Golden Ward 4 Community Blog

Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Tue, 4 Oct 2011 17:02:53 -0600

Fall Update: Good, Bad, Ugly
Let's get the Ugly out of the way...  Ugly: Beltway
We want something better than a toll road along the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Preserve. We want a multi-use, low-impact Bikeway connecting western cities along the Foothills. Now the Fish & Wildlife Service is set to rule on which plan Tollroad or Bikeway, is likely to win out. The initial sense of their draft plan is that the FWS may be sidestepping which is more environmentally friendly (cars vs bikes) and I believe Golden must come out strong to support a strong Environmental Assessment making clear our plan is superior in every way.

I've never seen this happen, but to provide perspective, we believe this is so important that City Council has moved our October 13th Council meeting and ALL OF CITY COUNCIL will be attending the following meeting. PLEASE join us and share your thoughts!
details on the plan here.
Thursday, October 13th 5:30pm to 8pm
Westminster City Park Recreation Center
10455 Sheridan Blvd, Westminster, CO

Please share this with your networks! Golden's website GetTheFactsGolden.org has additional history and details.

The Bad
We know it's election season when Marian Olson's Voice of Golden hits our mailboxes. Yes, it's a bizarre rag worth a chuckle, but here's the bad... While the City of Golden recently won it's umpteenth lawsuit against Marion Olson and her Voice of Golden, she has appealed again in Federal court and now we as citizens will continue to defend --and pay for-- another lawsuit defense against her shenanigans. Speaking of elections, the Fall Candidate Forum is tonight at 6pm @ City Hall... if you can't make it, it will be available online at CityofGolden.net with reruns airing on Golden Channel 8.

The Good
Uggg... enough of that. This is Golden, so let's move to the good, Good, GOOD!
• Mayor's Awards for Excellence. Golden residents and businesses who have made an impact are celebrated tomorrow night at Fossil Trace! Come join the evening, it's a great venue, and starts at 6:30pm. Mayor Smith also presents his final State of the Community address. I look forward to another packed house (and some great Three Tomatoes food!)
• Golden Sales Tax revenues increase again. Golden revenues were up almost 6% in August, thanks in part to the USA Pro Cycling Challenge event. Even better, our Downtown area is absolutely roaring along - thanks to all the residents who keep shopping, dining, and entertaining locally!
• Golden Gallup 5k/10K. Back for it's 6th year and growing in community support is the inestimable Golden Gallup! November 6th, starts at The Splash, see you there! Benefits the Golden Schools Foundation focused on improving local Golden schools. That's a double win for sure.
• Golden History Museums. Our local museum system is really blossoming - new logo, new exhibits, and the Fall cemetery tours and events are underway, check them out.
• Final First Friday. mThe First Friday street fair was extended to October by popular demand. Washington Ave, 5-10pm Friday. I'll also pass along that the FRCC - Foothills Running and Cycling Club based in Golden has their Fall Social get together at the Blue Canyon Underground Friday at 5:30pm for those interested in exercisin'
• Always more in-depth info on events and happenings (did you know we have 200+ new employees moving to downtown in the Spring?) at Mayor Smith's Blog.
 Enjoy the events, please consider joining us next Thursday in Westminster, and our family looks forward to seeing everyone out at the events this Fall!  Cheers,  Bill Fisher City Councilor, Ward 4 Golden

Fall Updates: Fire Dept Event & Lions Pond

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:01:25 -0600

Golden Fire Community Event
Tomorrow! Fire Safety, Injury Prevention and Preparedness Day Mark Saturday Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on your calendars for an event full of fun and education for the entire family. The Golden Fire Department, along with the University of Colorado Hospital and the Mile Hi Chapter of the American Red Cross, will host Fire Safety & Injury Prevention Day. This event will be held at Golden Fire Station #1, 911 10th St. The event will include fire safety puppet shows for the little ones, car seat checks, presentations and a look inside several types of emergency vehicles.  The Red Cross will be on hand to discuss emergency and disaster preparedness, and the Jefferson County Wild Fire Management will be there for wild fire prevention and mitigation information. There will be safety education and activities for all ages. Door prizes will be drawn on the half hour throughout the event.  
Lions Pond
Hundreds of Golden residents, business leaders and other interested folks spent over a year crafting the Clear Creek Master Plan, adopted by Council earlier this year. Approved by our citizen Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, Council has taken their recommendation and last night voted to close the pond for safety and eventual park improvements per the Master Plan. I was touched by Councilor Sloan's eloquent recap of the issue, re-posted here:

"There's a huge 75-year-old cottonwood tree shading our house and spreading across our neighbor's yard. Its leaves make soothing sounds in the wind and form a pattern in the sunlight on our bedroom wall. Squirrels love it and birds (even a wild turkey) take refuge in it. The cottonwood is probably 75 years old -- older than our house and the very reason the house is sited oddly on our lot. The tree, though, is failing. Based on the advice of three tree experts, we've learned that it cannot be brought back to health with trimming or intensive care. Because its limbs could endanger our neighbor's property, we've made a sad and hard decision. With the help of cranes and other heavy equipment, the tree will be cut down this November. It will be missed and we'll need to talk soon about a replacement.

In Lions Park, there's a pond where geese (multiplying but nonmigrating), crawdads, and other aquatic life coexist with adventuresome youngsters. Older folks enjoy the pond as a restful part of the landscape. Kayakers practice in it. It's been in place for years. The pond, though, is deceptively inviting. Years of efforts to discourage the geese have been unsuccessful. Data on poor water quality is astounding. For E.coli, the surface water maximum contaminant level is 126 units; the pond was measured at 16,000. For fecal coliform, the standard is 200 units; the pond was measured at 9000. The water is simply not safe for recreational purposes. The Clear Creek Master Plan, a document adopted after a year-long public process, calls for removing the pond and replacing it with another water feature. We've come to a point where warning and informational signs would have to be erected all around the pond or we'd have to invest in expensive, but temporary, improvements to maintain the pond until a replacement can be funded.

Last night council faced and made a sad and hard decision. With the help of pumps and bulldozers, the pond will be drained and filled in this November. Grass will be planted on the slope to expand the play area. As public comment and e-mail messages made clear, the pond will be missed. We'll need to talk soon about a replacement.

Marian Olson's Voice of Golden loses again
Olson Lawsuit Decided for Golden
Even as Ms. Olson pumps out another inaccurate issue of the "Voice" of Golden including old articles from years ago, we have received recent word that her latest lawsuit against the citizens of Golden has failed. Now numbering over 30 lawsuits and appeals, Ms. Olson has never won -- but of course in lawsuits, does anybody really win? The City spends considerable time, effort, and money to defend from these frivolous lawsuits. It's a shame.

From Marjorie Sloan on South Golden Reader: Marian Olson, an inveterate litigator, candidate endorser, and 2009 failed recall supporter, has extended her unblemished losing streak in the judicial system. Yesterday, a federal judge disagreed with her contention that Golden's campaign finance disclosure ordinance violated her First Amendment right to publish the (inaptly named) Voice of Golden without reporting her 2005 expenditures. The court entered summary judgment in favor of Golden.

2010 Community Accountability Report Arriving in mailboxes now... It may sound like a dry read, but trust me, there's nothing dry about reporting how many sewer backups residents have dealt with over the years ;-)
The report is a newer way City Council has developed to get more information out to residents about what is happening here in Golden with your city and your municipal government. It's a compact way to understand some of the priorities and numbers behind city operations. In other good news, the City of Golden Sales & Use tax collections through August are up 12.2% over last year. Quite an improvement, and a testament to steady management and a resilient business and retail structure in town. It also signifies to me that our growing "Buy Local" movement is really making inroads with residents here in Golden.

I appreciate the opportunity to represent all of the residents of the 4th Ward. My goal is always to balance the needs of locally affected residents with all of the citizens of Golden as we build a sustainable community creating a wonderful, healthy quality of life.
 Cheers,  Bill Fisher City Councilor, Ward 4 Golden

USA Pro Cycling in Golden

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:23:05 -0600

USA Pro Cycling in Golden
A million people are projected to watch the USA Pro Cycling Challenge race beginning in Colorado today. Many of them will park in Golden to enjoy the festivities when it rolls into town this weekend. I wanted to share a great update (below) via the Foothills Running & Cycling Club and Saoirse Chares-Graves.   I couldn't be more excited that Golden will host the starting line of the final day of the race. . . with racers coming through downtown Golden not once, not twice, but three times! It's an amazing course route and I hope you'll get a chance to enjoy the spectacle. We have an entire weekend of events planned beginning Friday evening and going through race day which is Sunday (race starts about 10:30am under the Howdy Folks arch downtown). ProCyclingGolden.com is the location to get updates on what events are happening when.   Two practical matters to note. First, there are a lot of road closures. Downtown Washington Avenue is closed most of the weekend, and on Sunday there will be rolling road closures along the race route in Golden from the race start through about 12:30pm. Second, it's an inaugural event, which means we're not sure how many people will join us in Golden for the race. The City is preparing for a large influx of folks with shuttles running people to downtown from various parking sites. However, expect that cars may well be parked throughout Golden's residential neighborhoods as people try to find their way into Golden for the race. Thank you in advance for your patience and willingness to welcome visitors to Golden.  What does the USA Pro Cycling Challenge mean for Golden? From my perspective as a city councilor, the race coming to Golden this weekend is a big win for the community. It may well be the biggest marketing opportunity Golden has seen in decades, both to a national and an international audience. It puts Golden top of mind for the many visitors to Colorado, and long term will continue to cement our brand as a great destination city to visit and enjoy. It dovetails nicely with a city that now hosts 4 bicycle shops, an iconic road challenge up Lookout Mountain, and a growing population of sport enthusiasts who visit and who settle here in Golden. This weekend will see a great time for residents all weekend, much of which is centered around a Health & Wellness fair in Parfet Park as we strive to become a healthier community for ourselves and our children. We're working to make this a zero-impact sustainable weekend, also working towards our goal for a better community.   Volunteers! Hundreds of residents and neighbors have put in untold thousands of hours to help make this race a reality here in Golden. I want to thank them again for their hard work and look forward to a fabulous weekend. There are still a few volunteer opportunities left, and I've been alerted we need some more folks to help out for a few hours this weekend. If you can give of your time, please visit ProCyclingGolden.com and click on the volunteer page today!  King of Lookout Mountain There are also still spaces left for the citizen's time trial up Lookout Mountain Saturday morning. Come join in and test yourself for your best time on the course the Pros will ride the next day! I'll be there, so you'll also have the pleasure of zooming past me as I struggle up the hill ;-) Visit PreRace.com and sign up today.  Cheers,
 Bill Fisher City Councilor, Ward 4 Golden  ===================================
Golden Stage 6: Events for Everyone!

You really can’t beat Golden for events during the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.  There is so much to do it could make your head spin as fast as Andy Schleck. There is something for everyone, from the casual fan to the hard-core racer.

This Friday, race weekend kicks off with a showing of the cult-classic cycling film, American Flyers, based on the race that started it all in the US, the Coors Classic. How can you not be entertained by Kevin Costner, Rae Dawn Chong, the 80’s styles, the racing and the familiar scenery, which includes downtown Golden? In recognition of American Flyers’ 25th anniversary, special guest speakers will kick off the evening.

What to do with the kids? On Saturday morning the 27th, there will be a Kid’s Bike Rodeo hosted by the fine folks at Bicycle Colorado.  There will be helmet fitting, safety instruction, and fun courses.  It will be held in the Coors Tek Parking lot right across the street from the Sustainability, Health and Wellness Expo. The Expo, which will take place all day Saturday and Sunday, will feature cool renewable energy demos, tons of vendors, food, beer and yep, activities for the kids.

For those who are looking for a challenge on the bike, try the King of Lookout Mountain Citizen’s Hill Climb on Saturday August 27th. This is an individual hill climb time trial, for ages 12 and up with several categories ranging in abilities from beginner to pro. The iconic Lookout Mountain will be the final climb of the USA Pro Cycling challenge, and you can test your time against the likes of Cadel Evans, the Schleck Brothers and Tom Danielson (who currently holds the record for Lookout Mountain at 16:02) who will climb it the next day. An awards ceremony will be held at the Expo at Parfet Park following the race.

What would an event like this be without a big party? Luckily we won’t have to find out. On Saturday night Taste of Golden Block Party will take over 2 blocks of Washington Avenue. There will be great food from local restaurants, beer from the local brewery, family friendly entertainment and music from one of Colorado’s favorite performers, Hazel Miller.

Tired yet?  Reserve some energy for race day Sunday!  For those who prefer a less strenuous and more fun oriented cycling event how about the Cruiser Paradium? Get out the old (or new) bicycle cruiser, throw on a crazy costume and go ride around with some fellow goofballs in front of thousands in a judged event. The prizes are spectacular and include custom trophies and a his/her vintage cruiser bike set. Even if you don’t think you are quirky enough to take part in such merriment, be there to watch it... it will be extremely entertaining.

We here in Golden humbly feel that not only are we the best stage to view the race with 3 opportunities to see the cyclists downtown and on Lookout Mountain, but that we are also the best place to celebrate this historic occasion with enough events to capture anyone’s interest. Really, where else would you want to be?

Beltway update

Mon, 23 May 2011 18:24:21 -0600

May Beltway Update
City of Golden Takes Action Last Thursday evening the Golden City Council took decisive action to continue to protect, preserve and enhance the quality of life for the residents of Golden and all Front Range citizens.  As Councilor Marjorie Sloan writes: "The City of Golden has submitted an application to the U.S. Department of the Interior to purchase a 300-foot strip along the east side of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge. This strip is key to building the proposed Jefferson Parkway tollroad between Highway 128 and Highway 93. If Golden purchases the property, building the highway becomes more time-consuming, difficult, and expensive.  The City has offered to purchase the property to construct walking and biking trails instead of a highway. The city's proposal also includes widening Indiana St. to enable it to better accommodate existing and future traffic.  Now that there are two competing proposals, the Department of the Interior will need to weigh Golden's against the Parkway Authority's, based on how well each meets the legal requirements for transferring the property. We believe Golden's proposal should prevail because: (1) it is for a transportation facility, a legal requirement; (2) it obviously minimizes environmental impacts compared to the proposed highway, also as required; and (3) it offers the federal government $3 million ($200,000 more than the price offered by the Highway Authority).  As stated in the resolution passed at the conclusion of council's February 24 meeting, Golden remains open to reaching an agreement with Jefferson County and the other parkway-authority jurisdictions. To date, though, there has been no movement at the bargaining table on a critical element -- up-front funding of important Golden Plan projects. In the absence of a reasonable agreement, the City will continue to take the steps necessary to protect Golden."  What Now?
I'll add just a few notes to Marjorie's comments.

First, Golden has been working with affected communities of Rocky Flats to recommend that any money spent for the Rocky Flats right-of-way remains local and stays on site to help with further mitigation and the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Second, I would go further in saying that the Parkway Authority is on the verge of scuttling negotiations by their unwillingness to consider impact mitigation along the beltway corridor.

Frankly, it comes down to money and respect. The Authority believes they can build their tollroad without mitigation efforts and without consulting local affected communities such as Golden and Superior. It's a shame to see the direction this is going - especially after the comprehensive review Golden went through recently to continue discussion, communication and negotiation with the beltway partners of Arvada, Broomfield & Jefferson County.

On the other hand, given that County Commissioners wouldn't even consider adding the word "Golden" to the light rail station that ends in Golden, I'm not surprised. (Positive side note: RTD voted to include us with "Jefferson County Government Center * Golden Station" as the official name for the light rail stop).

We will continue following the path laid out by our citizens this past February: Keep talking with folks on the other side ... AND.... prepare for the worst by reaching out to friends and neighbors willing to help protect this vital corridor, keeping our legal options as broad and relevant as possible. Golden's offer to purchase the right-of-way along Rocky Flats is genuine, will decrease environmental impacts in the region, will allow improved traffic for commuters along Indiana through neighboring communities, and will help protect, preserve, and enhance our quality of life.
 Thank you for all the input we have received and staying engaged in this protracted and important issue. I am very interested in your thoughts on the most recent direction we are taking as well as where we might go next.  Please consider sharing this update with neighbors interested in Golden's efforts related to the Beltway. You can read the press release about this here.  Cheers,  Bill Fisher City Councilor, Ward 4 Golden

April Council Update

Tue, 5 Apr 2011 08:31:59 -0600

The Indian Gulch Fire is over, but the City’s response continues.

Public Works staff are putting finishing touches on soil erosion and water quality mitigation projects near Clear Creek. One of the “gabions” can be seen above. It’s interesting to note that less than 24 hours after the fire was first reported, Golden’s staff had a) assessed potential to affect Golden’s water supply, b) had gone on alert to monitor for contaminants from Clear Creek into our water intake, c) had started design on possible mitigation efforts (see above image) and d) had requested emergency right-of-way access from the Colorado Dept. of Transportation - since it wasn’t City-owned land. Our water quality expert has experience with fire erosion runoff and we are prepared to keep Golden’s water quality safe. A bit geeky, but I think it’s cool stuff and the reaction time was excellent in this case.

Separately, I am working alongside Mayor Jacob Smith and affected neighbors to understand the communication components of the City’s response and how we might improve and expand our efforts in an ongoing basis. What platforms worked best for what types of information? How much information is too much or not enough? How fast do we need to make information available to residents? Mayor Smith posted a nice “learnings” piece on his blog talking about this issue.

We look forward to continuing the conversation over the coming weeks, and improving how we engage and respond to Golden residents needs in time of crisis - and understanding whether these tools may be valuable for more ongoing outreach with fellow citizens.

Wrapping up Indian Gulch Fire

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:38:27 -0600

Thursday evening City of Golden Community Meeting available online to view

Update March 25th, 8:00am
History & Perspective on Indian Gulch Fire, Golden Colorado, March 20th 2011
Crews are still hard at work with fire lines and burnouts along Highway 6 up Clear Creek (which remains closed today). Golden Gate Canyon road is now open.

However, thought I'd put together some links reflecting the communications of the past week of the Indian Gulch Fire here in Golden.

Surf over here to look through the various links that were frequently used by residents for information.

Indian Gulch Fire update from JeffCo Sheriff’s office

The Type 1 IMT will likely be released mid-day on Saturday, at which time control of fire operations will return to local officials.

Residents of the Mountain Ridge subdivision in the city of Golden were released from their evacuation standby order around 5:30 on Thursday via an e911 phone call.

Late Thursday afternoon, incident commanders sent one helicopter and two SEATs to Douglas County to help with the fast-growing fire burning there.

Roadways update

On Friday, crews will be doing more work along Highway 6 in Clear Creek Canyon. Fire and law enforcement officials will work with CDOT Friday morning to reassess the safety of the roadway. Highway 6 will remain closed overnight tonight.

Golden Gate Canyon Road remains closed to non-local traffic between Catamount and Crawford Gulch. Golden Gate Canyon Road is open to all canyon area residents between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Between 7 p.m. and midnight, local traffic will require a deputy escort to travel through the canyon.

Beginning at midnight tonight, Golden Gate Canyon Road will be opened completely to all traffic. Deputies will be conducting extra patrols in the canyon throughout the night. The road will stay open Friday barring unexpected fire activity.

Indian Gulch Fire update, 6 p.m. Thursday

The Indian Gulch Fire is 77% contained, and has burned 1,700 acres.

On Thursday, fire crews had great success on the north side of the fire, closest to Golden Gate Canyon Road.

Fire crews will remain on duty overnight, monitoring the fire. Ground and air resources will begin to de-mobilize starting Friday, depending on fire behavior.

No water or retardant was dropped on the fire today, although aircraft were supervising and observing ground operations.

Indian Gulch Fire Golden Community meeting Thursday, 7pm, March 24th

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:00:25 -0600

(Note: updated with list of presenters, fire progress Wed and Thurs)

(Note: Update 3:00pm Thursday 24th: Mountain Ridge Evacuation Alert update: The Alert is officially still in effect, but we have started the process to have it rescinded. We should know more before tonight's community meeting.)

Note: Update 4:00pm Thursday 24th: New pix of fire crews managing the Indian Gulch fire now coming down to highway 6 roadway near Tunnel 1.

Golden Community Meeting Thursday, 24th, 7pm
The City of Golden and Federal officials are hosting a Community Meeting tomorrow night, Thursday, March 24th at 7pm in the Golden City Council Chambers, which are located at 911 10th Street in Golden.

Council chambers are not very big and may get crowded, so you are also invited to watch the live broadcast. The meeting is being hosted here specifically so we can broadcast live on Golden’s local TV Channel 8 and live streamed on the Web from CityofGolden.net

The initial focus of this update and meeting are geared towards the Mountain Ridge and other directly affected communities. Of course, all residents and other community members are invited (and I’m sure the media will also be on hand to cover).

Water Quality update: From Day 1 staff have been working to ensure Golden’s municipal water quality remains safe. Concerns are that erosion and big storms could bring burnt debris and further “organic loading” into Clear Creek. Our water quality expert will update the community and answer questions.

Speaking: We expect several Federal representatives including Rocky Basin Type 1 Incident Management Team Commander Rowdy Muir. City of Golden officials on hand will include City Manager Mike Bestor, Mayor Jacob Smith, City Councilor Bill Fisher, City Councilor Marjorie Sloan, Police Chief Bill Kilpatrick, Fire Chief John Bales, and Chief Water Plant Operator Ashley Dalton.

The meeting will include a short briefing and there will be a Q&A opportunity. Some of us will also plan to be around after to answer questions.

Our City PIO (public information officer) is asking us to spread the word and share this with neighbors as soon as possible.

Check here for more information resources related to the Indian Gulch Fire.

Cheers,

Bill Fisher
City Councilor, Ward 4
City of Golden
bill@williamfisher.com

Latest Updates:

INDIAN GULCH FIRE UPDATE MARCH 24, 2011 8am
The following are updates to the Indian Gulch Fire as of Thursday morning:
• Fire still approx. 1500 acres & 25% containment
·         25% contained but advanced somewhat toward US 6 last night, so Highway remains closed
·         Fire activity really quiet last night
·         Today’s weather is increased clouds, no moisture and winds in a westerly direction with gusts of up to 30 -35 mph with increasing winds tonight.
·         A new repeater is going on North Table Mountain today to help with communications
·         Helicopters available if needed
. Plan for today: focus on the area along Highway 6 today.
. Approx 400 people working this incident.
. As of now, NO homes are threatened.
. Golden Gate Canyon Road restrictions remain for safety & maneuverability of fire crews.

Notable Quote: Federal Incident Management Team commander Rowdy Muir says this is the earliest in the season his team has been called out in his career as an incident commander (i.e. early spring).

INDIAN GULCH FIRE UPDATE MARCH 23, 2011 6pm
The following are updates to the Indian Gulch Fire as of Wednesday evening:
• The fire is 25% contained.
• Six additional fire crews arrived Wednesday. Fire managers do not anticipate the need for any additional fire crews.
• On Wednesday, crews launched a direct attack on the north side of the fire, meaning that they began digging fire line along the north side.
• A Type 1 helicopter was able to fly most of the day, and launched multiple successful air attacks on the fire (water drops). It dropped 1,000 - 1,200 gallons of water at a time. Ralston Reservoir was used for dipping.
• Some large rocks were dislodged on the south perimeter of the fire due to the large water drops. As a result, Highway 6 was closed as a precaution. No rocks fell on the road. Highway 6 will remain closed until further notice.
• Type 2 and Type 3 helicopters were also used today.
• No SEATs were used today due to erratic winds.
• The threat to homes on the east end of the fire has diminished greatly.
• None of the firefighters has been injured.
• US 6 remains closed due to possible rock slides related to helicopter water drops.
• Golden Gate Canyon Road has intermittent closures, only open to local residents.

INDIAN GULCH FIRE UPDATE MARCH 23, 2011 1:30pm
Favorable weather conditions have aided fire crews as they continue to fight the Indian Gulch Fire burning less than a mile away from the Town of Golden. The fire is burning in steep, treacherous terrain amongst a mixed conifer forest where there is no road access. Helicopters and fixed wing aircraft have resumed dropping water and fire retardant along the perimeter of the fire. The Indian Gulch Fire has burned a total of 1211 acres.
Access to Golden Gate Canyon Drive remains restricted and residents are encourage to maintain a heightened awareness should an evacuation be ordered. Fire crews are concentrating resources on the north, northwestern corridor of the fire. “While the fire remains a few miles away from Golden Gate Canyon Drive, this is an excellent opportunity for residents to prepare their homes by creating defensible space and themselves by putting together kits with personal belongings” said Incident Commander Rowdy Muir.
There are a total of 290 firefighters on the Indian Gulch Fire. Crews represent firefighters from local, State, and Federal agencies within and outside the State of Colorado. A National Incident Management Team from the Great Basin assumed command of the Indian Gulch Fire at 0600 this morning.
March 23rd FIRE STATISTICS
Date started: March 20, 2011, 10:15 am Acreage: 1211 Structures Threatened: 287
Air Resources: 1 Type 1 Helicopter, 1 Type 2 Helicopter, 1 Type 3 Helicopter, 2 Single Engine Air Tankers, 1 Fixed Wing Heavy Tanker.
Closures: Golden Gate Canyon Drive. Containment: 25%

Indian Gulch Fire Info

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 17:48:40 -0600

Update 8am Friday March 25th, 2011:
History & Perspective on Indian Gulch Fire, Golden Colorado, March 20th 2011
Crews are still hard at work with fire lines and burnouts along Highway 6 up Clear Creek (which remains closed today). Golden Gate Canyon road is now open.

However, thought I'd put together some links reflecting the communications of the past week of the Indian Gulch Fire here in Golden.

Surf over here to look through the various links that were frequently used by residents for information.

Update 1pm Wednesday March 23rd:
Golden Community Meeting & Fire Update called for Thursday, March 24th, 7pm.

# # # # # # # MAIN INFORMATION POSTING # # # # # #

I want to pass along a few of the resources for information regarding the fire. The Jefferson County Sheriff's office coordinating the management effort for this fire until this morning, when a Federal Incident Management Team took over coordination.

1. The Sheriff's office is now using their emergency Blog for the latest updates, located at http://jeffcosheriff1.blogspot.com/

2. Obviously the media, of which I've seen good reports out of www.9news.com as well as Fox 31, CBS4 and CPR Radio.

3. Twitter, twitter, and more twitter for instant updates.
Mayor Jacob Smith and I are posting updates via our twitter accounts:

@GoldenBilFish

@jacobzsmith

The City of Golden is also now providing updates @ @CityofGolden

You can also search for #GoldenFire for twitter updates from a variety of folks, including Misty Montano who is maintaining a good Storify list of postings at sfy.co/35i

1. I will also pass along any questions that residents have to City Staff to be answered - email me at bill@williamfisher.com or call me at 303.588.3389. 
2. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s office is also updating their emergency blog regularly now.

6. The Mayor has also provided comprehensive updates on his website.

7. Please share this information with “nonline” friends and neighbors who may not receive my newsletter or have access to some of the online resources such as Twitter.

Our thoughts are with all the men and women working to protect our health, our families, and our homes.

# # # # #

Beltway News links (updated)

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:06:25 -0700

Stay updated on the current Beltway discussions with some news links:

January 25th, 2011 - SmithForGolden.com - How to fund Golden improvements

January 20th, 2011 - Boulder Blue Line - Boulder City Council resolution (with other links)

January 18th, 2011 - SmithForGolden.com - Keeping the Beltway out of Golden

January 17th, 2011 - GetTheFactsGolden.org - (the city put up a new site this past week)

January 17th, 2011 - South Golden Reader - Now is the time for all good Golden residents to...

January 6th, 2011 - City of Golden updates - Official Golden beltway news updates

Jan 6th, 2011 - Face The State Golden leans toward an about-face on long-dreaded Jefferson Parkway: In a pragmatic bow, mayor exacts a price for cooperation but says it's still 'a dumb project'

Jan 6th, 2011 - Mayor Jacob Smith Response to Jim Smith’s piece.

Jan 6th, 2011 - Jim Smith, Realtor Golden leaders propose to surrender to JeffCo Regarding the Toll Road

Jan 2nd, 2011 - Bill Fisher’s Blog Recent comments I’ve added to the discussion.

Dec 19th, 2010 - Daily Camera Superior Frets over proposed Parkway toll road

Dec 16th, 2010 - Denver Business Journal Atmosphere Thaws for Parkway

Review other Fisher Blog entries regarding the beltway.

Golden Beltway Update

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:12:54 -0700

Beltway Update
Similar to last year, the last few months have been busy on the Beltway front. And as I stated a year ago, City Council is working hard to protect the interests of Golden residents with a solution that is better than a beltway. We are still working to fix highway 93 and make it safe, slow, and quiet. We are focused on protecting neighborhoods from being disconnected by massive freeways, we are working to build in sound and air pollution mitigation, reduce congestion with fewer lights, and improve safety issues.  On one front, we've had great success. A 6-8 lane tollroad raised up against the mountain backdrop as it blasts through Golden's valley is gone. The new "vision" of JeffCo and Arvada's desperate leadership is a small, useless tollroad that starts more than 5 miles north of Golden and meanders up through Arvada and Broomfield neighborhoods. But now we need to turn our attention to improving Golden.  Time to Fix Golden First Meeting our responsibility to create the best outcome for Golden, we have continued building relationships with those opposed to a tollroad, and we have also continued talks with those pushing a tollroad. As a Councilor, it's my responsibility to look at any opportunities presented to benefit Golden's interests - and not focus on how this negatively impacts folks in, say, Arvada. In a sense, we keep asking the question: Is there a way to come to an agreement that better protects and improves Golden?  
Fight or Deal
Folks ask: Is a Beltway or Tollroad a good idea?
Of course not. The current incarnation may be the worst yet - not only is it not a "beltway," it's a sad little disconnected tollroad to nowhere that will probably fail while causing innumerable headaches for residents of Arvada, Broomfield and Superior (and possibly all Colorado if we have to bail it out). Should we give up our need for improvements to protect everyone else?

As I said, Golden killed a beltway through our town. There is no 6-8 lane raised 75-MPH tollway coming through here. The most immediate negative aspects are gone. So, what Golden needs now is safe, slow and quiet roads.

Here's the crux: rather than fighting against something that may happen well north of our borders in another city, we are now considering whether there's an advantage to fight FOR what Golden residents really want and need.

"No Beltway" does not equal "NO Traffic"
The reality is that we already have fast, dangerous, loud, and pollution-ridden highways. Arvada is already starting to build out regardless of the tollroad, and traffic models show equivalent traffic increases whether there is a tollroad or not. Yes, a tollroad WILL affect traffic. But some have forgotten that the 'No Tollroad' option will also increase traffic going through Golden. Unfortunately, nobody on any side of this debate is offering Golden a traffic-free alternative.

I'll share two quotes CINQ (a private group fighting the beltway) had on their website that speak to this:

CINQ: "Jeffco elected officials claim there will be economic benefit to the county, but no study has ever been done to confirm this claim. In fact, it is likely there will be very little economic benefit to the county based on the lack of developable land in the NWQ (NorthWest Quadrant)" . . . and . . . "The most disparaging issue is that we don't have a realistic plan to improve safety and mobility on SH93. This 2-land road from Golden to Boulder is a dangerous, and desperately needs to be expanded to 4 lanes."

What would a deal look like?
First, here's what we lose in a potential deal... Golden goes "neutral" on the tollroad concept well north of Golden's borders. That's it. We don't give up our rights to protect Golden directly, and we don't give up the fight to keep a tollroad off 93 -- the proposed tollroad meets highway 93 at a proposed new light, but does NOT toll along 93 at all.

Here's what we might get in return:
• Safe, slow, quiet roads through Golden (also known as Muller-style improvements)
• right to veto tolling along 93 as it impacts Golden (we reinforce this legal right at the state level)
• fewer lights, better connected neighborhoods
• protection for another 600+ acres near Rocky Flats Wildlife Refuge - and along the 93 corridor
• some small money for planning improvements in Golden ($1 Million plus)
• Momentum... no longer is Golden the stopper in JeffCo's "grand" plans. No longer does the region focus on our Western-style soap opera. We will have made a deal happen, and that helps protect our interests in two ways. First, JeffCo will work *with* Golden to get regional funding for improvements in Golden. Second, it will be less likely that existing legal protections Golden enjoys will be overturned at the State or Federal level. And if you don't think losing at the political level is likely, I refer you to the Tower issue, where we absolutely got rolled by our Federal legislators.
• Less money, effort, and city staff time fighting the Beltway every year means more focus on Golden and more funds for improvements here

For additional thoughts, check out my recent beltway blog entry.

Will this all happen? Is it enough for Golden?
Well... That's the $64,000 question and we are asking for your help. I encourage you to attend at least one of the upcoming Open Houses (I believe they are generally structured with the same drop-in format). I will attend the Northern Neighborhoods edition at Mitchell Elementary and will try to make the Central Neighborhoods night if scheduling allows.

1. •Southern Neighborhoods: Monday, Jan. 31 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Shelton Elementary
2. •Central Neighborhoods: Tuesday, Feb. 1 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Fossil Trace Clubhouse
3. •Daytime Open House: Wednesday, Feb. 9 1-3 p.m. at City Council Chambers
4. •Northern Neighborhoods: Wednesday, Feb. 9 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Mitchell Elementary

By the way, the city has a new website with lots of details to review at GetTheFactsGolden.org

Fellow Councilor Marjorie Sloan has her -as usual- erudite comments on the situation.

I'm not convinced this deal is good enough or that our protections are strong enough. But I am convinced it is worth negotiating hard and working with our community to find out what is in the best interest of Golden citizens. I look forward to seeing you at one or more of the open houses, and you are always free to give me a call or send me an email, or join us on most Thursdays around 7pm for City Council meetings.

Cheers,

Bill Fisher
City Councilor, Ward 4 Golden

Beltway Information Forums

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 16:54:06 -0700

The City of Golden has scheduled four neighborhood open houses to allow residents to get more information on the current Beltway discussions as well as provide your input and answer questions that you may have. I believe Golden’s Public Works Director and Mayor Smith will be at each of the four along with other staff.

I encourage everyone to attend at least one of the sessions (I believe they will generally be structured with the same format each time). I will attend the Northern Neighborhoods edition at Mitchell Elementary and will try to make the Central Neighborhoods night if scheduling allows.

• Southern Neighborhoods: Monday, Jan. 31 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Shelton Elementary
• Central Neighborhoods: Tuesday, Feb. 1 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Fossil Trace Clubhouse
• Daytime Open House: Wednesday, Feb. 9 1-3 p.m. at City Council Chambers
• Northern Neighborhoods: Wednesday, Feb. 9 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Mitchell Elementary

Beltway Battle Circa 2011

Sun, 2 Jan 2011 05:15:56 -0700

What if someone built a road and nobody came?

The Beltway discussion heats up in 2011. It remains a sad dream of Jefferson County Commissioners to fill their depleted coffers. Rather than diversifying the County’s revenue stream over the past 25 years, they focused exclusively on a beltway. Too bad it won’t work now, and never will. You can build a tollroad, but you can’t make them pay to drive it.

As we know, the 6-8 lane 75-MPH tollroad RAISED UP above the mountain backdrop is dead. Unfortunately, the unsatisfied dreams of our Jeffco leaders live on in a small, dirty little project called the Jefferson Parkway (JP) about 6 miles north of here…. well beyond the borders of Golden.
 What now? We beat the Beltway. It simply doesn’t exist anymore. CDOT and the State gave up after wasting about $17 Million in taxpayer money.

So if we beat the Beltway, what are we arguing about? Shall we now define our community as simply against the global concept of a “beltway,” working to protect everyone else in the Denver Metro Region from harmful impacts on the west side? Or, shall we define ourselves as focused on improving Golden and our neck of the woods?
 These questions are at the core of Golden’s Beltway discussion - and any deal we may forge with the region to put this issue to rest.

We are asking... Now that there’s just a sad tollroad that starts in another city miles outside of Golden, should we tell other communities how to do their business? Do we have the right to do it? Do we get a say?  The answer is “Yes” as it impacts Golden directly... and that’s the crux of the matter. We must focus on the impact locally on the City of Golden.

For example, as a citizen of Colorado I will likely be asked to pony up my part of the estimated $800 Million in public funds necessary to make the dreary little Jefferson Parkway up north work for some private international corporation. It galls me.

However, as a councilor in Golden, I find it most import to protect our small town and let the rest of the 5 Million citizens of Colorado step up if they don’t want to waste their money. We’ve been stepping up for over 20 years to protect the Mountain Backdrop, transit in the western part of the Metro Region and Golden, and we have succeeded.

Now that we have succeeded in keeping the Beltway out of Golden proper, it may be time for us to lock in funding and design for some of the necessary and long overdue improvements on the portions of highways 6 and 93 that run through our city. Our goal is to make these stretches as safe and unobtrusive as possible.

I’ll be writing further about the specifics of a proposed deal and possible benefits to Golden (note: I have not been provided the final draft of the agreement).

While I have serious reservations, I also have hope this could have a net positive impact for residents in Golden. I remain open to exploring a deal, but I guarantee I won’t approve a deal unless it serves the best interests of Golden. I also won’t approve it if there are signs we could have gotten a better deal - but didn’t push hard enough.

We are starting to receive comments regarding a proposed deal. I’d like your thoughts, so please email or call me, or visit with me at a Council meeting (most Thursday evenings at City Hall).

Late October Updates

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 22:53:59 -0600

Community Discussion:
6th Ave & 19th Street Intersection
Meeting: Tomorrow, Wed. the 27th, 7pm, Golden Community Center. The community is invited to a meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27 in the Bear Creek Room of the Golden Community Center, 1470 10th St. to discuss short and long term ways to make the intersection of 6th Avenue and 19th Street safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. Mayor Jacob Smith, members of the City Council, the Director of Public Works, Chief of Police and representatives from the Colorado School of Mines and CDOT will be at the meeting. These officials and staffers can provide historical, statistical, engineering, enforcement and financial perspectives and address any questions or comments from the community.  If you regularly travel through the intersection of 6th Avenue and 19th Street, you are encouraged to come to the meeting and share your ideas.
Golden's New Bike Park Opens! Technically, it opens this Saturday, October 30th, at 10:30am
This is a great example of a public-private partnership involving the city, residents, volunteers, and local businesses. Join me in celebrating the opening (weather is looking great for Saturday) and bring your bikes!  "Saturday, Oct. 30 will bring all levels of bicycle enthusiasts from professional riders to beginners to Golden to celebrate the grand opening of the Golden Bike Park located at 4471 Salvia St. in Tony Grampsas Park. Festivities will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a dedication ceremony. The event will include bike skills clinics lead by professional rider, Jeff Lenosky, and exhibition laps by other professional riders. Bike vendors will provide prizes and refreshments and Halloween costumes are encouraged.
The Golden Bike Park is the first bike skills park of its kind in the Golden area. The park came to fruition through a partnership between the City of Golden, the Colorado Mountain Bike Association (COMBA) and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). In addition, a dedicated group of local volunteers known as the Golden Bike Group ensured the park met the needs of the community and provided the labor to make it a reality.
Gather up the family, bikes, and safety gear and take a ride on one of the new trails in the park. For more information on the Golden Bike Park and the Grand Opening Event visit www.goldenbikepark.com.
Two bike events? Must be Golden! Golden Bluffs connector now open in South Golden - ride this Saturday, October 30th, at Noon
The City of Golden will celebrate the opening of a new bike/pedestrian trail link at noon on Saturday, Oct. 30 at Golden Heights Park, located on the corner of West 2nd Place and Quaker Street.   Until now, there was a gap in the trail between Golden and the C470 regional trail to the south. This new trail link, called the Golden Bluffs Connection, bridges that gap, allowing Golden cyclists and pedestrians to more safely connect to the entire regional network of trails. 
Clearing Clear Creek of household chemicals IES Golden Water Quality Survey for Residents
I am happy to pass this along!  "Please help the Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES) complete its pilot project in Golden by filling out a SHORT survey! IES and the City of Golden need your help to reduce water pollution in Clear Creek. Golden residents: PLEASE HELP THE INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS (IES) BY FILLING OUT A THREE-MINUTE ONLINE SURVEY."  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VKP7KMK and IES will be happy to send you a free copy of the Contaminant-Free Shopping Guide to thank you for your help! 
Quick City Updates
• Street leaf sweeping starts this week. No, I'm not talking about the crazy wind, I mean the actual street sweeper that comes by. The City asks folks to try and park off-street to facilitate sweeping this next week or so.
• Fall yard waste pickup. Everyone should get a postcard with exact dates, but the first 3 Saturdays of November are slated for yard waste collection. See the City waste and recycling page for more details.
• 2011 Budget. Just a reminder that Council is spending long hours working on the capital and operating budgets for 2011. On the plus side, through the 3rd Quarter our results are looking very strong. Among other things, we are also discussing ways to reduce youth access to tobacco. Please check out the Council calendar for information, and we welcome your comments on how we can do things better for our community!
• City of Golden website. More than a makeover, it needs a re-design! Chock full of information that's hard to find, we can do better... and now we are! Give your input today. Surf around the CityofGolden.net website, then please fill out our brief survey (also located at www.surveymonkey.com/s/COGwebsitesurvey). The city also is inviting folks to attend one of the focus group sessions the week of November 8. We are looking for residents, business owners, visitors, students and people who work in the City of Golden to attend this one hour session. You will be able to give more detailed feedback on what would make the City of Golden web site most useful to you. Space is limited so please email Communications Manager Karlyn Tilley at ktilley@cityofgolden.net or call 303-384-8132 to get details and reserve your seat today.

Cheers,

Bill Fisher
City Councilor, Ward 4 Golden

Golden Back to School!

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:36:45 -0600

Kids Back to School!
Sounds of cheering are heard across Golden today as tomorrow's leaders are back in school for the 2010-2011 season! Please remember to take extra special care around school zones as we encourage our kids to ride, scoot, and walk more to their classes.  On a more serious note, we are likely to hear more news about our state's education crisis. Colorado is ranked anywhere from 46th-48th out of 50 states for funding education, depending on grade level (for example, Mississippi is below us). Our kids are starting to fall behind, and our economy will suffer serious consequences. Companies don't bring jobs to states with poor education infrastructure. 
Clear Creek Corridor Workshop
Tuesday: August 24th, 5:30pm - 7:30pm, Golden Community Center  The C3 Workshop... boring name, exciting opportunity! We're shaping the future of the all-important Clear Creek corridor for Parks & Recreation.  As we settle down at the end of a great summer and adjust to getting kids and grandkids back in school, get ready for fall sports and Broncos, I would like to encourage you to consider how much the Creek means to each of us all year round. Then, please make a commitment to join us for the conversation tomorrow night! Forward this to folks that are interested in Golden's Park system!
 Visit ClearCreekPlan.net for more details, and I look forward to seeing a lot of folks (bring your whole family!)

Movies in the Park
Just a quick reminder that the final Music & Movies in the Park takes place this Friday evening in Parfet park! Check the City of Golden website for bands and movie listings.  Pay As You Throw:
recycling & trash
The City's new curbside recycling and trash service, known as Pay As You Throw, starts the week of September 1st! You may have noticed the new recycling bins (blue lids) arriving at curbsides this week, and trash carts (black lids) arrive next week.  As you may know, this process began nearly three years ago with hundreds of citizens joining the Sustainability Initiative kick-off and dozens of resident meetings, open houses, meetings and picnics. Following the largest community conversation on any issue since I've lived in Golden, Council approved the recommendations from our citizens and board of volunteer residents to implement Pay As You Throw waste and recycling. It is a great demonstration of our uniquely American democracy where residents can bring an issue before the local government of their peers and be heard.  We've been really pleased with the general response from folks so far, and also know there will be some concerns.   The program is new, and it is a change, so the City and EDS (the local Golden company chosen to run the contract) are working hard to implement this with as little disruption as possible, and I will work with fellow residents to deal with problems as they arise. For example, there has been some confusion about storage requirements for trash bins. Recycling and trash carts delivered by the City and EDS (32, 64, or 96 gallon) are not required to have new enclosures and the City won't issue citations, obviously.   The program was initiated by citizens to achieve a more sustainable waste system and meet the needs of residents of Golden (it does not make any money for the City). that means:  o Fewer trash trucks = Lower Cost and better, safer streets The program is more sustainable for roads beaten up by trash trucks so heavy they do the damage of more than 1,200 cars on the road: street repair is one of the City's largest maintenance expenses.   The poor little cul-de-sac I live on was never meant to handle a dozen super-heavy trucks generating the equivalent of 10,000-13,000 cars of wear and tear depending on the week. Our road has been breaking down... and who pays to fix the road? As residents of Golden, we all pay. Fewer trucks = less cost.  o The recommendation to Council was to implement Pay As You Throw (PAYT), and is financially sustainable and will save money for nearly 90% of residents of Golden using the program, reducing our cost of living. PAYT provides families with flexibility and choice, and is proven to reduce expenses.  o PAYT with curbside recycling for everyone is environmentally sustainable and reduces the amount of waste that goes to landfills and increases the amount of recycling that can be diverted. The program includes no-extra-cost recycling at the curbside, so fewer people have to drive cars to the recycling center. This reduces carbon emissions and improves our air and environment. It also helps folks who couldn't reach our north Golden recycling center, and helps reduce demands on the severely over-used recycling center which was never designed to handle thousands of non-Golden recyclers!  o Accountability. The City can now monitor to ensure everything we recycle actually GOES to the recycling facility (and not the dump)! In the past, there have been questions about this, but now we can inspect the trucks and facility to ensure our hard work to recycle more really pays off.  o PAYT starts to address yet another problem we are pushing on our kids, by reducing the millions of tons of trash we produce yearly. The recent editorial in the Transcript calling the program "Save As You Throw" really illuminated the advantages of the program.  A resident recently wrote with the Top 6 Reasons they like PAYT: 1. Saving a lot of money every month 2. Single stream recycling at the curbside - no more hassle 3. Fixed fees and better negotiating power with trash haulers 4. Ease of participation - even includes new carry out/carry back trash service for folks with mobility issues 5. Contributes to a better environment, reduces traffic, emissions and road damage 6. Pride of living in a town that cares about our children and our future  That sums it up. Again, thanks for your patience and let me know how I can assist you during this transition.   There is one more choice people will have: over the first 90 days of the program, every resident can choose the level of service (and size of trash container) they want to pay for. I encourage folks to try for smaller trash bins and see if it works for your family!  For lots of details and to update your service, check out EDS' website for Golden, and also information on the City of Golden website.

Foothills Animal Shelter opens
This Saturday, August 28th, 10am-2pm Fun for the whole family (and maybe bring home a new pet!) Where: Jefferson County Fairgrounds, the new Foothills Animal Shelter building  FAS (Formerly Table Mountain Animal Center) serves as the JeffCo animal pound and shelter. Golden is a part of the organization, and we've been very supportive of the new building and location. The Grand Opening is Saturday, with tons of kid friendly activities, food, music, tours and giveaways. Jefferson county is also having a community safety awareness day at the same time next door at the Fairgrounds with over 65 booths, kids' activities, bouncy castles and safety presentations and small electronics recycling.   For more information, visit the Foothills Animal Shelter site.
Cheers,

Bill Fisher
City Councilor, Ward 4 Golden

Clear Creek Warning & Vision 2030 Wraps Up

Wed, 9 Jun 2010 16:48:27 -0600

Vision 2030: Mission Accomplished?
Location: Golden High School, Wednesday June 9th, 6-9pm
Who? You. Your family. Your neighbors. The more the merrier!
What? Free pizza and drinks.

Well... almost mission accomplished. Indeed, this will be your last chance for happiness. I can't stress how invaluable it has been to go through this process with input from hundreds of residents. Vision 2030 will guide us for decades, so be a part of it!

Also, find out about Clear Creek improvements, tell us what you would like to see for South Golden Road, and enjoy the last meeting where we decide, as a community, how we want Golden to develop the next 20 years.

For those who care about Golden, this is your last major chance for public input before putting paid on the Golden Vision 2030 public process (which extends back to 2008). Join us, and be a part of history.

The Mayor has a blog update with more information.

Visit here for details. We're almost done, and we want your help!

Clear Creek High Water Warning
It is amazingly dangerous to be on the creek. High water levels are causing seriously dangerous situations and the Fire Department is being called daily to help save people from the Creek. DON'T GO IN THE WATER.

It's bad enough the Jefferson County Sheriff has restricted use of the Creek, which is very rare. No inner tubes or single chamber boats!

Read the City Press Release for details.

Miscellaneous:
• Councilor Sloan has details on the new city single hauler waste program coming this Fall.
• Mayor Smith has updates on summer road construction and some interesting initiatives for the Fall election.
• Farmer's Market every Saturday 8am-1pm next to Golden Library.
• Golden's Clear Creek Master Plan: Have you seen the website? Check it out, share a comment! ClearCreekPlan.net
• Voice your opinion directly to City Council online only at CityofGolden.net Thursday at 7pm are Council nights. All agendas are posted online Friday afternoon for the next meeting. See the same documents we use in making decisions. Share your thoughts!
• You can follow Twitter for city updates.
Cheers,

Bill Fisher
City Councilor | Golden's 4th Ward
www.WilliamFisher.com
MyWay ID: Bill (visit WayConnected.com)
Twitter: GoldenBilFish

Golden Ward 4 Community Blog