Littleton 11.7.13
November 7, 2013 75 cents
Arapahoe County, Colorado • Volume 125, Issue 16
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlittletonnews.com
Beckman, Stahlman keep seats on council Lodging tax only ballot measure to fail By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com
EAGLES ADVANCE
Mountain Vista’s Nolan Patsy (21) and Heritage’s Nicholas Ferrari race to try to win a loose ball for their team. The clash took part during the Oct. 30 first-round state playoff game. Heritage won the game, 1-0. Turn to page 21 to find out how Heritage fared in its quarterfinal match-up with Rock Canyon. Photo by Tom Munds
Planning board punts until after election New city council will vote on changes to document By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com The current Littleton City Council will not get the chance to vote on an updated comprehensive plan, because the planning board that wrote it has again delayed its recommendation. “I think we’re 90 percent there,” said board member Karina Elrod. “But I would support having just a little more time to address the final details.” The meeting Oct. 28 was basically a repeat of the one on Oct. 14, when the board heard from several citizens who don’t like the updates. Board members decided to hold another study session and public hearing before sending the plan on to council for final consideration, which was supposed to happen on Election Day, Nov. 5. Now that the board has decided to have yet another study session on Nov. 4 and a hearing on Nov. 25, the fate of the docuPOSTAL ADDRESS
The new city council will decide the fate of the city’s latest draft comprehensive plan, which guides future growth. Photo by Jennifer Smith ment lies in the hands of the new council. It will also appoint planning-board members, who have to reapply at the end of their terms.
“We do this at the risk of the new council not agreeing with us, which I don’t think will happen,” said board member Andrew Board continues on Page 10
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Littleton’s city council will have just one new member but will be conducting more business out in the open, since voters passed the open-meetings ballot issue, along with all the other ballot measures except the lodging tax. As of 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5, incumbents Bruce Beckman and Bruce Stahlman were winning with about 33 percent and 31 percent of the vote, respectively, in the race for two at-large council seats. Newcomers John Watson and James Dean came in at about 21 percent and 15 percent, respectively. The results are unofficial. The two join Randy Stein and Phil Cernanec in the winner’s field. They both ran unopposed in their districts. “I am thankful, excited, and looking forward to serving with our new council,” said Cernanec. “I look forward to continuing to build up vital and vibrant neighborhoods and businesses across the city.” Stein said he’s excited to get to work, as well. “I look forward to working productively with my new colleagues for the betterment of my District 1 constituents and all residents of Littleton,” he said. Initiative 301 passed with about 73 percent of the vote. It limits city council’s use of executive sessions to only matters that state and federal law require be kept confidential. It means that decisions on legal settlements, land and labor negotiations and certain personnel matters will now be made publicly. Initiative 302 passed with about 57 percent of the vote. It requires a twothirds vote of council to approve a rezone instead of a simple majority, in cases where the planning board has voted against it or if 20 percent or more of the site’s neighbors file a protest. The city council-initiated measures to impose city taxes on retail pot and asking to redraw council boundaries every 10 years rather than every four years both passed with about 63 percent of the vote. The lodging tax fell, netting only about 37 percent of the vote. The pot tax won’t take effect right away, since council voted last month to wait another year to decide whether to allow retail sales. But Doug Farmen, the city’s finance director, estimates the lodging tax will add $90,000 in annual revenues to the city’s general fund.
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