A group of citizens has formed to try to preserve and restore services at the Front Porch (senior services) part of the Community Center. They are currently circulating a petition saying the following:
We, the residents of Golden and surrounding areas, understand that there is a projected $700K shortfall at the Golden Community Center (GCC) over the next two years. We specifically want to address how previous financial cuts have affected and will further affect the Front Porch as a service to Golden’s senior population. The Front Porch serves as a gateway to keep seniors physically and mentally active by providing socialization opportunities. We would like to encourage a collaborative effort to raise awareness to increase revenue and participation so that more cuts will not be necessary. In addition, we would like to explore how former services once offered might be reinstated as well as expand future Front Porch services.
You can download the petition here. If you would like to learn more, sign a petition, or help circulate the petitions, please email Beth Woodard at woodard.beth@yahoo.com.
City Council meets tonight at 5:30 in City Council Chambers. They will immediately move into executive session (closed to the public) to discuss the proposed purchase of the Coors office building at 311 10th Street. City Council recently approved taking on $24.5 million in debt to buy the building and property, but the estimated costs of repairing, remodeling, and remediating the building and property continue to mount, and they may need to look for additional funding. They will “consider a third amendment to the contract” at the end of tonight’s meeting.
The public part of the meeting will begin at 6:30PM. The Finance Director will report on our financial status as of the end of the second quarter. His conclusion: “Overall, the City remains in good financial condition. Property tax, sales & use tax (less the Sodexo refund), and many of the charges for service are up compared to 2018. The City continues to adequately balance expenditures with available revenues and maintains healthy reserves.” See the report in the meeting packet for the details.
The Finance Department has started posting expenditures on a quarterly basis. You can find them by scrolling about 60% of the way down this page. Here’s the direct link to the most recent (2nd quarter 2019) report. Contact JHansen@cityofgolden.net if you have any questions about the report. I have submitted some questions about $316K worth of unspecified Personal Contracts and Professional Services as well as $565K of “Pcard Purchases.” (As I understand it, Pcards are used like credit cards.)
They will also discuss the Astor House. Council put out an RFP last year, and received five proposals. The proposals were not available for public review until the Golden Transcript submitted an open records request and subsequently published them. Council narrowed the five proposals down to one, and is currently considering selling the Astor House to the owners of the Dove Inn for $550,000.
The Historic Preservation Board discussed this topic on Monday night, with about 20 members of the public in attendance. They do not want the issue to go on a ballot this fall. They had a spirited discussion, well worth watching. (Go to the Agenda page, scroll down to Historic Preservation Board, and click “Video” on the August 5th line.) They are angry that they were not consulted in the evaluation of possibilities and are having this single option thrust upon them. They feel the RFP was too exclusive of public input and too narrowly focused on economic considerations. They want the City to postpone any decision on the Astor House until they have
- made a broad, well-publicized effort to ask citizens for ideas about what we should do with it
- had the property appraised, and
- obtained landmark designation to prevent demolition of the building
The prospective buyers are saying that their offer may not be available if we delay for a year, so tonight, Council will decide tonight whether they want to put this issue on the 2019 ballot. According to the meeting memo, a Yes vote in the 2019 election would give Council the power to sell or lease the building.
Foothills Art Center, with a little help from Golden City Brewery, is hosting ART ON TAP – A Tie Dye Party tonight from 6-8PM. Bring your own white clothing and they will provide the dye (and the beer!). This event is free for FAC members and regular admission price for non-members. This is a 21+ event.
Speaking of Foothills Art Center, they have a class coming up this Saturday from 10AM-12PM: Creating Courage as an Artist. This innovative workshop brings together the perfect ingredients for nurturing your artistic growth: creativity, imagination, and community. Learn how to set aside the uncertainties and anxieties that may hold you back as an artist. Register here.
Tonight’s Live Music
Ace Hi Tavern – Karaoke, 9PM
Columbine Cafe – Scott Slay and the Rail, 7-9PM
Dirty Dogs Roadhouse – Dave Frisk, 6-10PM
Golden Moon Speakeasy – Booker & Ben, 7:30PM
New Terrain Brewing – Billy & Jillian Nershi, 6-9PM
Wrigley’s Chicago Bar & Grill – Bruce Cole, 5-9PM
Theater
Fairfield at Miners Alley Playhouse, 7:30PM
Friday Preview
The Jeffco Fair & Festival starts tomorrow and runs through Sunday.
1PM – Tour at the Railroad Museum: Post Office Cars
7PM – Movies & Music in the Park – Incredibles 2
7:30PM – Fairfield at Miners Alley Playhouse
Live Music at Ace Hi Tavern, Buffalo Rose, Cafe 13, Dirty Dogs Roadhouse, Golden Weekends, Wrigley’s Chicago Bar & Grill
Golden Weekends:
5-8PM Musicians on Washington Avenue
6-8PM Carriage Rides
