May/June 2016 - City of Thornton
Transcription
May/June 2016 - City of Thornton
Help Keep Thornton Beautiful If you’re interested in helping to beautify the city of Thornton, Keep Thornton Beautiful (KTB) needs you! KTB is a local nonprofit whose objective is a cleaner, more attractive city, and is currently seeking to expand its board of directors. For more information visit www. keepthorntonbeautiful.com and to fill out the required application. May 7, 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Carpenter Recreation Center, 11151 Colorado Blvd. Pre-register in advance online at 9healthfair. org or pay the day of the fair. Participants must be age 18+. Free health screenings: lung function, vision, skin screening, hand screening, blood pressure, oral health, nutrition, body fat, foot screening, spinal screening, stress management, cardiac risk assessment, ask a pharmacist, body in balance, sleep apnea assessment, height/weight/BMI screening, metabolic syndrome screening, hearing screening and bone marrow donor program screening. Fee-based screenings: blood chemistry analysis ($35), prostate specific antigen (PSA) analysis for men ($30), blood cell count ($20), Vitamin D screening ($45), Hemoglobin A1c blood screening ($30) and colon cancer screening kit ($25). Trash/Recycling News The Fix Is In! For details about any of these programs go to cityofthornton.net/TrashRecycling, email environmentalsvcs@ cityofthornton.net or call 720-977-6200. Household Chemical Roundup May 7, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Hyland Hills Water World, 8801 Pecos St., Federal Heights. Proof of residency required and restrictions apply. Tree Branch/Limb Recycle Drop-Off May 14, June 11, July 9 Thornton Infrastructure Maintenance Center, 12450 Washington St., 10 a.m.2 p.m. Proof of residency required and restrictions apply. Memorial Day Holiday Delay Collection service will be on a one day holiday delay for the entire week starting Monday, May 30. PRESORTED STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID CITY OF THORNTON Continued below Thornton Streets Get A Face Lift Thornton City Council nearly doubled the street rehabilitation money from the previous level in 2014. The 2016 Street Rehabilitation Program continues with the goal previously established in 2015 to have every city street and parking lot in the city touched within a five year period. “Increased preventative maintenance measures allow the city to spend money on more cost efficient options rather than allowing the streets to deteriorate to a point when only repaving is an option,” says Thornton Pavement Management Coordinator Richard Nickson. “The program’s crack seal portion will cover 203 lane miles of roadway, and will use an asphalt rejuvenator on almost 17 lane miles of roadway,” says Nickson. Watch for surface rehabilitation treatments to sections of Colorado Boulevard, 104th Avenue, 128th Street, Thornton Parkway, High Street, Grant Street, Civic Center Drive, York Street, Russell Boulevard, Poze Boulevard and Woodglen Brookshire Park. For a map of areas to be treated go to www.cityofthornton.net/StreetOps. 9500 Civic Center Dr. Thornton CO 80229 New Solar Program Comes to Thornton Low-income homeowners in Thornton may be eligible to install a solar electric system on their home for free that can save the homeowner up to 75 percent on their electric bills. The nonprofit organization GRID Alternatives is expanding its Solar Affordable Housing program to Thornton. The program provides solar electric systems to families that own and live in their home, are able to contribute sweat equity hours to the program and qualify as low-income according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s income standards. The city of Thornton is contributing federal grant dollars to pay for the equipment so there is no upfront cost for families. Once the panels are installed, homeowners will pay to operate the system at $.02 per kilowatt hour, which works out to be approximately $15 a month. GRID Alternatives will coordinate the installation of the rooftop solar panels with the homeowner. To find out if you qualify for this program contact GRID Alternatives at 866-921-4696 or email at qualify@gridalternatives.org. Thornton’s Water History and Water Future Landfill Day - June 4 and July 16 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Tower Road Landfill, 88th Avenue and Tower Road, Commerce City, pickup or car loads only. Proof of residency required and restrictions apply. There is an additional $30 fee for mattresses. Talking Trash Please don’t forget to have your trash/ recycle containers at the curb by 7 a.m. on your pickup day and remove them by 8 p.m. after they are emptied. May-June 2016 The city of Thornton turns 60 this year! It was in May 1956 that Thornton was officially incorporated and became a Colorado city. Compared to other Colorado communities like San Luis, founded in 1851, and Denver, founded in 1858, Thornton is a relatively young community. Given that 60 is a milestone for most of us, whether in the past or the future, it only makes sense to take stock of some of our community’s history – in this case, Thornton’s water history – as we celebrate. Today, thanks to thoughtful use and investment of the city’s water customer’s dollars over the years, Thornton has a reliable water infrastructure system that delivers quality water to residents and businesses, whenever they need it. But the certainty of the water system wasn’t always the case for Thornton. Continued on page 2 Thornton City Voice Newspaper 1 general city news/community programs and events Thornton’s Water History and Future Continued from page 1 In 1953, when the community was just getting started, the Denver Water Board declined to provide service to our proposed city. Thornton’s sole water source at the time was a single deep groundwater well located near 91st Avenue and Clarkson Street. In hindsight, the Denver Water Board’s decision to not provide water service to Thornton was actually a win for the community. Thornton had to basically start a utility system from scratch. Luckily, several utility companies existed in the area and were able to extend their infrastructure to the new homes, many being purchased by returning Korean War Veterans. These utilities eventually consolidated into the Northwest Utilities Company, and in 1963, Thornton purchased the utility company and began providing water and sewer service directly to residents and businesses. Acquisition of this system initiated the city’s commitment to responsibly plan for and invest in the Thornton’s long-term water future, and also started the city’s transition from a groundwater well-based water system to a more sustainable system that uses water from rivers and lakes. During the following two decades, city leaders recognized the need to make sure water resources were available for the growing city. In the 1970s, Thornton acquired storage in Standley Lake and started developing storage in reclaimed gravel pits along the South Platte River, and a new treatment plant that came online in 1974. Moving later into the 1980s, Thornton’s population continues to grow as do concerns about the future of the water supply– particularly after it becomes apparent the Two Forks Project, an ill-fated proposal to build a reservoir on the South Platte River upstream of Denver that could hold up to 8.5 billion gallons of water, would eventually stall. In another move that would prove to be forward thinking by the city — Thornton began divesting itself of its interests in the Two Forks Project, and redirecting investments into high quality Cache la Poudre River water in northern Colorado for future water supply. The water purchased in the mid-1980s is a key resource that will enable Thornton to continue to provide quality water to the city’s customers, and it will ensure the community continues to thrive well into the future. Like the infrastructure Thornton purchased from private utility companies in the 1960s, Thornton continues with thoughtfully planned investments to stay ahead of the community’s success, and provide reliable, high quality water service to all of its customers over the next 60 plus years. “I am so thankful this service is offered. It is definitely worth the money.” -Yvonne T. Thornton resident Click & Haul is a year-round, online scheduling, appointment based curbside service. These planned investments are part of the Thornton Water Plan, and as a reminder, the Plan includes: With Click & Haul, you can easily get rid of up to two pickup truck loads of large items, debris, etc. • Constructing a pipeline to deliver the city’s high quality northern Colorado water to the city; • Investing in the replacement of one of the city’s two water treatment plants. Replacing the plant that has been in service for the city since the 1960s will benefit all Thornton residents by ensuring your water continues to be safe, clean and clear when you turn on your tap; • Providing an aggressive water conservation program that includes water-saving tips for you, as well as tools and resources that can help you reduce the amount of water you use and manage your water bill; and Click & Haul Fees start at $65. to schedule your curbside pickup or for more information, go to cityofthornton.net • Developing new water storage reservoirs to help ensure your water supply is stable and you have water when you need it. or call 720-977-6200. There will be many more decades and birthdays for our great community as we continue to work together to thoughtfully plan for and invest in the future. Kick off Summer with Thornton Parks and Recreation! Thornton Parks and Recreation offers lots of great activities to keep you moving this summer, and beautiful parks to spend time in! Check out Carpenter Park where you and your family can take a whirl on the carousel, or cause a splash at the boathouse, or sprayground. Thorntonfest is always a summer favorite, and this year it is on Saturday, May 21 at Carpenter Park Fields, 108th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. To celebrate the city’s 60th anniversary, the festival hours have been extended and will include a free 60th anniversary concert featuring Kansas! The concert takes place Sunday, May 22 at 6 p.m. at Carpenter Park Fields. Bring family, friends, neighbors, lawn chairs and blankets! Food vendors and the beer garden will be available throughout the evening. You can also have fun in the sun at Thornton’s outdoor pools starting June 4. This year, our pools will offer June Staycations, where the pools will remain open into the evening, so bring a picnic dinner and enjoy a summer evening swim! The Staycation days are Wednesday, June 8, 6-8 p.m., at City Pool, 2141 E. 95th Ave. and Wednesday, June 22, 6-8 p.m., at Park Village Pool, 4051 Summit Grove Pkwy. The free Summer Concert Series will kick off June 16 at 7 p.m. with the Thornton Community Band at the Carpenter Park Amphitheater. Go to www.cityofthornton.net/arts for more information. There are a ton of other fun summer activities for you and your family, so be sure to check out the full listing in the latest Thornton Activities Guide or go to www.cityofthornton.net/recreation. 2 City of Thornton Cottonwood Classic 5K Saturday, May 21 8 a.m. start Thorncreek Crossing Shopping Center 120th Ave. & Washington Center Pkwy. Thornton, Colorado Visit www.cottonwoodclassicrun.com to register. For more information visit www.cityofthornton.net/festivals or call 720-977-5914. Park Regency Thornton A B ethesda S enior L iving C ommunity Thornton City Voice Newspaper May-June 2016 general city news/community programs and events North Creek Farms Park Improvements Completed The final 4.2 acre build-out of the master planned improvements to North Creek Farms Park, 1970 E. 166th Dr., are complete. The park’s master plan was formulated with neighborhood residents in 2008. “This is the city’s northern-most residential subdivision and is surrounded by large streets, so a neighborhood park and gathering area was very important to residents,” says Thornton Parks and Open Space Project Manager Paula Schulte. “Based on ongoing community input and with help from an Adams County Open Space grant, additional improvements beyond the 2008 master plan were constructed, including a shade pavilion, looped walking trail and full-sized basketball court.” Trail tie-ins to adjacent streets, a multipurpose open play field, park light and signage, additional tree plantings and expansion of the irrigation system to include the entire park completed the master plan improvements. Major funding for the project was provided through Thornton’s parks and open space tax revenues plus a $369,343 Adams County Open Space grant. Water-Saving Success Story Oil Changes & More o o r t n n r o n fefestst o h h T T presents Oil Changes & More presents ~ A Signature Event of the City of Thornton ~ A SignatureEvent Event of ~ ~ ~ A~ Signature of the theCity CityofofThornton Thornton When first-time homeowners Ricky and Katie moved to Thornton in April 2013, they had very little experience managing a yard and sprinkler system. They ran their sprinklers every day until their lawn was green. Little did they know watering every day wasn’t the best way to a healthy, green lawn. Daily watering and an underground sprinkler system leak increased their water use to 60,000 gallons in one month. That caught their attention. Ricky and Katie looked for resources on ThorntonWater. com and discovered that Thornton had smart irrigation controller rebates. Ricky, being a ‘techy’ person, liked the idea of upgrading his sprinkler technology and loved “that there was an app for that.” Ricky chose a Racchio smart irrigation controller that works with his cell phone, which he said was a breeze to install. Smart controllers use actual weather data to automatically adjust the sprinkler system’s watering schedule to be as efficient as possible. The city of Thornton’s free sprinkler consultation provides the information needed to dial in a new (or old) irrigation controller. After receiving a free sprinkler consultation and setting up his smart controller’s phone app, Ricky said his grass has never been greener and the water usage has decreased to 12,000 gallons in the peak months. In his words, “This is good for the earth and our wallets.” Good times are found here! Saturday, May 21 60th Anniversary Hours 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Carpenter Park Fields 108th Avenue & Colorado Boulevard Children’s Amusements • “The Marketplace” • Paw Fest • Beer Gardens Youth Sports Demonstrations • Food & Concessions • Battle of the Bands Three Stages of Entertainment • City of Thornton Services Tent • Mile Hi Cruisers Car Show AND MUCH, MUCH MORE! WATER-WISE GARDEN TOURS The smart irrigation controller rebate covers up to $400 for the full cost of an EPA WaterSense certified irrigation controller. For more information, visit ThorntonWater. com to learn about rebates, sprinkler consultations and other ways to save water. Thornton Police Officer Evan Potter and K-9 Nero were recently honored by the National Police Canine Association regarding three encounters with violent felony offenders. During two of these situations Officer Potter and K-9 Nero apprehended the suspects with no injuries to officers, and in the third case, K-9 Nero detected over 250 grams of suspected cocaine in a search of a residence, leading to an arrest warrant for the suspect. May-June 2016 Featuring FREE Fare From The LoWco Food Truck & guided tours from landscaping experts SAT. JUNE 11 @ 11:30 A.M. FIRE STATION 5 WATER-WISE GARDEN JOIN US Thornton Police Officer and K-9 honored SOAK UP SOME KNOWLEDGE & LEARN HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR LANDSCAPE INTO AN H2O-SAVING OASIS 14051 COLORADO BLVD., THORNTON WED. JULY 13 @ 6 P.M. CARPENTER RECREATION CENTER WATER-WISE GARDEN 11151 COLORADO BLVD., THORNTON SAT. AUGUST 6 @ 10 A.M. FIRE STATION 5 WATER-WISE GARDEN 14051 COLORADO BLVD., THORNTON Learn More at ThorntonWater.com Thornton City Voice Newspaper 3 community programs and events Thornton Connected Impact your community Have you ever wanted to become involved in what happens in your community? If so, consider applying for a position on a Thornton Board or Commission. Vacancies include: lets you access the city l The l The Building Code Advisory Board Businesses of Thornton Advisory Commission (applicants must be a business owner or manager to apply) l The Election Commission l The Parks and Open Space Advisory Commission l The Senior Citizen Advisory Board l The Thornton Arts, Sciences and Humanities Council Thornton Connected lets you access FAQs, send a personalized service request, and track the progress as city staff addresses it. Using Thornton Connected is quick and easy! For detailed information and qualifications on each board, please visit our website at www.cityofthornton.net and click on Government, then Boards and Commissions. Go to cityofthornton.net and click on Thornton Connected, or download the GoRequest app. It sends your issue or complaint directly to the city department who can address it. Thornton City Clerk’s Office 9500 Civic Center Dr., Thornton, CO 80229 303-538-7230 - www.cityofthornton.net Mayor Thornton City Council Search for “GORequest” at the Apple app store and Android Market. BROTHERS PLUMBING, HEATING & ELECTRIC PRESENTS Heidi Williams 303-538-7531 - City 303-819-9722 - Cell The city of Thornton invites you to a special 60th Anniversary concert! Heidi.Williams @cityofthornton.net SUNDAY, MAY 22 6 P.M. • FREE! Ward 1 Mack Goodman Jacque Phillips Mack.Goodman @cityofthornton.net Jacque.Phillips @cityofthornton.net 303-538-7534 - City 303-287-8662 - Home 24/7 303-538-7537 - City 303-903-1011 - Cell CARPENTER 108th Avenue & PARK Colorado FIELDS Boulevard Ward 2 Mayor Pro Tem Eric Montoya Val Vigil 303-538-7536 - City 720-365-2695 - Cell Eric.Montoya @cityofthornton.net 303-538-7535 - City 303-947-7588 - Cell Thornton City Hall 9500 Civic Center Dr. Thornton 80229 Ward 3 Sam Nizam 303-538-7533 - City 720-226-4706 - Cell Sam.Nizam @cityofthornton.net Josh Zygielbaum 303-538-7532 - City 720-523-3371 - Cell Josh.Zygielbaum @cityofthornton.net Jan Kulmann Adam Matkowsky Jan.Kulmann @cityofthornton.net Adam.Matkowsky @cityofthornton.net 303-538-7530 - City 303-601-2917 - Cell City Council Meetings: May 10, 24; June 14, 28 City Council meetings begin at 7 p.m. in the Thornton City Hall Council Chambers and are also televised live on KTTV-8, Comcast channel 8. These dates are subject to change. Please go to www.cityofthornton.net and the Community Calendar for current information. If you have a disability and require assistance to attend and participate in these meetings, call 303-538-7245. 4 Thornton Police Department and Municipal Court 9551 Civic Center Dr. Thornton 80229 Infrastructure Maintenance Center 12450 Washington St. Thornton 80241 Carpenter Recreation Center 11151 Colorado Blvd. Thornton 80233 Ward 4 303-538-7201 - City 720-201-6155 - Cell KANSASBAND.COM Val.Vigil @cityofthornton.net Animal Control 720-977-5250 Arts & Culture Center 720-977-5885 Automated Info Line 303-538-7629 Building Inspection 303-538-7250 Building Permits 303-538-7250 Business Assistance 303-538-7605 City Clerk’s Office 303-538-7230 City Council & Mayor 303-538-7200 City Manager’s Office 303-538-7200 Code Compliance 303-538-7517 Communications 303-538-7279 Community Center 303-255-7830 Human Resources 303-538-7245 Jobline 303-538-7555 Municipal Court 720-977-5400 Neighborhood Services 303-538-7600 Police (non-emergency) 720-977-5124 Recreation Center 303-255-7800 Senior Center 303-255-7850 Snow & Ice Control 720-977-6464 Trash & Recycling 720-977-6200 Utilities (Water, Sewer) 720-977-6500 Utility Billing 303-538-7370 Volunteer Program 720-977-5881 Voter Registration 303-538-7230 Thornton Community Center 2211 Eppinger Blvd. Thornton 80229 Tune into Comcast Channel 8 anywhere in the Thornton area. Thornton Senior Center 9471 Dorothy Blvd. Thornton 80229 Thornton 8 airs city council meetings, coverage of local events and issues, and arts, cultural, educational and original programming. Don’t have Comcast? Go to www.cityofthornton.tv for streaming and On Demand content. Thornton Arts & Culture Center 9209 Dorothy Blvd. Thornton 80229 Don’t forget to follow us on... @ThorntonColorado @CityofThornton www.cityofthornton.net Thornton City Voice Newspaper Editorial Staff Todd Barnes, 303-538-7279 Managing Editor/Communications Director Gina Lantz, 303-538-7575 Design/Communications Technician Lisa Wilson, 303-538-7282 Editor, Writer/Communications Specialist Photographers: City Staff and Thinkstockphotos®. Erika Hollinshed, 303-538-7256 Writer, Design/Communications Technician Special Thanks to all City Departments for their contribution to the City Voice newspaper. May-June 2016