LAKEWOOD INFORMER

The May 16 West Metro Fire Protection District Regular Board Meeting highlighted the educational possibilities in Denmark. Fire Chief Lombardi shared the techniques developed at West Metro at the European Diversity Conference in April.  Deputy Chief Metz will attend the Officers Development Program in June. Both events were hosted by the Federation of European Fire Officers (FEU) and both events were opportunities available through the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association. Fire Chief Lombardi reported that he represented the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association when attending the Diversity Conference. Lombardi is the immediate past President of the Metro Fire Chiefs. His platform as President was one of education and he instituted the possibility of someone attending this conference. During his attendance, he was able to share techniques for increasing gender diversity from his time at West Metro. Lombardi also represented the United States at this conference by virtue of being the only US attendee. The FEU DEI Conference was open to all and saw attendees from 18 countries. Conference costs For Chief Lombardi were covered by the Metro Fire Chiefs Association, with the possible exception of his time. Diversity remains a priority for Chief Lombardi. Chief Lombardi was asked by the Board how West Metro’s demographics looked. Lombardi did not have hard answers ready but felt the district underrepresented Hispanics. Lombardi was a leader in redefining the physical ability evaluation model so that females are now tested on their ability to carry the fire hose and perform duties, rather than arbitrary tests such...

Lakewood City Council Member Anita Springsteen announced that she had the “amazing honor” to be asked by the NAACP to start a chapter in Jefferson County. The NAACP is the “home of grassroots activism for civil rights and social justice.” Springsteen will continue to tackle inequality and abuses through her work with the organization. She asks for those interested in serving on the organizing committee or being a member to contact her at anita@springsteenlaw.com.

The City of Lakewood adopted the 2021 International Building Codes on May 8th. This move will increase the price of new and existing homes and increase the city’s authority to regulate maintenance on private property. Multiple City Council members stated that these changes were necessary for public safety. Safety The safety factor was directed toward the adoption of the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code. This new code will allow the building department to issue citations for public safety concerns on private property. Residents can now contact the city if they see broken concrete or inadequate railings on the property of their neighbors or landlords. Lakewood does not have enforcement capability to police all properties so this will be resident driven, with the city retaining the ability for flexible, i.e. selective, enforcement. There is no timeline for compliance per code. Lakewood city staff vow to work with residents in cases of hardship. As an example of why this code was necessary, the city cited the case of 940 S Ames St. By the city’s own admission, this property fell into disrepair through a series of unfortunate events leading to the city condemning the property. The city went through legal actions to require the building to be torn down within 90 days of property purchase. The Ames property was a unique case in which two successive, related owners had personal issues, died and left the property to a third relative who was dealing with loss and extreme property issues. The probability is...

The May 8th Lakewood City Council meeting included an item to repeal and reenact Lakewood Municipal Code governing Parks and Recreation. The staff presentation delineates several updates. In the “other” items category, the voiceover includes “clarify the authority” of the Community Resources Director. In fact, the proposed language will transfer all authority from the City Manager to the Director of Community Resources. The City Charter gives the City Manager responsibility “to the City Council for the proper administration of all affairs of the City.” Under the proposed revision, the City Manager will no longer be responsible for Community Resources, per the Municipal Code. All decisions will be made by the Director of Community Resources. The Community Resources Director does not report to Lakewood City Council. Council can only talk to the City Manager, setting up a disconnect, now that the City Manager is no longer involved in Community Resources. The language used in the staff presentation, ie “clarify the authority”, seems to suggest that the City Manager has not been playing an authoritative role for some time.

On May 1, 2023, Lakewood City Council held a workshop on adding a censure policy to council procedures. The idea was prompted by using a specific word (“girls”) used in Council once, in an old-fashioned, politically incorrect way that was taken as a personal insult by some Council Members and residents. A public reprimand, which is the general definition of censure, was immediately and repeatedly tendered by individuals who felt personally offended. Those individuals do not appear satisfied. City Council is now studying procedures to publicly reprimand with the weight of Lakewood City Council in case a personal insult is taken in the future. Sitting City Council Members have explained in public meeting that censure was removed from City Council years ago because it was being used as a political tool. Council Members who believe themselves to be targets of censure also fear censure will be used politically because they have not aligned with the majority of Councilors on a variety of issues. Censure may also have been removed because it is not common. Lakewood Informer conducted a search of the municipal code of the 75 most populous home-rule cities and towns in Colorado. The data reveal approximately 25% of those had a provision for censure, (with 75% having no provision). Of that 25% with censure provisions, approximately 75% require a public hearing and/or investigation by a third party. Of those that do censure, only 2 would censure for defamation. None included censure for subjective actions such as personally offensive...

There are several special districts in and around Lakewood, which are often overlooked but control a lot of money, policy, and services. To help keep them in mind, we provide the list below. Cancelled elections only have enough candidates to fill the seats, therefore no contested elections. Please contact us with any additions or corrections. Sites located through DOLA. Alameda Water & Sanitation District: Results not posted Applewood Sanitation District: Election cancelled Bancroft-Clover Water & San. District: Election cancelled Bear Creek Water & Sanitation District: Election cancelled Bennett Bear Cr. Farm Water & San. District: Election cancelled Bonvue Water & Sanitation District: Election cancelled Daniels Sanitation District: Election cancelled Denver West Metropolitan District: Election cancelled East Jefferson County San. District: Election cancelled East Lakewood Sanitation District: Election cancelled Foothills Park & Recreation District: Fossil Ridge Metropolitan District: Election cancelled Grant Water & Sanitation District: Election cancelled? Green Gables Metropolitan District No1: Election cancelled Green Gables Metropolitan District No2: Election cancelled Green Mountain Water & San. District: Green Tree Metropolitan District No. 2: Election cancelled High View Water District: Election cancelled Indiana Valley Metropolitan District: Election cancelled, vacant positions Indy Oak TOD Metropolitan District: Election cancelled Jefferson Conservation District: Election cancelled Lakehurst Water And Sanitation District: Election cancelled Leawood Metro. Recreation & Park District: No website Lena Gulch Metropolitan District: Election cancelled Mount Carbon Metropolitan District: Election cancelled Normandy Estates Metro. Rec. District: Election cancelled. All positions vacant Northwest Lakewood Sanitation District: Election cancelled Plaza Metropolitan District No1: Election cancelled Plaza...