1437 Bannock St., #451, Denver, CO 80202, 720-337-7777

"Delivering Denver's Future":  Next Chance to Weigh in On Solving the City's Budget Gap
 As explained in previous editions of this newsletter, the City faces a fundamental structural problem with its finances. Many of the things that the City pays for (health care, fuel, equipment) are increasing in cost faster than inflation. At the same time, many of the sources of the City's revenue to pay for these things are growing more slowly than inflation (sales taxes, fees, fines, the "head tax"). If we don't fix this problem, we will face the long-term prospect of having to cut roughly $30 million from our budget, year after year after year, regardless of any improvements in the economy.

How do we fix this? For the past year, a group of business and civic leaders (including your very own Councilman), appointed by the mayor, have served on the Structural Financial Task Force (SFTF) to answer that question. City expenditures and revenues have been analyzed, a huge number of innovative ideas to lower the growth rate of City expenditures and increase the growth rate of City revenues have been vetted, and a comprehensive menu of options for putting Denver back on a sound long-term financial footing has been delivered to the Mayor and City Council. (Click here to see the report and learn more about the SFTF).

Even with all of this hard work, we can't fix this problem alone. To date, the Mayor has engaged with over 200 city employees and hundreds more of Denver's citizens at several public meetings across the city to discuss the menu of cost saving and revenue enhancing SFTF recommendations. If you were unable to attend one of those meetings and would still like to weigh in, visit www.DeliveringDenversFuture.org. You can learn more about the budget challenge and share your ideas for solving it. We need your input to move forward.

Street Sweeping Has Started!: Show Your Pride - Move Your Ride
 Don't forget to move your car! Citywide seasonal street sweeping runs from April to November. We need your help to keep Denver clean and stay in compliance with the Clean Air Act and Clean Water act. Check signs posted on your block for parking restrictions and move your car accordingly so that Public Works can provide the best service possible. This applies to school zones too. Be mindful of the restrictions when you drop off your kids or attend school meetings.

Failing to move your car during designated street sweeping days can result in a costly citation. But we make it easy to remember: Sign up here for email or text reminders.

Earth Day: Attend a Fair and Volunteer
 Blue skies, budding trees, chirping birds. You can't beat springtime in Denver. Take a minute to appreciate it all at the "42nd Annual Earth Day Celebration" at Civic Center Park on Wednesday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find out more about what Denver organizations are doing to protect our earth and how you can make a difference too. Start today by signing up to volunteer for a Parks & Recreation Stewardship effort. 

• Arbor Day, May 12, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. at Bear Valley Park, W. Dartmouth Ave. & S. Lamar St.
• Trails Day, June 2, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Mathew Winter's Park, Morrison.

For more information on volunteering email DPRVolunteers@DenverGov.org or call 720-913-0330. For information on the fair email Mim.Mirsky@DenverGov.org.

FREE Mulch Giveaway and Compost Sale - May 5
 Denver is doing its part by putting your Christmas trees and yard debris to use! Denver's annual "Free Mulch Giveaway & Compost Sale" is on Saturday, May 5th from 8 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (or while supplies last). Pick up what you need at:

Havana Nursery, 10450 Smith Road, just south of I-70 & Havana St.

• Mulch and compost loader service for trucks and trailers, and dig- your-own
• Limit of 3 cubic yards of compost per vehicle
• Compost cost $3.50 per 1.25 cubic foot bag or $30.00 per cubic yard (plus tax)

 Dig-Your-Own FREE mulch sites:

• Southeast: Veteran's Park, Iowa St. & Vine St.
• Southwest: Bear Creek Park, South of Dartmouth Ave. on Raleigh St.

 Click here for more information.

Learn to Compost  
 Don't feel like driving across town for compost? Learn to make your own. Denver Recycles, Denver Urban Gardens, and Metro Wastewater have partnered to offer free classes on:

• Backyard composting
• Worm workshop
• Build-a-pile

Eco-Rally - Electronics and Clothing Recycling Event - April 21th
 While you are at it, if you have any old clothes or electronics to get rid of, participate in the "Eco-Rally Electronics and Clothing Recycling Event" on April 21.

Location:                      Auraria Campus, Tivoli Center, 900 Auraria Parkway
Appointment times:       April 30, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (appointments are mandatory)

Great American Cleanup - April 28
 Why stop at electronics and clothes? Surely there is some junk in your garage and yard you'd like to get rid of too. Discard unwanted debris at a FREE drop-off spot between 9:00 am & 2:00 pm.  

• Cherry Creek Transfer Station, 7301 E. Jewell Avenue
• Alameda Square, 1330 S. Federal Blvd
• Fred Thomas Park, 26th Avenue & Quebec St
• Chambers Road & Green Valley Ranch Blvd.
• North High school, 2960 N. Speer Blvd.  

Once you've spiffed up your house, you can help spiff up your neighborhood. Talk to your friends, coworkers, and neighbors, adopt a spot to clean, and join a nationwide campaign to get rid of graffiti and trash. If your neighborhood looks great already, sign up for a cleanup project taking place around the city. Register early to receive free trash bags. For more information contact 3-1-1, or email Neddra.Niblet@denvergov.org.

University Neighbors Hosts a Community Shred-a-Thon Saturday - April 21

Still have a box of old tax returns and canceled checks in your basement? Might as well ditch those as well. Shred your sensitive documents on-site while you watch at a ProShred Mobile Shredding Truck. Household and business records are welcome. There is no limit!
 

When:   Saturday, April 21- 9:00 a.m. to noon
Where:  Asbury Elementary School, 1320 E. Asbury (just north of Evans on Lafayette)
 

Police Citizen's Academy

Community Safety Expo

Denver to Host 2012 National Public Parks Tennis Championships

Registration is now open for players in all age divisions

Denver Institutes Immediate Fire Ban for Mountain Parks

Denver Parks & Rec has instituted a fire ban in Denver Mountain Parks, effective immediately. This temporary fire ban will remain in effect until superseded or rescinded by the Manager of Denver Parks & Rec. Click here to learn more about the restrictions.

Public Hearing on Proposed Rules and Regulations for Animal Service Fees

Thursday, April 12 at 5:30pm

Department of Environmental Health, 200 W. 14th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Grand Mesa Conference Room

The Board of Environmental Health will hold a public rule-making hearing to consider Rules and Regulations Governing Establishment of Animal Service Fees related to public spay/neuter and ancillary fees, Section 9.0, Additional Services of the Denver Revised Municipal Code.

Denver Human Services Calls for "Community Service Advisory Board" Members

Members of the "Community Services Advisory Board" (CSAB) support Denver Human Services (DHS) by participating in discussions and making funding recommendations to the DHS Manager to improve services for low-income persons in Denver. "Community Service Block Grant" (CSBG) funding may be used to provide services and activities for education, emergency services, employment, health, housing, income management, and nutrition.

Principle responsibilities:

• Leadership & advisement
• Oversight of policies & procedures
• Oversight of program planning & evaluation
• Grantee evaluation
• Review programmatic reports 

Length of term:

• Three years, which may be renewed up to a maximum of three terms, pending reappointment by the Mayor. 

Meetings & time commitment:

• CSAB meets a minimum twice a year at Denver Human Services, 1200 Federal. Meetings last approximately 90 minutes.
• CSAB members may be asked to attend monitoring or site visits as well as other related meetings.
• CSAB members may be asked to voluntarily attend and represent DHS at other community functions. 

Areas of specialized knowledge:

• Accounting, community and neighborhood relations, non-profit management, public interest law, and public safety. 

Want to Make Your Business More Profitable? Sign Up for the Greater Good Academy
 The Greater Good Academy is an 8-week business development program to train Denver low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs in how to use sustainable and "triple bottom line" business practices to become more profitable. The spring 2012 Academy takes place at the Mi Casa Resource Center (360 Acoma Street), on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm from April 23 to June 11.

The program emphasizes the importance of using environmental and social factors when running a business.  By the end of the course, participants will complete a business plan that explains their company's mission, operations, marketing, and related growth strategies.  Whether your company provides an eco-friendly product or service, or seeks to include social and environmental elements into its overall strategy, the Academy will provide you with a complete understanding of how to scale your business. 

Proposed Library District Discussion at 3PA Meeting - April 10
 Denver Library Commission Member, Karen Rokala, will be at the Platt Park People's Association (3PA) meeting to discuss the commission's recent unanimous recommendation that a separate library district be created to fund Denver libraries. The meeting takes place on April 10, at 6:30 pm, at the Hope Community Church, 1801 S. Logan St. and is open to all interested parties.  

Click here to visit the District 7 website