City Council - Jeanne Robb, District 10
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 City Council - Jeanne Robb, District 10 Minimize
City Council - Jeanne Robb, Dist. 10  
photo of Jeanne RobbWelcome to District 10 City Councilwoman and Denver City Council President Jeanne Robb's homepage! You will find a plethora of information available on this website about District 10.
 
My office is here to serve you, the constituents of District 10. Feel free to call, email, or come into our office. Our contact information can be found under the "Contact Us" link on our website.
 
If you would like to receive my monthly electronic newsletter, "E-Talk in 10," sign up here. Monthly newsletters are also posted on our website.

Thank You!
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 New Central Denver Recreation Center at Colfax and York Minimize

On Monday, October 26th, at the City Council Bond Implementation Committee, Parks and Recreation presented their recommendation, unanimously supported by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, for City Council to authorize the expenditure of $6 million to purchase the former Church in the City site at Colfax and York for a future central Denver Recreation Center.  The agenda item was forwarded out of committee for a vote by City Council in the coming months.  To view the video of the Bond Implementation Committee, click here.  

 

The November 2007 bond issue allocated $11 million for land acquisition and design services for a new recreation center to serve the central Denver area.  The remaining $5 milllion will be used for design of the new Recreation Center and saved until future funds become available for construction.  A 2006 Recreation Needs Assessment Survey showed there to be a gap in recreation center service for central Denver.  To view maps of the central Denver need click here and for a more centralized map click here.   

 

We struggled to find a large enough site that could be purchased, that had proximity to a park for outdoor recreation, that offered opportunities for partnerships with other private or public entities, and that was accessible especially to those who have no other recreational alternatives.   I, for one, was determined to present a choice to Central Denver residents.   Fortunately and unfortunately, proposed private development on the “Church in the City” site became unfeasible after the economic downturn at the end of 2008.   By the end of this summer, the City’s real estate department had done a remarkable job of securing an option to purchase the property.  

 

As soon as that happened, we were ready to present two alternatives to Central Denver residents - a covered pool and first phase center in Congress Park or purchase of the land and design for a center at Colfax and Josephine.  An overwhelming majority of those who attended the September public meeting at the Botanic Gardens favored the Colfax site.  To view the powerpoint presentation, a list of public comments and questions, site plan options for Congress Park and Church in the City, and other site evaluations, please click here.  I want to thank each and every person that attended the public meetings, called, or wrote a letter or email expressing their thoughts on the location and I want you to know that I took them into great consideration during my decision making.   

    

So imagine a great rec center!  Although we don’t currently have enough money to build a recreation center, we have plenty of time and creative talent to help us plan a great place.  We could partner in small or large ways with Denver Public Schools/East High School.  We could work with St. Charles Town Company, who currently owns the gas station on the corner, to create a mixed-use development and town center.   We will look for non-profit partners to help us provide recreational services.  This opportunity will be worth the wait and worth the time spent in planning.  A Central Denver Recreation Center offers a new paradigm for recreation centers in our City. 

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 Zoning Code Update Joint City Council and Planning Board Listening Sessions Minimize

I want to alert you that Community Planning and Development (CPD) will be posting Draft 3 of the New Denver Zoning Code today, Tuesday, November 3, on the New Code website: http://www.newcodedenver.org.  This near-final draft will include the previously posted interim revisions to Article 7 (Urban Center) and also incorporate substantial input from the commercial and residential community following the release of Draft 2.  Additionally, our office has posted two summaries on the District 10 website.  One summarizes highlights of proposed use changes in the new code, and one summarizes highlights of process changes in the new code.  Check them out.  We also sent them to RNO leaders and zoning contacts last week.

 

The City still wants your input and there are multiple opportunities to comment on Draft 3 of the New Code.  You may use the comment feature on the New Code Website or attend any of the following Listening Sessions and New Code Office Hours in November.  Of course, I will continue to be available to meet to discuss any remaining concerns or you may submit letters or emails. 

 

Thank you for your ongoing interest and involvement in the New Code Denver effort.  City Council is pleased with the level of participation we’ve received from the commercial and residential communities through public meetings, e-mails, phone calls, letters and website interactions – all of which will help Denver deliver a new zoning code that offers clarity, predictability economic opportunity, and preservation of Denver’s outstanding quality of life.

 

Denver City Council and Denver Planning Board are hosting two public listening sessions in November on the proposed New Zoning Code.  These joint sessions are designed to hear your comments and questions before the final draft and the formal hearing.  Come Join Us On:

  • Wednesday, November 18, 2009 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm (Sign–up to speak between 5 pm and 5:30pm)
  • Thursday, November 19, 2009 from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm (Sign-up to speak between 12 noon and 12:30pm)

Both sessions will be held in the Webb Municipal Building, 201 W. Colfax Avenue, Fourth Floor Conference Rooms, 4G2/4F6.  The sessions will be held in a public hearing format.  Speakers are limited to 3 minutes with one opportunity to comment or ask a question over the course of the two listening sessions.

Input will be used to inform the final draft code to be released in December.  The listening sessions will be aired live on Denver 8 TV and can also be viewed after the listening sessions at http://www.denvergov.org/Denver8TV/Denver8TVHomePage/tabid/384122/Default.aspx

 

Zoning Code Team members from Community Planning and Development will be available to answer questions from the general public about particular issues that relate to your property during CPD New Code “Office Hours” on:

  • Tuesday, November 10th from 4 - 7 pm
  • Thursday, November 12th from 11 am to 2 pm

Check the New Code Denver website http://www.newcodedenver.org/ for exact room locations in the Wellington E. Webb Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave.

 

The remainder of the New Zoning Code process, as announced by City Council in September, is expected to be as follows:

  • Mid-December 2009 – Zoning Code staff will make final revisions to the New Code following the Listening Sessions
  • December 22 2009 - Publication of the final draft on www.NewCodeDenver.org on or before this date.
  • January  6, 2010 – Public Hearing held by Denver Planning Board
  • January 13, 2010 – City Council Blueprint Denver Committee consideration of final draft
  • January 21, 2010 – Community, Planning and Development (CPD) files bill for an ordinance for the New Code to be considered by City Council.
  • January 25, 2010 – First reading of the bill before City Council
  • February 22, 2010 – Final consideration of zoning code bill by City Council, following a formal public hearing.  If the bill passes, it becomes an ordinance, or city law.
  • 4 month transition period from date of new code’s implementation.
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 1st Avenue from Colorado to Steele Improvement Study Minimize

Last year when safety concerns along 1st Avenue between Colorado Blvd. & Steele Street prompted discussions with the Cherry Creek East & North Neighborhood  Associations, some merchants and Public Works, it became evident that what was really needed was a plan of renewal and improvement along the length of that corridor between Colorado Blvd. & Steele Street.  In working with the city’s budget office, I was fortunate to secure $75,000 for developing a plan to enhance the streetscape, support commercial development and develop traffic calming measures to improve safety.  A small working group including neighborhood representatives, commercial interests, Public Works and planning consultants are now meeting to talk about developing a vision for the 1st Avenue corridor.

 

Study Area
The study area includes seven blocks east of the 1st Avenue and Steele Street intersection from Steele to Colorado Boulevard.  The study will concentrate on improvements that fall within the prescribed study area but will certainly consider the larger context of the Cherry Creek area as well as the overall traffic patterns and travel shed movements as outlined in the Strategic Transportation Plan (2008).

 

The study will look at east-west and north-south connections within the study area for all modes of travel and determine potential infrastructure and streetscape improvements including but not limited to:

  • Safe and pedestrian-friendly connectivity
  • Safe crossings and linkages across 1st Avenue
  • Consistent sidewalk and streetscape elements
  • Improved bike connections to the Cherry Creek Trail and other major bike routes.
  • Traffic calming measures

Timeline
The study is scheduled to be completed by the end of November. The findings and recommendations will be integrated into the Cherry Creek Neighborhood Plan Update scheduled to begin in Fall 2009.  The 1st Avenue Improvement Study process includes two open house public meetings to discuss progress and findings.The first one was held on October 6th, 2009; a second one will occur in the November/December  timeframe.

 

More information on the study is located on the following website:

http://www.denvergov.org/Infrastructure/1stAvenueSteeletoColoradoStudy/tabid/435012/Default.aspx
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 Denver Now Taking Applications for LEAP (Low-income Energy Assistance Program) Minimize

The cold front that stormed through last week caused many goose bumps and forced many people to pull out winter clothes and turn on their heat.  Soon, many people will receive their first heating bill of the season, which may cause some financial anxiety.

 

The good news is there is a heating cost assistance program, called LEAP that helps people who qualify with their home heating costs and heating-related emergencies by paying a portion of their heat bill.  Applicants may also be eligible to receive free furnace tune-ups, air sealing and insulation.  The best part is these services are free. 

 

People who qualify are eligible to receive the LEAP benefit one time each season, which runs Nov. 2, 2009 – April 30, 2010. Last year, 17,967 Denver County households applied for LEAP.  To qualify for LEAP, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, pay heat costs to an energy company or as part of rent, and meet these income guidelines:

 

Number of People in House

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Highest Monthly Income Before Taxes

$1,670

$2,1246

$2,823

$3,400

$3,967

$4,553

$5,129

$5,706

 

The LEAP application process is simple.  Simply call 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1.866.432.8435), request an application, fill it out and mail it in.  You can also download an application from www.denvergov.org/leap or visit the Denver Human Services East office located at 2855 Tremont Place, Richard T. Castro Building, 1200 Federal Blvd, or Montbello Human Services Offices, 4685 Peoria St.
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 Denver's New Zoning Code Minimize
Denver's New Zoning Code
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 Trash and Recycling Collection Schedules for Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and City Furlough Day Minimize

City and County of Denver offices will be closed on:

  • Wednesday, November 11th, in observance of Veteran’s Day
  • Thursday, November 26th in observance of Thanksgiving Day
  • Friday, November 27th Citywide Furlough Day

Trash and recycling collection Services are as scheduled:

  • Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, November 11th, trash and recycling will be picked up as regularly scheduled.  Services will not be delayed for the Veterans Day holiday.   
  • Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26th, trash and recycling will not be picked up.  Solid Waste will work on a delayed schedule (Thursday on Friday, Friday on Saturday) following the Thanksgiving Holiday.
  • Citywide Furlough Day, Friday, November 27th, trash and recycling will be picked up as regularly scheduled.  Services will not be delayed for the furlough day.  However, services will operate on a one day delay caused by Thanksgiving Day.

Denver parking meters will be free on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11th and Thanksgiving Day, November 26th.  Denver parking meters are free on all City-recognized holidays and on Sundays.
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 Denver Public Library Ross-Cherry Creek Branch Library Closes in September for Better Denver Bond Repairs and Renovations Minimize

Ross-Cherry Creek Branch Library at 305 Milwaukee closed on September 10th for around 4 months for repairs and renovations as part of the Better Denver Bond program passed by voters in November 2007.      

 

A specific list of current improvements at various Denver Public library locations may be found at www.denverlibrary.org/bond or for a complete list of bond improvement projects citywide visit www.denvergov.org/bondprojects. 

 

Here are some questions and answers about the closure:

·         Where do I go instead of visiting the Ross-Cherry Creek Branch Library ?

o        Eugene Field Branch Library at 810 S. University Blvd.

o        Park Hill Branch Library at 4705 Montview Blvd.

o        The Central Library at 10 W. 14th Avenue Parkway

·         What can I expect when the branch reopens? Woodwork, case work and doors will be refinished, lighting will be upgraded, new carpeting and flooring, new furnishings and fresh paint throughout the building, children’s area will be refreshed and newly furnished, main service area will be redesigned to improve staff and customer interactions and to utilize state-of-the-art RFID technology, access to computers will improve with specific areas for desktop computers and informal WiFi spaces, public restrooms will be updated with new flooring, partitions, lighting, fixtures and countertops, staff work areas will be repaired and refreshed

·         I have outstanding requests going to a closed branch. What will happen if they arrive before the branch reopens?  Any outstanding requests that arrive during the Ross- Cherry Creek Branch closure will automatically be sent to the Eugene Field Branch Library.

·         Will I be able to return items to the closed branches? 

·         No. Items must be returned to a Denver Public Library location that is currently open.  Items should not be left at a closed location under any circumstances.

·         What will happen to the staff?  DPL will take advantage of the branch closures to redeploy staff to other locations, allowing the library to increase vacancy savings and not immediately hire open positions. By doing so, the Library will meet the 2009 budget reductions required by the City and County of Denver.

·         If the City and County of Denver is having budget problems, where is the money coming from for the renovations?  The funds are coming from the Better Denver Bond Program that voters approved in 2007. The bonds have already been issued and are separate from the operating budget of the City and County of Denver.  As Mayor Hickenlooper announced in December, the City and County of Denver is committed to completing as many infrastructure projects as possible in the next three years that were funded by the Better Denver Bond Program as a way to stimulate the local economy and lessen the impact of the recent downturn.
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