[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6285450,"mediaKeyId","2572027-0cb75e07f824358f4ea1ab5ee8dcd64d","parentId",2572027,"title","Staff: sustainability priority order adjusted; EV‑charging contract signed and energy‑efficiency project advancing","audioSeconds",150,"startMs",5072000,"endMs",5222000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2572027-0cb75e07f824358f4ea1ab5ee8dcd64d&start=5072&end=5222","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2572027-0cb75e07f824358f4ea1ab5ee8dcd64d/thumbnail_5072000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6285450/Englewood-City/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Staff-sustainability-priority-order-adjusted-EVcharging-contract-signed-and-energyefficiency-project-advancing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285450-301c86b4d669b22316327a3ec7ff4cb8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009418&Signature=ZN6NxeHLb3wBz-WuB2SHYFpHao3Wu-0tpdWWPBBhwAfBgFbTykIQH6Z8En99axFXD-8LyzU8SJICaFzYxg9lmvzEVi5rKBJKfoLJ0Bhf6kj1AbYmOLkjKk-dpnPs3XTz6RjhmCAEY30Ljoddp-J8GQpHpC2MrPXoJtdVVoC1WPif7uocs93V~85y~Syz9~fq3T6tTHaqbctglSPpYOjTT427tO13ez9n7Mhjk12ie1oRzpG0yROa67eTNzWKeU4Y-sFO8ppTvDbtZJYrJBk134IuHIy75cQvTRsC42M5IzxgphXQN5TevnJ04hYZzMJZ35tIOFWxjhBTD~NqlL~Oyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Englewood City, CO","date","2025-03-12T15:29:29Z","article","City staff provided routine updates on sustainability priorities, electric‑vehicle charging infrastructure and a city building energy project.

Mel England, staff liaison, said the sustainability priority area in the city’s strategic plan was re‑ordered and moved lower in priority (from 7 of 8 to 8 of 8). England said councilors reprioritized sustainability subtopics; built environment and infrastructure, natural environment and waste and recycling rose to the top of the list while an air‑quality education item was removed. England noted the climate‑action goal language was edited to add a requirement that proposed actions be economically viable.

England also reported that the city’s EV‑charging contract with Link (referred to as the city’s charging partner) was ‘‘signed and approved as of March 3’’ and that the city’s energy‑performance contract for building electrification, solar and efficiency work is scheduled to go to City Council in April. She said staff will invite the city’s energy contractor to brief the commission later in the year once contract details are finalized.

Commissioners discussed how sustainability priorities intersect with other council objectives and the importance of communicating resident priorities to council members. Staff encouraged commissioners to share constituent priorities with their council representatives.

Ending — Next steps: staff will notify the commission when the energy‑performance contract goes to council and will schedule a contractor briefing when appropriate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sustainability Commission March 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff updated the commission on changes to the city’s sustainability priority ranking, the signed EV‑charging contract and an upcoming energy‑performance contract slated for City Council review.","taxTitle","Englewood City, Arapahoe County, Colorado","taxId",52219,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6285455,"Commission discusses Title 16 updates, native‑landscape wording and a proposed green‑certification for yards",398,5463000,5861000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2572027-0cb75e07f824358f4ea1ab5ee8dcd64d&start=5463&end=5861","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2572027-0cb75e07f824358f4ea1ab5ee8dcd64d/thumbnail_5463000.jpg","/articles/6285455/Englewood-City/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Commission-discusses-Title-16-updates-nativelandscape-wording-and-a-proposed-greencertification-for-yards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285455-6063d0d5be3e72fef72343f22ae2275e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009418&Signature=MPwcQGjQTiGUBV23f-VOtJSRhWmavwrYl2pQHg-P7dsPpN0pkFeQVAnRdtEOXGfhmamigbDBPih1AUOIdWUuv9x8Cs3GfOhS6DlT9ZgNkI~6yn9xQ-OefnOKnytcw5t19Przfsuyt26tUG6Civlr09fqvyOTXjrg42em6aSn0sIiC62MiX~~QXHRwGsUOeGrDy5ekT0SQJaHYBrAoZiTUtPOi9NhmFfiL0FUOo5dxuZdjKTCuf55z39kbQeErsf4BRaL1Sn9TAJfzYRadHuYqlq7mBBAIQsiH-7QPioyJN1DgWwJtnW8Ld4NmlnvXK31RJ8OzbNYMIB1eUdPoqtmrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners discussed recent code updates and a proposal to create a voluntary green‑certification for yards that use native or low‑water landscaping.

Mel England, staff liaison, told the commission that suggested edits the commission previously recommended for Title 16 were largely captured in a newer sustainable‑landscape code update. England said the updated code ‘‘emphasizes using drought‑tolerant plants and planting’’ but noted the term ‘‘native’’ did not appear in the current draft; adding the word “native” would require coordination with Planning and Zoning and a formal code‑change process.

Commissioner Rick Mullen proposed a voluntary certification program to recognize homeowners who convert yards to native or water‑wise landscaping. Mullen said a visible certification (for example, a small plaque) could do three things: signal neighbors that a property is intentionally planted for ecology and water conservation, reduce calls to code enforcement about ‘‘weeds’’ that are in fact native plantings, and encourage peer adoption by making conversion visible in neighborhoods.

Staff and commissioners discussed practical issues: who would verify and monitor certified yards, whether external partners (extension programs or CSU courses) could supply expertise and how to fund administration. Commissioners suggested looking at existing training or certification programs — for example, CSU Extension’s certified‑gardener curriculum — rather than building an entirely new program from scratch.

England also noted a separate code topic — the definition and enforcement threshold for “weeds” — has been routed to code enforcement advisory and still needs attention; staff will follow up with the city attorney and code enforcement to clarify next steps.

Ending — Next steps: commissioners asked staff to bring samples of existing certification programs and to place the green‑certification concept on next month’s agenda for further development.","Staff reported that much of the commission’s earlier suggested Title 16 landscaping language was incorporated into an updated sustainable‑landscape code; commissioners proposed a voluntary green‑certification program to recognize native landscaping and reduce code enforcement conflicts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6285460,"Commission refines summer communications: water conservation, transit promotions and park events",845,169000,1014000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2572027-0cb75e07f824358f4ea1ab5ee8dcd64d&start=169&end=1014","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2572027-0cb75e07f824358f4ea1ab5ee8dcd64d/thumbnail_169000.jpg","/articles/6285460/Englewood-City/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Commission-refines-summer-communications-water-conservation-transit-promotions-and-park-events","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285460-0bdc9f9b29552744163cdd4f33f52b15/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009418&Signature=E8F8nnWsfHsTIT2iwkf8KlViYxmejupDG4lA6~SEi-clwX6utkaxNSlZ7MFIBAJRiZICyc63o4aHvE8cZDfc-Xan67cCR528jpxw7VyjtpT3y1WsaEWqKoKNt7WvCpGVjt7RYrPqfJhcDPqyykSc1nLHTr2Gu63-kaTEReZxdMqsqRd5GaWilQRZ9B~x-ZpM3VWEvZBC7gbewXu0RZiiDsVUvyrJLmr8hkimRnPO1mz74PzWGQQiAnJnYtDMU2QBH9w1M2OTp4Iiw1dpu-U6Ld2BDvOAGPmxh5C06k0lk1~JU6x8cxnMIGSp3cl4Q2uzVk9HTsV7u5XCn8BhnRC8Ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A sustainability subcommittee recommended four topics for the commission’s summer communications push and outlined several upcoming community events.

Subcommittee members asked the commission to promote regional transit incentive programs, water‑wise lawn care, local community‑project volunteer days and available sustainability grants. The subcommittee suggested promoting the “0 Fare for Better Air” transit program as a seasonal way to reduce car trips, but staff said the statewide free‑fare program had ‘‘sunset’’ and is no longer running in the same form; staff recommended clarifying current youth and other fare programs before publishing.

Subcommittee members recommended water‑wise messaging to reduce residential irrigation during hot months: best watering times, alternatives to Kentucky bluegrass and links to local turf‑replacement resources. They noted existing partnerships with Resource Central, which runs a garden‑in‑a‑box program and turf‑replacement incentives.

Tracy, a commission member leading park outreach, said the commission is planning a community planting/volunteer day at Barn Park on the third or fourth weekend in May and asked for input about avoiding Memorial Day weekend; she asked commissioners for help with logistics and promotion. Tracy also invited commissioners to a March 22 opening of a sustainability “little library” at the Englewood Recreation Center, an event that will include Compost Colorado and educational tabling.

Commissioners also discussed assembling a directory of cooling and relief centers for summer heat events. A staff member noted that Tim Dodd maintains Englewood’s list of relief centers and that staff would explore linking that resource to communications materials.

Ending — Next steps: staff will confirm the status of transit fare programs before publication, link to existing turf‑replacement and rebate resources, confirm the Barn Park event date with Parks and promote the March 22 sustainability little‑library opening through the city’s communications channels.","A commission subcommittee proposed four summer communication topics — transit fare promotion, watering guidance, community project events and grant-cycle awareness — and commissioners discussed next steps including a Barn Park planting day and a March 22 sustainability little‑library opening.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6285465,"Englewood staff report resiliency‑workshop results; residents prioritized climate justice and multimodal transit",743,3817000,4560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2572027-0cb75e07f824358f4ea1ab5ee8dcd64d&start=3817&end=4560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2572027-0cb75e07f824358f4ea1ab5ee8dcd64d/thumbnail_3817000.jpg","/articles/6285465/Englewood-City/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Englewood-staff-report-resiliencyworkshop-results-residents-prioritized-climate-justice-and-multimodal-transit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285465-ccb4b736a44bd2800c641d60bed55b16/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009418&Signature=RcUSsFdZJNwWWMagiRDkjPKRsNLgsvXSSKpk1NE0UgHt7QaMV0A0cnRALRTgrEXiLuGdF81V6A49J75YBgx5Y3SUlbEb1SLkmB5mpVGbHNeknoxFWxyO1hZjLJUMMpoNZbV~PCjaeDgvTsx1F4OFzn7WsU6tXE7rz2ez5jC1T0qZ8tOShH4HwZGZlt4Ua9-JVRJTYMGbTIu7DScfBXk7kL~Q~dr9NLuQwaeyA0V0dPiah-wtoi7e0z7fdoYRyy1cE~nymC~kAqvNzZZP5Y9b~eNjSyILT8WK0pdPwvH0kCmXI3-LEj3J3L2qjGcVR722nmRm6tIMhI8IrfvE2cXeCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff briefed the Englewood City Sustainability Commission on two January resident workshops that fed into a high‑level climate resiliency framework.

Mel England, the commission’s staff liaison, said the workshops asked residents to identify local climate vulnerabilities and then propose community solutions. ‘‘The top 1 … was that the most vulnerable communities in Englewood feel the impacts of climate change the hardest,’’ England told the commission, adding the commission will review the findings through an equity lens.

Workshop participants ranked vulnerabilities and grouped them into themes: automobile dependence, water quality and quantity, mental and physical health impacts, impacts on native plants and animals, evacuation planning gaps and the financial costs of climate impacts. Proposed solutions that received strong resident support included expanded multimodal transit, rebates and education for turf replacement and native‑plant landscaping, community skill‑sharing events and better evacuation and cooling‑center information for at‑risk populations.

England said staff plan next steps in 2025: combine resident input with an internal employee resiliency exercise, refine recommendations with department directors and bring results to City Council for a debrief and potential direction. Staff also plan targeted outreach to mobile‑home communities and a weatherization event in partnership with Arapahoe County to ensure underserved residents were included.

Lana (last name not recorded), who attended the workshops, told the commission, “It was a really positive experience,” and described “positive momentum” among participants who want to act locally. Commissioners suggested maintaining that momentum by scheduling follow‑up debriefs and encouraging grassroots projects that do not depend entirely on city funding.

England said staff applied to ICLEI to request a paid intern to help flesh out recommendations and that the commission’s input could feed into the city’s next strategic plan (2026–2030) if timing aligns.

Ending — Next steps: staff will finalize a written resiliency summary, return to the commission for feedback and present the framework to City Council this summer or early fall, depending on staff capacity and whether the intern is awarded.","City staff summarized two resident workshops on a climate resiliency framework: attendees ranked impacts on vulnerable communities highest and proposed multimodal transportation, water rebates, and community skill‑sharing as top solutions.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6285470,"Go Electric Colorado offers free coaching, contractor guidance to help household electrification",2639,68000,2707000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2572027-0cb75e07f824358f4ea1ab5ee8dcd64d&start=68&end=2707","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2572027-0cb75e07f824358f4ea1ab5ee8dcd64d/thumbnail_68000.jpg","/articles/6285470/Englewood-City/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Go-Electric-Colorado-offers-free-coaching-contractor-guidance-to-help-household-electrification","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285470-df216c5d9b0f3a2d33ba3cc67e791a87/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009418&Signature=jwkxPncciBU2xLYRsJVTkJ243adZ5s6JdHvfK4m~UnTPc3raHIzZBt2O1BsoQelD9v8d4VOCzUZtc7AFdTvUdas1CbOEuqho5TmswoTmDX1UyzSogmMcNXnDmGnbDe0-EhY6PSNiLWX1Q25h0qBXWPhqHOzd~fOH1iGtMfT8V6OWa1VFYWqeUz9P3jPWPLB6ePZDi7fXb-bRIHeDuURVbSevs0rvLCTV2OOoezi~hW38~9WoiIZp-uf-NwWTwUYA6mUwo-cGeb7Qdz5bQlxgBsQxk-ElUbSlK2m3fWiY3R6fNKn5A6YjBhtyqG7yPW-rx~krcDhvcv4qvhSoqel4Zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Go Electric Colorado volunteers described a free coaching program intended to help Englewood homeowners switch household systems from fossil fuels to electric appliances and vehicles.

The presentation to the Englewood City Sustainability Commission emphasized the group’s one-on-one consultations, ongoing technical help and outreach work. Julia Romstick, a volunteer with Go Electric Colorado, said the organization provides “free home electrification consultations” and will “go to [a homeowner’s] home” when needed, supplementing phone sessions that sometimes last “an hour or 2.”

The group explained why homeowners seek help: heat pumps, heat-pump water heaters, electric vehicle charging and energy-bill concerns. Romstick said the organization does not perform blower-door energy audits but aims to be “more comprehensive than an energy audit,” covering equipment selection, EV charging and solar in a coordinated way.

Commissioner Christine Brinker, who described electrifying her own house, said, “It is awesome. I love it. I have a heat pump,” and described the equipment as quiet and effective in both winter and summer. Romstick and other volunteers also walked commissioners through common technical pitfalls: oversized heat pumps, incorrect contractor installation and the need for cold‑climate heat‑pump models in Colorado. Romstick said many installations she’s seen were “not installed correctly,” a problem the organization tries to surface and fix through coaching and contractor education.

Speakers discussed costs and incentives. Romstick noted that solar plus electrification can make exact savings hard to disentangle and that incentives from utilities such as Xcel Energy have recently grown; she urged residents to check current rebates and to plan for upfront costs. Commissioners and volunteers also discussed financing options mentioned in the presentation, including proposed state bills that would allow electrification upgrades to be paid back on monthly energy bills.

Go Electric Colorado also described workforce development and public events (green-home tours, tabling at EV shows) as part of a broader strategy to scale adoption and improve installation quality. Romstick said the group is volunteer-run, has multiple chapters (Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins) and is seeking to expand coaching and to hire paid staff if funding allows.

The organization asked the commission to share its coaching link, identify local outreach opportunities (school presentations, Earth Day events, community tabling) and consider contracting or sponsoring targeted work. Romstick directed interested homeowners to goelectriccolorado.org for coaching signups and follow‑up resources.

The commission thanked the presenters and discussed ways to publicize the coaching program and to invite the group to local events.

Ending — Next steps: commissioners agreed to share Go Electric Colorado’s materials in local outreach (newsletters, Earth Day/park events) and to follow up with staff about scheduling presentations and workforce‑training contacts.","Volunteers from Go Electric Colorado briefed the Englewood City Sustainability Commission on free home-electrification coaching, workforce development and common contractor pitfalls for heat pump installations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Staff: sustainability priority order adjusted; EV‑charging contract signed and energy‑efficiency project advancing

Commission discusses Title 16 updates, native‑landscape wording and a proposed green‑certification for yards

Commission refines summer communications: water conservation, transit promotions and park events

Englewood staff report resiliency‑workshop results; residents prioritized climate justice and multimodal transit

Go Electric Colorado offers free coaching, contractor guidance to help household electrification