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Join us on Inside Arvada as we sit down with Nalini Margaitis, Arvada's Senior Sustainability Coordinator, to learn more about the City's first Climate Action and Sustainability Plan. Together, we explore the history behind Arvada's sustainability initiatives, the creation of Nalini’s position, and key focus areas of the new plan. 

Topics discussed in this episode: 

• Arvada's Climate Action and Sustainability Plan
• The Arvada Sustainability Advisory Committee 
• Climate Action and Sustainability Plan Open House on Nov. 14
• Arvada's 2023 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by sector pie chart
• Energy saving resources for residents and businesses
• Water-saving programs (Garden in a Box, Waterwise Seminars, Lawn Replacement Slow the Flow sprinkler evaluation) 
• Better Buildings Challenge
• Colorado Home Electrification Calculator 

Other news and upcoming events: 

• Fall Leaf Drop-Off Recycling (Nov. 2-16)
• Arvada's 2024 Community Survey is now open! 
• Connecting Arvada, the City's first transportation system plan will have more community engagement soon, stay tuned!

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at [email protected].

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October is Pedestrian Safety Month! In preparation, we sat down with Arvada's Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Kellee Van Bruggen, to talk about the City's transportation safety and planning efforts. 

What goes into making a city bike-friendly and ensuring pedestrian safety?  We tackle this question and more as Kellee dives into the challenges, opportunities, and innovations in planning for the future of the City's transportation network and improving bike / pedestrian connectivity. 

In this episode:

• 2017 Bike Master Plan
• Trail etiquette reminders
• Tennyson Street Improvements
• Little Dry Creek Trail Feasibility Study
• HeadsUp Arvada safety campaign
• Go-Tober Challenge

Looking for more about cycling in Arvada, visit the City's bicycling webpage. 

Other news and events:

• Take the Bike Friendly Community Survey
• Taste & Talks Event on Sept. 24
• Celebrate the Lake Arbor Golf Course 50th Anniversary

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at [email protected].

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The City's Emergency Management Coordinator Nick Adams is our guest as part of September's National Preparedness Month.

In this episode, Nick shares why it's important to prepare for emergencies and disasters in order to keep you, your families and your community safe. Learn practical tips like having a fire extinguisher and an emergency plan, and understand how new challenges like proactive power shutoffs can mitigate wildfire risks.

Topics covered in this episode include: 

• National Preparedness Month 
• The City of Arvada's Emergency Preparedness Resources
• Resources available on Ready.gov 
• The importance of making an emergency plan 
• The importance of knowing and connecting with your neighbors
• LookoutAlert, also known as Smart911, the region's official emergency notification system
• Arvada's volunteer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
• Wildfire safety tips and preparedness
• Floodplain risk, flood insurance and floodplain management  

Other news and upcoming events: 

• Movies Around Town: Sept. 6 at Wood Run Park 
• Arvada Fire's Safety Day on Saturday, Sept. 28
• Arvada's Bike Friendly Community Survey 

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at [email protected].

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What does it mean to be a quasi-governmental entity? What does an economic development association do? And can they really help improve our community?

Join us as we talk with Executive Director, Iza Petrykowska about the Arvada Economic Development Association (AEDA). From helping recruit and retain businesses to collaborations with city teams and everything in between, AEDA is a resource here to help our local businesses of all sizes. Discover why maintaining a vibrant local economy is about more than sales tax but about creating a thriving community.

Other news and events:

• Take the Bike Friendly Community Survey
• Learn about water, sewer, stormwater rates and fees, including conversations with City Council about 2025 rates on the Utilities Transparency webpage
• Celebrate Lake Arbor Golf Course's 50th anniversary
• Rank the Climate Action and Sustainability Plan initiatives that are important to you
• Celebrate the end of summer at the Arvada Days festival on August 24
• Ralston Central Splashpad closes after Labor Day, the Olde Town Water Fountain will be open on weekends only after Labor Day through the end of September

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at [email protected].

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How does a city balance preserving its historical charm with the pressing need for affordable housing? What is a comprehensive plan? And how is it different from the land development code? 

Join us as we engage with Jessica Garner, Arvada's Community and Economic Development Director, who explains the multifaceted role of her department. Jessica delves into the inner workings of the five key divisions she oversees: planning, housing, building, economic development, and systems and administration.

Discover how collaborative efforts across departments guide Arvada's strategic community growth and ensure cohesive development. Additional information on topics covered in the episode: 

• Arvada's Comprehensive Plan and other long-range plans 
• The Land Development Code
• W. 64th Ave. Sub-Area Plan
• Housing and the Arvada Housing Advisory Committee 

Other news and events: 

• The last Bulky Item Drop-Off Event of the year is Aug. 10
• Information about utilities rates on the Utilities Transparency webpage
• Arvada's newest park, Serenity Ridge Park, is now open! 
• The next Movies Around Town is Aug. 9 featuring "Back to the Future" at Wolff Park
• Take the People's Choice Movie Poll to help choose the final movie for Movies Around Town
• Celebrate the end of summer at the Arvada Days festival on August 24

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at [email protected].

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On August 24, 2024 Arvada will turn 120 years young! Join us as we find out how to celebrate the city's 120th anniversary with Rachael Kuroiwa, the City's Director of Communications and Engagement. Rachael shares information about the ways you can celebrate all summer-long, including at Arvada Days on August 24th.

Learn about the establishment of the city, discovering gold, the pivotal role of the railroad, our agricultural roots, and hear about the origins of Arvada's name. Keep listening for some fun facts, including how Arvada earned the title, "celery capital of the world". 

Can't get enough? Check out a virtual walking tour of Olde Town. Head to the Visit Arvada website for a complete list of events and special promotions!

Other news and events: 

• Learn about the plans to redesign the Olde Town Library
• The last Bulky Item Drop-Off Event of the year is Aug. 10 
• Information about utilities rates on the Utilities Transparency webpage
• The next Movies Around Town is Aug. 9 featuring "Back to the Future" at Wolff Park
• Take the People's Choice Movie Poll to help choose the final movie for Movies Around Town
• Celebrate the end of summer at the Arvada Days festival on August 24

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at [email protected].

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July is Park and Recreation Month in Arvada! Join us for a special edition of the podcast as we celebrate this year's theme of "Where You Belong."

To celebrate, we visited a variety of parks and trails in Arvada to hear from community members how our parks and trails provide a sense of belonging. Interviews included in this special edition episode include: 

• Dave and his grandson, Hudson, fishing at Arvada-Blunn Reservoir 
• Jeffery with his daughter and grandchildren at Ralston Central Park Splash Pad
• Lou at Johnny Roberts Disc Golf Course at Memorial Park 
• Tom, skateboard instructor at Arvada Skate Park
• Brenda, dog walker at Creekside Park 
• Patty, walker at Tennyson Knolls Park 
• Anna, dog walker at Tennyson Knolls Park 
• Abraham, playing basketball at Majestic View Park
• Polar Bear pickleball group at Yankee Doodle Park 
• Larkin, Movies Around Town at Homestead Park 

Visit ArvadaCO.gov/ParksMonth for "31 Ways to Celebrate 31 Days of Park and Recreation Month in Arvada." 

You can also celebrate Park and Recreation Month with our partners at Apex Park and Recreation District by playing bingo for a chance to win prizes! 

Other news and notes: 

• Arvada's annual craft beer and barbecue festival, Arvada On Tap, is July 13 
• The next Movies Around Town event is July 19 featuring "Jaws" at Lake Arbor Park
• Late summer Garden In a Box Kits are on sale through Resource Central 
• The last Bulky Item Drop-Off Event of the year is Aug. 10 

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at [email protected].

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Arvada's water begins its journey high in the Rocky Mountains making it's way from the Fraser River and Clear Creek to one of Arvada's two water treatment plants. Water Quality Administrator, Evelyn Rhodes, leads the team who ensures that when Arvadans turn on the tap, we can trust that our water has been treated, monitored, and tested to protect our health and safety. Visit ArvadaCO.gov/Water-Quality for more information, including a map of Arvada's water sources. 

In this episode, Evelyn shares more about:

• Arvada's annual Water Quality Report
• Lead in drinking water and the Service Line Replacement Program
• Source water protection
• PFAS 

Editor's note: when discussing PFAS particles as parts per trillion, the analogy that Evelyn was trying to explain was that this would be equivalent to one penny in 10 billion dollars!

Other news and events:

• Waste hauling program fee update
• Arvada's 120th anniversary 
• 4th of July fireworks display
• Arvada on Tap - July 13th 
• Movies Around Town - Jaws on July 19
• Arvada Days - August 24

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at [email protected].

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Arvada is home to more than 100 neighborhood, community and regional parks. But there's always room for more! Learn about the city's current and future plans to expand and improve the City's unparalleled park system from Darin DeLay, the City's Parks and Urban Design Manager. 

Darin explains how his team of landscape architects take projects from visionary concepts to tangible, sustainable realities. Topics covered on this episode include: 

• Holistic Health and Fitness Park 
• Garrison Garden Paseo 
• Standley Lake Library Trailhead 
• Marge Roberts Park 
• Gold Strike Park 
• Taking Lasting Care
• Turf Conversion Pilot Program 

You can learn more about the City's Parks and Urban Design team by visiting the city's website at ArvadaCO.gov/ParkProjects. 

Other news and events:

• July 13 - Arvada On Tap 
• July 19 - Movies Around Town (Jaws at Lake Arbor)
• Recycling and trash rates and fees update July 1

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at [email protected].

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Marco Randazzo is an Arvada resident, dad, music lover, and Neighborhood Leader.

In this episode, Marco talks about what it means to be a Neighborhood Leader with the City's Neighbors Connected Program and the value he has found in discovering new, creative ways to connect with his neighbors. 

Some of the topics covered:

• Block party trailer (reservations open now)
• Neighborhood grants program
• Neighbor conflict resolution

Other news and events: 

• Annual Water Quality Report
• Movies Around Town
• Help name Arvada's newest park
• June 8 events:
  • Kids Fishing Contest
  • Bulky Item Drop Off
• Ralston Central Splash Pad and Olde Town Water Fountain are open for the summer!

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at [email protected].