COUNCIL

e bill proposes regulations such as prohibiting certain planned unit development resolutions, prohibiting a local government from enforcing certain occupancy limits, and developing statewide, regional and local housing needs assessments.

To read details about the Bill, go to https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/ default/ les/documents/2023A/ bills/2023a_213_01.pdf e Colorado Municipal League has expressed concerns that the bill would do little to increase the supply of a ordable housing, have unintended consequences as well as the preemption of home rule authority.

On April 10, the Parker sta provided the council with an overview of the bill at a study session. Sta discussed the issues raised by the Colorado Municipal League and presented their own concerns about the language in the bill.

According to Kelsey Hall, assistant town attorney, concerns include but are not limited to DOLA transforming into an enforcement body, it takes home rule authority away from local government by giving the state more power over how the land is developed.

During the April 17 town council meeting, councilmembers voiced their concerns regarding what they call “a one size ts all” as they believe the state wants to regulate through deregulation. With the goal to protect the community of Parker, councilmembers wrote a letter to Sen. Jim Smallwood, R-Douglas, and Rep. Anthony Hartsook, R-Douglas. Councilmember Anne Barrington read the letter to the public.

Part of the letter reads, “We recognize the importance of engaging with our municipal neighbors and partner agencies on a variety of issues such as attainable housing, regional transportation and water conservation. Our request is that you vote no on SB23-213 and allow us to continue to work collaboratively at all levels of government to identify real solutions that assist in providing housing to all while maintaining our rights as local government to protect the special characteristics of our respective communities. e other ordinance was a petition for the organization of a General Improvement District in the Town of Parker, Colorado, to be known as the Town of Parker My Mainstreet General Improvement District. e council also approved the Harvie Open Space Construction contract with Richdell Construction, Inc in the amount of $1,673,760 and the Parker Responsive Tra c Signal System Improvements in the amount of $668,696 with contractor Interface Communications Company. campus also provides children from infancy to 18 years old with care varying from outpatient surgery to behavioral health. is location has two resuscitation bays and 23 rooms that are utilized for patient care, either for urgent care or emergency. e urgent care is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the emergency room is open 24/7, however, the south campus location is not a trauma designation. e radiology department provides x-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds and MRI’s. Patients have the opportunity to choose what visualization they want while in the MRI machine. e campus sees behavioral health emergencies as well. As part of tackling the behavioral health crisis, the south campus provides telehealth services for patients. ese operations take less time than the more intensive operations at Anschutz, allowing the south campus to do more procedures each day. e sports gym includes physical therapy tables, lifting equipment, yoga balls, stretch bands and a treadmill among many items to help athletes get back to their activities.

In other business, the council approved two ordinances. e rst was the second amendment to an agreement regarding design and construction of drainage and ood control improvements for Cherry Creek at Dransfeldt Road by and between Urban Drainage and Flood Control District d/b/a Mile High Flood District, the Town of Parker and Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality, which will provide funding for the construction of the project. By proceeding with amending this IGA, over $4 million will be provided for the funding of the construction of the project.

According to Michael Grabczyk, of the department of engineering and public works, the construction will begin in May and is estimated to take nine months.

According to Town Attorney Kristin Ho man, the purpose of the district is to generate property taxes for the property to pay or reimburse developers for improvements such as utility infrastructure, accessibility and lighting improvements.

In 2022, the South Campus saw about 35,000 patients according to Sondra Valdez, director of patient care services.

When trauma patients come in, the sta will administer stabilizing treatment and based on the patient’s assessment and severity of illness, the patient will be transferred to the Anshutz campus, said Valdez.

“Some patients can then discharge home without having a secondary transfer and then we can admit to outside facilities versus everybody going to Anschutz,” said Valdez.

A unique concept that only the south campus has are the eight dual induction rooms on the surgical oor. In groups of two, each induction room connects with an operating room. While the child receives anesthesia and is getting prepped for surgery, the family gets to stay with their child instead of watching them go down a hallway, into an operating room.

Operations that take place at this location are ear, nose and throat and minor ACL and knee repairs.

On the fourth oor, Anschutz physicians are seeing about 10 to 20 kids during the week for 15 medical and surgical services such as urology, gastroenterology, neurology and the cancer center, which o ers infusion and outpatient clinic care. e 15 inpatient rooms are used mostly for respiratory cases. Parents who are staying either one night or multiple nights have the opportunity to use the new serenity room. Equipped with a refrigerator full of grab and go items, parents can have a seat on a more comfortable chair, use the shower and grab a eece blanket donated by the association of volunteers.

Kids can take part in their checkin process with the interactive kiosks on the third oor, which is considered the most robust oor as it holds many ambulatory clinics and the sports gym.

“ ey usually have their surgeon here as well, and that’s the beauty of sports therapy and surgery, where that orthopedic surgeon can talk with the therapist and they have the care rendered right here,” said Stephanie Beling, director of operations for south metro Children’s Hospital.

With the help of board certi ed sports physical therapist like Melissa Randall, patients work to regain strength. On April 19, Randall worked with 10-year-old Georgia Jennings who fractured her elbow in gymnastics.

Georgia’s mom, Erica Jennings said she loves the convenience of having the south campus t which is a much shorter drive than having to go to Aurora to Children’s main hospital campus. to ensure families know what services are provided in their community before an emergency.

On April 22, the south campus will be hosting a community event. With family friendly activities in the parking lot, local sheri s and re rescue will be attending as well as the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders.