LAKEWOOD INFORMER

Guest Post from a Resident to Save Belmar Park This email is to clarify various aspects of City Council meetings including possible misunderstanding regarding agenda setting: Lakewood City Council Policy 05.08 requires compliance with Robert’s Rules of Order.   Therefore, Robert’s Rules determines the agenda setting process.  Regarding agenda setting, Robert’s Rules state: “For a proposed agenda to become the official agenda for a meeting, it must be adopted by the assembly at the outset of the meeting. At the time that an agenda is presented for adoption, it is in order for any member to move to amend the proposed agenda by adding any item that the member desires to add, or by proposing any other change. It is wrong to assume, as many do, that the president “sets the agenda.” It is common for the president to prepare a proposed agenda, but that becomes binding only if it is adopted by the full assembly, perhaps after amendments as just described. [RONR (12th ed.) 41:62; see also pp. 16–17 of RONR In Brief.]”  END QUOTE  https://robertsrules.com/frequently-asked-questions/ That process from Robert’s Rules should be followed and the Parliamentarian of the meeting should support that.  If the Parliamentarian does not support Robert’s Rules on the matter, then his/her interpretation and whatever alternate authority is relied upon should be requested to be reflected in the meeting minutes. This is to remind that Article 7.1 of the Lakewood City Charter states: “The City Council shall act by ordinance, resolution, or motion.” Council for the proper...

News Release from Barbara Millman Contact:  Barbara Millman 303 519 2949 Lakewood woman to chain herself to a tree Saturday to protest planned gigantic apartment building bordering treasured Belmar Park As condo and apartment construction runs rampant around metro Denver, leaving its citizens feeling disgusted and helpless, a group of Lakewood residents have declared they are “mad as Hell and…not going to take this any more.” “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this any more!” from Paddy Chayevsky’s play and screenplay Network. They are protesting a planned 412 unit high rise luxury apartment building (see image below) bordering the east side of their beloved Belmar Park, a magical and serene home to birds and wildlife and visiting humans.  For humans, it’s a sweet and calm oasis from the frenetic urban world they inhabit.   To join the group or for future updates, email savethepark@spamex.com On Saturday during Lakewood’s Cider Days at 801 S. Yarrow, longtime Lakewood resident Lorraine May Springer will chain herself to a tree in the park (at the northwest corner of Ohio and S. Yarrow) from 11 am to 2 pm to protest the plan to cut down 69 mature trees to make way for the development.   The 72 year-old grandmother said, “I am sounding an alarm to friends and neighbors to speak out against Lakewood’s short-sighted, unconscionable approach to development at the Lakewood City Council meeting at 7pm on Monday, October 9 at 480 S. Allison.” Others in the group have researched how the city is ignoring its own ordinances and plans that declare it...

Lakewood Mayoral Candidates were invited to join a forum and let us get to know them. Don Burkhart and Cathy Kentner accepted that invitation. Watch the video, in two parts: Mayoral Forum, Part 1: Moderator Questions Mayoral Forum, Part 2: Public Questions Profound thanks to all our candidates for giving us a choice and a special thanks to Cathy Kentner and Don Burkhart for supporting the little people in this informal forum. Part 1 Minute 5:20 – People are voting for a mayor to help them solve problems. We’ve seen residents come in overwhelming numbers to talk about problems but City Council has to jump through hoops to get anything on the agenda before they can even talk about it. Do you think there’s a better way for Council to take action or get things on the agenda? Minute 9:30 – Lakewood hired a new Police Chief this year who is implementing the “21st Century Policing” methods developed under President Obama. One immediate affect is this year’s plan to reduce police officers and convert those positions to civilian community resource positions. Do you believe this will be effective in Lakewood? Minute 14:38 – Lakewood is building a new homeless shelter on Colfax for long-term and short-term supportive needs of the unhoused. If you were able to choose, would you provide supportive resources with or without contingencies? By contingencies I mean any kind of “if you do this, then you get that”, such as medical care, work hours, etc. Minute 20:00...

Submitted by the Wholeness Hut The tenants of the Squire Plaza are coming together to offer a fun family Halloween Celebration on Saturday, October 14th from 10am-7pm.  Lakewood small businesses from the Squire Plaza will each be offering their own special way of celebrating Halloween. From safe trick or treating, costume contests, and more. Adults can also treat themselves with the many discounted services being offered that day:  The Squire Plaza houses many amazing businesses that love serving their Lakewood community.  The Squire Plaza Halloween Celebration invites their community to join them for tricks and treats for the whole family. Recommended Business: The Wholeness Hut

Lakewood has 26% of Jefferson County’s overall population but has 50% of its homeless population. The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHi) point-in-time data provide the homeless point-in-time data for Lakewood as well as Jefferson County. The most common explanation for the rise in homelessness is the lack of affordable housing. However, that explanation applies equally across the front range. So why does Lakewood have so many of Jefferson County’s homeless? According to the Strategic Housing Study presentation, Lakewood has 1.2 more homes per job than economically growing areas like Denver. That pushes Denver employees to live in areas like Lakewood. Lakewood then becomes a so-called bedroom community to cities with jobs. From a homelessness point of view, Lakewood may be so affordable and attractive that Denver employees are displacing local residents. But Lakewood is not uniquely positioned that way. The Strategic Housing Study also pointed out that “housing value is not unusually high” in Lakewood. So affordable housing cannot be cited as the reason that Lakewood has so much of Jefferson County’s homeless population. Denver is also pushing its homeless to Lakewood. Lakewood homeless have said they needed to move because Denver got too dangerous. Lakewood’s position next to Denver could explain the higher population, especially along Colfax Avenue. The solution to this would seem to be increased enforcement along Colfax, a solution that residents along Colfax have argued is not occurring (see 10 min mark https://lakewoodspeaks.org/meetings/570) Another factor commonly cited for high homeless populations is high overall population density....