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Friend of the show Chase Amos from the Arvada Police Department joins us to unpack the rise of illegal toy vehicles in Arvada. Chase helps clarify what can ride on streets, trails, and parks, and what cannot. We break down e‑bike classes, scooters, Low Speed Electric Vehicles, and why many mini motorcycles and pocket bikes aren’t street legal.

Please visit Arvada PD's E-Bikes and Unique Vehicles webpage for more information on which types of vehicles and devices are allowed and not allowed in Arvada. Please note: This is not official legal advice.

In this episode:

• Why illegal toy vehicles are public safety issue
• Defining Class 1, 2, and 3 e‑bikes
• What is not allowed on streets, and on trails and parks
• How Arvada PD is enforcing the use of illegal toy vehicles
• Trivia! Featuring Siren Says, the Colorado "Safety Stop" Law, and some history of the e-bike

News and events:

• The City's fall leaf recycling drop-off runs Nov. 8 to 22, Monday through Saturday, at Stenger Sports Complex
• Work is scheduled to begin this week on the Alkire Street Trail project, requiring one-way lane closures
• Marge Roberts Park is now open after a full park overhaul
• Surveys are open now to provide feedback for the City's next three playground renovations: Pioneer Park, Ralston Cove Park and Terrace Park. Surveyes close Oct. 31.

You can text us with the link at the top of the show notes or send us an email at podcast@arvada.org

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at podcast@arvada.org.

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Learn about Arvada’s 2025 election with Jefferson County Clerk Amanda Gonzalez, including who and what is on the ballot and how Colorado’s voting system works.

2025 election info

• 3 City Council seats up for election (view the Council Districts map)
• Ballot measure 3G to remove the judge residency requirement
• Jefferson County elections website, including drop box and voting center locations
• Adams County elections website, including drop box and voting center locations
• Track your ballot online
• Check your registration or register to vote

Key voting dates

• Mail your ballot at least a week before election day
• Drop your ballot at any Colorado drop box by 7pm on Tues., 11/4
• Vote in person at your local vote center from Mon., 10/27 -Tue., 11/4 (check for date and time details by location)
  • Visit the Standley Lake Library vote center to pick up an Arvada "I Voted" sticker!

Candidate forums

• 7/12 - Arvadans For Progressive Action (YouTube)
• 9/29 - Ralston Valley Coalition (YouTube)
• 10/1 - Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce (Facebook, starts at 31:00 mins)
• 10/13 - League of Women Voters (YouTube)

Other ways to get involved

• Become an election judge
• Tour the JeffCo Election Center
• Participate at a STEAM Advisory Committee meeting

News & Events

• Take the annual Arvada Community Survey
• Leaf recycling drop-off runs Nov. 8-22, 9am-2pm, Mon.-Sat. (closed Sun.)
• Replacement water treatment plant site selection (press release | project web page)
• Volunteer to be a Snow Buddy
• Arvada Reservoir final day of the season will be Fri., 10/31
• Marge Roberts Park is open!
• Provide input on 3 playground renovations – Ralston Cove Park,

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at podcast@arvada.org.

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Jim Greer, Arvada's Construction & Inspection Supervisor, talks about the municipal inspection process and how his team works to protect critical city infrastructure. The team of 10 inspectors partners with contractors and developers, ensuring projects are completed safely and efficiently.

Episode highlights:

• The team focuses on everything underground up to the surface (e.g., water and sewer lines, electrical cable, streets, sidewalks)
• Inspectors work proactively to identify potential conflicts before construction begins
• The two-year warranty process ensures infrastructure is properly tested before becoming a city asset

News & Events

• Final Movies Around Town featuring Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is Friday, Oct. 3rd at Michael Northey Park
• The Marge Roberts Park renovations ribbon-cutting celebration on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 4pm
• Complete the annual community survey
• Consider volunteering for the Snow Buddies program
• Read about new Deputy City Manager Allison Scheck

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at podcast@arvada.org.

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This September, in honor of National Preparedness Month, we’re doing a two-part series with our partners at Arvada Fire. Part 2 focuses on Arvada's Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) with Arvada Fire's Wildfire Mitigation Specialist, Chris Warren, and the City of Arvada’s Emergency Manager, Brian Wilkerson. In case you missed it, you can go back and listen to Part 1 of the series, Arvada Fire 101, with Fire Marshal Steven Parker.

During Part 2, Arvada's emergency management experts explain how the Marshall Fire changed our understanding of wildfire risks in suburban communities and outline how the CWPP will help prepare residents for emergencies.

In this episode:

• The City's Emergency Manager (Brian Wilkerson) and Arvada Fire's Wildfire Mitigation Specialist (Chris Warren) discuss their roles in preparing Arvada for disaster situations
• Get an overview of the drafted Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) up to this point and what to expect next
• How the CWPP establishes customized strategies for addressing wildfire threats across different neighborhoods
• How grasses and wind — not forests — drive most destructive wildfires in the Front Range, including the Marshall Fire
• How embers in combustible materials near homes cause most structure ignitions during wildfires, not direct flames
• How Arvada's primary wildfire season runs September through April, not during summer months
• How individual responsibility is critical for emergency preparedness — start by signing up for Lookout Alert, having evacuation plans ready, and preparing go-bags with essentials
• Arvada Fire offers free home ignition zone assessments to help homeowners identify and address vulnerabilities

News and Events:

• Arvada Fire Safety Day is Saturday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Movies Around Town featuring "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" is Friday, Oct. 3 at Michael Northey Park
• Join the City's volunteer-run Snow Buddies Program to help neighbors in need this winter!

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at podcast@arvada.org.

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This September, in honor of National Preparedness Month, we’re launching a two-part series with our partners at Arvada Fire. The first episode, Arvada Fire 101, features Fire Marshal Steven Parker. The second episode, which will come out Sept. 17, brings together Arvada Fire’s Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Chris Warren and the City of Arvada’s Emergency Manager Brian Wilkerson to discuss the Community Wildfire Protection Plan and what it means for our community

In this episode:

• What exactly does the Fire Marshal's Office do?
• Common fire code violations and the most frequent causes of residential fires
• Overview of the Arvada Fire Protection District and how it operates as a special district covering parts of Arvada and unincorporated Jefferson County
• Programs and services offered by Arvada Fire, including free home safety visits, Dave's Locker for medical equipment loans, and educational community involvement initiatives
• Arvada Fire Safety Day is Saturday, Sept. 27 featuring kid-friendly demonstrations, including residential fire sprinklers and a "Flight for Life" helicopter landing
• Emergency preparedness tips from the City of Arvada’s Emergency Manager Brian Wilkerson
• Other community engagement opportunities with Arvada Fire include Senior Safety Camp, Youth Fire Academy and Citizens Fire Academy

News and Events:

• Movies Around Town featuring "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" is Friday, Oct. 3 at Michael Northey Park
• The second annual Swing for Community Charity Softball Tournament benefitting the Arvada Vitality Alliance, featuring Arvada Fire vs. Arvada Police Department

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at podcast@arvada.org.

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Aislinn Droski, Arvada's bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, shares insights on the City's micromobility program that has facilitated over 130,000 rides since launching in 2021. The program has evolved from a pilot to becoming a permanent transportation option connecting residents to transit, commercial centers, and other services.

• Micromobility includes devices like e-scooters, e-bikes, and seated "gliders" that provide transportation options for shorter trips
• Lime is currently Arvada's sole vendor, operating under a permit system with devices placed throughout eastern Arvada
• If you notice improperly parked scooters or have feedback about the micromobility program, please contact the team through Ask Arvada.

News & Events

• Ralston Creek Improvements Project is nearly complete and the trail will reopen very soon
• Late summer planting opportunities with Resource Central
• Watch the People’s Choice Movie Poll winner at Clear Creek Valley Park on Friday, August 29th
• Ralston Central Splash Pad closes after Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 1
• The Olde Town Fountain will switch to Sundays only after Labor Day through September

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at podcast@arvada.org.

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Arvada City Forester Ian MacDonald discusses the alarming spread of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) throughout the city and what residents need to know to protect their ash trees. This invasive pest has accelerated from small isolated areas to citywide presence, with MacDonald warning that we're now entering the steep part of the mortality curve where tree loss happens rapidly.

In this episode:

• Emerald Ash Borer has spread from the Homestead Park neighborhood in southeast Arvada (first detected in 2020) to locations throughout the city
• The City's forestry team has been proactively treating ash trees on City property since before the arrival of EAB
• The City cannot treat ash trees that are not on City property; those trees are the responsibility of the property owner
• If you have determined you have ash trees on your property, contact a certified tree care professional. The City and County of Denver has a Licensed Tree Contractor List.
• The new Habitat Trees initiative preserves dead trees in natural areas for wildlife habitat
• Tree Trivia! Including the history of the infamous hackberry tree on Hackberry Hill in northeast Arvada

News and events:

• The final Bulky Item Drop-0ff Event is Saturday, Aug. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Area Athletic Complex (NAAC)
• Resource Central's Fall Garden in a Box discounts are available for Arvada water customers
• New road widening project at the intersection of Highway 93 and Highway 72 (Coal Creek Canyon Road). Sign up to receive project updates
• Congrats to our Arvada Parks Photo Contest winners!
• Next Movies Around Town event is Friday, Aug. 8 at Bridgeside Park with a free showing of 'Happy Gilmore'

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at podcast@arvada.org.

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Judge Kathryn Kurtz discusses Arvada's Municipal Court and the value of balancing community safety with support for the individual.

In this episode:

• Arvada's Municipal Court handles 7,500-8,000 cases yearly including traffic violations, ordinance violations, code enforcement, and animal control issues
• A ballot measure is being considered to remove the residency requirement for judges
• The One Small Step Court program offers specialized support for individuals experiencing homelessness
• Judge Kurtz shares her judicial philosophy of "own it, fix it, forget it" – encouraging people to take responsibility, make amends, and then move forward with their lives

New and events:

• Movies Around Town continues Friday, August 8 with Happy Gilmore at Bridgeside Park
• Vote for your pick for the People's Choice Movie that will air August 29 at Clear Creek Valley Park
• High Tea for Seniors is Saturday, August 9 from 1-3pm for residents 85 and up, RSVP by July 25
• Request a visit from Arvada's Police or Fire departments during National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5
• Final Bulky Item Drop-off Event is Saturday, August 16 from 9am-2pm at the North Area Athletic Complex (NAAC)

Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at podcast@arvada.org.