The Denver Streets Partnership is partnering with Denver Community Active Living Coalition to host bimonthly meetings where you can learn more about how to get involved with events and projects focused on improving active transportation in Denver! The next meeting’s discussion topic is “Climate Change in Denver – Opportunities for Building Resilience.” The City of Denver is engaging the public over the next six months to better understand how we might implement initiatives to minimize the impacts of climate change in our own city. These initiatives will help us create a more sustainable future by drastically reducing emissions and developing strategies to be better prepared and more resilient when climate catastrophes strike such as severe hail storms, dangerous wildfires that cause poor air quality, and dramatic temperature fluctuations. The impacts of climate change will look different across the U.S. and throughout the world. We will face unique challenges in the City of Denver, which also means we have the opportunity to respond locally, creatively and effectively as a city.
Next Meeting:
Wednesday, Feb 12, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
La Alma Rec Center, 1325 W 11th Ave
Articles about Transportation
Our annual Valentine’s Day Love In event is back! For the fifth year in a row, we are celebrating our love for safe streets by holding a rally at the City & County building in support of Vision Zero. This year’s theme is transit as we continue to show our love for the bus! We’ll be thanking the City for continuing to elevate public transit in Denver. From bus-only lanes to improving bus stops, we applaud the City’s efforts as they begin to work on implementing the Denver Moves: Transit plan.
You’re invited to join us on a group bus ride starting at the 17th & Lawrence stop at 11:30am. We’ll make our way on the bus to the City & County Building at 1437 Bannock Street where you’ll be able to sign Valentine’s cards to City leaders and staff thanking them for their work on safe streets. At noon, we’ll have a short program of speakers talking about the importance of public transit in our city. RTD will also be on hand to get input for theirReimagine RTD initiative. Since February 14 is also Winter Bike to Work Day, they will also have their portable bus rack so you can practice loading your bike on an RTD bus!
Plus some social media fun: #Lovemybusstop!
In the lead up to our Love In event, we’re launching the #lovemybusstop campaign inviting bus riders to show their bus stop some love. Tell us a little more about a stop you use regularly – either one you already love or one that could use some love! We want to see examples of both great bus stops that can be a model for what other bus stops could look like, as well as not-so-great bus stops where the City could invest in improvements. For the first time ever, the City’s 2020 budget includes funding for bus stop amenities, so now’s your chance to suggest how Denver should use those funds!
Information from District 6 Newsletter (Paul Kashmann – Denver City Councilman):
A project team developing updates to Denver’s zoning regulations for residential uses will hold a series of meetings this month to present proposed changes and receive public input. These proposed changes would address all types of residential uses, including conventional household living, residential care and group homes.
One key proposal is to update how the city defines a household. “Household” refers to the most common type of residential use, where a group of individuals lives together as a single housekeeping unit in a non-profit/non-commercial context with no “operator” or “manager.” Single-unit households are currently allowed to have up to two unrelated or partnered adults and an unlimited number of related individuals of any age. There isn’t a specific use type where you can have up to three unrelated adults in a home, however a homeowner can apply for a permit for Rooming and Boarding as a Home Occupation, which would permit them to take on an additional boarder or unrelated adult as a roommate. The proposal being considered would put a limit on the total number of adults permitted to share a home, but would not require them to be related.
The following is a summary of the current requirement and what is proposed:
Current Zoning Code definition:
- Single-Unit use (typical detached house): 2 partners or unrelated
adults, unlimited family members of any age
- Two or multi-unit use (duplex, apartment, etc.): 4 unrelated adults, unlimited family members of any age.
Proposed Zoning Code update:
- Treat single-unit dwellings (houses) and multi-unit dwellings (duplexes, apartments, etc.) the same
- Allow any dwelling unit to be occupied by up to 8 unrelated adults living as a housekeeping unit
- Allow any number of minor (under 18) relatives (including adoption, marriage, guardianship, etc.)
- Where a structure exceeds 1600 square feet in gross finished floor area, an additional 1 adult would be permitted for every 200 additional square feet.
These changes are part of a package of updates aimed at increasing equity, affordability and flexibility for people seeking housing of all types in Denver. The current restrictions on household makeup doesn’t reflect how people live today and severely limits options for people to save on housing costs by having multiple roommates, combining households or living in multi-generational households. It is more restrictive than many of Denver’s peer cities in the Front Range and around the country.
Additionally, the state of Colorado’s Group Home statute already requires Denver to treat a group of up to 8 people that fall within one of that statute’s protected classes (people over a certain age, people with mental or physical disabilities, etc.) as a household for the purposes of zoning.
There is not a specific legal definition of “group home” but the term generally refers to housing occupied by groups of unrelated individuals with “disabilities”, a federally protected class of people. Persons with “disabilities” include anyone with a condition that substantially limits major life activities including blindness, hearing and mobility impairment, developmentally disabled, elderly, HIV infection, alcoholism, drug addiction, chronic fatigue, learning disability, head injury, and mental illness. Homes for up to 8 individuals who do not need day-to-day care are currently permitted in residential zone districts in compliance with the State Group Home Statute, as are small residential care facilities for 8 or fewer people who receive care or supervision. The proposed changes to the definition of “household” would allow similar accommodation for people who choose to live as a housekeeping unit, by renting or purchasing a home together, etc. Additional proposed changes to the code will impact regulations for shelters, community corrections and residential care facilities, and expand areas where those types of services can be provided.
Public Open House #1
6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, February 11
Bruce Randolph School, 3955 Steele St.
Public Open House #2
9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, February 22
Goldrick Elementary School, 1050 S. Zuni St.
Public Open House #3
6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, February 26
Hebrew Educational Alliance, 3600 S. Ivanhoe St.
Public Open House #4
6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 4
Schietler Recreation Center (multipurpose room), 5031 W. 46th Ave.
For more information, visit the Denver Community Planning & Development page
Outreach meeting at Aurora Center for Active Adults
Topic: Community-Based Successes and Strengths:
- Denver Regional Mobility and Access Council – DRMAC
o Creating an app that will be age-friendly (e.g., large font, user friendly)
- Integrates various transit providers
- Replicable and will be shared
o Travel training and mobility support – training individuals to use public transit and training them to train others
- Age-Friendly Workplace Initiatives
o Multigenerational workforce efforts
- Intergenerational app/technology training in Pitkin County
- Denver Regional Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging
o Hop, Skip, Drive Voucher Program – funded by excess Senior Property Tax Exemption dollars – use steadily increased month to month
- Door through door service, available weekdays, weekends, and evenings
- Working on contract with Lyft and Uber
- Complimentary services to existing transit options – has not negatively impacted other providers or trips
o Voucher for non-medical in-home services
- Dementia Friendly Denver: National initiative in 300+ cities
o Education and training course = Dementia 101
- Train family caregivers, service providers, drivers, etc.
- Jefferson County Crime Prevention: Safety concerns are major issue among older adults
o Financial fraud education
o Computer safety training – coordinate with law enforcement and DA Offices
- Senior Medicare Patrol and Medicare Fraud – Department of Regulatory Agencies
o Federal grant program – part of the Division of Insurance and State Health Insurance Program (SHIP)
o Free scam and fraud prevention for beneficiaries, families, and caregivers
- Wellness calls and check-ins in Arapahoe County
Audio Information Network
o Individuals with vision impairment, majority 60+
o Audio for Rocky Mountain PBS and local news outlets from around the state
o Podcasts ranging from local news to health and wellness to the 2020 Census
o Provide Amazon Echo’s to individuals
- On-demand technology is more engaging and active, less passive
o English, Spanish, and Mandarin
o Partner with Spark the Change
o Importance on statewide networking and partnerships
- Via Mobility – Transit and Paratransit in Boulder County
o Innovative collaborations: local governments, grant funding, private technology firms, and research partnerships
o Boulder County Local Coordinating Council and their Mobility Ambassador Model
o Intentional technology and app-based education
o On-demand paratransit services is a goal for the future
- Home health care as an opportunity for engagement, involvement, and outreach
- Kavod Senior Life
o Kavod on the Road
- Outreach program intended to combat isolation and support engagement
- Use Jewish Community Centers but also cross network (not all Jewish-focused)
- Scalable and replicable
o Kavod in the City – Denver Housing Authority
o Communication in partnerships is critical
- Spark the Change – Workforce development and volunteer focused
o Senior Companion Program
o Pro-bono mental health services
o Mental health mentorship program
- Retired practitioners work with students as mentors
- Sunshine Home Share
o Home sharing opportunities and income for older adults matched with affordable, below market costs for renters
o Currently expanding into Colorado Springs
- Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence
o Virtual dementia experience – grant funded, free dementia education focused on employers, organizations, direct care workers, and family caregivers across the state
CALC envisions Denver as a city with safe, convenient, & fun spaces to walk, roll, bike, and take transit where residents of all ages and abilities can connect to their environment and one another. To learn more about CALC and ways to get involved, visit: www.denverCALC.org.
Friday, February 14th is International Winter Bike to Work Day
Mark your calendars and ride to work!
For the past several years, Denver has been one of the top participating cities worldwide- let’s keep it rolling!
For those riding, don’t forget to stop by the breakfast station at 15th & Cleveland from 6:30am-9:00 a.m. for breakfast burritos, coffee, and hot chocolate!
Join the Vision Zero Love-In February 14th
Our annual Valentine’s Day Love In event is back! For the fifth year in a row, we are celebrating our love for safe streets by holding a rally at the City & County building in support of Vision Zero. This year, we’ll be thanking the City for continuing to elevate public transit in Denver through the Denver Moves: Transit plan. Come to hear from city leaders about the importance of public transit in our city. RTD will also be on hand to get input for their Reimagine RTD initiative. Since February 14 is also Winter Bike to Work Day, they will also have their portable bus rack so you can practice loading your bike on an RTD bus!
Meet at 11:30 a.m. at 17th and Lawrence for a group bus ride to City & County Building
Noon: Program starts at City & County Building with valentines, speakers, and bike-loading!
We want YOU at our next coalition meeting!
CALC meets 2nd Wednesdays every other month. Open to all, these meetings include event and project updates, informal networking, and group discussions about active living in Denver.
February 12, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
La Alma Rec Center
Discussion Topic: Climate Change in Denver- Opportunities for building Resilience
From Our Partners:
“We cannot go back into history and change the past. Poverty exists. Poverty was caused. What we potentially can do something about are the factors that perpetuate poverty.” -Phil Bartle, Ph.D
Sign up for FREE community building training with the Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities! Community Block Captains complete 8 2-hour training sessions, and learn about local issues, resources, and tools to help grow community engagement. Session topics include equity in education, tools and topics for civic engagement, healthy living, and race and economics.
Be Well Block Captain Training, Spring 2020
March 10-April 2
6-8 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays
Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities
7350 E 29th Ave Suite 300, Denver CO 80238
All sessions include dinner
#Lovemybusstop!
Denver Streets Partnership is launching a #lovemybusstop campaign inviting bus riders to show their stop some love. Share more about a stop you use regularly – either one you already love or one that could use some love! Share your post with @bikewalkbus or @People4Streets!
Bikes Together is hiring multiple positions at both Park Hill and Mariposa locations! Click below to see the full job descriptions and apply.
Apply here!
Registration is open for the Annual Summit of the Colorado Public Health and Parks and Recreation (PHPR) Collaborative!
2020 Theme: For the Sake of Gen Z – Shaping the Future of Health
They’re a whole new generation! Digitally savvy, never known a time without smart phones, meme obsessed, insightful, highly concerned about safety, calculated and thoughtful when taking risks and incredibly inclusive. This year we are bringing together Gen Z youth advisors and those who serve them to talk about the future of health. (If you have teens and young adults in your programs, centers, or clinics…that’s you.) We’re going to open the box on e-cigarettes, gaming, memes (maybe create a couple), digital connectedness and social isolation, pressures of social media and getting this generation outside. Come be part of the conversations.
PHPR 2020 Annual Summit
Friday, February 28, 2020| 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Bison Ridge Recreation Center
13905 E. 112th St, Commerce CityCost: $15 professionals, $5 students; includes lunch
Want to attend a conference or training on CALC’s behalf? We are proud to offer scholarships to community members for local events, learn more and apply below!
Apply here!