“SUN” Meeting Minutes- August 2017
Here are the minutes for the August Stapleton United Neighbors “SUN” meeting, which included topics such as:
-Animal Protection
-Updates on major legislation and initiatives regarding immigrant protection, general obligation bond, participatory budgeting
-Denver Public Health
-Nourish Co-op
-Groundbreaking at Inspire
(The following was copy and pasted from the “Stapleton Community Updates September 2017” email from Stapleton United Neighbors)
Please refer to the September 1st Front Porch SUN spot for detail about SUN’s upcoming events: https://frontporchne.com/article/sun-september-events/
Activity Fair
At this time, we need to cancel the SUN Club and Group Expo previously announced for September 16th. We are unable at the moment to bring together everything needed for a successful event, but hope to hold the event at some point in the future when we are in a better position to bring together the critical mass of organizations needed to make such an event worthwhile. If you would like to be included in planning discussions for a future event, please contact SUN Board Member Mark Mehringer at mehringer@gmail.com.
Grand Opening of new Stapleton Parks
Opening Celebration for the newest parks in Stapleton. At Seven park locations between Northfield Blvd and 56th Ave, there will be a tent with educational information presented by parks staff, park designers, and other knowledgeable representatives. Saturday, September 16th from 11am-2pm
Park Names:
North Stapleton Bark Park
Prairie Meadows Park
Sandhills Prairie
Cottonwood Gallery Pavilion
Uplands Park Pavilion
Uplands Park
Conservatory Green
September SUN meetings
Tuesday Sept. 19, 6:30-8pm: The entire outreach meeting will be dedicated to education, including a brief School Board Candidate Forum. The Start of the SUN board meeting will be delayed by 30 minutes to start at 8pm in order to allow adequate time to cover all aspects of the Education-focused meeting.
October SUN meetings
SUN is devoting most of the Oct. 17 Outreach meeting (6:30–7:30pm) to issues concerning parks and greenspace. Please save this date and come with your questions and comments. If you can, send questions, comments and concerns ahead of time to Lucia Correll, lcorrell@dotnet.net, so that the right knowledgeable person can be invited to provide an in-person answer. The SUN board meeting will immediately follow (7:30-8:45pm).
14th Annual Stapleton Kickball Tournament:
As previously announced, this year’s Kickball Tournament has been cancelled due to issues with the fields.
Minutes from the August SUN Outreach meeting: 6:30-7:30, Central Park Rec Center
Crime in all categories is down year to date.
Are sounds that we hear fireworks or gunshots? A: Mostly fireworks.
An upcoming event (in August) with Walmart on Quebec –DPD will offer license plate screws, hot dogs, bike registration.
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Other upcoming opportunity (added after meeting):
Denver Police District Five Community Meeting. The meeting will be Thursday September 21, 2017 at 6:00 pm at the Community Hub at The Shops at Northfield
Denver Police Department: Updates, Marika Putnam D5 CRO
Denver Animal Protection: compliance and enforcement as it pertains to animal welfare in Denver.
Julian Wolf, Municipal Animal Shelter.
• Many Animal shelters are in Denver, this organization is owned and operated by the city of Denver
• Adoption, and dogs off leash are under their domain.
• A recent grant was awarded to help financially support people to keep animals in their homes if the animal has a medical condition.
• As a municipal shelter, the Denver Animal Shelter is our resource for animal welfare. The Shelter accepts donations.
• The facility is platinum leed certified and one of the most innovative structures in the area. Heated floor kennels. Very clean.
• Vaccine clinics provide $15 vaccines (Rabies, booster, and license for $35)
• Free spade/neuter programs are available in some areas.
• Located at: 1241 w. bayoud st.
• Satellite locations would be wonderful, but there are funding constraints.
• How does Denver compare to other cities for strays? Response is quick, so strays are infrequently seen. Councilwoman
Robin Kniech: updates on major legislation and initiatives regarding immigrant protection, general obligation bond, participatory budgeting.
https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/denver-council-district-12.html
Served since 2011, now in 2nd term. Now living in NE Park Hill.
Housing – a new housing fund was passed last year to increase affordable housing and to keep people in their housing.
Excessive Force w/police – working on a statement with Councilman Herndon and accepting public input. (What language should officers use? What does de-escalation look like?)
Finance and Governance – Recently passed a bond for municipal improvements. Geographically nearby- Pauline Robinson improvements, many more.
The Median construction wage is $45,000. Getting people trained for work, job training, and construction policy.
Some people are apprehensive to call the police because of concerns about immigration. Will be working to clarify what the police will and won’t do. It is a neighborhood issue if people are afraid to call the police, go to court, etc. We are all interconnected.
What does an at-large city council representative do?
Bio: mother, first “out” member on city council, as an at-large member, won’t be as knowledgeable about more local projects.
Q/A:
• curb cuts for high density housing – this would introduce the potential for accidents in the presence of bike lanes? (A)- There are concerns about allowing cars to pass through space designated for pedestrians and cyclist, so curb cuts are minimized
• Food priorities? Grocery deserts (Montebello recently lost its grocery store). The first subsidized grocery store is being put into 5 points after 4 years of efforts. Local foods – home sales of vegetables is allowed. Food Chain – economic development, getting food processing into the community.
• Composting (4 more routes are needed to bring service to the whole city). Currently it is free to dispose trash, but there is a cost to compost. Denver performs relatively poorly on the national level compared with other cities. A feasibility study is needed to investigate shifting the cost. It is a priority of City Council. Higher density housing pays for trash and recycling, but single family homes do not – this is considered inequitable. It’s a challenge to add fees that don’t currently exist to a household budget (protecting seniors). Getting composting down in price so that there is “no fee” will be a major effort. Would need infrastructure in place to make participation mandatory. New homes are automatically given a recycling bin so that recycling is the default. What is the plan city-wide for composting (Core city-office buildings are not participating.). Denver provides public school composting, which is training kids to participate in composting.
Dr. Bill Burman, Director, Denver Public Health representing Denver Health – important updates on Denver Health and to provide an overview of plans for a new Outpatient Medical Center.
Director of Denver Public Health – a planned major expansion.
9 community health centers scattered around the community, and 17 school-based health centers.
A large facility is planned on main-campus for all outpatient care (beyond primary care).
Q/A
• How would the ACA disappearing impact your plans for expansion? It would harm efforts greatly.
• In-school programs? Vaccinations are provide for students, and behavioral health care is provided as well. Including substance abuse treatment for high school students.
• Behavioral/Mental Health – all primary care sites all have integrative behavioral healthcare. Integrated in this context means that multiple services are offered/accessed at the same appointment
• Main campus – treats patients for opioid and alcohol addiction.
Nourish: update on memberships, plans and site. http://nourish.coop/
• Nourish Co-Op has 842 members currently.
• The Goal: healthy accessible food, locally oriented, liaison with local farmers, a source of education about healthy options, and economic participation.
• A co-op is built upon member-owners. There are 7 cooperative principles for coops.
• The economic impact of a co-op is that: more local produce is available from local farmers, and revenue back to the community is estimated to be $1600 back into the community for every $1000 spent in the store.
• No longer planning a location across from the Stanley Marketplace. More members are needed before a site can open.
• Anyone would be allowed to shop in the store, but only members would be allowed to vote.
• Join the co-op ($200 fee, one time).
• Educational programs around growing your own food and fermenting food.
• A committee is working to locate alternative sites. Other co-ops around the country have taken around 6 years.
• A food box program was in place for the last 2 summers. Grow Haus has provided foods in other CSA locations and that one as well.
Announcements:
Groundbreaking at Inspire, Friday August 18th 2:30 5677 N. Galena St
