Centennial Council of Neighborhoods – November 2009

President Cathy Noon called the meeting to order at 6:50 pm with 19 members present and adjourned at 8:50 pm.

• Kevin Heaton is an Area Commander for Centennial between Broadway and I-25.
• A home on S. Clarkson had been abandoned. Several agencies worked together to reach a solution.
• During the recent snowstorms, there were no serious incidents.
• A stabbing incident occurred outdoors at the Arapahoe District Court on October 28. It was a domestic violence incident. A suspect was arrested.
• Arrests were made at Trails West Elementary. Suspects broke into the school & were caught when leaving the building.
• There was a home invasion at the Glencoe Apartments at Arapahoe & Holly.
• Firearms were taken during burglaries at Yosemite & Dry Creek and in the 5500 block of S. Ireland Way.
• No additional information is available at this time regarding the homicide in Willow Creek.
• The Sheriff’s Department was a co-sponsor of the 9 Cares Food Drive at Inverness Hotel.
• For the 5^th consecutive year, Centennial was ranked #1 as the safest community in Colorado & 15^th in the country. Despite this ranking, vigilance must continue. A Neighborhood Watch program was recommended.

• Aurora Ballot Issue 4A was defeated by the voters which will result in the closing of four of its libraries. The district will monitor the impact on the Arapahoe Library District. If necessary, adjustments may have to be made such as limiting the number of items to be checked out to non-residents. Discussions with Aurora Libraries have been taking place. Materials in the Aurora Libraries will be assimilated into other Aurora libraries that remain open.
• Holiday Drive: Collecting sample size toiletries for servicemen/women. Drop boxes available in all libraries.
• January23-24 is the Smoky Hill Palooza – used paper back book sale to help fund the library.

• Great sales on entrance fees to facilities.
• Art & Pottery Sale, December 5^th, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at Trails Recreation Center. Do your holiday shopping.
• The district has no plan to increase fees in the near future & there is planning for less revenue from property taxes in 2012.

Fire Districts      Chief John Mullin, Littleton

• Cautioned that holiday decorative lights should be safe and out of the way of pets, kids & foot traffic. Do not overload the electrical circuits. Safety information is available on the website.
• Jans Petrocheck, Littleton fireman, has served in Iraq & Afghanistan and was named ‘best medic’ in the army.
• On behalf of all fire chiefs, Chief Mullin thanked President Cathy Noon for her service in the community.

• Holiday Pass Sale starts on Thanksgiving Day and continues until December 31.
• Register for a free 1 hour & 15 minute individual orientation on how to use the fitness equipment, Jan. 4-28.
• Free nutrition information for your diet will be available on January 18, 23, 27 at Goodson Rec Center.
• Blood Screenings: 7 – 9:30 am, January 19 – Lone Tree; Jan. 20 – Goodson; Jan. 21 – Buck; Jan. 22 – Family Sports Center. Results are mailed to your home. Fee is $40/person. A 12 hour fast is recommended.
• Craft Fair: 75 juried booths, Dec. 5, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at Goodson Rec Center.
• Tree recycling starts on December 26 at the Willow Spring Service Center, 7100 S. Holly. Mulch is available Monday – Friday from 7 am – 3:30 pm.
• Budget has yet to be passed. All special districts supported by property taxes are looking at a loss of revenue from property tax in 2012.

• The adoption of the Land Development Code has been postponed until March/April. A draft zoning map will be available at the same time. All six code enforcements items of concern were pulled out and will be looked at individually. Once the Code is adopted, it will not be in effect until the zoning map is complete. Comments should go to Rita McConnell.

Horse & Dog Track Expansion of Gaming (potential)      Chrissy Estes Faraci

• Chrissy Faraci, Faraci Governmental Relations, explained a bill defeated in the last legislative session regarding ‘instant racing machines’ or casino style gaming at horse and dog tracks. It is anticipated that it will be re-introduced in the next session. Instant racing machines (games of risk) are referred to as slot machines. Instant Racing Machines meet the constitutional definition of a ‘game of risk’. Arguments in opposition include: increased law enforcement, fire protection, setbacks from schools.
• The horse racing industry favors this proposal. A group called ‘Protect Our Neighborhoods’ has been formed to oppose this type of proposal. A steering committee compromised of community leaders has been established & a contact network is being built. It was argued that it deserves a vote of the people.

CenCON Business

Cathy Noon, President, reported on the following items:

• Signage and Wayfinding Committee has made a recommendation for a sign. It is being refined.
• A $90,000 grant was received to replace a number of concrete bus benches
• Council approved a $400,000 contract for the design of the Civic Center Park surrounding the City Center.
• The City has annexed Arapahoe High School., Chapel Hill Cemetery, Estancia (next to Chapparal) and Piney Creek Village (182 homes - east of Parker, south of Orchard). Properties surrounded by the city for 3 years may be annexed at will.
• For Centennial to be eligible for certain federal funds, it must have a population of 100,000 in the 2010 census. $3000 in census ‘marketing’ materials has been made available to the city. HOA’s may be eligible for some of those funds to place a census ad in newsletters at their regular fee.
• Citizen appointee positions are available. Be prepared to volunteer.
• Cathy Noon presented Eloise May with a gift for the library for allowing CenCON the use of the facilities.

Minutes      Gerry Cummins, Secretary

• Don Doerr moved to approve the October 2009 minutes. Lynn Leader seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report      Don Strickland, Treasurer