Catching Up: A Busy Spring & Summer in Jeffco

It has been a little while since my last newsletter, but the spring and summer months have been exceptionally busy as your Jefferson County Commissioner!  

Over the past few months, I have been traveling and working hard on your behalf—attending an economic development conference in Arizona, advocating for local transit at a Mountain Rail Coalition meeting on the Western Slope, and participating in both the Colorado Counties Inc. (CCI) summer conference and the Colorado Counties Acting Together (CCAT) board retreat. Amidst all this county business, I also took some brief personal time on the East Coast to cheer on my daughter during her DCI marching band performances.  

It was a summer packed with both meaningful work and travel, and I am excited to catch you up on everything that’s been happening from April through August. Inside this issue, you’ll find updates on:  

April: Highlighting Jeffco's sustainability and climate resiliency efforts.

May: Pausing data center development to establish thoughtful land-use guardrails.

June: Expanding foothill transit with the new WestTracks seasonal shuttle pilot.

July: Launching our Early Childhood Council and new Wildfire Resiliency Code.

August: Welcoming our new Jefferson County Manager.

Thank you for reading and for staying engaged. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, thoughts, or feedback!

Here are a few quick news items to keep you in the loop—click any link below to read the full story:

• CDOT will shut down portions of I-70 near Kipling over two weekends
• Registration now open for Jefferson Center’s Hope;ink Suicide Awareness Semicolon Tattoo Event Sept. 18 & 19
• Rachel Zenzinger appointed to serve on the Works Allocation Committee
• Jefferson County to Seek Input on Land Use Regulations
• Celebrating the Sesquisemiquincentennial
• JCPH's Shots for Tots & Teens (low or no cost immunizations) now available

April Update: Sustainability and climate resiliency efforts

Spring's arrival in April brought a renewed sense of possibility--the perfect moment to reflect on our county's ongoing commitment to sustainability and taking meaningful action on climate. I wrote about those efforts in the April edition of Engage Jeffco. As a way of highlighting a few of our local efforts, I created an EARTH acronym:

E - Education: Start by exploring the Climate Action Plan and Dashboard. This public resource tracks our progress and provides the metrics our Sustainability Program uses to measure success.

A - Action: Get involved directly! You can volunteer for Parks and Open Space projects, join the Sustainability Commission, or join neighbors in the 2026 Spring Into Sustainability Challenge running from May 1–31.

R - Resiliency: We are actively reducing climate risk by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, conserving natural resources, and diverting waste from landfills through robust recycling programs.

T - TerraSource: This Stewardship Tool helps Jeffco residents and landowners find expert guidance on caring for their land and promoting environmental health across the county.

H - Health: Build a healthy, climate-resilient home by prioritizing energy efficiency and electrification. Upgrading insulation, switching to electric heat pumps, and improving ventilation creates a healthier space for you and a more sustainable future for Jeffco. You can find several resources and programs on the Jefferson County Public Health website.

You can read the full article from the April edition of Engage Jeffco HERE.

May Focus: Enacting a moratorium on data centers

Data centers have repeatedly emerged as a key issue in communities across Colorado, and Jefferson County is no exception. On May 19, the Board voted to issue a 10-month moratorium on data centers within the county. This moratorium applies to new development or rezoning applications, but excludes land already zoned for data centers through a Planned Development—provided the facility is at least 1,500 feet from any dwelling.

The moratorium on data centers isn't about being for or against progress--it's about making sure Jefferson County has the right guardrails in place. Our current code wasn't built for the scale and impact of today's facilities, so we're taking this 10-month pause to study the implications, engage with experts and residents, and draft thoughtful, forward-looking land-use regulations that protect our communities while keeping the door open for responsible development. You can read more about the moratorium HERE.

June Highlight: Expanding foothills transit with the WestTracks Shuttle

Following Memorial Day weekend, Jefferson County launched WestTracks—a free seasonal shuttle pilot program designed to improve access to recreational hotspots while reducing traffic and parking congestion west of Denver. Created through a regional partnership between Jefferson County, the City and County of Denver, and RTD, this service is supported by RTD’s Partnership Program to complement existing transit options.  

Riders can catch the shuttle directly at the Jefferson County Government Center / Golden RTD Station (W Line). The free service connects passengers straight to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, downtown Morrison, Dinosaur Ridge, the Morrison Natural History Museum, and nearby trailheads. No tickets or reservations are required, and shuttles are equipped with bike racks and ADA accessibility.  

The pilot program runs for three summers (2026–2028), operating on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). With our first season officially wrapped up as of Labor Day, we are reviewing ridership data and community feedback to continue improving the route for next summer. You can learn more, view full route details, or share your feedback at the WestTracks Official Site.

July Milestones: Launching Gateway Partnership and new Wildfire Code

In July, two new policies went into effect. First, the Gateway Partnership for Early Childhood officially launched as the Early Childhood Council serving Jefferson, Gilpin, and Clear Creek counties. Managed through Jefferson County Public Health, this regional initiative serves as a dedicated hub to support our youngest residents and their families. The partnership connects parents with early learning resources—including Universal Preschool (UPK) navigation—while offering local child care providers coaching, training, and operational support to strengthen quality care across our urban and mountain communities. You can learn more on the Gateway Partnership website.

Jefferson County’s new Wildfire Resiliency Code also went into effect on July 1 to help protect our communities against wildfire risk. Unanimously approved by the Board, the code applies structure hardening and defensible space requirements to new construction and major renovations in the Wildland Urban Interface—standards proven to boost a home’s survival rate by up to 60%. We deeply appreciate the hard work of our county team, fire district leaders, and residents who helped shape these essential safety standards. Read full details on the Jeffco Regulation Updates page.

August Spotlight: Welcoming new county manager Laura Aldrete

The Board of County Commissioners was pleased to welcome our new county manager, Laura Aldrete, to Jefferson County. She officially began her role on Aug. 24, bringing extensive executive leadership experience that includes serving as Denver’s deputy mayor and executive director of Community Planning and Development.

In case you were wondering, the county manager serves as the chief administrative and executive officer of the county. Laura’s primary purpose will be to oversee the day-to-day operations of Jefferson County so that elected officials—like the Board of County Commissioners—can focus on setting big-picture policies, laws, and community goals.

Raised in Jefferson County and a proud graduate of Wheat Ridge High School, Laura brings both local roots and deep expertise to the role. We are thrilled to welcome her home and look forward to the energy and community-focused leadership she brings to Jeffco.