Here are a few actions I voted on at City Council that you should know about:

25-0191 — Amends a contract with the Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc. to add $1.5 million to provide activation activities related to the reopening of the 16th Street Mall in Downtown Denver.

25-0261 — Amends the Revised Municipal Code to replace the commemorative holiday of Indigenous Peoples' Day with a designated city holiday beginning in 2025. 

25-0260 — Amends the Denver Revised Municipal Code regarding an increase to the emergency telephone charge in an amount not to exceed the threshold set by the public utilities commission.

• Increases the 911 Emergency Services Fee for the City and County of Denver from $1.20 per month to $2.12 per month in order to maintain current 911 operations and resolve critical infrastructure and staffing needs.

Join the Southwest YMCA for Healthy Kids Day — a free, family-friendly fun event that inspires kids and families to keep their minds and bodies active through the summer months and beyond.

Saturday, April 26

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Southwest YMCA

5181 W. Kenyon Ave.

The fun day includes:

• Bounce house
• Yard games
• Fitness demos
• Crafts and kids story time
• Snacks and water available for purchase

Visit the link below to RSVP for this family event.

Street sweeping season has arrived

Street sweeping season is from April to November. As a general rule in Council District 2 (with a few minor exceptions) everything north of Evans Avenue has a designated street sweeping day that is posted in neighborhoods and cars on those streets need to be moved on the posted day.

South of Evans Avenue is considered a non-posted area. This means, as time permits after sweeping posted areas first, the non-posted streets are swept. However, they are swept only in the months of April, June, August, October and November.

Please call 311 if there is broken glass, nails or something harmful in the street that needs to be cleaned up.

Visit Denver’s online services hub to look up your street sweeping schedule and sign up for email/text reminders.

Loretto Heights Park new playground, shade structure is complete

The Loretto Heights Park is open for play! The renovation of the park is complete and new play areas and a shade structure are ready to be enjoyed by the community.

Denver Parks and Recreation worked with Councilman Kevin Flynn to engage the community during the design phase of the project. The updates that just opened are a result of that process.

The renovated play areas include climbing boulders, which represent the mountains that can be seen from the shade structure. The patterns on the play surface are a nod to the topography of the park. Colors on the furnishings represent a natural Colorado landscape. The new shade structure and picnic area will better serve the many celebrations that take place at the park.

Other improvements include landscaping being converted along the trail on the northeast to support local pollinators, and a new irrigation system.

Funds for the $1.7 million project came from the Elevate Denver Bond, the DPR capital fund and the DPR Legacy Fund.  

Know the facts about measles, vaccine

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment urges Denverites who have not received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, or are not already immune, to get vaccinated against this highly contagious disease.

Large measles outbreaks are occurring throughout the U.S., including in states bordering or close to Colorado. There is one confirmed case in Colorado.

Measles is more than a rash. It's a serious respiratory illness that can lead to severe complications, including hearing loss, brain damage, and in serious cases, death. Measles spreads easily. It can remain in the air for up to two hours and stays on surfaces, too.

To keep your family and community protected, it’s important to have all the facts about measles.

Denver noise ordinance gets updates

Denver has recently updated its noise ordinance to better balance urban life with the well-being of residents. These changes aim to balance the city’s evolving urban landscape and development with public health considerations.

Some of the key changes to the ordinance include making it easier for people to report complaints related to construction noise, earlier start times for trash pick-up, and restrictions for festival events held on private property. Councilman Flynn was the sole no vote because he did not support starting commercial trash pickup at 6 a.m.

Noise is a part of public health, and it affects everyone. So, whether you live, work or own a business in Denver, these updates could impact you. Curious about what’s changing and how it affects you? Read more about the updated noise ordinance online.

Backyard chickens are allowed in Denver

The price of eggs at the grocery store may have you considering producing eggs in your own backyard. The Denver Animal Shelter has tips to help you get started.

In Denver, you’ll need to purchase a food-producing animal permit. To receive a permit, fill out an application then submit it along with a $25 application fee at Denver Animal Shelter. As part of the permitting process, you will need to verify you can provide adequate space, shelter, and fencing for each chicken, including:

• A minimum of 16 square feet of porous land, like ground or grass, not concrete
• Enclosed shelter to protect them from the elements and predators
• Fencing to keep them from escaping
• Keeping them at least 15 feet from homes and fences on adjacent properties

Learn more about the pros and cons of producing your egg farm at the link below.

Animal shelter needs foster homes for pets

Denver Animal Shelter is looking for a few good foster volunteers to care for a surge in kittens and puppies this spring.

As a foster, you will open up your home to animals that are too young for adoption and need extra care. DAS also needs fosters for adult dogs with medical needs, those needing a break from the shelter, nursing moms with babies, shy and fearful dogs, and animals in our Temporary Pet Housing program.

DAS will provide all the pet care supplies, including food, kitty litter, puppy pads, beds, blankets, toys and medical care. To get started, fill out a volunteer application. Our next volunteer orientation is Saturday, April 12.

NWSL proposes women's soccer stadium

The National Women’s Soccer League officials and Denver's new expansion team ownership joined Mayor Mike Johnston to announce a state-of-the-art stadium to be built in time for the 2028 season. The team will play at a temporary site while the permanent location is under construction.

The National Women’s Soccer League’s expansion team in Denver would play its home games inside a 14,500-seat stadium at Santa Fe Yards located near the Broadway Station light rail stop and the Gates District in Denver. The development would feature an accompanying entertainment complex with plans for restaurants, bars, shops and potentially housing.

The project will be the state’s first stadium and entertainment district built specifically for women’s professional sports, and one of the first of its kind in the country.

Travel sized hygiene items needed by DHS

The #BeAGiver Spring Showers Hygiene Drive starts April 14 to collect hygiene items that go to customers served by the Denver Human Services GIVE Center, which sees thousands of people every year experiencing emergency crises.

The most needed items include travel sizes of: 3-in-1 body wash, bar soap, body wipes, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, dish and laundry soap, hand sanitizer, lotion, maxi pads and tampons, razors and shaving cream, sunscreen and toilet paper. Ways to give include:



• Give in Person: Coming April 14, we’ll have a map of collection bins across Denver, or you can schedule a time to drop off your donations at DHS.
• Give Online: Purchase hygiene items on the DHS Amazon Wishlist. Amazon will ship your donation directly to DHS.
• Give Money: Make a tax-deductible monetary donation, and we’ll buy the hygiene products we need. All of the monetary donations provided go to purchasing hygiene items.
• Give your Time: Volunteer to help us sort and count all of the collected hygiene items.

Keep hands on the wheel, off the phone

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Denver's Vision Zero program wants you to take a pledge to be a safer driver. Remember, eyes up, phones down.

On Jan. 1 a new Colorado law went into effect, prohibiting drivers from using a mobile electronic device while driving, though hands-free accessories are permitted. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

Don't put yourself and others at risk. Keep your hands on the wheel, and off your phone.

Denver District Attorney's ScamSpotter

Avoid being scammed by 'travelers' offering cheap home improvements

Spring is here – let the home improvement projects begin! It might make sense to hire someone rather than do the job yourself. Finding a good contractor is important since a home improvement project gone wrong can cost you big time.

Teams of professional home-improvement scammers roam the country scoping out victims. “Travelers,” or “storm chasers,” as they are referred to, move from state to state and city to city offering fast, inexpensive home repairs, roofing, and paving. Hiring the wrong contractor can cost you more than money; it can lead to delays, subpar work, and even legal problems.

Finding a legitimate contractor takes time and effort, but it will pay off in the end.