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Residents, business owners press Arvada council for navigation center and stronger Old Town safety measures
Summary
Multiple public commenters at the March 4 Arvada City Council meeting urged action on homelessness in Old Town, citing recent rooftop fire, vandalism and safety incidents and asking for a north Jeffco navigation center, increased security and city resources for immigrants.
Several Arvada residents, business owners and nonprofit volunteers used the March 4 public-comment period to urge the City Council to take concrete steps on homelessness response, Old Town safety and immigrant support.
Scott Spears, owner of multiple Old Town businesses, described a rooftop fire on Feb. 28 that he said was started by two people he identified as unhoused and that nearly spread to nearby historic properties. "This is how close Old Town, Arvada, was to being next in that list," Spears said, referencing recent destructive fires elsewhere. He urged the council to prioritize public-safety changes to make Old Town "safe, clean, and inviting." The council interrupted his remarks when his three-minute public-comment time expired.
Other speakers asked the council to advance a navigation center for north Jefferson County. Jill Armstrong said Mission Arvada's overnight shelter is no longer accepting new guests and called for a permanent north navigation center modeled on Boulder's All Roads Home facility. "A navigation center gives [people] that place along with access to resources like housing, employment, health care, and IDs," she said.
Tom Olshner, leader of a church-based safe-parking team and a Mission Arvada volunteer, also urged the council to push for a navigation center with 24/7 shelter and walk-in services. "Our community needs our community leaders to pull together to make a navigation center a reality," Olshner said.
Speakers also highlighted safety and historic-preservation concerns in Old Town. Judith Denham, representing the Arvada Historical Society, asked the city to expand security to protect contributing properties on the federal register of historic places; she said the society has documented repeated vandalism and is alarmed by the recent rooftop fire. "Let's take action to protect our Old Town structures from irreparable loss," Denham said.
David Holland said he has seen homeless individuals near a school playground and raised concern after finding a registered offender listed at a nearby address. He asked the city to consider protections for children and enforcement of zoning or other rules that might apply.
In separate public comments, Pat Malone and Joyce Richardson urged the council to post a statement of support for immigrants and add practical resources to the city website, including contact information for rapid-response organizations and guidance about legal rights when interacting with immigration authorities. A caller identified only as Sebastian also asked the city to speak in support of immigrant, transgender and Black residents.
Speakers who offered direct service experience said existing volunteer-run facilities such as Mission Arvada remain strained. Armstrong and Olshner said volunteer groups and small shelters cannot meet demand without a larger, professionally staffed navigation center and clear city leadership.
Council did not take immediate formal action during the public-comment period; the comments were entered into the record for council consideration.
