Jefferson County wants your feedback on locations for new development, identified wildfire hazard areas, and transportation. The county will hold three public meetings on the next milestones in the Together Jeffco Plan and Regulation Update project.

After public outreach last summer and fall, the Together Jeffco project consultants used feedback from in-person meetings and online activities to create draft documents, plans, and maps. Presentation materials and feedback tools will be available at the open house meetings and online.

Open House Meetings:

On Feb. 13, 2023, K9 Graffit was shot and killed while assisting Golden Police Department and Colorado School of Mines with a search on an armed suspect. In honor of Graffit, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office selected Colorado Pet Pantry as the recipient of all proceeds collected during the Pet Food and Supply Drive. Donations will be accepted through Feb. 29, at three locations in Jeffco.

Ballots for the Presidential Primary were mailed Feb. 12 to all eligible voters in Jefferson County. Voters registered as Republicans, Democrats, or Unaffiliated will receive ballots—minor party members are not eligible to vote in this election. If you are an Unaffiliated voter you will receive two ballots but can only vote one. Voting will close March 5 at 7 p.m. Questions? Contact the Elections team.

Jefferson County Treasurer Jerry DiTullio announced that a property tax relief bill that was recently passed by the Colorado Legislature impacted the timing of 2024 property tax bills. A delay in certification of county tax rolls led to a delay in property taxes being mailed. The delay gave taxing authorities time to certify their mill levies and county assessors more time to gather data. Don't want to wait for your tax bill to arrive in the mail? Jeffco property owners can view and pay their tax bill online.

Each quarter the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office presents the Law Enforcement Authority (LEA) Report to the Jeffco Commissioners.

The Sheriff's Office is happy to share that "focus crimes" significantly decreased from Q4 of 2022 compared to Q4 2023. The Sheriff's Office categorizes "focus crimes" as property crimes such as residential and commercial burglaries, motor vehicle break-ins, and motor vehicle thefts. Read the full LEA Report - stats for focus crimes are on page 6.

On Jan. 29, Jefferson County held a ribbon cutting at Jefferson County Public Health to commemorate the launch of a new electric vehicle (EV) pilot program. Jeffco Commissioners Lesley Dahlkemper and Andy Kerr joined county staff to kickoff the program to bring the first all-electric, zero-emissions vehicles to the county’s fleet.

Simms Street is currently closed to through traffic from 112th Avenue to State Highway 128. This closure is estimated to be in place until fall 2024. Once completed, the project will result in a new three-lane roadway, enhanced streetscape, and additional intersection capacity at Highway 128 and Eldorado Boulevard, which will intersect at the northern edge of the project.

Jefferson County Open Space will host two volunteer Recruitment Fairs at our office headquarters, 700 Jefferson County Pkwy #100 in Golden. Stop by and speak with staff and current volunteers to learn more, or check out our website.

Jefferson County Elections Center tours begin in the lobby at 3500 Illinois Street in Golden. Tours last approximately 40 minutes but can run longer if there are a lot of questions. Tour group sizes are limited.

For security purposes, we require attendees to sign in. Photography, videos, or recording of any kind is not allowed. Learn more and sign up to attend a tour.

Join Jeffco Open Space on Feb. 23, from 5:30–8:30 p.m. at Lookout Mountain Nature Center to learn strategies for painting nature’s endless hues in watercolor. Recognize detailed colors and sharpen your field observation and identification skills. All ages with an adult are welcome. Registration is free but is required.

The Outside 285 Regional Partnership is a collaboration of agencies, wildlife advocates and recreation user groups working together to develop shared solutions for public lands planning in the US 285 corridor southwest of Denver. The focus of the multi-stakeholder collaborative is to conserve wildlife habitat while improving trail-based, non-motorized recreation experiences. Your input will help with direct future planning efforts.

Do you have a passion for connecting youth to the outdoors? Do you possess a sense of curiosity and adventure? ENOR Environmental Discovery Camp seeks dynamic individuals to join its team. ENOR is celebrating 50 years of getting kids into the outdoors for magical learning experiences, join us for the celebration! See the flyer for position details.

Quick links to Commissioner Information:

The 2024 Budget was adopted by the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 14, 2023. Following the conclusion of the 2024 budget process, county staff quickly pivoted to focus on the 2025 budget and began work earlier than in years past.

As we begin to plan for 2025, it is important to note that the county has been navigating a structural imbalance in our General Fund for several years. Because of this, budget reductions have been made and are still needed unless the county is able to find a sustainable revenue source. Over the last few years, federal COVID funds have helped offset deep budget cuts, but these dollars will end in 2024. Read the full article from Commissioner Kerr.

Jefferson County's Road and Bridge Division is responsible for snow removal on 2,945 lane miles of paved roads and 647 lane miles of gravel roads in the unincorporated areas of the county. Plowing and application of traction materials takes place in four phases during a storm. Get all of the details at www.jeffco.us/snow.

Pick your brand; Stanley, Yeti, Hydroflask, Nalgene – there are a plethora of branded options out there to support your reusable mug habit. Getting the new color is “on trend” at the moment. We’re here to remind you that a reusable container needs anywhere from 10-41 uses before it will have a lower carbon impact than using the same number of single-use cups, and disposing of them. On average, Americans consume three cups of coffee per day, equaling 400 million cups daily in the United States.

Jefferson County's voter turnout dashboard has been upgraded. This dashboard reports voter turnout in the weeks leading up to each election, and unofficial results after 7 p.m. on the last day of voting. Turnout is updated daily on business days while ballots are being accepted or counted. Results are updated periodically until the count is complete. Check out the new turnout dashboard.

On July 1, Jeffco Human Services will assume the role of the Case Management Agency for Jefferson and Clear Creek Counties. Subscribe to the CMA at the Moment blog to receive monthly updates on the transition to becoming a fully-fledged CMA. To subscribe, scroll to the green "Blog" heading, then select email or texts for the Case Management Agency Blog.

Jefferson County has been installing RRFBs at locations that see high pedestrian use. Motorists and pedestrians should be aware that a flashing RRFB is not the same as a red light, and drivers are not required to stop. When pedestrians wish to cross the street, they must push the button to activate the warning lights, wait for a clear gap, and then cross. The lights warn motorists to be aware that pedestrians are present. View an RRFB flyer or visit our website for more information.

Arvada WinterFest is an outdoor multi-cultural celebration on Saturday, Feb. 24 at McIlvoy Park in Olde Town Arvada. The free event features activities for all ages, including a pet parade and ugly sweater contest, carriage rides, live ice sculpting, beer garden, and more.

Does your organization provide programs and services supporting youth activities? Apply for a grant from Lakewood’s 2024 Youth Program Grant, beginning March 1. After projects are selected and the disbursement is approved by Lakewood City Council, city staff will work with the applicant to disburse funds.

Jeffco Prosperity Partners (JPP) is thrilled to announce a fundraiser in partnership with Windy Saddle Cafe in Golden. During the month of February, Windy Saddle will generously donate a portion of its sales to support JPP’s mission of breaking the cycle of generational poverty in Jefferson County. We invite you to swing by Windy Saddle this month to support JPP families in building brighter futures.

In March, the Lakewood Cultural Center and Civic Center galleries will host exhibitions investigating the role of size within artistic practice, ceramic sculptures, and the wildlife of Lakewood. This spring, work by Jeffco teachers, middle school students, and International Baccalaureate students will be featured. Attend an opening reception for “Get Involved; Civic Engagement” on March 5 at Heritage Lakewood.

Congratulations to Amy Trujillo, who was awarded the Everyday Hero award from Denver7 and West Shore Homes. Amy provides rides to seniors through Wheat Ridge's Outdoor Recreation Program, taking them on trips all across Colorado.

Colorado Gives Foundation is working to help our neighbors prepare for and find good jobs. ABetterOffer is one way learners are finding job training that leads to better jobs without debt. It’s also helping employers find and hire skilled employees. Learn more and find out how you can get involved.

Throughout the spring, the Jeffco Thrives 2025 Alliance will meet to explore community-driven interests; competitive staff compensation, safe and secure environments, and High School Reimagined—to help the district identify investments to be funded by a future mill levy override request to Jefferson County voters. All Jeffco residents are invited to participate and share their interests.

Volunteering with children in the court system is a profoundly impactful and rewarding experience. As a dedicated volunteer, you play a crucial role in providing support and advocacy for children who find themselves entangled in the legal process. Find out how to get involved with CASA of Jefferson & Gilpin Counties.

Do you want to learn how to support someone facing a mental health crisis? Mental Health First Aid prepares you to help in a mental health emergency, making the difference in the lives of those around you. Sign up for one of the upcoming trainings.

Lakewood Cultural Center Presents a spring season of thrilling and unexpected performances including a cello/piano duo, jazz fusion supergroup, wind ensemble, revival of The Music Man, and culminating with an energetic flamenco dance troupe. Purchase tickets and view the full spring schedule online. Tickets start at $25.

Join Jeffco Clerk & Recorder Amanda Gonzalez and City of Wheat Ridge Clerk Steve Kirkpatrick for a Ballots & Breadsticks event on Tues., Feb. 27, from 12-1:30 p.m. at Pietras Pizzaria in Wheat Ridge. Learn about the voting process and drop off your ballot at Anderson Park across the street. Get more information the Wheat Ridge website.

Foothills Park & Recreation District is hiring for both current job openings and for this summer. Meet the Foothills team and learn about the great benefits and fun atmosphere that come with working in parks and recreation. The Job Fair is Sunday, Feb. 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Peak Community & Wellness Center, 6612 S. Ward Street in Littleton. View current job openings and apply today.

Compete with other spelling whizzes in the 50+ Spelling Bee, sponsored by the Apex Annual Active Adult sponsors, including the Brookdales, Humana, Devoted Health, Relay Colorado, Senior Placement of Denver, Kaiser Permanente, and Optimal Aging Medicare Solutions. Prizes and refreshments included. Contestants must be 50 and over.

The City of Wheat Ridge has invested American Rescue Plan dollars into Jefferson Center, our local community behavioral health center, to address growing mental health needs. As part of that partnership, we're offering a series of classes that provide concrete tools and information to help people improve their mental health. Join us for the following three-part series. Lunch will be provided to those who RSVP.

The Taste of the West food and beverage festival will take place Thursday, June 6, from 5-8 p.m. at the Foothills Fieldhouse. There is no cost for food and drink vendors to participate. Limited business booths are also available. Tickets go on sale March 1.