INDIVIDUAL HONORABLE MENTIONS

Officer Darrell Jordan
Sheriff Department

Officer Jordan originally created County Jail Community tours for at-risk youth, which he has since expanded to include college classes, District Attorneys and even the Boy Scouts.

Ron Latreille
Public Works

Ron performed a separate analysis of the City's 1% pay increase tables and found discrepancies that would have resulted in unequal application overall.  His revised tables were subsequently adopted by the CSA Board.

Brendan Hanlon
Finance & Management Office

Brendan has administered & monitored the City's bonus program since its inception in 2005, partnering with agencies & departments to improve sustainability and relevance.

Jim Kellner
Parks & Recreation
Field Superintendent of SE District

Jim was nominated for helping Denver parks thrive during drought & heavy usage, increased designated parkland and community relations, all with minimal resources.

TEAM HONORABLE MENTIONS

Theatres and Arenas
General Services

Theatres & Arenas expanded the City's greening effort to Red Rocks Amphitheater in 2007. The permanent recycling program resulted in a 35% annual decrease in non-renewable waste. Deteriorating wooden benches were replaced with lumber harvested through sustainable yield forestry, while efforts were made to recycle and reuse old materials. Housekeeping staff switched to earth-friendly cleaning supplies and the entire Red Rocks staff promoted the greening of Red Rocks with concert goers and park visitors.

Facilities Planning and Management Team
General Services

 The Facilities Planning and Management Team also made significant progress in developing and implementing sustainable initiatives for the City. The team secured LEED EB Gold rating for the Webb Municipal Building, the first and only such designation in the City's history. They developed LEED design and construction standards for future renovations and implemented a "green" cleaning policy for City buildings.

Planning Services Team
Community Planning and Development

 With the establishment of a web-based resource for proposed zoning changes, the Planning Services Team supported the City's green effort by eliminating the need for photocopying re-zoning applications, reduced use of mailing and postage while also improving service to residents and customers with fast and accurate electronic communication.

Unimproved Alley Paving Program Team
Public Works

 By combining current resources with strategically contracted hauling support and 30% recycled content paving material from the City's asphalt plant, the Unimproved Alley Paving Program Team absorbed costs of paving unimproved alleys into an existing budget. The goal is to pave 100 alleys every year, most of which are in lower income neighborhoods where owners can't afford improvements, and even in heavy winter weather, the team has paved 300 alleys in three years.

INDIVIDUAL WINNERS 

Andrea Christensen is a Noise Abatement Office at Denver International Airport. Andrea worked diligently in the successful upgrade of the airport's Noise Monitoring System and through it all volunteered her time toward the DECC campaign, which helped DIA consistently exceed their projected goals. Andrea's diligence and attention to detail have ensured that DIA's compliance with the noise mitigation requirements of Denver/Adams County agreement have been tracked as accurately as possible. In 2006, DIA register only one violation with the IGA, the lowest number of violations recorded since the airport opened in 1995.

Her enthusiasm and commitment for her job and her employee community is contagious. Andrea has recently received commendations from Centennial Airport and won the Employee of the Quarter award at DIA.

Bruce Dennis        
Technology Services - Electronic Engineering Bureau 

Bruce Dennis is a Communications Technician with the Electronic Engineering Bureau. Bruce takes great pride in serving the City and its 2,500 first responders who use their radios for basic survival. During the 2006 blizzard, Bruce supported the Combined Communications Center to ensure coverage in case of an outage. At one point, cell phone systems locked up with too many users but Bruce's efforts ensured that the radio systems stayed operable.

In another emergency, the Combined Communications Center sustained a direct lighting strike and over 50% of the dispatch computers failed. Bruce again managed the crisis, minimized disruptions to operations for responders and citizens and helped the City maintain critical emergency services.

Gina Egger is an Aquatics Coordinator at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center. In 2007, Gina encountered a patron who had collapsed in a hallway near the pool. Without hesitation, Gina sprang to action, informing another staff member to contact 911, gathering first aid and supplemental oxygen and initiating life-saving interventions. This patron was having a heart attack and Gina's immediate and effective response not only saved this man's life but according to the hospital physicians, saved him from suffering significant long-term effects from lack of oxygen.

Adrian Gonzales
Department of Aviation

Adrian is an Electronic Systems Technician at Denver International Airport and provides technical maintenance to DIA's electric power system.  He leads the team in preventive maintenance, design and construction.

His strategy for preventive maintenance is to proactively coordinate with Xcel Energy, Maintenance Control, Communication Center, Information Technology, Security and other vital airport entities as he performs vital on the system.

Adrian has been instrumental in keeping DIA 100% operational, 100% of the time. His extraordinary  thoroughness, technical mastery and attention to detail have contributed significantly in minimized electric power outages and contributing to the overall reliability of DIA's Electric Power System.

David is an Engineer/Architect Supervisor at Public Works. He manages the residential snow plow program, which involved input and coordination with citizens and several City agencies. His professionalism, superior service and patience have not only helped the program succeed but have increased the team's effectiveness. This model program will save costs associated with expensive ice removal later in each season.

Nora Kimball
City Council

Nora Kimball is City Council Aide to Councilwoman Jeanne Robb, District 10.  Nora created and coordinated a multi-agency neighborhood improvement to the alley abutting Congress Park, which had caused constituent concerns. She coordinated with numerous parties responsible for the alley and land nearby, working with the Denver Water Board to upgrade fence material and the City to upgrade curbing. She communicated with community groups and neighbors throughout the process as well.

The result of Nora's effort is a clean, safe alley where once crime and illegal dumping occurred. Pedestrian safety and access to Congress Park have also been improved for all the people living north and west of the park.

Frankie Rachell-Bruce
Police Department

Frankie Rachelle-Bruce is a Program Coordinator with the Denver Police Department. Frankie was instrumental in creating the Volunteer Program of the Victim Assistance Unit of the DPD through partnerships with DU, Metro, Regis and other local schools who support the training and education of victims.

By increasing the number of trained and available staff through the program, the VAU has deployed a larger number of responders to critical incidents than ever before in DPD history. Also, the Unit is now much more prepared to respond to a large-scale incident requiring multiple responders. In addition, VAU has been able to reduce the number of contract employees from eight to four which has resulted in savings of approximately $6,000.

Doug Schoch
Denver Parks and Recreation

Doug is an Arboreal Inspector with Denver's Parks and Recreation Department. Doug was instrumental in supporting the department reaching its  goal to install recycling receptacles throughout the Parks system. Doug researched vendors, tested products and conducted cost analysis to determine the best strategy. The project resulted in 14 parks having serviceable recycling programs, and parks maintenance shops are participating in the program as well. In all, over 100 receptacles have been distributed. The cost per receptacle is under $100, while similar alternatives cost $220 to $550.

Gregg Thomas
Department of Environmental Health

Gregg is an Environmental Compliance and Management Program Manager with the Department of Environmental Health. Gregg has been a leader in critical components of the Mayor's sustainability initiatives, catapulting the greenhouse gas reduction efforts of the City. He realized the goal of a 10% per capita reduction in greenhouse gases by 2012 would pose a challenge and partnered with Dr. Anu Ramaswami from CU-Denver and Health Sciences Center Urban Infrastructure and Engineering project to complete a GHG inventory for Denver.

This groundbreaking inventory has become a benchmark for communities as they begin their own green programs and gives Denver the ability to launch a Climate Action Plan that will reduce Denver's greenhouse gas emissions quickly.

As an acknowledgement, Mayor Hickenlooper proclaimed Nov. 27, 2007 as Gregg Thomas Appreciation Day for his contributions to the Mayor's Climate Action Plan.

Michael Wright
Technology Services

Mike Wright is the Director of Information Systems and Support and has provided invaluable support for Greenprint Denver's Paper and Energy reduction initiative.

Mike was successful in programming the majority of duplex-capable printers to automatically print on both sides and has successfully encouraged other IT groups to do the same. As of June, the City purchased 5.5% less paper than in previous years due in large part to his efforts. At Mike's direction, TS also significantly reduced the number of printers available in agencies, coordinated 75% of the City's monitors go to sleep after 20 minutes of inactivity and consolidated dozens of servers into significantly fewer. He is now working with Safety and DIA on implementing similar measures.

TEAM WINNERS

5 x 5 Project
Office of Education & Children

 This team secured funding, developed outreach tools & arranged for 20,000 Head Start families to visit ten Denver cultural venues.  As a result, parents & children reported increased interaction and more meaningful discussions, while teachers reported increased vocabulary and more vibrant participation within the classroom.  The estimated value for this program is over $4M, while the actual implementation cost was less than 1% of that amount.

7,000 Trees in 7 Days
Parks & Recreation

 This team created a media campaign that resulted in the planting of 12,529 trees in the Metro Denver area through 40 events and brought together 3,000 volunteers, 23 municipalities and 19 community groups.  The benefits for the region are air pollution reduction, cooler Summer temperatures, reduced energy use, increased property values and enhanced green spaces.

Building & Construction Services Engineering Planning Team
Community Planning & Development   Marshall Ashmann

 Focused on helping customers complete their Denver construction projects effectively, this team reviewed plans for over 3,000 commercial projects in 2007 and issued permits on the same day, resulting in a "one stop shop" for builders.  Those projects have a combined value of $300,000.

 Trained cancer survivor volunteers provide short-term, one-on-one support to employees recently diagnosed with cancer.  OEA created a database that tracks matches and progress, partnering with American Cancer Society, legal expertise and other related services.  Additionally, this group coordinates an annual Teddy Bear Drive to donate stuffed animals to pediatric cancer patients in area hospitals.  While the results of this program may be difficult to quantify, the people it helps have no doubt that it's working.

DCC Civil Division
Denver County Courts 

 This division hears civil lawsuits valued between $7,500 to $15,000, deals with name changes, evictions and foreign judgments.  These 21 employees processed 3,800 new filings in 2007, as well as tracking 800,817 active cases.  During this period, the staff performed a records purging project mandated by State law, shredding 28,412 out-dated files.  This team also provided over 1,500 hours of training to Work Force Development clients in 2007.

 Through the leadership, dedication and teamwork displayed by this group, DDHS's Five Year Strategic Plan was the first City agency to have their plan presented and approved by the Board of DHS and Mayor Hickenlooper. Individual members also presented the plan to over 187 agency and community partners, in addition to taking responsibility for the implementation of the plan, creating new energy and energy in the agency and providing clear direction.

 In the early 1900's, Denver was an active radium processing center and much of its waste materials was mixed with asphalt and used as fill. This team coordinated with City agencies and with state and federal regulating organizations to permanently eliminate the risk of spreading radium-impacted materials around the community, eliminate the liability associated with radium streets and discontinue the management of street cuts. Through their partnerships and commitment to the project, the Denver Radium Streets Team has saved the City over $8 million since 2002.

Denver's Road Home & DDHS Homeless Outreach
Denver Human Services

 In the first two years since its inception, this program has made a significant impact on the City and on its homeless community. There was an 11% reduction in all homeless in Denver and a 36% reduction in chronic homelessness, at a time when communities around Denver experienced an increase in the number of homeless. Workers at the shelters have more than doubled enrollment in Medicaid and Food Stamp programs, as well as providing other tangible services and assistance. Over 800 units of housing have been created and more than 3,000 people who are homeless are now employed. At Denver Cares, there has been a 78% reduction in the use of detox services by formerly homeless people now in housing, which equates to a savings of over $500,000 per year.

Environmental Management System
Department of Aviation

 Through this program and the team's proactive approach of engaging employees, DIA has reduced usage of gasoline, electricity, and paper, while decreasing solid waste generation, increasing recycling, conducting sustainability training for more than 500 employees, maintaining environmental complaints at zero violations, increasing overall awareness of environmental issues and influencing DIA's vendors, contractors and consultants to adopt similar values.

Infrastructure Task Force 
Mayor's Office 

 This team of cross-departmental employees worked together to bring Issues A through I to the voters in November 2007, specifically supporting hundreds of civic leaders through a year-long committee process that set priorities for bond projects. As a result, every single issue before the voters in November 2007 passed. The efforts of this team helped shift the City's practice of deferring maintenance to creating a "pay as you go program" which will return savings to taxpayers for years to come. Long term benefits include improved services, better roads, and improved city assets - in essence, a better Denver.