City of Centennial Resident Connections Newsletter - Spring 2022

Centennial Mayor Stephanie Piko is available to meet virtually and in-person with residents and business owners.

Visit centennialco.gov/ meetthemayor to schedule a time to meet at a time that’s convenient for you.

HOUSING IN FOCUS

City launches study to explore housing options and opportunity in Centennial

Itmay not be surprising that housing affordability and availability are an issue in our state, but the extent of the issue, and the far-reaching impacts and mitigation steps are lesser known. To gain clarity in these areas, the City is conducting a housing study this year. Residents are encouraged to get involved and provide input on this important topic.

The goals of the housing study are to:

• Explore housing costs and availability in Centennial

• Understand the entire spectrum of housing issues

• Define various needs for housing

• Identify priorities to potentially inform policy

A housing needs assessment, as well as analyses of housing strategies, policies and land development code modifications, are anticipated outcomes of this initiative. This study is a major undertaking that prioritizes community input and collaboration among a wide range of community stakeholders.

Many distinct groups will be convened over the next year to help guide the housing study process: a core team composed of City staff along with policy and planning consultants; a working group balancing technical

How are you or your home impacted by costs, availability and demand?

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and community-oriented interests; focus groups with traditionally underrepresented groups; community stakeholders; elected and appointed officials; and the public.

These groups are gathering insights and research from housing experts and exploring housing types, issues and policy options that emerge from the process.

The first of three planned meetings was held May 17 to share details about the process and provide input on Centennial’s housing needs. Residents are encouraged to visit centennialco.gov/housing to learn more about the study, view future meeting dates, share comments and subscribe to receive further updates and communication from the City throughout the study process.

Apply for $500 Grant to Support Community Connection

The Centennial Neighborhood Engagement Grant program provides grants up to $500 to support community-building events such as neighborhood block parties, movie nights and social gatherings. These grants are available to residents, homeowner associations and community organizations located in Centennial on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.

Visit centennialco.gov/communitygrants to learn more and apply for a grant today!

Stage 2 Burn Ban

NO Fireworks

NO Outdoor Fires (campfires, fire pits; charcoal-fueled fires, outdoor wood-burning stoves)

NO Burning fields, trash, debris, etc.

Formation of County Public Health Department Continues

With a January 1 target launch date next year, Arapahoe County is continuing to make progress toward establishing a health department to serve as the public health services provider for the County. The creation of a county health department became necessary after Adams and Douglas Counties announced last year they would exit the 55-year partnership with the Tri-County Health Department. All public health services will continue to be provided by Tri-County Health during the transition.

The County is establishing a board of health that will be responsible for setting up basic operations later this year in preparation for the department’s launch. It is anticipated that the new board of health members will be appointed in June. They will be tasked with finalizing anticipated staffing and funding allocations and beginning to secure vendors.

The County offers multiple opportunities and outlets for resident and stakeholder feedback. For more details and to provide input, visit arapahoegov.com/health.

Neighborhood Movie Nights

Everything needed to host a community movie night.

Inflatable 20-foot screen

Speakers and cabling

A $250 deposit is required to reserve equipment, which may be picked up from and dropped off at the Centennial Civic Center.

Visit centennialco.gov/movie to learn how residents can begin reserving a movie kit from the City soon!

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Clinicians Assist with Mental Health, Behavioral Health and Emotionally Charged Calls to Sheriff’s Office

Dispatchers at the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office receive hundreds of calls each year requesting law enforcement assistance in situations involving persons with mental illness or behavioral health issues, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

“Deputies are not mental health professionals,” said Julie Jacobs, behavioral health response program manager at the Sheriff’s Office. “They don’t have the expertise or the time to handle these calls. We need to keep them on the street, protecting the community.”

To resolve this challenge and provide a more appropriate response to mental health crises, the Sheriff’s Office established a co-responder program, funded in part by the City of Centennial. The program pairs licensed mental health clinicians with deputies on calls for service that involve persons with mental illness, behavioral health crises and emotionally charged situations. The teams draw from both the expertise of the deputy as well as the clinician, or co-responder, to de-escalate situations and help connect individuals with mental health services.

The co-responder assesses the situation and determines appropriate options for crisis resolution. They are not law enforcement officers, do not carry guns and do not wear deputy uniforms. They drive personal vehicles with communications equipment and safety features, should they need to transport people, to a Community Crisis Services Walk-in Center, Crisis Stabilization Unit, detox facility, designated mental health facility or emergency department. Learn more about this program at arapahoegov.com/coresponders.

Sheriff’s Office Opens K-9 Training Field

The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office opened a K-9 training field last month that provides space to train K-9 dogs for not only Arapahoe County’s force but also the Sheridan Police Department and the Greenwood Village Police Department.

Four recently trained K-9s joining Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office were introduced at the grand opening. Voq, Rust, Doc and Bodhi are 1 ½ years old and were trained by deputies for six months.

Three of the dogs were purchased by Back the Blue K-9 Force, a nonprofit providing police dogs for law enforcement agencies, and one was purchased through a donation by Co-Bank. Back the Blue also contributed funding for the training field.

Six K-9s are currently on the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office force. Five are trained to assist in apprehension as well as the detection of narcotics, and one is trained to detect firearms and explosive to assist in bomb threats.

See a Messy Street?

You May Be Able to Adopt It!

Adopting a City street is a great way to keep Centennial beautiful. Select City streets are available for residents, businesses or service groups to cleanup and maintain for a one-year period under the City’s Adopt-a-Street Program.

The City identifies eligible streets for the program. City staff will lead a safety meeting with cleanup participants prior the first cleanup, and will provide first-aid kits, safety vests and garbage bags.

After the cleanup event, the City provides trash pickup and disposal and inspects the cleaned area. After a group has successfully performed two cleanups that pass the City’s inspections, the City may choose to erect a City-owned sign identifying the participating group!

Visit centennialco.gov/adoptastreet to view a map of available streets and submit an application.

Local High School Students Receive Centennial Youth Achievement Awards

The City of Centennial and Jacobs jointly recognized four graduating high school seniors with Centennial Youth Achievement Awards at a City Council meeting held on Monday, May 16. The students received $1,000 scholarships to be applied toward college tuition, fees and course enrollment.

The Centennial Youth Achievement Awards is cosponsored by the Centennial Youth Commission and Jacobs, the City’s public works and code compliance provider. The program honors and recognizes exemplary young leaders who have made significant contributions to Centennial through service and outstanding leadership in school, community and the workplace.

The 2022 Youth Achievement Award recipients include Centennial residents Luke Brill, Arapahoe High School; Madylin Campbell, Englewood High School; Sydney Caro, Grandview High School; and Halley Peecher, Arapahoe High School. Congratulations to these young achievers!

Attention Artists of All Ages and Abilities

Register as a Chalk Artist for Centennial’s Chalk Art Festival

The City is once again hosting its annual Chalk Art Festival at The Streets at SouthGlenn on Saturday, September 24, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Artists, doodlers and enthusiasts of all ages are invited to register as a chalk artist. You can begin creating your masterpiece anytime after 8:30 a.m. and are welcome to leave at any time. Artists will receive an event shirt, a small chalk kit and hospitality for the day.

To register as a chalk artist, visit centennialco.gov/ events and click on the form located under the Chalk Art Festival listing.

Residents Play Important Role in Transportation Planning

Throughout the last year, the City hosted various opportunities for community engagement related to transportation improvements. On behalf of the Centennial City Council and City staff, thank you for participating in the planning process for these important projects!

The 2040 Transportation Master Plan was adopted recently and includes recommendations and implementation strategies to guide the City’s investments in transportation over the next 18 years. The City refers to these plans to make informed decisions about future land use and transportation as part of Centennial’s Capital Improvement Program. This Plan also provides guidance on advancing regional improvements that require federal funding.

The City requested a lot of input from the community throughout the development of the Plan over the last year. We are grateful for the time that many residents took to share their thoughts, concerns and questions. If you would like to view the final Plan visit centennialco.gov/tmp

The Smoky Hill Corridor Study, a component of the Transportation Master Plan, also has recently been adopted. This study identifies potential safety, efficiency, multimodal and congestion improvements for Smoky Hill Road between Buckley Road and Liverpool/ Picadilly Street.

The City conducted extensive research in the process of completing this study. The study assesses the overall current condition of this corridor and identifies opportunities to remove existing bottlenecks, particularly a fourlane roadway with a six-lane roadway on either side. Recommendations resulting from the study include early-action intersection improvement projects and concept-level identification of new six-lane crosssections for the various segments of the corridor. The completed study is available for review online at centennialco.gov/smokyhill

Income-qualifying households may be eligible to receive a variety of home repair services at no cost. Arapahoe County partners with Brothers Redevelopment Inc. to provide free home repair and replacement services for households that meet Housing and Urban Development (HUD) income guidelines and can show proof of ownership and primary residence in Arapahoe County.

Once qualified, clients will receive an on-site assessment to determine appropriate work and to schedule any repairs or replacement services. Additional free home repairs may be available for furnaces, boilers, plumbing, hot water heaters, electrical and gas, exterior painting and mobility accessibility improvements.

Contact Brothers Redevelopment to learn more by calling 303.685.4225 or emailing hmr@brothersredevelopment.org.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Learn how the City works, what makes us unique and how to get more involved in an interactive seven-week program.

DATES: Thursdays from August 18 until September 29

TIME: 5:30-9 p.m. every Thursday

LOCATION: Centennial Public Works Facility, 7272 S. Eagle Street

• Attendance at all sessions is required.

• Open to all Centennial residents.

• Seating is limited so apply today!

centennialco.gov/centennial101

Centennial Center Park Marks 10th Anniversary

Centennial’s first City-owned park is celebrating 10 years since opening in 2012. Centennial Center Park is an 11acre park located at 13050 E. Peakview Avenue, adjacent to the Centennial Civic Center, featuring playgrounds, covered shelters and shade structures, walking paths, amphitheater and a splash pad, among other features. The park is the site for many City events. In fact, the City is hosting a free event from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. on June 3 at the park to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The event is co-hosted by Arapahoe Libraries who will be on site to share details about their summer reading program.

The park is in the midst of a $4.5 million expansion to add new and expanded features including additional restrooms, an event pavilion, picnic groves and additional shelters, among other enhancements.

This project is funded with a $500,000 Arapahoe County Open Spaces Grant along with the Arapahoe County Shareback Tax, a voterapproved quarter-cent use tax. Over half of the revenues from the tax directly support community partners - cities, towns and recreation districts through the County’s grant and shareback programs.

Visit centennialco.gov/centerpark to learn more about this award-winning destination.