Jefferson County proclaims April ‘Blue Envelope Autism Awareness Month’; sheriff rolls out countywide blue envelope program

The Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners on April 1 declared April 2025 as “Blue Envelope Autism Awareness Month” and heard about a new countywide program the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says will help first responders communicate with people who have autism or other communication challenges.

The proclamation, presented at the start of the meeting, states Jefferson County’s commitment “to foster a community built on understanding, inclusion and respect for all individuals, including those with autism spectrum disorder.” Commissioner Leslie Dahlkemper read portions of the proclamation and recognized the sheriff’s office for the program.

Sheriff Marinelli described the Blue Envelope initiative as a voluntary identification and information system intended to give first responders quick access to communication needs and other helpful details. “The sheriff’s office is host is the host office for the Jefferson County Blue Envelope Program,” Sheriff Marinelli said. She told the board the county program started from an idea first used in Connecticut in 2020 and is the first countywide program in Colorado. Marinelli said the program provides free identifying items — stickers for cars or front doors, keychains and seat‑belt markers — and an information envelope that can hold vehicle registration, proof of insurance or whatever information a participant wants to share with a first responder.

Marinelli said the program will distribute materials at the sheriff’s office headquarters and the county’s South and Mountain precincts and that 15 partner agencies and organizations will add 27 additional pickup locations countywide. She also said sheriff’s office employees are authorized to wear a national recognition autism awareness lapel pin during April. “One of the keys to this program are the identifying items we are providing at no cost,” she said.

Library worker Christine Contramodos, speaking during public comment, said Jefferson County Public Library staff have been handing out Blue Envelope materials and thanked the board and library leadership for supporting the effort. “We, the library workers, appreciate the commissioner’s support of public libraries,” Contramodos said while also raising separate workplace concerns during her three‑minute comment.

Public comment at the meeting also covered several unrelated topics. Josh Schlossberg, who identified himself as a Jefferson County resident, criticized the county’s approach to forest fuel treatments and cited a 2022 study he said was paid for by county governments. He urged a temporary moratorium on fuel‑reduction work in county parks until additional science and public input are considered, and he alleged the county had cut old‑growth ponderosa pines in some open‑space projects.

Another commenter, Mike Rolick of Golden, urged more local outreach before forest thinning in Beaver Ranch Park and raised concerns about timing for wildlife such as eagles. He asked that the county provide more scientific justification and notice to residents and businesses before significant vegetation work.

Carolyn Fartman, speaking for the Save Our Skies Alliance, urged the board to consider a set of actions the group requested in a letter, including implementing landing fees at Rocky Mountain Metro Airport, eliminating sales of leaded fuel once an unleaded alternative meets federal requirements, strengthening the voluntary noise abatement plan, and pausing a taxiway project while requesting a full Federal Aviation Administration environmental assessment. “We request full transparency on your position regarding these actions and the reasoning behind them,” Fartman told the commissioners. She cited the runway protection zone and said repair funding gaps for a failing slope in a runway protection area illustrate the need for stable funding sources beyond grants.

On routine business the board approved the minutes of March 25, 2025, and approved the consent agenda items 7.1 through 7.4. Commissioner Kerr moved both motions and Commissioner Zenzinger seconded. In each roll call, Commissioners Kerr, Zenzinger and Dahlkemper voted in the affirmative and the motions passed.

During the reports segment, Commissioner Zenzinger told the board Jefferson Center for Mental Health selected Sarah Umquist as its next chief executive officer; Umquist’s expected start date was not specified. Commissioners also discussed wildfire‑resiliency measures: Commissioner Kerr and others described a recent seeding and erosion‑control operation at Deer Creek Canyon Park and noted Jefferson County hosts the state’s Firehawk helicopter based at Rocky Mountain Metro Airport. The board announced two public outreach events: a wildfire resiliency and homeowners insurance town hall set for April 5 at Evergreen Library and a virtual Board of County Commissioners town hall on May 8.

The meeting recessed after roughly an hour; no regular hearing agenda items or hearing consent items were heard.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve minutes of March 25, 2025: Moved by Commissioner Kerr; seconded by Commissioner Zenzinger; vote: Commissioner Kerr — yes; Commissioner Zenzinger — yes; Commissioner Leslie Dahlkemper — yes. Outcome: approved. - Motion to approve consent agenda items 7.1–7.4: Moved by Commissioner Kerr; seconded by Commissioner Zenzinger; vote: Commissioner Kerr — yes; Commissioner Zenzinger — yes; Commissioner Leslie Dahlkemper — yes. Outcome: approved.

The board closed the regularly scheduled portion of the meeting and indicated briefings and additional work would continue on the fifth floor later in the morning.