July 12, 2022
Jerry Guida, the president of the IPNA, called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
Denver Police Department. Ofcr. Michelle Cooper informed us that the crime statistics are lower in our part of Denver over a three-year period than is true for the rest of the City. She said that, if we ever need anything, Jerry can help us get in touch with the Denver Police Department. The commander of DPD District 1 holds monthly meetings on the third Monday of each month, at 6:00 pm. She advised us that it is well worth going in person to those meetings if we can.
Denver City Council at-large candidates’ forum. We held a candidates’ forum for candidates for the two at-large City Council seats that are up for election in April 2023. The speakers were Dominic Diaz, Travis Leiker and Jeff Walker.
Councilwoman Debbie Ortega. Councilwoman Ortega said that it will be a real challenge to have consistent garbage pick-up at the time of that meeting, given the country’s labor shortage, and that requiring composting will add to that challenge. She told us that we should order our garbage bins now, especially for smaller bins for general trash.
She informed us that she and Councilwoman Robin Kneich have been working on a construction careers ordinance. They were concerned about putting local people to work on local projects, and the pilot program has now been turned into a full-blown, permanent program. Work Now, which was created out of the I-70 project, does assessments of people who want to work in the construction trades and starts training people in those trades. It has been tremendously successful, she said, in getting people to the journeyman level, where they can earn a livable wage. She wants to use taxpayer money to help get people job skills.
Councilwoman Ortega told us that she’s also been working on railroad safety, for example, the risk that petroleum tank cars could cause a catastrophic accident. North Denver, she noted, has had such accidents in the past. The City has data on derailments and the federal government has data projecting future trends. Given the substantial increase in petroleum tank cars traveling through Denver in recent years, she wants to make sure that people living and working in buildings next to the railroad tracks will be safe. An engineering study now underway, she said, will help the City deal with these issues.
She told us that supported the ballot issue for additional library funding. She said that she decided to run for mayor and that she has 42 years of experience working for the City. She wants to make sure that we’re doing the right things for all of the City’s communities.
Bob Lorenz asked about the sidewalk City initiative. Councilwoman Ortega said that she was not sure that ballot issue 121 was going to pass, since people are concerned about taxes. She feels that there are still differences among neighborhoods in terms of infrastructure. The City, she believes, should put in an application for funding for grade-separated crossings, such as the railroad tracks that cross Santa Fe and Kalamath north of West Alameda. The State has bought Burnham Yards, and there are concerns about highway development so close to nearby neighborhoods. Councilwoman Ortega added that she supports a gun buy-back program and that she believes in responsible gun ownership.
Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation. Bob Lorenz reported that the INC had a debate about ballot issues 305, 306 and 307. The INC, he said, voted to support ballot issue 307 and the sidewalk initiative. He told us that he was not sure which issues had a chance at passing, given inflation and the economic uncertainties.
Matt Ryan. Matt reported that the City planted 30 trees on the south side of Inspiration Point Park on the day of our meeting. In addition, there will be a call for entries for public art in the Park. The spot selected for that art is close to the Point, where a light pole used to be. He said he wants to encourage people who go to the playground in the Park to visit the Point.
Treasurer’s Report. John DeLisa advised us that, as of the date of the meeting, the IPNA had 47 members. We were down to 35 members in 2021. We had $1,105 in revenue in 2021, of which $230 came from advertising. Our expenses in 2021 were $1,037, with the newsletter ($837) the biggest expense. He said we had $3,788 bank balance. He also told us that we made money on the annual picnic.
Secretary’s Report. Matt moved to approve the minutes of our meeting on July 12, 2022. Bob seconded that motion, which was approved unanimously.
New Business. The I-70 project has led to traffic jams on West 49th Avenue. Matt felt that we’re not slated to get a replacement noise reducing fence in the short run. One resident, John, expressed his appreciation for Jerry’s service as the president of the IPNA.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:53 p.m.
Sincerely,
Barry Roseman
Secretary