May/June 2016 - City of Thornton

Help Keep Thornton Beautiful
If you’re interested in helping to beautify the
city of Thornton, Keep Thornton Beautiful
(KTB) needs you! KTB is a local nonprofit whose
objective is a cleaner, more attractive city,
and is currently seeking to expand its board
of directors. For more information visit www.
keepthorntonbeautiful.com and to fill out the
required application.
May 7, 7 a.m.-12 p.m.
Carpenter Recreation Center, 11151 Colorado Blvd.
Pre-register in advance
online at 9healthfair.
org or pay the day of
the fair.
Participants must be
age 18+.
Free health screenings: lung function, vision, skin screening, hand screening, blood
pressure, oral health, nutrition, body fat, foot screening, spinal screening, stress
management, cardiac risk assessment, ask a pharmacist, body in balance, sleep
apnea assessment, height/weight/BMI screening, metabolic syndrome screening,
hearing screening and bone marrow donor program screening.
Fee-based screenings: blood chemistry analysis ($35), prostate specific antigen (PSA) analysis for men ($30), blood
cell count ($20), Vitamin D screening ($45), Hemoglobin A1c blood screening ($30) and colon cancer screening kit ($25).
Trash/Recycling News
The Fix Is In!
For details about any of these programs
go to cityofthornton.net/TrashRecycling,
email environmentalsvcs@
cityofthornton.net or call 720-977-6200.
Household Chemical Roundup
May 7, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Hyland Hills Water World, 8801 Pecos
St., Federal Heights. Proof of residency
required and restrictions apply.
Tree Branch/Limb Recycle Drop-Off
May 14, June 11, July 9
Thornton Infrastructure Maintenance
Center, 12450 Washington St., 10 a.m.2 p.m. Proof of residency required and
restrictions apply.
Memorial Day Holiday Delay
Collection service will be on a one day
holiday delay for the entire week starting
Monday, May 30.
PRESORTED STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
CITY OF
THORNTON
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Continued below
Thornton Streets Get A Face Lift
Thornton City Council nearly doubled the street rehabilitation money from the previous level in 2014. The 2016 Street
Rehabilitation Program continues with the goal previously established in 2015 to have every city street and parking lot in
the city touched within a five year period. “Increased preventative maintenance measures allow the city to spend money
on more cost efficient options rather than allowing the streets to deteriorate to a point when only repaving is an option,”
says Thornton Pavement Management Coordinator Richard Nickson. “The program’s crack seal portion will cover 203 lane
miles of roadway, and will use an asphalt rejuvenator on almost 17 lane miles of roadway,” says Nickson. Watch for surface
rehabilitation treatments to sections of Colorado Boulevard, 104th Avenue, 128th Street, Thornton Parkway, High Street,
Grant Street, Civic Center Drive, York Street, Russell Boulevard, Poze Boulevard and Woodglen Brookshire Park. For a map
of areas to be treated go to www.cityofthornton.net/StreetOps.
9500 Civic Center Dr.
Thornton CO 80229
New Solar Program Comes to Thornton
Low-income homeowners in Thornton may be eligible to install a solar electric system on their home for free that can
save the homeowner up to 75 percent on their electric bills. The nonprofit organization GRID Alternatives is expanding its
Solar Affordable Housing program to Thornton. The program provides solar electric systems to families that own and live
in their home, are able to contribute sweat equity hours to the program and qualify as low-income according to the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development’s income standards. The city of Thornton is contributing federal grant
dollars to pay for the equipment so there is no upfront cost for families. Once the panels are installed, homeowners will
pay to operate the system at $.02 per kilowatt hour, which works out to be approximately $15 a month. GRID Alternatives
will coordinate the installation of the rooftop solar panels with the homeowner. To find out if you qualify for this program
contact GRID Alternatives at 866-921-4696 or email at [email protected].
Thornton’s Water History and Water Future
Landfill Day - June 4 and July 16
7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Tower Road Landfill, 88th Avenue and
Tower Road, Commerce City, pickup
or car loads only. Proof of residency
required and restrictions apply. There is
an additional $30 fee for mattresses.
Talking Trash
Please don’t forget to have your trash/
recycle containers at the curb by 7 a.m.
on your pickup day and remove them by
8 p.m. after they are emptied.
May-June 2016
The city of Thornton turns 60 this year! It was in May 1956 that Thornton was
officially incorporated and became a Colorado city. Compared to other Colorado
communities like San Luis, founded in 1851, and Denver, founded in 1858,
Thornton is a relatively young community.
Given that 60 is a milestone for most of us, whether in the past or the future, it
only makes sense to take stock of some of our community’s history – in this case,
Thornton’s water history – as we celebrate. Today, thanks to thoughtful use and
investment of the city’s water customer’s dollars over the years, Thornton has a
reliable water infrastructure system that delivers quality water to residents and
businesses, whenever they need it. But the certainty of the water system wasn’t
always the case for Thornton.
 Continued on page 2
Thornton City Voice Newspaper
1
general city news/community programs and events
Thornton’s Water History and Future
 Continued from page 1
In 1953, when the community was just getting started, the Denver Water Board declined to provide service to
our proposed city. Thornton’s sole water source at the time was a single deep groundwater well located near 91st
Avenue and Clarkson Street.
In hindsight, the Denver Water Board’s decision to not provide water service to Thornton was actually a win for
the community. Thornton had to basically start a utility system from scratch. Luckily, several utility companies
existed in the area and were able to extend their infrastructure to the new homes, many being purchased by
returning Korean War Veterans. These utilities eventually consolidated into the Northwest Utilities Company,
and in 1963, Thornton purchased the utility company and began providing water and sewer service directly
to residents and businesses. Acquisition of this system initiated the
city’s commitment to responsibly plan for and invest in the Thornton’s
long-term water future, and also started the city’s transition from a
groundwater well-based water system to a more sustainable system that uses water from rivers and lakes.
During the following two decades, city leaders recognized the need to make sure water resources were
available for the growing city. In the 1970s, Thornton acquired storage in Standley Lake and started developing
storage in reclaimed gravel pits along the South Platte River, and a new treatment plant that came online in
1974. Moving later into the 1980s, Thornton’s population continues to grow as do concerns about the future of
the water supply– particularly after it becomes apparent the Two Forks Project, an ill-fated proposal to build a
reservoir on the South Platte River upstream of Denver that could hold up to 8.5 billion gallons of water, would
eventually stall.
In another move that would prove to be forward thinking by the city ­— Thornton began divesting itself of its interests in the Two Forks Project, and
redirecting investments into high quality Cache la Poudre River water in northern Colorado for future water supply. The water purchased in the mid-1980s
is a key resource that will enable Thornton to continue to provide
quality water to the city’s customers, and it will ensure the community
continues to thrive well into the future.
Like the infrastructure Thornton purchased from private utility
companies in the 1960s, Thornton continues with thoughtfully
planned investments to stay ahead of the community’s success, and
provide reliable, high quality water service to all of its customers over
the next 60 plus years.
“I am so thankful this service is offered.
It is definitely worth the money.”
-Yvonne T.
Thornton resident
Click & Haul is a year-round,
online scheduling, appointment
based curbside service.
These planned investments are part of the Thornton Water Plan, and as
a reminder, the Plan includes:
With Click & Haul, you can easily get
rid of up to two pickup truck loads of
large items, debris, etc.
• Constructing a pipeline to deliver the city’s high quality northern
Colorado water to the city;
• Investing in the replacement of one of the city’s two water
treatment plants. Replacing the plant that has been in service
for the city since the 1960s will benefit all Thornton residents by
ensuring your water continues to be safe, clean and clear when
you turn on your tap;
• Providing an aggressive water conservation program that
includes water-saving tips for you, as well as tools and resources
that can help you reduce the amount of water you use and
manage your water bill; and
Click & Haul
Fees start at $65.
to schedule your curbside pickup or for more information, go to
cityofthornton.net
• Developing new water storage reservoirs to help ensure your
water supply is stable and you have water when you need it.
or call 720-977-6200.
There will be many more decades and birthdays for our great
community as we continue to work together to thoughtfully plan for
and invest in the future.
Kick off Summer with
Thornton Parks and Recreation!
Thornton Parks and Recreation offers lots of great activities to keep
you moving this summer, and beautiful parks to spend time in! Check
out Carpenter Park where you and your family can take a whirl on the
carousel, or cause a splash at the boathouse, or sprayground.
Thorntonfest is always a summer favorite, and this year it is on
Saturday, May 21 at Carpenter Park Fields, 108th Avenue and Colorado
Boulevard. To celebrate the city’s 60th anniversary, the festival hours
have been extended and will include a free 60th anniversary concert
featuring Kansas! The concert takes place Sunday, May 22 at 6 p.m.
at Carpenter Park Fields. Bring family, friends, neighbors, lawn chairs
and blankets! Food vendors and the beer garden will be available
throughout the evening.
You can also have fun in the sun at Thornton’s outdoor pools starting
June 4. This year, our pools will offer June Staycations, where the pools
will remain open into the evening, so bring a picnic dinner and enjoy
a summer evening swim! The Staycation days are Wednesday, June 8,
6-8 p.m., at City Pool, 2141 E. 95th Ave. and Wednesday, June 22, 6-8
p.m., at Park Village Pool, 4051 Summit Grove Pkwy.
The free Summer Concert Series will kick off June 16 at 7 p.m. with the
Thornton Community Band at the Carpenter Park Amphitheater. Go to
www.cityofthornton.net/arts for more information.
There are a ton of other fun summer activities for you and your family,
so be sure to check out the full listing in the latest Thornton Activities
Guide or go to www.cityofthornton.net/recreation.
2
City of Thornton Cottonwood Classic 5K
Saturday, May 21
8 a.m. start
Thorncreek Crossing Shopping Center
120th Ave. & Washington Center Pkwy.
Thornton, Colorado
Visit www.cottonwoodclassicrun.com to register.
For more information visit www.cityofthornton.net/festivals
or call 720-977-5914.
Park Regency Thornton
A B ethesda S enior L iving C ommunity
Thornton City Voice Newspaper
May-June 2016
general city news/community programs and events
North Creek Farms Park Improvements Completed
The final 4.2 acre build-out of the master planned improvements to North Creek Farms Park, 1970 E. 166th
Dr., are complete. The park’s master plan was formulated with neighborhood residents in 2008. “This is the
city’s northern-most residential subdivision and is surrounded by large streets, so a neighborhood park
and gathering area was very important to residents,” says Thornton Parks and Open Space Project Manager
Paula Schulte. “Based on ongoing community input and with help from an Adams County Open Space
grant, additional improvements beyond the 2008 master plan were constructed, including a shade pavilion,
looped walking trail and full-sized basketball court.” Trail tie-ins to adjacent streets, a multipurpose open play
field, park light and signage, additional tree plantings and expansion of the irrigation system to include the
entire park completed the master plan improvements. Major funding for the project was provided through
Thornton’s parks and open space tax revenues plus a $369,343 Adams County Open Space grant.
Water-Saving Success Story
Oil Changes & More
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When first-time homeowners Ricky and Katie moved to
Thornton in April 2013, they had very little experience
managing a yard and sprinkler system. They ran their
sprinklers every day until their lawn was green. Little did
they know watering every day wasn’t the best way to a
healthy, green lawn. Daily watering and an underground
sprinkler system leak increased their water use to 60,000
gallons in one month. That caught their attention.
Ricky and Katie looked for resources on ThorntonWater.
com and discovered that Thornton had smart irrigation
controller rebates. Ricky, being a ‘techy’ person, liked the
idea of upgrading his sprinkler technology and loved
“that there was an app for that.” Ricky chose a Racchio
smart irrigation controller that works with his cell phone,
which he said was a breeze to install.
Smart controllers use actual weather data to automatically
adjust the sprinkler system’s watering schedule to be as
efficient as possible. The city of Thornton’s free sprinkler
consultation provides the information needed to dial in
a new (or old) irrigation controller. After receiving a free
sprinkler consultation and setting up his smart controller’s
phone app, Ricky said his grass has never been greener
and the water usage has decreased to 12,000 gallons in
the peak months. In his words, “This is good for the earth
and our wallets.”
Good times are
found here!
Saturday, May 21
60th Anniversary Hours 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Carpenter Park Fields
108th Avenue & Colorado Boulevard
Children’s Amusements • “The Marketplace” • Paw Fest • Beer Gardens
Youth Sports Demonstrations • Food & Concessions • Battle of the Bands
Three Stages of Entertainment • City of Thornton Services Tent • Mile Hi Cruisers Car Show
AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!
WATER-WISE GARDEN TOURS
The smart irrigation controller rebate covers up to $400
for the full cost of an EPA WaterSense certified irrigation
controller. For more information, visit ThorntonWater.
com to learn about rebates, sprinkler consultations and
other ways to save water. Thornton
Police
Officer
Evan Potter and K-9 Nero
were recently honored by
the National Police Canine
Association regarding three
encounters with violent felony
offenders. During two of these
situations Officer Potter and
K-9 Nero apprehended the
suspects with no injuries to officers, and in the third case,
K-9 Nero detected over 250 grams of suspected cocaine
in a search of a residence, leading to an arrest warrant for
the suspect. May-June 2016
Featuring
FREE Fare From The LoWco Food Truck & guided tours from landscaping experts
SAT. JUNE 11 @ 11:30 A.M. FIRE STATION 5 WATER-WISE GARDEN
JOIN US
Thornton Police
Officer and K-9
honored
SOAK UP SOME KNOWLEDGE & LEARN HOW TO
TRANSFORM YOUR LANDSCAPE INTO AN H2O-SAVING OASIS
14051 COLORADO BLVD., THORNTON
WED. JULY 13 @ 6 P.M. CARPENTER RECREATION CENTER WATER-WISE GARDEN
11151 COLORADO BLVD., THORNTON
SAT. AUGUST 6 @ 10 A.M. FIRE STATION 5 WATER-WISE GARDEN
14051 COLORADO BLVD., THORNTON
Learn More at ThorntonWater.com
Thornton City Voice Newspaper
3
community programs and events
Thornton Connected
Impact
your
community
Have you ever wanted to become involved in what happens in your community?
If so, consider applying for a position on a Thornton Board or Commission.
Vacancies include:
lets you access the city
l
The
l
The
Building Code Advisory Board
Businesses of Thornton Advisory Commission
(applicants must be a business owner or manager to apply)
l
The Election Commission
l
The Parks and Open Space Advisory Commission
l
The Senior Citizen Advisory Board
l
The Thornton Arts, Sciences and Humanities Council
Thornton Connected lets you
access FAQs, send a personalized
service request, and track the
progress as city staff addresses it.
Using Thornton Connected is quick and easy!
For detailed information and qualifications on each board, please visit our
website at www.cityofthornton.net and click on Government, then Boards and
Commissions.
Go to cityofthornton.net and click on Thornton Connected,
or download the GoRequest app.
It sends your issue or complaint directly to the
city department who can address it.
Thornton City Clerk’s Office
9500 Civic Center Dr., Thornton, CO 80229
303-538-7230 - www.cityofthornton.net
Mayor
Thornton
City
Council
Search for “GORequest” at the
Apple app store and Android Market.
BROTHERS PLUMBING, HEATING & ELECTRIC PRESENTS
Heidi Williams
303-538-7531 - City
303-819-9722 - Cell
The city of Thornton invites you to a special
60th Anniversary concert!
Heidi.Williams
@cityofthornton.net
SUNDAY, MAY 22
6 P.M. • FREE!
Ward 1
Mack Goodman
Jacque Phillips
Mack.Goodman
@cityofthornton.net
Jacque.Phillips
@cityofthornton.net
303-538-7534 - City
303-287-8662 - Home
24/7
303-538-7537 - City
303-903-1011 - Cell
CARPENTER
108th
Avenue
&
PARK
Colorado
FIELDS
Boulevard
Ward 2
Mayor Pro Tem
Eric Montoya
Val Vigil
303-538-7536 - City
720-365-2695 - Cell
Eric.Montoya
@cityofthornton.net
303-538-7535 - City
303-947-7588 - Cell
Thornton City Hall
9500 Civic Center Dr.
Thornton 80229
Ward 3
Sam Nizam
303-538-7533 - City
720-226-4706 - Cell
Sam.Nizam
@cityofthornton.net
Josh Zygielbaum
303-538-7532 - City
720-523-3371 - Cell
Josh.Zygielbaum
@cityofthornton.net
Jan Kulmann
Adam Matkowsky
Jan.Kulmann
@cityofthornton.net
Adam.Matkowsky
@cityofthornton.net
303-538-7530 - City
303-601-2917 - Cell
City Council Meetings:
May 10, 24; June 14, 28
City Council meetings begin at 7 p.m. in the Thornton
City Hall Council Chambers and are also televised live on
KTTV-8, Comcast channel 8. These dates are subject to
change. Please go to www.cityofthornton.net and the
Community Calendar for current information. If you have a
disability and require assistance to attend and participate
in these meetings, call 303-538-7245.
4
Thornton Police Department
and Municipal Court
9551 Civic Center Dr.
Thornton 80229
Infrastructure Maintenance Center
12450 Washington St.
Thornton 80241
Carpenter Recreation Center
11151 Colorado Blvd.
Thornton 80233
Ward 4
303-538-7201 - City
720-201-6155 - Cell
KANSASBAND.COM
Val.Vigil
@cityofthornton.net
Animal Control 720-977-5250
Arts & Culture Center 720-977-5885
Automated Info Line 303-538-7629
Building Inspection 303-538-7250
Building Permits
303-538-7250
Business Assistance 303-538-7605
City Clerk’s Office 303-538-7230
City Council & Mayor ­ 303-538-7200
City Manager’s Office 303-538-7200
Code Compliance
303-538-7517
Communications 303-538-7279
Community Center 303-255-7830
Human Resources
303-538-7245
Jobline 303-538-7555
Municipal Court 720-977-5400
Neighborhood Services 303-538-7600
Police (non-emergency) 720-977-5124
Recreation Center 303-255-7800
Senior Center
303-255-7850
Snow & Ice Control 720-977-6464
Trash & Recycling 720-977-6200
Utilities (Water, Sewer) 720-977-6500
Utility Billing 303-538-7370
Volunteer Program
720-977-5881
Voter Registration 303-538-7230
Thornton Community Center
2211 Eppinger Blvd.
Thornton 80229
Tune into Comcast
Channel 8 anywhere in
the Thornton area.
Thornton Senior Center
9471 Dorothy Blvd.
Thornton 80229
Thornton 8 airs city council meetings,
coverage of local events and issues, and arts, cultural, educational
and original programming. Don’t have Comcast? Go to
www.cityofthornton.tv for streaming and On Demand content.
Thornton Arts & Culture Center
9209 Dorothy Blvd.
Thornton 80229
Don’t forget to follow us on...
@ThorntonColorado
@CityofThornton
www.cityofthornton.net
Thornton City Voice Newspaper
Editorial Staff
Todd Barnes, 303-538-7279
Managing Editor/Communications Director
Gina Lantz, 303-538-7575
Design/Communications Technician
Lisa Wilson, 303-538-7282
Editor, Writer/Communications Specialist
Photographers: City Staff and Thinkstockphotos®.
Erika Hollinshed, 303-538-7256
Writer, Design/Communications Technician
Special Thanks to all City Departments for their
contribution to the City Voice newspaper.
May-June 2016