With its second birthday justaround the corner, WestminsterStation continues to pick upsteam and exceed expectations.Ridership of the B Line is now at1,800 commuters daily – that’striple what was originally pro-jected for the first leg of theNorthwest Rail corridor.

Along the way, the Westmin-ster Station project has pickedup numerous awards, including:

• 2016 Winner of the DenverRegional Council of Govern-ments Metro Vision Award

• 2017 Winner of the Col-orado Association of Stormwaterand Floodplain Managers Excel-lence in Engineering Award

• 2017 Winner of the Ameri-can Public Works Association

Colorado Chapter Project of theYear Award

• 2017 Finalist for the UrbanLand Institute Colorado ChapterImpact Award

Development activity in thestation core continues to makesteady progress. The Alto Apart-ments, Adams County HousingAuthority’s first phase of redevel-opment, has begun moving inits tenants since early March,and an official ribbon-cuttingceremony is planned for earlyMay. In addition, ACHA willmove its headquarter offices, aswell as the nonprofit Center forCareer and Community Enrich-ment, into the first level of theAlto building.

The water that you use anddrink every day travels from themountains around the Lovelandand Berthoud Pass basinsthrough creeks, streams and dis-tribution ditches into StandleyLake. After a stay in Standley

Lake, the water moves to one ofthe city’s two water treatmentplants. Once the water is treated,it still has miles to go before itreaches your home or business.

Underneath the streets ofWestminster is the city’s largest,

most expensive and most com-plicated part of the water sys-tem. You never see it, butwithout it there would be nowater for you to use.

The city owns and maintainsover 575 miles of pipe ranging in

size from 1 inch to 5 feet in di-ameter. Some of these pipeshave been in the ground sincethe mid-1900s and some wereinstalled last year.

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CITYEDITIONAPRIL/MAY 2018

CELEBRATEWATERDrinking Water WeekPAGE 6

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Reduce your impactPAGE 8

Countryside Outdoor Pool,10470 Oak St., opens for thesummer on Saturday, May 26.

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Please see TRAIN on page 2

Please see WATER on page 6

Volunteer victim advocatesprovide a very necessary serv-ice to victims of crime andpersonal tragedy.

Volunteers provide emo-tional support and court ac-companiment for victims ofdomestic violence. They mayalso assist the Police Depart-ment with on-scene victims.

The next Volunteer VictimAdvocate Training Academy isscheduled for Saturdays, April21 through May 5.

For more details and toapply, visitwww.cityofwestminster.us/VolunteerWestminster orcontact Drew Hogan,dhogan@cityofwestminster.us.

All Aboard Westminster Station!

Westminster’s Water Distribution SystemThe Most Expensive Thing That You Can’t See

BECOME A VOLUNTEER VICTIM ADVOCATE

KATHRYN SKULLEYCouncillor

720-255-5567kskulley@cityofwestminster.us

Term Expires: Nov. 2021

MARIA DE CAMBRAMayor Pro Tem720-323-3664

mdecambra@cityofwestminster.usTerm Expires: Nov. 2019

SHANNON BIRDCouncillor

303-435-3480sbird@cityofwestminster.us

Term Expires: Nov. 2019

HERB ATCHISONMayor

303-915-5625hatchison@cityofwestminster.us

Term Expires: Nov. 2021

DAVID DEMOTT Councillor

303-881-2728ddemott@cityofwestminster.us

Term Expires: Nov. 2021

ANITA SEITZ Councillor

303-817-5237aseitz@cityofwestminster.us

Term Expires: Nov. 2019

EMMA PINTER Councillor

720-239-2053epinter@cityofwestminster.us

Term Expires: Nov. 2021

WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL

VISION: Westminster is the next urban center of the Colorado FrontRange. It is a vibrant, inclusive, creative and well-connected city. Peoplechoose Westminster because it is a dynamic community with distinct neighborhoods, quality educational opportunities and a resilient local economy that includes: a spectrum of jobs; diverse, integrated housing; and shopping, cultural, entertainment and restaurant options. It embracesthe outdoors and is one of the most sustainable cities in America.

The Westminster City Council is elected at-large. Councillors representall residents of the city, not specific wards or districts.

Visionary Leadership, Effective Governance and Proactive RegionalCollaborationVibrant, Inclusive and Engaged CommunityBeautiful, Desirable, Safe and Environmentally Responsible City

Dynamic, Diverse EconomyFinancially Sustainable Government Providing Excellencein City ServicesEase of Mobility

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WESTMINSTER STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS:

Easter – Sunday, April 1: • Standley Lake open

normal hours• All recreation facilities and

libraries closed

Memorial Day – Monday, May 28: • Libraries, Westminster

Sports Center, City Hall and Mu-nicipal Court closed

• Standley Lake and City ParkRecreation Center opennormal hours

• City Park Fitness Center, TheMAC, Swim & Fitness Center,and West View RecreationCenter close at 3 p.m.

• Countryside Pool closes at6 p.m.

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

APRIL/MAY 2018/2CITY EDITION

REgeneration Development,the developer for the parkinggarage wrap – a building struc-ture that will be built around thesouth and west exterior sides ofthe multi-level garage – executeda purchase and sale agreementwith the city, and is moving for-ward with its plans for a market-rate, mixed-use project.

The project is proposed astwo buildings, with ground-floorcommercial space and up to fivestories of residential rental unitsabove. Local brewer, GeminiBeer Company, has been an-nounced as the first tenant, andwill bring a new taproom/

restaurant to the WestminsterStation area.

Outdoor recreation will alsobe on tap as the city continuesits development of a new 38-acre park south of the stationalong Little Dry Creek. Amenitieswill include a nature playground,a xeric garden, picnic pavilions,restrooms, an area for specialevents, a fishing pier, public art,lighting and landscaping. Pro-jected finish for the first phase ofthe park is this fall.

Finally, a new kinetic sculp-ture will be installed in April atthe south entrance of GroveStreet. Commissioned by theNorth Metro Arts Alliance, sculp-tors Saori Ide and Jonathan Rus-sell have created an iconic

symbol that represents modernmigration and the flow of peo-ple. It is intended to be a signifi-cant and meaningful landmarkthat becomes part of the land-scape and furthers the commu-nity’s investment in public art.

With longer days and warmertemperatures ahead, it is a goodtime to get out to WestminsterStation and see the new parkand sculpture, as well as enjoy aquick 15-minute ride to DenverUnion Station.

TRAINContinued from page 1

Do You Have Ideas About Your Community That You’d Like to Share?

The Westminster City Councilis hosting a community meetingon Tuesday, April 17, from 6-8p.m. at Front Range CommunityCollege, Rocky Mountain Room(entrance 1), 3645 W. 112th Ave.

Community meetings are atime for City Council to connectto community members aboutwhat you value most about yourcity and your ideas for making iteven better. What should you ex-pect? Community meetings area fun and social space where youwill sit in small groups with oneof your City Council membersand other community members.There will be topics and discus-sion in a productive and friendlyatmosphere. Community meet-ing notes are made public andalso used by City Council in theirstrategic planning process for

the city. Because you, our com-munity, should always guide theprocess, community meetings

are a time to become active inyour city and a give voice to ourcollective future.

Your City Council wants to en-gage all members of our West-minster community, so thismeeting will provide childcarefor families, and language inter-pretation for our immigrant andrefugee community members.There will also be food providedfor a range of dietary needs. Ifthere is a way we can make themeeting more accessible for you,don’t hesitate to let us know.

Visit the Council Outreachwebpage for notes from pastcommunity meetings:www.cityofwestminster.us/counciloutreach.

Contact Alexa Priddy, com-munication and outreach coor-dinator, with any questions orneeds you may have:apriddy@cityofwestminster.us or303-658-2016.

Join us on April 17

Your City Council (left to right): Councillor Shannon Bird; Councillor Emma Pinter; Mayor Pro Tem Maria De Cambra; MayorHerb Atchison; Councillor Anita Seitz: Councillor David DeMott;Councillor Kathryn Skulley.

As ridership on the B Line goes up, development activity aroundthe station makes steady progress.

CITY EDITION is published six timesper year as a news and informationsource for Westminster residents.All city departments contributematerial for use in this publication.

Editor: Jodie CarrollDesign: Gerry Chapleski/words+picturesCITY EDITION is distributed six times ayear to city residents and businesses viaU.S. mail and is available online atwww.cityofwestminster.us/cityedition.

Delivery problems should be brought tothe attention of the Westminster CityManager’s Office, 303-658-2012. Comments on the newspaper formatand content are welcomed. Please writeto the City of Westminster 4800 W. 92nd Ave.

Westminster, CO 80031Attn: Communication and Outreach Divisionor call 303-658-2012CITY

EDITION

APRIL/MAY 2018/3CITY EDITION

Family Fun with a Safety Focus

Think Safety: Tips and Pointersfor a Safe Spring

Join the Westminster Fire De-partment and other local safetyagencies for Target on Safety/Safe Kids Day on Saturday, April28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at theOrchard Town Center, 14697Delaware St. There will be manybooths and activities such askid’s games, low-cost helmets,head injury awareness, car seatinformation, giveaways, K-9demonstrations, fire trucks, am-bulances, police cars and more.This event offers kids and familiesthe opportunity to learn how totake action and stay safe frompreventable injuries.

All the action will take place inthe plaza off of Delaware Street,just one street east of the AMCTheater. Please call 303-658-4500 for more information.

The crew at Fire Station 5,10100 Garland St., will open theirdoors for their annual openhouse on Saturday, May 5, fromnoon to 3 p.m. The whole familyis invited to meet the firefighters,eat some barbecue, play somegames and have some fun. Fire-fighters will open up the fire en-gines and ambulances for tours,and are anticipating a visit fromFlight for Life personnel for a tourof their helicopter. This event isfree! Call 303-658-4500 for moreinformation.

The weather is warming up,and many of us will be headingoutside to soak up the sun. Hereare a few tips to keep you safethis spring.

Wear Your Helmet – Biking,rollerblading/skating, skate-boarding and similar activitieshave a high head-injury risk.Breaking your arm is a bummer,but it will probably heal. Dam-aging your brain would likelycause permanent damage thatmay affect speech, sight, motorskills and learning. Protect yourbrain! Wear a helmet!

Check Your Windows – Everyspring, toddlers accidentally top-ple out of windows or off decks.It’s something many of us don’tthink about as we open thosewindows after a long cold win-ter. Little guys love the warmweather too and go right forthat fresh breeze – and can fallthrough if the opening is bigenough or not secured well.Make sure and check that yourwindows/screens and deck rail-ings are secure if you have smallchildren or grandchildren inyour home.

Wear Seatbelts and Use ChildSafety Seats – It’s time to climbin the car and head out to thepark, lake and trail, but don’t for-get everyone needs to buckle up!By state law, all kids 8 and underneed to be in appropriate childsafety seats. If you need some as-sistance securing your car seat,the Westminster Fire Departmentcompletes car seat inspectionson the first and third Saturday ofthe month by appointment only.If you are interested in schedul-ing a car seat inspection, pleasecontact Fire Administration at303-658-4500. For more informa-tion about car seat guidelines,

visit www.codot.gov/safety/seatbelts-carseats/carseats.

Walk, Ride and Drive Safely –Pop Quiz: Are bicyclists allowedto ride in the middle of a lanealong with cars? Answer: Yes, ifthere is no shoulder or bike lane,when approaching an intersec-tion or if the bike is moving atthe same rate as traffic. Spring isa great time to brush up on Col-orado laws and safety guidelinesfor bicycles, pedestrians andmotorists at www.codot.gov/programs/bikeped.

For more great safety tips, visitwww.safekids.org.

Fire Station 5 Opens Doorsfor Annual Open House

BAD CLUBMonday, April 2, 4-5 p.m.,College Hill Library

If you like Books, Art orDrama, join this three-month club! Register on-line. Ages: 6-11.

TAEKWON-DO FORFAMILIES, YOUTH AND ADULTS• Mondays and Wednesdays, April 2-30,May 2-30, 5:30-6:30 p.m.and 6:30-8 p.m., WestView Recreation Center • Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 3-19,May 1-31, 6:30-7:30 p.m.and 6:30-8 p.m., The MAC

These monthly eveningclasses help increase yourfitness, flexibility and con-fidence levels, and helpsyou gain the ability to de-fend. Skills learned inclass apply to othersports and everyday life.For additional informa-tion, call 303-658-2215.

TREE LIMB RECYCLINGAND FREE MULCH

Westminster residentscan recycle their treelimbs on the 2nd Satur-day of every month, 8 a.m.to noon, at 10001 AlkireSt. Limbs can be anylength and no more than10 inches in diameter.Take advantage of West-minster’s “Thank You VeryMulch” campaign by tak-ing home mulch on thesame date as limb recy-cling. Please cover limband mulch loads to pre-vent debris from blowingout of your vehicle. Bringproof of Westminsterresidency.

TRAILS STORIESSaturday, April 7, 10-11 a.m., Standley LakeRegional Park

Are you ready to hikeinto a good story? Useyour senses to combinenature and reading dur-ing this guided hike.Class is free! Ages 5-8.Register online.

GLASS FUSING WORKSHOP – BIRDPLATTERSaturday, April 7, 1-3 p.m., City Park

Recreation CenterCreate a unique

glass piece and pre-pare for a change in

the seasons with thisspringtime bird scene.Learn how to cut and de-sign with fusible glass andglass elements. Supply fee

includes a wide selectionof glass, materials andmultiple firings.

GLASS MOSAICS WORKSHOP

Saturday and Sunday,April 7, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.and April 8, 9-11 a.m.,Westminster Sports Center

Discover the fun andease of mosaics. Cut a va-riety of glass, explore colorand design, grout andleave with a small com-pleted piece. Fee includesall supplies including avariety of colored glassand embellishments.

HARD TRAVELIN’: THELIFE AND SONGS OFWOODY GUTHRIETuesday, April 10, 1:30-2:45 p.m., The MAC

Dan Blegen presentsthis unique docu-concertabout Woody Guthrie.Dan performs Dust Bowl

ballads, songs of theWest, and tributes toAmerica’s farmers, factoryworkers and service men.Register by April 9. Resi-dent $6; non-resident $7.

WHAT DO I READ NEXT?Wednesday, April 11, 1-2:30 p.m., The MAC

Find out the latest newtitles as well as old fa-vorites you might havemissed. Library staff sharebook, audio and DVDchoices that you’ll wantto check out. Register on-line. Ages: 18 and older.

MAKE YOUR OWNGRAPHIC NOVELWednesday, April 11, 2-4 p.m., Irving Street Library

Bring superheroes tolife! Design your own char-acters, plot out a story anddon’t forget the twist atthe end. Ages: 9-14.

UPCYCLE YOUR LIBRARYSaturday, April 14, 1:30-4 p.m., College HillLibrary

Own a piece of the

Westminster Public Li-brary. Design a bookend,create folded book artand more. All ages.

TUMBLING AND MORE!Fridays, April 20-May 11,9-9:45 a.m., 10-10:45 a.m.,City Park Recreation Center

Have a great time withyour tot as they developgross motor movementsand coordination throughtumbling and more.Classes are positive, safeand fun! Parent/guardianparticipation is required.

COLORFUL COLORADOCINEMA: “SAND CREEKAND JUSTICIA Y LIBERTAD”Saturday, April 21, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.,Westminster HistoryCenter, 7200 Lowell Blvd.

See a free series ofshort films from “Col-

orado Experience,” aweekly history series pro-duced by Rocky Moun-tain PBS. WestminsterPublic Library staff will fa-cilitate a discussion afterthe films to enrich yourwatching experience.

EARTH DAY CLEANUPSunday, April 22, noon to2 p.m., Standley Lake Regional Park

Help beautify StandleyLake with trash pick-up,weed pulling or otheroutdoor tasks. If you canbring some of your owngarden tools, that wouldbe great! Free. All ages.Register online.

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION AT THE LIBRARYSunday, April 22, 2-3p.m., Irving Street Library

Celebrate our Earth bycreating upcycle master-pieces and plantingseeds to take home. Reg-ister online. All ages.

TWEEN TIMESMonday, April 23, 4-5 p.m., College Hill Library

Projects, acting andcooking. Register online.Ages: 9-11.

APRIL

SEASONAL JOB FAIR• Tuesday, April 3, 3-7 p.m., College Hill Library• Wednesday, April 4, 3-7 p.m., Irving Street Library• Saturday, April 7, 1:30-4:30 p.m., College Hill Library

Looking for a summer job? A seasonal position withthe City of Westminster might be the perfect fit. Morethan 200 outdoor seasonal positions are available. Findout about different positions, fill out an application,and get an on-the-spot interview. Ages: 16 and older.

EARTH DAY/ARBOR DAY CELEBRATIONSaturday, April 21, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Westminster Center Park, 4801 W. 92nd Ave.

Learn how you can improve your corner of the world at Westminster’sEarth Day/Arbor Day Celebration. Enjoy live animals, food demonstrations,drop-in yoga, tree planting and care advice, bee and butterfly information,and more. Free compost is available at this event. This is the pick-up of Re-Leaf Westy trees.

APRIL/MAY 2018/4CITY EDITION

TRAILS STORIESSaturday, April 7

TUMBLINGAND MORE!Fridays, April 20-May 11

EARTH DAYCLEANUPSunday, April 22

SPRING POTTERY SALESaturday and Sunday,May 5 and 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., City Park Recreation Center

Studio work at afford-able prices is waiting foryou at this annual sale.Choose from a variety offunctional and decorativepieces. Admission is a do-nation of a non-perish-able item for theWestminster Food Bank.

FISHING FUN FOR BEGINNERSSaturday, May 6, 10 a.m.to noon, Standley LakeRegional Park

Cast off into this funprogram intended toteach the basics of fish-ing. A free fishing poleand bait for the fishingactivity is included. $10per person. Ages: 8-12.Register online.

GO BIRDINGSaturday, May 6, 10 a.m.to noon, Standley LakeRegional Park

Go birding with JoeLafleur, author of “BetterBirdwatching,” to helpyou identify Standley’sbirds by sight and sound!$8 per person. Ages 10+.Register online.

SAT AND COLLEGE PREPSTRATEGY SESSIONSaturday, May 12, 2-3 p.m., Irving Street Library

Learn everything thereis to know about the SAT.Meet a Princeton Reviewexpert who will go overtest content, walk you

through some samplequestions and show youscore-raising strategies touse on test day. Registeronline. Ages: 12-17 andparents.

2018-19 KINDER KIDSAND TINY TOTS PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION

Registration for the2018-19 school year isopen on a first-come,first-served basis. Call303-658-2215 or 303-658-2222 for additionalinformation on these Col-orado Shines-rated pro-grams. To register, callCity Park Recreation Cen-ter, West View RecreationCenter or Swim & FitnessCenter. Ages: 3-5 years.

TOT TIME AT THE WESTMINSTER SPORTSCENTERTuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m.to noon

Come play inside onour turf field with yourfriends or make newones! Jump in our jumpcastle, play with a varietyof toys or bring your own.$1/tot. Ages 5 and under,parents are free.

BEGINNING ITALIAN FOR TRAVELERSWednesdays, May 2-June6, 5:30-7 p.m., The MAC

Buongiorno! Acquirebasic language skills formeeting and greeting,getting directions andtransportation info, shop-ping and ordering in arestaurant. Past tenses

and more complex gram-matical constructions aretaught. Learn about Italy’sregions and practicespeaking in a relaxed en-vironment with a nativeItalian teacher. Handoutsprovided. Register byApril 30. Resident $75;non-resident $85.

INTRO TO UKULELEMondays, May 7-21, 5-6 p.m., The MAC

Class is designed forbeginners with noukulele experience. Learnthe basics to get finger-picking and strummingin no time. Bring aukulele, pick and folderfor handouts. Sopranoukulele is preferred. Ages12 and over. Resident$35; non-resident $37.

INTRODUCTION TO GUITARMondays May 7-21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., The MAC

This class is designedfor beginners with noguitar experience. Learnthe basics to get pickingand strumming in notime. All you need to getstarted is a guitar(acoustic is preferred), apick and a folder forhandouts. Ages 14 andover. Resident $35; non-resident $37.

IPHONE AND IPAD ACCESSIBILITY FEATURESTuesday, May 8, 1:30-3:30 p.m., The MAC

iPhone and iPad havefeatures to assist with vi-

sion, hearing and dexter-ity loss or decline. Explorethe most popular accessi-bility features and set-tings that make yourdevice easier to see, hearand use. Handout pro-vided in this demonstra-tion-style class. Registerby May 3. Resident $24;non-resident $26.

ENHANCE YOUR EXERCISE WITH NUTRITION AND SUPPLEMENTSTuesday, May 15, 6-7 p.m.,West View RecreationCenter

What you eat has a bigeffect on how well youcan exercise. Learn whichnutrients and foods arebest for different activi-ties and what to eat be-fore, during and afteryour activity. Supple-ments are also discussed.Resident $11; non-resi-dent $13.

LEARN TO USE GOOGLEOR APPLE MAPSWednesday, May 16,noon to 2 p.m., The MAC

Never get lost again!Look up addresses andget directions from themaps app on your iPhone,iPad, Android phone ortablet device. Bring yourown device to followalong in this demonstra-tion-style class. Registerby May 14. Resident $24;non-resident $26.

SMART SPEAKERS –AMAZON ECHO,GOOGLE HOME ANDAPPLE HOMEPODTuesday, May 22, 9:30-11:30 a.m., The MAC

Smart home devicescan help you live inde-pendently and have fun ifyou know how to startthe conversation. Exploresmart speaker options,basics of operation andthe risks of using them.See a live demo. Handoutprovided. Register three

working days in advance.Resident $24; non-resi-dent $26.

NO COOK/LOW COOKMEALSWednesday, May 23, 6-7:30 p.m., The MAC

Sometimes there arejust some evenings whencooking dinner is way toomuch of a chore. Learn avariety of quick andhealthy no-cook or low-cook dishes that willplease even the pickiesteater. Samples andrecipes provided. Registerby May 21. Resident $14;non-resident $16.

YOUTH TENNIS LESSONSTuesday and Sundayevenings, CountrysideTennis Courts

Youth tennis lessons forbeginners or intermedi-ate players. Beginnerslearn basic strokes, rulesof the game, work on ral-lying and gain confidenceon the court both individ-ually and as a team. Inter-mediate players improvestrokes, focus more ongame play, beginningstrategy, ball placementand more competitivestructure. Ages 6-13. Fullschedule can be foundonline or call 303-658-2217 for more informa-tion. Resident $50;non-resident $55.

ADULT TENNIS LESSONSTuesdays, July 10-31 andAug. 14-Sept. 4, 7-8 p.m.,Countryside TennisCourts

Learn basic strokes,rules of the game, workon rallying, gain confi-dence on court both indi-vidually and as a team,intro to singles and dou-bles. Resident $60; non-resident $65.

APRIL/MAY 2018/5CITY EDITION

MAY

FACILITY LOCATIONS/REGISTRATIONRECREATIONwww.cityofwestminster.us/ParksRecreation

Register:www.cityofwestminster.us/ activityguides or call any recreation center

City Park Fitness Center10475 Sheridan Blvd.303-460-9691

City Park Recreation Center & City Park10455 Sheridan Blvd.303-460-9690

Countryside Outdoor Pool10470 Oak St.303-466-1738

Ice Centre at The Promenade10710 Westminster Blvd.303-469-2100

Legacy Ridge Golf Course10801 Legacy Ridge Parkway303-438-8997

The MACPrograms to suit your activeadult lifestyle. Ages 18 and older.3295 W. 72nd Ave.303-426-4310

Standley Lake Regional Park100th Avenue and Simms Street303-425-1097

Swim & Fitness Center3290 W. 76th Ave.303-427-2217

Walnut Creek Golf Preserve10555 Westmoor Drive303-469-2974

Westminster Sports Center6051 W. 95th Ave.303-658-2393

West View Recreation Center10747 W. 108th Ave.303-460-9530

LIBRARIESRegister:http://tinyurl.com/wplsignupwww.westminsterlibrary.org

College Hill Library3705 W. 112th Ave.303-658-2603

Irving Street Library & Park7392 Irving St.303-658-2303

ADMINCity Hall4800 W. 92nd Ave.303-658-2400

Westminster Public SafetyCenter9110 Yates St.303-658-2400

Emergency: 911

COMMUNITY PRIDE DAYSaturday, May 12

It’s time to spring clean your community! Join over 1,000 vol-unteers to pick up litter and trash in open space and parks, andalong trails and streets. This event is great for individuals, fami-lies, neighborhoods, churches, scouts, schools and businesses.Volunteers celebrate at a free cookout featuring entertainment,music, games and door prizes. Registration required by May 4.Contact kmay@cityofwestminster.co.us or 303-658-2191.

CINCO DE MAYOCELEBRATIONFriday, May 4, 1:30-3 p.m., The MAC

Fill your bowl at The MAC nacho barand get your virgin margarita beforelistening to a variety of music per-formed by local musician, Rocky Her-nandez. Register by Tuesday, May 1.Fee: $8.

GO BIRDINGSaturday, May 6

APRIL/MAY 2018/6CITY EDITION

Westminster’s PublicWorks and Utilities employ-ees work hard every day toensure our citizens havewell-maintained streets, ef-ficiently moving traffic nomatter the weather, cleanwater and sewer services.Their dedication and com-mitment is recognized dur-ing National Public WorksWeek, May 20-26.

Since 1960, the AmericanPublic Works Associationhas sponsored NationalPublic Works Week, and thisyear's theme “The Power ofPublic Works,” speaks to theessential nature of PublicWorks services in support ofeveryday quality of life.

Westminster’s PublicWorks and Utilities employ-ees use this week to edu-cate the public on themany facets of their hardwork. To find out about upcom-ing events, visitwww.cityofwestminster.us/government/departments/publicworksutilities.

Drinking Water Week Runs May 6-12The city celebrates Drinking

Water Week, May 6-12, to recog-nize the importance of provid-ing safe and clean drinkingwater to our residents. Visit theinformational display (and getcool giveaways!) this year at theCollege Hill Library during theweek as we celebrate.

Westminster’s customers arefortunate to enjoy a high-qualitywater supply that originates onthe mountain peaks of the Con-tinental Divide. Semper andNorthwest Water Treatment Fa-cilities draw water from StandleyLake, which is filled with surfacewater mainly from Clear Creek.Snow melt and rain from thewatershed flow down ClearCreek and are transported to thelake via three separate canals.

The treatmentprocess begins withthe initial chemicalassessment of thewater coming intothe facility from thelake. The waterquality changesconstantly based onlake conditions,therefore it is criti-cal that the processis monitored 24/7by on-site staff. Certified treat-ment operators continually ad-just and balance treatmentoptions to provide consistentquality in the finished water thatcomes out of your faucet.

Chemicals are added duringwater treatment to remove im-purities from the lake water and

optimize the treat-ment process. Thechemicals react withthe impurities toform larger particlesduring the floccula-tion stage of thetreatment process.These larger, heavierparticles settle out ofthe water during thesedimentationstage. Ammonia and

chlorine are carefully added dur-ing the disinfection stage in justthe right concentrations to makesure the water meets all SafeDrinking Water standards.

The treated water is stored intanks until it is pumped into thedistribution system, which con-sists of over 575 miles of pipes

that bring treated drinkingwater to individual consumers.The system consists of a com-plex infrastructure of pumpsand hydrants designed to en-sure there is enough water pres-sure for homes as well as for firefighting efforts when the needarises. Occasional flushing ofsections of the distribution sys-tem may be required to bringfresh water into locations wherewater usage is lower than ex-pected so as to ensure the high-est quality of water is availableto all residents.

The city’s Water Quality staff isavailable to answer any ques-tions about our drinking water.Call 303-658-2461 or emailwater@cityofwestminster.us.

How long does a pipe last?Good question. While differenttypes of pipe have different lifes-pans, other factors such as thesoil around the pipe and pres-sures in the pipe all affect lifes-pan. In general, we usually counton over 50 years for a pipe.

Other underground city infra-structure includes over 33,000water meters, 15,966 valves,4,736 fire hydrants and assortedother devices like pressure re-ducing valves and blowoff as-semblies. City staff works hard toensure that the insides of all thisinfrastructure are kept clean sothat it arrives to your home orbusiness ready to use. That in it-self is a major responsibility andrequires constant testing anddisinfection when needed,

though the small amount ofchlorine in the water helps tokeep the system clean.

Keeping the distribution sys-tem going and safe is one of themost expensive and critical jobscity employees perform. Replac-ing one mile of pipe can costabout $4.5 million, and it is notconvenient for anyone. All thework happens in the city’sstreets and everyone has experi-enced the related traffic and ac-cess issues.

How we operate the systemcan have a big impact on condi-tion. Some projects have in-stalled pressure reducing valveswhere system pressures arehigh. These valves can greatly re-duce the risk of pipe failure. Wesend cameras through sectionsof pipe to assess the conditionso that we can proactively targetpipes for replacement before

they fail, saving the city millionsof dollars. We even look at waysto fix aging pipes from the in-side out, without digging up thestreets. All the valves and fire hy-drants in the city must beturned on and off periodically toensure they will function whenneeded. Not a small task. Youmay see city workers flushingthe system using fire hydrants toclean out the pipes and makesure the water is fresh.

In addition, current water me-ters are at the end of their lifes-pan so the city will be replacingall 33,000 over the next twoyears at an estimated cost of$12 to $16 million.

As you can imagine, all theseefforts represent a major portionof the city’s annual expenses.The annual budget for the day-to-day operation of the waterdistribution system is about $5

million. Over the next 5 years thecost is about $28 million.

And that is just scraping thesurface, so to speak. As our waterdistribution continues to age,much of the pipe installed dur-ing earlier building booms willneed replacement and the costwill be significantly more.

With all this in mind, it is im-portant to remember that thecity is able to do all this workwhile keeping water rates belowthe regional average. As thecity’s costs continue to rise, sowill rates. While no one is happyabout rising rates, the city is al-ways focused on providing thebest service for the lowest possi-ble cost. If you are having trou-ble paying your water and sewerbills, the city has programs tohelp. Visitwww.cityofwestminster.us/waterbillassistance

WATERContinued from page 1

This spring, theWestminster LegacyFoundation began anew communityawards program tohonor citizens, individ-uals, groups, businessesand organizations ac-tive in the Westminstercommunity. Donors,friends, grantees and communitymembers nominated candidatesin these categories: The NancyHeil Lifetime Achievement Award;The Nature, Environment & Sus-tainability Award; The Health &Human Services hero Award; TheArts & Culture Award; The Corpo-rate Citizen Award; The Citizen ofthe Year; and The Young Citizenof the Year.

To honor these deservingfolks, the foundation will hold abreakfast in their honor at theWestin Westminster on Friday,May 11, from 7-9 a.m.

Tickets are available atwww.westyfoundation.org or bycalling 303-658-2407.

“This new awardsprogram is a tremen-dous opportunity torecognize individualsthat have dedicatedcountless hours ofservice to our com-munity,” said KelliEhrhardt, vice presi-dent of the founda-

tion and vice president of VectraBank Commercial Banking Divi-sion. “We hope to see a lot ofcommunity members at thecommunity awards breakfast tohonor the people who makeWestminster such a wonderfulplace to live,”

Established as a communityfoundation in 2001, the West-minster Legacy Foundationserves as the leader, catalyst andresource for philanthropy in ourcommunity. The foundation pro-vides donors with flexible meansof making gifts and bequests tosupport the charitable causesthat make the City of Westmin-ster an outstanding communityin which to live, work and play.

May 20-26 is NationalPublic Works Week

Westminster Legacy Foundation Announces NewCommunity Awards Program

City Provides Residents with Floodplain Advice

While new homes built inWestminster are prohibited frombeing constructed in a flood-plain, some of the city’s olderhomes may be in a floodplain iflocated near a stream or creek.Even if you live in an older homeand have never experiencedflooding, there is still the possi-bility that it could happen in thefuture. The city can assist you indetermining whether or notyour house is located in a flood-plain, and the following informa-tion can help you protect yourhome against flood damage.

Help reduce the impacts offlooding by doing the following:

• Do not dump or throw any-thing in ditches or streams. It isa violation of city ordinance be-cause it plugs up water channelsand contributes to flooding dur-ing periods of heavy water flow.If your property is next to a ditchor stream, keep the banks clearof brush and debris.

• Always check with the Build-ing Division before you build,alter, re-grade or fill on yourproperty. A permit may beneeded to ensure that projectsdo not cause flooding problemson other properties.

Flood-proofing If you live in a floodplain,

there are regulations associatedwith floodproofing your home.Before implementing any flood-proofing measures, contact thecity’s Engineering Division formore information.

Flood InsuranceIf you live in a floodplain, you

may need flood insurance.Homeowner policies typically donot include coverage for flooddamage. The city participates inthe National Flood InsuranceProgram, which allows you to

purchase a separate flood insur-ance policy. This coverage maybe required by your lender whenapplying for a home mortgage.Be sure it covers the building’scontents as well as its structure.

Flood Safety• Don’t walk through flowing

water. Drowning is the numberone cause of flood deaths.

• Don’t drive through aflooded area. More peopledrown in their cars than any-where else.

• Stay away from power linesand electrical wires. This is the

number two killer after drown-ing. Report downed power linesto Xcel Energy.

• Have your electricity turnedoff by Xcel Energy. Some appli-ances, such as televisions, keepelectrical charges after they havebeen unplugged. Don’t use appli-ances or motors that have beenwet unless they have been takenapart, cleaned and dried out.

• Look out for small animalsthat may have been flooded outof their homes and are seekingshelter in your home.

• Be alert for gas leaks. Don’tsmoke or use candles, lanterns

or open flames unless you knowthe gas has been turned off andthe area has been ventilated.

Floodplain servicesVisit the Department of Com-

munity Development at City Hallto see if your home is located ina mapped floodplain. If you haveexperienced a flood, drainage orsewer backup problems, the citymay have information aboutyour property that could be use-ful. If you have a flooding prob-lem, please contact the City ofWestminster’s Engineering Divi-sion at 303-658-2120.

APRIL/MAY 2018/7CITY EDITION

Droughts, floods, winterstorms and earthquakes are afew of the natural hazards thatcould impact Westminster. Overthe past few months, city staffhas been working with commu-nity stakeholders and interestedcitizens to identify and rank ournatural hazards. Now that weare wrapping up the risk assess-ment process, we need to thinkabout what we can do to miti-gate these hazards.

The purpose of mitigation is toreduce the likelihood of naturaldisasters and reduce their im-pacts when they do occur. Whatwe do to mitigate a hazard isgenerally very specific to thehazard. For example, what wecan do to mitigate the impact ofa drought is very different fromwhat we can do to mitigate aflood. Mitigation activities ofteninclude both structural and non-

structural mitigation actions. Inthe case of flooding, we can im-prove drainage and retentionstructures and encourage prop-erty owners in the floodplain toparticipate in the National FloodInsurance Program.

As with preparedness, mitiga-tion is a shared responsibility ofthe whole community. We allneed to understand our naturalhazards and consider what wecan do to protect our families,pets, property and businesses.

If you would like to learnmore about our mitigation plan-ning efforts or participate in thedevelopment of our mitigationplan, please contact EmergencyManagement Coordinator GregMoser atgmoser@cityofwestminster.usor 303 658-4550.

Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

Westminster’s natural hazards were identified and ranked by community stakeholders and citizens working on this data over the last few months.

Driving to work can be a sig-nificant source of stress and canadd to traffic congestion and airpollution. Luckily, finding alter-native ways to commute is eas-ier than ever with transportationoptions, including bus, bike, rail,carpool and car share. Considertaking a different way to workonce a week and see how itworks for you.

TransitThe Regional Transportation

District operates transit servicethroughout the Denver metroarea. Learn more about RTD'slocal bus service destinationsand schedules on their website:www.rtd-denver.com/bus.shtml.An easy way to plan your trip isthrough apps on your smart-phone, including the Transit(https://transitapp.com) orTripGo (https://skedgo.com/home/tripgo).

B Line Commuter Rail – The BLine provides fast and conven-ient service to Denver’s UnionStation where you can make busand rail connections to any-where in the metro area. Theservice operates every 30 min-utes during peak hours (6-9 a.m.and 3-6 p.m.), and hourly allother times.

Flatiron Flyer – RTD’s BusRapid Transit service connectsDenver, Boulder and all pointsin-between. The BRT runs every15 minutes throughout the dayfrom the U.S. 36/Sheridan sta-tion and the U.S. 36/ChurchRanch station.

Skyride AA – Direct trans-portation to Denver Interna-tional Airport. Service operatesout of Wagon Road Park-N-Rideevery 30 minutes.

North-South Bus Routes8 – North Broadway/Huron19 – North Pecos31 – Federal Blvd 112 - West

112th Avenue

31L – North Federal Blvd Lim-ited 120 - 120thAvenue/Brighton

51 – Sheridan Blvd. 122X -Wagon Road/Civic Center Express

76 – Wadsworth Boulevard AA- Wagon Road/Denver Airport

100 – Kipling StreetEast-West Bus Routes72 – 72nd Avenue 80 – 80th Avenue 80L – West 80th Limited92 – 92nd Avenue104 – West 104th Avenue112 – West 112th Avenue128 – Broomfield/Wagon Road

Interlocken/Westmoor Call-N-Ride

RTD’s Call-N-Ride is a person-alized, shared ride bus servicethat serves Flatiron Crossing andareas of Interlocken, Westmoor

Technology Park, Crown Point,Countryside and Walnut Grovesubdivisions. The shuttle providescurb-to-curb service within theCall-N-Ride area. The reservation-based system can connect you towork, school and appointments.Scheduled departures are alsomade from the U.S. 36 andBroomfield Station, gate F.

Carpool and VanpoolWay to go

(https://mywaytogo.org) is theDenver region’s commuting assis-tance program. They help resi-dents find better commutes andsave money by coordinating car-pools and vanpools for residents.Carpooling involves 2+ peopletraveling together in one vehicleto their destination. A vanpool is agroup of 5 to 15 people with sim-

ilar commutes who share a vanprovided by a vanpool provider.The Guaranteed Ride Home pro-vides a free taxi ride home fromthe office for employees whohave an emergency arise.

RideshareRideshare programs like Uber

and Lyft are great commute op-tions! The pool-feature allows forconvenient, inexpensive andnon-committal carpooling, andit’s simple. Download the app toyour smartphone, synchronize acredit card and you are able toenter pick-up and drop-off loca-tions. The apps also provide realtime car tracking, so you can seewhere your ride is and whattime it will pick you up and dropyou off.

APRIL/MAY 2018/8CITY EDITION

Spring is typically when every-one thinks about unburyingthemselves from winter and get-ting outside more often. Springis also when many people thinkabout home cleaning and yardimprovement. And to top it off,spring is the season of Earth Dayand environmental awareness.So, why not think about workingon all those things at once? Thisseason is the perfect time tothink about options for improv-ing your home, saving moneyand reducing your impact onthe environment.

For example:Energy efficiency – Xcel En-

ergy and United Power offerprograms and rebates to helpresidents reduce their energyuse and save money on theirutility bills. Efficient lighting, pro-

grammable thermostats, effi-cient air conditioners and betterinsulation are all great ways toreduce your energy use. Improv-ing your home’s energy effi-ciency can also improve thecomfort of your home, in otherwords keeping it warm whenyou want it warm and keeping itcool when you want it cool.Contact Xcel Energy at 800-895-4999 or www.xcelenergy.com/programs_and_rebates/residential_programs_and_rebates and United Power at303-637-1300 orwww.unitedpower.com/energy-savings.

Water conservation – Reduc-ing water consumption both in-side your home and in your yardis a great way to reduce yourwater bills, and to conserve

Westminster’s water resources.You may not know this, butWestminster is completely re-liant on one source of water:snowmelt in the mountains thateventually makes its way intoStandley Lake. With the reducedsnowpack this year, doing yourpart to reduce water use helpssave you money and helps theentire community extend itslimited water resources even fur-ther. Many options exist for in-stalling water efficiencyproducts both inside the home(e.g., low-flow faucets and toi-lets) and outside the home (e.g.,efficient water irrigation prod-ucts). Get more information atwww.cityofwestminster.us/Resi-dents/Water/Conservation.

Waste – During your homespring cleaning, take a look at

any extra or old householdwaste (e.g., cleaners, old paint,cans with unknown material,etc.) that’s lying in the basementor garage, and decide if itshould be disposed. The city andother providers offer programsfor you to properly dispose ofthese materials so they don’tharm the environment. In addi-tion, the city offers four recyclingcenters. Visit www.cityofwest-minster.us/TrashandRecyclingfor details.

Westminster wants to helpour residents be sustainabilityleaders. Spring is a great time tostart doing that work, and to im-prove your home and help makethe community a better place.Just think of it as your springresolution.

It’s Time for Spring Greening

How Are You CommutingTo and From Work?