Questions for Carla--To be addressed at the CNA Meeting on Thursday, February 28th

1. Can you share your accomplishments thus far, relative to Cole? Additionally, what are goals for 2008 (relative to Cole)?
2. What do you envision for the future of Cole? And, how can we, as an organization, assist you in moving forward?
3. What do you feel are the most important issues facing Cole, short term and long term, and what can neighborhood association do to address them?
4. Given your experience running a neighborhood association, would you have any suggestions for improving the efficacy of the association in accomplishing goals through your office and the city?
5. We have a real graffiti problem in Cole. Many neighbors have called on numerous places for months that have not been cleaned up. Are these owners receiving fines for not cooperating? What is the turn-around for reports? What can you do to facilitate the expedited removal of the graffiti?
6. What is the current zoning situation in Cole? Is there anything in particular that we should be concerned with?
7. Where does the 40th and 40th station stand? The extension of the lightrail to 40th and 40th? What is your opinion on what should happen with these projects? Streetcar or lightrail?
8. Does Transit Oriented Development apply to development in Cole? If so, how?
9. The last neighborhood plan for Cole was drawn up/published approximately 30 years ago (May 5, 1976—to be exact), how can we get a new neighborhood plan?
10. We understand that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, in your opinion, how do you think we can raise the status of Cole as a priority neighborhood for city services and funding?
11. Cole has two targeted commercial districts for the Neighborhood Business Revitalization Loan Program thru the OED: Downing Street - between 31st Avenue to 35th Avenue and Bruce Randolph Avenue - Downing to Elizabeth Street, is there anything as a neighborhood association, that we can do to encourage/solicit new businesses through the program, or otherwise?
12. We have talked about putting on a neighborhood event where we try to get everyone to meet each other and know the businesses in the community. What type of permits we would need to have an event like this?
13. Can you clarify who we can contact at the Parks and Recreation about the instability of leadership at the rec. center? We have had at least 4 different supervisors at St. Charles since I have been in the neighborhood. How can we improve the services, hours, programs offered at St. Charles?
14. What relationship did she have with the new developer of the 30th & Arapahoe property? Did he indeed provide funding for her campaign?
15. What specific steps are you taking to improve education in our area?
16. What is the process for residents to request a crosswalk be put in across Downing at 30th Ave. (Light Rail station)? That is such a dangerous place to cross the street.
17. Related to riding the lightrail, I wonder why I don't see RTD security and fare checkers after 18th and California/Stout stop? Last week on my way home I watched a young man crush up marijuana and roll a blunt. I did not know what to do and was afraid that if I said something my own safety would be in danger. That was not the first time I've witnessed illegal or inappropriate behavior on the train after it crosses that invisible barrier. [Didn't we have a shooting there last year?] Perhaps these are issues that should be addressed with RTD, but it seems a city council member would have a better time with it.
18. Is it possible to require a permit that would allow residents free parking, but would discourage leaving unattended vehicles for a long period of time? Where I used to live in the DU neighborhood this was the case. The permits were easy for residents to obtain and it alleviated some of the congestion. [This might affect some streets more than others.]
19. Is there something you/the city can do regarding illegal dumping in our neighborhood? I would like to know what the city is doing about this problem, and why it feels like nobody cares when you tell them this is happening? You can only pick up so much trash, and when it is dressers, couches, washing machines etc., what can one do?

Please let us know your thoughts regarding these issues.