CROSS CURRENTS

ast week’s study session discussion on a possible ward or voting district City Charter Amendment was disjointed and a disappointment. e council, city manager and city attorney were all over the map in their 1.5 hour discussion.

Some observers had hoped that

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In debating whether to put a de nitive amendment on the November ballot, the group got bogged down in the weeds with numerous details raised by the city attorney.council would give Westminster voters the option of implementing some con guration of a wards plan. Basically, it could be with two councilmembers elected from each of three wards or have three members from three wards and three members at-large. However, legitimate questions came up that needed to be resolved before the city attorney could draft a speci c ordinance. Furthermore, the city attorney advised the council that such a detailed ballot proposition could not be ready for the August 14 council meeting. e deadline to submit ballot questions to the county clerks is Sept. 8 is begs the question: Why weren’t potential city charter amendment questions scheduled for discussion back in the spring? e idea of considering a di erent approach to elect councilmembers has been around for the last few years and 2021 ballot issue on this issue with its ill-de ned wording should have reminded those who were paying attention that this issue was still very much “hanging.”

It’s evident that city leadership dropped the ball on not just the voting districts issue, but by not allowing adequate prep time to get any other potential amendments ready for a detailed discussion and adequate attorney drafting time.

Council to consider a two-step process e conclusion reached by council was to have the city attorney prepare a simple ballot question (not the charter amendment itself) asking voters if they favor pursuing some type of a wards or voting districts con guration to elect city council members. e ordinance is to be on the Aug. 14 council meeting agenda. If voters approve the simply question in November, then a speci c plan with the necessary details would be worked on with public input for a future city election i.e. 2024 or 2025.

Aurora full-time mayor proposition headed to the ballot e petition drive in Aurora has produced su cient valid signatures

SEE CHRISTOPHER, P13

Reading to learn, grow, imagine, escape

s part of our company’s onboarding process, we are invited to connect with new hires at every level of the organization and wherever they may live. Technology of course makes scheduling these calls and having these calls very easy when we are connecting with new remote team members.

me to learn and grow personally and professionally.

I love this quote by S.I. Hayawaka, “It is not true that we only have only one life to live; if we can read, we can live as many more lives and as many kinds of life as we wish.” So spot on.

e other day I had a wonderful call with our newest team member, Adam. What we found that we had in common was a love for reading. And it was a great reminder for me that each year around this time, I publish my reading list and recommendations. e summertime is always a great way to reacquaint ourselves with reading if we have not been as diligent in our e orts. Vacations and staycations o er us that time to unwind and relax with a good book. For me, depending on what I am reading, a great book transports me to di erent places, in di erent times, inspires creativity, and helpsWe all have our di erent genres of the types of books we enjoy reading. For me, I go through a cycle of ve di erent types of books and then repeat the cycle. I start with a faith-based book, then a history book or biography, then move to a business book, add in a personal development book, and then go to a ctional book. I have found that the diversity in my reading keeps me well-rounded and a ords me the opportunity to engage in conversations with people regardless of their own reading preferences. Reading so many di erent types of books also inspires tremendous creativity.

So here is my current reading list, hopefully one or two may be of interest to you.

Faith-based books: “Mission Possible” by Tim Tebow, “All ings New” by John Eldridge, “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat” by John

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Ortberg, “Let the Journey Begin” by Max Lucado, “ e Carpenter” by Jon Gordon

History or biography books: “ e Forgotten 500” by Gregory A. Freeman, “ e Last Stand” by Nathaniel Philbrick, “George Washington’s Secret Six” by Brian Kilmead and Don Yaeger, “ e Nine” by Gwen Strauss

Business books: “How to Sell to the Modern Buyer” by David Mattson, “10 Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times” by Tom Ziglar, “Smart Brevity” by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, Roy Schwartz, “Traction” by Gino Wickman

Personal development books: “ e Power of Who” by Bob Beaudine, “ e Power of Community” by Howard Partridge, “Becoming a Master Communicator” by Renee Marino, “What Drives You” by Kevin Miller, “Growth with Goals” by Jill Hellwig

Fiction books: “Dark Vector” by Clive Cussler, “Wild Fire” by Nelson DeMille, “ e Lion” by Nelson DeMille, “American Assassin” by Vince Flynn, “Transfer of Power” by Vince Flynn

Again, those are just my recent favorites and if you are looking for a good book in a speci c genre,

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com hopefully this list helps or inspires you to look at similar titles. And remember what Mary Schmich says about reading, “Reading is a discount ticket to everywhere.” It is so true, we can let whatever it is we read to lead us into a new paradigm and bring us into a new place mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Reading broadens our knowledge and leads us to new horizons. And the only thing that we are bound by is our own time and willingness to commit to making the e ort to read and read more often.

How about you? What are you reading these days? I always love getting fantastic book recommendations from our community and sharing what we both get out of the reading. I would love to see your list at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can read to learn, grow, imagine and escape it really will be a better than good life.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Window.

Westminster Window (ISSN 1072-1576)(USPS 455-250)

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