BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
More than 1,000 cupcakes graced The Lodge at Ascent Church on Oct. 14 as Girl Scouts from 10 troops participated in the first Cupcake Wars.
Based loosely on the baking competition show, the event brought together more than 75 Scouts from all over the foothills. Each girl brought 13 cupcakes — one for judging and 12 to swap with other Scouts.
Parents and staff at a meeting to continue discussing merging Bergen Meadow and Bergen Valley elementary schools were dreaming big as they thought about what they wanted a new school to be.
About two dozen parents discussed their ideas about the future school’s culture and facility during a community meeting on Oct. 10. The discussions are taking place ahead of the Jeffco Public Schools board’s decision on Nov. 10 on whether to close 16 schools in the district because of low enrollment.
The plan is for Bergen Meadow, which houses preschool through second grade, to close after the 2023-24 school year. Meanwhile, an addition would be built onto Bergen Valley, which currently has thirdthrough fifth-graders, to accommodate preschool-fifth grade beginning in fall 2024. The district plans to create enough space for up to four classrooms at each grade level.
When parents and staff were asked for their ideas for the combined school, several mentioned sports and athletics: a full-size gym-
for presentation, creativity and taste, and they agreed they had their work cut out for them to pick one winner in each of four divisions: Daisies, Brownies, Juniors and the combined Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors.
While the judges worked hard, the Scouts made a craft and played a trivia game while waiting for the results.
It was obvious the Scouts put a lot of work into their cupcakes and decorations. Some judges were delighted to find surprises in the cupcakes — one even had a thin mint cookie hiding inside — and changed creativity scores to reflect the extra something.
Many cupcakes were decorated
for Halloween, with candy corn, decorated ghosts, witches and more. Many were splashed with bright colors. They definitely were creative.
Judge Tiffani Packer, owner of Murphy’s Mountain Grill, the Muddy Buck and more, explained that she and judge Audrey VanWestrienen were judging the presentation and creativity of the cupcakes created by the Brownies before diving in for the taste test.
“I want to feel the heart of what they were trying to create,” Packer said.
Briar Oesterle, 8, a member of Troop 1104 at Parmalee Elementary School, made her cupcakes from scratch with only mom Lauren helping by putting the cupcakes in the oven.
“This is our first Girl Scout event,” Lauren said. “I would never have encouraged (Briar) to bake if not for
this event.”
Briar explained that she combined chocolate and fun-fetti cake flavors and used marshmallow fluff for the frosting. She decorated with candy corn, marshmallows and Twix candies.
Fifth grader Bitsy Altrich with Troop 67430 created witches as decorations for her cupcakes. She called it a long process to decorate the cupcakes, especially finding chocolate ice cream cones for the hats. The chocolate cake was frosted with what Bitsy called an “obnoxious green” vanilla frosting.
She noted it was fun to meet Girl Scouts from other troops.
Cupcake Wars was the brainchild of Juniors Troop 67431, which is based out of Bergen Valley, and the Scouts spent a month planning the evening’s activities.
Judge Rebecca Kelty, co-owner of
Alpine Pastries in Evergreen and a former Girl Scout, told the bakers how proud she was of them for stepping out of their comfort zone, and they will never regret doing their best.
Judge Kappy Kling, owner of HearthFire Books & Treat and also a former Girl Scout, said the cupcakes looked amazing, and she advised the Scouts to find something they love to do and put everything they can into doing it.
Judge Kristin Ledgerwood, owner of Vivian’s Gourmet, advised the Scouts to be true to themselves, while Packer told the Scouts that each one of them is a gift to the world, and each must unwrap themselves so others can see who they really are.
“I’ve judged other competitions,” she told them, “but this might be the coolest thing I’ve ever judged.”
Rachel Rush, Evergreen Fire/Rescue’s fire marshal, has been honored for outstanding work as the 2021 Fire Prevention Officer of the Year by the Fire Marshals Association of Colorado.
According to the letter announcing the award, Rush, who has been with the department for four years, was honored for her professionalism and deep commitment to community safety, going above and beyond the expectations of the association and the fire department.
She was nominated by West Metro Fire Marshal Kelly Brooks and the Jefferson County Building Department for her “diligent work coordinating outreach through the Jeffco Fire Marshals group,” the letter states. “You have provided opportunities for joint training, collaboration and fellowship among commonly interested professionals. … Your tireless work collaborating with developers, business owners and county officials are but a few reasons you have been chosen” for the award.
Rush said she was still in shock after learning about the award, calling it a huge honor, especially since it comes from other fire marshals in the state. One of her professional goals was to become a fire marshal.
Rush, a 2011 Chatfield High School graduate, worked full-time for LifeNet Health in Stillwater,
Oklahoma, while going to Oklahoma State University, graduating in 2018 with a degree in engineering technology – fire protection and safety engineering technology. In December 2018, she was hired by Evergreen Fire/Rescue as a fire inspector, and she is also a volunteer firefighter with the InterCanyon Fire Protection District.
Fire Chief Mike Weege said Rush had formed a great network among state and county officials and other fire marshals, and the award acknowledges her hard work.
“We are really proud of her accomplishments, especially in the short time she has been here,” Weege said.
Firefighter numbers up
The Evergreen Fire/Rescue roster of firefighter volunteers is now up to 71, up from 50 earlier this year, and a sign that the department is moving in the right direction, officials say.
Fire Operations Chief Bill Cronk told the fire board on Oct. 11 that ultimately, he would like to have 90
or more volunteers, and he expects the roster to increase as more people are certified into early 2023.
At the beginning of the year, EFR embarked on a new strategy to recruit volunteer firefighters because attrition had outpaced new firefighters in the department for the last two years, and volunteerism in fire departments nationwide is trending downward. About 15 people were leaving EFR per year while six on average were completing firefighter training and joining the department.
EFR has changed up its academies to accommodate recruits’ schedules. Some recruits are training both online and in person in accelerated and full-year sessions. In addition, full-time firefighters elsewhere now are testing to volunteer for Evergreen rather than going through full training.
Cronk said on Oct. 11 that having more volunteer firefighters helps curtail burnout of the current firefighters and will potentially shorten response times of firefighting apparatus because more responders will be available to drive engines and other equipment to emergency calls.
Currently, he noted, the response time of a fire engine averages 8 minutes and 34 seconds, and while that time is good, especially considering where some homes are located in the fire district, it could be better.
Response times for medical calls are averaging 10 minutes, 5 seconds, and EMS Division Chief Dave
Montesi told the fire board that is why he is requesting to hire another paramedic in 2023.
Because of the number of paramedics in the department, if paramedics are called out in the north end of Evergreen and a second call comes in at the same time, a team from the south side of the district must drive north, adding to response times. Montesi noted that this scenario happens about once a day.
He added that the department is using other methods to keep paramedics available to answer calls.
After the new Marshdale Elementary School opens next week, Evergreen Fire/Rescue will be able to use the old building for training before it is torn down.
“It will be a great place for training when we have a building where
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission designated CenturyLink as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier within its service area for universal service purposes. CenturyLink’s basic local service rates for residential voice lines are $28.50 per month and business services are $41.00 per month. Speci c rates will be provided upon request.
CenturyLink participates in the Lifeline program, which makes residential telephone or qualifying broadband service more affordable to eligible lowincome individuals and families. Eligible customers may qualify for Lifeline discounts of $5.25/month for voice or bundled voice service or $9.25/month for qualifying broadband or broadband bundles. Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may qualify for additional Tribal bene ts if they participate in certain additional federal eligibility programs. The Lifeline discount is available for only one telephone or qualifying broadband service per household, which can be either a wireline or wireless service. Broadband speeds must be at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to qualify.
CenturyLink also participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households with a discount on broadband service.
The ACP provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
For both programs, a household is de ned as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. Services are not transferable, and only eligible consumers may enroll in these programs. Consumers who willfully make false statements to obtain these discounts can be punished by ne or imprisonment and can be barred from these programs.
If you live in a CenturyLink service area, visit https://www.centurylink.com/ aboutus/community/community-development/lifeline.html for additional information about applying for these programs or call 1-800-201-4099 with questions.
they don’t care if we make holes in the roof, breach doors and tear down walls,” Fire Marshal Rachel Rush told the fire board on Oct. 11.
Thanks to a bond passed by voters in 2018, Jeffco Public Schools built a new Marshdale Elementary School south of the existing school. After the move into the new building, the old building will be torn down to make way for a new playground.
Members of the Evergreen Fire/ Rescue board want to hire a grant writer in 2023 to take advantage of federal and state money to help the department.
They want to create a grants committee that will help find grant opportunities that the department could apply for. Board president John Porter hopes to create objectives for the committee, so it can begin to move forward soon.
He said it was important to have a committee member responsible for each division within the department to make sure needs are met.
The Evergreen Fire/Rescue board is finding ways to provide workspace in Station 2 in Bergen Park for volunteer firefighters.
That way, firefighters who can work their regular jobs remotely can be at the fire station and available to cover emergency calls. As the fire department has grown, space in the Administration Building originally earmarked for volunteer firefighters has been used by paid staff.
Fire Operations Chief Bill Cronk said it was optimal to have work areas in Station 2 rather than the next-door Administration Building because having firefighters in the same building as the fire trucks shortens response times.
Cronk said the department will send a survey to volunteer firefighters to determine what kind of workspace and equipment they need. He hoped the department in the short-term could find the space by converting its weight room.
The department’s Building Committee once it is formed can help with planning the workspace, board President John Porter said.
nasium, baseball field, lacrosse wall and playgrounds with the appropriate equipment for all ages.
They also wanted the building to be environmentally friendly with someone suggesting building up rather than out to save land and others advocating for UV disinfection throughout the building for health reasons.
They hoped returning to a preschool through fifth-grade school would allow opportunities for older and younger students to interact and allow families to know everyone in the school, with the hope that there would be more parent buy-in.
“I have heard families talking about not having to change schools twice and the benefit of all of us being together,” principal Kristen Hyde said. “It’s an opportunity for kids and families to know everyone all at one time. We see the potential of what is possible.”
Parents were most concerned about traffic in and out of Bergen Valley, asking for creativity regarding transportation. They learned the school district was starting a transportation study around Bergen Valley.
They wanted to ensure the small community feel that each school now enjoys continues in the combined school. They hoped that the handprints in Bergen Meadow that signify second graders’ passage to Bergen Valley can be transferred to the new school in some way.
They asked for sidewalks con-
Je co school board
host a public meeting to get input on the
closure of Bergen Meadow Elementary School. The meeting will be from 4-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, in the Bergen Meadow gymnasium.
necting the neighborhoods to the school, outdoor pavilions, space for small-group work in the building and a large clinic. They wanted to ensure that the addition blended in well with the current Bergen Valley building.
Lisa Relou, the school district’s
chief of strategy and communications, promised that the school district was committed to using the appropriate amount of money to invest in the addition. It also has money from the 2018 bond passed by voters that had been earmarked for improvements to Bergen Meadow to put toward paying for the addition.
According to the school district, only 44% of the Bergen Meadow building is being used. Bergen Meadow on Hiwan Drive was built in 1970. It was known as Bergen Elementary School, and it housed all elementary school grades. Bergen Meadow has 189 students this year,
and before the pandemic, enrollment was 238 in the 2018-19 school year and 249 in the 2019-20 school year.
Bergen Valley, which is on Sugarbush Drive about 1.7 miles away, was constructed in 1997 on 17.3 acres to provide more space for the overcrowded Bergen Elementary. The building is 42,281 square feet that has a capacity of 336 students.
Bergen Meadow and Bergen Valley — known together as The Bergens — share a principal; buses; a PTA; a digital teacher librarian; art, music and physical education teachers; mental health professionals and more.
The mountain, named after a man who contributed to the genocide of indigenous people, is getting a new name
BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board has begun the decision-making process of changing the name of Mount Evans.
The board met on Oct. 11 for the first meeting regarding the name change of the mountain. Indigenous community members and tribal representatives gave presentations at
the meeting to inform the board and the public about the significance of changing the name.
Mount Evans was named after Colorado Territorial Governor John Evans, who set the framework in
1864 to start the Sand Creek Massacre, which killed hundreds of Indigenous people who were living on “safe” land.
Dr. Andy Masich, a historian with the Heinz History Center present at
the meeting, explained the harrowing details of the massacre.
“This was genocide in its most complete sense,” he said.
Tribal representatives and descendants from the Sand Creek Massacre told accounts of the massacre that claimed the lives of over 230 men, women and children. One participant, Otto Braided Hair Jr., was only able to be present for the meeting because his great-grandmother escaped the massacre on horseback.
This first meeting of the Naming Advisory Board was not open to public comment, but supporters sounded off in the comments with messages of support for a name change. The next meeting of the board will be on Nov. 17, where board members will hear proposals for several different names.
Based upon a combination of policies to protect existing businesses and puritanical beliefs about the use of alcohol, Colorado’s liquor laws were designed to have a variety of provisions that limited a market-based approach to many elements about how the product was sold in our state.
There have been limits of what kind of stores could sell what kinds of products, where they could sell them, how many licenses any person or company could have and when sales could occur.
While these limitations have impacted consumers, most discussions about the policy implications, and virtually all the money for lobbying and campaign activities to change or maintain them, have been about how changes would impact the businesses that sell alcoholic beverages.
Businesses whose operations have been protected from competition say they have built their businesses and made long-term investments based upon a regulatory structure that limited who could compete against them and how they could operate. Businesses who have been prohibited from business
activities argue that the government should not be in the business of choosing winners and losers.
Over time, some limits have been relaxed and the market has become freer, but legislative changes have been tortured exercises with bizarre, negotiated agreements that stretch into the future and have resulted in phased-in changes that didn’t satisfy any of the parties.
Colorado voters are being asked to weigh in on three specific ballot initiatives on these topics in the November elections. Proposition 124 increases the number of liquor stores any person or company can own. Proposition 125 allows grocery and convenience stores that sell beer to also sell wine. Proposition 126 allows third-party vendors to deliver alcohol from licensed liquor establishments. If they pass, we’ll have a much more market-based regulatory structure than has ever been the case for the sale of alcohol in Colorado.
While I have a certain amount of empathy for people who opened and operated their businesses based on a regulatory model that carved out a specific market for them,
it makes more sense for us to allow a freemarket system where consumers vote with their feet and dollars to determine where, when and how people purchase alcoholic beverages than through an outdated and byzantine system that was designed to carve out a specific market solely for people with specific government licenses.
I will vote for Propositions 124, 125 and 126. If they pass, we will move forward toward a more rational and market-based environment for how alcohol is sold and purchased in Colorado. I further believe that if that happens, the ingenuity of current and future liquor store owners will lead to a market that will benefit Colorado consumers with a variety of different operators who will provide the products desired by their customers.
Greg Romberg had a long career in state and local government and in government relations. He represented corporate, government and trade association clients before federal, state and local governments. He lives in Evergreen with his wife, Laurie.
For the benefit of our environment and economy, re-elect Dahlkemper!
We need a leader who is committed to address climate and sustainability issues head-on here in Jefferson County. County Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper has demonstrated that she will turn community concerns into action. She supported the creation of the county’s first Climate Action Plan, which through her leadership and guidance, is due to be submitted for approval by the end of the year.
Lesley understands that sound climate action is not only good for enhancing and sustaining the beautiful environment in which we live, but also good for our economy. Promoting clean energy, clean vehicles, clean water, and healthy forests creates well-paying local jobs and improves property values.
The initiatives developed in the Plan attract large investments in our community from new State and Federal programs, and Lesley has proven to be the collaborator and leader needed to secure this valuable funding for the benefit of our families and neighbors. She has my vote for re-election!
Kevin Morse, EvergreenI sincerely hope that you will give equal space to someone from the Democrats to make “election endorsements” as you did for Joe Webb, former chairman of the Jeffco Republican Party. ( Voices, Oct. 6, 2022) His article was basically a listing of all the Republican candidates who are all “wonderful” people.
In contrast, Linda Rockwell, former chair of the Jeffco Democrats, urged voters to do their homework on a number of issues and presented wellthought out endorsements with actual information.
Hopefully, voters will follow Rockwell’s advice and research candidates and issues. As Rep. Lisa Cutter states on the same page, every vote matters!
Jo Robinson, Evergreen“The Vote.” So much meaning in these two words for the history of our nation. Your lone vote, so little, but the alternative, that of not voting, is nothing.
Your single vote multiplied by the wealth of votes by like-minded voters is a huge something given today’s sharply divided electorate. Do you vote?
LINDA SHAPLEY
MICHAEL DE YOANNA
LINDSAY NICOLETTI
DONNA REARDON
DEB HURLEY
RUTH DANIELS
Some have said “It doesn’t matter; the outcome we get is the same, no matter.” Not so given today’s sharp divide. If you favor one direction but don’t vote, that amounts to a vote for the opposite choice. What the outcome means today, for me and you, and for millions others, is consequential. This election’s outcome takes us, our country, our compatriots, forward on the crucial issue: the form of government we have next, and likely in years beyond. The result might not be the same without you and me. In “the power of the ballot,” our vote is the engine of that power. Especially for this election, whichever party is victorious in Congress will greatly influence the direction the nation takes and the quality of the lives of its people well into the future. Make the difference for the difference you care about.
Ken Larner, EvergreenI have been involved in education for almost 20 years. Over the last decade or so, since the explosion of social media companies and their intentional penetration into the youth market, we have seen an alarming degradation in students’ relationships with themselves, their peers and their work. The jury is in: we know what is happening and why, and we know so much more about what needs to be done. Thankfully, so does Attorney General Phil Weiser.
Phil has joined other state AGs in criticizing Facebook’s efforts to market new online platforms to children despite social media companies’ knowledge of negative impacts on kids from their products, and is investigating Facebook’s actions in this area. He’s also leading a multistate antitrust lawsuit against Google seeking to end its illegal monopoly in the search engine market, and is playing a leading role in the antitrust lawsuit against Facebook to end its illegal dominance in social media.
As Phil put it himself, “The Department of Law is committed to protecting the people of Colorado and fostering an online environment where the public benefits from innovative products and services at the same time as we protect our kids, our democracy, our privacy, and fair competition.” Attorney General Phil Weiser gets it. As a parent and educator deeply invested in the lives of Colorado children, I urgently call on my fellow citizens to re-elect him.
Allison Gustavson, EvergreenColumnists
Evans will almost certainly be replaced as the name for Colorado’s 14th-highest mountain. But what about other names associated with an ugly massacre?
Our heartburn about the name Evans appears to be nearing resolution. The Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board this week heard testimony about the role of John Evans, then the territorial governor, in the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864.
The evidence presented by representatives of Cheyenne and Arapahoe tribes, the primary victims of the massacre, was not new, but it was damning. Can there be any doubt that Colorado’s 14th highest mountain, dominant on Denver’s western skyline, should have a different name? Blue Sky and Cheyenne-Arapaho are among the names formally proposed.
The board will likely adopt a recommendation to Gov. Jared Polis in January or February. Polis will in turn report to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names, the final arbiter.
Other names assigned our mountains, streets and schools may cause indigestion if you examine the historical footnotes. Just how much more geographic cleansing do we need to address those wrongs?
Take William Byers, a frontier newspaperman who encouraged and then defended the bloodletting. That most lovely triangle of a 12,804foot peak overlooking Fraser bears his name as does an orange-hued canyon of the Colorado River.
Then there’s Irving Howbert, whose name adorns an elementary school. Then 18, Howbert was among the 3rd Regiment soldiers nearing the end of their 100-day volunteer enlistments. They methodically killed between 150 and 230 people, mostly women and older men but also children and babies. Victims also included several AngloIndian “half breeds.” In camping peacefully along Sand Creek, they believed they had been afforded protection from the attack by the U.S. Army. They held up their end of the deal. Howbert, later a founder of Colorado Springs, never apologized.
And what to do with Downing, one of Denver’s most prominent streets, named after Jacob Downing, who participated in the massacre. Later, he helped create Denver’s City Park. Like many others, including Evans, who also did much good, his story is not a simple one.
Blame comes easily in the case of John Chivington, the commander of the volunteers. He was blatantly driven by aspirations for glory, likely aspiring to elevated military rank and ultimately high political office.
Evans has been a more difficult case. Abraham Lincoln had also appointed him as Indian agent, giving him responsibility for looking after the best interests of the tribes. He did not, as a report issued in 2014 by a Northwestern University panel made clear. A University of Denver
report the same year, the 150th anniversary, delivered a more stinging conclusion, putting Evans on the same high shelf of culpability as Chivington. The report found that Evans, through his actions, “did the equivalent of giving Colonel Chivington a loaded gun.”
Both institutions were founded by Evans.
George “Tink” Tinker, an American Indian scholar-activist who contributed to that DU report, told advisory board members that discussions were “much more radical than the final report was.”
Said Ryan Ortiz, a descendant of White Antelope, an Arapaho chief killed and mutilated at Sand Creek: “The most prominent peak in Colorado should not be named after a man who (was) comfortable with the massacre of other human beings.”
As for Byers, no proposal has been filed for shedding his name from Grand County, the site of the peak and the canyon. As editor of the Rocky Mountain News, the mining camp’s first newspaper, Byers had habitually inflamed local fears with “stories that focused on Indian war, atrocities, and depredations, greatly exaggerating the actual threat locally,” says the Northwestern University report. “This press campaign made already apprehensive settlers think that Indians might set upon them at any moment.”
Like Evans, Byers refused to condemn the massacre even decades later. Instead, he argued that it had “saved Colorado and taught the Indians the most salutary lesson they had ever learned,” according to Ari Kelman’s “A Misplaced Massacre,” one of several dozen books about Sand Creek.
Oddly, while two congressional committees and a military commission that investigated Sand Creek pronounced it an unprovoked massacre, Colorado did not. Until it was toppled by protesters in 2020, a statue honoring veterans located at the Colorado Capitol referred to the “Sand Creek Battle.”
That statue now stands several blocks away in History Colorado, where museum visitors are asked: “Do we need monuments?”
Museums, yes, but not monuments, one person answered. But here we are, stuck in 21st century Colorado with a lot of names of 19th century men on our maps. Some seem not to offend, but those associated with the massacre assuredly do.
An Evans-Byers house stands near the Denver Art Museum. The names have been scrubbed from the sign, though. I suspect in time we’ll do the same with our mountains.
Allen Best writes about energy, water and sometimes other transitions at BigPivots.com.
William (Bill) J. Holland of Conifer passed away September 27, 2022. He was born August 19, 1953 in Denver, CO. Bill was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle & friend. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Holland and daughters, Hallie & Shelby
Holland. Bill will be remembered for his generous heart, unique character & his love of working in the woods, xing cars & willingness to help others. Celebration of life will be held Saturday, October 22, 2022 at his home after 1:00 in the afternoon.
Icall my essays Higher Living Reflections. What, though, does living higher entail? It includes elevating oneself and rising above base proclivities, a challenging endeavor often fraught with obstacles.
The concept is ancient. Buddhists call those base proclivities desires, which cause suffering. Christians call them the Seven Deadly Sins, which bring about eternal suffering in the world beyond our ken.
Rising above is not just a spiritual quest. It is also an earthly one that involves becoming a better human by doing any number of basic things: checking passions; being kinder and more gracious; saying please and thank you; covering coughs or sneezes; respecting others’ spaces and sacred places; and not slurping soup (unless culturally acceptable) or eating with unwashed hands.
It entails showing compassion toward all others, practicing the kind of love the Greeks called agape, offering gratitude for being alive and conscious of the world around us, walking in another’s shoes to see life from their point of view, and realizing that we are not owners of the earth but, instead, temporary caretakers who are charged with preserving it for generations to come.
For me, it also includes articulating clearly when I speak, reading challenging works to sharpen my critical thinking skills and my ability to comprehend and convey complex thoughts, entertaining ambiguity, appreciating nuance and irony, divining symbolism and fostering my innate curiosity.
All those beliefs and practices enrich
life experiences and help dignify the human experience by demonstrating that we Homo sapiens are intrinsically above the rest of the animal kingdom. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. Yet too often, we witness fevered animalistic groupthink taking hold among ostensibly psychologically and emotionally mature adults. Scenes from “Lord of the Flies” come to mind: the hunt, the chilling chant, the sound of the fury.
In the novel, the boys are developmentally immature adolescents. After butchering a sow, which symbolizes the beast within the human psyche, the boys place its head atop a spike. Later, the boys hunt down Ralph, who represents civilization, the rule of law and courage. They intend to behead him and place his head on a pike.
It is telling that William Golding named the character who represents rational intelligence “Piggy.” He is pudgy, has asthma and is nearsighted, which make him vulnerable. Piggy’s nearsightedness also suggests that his intellect, though strong, is limited. He is incapable of seeing what is beneath or beyond that which he can discern — and that is intellect lacking insight or wisdom. Piggy shows us that evil cannot be defeated by reason alone.
Simon personifies wisdom and innate goodness. Like Samuel in Bless Me, Ultima, Simon is a Christ figure, destined to be scorned, mutilated and sacrificed. He is unafraid of the dark forest, for he innately understands he is as much a part of nature as every other creature. As things begin to fall apart, Simon wonders if there really is a beast. For him, the beast is not a physical being. It is, rather, something that lurks
within the human unconscious. In a vision, the Lord of the Flies confirms it and says it cannot be easily dismissed.
Golding did not write “Lord of the Flies” in a vacuum. It is not an abstract, creative, philosophical tale drawn from his imagination. Rather, it arose from his utter revulsion of the horrors he witnessed during World War II committed by nations that were among the most advanced in terms of education and sophistication. Based on what he witnessed, he concluded that we are oblivious to the depth of evil humans are capable of perpetrating.
By ripping the façade from human nature, Golding forces the reader to come to grips with an essential truth: Intelligent and “good” people can swoon before and fall under the spell of charismatic, psychopathic leaders who tap into and exploit fears that lie submerged in their followers’ psyches. Feeling then a sense of validation and empowerment from those leaders, mobs go on todesecrate public buildingsand commit unimaginable atrocities.
Golding’s work deserves to be read periodically to remind us how easy it is for people to descend to the depths instead of striving for higher living. In hindsight, I understand that I previously appreciated the profundity of “Lord of the Flies” merely intellectually and academically. Now I see it hauntingly playing out not in some far-off or imaginary land but in real time right here at home.
Jerry Fabyanic is the author of “Sisyphus Wins” and “Food for Thought: Essays on Mind and Spirit.” He lives in Georgetown.
A third-generation Coloradan who grew up in Routt County and now calls Eagle County home, Dylan’s committed to serving our community as Eagle County’s former Deputy District Attorney and now as State Representative.
Dylan picks solutions over politics to get things done. He’s cut taxes for everyday Coloradans, invested in rural small businesses and housing for our workforce, and delivered solutions for rural transportation.
Painter and muralist Eli Pillaert, a New Orleans native, spent a part of her formative years working as a Colorado ski instructor, teaching kids at Eldora Mountain Ski Resort.
But it was the summers spent hiking around the area that left her inspired.
“This one plant, the mountain mahogany, kept popping up. It’s so beautiful. It has spiraling pieces with little fluffy bits on them,” Pillaert said.
So, when she was selected by Adams County’s Cultural Arts Division to help bring some color to county open spaces, that’s where she looked.
“It’s local flora and fauna. It’s something that people see and could connect with. It’s exactly why I went with this design,” she said.
Pillaert is one of 15 national artists who are having their designs unveiled across Adams County this fall.
But it’s not a gallery show and you don’t need tickets to see any of them. All you need is a little time and some decent walking shoes.
Pillaert’s design, featuring long swooping branches and colorful fluff, is now a part of the county’s Clear Creek Trail at Twin Lakes Park, along 70th Avenue just west of Broadway.
Other designs featuring other artists and their inspirations are spread across the county’s trail system — not on the walls or entrances to tunnels but on the trails themselves.
It’s part of the county’s “Love Your Trails” series. Adams County is about halfway through the series, bringing colorful murals and designs highlighting the county’s natural resources and environment to those walking paths.
“Adams County has been dedicated to the arts for quite a while now,” said Adams County Cultural Arts Liaison Zoe Ocampo.
Adams County started its parks and open space Cultural Arts Division within the Arts and Cultural Department in 2019. Ocampo said arts and culture are part of a vision for Adams County to expand public art in its communities that
calls for increased spending on displays everyone can enjoy.
“It won’t just be new buildings, it will be parks, trails and also all different kinds of projects throughout the county that are deemed eligible,” she said.
Ocampo said that 50 artists from around the country applied to be part of the Love Your Trails project. The county’s Visual Arts Commission, a nine-member board of community volunteers, selected the final 15.
Pillaert said the artists were given the opportunity to include the community in the project. Hers is the only one of the eight completed so far that did that.
“The community element is part of organizing the mural so that it can be painted by the community,” Pillaert said. “It’s something that’s really near and dear to my heart. It’s something that’s really cool to see people connect through art.”
South Florida’s Stephanie Leyden made her mural theme of the four seasons. It’s also located on the Clear Creek Trail along Tennyson Street and north of 54th Avenue.
She painted summer elements transitioning into fall, winter, and spring and added designs she associated with the state — butterflies flying, animal tracks, wildflowers and changing colors of leaves as they have blown off the trees.
“It’s something we don’t have in South Florida. The seasons are here, they’re just not as obvious,” Leyden said. “With each season, I painted four butterflies, four leaves, four types of animal tracks and four wildflowers. It was fun.”
Leah Nguyen is from Seattle and her mural was more specific. Called “Community Vision: Bennett, CO,” it’s located in Bennett’s Civic Center Park off of South Street. Nguyen’s patterns depict small-town life, farmers growing corn, sunflowers, hay and wheat in the surrounding areas. The patterns connect generations of families to preserve the town’s history.
“I created the Community Vision pattern to provide support for communities that are doing the difficult work of excavating their histories, having dialogues and taking actions toward reconciliation, healing old wounds, and visioning new ways to come together and collaboratively thrive,” Nguyen said. “The pattern makes sense there at Bennett City Hall, which holds space for visionary civic work and community building conversations.”
Di
erent perspectives
Northampton, Massachusetts artist Kim Carlino calls her mural “Portals
for Looking Inward.” It’s located in Strasburg Community Park. Her mural is an illusion of depth and volume occupying space in a two-dimensional surface with color that is expressive.
“I had this idea for a path coming across these portals or ovals reflecting the night sky with colorful Candy Land-like pathways that flow in and out of the portals as if they were going underneath the path and coming up the other side to give a sense of playfulness and movement,” Carlino said. “I love this idea of moving through space and coming across something that makes you take pause, and in that pause you can reflect.”
Traveling artist Kerry Cesen went small with his work. He said he lives in several places, including Maryland, Oregon and Washington state. His mural continues along the Clear Creek trail and is located just west of Lowell Boulevard along W. 55th Place.
Cesen dives into the roots of the smallest species as though you are looking through a microscope. He illustrates the natural world beneath our feet.
“It emphasizes the interactions between plants, animals, aquatic life, and fungal growth,” Cesen said. “Several magnified areas within the design allow us a deeper glimpse into the micro-world, where scientific research and design techniques help inform viewers about some of the smaller parts that make up the whole.”
Clearwater, Florida artist Beth Warmath’s mural is inspired by the Colorado landscape and two notable flowers: Sunflowers in the fields and the Colorado columbine.
“I love nature and its perfect beauty, so I challenge myself to recreate it larger than life. I draw from actual objects so I used the surrounding landscape for my inspiration,” Warmath said. “I was happy to see wildlife in its natural habitat such as fox, elk, chipmunks and bison.”
Paz de la Calzada is originally from Spain but has lived in the San Francisco Bay area for 18 years. Calzada’s mural is located at Riverdale Regional Park in Brighton near the South Platte River. It’s an abstract design that keeps flowing, intertwining with the landscape and river.
“The landscape inspired me with the color of green flowing with nature and the color of blue metaphor flowing with the river both intersecting together, and both need each other water needs nature and nature needs water,” Calzada said.
Milwaukee artist Theresa Sahar researched the Adams County area and learned that trout fishing is a popular sport in Colorado. That became the centerpiece of her mural, which is located along the South Platte Trail just east of Riverdale Dunes Golf Course and the county’s Fishing is Fun Pond. It features a realistically rendered fish leaping off of the trail.
“I’ve done some anamorphic (3D) chalk art pieces in downtown Milwaukee and decided it would be a fun and interesting addition to the Love Your Trails project,” Sahar said.
Adams County’s Ocampo said the remaining murals should be finished this fall, at least before the snow falls. The additional artists selected to work on their mural scheduled for painting are Toni Ardizzone, Sofi Ramiez, Wes Abarca, Keeley Hertzel, Eye Cough, Angela Beloian and Julio Juls Mendoza.
For more information about the artist and mapping location to see the artist’s trail mural, visit: adcogov.org/cultural-arts-currentprojects.
To learn about more projects and its process, visit the call-for-entry website at adcogov.org/call-for-entry.
LinkedIn and other English-heavy job sites. The app, available in Spanish and English, is marketed to the Latino community and helps job seekers create online resumes.
BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUNThe way Diego Montemayor talks about Chamba, his Denver startup, makes one wonder why it didn’t exist before. Chamba is another job app, but, as with most startups, there’s a twist.
Chamba launched a bilingual app in April 2020 that connects Spanishspeaking workers with the employers who need them. In late July, Chamba narrowed its focus to the restaurant industry. That seems like good timing if you’ve been paying attention to the restaurant staffing woes and how hard it’s been to find people, especially for jobs busing tables, in the kitchen and other nontipped “back-of-the-house” work.
But Montemayor has a different perspective.
“There’s not a labor shortage. There’s a connectivity problem,” said Montemayor, Chamba’s cofounder and CEO. “And that’s what we’re solving here. We’re connecting restaurants to the talent that wants these kinds of jobs.”
Employers, he said, are “looking for talent in the same talent pool. They have not diversified where they search for talent and are looking in the same, common places.”
A number of companies are already promoting Chamba’s service on the app’s site, including Brothers
Employees at the new Slim Chickens restaurant in Parker prepare meals during their first day open.
BBQ. Within two days of using the app, the Aaron Nelsen, the general manager for two of the Denverbased chain’s locations, arranged three interviews and made a hire.
“We picked the best candidate out of those three interviews,” he said in a video testimony on Chamba’s site.
The Spanish-speaking employee started work the next day.
Chamba service really just helps employers look in a place they probably weren’t looking before. In a few short months, it’s helped 187 clients
PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER
connect to workers in Denver and New York City, the only two cities covered so far. The app’s been downloaded more than 172,000 times from the Apple App store and 50,000 jobs have been posted, said Corina Hierro, Chamba’s community manager and a founding member. Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer David Ruiz oversaw the development of the app and led the team of developers in Colombia.
Chamba looks beyond the audience that typically relies on Indeed,
It also vets the employers by checking online reviews first. If the company passes muster, Chamba will talk to the owners or hiring managers to see how much investment they’re putting into workers. Employers that don’t seem to care can cause job seekers to feel lost, like they don’t matter, Montemayor said.
“If they’re spending a little bit of time with the talent, then that’s a good fit for Chamba,” he said.
Chamba is offering Denver restaurants free access to the app to advertise their job openings.
Chamba, which employs about 15 people, has big plans for growth. It’s a venture-backed startup with more than $1.1 million in seed funding so far, with some of it coming from local accelerator program Techstars last year. “Techstars became our megaphone,” he said. “It put us in front of people who were actually going to listen (to) the social impact that we were having on the community.”
To kick off the company’s Denver Startup Week presence, Montemayor was one of five newer founders getting a place on stage to grill — and be grilled — by a Colorado unicorn, or a company that has raised so much investment, its valuation tops $1 billion.
CONIFER – Vandals unknown attempted to re-write history some-
on or just before Sept. 19, using unauthentic media to maliciously modernize the Little White Schoolhouse. According to a representative of the Conifer Historical Society, the beloved structure’s front door was targeted with what appeared to be a “Sharpie marker” that had “started to lose its ink.” Additionally, a “possible chalk marker” was applied to the antique academy’s front windows. Untimely tidings included the word “crash,” the letters “LVT,” the numbers “666” and “three large hearts with lines through them.” While society volunteers were able to quickly restore the windows to pioneer perfection, the door will have to be re-treated with “special paint.” Needless to say, identifying the schoolhouse saboteurs will require old-fashioned police work.
SOUTH TURKEY CREEK – A few months back, the homeowners stopped paying their electricity bills, which is why electric com-
FROM PAGE 14
Mark Frank, cofounder of SonderMind, which helps people with mental health issues connect to therapists, was that unicorn founder. And the founders’ conversation focused on community, which is important to both companies. Son-
pany employees came by and shut off power to the home. Not happy about getting left in the dark, the homeowners threatened to shoot the employees if they were “seen on the property again,” which is why the employees called JCSO on Sept. 19. The disconnected customers were still drawing electricity, they told officers, and they wanted some badges backing them up when they dropped by again to find out why. The homeowners were nowhere in sight when they got there, but the couple did leave a couple of clues to the electrical enigma, specifically a “BBQ spatula and BBQ fork” placed inside the “meter connection” that kept the juice flowing without the inconvenience of payment. After more emphatically de-energizing the estate, the employees declined to press charges.
EVERGREEN – What’s the opposite of theft? And is it a crime? Those questions and others sprang into his mind when he looked out the window on the morning of Sept. 20 and saw a bunch of bicycles
derMind, which employs 300 people, has raised more than $180 million, according to equity-tracking site Crunchbase.
“So, how did you get to 300 employees,” Montemayor asked Frank.
“Well, it wasn’t that long ago that we were a team of 15. Actually, it was three years ago at this time, we were a team of 18,” Frank said.
“For us, what the bigger challenge has been how do we maintain our
that weren’t his parked in his yard. He contacted JCSO for answers and, among other things, deputies documented one (1) green Trek 3500 mountain bike, one (1) gray REI Co-Op DRT 1.1 mountain bike and one (1) black Yeti PEL-L-I mountain bike, all of them dumped on the lawn along with a small assortment of high-performance wheels and tires. As to the identity of the anonymous donor, the reporting party could only tell deputies that his motion-activated surveillance camera had activated at about 4 a.m., but didn’t pick up anything useful. As to the proper disposition of all that ridin’ iron, deputies could only determine that the Trek 3500 had been reported stolen from the University of Indiana in Bloomingtom. Officers parked the fishy fleet in the county evidence locker pending new leads.
EVERGREEN – It seems like Taylor and Katy are always on the outs about something. On the evening of Sept. 20, they were on the outs about driveway access. Taylor told
culture, which has been a real driver of our success. … I would encourage everyone to find ways to get together in person and do things virtually as well that can really home in on that community aspect.”
Montemayor said he considers Chamba a synonym for community.
“Everything we do is around community,” he said. “We build community by building trust and that’s by showing who is behind the
deputies that she’d been walking up their shared driveway “looking at my cell phone” when Katy, driving down it, “bumped” Taylor out of the way with her bumper. Taylor wanted Katy charged with vehicular assault, at least. Katy, on the other hand, said she’d been driving slowly, cautiously down the driveway to avoid bumping Taylor when the woman “intentionally walked into my car” and then “punched the side mirror.” To bolster her case against Katy, Taylor suggested that deputies check out a third neighbor’s surveillance footage. Deputies did, quickly concluding that Katy had, indeed, grazed Taylor in passing, but that Taylor had ample opportunity to avoid being bumped by Katy’s bumper. Officers ruled the quarrel a draw and advised the women to leave each other alone.
Sheriff’s Calls is intended as a humorous take on some of the incident call records of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for the mountain communities. Names and identifying details have been changed. All individuals are innocent until proven guilty.
product. We get people that look like the people that we are helping and people who are going through the same experience as us.”
This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com.
The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.
BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DENVER — Pomona runner Emma Stutzman continued her impressive cross country season Oct. 13 by dominating the Class 5A girls race at the Jeffco League Championships at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School.
Stutzman’s time of 17:38.50 was more than a minute and half faster than the time of Chatfield junior Hannah Anderson, who finished as the individual runner-up. Stutzman had a huge smile on her face as the crossed the line to claim her third league title over her four-year career at Pomona.
“I was pretty happy with it,” Stutzman said of her time that would have placed her in the top-10 in both the 5A and 4A boys races. “The plan was similar to last year. Just work the first mile. The second mile was reassessing and getting myself together. Picking it back up for that last mile.”
The graduation of Cherry Creek’s Riley Stewart — winner of the last three 5A girls individual cross country state titles — has opened up the top of podium for a new face. Stutzman is doing everything in her power to make that climb and be that new face.
“I don’t really care what kind of time I get. I want to win,” Stutzman said of what it all boils down to going after her first state title in cross country or track. “I’ve been mentally working on if I want it I can get it. It’s up for grabs, and I want to take it.”
The redesigned course finish at D’Evelyn that ran into Fehringer Ranch reminded the Pomona senior of how the state course at Norris Penrose Events Center in Colorado Springs finishes.
“The course at the end … that state with the little hill at the end,”
Stutzman said. “That was kind of nice to have to see how that feels sprinting after the hills. It went pretty well for what we planned.”
The plan now is to focus in on claiming her first individual state title. Stutzman said she has been trying out some new hydration tactics, along with focusing on what foods she is eating leading up to regionals and state. She finished ninth last year at state and spent time in the medical tent due to dehydration.
“I’m trying to keep the pressure off by not focusing on that,” Stutzman said of some of the national attention she has garnered after running a 16:44 at the Liberty Bell Invitational earlier this season, which is the top 5K time in the nation.
Pomona senior Gustavo Rivera competed a one-two punch for the Panthers. He won the 5A boys individual title with a time of 17:00.30.
“It was pretty important,” Rivera said about winning the individual title for the Panthers. “I don’t know the last time that Pomona won the individual title on the boys side. I’m glad it will be me winning on the boys side and Emma winning it for Pomona on the girls side. That’s pretty impressive.”
Rivera hopes to be a dark horse at regionals and state coming up over the next few weeks. He is also hoping for some cold and nasty weather where Rivera believes he would have a mental edge on his opponents.
Dakota Ridge won the 5A boys team title edging out rival Chatfield. On the 5A girls side, the results were flipped. Chatfield grabbed three of the top-10 spots to beat out Dakota Ridge.
On the 4A boys side, Conifer won its third straight 4A Jeffco League team title. The Lobos had won six straight conference titles dating back to their time competing in the Colorado 7 League.
“It feels phenomenal,” Conifer senior Patrick Doty said of the Lobos winning another league title. “We’ve won the past six in a row. There was definitely some pressure to win that seventh one. We came through and won it.”
Doty won the 4A boys individual title with a time of 16:26.6. Golden senior Henry Stubenrauch finished second.
“I’m pretty happy with it,” Doty said of his time of 16:26.6. “I could have gone a little bit faster. I got a bit of a cramp around (mile) 1.5 to 2.5. We worked through it.”
The fall 2022 season has been bumpy for the Lobos. Doty talked about how a wave of COVID swept through the team earlier in the season.
Golden senior Lily Mourer led the
Demon girls to the team title. Mourer claimed the 4A girls individual title with a time of 19:41.50. Golden had all five scoring runners for the team title finish in the top-15.
“I’m so proud,” Golden coach Jen Byrne said after her Demons dominated the 4A girls race. “We came out with a mission to run strong with each other. That shined today. Their hearts were gold today.”
Dennis Pleuss is the sports information director for Jeffco Public Schools. For more Jeffco coverage, go to CHSAANow.com.
The Lobo boys soccer team members hung their heads in defeat for the first time all season when the buzzer sounded on Sept. 28.
The Wheat Ridge Farmers ruined the team’s undefeated record in a fierce battle that went into double overtime and ended in a 3-2 loss.
“We played phenomenally today. I’m proud of our effort but mad about the result,” coach Jason Wooldridge said.
The team was able to find its two goals in the first 11 minutes, the first being a ball played by senior Maddox Rife that was then finished by senior Grant Kirklin. The second was a volley into the top corner by junior Miles Garrison off a free kick from Kirklin.
The team kept its composure for only a little while after taking the lead, and Wheat Ridge began to gain momentum. The notoriously strong high press of Wheat Ridge allowed the team to have multiple chances to find the back of the net, and with six minutes left in the half, the Farmers found their way into the box, forcing Lobo keeper junior Trace Avery to make a dangerous tackle to stop the shot.
This resulted in a penalty kick for Wheat Ridge, which brought it onto the scoreboard. From there, Wheat Ridge continued to hold possession and dominate the field. Just as the half was wrapping up, junior Will McIntosh made one of his signature
slide tackles to prevent an impending shot.
However, this slide tackle took down the player instead of the ball, causing another penalty kick.
Wheat Ridge fans erupted into cheers as the ball found the back of the net, tying the game with only nine seconds left in the half.
“A couple of stupid fouls took the match out of our hands,” Wooldridge said.
Coming back into the second half, both teams battled for a chance to take the lead. Wheat Ridge had momentum going forward, but Conifer fought to stay in the game and closed down every chance.
Though there were various close opportunities, neither team succeeded in scoring, which took the players into overtime. The boys had played for 80 minutes already and now faced a sudden death: The team that scored first would be the victor.
funding for public safety
including school resource officers and mental health co-responders, and approved better pay and retirement benefits for deputies.
Created Jeffco’s first-ever Wildfire Task Force, improving forest health, doubling SLASH collection days, and working with partners to secure $8 million in grants to keep residents safe.
Collaborated with partners to attract good jobs to Jeffco, including a new publicprivate partnership to create a renewable energy park bringing thousands of new jobs
positioning Jeffco as a global renewable energy hub.
LAKEWOOD — The momentum that girls flag football has gained within Jeffco Public Schools was on full display Oct. 8 at Trailblazer Stadium.
Twelve teams from eight different Jeffco League schools competed in the inaugural Jeffco Tournament. After 12 games over five hours, Arvada West claimed the first girls flag football Jeffco Tournament title with a 26-6 victory over Chatfield in the championship game.
“I’m proud of my girls,” A-West coach Mario Lopez said. “They came a long way in four weeks to where they are today.”
It was announced in early August that the Denver Broncos Charities would fund a girls flag football pilot program that involved Jeffco, Cherry Creek and Denver school districts. The Jeffco League fielded teams from Arvada, A-West, Chat-
FROM PAGE 17
“We were in the match the whole time,” Wooldridge said. “The game was ours.”
The buzzer sounded, ending the 10 minutes of overtime, and both teams had yet again failed to score. There would be another 10 minutes of play before they would have to settle for a tie. But, after fighting
field, Columbine, Evergreen, Lakewood, Pomona and Littleton that played in weekend jamborees over the last month.
“I’m shocked, actually,” Chatfield coach Alexis Rosholt said of the growth and success of the program this fall. “We were hoping and praying for 20 girls to come out at Chatfield, and we got 80. Moving forward, I think Jeffco is the powerhouse heading into playoffs.”
Alexis — wife of Chatfield football coach Kris Rosholt — actually had so many girls wanting to play that the Chargers had three separate teams. A-West and Columbine also had multiple teams this season with two teams each.
The top four teams — A-West, Chatfield, Evergreen and Columbine — from the Jeffco Tournament qualified for the state tournament Oct. 15 at the UCHealth Training Center in Centennial. The top four teams from
long and hard, Wheat Ridge managed to find glory with its third and final goal of the game.
Jacob Tims of Wheat Ridge fired a shot into the bottom left corner that smashed into the back of the net. The Farmers ran to their openarmed fans, screaming in their victory as the Lobo boys walked off the field with heads hung in defeat.
“They got one actual goal the whole game. It should have been our win,” Garrison said.
Despite the end of their 9-0 win-
ning streak, Conifer still has big goals for the season.
“We still have a chance at state; that’s still our push. We still have that opportunity. It’s just, can we come back from one loss and not make it two?” Wooldridge said.
The team did just that, winning against Green Mountain 3-0 on Sept. 30. Since then the Lobos have lost to Evergreen and beat Dakota Ridge, putting their current record at 10-2.
“We’re still just in the beginning of league competition. I’m looking
forward to the rest of the season,” said junior Reid Hollis.
The loss against Wheat Ridge is still an improvement over last year’s 4-0 loss to the team. Wooldridge is proud of the team’s improvement.
“We had our character tested tonight … but if we can bounce back like we should after Friday, I think our season is going to be just fine,” Wooldridge said.
Denver and Cherry Creek filled out the 12-team bracket.
“Jeffco has a really good group of schools,” Lopez said. “Evergreen is a great team. Chatfield plays hard and has some great talent.”
A-West is undefeated on the season, but it wasn’t a breeze to get to the Jeffco Tournament title game. The Wildcats needed a defensive stop on a 2-point conversion in the final minute against Columbine to take a 14-12 victory. Previously undefeated Evergreen suffered a 6-0 overtime loss against Chatfield in a defensive struggle in the other semifinal.
undefeated Evergreen suffered a
Senior Sierra Gallup was the star in the title game against Chatfield. Gallup had a pair of touchdowns runs in the second half to give the Wildcats the 20-point victory.
“I’m pretty excited and we have homecoming (dance) after this, so that is another thing happening tonight,” said Gallup, who added she is thrilled to see and play at the Broncos’ training facility. “I’m just excited for state now and to take it.”
A-West sophomore Sara Walker is one of many multi-sport athletes quickly gravitating to flag football. Walker plays basketball for A-West during the winter season.
“I love basketball. This is a good break from all the pressure and intensity,” Walker said. “I really love this sport and basketball, too.”
Walker had eyes on the Wildcats winning the state title in the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse and then going
after titles the next two years. She hopes by her senior year, girls flag football will be a CHSAA-sanctioned sport for the fall 2024 season.
The CHSAA board of directors approved girls flag football as a pilot program for the 2022 and 2023 seasons recently. If all goes as planned. the girls flag football will be a CHSAA-sanctioned sport in Colorado in two years.
“It took off very quick, and it’s
really exciting,” Lopez said. “The turnout by the parents and everyone supporting it has been great. The girls have homecoming tonight, but they stuck it out and turned it into a league championship. That just shows the dedication to flag football in the Denver-area and Colorado right now.”
Lopez had been heavily involved in flag football for a long time. He still plays competitively and runs a
women’s pro team that competes at the national level. Having the opportunity to coach high school girls was something he jumped at the chance to do.
“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into,” Lopez said. “I got myself into a (Jeffco) championship.”
Dennis Pleuss is the sports information director for Jeffco Public Schools. For more Jeffco coverage, go to CHSAANow.com.
October is upon us! Which means pumpkin spice lattes, apple cider, skeletons, ghosts, and Estate Planning! That’s right, its Estate Planning Awareness Month. Each year during the month of October we remind our community how important it is to ensure that your Estate Planning Goals are met.
One of the most common things amongst all client worries is centered around Probate. So, what is Probate?
Probate is the judicial process in which your Will is “proven” in court, and the court gives its stamp of approval. These are known as the Letters Testamentary. Probate typically occurs in the County of the State in which you reside. The Executor is the person that is then appointed by your Will to wrap or up administer the Will. This sounds well and good, but Probate can be a disaster for many. Below are a few things to remember.
1) To start off, a Probate in the State of Colorado must be open for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 36 months.
2) Creditors to the Estate must be notified of someone’s passing.
3) Everything in the decedent’s name at the time of their death must go through probate.
4) Only the elected or appointed Personal Representative/Fiduciary has the legal authority to begin administering the Estate.
These things can be extremely difficult to remember, and even more difficult for your fiduciary to handle. Not only is the fiduciary dealing with the stress of the court, but they are likely grieving from the loss of a loved one as well.
Contact the Davis Schilken, PC team to learn more about what you can do to ensure that your estate plan is set up to help avoid the probate process and that all your wishes are being carried out the way that you would like them to be (303)670-9855. We offer no obligation in person or virtual meetings. We make estate planning simple!
our comprehensive website
The Colorado Constitution (Article V, Section 1(7.3)) requires the Colorado Legislative Council to publish the ballot title and legal text of each statewide ballot measure.
A “YES/FOR” vote on any ballot issue is a vote in favor of changing current law or existing circumstances, and a “NO/AGAINST” vote on any ballot issue is a vote against changing current law or existing circumstances.
The ballot title below is a summary drafted by the professional legal staff for the general assembly for ballot pur poses only. The ballot title will not appear in the Colorado constitution. The text of the measure that will appear in the Colorado constitution below was referred to the voters because it passed by a two-thirds majority vote of the state senate and the state house of representatives.
Ballot Title:
Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning judges of the newly created twenty-third judicial district, and, in connection therewith, directing the governor to designate judges from the eighteenth judicial district to serve the remainder of their terms in the twenty-third judicial district and requiring a judge so designated to establish residency within the twenty-third judicial district?
Text of Measure:
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-third General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:
SECTION1. At the election held on November 8, 2022, the secretary of state shall submit to the registered electors of the state the ballot title set forth in section 2 for the following amendment to the state constitution:
In the constitution of the state of Colorado, section 10 of article VI, add (5) as follows:
Section 10. Judicial districts - district judges - repeal. (5) Pursuant to the creation of the twenty-third judicial district, no later than November 30, 2024, the governor shall designate district judges from the eighteenth judicial district to serve as district judges in the twenty-third judicial district. No later than January 7, 2025, each district judge designated pursuant to this section shall establish residence in the twenty-third judicial district. Each district judge designated pursuant to this section, at the completion of the last term for which the judge was last elected or appointed, is eligible to seek retention in the twenty-third judicial district. A vacancy in any judicial office in the twenty-third judicial district occurring after January 7, 2025, shall be filled as provided in section 20 (1) of this article VI.
SECTION2. Each elector voting at the election may cast a vote either “Yes/For” or “No/Against” on the following ballot title: “Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning judges of the newly created twentythird judicial district, and, in connection therewith, directing the governor to designate judges from the eighteenth judicial district to serve the remainder of their terms in the twenty-third judicial district and requiring a judge so designated to establish residency within the twenty-third judicial district?”
SECTION3. Except as otherwise provided in section 1-40123, Colorado Revised Statutes, if at least fifty-five percent of the electors voting on the ballot title vote “Yes/For”, then the amendment will become part of the state constitution.
The ballot title below is a summary drafted by the professional legal staff for the general assembly for ballot pur poses only. The ballot title will not appear in the Colorado constitution. The text of the measure that will appear in the Colorado constitution below was referred to the voters because it passed by a two-thirds majority vote of the state senate and the state house of representatives.
Ballot Title:
Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning the extension of the property tax exemption for qualifying seniors and disabled veterans to the surviving spouse of a United States armed forces service member who died in the line of duty or veteran whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease?
Text of Measure:
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-third General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:
SECTION1. At the election held on November 8, 2022, the secretary of state shall submit to the registered electors of the state the ballot title set forth in section 2 for the following amendment to the state constitution:
In the constitution of the state of Colorado, section 3.5 of article X, add (1)(d) and (1.7) as follows:
Section 3.5. Homestead exemption for qualifying senior citizens, disabled veterans, and surviving spouses receiving dependency indemnity compensationdefinition. (1) For property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2002, fifty percent of the first two hundred thousand dollars of actual value of residential real property, as defined by law, that, as of the assessment date, is owner-occupied and is used as the primary residence of the owner-occupier shall be exempt from property taxation if: (d) For property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2023, only, the owner-occupier, as of the assessment date, is an eligible spouse.
(1.7) As used in this section, “eligible spouse” means either a surviving spouse of a United States armed forces service member who died in the line of duty and received a death gratuity from the department of defense pursuant to 10 U.S.C. sec. 1475 et seq. or a surviving spouse of a veteran whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease as determined by the United States department of veterans affairs if the surviving spouse is receiving dependency indemnity compensation awarded by the United States department of veterans affairs pursuant to chapter 13 of part II of title 38 of the United States Code, chapter 5 of part I of title 38 of the United States Code, and any other applicable provision of federal law.
SECTION2. Each elector voting at the election may cast a vote either “Yes/For” or “No/Against” on the following ballot title: “Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning the extension of the property tax exemption for qualifying seniors and disabled veterans to the surviving spouse of a United States armed forces service member who died in the line of duty or veteran whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease?”
SECTION3. Except as otherwise provided in section 1-40123, Colorado Revised Statutes, if at least fifty-five percent of the electors voting on the ballot title vote “Yes/For”, then the amendment will become part of the state constitution.
The ballot title below is a summary drafted by the professional legal staff for the general assembly for ballot pur poses only. The ballot title will not appear in the Colorado constitution. The text of the measure that will appear in the Colorado constitution below was referred to the voters because it passed by a two-thirds majority vote of the state senate and the state house of representatives.
Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning the conduct of charitable gaming activities, and, in connection therewith, allowing managers and operators to be paid and repealing the required period of a charitable organization’s continuous existence before obtaining a charitable gaming license?
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-third General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:
SECTION1. At the election held on November 8, 2022, the secretary of state shall submit to the registered electors of the state the ballot title set forth in section 2 for the following amendment to the state constitution:
In the constitution of the state of Colorado, section 2 of article XVIII, amend (2), (4)(c), and (6) as follows:
Section2. Lotteries prohibited - exceptions - repeal.
(2) No game of chance pursuant to this subsection (2) and subsections (3) and (4) of this section shall be conducted by any person, firm, or organization, unless a license as provided for in this subsection (2) has been issued to the firm or organization conducting such games of chance.
The secretary of state shall, upon application therefor for a license on such forms as shall be prescribed by the secretary of state and upon the payment of an annual fee as determined by the general assembly, issue a license for the conducting of such games of chance to any bona fide chartered branch or lodge or chapter of a national or state organization or to any bona fide religious, charitable, labor, fraternal, educational, voluntary firemen’s, or veterans’ organization which that operates without profit to its members and which that is registered with the secretary of state and has been in existence continuously for a period of five three years immediately prior to the making of said its application for such the license or, on and after January 1, 2025, for such period as the general assembly may establish under subsection (5) of this section, and has had during the entire five-year period of its existence a dues-paying membership engaged in carrying out the objects of said corporation or organization, such license to expire at the end of each calendar year in which it was issued.
(4) Such games of chance shall be subject to the following restrictions:
(c)(I) No person may receive any remuneration or profit in excess of the applicable minimum wage for participating in the management or operation of any such game.
(II) This subsection (4)(c) is repealed, effective July 1, 2024.
(6)(a) The enforcement of this section shall be under such official or department of government of the state of Colorado as the general assembly shall provide.
(b) This section does not require or authorize the secretary of state to receive or review claims concerning employee wages or compensation, including tax claims, or other associated labor, employment, or contractual matters.
SECTION2. Each elector voting at the election may cast a vote either “Yes/For” or “No/Against” on the following ballot title: “Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning the conduct of charitable gaming activities, and, in connection therewith, allowing managers and operators to be paid and repealing the required period of a charitable organization’s continuous existence before obtaining a charitable gaming license?”
SECTION3. Except as otherwise provided in section 1-40123, Colorado Revised Statutes, if at least fifty-five percent of the electors voting on the ballot title vote “Yes/For”, then the amendment will become part of the state constitution.
Proposition FF Healthy School Meals for All
The ballot title below is a summary drafted by the professional legal staff for the general assembly for ballot pur poses only. The ballot title will not appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes. The text of the measure that will appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes below was referred to the voters because it passed by a majority vote of the state senate and the state house of representatives.
Ballot Title:
SHALL STATE TAXES BE INCREASED $100,727,820 ANNUALLY BY A CHANGE TO THE COLORADO REVISED STATUTES THAT, TO SUPPORT HEALTHY MEALS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, INCREAS ES STATE TAXABLE INCOME ONLY FOR INDIVID UALS WHO HAVE FEDERAL TAXABLE INCOME OF $300,000 OR MORE BY LIMITING ITEMIZED OR STAN DARD STATE INCOME TAX DEDUCTIONS TO $12,000 FOR SINGLE TAX RETURN FILERS AND $16,000 FOR JOINT TAX RETURN FILERS, AND, IN CON NECTION THEREWITH, CREATING THE HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL MEALS TO STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS; PROVIDING GRANTS FOR PARTICIPAT ING SCHOOLS TO PURCHASE COLORADO GROWN, RAISED, OR PROCESSED PRODUCTS, TO INCREASE WAGES OR PROVIDE STIPENDS FOR EMPLOYEES WHO PREPARE AND SERVE SCHOOL MEALS, AND TO CREATE PARENT AND STUDENT ADVISORY COM MITTEES TO PROVIDE ADVICE TO ENSURE SCHOOL MEALS ARE HEALTHY AND APPEALING TO ALL STUDENTS; AND CREATING A PROGRAM TO ASSIST IN PROMOTING COLORADO FOOD PRODUCTS AND PREPARING SCHOOL MEALS USING BASIC NUTRI TIOUS INGREDIENTS WITH MINIMAL RELIANCE ON PROCESSED PRODUCTS?
Text of Measure:
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add part 2 to article 82.9 of title 22 as follows:
PART 2
HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL PROGRAM 22-82.9-201. Short title. The short title of this part 2 is the “Healthy School Meals for All Act”. 22-82.9-202. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that:
(a) No Colorado child should experience hunger, and every public school student should benefit from access to healthy, locally procured, and freshly prepared meals during the school day;
(b) Healthy school meals are necessary for all students for effective learning, and Colorado’s investment in education should include healthy school meals for all students to support the
nourishment students need to achieve academic success;
(c) Access to healthy school meals should not cause stigma or stress for any student seeking an education;
(d) Colorado’s healthy school meals program should support Colorado’s food systems, including local farmers and ranchers;
(e) Colorado’s healthy school meals program must support students’ nutrition and provide quality meals to boost the health and well-being of Colorado students;
(f) During the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States department of agriculture eased program restrictions to allow free meals to continue to be available to all students universally, ensuring that all students facing hunger had access to food while in school; and
(g) Now that strategies exist to prevent hunger for all students during the school day, it is imperative that the state embrace these strategies to move toward the goal of ending child hunger.
(2) The general assembly finds, therefore, that it is in the best interests of the students of Colorado and their families to enact the healthy school meals for all program to provide free meals in public schools for all students. 22-82.9-203. Definitions. As used in this part 2, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) “Colorado grown, raised, or processed products” means all fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, and dairy products, except liquid milk, grown, raised, or produced in Colorado and minimally processed products or value-added processed products that meet the standards for the Colorado proud designation, as established by the Colorado department of agriculture, even if the product does not have the Colorado proud designation.
(2) “Community eligibility provision” means the federal program created in 42 U.S.C. sec. 1759a (a)(1) (F) that allows school districts to choose to receive federal special assistance payments for school meals in exchange for providing free school meals to all students enrolled in all or selected schools of the school district.
(3) “Department” means the department of education created in section 24-1-115.
(4) “Eligible meal” means a lunch or breakfast that meets the nutritional requirements specified in 7 CFR 210.10, or successor regulations, for the national school lunch program or the national school breakfast program.
(5) “Federal free reimbursement rate” means the free reimbursement rate set by the United States department of agriculture for meals that qualify for reimbursement under the national school breakfast program and the national school lunch program.
(6) “Identified student percentage” means the percentage of a public school’s or school district’s student enrollment who are certified as eligible for free meals based on documentation of benefit receipt or categorical eligibility as described in 7 CFR 245.6, or successor regulations.
(7) “Minimally processed products” means raw or frozen fabricated products; products that retain their inherent character, such as shredded carrots
or diced onions; and dried products, such as beans, but does not include any products that are heated, cooked, or canned.
(8) “National school breakfast program” means the federal school breakfast program created in 42 U.S.C. sec. 1773.
(9) “National school lunch program” means the federal school lunch program created in the “Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act”, 42 U.S.C. sec. 1751 et seq.
(10) “Participating school food authority” means a school food authority that chooses to participate in the healthy school meals for all program.
(11) “Program” means the healthy school meals for all program created in section 22-82.9-204.
(12) “School food authority” has the same meaning as provided in section 22-32-120 (8).
(13) “State board” means the state board of education created and existing pursuant to section 1 of article IX of the state constitution.
(14) “Value-added processed products” means products that are altered from their unprocessed or minimally processed state through preservation techniques, including cooking, baking, or canning. 22-82.9-204. Healthy school meals for all program - created - rules. (1)(a) There is created in the department the healthy school meals for all program through which each school food authority that chooses to participate in the program:
(I) Offers eligible meals, without charge, to all students enrolled in the public schools served by the participating school food authority that participate in the national school lunch program or national school breakfast program;
(II) Receives reimbursement for the meals as described in subsection (1)(b) of this section;
(III) Is eligible to receive a local food purchasing grant pursuant to section 22-82.9-205, subject to subsection (4)(b) of this section;
(IV) Is eligible to receive funding pursuant to section 22-82.9-206 to increase wages or provide stipends for individuals whom the participating school food authority employs to directly prepare and serve food for school meals, subject to subsection (4)(b) of this section; and
(V) Is eligible to receive assistance through the local school food purchasing technical assistance and education grant program pursuant to section 2282.9-207, subject to subsection (4)(b) of this section.
(b) The amount of the reimbursement provided through the program to each participating school food authority for each budget year is equal to the federal free reimbursement rate multiplied by the total number of eligible meals that the participating school food authority serves during the applicable budget year minus the total amount of reimbursement for eligible meals served during the applicable budget year that the participating school food authority receives pursuant to the national school breakfast program, the national school lunch program, sections 22-54-123 and 22-54-123.5, article 82.7 of this title 22, and part 1 of this article 82.9.
(c) The department shall develop procedures to allocate and disburse, beginning in the 202324 budget year, the money appropriated as
reimbursements pursuant to this section among participating school food authorities each budget year in an equitable manner and in compliance with the requirements of the national school breakfast program and the national school lunch program.
(2) A school food authority that chooses to participate in the program must annually give notice of participation to the department as provided by rule of the state board. At a minimum, the notice must include evidence that the school food authority is participating in the community eligibility provision as required in subsection (3) of this section.
(3) If the United States department of agriculture creates the option for the state, as a whole, to participate in the community eligibility provision, the department shall participate in the option and shall work with school food authorities and the necessary state and local departments to collect data and implement the community eligibility provision statewide. Until such time as Colorado participates in the community eligibility provision as a state, each participating school food authority, as a condition of participating in the program, must maximize the amount of federal reimbursement by participating in the community eligibility provision for all schools that qualify for the community eligibility provision and that the participating school food authority serves.
(4)(a) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this part 2, the department shall apply to the federal secretary of agriculture to participate in the demonstration project operated pursuant to 42 U.S.C. sec. 1758 (b)(15) for direct certification for children receiving medicaid benefits, with the intent that the demonstration project is implemented statewide to the extent allowable under federal law. If the state is selected to participate in the demonstration project, the department shall comply with all of the requirements of the demonstration project, including entering into an agreement with the department of health care policy and financing to establish procedures by which a student may be certified, without further application, as meeting the eligibility requirements for free or reduced-price meals pursuant to the national school breakfast program and the national school lunch program based on information collected by the department of health care policy and financing in implementing the medicaid program.
(b) Implementation of sections 22-82.9-205 to 22-82.9207 is conditional upon the state of Colorado being certified to participate in the demonstration project for direct certification for children receiving medicaid benefits that is operated pursuant to 42 U.S.C. sec. 1758 (b)(15).
(5) The state board shall promulgate rules as necessary to implement the program, including rules to maximize the amount of federal funding available to implement the program.
22-82.9-205. Local food purchasing grant - amount -advisorycommittee-verificationofinvoices.
(1)(a) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, each participating school food authority that creates an advisory committee as described in subsection (3) of this section is eligible to receive a local food purchasing grant pursuant to this section to purchase Colorado grown, raised, or processed products.
(b) On or before August 1 of the first full budget
year in which this section is effective as provided in subsection (5) of this section and on or before August 1 of each budget year thereafter, each participating school food authority shall track and report to the department for the preceding budget year:
(I) The total amount spent in purchasing all products used in preparing meals and how much of that total was attributable to the local food purchasing grant the participating school food authority received;
(II) The total amount spent to purchase Colorado grown, raised, or processed products and how much of that total was attributable to the local food purchasing grant the participating school food authority received;
(III) The total amount spent to purchase value-added processed products and how much of that total was attributable to the local food purchasing grant the participating school food authority received; and (IV) The total number of eligible meals the participating school food authority provided to students.
(2)(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2)(b) of this section, at the beginning of each budget year the department, subject to available appropriations, shall distribute to each participating school food authority that is eligible to receive a grant pursuant to this section the greater of five thousand dollars or an amount equal to twenty-five cents multiplied by the number of lunches that qualified as an eligible meal that the participating school food authority served to students in the preceding school year. The participating school food authority shall use the money received pursuant to this section to purchase only Colorado grown, raised, or processed products and as provided in subsection (3)(b) of this section and shall not use more than twenty-five percent of the amount received to purchase valueadded processed products. In addition, a school food authority may use up to ten percent of the money received pursuant to this section to pay allowable costs, as identified by rules of the state board, incurred in complying with this section.
(b) At the beginning of each budget year, each participating school food authority shall submit to the department an estimate of the amount it expects to spend to purchase Colorado grown, raised, or processed products for the budget year; a description of the items and amounts it expects to purchase; and a list of the suppliers from which it expects to purchase the items. If, based on the information provided, the department determines that a participating school food authority is unlikely to spend the full amount of the grant described in subsection (2)(a) of this section, the department shall reduce the amount of the grant accordingly. The department shall distribute to other participating school food authorities that are eligible to receive grants pursuant to this section any amount that is retained pursuant to this subsection (2)(b). The department shall distribute the additional amounts to the participating school food authorities for which the grant amount calculated pursuant to subsection (2)(a) of this section is less than twenty-five thousand dollars, prioritized based on the highest identified student percentages and greatest financial need.
(3)(a) To receive a local food purchasing grant pursuant to this section, a participating school food
authority must establish an advisory committee made up of students and parents of students enrolled in the public schools served by the participating school food authority. In selecting students and parents to serve on the advisory committee, the participating school food authority shall ensure that the membership of the advisory committee reflects the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic demographics of the student population enrolled by the participating school food authority. The advisory committee shall advise the participating school food authority concerning the selection of foods to ensure that meals are culturally relevant, healthy, and appealing to all ages of the student population.
(b) A participating school food authority may use up to twelve percent of the amount received pursuant to subsection (2) of this section to support implementation of the advisory committee required in subsection (3)(a) of this section.
(4) The department shall annually require a selected group of participating school food authorities that received a grant pursuant to this section in the preceding budget year to submit to the department a representative sample of the invoices for the products purchased using the grant money. No later than September 1 of the second budget year in which this section is effective as provided in subsection (5) of this section, and no later than September 1 of each year thereafter, the department shall review the invoices to verify that the products purchased met the requirements specified in this section. If the department finds that a participating school food authority used a significant portion of the grant money, as determined by rule of the state board, to purchase products that did not meet the requirements of this section, the participating school food authority is ineligible to receive a grant pursuant to this section for the next budget year following the budget year in which the department completes the review.
(5) This section is effective beginning in the first full budget year after the state of Colorado is certified to participate in the federal demonstration project for direct certification for children receiving medicaid benefits as provided in section 22-82.9-204 (4) and begins including medicaid direct certification in determining school districts’ identified student percentages.
22-82.9-206. School meals food preparation and service employees - wage increase or stipend. (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, in addition to the amounts received pursuant to sections 22-82.9-204 and 22-82.9-205, a participating school food authority may receive the greater of three thousand dollars or an amount equal to twelve cents multiplied by the number of school lunches that qualify as eligible meals that the participating school food authority provided in the previous budget year, so long as the participating school food authority uses one hundred percent of the amount received pursuant to this section to increase wages or provide stipends for individuals whom the participating school food authority employs to directly prepare and serve food for school meals. To receive the amount described in this section, a participating school food authority must submit documentation to the department as required by rules of the state board to demonstrate that the increase in wages or provision of stipends using the amount received pursuant to this section is implemented for the
budget year in which the amount is received.
(2) This section is effective beginning in the first full budget year after the state of Colorado is certified to participate in the federal demonstration project for direct certification for children receiving medicaid benefits as provided in section 22-82.9-204 (4) and begins including medicaid direct certification in determining school districts’ identified student percentages.
22-82.9-207. Local school food purchasing technical assistance and education grant program - createdreport. (1) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, there is created in the department the local school food purchasing technical assistance and education grant program to issue a grant to a statewide nonprofit organization to develop and manage a grant program to assist with the promotion of Colorado grown, raised, or processed products to participating school food authorities and to assist participating school food authorities in preparing meals using basic ingredients, with minimal reliance on processed products.
(2) Subject to available appropriations, the nonprofit organization may award grants for:
(a) Training, technical assistance, and physical infrastructure, awarded to participating school food authorities, grower associations, or other organizations that aggregate products from producers for:
(I) Professional contracting services to support the development and sustainability of local and regional food systems;
(II) Chef training on food handling, meal preparation using basic ingredients, and procurement practices, and for kitchen equipment purchases;
(III) Good agricultural practices certification costs and good handling practices certification costs and training on selling to schools; and
(IV) Capacity building for local value-added processed products; and
(b) Education, outreach, and promotion for:
(I) Schools to engage families and communities on the benefits of farm-to-school and ways to support farm-to-school; and
(II) Grower associations and growers to communicate to schools and school communities about the multiple benefits of purchasing local products.
(3) The nonprofit organization shall annually report to the department on implementation of the technical assistance and education grant program, including: (a) The number and types of entities receiving grants;
(b) The number, types, and purposes of the grants awarded pursuant to subsection (2)(a) of this section; and (c) The types of education, outreach, and promotion conducted by participating school food authorities and others pursuant to subsection (2)(b) of this section.
(4) This section is effective beginning in the first full budget year after the state of Colorado is certified to participate in the federal demonstration project for direct certification for children receiving medicaid benefits as provided in section 22-82.9-204 (4) and begins including medicaid direct certification
in determining school districts’ identified student percentages.
22-82.9-208. Report - audit. (1)(a) On or before December 1, 2024, and on or before December 1 every two years thereafter, the department shall prepare a report concerning the implementation of section 22-82.9-204 and sections 22-82.9-205, 22-82.9-206, and 22-82.9-207, to the extent those sections are in effect as provided in section 22-82.9-204 (4)(b). At a minimum, the report must describe:
(I) The increase in the number of students who receive free eligible meals as a result of implementation of the program;
(II) The effect of the use of local food purchasing grants on the amount of Colorado grown, raised, or processed products purchased by participating school food authorities and include a compilation of the information reported by participating school food authorities pursuant to section 22-82.9-205 (1) (b);
(III) The effect of the distribution of money pursuant to section 22-82.9-206 on the amount of wages paid or the amount of stipends provided to individuals who are employed by public schools to prepare and serve school meals; and
(IV) A summary of the information reported by the nonprofit organization pursuant to section 2282.9-207 (3) concerning implementation of the local school food purchasing technical assistance and education grant program.
(b) The department shall submit the report to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate; the agriculture, livestock, and water committee of the house of representatives; and the agriculture and natural resources committee of the senate; or any successor committees.
(c) Notwithstanding the requirement in section 241-136 (11)(a)(I), the requirement to submit the report described in this subsection (1) continues indefinitely.
(2) The department shall contract with an independent auditor to conduct a biennial financial and performance audit of the implementation of the program, including implementation of section 2282.9-204 and including implementation of local food purchasing grants pursuant to section 22-82.9-205, distributions for the increase in wages or provision of stipends pursuant to section 22-82.9-206, and implementation of the local school food purchasing technical assistance and education grant program pursuant to section 22-82.9-207, to the extent said sections are in effect as provided in section 22-82.9204 (4)(b). The audit of the two budget years in each biennial cycle must be completed by December 1 of the following budget year. The department shall make the audit easily accessible by the public on the department website.
22-82.9-209. Program - funding. For the 2023-24 budget year and for each budget year thereafter, the general assembly shall appropriate to the department, by separate line item in the annual general appropriation bill, the amount necessary to implement the program, including the amount required to reimburse participating school food authorities for eligible meals provided to students pursuant to section 22-82.9-204 and including the amount distributed as local food purchasing grants pursuant to section 22-82.9-205, the amount
distributed pursuant to section 22-82.9-206 to increase the wages or provide stipends for staff who prepare and serve school meals, and at least five million dollars annually to implement the local school food purchasing technical assistance and education grant program pursuant to section 2282.9-207, to the extent said sections are in effect as provided in section 22-82.9-204 (4)(b). The department may expend not more than one and five-tenths percent of the total amount annually appropriated pursuant to this section to offset the direct and indirect costs incurred by the department in implementing this part 2.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 2282.9-101 as follows: 22-82.9-101. Short title. This article shall be known and may be cited as The short title of this part 1 is the “Child Nutrition School Lunch Protection Program Act”.
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-82.9-103, amend the introductory portion as follows: 22-82.9-103. Definitions. As used in this article part 1, unless the context otherwise requires:
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-82.9-105, amend (1) and (2) as follows: 22-82.9-105. Program funding. (1) For each fiscal year, the general assembly shall make an appropriation by separate line item in the annual general appropriation bill to allow school food authorities to provide lunches at no charge for children in state-subsidized early childhood education programs administered by public schools or in kindergarten through twelfth grade, participating in the school lunch program, who would otherwise be required to pay a reduced price for lunch. The appropriation to the department for the program must be in addition to any appropriation made by the general assembly pursuant to section 22-54-123 or 22-54-123.5 (1). The department may expend not more than two percent of the money annually appropriated for the program to offset the direct and indirect costs incurred by the department in implementing the program pursuant to this article 82.9 part 1.
(2) The department is authorized to seek and accept gifts, grants, and donations from public and private sources for the purposes of this article part 1, but receipt of gifts, grants, and donations shall not be are not a prerequisite to the implementation of the program.
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-82.9-107, amend (1) as follows: 22-82.9-107. No individual entitlement. (1) Nothing in this article shall be interpreted to This part 1 does not create a legal entitlement to any participant to assistance provided pursuant to the program.
SECTION6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-22-104, amend (3)(p) introductory portion; and add (3)(p.5) as follows:
39-22-104. Income tax imposed on individuals, estates, and trusts - single rate - report - legislative declarationdefinitions-repeal. (3) There shall be added to the federal taxable income:
(p) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) (p.5) of this section, for income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2022, for taxpayers who claim itemized deductions as defined in section 63 (d) of the internal revenue code and who have federal adjusted gross income in the income tax year equal to or exceeding four hundred thousand dollars:
(p.5)(I) For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2023, for taxpayers who claim itemized
deductions as defined in section 63 (d) of the internal revenue code or the standard deduction as defined in section 63 (c) of the internal revenue code and who have federal adjusted gross income in the income tax year equal to or exceeding three hundred thousand dollars:
(A) For a taxpayer who files a single return, the amount by which the itemized deductions deducted from gross income under section 63 (a) of the internal revenue code exceed, or the standard deduction deducted from gross income under section 63 (c) of the internal revenue code exceeds, twelve thousand dollars; and
(B) For taxpayers who file a joint return, the amount by which the itemized deductions deducted from gross income under section 63 (a) of the internal revenue code exceed, or the standard deduction deducted from gross income under section 63 (c) of the internal revenue code exceeds, sixteen thousand dollars.
(II) For the 2023-24 state fiscal year and state fiscal years thereafter, the general assembly shall annually appropriate an amount of general fund revenue at least equal to the amount of revenue generated by the addition to federal taxable income described in subsection (3)(p.5)(I) of this section, but not more than the amount required, to fully fund the direct and indirect costs of implementing the healthy school meals for all program as provided in section 22-82.9-209. The provisions of subsection (3)(p.5)(I) of this section constitute a voter-approved revenue change, approved by the voters at the statewide election in November of 2022, and the revenue generated by this voter-approved revenue change may be collected, retained, appropriated, and spent without subsequent voter approval, notwithstanding any other limits in the state constitution or law. The addition to federal taxable income described in subsection (3)(p.5)(I) of this section does not apply for an income tax year that commences after the healthy school meals for all program, or any successor program, is repealed. Upon repeal of the healthy school meals for all program, or any successor program, the commissioner of education shall promptly notify the executive director in writing that the program is repealed.
SECTION7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-2-112, add (1)(v) as follows: 22-2-112. Commissioner - duties - report - legislative declaration - repeal. (1) Subject to the supervision of the state board, the commissioner has the following duties: (v) Upon the repeal of part 2 of article 82.9 of this title 22 and in accordance with section 39-22-104 (3) (p.5)(II), to promptly notify the executive director of the department of revenue in writing that the healthy school meals for all program is repealed.
SECTION8. Refer to people under referendum. At the election held on November 8, 2022, the secretary of state shall submit this act by its ballot title to the registered electors of the state for their approval or rejection. Each elector voting at the election may cast a vote either “Yes/ For” or “No/Against” on the following ballot title: “Shall state taxes be increased $100,727,820 annually by a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes that, to support healthy meals for public school students, increases state taxable income only for individuals who have federal taxable income of $300,000 or more by limiting itemized or standard state income tax deductions to $12,000 for single tax return filers and $16,000 for joint tax return filers, and,
in connection therewith, creating the healthy school meals for all program to provide free school meals to students in public schools; providing grants for participating schools to purchase Colorado grown, raised, or processed products, to increase wages or provide stipends for employees who prepare and serve school meals, and to create parent and student advisory committees to provide advice to ensure school meals are healthy and appealing to all students; and creating a program to assist in promoting Colorado food products and preparing school meals using basic nutritious ingredients with minimal reliance on processed products?”
Except as otherwise provided in section 1-40-123, Colorado Revised Statutes, if a majority of the electors voting on the ballot title vote “Yes/For”, then the act will become part of the Colorado Revised Statutes.
Proposition GG
The ballot title below is a summary drafted by the professional legal staff for the general assembly for ballot pur poses only. The ballot title will not appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes. The text of the measure that will appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes below was referred to the voters because it passed by a majority vote of the state senate and the state house of representatives.
Ballot Title:
Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes requiring that the ballot title and fiscal summary for any ballot initiative that increases or decreases state income tax rates include a table showing the average tax change for tax filers in different income categories?
Text of Measure:
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-5-407, amend (7) as follows: 1-5-407. Form of ballots. (7) No printing or distinguishing marks shall be on the ballot except as specifically provided in this code, or in section 1-40-106 (3)(e) to (3)(g) and (3)(j).
SECTION2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-40-105.5, amend (1.5)(a)(III); and add (1.5)(a)(V) as follows: 1-40-105.5. Initialfiscalimpactstatement-definition. (1.5)(a) For every initiated measure properly submitted to the title board, the director shall prepare a fiscal summary that consists of the following information:
(III) Any information from the initiated measure or a description of state and local government implementation in order to provide the information required in subsection (1.5) (a)(I) or (1.5)(a)(II) of this section; and (V) If the measure would either increase or decrease the individual income tax rate, a table that shows the estimated effect of the change on the tax owed by individuals in different income categories. The table prepared by the director must have one column titled “income categories” that shows income categories, one column titled “current average income tax owed” that shows the average income tax owed by filers within each income category, one column titled “proposed average income tax owed” that shows the average income tax owed by filers within each income category if the initiated measure were to pass, and one column titled “proposed change in average income tax owed” that identifies the difference between the average income tax owed by filers within each income category if the initiated measure were to pass and if the initiated measure were not to pass. If the difference in the amount of tax owed shown in the table is an
increase, the change must be expressed as a dollar amount preceded by a plus sign. If the change in the amount of tax owed shown in the table is a decrease, the change must be expressed as a dollar amount preceded by a negative sign. The director shall use the following income categories in creating the table:
(A) Federal adjusted gross income of twenty-five thousand dollars or less;
(B) Federal adjusted gross income greater than twenty-five thousand dollars and no more than fifty thousand dollars;
(C) Federal adjusted gross income greater than fifty thousand dollars and no more than one hundred thousand dollars;
(D) Federal adjusted gross income greater than one hundred thousand dollars and no more than two hundred thousand dollars;
(E) Federal adjusted gross income greater than two hundred thousand dollars and no more than five hundred thousand dollars;
(F) Federal adjusted gross income greater than five hundred thousand dollars and no more than one million dollars;
(G) Federal adjusted gross income greater than one million dollars and no more than two million dollars; and
(H) Federal adjusted gross income greater than two million dollars and no more than five million dollars.
SECTION3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-40-106, amend (3)(h); and add (3)(j) as follows:
1-40-106. Title board - meetings - ballot title - initiative and referendum-definitions. (3)(h) In determining whether a ballot title qualifies as brief for purposes of sections section 1-40-102 (10) and 1-40-106 (3)(b) subsection (3)(b) of this section, the language required by subsection (3) (e), (3)(f), or (3)(g), or (3)(j) of this section may not be considered.
(j) A ballot title for a measure that either increases or decreases the individual income tax rate must, if applicable, include the table created for the fiscal summary pursuant to section 1-40-105.5 (1.5)(a)(V).
SECTION4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-40-124.5, amend (1)(b)(III) introductory portion as follows: 1-40-124.5. Ballot information booklet. (1)(b) The director of research of the legislative council of the general assembly shall prepare a fiscal impact statement for every initiated or referred measure, taking into consideration fiscal impact information submitted by the office of state planning and budgeting, the department of local affairs or any other state agency, and any proponent or other interested person. The fiscal impact statement prepared for every measure shall be substantially similar in form and content to the fiscal notes provided by the legislative council of the general assembly for legislative measures pursuant to section 2-2-322. A complete copy of the fiscal impact statement for such measure shall be available through the legislative council of the general assembly. The ballot information booklet shall indicate whether there is a fiscal impact for each initiated or referred measure and shall abstract the fiscal impact statement for such measure. The abstract for every measure shall appear after the arguments for and against such measure in the analysis section of the ballot information booklet, and shall include, but shall not be limited to:
(III) For any initiated or referred measure that modifies the state tax laws, if the measure would either increase or decrease individual income tax revenue or state sales tax revenue, a table that shows the number of tax filers in each income category, the total tax burden change in the amount of tax owed for each income category, and the average tax burden change in the amount of tax owed for each filer within each income category. If the change in a tax burden the amount of tax owed shown in the table is an increase, the change must be expressed as a dollar amount preceded by a plus sign. If the change in a tax burden the amount of tax owed shown in the table is a decrease, the change must be expressed as a dollar amount preceded by a negative sign. The table must use the following income categories:
SECTION 5. Refertopeopleunderreferendum. At the election held on November 8, 2022, the secretary of state shall submit this act by its ballot title to the registered electors of the state for their approval or rejection. Each elector voting at the election may cast a vote either “Yes/For” or “No/Against” on the following ballot title: “Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes requiring that the ballot title and fiscal summary for any ballot initiative that increases or decreases state income tax rates include a table showing the average tax change for tax filers in different income categories?” Except as otherwise provided in section 1-40-123, Colorado Revised Statutes, if a majority of the electors voting on the ballot title vote “Yes/For”, then the act will become part of the Colorado Revised Statutes.
Proposition 121 State Income Tax Rate Reduction
Theballot title below is a summarydrafted by the professional staff of the offices of the secretary of state, the attor ney general, and the legal staff for the general assembly for ballot purposes only. The ballot title will not appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes. The text of the measure that will appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes below was drafted by the proponents of the initiative. The initiated measure is included on the ballot as a proposed change to current law because the proponents gathered the required amount of petition signatures.
Ballot Title:
Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes reducing the state income tax rate from 4.55% to 4.40%?
Text of Measure:
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-22-104, amend (1.7) as follows:
39-22-104.Incometaximposedonindividuals,estates,andtrustssinglerate-legislativedeclaration-definitions-repeal.
(1.7) (a) Except as otherwise provided in section 39-22627, subject to subsection (2) of this section, with respect to taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 2000, but before January 1, 2020, a tax of four and sixty-three one-hundredths percent is imposed on the federal taxable income, as determined pursuant to section 63 of the internal revenue code, of every individual, estate, and trust.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in section 39-22-627, subject to subsection (2) of this section, with respect to taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 2020, but before January 1, 2022, a tax of four and fifty-five one-hundredths percent is imposed on the federal taxable income, as determined pursuant to section 63 of the internal revenue code, of every individual, estate, and trust.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in section 3922-627, subject to subsection (2) of this section, with respect to taxable years commencing on or
after January 1, 2022, a tax of four and forty one-hundredths percent is imposed on the federal taxable income, as determined pursuant to section 63 of the internal revenue code, of every individual, estate, and trust.
ARTICLE 170
2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-22-301, amend (I)(d)(I)(J) and add (1)(d)(I)(K) as follows: 39-22-301.Corporatetaximposed. (1) (d) (I) A tax is imposed upon each domestic C corporation and foreign C corporation doing business in Colorado annually in an amount of the net income of such C corporation during the year derived from sources within Colorado as set forth in the following schedule of rates:
SECTION
(I) Except as otherwise provided in section 39-22-627, for income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2000, but before January 1, 2020, four and sixty-three onehundredths percent of the Colorado net income;
(J) Except as otherwise provided in section 39-22-627, for income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2020, but before January 1, 2022, four and fifty-five onehundredths percent of the Colorado net income.
(K) Except as otherwise provided in section 39-22627, for income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2022, four and forty one-hundredths percent of the Colorado net income.
SECTION3.Effectivedate. This act shall take effect upon proclamation by the governor.
The ballot title below is a summary drafted by the professional staff of the offices of the secretary of state, the attorney general, and the legal staff for the general assembly for ballot purposes only. The ballot title will not appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes. The text of the measure that will appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes below was drafted by the proponents of the initiative. The initiated measure is included on the ballot as a proposed change to current law because the proponents gathered the required amount of petition signatures.
Ballot Title:
Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning legal regulated access to natural medicine for persons 21 years of age or older, and, in connection therewith, defining natural medicine as certain plants or fungi that affect a person’s mental health and are controlled substances under state law; establishing a natural medicine regulated access program for supervised care, and requiring the department of regulatory agencies to implement the program and comprehensively regulate natural medicine to protect public health and safety; creating an advisory board to advise the department as to the implementation of the program; granting a local government limited authority to regulate the time, place, and manner of providing natural medicine services; allowing limited personal possession, use, and uncompensated sharing of natural medicine; providing specified protections under state law, including criminal and civil immunity, for authorized providers and users of natural medicine; and, in limited circumstances, allowing the retroactive removal and reduction of criminal penalties related to the possession, use, and sale of natural medicine?
Text of Measure:
Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add Article 170 to Title 12 as follows:
NATURAL MEDICINE HEALTH ACT of 2022 12-170-101. Short title. The short title of this article 170 is the “Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022.” 12-170-102.Legislativedeclaration. (1) The voters of the state of Colorado find and declare that:
(a) Colorado’s current approach to mental health has failed to fulfill its promise. Coloradans deserve more tools to address mental health issues, including approaches such as natural medicines that are grounded in treatment, recovery, health, and wellness rather than criminalization, stigma, suffering, and punishment.
(b) Coloradans are experiencing problematic mental health issues, including but not limited to suicidality, addiction, depression, and anxiety.
(c) An extensive and growing body of research is advancing to support the efficacy of natural medicines combined with psychotherapy as treatment for depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, end-of-life distress, and other conditions.
(d) The federal government will take years to act and Coloradans deserve the right to access natural medicines now.
(e) Natural medicines have been used safely for millennia by cultures for healing.
(f) Colorado can better promote health and healing by reducing its focus on criminal punishments for persons who suffer mental health issues and by establishing regulated access to natural medicines through a humane, cost-effective, and responsible approach.
(g) The City and County of Denver voters enacted Ordinance 301 in May 2019 to make the adult personal possession and use of the natural medicine psilocybin the lowest law enforcement priority in the City and County of Denver and to prohibit the City and County from spending resources on enforcing related penalties.
(h) Oregon voters enacted Measure 109 in Oregon in November 2020 to establish a regulated system of delivering a natural medicine, in part to provide people access to psilocybin for therapeutic purposes.
(i) Criminalizing natural medicines has denied people from accessing accurate education and harm reduction information related to the use of natural medicines, and limited the development of appropriate training for first-and multi-responders including law enforcement, emergency medical services, social services, and fire services.
(j) The purpose of this Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022 is to establish a new, compassionate, and effective approach to natural medicines by:
(I) adopting a public health and harm reduction approach to natural medicines by removing criminal penalties for personal use for adults twenty-one years of age and older;
(II) developing and promoting public education related to the use of natural medicines and appropriate training for first responders; and
(III) establishing regulated access by adults twentyone years of age and older to natural medicines that show promise in improving well-being, life satisfaction, and overall health.
(k) The provisions of this article 170 shall be
interpreted consistently with the findings and purposes stated in this section and shall not be limited by any Colorado law that could conflict with or be interpreted to conflict with the purposes and policy objectives stated in this section.
(l) The People of the State of Colorado further find and declare that it is necessary to ensure consistency and fairness in the application of this article 170 throughout the state and that, therefore, the matters addressed by this article 170 are, except as specified herein, matters of statewide concern.
12-170-103.Definitions. (1) As used in this article 170, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) “Administration session” means a session held at a healing center or another location as permitted by rules adopted by the department at which a participant purchases, consumes, and experiences the effects of a natural medicine under the supervision of a facilitator.
(b) “Department” means the department of regulatory agencies.
(c) “Facilitator” means a person licensed by the department who:
(I) Is twenty-one years of age or older.
(II) Has agreed to provide natural medicine services to a participant.
(III) Has met the requirements established by the department.
(d) “Healing center” means an entity licensed by the department that is organized and operated as a permitted organization:
(I) That acquires, possesses, cultivates, manufactures, delivers, transfers, transports, supplies, sells, or dispenses natural medicine and related supplies; or provides natural medicine for natural medicine services at locations permitted by the department; or engages in two or more of these activities;
(II) Where administration sessions are held; or
(III) Where natural medicine services are provided by a facilitator.
(e) “Health-care facility” means a hospital, hospice, community mental health center, federally qualified health center, rural health clinic, PACE organization, long-term care facility, a continuing care retirement community, or other type of facility where health-care is provided.
(f) “Integration session” means a meeting between a participant and facilitator that occurs after the participant has completed an administration session. (g) “Locality” means a county, municipality, or city and county.
(h) “Natural medicine” means the following substances in any form that would cause such plant or fungus to be described in the “Uniform Controlled Substances Act of 2013”, article 18 of title 18: dimethyltryptamine; ibogaine; mescaline (excluding Lophophora williamsii (“peyote”)); psilocybin; or psilocyn.
(i) “Natural medicine services” means services provided by a facilitator or other authorized person to a participant before, during, and after the participant’s consumption of natural medicine, including, at a minimum at:
(I) A preparation session;
(II) An administration session; and
(III) An integration session.
(j) “Participant” means a person twenty-one years of age or older who receives natural medicine services.
(k) “Permitted organization” means any legal entity registered and qualified to do business in the state of Colorado that meets the standards set by the Department under section 12-170-104.
(l) “Preparation session” means a meeting between a participant and a facilitator that occurs before the participant participates in the administration session. 12-170-104.Regulatednaturalmedicineaccessprogram. (1) The regulated natural medicine access program is established and the department shall regulate the manufacture, cultivation, testing, storage, transfer, transport, delivery, sale, and purchase of natural medicines by and between healing centers and other permitted entities and the provision of natural medicine services to participants.
(2) Not later than January 1, 2024, the department shall adopt rules to establish the qualifications, education, and training requirements that facilitators must meet prior to providing natural medicine services, and to approve any required training programs
(3) Not later than September 30, 2024, the department shall adopt rules necessary to implement the regulated natural medicine access program and shall begin accepting applications for licensure by that date with decisions made on all licensing applications within 60 days of receiving the application.
(4) For purposes of the regulated natural medicine access program set forth in this section:
(a) Until June 1, 2026, the term natural medicine shall only include psilocybin and psilocyn.
(b) After June 1, 2026, if recommended by the natural medicine advisory board, the department may add one or more of the following to the term natural medicine: dimethyltryptamine; ibogaine; and mescaline (excluding Lophophora williamsii (“peyote”)).
(c) The department may prepare proposed rules for the addition of dimethyltryptamine; ibogaine; and mescaline (excluding Lophophora williamsii (“peyote”)) to the term natural medicine prior to June 1, 2026, in the event that dimethyltryptamine; ibogaine; or mescaline (excluding Lophophora williamsii (“peyote”)) is added to the term natural medicine under subsection (4)(b) of this section.
(5) In carrying out its duties under this article 170, the department shall consult with the natural medicine advisory board and may also consult with other state agencies or any other individual or entity the department finds necessary.
(6) The rules adopted by the department shall include, but are not limited to, rules to:
(a) Establish the requirements governing the safe provision of natural medicine services to participants that include:
(I) Holding and verifying completion of a preparation session, an administration session, and an integration session.
(II) Health and safety warnings that must be provided to participants before natural medicine services
begin.
(III) Educational materials that must be provided to participants before natural medicine services begin.
(IV) The form that each facilitator, participant, and authorized representative of a healing center must sign before providing or receiving natural medicine services verifying that the participant was provided accurate and complete health information and informed of identified risk factors and contraindications.
(V) Proper supervision during the administration session and safe transportation for the participant when the session is complete.
(VI) Provisions for group administration sessions where one or more facilitators provide natural medicine services to more than one participant as part of the same administration session.
(VII) Provisions to allow a facilitator or a healing center to refuse to provide natural medicine services to a participant.
(VIII) The requirements and standards for independent testing of natural medicine for concentration and contaminants, to the extent available technology reasonably permits.
(IX) The licensure of entities permitted to engage in the testing of natural medicine for use in natural medicine services or otherwise.
(X) The standards for advertising and marketing natural medicine and natural medicine services.
(XI) The standards for qualification as a permitted organization addressing, without limitation, environmental, social, and governance criteria directed to the findings and declarations set forth in section 12-170-102.
(b) Establish the requirements governing the licensing and practice of facilitators that include:
(I) The form and content of license and renewal applications for facilitators submitted under this article 170.
(II) The qualifications, education, and training requirements that facilitators must meet prior to providing natural medicine services. The requirements shall:
(A) Be tiered so as to require varying levels of education and training depending on the participants the facilitator will be working with and the services the facilitator will be providing.
(B) Include education and training on client safety; contraindications; mental health; mental state; physical health; physical state; social and cultural considerations; physical environment; preparation; integration; and ethics.
(C) Allow for limited waivers of education and training requirements based on an applicant’s prior experience, training, or skill, including, but not limited to, with natural medicines.
(D) Not impose unreasonable financial or logistical barriers that make obtaining a facilitator license commercially unreasonable for low income people or other applicants.
(E) Not require a professional license or professional degree other than a facilitator license granted pursuant to this section.
(F) Allow for paid compensation for natural medicine services.
(G) Allow for the provision of natural medicine services to more than one participant at a time in group administration sessions.
(III) Oversight and supervision requirements for facilitators, including professional responsibility standards and continuing education requirements.
(I) Reduced fees for licensure and facilitator training.
(II) Incentivizing the provision of natural medicine services at a reduced cost to low income individuals.
(III) Incentivizing geographic and cultural diversity in licensing and the provision and availability of natural medicine services.
within the department for the purpose of advising the department as to the implementation of the regulated natural medicine access program.
(2) The board shall consist of fifteen members. Members shall be appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate.
share is apportioned according to the percentage that retail marijuana sales tax revenue collected by the department in the unincorporated area of the county bear to total retail marijuana sales tax revenue collected by the department.
(IV) A complaint, review, and disciplinary process for facilitators who engage in misconduct.
(V) Recordkeeping, privacy, and confidentiality requirements for facilitators, provided such record keeping does not result in the disclosure to the public or any government agency of personally identifiable information of participants.
election in November 2021, may be collected and spent as a voter-approved revenue change.
(VI) A process for annually reviewing the effectiveness of such policies and programs promulgated under this subsection (6)(d).
(e) Establish application, licensing, and renewal fees for healing center and facilitator licenses. The fees shall be:
(3) Members of the initial board shall be appointed by January 31, 2023. In making the appointments, the governor shall appoint:
(VI) Procedures for suspending or revoking the licenses of facilitators who violate the provisions of this article 170 or the rules adopted by the department.
(c) Establish the requirements governing the licensing and operation of healing centers that include:
(I) Qualifications for licensure and renewal.
(II) Oversight requirements for healing centers.
(b)(I.5) On and after July 1, 2018, of the ninety percent of the gross retail marijuana sales tax revenue in the general fund remaining after the allocation to local governments required by subsection (1)(a)(I) of this section is made, andexcluding revenue attributable to the additional tax imposed by section 39-28.8-202(1)(a)(I)(D), the state treasurer shall retain fifteen and fifty-six one-hundredths percent in the general fund for use for any lawful purpose and shall transfer from the general fund:
(III) Recordkeeping, privacy, and confidentiality requirements for healing centers, provided such record keeping does not result in the disclosure to the public or any government agency of personally identifiable information of participants.
(c) On and after January 1, 2022, the state treasurer shall transfer monthly from the general fund to the learning enrichment and academic progress fund created by section 22-86.1-106 all revenue collected by the department attributable to the additional tax imposed by section 39-28.8-202(1)(a)(I)(D).
(IV) Security requirements for healing centers, including requirements for protection of each licensed healing center location by a fully operational security alarm system.
(V) Procedures for suspending or revoking the licenses of healing centers that violate the provisions of this article 170 or the rules adopted by the department.
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 39-28.8-204 as follows:
(VI) Permissible financial relationships between licensed healing centers, facilitators, and other entities.
(VII) Procedures and policies that allow for healing centers to receive payment for services and natural medicines provided.
(VIII) Procedures and policies to ensure statewide access to healing centers and natural medicine services.
(IX) Rules that prohibit an individual from having a financial interest in more than five healing centers.
(X) Rules that allow for healing centers to share the same premises with other healing centers or to share the same premises with health-care facilities.
39-28.8-204. Revenue and spending limitations. (1) Notwithstanding any limitations on revenue, spending, or appropriations contained in section 20 of article X of the state constitution or any other provision of law, any revenues generated by the retail marijuana sales tax imposed pursuant to this part 2 as approved by the voters at the statewide election in November 2013, may be collected and spent as voter-approved revenue changes and shall not require voter approval subsequent to the voter approval required pursuant to part 4 of this article.
(XI) Rules that allow for locations not owned by a healing center where natural medicine services may be provided by licensed facilitators, including but not limited to, health-care facilities and private residences.
(2) Notwithstanding any limitations on revenue, spending, or appropriations contained in section 20 of article X of the state constitution or any other provision of law, any revenues generated by the additional retail marijuana sales tax imposed by section 39-28.8-202(1)(a)(I) (D), as approved by the voters at the statewide
(d) Establish procedures, policies, and programs to ensure the regulatory access program is equitable and inclusive and to promote the licensing of and the provision of natural medicine services to persons from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by high rates of controlled substances arrests; to persons who face barriers to access to health care; to persons who have a traditional or indigenous history with natural medicines; or to persons who are veterans that include, but are not limited to:
(I) Sufficient, but shall not exceed the amount necessary, to cover the cost of administering the regulated natural medicine access program, including the regulated natural medicine access program fund in 12-170-106.
(II) For licensing and renewal fees, scaled based on either the volume of business of the licensee or the gross annual revenue of the licensee.
The ballot title below is a summary drafted by the professional staff of the offices of the secretary of state, the attorney general, and the legal staff for the general assembly for ballot purposes only. The ballot title will not appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes. The text of the measure that will appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes below was drafted by the proponents of the initiative. The initiated measure is included on the ballot as a proposed change to current law because the proponents gathered the required amount of petition signatures.
(f) Develop and promote accurate public education campaigns related to the use of natural medicine, including but not limited to public service announcements, educational curricula, and appropriate crisis response, and appropriate training for first-and multi-responders including law enforcement, emergency medical services, social services, and fire services.
(g) Study and deliver recommendations to the legislature regarding the regulation of dosage for off-site use of natural medicines.
(h) Collect and annually publish data on the implementation and outcomes of the regulated natural medicine access program in accordance with good data and privacy practices and that does not disclose any identifying information about individual licensees or participants.
(i) Adopt, amend, and repeal rules as necessary to implement the regulated natural medicine access program and to protect the public health and safety.
(7) Participant records collected and maintained by healing centers, facilitators, registered entities, or the department shall constitute medical data as defined by section 24-72-204 (3)(a)(I) and are not public records subject to disclosure.
Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning property tax reductions, and, in connection therewith, reducing property tax revenue by an estimated $1.03 billion in 2023 and by comparable amounts thereafter by reducing the residential property tax assessment rate from 7.15% to 6.5% and reducing the property tax assessment rate for all other property, excluding producing mines and lands or leaseholds producing oil or gas, from 29% to 26.4% and allowing the state to annually retain and spend up to $25 million of excess state revenue, if any, for state fiscal years 2022-23 through 2026-27 as a voter-approved revenue change to offset lost revenue resulting from the property tax rate reductions and to reimburse local governments for revenue lost due to the homestead exemptions for qualifying seniors and disabled veterans?
Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:
(8) The department shall have the authority to create and issue any additional types of licenses and registrations it deems necessary to carry out the intents and purposes of the regulated natural medicine access program, including allowing natural medicine services to be provided at other types of licensed health facilities or by individuals in order to increase access to and the availability of natural medicine services.
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-1-104 amend (1) as follows:
(9) The department shall have the authority to adopt rules that differentiate between natural medicines and that regulate each natural medicine differently based on its specific qualities, traditional uses, and safety profile.
(1) Through December 31, 2021 the valuation for assessment of all taxable property in the state shall
(10) The department shall adopt, amend, and repeal all rules in accordance with the state administrative procedure act, article 4 of title 24, C.R.S., as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder. 12-170-105.NaturalMedicineAdvisoryBoard (1) The natural medicine advisory board shall be established
be twenty-nine percent, and beginning on January 1, 2022 the valuation for assessment of all taxable property in the state shall be twenty-six and four-tenths percent of the actual value thereof as determined by the assessor and the administrator in the manner prescribed by law, and such percentage shall be uniformly applied, without exception, to the actual value, so determined, of the various classes and subclasses of real and personal property located within the territorial limits of the authority levying a property tax, and all property taxes shall be levied against the aggregate valuation for assessment resulting from the application of such percentage.This subsection (1) shall not apply to residential real property, producing mines, and lands or leaseholds producing oil or gas.
(a) At least seven members with significant expertise and experience in one or more of the following areas: natural medicine therapy, medicine, and research; mycology and natural medicine cultivation; permitted organization criteria; emergency medical services and services provided by first responders; mental and behavioral health providers; health care insurance and health care policy; and public health, drug policy, and harm reduction.
(b) At least eight members with significant expertise and experience in one or more of the following areas: religious use of natural medicines; issues confronting veterans; traditional indigenous use of natural medicines; levels and disparities in access to health care services among different communities; and past criminal justice reform efforts in Colorado. At least one of the eight members shall have expertise or experience in traditional indigenous use of natural medicines.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-1104.2 amend (3)(q) as follows:
39-1-104.2. Adjustment of residential ratelegislative declaration - definitions.
(4) For the initial board, seven of the members shall be appointed to a term of two years and eight members shall be appointed to a term of four years. Each member appointed thereafter shall be appointed to a term of four years. Members of the board may serve up to two consecutive terms. Members are subject to removal as provided in article IV, section 6 of the Colorado Constitution.
(3) (q) The ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property is 7.15percent of actual value for property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2019 and 6.5 percent of the actual value for property tax commencing January 1, 2022, until the next property tax year that the general assembly adjusts the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property.
(5) Not later than September 30, 2023, and annually thereafter, the board shall make recommendations to the department related to, but not limited to, all of the following areas:
(a) Accurate public health approaches regarding use, effect, and risk reduction for natural medicine and the content and scope of educational campaigns related to natural medicine;
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-3-207 add (6) as follows:
(b) Research related to the efficacy and regulation of natural medicine, including recommendations related to product safety, harm reduction, and cultural responsibility;
39-3-207. Reporting of exemptions— reimbursement to local governmental entities
(c) The proper content of training programs, educational and experiential requirements, and qualifications for facilitators;
(d) Affordable, equitable, ethical, and culturally responsible access to natural medicine and requirements to ensure the regulated natural medicine access program is equitable and inclusive;
(e) Appropriate regulatory considerations for each natural medicine;
(6) for the purpose of off-setting lost revenue resulting from a reduction in property tax and to fund state reimbursements to local government entities for the application of the homestead exemption, in fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2022 through fiscal year ending July 1, 2027, the state shall be authorized to retain and spend up to 25 million per year in revenue for warrants otherwise authorized under this section.
(f) The addition of natural medicines to the regulated natural medicine access program under section 12-170-104(4)(b) based on available medical, psychological, and scientific studies, research, and other information related to the safety and efficacy of each natural medicine;
(g) All rules to be promulgated by the department under 12-170-104; and
(h) Requirements for accurate and complete data
collection, reporting, and publication of information related to the implementation of this article 170.
(6) The board shall, on an ongoing basis, review and evaluate existing research, studies, and realworld data related to natural medicine and make recommendations to the legislature and other relevant state agencies as to whether natural medicine and associated services should be covered under Health First Colorado or other insurance programs as a cost effective intervention for various mental health conditions, including but not limited to end of life anxiety, substance use disorder, alcoholism, depressive disorders, neurological disorders, cluster headaches, and post traumatic stress disorder.
(7) The board shall, on an ongoing basis, review and evaluate sustainability issues related to natural medicine and impact on indigenous cultures and document existing reciprocity efforts and continuing support measures that are needed as part of its annual report.
(8) The board shall publish an annual report describing its activities including the recommendations and advice provided to the department and the legislature.
(9) The department shall provide requested technical, logistical and other support to the board to assist the board with its duties and obligations.
(10) This section is repealed effective December 31, 2033.
12-170-106.Regulatednaturalmedicineaccessprogramfund. (1) The regulated natural medicine access program fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The fund is administered by the department and consists of all money from fees collected and money transferred from the general fund under this article 170. All interest and income earned on the deposit and investment of money in the fund shall be credited to the fund and shall not be transferred to the general fund or any other state fund at the end of any state fiscal year.
(2) The department may seek, accept, and expend any gifts, grants, donations, loan of funds, property, or any other revenue or aid in any form from the state, any state agency, any other public source, any private source, or any combination thereof, and any such monetary receipts shall be credited to the fund and any such in-kind receipts shall be applied for the benefit of the fund.
(3) The money in the fund is continually appropriated to the department for the direct and indirect costs of carrying out the provisions of this article 170.
(4) Funds for the initial establishment and support of the regulatory activities by the department under this article 170, including the natural medicine advisory board, the development and promotion of public education campaigns related to the use of natural medicine, and the development of the policies, procedures, and programs required by 12-170-104(6)(d) shall be advanced from the general fund to the regulated natural medicine access program fund and shall be repaid to the general fund by the initial proceeds from fees collected pursuant to this article 170.
(5) The office of state planning and budgeting shall determine the amount of the initial advance from the general fund to the regulated natural medicine access program fund based on the estimated costs
of establishing the program.
12-170-107.Localities. (1) A locality may regulate the time, place, and manner of the operation of healing centers licensed pursuant to this article 170 within its boundaries
(2) A locality may not ban or completely prohibit the establishment or operation of healing centers licensed pursuant to this article 170 within its boundaries.
(3) A locality may not ban or completely prohibit a licensed health-care facility or individual within its boundaries from providing natural medicine services if the licensed health-care facility or individual is permitted to provide natural medicine services by the department pursuant to this article 170.
(4) A locality may not prohibit the transportation of natural medicine through its jurisdiction on public roads by a licensee or as otherwise allowed by this article 170.
(5) A locality may not adopt ordinances or regulations that are unreasonable or in conflict with this article 170, but may enact laws imposing lesser criminal or civil penalties than provided by this article 170
12-170-108.Protections. (1) Subject to the limitations in this article 170, but notwithstanding any other provision of law:
(a) Actions and conduct permitted pursuant to a license or registration issued by the department or by department rule, or by those who allow property to be used pursuant to a license or registration issued by the department or by department rule, are not unlawful and shall not be an offense under state law, or the laws of any locality within the state, or be subject to a civil fine, penalty, or sanction, or be a basis for detention, search, or arrest, or to deny any right or privilege, or to seize or forfeit assets under state law or the laws of any locality within the state.
(b) A contract is not unenforceable on the basis that natural medicines, as allowed under this article 170, are prohibited by federal law.
(c) A holder of a professional or occupational license, certification, or registration is not subject to professional discipline or loss of a professional license or certification for providing advice or services arising out of or related to natural medicine licenses, applications for licenses on the basis that natural medicines are prohibited by federal law, or for personal use of natural medicines as allowed under this article 170. This section does not permit a person to engage in malpractice
(d) Mental health, substance use disorder, or behavioral health services otherwise covered under the Colorado Medical Assistance Act, articles 4 to 6 of title 25.5, C.R.S., shall not be denied on the basis that they are covered in conjunction with natural medicine services or that natural medicines are prohibited by federal law. No insurance or insurance provider is required to cover the cost of the natural medicine itself.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed or interpreted to prevent the department from enforcing its rules against a licensee or to limit a state or local law enforcement agency’s ability to investigate unlawful activity in relation to a licensee.
12-170-109. Personal use. (1) Subject to the limitations in this article 170, but notwithstanding any other provision of law, the following acts are not an offense under state law or the laws of any locality within the state or subject to a civil fine, penalty, or sanction, or the basis for detention, search, or arrest, or to deny any right or privilege, or to seize or forfeit assets under state law or the laws of any locality, if the person is twenty-one years of age or older:
(a) Possessing, storing, using, processing, transporting, purchasing, obtaining, or ingesting natural medicine for personal use, or giving away natural medicine for personal use without remuneration to a person or persons twenty-one years of age or older.
(b) Growing, cultivating, or processing plants or fungi capable of producing natural medicine for personal use if:
(I) The plants and fungi are kept in or on the grounds of a private home or residence; and
(II) The plants and fungi are secured from access by persons under twenty-one years of age.
(c) Assisting another person or persons who are twenty-one years of age or older, or allowing property to be used, in any of the actions or conduct permitted under subsection (1).
(2) For the purpose of this article 170, “Personal use” means the personal ingestion or use of a natural medicine and includes the amount a person may cultivate or possess of natural medicine necessary to share natural medicines with other persons twenty-one years of age or older within the context of counseling, spiritual guidance, beneficial community-based use and healing, supported use, or related services. “Personal use” does not include the sale of natural medicines for remuneration
(3) Conduct permitted by this article 170 shall not, by itself:
(a) Constitute child abuse or neglect without a finding of actual threat to the health or welfare of a child based on all relevant factors.
(b) Be the basis to restrict parenting time with a child without a finding that the parenting time would endanger the child’s physical health or significantly impair the child’s emotional development.
(4) Conduct permitted by this article 170 shall not, by itself, be the basis for punishing or otherwise penalizing a person currently under parole, probation, or other state supervision, or released awaiting trial or other hearing.
(5) Conduct permitted by this article 170 shall not, by itself, be the basis for detention, search, or arrest; and the possession or suspicion of possession of natural medicine, or the possession of multiple containers of natural medicine, shall not individually or in combination with each other constitute reasonably articulable suspicion of a crime. Natural medicines as permitted by this article 170 are not contraband nor subject to seizure and shall not be harmed or destroyed.
(6) Conduct permitted by this article 170 shall not, by itself, be the basis to deny eligibility for any public assistance program, unless required by federal law.
(7) For the purposes of medical care, including organ transplants, conduct permitted by this
article 170 does not constitute the use of an illicit substance or otherwise disqualify a person from medical care or medical insurance.
(8) Nothing in this section shall be construed or interpreted to permit a person to give away any amount of natural medicine as part of a business promotion or other commercial activity or to permit paid advertising related to natural medicine, sharing of natural medicine, or services intended to be used concurrently with a person’s consumption of natural medicine. Such advertising may be considered evidence of commercial activity that is prohibited under this section. This provision does not preclude the donation of natural medicine by a person twentyone years of age or older, payment for bona fide harm reduction services, bona fide therapy services, or other bona fide support services, maintaining personal or professional websites related to natural medicine services, dissemination of educational materials related to natural medicine, or limit the ability of a healing center to donate natural medicine or provide natural medicine at reduced cost consistent with department rules.
addressed in this section other than those set forth in this section. Further, a person shall not be subject to increased punishment for any other crime on the basis of that person having undertaken conduct permitted by this article 170.
12-170-111. Limitations. (1) This article 170 shall not be construed:
share is apportioned according to the percentage that retail marijuana sales tax revenue collected by the department in the unincorporated area of the county bear to total retail marijuana sales tax revenue collected by the department.
(b)(I.5) On and after July 1, 2018, of the ninety percent of the gross retail marijuana sales tax revenue in the general fund remaining after the allocation to local governments required by subsection (1)(a)(I) of this section is made, andexcluding revenue attributable to the additional tax imposed by section 39-28.8-202(1)(a)(I)(D), the state treasurer shall retain fifteen and fifty-six one-hundredths percent in the general fund for use for any lawful purpose and shall transfer from the general fund:
election in November 2021, may be collected and spent as a voter-approved revenue change.
(a) To permit a person to drive or operate a motor vehicle, boat, vessel, aircraft, or other device that is capable of moving itself, or of being moved, from place to place upon wheels or endless tracks under the influence of natural medicine;
(b) To permit a person to use or possess natural medicine in a school, detention facility, or public building;
application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.
12-170-115.Effectivedate. Unless otherwise provided by this act, all provisions of this act shall become effective upon the earlier of the official declaration of the vote hereon by proclamation of the governor or thirty days after the vote has been canvassed, pursuant to section 1(4) of article V of the Colorado Constitution. The removal and reduction of criminal penalties by this act is intended to have retroactive effect.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-18-403.5, amend (1) as follows:
(c) To permit a person to ingest natural medicines in a public place, other than a place licensed or otherwise permitted by the department for such use;
(c) On and after January 1, 2022, the state treasurer shall transfer monthly from the general fund to the learning enrichment and academic progress fund created by section 22-86.1-106 all revenue collected by the department attributable to the additional tax imposed by section 39-28.8-202(1)(a)(I)(D).
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 39-28.8-204 as follows:
(9) A person who has completed a sentence for a conviction, whether by trial or plea of guilty or nolo contendere, who would not have been guilty of an offense under this Act had it been in effect at the time of the offense, may file a petition before the trial court that entered the judgment of conviction in the person’s case to seal the record of the conviction at no cost. If there is no objection from the district attorney, the court shall automatically seal such record. If there is an objection by the district attorney, a hearing shall be held and the court shall determine if the prior conviction does not qualify to be sealed under this act. If the record does not qualify to be sealed, the court shall deny the sealing of the record. Nothing in this section shall be construed to diminish or abrogate any rights or remedies otherwise available to the petitioner or applicant.
12-170-110.Personalusepenalties. (1) Unless otherwise provided by subsection (2) of this section, a person who is under twenty-one years of age is subject to a drug petty offense, and upon conviction thereof, shall be subject only to a penalty of no more than four (4) hours of drug education or counseling provided at no cost to the person, if the person:
(a) Possesses, uses, ingests, inhales, or transports natural medicine for personal use;
39-28.8-204. Revenue and spending limitations. (1) Notwithstanding any limitations on revenue, spending, or appropriations contained in section 20 of article X of the state constitution or any other provision of law, any revenues generated by the retail marijuana sales tax imposed pursuant to this part 2 as approved by the voters at the statewide election in November 2013, may be collected and spent as voter-approved revenue changes and shall not require voter approval subsequent to the voter approval required pursuant to part 4 of this article.
(b) Gives away without remuneration natural medicine for personal use; or (c) Possesses, uses, or gives away without remuneration natural medicine paraphernalia.
(2) Notwithstanding any limitations on revenue, spending, or appropriations contained in section 20 of article X of the state constitution or any other provision of law, any revenues generated by the additional retail marijuana sales tax imposed by section 39-28.8-202(1)(a)(I) (D), as approved by the voters at the statewide
(2) To the extent subsection (1) establishes a penalty for conduct not otherwise prohibited by law or establishes a penalty that is greater than exists elsewhere in law for the conduct set forth in subsection (1), the penalties in subsection (1) shall not apply.
(3) A person who cultivates natural medicines that are not secure from access by a person under twenty-one years of age in violation of 12-170-109(1) (b) is subject to a civil fine not exceeding twohundred and fifty dollars, in addition to any other applicable penalties.
(4) A person shall not be subject to any additional fees, fines, or other penalties for the violations
The ballot title below is a summary drafted by the professional staff of the offices of the secretary of state, the attorney general, and the legal staff for the general assembly for ballot purposes only. The ballot title will not appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes. The text of the measure that will appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes below was drafted by the proponents of the initiative. The initiated measure is included on the ballot as a proposed change to current law because the proponents gathered the required amount of petition signatures.
(d) To permit the transfer of natural medicine, with or without remuneration, to a person under twentyone years of age or to allow a person under twentyone years of age to use or possess natural medicine; (e) To permit a person to engage in conduct that endangers or harms others;
(f) To require a government medical assistance program or private health insurer to reimburse a person for costs of purchasing natural medicine;
Ballot Title:
(g) To require an employer to permit or accommodate the use, consumption, possession, transfer, display, transportation, or growing of natural medicines in the workplace;
(h) To prohibit a recipient of a federal grant or an applicant for a federal grant from prohibiting the use, consumption, possession, transfer, display, transportation, or growing of natural medicines to the extent necessary to satisfy federal requirements for the grant;
(i) To prohibit a party to a federal contract or a person applying to be a party to a federal contract from prohibiting any act permitted in this article 170 to the extent necessary to comply with the terms and conditions of the contract or to satisfy federal requirements for the contract;
(j) To require a person to violate a federal law; or (k) To exempt a person from a federal law or obstruct the enforcement of a federal law.
12-170-112.Liberalconstruction. This act shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purpose.
Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning property tax reductions, and, in connection therewith, reducing property tax revenue by an estimated $1.03 billion in 2023 and by comparable amounts thereafter by reducing the residential property tax assessment rate from 7.15% to 6.5% and reducing the property tax assessment rate for all other property, excluding producing mines and lands or leaseholds producing oil or gas, from 29% to 26.4% and allowing the state to annually retain and spend up to $25 million of excess state revenue, if any, for state fiscal years 2022-23 through 2026-27 as a voter-approved revenue change to offset lost revenue resulting from the property tax rate reductions and to reimburse local governments for revenue lost due to the homestead exemptions for qualifying seniors and disabled veterans?
Text of Measure:
Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:
12-170-113.Preemption. No locality shall adopt, enact, or enforce any ordinance, rule, or resolution imposing any greater criminal or civil penalty than provided by this act or that is otherwise in conflict with the provisions of this act. A locality may enact laws imposing lesser criminal or civil penalties than provided by this act.
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-1-104 amend (1) as follows:
(1) Through December 31, 2021 the valuation for assessment of all taxable property in the state shall
12-170-114.Self-executing,severability,conflictingprovisions. All provisions of this article 170 are self-executing except as specified herein, are severable, and, except where otherwise indicated in the text, shall supersede conflicting state statutory, local charter, ordinance, or resolution, and other state and local provisions. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or
18-18-403.5.Unlawfulpossessionofacontrolledsubstance. (1) Except as authorized by part 1 or 3 of article 280 of title 12, part 2 of article 80 of title 27, section 18-1-711, section 18-18-428(1)(b), or part 2 or 3 of this article 18, or the “Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022”, article 170 of title 12 it is unlawful for a person knowingly to possess a controlled substance.
be twenty-nine percent, and beginning on January 1, 2022 the valuation for assessment of all taxable property in the state shall be twenty-six and four-tenths percent of the actual value thereof as determined by the assessor and the administrator in the manner prescribed by law, and such percentage shall be uniformly applied, without exception, to the actual value, so determined, of the various classes and subclasses of real and personal property located within the territorial limits of the authority levying a property tax, and all property taxes shall be levied against the aggregate valuation for assessment resulting from the application of such percentage.This subsection (1) shall not apply to residential real property, producing mines, and lands or leaseholds producing oil or gas.
SECTION
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-1104.2 amend (3)(q) as follows:
39-1-104.2. Adjustment of residential ratelegislative declaration - definitions.
3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-18-404 amend (1)(a) as follows: 18-18-404.Unlawfuluseofacontrolledsubstance. (1)(a) Except as is otherwise provided for offenses concerning marijuana and marijuana concentrate in sections 18-18-406 and 18-18-406.5 or by the“Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022”, article 170 of title 12 any person who uses any controlled substance, except when it is dispensed by or under the direction of a person licensed or authorized by law to prescribe, administer, or dispense the controlled substance for bona fide medical needs, commits a level 2 drug misdemeanor.
SECTION
(3) (q) The ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property is 7.15percent of actual value for property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2019 and 6.5 percent of the actual value for property tax commencing January 1, 2022, until the next property tax year that the general assembly adjusts the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property.
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-3-207 add (6) as follows:
4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-18-405, amend (1)(a) as follows: 18-18-405.Unlawfuldistribution,manufacturing,dispensing,or sale. (1)(a) Except as authorized by part 1 of article 280 of title 12, part 2 of article 80 of title 27, or part 2 or 3 of this article 18, or by the“Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022”, article 170 of title 12 it is unlawful for any person knowingly to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute, or to possess with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute, a controlled substance; or induce, attempt to induce, or conspire with one or more other persons, to manufacture, dispense, sell, distribute, or possess with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute, a controlled substance; or possess one or more chemicals or supplies or equipment with intent to manufacture a controlled substance.
39-3-207. Reporting of exemptions— reimbursement to local governmental entities
(6) for the purpose of off-setting lost revenue resulting from a reduction in property tax and to fund state reimbursements to local government entities for the application of the homestead exemption, in fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2022 through fiscal year ending July 1, 2027, the state shall be authorized to retain and spend up to 25 million per year in revenue for warrants otherwise authorized under this section.
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 18-18-410 as follows: 18-18-410.Declarationofclass1publicnuisance. Except as permitted by the “Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022”, article 170 of title 12 any store, shop, warehouse, dwelling house, building, vehicle, boat, or aircraft or any place whatsoever which is frequented by controlled substance addicts for the unlawful use of controlled substances or which is used for the unlawful storage, manufacture, sale, or distribution of controlled substances is declared to be a class 1 public nuisance and subject to the provisions of section 16-13-303, C.R.S. Any real or personal property which is seized or confiscated as a result of an action to abate a public nuisance shall be disposed of pursuant to part 7 of article 13 of title 16, C.R.S
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-18-411, add (5) as follows: 18-18-411.Keeping,maintaining,controlling,renting,ormaking availablepropertyforunlawfuldistributionormanufactureof controlledsubstances.
(5) A person acting in compliance with the “Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022”, article 170 of title 12 does not violate this section.
SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-18-412.7, add (3) as follows:
18-18-412.7.Saleordistributionofmaterialstomanufacture controlledsubstances.
(3) A person acting in compliance with the “Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022”, article 170 of title 12 does not violate this section.
SECTION 8. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-18-430.5, add (1)(c) as follows:
18-18-430.5.Drugparaphernalia—exemption. (1) A person is exempt from sections 18-18-425 to 18-18-430 if the person is:
(c) Using equipment, products or materials in compliance with the “Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022”, article 170 of title 12. The manufacture, possession, and distribution of such equipment, products, or materials shall be authorized within the meaning of 21 USC 863 sec. (f).
SECTION 9. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 16-13-303, add (9) as follows:
16-13-303.Class1publicnuisance.
(9) A person acting in compliance with the “Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022”, article 170 of title 12 does not violate this section.
SECTION 10. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 16-13-304, add (2) as follows: 16-13-304.Class2publicnuisance.
(2) A person acting in compliance with the “Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022”, article 170 of title 12 does not violate this section.
The ballot title below is a summary drafted by the professional staff of the offices of the secretary of state, the attorney general, and the legal staff for the general assembly for ballot purposes only. The ballot title will not appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes. The text of the measure that will appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes below was drafted by the proponents of the initiative. The initiated measure is included on the ballot as a proposed change to current law because the proponents gathered the required amount of petition signatures.
Ballot Title:
Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning statewide funding for additional affordable housing, and, in connection therewith, dedicating state revenues collected from an existing tax of one-tenth of one percent on federal taxable income of every individual, estate, trust, and corporation, as defined in law, for affordable housing and exempting the dedicated revenues from the constitutional limitation on state fiscal year spending; allocating 60% of the dedicated revenues to affordable housing financing programs that will reduce rents, purchase land for affordable housing development, and build assets for renters; allocating 40% of the dedicated revenues to programs that support affordable home ownership, serve persons experiencing homelessness, and support local planning capacity; requiring local governments that seek additional affordable housing funding to expedite development approvals for affordable housing projects and commit to increasing the number of affordable housing units by 3% annually; and specifying that the dedicated revenues shall not supplant existing appropriations for affordable
housing programs?
Text of Measure:
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add article 32 to title 29 as follows:
ARTICLE32
StatewideAffordableHousingFund
29-32-101.Definitions. As used in this Article, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) “Administrator” means a political subdivision of the State of Colorado established for the purposes, among others, of increasing the supply of decent, safe, and sanitary housing for low- and moderateincome families, or other third party established for such purposes, selected by the office to administer certain affordable housing programs created in section 29-32-104.
(2) “Affordable housing” means rental housing affordable to a household with an annual income of at or below sixty percent of the area median income, and that costs the household less than thirty percent of its monthly income. “Affordable housing” also means for-sale housing that could be purchased by a household with an annual income of at or below one hundred percent of the area median income, for which the mortgage payment costs the household less than thirty percent of its monthly income.
Targets set for the local governments under section 29-32-105 for affordable housing shall be based on the average of the area median income.
If a local government determines that application of this definition of affordable housing would cause implementation of this article in a manner inconsistent with housing and workforce needs within the jurisdiction, it may petition the division for leave to use the calculation applicable to an adjacent jurisdiction or the state median income that better reflects local needs
(3) “Area median income” means the median household income of households of a given size in the municipality, or metropolitan statistical area encompassing a municipality, or county in which the housing is located, as calculated and published for a given year by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(4) “Division” means the division of housing in the department of local affairs created in section 24-32704 (1).
(5) “Support fund” means the affordable housing support fund created in section 29-32-103(1).
(6) “Fund” means the state affordable housing fund created in section 29-32-102 (1).
(7) “Local government” means a municipality, whether home rule or statutory; a county, whether home rule or statutory; a city and county; or a local housing authority.
(8) “Office” means the office of economic development created in section 24-48.5-101.
(9) “Financing fund” means the affordable housing financing fund created in section 29-32-103(2). 29-32-102. State affordable housing fund. (1) The state affordable housing fund is hereby created in the state treasury. Commencing on January 1, 2023, all state revenues collected from an existing tax on one-tenth of one percent on federal taxable income, as modified by law, of every individual, estate, trust,
and corporation, as defined in law, as calculated pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, shall be deposited in the fund by the state treasurer. The revenue deposited into the fund pursuant to this subsection (1) shall not be subject to the limitation on fiscal year spending specified in section 20 of article X of the state constitution.
(2) The fund shall consist of money deposited into the fund under subsection (1) of this section; any money appropriated to the fund by the general assembly; and any gifts, grants, or donations from any public or private sources, including governmental entities, that the division and the office are hereby authorized to seek and accept.
(3) All money not expended or encumbered, and all interest earned on the investment or deposit of money in the fund, shall remain in the fund and shall not revert to the general fund or any other fund at the end of any fiscal year.
(4)(a) The legislative council, in consultation with the office of state planning and budgeting, shall calculate the amount of revenues to be deposited in the fund for the period commencing January 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2023, and for each state fiscal year commencing on or after July 1, 2023. The legislative council and the office of state planning and budgeting shall rely upon the quarterly state revenue estimates issued by the legislative council in calculating such amounts and shall update its calculations not later than five days following the issuance of each quarterly state revenue estimate.
(b) To ensure that all fund revenues are transferred to the fund and that other state revenues are not erroneously transferred to the fund:
(I) No later than two days after calculating or recalculating the amount of fund revenues for the period commencing January 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2023, and for any fiscal year commencing on or after July 1, 2023, the legislative council, in consultation with the office of state planning and budgeting, shall certify to the department of revenue the amount of fund revenues that the department shall transfer to the state treasurer for deposit into the fund on the first day of each of the three succeeding calendar months as required by paragraph (c) of this subsection (4);
(II) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (b), no later than May 25 of 2023 and of any state fiscal year commencing on or after July 1, 2023, the legislative council, in consultation with the office of state planning and budgeting, may certify to the department of revenue an adjusted amount for any transfer to be made on the first business day of the immediately succeeding June; and (III) Subject to review by the state auditor, the legislative council, in consultation with the office of state planning and budgeting, may correct any error in the total amount of state affordable housing revenues transferred during any state fiscal year by adjusting the amount of any transfer to be made during the next state fiscal year.
(c) On the first business day of each calendar month that commences after January 5, 2023, the department of revenue shall transfer to the state treasurer for deposit into the fund revenues in an amount certified to the department by the legislative council, in consultation with the office of state planning and budgeting, pursuant to paragraph (b) of
this subsection (4). 29-32-103.Transfersofmoney-permittedusesofthefundcontinuousappropriation. (1) The affordable housing support fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The support fund shall consist of money deposited into it under subsection (3) of this section. The division shall administer the support fund and expend the moneys in the support fund only for the purposes set forth in section 29-32-104(3). All money not expended or encumbered, and all interest earned on the investment or deposit of money in the support fund, shall remain in the support fund and shall not revert to the general fund or any other fund at the end of any fiscal year. All money transferred to the support fund pursuant to subsection (3) of this section is continuously appropriated to the division for the purposes set forth in section 29-32-104(3).
share is apportioned according to the percentage that retail marijuana sales tax revenue collected by the department in the unincorporated area of the county bear to total retail marijuana sales tax revenue collected by the department.
(b)(I.5) On and after July 1, 2018, of the ninety percent of the gross retail marijuana sales tax revenue in the general fund remaining after the allocation to local governments required by subsection (1)(a)(I) of this section is made, andexcluding revenue attributable to the additional tax imposed by section 39-28.8-202(1)(a)(I)(D), the state treasurer shall retain fifteen and fifty-six one-hundredths percent in the general fund for use for any lawful purpose and shall transfer from the general fund:
(2) The affordable housing financing fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The financing fund shall consist of money deposited into it under subsection (3) of this section. The office shall administer the financing fund and expend the moneys in the financing fund only for the purposes set forth in section 29-32-104(1). All money not expended or encumbered, and all interest earned on the investment or deposit of money in the financing fund, shall remain in the financing fund and shall not revert to the general fund or any other fund at the end of any fiscal year. All money transferred to the financing fund pursuant to subsection (3) of this section is continuously appropriated to the office for the purposes set forth in section 29-32-104(1).
(c) On and after January 1, 2022, the state treasurer shall transfer monthly from the general fund to the learning enrichment and academic progress fund created by section 22-86.1-106 all revenue collected by the department attributable to the additional tax imposed by section 39-28.8-202(1)(a)(I)(D).
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 39-28.8-204 as follows:
(3) On July 1, 2023, or as soon as practicable thereafter, and on July 1 of each state fiscal year thereafter, the state treasurer shall transfer forty percent of the balance of the fund on the date of the transfer to the support fund and sixty percent of the balance of the fund on the date of the transfer to the financing fund. 29-32-104.Permissibleexpenditures–affordablehousingprograms.
39-28.8-204. Revenue and spending limitations. (1) Notwithstanding any limitations on revenue, spending, or appropriations contained in section 20 of article X of the state constitution or any other provision of law, any revenues generated by the retail marijuana sales tax imposed pursuant to this part 2 as approved by the voters at the statewide election in November 2013, may be collected and spent as voter-approved revenue changes and shall not require voter approval subsequent to the voter approval required pursuant to part 4 of this article.
(1) The office shall contract with the administrator. The office may select an administrator without a competitive procurement process but shall announce the contract opening publicly and select the administrator in a meeting that is open to the public, no less than seventy-two hours after notice of such meeting is publicly available. No single contract may exceed five years in duration. Upon the expiration of any contract term, the office may renew the contract with the same administrator or may select another administrator. The administrator selected by the office shall expend the money transferred to the financing fund in section 29-32-103(2) to support the following programs only:
(2) Notwithstanding any limitations on revenue, spending, or appropriations contained in section 20 of article X of the state constitution or any other provision of law, any revenues generated by the additional retail marijuana sales tax imposed by section 39-28.8-202(1)(a)(I) (D), as approved by the voters at the statewide
(a) A land banking program to be administered by the administrator. The program shall provide grants to local governments and loans to nonprofit organizations with a demonstrated history of providing affordable housing to acquire and preserve land for the development of affordable housing. Mixed use development is an allowable use of land purchased under this program if the predominate use of the land is affordable housing. Loans made by the program shall be forgiven if land acquired with the assistance of the program is properly zoned with an active plan for the development of affordable housing within 5 years of date the loan is made and if the development is permitted and funded within 10 years. The lender and borrower may establish additional terms if needed.
election in November 2021, may be collected and spent as a voter-approved revenue change.
If land acquired with the assistance of the program is not developed within the timeline above, the loan must be repaid, with interest, as soon as practical, but not more than six months after expiration of said timeline. Land acquired with the assistance of the program that is not developed within the timeline above may be used by the owner for any purpose upon payment of the loan with interest or, in exchange for a waiver of interest, conveyed to a state agency or other entity for the development of affordable housing with the approval of the administrator. All principal and interest payments on loans made under this paragraph (a) shall be paid to the administrator and used by the administrator for the purposes set forth in this subsection (1). As determined by the administrator, a minimum of 15% and a maximum of 25% of monies transferred to the office from the fund annually may be used for the program. The administrator may utilize up to two percent of the funds it receives from the office for the program annually to pay for the costs of administering the program.
The ballot title below is a summary drafted by the professional staff of the offices of the secretary of state, the attorney general, and the legal staff for the general assembly for ballot purposes only. The ballot title will not appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes. The text of the measure that will appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes below was drafted by the proponents of the initiative. The initiated measure is included on the ballot as a proposed change to current law because the proponents gathered the required amount of petition signatures.
Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning property tax reductions, and, in connection therewith, reducing property tax revenue by an estimated $1.03 billion in 2023 and by comparable amounts thereafter by reducing the residential property tax assessment rate from 7.15% to 6.5% and reducing the property tax assessment rate for all other property, excluding producing mines and lands or leaseholds producing oil or gas, from 29% to 26.4% and allowing the state to annually retain and spend up to $25 million of excess state revenue, if any, for state fiscal years 2022-23 through 2026-27 as a voter-approved revenue change to offset lost revenue resulting from the property tax rate reductions and to reimburse local governments for revenue lost due to the homestead exemptions for qualifying seniors and disabled veterans?
Text of Measure:
Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-1-104 amend (1) as follows:
(1) Through December 31, 2021 the valuation for assessment of all taxable property in the state shall
(b) An affordable housing equity program to be administered by the administrator. The program shall make equity investments in low- and middle-income multi-family rental developments. The program shall also make equity investments in existing affordable housing projects which include multi-family rental units for the purpose of ensuring that said projects remain affordable. The average of rents for projects funded by the program (calculated by adding together the monthly rent for all units in a project and dividing by the number of units in the project) must be and remain permanently affordable such that a participating household shall not be required to spend more than 30% of household income on rent for households that are at or below 90% of the area median income of households of that size in the territory or jurisdiction of local government in which the housing is located, as calculated and published for a given year by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program shall include a tenant equity vehicle, meaning, in projects funded by the program, tenants who reside in the project for at least one year shall be entitled to a share of the equity growth in the project, if any, in the form of funding from the program for a down-payment on housing or related purposes, in an amount determined by the administrator. Equity investments made by the program shall be made with the expectation of returns that are below the prevailing market returns. Returns on program investments up to the amount of the program’s initial investment shall be retained in the program and reinvested. Returns on program investments greater than the program’s initial investment shall be retained in the program to fund the tenant equity vehicle. In selecting investments under this program, the administrator shall prioritize high-density housing, mixed-income housing, and projects consistent with the goal of environmental sustainability. As determined by the administrator, a minimum of 40% of monies and a maximum of 70% of monies transferred to the office from the fund annually may be used for the program. The administrator may utilize up to two percent of the funds it receives from the office for the program annually to pay for the costs of administering the program.
(c) A concessionary debt program to be administered by the administrator. The program shall:
be twenty-nine percent, and beginning on January 1, 2022 the valuation for assessment of all taxable property in the state shall be twenty-six and four-tenths percent of the actual value thereof as determined by the assessor and the administrator in the manner prescribed by law, and such percentage shall be uniformly applied, without exception, to the actual value, so determined, of the various classes and subclasses of real and personal property located within the territorial limits of the authority levying a property tax, and all property taxes shall be levied against the aggregate valuation for assessment resulting from the application of such percentage.This subsection (1) shall not apply to residential real property, producing mines, and lands or leaseholds producing oil or gas.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-1104.2 amend (3)(q) as follows:
39-1-104.2. Adjustment of residential ratelegislative declaration - definitions.
(3) (q) The ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property is 7.15percent of actual value for property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2019 and 6.5 percent of the actual value for property tax commencing January 1, 2022, until the next property tax year that the general assembly adjusts the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property.
(I) Provide debt financing of low- and middle-income multi-family rental developments, (II) Provide gap financing in the form of subordinate debt and pre-development loans for projects that qualify for federal low income housing tax credits, (III) Provide debt financing of existing affordable housing projects for the purpose of preserving existing affordable multi-family rental units, and (IV) Provide debt financing for modular and factory build housing manufacturers. The average of rents for projects funded by the program (calculated by adding together the monthly rent for all units in a project and dividing by the number of units in the project) must be and remain permanently affordable (meaning that a household shall not be required to spend more than 30% of household income on rent and basic utilities) for households that are at or below 60% of the area median income of households of that size in the territory or jurisdiction of local government in which the housing is located, as calculated and published for a given year by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (the affordability threshold); except that where the program is a secondary source of funding, the affordability threshold required by the primary funding source, if any, may be operative. Debt financing and loans made by the program shall be made at below market interest rates as determined by the administrator. Returns on program investments up to the amount of the program’s initial investment shall be retained in the program and reinvested by the administrator in the program established in this paragraph (c). Returns on program investments greater than the program’s initial investment shall be retained in the program to fund the tenant equity vehicle of the affordable housing equity program created in subsection (1)(b) of this section. As determined by the administrator, a minimum of 15% of monies and a maximum of 35% of monies transferred to the office from the fund annually may be used for the program. The administrator may utilize up to two percent of the funds it receives from the office for the program annually to pay for the costs of administering the program.
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-3-207 add (6) as follows:
(2) In selecting investments to be made by the programs of subsection (1) of this section, the administrator shall prioritize projects that achieve high-density housing, mixed-income housing, and projects consistent with the goal of environmental sustainability, as appropriate.
39-3-207. Reporting of exemptions— reimbursement to local governmental entities
(6) for the purpose of off-setting lost revenue resulting from a reduction in property tax and to fund state reimbursements to local government entities for the application of the homestead exemption, in fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2022 through fiscal year ending July 1, 2027, the state shall be authorized to retain and spend up to 25 million per year in revenue for warrants otherwise authorized under this section.
(3) The division shall expend the money transferred to the support fund in section 29-32-103(1) to support the following programs only:
(a) An affordable home ownership program administered by the division or one or more contractors of the division. The program shall offer home ownership down-payment assistance to first-time homebuyers and shall prioritize assistance, to the extent practicable, to first-generation homebuyers. The assistance shall be provided to households with income less than or equal to 120% of the area median income of households of that size in the territory or jurisdiction of local government in which the housing is located, as calculated and published for a given year by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program shall also make grants or loans to non-profits and community land trusts to support affordable home ownership and to groups or
associations of mobile home owners to assist them with the purchase of a mobile home park pursuant to section 38-12-217. Said grants and loans shall be used to support affordable home ownership for households with income less than or equal to 100% of the area median income of households of that size in the territory or jurisdiction of local government in which the households are located, as calculated and published for a given year by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. All principal and interest payments on loans made under this paragraph (a) shall be paid to the division and used by the administrator for the purposes set forth in this subsection (3). Up to 50% of monies transferred to the division from the fund annually may be used for the program. The division shall determine how much of the available funding shall be allocated to each aspect of the program. The division may utilize up to 5% of the funds it receives from the fund for the program annually to pay for the direct and indirect costs of administering the program.
(b) A program serving persons experiencing homelessness to be administered by the division. The program shall provide rental assistance, housing vouchers, and eviction defense assistance, including legal, financial, and case management, to persons experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The program shall also make grants or loans to non-profit organizations, local governments or private entities to support the development and preservation of supportive housing for persons experiencing homelessness, and other homelessness related activities the division determines contribute to the resolution of or prevention of homelessness, including housing programs paid for by non-profit organizations, local governments or private entities on a pay for success basis, meaning an organization, local government or private entity would receive financial support from the program upon achieving objectives contractually agreed upon with the division. All principal and interest payments on loans made under this paragraph (b) shall be paid to the division and used by the administrator for the purposes set forth in this subsection (3). Up to 45% of monies transferred to the division from the fund annually may be used for the program. The division may utilize up to 5% of the funds it receives from the fund for the program annually to pay for the direct and indirect costs of administering the program.
(c) A local planning capacity development program administered by the division. The program shall provide grants to local governments to increase the capacity of local government planning departments responsible for processing land use, permitting and zoning applications for housing projects. Up to 5% of monies transferred to the division from the fund annually may be used for the program. The division may utilize up to 5% of the funds it receives from the fund for the program annually to pay for the direct and indirect costs of administering the program.
(5) If the Legislative Council Staff’s March Economic and Revenue Forecast in any given year projects revenue for the next state fiscal year will fall below the revenue limit imposed under section 20 of article X of the state constitution, the general assembly may reduce the funding allocated to the office required by this section for the next state fiscal year in order to balance the state budget for said state fiscal year.
29-32-105.Localgovernmentaffordablehousingcommitments–three-yearcommitmentcycle-expediteddevelopmentapproval process-eligibilityforassistancefromthefund. (1) (a) Not later than November 1, 2023, the governing body of each local government, other than local housing authorities, desiring to receive funding under this section or desiring to make affordable housing projects within its territorial boundaries eligible for funding under this section shall make and file with the division a commitment specifying how, by December 31, 2026, the combined number of newly constructed affordable housing units and existing units converted to affordable housing, within its territorial boundaries shall be increased by three percent each year over the baseline number of affordable housing units within its territorial boundaries, determined as provided in subsection (1) (c) of this section.
(b) In the case of a county, the requirements of this subsection (1) only apply to the unincorporated areas of the county.
(c) The baseline number of affordable housing units within the territorial boundaries of a local government, as referenced in this subsection (1), shall be determined by the local government by reference to:
(I) The 2017-2021 American Community Survey 5-year estimates published by the United States Census Bureau. The baseline number shall reset for 2027, based on the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, expected to be published in the spring of 2026 and every third year thereafter with the publication of the corresponding American Community Survey 5-year estimates; or
(II) The most recently available Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategies estimates published by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; or
(III) A web-based system created, maintained, and updated by the division with the estimates specified in subsection (1)(c)(I) of this section, or if the division finds that the estimates specified in said subsection (1)(c)(I) would be impractical or deleterious to the efficacious implementation of this section, an alternative source of estimates that the division finds to be appropriate.
(d) By November 1, 2026 and by November 1st of each subsequent year in which the baseline resets, the governing body of each local government, other than local housing authorities, desiring to receive funding under this section or desiring to make affordable housing projects within its territorial boundaries eligible for funding under this section shall make and file with the division a commitment specifying how, by December 31 of the third year thereafter, the combined number of newly constructed affordable housing units and existing units converted to affordable housing, within its territorial boundaries shall be increased by three percent each year over the baseline number of affordable housing units within its territorial boundaries determined as provided in subsection (1) (c) of this section.
(e) In drafting and enacting commitments under this subsection (1) local governments should prioritize high-density housing, mixed-income housing, and projects consistent with the goal of environmental sustainability, when appropriate, and should prioritize affordable housing in communities in which
low concentrations of affordable housing exist. (2)(a) In order to receive financial assistance under this article, or for affordable housing projects within a municipality, a city and county, or the unincorporated area of a county to be eligible for funding, the local government, other than a local affordable housing authority, must establish processes to enable it to provide a final decision on any application for a special permit, variance, or other development permit, excluding subdivisions, of a development project for which fifty percent or more of the residential units in the development constitute affordable housing not more than ninety calendar days after submission of a complete application, referred to herein as a “fast-track approval process.”
(b) A local government’s fast-track approval process may include an option to extend the review period for an additional ninety days at the request of a developer, for compliance with state law or court order, or for a review period required by another local government or agency, within the local government or outside, for any component of the application requiring that government’s or agency’s approval.
(c) A local government’s fast-track approval process may include extensions to allow for the submission of additional information or revisions to an application in response to requests from the local government. Such extensions shall not exceed the amount of time from the request to the submission of the applicant’s response plus thirty days. Applicants shall provide such additional information or responses promptly and shall, whenever practicable, provide a response within five business days.
(d) Nothing in this subsection (2) shall be interpreted as requiring an affordable housing developer to utilize a fast-track approval process.
(3) (a) Beginning in 2027, to be eligible under this article for direct funding, or for affordable housing projects within a local government’s territorial boundaries to be eligible for funding, local governments, other than local housing authorities, must satisfy both the requirements of subsection (1) of this section to commit to and achieve annual increases in the number of affordable housing units within their territorial boundaries, and the requirements of subsection (2) of this section to implement a system to expedite the development approval process for affordable housing projects.
(b)(I) If a local government makes and files with the division the commitment required by subsection (1) of this section by November 1, 2023, it shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of subsection (1) of this section through December 31, 2026.
(II) If a local government makes and files with the division the commitment required by subsection (1) of this section by November 1, 2026, or by November 1ST of a subsequent year in which the baseline resets, and it met its commitment to increase affordable housing made under subsection (1) of this section for the previous three-year cycle, it shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of subsection (1) of this section through the end of the current three-year cycle.
(III) If a local government, other than a local housing authority, fails to make and file with the
division the commitment required by subsection (1) of this section by November 1, 2023, or by November 1ST of a subsequent year in which the baseline resets, it shall be ineligible to receive financial assistance from the division or administrator during the following calendar year.
appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes. The text of the measure that will appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes below was drafted by the proponents of the initiative. The initiated measure is included on the ballot as a proposed change to current law because the proponents gathered the required amount of petition signatures.
Ballot Title:
share is apportioned according to the percentage that retail marijuana sales tax revenue collected by the department in the unincorporated area of the county bear to total retail marijuana sales tax revenue collected by the department.
(IV) If a local government fails to meet its commitment to increase affordable housing made and filed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section for any three-year cycle, it shall be ineligible to receive financial assistance from the division or administrator during the first calendar year of the next three-year cycle.
the attorney general, and the legal staff for the general assembly for ballot purposes only. The ballot title will not appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes. The text of the measure that will appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes below was drafted by the proponents of the initiative. The initiated measure is included on the ballot as a proposed change to current law because the proponents gathered the required amount of petition signatures.
election in November 2021, may be collected and spent as a voter-approved revenue change.
Ballot Title:
(b)(I.5) On and after July 1, 2018, of the ninety percent of the gross retail marijuana sales tax revenue in the general fund remaining after the allocation to local governments required by subsection (1)(a)(I) of this section is made, andexcluding revenue attributable to the additional tax imposed by section 39-28.8-202(1)(a)(I)(D), the state treasurer shall retain fifteen and fifty-six one-hundredths percent in the general fund for use for any lawful purpose and shall transfer from the general fund:
(V) An ineligible local government may apply for a subsequent year with a new commitment under subsection (1) of this section for the balance of the then-current three-year cycle.
(VI) A developer, whether for-profit or nonprofit, or a local government developing an affordable housing project within the territorial boundaries of a local government that fails to meet the requirements of subsection (1) or (2) of this section shall be ineligible to receive financial assistance from the division or administrator. Notwithstanding this restriction, a project within the territorial boundaries of an eligible municipality shall be eligible for funding even if the county in which the project is located is ineligible.
Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning increasing the number of retail liquor store licenses in which a person may hold an interest, and, in connection therewith, phasing in the increase by allowing up to 8 licenses by December 31, 2026, up to 13 licenses by December 31, 2031, up to 20 licenses by December 31, 2036, and an unlimited number of licenses on or after January 1, 2037?
Text of Measure:
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. DeclarationofPurpose.
(VII) Ineligible local governments and developers of projects in ineligible local government jurisdictions shall not be required to pay back to the division or the administrator money paid to them under this article prior to ineligibility.
(c) On and after January 1, 2022, the state treasurer shall transfer monthly from the general fund to the learning enrichment and academic progress fund created by section 22-86.1-106 all revenue collected by the department attributable to the additional tax imposed by section 39-28.8-202(1)(a)(I)(D).
The ballot title below is a summary drafted by the professional staff of the offices of the secretary of state, the attorney general, and the legal staff for the general assembly for ballot purposes only. The ballot title will not appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes. The text of the measure that will appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes below was drafted by the proponents of the initiative. The initiated measure is included on the ballot as a proposed change to current law because the proponents gathered the required amount of petition signatures.
The People of the State of Colorado find and declare that it is in the interest of Colorado to create a more level playing field for the different business types that sell alcohol for off-premises consumption by allowing an equal number of licenses for drugstores, grocery stores and liquor stores. Creating parity and an orderly expansion for all businesses will foster competition, create jobs, increase selection and consumer choice, and lower costs for Coloradans.
SECTION2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-3-409, amend (4)(b)(III) as follows: 44-3-409.Retailliquorstore license– rules. (4)(b) An owner, part owner, shareholder, or person interested directly or indirectly in a retail liquor store may have an interest in:
Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning the expansion of retail sale of alcohol beverages, and, in connection therewith, establishing a new fermented malt beverage and wine retailer license for off-site consumption to allow grocery stores, convenience stores, and other business establishments licensed to sell fermented malt beverages, such as beer, for off-site consumption to also sell wine; automatically converting such a fermented malt beverage retailer license to the new license; and allowing fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licensees to conduct tastings if approved by the local licensing authority?
Text of Measure:
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1: Declaration
be twenty-nine percent, and beginning on January 1, 2022 the valuation for assessment of all taxable property in the state shall be twenty-six and four-tenths percent of the actual value thereof as determined by the assessor and the administrator in the manner prescribed by law, and such percentage shall be uniformly applied, without exception, to the actual value, so determined, of the various classes and subclasses of real and personal property located within the territorial limits of the authority levying a property tax, and all property taxes shall be levied against the aggregate valuation for assessment resulting from the application of such percentage.This subsection (1) shall not apply to residential real property, producing mines, and lands or leaseholds producing oil or gas.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-1104.2 amend (3)(q) as follows:
The People of the State of Colorado hereby find and declare that Article 4 of Title 44, Colorado Revised Statutes, known as the “Colorado Beer Code”, shall be amended to allow, beginning March 1, 2023, the sale of wine in grocery and convenience stores that are licensed to sell beer.
39-1-104.2. Adjustment of residential ratelegislative declaration - definitions.
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 39-28.8-204 as follows:
39-28.8-204. Revenue and spending limitations. (1) Notwithstanding any limitations on revenue, spending, or appropriations contained in section 20 of article X of the state constitution or any other provision of law, any revenues generated by the retail marijuana sales tax imposed pursuant to this part 2 as approved by the voters at the statewide election in November 2013, may be collected and spent as voter-approved revenue changes and shall not require voter approval subsequent to the voter approval required pursuant to part 4 of this article.
(d) The division shall be responsible for determining compliance with this section. For the purpose of calculating whether a local government has met the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, a new residential housing unit is to be counted at the time it is permitted rather than the time it is constructed. An existing housing unit newly qualifying as affordable housing is to be counted at the time it is permitted and fully funded rather than at the time the conversion is completed. For the purpose of calculating whether a local government has met the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, in addition to affordable housing growth achieved through the programs in this article, any new deed restricted affordable housing, newly constructed or converted to affordable, within a local government’s territorial boundaries shall be counted toward the local government’s growth requirement. Affordable housing growth in another jurisdiction resulting directly from a local government’s funding of such affordable housing in cooperation with another local government shall be attributed to a local government in proportion to the funding provided by the local government to such housing.
(2) Notwithstanding any limitations on revenue, spending, or appropriations contained in section 20 of article X of the state constitution or any other provision of law, any revenues generated by the additional retail marijuana sales tax imposed by section 39-28.8-202(1)(a)(I) (D), as approved by the voters at the statewide
29-32-106.Maintenanceofeffort. For any state fiscal year in which money is appropriated from the fund in accordance with the requirements of this article, any such money appropriated must supplement and shall not supplant the level of general fund and cash fund appropriations for affordable housing programs as of state fiscal year 2022-23
The ballot title below is a summary drafted by the professional staff of the offices of the secretary of state,
(III) For a retail liquor store licensed on or before January 1, 2016, and whose license holder is a Colorado resident, additional retail liquor store licenses as follows, but only if the premises for which a license is sought satisfies the distance requirements specified in subsection (1)(a)(II) of this section:
(A) On or after January 1, 2017, and before January 1, 2022, one additional retail liquor store license, for a maximum of up to two total retail liquor store licenses;
(B) On or after January 1, 2022, and before January 1, 2027, up to two seven additional retail liquor store licenses, for a maximum of three eight total retail liquor store licenses; and
Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning property tax reductions, and, in connection therewith, reducing property tax revenue by an estimated $1.03 billion in 2023 and by comparable amounts thereafter by reducing the residential property tax assessment rate from 7.15% to 6.5% and reducing the property tax assessment rate for all other property, excluding producing mines and lands or leaseholds producing oil or gas, from 29% to 26.4% and allowing the state to annually retain and spend up to $25 million of excess state revenue, if any, for state fiscal years 2022-23 through 2026-27 as a voter-approved revenue change to offset lost revenue resulting from the property tax rate reductions and to reimburse local governments for revenue lost due to the homestead exemptions for qualifying seniors and disabled veterans?
(C) On or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2032, up to three twelve additional retail liquor store licenses, for a maximum of four thirteen total retail liquor store licenses;
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-3-103, add (18.5), (32.5), and (60.5) as follows: 44-3-103.Definitions. As used in this article 3 and article 4 of this title 44, unless the context otherwise requires: (18.5) “Fermented malt beverage and wine retailer” means a retailer licensed under article 4 of this title 44 to sell fermented malt beverages and wine, but not spirituous liquors, in original sealed containers for consumption off the licensed premises.
(3) (q) The ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property is 7.15percent of actual value for property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2019 and 6.5 percent of the actual value for property tax commencing January 1, 2022, until the next property tax year that the general assembly adjusts the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property.
(32.5) “Off-premises retailer” means any retailer licensed under this article 3 or article 4 of this title 44 that is allowed to sell alcohol beverages at retail for consumption off the licensed premises. (60.5) “Wine” means vinous liquors.
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-3-207 add (6) as follows:
39-3-207. Reporting of exemptions— reimbursement to local governmental entities
Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:
(D) On or after January 1, 2032, and before January 1, 2037, up to nineteen additional retail liquor store licenses, for a maximum of twenty total retail liquor store licenses;
(E) On or after January 1, 2037, an unlimited number of additional retail liquor store licenses; or SECTION3.Effectivedate. This measure shall go into effect upon the proclamation of the governor of the state of Colorado.
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-1-104 amend (1) as follows:
(1) Through December 31, 2021 the valuation for assessment of all taxable property in the state shall
Allow Grocery and Convenience Stores to Sell Wine
The ballot title below is a summary drafted by the professional staff of the offices of the secretary of state, the attorney general, and the legal staff for the general assembly for ballot purposes only. The ballot title will not
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-3-301, amend 9(a)(I)(B), (10)(b), 10(c)(I)(A), 10(c)(XII), 10(d), 10(e); and repealandreenact,withamendments, (12) as follows: 44-3-301.Licensingingeneral. (9)(a)(I)(B) The state and local licensing authorities shall not grant permission under this subsection (9)(a)(I) to a fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licensed under section 44-4-107 (1)(a) to move its permanent location if the new location is: Within one thousand five hundred feet of a retail liquor store licensed under section 44-3-409; for a premises located in a municipality with a population of ten thousand or fewer, within three thousand feet of a retail liquor store licensed under section 44-3-409; or, for a premises located in a municipality with a population of ten thousand or fewer that is contiguous to the city and county of Denver, within one thousand five hundred feet of a retail liquor store licensed under section 44-3-409.
(6) for the purpose of off-setting lost revenue resulting from a reduction in property tax and to fund state reimbursements to local government entities for the application of the homestead exemption, in fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2022 through fiscal year ending July 1, 2027, the state shall be authorized to retain and spend up to 25 million per year in revenue for warrants otherwise authorized under this section.
(10)(b) A retail liquor store, or liquor-licensed drugstore, or fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licensee who wishes to conduct tastings may submit an application or application renewal to the local licensing authority. The local licensing authority may reject the application if the applicant fails to establish that he or she is able to conduct tastings without violating the provisions of this section or creating a public safety risk to the neighborhood. A
local licensing authority may establish its own application procedure and may charge a reasonable application fee.
(c) Tastings are subject to the following limitations:
(I) Tastings shall be conducted only:
(A) By a person who: Has completed a server training program that meets the standards established by the liquor enforcement division in the department and is a retail liquor store, or liquor-licensed drugstore, or fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licensee, an employee of a retail liquor store, or liquor-licensed drugstore, or fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licensee, or a representative, employee, or agent of the licensed wholesaler, brew pub, distillery pub, manufacturer, limited winery, importer, or vintner’s restaurant promoting the alcohol beverages for the tasting; and
(XII) No manufacturer of spirituous or vinous liquors shall induce a licensee through free goods or financial or in-kind assistance to favor the manufacturer’s products being sampled at a tasting. The retail liquor store, or liquor-licensed drugstore, or fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licensee bears the financial and all other responsibility for a tasting conducted on its licensed premises.
(d) A violation of a limitation specified in this subsection (10) by a retail liquor store, or liquor-licensed drugstore, or fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licensee, whether by the licensee’s employees, agents, or otherwise or by a representative, employee, or agent of the licensed wholesaler, brew pub, distillery pub, manufacturer, limited winery, importer, or vintner’s restaurant that promoted the alcohol beverages for the tasting, is the responsibility of, and section 44-3-801 applies to, the retail liquor store, or liquor-licensed drugstore, or fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licensee that conducted the tasting.
(e) A retail liquor store, or liquor-licensed drugstore, or fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licensee conducting a tasting shall be subject to the same revocation, suspension, and enforcement provisions as otherwise apply to the licensee.
(12)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article 3, on and after July 1, 2016, the state and local licensing authorities shall not issue a new license under this article 3 authorizing the sale at retail of malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors in sealed containers for consumption off the licensed premises if the premises for which the retail license is sought is located:
(I) Within one thousand five hundred feet of another licensed premises licensed to sell malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors at retail for off-premises consumption;
(II) For a premises located in a municipality with a population of ten thousand or fewer, within three thousand feet of another licensed premises licensed to sell malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors at retail for off-premises consumption; or
(III) For a premises located in a municipality with a population of ten thousand or fewer that is contiguous to the city and county of Denver, within one thousand five hundred feet of another licensed premises licensed to sell malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors at retail for off-premises consumption.
(a.5)(I) Notwithstanding any other provision of subsection 12(a) of this section, on and after March 1, 2023, the state and local licensing authorities shall not issue a new fermented malt beverage and wine retailer’s license under article 4 of this title 44 authorizing the sale at retail of fermented
malt beverages and wine in sealed containers for consumption off the licensed premises if the premises for which the retail license is sought is located within five hundred feet of a retail liquor store licensed under section 44-3-409.
(II) This subsection (12)(a.5) does not apply to a person that owns or leases a proposed fermented malt beverage retailer licensed premises and, as of January 1, 2019, has applied for or received from the municipality, city and county, or county in which the premises are located:
(A) A building permit for the structure to be used for the fermented malt beverage retailer licensed premises, which permit is currently active and will not expire before the completion of the liquor licensing process; or
(B) A certificate of occupancy for the structure to be used for the fermented malt beverage retailer licensed premises.
(b) For purposes of subsection (12)(a) of this section, a license under this article 3 authorizing the sale at retail of malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors in sealed containers for consumption off the licensed premises includes a license under this article 3 authorizing the sale of malt and vinous liquors in sealed containers not to be consumed at the place where the malt and vinous liquors are sold.
(c)(I) For purposes of determining whether the distance requirements specified in subsections (12)(a) and (12)(a.5) of this section are satisfied, the distance shall be determined by a radius measurement that begins at the principal doorway of the premises for which the application is made and ends at the principal doorway of the other retail licensed premises
(II) This subsection (12) does not apply to the conversion of a license under section 44-4-107(1)(a) (II).
(III) Notwithstanding any other provision of subsection (12)(a) of this section, the state and local licensing authorities shall not issue a new retail liquor store license under article 3 of this title 44 authorizing the sale at retail of malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors in sealed containers for consumption off the licensed premises if the premises for which the retail license is sought is located within five hundred feet of a fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licensed under section 44-4-107.
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-3-313, amend (1)(e)(I), (1)(e)(II), (1)(e)(IV), and (1)(e)(V) as follows: 44-3-313.Restrictionsforapplicationsfornewlicense. (1) An application for the issuance of any license specified in section 44-3-309 (1) or 44-4-107 (1) shall not be received or acted upon:
(e)(I) If the building in which the fermented malt beverages and wine are to be sold pursuant to a license under section 44-4-107 (1)(a) is located within five hundred feet of any public or parochial school or the principal campus of any college, university, or seminary; except that this subsection (1)(e)(I) does not apply to:
(A) Licensed premises located or to be located on land owned by a municipality;
(B) An existing licensed premises on land owned by the state;
(C) A fermented malt beverage and wine retailer that held a valid license and was actively doing business before the
principal campus was constructed;
(D) A club located within the principal campus of any college, university, or seminary that limits its membership to the faculty or staff of the institution; or
(E) A campus liquor complex.
(II) The distances referred to in subsection (1)(e)(I) of this section are to be computed by direct measurement from the nearest property line of the land used for school purposes to the nearest portion of the building in which fermented malt beverages and wine are to be sold, using a route of direct pedestrian access.
(IV) In addition to the requirements of section 44-3-312 (2), the local licensing authority shall consider the evidence and make a specific finding of fact as to whether the building in which the fermented malt beverages and wine are to be sold is located within any distance restriction established by or pursuant to this subsection (1)(e). The finding is subject to judicial review pursuant to section 44-3-802.
(V) This subsection (1)(e) applies to:
(A) Applications for new fermented malt beverage and wine retailer’s licenses under section 44-4-107 (1)(a) submitted on or after June 4, 2018 March 1, 2023; and
(B) Applications submitted on or after June 4, 2018 March 1, 2023, under section 44-3-301 (9) by fermented malt beverage and wine retailers licensed under section 44-4-107 (1)(a) to change the permanent location of the fermented malt beverage and wine retailer’s licensed premises.
SECTION
5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-3-901, amend (1)(g), (1)(i)(III), (6)(i)(II), (6)(k)(I), (6)(k)(II)(B), (6)(k)(IV), (6) (k)(V), and (6)(p)(III), and (8)(b) as follows: 44-3-901.Unlawfulacts-exceptions-definitions. (1) Except as provided in section 18-13-122, it is unlawful for any person: (g) To sell at retail any malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors in sealed containers without holding a retail liquor store or liquor-licensed drugstore license, except as permitted by section 44-3-107 (2) or 44-3-301 (6)(b) or any other provision of this article 3, or to sell at retail any fermented malt beverages in sealed containers without holding a fermented malt beverage retailer’s license under section 44-4-104 (1)(c) or to sell at retail any fermented malt beverages and wine in sealed containers without holding a fermented malt beverage and wine retailer’s license under section 44-4-107 (1)(a). (i)(III)(A) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(i)(I) of this section, it shall not be unlawful for adult patrons of a retail liquor store or liquor-licensed drugstore licensee to consume malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors on the licensed premises when the consumption is conducted within the limitations of the licensee’s license and is part of a tasting if authorization for the tasting has been granted pursuant to section 44-3-301. (i)(III)(B) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(i)(I) of this section, it shall not be unlawful for adult patrons of a fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licensee to consume malt or vinous liquors on the licensed premises when the consumption is conducted within the limitations of the licensee’s license and is part of a tasting if authorization for the tasting has been granted pursuant to section 44-3-301. (6) It is unlawful for any person licensed to sell at retail pursuant to this article 3 or article 4 of this title 44: (i)(II) Notwithstanding subsection (6)(i)(I) of this section, it shall not be unlawful for a retail liquor store, liquor-licensed drugstore, or fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licensee to allow tastings to be conducted on his or her licensed premises if authorization for the tastings has
this article 4 and does not affect:
(A) Any prior discipline, limitation, or condition imposed by the state licensing authority on a licensee;
(B) The deadline for renewal of a license; or
(C) Any pending or future investigation or administrative proceeding.
SECTION 10. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-4-105, amend (1)(a)(I)(A) as follows: 44-4-105.Feesandtaxes-allocation. (1)(a)(I)(A) Applications for new fermented malt beverage and new fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licenses pursuant to section 44-3-301 and rules thereunder;
SECTION 11. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-4-106, amend (1) introductory portion, (1)(a), and (1)(b) as follows: 44-4-106.Lawfulacts. (1)It is lawful for a person under eighteen years of age who is under the supervision of a person on the premises eighteen years of age or older to be employed in a place of business where fermented malt beverages or wine are sold at retail in containers for offpremises consumption. During the normal course of such employment, any person under twenty-one years of age may handle and otherwise act with respect to fermented malt beverages or wine in the same manner as that person does with other items sold at retail; except that:
(a) A person under eighteen years of age shall not sell or dispense fermented malt beverages or wine, check age identification, or make deliveries beyond the customary parking area for the customers of the retail outlet; and (b) A person who is under twenty-one years of age shall not deliver fermented malt beverages or wine in sealed containers to customers under section 44-4-107 (6).
SECTION 12. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-4-107, amend (1) introductory portion, (1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(c)(I), (4), (5), and (6); and add (1)(a)(II), and (7) as follows: 44-4-107.Locallicensingauthority-application–fees–definition –rules. (1) The local licensing authority shall issue only the following classes of fermented malt beverage licenses:
(a)(I) Sales of fermented malt beverages and wine for consumption off the premises of the licensee;
(II) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a license issued by the local and state licensing authorities under this subsection (1)(a) of this section in effect on March 1, 2023, shall immediately convert from a license to sell fermented malt beverage for consumption off the premises to a fermented malt beverages and wine retailer license, on March 1, 2023, without any further action by the state or local licensing authority or the licensee.
(b) Sales of fermented malt beverages for consumption on the premises of the licensee;
(c)(I) Subject to subsections (1)(c)(II) and (1)(c)(III) of this section, sales of fermented malt beverages for consumption both on and off the premises of the licensee.
(4) On or after January 1, 2019 March 1, 2023, a fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licensed under subsection (1)(a) of this section:
(a)(I) Shall not sell fermented malt beverages or wine to consumers at a price that is below the retailer’s cost, as listed on the invoice, to purchase the fermented malt beverages or wine, unless the sale is of discontinued or close-out fermented malt beverages or wine.
(II) This subsection (4)(a) does not prohibit a fermented malt beverage and wine retailer from operating a bona fide loyalty or rewards program for fermented malt beverages
or wine so long as the price for the product is not below the retailer’s costs as listed on the invoice. The state licensing authority may adopt rules to implement this subsection (4) (a).
(b) Shall not allow consumers to purchase fermented malt beverages or wine at a self-checkout or other mechanism that allows the consumer to complete the fermented malt beverages or wine purchase without assistance from and completion of the entire transaction by an employee of the fermented malt beverage and wine retailer.
(5) A person licensed under subsection (1)(a) of this section that holds multiple fermented malt beverage and wine retailer’s licenses for multiple licensed premises may operate under a single or consolidated corporate entity but shall not commingle purchases of or credit extensions for purchases of alcohol beverage product from a wholesaler licensed under article 3 of this title 44 for more than one licensed premises. A wholesaler licensed under article 3 of this title 44 shall not base the price for the alcohol beverage product it sells to a fermented malt beverage and wine retailer licensed under subsection (1)(a) of this section on the total volume of alcohol beverage product that the retailer purchases for multiple licensed premises.
(6)(a) A person licensed under subsection (1)(a) of this section who complies with this subsection (6) and rules promulgated under this subsection (6) may deliver fermented malt beverages and wine in sealed containers to a person of legal age if:
(I) The person receiving the delivery of fermented malt beverages or wine is located at a place that is not licensed pursuant to this section;
(II) The delivery is made by an employee of the fermented malt beverage and wine retailer who is at least twenty-one years of age and who is using a vehicle owned or leased by the licensee to make the delivery;
(III) The person making the delivery verifies, in accordance with section 44-3-901 (11), that the person receiving the delivery of fermented malt beverages or wine is at least twenty-one years of age; and
(IV) The fermented malt beverage and wine retailer derives no more than fifty percent of its gross annual revenues from total sales of fermented malt beverages from the sale of fermented malt beverages and wine that the fermented malt beverage and wine retailer delivers.
(b) The state licensing authority shall promulgate rules as necessary for the proper delivery of fermented malt beverages pursuant to this subsection (6) and may issue a permit to any person who is licensed pursuant to and delivers fermented malt beverages or wine under subsection (1)(a) of this section. A permit issued under this subsection (6) is subject to the same suspension and revocation provisions as are set forth in section 44-3-601 for other licenses granted pursuant to article 3 of this title 44. (7) a fermented malt beverage and wine retailer may allow tastings of fermented malt beverages or wine to be conducted on the licensed premises if the licensee has received authorization to conduct tastings pursuant to section 44-3-301.
SECTION 13. Effective date:
This act takes effect on March 1, 2023.
The ballot title below is a summary drafted by the professional staff of the offices of the secretary of state, the attorney general, and the legal staff for the general assembly for ballot purposes only. The ballot title will not appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes. The text of the
measure that will appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes below was drafted by the proponents of the initiative. The initiated measure is included on the ballot as a proposed change to current law because the proponents gathered the required amount of petition signatures.
Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning authorization for the third-party delivery of alcohol beverages, and, in connection therewith, allowing retail establishments licensed to sell alcohol beverages for on-site or off-site consumption to deliver all types of alcohol beverages to a person twenty-one years of age or older through a third-party delivery service that obtains a delivery service permit; prohibiting the delivery of alcohol beverages to a person who is under 21 years of age, is intoxicated, or fails to provide proof of identification; removing the limit on the percentage of gross sales revenues a licensee may receive from alcohol beverage deliveries; and allowing a technology services company, without obtaining a thirdparty delivery service permit, to provide software or a digital network application that connects consumers and licensed retailers for the delivery of alcohol beverages?
Text of Measure:
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1: Declaration
The People of the State of Colorado hereby find and declare that Article 3 of Title 44, Colorado Revised Statutes, known as the “Colorado Liquor Code,” shall be amended to permit, beginning March 1, 2023, the home delivery of alcohol sales made by licensed retailers through third-party home delivery service providers.
SECTION 2: In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 44-3-911.5 as follows: 44-3-911.5Third-partydeliveryofalcoholbeverages.
(1) Notwithstanding any law or rule to the contrary, a delivery service permittee, or an employee or independent contractor of a delivery service permittee in compliance with the provisions of this article 3 or article 4 of this title 44, may transport and deliver alcohol beverages from an off-premises retailer licensed pursuant to this article 3 or article 4 of this title 44, or from a retailer licensee licensed for on premises consumption pursuant to this article 3, to a person in the state who is at least twenty-one years of age. The holder of a license listed in this subsection (1) must apply for and to hold a delivery service permit as a privilege separate from its existing license in order to use independent contractors for delivery. An off-premises retailer licensed pursuant to this article 3 or article 4 of this title 44 is not required to obtain a delivery service permit if the delivery is made by an employee of the licensee who is at least twenty-one years of age and who is using a vehicle owned or leased by the licensee to make the delivery. A retailer licensee licensed for on premises consumption pursuant to this article 3 is not required to obtain a delivery service permit if the delivery is made by an employee of the licensee who is at least twenty-one years of age in accordance with the provisions of section 44-3-911.
(2) Any individual, limited liability company, corporation, or partnership that is registered to do business in this state, regardless of the residency or domicile of the individual, entity, or owners of the entity, may apply to the state licensing authority for and be issued a delivery service permit that authorizes the permittee to deliver alcohol
beverages from a licensee permitted for delivery by section (1) of this section, to a person in the state who is at least twenty-one years of age.
(3) In order to receive a delivery service permit, an applicant shall:
to this article 3, or article 4 or article 5 of this title 44.
(i) Shall be deemed to have consented to the jurisdiction of the state licensing authority or any law enforcement agency and the Colorado courts concerning enforcement of this section and any related laws or rules.
SECTION 4: In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-3-410, repeal (3)(a)(II) and (3)(a)(IV) as follows: 44-3-410.Liquor-licenseddrugstorelicense-multiplelicenses permitted-requirements-rules.
share is apportioned according to the percentage that retail marijuana sales tax revenue collected by the department in the unincorporated area of the county bear to total retail marijuana sales tax revenue collected by the department.
(a) Provide to the state licensing authority a sample contract that the applicant intends to enter into with a licensee listed in subsection (1) of this section for the delivery of alcohol beverages. Compliance with this subsection (3)(a) shall not be required in the event a licensee listed in subsection (1) of this section, or an entity under common ownership with such licensee, is the applicant for the delivery service permit.
election in November 2021, may be collected and spent as a voter-approved revenue change.
(5) A delivery service permittee may renew its permit with the state licensing authority by maintaining all qualifications and paying annually a renewal fee established by the state licensing authority.
(3)(a) A liquor-licensed drugstore licensee who complies with this subsection (3) and rules promulgated pursuant to this subsection (3) may deliver malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors to a person of legal age if:
(b) Submit to the state licensing authority an outline of an internal or external certification program for delivery service personnel or contractors that addresses topics such as identifying underage persons, intoxicated persons, and fake or altered identification; and
(c) Submit proof of a general liability insurance policy in an amount no less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence.
(4) A delivery service permittee:
(b)(I.5) On and after July 1, 2018, of the ninety percent of the gross retail marijuana sales tax revenue in the general fund remaining after the allocation to local governments required by subsection (1)(a)(I) of this section is made, andexcluding revenue attributable to the additional tax imposed by section 39-28.8-202(1)(a)(I)(D), the state treasurer shall retain fifteen and fifty-six one-hundredths percent in the general fund for use for any lawful purpose and shall transfer from the general fund:
(a) May, through its employees or independent contractors, deliver alcohol beverages for any off-premises retailer permitted for delivery by subsection (1) of this section, for the purpose of delivering alcohol beverages.
(c) On and after January 1, 2022, the state treasurer shall transfer monthly from the general fund to the learning enrichment and academic progress fund created by section 22-86.1-106 all revenue collected by the department attributable to the additional tax imposed by section 39-28.8-202(1)(a)(I)(D).
(b) May, through its employees or independent contractors, deliver alcohol beverages for any licensee licensed for on premises consumption pursuant to this article 3, which may include alcohol beverages by the drink. Such deliveries shall be made in accordance with the provisions of section 44-3911, except for subsection 44-3-911(3)(d).
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 39-28.8-204 as follows:
(c) May use its own employees or independent contractors who are at least twenty-one years of age to deliver such alcohol beverages, if all delivery agents complete a certification program that meets the standards established by the state licensing authority.
(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a technology services company to obtain a delivery service permit for providing software or a digital network application that connects consumers and licensed retailers for the delivery of alcohol beverages from the licensed retailer by employees or other delivery service providers of the licensed retailer. However, the act of connecting consumers to licensed retailers shall serve to grant jurisdiction to the state of Colorado.
The ballot title below is a summary drafted by the professional staff of the offices of the secretary of state, the attorney general, and the legal staff for the general assembly for ballot purposes only. The ballot title will not appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes. The text of the measure that will appear in the Colorado Revised Statutes below was drafted by the proponents of the initiative. The initiated measure is included on the ballot as a proposed change to current law because the proponents gathered the required amount of petition signatures.
(7) There shall be no limit to the percentage of a licensee’s gross annual revenues from total sales of alcohol beverages that the licensee may derive from alcohol beverage deliveries.
(8) The state licensing authority may enforce the requirements of this section by the same administrative proceedings that apply to alcohol beverage licenses or permits, including without limitation any disciplinary action applicable to the selling licensee, or the delivery service permittee resulting from any unlawful sale to a minor.
Ballot Title:
(d) May facilitate orders by telephone, Internet, or by other electronic means for the sale and delivery of alcohol beverages under this section. The full amount of each order shall be handled in a manner that gives the licensee control over the ultimate receipt of the payment from the consumer.
(e) May deliver alcohol beverages any time during which the licensee is lawfully allowed to sell alcohol beverages.
39-28.8-204. Revenue and spending limitations. (1) Notwithstanding any limitations on revenue, spending, or appropriations contained in section 20 of article X of the state constitution or any other provision of law, any revenues generated by the retail marijuana sales tax imposed pursuant to this part 2 as approved by the voters at the statewide election in November 2013, may be collected and spent as voter-approved revenue changes and shall not require voter approval subsequent to the voter approval required pursuant to part 4 of this article.
(f) Shall verify, at the time of delivery, in accordance with subsection 44-3-901(11), that the person receiving the delivery of malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors is at least twenty-one years of age.
(g) Shall refuse to deliver alcohol beverages if the recipient is under twenty-one years of age, appears intoxicated, or fails to provide proof of identification
(h) May not deliver to any location licensed pursuant
(2) Notwithstanding any limitations on revenue, spending, or appropriations contained in section 20 of article X of the state constitution or any other provision of law, any revenues generated by the additional retail marijuana sales tax imposed by section 39-28.8-202(1)(a)(I) (D), as approved by the voters at the statewide
(9) The state licensing authority may enforce the requirements of this section against the selling licensee, delivery service permittee, and any employee or independent contractor of the delivery service permittee, irrespective of the status of any delivery service personnel as an independent contractor or employee. For the licensee’s license to be subject to disciplinary action for a violation of alcohol law during delivery, the licensee must either be the delivery permittee or the delivery must be made by an employee of the licensee.
(10) The state licensing authority shall promulgate rules as necessary for the proper delivery of alcohol beverages as permitted by this section.
SECTION 3: In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-3-409, repeal (3)(a)(II) and (3)(a)(IV) as follows: 44-3-409.Retailliquorstorelicense-rules.
Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning property tax reductions, and, in connection therewith, reducing property tax revenue by an estimated $1.03 billion in 2023 and by comparable amounts thereafter by reducing the residential property tax assessment rate from 7.15% to 6.5% and reducing the property tax assessment rate for all other property, excluding producing mines and lands or leaseholds producing oil or gas, from 29% to 26.4% and allowing the state to annually retain and spend up to $25 million of excess state revenue, if any, for state fiscal years 2022-23 through 2026-27 as a voter-approved revenue change to offset lost revenue resulting from the property tax rate reductions and to reimburse local governments for revenue lost due to the homestead exemptions for qualifying seniors and disabled veterans?
Text of Measure:
Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-1-104 amend (1) as follows:
(1) Through December 31, 2021 the valuation for assessment of all taxable property in the state shall
(3)(a) A person licensed to sell at retail who complies with this subsection (3) and rules promulgated pursuant to this subsection (3) may deliver malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors to a person of legal age if: (3)(a)(II) The delivery is made by an employee of the licensed retail liquor store who is at least twenty-one years of age and who is using a vehicle owned or leased by the licensee to make the delivery; (3)(a)(IV) The retail liquor store derives no more than fifty percent of its gross annual revenues from total sales of malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors from the sale of malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors that the retail liquor store delivers.
(3)(a)(II) The delivery is made by an employee of the liquorlicensed drugstore who is at least twenty-one years of age and who is using a vehicle owned or leased by the licensee to make the delivery;
(3)(a)(IV) The liquor-licensed drugstore derives no more than fifty percent of its gross annual revenues from total sales of malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors from the sale of malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors that the liquor-licensed drugstore delivers.
SECTION 5: In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-3-911, repeal (2)(c), (3)(b), and (7) as follows: 44-3-911.Takeoutanddeliveryofalcoholbeverages-permit-onpremisesconsumptionlicenses-requirementsandlimitationsrules-definition-repeal.
be twenty-nine percent, and beginning on January 1, 2022 the valuation for assessment of all taxable property in the state shall be twenty-six and four-tenths percent of the actual value thereof as determined by the assessor and the administrator in the manner prescribed by law, and such percentage shall be uniformly applied, without exception, to the actual value, so determined, of the various classes and subclasses of real and personal property located within the territorial limits of the authority levying a property tax, and all property taxes shall be levied against the aggregate valuation for assessment resulting from the application of such percentage.This subsection (1) shall not apply to residential real property, producing mines, and lands or leaseholds producing oil or gas.
(2) To sell and deliver an alcohol beverage or to allow a customer to remove an alcohol beverage from the licensed premises as either is authorized under subsection (1) of this section, the licensee must:
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-1104.2 amend (3)(q) as follows:
39-1-104.2. Adjustment of residential ratelegislative declaration - definitions.
(c) Derive no more than fifty percent of its gross annual revenues from total sales of food and alcohol beverages from the sale of alcohol beverages through takeout orders and that the licensee delivers; except that:
(I) This subsection (2)(c) does not apply if the governor has declared a disaster emergency under part 7 of article 33.5 of title 24; or
(II) This subsection (2)(c) does not apply to a sales room at a premises licensed under section 44-3-402 or 44-3-407; and (3)(b) Be an employee of the licensee who is twenty-one years of age or older;
(7) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2025.
(3) (q) The ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property is 7.15percent of actual value for property tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2019 and 6.5 percent of the actual value for property tax commencing January 1, 2022, until the next property tax year that the general assembly adjusts the ratio of valuation for assessment for residential real property.
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-3-207 add (6) as follows:
SECTION 6: In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-4-107 repeal (6) (a)(II) and (IV) as follows: 44-4-107.Locallicensingauthority-application-fees-definitions - rules.
39-3-207. Reporting of exemptions— reimbursement to local governmental entities
(6)(a) A person licensed under subsection (1)(a) of this section who complies with this subsection (6) and rules promulgated under this subsection (6) may deliver fermented malt beverages in sealed containers to a person of legal age if:
(II) The delivery is made by an employee of the fermented malt beverage retailer who is at least twenty-one years of age and who is using a vehicle owned or leased by the licensee to make the delivery;
(IV) The fermented malt beverage retailer derives no more than fifty percent of its gross annual revenues from total sales of fermented malt beverages from the sale of fermented malt beverages that the fermented malt beverage retailer delivers.
(6) for the purpose of off-setting lost revenue resulting from a reduction in property tax and to fund state reimbursements to local government entities for the application of the homestead exemption, in fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2022 through fiscal year ending July 1, 2027, the state shall be authorized to retain and spend up to 25 million per year in revenue for warrants otherwise authorized under this section.
SECTION 7. Effective date. This act takes effect March 1, 2023.
BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The new mountain bike track at Evergreen High School is a dream come true for coach Andrew Speers.
It’s an awesome place to ride, according to riders of the 70-member mountain bike team that just won the Division 1 regional championship.
“This is a safe, close place for us to practice,” said Speers of the .7-mile track that runs on the southwest part of the school property, west of the Wulf Recreation Center’s tennis courts and around the skateboard park. “It’s an easy place for new riders to practice and have all the skills in one place.”
Plus, he noted, it gets team members riding their bikes on the track rather than riding through the parking lot before heading to parks like Alderfer/3 Sisters Open Space Park to ride.
The team, Jeffco Public Schools officials, the Colorado Mountain Bike Association known as COMBA and the Evergreen Park & Recreation District all had a hand in bringing the track to fruition.
Speers reached out to COMBA, which decided the project was a
good one, and COMBA designed the trail and brought the equipment to cut the track. Team members and their parents spent a day adding features and preparing the track for
the first day of riding.
‘It’s a big community project, and we got something on the ground for those kids,” Gil McCormick, COMBA’s trails director, said. “It’s a great
place for kids to meet, to practice their starts and finishes. We built it in a way that it gives a lot of variety
of terrain features that you would find in an open space park or in the mountains. It’s a really good practice course for them.”
McCormick believes this is the first time COMBA has built a moun-
tain bike track at a high school.
On Oct. 4, the first day the track was open, sophomore Emma Magnuson said she was happy her teammates pitched in to finish building the track. She’s been mountain biking since she was 10, and she figured the track needed about a week of riding to be broken in.
Evergreen junior Justin Freeman said it was cool to have a track next
to the school. He’s been biking all his life and has been on the team since his freshman year.
The track has a pump-track area, jumps, drops, tight turns — everything to keep it interesting for the riders.
Speers, COMBA and EPRD have their sights set on expanding the track, hoping to talk with Denver Mountain Parks, which owns Cub
Creek Park south of the rec center property to see if some of that land could be used for a track.
Speers envisions great things for the track, hoping to have some scrimmages with teams from other schools — all to ride mountain bikes and further the sport.
BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With some Jeffco residents asking for more time and others press ing for greater speed, the Board of County Commissioners approved 2-1 on Oct. 11 an amendment to the county’s wildfire mitigation regula tions.
These new updates, which take effect immediately, bring Jeffco’s regulations more in line with state, federal and international standards, staff said.
According to Heather Gutherless, a planning supervisor, the new requirements include restricting landscaping within 10 feet of power poles, adding language that requires mulch be comprised of nonflamma ble materials, and requiring certain defensible space standards around driveways.
The first two would only apply to new development that has a land scaping plan as part of the platting or final development-plan process. The standards for driveways would be part of the defensible-space per mitting process.
This is the second of at least three updates to the county’s wildfire miti gation regulations. Gutherless said the first update in January changed requirements for defensible-space permits.
Previously, they were only re quired for new residences or ad
ditions of habitable space on an existing residence. In January, the county approved requiring a defen sible space permit for any build ing permit in the county’s wildfire overlay district.
This only applies to exterior proj ects, such as building a new deck or adding a garage that require build ing permits. It doesn’t apply to inte rior projects like kitchen remodels or basement finishes.
By expanding the defensible-space requirements to apply to existing buildings undergoing construction, Jeffco planner Cassidy Clements told the commissioners on Oct. 4, “It’s our way of capturing defensi ble-space standards on properties that haven’t been keeping up over the years.”
The defensible-space permit is re quired for applicable projects within
the county’s wildfire overlay dis trict, which is generally considered the western section of Jeffco that exceeds 6,400 feet in elevation.
While staff members told the com missioners that the referral process was extensive, involving conversa tions with stakeholders since at least June, Golden Gate Fire Protec tion District residents said there’d been a breakdown in communica tion, and they’d felt excluded from the feedback process.
Steve Green, a GGFPD board member, explained how the dis trict’s former fire chief was involved in the referral process and stake holder meetings with Jeffco. Howev er, the former fire chief didn’t relay
any information to board members or residents about it, Green said, and that was partly why he was dismissed earlier this fall.
The updated regulations first came before the commissioners on Oct. 4, but they opted to continue the public hearing a week after hearing about Golden Gate’s situation.
Green and Golden Gate Canyon Road’s Julie Ramstetter said they generally supported the regulations, but had questions and concerns they wanted to address before they were approved.
Green clarified after the meeting he believed there are unique considerations for Golden Gate and how the regulations would apply to those properties. In Golden Gate, he said, it’s a rural area where residences are on wells and have long, steep driveways.
Green asked on Oct. 11 that the commissioners continue the discussion for another few months so GGFPD residents could assemble and review the documents.
“We’re going through a lot of
changes in (the district) — we have our hands full,” Green continued. “… I think I could meet with the community, read the suggestions and have (our input) back by March. That’s before fire season.”
However, other Jeffco residents didn’t want the commissioners to delay the decision any further.
Four people from the Evergreen and Genesee areas, including two firefighters from Evergreen Fire/ Rescue, stated how the fire season is practically year-round now. The firefighters stressed the importance of creating defensible space, saying crews must be able to reach a structure quickly and safely, and have ample space to defend it.
Commissioner Tracy Kraft-Tharp explained how she’d been emailing Green and other GGFPD residents over the previous two weeks and felt the situation was “a real dilemma.”
“The least we should do is give people the opportunity to convey their own feedback,” she said. “… That didn’t happen with this community.”
She recommended Green connect with members of the Jeffco Wildfire Commission, so they could help GGFPD residents go over the updated regulations.
While Kraft-Tharp voted against approving the updated regulations on Oct. 11, Commissioners Lesley Dahlkemper and Andy Kerr opted to approve the updated language without further delay.
“It’s very clear that fire season is
year-round,” Dahlkemper said. “… The tone that I heard was a sense of urgency.”
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School isn’t only about reading, writing and arithmetic.
At Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen, every school day for the middle school is also about the electives — everything from Adulting 101 to juggling, grilling, film studies, creative writing, origami, trail running and more.
At the beginning of the school year, teachers determine the electives they want to teach and the RMAE middle schoolers rank their choices. Each day, students attend a different elective. Most electives run for a quarter of the school year, though some are year-long.
Teachers like offering elective classes that are different than the
curriculum to give students fun choices.
Sixth grade teacher Nicole Kruse teaches Adulting 101, explaining everything from ironing and doing laundry to writing checks and addressing envelopes to money matters such as budgeting.
Recently, Kruse taught ironing, bringing in her own clothes for students to practice on. She explained to her class that they needed to read the label on each piece of clothing to get washing, drying and ironing instructions.
She showed them how to put water into an iron, select a temperature setting based on the kind of material and how to move the iron on the material to keep from scorching.
During Día de los Muertos, Oscar Padilla honors his grandmother Gloria.
“She showed me the basics to celebrate and incorporate all these components and food to receive and welcome our family after they pass away,” said Padilla.
Padilla is originally from Los Angeles, California, but said at one point in his life he went to live with his grandmother in Mexico City. “This changed my life,” he said. “It gave me the opportunity to discover my blood, my family in Mexico and all the traditions they have at that amazing country.”
Padilla is now the executive chef at Toro, a Cherry Creek restaurant that features a ceviche bar, small plates and family-style entrees. Toro shares authentic Latin ingredients, international flavors and artful dishes.
While in Mexico, Padilla was first introduced to a career in the kitchen. His first teacher? Gloria.
“She showed me the traditional techniques to make molcajete salsa, moles — traditional dishes to celebrate the specific parties or traditions that Mexico has,” he explained.
Those recipes, Padilla said, have
been passed down in his family from generation to generation. “These traditions are to celebrate them but it’s also to celebrate us too,” added Padilla.
Prior to his role as executive chef at Toro, Padilla was a culinary trainer for Richard Sandoval
Hospitability. He helped open more than 15 new restaurants in the United States, Dubai, Qatar, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Padilla also has a passion for training aspiring chefs, never forgetting his Mexican roots and traditions.
“A lot of people are so scared of
death,” he said, “but in Mexico, we celebrate with the dead. It’s to celebrate and share and be happy because at some point you are in communion again. You remember your family and you’re there on that
Día de los Muertos is celebrated November 1-2 every year primarily in Mexico, but also by others around the world including some in the United States. The holiday is rooted in Aztec culture, where the dead are the guests of honor. The ceremony is like a family reunion that helps people remember the deceased and celebrate their memory.
Through the years, people have developed different combinations of the fundamental traditions, which most often include setting up a candlelit altar so spirits can find their way back to their relatives. The altar includes food and items that were important to the one who passed. Families then often gather in the graveyard for a big party that includes a huge feast, cleaning the tombstones, singing songs and talking to their ancestors.
“It’s something we need to respect, and we want to share it not only with the people in Mexico, but we want to share it with everybody around the world,” said Padilla.
This story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonprofit public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online. Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs.org.
Eighth-grader Hannah Flanagan said she liked taking the Adulting 101 class because it makes students worry less about becoming adults since they learn some concepts early.
“We’re getting (this) in our brains at an early age,” she said.
In the robotics elective, it was controlled chaos as students worked individually or in small groups to create. Teacher Sev Gutierrez explained that he assesses students’ robotics knowledge and then lets them get to work. It’s a chance to use STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — principles
in creative ways.
For the students, it’s a chance to build robots.
The students in the Student Council elective were busy creating trees and other props for their “Alice in Wonderland” themed Haunted Hall activity. It is one of several activities throughout the year, and having a Student Council elective allows them to work together during the
school day.
Student Council adviser Katrina Glaser likes that teachers can show their interests to students, and students learn different activities and skills. Glaser is offering a knitting and crocheting elective, for example.
“This is what makes RMAE unique,” Kruse said of the electives.
“The Old Man and the Old Moon”: Evergreen Players presents “The Old Man and the Old Moon” Oct. 21-Nov. 13 at Center Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen. Shows will be at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for students, and are available by calling 720-515-1528 or online at www. evergreenplayers.org.
Goldilocks and the Little Bear: The annual goldilocks and the Little Bear to benefit local libraries will be from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Little Bear Saloon in downtown Evergreen. Costumes are optional. Contact Marie Lynch at 303-250-3133 for more information or to make a donation.
Hiwan Halloween: Hiwan Halloween will be from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at the Hiwan Museum, 28473 Meadow Drive. Kids can participate in crafts, game and activities, and get sweet treats. The event is mostly outdoors, costumes are encouraged and a pet costume parade is planned.
an Rec Center ball fields. Register at getmeregistered.com/EAPLZombieRun5k.
Two shows at Shadow Mountain Gallery: Shadow Mountain Gallery will host both its Holiday Treasures and Winter Poetry shows in November and December. Holiday Treasures will showcase paintings, photography, ceramics, glass art, jewelry and more gifts. Winter Poetry will showcase snow-covered peaks, winter wildlife and home décor. The gallery, which is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, is in downtown Evergreen near Java Groove.
Informational meeting on local community radio: For those who have an interest in community podcasting, local content production and community radio management, Conifer Radio is sponsoring a free information meeting at Conifer High School’s public library meeting room from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1. Register online by visiting www. ConiferRadio.com/contact/ or by sending an email to ConiferRadio@ gmail.com. A tour of the radio station Studio 308 is planned following this informational session. For more information, call 720-634-6995.
green Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Sparkle and Shine awards gala will be from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Evergreen Lake House. For more information and tickets, visit evergreenchamber.org.
Collection for Soldier Bags: TallGrass Spa and Salon is collecting toiletries to put into bags to distribute to homeless veterans. Items needed include wet wipes, hand sanitizer, bars of soap, face masks, combs, razors, and small tubes of shaving cream. Donors are encouraged to include notes of appreciation to thank veterans for their service. Drop off donations by Nov. 10 at TallGrass, 997 Upper Bear Creek Road, or Wild Game Entertainment, 1204 Bergen Parkway. For more information, contact TallGrass at 303-670-4444.
Dancing Elves Art and Craft Show: The annual Dancing Elves Art and Craft Show will be from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 12-13 at the Conifer Jazzercise Studio, 30403 Kings Valley Drive in the Kings Valley Shopping Center. Find quality local handcrafted gifts.
Alternative Gift Fair: The 22nd annual Alternative Gift Fair will be Nov. 12-13 at Evergreen Lutheran Church, 5980 Highway 73, Evergreen. Hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit vendors at the fair. For more information, visit www.gifttwice.org.
Evergreen chamber meeting: The Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly membership meeting at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 2 at Troutdale Tavern. For more information and to register, visit evergreenchamber.org.
Free legal clinic: A free legal clinic for people with no attorney will be from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3. By telephone or video, volunteer attorneys will answer questions, help fill out forms, and explain the process and procedure for all areas of civil litigation. Pre-registration for individual 15-minute appointments is available by calling 303-2355275 or visiting https://tinyurl.com/ ykzs2ej7.
Resilience Beyond Barriers: Resilience1220 will host an evening with Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to summit Mount Everest, from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, at the Evergreen Lake House. Tickets are $35 per person, $50 per couple or $75 per family. For more information or to get tickets, visit R1220.org.
Evergreen Chorale and Kutandara concert: The Evergreen Chorale in concert with Zimbabweainspired marimba band Kutandara presents music inspired by the traditions and rhythms of the African continent along with some music for the holidays, including the popular “Betelehemu”. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at Evergreen Christian Church, 27772 Iris Drive, and at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 20 at Wellshire Presbyterian Church, 2999 S. Colorado Blvd, Denver
ESA EverGREEN Refill Station: EverGREEN Refill Station is currently hiring its new store coordinator. Contact Wendy Neuman at info@sustainevergreen.org for more information. The Refill Station is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and Wednesdays from 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Community Bible Study: Several community Bible study groups are available — women (in person and online), co-ed young adults, school age, preschool & babies. This year’s study covers six books of the Bible: Philemon 1,2,3, John, Jude and Revelation. In-person classes are Thursday morning at Rockland Community Church in Genesee, Tuesday night at Bergan Park Church in Evergreen and Wednesday morning at Conifer Community Church in Conifer. More information is available at cbsclass. org/evergreengolden.
Support After Suicide Loss: Heartbeat and Resilience1220 offer Support After Suicide Loss from 5:30-7 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month for ages 14 and older. Join in-person or online. Suggest donation is $15. For location, email heather@resilience1220.org or call 720-480-6672.
Evergreen Fire/Rescue food drive: Evergreen Fire/Rescue will host a food drive to benefit Evergreen Christian Outreach from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Station 2, 1802 Bergen Parkway. Nonperishable food and donations will be accepted.
EAPL Zombie Run: The Evergreen Animal Protective League will host a 5K Zombie Run starting at 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at the Buchan-
Holiday Boutique: Conifer Newcomers & Neighbors will host the 44th annual Holiday Boutique from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Conifer High School. Admission is free. Browse the many artisans’ booths, pick up something from Ye Olde Conifer Bake Shop and grab lunch from Rocky Mountain Wraps. Proceeds go to area nonprofits.
Sparkle and Shine: The Ever-
Conifer, Platte Canyon chambers’ member mixer: The Conifer and Platte Canyon chambers of commerce will host a joint member mixer from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at Tomahawk Ranch in Bailey. Register at goconifer.com.
Thanksgiving luncheon for seniors: Seniors4Wellness will host a Thanksgiving lunch from 11:30 a.m.2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, in the Christ the King Catholic Church St. Francis Hall. Entertainment will be provided by Snap, Crackle & Pop. Reserve a seat by Nov. 7 by emailing seniors4wellness@outlook.com or calling 720-201-1845.
History Happy Hour: The Evergreen Mountain Area Historical Society will host a History Happy Hour from 4:30-6:30 p.m. the second Friday of each month at Hiwan Museum. Join us in a round table discussion on any and all aspects of history with topics driven by the attendees.
Caregiver support groups: Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice offers two monthly groups to provide emotional support services for caregivers helping ill, disabled or elderly loved ones. An in-person support group meets every third Monday from 4-6 p.m. at 3081 Bergen Peak Road, Evergreen, and a virtual support group meets every first Tuesday from 10 a.m.-noon via Zoom. Call 303-674-6400 to learn how to connect to the group virtual call. For more information visit mtevans. org/services/emotional-support/.
the mountain community from the heart of Evergreen Worship 10:00 a.m.
Richard Aylor
¼
CONGREGATION BETH EVERGREEN (SYNAGOGUE)
Synagogue
Jamie Arnold
/ (303)
Bergen Peak Drive (behind Life Care)
CONIFER CHURCH OF CHRIST
Bible Things in Bible Ways”
U.S. Hwy.
9:00a.m.
CO
EVERGREEN LUTHERAN CHURCH
Highway 73 + 303-674-4654
Sara Wirth, Interim Pastor
for
Worship on our
Channel:
MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY CHURCH
MOUNT HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH-LCMS
(303)670-1387
REVIVAL CHURCH
Study-10:00a.m.
EVERGREEN CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)
GEOGRAPHY: What is the coldest ocean on Earth?
ANIMAL KINGDOM: What kind of animal is represented by the scientific order Proboscidea?
LANGUAGE: What does the Greek prefix “pan-” mean in English?
MEDICAL: What is the common name for Hansen’s disease?
LITERATURE: Which 1970s nonfiction book begins with the line, “We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold”?
THEATER: Who wrote the Tony Award-winning play “The Heidi Chronicles”?
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: The Empire State Building in New York has how many stories?
ACRONYMS: In photography, what does the acronym SLR stand for?
FOOD & DRINK: Which country produces a cheese called Manchego?
HISTORY: Who was the first House Speaker in U.S. history?
The Arctic Ocean.
Elephants.
“All” (panorama, etc.).
Leprosy.
“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” (Hunter S. Thompson).
Wendy Wasserstein.
102.
Single lens reflex.
Spain.
Frederick Muhlenberg.
2022 King Features Synd., Inc.
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WHEREAS, a petition for annexation of certain real property to the Town has been filed with the Town Clerk; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees wishes to initi ate annexation proceedings with respect to said real property, all in compliance with law.
1. The Board of Trustees has previously adopted Resolution 2022-09, initiating annexation pro ceedings upon a Petition for Annexation of the following described territory to the Town, which Petition appears to be in substantial compliance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 31, Article 12, Colorado Revised Statutes.
Description of territory proposed for annexation: Attached as Exhibit A.
2. The Board of Trustees wishes to reschedule the date for public hearing on the annexation.
3. Therefore, 6:00 P.M. on November 1, 2022 is hereby established as the date and time, and Morrison Town Hall, 110 Stone Street, in Morrison, Colorado, as the place, for a public hearing to be held to determine if the proposed annexation complies with Colorado Constitution Article II Sec tion 30 and Sections 31 12 104 and 31 12 105, C.R.S. or such parts thereof as may be required to establish eligibility under the Constitution and Part 1 of Chapter 31, Article 12 of said statutes.
4. Notice of the hearing shall be published in form and content as follows:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Petition for Annexation of territory hereinafter described has been presented to the Board of Trustees of the Town of Morrison, Colorado and found to be in apparent compliance with the applicable provi sions of law. The Board of Trustees has adopted a Resolution setting a public hearing to be held at 6:00 P.M. on November 1, 2022, at Morrison Town Hall, 110 Stone Street, Morrison, Colorado, to determine if the proposed annexation complies with the applicable requirements of law.
Any person may appear at the hearing and present evidence upon any matter to be considered by the Board of Trustees.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 20th day of September, 2022, the vote upon roll call being as follows:
For: Mayor Wolfe, Trustees Gill, Leonard, Sutton, Way and Wirtz
Against: None Abstain: None
That property in the S½ of the SW¼ of Section 35, Township 4 South, Range 70 West of the 61h P .M. described at Reception No. F 1827889 in the Jefferson County Records, together with Outlot 11 and Outlot 1 OB, SECOND ADDITION TO MORRISON, recorded at Book 2, Page 51, said Jefferson County Records, known as 915 Bear Creek Avenue, Morrison, Colorado, more particularly described as follows:
Beginning at a point from which the SE corner of the SW ¼ of the SW '/4 of said Section 35 bears S 43°45' 14" E 301.71 '; thence N 45°34'39" W 95.10'; thence N 58°02'09" w 55.00'; thence N 15°43' 51" E 105.00'; thence N 80°07' 51" E 273.40'; thence N 76°58'33" E 18.55' to a point on the west line of said Outlot l0B; thence S 66°12'00" E 39.05' to a point on the east line of said Outlot 108 to a point of non-tangent curve to the left hav ing a central angle of 6°06'39", a radius of 70.00', a length of 7.47' and a long chord which bears S 2° 43' 28" W 7.46', along said Outlot to the north east corner of said Outlot 11; thence S 0°54'09" E, along said Outlot 4.11 '; thence S 66°37'09" E 59.70'; thence S 18°02'21" W 110.00' to a point of curve to the right having a central angle of 25°23' 48", a radius of 123.58', a length of 54.78' and a long chord which bears S 33°27'38" W 54.33' to the northeast corner of a Colorado Department of Transportation parcel at Reception No. 873266, Book 1404, Page 313 which is excepted from the description at Reception No. Fl 827889; thence, along the following three courses: 1)S 80°19'51" W 72.60'; 2)S 69°01 '51" W 74.80'; 3)S 84°45'29" W 86.48' to the Point of Beginning, Containing 1.611 Acres (70, l 61 Square Feet).
Description prepared by:
Lawrence G. Chambers, PLS Colorado Registration No. 16099 Chambers Consulting, Inc. P.O. Box 339 805 Bear Creek A venue Morrison, CO 80465
Legal Notice No. CC970
First Publication: September 29, 2022
Second Publication:October 6, 2022
Third Publication: October 13, 2022
Fourth Publication: October 20, 2022 Published in the Canyon Courier
According to the Liquor Laws of Colorado Safeway Denver, Inc, dba Safeway Store 2792 Has requested the licensing officials of Jefferson County to grant a Drug Store Liquor License at.
Date of application: August 07, 2022. Public hearing on the application will be held by the Liquor Licensing Authority Board on NOVEMBER 03, 2022, at the hour of 9:00 A.M. Hybrid at 100 Jefferson County Parkway Hearing Room one and through a WebEx virtual meeting platform, the event information for attendees:
Citizens may receive a call back by providing a phone number when joining the event online; or calling into the public hearing by dialing 1-408418-9388 and entering meeting Access Code 2489 104 5883.
Event address for Attendees is: https://jeffco.webex.com/jeffco/onstage/g.php? MTID=e054ad7b9f27ae6d0b652a615118d58d4
Event Password: T725KsuYNa7
Additional details for accessing the public hear ing will be posted at the following, https://www. jeffco.us/events. Please note that citizens who would like to comment during the liquor hearing must be in person or access the hearing through the WebEx computer platform and use the chat feature to let the host know you would like to make a public comment.
The name(s) and address(es) of the Officers:
NAME ADDRESS
CODY PERDUE
27102 Main Street, Conifer, CO 80433 JULIETTE PRYOR
27102 Main Street, Conifer, CO 80433
VIVEKANAND SANKARAN 27102 Main Street, Conifer, CO 80433
By Order of Liquor Licensing Authority of the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado
Legal Notice No. CC995
First Publication: October 20, 2022
Last Publication: October 20, 2022
Publisher: Canyon Courier
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the electors of the Dakota Ridge Metropolitan District of Jefferson County, Colorado.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 32-1-808, C.R.S., that a vacancy currently exists on the board of directors of the Dakota Ridge Metropolitan District (“District”). Any qualified, eligible elector of the District interested in filling such vacancy and serving on the board of direc tors should file a Letter of Interest with the board of directors of the District on or before the close of business on October 30, 2022, at the District Management office.
Forms of Letters of Interest are available and can be obtained from the Dakota Ridge Metropolitan District, c/o Denise Denslow at CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP, 8390 E. Crescent Pkwy, Suite 300, Green wood Village, Colorado 80111; 303-903-9760; Denise.Denslow@claconnect.com.
DAKOTA RIDGE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
By:/s/ Chelsey Green, Secretary
Legal Notice No. CC987
First Publication: October 20, 2022
Last Publication: October 20, 2022
Publisher: Canyon Courier
Public Notice
NOTICE CONCERNING PROPOSED 2023 BUDGET
EVERGREEN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
NOTICE is hereby given to all interested parties that a proposed budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the Evergreen Fire Protection District (“District”) for the ensuing year of 2023; that a copy of the 2023 Budget has been filed in the office of the District at 1802 Bergen Parkway, Evergreen, Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection by appointment; and that such 2023 Budget will be considered at a public hearing of the Board of Directors to be held at 1802 Bergen Parkway, Evergreen, Colorado, on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. Any elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final adoption of the 2023 Budget, inspect the budget and file or register any objections thereto.
EVERGREEN FIRE PROTECTION DIS
TRICT
By: /s/ Stacey Ballinger EFPD SecretaryLegal Notice No. CC993
First Publication: October 20, 2022
Last Publication: October 20, 2022
Publisher: Canyon Courier
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF HEARING ON PROPOSED 2023 BUDGET AND 2022 BUDGET AMENDMENT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the proposed budget for the ensuing year of 2023 has been submitted to the Saddleback Metropolitan District ("District"). Such proposed budget will be consid ered at a meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District to be held at 3:00 p.m. on November 11, 2022 at 35715 Hwy 40, Building B, Ste. 100, Evergreen, CO 80439.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an amend ment to the 2022 budget of the District may also be considered at the above-referenced meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District. A copy of the proposed 2023 budget and the amended 2022 budget, if required, are available for public inspection at the offices of Spencer Fane LLP, 1700 Lincoln Street, Suite 2000, Denver Colorado. Please contact Robin A. Navant by email at rnavant@spencerfane.com or by telephone at 303-839-3714 to make arrange ments to inspect the budget(s) prior to visiting the foregoing office. Any interested elector within the District may, at any time prior to final adoption of the 2023 budget and the amended 2022 budget, if required, file or register any objections thereto.
Legal Notice No. CC999
First Publication: October 20, 2022
Last Publication: October 20, 2022
Publisher: Canyon Courier
Public Notice
VERVE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1
JEFFERSON COUNTY AND CITY AND COUN TY OF BROOMFIELD, COLORADO
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Sec tions 29-1-108 and 109, C.R.S., that a proposed budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors of Verve Metropolitan District No. 1 (the “District”) for the ensuing year of 2023. The necessity may also arise for the amendment of the 2022 budget of the District. Copies of the proposed 2023 budget and 2022 amended bud get (if appropriate) are on file in the office of the District’s Accountant, Comprehensive Accounting Services, Inc., 1529 Market Street, Suite 200, Denver, CO 80202, where same are available for public inspection. Such proposed 2023 budget and 2022 amended budget will be considered at a regular meeting to be held on October 27, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. via video / telephonic means (Zoom). Any interested elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final adoption of the 2023 budget or the 2022 amended budget, inspect the 2023 budget and the 2022 amended budget and file or register any objections thereto.
You can attend the meeting in any of the fol lowing ways:
1. To attend via Videoconference, e-mail jpino@specialdistrictlaw.com to obtain a link to the videoconference, or use the following: https://zoom.us/j/91065768996?pwd=TkM1MF dyOFQ0QU9wT1c1VUVIVHJCdz09
2. To attend via telephone, dial 1-253-215-8782 and enter the following additional information: a.Meeting ID: 910 6576 8996 b.Passcode: 393185
VERVE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1
/s/ Megan M. Becher McGEADY BECHER P.C. Attorneys for the District
Legal Notice No. CC994 First Publication: October 20, 2022 Last Publication: October 20, 2022 Publisher: Canyon Courier Public Notice
Notice is hereby given that a proposed budget
has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the MOUNTAIN VIEW FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT for the 2023 budget year. A copy of the proposed budget has been filed in the ad ministration office located at 3561 N. Stagecoach Road, Longmont, Colorado, and is available for public inspection. The proposed budget will be considered for adoption at the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of MOUNTAIN VIEW FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT to be held at 3561 N. Stagecoach Road, Longmont, Colorado on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, beginning at 6:00 p.m. For attending virtually, please check the meeting posting on the website at www.mvfpd.org for login information.
Any interested elector of the MOUNTAIN VIEW FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections thereto at any time prior to the final adoption of the budget.
Legal Notice No. CC1000
First Publication: October 20, 2022
Last Publication: October 20, 2022 Publisher: Canyon Courier
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to all interested parties that the need has arisen for the Idledale Water & Sanitation District (the District) to amend its 2022 Budget, and that a proposed 2023 Budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the District; and that copies of the proposed Amended 2022 Budget and 2023 Budget have been filed at the office of the District Manager, Public Alliance, LLC, 13131 W. Alameda Pkwy, Suite 200, Lakewood, CO, 80228, where the same are open for public inspection; and, that adoption of Resolutions Amending the 2022 Budget and Adopting the 2023 Budget will be considered at a public meeting of the Board of Directors of the District to be held on Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at Idledale Community Church, 21429 Highway 74, Idledale, CO, 80453.
Any elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final adoption of the Resolutions to Amend the 2022 Budget and to Adopt the 2023 Budget, inspect and file or register any objections thereto.
Legal Notice No. CC992
First Publication: October 20, 2022
Last Publication: October 20, 2022 Publisher: Canyon Courier
Public Notice
NOTICE is hereby given that a proposed budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the Buffalo Creek Water District for the ensuing year of 2023; that a copy of such proposed budget has been posted at the J.W. Green Mercantile located in Buffalo Creek where the same is open for public inspection. The proposed budget will be considered at a public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District to be held at the North Fork Fire Protection District Station 1, 19384 County Road 126, Buffalo Creek, on November 7, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. Any elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final adoption of the budget, inspect the budget and file or register any objections thereto.
BUFFALO CREEK WATER DISTRICT By: /s/ Cheryl Pieper, Secretary
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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed 2023 budget, has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the East Lakewood Sanitation District for the ensuing year 2023; that a copy of such proposed budget has been filed in the office of the District located at Circuit Rider of Colorado, 1100 W. Littleton Blvd., #101, Littleton, Colorado, where same is open for public inspection; and that such proposed budget will be considered at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the District to be held at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80226 at 7:00 p.m. on November 16, 2022.
Any elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final adoption of the 2023 budget, inspect the budget and file or register any objec tions thereto. This meeting is open to the public.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST LAKEWOOD SANTITATION DISTRICT.
Legal Notice No.CC989
First Publication: October 20, 2022
Last Publication: October 20, 2022 Publisher: Canyon Courier
Public Notice
Pursuant to C.R.S. Section 38-26-107, notice is hereby given that on the 8th day of November 2022 final settlement will be made by the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado to: HASELDEN CONSTRUCTION LLC. 6950 S POTOMAC ST ENGLEWOOD, CO 80112 hereinafter called the “Contractor”, for and on account of the contract for the Dakota Building Miscellaneous Coroner’s Work project in Jefferson County, CO.
1. Any person, co-partnership, association or corporation who has an unpaid claim against the said project, for or on account of the furnish ing of labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender or other supplies used or consumed by such Contractor or any of said work, may at any time up to and including said time of such final settlement, file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such
claim.
2. All such claims shall be filed with Heather Frizzell, Director of Finance Jefferson County Colorado, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden CO 80419-4560.
3.Failure on the part of a creditor to file such statement prior to such final settlement will relieve the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado, from any and all liability for such claim.
County of Jefferson, State of Colorado Andy Kerr, Chairman Board of County Commissioners
Legal Notice No. CC997
First Publication: October 20, 2022
Last Publication: October 27, 2022 Publisher: Canyon Courier Public Notice
JEFFERSON COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO
Pursuant to C.R.S. Section 38-26-107, notice is hereby given that on the 8th day of November 2022 final settlement will be made by the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado to:
CO DESIGN INC TILE & TARRZZO 7230 GILPIN WAY SITE 220 DENVER, CO 80229
hereinafter called the “Contractor”, for and on ac count of the contract for the Removal, preparation, and replacement of damaged terrazzo floor in the central main-level atrium at the Administration & Courts Facility project in Jefferson County, CO.
1. Any person, co-partnership,
or
Andy Kerr, Chairman Board of County Commissioners
Legal Notice No. CC998 First Publication: October 20, 2022
Last Publication: October 27, 2022 Publisher: Canyon Courier Public Notice
ELITE SURFACING INFRASTRUCTURE 2021 SODA CREEK ROAD PAVEMENT OVERLAY PROJECT PW21-01
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance with the notice provisions contained in 38-26-107, C.R.S., the CLEAR CREEK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS has established Tuesday, November 1st, 2022, 10:00 am, at the Board of County Commissioners hearing room, located at 405 Argentine Street, Georgetown, Colorado, as the date, time and place of final settlement with RME Ltd., LLC d/b/a/ Elite Surfacing Infrastructure for Clear Creek County Road & Bridge Department’s 2021 Soda Creek Road Pavement Overlay Project – PW21-01, County of Clear Creek, State of Colorado. Any person, co-partnership, association of persons, company or corporation that has furnished labor, materials, sustenance, or other supplies used or consumed by such contractor or his or her subcontractor in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done or that supplied laborers, rental ma chinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of the work, whose claim therefore has not been paid by the contractor or subcontractor, at any time up to and including the time of final settlement for work contracted to be done, may file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim with the Clear Creek Board of County Commissioners, Clear Creek County, P O Box 2000, 405 Argen tine Street, Georgetown, Colorado, 80444-2000. Failure to file such verified statement or claim prior to final settlement will release the County and its employees and agents from any and all liability for such claim and for making final payment to said contractor.
Sean Wood, Chairman Board of County Commissioners
Estate of Janice Kay Travis, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR448
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Jefferson County, Colorado on or before February 13, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.
Brian Dreher, Personal Representative 15689 Split Creek Drive Monument, CO 80132
Legal Notice No. CC982
First Publication: October 13, 2022
Last Publication: October 27, 2022
Canyon Courier
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Carol Jane Lewis, Deceased Case Number: 22PR434
All persons having claims
2. All such claims shall be filed with Heather Frizzell, Director of Finance Jefferson County Colorado, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden CO 80419-4560.
Legal Notice No. CC984
First Publication: October 13, 2022
Last Publication: October 20, 2022
Publisher: Canyon Courier
to Creditors
Our club has more than 100 members from all walks of life. We like to have fun and we organize social functions throughout the year.
• We meet once a week at Evergreen Country Day school; Fridays at 7.00 a.m. for breakfast. There is no meeting commitment – attend as many or as few as you like.
• Our meetings, events and speaker schedules can be found at EvergreenRotary.org, along with details about our local and international committees and projects.
Dues
As an independent fee-only registered investment advisor, we are held to the highest standard of responsibility to our clients by law, and select and recommend investments based soley on your best interest. We are here to act as long-term stewards of your assets through comprehensive financial planning, wealth management and strategic legacy planning.
Kris