Residents press Commerce City for answers on drones, traffic racing and local drainage; manager outlines responses

Two residents used the public‑comment period at the Dec. 1 council meeting to press the city on neighborhood safety, police drone operations, traffic enforcement and drainage repairs.

Jackie Valdez told council she has repeatedly sought help for alarms and traffic in her neighborhood and said she was concerned that the police drone program was undersized, asking, "how many drones we have, how much we got coming, how many people we have watching the footage, and also, how many we have that are actually flying the drones." Valdez said she had been told only a handful of drones are operational and that flying and charging time was limited.

Keith Rogers followed with complaints about racing and skidding incidents on Colorado Boulevard and other streets, asked who watches the city cameras and requested drainage improvements where neighbors’ garages and backyards flood.

City Manager Jason Rogers responded during the administrative update later in the meeting, saying the city currently has six officers authorized to fly drones and four real‑time crime center technicians in training who will assume drone responsibilities when certified. "We have used those drones on priority 1, 2, and 3 calls," he said, adding they have been used for targeted enforcement such as monitoring motorbikes and ATVs in Reunion. Rogers also said the city conducted a spot 'knock and talk' canvass in affected neighborhoods and that the multimodal 68th Avenue project will examine drainage improvements along Colorado Boulevard where flooding has been reported.

Council members pressed for better, earlier communication so residents know what the city is doing and asked staff to return with more frequent, proactive updates on these neighborhood issues.