Sentinel NORTHGLENN 1.17.13
Northglenn -Thornton
January 17, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ournorthglennnews.com, ourthorntonnews.com
Adams County, Colorado • Volume 49, Issue 23
Council backs closing parks at 10 Northglenn eyes pair of ordinances to increase safety By Tammy Kranz
tkranz@ourcoloradonews.com Parents of minors caught vandalizing, being in parks during closed hours or violating other city offenses could face punishment under a proposed new ordinance in Northglenn. Council unanimously approved the first reading of the Parental Responsibility for Acts of Minor Children ordinance during its regular meeting Monday. Ward IV Councilman Gene Wieneke was absent. City attorney Corey Hoffmann explained that this legal tool would only be used in appropriate circumstances and not as a matter of course. “It’s intended to be something, if adopted, to be used for more focused or specialized cases where the parent is responsible.” he said. The ordinance gives a municipal judge the authority to assign community service or other penal-
ties to not only the minor who violated the city ordinance, but to his or her legal guardian as well. Council also unanimously approve the first reading of an ordinance that moves up the closing time for all city parks to 10 p.m. Currently the parks close at 11 p.m. Both ordinances are set for public hearings before council’s second and final vote during its Jan. 28 meeting at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 11701 Community Center Drive. The pair of park-related ordinances are part of the city’s efforts to increase safety in the area of the Don Anema Memorial Skate Park and E.B. Rains following citizen complaints last year about a rise in criminal activity. Council gave the OK during its Jan. 7 study session for staff to spend $550 for additional signage and $6,800 to run irrigation at the perimeter of the skatepark after hours. The additional signage will include a large sign detailing the rules of the park at the south entrance and six additional smaller signs posted around the skatepark, stating the park hours and associ-
Northglenn City Council is considering various safety measures to increase safety at E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park. Shown is the Don Anema Memorial Skatepark located inside E.B. Rains. Photo by Andy Carpenean ated penalties. The cost for running irrigation after hours includes a new pump, master valve, clock and additional sprinkler heads that would direct the irrigation system to cover
most of the concrete surface of the skatepark for about 10 minutes. Staff expects the wet surface to discourage skaters from using the park. Staff also suggested spending
about $66,000 on thorny vegetation to line the area of the park to create a barrier. Council as a whole was not in favor of this expenditure and directed staff to look into grant funding.
Governor outlines challenges State of State covers gun control, civil unions, marijuana, economy
“It’s a tough issue for everybody,” said Democratic Rep. Max Tyler, D-Lakewood. “It’s a ‘let’s do everything’ approach. Let’s do background checks. Let’s support our citizens’ mental health needs.”
By Vic Vela
Civil unions could pass
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Gov. John Hickenlooper acknowledged that “there are no easy solutions” to issues involving guns, but said a debate on how best to deal with firearm-related violence is something “our democracy demands.” The Democratic governor, addressing the General Assembly during his annual State of the State speech Jan. 10, also proffered his opinion on one area of gun control that is certain to be one of the most passionately debated topics lawmakers will take up this legislative session. “Let me prime the pump,” Hickenlooper said. “Why not have universal background checks for all gun sales?” That suggestion certainly caught the at- Gov. John Hickenlooper gives the State of the State address Jan. 10 to senators and representatives in the House chamtention of lawmakers on both sides of the bers of the state Capitol. The session opened Jan. 9. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen aisle. regulating the marijuana industry were also individual freedom must be re-drawn.” “It is just completely unenforceable,” In spite of those varying viewpoints, the touched on during his 40-minute remarks. House Minority Leader Mark Waller, Rgovernor urged action. Colorado Springs, said of Hickenlooper’s “Surely, Second Amendment advocates Common ground sought call for all sales of guns — including those Taking on the issue of gun violence is a and gun control supporters can find cominvolving person-to-person transactions — top agenda item for this Democratic-con- mon ground in support of this proposibe contingent on background checks. trolled General Assembly, especially on the tion: Let’s examine our laws and make the But Democrats applauded the goverheels of last year’s Aurora theater killings changes needed to keep guns out of the nor’s stance. and the December massacre at Sandy Hook hands of dangerous people.” “He made some risky points,” said Rep. Hickenlooper also sought “support for a Elementary School in Connecticut. But just Tracy Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada. “He wasn’t talking about guns has always been a dicey comprehensive overhaul of our state’s menafraid to jump into that.” political issue, as the governor acknowl- tal health system,” something that he hopes Gun control, one of many issues that can help mentally ill individuals get treatedged. legislators are expected to take up over the “Some point to guns, others to a violent ment before they commit gun crimes. next five months of the session, was just Republicans said there is a bipartisan culture,” he said. “Still others believe that one area that Hickenlooper addressed. Ecothe line between community security and consensus on dealing with mental health nomic matters, civil unions and, of course, issues, but Hickenlooper’s calls for uniPOSTAL ADDRESS
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versal background checks on gun sales is problematic. Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, called such an effort “a regulatory regime” that won’t do anything to curb gun violence. “It makes people feel good, but it doesn’t do anything to solve the problem,” he said. Gardner also said that it’s unrealistic that “drug dealers on street corners are going to abide by that regime.” But Democrats have the numbers this session, and are primed to move on guns.
Tyler also praised the comments on civil unions by Hickenlooper, who said: “Some of us tried very hard, but it didn’t get done last year. This year, let’s do it. Let’s pass civil unions.” “The Legislature sometimes doesn’t get things done the first year,” Tyler said, referencing civil unions. “It’s been up and over and over again.” With Democrats in charge, civil unions finally are expected to pass this session. However, Waller “wants to make sure that Democrats are being completely transparent with that bill,” arguing that language in civil union legislation shouldn’t contradict the existing gay marriage ban in the state Constitution. Then there’s another big deal that elected officials will have to take up in the coming months. “Oh yeah, Amendment 64,” Hickenlooper quipped, referring to November’s voterapproved legalization of recreational marijuana use. A task force is working on finding ways to regulate the marijuana industry and will forward its findings to legislators by the end of February. Hickenlooper said it is important for the drug not to reach children, and he wants to expand DUI laws for those driving while impaired on marijuana. Waller, who is sponsoring a bill that deals with driving under the influence of marijuana, said he was pleased to hear the governor address that issue. With so many hot-button issues coming up this session, it may be easy to lose focus of what Colorado residents perhaps want lawmakers to pay the most attention to over the next five months. “We do know it’s the economy,” said Kraft-Tharp. “It’s jobs.” Hickenlooper praised Colorado’s “economic rebound” following “a historic recession.” The governor said he wants to “keep improving and building on the foundation we have in place,” and that he plans to put forth a budget that “builds the state’s financial solvency.”