Westminster Window 0529

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May 29, 2014

50 cents Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 69, Issue 29 A publication of

westminsterwindow.com

City will develop broader voter initiative

Graduation celebration

New tenant voter registration plan scrapped amid criticism By Ashley Reimers

areimers@colorado communitymedia.com

transportation, urban renewal and public gathering places. “Community buy-in and that critical mass of artistic, cultural, and creative enterprises and activities are really important,” she said. “We want to make sure this is a magnet, not only for locating businesses but attracting people to those businesses to support them and purchase their products.” The district must also be endorsed by the local government. And just recently the Westminster city council passed a resolution to support the creation of an arts district in south Westminster during the May 19 council meeting. Councilors Bob Briggs, Emma Pinter, Alberto Garcia and mayor pro tem Faith Winter all commented during the meeting their support of the Colorado Creative District application.

After hearing from multiple residents, for and against an ordinance that would require landlords to provide voter registration to new tenants, the Westminster city council is taking a different approach to encourage residents to exercise their voting rights. The city is developing a new city-based initiative that would reach out to all eligible voters in the city, including home owners and renters, in an effort to provide voter registration information to all in the city. According to the city website, the initiative could possibly reach residents through direct mail, utility bills, websites, social media and events to allow city staff and council members to connect directly with residents. The new approach comes after residents passionately expressed their opinions at council meetings on Councilor’s Bill 12, which was passed on first reading after a 5-2 vote on April 28. During the May 12 meeting, the bill was tabled until June 9, which at that time the bill could be tabled indefinitely. Some residents felt strongly in favor of the bill, many saying the bill would increase voter participation in the city. Other residents felt the bill was an unnecessary burden on landlords and rental property owners. After hearing the concerns, the council met after the May 19 meeting to discuss the future of the bill and came out with their new approach. Mayor pro tem Faith Winter said after much deliberation, the council has found a bolder, more direct way to achieve the same goals of letting residents know that their vote matters. “We are proud to invite every citizen to register and vote,” she said. “Westminster believes a strong democracy creates a strong community and we look forward to having our residents more involved.” Councilor Alberto Garcia, who voted for the bill, said following the passage of the initial ordinance on first reading, concern was raised as to how the city was going to gain compliance with the new ordinance given the resistance of certain special interest groups. “As a council, we put our heads together to design an innovative, bolder approach to achieve our goal of providing voter registration information to all our residents, while alleviating the concerns raised during the discussion on this issue,” he said. Upon hearing the news of the city’s new initiative, Kelly Maher, executive director of Compass Colorado, a nonprofit organization that educates Coloradans on state fiscal and economic issues, said the city councilors who previously supported the measure deserve credit for reconsidering their support once the many negative ramifications of the ordinance came to light. “Councilor and state house candidate, Faith Winter showed that she’s willing to throw small business owners under the bus to further her own political aspirations,” she said. “It’s unlikely this is the last we’ve heard of measures like this, and we cannot allow something as important a voter registration be hijacked by radical

District continues on Page 24

Voter continues on Page 24

A Westminster High School graduate celebrates his achievement during the school’s commencement ceremony on May 21 at the First Bank Center in Broomfield. More than 400 students received diplomas from WHS and Hidden Lake High School. Photo by Amethyst Guthman

A distinguished district Historic Westminster Art District a finalist in statewide creative program By Ashley Reimers

areimers@colorado communitymedia.com Aar River Gallery owner Becky Silver is hoping to put the Historic Westminster Art District, HWAD, on the map. She’s elbow deep in the application process in helping HWAD, a merchant organization made up of Iddle Bits of This and That, Art Gallery 3698, the Rodeo Market Community Art Center and other business in the south Westminster, become a Colorado Creative District through Colorado Creative Industries, a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade. As a Creative District, HWAD would have a much larger reach in not only the city, but throughout the entire state. “To actually get recognition at the state level will be such a boost for the neighborhood,” she said. “We have a lot going on in this part of the city, so to become a Creative District would be such an amazing thing for this area.” HWAD is a one of 11 finalists in the application process to be selected for a 2-year candidacy program to prepare the district

Bev Capra, owner of Iddle Bits of This and That Art Gallery, works in the garden at her Westminster gallery. If the Historic Westminster Art District is chosen to become a Colorado Creative District, Capra is just one of several gallery owners in the area who will benefit from the statewide recognition. Photo by Ashley Reimers for final certification. If successful in the two years, the district will become an official Colorado Creative District. Colorado Creative Industries director Margaret Hunt said in choosing the finalists she looking for districts with a unique story and one that is integrated with other community systems including economic development, tourism,

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