Speak with CW Sawyer about the issues that are on your mind! As Denver begins easing restrictions, CW Sawyer will hold occasional face-to-face, drop-in meetings at locations in D5. Unless otherwise indicated below, Office Hours will be held virtually by private phone or Zoom appointment. Please email our office or call 720-337-5555 to reserve a virtual meeting time. If you're unavailable for these dates, please contact our office to schedule an appointment at another time. Dates and times are subject to change.

Please help us welcome Felicia as an Aide in our office! Felicia has worked with the City for more than 15 years, most recently with Denver Parks & Rec, where she oversaw facility operations and program management at Montbello Recreation Center in Far Northeast Denver. Felicia has worked in several neighborhoods across Denver and has thus far dedicated most of her career to positive youth development in recreation programs and services. In 2011 Felicia was an integral part of the opening team at Central Park Recreation Center, which later earned her team Denver’s 5281 Employee Recognition Award for outstanding service and dedication. Felicia is passionate about community engagement and looks forward to working with our D5 constituents!

The Trust for Public Land has been working with Denver Urban Gardens, Denver Parks and Recreation, and the community on an art project to be installed at New Freedom Park. On Thursday, June 17 at 3:15pm, a celebration and dedication of the sculpture: "For the Children", created by local artist Robert Tully, will be held at the park. Click here for a full project description.

The City of Denver is taking steps to move forward in bringing center-running Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to East Colfax Avenue. As Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) says, "Building on years of study, planning and significant community input, the project team will now complete the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and preliminary design of the project. These elements will be critical in the pursuit of additional grant funding, final project planning and the ultimate construction." 

You may be aware that many D5 residents have voiced considerable concerns about how this project will affect our community, particularly just south of Colfax Ave. Click here to learn more about the project and sign up to receive email updates and see the graphic below for an overview. If you would like to voice your thoughts and feedback, DOTI wants to hear from you, so plan to attend one or both of these Community Workshops:

Wednesday, July 21

5:30pm - 7:00pm

5:30pm - 7:00pm

On May 24, Mayor Hancock announced a new collaborative, community-based approach to address violent crime in specific areas of the City, as well as a plan to build on years of reforms and continuously improve policing. Click here to read the press release. In collaboration, on May 26, City Council President Gilmore announced that Council will convene a Public Safety Working Group to review and determine next steps based on the Denver Task Force to Reimagine Policing and Public Safety’s community recommendations.

The Council Working Group will be chaired by CM Paul Kashmann. CW Pro Tem Jamie Torres will serve as the Vice Chair and will initially be seated with CMs Candi CdeBaca, Kevin Flynn, Robin Kniech, and Amanda Sawyer. Meetings will be noticed and open to the public. Public Safety Working Group will have its first meeting on Monday June 28 at 1:30pm and the second meeting will be on July 12. Click here for information on all Committee Meetings. The working group will also look to the Office of Social Justice and Innovation for partnership to help evaluate and dismantle racism within our city’s institutional and structural government systems, policies, and practices. 

Concept designs for the proposed neighborhood bikeway on E.12th Ave. - between Madison St and Yosemite St - are online and open for community feedback through Friday, June 18. Click here to learn more about this project and other "Backbone Connection" projects that are ongoing through Elevate Denver

Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) approved an application from Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company, LLC requesting an extension to their current noise variance for nighttime work associated with their Highline Canal Underpass Project, a pedestrian underpass at the High Line Canal near the intersection of E. Mississippi Ave. and S. Parker Rd. in Denver. While the timeline to complete the work has been extended into September, the overall number of nights of the work hasn't changed.

​Noise variances are necessary when nighttime construction work is being proposed and noise levels above existing conditions are expected. Occasional night work began on this project in November 2020 and was originally scheduled to be completed by June 30 but has been extended due to staffing and logistical impacts from COVID-19 and various weather events. Questions? Click here to email BPHE staff or call 720-865-5364.

You may have noticed that two stormwater improvement projects near the northwest part of District 5 are creating traffic headaches for some and causing cut-through traffic on local streets. Like some of us on the D5 Team, you may say that is an understatement.

Some roads are closed near E. 14th Ave. and Jackson St. allow Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) to install larger underground stormwater pipes to more effectively manage the significant amounts of stormwater that flow through this area, and increase flood protection for residents and businesses (see photo from 14th & Krameria during 2015 flooding). DOTI hoped to complete this project in early May, but late snow and frequent rainstorms have resulted in a delay because it is unsafe for this construction work to take place during or shortly after such weather events. Work is now expected to be completed at the end of June.

Denver Water Updates: Community Meetings on Lead Reduction Program; Citizens Advisory Committee's Open Position

Have you heard about the Lead Reduction Program but want more information? Have you received a water pitcher and filter from Denver Water and are wondering how to get the most out of your water pitcher and filter? Denver Water is hosting four virtual community meetings to answer your questions about the Lead Reduction Program and share tips to help you get the most out of your water pitcher and filter. While each meeting is targeted to a different part of the city, meeting content will be consistent. Meetings will be from 5:00pm - 6:00pm on the dates below. Click here for more information and to sign up. Spanish interpretation will be available. 

Denver Water’s 10-member Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is seeking a new Denver citizen representative for a three-year term. This volunteer committee advises the utility and its board on a range of issues while encouraging and coordinating public participation in policy development. Applications are due Wednesday, July 14 by 5:00pm. Questions? Contact Ashley Denault, Denver Water staff liaison to CAC at 303-634-3429.

Click here to learn m ore about qualifications and to apply.

Did you know that the Historic Eisenhower Chapel in Lowry is turning 80 years old this year? A 1940s-style celebration is planned for Saturday, August 21, 4:00pm - 8:00pm. Click here for tickets and more information. The party will feature:

Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) is adjusting trash, recycling and compost collection routes to operate more efficiently. In late June/early July, DOTI will notify those affected customers that beginning on August 2, their collection day will change. Some residents won’t experience any change at all. Extra trash collection services will not change in 2021 as a result of these routing improvements

After the initial notice in June/July, DOTI will mail a Wastewise newsletter to all customers, indicating what day of the week they will set out their bins, starting August 2. In July, a second reminder will be mailed only to customers whose collection day is changing. Click here to learn more, check your recycling schedule and get reminders about collection days, Or download the Denver Trash and Recycling app.

June is Homeownership Month and Elevation Community Land Trust (ECLT) is celebrating, in partnership with the City of Denver. In D5, ECLT has worked to bring the stability and opportunity of homeownership to communities, and to promote racial equity through the creation of intergenerational wealth. 55% of ECLT homeowners are households of color. Click here to learn more about the individual and community benefits of ECLT homeownership

In District 5 ECLT has: 

Remember to bring your own bag when you shop! Starting July 1, Denver’s Bring Your Own Bag program will require all retail stores to charge 10 cents for each disposable carryout bag provided at checkout. The mandatory fee will apply to paper, plastic, and even compostable bags to encourage shoppers to use reusable bags and help reduce the number of disposable bags that are used, littered, and landfilled. Click here for more information, including a list of bag giveaway sites and events. Our office will have bags to hand out at SLOW DOWN sign pick-up sites/dates listed below.

Our office has more SLOW DOWN signs, and you can pick up yours, as well as a free shopping bag on June 18, 4:00pm-6:00pm at Palmer Elementary, 995 Grape St. Remember to adhere to Denver's sign ordinance, including rules to keep signs in good repair and out of the right-of-way. If you're replacing an old or damaged sign, please consider recycling it or any other yard signs to keep them out of the landfill.

If you are interested in commenting during a hearing, please take a look at the guidelines and FAQs, and sign up to speak here. Sign-up begins 45 minutes prior to the Committee’s scheduled start time and ends 15 minutes before the meeting begins.

Upcoming hearings on re-zoning requests in other Districts are listed below - dates are subject to change. For more information on proposed rezonings around the city and their public hearings visit the Denver Community Planning and Development website. If you don't have internet access, you can still attend Council meetings by phone. Call 720-928-9299 and enter the Meeting ID of the meeting you wish to listen to. Click here to learn more and to see a Meeting Calendar.

On June 7, Mayor Hancock nominated Phil Washington to be the next CEO of Denver International Airport (DEN), pending City Council approval. Washington most recently led Los Angeles County’s regional transportation authority and before that he headed up metro Denver’s Regional Transportation District. Click here to learn more. CW Sawyer has called this nomination out off consent in order to have a conversation with this nominee the during Business, Arts, Workforce & Aviation Services Committee meeting, tentatively scheduled for June 28 at 1:30pm. Click here for more information. 

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) has launched the Strategic Transportation Plan, Denver Moves Everyone 2050 (DME), a citywide plan to identify ways to make it easier for Denver residents, employees, and visitors to get where they want to go. DME seeks to be a visionary transportation plan, looking 30 years into the future, that will result in a fiscally constrained investment program, as well as unconstrained project, program and policy recommendations. Click here to see a full briefing presentation. The plan will take approximately two years to complete, beginning in early 2021 and finishing in late 2022 - see timeline below. Click here for more information and to sign up for email updates or email Sam Piper, Principal City Planner with DOTI. 

Breakfast and lunch will once again be available for pick-up at school sites across Denver Public Schools (DPS). Click here to for guidelines and a full list of summer food distribution sites and schedules.

Looking for opportunities to learn, volunteer, or create this summer? Do you need support with basic needs, such as food, housing, mental health resources, COVID-19 or internet access? Click here to access DPS' Summer Resource Guide, and click here for more Family and Community Resources on the Equity and Engagement website.

Earlier last year, Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST) began a five-year strategic planning process to help set the direction of the city’s work on affordable housing and homelessness resolution. Through significant stakeholder input, HOST has identified initial goals and wants your input to help shape the plan and their priorities. Click here to take the community survey - open through Thursday, June 24 - and provide input on initial strategic planning goals. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Arabic and Vietnamese. Click here for more information on the planning effort and to sign up for updates on the process.

The new Behavioral Health Solutions Center (BHSC) at 2929 W. 10th Ave. in West Denver is the City's first multifunctional facility to address the well-being of all residents via first responder referrals. This removes barriers and improves care coordination while promoting equity in mental health and substance-misuse care systems. The center will provide urgently needed assistance as people recover from a behavioral health crisis through brief inpatient stays, transitioning to treatment of up to thirty days. The BHSC is operated by the Mental Health Center of Denver under contract to the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment.

One of our city's most popular community-building programs is back for 2021! Registration is open to host block parties, picnics, and service projects with the focus on small, organic gatherings, this year from Saturday, July 31 - Sunday, August 8. During this week, the City will once again waive the cost of permits and provide free barricades to close off streets. Click here to learn more, register, and begin the permit processing.

Food Trucks will be at these Lowry parks, 5:00pm-8:00pm with food to purchase - picnic in the park or grab & go! Click here for updated info on food trucks.

Click here for the Zoom meeting link.

Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR) will hold a virtual public meeting about the donation of Axton Ranch Gilpin County and Jefferson Counties.

Denver Art Museum Free Day

Check out two new exhibitions: Each/Other: Marie Watt and Cannupa Hanska Luger and Simphiwe Ndzube: Oracles of the Pink Universe; and the new Storytelling Studio.

Co-hosted by Cranmer Park/Hilltop Civic Association and CW Sawyer: food trucks, Denver Fire Department engine for kids to check out, a view of the Glendale fireworks, and a concert by The Denver Municipal Band. Click here for more information, including updates and specific food trucks.

Click here for more information and the 2021 Rockies Senior Day Schedule.

Click here to access the 2021 Senior Day Renewal Form.