March 24, 2007

Hello All,

On this very rainy Saturday afternoon, we thought we’d spend some time getting some information to you that we think is pretty important.

RTD has hosted a series of meetings specifically targeted to Northglenn citizens in the past few months, the most recent of which was an Open House on March 21^st at the Recreation Center. It was clear from this meeting that the citizens along the rail corridor have been enthusiastically expressing their opinion about not wanting a station stop at the currently designated 112^th and York St. site. We’ve also read a couple definitive articles in the Rocky and Sentinel that Northglenn doesn’t want a station.

The rest of the city’s citizens have been fairly silent on the future of transportation in Northglenn and station site selection. We’re writing this segment to try to emphasize how important it is for the ENTIRE city to weigh in on this decision, since it will affect the city for generations to come. The FasTracks train will be rolling through Northglenn, that’s not negotiable, but whether or not it stops to let off or let on Northglenn commuters is a decision that RTD is looking to us to help them decide. Please get involved. Just because we’re on the west side of the city doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have a voice in the decision. Jill and I will keep you posted on future meetings where your opinion will be requested. If you can't attend a meeting, you can state your opinion on the RTD website www.rtd-fastracks.com, click on North Metro Corridor, then “Get Connected”. You can also call 303-299-2000.

The current situation looks pretty grim. In our last communication, the city had offered the Rangeview District the Winburn Park property subject to voter approval, which we are required to do with all park property by ordinance. The Rangeview Board preferred to proceed with their plans to close Northglenn as they felt that an election would be too time consuming and didn’t fit into their construction timetable.

A new development occurred in early March, with former Mayor Odell Barry offering his land just west of the water tanks on 112^th as a donation to the Library District in order to build a new library in Northglenn. The counter-proposal by the District was preposterous, since it requested approximately 2 million dollars in upfront capital from the city, and one-half million dollars annually for library operations. The City Council promptly rejected this proposal, as they felt the citizens of Northglenn already pay for library services including capital construction through the mill levy.

The city counter-offered that the District abandon the 94^th and Huron planned site, and build exclusively on the donated Barry property. This offer was rejected by the District at their Board meeting March 21^st.

As it currently stands, City Council has done all it can to keep the Northglenn Branch Library in the city. We do have one more opportunity to voice our opinions about this at a meeting hosted by the District on March 29^th from 6 – 8P.M. at the Northglenn Branch at 105^th and Huron. The purpose of this meeting is to ask the public “what they would like in a new library”. We strongly encourage you to attend this meeting if you feel compelled, and support a decision to build the library on the donated Barry property.

There is a plan to erect an 80ft. cell tower disguised as a flagpole at or about the entrance to the water treatment plant, located about a block south of 112^th on the service road leading to Northwest Open Space.

The lease agreement passed first reading (Jill and I voted against) at the March 22^nd Council meeting. The public hearing and second reading will occur at Council on April 12^th, 7P.M. If you have opinions you would like to express regarding the erection of this cell tower, as always, that is the purpose of public hearings.

We also passed at first reading an ordinance that would require trash cans be stored behind the front line of the house, and not be visible from the public right-of-way unless concealed with an opaque screen. This would also include trash bags and boxes of any type. The public hearing for that is also scheduled for April 12^th.

Get those garden tools sharpened up, and those beds cleaned out. It sure looks like spring. We’ll be anxious to see after the hard winter and the coyotes, how many young fox there will be this summer.

Keep in touch, Jill and I are always available to hear your concerns.

At your service,

Rosie Garner and Jill Parsons