December 31, 2020
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An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 3
City budget dodges deep cuts amid pandemic Revenue takes hit; city may need to reprioritize spending in coming years BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
John Busick, 33, checks out an interactive display in the vacant former Petco building in west Centennial. Busick has lived for six years in the area near the University Towne Center shopping development, where the former Albertsons and Petco sit. PHOTOS BY ELLIS ARNOLD
‘Sparking’ business and some fun Smartphone-based puzzle in west Centennial popped up to spotlight shops BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
In a vacant storefront at a major intersection in west Centennial, an unusual sight popped up in December. A flashy display with changing lights, artsy trappings and a voice recording of instructions on repeat occupied the front of the former Petco building near South Univer-
sity Boulevard and East Dry Creek Road throughout the month. It was all part of an interactive smartphone-based puzzle called “With My Gnomies” that sends participants on a hunt to visit or learn more about nearby businesses, such as Rolling Smoke BBQ, Cakeheads Bakery and Professionally Faded Barbershop. Many other small businesses — restaurants and more — sit near Dry Creek and University, many of which are difficult to notice on a regular drive through the area. The “Gnomies” game was organized with support from the Spark SEE PUZZLE, P11
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 16 | SPORTS: PAGE 17
Products by Fam, a botanical oils company, sit on display as part of the “With My Gnomies” scavenger hunt game.
After the City of Centennial estimated a “very significant revenue loss” across all aspects of its budget as the pandemic took hold of Colorado in spring, the city’s 2021 budget sees broad consequences of the coronavirus’s impact on sales tax and other revenue, but the city largely dodged deep changes to the way Centennial runs. Centennial has seen no furloughs or downsizing, partly because it operates with a small staff, according to Doug Farmen, the city’s finance director. Adjusting on the fly to the pandemic, the city implemented a hiring freeze, generally froze out-ofstate travel for city staff, and rearranged work, with some staff taking on more duties, Farmen said. “We have hired some people as revenue came in, though,” Farmen said. The city also does not expect furloughs going forward. The city didn’t escape the first months of the pandemic without taking some hits: The 2021 budget, compared to the 2020 budget, shows sales-tax revenue lower by SEE BUDGET, P4
TAKING A SECOND LOOK
Images to remember from the past year
PAGES 6 AND 7