[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6555895,"mediaKeyId","3336172-81c08437dfb359605421c9e24dcdd119","parentId",3336172,"title","Commission hears city updates: Baird Park planting, communications subcommittee, All‑America City finalist; minutes approved","audioSeconds",38,"startMs",51000,"endMs",89000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3336172-81c08437dfb359605421c9e24dcdd119&start=51&end=89","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3336172-81c08437dfb359605421c9e24dcdd119/thumbnail_51000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6555895/Englewood-City/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Commission-hears-city-updates-Baird-Park-planting-communications-subcommittee-AllAmerica-City-finalist-minutes-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555895-14c46b112719314df5467ceb17a10421/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193017&Signature=PxIyv5L7yvgZAM7I8emgHOreMnbh1Uf-MDHbSLciSmIZ~pCw09FIcOF~jWhliwIHGQROzD1nMp-yyspN6iWwzIZ3xN~VceA5jH7LOfixa5qngrg9FiwiffvQciewLRdM6bp~pSCAM2BDXJ9w5I1a-gdG2LFyqCU~0D2LJO4tYJRfl8qhe5uMpIeQRu8ZgWj5xYQ6iB4Lo4BxAYPs6YHl5MhGxgvS0uzZjBMtRSF3ypY7gjCtBuYlQmFMdYmcL104B88rMLiOc1j62bAtqJtimxi-HnAhIi1~V-zsXs2U7dqi9lwWQUDRJYRrnR0Ya7WM5ccU2UoDs9GQsVTM8qwk-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Englewood City, CO","date","2025-05-16T02:13:39.187Z","article","The Englewood City Sustainability Commission received a cluster of community and city updates and approved last month’s meeting minutes by voice vote.

Community projects and subcommittees: Commission members reported a volunteer planting at Baird Park rescheduled to Sunday, June 1, starting around 9 a.m., with volunteer tasks and an afternoon celebration planned. Members said organizers will provide flyers to city communications and that volunteers were signing up via a park QR code.

Commissioners also said the communications subcommittee will meet in June to prepare material for the fall magazine; one member asked the subcommittee to propose dates for a June 10 slot to finalize ideas.

Garden and community events: Members reported a successful Earth Day event at the Civic Center that featured sustainability grant sign‑ups, business partnership information and a tree raffle. Staff noted the Englewood Garden in a Box program and neighborhood interest in native plant installations.

City initiatives: City staff announced Englewood is a finalist for the National League of Cities’ All‑America City award in a sustainability‑and‑resilience theme, and staff said finalists will present a public skit during the conference in Denver the weekend of June 27–29. Staff asked commission members to consider participation in the finalist presentation and community engagement elements.

The city also previewed the South Broadway Revitalization outreach, including nine strategy groups (public art, wayfinding, economic development, complete streets and beautification) and a sign‑up form on Englewood Engage for residents who want to join strategy groups.

Minutes vote: The commission approved last month’s minutes by voice vote after a motion and second; the chair called for ayes and none were recorded in opposition. No roll‑call tally was presented in the meeting record.

Ending: Staff reminded members about internships and a municipality‑supported sustainability intern who will start soon, and about the Celebrate Englewood spring event. The commission closed with thanks to presenters and staff.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sustainability Commission 5/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commission received logistical updates on an early‑June Baird Park native‑planting event, a communications subcommittee meeting to plan a fall magazine, and citywide initiatives including All‑America City finalist status and the South Broadway Revitalization. The commission also approved last month’s minutes by voice vote.","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},6555900,"Presenter urges Englewood to expand native-plant landscaping; subcommittee outlines pilot certification and water-board outreach",1079,2009000,3088000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3336172-81c08437dfb359605421c9e24dcdd119&start=2009&end=3088","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3336172-81c08437dfb359605421c9e24dcdd119/thumbnail_2009000.jpg","/articles/6555900/Englewood-City/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Presenter-urges-Englewood-to-expand-native-plant-landscaping-subcommittee-outlines-pilot-certification-and-water-board-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555900-991ef4316b962dc08bbf66e74bf536b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193017&Signature=ed8ND45W-3TtaZ1Dz0cd~jk3pMTGpDv1l9Q7aBd3Ll6qUH-dXlgPqrLi7TKQbucb5c7Q~o02szDFUXSrgQ-1W-~6gwttC-DjQClURA7q7Ef6sgoSmAjjrNtaxBYielTbcxykuf9snJHT7XVwAG1ogvHtHD-6PZTj~PW1qVyQkf2HVA61sWopSLS82sxLOa7J82GdFuNH3Kz8PS1MIww~Mgkv6Y9Q3zP1O-GfSTL87dpgwbnFd8g4TIwFnGinFc90ejDV7~x18Hai~pi6XdPDnMF9PJElboaa2qaICfJin9RnxPdwAx0hF4PjGHfR-syuELm8p7BAWTcaKXAN8Nhhuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its meeting, the Englewood City Sustainability Commission heard a 40‑minute presentation on native plants and a report that a newly formed certification subcommittee plans a pilot program and outreach to the water board.

Dana (owner, Grounding Growth Land Landscape Design and board member of Wild Ones Front Range) told the commission that native plants “clean our air, manage stormwater, and support wildlife.” She framed native landscaping as a local tool to address pollinator loss, carbon sequestration and flash‑flood risk.

Dana described ecological advantages specific to the short‑grass prairie ecosystem around Englewood: deep root systems that can reach many feet and sequester carbon in soil; higher drought resilience than Kentucky bluegrass; and the ability of prairie plantings to increase groundwater infiltration and reduce runoff during storms. She said prairie grasses reach maturity faster than trees for carbon storage and require far less irrigation than nonnative turf. Dana cited monarch butterfly declines — \"Monarch populations have declined by as much as 83% between February and 02/2020,\" she said — as an example of the wider pollinator crisis native plantings can help address.

A commission member reported that a nascent certification group has met twice, with about six participants, and is drafting definitions and a pilot structure. That member said the group plans to present a pilot concept to Englewood’s water board to explore funding and to use the Sustainability Commission as a practice audience before seeking a confidence vote from City Council.

Practical guidance and steps: Dana urged phased conversions (by irrigation zone), recommended avoiding soil disturbance, leaving leaf litter in fall for insect habitat, delaying spring mowing until native ground‑nesting bees are active, skipping landscape weed‑barriers in favor of dense planting and mulch, and prioritizing plant species adapted to local soils. She said watering schedules typically require regular watering the first year, reduced frequency the second season, and minimal supplemental watering after plants establish — and that most native plantings reach mature, resilient form in about two to three years.

Access and supply: Dana said native plants are increasingly available at specialty nurseries (she mentioned Harlequin’s in Boulder and High Plains in Loveland) and via mail order, but encouraged residents to request natives at local garden centers to increase local supply.

Why it matters: The presenter linked native landscaping to multiple policy goals — biodiversity, climate resilience, stormwater management, and lower water use — and the certification subcommittee’s pilot seeks to make native landscaping easier for residents to adopt.

Ending: The commission discussed next steps for the subcommittee and asked staff to coordinate outreach to the water board and community education programs. Dana and subcommittee members said they would return with more detailed pilot proposals and plant lists for Englewood’s short‑grass prairie ecosystem.","A local ecological landscaper argued native prairie plants improve pollinator habitat, carbon storage and stormwater absorption; commission members reported a new certification subcommittee and plans for a pilot to coordinate with the water board and possibly seek council support.",{"_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},6555905,"Sustainability commission hears library induction-burner rental pilot, rebates and barriers to electrification",953,497000,1450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3336172-81c08437dfb359605421c9e24dcdd119&start=497&end=1450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3336172-81c08437dfb359605421c9e24dcdd119/thumbnail_497000.jpg","/articles/6555905/Englewood-City/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Sustainability-commission-hears-library-induction-burner-rental-pilot-rebates-and-barriers-to-electrification","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555905-58025f88b82410c6228f7b3cce8f8732/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193017&Signature=myM-0em8uTWwAWplyRdxTMoA-QnBrYqFJ61PHEYaU1GiV2odCOxOnGuuoIMPtIusKr71HLyqmU0hBT3eSEYdJ9IRGNZvpjTV9a9H4jkvwPVJEhFzPUn1jSfTCfPWiqn-8ZdyMgvQ0a2p~bI40KiUePJU1AeiDEhRcOsQV4vkN-r3bM7SywxSoLanLqZfBti2ZHyvmNQU5ecDVazlGxWYo0tblnCyuPR4UMob377qMcqTkaZUMmjex5lzkLc7XZAOa008dl8N9aoBoxB6nGu2wmdEcIeZ67XkuJsJ-B7BACbOpP5YlmC7s5CYuXU7dLD9FrcEekWe1M9bn8wTwtL6VQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its meeting, the Englewood City Sustainability Commission heard a demonstration of an induction-burner lending kit that the library has circulated and a briefing on incentives and installation challenges for switching from gas to electric cooking.

Andrew Forline, a longtime Englewood resident who works as a cooking electrification administrator in the City and County of Denver’s Climate Action Office, told the commission the city’s sustainability grant funded four portable induction burners with cookware kits for the library of things. \"They've had 75 to a % circulation the first few months. No issues, except 1 didn't get returned, so they got charged for it,\" Forline said. He said three kits remain in circulation as items are returned.

Forline said the devices show induction cooking’s energy and indoor-air advantages. \"Induction's 90 to 95% efficient in converting that energy into usable cookable heat,\" he told the commission, contrasting induction with radiant electric tops (about 75% efficient) and gas burners (about 35% to 40%). He also described safety features: an induction burner will not power on unless compatible cookware is present and will shut off automatically if a pan overheats.

Why it matters: Forline emphasized that replacing gas stoves with electric induction reduces indoor air pollution and improves energy efficiency as the electrical grid decarbonizes. He also described barriers homeowners and developers face: countertop plug-in units typically use a 120-volt circuit, but full ranges usually require a 240-volt, 50-amp circuit and older homes may need panel upgrades.

Cost and incentives: Forline said small countertop units are commonly available in the $60–$100 range, with entry-level plug-in models at the low end and midscale 30-inch induction ranges approaching $1,000–$1,500 at retail. He told the commission that the Colorado Energy Office has been rolling out rebate programs tied to federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding and cited a commonly-available point-of-sale rebate figure of about $840 for a qualifying range; he also said some rebate programs will help cover panel and wiring upgrades.

Installation and site-readiness: Forline warned that electric capacity is a key constraint, especially for commercial kitchens and older residential service panels. He said developers sometimes learn after permits are issued that the local utility (he cited Xcel Energy in his remarks) will not finalize a capacity upgrade until after permitting steps are completed, creating risk for project budgets and schedules.

Education and next steps: Forline offered to support local outreach and education, and said he will continue coordinating with the library and city staff. He left contact information for commission members and said he is available to present or assist with local demonstrations.

Ending: Commission members asked about cookware compatibility, control layouts and whether the equipment is suitable for seniors and for high-elevation cooking. Forline said most ferrous (magnetic) cookware is compatible, modern controls are improving, and induction can speed boiling times at higher elevations. He encouraged the commission to connect residents to local rebate programs and to consider panel-upgrade costs when promoting electrification.","A resident and Denver Climate Action Office staffer demonstrated an induction-burner lending kit the library circulates, described high efficiency and safety benefits, and outlined rebate and electric-panel issues that affect wider adoption.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission hears city updates: Baird Park planting, communications subcommittee, All‑America City finalist; minutes approved

Presenter urges Englewood to expand native-plant landscaping; subcommittee outlines pilot certification and water-board outreach

Sustainability commission hears library induction-burner rental pilot, rebates and barriers to electrification