District News

Denver Water Summer Watering Rules

Summer watering rules in effect through Oct. 1

Colorado’s climate is warming, and it’s more important than ever to use water efficiently. Summer watering rules are in effect now through Oct. 1 and will help all of us save the precious resource that is water.

Denver Water is asking customers to follow the rules, which are:

• Water during cooler times of the day — lawn watering is NOT allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Water no more than three days per week.
• Do not allow water to pool in gutters, streets and alleys.
• Do not waste water by letting it spray on concrete and asphalt.
• Repair leaking sprinkler systems within 10 days.
• Do not irrigate while it is raining or during high winds.
• Use a hose nozzle with a shut-off valve when washing your car.

Temperatures are expected to be seasonal as we head into the summer, so please ease into lawn and garden watering. Currently, Denver Water does not expect additional watering restrictions for its service area. You can read more about water supply conditions here.

If you see water waste in Denver parks or water use that does not meet the rules, call 311. To report water waste anywhere else, call Denver Water at 303-893-2444 or report it online.

Outdoor Warning Siren Testing in D5

Safety agencies within the City and County of Denver plan to test our Outdoor Warning Sirens and opt-in Reverse Emergency Notification alerts (REN alerts) from May 9 through May 21. These tests will increase Denver’s overall preparedness by ensuring the systems are properly working should we need to deploy them in a real emergency. 

The schedule for testing is as follows:

• Tuesday, May 17th
• 8:00 AM: Hale
• 10:00 AM: Montclair
• 12:00 PM: Washington/ Virginia Vale
• 2:00 PM: Hilltop
• Thursday, May 19th
• 2:00 PM Lowry
• Saturday, May 21st
• 2:00 PM East Colfax

Prior to testing, we encourage residents to sign up to receive REN alerts. You can learn all about these and other alerts in our article about them below in the Citywide News section! Visit the emergency testing website to learn more about our emergency testing efforts or to sign up for these alerts. 

Robinson Park Playground Temporary Closure

The Parks Department notified our office of the recent results of their Poured-in-Place (PIP) testing. The area under the monkey bar play feature failed and does not provide adequate fall protection. As such, that area of PIP will need to be removed and replaced. Since it is nearly impossible to match PIP mixes, they will remove a semi-circular portion of the blue PIP and replace it with the green PIP that is used elsewhere on site. 

Unfortunately, because the feature has been identified as a fall hazard, Halcyon, the consultant team, will be fencing it off until repairs can be completed. The PIP material takes about two weeks to procure, and then the repair will be scheduled by the subcontractor. Our office will continue to provide updates as more information, including a timeline, becomes available.  

Slow Down Signs Are Back!

You might have seen them around. By popular demand our neighborhood SLOW DOWN Signs are back! If you would like a sign or signs please email us [email protected] or pop by our distribution event at Montclair Rec Center on Tuesday, June 7 from 4 to 6 PM.

Zoning & Hearing Information

If you are interested in commenting during a hearing, please review the guidelines and FAQs, and sign up to speak here. Sign-up for public comment at a hearing begins 45 minutes prior to the Committee’s scheduled start time and ends 15 minutes before the meeting begins. Click here for information about how to participate virtually.

There are currently three open rezoning requests in District 5. 

• 1450 Olive St. was filed on Feb 9, 2022. The Planning Board public hearing was held on April 20, the LUTI Committee hearing was held on May 3, and the City Council hearing is scheduled for June 20.
• 5101 Leetsdale Dr was filed on Feb 9, 2022. The Planning Board public hearing is scheduled for May 18.
• 1170 Holly St was filed on March 15, 2022. The Planning Board public hearing was held on May 4, the LUTI Committee hearing is scheduled for May 24, and the City Council hearing is scheduled for July 18.

Upcoming public hearings 

*dates are subject to change.

May 16

• 6872 Argonne St & 19300 E 72nd Ave
• Far Northeast Area Plan Amendment

May 23

• 480 S Tejon St
• 2640 Grape St
• 1286 S Gilpin St

June 6

• 4401 S Quebec St
• Expanding Housing Affordability
• 38th and Blake Station Area

June 13

• 3096 S Roslyn St
• 2070 S Franklin St
• 850 S Tejon St

Citywide News

Help Shape DOTI's Transportation Spending Priorities

Throughout 2021, the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) collected feedback for Denver Moves Everyone 2050, a citywide plan for the future of transportation in our city, where everyone can get where they need to go — safely, conveniently, equitably and sustainably. To date, public feedback shaped Denver’s transportation vision and goals, setting the foundation for this two-year planning effort.

Now, DOTI is collecting feedback to understand preferences about how to spend transportation dollars to make travel better, and the City needs your input! Visit their website to let DOTI know how you think Denver should spend transportation dollars.

DOTI will be hosting a live community conversation to showcase how transportation funding works and discuss ideas for how we spend dollars in the future. Mark your calendars for this live virtual meeting and sign-up via the link below:

       WHEN: Tuesday, May 17, 5 – 6:30 p.m.

       WHERE: Online at bit.ly/dmepublicmtg3

Farmers Market Season is Here

Spring is here and Summer is on it's way and that means farmers markets are up and running. Below is a list of farmers markets that are currently taking place on public property, with more on the way over the next few weeks:

• South Pearl St Farmers Market, Sundays, May 1 – November 13, 9 am – 1 pm, S Pearl St between E Arkansas Ave and E Iowa Ave
• City Park Farmers Market, Saturdays, May 14 – October 29, 8 am – 1 pm, 2551 E Colfax Ave
• Highlands Farmers Market, Sundays, May 22 – October 16, 9 am – 1 pm, 32nd Ave between Osceola St & Lowell Blvd

More Information on Denver's Alert and Warn Systems

The City and County of Denver maintains a number of alert and warning systems and mechanisms that can be utilized to alert our residents, workers, and visitors to an ongoing or impending emergency situation in Denver. These range from text/voice/email alerts, social media, traditional media, outdoor warning sirens, and even door-to-door notifications. The office of Emergency Management has shared an overview of two of the systems, Reverse Emergency Notification and Wireless Emergency Alerts.

Reverse Emergency Notifications

• Sent by Denver911
• Used for making residents and businesses aware of certain threats and hazards (e.g. certain law enforcement activity, shelter-in-place alerts, limited evacuation requests, etc.)
• Are sent only to homes or businesses in the specific geographic area of the threat or hazard.
• Alert is tied to the address of the person or business that signed up to receive the alert. For example, if you signed up with your home address, you will only receive alerts that impact your home’s physical location even if you are located somewhere else at that moment (out of town, at work, etc.)
• Only persons who have either signed up (ie, opted in) to these alerts or have landlines or cell phone numbers that are available through third-party sources will receive these notifications, so it’s important that people sign up to receive them.

Wireless Emergency Alerts

• Can be sent by Denver911, OEM, or DEN. Can also be sent by state and federal agencies.
• Used for making residents, businesses, and visitors aware of certain threats and hazards (e.g. stay off roadways during winter storms, social unrest curfew, COVID stay-at-home order, wildfire, tornado warnings, amber alerts hazardous materials release, etc.)
• Are sent only to cell phones in the specific geographic area of the threat or hazard.
• Alert is tied to location of the cell phone, not a home or business address.
• All newer cell phones made in the last 7-10 years are capable of receiving WEA alerts and all phones come with WEA alerts already enabled. However, users can disable these alerts in the phone settings. We strongly discourage users from disabling these alerts and encourage them to check their settings to ensure they are enabled.

Affordable Connectivity Program

Did you know that low income households qualify for affordable high-speed internet but need to sign up for the ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program) to reap this benefit? 

What you need to know:

• 40% of households in the country qualify for this needs-based program
• To see if you qualify, visit the website and view internet providers in your area
• 'Affordable' means plans are $30/month, no extra fees
• 'High speed' means download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and no data caps

Arbor Day Photo Contest

Take part in Denver’s Arbor Day Photo Contest! 

Denver Parks and Recreation’s Office of the City Forester is celebrating Arbor Day for the entire month of May by inviting all Denver tree lovers to take part in an Arbor Day Photo Contest. Residents who submit the best photos and stories will have a chance to receive an Ace Hardware gift card.  It is easy to participate. 

1. Snap a photo. 
2. Post it to your social media account along with #DenverLovesTrees 
3. Include a story about why you love this tree - or trees in general (make sure your profile is public) 

Don’t have social media? Or want to keep your profile private? Email [email protected] with your photo and story instead. The entry deadline is May 27 at 11:59 p.m. MT. Visit the photo contest webpage to learn more. 

Family Business Preservation Program

Denver Economic Development & Opportunity in partnership with the Center for Community Wealth Building (CCWB) are launching the Family Business Preservation Program (FBPP). The FBPP is business support initiative designed to assist small, locally owned businesses to strengthen their operations, mitigate involuntary displacement, and increase multigenerational business ownership. Priority will be given to businesses located in the ten NEST neighborhoods considered by DEDO to be highly vulnerable to resident and business displacement.

Small, family-owned microbusinesses are part of what makes up the unique culture and character of Denver neighborhoods. Those microbusinesses are most vulnerable to crises and economic shocks. It is critical to provide them with as much educational and financial support as possible, because doing so builds our local economic resiliency and community cohesion. Applications are now open and close at 5:00 p.m. (MST) on May 31, 2022. Applications can be submitted online via the application portal.

Mayor's Youth Commission

Apply for the Mayor's Youth Commission, today! Develop leadership skills, build friendships and professional connections, and use your voice to identify solutions to issues that matter most to youth.

To apply, youth must be a Denver resident or attending Denver Public Schools (high school) in 2022 - 2023. Adults must be employed with a youth-serving organization or the City and County of Denver.

Be at the table and in the room where decisions are made. We need your voice, we need your presence! Visit the webiste to learn more and apply. 

Community Events & Meetings

Join Montclair Recreation Center staff on May 15, 2022, for a fun community open house! Check out the center's amenities, meet the staff, learn Karate, jump in the bounce house, make crafts, and more! See flyer for details.

Learn the details here!

Immerse yourself in the artistry, function and societal perceptions armor shaped when Age of Armor: Treasures from the Higgins Collection at the Worcester Art Museum opens at the Denver Art Museum on Sunday, May 15. More than 100 objects will explore the historical context and practical functions of armor as well as the sentiments about armor throughout time, from the Middle Ages into the modern era. Learn more here!

Please join Denver Health in a conversation to learn about the work we have been doing to support health and wellness within our communities on May 16 at 11 AM or 7 PM. They will discuss the Community Benefit work as well as the Hospital Transformation Project (HTP). 

Sign up for the event here!

The Road Ahead

Denver’s elected officials, policymakers, developers, transportation leaders, advocates, and more are joining forces to discuss the transportation issues affecting Denver, the region, and our nation.

Participate in the conversation at The Road Ahead 2022: Creating a Sustainable and Equitable Transportation System. Thursday, May 26, 8:30 – 11:30 am at Denver Botanic Gardens.

Sign up here!

The Lowry Foundation & LCMA along with HopeCycle are joining forces to provide a quick safety check up of your bike for summer riding on Sat, June 11, 10-2.

Read more about the event here.

Support the vital work of The Lowry Foundation while enjoying great food, libations, and ice cream at the Lowry Beer Garden and Rocket Ice Cream. 20% of all sales benefit The Lowry Foundation (dine in and take out) Tuesday, June 9, 5 to 9 p.m.

Read more about the event here!

Registered Neighborhood Organizations

Denver is a unique city in promoting greater citizen involvement through organized neighborhood associations. Currently, there are 78 statistical neighborhoods represented by more than 200 registered neighborhood organizations (RNOs), Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and Homeowner Associations (HOAs).

In its defined geographic area, an RNO will normally address neighborhood quality of life issues - such as traffic, development and zoning, crime, communication and licensing, and promote social activities to enhance residential spirit, developing a sense of community, and encourage resident participation. RNOs meet regularly and many send out newsletters to keep residents informed on neighborhood issues and events.

Get more involved in your community by joining your Registered Neighborhood Organization (RNO). Below is a list of Council District 5 community organizations. You can also find out which RNO you belong to by entering your address or selecting a location on the map.

• Bellevue-Hale Neighborhood Association
• Colfax Mayfair Business Improvement District
• Cranmer Park- Hilltop Civic Association
• Crestmoor Park (2nd Filing) Homes Association
• Crestmoor Park Neighborhood Association
• Dakota Hill Homeowners Association
• East Colfax Neighborhood Association
• Fax Partnership
• Historic Montclair Community Association, Inc.
• Lowry Community Master Association
• Lowry United Neighborhoods
• Mayfair Neighbors, Inc.
• Mayfair Park Neighborhood Association
• Park Forest Homeowners Association
• Preservation of Residential South Hilltop Neighborhood Association
• Rangeview Neighborhood Association
• South Hilltop Neighborhood Association
• Virginia Vale Community Association
• Windsor Gardens Association
• Winston Downs Community Association