CLOUDS PART FOR BRIGHTON BBQ How Coloradans can save water at home

BY SHANNON MULLANE THE COLORADO SUN

OK, Coloradans, let’s clear the shampoo out of our eyes: Your shower water is likely connected to the Colorado River water supply crisis. But can you really help by conserving water at home?

In recent years, two decades of drought and prolonged overuse have brought the Colorado River Basin’s largest storage reservoirs to the brink of collapse. e crisis is reaching Coloradans’ lives in the form of summer lawn watering restrictions, higher utility bills and even a shortage of Sriracha. Some cities have bought agricultural water rights for more municipal water, and people with junior water rights often have their water supply cut in dry years.

Water experts say Colorado residents can help with the crisis, and they have plenty of tips to help the conservation-minded Coloradan start saving water at home. One drawback: In many cases, there’s no guarantee that in-home savings help re ll the system’s struggling reservoirs.

“It’s like, OK great, our city is now saving 10% of what it was using,” said Gregor MacGregor, a

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Volunteer at the Adams County Fair

Looking for a fun volunteer opportunity in your community? Consider helping at the Adams County Fair! ose interested should visit adamscountyfair.com/volunteers to download the application and waiver. All volunteers must be 16 years old or older.

Clock ticking for Brighton ballot

Residents considering a run for Brighton City Council on the November 2023 ballot have 20 days beginning Aug. 8 to collect signatures, councilors agreed July 18.

Seats in Ward 1, currently held by Tom Green, Ward 2, held by Mary Ellen Pollack and Ward 3, held by Clint Blackhurst, are all up for election this November. In addtion, the council has a vacant Ward 4 seat that is also open.

To qualify, potential candidates must at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen who has lived in their ward in Brighton for 12 months and must be registered to vote in Brighton. Candidates cannot be city employees or have a felony conviction in their past.

Contact the Brighton City Clerk’s o ce at 303 655-2056 with questions.

Brighton launches community survey e City of Brighton has launched the open participation survey portion of e National Community Survey through Polco NRC (National Research Center) to get resident input on a wide range of community issues. All Brighton residents can now complete the online survey by visiting www.brightonco.gov/survey. e survey is available online in English and Spanish. e National Community Survey allows Brighton to compare results and benchmark residents’ opinions against other communities across the country. e survey includes questions about quality of life, important characteristics of community, services provided by the City, and priorities for the future.

Brighton residents are encouraged to take the survey before the Aug. 3 deadline to provide feedback that helps plan for the City’s future.

Responses will remain anonymous and personal information will be securely stored by Polco. Once results are in, they will be analyzed by Polco, then presented to City Council. Public feedback from the survey will help Council and City sta to identify areas needing improvement, and ultimately, impact decision-making for City projects and initiatives.

Residents that have received a survey invitation in the mail should complete that version of the survey by accessing the URL in the mailer, rather than the link above.

Residents with questions about the survey may contact the City of Brighton by email at communications@brightonco.gov.

Brighton sets fifth annual Touch-ATruck event for kids e City of Brighton will be bringing out its heavy machinery for the fth annual Touch-A-Truck event on Saturday, Aug. 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Brighton City Hall, 500 S. 4th Ave. is year’s Touch-A-Truck will also feature Bike Brighton’s Bike Rodeo. Children will be guided through a safety course to learn important skills for safe bike riding — please bring your own bicycle. ere will also be a drawing for giveaways. Limited parking will be available at City Hall. Please be courteous of parking in residential areas — be aware of road restrictions (i.e. don’t block re hydrants), property access and safety. If you have questions about Touch-ATruck, email communications@ brightonco.gov.

Kids of all ages will get the opportunity to go behind the wheel, climb and explore vehicles of all sizes, and meet the people who operate them. Police cars, re trucks, Flight for Life (landing at 11 a.m.; subject to availability), tractors, snow plows, loaders and much more will be at the event. Kids in attendance will get to help decorate one of the city’s snow plows with paint.

Art in the Park set for Sept. 9 e City of Brighton will host its annual Art in the Park festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 9, at Carmichael Park, 650 Southern St. is one-day festival gives attendees the opportunity to meet with local, regional, and international artists showcasing their work and enjoy live music, dancers, and other performances. ere will be artist demonstrations, entertainment for children with interactive art activities. In addition, food will be available for purchase through food trucks in attendance. e festival is free to the public. Planned performers inlcude gospel singer, dance, mariachi music, live poetry, Japanese drummers and short theater performances. Artists interested in showcasing and selling their artwork can visit brightonartinthepark.com to apply. e deadline for booth applications is Aug. 18.

For more information, please visit brightonartinthepark.com or contact David Gallegos, Arts and Culture Coordinator, at 303-655-2176 or dgallegos@brightonco.gov.

Deputy Investigated for Assault e Adams County Sheri ’s O ce takes all incidents involving our employees seriously and will fully cooperate with the ornton Police Department as they conduct their investigation. e Adams County Sheri ’s O ce will conduct our internal investigation after the ongoing criminal investigation to determine if internal policy violations occurred during the incident. e deputy involved has been placed on restricted duty.

On July 18, 2023, we were informed that an o -duty Adams County Deputy was involved in a disturbance at Walmart (7101 E. 128th Ave.). e ornton Police Department is currently investigating the incident.

Any criminal action or prosecution will be determined by the ornton Police Department and the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s O ce.

Garden In a Box kits available for fall planting e Brighton Utilities Department has partnered with conservation nonpro t Resource Central to o er Brighton residents the lowwater Garden In A Box Program. rough this partnership, City of Brighton utility customers can receive a $25 discount o the program’s water-wise garden kits while supplies last. ese pre-designed kits are tailored to Colorado soil, and the simple plant-by number maps take the guesswork out of buying and planting. Resource Central has saved an estimated 228,600,000 gallons of water over the lifetime of gardens sold.

Sales are now open to the public.

Order for fall soon, pick up and plant in late August/September.

Garden In A Box makes it easy to have a professionally designed, water-wise yard of your own. Residents can choose from 11 Garden In A Box kits with the $25 discount. Box kits include anywhere from six to over 50 starter plants, with selections ranging from vibrant hardy xeric (low-water) perennials to a pollinator friendly vegetable garden. Gift certi cates are also available for purchase.

Find the perfect garden for you and your landscape by visiting resourcecentral.org/gardens. Kit pickup will be in the fall — details will be released when they become available.

For more information, visit brightonco.gov/gardeninabox, email gardeninfo@resourcecentral.org, or call 303-999-3820 ext. 222.

Farm to Market tickets on sale

Tickets for Farm to Table, a fundraising event for the Platte Valley Medical Foundation scheduled for Aug. 17 or on sale now.

e Foundation’s biennial fundraising campaign will bene t women’s health services to help women connect with the care they need throughout their adult years and to support area women who do not always prioritize their own health needs. e foundation hopes to raise $500,000 in the campaign cycle. ey conduct multiple fundraising e orts annually with Farm to Table as the largest event.

Farm to Table will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 17 on the hospital campus. Platte Valley Medical Center’s Chef Mike Anderson uses produce donated by area farmers to create a gourmet meal for about 450 guests. e event garners so much support that it often sells out long before the date. is year, Muñoz reserved a block of tickets that are available to the public for $75 each. ey are available at https:// ftt2023.cbo.io.

We’ve added 11 bays to service your vehicle faster. Call for appointment.

City Council approves fee increase despite opposition

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Fees for some city services will increase in August, the Brighton City Council voted July 18, despite heated opposition from some councilors.

“The thought of increasing fees at this time, to me, is truly unacceptable,” Councilor Mary Ellen Pollack said.

Councilors approved the new fee schedule by a 5-3 margin, with Pollack and Councilors Tom Green and Matt Johnston joining her.

“We have an annual review process where we can get these fees changed and you guys have put this in the middle of the year and I have a problem with that,” Green said.

Community Development Director Holly Prather said the city will begin using a new online inspection and permitting program on Aug. 1 that will allow people to apply and pay for city permits and fees online via the Internet.