LAKEWOOD INFORMER

The November 7th City council meeting included a presentation on the 2022 State of the Municipal Court. Presiding Judge Nicole Bozarth presented statistics on cases, hearings and more. She also updated the council on the progress of treatment and outreach programs. Presiding Judge Bozarth reported that Lakewood is a leader in court innovation. Regarding case trends, Judge Bozarth reports that penal cases are on the rise, especially juvenile cases. The number of penal cases that are high risk are increasing. High-risk or high-need cases include domestic disturbance cases. 90% of juvenile offenders are in the high-risk category. The number of calls to police for service is up over last year. Judge Bozarth believes police are following up on more calls of increasing complexity. Traffic cops are being pulled in to cover these other cases, resulting in less traffic offenses such as parking.   The number of hearings held is still not back to pre-covid levels, being only 60% of the number compared to 2018. Jails are opening up and are taking more prisoners when a warrant has been issued. However, Judge Bozarth explains that court policy is to vacate almost all warrants. (If there are different types of warrants, it was not explained.) Failures to appear, citations and warrants are all down from 2021 to 2022. Data before 2021 is not presented. Judge Bozarth thanks the city for funding the Municipal Opportunity to Secure and Sustain Treatment (MOSST) Program. This program was intended to reduce the cost for “probation clients...

The November issue of Looking@Lakewood included a column reflecting on Lakewood’s style of government. Lakewood’s city charter set up a council-manager form of government. Per the article, this form involves hiring “a professional city manager who puts those [city council] policies into action by directing and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the city’s departments and staff members.”                 As pointed out in the article, the advantage of the council-manager form is to minimize the potentially unethical influence of elected officials. It relies on an experienced and non-political manager to oversee operations. Not discussed in the article is that the disadvantage of the system is the development of an entrenched bureaucracy. Mayor Adam Paul also chose the November issue of Looking@Lakewood to write about the council-manager form of government. He writes, “My role, in combination with council members, is to work together, as no one council member can direct staff.” Mayor Paul notes two different actions: directing staff and working together. It appears that Mayor Paul meant that council works together, and staff work together…. Separately. Council Member Olver asked to work with staff and describes running into “roadblocks”. In this same November issue of Looking@Lakewood, Olver writes, “… after I asked to be included in staff discussions about a topic in which I’m an expert [a department director said]: “It would not be best practice to invite an elected official to join an internal staff meeting.” Apparently, city employees may feel that discussion equals direction and will enforce working separately....

At the Jeffco School Board meeting on November 11, 2020, people for and against the school closures made their final statements. At the end, the Board voted unanimously to close 16 schools for the good of the District. Every member of the public speaking about the closures spoke against it, often passionately, always prepared, and often just asking for more time.  Speakers asked for more time because so many points of consideration were raised during this process. The Board responded that they said in August that the schools would close. The public discussion was only to discuss how “best to make the transition.” The public presented statistics to show that students receiving free lunch or are non-white are more likely to be affected by this decision. The Board agreed but said that is one reason for the closures. By closing the schools, the Board ensures that students receive access to programs that the larger schools may have but the smaller ones lack. Charter schools were shielded from closures. Ironically, many charters show successful models of education at smaller levels that the school board could adopt to save the schools, if they were willing to do so. School board members spoke equally passionately and thoughtfully for the closures. One member was disturbed by reduced mental health care at smaller schools. One was disturbed by the reduced access to programs, such as a literacy program.  One explained that smaller schools have been an economic drain on the District for years, if not...

Guest contribution from Joan from Lakewood… From: “Joan from Lakewood”Date: November 9, 2022 at 11:02:52 PM MSTTo: <XXX@state.co.us>Subject: Re: Injustice with land development in Lakewood at 4th and Union Dear XXX, Thank you for reaching out to me today. It was kind of timely. You see I have not received any resolution to the FOIA that I file with the GSA. I was supposed to receive an answer on 11/3/22 and I had explained to them that would not be helpful as the title was to be transferred on 10/31/22. But I have since learned that the transfer of the title has been delayed. So I have sent a registered letter to the National Archive Administration Service which is the oversight organization for Federal FOIA requests. I hope to get the information or a resolution. Soon.  Meanwhile last night at the Green Mountain Water Board, the board passed a ban on allowing employees to dig or work underground on that property. So perhaps the developers will be in touch with the CDPHE to do a deep drive into what is actually on that property.  Lastly with 123 passing and allowing Tabor Refunds to be used for affordable housing and perhaps that is a source of funding for this project, I am sure the tax payers would not want to have their tax money used in such an unjust manor.  If you still wish to speak to me, why don’t you call early next week and I will look at my...