Dear readers,

It’s certainly time for another issue of this newsletter. Things have been happening in the City of Centennial. I’ve got a passle of news to pass along.

So without further ado, here’s the news.

Andrea Suhaka – standy@ecentral.com

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Andrea Suhaka (303-770-0058)

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Tickets on sale now for the Mayor’s State of the City Address (4/12)

The Rotary Club of Centennial and the City of Centennial are pleased to announce Centennial’s 8th annual “State of Our City” luncheon scheduled for Thurs., April 12, at the Embassy Suites Hotel. The keynote speaker will be Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon. The event will be emceed by CBS 4 reporter Jennifer Brice, a Centennial native.

The mayor will report on the milestones the City reached this past year, as well as the challenges still ahead and her vision for the City’s future.

“Our Centennial Rotary always hosts a wonderful event and I really appreciate their tremendous effort. I enjoy the opportunity to visit with the business community and residents to receive feedback about the City. The “State of the City” luncheon provides another way for Rotary to get the word out about the amazing projects they do in the community, nationally and internationally, and to hopefully get more people involved,” said Mayor Noon.

The event host is the Rotary Club of Centennial, a chapter of Rotary International formed shortly after the founding of Centennial.

The “State of Our City” luncheon will be at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 10250 E. Costilla Ave., Centennial, on Thurs., April 12. Registration begins at 11 a.m. Individual tickets are $40, with sponsored tables also available. The event is open to the public; seating is limited and reservations are strongly encouraged. Tickets are available through Black Tie of Colorado, a ticketing service for nonprofit organizations, at www.blacktie-colorado.com. Proceeds of this event go to the Centennial Rotary Club Foundation. The foundation assists local charities and community service organizations.

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29 March, Prior Authorization Bill

What’s in the Prior Authorization Bill?

How does it affect your access to care? Join us for this informational seminar hosted by the Arthritis Foundation and Pfizer. There is no charge to attend.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Registration begins at 11:00 a.m.

Arthritis Foundation, 2280 S. Albion St., Denver, 80222

Lunch will be provided.

For additional information please contact:

Jill Lysengen,  jlysengen@arthritis.org, (303) 756-8622 x 222

Complete your registration online at: http://PriorAuthorization.kintera.org/

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Deadlines: April 13 & 16, Applications for positions on some of Centennial’s boards & commission

The City of Centennial is currently accepting applications to fill openings on the Board and the Planning and Zoning Commission. Application forms may be obtained on the City website, www.centennialcolorado.com, or from the City Clerk, 303-754-3302 or bmadison@centennialcolorado.com. All terms are for a period of three years, for which a stipend of $25 per meeting will be paid to each attending board member. Meetings are at 13133 E Arapahoe Rd, Centennial, 80112.

Planning and Zoning Commission – a commission which considers land use applications and other land use matters. Meets at 7:00 p.m. the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month. Application deadline: 5 p.m. April 13, 2012

Board of Review – a board who considers appeals to the Building Code. Meets at 4:30 p.m. the 1st Tuesday of the month on as-needed basis. Application deadline: 5 p.m. April 16, 2012

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15 April: Firefighter Appreciation Night at the Nuggets

To benefit the Colorado Fallen Firefighter Foundation

An invitation from Cunningham Fire Chief Jerry Rhodes, serving the east side of our City, to attend the Nuggets vs. the Houston Rockets.

Sunday, April 15, 2012 @ 6:00pm

Denver Nuggets vs. Houston Rockets

Everyone who purchases tickets will be able to shoot around on the Nuggets court immediately following the game!

Fundraising Challenge – CFFF (Cunningham) vs. DFD (Denver) Running Team – whichever group sells the most tickets will be able to “Pass the Boot” on the Pepsi Center courtyard before the game to raise more money for their organization!

Tickets:

$45 Corner Loge – normally $80

$24.50 Upper Center Balcony – normally $39

$5 FROM EVERY TICKET GOES DIRECTLY BACK TO THE CFFF

Order Tickets online at: www.pepsicenter.com/groups/nuggets/cfff/

Tickets are limited for this special promotion. At a certain point Nuggets management may hold the rights to cancel the certain promotion due to a lack of inventory. DON’T WAIT TO ORDER!

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Deadline: 16 April, Centennial Business Climate Survey

Engaging the Centennial business community in a meaningful way is one of the City’s top economic development priorities for 2012. To better understand the business community’s challenges and opportunities, every business in the City is encouraged to complete the 2012 Centennial Business Climate Survey. The results of the survey will be released as compiled data sets. Responses are vital to ensuring Centennial’s future economic development efforts remain innovative.

The 2012 Centennial Business Survey is available at online at http://centennialcolorado.com/index.aspx?nid=123. Visit the “Economic Development” page under the “Departments” heading at centennialcolorado.com. You will find a link to the survey on the Economic Development landing page. To complete a paper copy, download survey and fax or mail it in. Responses are due no later than Monday, April 16.For more information, contact the Economic Development Manager, Corri Spiegel, at (303)754-3351 or cspiegel@centennialcolorado.com.

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16 April, 6 – 10 pm: Weather Spotting class

Do you have an interest in weather spotting and helping the USGS keep track of our Colorado weather?

The Sheriff’s Office is hosting a Weather Spotting class on Mon., April 16 from 6 – 10 pm at 13101 E. Broncos Pky. If you would like to attend, please, RSVP to Cassandra Stelter at 720-874-4186 or E-mail at cstelter@co.arapahoe.co.us

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17 and/or 26 April, 4 – 7 pm: Centennial Transportation Master Plan Open House

If you care about moving around the City of Centennial, please, plan to attend one of these open houses. A Citizen Advisory Committee has been working for over a year to plan for transportation issues in Centennial in 2025-2030. A plan has been created for the citizens to view and it might contain some interesting changes to our transportation system: vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, mass transit. It will be on display for public comment on these two dates:

*  17 April, 4-7 pm, City of Centennial

*  26 April, 4-7 pm, South Metro Chamber of Commerce in the Streets at SouthGlenn

Make sure your voice is heard!

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28 April, 10 am – 2 pm, 2 locations: National Drug Take-Back Day

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place on Sat., April 28 from 10 am – 2 pm.  This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications.

Americans that participated in the DEA’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Oct. 29, 2011, turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the three prior Take-Back Days are combined, the DEA, and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months.

“The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “DEA remains hard at work to establish just such a drug disposal process, and will continue to offer take-back opportunities until the proper regulations are in place.”

“With the continued support and hard work of our more than 3,945 state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners, these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue,” said Leonhart.

*  Streets at SouthGlenn (last year it was in the parking lot north of Macy’s)

*  Centennial Medical Center, 14200 E. Arapahoe Rd.

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19 May, 7am – noon: Arapahoe Sheriff’s Office Shred-a-thon

I don’t have much more information on this except that it will be at the Arapahoe Sheriff’s Office, 13100 Broncos Pky, in their parking lot. I do know there is a limit on the amount of material you may bring for shredding (2 legal boxes?) My next newsletter may have more information on this.

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From Twitter, @RTMetroDenver (Rebuilding Together): Know a low-income senior that is in need of home repairs? Have them apply to RTMD. http://t.co/HG7fwm2Q

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Andrea: Though Centennial has decided not to go for a bond issue right now, this is always welcomed news.

Centennial receives strong credit rating

The City of Centennial has reaffirmed the City’s AA+ credit rating. These ratings recognize the City’s strong general fund balances, low debt burden, and an affluent residential population.

According to the report provided by Standard & Poors “ The city’s management practices are considered “strong” under Standard & Poor’s Financial Management Assessment (FMA). An FMA of “strong” indicates that practices are strong, well embedded, and likely sustainable. We revised the city’s FMA score to “strong” from “good” due to the city’s adoption of a debt management policy. Although the city currently has no debt outstanding, the policy includes parameters for the uses of debt, debt structures, and debt administration and procedures.”

“The City of Centennial strives to be good stewards of our citizens tax dollars. I am proud that Standard & Poors has acknowledged the City’s lack of debt, appropriate cash reserves and strong financial management. Our citizens should be pleased with this recognition of their government’s solid financial position,” says Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon.

The City has maintained this credit rating since 2008.

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A tip from the Tweet stream of @ArapahoeSO (Arapahoe Sheriff’s Office): BURGLARY PREVENTION TIP: Install motion sensitive lights to increase your home’s visibility, by limiting hiding places

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Council Member Keith Gardner appointed Mayor Pro Tem
On March 5, 2012, Judge Ford Wheatley swore in Council Member Keith Gardner as Mayor Pro Tem for the upcoming year. The pro tem position is elected annually and serves mayoral functions during any temporary absences of the mayor.

Council Member Keith Gardner was recently re-elected to serve as District 2. Gardner’s term will end in 2016.

“I can’t thank my council colleagues enough for allowing me this opportunity, and I’m truly honored and thrilled to serve our community in this way. I’m looking forward to learning more about our City with this position, especially as the City’s representative on the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District Board,” says Mayor Pro Tem Gardner.

Keith is a Software Quality Assurance Specialist and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado. He serves as a City representative on the Centennial Airport Community Noise Roundtable, a liaison to Littleton Public Schools and the South Metro Fire Protection. He is also a member of the land use committee

Keith serves on a number of community organizations, including:

* City Representative Centennial Airport Community Noise Roundtable

* Liaison Littleton Public Schools

* Liaison South Metro Fire Protection District

* Member Centennial’s Land Use Committee

* Represents Centennial on the Centennial Airport/Community Noise Roundtable

* Centennial Council of Neighborhoods (CenCON)

* Iota Phi Theta Fraternity

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Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office CITIZEN ADVISORY

Elder Watch

www.co.arapahoe.co.us/citizeninfo/ElderWatch2012.pdf

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Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office

CRIME PREVENTION TIPS

Robbery Prevention

www.co.arapahoe.co.us/citizeninfo/RobberyPrevention2012.pdf

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Via Twitter, @ColoradoAARP: Learn about federal and state financial assistance for seniors: http://t.co/t4SW7VlL

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Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office

CRIME PREVENTION TIPS

Home Security – Burglary Prevention

www.co.arapahoe.co.us/citizeninfo/BurglaryPreventionMarch.pdf

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Via Twitter, @South_I_25_TMA: We have almost reached 100,000 miles in the Million Mile Challenge! Join the challenge today at http://t.co/Ak6UQgwf

Andrea: I think April is the last month to take advantage of discounted RTD tickets.

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Arapahoe/I-25 Interchange Environmental Assessment

Outwardly not much has been happening with this project. Key committees are continuing to meet, but there is very little news. For current information, you may always turn to: www.centennialcolorado.com/index.aspx?nid=708 or www.i25arapahoeroadea.com/

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Explore Centennial – Shop Local

For the latest deals, please seer www.centennialcolorado.com/index.aspx?NID=543

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And now for some news about TRANSPORTATION

Via Twitter, @Transpo_Issues: Could Creating this Federal Transportation Program Save $200 Billion A Year? http://t.co/47Ur385Q

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Via Twitter, @TransportNation: 10.4 billion riders took public transit in 2011 — second highest year ever!

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And now for some briefs from Bill Spriggs of The Back Fence:

CampaignStops.blogs.nytimes.com

The New Suburban Poverty
By Lisa McGirr, Mar 19, 2012

In many of America’s once pristine suburbs, harbingers of inner-city blight – overgrown lots, boarded up windows, abandoned residences – are the new eyesores.  READ MORE…

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DC.StreetsBlog.org

Feeding the Beast: The Backdoor Ways Transit Subsidizes Roads 

By Angie Schmitt, Mar 16, 2012

We’ve done our share of commentary on this blog about how transit is underfunded in the first place. So it’s all the more upsetting to see highway projects pick the pocket of transit agencies. But that’s exactly what’s happening, in different forms, in different places throughout the country, writes Alon Levy at Pedestrian Observations.   READ MORE…

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ThisBigCity.net

The Future of the City: Density, Sustainability, and Citizen Happiness 

By Sharon Gochenour

After an hour and a half of driving, I was pretty thoroughly disgusted with the whole idea of suburbs. I became more and more unreasonable as I became more and more lost. What’s the difference between “96th Street” and “96th Street Terrace?” Why were there so many parking lots?   READ MORE…

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ThisBigCity.net

World’s First Vertical Forest Under Construction in Milan 

Forum, March 01, 2012

In Milan, a forest will soon be planted in the sky. Building works for a pair of skyscrapers that will become home to the world’s first vertical forest is underway.  READ MORE…

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Andrea: I offer this because if the I-225 corridor is completed, it will meet with the line to DIA and give us a way to take trains to the airport.

TheDenverPost.com

T-REX Company Offers Plan to Finish Aurora FasTracks Segment

By Karen Augé, Mar 14, 2012

The company that built the T-REX transportation project wants to be part of RTD’s current behemoth, and it has surprised the transportation district with a confidential, unsolicited bid, most likely to bring the FasTracks Interstate 225 light-rail project northward.  READ MORE…

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You’ll notice I’ve also included a number of items I got from Twitter. Those URLs probably look pretty strange, but they are fine for you to click. A new “fad” on the internet is services to shorten URLs.      Andrea