Citizens' View of Littleton Colorado

Travis Nicks Joins In Complaint Against C4LF

Carol B — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:30:39 +0000

To read the letter please follow the link.

C4LF Responds to Its Readers About the Complaint

Carol B — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:23:57 +0000

To Loyal Littleton Leek Readers:Well, as you have probably heard or read, Carol and Martin Brzeczek, along with David Schwan, Jim DuBose and David Mitchell have filed a Request for an Investigation against The Littleton Leek for campaigning. We believe this is nothing more than an attempt to obtain free publicity and stifle free speech by those with whom they don’t agree.In establishing the Leek, we thought Littleton residents might appreciate a humorous look at the community along the lines of the old “Fiasco” performances. Perhaps we should have anticipated that not everyone would appreciate the political satire in The Leek. You may have noticed that we have inflicted our attempt at humor on current Council members Clark, Brinkman, Ostermiller, Mulvey and Trujillo, and other candidates, including Stahlman, Cernanec, Taylor, Cole and Nicks – not just candidates supported by Ms. Brzeczek and her associates.Our sole goal is to provide a few smiles and to raise awareness of the Littleton City Council election through political satire.The news articles fail to mention that Citizens for Littleton’s Future registered as a Political Committee in 2007 and, as such, has recently filed two reports of contributions and expenditures (on September 22 and October 13). Citizens for Littleton’s Future is in full compliance with the provisions of Colorado Election law for registration and reporting by a Political Committee.

Your Leeky staff

P.S. Just to set the record straight,

§ A Libertarian did not open a hookah shop on Main Street

§ There was no public demonstration because Bruce Stahlman gave up his bow ties

§ Phil Cernanec doesn’t really want South Suburban to take over the city

Complaint that was Filed Against C4LF

Carol B — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:23:13 +0000

Complaint C4LF - For those that asked to see the Complaint in full I have provided it here. Thank you for asking. This link will take you to the Complaint filed October 16, 2009.

Fine Arts Committee Conserves Littleton’s Outdoor Art

Carol B — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:16:32 +0000

As a member of the Fine Arts Committee I am proud of the work that we accomplished with the help of Barbara Johnson, Conservator of Art Objects this past summer. Barbara was hired to examine nine outdoor bronze scupltures. This was the first time they have been carefully examined, cleaned and waxed. The work was very rewarding – the results were astounding and dramatic. Thank you to all those that expressed your appreciation to us as we were working and for those that contacted us with words of thanks.

I am including three pictures of before and afters of three different scupltures. If you would like to see more you can go to the city’s web site and take a look at the Council meeting video from October 20th. Barbara Johnson presented an overview of the work that was done.

Littleton City Council Citizen Minutes – October 20, 2009

Carol B — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:32:20 +0000

Citizen Minutes

Regular Meeting of City Council

October 20, 2009

1. Roll Call – Tom Mulvey was absent.

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Agenda

4. Minutes

a) Minutes of Regular Meeting October 6, 2009

5. Introduce New City Employees

6. Citizens Appearances

a) Guest Citizens

b) Scheduled public appearances – Barb Johnson regarding Fine Arts Committee – Since this is a committee that I serve on I will give you a brief summary. The Fine Arts Committee was allocated $10,000 in 2008 and 2009 to conserve Littleton’s art. The Committee hired Barbara Johnson, a Conservator, to assess our bronze outdoor artwork and clean and wax them. She gave an overview of the project to the council showing slides of the some of the adverse conditions some of the artwork is subjected to by being placed where they are. She also showed slides of before and after of several of the pieces.

c) Unscheduled public appearances* (limited to 4 minutes)

7. Consent Agenda Items

a) Ordinance on first reading regarding 2010 Annual Appropriation Ordinance and 2009 Mill Levy Ordinance – Approved 6/0

b) Ordinance on first reading approving the Kensington-Cobblestone General Planned Development Plan Amendment No. 1 – Approved 6/0

c) Resolution Approving Business Improvement District’s 2010 Operating Plan and Budget – Approved 6/0

d) Intergovernmental Agreement with Colorado Department of Transportation RE: Automated Vehicle Identification Systems to Monitor Red Light Violations on State Highways within City Limits – Approved 6/0

8. Second and Final Reading on Ordinances and Public Hearings

a) Ordinance approving the Centennial Downs General Planned Development Plan Amendment No. 9 – This involves the northeast corner of the Home Depot parking lot area to allow for a separate building pad. The Council agreed that the area is not used for parking and the development of the area would be a much better use. Brinkman moved and Cole seconded the motion which passed 6/0.

b) Ordinance adopting the 2009 International Codes and readopting the 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, the International Energy Conservation Code and standards relating to the installation and inspection of conveyances – There were several changes to the code that were considered. The more notable were:

– Automated fire sprinkler system in all new townhouses and one and two-family residences. Would not apply to remodeling or additions to existing single family residences not already sprinkled.

– New egress requirements for bonus rooms and habitable attic spaces.

– Carbon monoxide detectors in residential occupancies that have attached garages or fuel fired heating appliances. These would have to be installed when a permit is issued for any work.

– A Third stairway for high-rise buildings and an increased width of stairways.

– New make-up air requirements for residential kitchens that exceed 400 cubic-feet-of-air-per minute (cfm). This type of system would pull in outside air when the exhaust is running…..even in the dead of winter.

Jim Taylor said Littleton had a reputation for being a difficult City and exceptions to the Code make it even more difficult for developers. Having exceptions in the different cities makes it even more confusing for contractors. It will become even more the case that contractors will not want to come to Littleton. If it is in the code it should be enforced. Codes drive up construction costs and the Code is bothersome to me.

Woods said the sprinkler provision would apply to new construction and remodels.

Jim Thelen said three or four jurisdictions were going to adopt the Code without the amendments. Five or six are omitting the sprinkler systems. Majority are talking to their councils about it in a study session.

Doug Clark moved to remove the sprinkler system requirement for single family dwellings from the Code. John Ostermiller seconded. Motion pass 6/0.

Jose moved to delete the make-up air requirement in residential homes until the tempered air problem is fixed. Taylor seconded.

Jim Thelen said they needed to address the make-up air for the exhaust. They could limit the cfm or temper the make-up air before it is brought into the home.

Debbie Brinkman asked what kind of home are you building that you need that – it is extreme overkill. It maybe a bad choice not to install a carbon monoxide detector but requiring it is “Nanny” stuff.

Clark said the building inspector could issue the approval for a tempered air system.

Ostermiller asked if there was a trigger point for requiring make-up air in our homes. Thelen said it was 400 cfm and the standard kitchen exhaust is 50 cfm.

Clark urged a no vote on Jose’s motion which failed on a 1/6 vote with Jose alone voting yes.

Clark moved to amend the Code to require the make-up air to be tempered and approved by the building inspector. Motion passed 5/1 with Cole dissenting.

The main motion passed 6/0.

c) Ordinance Adopting the 2009 Edition of the International Fire Code with Appendices – Fire Marshall Jim Hofstra presented these changes which were more evolutionary than revolutionary. The most notable concerns the installation of E5 fuel dispensing stations. “These types of fuels are incompatible with some of the components commonly found in gasoline dispensing systems.”

Brinkman moved to accept the changes, Jose seconded and the motion passed 6/0.

d) Ordinance Amending City Code Sections 10-1-2 and 10-8-2 (C) and Adding Section 10-4-15 Related To Small Wind Energy Systems – This Ordinance would create codes to regulate the installation of wind turbines. Brinkman moved not to approve the Ordinance and Ostermiller seconded her motion. Brinkman said the professionals at their study session indicated that harnessing wind energy in Littleton is not viable – even the small version on rooftops. Colorado is better known for harnessing solar energy. Approving the Ordinance may encourage something that is not practical to do.

Taylor said just because it is in our Code doesn’t mean we are encouraging it. We are saying it is allowable. There is no reason why we shouldn’t allow small wind energy systems in our city.

Ostermiller was concerned with the height of a tower placed on a rooftop and the possibility of it falling on a neighbor’s property. There is more work to be done on this – there are a lot of unanswered questions.

Clark said it was a philosophical issue – we have residents that came to us so we started this process. There is a car wash on Littleton Blvd. that wants to put one up. We need to protect the public safety and welfare not whether or not people spend their money wisely. Motion failed 3/3 with Clark, Taylor and Jose voting yes and Cole, Brinkman and Ostermiller voting no.

Clark moved to approve the Ordinance. Jose seconded. Ostermiller was concerned about poles on a commercial property and not adjacent to the property line would have to be approved by a structural engineer. He was worried about a pole falling on another’s property.

Brinkman said they have two pages of conflicts and complications. She has no problem allowing things but we should be assured we have our bases covered. There may be noise issues and other issues that we haven’t considered.

Clark amended his motion to exclude roof-top mounted systems and only allow pole systems in the larger zoning areas. His motion failed for lack of a second.

Taylor said when an applicant comes in the safeguards will be in place to protect the public. A professional engineer will certify that the system is safe. I don’t think there is going to be a rush – these are not cheap but very expensive and only commercial entities can make it pay for itself. Motion failed on a 3/3 vote with Cole, Ostermiller and Brinkman dissenting.

e) Ordinance Amending the 2009 Budget to transfer funds from the Water Utility Fund to the Special Projects Fund – The Water Fund is finally no more! Brinkman moved to transfer $368,000 from the Water Fund to the General Fund and $10,957,000 from the Water Fund to the Special Projects Fund. Cole seconded. There will be a separate accounting of the Water Fund/Special Projects money. Council has already determined that $6,000,000 will be used to pay for the police addition. Motion passed 6/0.

f) Ordinance Establishing 2010 Sanitary Sewer Utility Charges and Resolution of City of Littleton, Colorado Sewer Utility Enterprise regarding Sanitary Sewer Charges Ordinance Adopting 2010 Sanitary Sewer Utility Charges – Motion was made to increase our sewer rates $18.86 per year with similar increases for commercial and multifamily dwellings. Motion passed 6/0. Clark commented that Littleton is still over collecting for the collection system and in the spirit of cooperation he will approve the change. However, the cooperation has been on-sided. Sen. Kerr is still trying to pass legislation about how and who sets the rates for Littleton.

Ostermiller said Sen. Kerr’s legislation is not in the best interest of everyone. We found people that can work numbers without errors. (This is the first time I have heard Ostermiller admit that there was a math error in calculating our sewer rates several years ago.)

There will be a discussion about billing more than once per year with the rates getting as high as they are.

9. General Business

a) Motion to authorize design development expenditures for police addition – Cole moved to allocate $132,000 for the development phase which is the second of five phases for the police building. Taylor seconded.

Brinkman questioned that the date for the construction drawings was February 2010. She would like to see things happen a little faster. Motion passed 6/0.

b) Motion to authorize expenditures for Fire Department Inspection Division – Motion was made to approve office space for the Fire Inspection Division for $58,800 annually with an option for two more years. $25,000 has been budgeted for furniture and equipment. Motion passed 6/0.

10. Consideration of Committee, Commission and Board Matters

11. Ordinances on First Reading

12. Resolutions

13. Comments / Reports

a) City Manager

b) City Attorney

c) Council Members

d) Council President

e) DRCOG

14. Adjournment

Complaint Filed Against C4LF in District Court

Carol B — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:06:32 +0000

16 October 2009

Press Release: Today a complaint was filed with Michael Knight, Chief Investigator for the 18^th Judicial District in Arapahoe County against the political campaign group spearheaded by Susan Thornton, Amy Conklin, Flo Bullock, Karen Kaplan, Ray Koernig and Stew Meagher known as Citizens For Littleton’s Future or C4LF. The committee was registered in the City of Littleton on March 20, 2007 as a committee to “encourage, support, elect civic minded citizens for Littleton City Council.”

The C4LF campaign committee is bound, like all campaign committees, by CRS 1-13-109 False or reckless statements relating to candidates or questions submitted to electors-penalties-definitions of the Uniform Election Code of 1992 that specifically declares it unlawful to “knowingly” (CRS 1-13-109 (1)(a) or “recklessly” (CRS 1-13-109 (2)(a) publish or distribute false statements in campaign literature. Each violation is punishable with imprisonment and/or monetary fines.

On or about September 23 those filing the complaint received an electronic copy of the Littleton Leek, a satirical look at Littleton written by members of C4LF. The front page article, entitled Libertarian Opens Paraphernalia: Ye Olde Hookah Shoppe states that “Mayor Doug Clark heralded the grand opening of Council candidate Travis Nicks’ new business in downtown Littleton. Nicks, who took time off from campaigning to be on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at his new hookah shop, and said that establishing Paraphernalia was the fulfillment of a life-long dream……….Following that failed attempt to legalize marijuana statewide, Nicks decided to take action by opening a shop in Littleton. He will be offering a wide supply of pot and other supplies in a retail venue.”

Although not all of those filing can vote for Mr. Nicks we are all citizens in Littleton and the outcome of the election between Mr. Nicks and C4LF’s candidate, Phil Cernanec will impact our city council. The claim that Mr. Nicks opened a retail marijuana business in Littleton has no basis in fact whatsoever and if the Littleton Leek was not the publication of an active and registered political committee formed to “encourage, inform and elect civil-minded citizens for Littleton City Council” it would be funny and no complaint would have been filed. However, the Citizens for Littleton’s Future is a political committee and has violated the provisions of C.R.S. 1-13-109 as stated in paragraphs (1)(a) and (2)(a) dealing with false or reckless statements relating to candidates or questions submitted to electors.

Both offenses, “knowingly” and “recklessly” publishing false statements relating to a candidate, are classified as misdemeanor criminal offenses. The offense of “knowingly” publishing and circulating false campaign literature is a “class 1 misdemeanor and, upon the conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-501 C.R.S.” (C.R.S. 1-13-109 (1)(b) with a minimum of 6 months imprisonment and/or a $500 fine and up to 18 months imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine. The second offense of “recklessly” publishing or circulating false campaign literature is a “class 2 misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-501” (C.R.S. 1-13-109(2)(b) with a minimum 3 months imprisonment and/or a $250 fine and a maximum of 12 months imprisonment and/or a $1000 fine.

Complaint signed by: Carol and Martin Brzeczek, David N. Mitchell, David W. Schwan, and Jim DuBose

City Clerk is on Top of Things!

Carol B — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:13:42 +0000

Way to go Wendy! You have made government just a little more open than it was the last election cycle. Just another example of the “brain gain” in Littleton staff!

For those that are not aware I have had to post the campaign finance reports on this Blog because it wasn’t done by the City until now. So, all you have to do to see the campaign reports is to follow the link on the right hand side of this page. It will take you directly to the City’s website where all the reports are available. What a time saver……………. Wendy you are my hero!

Home Improvement Permit Fees Waived for One Month – Thanks Councilwoman Brinkman!

Carol B — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:24:36 +0000

Littleton residents who have a home improvement project in their near future can take advantage of a one month window for the waiver of Littleton building permit fees. The program begins October 15 and ends November 16. The Littleton City Council approved a resolution August 18 designed to help homeowners during this tough economic time by waiving building permit fees for selected home improvement projects.

The projects eligible for the program are those for which the permit does not require an extensive plan review. This may include: sheds, decks, patio covers, detached garages, electric service changes, water heaters, furnace and air conditioner replacement, re-roofing and siding permits.

The permits will expire in one year. If an extension beyond one year is requested, the full permit fee will be assessed. The program is limited to City of Littleton permit fees and does not include building use tax (.01575 of the total valuation) or the Arapahoe County Open Space Tax (.25 percent).

For more information, contact the City of Littleton Building Division at 303-795-3751.

# # #

Susan Thornton Writes Letter on Behalf of C4LF

Carol B — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:21:29 +0000

Thornton Writes Letter for C4LF - Follow the link to view her letter.

Littleton City Council Meeting Minutes – October 6, 2009

Carol B — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:26:18 +0000

Citizen Minutes

Regular Meeting of City Council

City of Littleton, Colorado

Doug Clark was absent.

7:00 p.m. Tuesday

Littleton Center October 6, 2009

1. Roll Call

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Agenda

4. Minutes

a) Minutes of Special Meeting September 8, 2009

b) Minutes of Special Meeting September 9, 2009

c) Minutes of Special Meeting September 10, 2009

d) Minutes of Regular Meeting September 15, 2009

5. Introduce New City Employees

6. Citizens Appearances

a) Guest Citizens – Margene Hamilton – Margene Hamilton is retiring and was honored for her service. If you have not met Margene, at the Museum, you are missing out. She’s wonderful and will be missed.

b) Scheduled public appearances – Bruce Stahlman, Littleton Historical Preservation Award

7. Consent Agenda Items

a) Ordinance on first reading adopting the 2009 International Codes and readopting the 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, the International Energy Conservation Code and standards relating to the installation and inspection of conveyances – Passed 6/0

b) Ordinance on first reading Amending City Code Sections 10-1-2 and 10-8-2 (C) and Adding Section 10-4-15 Related To Small Wind Energy Systems

c) Ordinance on first reading Amending the 2009 Budget to transfer funds from the Water Utility Fund to the Special Projects Fund - This motion moved $10,957,000.00 from the Water Fund to the Special Projects Fund and $368,000 in interest earnings to the General Fund. This will eliminate the Water Fund by December 31, 2009. This money is what will be used to pay for the police building addition if the majority of Council agrees. Passed 6/0 (The October 13^th meeting is the meeting for the architects to meet with the Council to discuss their plans for the building addition.)

d) Ordinance on first reading Adopting 2010 Sanitary Sewer Utility Charges -

Passed 6/0. If passed on second reading our single family residential rates will be increased by $18.86 for a total of $228.45 per year.

e) Ordinance on first reading the 2009 Edition of the International Fire Code with Appendices – Passed 6/0