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Citizen Portal News Colorado
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Noise experts are at odds in the Colorado ECMC hearing, debating whether mitigation measures can truly shield residents from harmful sound levels.

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#CO #CitizenPortal #PublicHealth #EnvironmentalNoise
Noise experts clash over methods and whether mitigation will protect nearby residents
Noise expert William Thornton testified that site‑specific inputs were missing from operator models and emphasized distance, equipment quieting and topography; Urban Solutions and Crestone experts said the mitigation plan complies with ECMC rule 4.23 and that planned measures (sound wall, topography, electrification) will keep impacts within limits.
citizenportal.ai
November 28, 2025 at 3:05 PM
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Tensions are rising in Colorado as residents voice urgent concerns over wildfire risks and emergency-response times, while companies clash over land rights and mineral recovery.

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#CO #WildfireRisk #CitizenPortal #LandUsePolicy #EmergencyResponse
Residents and STAR press emergency‑response, wildfire and alternative‑site concerns; Maverick raises subsurface drainage claim
Community witness Nathan Lyon and STAR counsel emphasized wildfire, emergency response and cumulative impacts near Aurora Reservoir; Maverick argued its 59-acre offset would be drained and asked ECMC to expand the DSU by 80 acres. Crestone rebutted with technical alternative‑site analysis and argued its proposal complies with ECMC rules and local permits.
citizenportal.ai
November 28, 2025 at 3:04 PM
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Dr. Shana Stacy warns that the proposed Sunlight Long facility in Colorado poses serious public health risks, linking oil and gas development to adverse birth outcomes and childhood leukemia—even at distances over 3,000 feet.

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#CO #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalEpidemiology
Public‑health expert: Sunlight Long location ‘not protective’ given recent studies
Dr. Shana Stacy, an environmental epidemiologist, testified that recent Colorado-focused studies show associations between unconventional oil and gas development and adverse birth, cardiovascular and childhood-cancer outcomes at distances beyond 3,000 feet, and said the Sunlight Long site as proposed is not protective of public health.
citizenportal.ai
November 28, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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Buena Vista trustees just reshaped the 2026 budget, cutting EDC funding to zero while boosting public safety and addressing environmental concerns—what's next for the town?

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#CO #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #EnvironmentalDueDiligence
Buena Vista trustees rework budget: EDC funding cut, co‑responder beefed up, $2,500 environmental line added
During a budget public hearing trustees voted to reduce the town’s proposed contribution to the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation to $0, reallocate $7,500 and other funds to increase co‑responder funding to $32,500, and add a $2,500 environmental due‑diligence line for preliminary testing after public concerns about historic smelter slag and chromium were raised.
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November 28, 2025 at 7:37 AM
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Buena Vista is fast-tracking affordable housing projects with a new 90-day review process, aiming to boost eligibility for state funding while keeping community input intact.

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#CO #CitizenPortal #PublicNotice #AffordableHousing #BuenaVistaHousing
Buena Vista adopts expedited-review code to qualify for Proposition 1‑23 housing funds
Trustees approved amendments to the Unified Development Code to implement a 90‑day expedited review process required to access Proposition 1‑23 affordable‑housing funds. Debate centered on moving some decisions to staff to meet state timelines and preserving public input via neighborhood meetings and appeal rights.
citizenportal.ai
November 28, 2025 at 7:36 AM
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Broomfield is revolutionizing its parking code with ambitious updates that aim to streamline development while tackling transit challenges!

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#CO #CitizenPortal #BroomfieldParking #SustainableTransit #UrbanPlanning
Broomfield’s targeted parking reductions aim to reduce variance requests while confronting transit limits
Broomfield updated its parking code in 2023 and again in 2025 to modernize land‑use types, add EV and bicycle parking requirements, create parking maximums and introduce parking reduction overlay areas near transit; staff cited reduced variance requests but noted financing and limited transit as constraints.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 4:40 PM
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A powerful coalition is rallying for a game-changing shift in Colorado's voting system with plans to implement proportional ranked voting by 2027!

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#CO #CitizenPortal #CivicParticipation #ElectionReform #VotingRight
League task force pushes state rules to let counties run proportional ranked voting
The task force reported the League’s Legislative Action Committee endorsed seeking enabling legislation requiring the Secretary of State to promulgate rules and certify proportional ranked voting software, with a proposed effective date of Jan. 1, 2027, for single- and multi-county cities.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 4:09 PM
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The League of Women Voters of Colorado is gearing up for the 2026 legislative session with vital training for citizen lobbyists to ensure everyone is on the same page!

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#CO #NonpartisanAction #CivicEngagement #CitizenPortal #AdvocacyTraining
League of Women Voters of Colorado launches LAC training ahead of 2026 session
The League of Women Voters of Colorado held a virtual Legislative Action Committee (LAC) training covering lobbying rules, use of position books, task-force collaboration, meeting cadence and member roles; organizers announced LAC meetings will begin Jan. 16 and recur biweekly during the 2026 session.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 4:08 PM
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Fort Collins just held its first major-ranked voting contest, achieving a remarkable 49% turnout and a complex six-round tabulation that left officials eager to share what they learned.

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#CO #CivicEngagement #CitizenPortal #RankedChoiceVoting #ElectionAudit
Fort Collins’ first ranked contest runs smoothly as county officials stress audit steps and voter education
Larimer County election staff and ranked-choice advocates told the League of Women Voters task force that Fort Collins’ first multi-candidate mayoral contest ran without major incident, with a 49% turnout, six tabulation rounds, separate risk-limiting audits for ranked contests, and plans for a detailed post-certification debrief.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 4:04 PM
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The League of Women Voters of Colorado successfully rallied a diverse coalition to champion the Colorado Voting Rights Act, ensuring vital protections for voters amid national challenges.

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#CO #CivicEngagement #CitizenPortal #VotingAccess #LegislativeReform
LWVCO outlines coalition role in passage of Senate Bill 25-001, Colorado Voting Rights Act
LWVCO leaders described a year-long coalition and technical assistance from the Harvard Elections Law Clinic that helped craft and shepherd SB 25-001 (Colorado Voting Rights Act) through committee testimony and lobbying days to a signing at the Governor's Mansion on May 12, 2025; LWVCO will monitor implementation.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 4:03 PM
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Longmont is revolutionizing urban planning by eliminating parking minimums and introducing maximums, freeing up valuable land for housing and sustainable development.

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#CO #CitizenPortal #SustainableDevelopment #TransportationPolicy #LongmontHousing #UrbanPlanning
Longmont phased out parking minimums and introduced parking maximums to free land for housing
Longmont planners described a decade‑long, three‑phase removal of minimum parking requirements, adoption of parking maximums and reliance on local historical parking data to reduce overparking and help lower development costs.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 3:50 PM
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A recent gathering in Denver saw over 200 stakeholders rallying for a potential statewide HVAC licensing floor, sparking a heated debate about safety standards and local authority.

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#CO #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #IndustryStandards #DenverHVAC #WorkforceDevelopment
DRCOG convenes DORA stakeholder sessions on HVAC licensure; DORA to issue decision Dec. 31
DRCOG organized two stakeholder sessions with Colorado's Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) on whether a statewide HVAC licensing floor is warranted. About 200 industry and permitting stakeholders attended; unions largely supported a statewide review while some local governments cited home-rule protections and existing regional systems.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 3:49 PM
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The DRCOG is gearing up for round 2 of subawards with a $9 million plan aimed at enhancing participation from small and mountain communities while prioritizing equity and workforce development.

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#CO #EquityInitiatives #CitizenPortal #WorkforceDevelopment
DRCOG reviews round 1 subaward outcomes; committee outlines $9M-plus plan for round 2 to boost small-jurisdiction participation and equity
DRCOG’s Building Policy Collaborative reported 27 round 1 subaward applications and is designing round 2 to spend roughly $9 million remaining. Staff and committee members prioritized mentoring, multi-tier budgets, workforce training, permitting fixes and outreach to increase participation from smaller and mountain jurisdictions.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 3:48 PM
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Denver's transportation plan is set to revolutionize the region by reducing minimum parking requirements, paving the way for greener, denser, and more livable communities.

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#CO #CitizenPortal #MultimodalMobility #GreenhouseGasReduction #UrbanDevelopment
DRCOG ties parking minimums to greenhouse‑gas mitigation in regional plan
DRCOG officials said reducing or eliminating minimum parking requirements is a named mitigation measure in the region's transportation plan to help meet Colorado greenhouse‑gas reduction targets, framing parking reform as a tool for multimodal goals and housing capacity.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 3:46 PM
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Boulder is revolutionizing urban planning by eliminating off-street parking minimums and introducing a tiered Transportation Demand Management ordinance that promises to reshape city mobility!

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#CO #CitizenPortal #TransportationDemandManagement #UrbanPlanning #SustainableMobility
Boulder pairs citywide elimination of parking minimums with a tiered TDM ordinance and financial guarantees
Boulder eliminated off‑street minimum parking requirements citywide and adopted a tiered Transportation Demand Management ordinance requiring annual financial guarantees, monitoring and trip‑reduction targets for larger developments.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 3:45 PM
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Denver is revolutionizing its urban landscape by eliminating citywide minimum parking requirements, paving the way for a greener and more accessible future!

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#CO #CitizenPortal #SustainableDevelopment #TransportationManagement #UrbanPlanning
Denver eliminates citywide parking minimums, pairs code changes with curbside and TDM programs
The City and County of Denver removed minimum vehicle parking requirements citywide after a state law change and is rolling complementary curbside management, residential permit zones and Transportation Demand Management measures to manage spillover and resident access.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 3:44 PM
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The OEGP board has advanced nine top applicants for funding, setting the stage for transformative projects across key opportunity areas in Colorado!

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#CO #CitizenPortal #YouthAccess #CivicFunding
OEGP board advances top applicants, sets 40/40/20 allocation framework and begins opportunity-area awards
The board agreed to an allocation framework (40% to top scorers, 40% by opportunity area, 20% discretionary) and advanced nine top-scoring applicants for the first round of awards; members began opportunity-area deliberations and advanced a set of applicants for further review.
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November 27, 2025 at 4:47 AM
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As federal compliance risks loom, organizations are being forced to rethink how they advertise identity-based programs—are they compromising their mission for funding?

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#CO #CitizenPortal #FundingWorkarounds #DiversityEquityInclusion
Board debates federal executive-order risks as some applicants adjust DEI language
Members questioned whether federal-level directives might force grantees to change programming or advertising that centers identity groups; staff and reviewers discussed legal workarounds such as routing activities through student groups or focusing funds on allowable program components.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 4:46 AM
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The Outdoor Equity Grant program faces funding uncertainty as lottery revenues fall short, prompting the board to reserve $185,000 for future needs while relying on a $2 million funding package to award in FY26.

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#CO #CitizenPortal #LotteryRevenue #FundingChallenges
Lottery shortfall leaves Outdoor Equity Grant with $2M to award; board decides to hold $185K in reserve
Finance staff told the board that lottery spillover remains below the level needed to fully fund the Outdoor Equity Grant; the board agreed to rely on $2 million made available for FY26 (parks cash, wildlife cash and a $1 million GOCO grant) and to hold roughly $185,000 unobligated as a reserve amid revenue uncertainty.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 4:45 AM
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Jason Swan's groundbreaking report reveals the urgent need for sustainable funding and workforce training to empower outdoor education providers as "essential workers of the outdoors."

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#CO #CitizenPortal #CapacityBuilding #WorkforceDevelopment #OutdoorAccess
Rising Routes study urges capacity funding, workforce training and a statewide platform to expand outdoor access
Rising Routes presented a statewide study of 81 providers finding funding instability, workforce gaps, equipment/transportation shortfalls and fragmented collaboration. The group recommended funding infrastructure and multi-year capacity, investing in workforce development and piloting an interactive mapping and partnership platform.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 4:44 AM
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The Parks and Wildlife Commission has advanced $1.3 million in grants, paving the way for innovative programs that support underserved communities.

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#CO #YouthEmpowerment #CitizenPortal
Board advances roughly $1.3M in grants, approves several top applicants and offers partial award to Outward Bound
At a Parks and Wildlife Commission grant-review session, board members advanced preliminary awards totaling about $1.3 million and agreed to fund Southwest Conservation Corps, Groundwork Denver, Bee’s Fingers and Young Masterminds; Outward Bound was offered a $48,580 partial award for a fellowship program.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 4:43 AM
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Fruita's proposed 2026 budget reveals a hefty $27.8 million in expenses, spurring public interest and a continuation of the hearing to Dec. 2 for final updates!

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#FruitaCityMesaCounty #CO #BudgetTransparency #CitizenPortal #AffordableHousing
Fruita officials present 2026 budget overview; council continues public hearing to Dec. 2
City staff reported nearly 1,600 building permits this year and presented a draft 2026 budget with $27.8M in proposed expenses and $26.8M in revenues; council continued the public hearing to Dec. 2 for a final draft and required financial summary.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 2:51 AM
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Fruita City Council just approved the annexation of 40 acres at 1615 L Road for community services, but residents are raising serious concerns about safety and quality of life.

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#FruitaCityMesaCounty #CO #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #FruitaCity #LandUsePlanning
Fruita council annexes 40-acre parcel at 1615 L Road, rezones it for parks and community uses
The Fruita City Council unanimously adopted two annexation ordinances and a rezoning on Nov. 19 to bring roughly 40 acres at 1615 L Road into the city as Community Services & Recreation, following staff presentations and public safety and nuisance concerns from nearby residents.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 2:05 AM
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Adams 12's latest financial report reveals a careful balancing act between fund reserves and bond management that could shape the district's future.

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#CO #CitizenPortal #BondManagement #FiscalTransparency #ReservePolicies
Internal monitoring report: Adams 12 reports reserve levels, bond issuance and plans for quarterly reporting
Chief finance presenter reviewed policy 2.4 monitoring items: unassigned fund balance (4–8% policy), assigned reserves including a $5 million risk reserve, bond authorizations ($830 million) and current issuance activity; staff said another bond issuance is planned for April 2027.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 1:40 AM
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Adams 12's transition to the VFA system has revealed shocking increases in deferred maintenance costs, prompting urgent calls for a policy overhaul.

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#CO #CitizenPortal #FacilityManagement #CapitalPlanning #DeferredMaintenance
Adams 12 staff say new VFA system raises facility needs, ask board to rethink 10% deferred-maintenance threshold
District staff told trustees that switching from CostLab to VFA capital‑planning software increased the district’s reported Facility Condition Index and replacement value, producing a larger deferred‑maintenance total and prompting staff to recommend revising board reporting and language in policy 2.5.0.2.
citizenportal.ai
November 27, 2025 at 12:35 AM