[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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],{"_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",6607406,"mediaKeyId","2952897-b5a178959c79b642028fc9ad70de77f8","parentId",2952897,"title","City sustainability staff announce grant changes, Earth Day event, intern for climate-resiliency work and staffing change in urban forestry","audioSeconds",315,"startMs",2985000,"endMs",3300000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2952897-b5a178959c79b642028fc9ad70de77f8&start=2985&end=3300","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2952897-b5a178959c79b642028fc9ad70de77f8/thumbnail_2985000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6607406/Englewood-City/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/City-sustainability-staff-announce-grant-changes-Earth-Day-event-intern-for-climate-resiliency-work-and-staffing-change-in-urban-forestry","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607406-03e3a0cd1a986e5873c6e3dae310ee62/orig.mp4?Expires=1771211307&Signature=icB3Oh3Aq-2a5uwNrcRbL689pgmAWjySCeAq62dnhfQMjdRJ55R1BIQBcKXqXd2MUQLBEntCE0Ep7~5PnoYd3l4djMNaaubrQNDcOucyFnb6pxITt84DvTKvUznVP7QKN0Q91nMfEYQ4Ra6GZXm0Y~vHCZaXGL6rpkI~rbZeZy0Qyqamu2ZqlkGXRb56T2CdzD0~1192KMYTgNhYSnNbk4fBVe7fvKY~P8108J1JDIdecj1oH4vKZ3q~XdzRgmqBtQT07nEhAyixodNPoog92HKCRA~zp0XMJlyj2-W80OJmGFK4KEYQeTwlTS71pkOp09e9DwtCef9hnh3XJNAERg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Englewood City, CO","date","2025-04-10T18:30:41.56Z","article","Sustainability staff provided multiple city updates covering grants, outreach and staffing.

The sustainability grant program launched April 1; per staff the award level was reduced from $1,000 last year to $500 this year. Staff said the smaller award still funds neighborhood projects but advised commissioners to contact staff for project ideas.

Staff announced an Earth Day celebration on April 26 featuring a local brewer, live music and outreach tables; commissioners were invited to staff a commission table.

The city's internal green team is organizing staff-focused initiatives including an e-waste drive (April 1'14) and an upcoming review of sustainable procurement. Staff also reported the city received a paid intern through the nonprofit ICLE to support a community climate-resiliency project. \"Our intern's name is Colton... He's a grad student at DU,\" staff said; the intern will work approximately 30 hours per week from May through November to compile resident feedback and feasibility analysis.

Staff additionally reported that Evan, the city's urban forester, is leaving the city this month to move abroad; parks staff will recruit a replacement. The departure has delayed final steps on a draft tree ordinance that the commission and parks staff had been developing together.

Depot Park maintenance and other items
Commissioner Dana asked that Depot Park landscaping maintenance be put on the next meeting agenda; staff acknowledged the request and said they would follow up on volunteer and maintenance options.

Induction stove demo
Commissioner Christine Brinker requested a demonstration of induction cooking funded through the sustainability grant. Staff said chef Andrew had agreed to do a live demo and could attend the May meeting to demonstrate and prepare crepes.

Ending
Staff encouraged commissioners to sign up for Earth Day outreach, indicated recruitment would begin for the urban-forester vacancy, and said the ICLE-funded intern will produce midterm findings for staff leadership in May.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sustainability Commission 4/8/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff reported the sustainability grant program has been reduced to $500 per award, an Earth Day celebration is planned for April 26, the city secured a paid intern through ICLE to work on community climate-resiliency efforts starting in May, and the urban forester will be leaving the city, which affects the tree-ordinance work in progress.","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},6607409,"Englewood volunteers plan Bayard Park planting party; small \"green library\" installed at Inglewood Rec Center",347,207000,554000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2952897-b5a178959c79b642028fc9ad70de77f8&start=207&end=554","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2952897-b5a178959c79b642028fc9ad70de77f8/thumbnail_207000.jpg","/articles/6607409/Englewood-City/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Englewood-volunteers-plan-Bayard-Park-planting-party-small-green-library-installed-at-Inglewood-Rec-Center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607409-95058727fd5c8f192e4cf905a9a41820/orig.mp4?Expires=1771211307&Signature=YWvY9fKBQP2gkw1T76w5V4KiTMTt8BkpO60LdmMrjUJhTdW9xrQEfX01lrR5sxhsaUErHWxV3c4cEciKvvK1uhQmVPcFNsdN80q6nSqRs3ZRGISBgVA4lerZSeGCQvyvuuMMCJuETfhE~Ruj46Th-tkOLFPnbm3UK0tjd76ZHcj5Dji~amC~ZSTx3dOsm3xeVfJisKe-3c7r1qPOtkrKbxqrvf8i7sRgFZEsHr65FA064OhQNiopvapJcMOhffJAJql1mohpg19Tc4uu0pYbTOyJ4v4Q1WKMPxI5w3WK1ynrCPbZK9tnozoPAqUkdcnReyeBXa1IBmxVcp2Zxqnofg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tracy Sabina, a commission member, said the Bayard Park project funded by a neighborhood grant will host planting activities on Memorial Day weekend and she has lined up a band for a public planting party. \"It's gonna be Sunday and Monday...Sunday the 20-something, Memorial Day weekend,\" she said; exact dates and times will be distributed to commission members and posted to the event flyer.

Tracy also described a native-plant demonstration garden installed in phases at Bayard Park: the area has been covered with mulch to suppress grass and will be planted in the spring as part of an ongoing grant project.

Separately, Tracy reported that the commission and partners implemented a second \"green library\" at the Inglewood Recreation Center. The Little Free Green Library focuses on sustainable resources, contains seeds, and was launched alongside a tabling event with Compost Colorado. Staff reported positive resident engagement and comment cards praising the resource.

Ending
Commissioners encouraged outreach and signage; Tracy said she would circulate details and a flyer for Bayard Park volunteers and asked commissioners to help publicize both the park event and the green-library resource.","Commissioners reported a Bayard Park native-plant demonstration garden planting event planned for Memorial Day weekend and described a new Little Free Green Library at the Inglewood Recreation Center that promotes sustainability resources and hosted a Compost Colorado tabling event.",{"_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},6607415,"Votes at a glance: commission approves prior minutes and establishes lawn-certification subcommittee",2428,85000,2513000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2952897-b5a178959c79b642028fc9ad70de77f8&start=85&end=2513","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2952897-b5a178959c79b642028fc9ad70de77f8/thumbnail_85000.jpg","/articles/6607415/Englewood-City/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Votes-at-a-glance-commission-approves-prior-minutes-and-establishes-lawn-certification-subcommittee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607415-5ef1f0510e17010ae6417d0d662e6fd3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771211307&Signature=JZLyIDeDG7YaJmQwUqVr~DQnALzhEqD2wlnaY6MP9uwXipXLdB2xClvIog~fMECZTBCNyPFSDa4-avFdzygakHp8r69z2wbHvxd3MH3bV-vFETe7RnPSJny4iSt4O4mEEHN2fOW5tFRlPPLXDllol5zABjwOBSwUMtW3bksAjK7KRqz6c89ijqQy5b8hxz8MguRnvFZOQHzkLAm-ydcqf0DnmVWH2RNQ77BsK4Arbdeb8Aepw1zmL5jhiSe6NSUoNsCufYet8jgjXk72yCnFdoODTANvdGHexiJDab40E8lKXZs6kwH7cmSJGz6LZets0jRRlgW8p2HLIy1ss1VRaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Englewood City Sustainability Commission recorded two formal procedural actions during the meeting: approval of the prior meeting's minutes and creation of a new subcommittee to explore a voluntary lawn- or ecological-landscaping certification.

Approval of minutes
A motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Creation of lawn-certification subcommittee
A second motion asked the commission to \"establish a subcommittee for the purpose of exploring the idea of lawn certification.\" The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote: commissioners responded \"aye\" and the meeting record states \"Subcommittees created.\"

The record does not list named movers or a roll-call vote for either action. The subcommittee is authorized as a public subcommittee under commission rules; staff reminded the group that a subcommittee can include up to four commission members and that its meetings must be publicly noticed.

Ending
Both actions were completed during the meeting and recorded in the meeting minutes.","At its meeting the commission approved the previous meeting's minutes and voted to create a subcommittee to develop a voluntary lawn-certification program; both actions passed by voice vote.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":92,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6607420,"Englewood sustainability panel forms lawn-certification subcommittee to promote ecologically minded front-yard landscaping",1960,553000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2952897-b5a178959c79b642028fc9ad70de77f8&start=553&end=2513","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2952897-b5a178959c79b642028fc9ad70de77f8/thumbnail_553000.jpg","/articles/6607420/Englewood-City/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Englewood-sustainability-panel-forms-lawn-certification-subcommittee-to-promote-ecologically-minded-front-yard-landscaping","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607420-a1981f462765a5de9319e60bc9c0cd15/orig.mp4?Expires=1771211307&Signature=fV8Tgu-yS0weH94XCNGNIf13cWHe4gwI1nwUiDxTFYHRlyn9f3KTbinEUAP-l-IpZgLhvc5WkPRfWo66GZPoBLNGAV2KjJ2oKl4gZ2m2MKq2esSYcUmKeE-kPgvi-kOuaD4KU~9eiReQQhREOUamyVDM3VfK5xWfobWtzm9iC4GIoBmnphDmQqZ2Eja1-Shafnvxc-MK7LCsuoEfCjm24O3vk90XYl7C5n5VEDI9Z2GyQIF9QWvf2XloZWC2I0OuFHC1XXGH2nSjNGr7FvLpjntitd3wZCzy0ct84XYSDwx~K2DzeQazz4FiwNQxuR8n-e5G9qkFqTZiaeUoGuhvTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rick (presenter; role not specified) proposed creating a voluntary program to recognize front-yard landscaping that intentionally prioritizes native or ecologically beneficial plants and pollinator habitat, and the commission agreed to create a subcommittee to develop the idea further.

The program is intended to provide a visible sign and simple criteria to distinguish an intentionally designed ecological yard from an untended property that violates the city's weed/grass standards. \"The idea was that if we could come up with some way to recognize people who have done native plants, native grasses, Colorado scaping, possibly pollinator gardens ... it would be 1 less hassle they would get from code enforcement,\" Rick said.

Commissioners and attendees discussed how the program should be structured, including whether to define \"native\" strictly or to frame the program more broadly as an \"ecological landscaping\" or \"Englewood green lawn\" certification. Dana (participant; role not specified) and others recommended being inclusive: allow regionally adapted and nontraditional plantings while emphasizing ecological benefit and practical maintenance.

Participants raised several recurring issues:
- Criteria and scope: Should certification apply only to front yards visible from the street, include alleyways or raised beds, or accept small plots and planter boxes? Commissioners generally agreed to prioritize visible frontage but asked the subcommittee to refine specifics.
- Aesthetics and public perception: Commissioners said the program should help distinguish intentional ecological landscaping from neglect. One member said it must \"look nice\" so visitors and code officers can readily identify intentional plantings.
- Practicality and inspection: The group favored a low-burden approach that avoids plant-by-plant verification. Suggestions included requiring applicants to submit a simple plan or sketch of the intended planting and basic maintenance commitments rather than a detailed botanical inventory.
- Education and resources: Speakers recommended pairing signage with QR links to guidance (plant lists, best practices, maintenance advice) and building partnerships with local nurseries, CSU Extension and nonprofits to address native-plant availability.
- Code enforcement: Members emphasized that the program is meant to inform code enforcement and reduce enforcement friction, not to replace the city's authority to cite noxious weeds.

Commissioners agreed to form a subcommittee (up to four commission members) to draft program criteria, resource lists and outreach materials. Several commissioners expressed interest in serving; Dana said she would participate \"as much as my schedule allows,\" and Mike indicated he would join. The subcommittee will be an official, public subcommittee under the commission and must follow public-meeting posting requirements.

The group listed likely near-term tasks for the subcommittee: draft criteria (native vs. ecological framing), develop a simple applicant form or garden sketch process, draft sample signage and QR-linked resources, and gather baseline data from Code Enforcement on weed complaints to estimate potential cost savings.

Commissioners did not set a final timeline for the subcommittee's recommendations; the group left implementation details to the subcommittee and staff.

Ending
The commission voted subsequently to create the subcommittee in a separate procedural motion and approved it by voice vote. The subcommittee will meet publicly and report back to the full commission with draft criteria, outreach materials and recommended next steps.","The Englewood City Sustainability Commission voted to create a subcommittee to design a voluntary \"lawn certification\" program aimed at recognizing front-yard landscaping that supports pollinators, reduces turf area and helps clarify code-enforcement expectations for nontraditional yards.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City sustainability staff announce grant changes, Earth Day event, intern for climate-resiliency work and staffing change in urban forestry

Englewood volunteers plan Bayard Park planting party; small "green library" installed at Inglewood Rec Center

Votes at a glance: commission approves prior minutes and establishes lawn-certification subcommittee

Englewood sustainability panel forms lawn-certification subcommittee to promote ecologically minded front-yard landscaping