Just weeks into the new year members of the Englewood City Council are looking forward to various projects that aim to improve the city, many of them slated to be discussed in an upcoming retreat.
Many council members are eager to take the next steps on the city’s multi-year Strategic Plan, a raft of initiatives that aim to make life for residents better. The plan has seven elements: infrastructure and transportation, safety, community wellbeing, local economy, sustainability, governance and neighborhoods.
Members of the council say much of their work in the year to come will revolve around elements of the Strategic Plan, which they’ll discuss at a retreat on Jan. 27.
District 4 Council member Steve Ward said he is looking forward to an element of the plan which is “deciding on the future of the City Center area.”
The city was working with companies SKB and Tryba Architects on the City Center project, but the team recently withdrew. Now, the city is working with the Englewood Downtown Development Authority, to “pursue new opportunities with other developers.”
The council will discuss the project in an executive session on Jan. 16, city Communications Director Chris Hargurth said.
“The city has been working toward redeveloping the area around our City Hall for several years now,” Ward said. “I believe that in 2024, the council will decide what lies ahead for the city center area.”
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“Initial plans for the $600 million joint venture located immediately adjacent to Englewood’s light rail station included 1,070 residential units, retail and office space, a new city hall, a hotel and public gathering spaces,” according to the city.
On the side of development and economic health, Ward is looking forward to the council selecting options to address what he considers a large number of vacant buildings in Englewood, especially on South Broadway.
“On the public safety front, I expect the city council to conduct a review of Englewood’s agreement with Denver Fire,” Ward said. “2024 marks the tenth year of Englewood’s contract with Denver Fire for fire and paramedic services. Denver has faithfully served Englewood.”
Ward said a future study session will provide the council the opportunity to look for ways the city can meet the needs of the community regarding fire and paramedic services.
“A lot has changed in Englewood and the surrounding area since 2015. I hope that our review of our (Intergovernmental Agreement) with Denver will also include a new review of the costs, risks and benefits of any other options Englewood may have for fire and paramedic services,” Ward said.
Ward said he feels the city council, which was elected last November and sworn in in December, is a group with diverse perspectives which “gives the council strength.”
“Each of my colleagues brings something unique and worthwhile to the table, and we perform our best when we work together to solve the challenges that Englewood and the surrounding region face,” Ward said.
District 3 City Council member and new Mayor Pro Tem Joe Anderson also appreciates the diversity of the newly-seated council.
“We are working on affordable housing and continuing to move our infrastructure plans forward,” Anderson said. “I am excited to get some important projects started including the new detention pond that will address flooding issues in the South Englewood Basin and two complete streets projects (on) Old Hampden and South Broadway. We’ll see what else surfaces as council priorities after our strategic planning meeting later this month.”
Newly appointed At-large City Council member Kim Wright said since taking office she has started taking tours of different city departments.
“This has allowed me to get to know the functions of the departments. I also met with the staff from the entry level to senior management,” Wright said. “The better understanding I have of how the city runs, the better ability I will have to make decisions.”
Wright said she has also met with residents from around the city to learn about their concerns and gain their feedback.
“Safety was the top concern,” Wright said. “We need to address the different areas of concern, anywhere from 911 response times to cars being vandalized at night.”
Wright also said communication is an important issue for both her and Englewood residents.
“There are many parts of the city that do not receive written communication,” Wright said. “Many feel the city’s website could use some work. I look forward to working with the city on seeing how we might be able to make the site more user friendly.”
Wright said she has also heard some voters voice desires to take another look at Title 16 or CodeNext, which were comprehensive updates the council made to the city’s Unified Development Code.
CodeNext was a routine overhaul of land use regulations that happens every 20 or so years that became contentious. The city hired consultants who helped with the proposed changes and some citizens took issue with them. One revolved around allowing accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. Also at issue, the city’s definition of a household, off-street parking requirements for ADUs, or lack thereof, and owner occupancy requirements.
“Voters would like the council to revisit Title 16 and address a few areas of this document that citizens of Englewood would like to be changed,” Wright said.
At-large City Council member Rita Russell, who was reappointed for another term in November, said she is hopeful the new city council will work well together to address the major concerns of Englewood citizens.
“At the top of the list are safety concerns in our neighborhoods and our business districts,” Russell said. “When a community begins to experience a significant increase in crime it is not only concerning but it impacts the safety of the community.”
Russell said she is also looking forward to the council’s retreat on Jan. 27.
“The new city council will have an opportunity to work together with staff to develop policies that will set the direction of the city for the next two years,” Russell said. “Hopefully the new council will brainstorm together to find solutions that make Englewood a safe place to live, work, play and shop.”
Additionally, Russell said she wants the council to work together to “find policies that are business friendly and that promote a thriving safe place for businesses to stay or locate.”
Newly elected At-large City Council member Tena Prange is also looking ahead to the meeting.
“I look forward to the upcoming city council retreat to better get to know my fellow council members and what their priorities are in light of strategic planning,” Pragne said. “I believe this forum dedicated to providing vision to our work for the next year will be enlightening and help us each understand our strengths and opportunities as a team to work together on behalf of the city.”
Additionally, Prange said that she is excited for the designs and discussion of the two recently approved Complete Streets projects.
“The Swedish Hospital corridor and South Broadway are both vibrant pathways across our city,” Prange said. “Improvements on these areas will be noticeable for those driving through our city or using our renowned hospital services and this will be my first opportunity to have had involvement in approving projects that will seek to increase multi-modal usage of our streetscapes.”
