November 12, 2015
INSIDE
VOLUME 92 | ISSUE 13
Area veterans tell the story of their military service in a special four-page package of stories and photos. Turn to PAGES 13-16.
LakewoodSentinel.com A publication of
J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Lakewood leadership experiences shake-up
READING UP
Newly elected leaders aim for now governance approach By Clarke Reader creader@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Standing behind the podium, Linda Rockwell, former Jefferson County Library board member and current Yes for Jeffco Libraries Campaign volunteer coordinator, talks about the details of the mill levy increase with campaign volunteers, from left, Pat Estes and Tom and Alice Atkins during a watch party that took place at the Belmar Library in Lakewood on Nov. 3. Photo by Christy Steadman
Voters give green light to improve library system Tax increase means longer hours, more materials, better technology By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
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fter years of falling behind its counterparts in other counties because of declining budgets, the Jefferson County Public Library system can soon start catching up, thanks to voters’ approval of a property tax increase. The results prove that “people value the library as part of the community,” said Linda Rockwell, former Jefferson County Public Library board member and volunteer coordinator for Yes for Jeffco Libraries Campaign. “Enough people love their library to pay to make them better.” While election results remain unofficial until certification later this month, the count of 179,234 ballots shows that Jeffco Ballot Issue 1A passed by more than 6 percentage points. Slightly more than 53 percent of voters supported a mill levy increase, with the losing side garnering a little under 47 percent of the vote. With the Nov. 3 vote, the mill levy will increase by one mill to a maximum of 4.5 mills. For Jeffco homeowners, the change equals about 67 cents more a month for every $100,000 of home value. The one-mill increase is expected to bring in $8 million of additional library revenues, beginning in 2016. The library’s senior management
In the lead-up to this year’s election, outgoing mayor Bob Murphy often spoke about the importance of “consistency of leadership” to move Lakewood forward. Gauging from the results of the Nov. 3 election, citizens wanted to see a shakeup in the city’s government, and voted that way. Of the six open positions this year, all but two went to the so-called “anti-establishment” candidates, claiming victory in every race but mayor and Ward 5, which went to Adam Paul and Dana Gutwein, respectively. Charley Able won in Ward 1, Sharon Vincent in Ward 2, incumPaul bent Pete Roybal in Ward 3, and Barb Franks in Ward 4. “It’s very bittersweet to see these results,” said outgoing Ward 1 councilwoman Karen Kellen. “I think there’s a huge amount of fear in the community about population density and growth, and there’s pull between past and future, and the past won this time.” To be sure, density and development was the top issue this season — nearly every candidate listed it among the subjects they heard most from residents during their time knocking on doors. Another frustration for many residents was what they viewed as a lack of transparency from council. “We need to have mechanisms in place to provide our residents with more Leadership continues on Page 6
Yes for Jeffco Libraries Campaign volunteers and library staff watch as the votes come in concerning the libraries’ proposed mill levy increase at a watch party that took place at the Belmar Library in Lakewood on Nov. 3. team has developed a five-year plan and a 10-year forecast that will serve as a road map for restoring services, said Pam Nissler, Jefferson County Public Library executive director. The last mill-levy increase was in 1986, and the library system today serves 240,000 more cardholders, hosts 1.6 million more visits and circulates 6.1 million more items across its 10 library locations. And it’s only in the 25th percentile when compared to libraries of similar size. “That’s not the quality that Jefferson County residents deserve,” Nissler said. “We want to provide a better quality of service.” The first priority will be to increase library hours, Rockwell said. Thirty years ago, the larger county
libraries were open an average of 63 hours a week. But since 2011, those same library branches are now open an average of 51 hours, she said. In order to restore hours, the library will hire 15 full-time staffers, plus some part-time positions, Nissler said. Some of those people may need some training, she said, so a goal date for the hours is April 3. Increasing the hours means the larger locations can be open until 8 p.m. four nights a week versus the current two. In addition, storytimes will increase. Storytimes are a popular amenity for patrons, Nissler said. “We support early literacy,” she Library continues on Page 6
Applewood Golf plans dropped Staff report Fresh on the heels of the victory of Prospect Recreation and Park District’s ballot measures, developer Applewood West Holdings and the Coors Brewing Co. announced their purchase agreement of Applewood Golf Course has been terminated. In addition, the rezoning application for the golf course will be dropped. A lawsuit that had been filed to halt the rezoning was made moot by the change. Applewood West Holdings, which had planned to build as many as 400 singlefamily homes on the golf course, made the announcement of the change of plans three days after the election indicated 2-to-1 support for the Prospect district to purchase the property instead. The Prospect district will continue to work with Coors to try to buy the property. Look for an in-depth story about the Applewood developments in our Nov. 19 issue.