a cost savings.

Highlights from the Monday, June 24^th CenCON meeting

From District 1 Arapahoe County Commissioner Carrie Warren-Gully:

• Arapahoe County’s 93-acre Dove Valley Regional Park, located southeast of the intersection of E Bronco’s Parkway and S Potomac St (diagonally SE of the Bronco’s training facility), reopened on July 8, after a yearlong, $18 million phase one makeover. This includes athletic field upgrades, new street access, additional parking, a new shade pavilion and playgrounds, a dog park, bike skills park, and a new multi-use community lawn.  Future phase two enhancements will include a lighted championship artificial turf field with built-in seating and a shade structure, a restroom and concession building, and additional youth fields.
• Completed in 1883, the 71 mile-long High Line Canal runs from Waterton Canyon to Green Valley Ranch, just south of DIA.  In June, Denver Water transferred ownership to Arapahoe County of the 45-mile stretch running through the county, placing a conservation easement on it to ensure its permanent future protection.  The High Line Canal Conservancy now holds this easement.  The 26 miles outside of Arapahoe County lie within Adams and Douglas Counties.  For an excellent YouTube summary of the history and this gift to the county, Google “New Chapter for the High Line Canal.”

Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) Bureau Chief Ken McKlem gave this update:

• Two additional experienced traffic officers/crash investigators have been added to patrol Centennial, and overtime is being funded by a $100,000+ CDOT grant.  This has resulted in an additional 1000 additional traffic tickets issued per month.  All ticket revenue goes to Centennial to help pay for the city’s contract with ASCO…the addition of these officers has resulted in a decrease in traffic collisions and resulting injuries and fatalities.
• ACSO is now using the National Highway Transportation Administration’s model, called “Crash-Based Reporting.”  In this model, traffic patrol is concentrated on streets and main thoroughfares where collisions more frequently occur—monitoring crash data and then more heavily patrolling these areas, rather than the streets where speeding can occur, but where collisions are rare.   
• Calls for overall service in Centennial are up about 5% from last year, but calls that turn into crime are down about that same amount.  Adult arrests are also up about 5%.  The statistics for 2020 and 2021 seem to be anomalous due to Covid, so it’s more difficult to make projects to plan for adequate staffing in the next few years.
• The Broncos facility on Broncos Parkway is beginning a major construction project, but they are committed to having camp open to the public again this year.  Complimentary tickets are required, and attendance is limited due to limited parking. To learn more and get tickets visit: www.denverbroncos.com/nfl/trainingcamp/information
• In August, deputies are again partnering with area businesses to take children whose families have fewer resources to shop for items they’ll need for school.
• A May 17 record drug bust occurred at a motel in the 6700 block of S Galena St (several blocks east of the Target on E Arapahoe Road).  41 pounds of meth, 33,000 fentanyl pills, 2.5 pounds of heroin and cocaine, $113,000 in cash, and weapons were recovered from a suspect supplying drugs in Arapahoe County and Centennial. These quantities indicate that this person arrested is connected to much larger, possibly international suppliers, and his future length of incarceration will depend on how cooperative he will be with the Federal government.

City of Centennial Council District 2 member Christine Sweetland shared these highlights:

• The City is taking part in the three-year South Metro Waste diversion study with Englewood, Sheridan, and Littleton to provide the first comprehensive analysis of waste services provided to the nearly 200,000 residents living in this region.  The study will explore opportunities to expand waste and recycling access, programs and services, and to begin to eliminate so much trash.  Learn more at www.SouthMetroWasteDiversion.com
• The 18^th Annual Centennial Under the Stars (free) will be held on Saturday, August 10, from 5-9 p.m. at Centennial Center Park (13050 E Peakview Ave). This event will feature live local music, local vendors, and food trucks. For more info visit www.centennialco.gov/Calendar/Centennial-Under-the-Stars-2024.  

Jill Meakins, CenCON’s treasurer, included information about Nourish Meals on Wheels:

• This worthy nonprofit prepares 550-650 hot nutritious meals each day from scratch, M-F, and 500+ dedicated volunteers deliver them directly to older clients in need throughout Centennial, Littleton, and Englewood. These meals are supplemented with weekly breakfasts and frozen meals for the weekends. Nearly their entire annual operating budget comes from individual donors, community partners, businesses, and more.
• Nourish MOW now has need for additional volunteer drivers, even for just one day a week per month!
• Their pantry also currently needs food supplies.  The link to the kinds of items needed can be found on CenCON’s website, www.cencon.net.  For more info on this valuable community organization, visit www.nourishmealsonwheels.org or call 303-798-7642.  Food donations may be delivered to 92 E Arapahoe Rd, M-F, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or call me at 720-201-9358 and I’ll pick up and deliver them for you.

18^th Judicial District’s Community Engagement Director Aurora Ogg gave this reminder:

As detailed in the May CenCON article, the 18^th Judicial District’s very informative Senior Law and Safety Summit will be held on Saturday, July 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Charles Schwab Conference Center (9899 Schwab Way).  The three areas covered will be: 1) Law/Legal-related topics, 2) Fraud protection, and 3) Crime Prevention and Safety.  The cost is $10 and includes a light breakfast and a box lunch.  For much more information, Google “2024 Senior Law and Safety Summit”, call 720-874-8487, or email jsorrells@coda18.gov.  Sign up at: www.ea.da18.org/slss/attendee.aspx

Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Bureau Chief Lt. Adam Burson gave this update:

• To date, overall crime in Centennial, including motor vehicle theft, is down from 2023.  The only crime not down is drug-related - drug paraphernalia and possession, and associated mail and other theft.
• Drug cartels are present in rural eastern Arapahoe County, but thus far, not in Centennial. Cartels typically come into an area and buy secluded land and/or homes to process and store drugs.
  

James Linden, Senior Environmentalist, Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority (SEMSWA), and Chairman of SPLASH, was the first of two main presenters:

• Since 2007, SEMSWA (www.semswa.org) has provided stormwater management services for drainage and flood control facilities within Centennial and unincorporated Arapahoe County.
• SEMSWA also works to preserve water quality, and with area partners has established SPLASH, the cooperative for education and outreach, detailed on the website www.splashco.org. SPLASH partners educate the public on simple ways to reduce pollution in local water bodies.
• The simplest way homeowners, HOAs, parks, etc. can preserve water quality and prevent toxic algal blooms that kill fish and other water life in waterways is by using lawn fertilizers that contains little or no phosphorus.  All fertilizer bag labels show three numbers describing the amount of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) contained.  For example, a 40-pound (lb.) bag of 20-10-5 fertilizer contains 20% (8 lbs.) nitrogen, 10% (4 lbs.) phosphorus, and 5% (2 lbs.) potassium.  The other 26 lbs. are “fertilizer carriers, including sand or ground limestone.
• Because most of our area soils are naturally rich in phosphorus, SWEMSWA and SPLASH highly encourage going “P free,” using only fertilizers having a zero (0) or near zero percentage of phosphorus—the middle of the three numbers shown on the label—to preserve our South Metro water quality.

Josh Phillips, Director of Planning and Implementation, High Line Canal Conservancy shared this info:

• Following the 1859 Colorado gold rush, the 71-mile long High Line Canal was completed in 1883, from Waterton Canyon to the plains northeast of Aurora, bringing South Platte River water to settlers and farmers along its length.  Today the canal no longer provides water to farmers, but its partner trail survives as a treasured recreation outlet to a growing number of Centennial and other metro area residents.
• Formed in 2014, the mission of the Conservancy is to preserve, protect, and enhance the High Line and its vegetation and wildlife in partnership with the communities it crosses.  Without the continual water supply that created the rich greenway and habitat for wildlife, the Canal is challenged and in transition.  To learn much more, visit www.highlinecanal.org.

Highlights from the Monday, April 22^nd CenCON meeting

District 3 Arapahoe County Commissioner Jeff Baker gave this update:

• Arapahoe County is facing future financial challenges, and without new revenue from voter-approved sales or property taxes, the county commissioners will have to consider making cuts to essential programs and services. These might include continued partnerships with Centennial on critical road projects (including the expansion of several major thoroughfares on Centennial’s east side), consolidation of the Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder’s Office operations, possibly including closure of Centennial’s motor vehicle office at Lima Plaza, elimination of regional homeless programs that include Centennial, delayed response by human services to over 100 daily cases of child or adult protection incidents, delays in restaurant and child care center inspections, and more. 
• Centennial’s law enforcement contract with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) would not be impacted, because Centennial pays for those services.  Impacts could occur in sending lawbreakers to county detention centers/jail and in investigations and task forces involving ACSO.
• To maintain services, the five county commissioners are considering placing either a property tax or sales tax increase question on the November 2024 ballot, and they are seeking constituent input over the next weeks.  To share your opinions on this topic, Google: Arapahoe County Budget: Home and follow the links.  The property tax increase being considered is 4.615 mills, which would add an additional $16-$27/month to each WC 2 home’s property tax, depending on home value.  The sales tax being considered is an additional .25%, raising Centennial’s total sales tax from 6.75% to 7%. 

ACSO Captain Adam Burson shared this information:

• With summer here, theft both from unlocked vehicles and of vehicles themselves is again on the rise. 
• To report a homeless situation, call the ACSO non-emergency number, 303-795-4711, or contact Vanessa Gates, Centennial’s Homeless Outreach Liaison at 303-738-5645.
• Catalytic converter theft has decreased, because catalytic converters are now being laser-inscribed and otherwise marked, and converter buyers are being located, shut down, and punished.
• Car theft throughout our south metro Denver area is also on the decline, due to area law enforcement, including SWAT team officers, targeting crimes of theft.  Denver’s primary issue and focus is violent crime, so vehicle theft is still a larger problem there and in the north metro area.
• Centennial has added two traffic officers to target problem areas for accidents and speeding, including within school zones.
• Law enforcement is now cracking down on unregistered vehicles and expired license plate tags.

Arapahoe Libraries District (ALD) Manager of Events Holly Whelan included these updates:

• The summer reading program began on June 1 for children ages 0-18, with the theme “Reading: Your Passport to Adventure.”  Kids may visit any ALD library to choose a free book of their choice.  The libraries will also host events and activities for all ages all summer long.  To learn more, visit www.arapahoelibraries.org/summer-reading or call 303-LIBRARY (303-542-7279)
• The annual used book sale is Fri-Sun, June 7-9 at Southglenn Library, featuring a wide variety of adult and children’s books and much more.  Visit www.arapahoelibraries.org or call.
• Five award-winning Colorado authors will discuss writing a book, from first ideas to publishing, at Koelbel Library on Monday, June 10 from 6:30-8 p.m. Register at www.arapahoelibraries.org.
• ALD and Centennial will host a free concert on Friday, June 14 from 6-8 p.m., at Centennial Center Park, featuring That ‘80s Band, who will play favorite hits from pop to hard rock. Bring blankets or low lawn chairs and dress in ‘80s attire if desired.  `

Correction:  In last month’s CenCON article, an error was made in editing the bullet point referring to current South Metro Fire Rescue Chief Bob Baker. Chief Baker (not former Chief Qualman) is SMFR’s current fire chief.

 18 Judicial District Community Engagement Director Aurora Ogg shared this information:

The Senior Law and Safety Summit will be on Saturday, July 13.  The three areas covered will include:

•  Law-related topics – POAs, living wills, advanced directives, estate planning, probate, and renewing contracts
•  Fraud protection – ID theft, elder financial exploitation, online scam threats, investment fraud, and companionship scams
•  Crime Prevention and Safety – Home and community safety, improvement and fall prevention, and dementia risks
  

South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) Deputy Chief of Emergency Services gave this update:

• 65+% of the calls in Centennial revolve around emergency medical calls,
• For all calls, the average response time from when dispatch receives the call to ambulance/fire apparatus arrival is less than six minutes.
• The completion and reopening of Station #15, located immediately east of the intersection of University and Dry Creek, has been delayed now until September, because of stormwater mitigation issues that needed to be corrected.
• 20 new fire recruits entered the fire academy in early February and will graduate in early May.
• Cardiac health is the number one killer for those in the line of duty. SMFR is partnering with UC Health, South Denver Cardiology, and National Jewish to monitor and improve firefighter heart health. Currently 50 line firefighters of the total 620 have gone through a pilot program.
• Fire Chief Bob Baker, who became SMFR’s Fire Chief in 2014, will be succeeding Fire Chief Dan Qualman, will retire in May of 2025.  Chief Baker has had a 40-year career in fire services, beginning as a firefighter with the Parker Fire Protection District in 1984.  Chief Baker has been an excellent, experienced, knowledgeable, and well-liked chief, and he will be missed!

  Arapahoe Libraries Manager of Events Holly Whelan’s report included these updates:

• Applications are being taken through July 1 for the annual Teen Art Show, to be held this fall at the Eloise May Library.  This gives teens a great opportunity to showcase their talents.  To learn more, visit www.arapahoelibraries.org/teen-art.
•  The “Unconventional Women of the West” program will be presented on Thursday, May 16 from 2-3 p.m. at Koelbel Library.  The Legendary Ladies of Colorado will present stories from fascinating women in first person living history, showing how they overcame various personal hardships, with their lives becoming part of western lore.  To save a spot visit www.arapahoelibraries.org or call 303-LIBRARY (303-542-7279).
• The Older Adults Resource Fair will be held on Friday, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Koelbel Library.  Learn about different health resources and programs to help aging in place, chat with representatives from local nonprofits, and meet with older adult services librarians to learn about social and educational opportunities at the library.  Light refreshments will be provided.
• Arapahoe Libraries Community Conversation series’ May 30 topic will be “Individual Freedom and Public Protection,” and will be held on Thursday, May 30 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Southglenn Library. The series conversations are guided by an expert facilitator and a diverse panel of experts, offering participants a unique opportunity to make connections and consider topics from different perspectives. To reserve a spot, visit Arapahoe libraries.org or call 303-LIBRARY (303-542-7279).
• Reminder - the walking group “Meet and Move” is now gathering twice each month at Koelbel Library on the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday of each month from 9:30-10:30 a.m., through October 23.  This is a chance to get a little exercise while exploring beautiful nearby paths/trails with old and new friends.

Highlights from the February 26 CenCON meeting:

As mentioned last month, the monthly CenCON meetings are being held in locations other than the Arapahoe Libraries Ad Building until renovation is completed there.  The meeting on April 22 will again be held at the Centennial Center of Generations in the Streets at SouthGlenn (6972 S. Vine Street #366) beginning at 6:45 p.m. Please feel free to call me for more info at 720-201-9358 or visit www.cencon.net.

South Suburban Parks and Rec District representative Michelle Kitchens’ report included these updates:

• SSPRD is now hiring teenagers and others for summer jobs—pools, park maintenance, camp helpers, customer service representatives, and more.  The lower age limit is 14 for intern positions; paid positions begin at age 15. Google careers.ssprd.org to learn more and apply online.
• The Hudson Gardens and Event Center has a number of activities and events of interest. Visit www.hudsongardens.org and then view the public events calendar.

Arapahoe Library Districts’ Manager of Events representative Holly Whelan’s report included these updates:

• The walking group “Meet and Move” will begin gathering again twice each month at Koelbel Library on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, from April 10 through October 23 at 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.  This is an opportunity to explore beautiful nearby paths/trails with old and new friends.
• A “Music Sparks Memories” concert will be held on Friday, April 12 from 1-2 p.m. at the Smoky Hill Library.  This concert is for everyone, but it will be especially dementia-friendly, with the Denver Brass 5, a quintet playing familiar favorites that spark memories in all audience members.
• There will be two screenings of the award-winning documentary “The Quiet Epidemic,” a film about chronic Lyme disease, at Koelbel Library on 1) Fri., April 19 from 1-3:30 p.m. and 2) Wed., April 24 from 5:30 - 8 p.m.  The screenings will be followed by a community conversation with experts from the Colorado Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Association.  To register, Google www.arapahoelibraries.org and then click on the Events tab along the top bar, and find these dates to register or call 303-LIBRARY (303-542-7279).
  

Centennial D2 City Council member Tammy Maurer gave an update on three bills of concern now in the legislature: Nearly all Colorado cities are actively opposing all three, because they preempt local control. They are:

• HB24-1152, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) – As introduced, the bill would give the state control on how ADUs would be regulated, preempting all city ADU ordinances and HOA covenants/by-laws, including eliminating the requirement that ADUs be architecturally compatible with the existing residence.  This could have a major impact on how Willow Creek 2 would look in the future.
• HB24-1304, Off-Street Parking Regulations – As introduced, this bill prohibits municipalities from having or enforcing any/all minimum off-street parking requirements for all land use types. 
• HB24-1313, Transit Oriented Communities (TOCs) – this bill is being lauded as a way to incentivize local governments to create more dense housing in transit areas, primarily along the I-25 corridor.  As introduced, it mandates that a minimum of 40 units/acre be built within ½ mile of light rail stations.  It also contains punitive measures, including the revoking of a city’s monthly distribution of Highway User Tax Funds (HUTF), historically collected and used for maintaining roads and highways.  For Centennial, this would be an annual loss of around $3 million/year that the city now uses for street maintenance.

As of this writing, all three bills have fiscal notes, have been heard in committee and amended, and may likely not see further action until the Budget Bill is finalized.

Highlights from the Monday, January 22 CenCON meeting:

Because of renovation now occurring at the Arapahoe Libraries Administration Building on East Adam Aircraft Circle in Centennial, the monthly CenCON meetings are being held at other places throughout Centennial over the next several months.  The January meeting was held at the Centennial YMCA Center of Generations at The Streets at SouthGlenn.  The February 26 meeting was held at Centennial Public Works (7272 E Eagle Street).  Centennial residents are always welcome to attend. 

CenCON’s VP of Plans, Rhonda Livingston, has scheduled our annual July fieldtrip for Monday evening, July 22 at The Project C.U.R.E. International Headquarters and main distribution center (10377 E Geddes Ave #200).  Project C.U.R.E. (Commission on Urgent Relief and Equipment) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, humanitarian relief organization based in Centennial.  Begun in 1987, this organization is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the world, collecting, sorting, and packaging medical supplies and equipment donated by hospitals and manufacturers, to then distribute to hospitals and clinics within developing countries.  Currently, Project C.U.R.E. has donated 2400+ shipping containers of medical supplies to 135 countries worldwide.  Forbes ranks it as one of the 20 Most Efficient Large U.S. Charities.  The WC2 HOA Board is invited to join CenCON on this fieldtrip, which will include a tour of the facility, a video, and possibly also an opportunity to help package supplies.  For much more information and for the many ways that WC2 residents, including families and older children, as well as business and civic groups can volunteer for this organization, visit www.projectcure.org or contact them at info@projectcure.org or 303-792-0729.

The Arapahoe Library District is again holding their second annual seed giveaway program this spring.  Beginning on Monday, March 4 through June 15, residents may pick up free seed packets and planting instructions at any library while supplies last, choosing from a variety of flower, herb, and vegetable seeds, all of which can be grown in Colorado.  Tagawa Gardens will work in partnership with the libraries to host how-to events on gardening and container gardening.  Visit the Arapahoe Libraries website, www.arapahoelibraries.org or call 303-LIBRARY (303-542-7279) for more information on this seed giveaway, and many other programs and events taking place in the coming months.

Centennial has convened a Futures Committee, comprised of city leaders and residents who are studying the ways Centennial is likely to change, and the challenges and opportunities the city will encounter over the next 20-30 years.  Throughout the US and within our community, buying habits are shifting, with more online shopping, so developers are currently reluctant to build more retail and commercial.  Some new restaurants and other businesses are coming in to Centennial, but more foot traffic is needed to support retail.  Shuttered stores and shopping centers are at higher risk for safety issues, crime, and blight.  There continues to be a housing shortage in Centennial. 

Paula Hillman, Program Engagement Representative, and Jason Yin, Esports Coach, both staff members of the Centennial YMCA Center of Generations, gave an overview and tour of this new facility, which opened last May and is located at 6972 S. Vine Street, Suite 366. This is just west of the north side of the now-shuttered Sears department store in The Streets at SouthGlenn (the closest parking place to the Center is the Sears east side parking lot).  The Center is a partnership between the City of Centennial and the YMCA of Metro Denver, bringing together youth ages 12 and up and older adults in a multi-generational space.  Fitness, cooking, art, games, and many other classes and esports (organized, multiplayer video games) are some of the activities offered at the Center.  Some programs have registration and a fee.  For monthly event calendars for both youth and older adults, and for more information about the center, hours, and programs, Google “Centennial YMCA Center of Generations” or call 720-918-6425.

Remembering former Mayor Cathy Noon
CenCON’s Founder and first President (2001-2009) - and so much more

Centennial’s beloved former Mayor Cathy Noon passed away peacefully at home early Monday morning, December 11^th, after courageously fighting pancreatic cancer for over 5 ½ years. Cathy’s friendships and influence, both locally and throughout Colorado, and her impact on numerous local and regional programs, initiatives, and improvements will continue to enrich all our lives and serve as her legacy for many years to come.  

Cathy’s Celebration of Life will be held at 2 PM on Thursday afternoon, January 18^th, in the Embassy Suites Hotel ballroom, 10250 E Costilla Ave in Centennial.   

Cathy began volunteering for the Centennial incorporation effort almost immediately after she, her husband Jim, and their two children moved in 1999 to Chapparal, a neighborhood east of Parker Road that would soon become a part of the new city.  Only months after voters said “yes” to incorporation in 2000, Cathy founded and became the first president of CenCON, the Centennial Council of Neighborhoods, comprised of neighborhoods located within the city.  Under Cathy’s leadership, CenCON became—and remains—the voice of our neighborhoods, reviewing land development plans and providing homeowner input to the mayor and city council, as well as serving as a two-way conduit for information from law enforcement and Centennial’s special districts. Because of minimal city staffing in the early years, CenCON became the defacto information center for the mayor and first city councils.

After running unsuccessfully for a city council seat in our District 3 in November 2005, Cathy continued to grow the membership and influence of CenCON in guiding Centennial.  In November 2007, she was one of 21 citizens elected to Centennial’s Home Rule Charter Commission, which was charged with crafting Centennial’s charter to become a home rule city.  With one member absent at the first commission meeting, Cathy and another commissioner were locked in a 10-10 tie for the commission chairmanship.  When Centennial’s legal counsel determined that a coin toss could legally break the tie, another commissioner volunteered his Alcoholics Anonymous 18-year sobriety coin, and Cathy won the toss.

Throughout many long and arduous meetings drafting Centennial’s charter, Cathy’s leadership, centered approach, and willingness to listen to all opinions earned her the respect of virtually all her fellow commissioners, and after she led the successful effort to get the Charter passed in mid-2008, most urged her to run for mayor, promising to campaign on her behalf—and so we did.  In November 2009, Cathy Noon was elected as Centennial’s second mayor with wide voter support, succeeding Randy Pye—becoming one of only a very few Colorado mayors to ever be elected without first having served on city council.  Cathy often laughingly said that if she hadn't won the coin toss and then become known city-wide through her Charter Commission leadership, voters likely would never have elected her as mayor. 

Mayor Noon’s numerous accomplishments as mayor have been the subject of many other articles that can be found online, so because of limited newsletter space, they can’t be detailed here. 

Upon being term limited in January 2018, Mayor Noon happily passed the gavel to our current (third) mayor, Stephanie Piko, saying that she and Jim were looking forward to years of travel and spending more time with their four grandchildren.  But in a routine annual checkup less than four months later, Cathy was diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer.  What followed was a 5 ½ + year battle through Whipple surgery and several grueling rounds of chemo and drug trials.  Throughout these years, she continued to actively hold local and statewide leadership positions, to advocate for senior meal programs and services, and to raise awareness and major funding for pancreatic cancer, also counseling those who later received this same diagnosis.

Cathy often said that she kept fighting so she could grow old with Jim and remain a part of the lives of her children and grandchildren as they continued to grow and thrive.  Throughout her last years, she earned heartfelt and widespread respect and love from so many throughout the greater Denver metro area for her continued selfless service and her valiant struggle against this disease.  We CenCON members and so very many others beyond who came to know and love her over these many years keenly miss her now.   She was an extraordinary visionary leader and a loyal friend. 

Highlights from the October 23^rd CenCON meeting: 

Colorado’s 18^th Judicial District, currently comprised of Arapahoe, Douglas, Lincoln, and Elbert Counties, holds quarterly townhall meetings each year, usually one in each of these four counties.  The October CenCON meeting was held in conjunction with the 18^th Judicial’s Arapahoe County third quarter meeting, at Koelbel Library.  18^th Judicial District Attorney John Kellner led the meeting, with special guest Arapahoe County Sheriff, Tyler Brown. The 18^th is currently the largest of Colorado’s 22 Judicial Districts, with a total population of just over one million residents.  Arapahoe County is the largest of the four member counties, with nearly 670,000 residents—about 2/3 of the total district population. The 18^th employs around 250 personnel, including prosecutors, investigators, victim advocates, restitution specialists, diversion counselors, and other professionals.

State lawmakers passed a bill in 2020 to remove Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln Counties from the 18^th to form the new 23^rd Judicial District, the first time a new district has been created in over 60 years.  Officially, the new 23^rd will come into being in January of 2025, after the November 2024 General Election. This split has required the 18^th to break out tens of thousands of cases, unraveling a district that has been together since 1960.  It is a huge staffing and personnel challenge to work through this transition with as little impact as possible to all residents of the four counties.

Following introductory remarks, Mr. Kellner spent the next hour detailing current issues and a number of cases that have come before the 18^th Judicial in the third quarter.  These have involved theft, child exploitation, murder, assault, MS-13 (El Salvadoran violent gang) murders, and much more.  You can view the entire meeting and Mr. Kellner’s description of these cases by going to: https://da18.org/media/newsletter.  Once there, tap on the October newsletter link, and then on the townhall meeting link, in the information below John Kellner’s photo.  This meeting contains a wealth of information about all aspects of the 18^th Judicial District and is well worth watching. 

The following information was provided in the CenCON meeting that followed the 18^th Judicial presentation:

South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) EMS Division Chief Jens Pietrzk shared these updates:

• For the first six months of 2023, SMFR responded to just under 5,000 911 calls in Centennial.  The majority (around 75%) of the calls were Emergency Medical Services (EMS) calls—heart attacks, difficulty breathing, falls, household accidents, etc. Actual fire calls in Centennial have decreased this year.
• SMFR receives around 600 cardiac arrest calls annually—up to 2-3 per day.  Dispatch gives CPR instruction to the caller over the phone, resulting in successfully restarting hearts 46% of the time before the EMS team arrives.
• All medical calls to SMFR are increasing by around 10% each year, due to increases in population, traffic accidents, and average age within the district. The highest concentration of calls comes from senior facilities.
• The old Station #15, east of the Dry Creek/University intersection, has been demolished, and a larger, state of the art fire station is now being constructed on that site.  For more info, visit www.southmetro.org and search for Station #15. A website link should soon be added there that will show construction updates every 15 minutes.
  

District 4 Centennial City Council member Don Sheehan gave this report:

• Veronica Gates, Centennial’s Homeless Outreach Liaison, is continuing to reach out to unhoused individuals and families in Centennial, providing them with resources and services.  Ms. Gates has also been working with the business community and visiting several hotels, apartment buildings, and other establishments near her interactions with the unhoused, all to mitigate potential issues. 
• The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) has formally accepted Centennial’s application to opt-in to Proposition 123.  The application includes a goal to increase the number of affordable housing units through new construction or conversion of 108 affordable housing units by the end of 2026.  DOLA’s acceptance enables Centennial and private organizations to apply for a range of grant programs operated by DOLA and Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA).  City staff will continue to monitor these grant programs.
• Arapahoe Road Bridge over Big Dry Creek Reconstruction – Through November, crews have been continuing stream stabilization under the bridge, and preparing and paving the South Trail and sidewalks through the construction zone.  If the weather cooperates, construction should be completed by the end of 2023.

The Monday evening, September 25 CenCON meeting was a Centennial City Council candidate forum for those running for one of the two seats in each of the four city council districts, in the Tuesday, November 7 General Election.  For more info, go to www.centennialco.gov>home and then scroll down and click on Hot Topics: 2023 Election Information.

In the Centennial City Council election, District One (western Centennial) Councilmember Candace Moon is term limited.  Therefore, two new candidates are running: Amy Tharp and Andrew Spaulding.  District Two has two candidates: incumbent Christine Sweetland and challenger Rick Rome.  Our District Three (includes areas both east and west of I-25) has two candidates: incumbent Mayor Pro tem Richard (Rik) Holt and challenger Valdan Vandemark.  In District 4 (northeastern Centennial), incumbent Don Sheehan is running unopposed.  This article will concentrate on the highlights of the questions asked and the answers given by the two candidates who are on our WC2 ballots.

Mayor pro tem Holt, 57, a 22-year resident of Foxridge, spoke in introductory remarks about his extensive volunteering history in the Foxridge neighborhood, being on the Foxridge Board of Directors, and running numerous charitable and other neighborhood events with his wife Julie.  Since being elected to the Centennial City Council in November 2019, he has served on the Open Space Advisory Board, as the liaison to South Suburban Parks and Recreation, and the chair of the Fiberworks Commission (responsible for the 50 miles of fiber in Centennial).  With a B.A. in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, he has had a 20+ year career as a program and project manager/analyst in the computer industry.  Rik and Julie have been married for 30 years, raising their now-grown son and daughter in Foxridge and now enjoying their 2-year-old grandson.

Vandemark, 32, grew up in Boulder and moved to Centennial in 2018. In his introductory remarks, he emphasized that he runs a business and is responsible for thousands of details, and no one on the city council thinks about business the way he does.

Priorities: 

Holt: Public safety is his #1 priority—to support our law enforcement firefighters, and first responders, continuing to give them the tools to keep Centennial residents and property safe and protected; important also are fiscal responsibility and keeping Centennial lean, and continuing to deal with potholes, snowplowing, land use, and housing issues. 

Vandemark: Public safety and affordable housing are the two priorities he mentioned. Rising crime in his neighborhood and lack of follow-up by law enforcement have been of great concern to him; also important is finding ways to have affordable housing in Centennial.

Taxpayer-funded subsidies:  Holt: No.  Vandemark: Would have to do more research.

Responsibilities of a City Council member:

Holt: Primary responsibilities include being a connector—connecting constituents with services, various Centennial departments, advocating for solutions to problems, quickly becoming informed on a variety of issues. 

Vandemark: The biggest thing is listening to constituents and then doing research to get the facts to make informed decisions.

Safe injection sites, possibly mandated at the state level:

Holt: Hard no. The intention may be good, people want to help those addicted to drugs, but it’s not the way to do it.  It’s not right for Centennial, and we need the local authority to say no. 

Vandemark: Not for it being state mandated; if we are going to have them, this should be done at a local level. But where in Centennial would we put a site?  So, leaning more toward no.

Closing statements: 

Holt: Public service is noble, and if you have the time and the inclination to do it, you should.  I have served for four years, and I love serving and representing our community.  I’ve put my heart and soul into this.  Experience matters.  It took about three years for me to find my voice; I ask you to let me have that voice to serve you for another four years. 

Vandemark: Six months ago, I didn’t know I was going to be running for city council.  In this time since, my world has turned upside down. It has been wonderful, challenging, and scary.  I want to be of service to Centennial.  I will work with anyone to find a commonsense solution.  I will be available 24/7 to answer constituent calls if elected.