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August 2023 Retiree Newsletter Photos from the City’s 2023 employee photo contest (photo credit Doreen Mazza, Procurement Specialist) Hello, City of Arvada Retirees We hope you have all marked your calendars for October 11 to attend the 2023 Annual Retiree Luncheon! Invitations were sent out via email from the City Manager’s Office in July, and we’ve had a good response so far. This year's luncheon will be held at the Arvada Center (6901 Wadsworth Blvd.) from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. If you missed the invitation and would like to RSVP, call Janice or Tara at [PHONE REDACTED] (CMO), and they will take your information. The deadline to RSVP is Sept. 29. We look forward to seeing you there! Check out the City’s new website! On June 1, the City launched its new website ArvadaCO.gov! Watch this video to learn more about the website’s new features, including the AI Chat Bot for asking questions. Visit ArvadaCO.gov and test out these features yourself and subscribe to receive notifications on topics of interest to you! Have questions? Change of email address? Email [EMAIL REDACTED]. 1 ---PAGE BREAK--- Mayor Marc Williams gives final State of the City speech In May, Mayor Marc Williams gave his final State of the City address to the community. The address, titled “Honoring the Past, Imagining the Future,” highlighted how far the City has come over the last 24 years as well as a review of 2022 – what was accomplished and the challenges we faced. You may view the video here. Honoring Fallen Officers The Colorado Law Enforcement Fallen Officer Ceremony was held in early May to honor those officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in 2022 and included Arvada’s Officer Dillon Vakoff. The Arvada Police Department also held its annual Fallen Officer Memorial Ceremony at City Hall. Have questions? Change of email address? Email [EMAIL REDACTED]. 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- The City of Arvada is charting its transportation future Starting in May 2023, the City began the development of a Transportation System Plan (TSP). The TSP will be the first of its kind for the City of Arvada and will use the Arvada Comprehensive Plan, public outreach, extensive traffic study data and traffic modeling as its foundation. As directed in the City Council Strategic Plan, the City is working to identify strategies and priorities for improving the transportation system operations and infrastructure over the next 20 years. This will be achieved by creating a vision, goals and project priorities for the City moving forward. The TSP will provide a policy framework to guide the City’s transportation network and ensure that the City can continue to meet the travel needs of all residents.Those of you who live in Arvada and are interested in providing input can do so on the City’s engagement platform SpeakUp.Arvada.org/connecting-Arvada. Meyers Pool Project breaks ground In June, the City and our partners from Jeffco Public Schools and Apex Park and Recreation celebrated the kick off of construction on the new Meyers Pool facility with a groundbreaking ceremony. Mayor Marc Williams and representatives from Jeffco and Apex spoke about the importance of the facility providing affordable access to swim programming to members of our community. View the event video here. Learn more about the project on the Meyers Pool Replacement project page. Pictured left to right: Mayor Marc Williams and councilmembers Bob Fifer, John Marriott and Lisa Feret Have questions? Change of email address? Email [EMAIL REDACTED]. 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- Final Arbor Day tree planting celebration between City and Peck Elementary In May, the City’s Forestry team and fifth grade students from Peck Elementary gathered at Sunrise Ridge Park planting 37 trees to commemorate the 37 years of Arbor Day celebrations between the City and school. With Peck Elementary closing this year, the celebration was bittersweet, as it marked the final time this special Arvada tradition was shared between Peck Elementary and the City of Arvada. Several special guests were in attendance to commemorate the final year with Peck, including former Peck teacher Dudley Weiland and retired City Forester Craig Hillegass, who together started the tradition back in 1987. Hillegass waxed nostalgic about the event and its success planting trees in Arvada over nearly four decades. “We could drive around Arvada now and remember all the Arbor Days and see all the trees we planted,” Craig said. Going forward, the City will continue its annual Arbor Day tree planting celebration by partnering with different elementary schools each year. Sampling of photos taken through the years + the final 2023 group View the Video from the 2023 event Have questions? Change of email address? Email [EMAIL REDACTED]. 4 ---PAGE BREAK--- Cheyenne/Arapaho tribe leaders travel to Arvada for park naming celebration The City of Arvada was honored to be joined by Tribal officials and cultural leaders of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes in July for the Little Raven Park Naming Celebration. Little Raven served as one of the principal chiefs of the Southern Arapaho People from 1855 - 1998 and was known as a peacemaker between native tribes of Colorado and white settlers in the 1800s. Located at 12140 W. 57th Ave., Arvada's newest park was officially named last spring following a community engagement project led by the Arvada Park Advisory Committee. Visit the City website page for more information about Little Raven Park. Charles Barkley visits West Woods Golf Club The City of Arvada hosted NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley for a round of golf at West Woods Golf Club in June. Barkley was in the Denver area covering the Nuggets’ NBA Finals championship run and filming a commercial for Microsoft. West Woods Golf Club served as a picturesque backdrop for the commercial, and once filming concluded, Barkley engaged with fans, posing for photos and signing autographs before playing 18 holes on the Sleeping Indian and Cottonwood courses. He was joined by NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill and sportscaster Ahmad Rashad. It was a memorable experience for all involved. Grant Hill and Charles Barkley with West Woods staff members Thaddeus Wodark and Bobby Quaratino Have questions? Change of email address? Email [EMAIL REDACTED]. 5 ---PAGE BREAK--- Retiree information contacts 1. [EMAIL REDACTED]: If you wish to receive the City of Arvada Retiree Newsletter published three times yearly and an invitation to the annual Retiree Luncheon, please keep your contact information up to date at [EMAIL REDACTED]. Retiree Luncheon invitations will come through the City Manager’s Office. 2. Facebook: City of Arvada Retirees recently started a private Facebook page for Arvada retirees and former employees. If you’d like to join, send an email to retired City of Arvada employee Karen Smiddy at [EMAIL REDACTED]. She will send you a link (via reply email) inviting you to join. Once she approves your request, you’ll be all set to share posts, photos and updates! 3. Retired City of Arvada employee Shelly Erb maintains a retiree database to share news about significant life events. If you wish to be part of Shelly's database, email her at [EMAIL REDACTED]. Recent Retirees Karen Crawford, CAD/GIS Supervisor Ken Peterson, Water Resources Administrator Brad Reynolds, SCADA Process and Controls Technician I Retiring soon Darrell Linders, Parks Program Manager Discounts and Deals for City of Arvada Retirees and Current Employees Did you know that as a retired City of Arvada employee you are eligible to receive benefits and rewards including discounted leisure, health and financial benefits? The company that provides the information is BenefitHub. You will need to create an account with them, and you will need to provide the benefit referral code to do so. If you are interested, visit benefithub.com and provide the COA REFERRAL CODE: 3Y782P. Items of interest to local retirees For those of you who live locally, you may be interested in some safety-related items available to you at no cost through Arvada PD Crime Prevention Class The Community Response Impact Team (CRIT) of the Arvada Police Department offers the Crime Prevention Class to help residents learn basic crime-prevention tips and tools that help reduce crime. Please attend the next Crime Prevention Class on Oct. 19, 6 to 8 p.m. at Lake Arbor Community Station (8110 Vance Drive) and keep those criminals away from your home! To register, visit arvadaco.gov/Crime-Prevention or call the CRIT team at [PHONE REDACTED] option 3, leave your name, phone # and email address. Registration is required, and space is limited, so register early. Have questions? Change of email address? Email [EMAIL REDACTED]. 6 ---PAGE BREAK--- Free CATGUARD kits available! The Arvada Police Department has received a grant and purchased hundreds of Catalytic Converter Anti-Theft kits. You can pick up a kit at the following APD Community Stations during business hours. ● Arvada City Hall, 8101 Ralston Rd. ● West Woods Community Station, 6644 Kendrick Drive ● Whisper Creek Community Station, 14360 W 89 Drive ● Lake Arbor Community Station, 8110 Vance Drive Secure your firearm Do you own firearms in a home with children? Help us promote responsible gun ownership and secure your firearm when not in use to prevent accidents, theft and misuse! Stop by Arvada PD headquarters or a community station (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a FREE cable-style gun lock courtesy of Project Child Safe. Quantities are limited and will be distributed on a first come-first served basis. Visit projectchildsafe.org for more information. Keep up with City of Arvada News Arvada Report Download six times yearly ArvadaNews Subscribe to receive twice via email Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn View Arvada Media Services videos Find current videos and ones that go back to 2007! We hope you enjoyed the contents of the Retiree Newsletter. The next edition will be distributed in December. If your email address changes or you wish to stop receiving the newsletter, please email [EMAIL REDACTED] or call Cindy at [PHONE REDACTED]. Have questions? Change of email address? Email [EMAIL REDACTED]. 7