August 25 Meeting Minutes

Highest priority to the neighborhood

Cole neighbors want more safety for areas around schools

Green Leaf

·         A nonprofit in Cole and 5 Points

·         They conduct an afterschool and summer program that teaches high school students about gardening and marketing.

·         Currently at 38^th & Williams and 29^th & Arapahoe at the Sustainability Park

·         Sell produce on Saturday mornings from 8-10

·         Owner of 38^th & Williams location is selling property so Green Leaf will be permanently moving to Sustainability Park

Officer Trujillo’s Report

·         Theft and Burglary have been the highest crimes in the area

·         Of 8 break-ins to homes, 5 were not forced meaning windows, garages, or doors were open or unlocked.

·         Several arrests have been made due to the Halo camera on Bruce Randolph

·         720-913-1094 – Officer Reyes Trujillo – call him to set up a neighborhood watch

·        Personal safety training on October 1, 2011 from 9am – 1pm at the Denver Police Academy

Newsletter – plan for Fall

·        Profile Albus Brooks – more on a personal level

o       If have any question ideas for Albus send to Loralie to pass on

·        Yard of the month

o       Halloween - most festive house

Purina

·         We would like to know what the laws are about polluting the air

Miscellaneous

Coca-Cola – wants to know if we have any events that they can donate to. Loralie said we will call when we have something happening

We will be working to have the lead based paint money that we received a while back used for something in the neighborhood

Meeting Tonight at Wyatt-Edison School, Neighborhood Block Party Saturday!

Join us tonight (Thursday August 25) at Wyatt-Edison School from 6-7:30.  Wyatt-Edison is at the northeast corner of 36th and Franklin.

Also, please come to the Cole Neighborhood Block Party this Saturday, August 27 at the corner of 33rd and Williams from 10am to 6pm.


See you there!

July 28 Meeting Minutes

Neighborhood Crime & Safety Update – Officer Reyes Trujillo

·         Bruce Randolph & Gilpin – Halo Camera has been up here and helped officers to stop crime on the corner

·         National night out August 2, 2011 – a way to meet your neighbors and watch out for each other

o   Russell Square Park – Cole neighborhood’s night out location

·         For information on the law for Public Nuisance Abatement go to: http://www.denvergov.org/Patrol_Division/NuisanceAbatementUnit/tabid/391895/Default.aspx

Library Information - Diane Lapier

·         There are 22 branches in Denver

·         Bonds were received to build new libraries in Green Valley Ranch, Stapleton, West Denver

·         Past year declining revenue – sales tax is the funding so when the economy worsens, spending goes down

o   Using vacancy savings and because of the bond that opened new libraries, more money is needed.

·         9% of budget needs to be cut so they have thought to keep lessening hours or close some libraries.

·         Form a library district and become a fully independent industry

o   50% of Colorado libraries are library district and are open 50-80 hours a week

o   Hancock is in favor of a library district.

o   Soonest these options can be put on the ballot is November 2012

o   Advantage of a library district – compromises don’t need to be made by leadership in the libraries

·         Currently no libraries will be closed

Conversation with Albus Brooks

·         FasTracks train is supposed to be here in 2015

·         Working with Urban Land Conservatories and Hope Communities to get low income housing

·         Passed out his 100 Day Plan (http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=246102255415091). Additional information for each category:

o   RNO – work to have a plan that includes everyone in bettering the neighborhood

o   Engage 8 – create committees to reach all of District 8

§  One example: sustainable trashcans – compact trash through solar power. Money raised through the Engage 8 non profit

o   Public Safety – July 2010 we had just as much crime violence as the Summer of 1993.

§  Hold bad officers accountable but also remember that we do have many good officers

§  We have less police than in the year 2000 and more residents.

o   Economic Development – Working with many business owners to get more businesses in the area.

§  Three grocery stores will be in district 8

·         Along with the development, Albus will have people from the neighborhood work to build businesses and when the businesses open

Rec Center

·         Changing the centers to a three-tiered system: Neighborhood Center, Local Center, and Regional Center

·         Meeting attendees would like to have meeting on what we would like to see at St. Charles Rec.