City Manager Jason Slowinski gave his State of the City address at yesterday’s Chamber of Commerce luncheon. He cited many accomplishments for the past year, including the rescue of a 15 year old from a mine shaft, extinguishing a fire near Coors on South Table Mountain, celebrating the 30th annual Candlelight Walk, consolidating our dispatch center with other local governments, hiring an IT director to help us implement Smart City Technology, finishing the Linking Lookout project at Hwy 6 and 19th Street, opening the Skate Park at Ulysses Park, and acquiring land in the East Street neighborhood to build DeLong Neighborhood Park. Goals for the coming year include establishing short term rental guidelines, creating affordable housing, re-opening the Golden History Center, and beginning the redesign of North Washington Ave.
Community & Economic Development Director Steve Glueck talked about the Investment Task Force. Steve explained that many cities have trouble funding infrastructure maintenance but Golden doesn’t have that problem. We do have a long list of discretionary improvements that we’re considering. We anticipate a $15 million surplus over the next 10 years. The City is asking citizens how they want them to spend that money. If the list of “wants” exceeds that extra $15 million, citizens need to decide how to raise additional revenue. They ask us all to visit www.guidinggolden.com and complete the Investment Task Force survey. The survey has changed, so even if you’ve already taken it once, please do it again.
City Clerk Susan Brooks retired last month after 39 years with the City. Fire Chief Bales has announced that he will retire this October after 18 years with the City and a total of 50 years as a firefighter.
Canceled:
Tonight’s Golden Beer Talk is canceled. The speaker, Jeff Roberts of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, has laryngitis. Jeff’s talk would have been poignant after yesterday’s big layoffs at the Denver Post. In fact, he wrote a commentary that appeared in Friday’s Denver Post: What investigative journalism means for our communities. We have rescheduled Jeff’s appearance for the December 11th Golden Beer Talks meeting.
The School of Mines has canceled tonight’s public meeting about their Master Plan. A new date will be announced.
NOT Canceled:
The Golden High School PTA will meet at 5:30 at the School (701 24th Street, Golden, CO – map).
The Golden Writing Circle meets at the Library from 6-7:30. If you want to start writing or already have a manuscript, here’s a chance to talk with other writers and get some feedback, critiquing, inspiration, and motivation.
The Economic Development Commission (EdComm) will meet tonight at 6:30 at 1445 10th St. They will hear from two Golden-based small businesses: Patroness and Golden Software. They will also discuss giving business incentives up to $25,000 to Wellmaster, Commencal, and the owner of the former Staples building, which will now be refitted for its new tenant, Duluth Trading Company.
