In an effort to create more bicycle-friendly business districts, as well as accommodate the increasing number of patrons on bikes, the South Pearl Merchants Association has teamed up with Lucky District 7 to install the City of Denver's FIRST on-street bicycle parking corrals on South Pearl Street.

The two bicycle corrals, each with room to accommodate bike parking for up to twelve bikes in one traditional vehicle parking spot, will be installed in front of the Black Pearl Restaurant (1529 South Pearl Street) and Stella's Coffee (1476 South Pearl Street). The on-street bicycle corrals are the first of their kind in Denver, and Public Works will use them as a pilot project for consideration of additional on-street bicycle corrals throughout the City.

The bicycle corrals provide several benefits to cyclists, patrons, and businesses, including;

More incentive and accommodation for people to ride their bikes to events and restaurants on South Pearl - cyclists will now get "VIP" parking in front of Stella's Coffee and Black Pearl Restaurant.
Less bikes parked against trees, signs, poles and railings - clearing the sidewalk for shoppers and other patrons of South Pearl Street during busy events.
A more inviting and comfortable public realm between the street and those enjoying an outdoor patio without cars constantly pulling in and out of the parking spot.
Studies have shown that when placed in front of certain retail (i.e., cafés, restaurants, and bars) bike parking can actually produce more hourly revenue, per square feet, than traditional automobile parking*

Stay tuned for a separate announcement on details for a ribbon-cutting ceremony once the bike corrals are installed this month. We hope you can join us to celebrate the installation of Denver's first on-street bike corral parking!

Old South Pearl Street 2014 Summer Music Festivals

It's not summer without hot asphalt, cold beer, tasty food, and great music. Don't let the season pass without checking out one of the Old South Pearl Street Music Festivals. Gather your friends and family and enjoy incredible bands, a staggering selection of local micro-brews, and some seriously delicious food from neighborhood restaurants. Entering its seventh year, the music festivals have become a neighborhood tradition.

If you can't get there by bike or on foot, remember that the festival site is just one block from the Louisiana/Pearl RTD light rail station. Click here for band line-up and event information.

When: "BrewGrass," June 14
"Blues & Brews," August 9
Where: 1200 block of South Pearl Street between Buchtel & Louisiana

Playing For Change - Free Community Concert Benefitting Ruby Hill's Levitt Pavilion, July 2

On Wednesday, July 2, enjoy a free concert in Ruby Hill Park featuring the Levitt national touring act, "Playing for Change." A prelude of what's coming to Ruby Hill, the event also features a free drum circle, Q&A with the band, popular local food trucks and comprehensive information about Levitt Denver. Bring your blanket and picnic baskets and enjoy meeting new neighbors!

FREE Civic Center Park Movies

Denver's parks are great places to take in a beautiful Colorado summer evening and watch a movie under the stars. This year, Denver Parks & Rec will be hosting FREE "Movies in the Park" at Civic Center Park. Pack up your lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets, and head to the park for a free flick under the stars. Movies start at dusk with plenty of pre-movie opportunities to meet friends, play, and eat great local food. Click here for more information.

Make Music Denver, June 21st

Before the summer movie season starts, you can tune up your musical talent by taking part in the 3rd annual "Make Music Denver" on Friday, June 21st. Denver is joining over 800 cities in 110 countries to celebrate local live music and World Music Day's annual summer solstice event. The day will feature a giant open stage, workshops, sing-a-longs, concerts, a live podcast, Swallow Hill Music's "Instrument Petting Zoo™", our Little Swallows and Little Mozarts classes, and more. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase, so plan on making a day out of it!

Guest artists include Opera Colorado; Colorado Conservatory of Dance; Art Student League of Denver; Bevan Frost; (aka laser bunny) Trunko, Kirkland & Kull; ATOMGA; and the Denver Uke Community.

Click here for more information

Celebrate Colorado Bike Month!

Not only is June the longest month of daylight during the year, it's also Colorado Bike Month! Whether you are a new rider or experienced cyclist, celebrate Bike Month by getting on a bike: ride to work, to the grocery store, or just down the street for fun. Start to practice your bike commute this month. Take a look at the City of Denver's Bike map for routes.

Then, put your skills to the test and leave your car at home on "Bike to Work Day" June 25th. Register here. You will be rewarded with cool swag and tasty food from 6:30am to 8:30am at breakfast stations all over town.

Art Students League Summer Art Market

When: Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8, 10am to 5pm

Where: Art Students League, 200 Grant Street

Keep the artistic energy flowing by attending the Art Students League Summer Art Market - showcasing work by over 250 emerging and professional artists. Traditional, abstract, and contemporary styles abound in a wide range of media including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, drawings, and mixed media works. The market also offers live music, food, and free art classes. Get a first-hand look at the school's apprenticeship approach to instruction and support a great community asset.

Second Annual Denver Days, August 2- 10

There's no better time than the summer to get out and meet your neighbors! That's why Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock launched "Denver Days", a new citywide summer tradition aimed at creating stronger neighborhoods by fostering community through service projects and neighborhood gatherings annually during the month of August.

The second annual "Denver Days" will take place this summer from August 2nd - 10th. During this week, Denver residents are invited to work with their neighbors to host a fun, festive neighborhood gathering or community service project. From community clean-ups to backyard potlucks and block parties, "Denver Days" will provide a unique opportunity to connect neighbors and neighborhoods.

Start organizing your "Denver Days" neighborhood event today.

For more information about how Denver supports Denver Days projects, please visit www.denvergov.org/denverdays or call 720-865-9082

Don't Forget to Register for Junior Golf This Summer!

The "First Tee of Denver" will be offering more than 80 different classes this summer at six golf locations: Aqua Golf, City Park, Kennedy, Wellshire, Willis Case, and Fitzimons. Click here to view the entire schedule and descriptions of all of the classes.

Ballots on the Way to Denver's Party-Affiliated Voters

Mail ballots will start arriving in Denver mailboxes this week. For the June 24th Primary Election, ballots will be mailed to all active voters who are affiliated with the American Constitution, Democratic, or Republican parties.

Denver voters will also have the added convenience of being able to drop off their ballots at one of twenty 24-Hour Ballot Drop-Off boxes located throughout the city.

Ballots should never be left at any unsecured location or outside of the posted hours of operation at Voter Service and Polling Centers.

Information on Voter Service and Polling Center dates and hours of operation, drive-through ballot drop-off locations, and 24-Hour Ballot Drop-Off Box locations can be found on the instruction sheet in the voter's mail ballot packet, at www.DenverVotes.org, or by calling 311. Sample ballots are available on the Denver Elections Division website, www.DenverVotes.org.

Voters are also encouraged to sign up for Ballot TRACE to receive updates about the status of their mail ballot. Ballot TRACE tracks a voter's mail ballot from the time it is prepared, as it passes through the postal system, and until the Elections Division processes it. Once a voter signs up, they can receive text or email notifications, or view these updates at www.DenverVotes.org.

Denver's Draft Landmark Design Guidelines Now Available for Review

Following an intensive public outreach process, Denver's Landmark Preservation planners have released a proposed draft of updated citywide design guidelines for Denver historic landmarks and properties in Denver's historic districts. The draft includes a summary of the character-defining features for eight of the city's designated historic districts. An additional chapter on signs is still to come. The draft is available online here and for review in person at the records counter on the 2nd floor of the Webb Municipal Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave.

Landmark Preservation planners and the Landmark Preservation Commission use the design guidelines to evaluate building projects for local landmarks and properties within the boundaries of designated historic districts. The guidelines help ensure that each proposed project preserves key historic features and are compatible with the character of designated historic buildings, sites and districts.

The current guidelines, written in 1995, are difficult to navigate, do not have many illustrations and do not reflect recent advances in building and construction, including energy-efficient technology, such as solar panels.

The updated guidelines outline a "how to" approach and provide easy-to-follow charts and graphs so that property owners and design professionals can more easily navigate through the design review and permitting process. The guidelines are slated to go into effect on October 1, 2014.

The Landmark Preservation Commission will hold a public hearing on the draft during its regularly-scheduled meeting on July 1^st at 1:00pm in the Wellington Webb Municipal Building, 201 W. Coflax Avenue, Room 4.F.6.

Denver Public Works Offers Rainstorm Safety Tips

The summer monsoon season can bring sudden heavy rainfall, and while all this rain can benefit our gardens and crops, it can also be hazardous. Check out the following tips from Denver Public Works for driving, biking, or walking through heavy rain and flooding:

Safety tips for driving in heavy rain:

If you must drive through water, drive slowly and steadily.
Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control or possible stalling; One foot of water will float most vehicles.
Two feet of rushing water can sweep away most vehicles - including SUVs and pick-ups.
Avoid driving in water that downed electrical or power lines have fallen into; the electric current passes through water easily.

Safety tips for walking or cycling on urban trails:

When rain is falling, it's best not to walk or bike near a river or stream, even on Denver's paved urban bike and walking trails; water flow can quickly increase and flooding can occur without notice.
Move to higher ground and never go into a culvert! If you are on a streamside trail during a rainstorm use the alternate trail up to street level to avoid underpasses and culverts.
Never allow children to play around streams, drainage ditches or viaducts, storm drains or flooded areas.

Localized street flooding:

In some areas that are geographical low-points and underpasses, water can't be expected to disappear down the storm inlets instantly - the pace and volume of the rainfall is too quick and too great to immediately drain off. It takes time for the system to accommodate it.
If you know that your street tends to flood because it is located in a low point, be sure to move your vehicles to higher ground.

What you can do to help prevent flooding:

To help prevent flooding in Denver neighborhoods, residents should ensure that gutters are clear of trash and yard debris.
Do not rake leaves, grass clippings or yard debris into the street or put them down an inlet or throw them into a gulch or stream.
Avoid placing trash containers directly on drains and inlets. When rain is predicted avoid placing your trash and recycling out for collection until the storm has passed.

For additional tips including how to prevent flooding, what to do if your basement is flooded and more, please visit www.denvergov.org/RainStormTips.

Denver Citizen's Emergency Response Training

Want to learn more about how you can help in an emergency situation, such as major flooding in your neighborhood? You can help support emergency response agencies prepare for and respond to major disasters in your community. Sign up for this free FEMA training and learn how to plan for a disaster and teach basic response skills such as fire safety, search & rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

Click here for more information and registration, or call 720-865-7698

Tips for Minimizing Noise and Neighbor Conflict

Neighbors in Denver share responsibility for keeping Denver's neighborhoods safe, tidy and peaceful. As the weather warms, and doors and windows are opened, noise is a lot easier for your neighbors to hear. Denver maintains a noise ordinance to help address noise and maintain quality of life in our city:

Try to do any yard or house work that involves heavy, loud or commercial equipment during business hours, or during hours that others are awake.
When installing new air conditioners or coolers, check the specifications on the label for sound levels.
When hosting parties or social events, keep the volume of the music low, and be mindful of how loud conversations can be when there are multiple happening at the same time.

Denver's Noise ordinance can be found here. Noise complaints can be reported by calling 311, and should be made as close to the time of the disturbance as possible. When filing a complaint, please provide the following information:

Your name, address and phone number, as well as the name and address of the establishment that is the source of the noise.
The date and time of the incident occurred/occurs, and a detailed description of the incident.

After a complaint has been reported to 311, Denver's Public Health Inspections will investigate. For more information about Public Health inspections, visit www.denvergov.org/phi

Tips on Proper Property Maintenance

Summer is around the corner, the grass is growing and so are the weeds and other vegetation. With warmer weather, it's important to remember property maintenance is important to our residents and neighborhood inspectors will be enforcing these codes. Non-compliance is subject to a fine, and the following are regulated and not allowed by the city:

Unattended vegetation over 6" in height (grass or weeds)
Accumulations of rubbish in yards or along alleys
Appliances or furniture intended for inside use in yards or on porches
Accumulations of cut branches in yard
Accumulations of dog manure in yard
Defective or illegal fences, proper height (4' in front, 6' in sides and back for residential zones). Fences must be in good repair with approved materials (no barbed wire, corrugated metal, or salvage materials)
Trash cans and Recycling containers must not be stored in the front of the house or on the street or driveway.

For the safety of pedestrians and motorists on your streets and sidewalks, the following regulations apply to your trees and tree limbs:

Tree limbs extending over the streets must be at least 13'6" above the street surface.
Plant growth cannot extend over the sidewalk. It must be cut back to the property line.
Low limbs over the sidewalk must be a minimum height of 8' .
Trees or shrubs blocking the line of sight at an intersection or blocking signs must be trimmed so they don't obstruct views .
Trees with dead or broken limbs over 2" in diameter must be pruned or removed.
Dead, diseased or dangerous trees (trees with extensive deadwood) must be removed.
Licensed tree companies must perform tree work on the right-of-way.

To report violations, please call 3-1-1.

Dangers of Leaving Pets Unattended in Hot Vehicles

As temperatures across Denver begin to get hotter, Denver's Animal Care & Control and Denver Public Works are teaming up to remind pet owners of the dangers of leaving pets unattended in hot vehicles.

Since the beginning of the year, Denver's Animal Care and Control has received 94 calls regarding dogs left inside vehicles during extreme temperatures. Approximately 12 of these calls resulted in owners being issued a summons for cruelty to animals, which could result in a fine of up to $999 and/or a year in jail.

To help remind pet-owners about the dangers of leaving their pets in the car unattended, Denver Public Works Right of Way Enforcement agents are distributing flyers and reminding drivers as part of their regular patrols.

Animal Care & Control offers the following tips for protecting your pet from the heat:

Don't let dogs ride loose in pick-up truck beds. Hot metal can burn paws, and exposure to the direct sunlight can be just as harmful as has being left in an enclosed vehicle. Denver's ordinances prohibit an transporting an animal in a motor vehicle unless the animal is safely restrained.
Ensure pets are groomed. Long-haired pets are more susceptible to overheating.
Avoid excess exercise with your pet when it's hot outside.
Be mindful of hot pavement that can burn your pet's feet.
Provide adequate shelter from the elements. Denver city ordinance requires that pets have adequate outdoor shelter such as a dog house, porch area, or a similar structure that allows an animal to escape the elements. Failing to do so could result in a fine of up to $999 and/or a year in jail.

For more information about the Denver Animal Shelter, visit www.denveranimalshelter.org.

Addressing Denver's Mental Health Needs

Many of Denver's mental health needs will now be covered, thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). More than 45,000 people signed up for either Medicaid or the state's health exchange as of April. Recent statistics show that Denver County led the state in the total percentage of the population enrolled (8.3%), successfully reducing the percentage of persons without health care coverage from 17% to approximately 8.7%.

Mental health needs in Denver have been unaddressed for many years. The Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD) estimates that it is able to serve only one of three people who come to them asking for help. Left untreated, many people with mental illness become impoverished, homeless, or involved in the criminal justice system.

The community health improvement plan developed by the Department of Environmental Health, Denver Health and other partners, has a goal of 95% of Denver residents having access to health care, including behavioral health care, by 2018. While the sign-ups this spring brought Denver closer to that goal, the City is continuing to sign people up for Medicaid and prepare for the next open season for the health exchange this fall.

With as many as one in five people suffering from mental health problems, it is critical that we link more people to services. For more information on the community health improvement plan, please visit behealthydenver.org and for information on MHCD and its services, please visit www.mhcd.org.

Follow Councilman Nevitt on Social Media

Are you plugged in and regularly "Tweet" on Twitter or "Like" on Facebook? You're in luck! Councilman Nevitt has emerged from the stone age and joined the brave new world of social media. Now you can find him on Twitter and Facebook. Follow the Councilman on Twitter at @CNevittLucky7, and find him on Facebook here. Be on the look-out for Lucky District 7 updates and information from our new social media platforms!

June Calendar Link

Click here to visit the District 7 website

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