Another month has passed and once again it has been a very interesting education of your thoughts and concerns. Thank you to all that have posted and we look forward to hearing more of your comments.If you are confused about how to post on the blog or feel more comfortable e-mailing me your comments and concerns, please do so and we will post it for you.
E-mail: dustin.mcintyre@yahoo.com
Dustin McIntyre, Gateway News and www.gatewaynews.org
147 comments:
Commerce City's 2010 Incentives to Attract Businesses gets coverage in Denver Business Journal CLICK: http://tinyurl.com/2g7u9uq
So is anyone ever going to answer the question, WHY DID THE CITY MANAGER GET $72,000 IN CASH OF THE TAXPAYERS MONEY FOR A SUPPOSED LOSS ON A HOUSE IN ARIZONA THAT HE SOLD FOR A PROFIT AND FOR A HOUSE IN REUNION THAT HE HAS NOT BOUGHT YET OR GOTTEN A MORTGAGE ON OR PAID A DIME ON? THERE WERE NO LOSSES SO WHY WAS HE GIVEN THIS MONEY???????
I like the commerce city incentive program. I do believe this maybe the first time in the history of the city we had a program in place like this.
good job commerce city
I am sick of this subject.
The subject is dead to the majority of us and it is not benefiting anyone to keep bringing it back.
It only polishes the black eye, "some" want to give our city.
Please move on!!
I hear what you are saying about the Commerce City Incent. Package and I do applaud the staff doing something, but I have to laugh a little bit.
Being very close to the development scene, I strongly believe these incentives would be given anyway to the new retailers and Projects of Economic Development Significance.
Of course given the current economic situation in the United States.
Reply to "friend of the city"
You are right in a sense, a good example would be the Mile High Market Place aka the flea market.
What you need to have if you are a new business coming to commerce city or a "Projects of Economic Development Significance" is have the FOSTER FACTOR. The law firm that can get anything out of this current council.
yes the foster factor:
got council to agree to a 11th hour deal from mile high market annexation deal.
worked on the 250 acres of cowley to be rezoned as to be determined, despite the CAC and others recommendations.
Response from WHY DID THE CITY MANAGER GET $72,000 IN CASH OF THE TAXPAYERS MONEY FOR A SUPPOSED LOSS ON A HOUSE IN ARIZONA THAT HE SOLD FOR A PROFIT AND FOR A HOUSE IN REUNION THAT HE HAS NOT BOUGHT YET OR GOTTEN A MORTGAGE ON OR PAID A DIME ON? THERE WERE NO LOSSES SO WHY WAS HE GIVEN THIS MONEY???????
I think what would finally bury the deal breaker would be a clarification of the actions of the council.
Council says it is a non issue or a dead issue and we should all move on.
The clarifications are still needed, and being able to look at this from someone who has "NO DOG IN THE RACE", I have to say it has not ever been addressed properly and you will continue to see it until then.
I have been a supporter of the current council, but I have to agree with this deal breaker has not been addressed.
I would not want to be a council member at this time. Those who ran for city council and did not win this last time around should be thanking their lucky stars.
This Deal Breaker will go down in history as part of the current council legacies.
PS - I HAVE NO DOG IN THE RACE TOO!
want to kill deal breaker thing?
get the money back from the city manager.
there, dead story.
hey all of you pinheads!
I love this place, one thing that MUST HAPPEN!
With city having so much money that they can just give it away.
They Better have Hamburgers at the outreach like they use to, and not just hot dogs.
Orval Lewis brought this up when he was a council member. I agree, city should go back to the old days and serve hamburgers to the citizens.
We better not hear about how the city is only serving hot dogs because of budget crunch when the council is always bragging how well off we are all of the time.
gatewaynews,
why do you think it is your place to continue the deal breaker story for this long?
what any good is it to keep this story alive?
don't you know that the citizens want to get past it and move forward?
Please stop promoting this story, which should have never been brought out to the public in the first place.
thank you
I wish commerce city would put the may edition of the commerce city news on their website.
response to Mr. Anonymous:
gatewaynews,
why do you think it is your place to continue the deal breaker story for this long?
what any good is it to keep this story alive?
don't you know that the citizens want to get past it and move forward?
Please stop promoting this story, which should have never been brought out to the public in the first place.
Your comments are wrong on so many levels I do not even know where to begin.
scary blue horse at DIA is bad enough, now the god of the dead statue is over the top.
Dustin,
Any updates on the Commerce City barn fire that killed all of those animals?
Hamburgers...wow do our citizens have "me" issues.
How many cities provide any kind of cookout free of charge.
Why have we become such a "I deserve it" society?
We all take and take and want more, but hate the taxes and fight any more taxes or fees.
Why does everyone believe the government has endless pockets....yea I know the "house deal" I too am sick of that.
I have read the deal and don't agree with parts of it, but decisions were made and it is done.
We don't want government in our homes etc. yet we all want more more more from them. Ye cant have it both ways!!
There are MANY citizens outraged at the whole city manager house deal. YES it should be brought out to the public and should not be kept secret by city council. The city council was elected by the citizens to look out for the best interest of the citizens, not their own personal agendas for their friends. Shame on you city council for not listening to the citizens that do come to speak to you and shame on you city council for making citizens feel like they should have no opinions and no voice. Thank God that we have an election in November 2011 and then the new city council can get rid of this guy who came here not to manage anything but his own wealth that he stole from the citizens. And you know he won't pay for the Reunion house ever, so we will all be stuck with that too. Hope none of the current council plans on doing anything after they are off this council cause they could not be elected as dog catcher after refusing to make this guy pay the money back and pay for his house he lives in. Shame on all of you. And Gateway KEEP THE STORY ALIVE TIL SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING PLEASE.
Hamburgers are what will keep the citizens happy, Hamburgers!
I think we need to rethink our priorities!
I agree with everyone expecting the gov. to just give them everything. I know Denver never does any kind of a free outreach bbq, at least I never heard of one.
I think Commerce City does a great thing by having this, it really is not about hamburgers or hot dogs, but about reaching out to the community.
Credit is due to the past city manager staff for this idea, and I would hope the future city staff continue it.
Oh no doubt the Gateway will continue to beat it's drum on the city manager.
They "wronged" the editor and revenge is hers.....she won't let it go no matter what it does to the city image or future.
If all of the facts were out there including hers I wonder if she would be as happy.
Okay, we can try to blame the media and twist this, but I see we are ONCE AGAIN losing focus, so I will be the one to ask,
WHY DID THE CITY MANAGER GET $72,000 IN CASH OF THE TAXPAYERS MONEY FOR A SUPPOSED LOSS ON A HOUSE IN ARIZONA THAT HE SOLD FOR A PROFIT AND FOR A HOUSE IN REUNION THAT HE HAS NOT BOUGHT YET OR GOTTEN A MORTGAGE ON OR PAID A DIME ON? THERE WERE NO LOSSES SO WHY WAS HE GIVEN THIS MONEY???????
hey gateway,
can you verify that commerce city paid $130,000 to one city employee for a settlement lawsuit and $70,000 for another employee lawsuit?
I have a question
did the taxpayers reunion house get damaged in the hail storm, if so, what is the deductible and who has to pay that, citizens?
I was on Zillow.com doing some research on my own home.
Curiosity got the better of me, so I entered in the city manager Arizona house that was holding up the payment back to the taxpayer.
Go to price history and then more entries. I think the council should at least ask the city manager if he even had his house on the market during those early contracts, it looks like to me the house didn't go to market until 06/06/2009 according to this particular website.
Just caught my curiosity.
cut and paste this link and see for yourself:
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2697-N-Sandstone-Way-Flagstaff-AZ-86004/7359398_zpid/
I see what you are getting at, I would think that "going on market" could be as easy as just putting a "for sale" sign in the yard.
Maybe it was more of a "soft sell" approach.
Or maybe zillow is not completely updated.
Still a very good question.
sorry people, only hot dogs at outreach. so just accept it and shut up!
hey I was just trying to get the best deal for the hamburger lovers out there.
can't blame me for trying accepting a great deal, everyone else is doing it.
too sad that the commerce city memorial day parade this year was just a bunch of political ads.
Must be an election year, oh well, too sad.
Something positive for a change.
I heard that a new business is coming that will bring about 100 good paying jobs to CC.
Think it is completely new to the state.
IN RESPONSE TO ANONYMOUS WHO SAID:Oh no doubt the Gateway will continue to beat it's drum on the city manager.
They "wronged" the editor and revenge is hers.....she won't let it go no matter what it does to the city image or future.
If all of the facts were out there including hers I wonder if she would be as happy.
FROM KATHY THE EDITOR OF THE GATEWAY NEWS - No one "wronged" the editor and I am not out for revenge. I will not let this story go until the wrongs that have been perpetrated on the citizens are corrected. If you think there is something you know about me that everyone else in the world does not know, please put it out there. Also I am a private citizen and not an elected or appointed public official. This city coucil has to do something to correct this situation and the longer they prolong doing the right thing, the longer the story goes on. It is the city council that taints the city's image by refusing to do the right thing. We at the Gateway will promote to have wrongs corrected. Always have and always will. Remember the last city manager, former police chief, NASCAR, etc etc. Not the first time we have told citizens the truth and will not be the last. So whoever you are, start caring about how this situation borders on fraud, start caring about the citizens and taxpayers and the greater good of the city.
Reported Commerce City Northern Range Hail Damage around $70,000,000.
so that's why I have a roofing company at my door every 15 minutes!
DAMN!
That is a lot of money! does the city see any revenue for this type of repairs?
Does that permit fee thing count for roof repairs?
70 million is a little higher then I thought
Red-light cameras will be watching you at the intersection of Highway 85/2 and 60th Avenue in Commerce City.
Kathy,
You are doing a great job. Not in the entire history has so much information about the city has come out.
You are forcing them to be transparent.
You are making them be honest.
I admire that you are fearless and will not stop.
Something the media needs to be.
thank you.
why is city using CIG-PR (a Evergreen PR company)? and how much are we paying for this?
A email was copied to them, when deputy city manager sent email to media by accident.
Why is it that we are employing yet another outside consultant firm?
I'm tired of the hearing about the city manager's house. I'm tired of hearing about the BP oil spill. I'm tired of hearing about illegal immigration. In general, I'm tired of hearing about things that are bad for our city and country. When do we vote again?
Mr. Irony
I for one believe the "greater good of the city" does not lie in constantly rehashing something some perceive as "boarding on fraud".
The greater good is promoting the positive that I see going on in our city everyday.
But that's just me.
IN RESPONSE TO THE FOLLOWING POST -The video could show the city response to the recent hail storm. Public Works making sure the hail was off the streets, drainage was working, and things were safe. It could show the police department making sure we all knew about reputable contractors and how to report scammers. Neighborhood Services protecting the citizens from door to door scammers. Members of city council and senior staff walking around the affected neighborhoods, making sure the citizens knew they were there to help. The buidling department putting in the expedited permit process, especially for roofs, even opening on the three day weekend, knowing a number of homeowners need to get started. Good right up the the last two points. I LIVE IN FRONTERRA VILLAGE AND I MISSED ALL HELP FROM THE CITY EXCEPT THE POLICE DEPT. CAN YOU TELL ME WHO WAS WALKING WHERE FROM COUNCIL AND STAFF CAUSE WE WERE NEVER TOLD ANYONE WAS THERE TO HELP FROM THE CITY AND HOW ON EARTH WERE WE ALL SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT SCAMMERS AND BUILDING DEPT BEING OPEN OVER THE THREE DAY WEEKEND. ONLY POLICE OFFICER IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS OVERWHELMED TRYING TO TALK TO ROOFERS GOING DOOR TO DOOR. QUIT MAKING STUFF UP. WE NEED REAL HELP IN THE NORTH, REAL HELP, NOT THE TIME TO TRY TO USE THIS BLOG TO PROMOTE PR FOR THE CITY OK.
Remember the Foster Law Group? They are back again this Monday with another deal for city council. This back room deal involves renegotiating an annexation agreement on a property that has already been in the city for 20 years! Imagine that! Mr Foster wants the city to pay for items that the current agreement says the property owner has to pay for. Guess what? anytime Mr Foster gets involved, it is good for him and his client and bad for the city.
If the Fostor group is bringing it up in a public meeting, how is this a back room deal??
If you have knowledge & proof than bring it Monday night.
Doesn't anyone have the right to bring something forward to the council?
If you are just spreading rumor, please stop, we have enough of that in this city!!
great stuff gateway i look forward to the comments here everyday
Damn we should just hire the foster factor to run our city
Cummins Rocky Mountain, LLC will bring 100 jobs to comm city
this should follow the script, it will pass 7 to 2 maybe 6 to 3, that is if everyone shows up on Monday.
Notwithstanding the obligations set forth in subsection 1(A) above,
Annexor, and its successors in interest, is not obligated to dedicate rightof-way for 104th Avenue from the Property; rather, the City shall purchase such right-of-way in accordance to that certain Agreement for the Purchase of Right-of-Way entered into by the City and Annexor’s successor in interest, approved by the City Council June 7, 2010. Furthermore, Annexor, and its successors in interest, is not obligated to
construct public improvements to Havana Street abutting Lot 1, Block 1 within the Property.
how do you guys know this stuff? this is way over my head!
people,
Cummins Rocky Mountain, WILL be a good thing for the city.
We need to embrace them with a big Commerce City Welcome.
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, LETS NOT SPOIL IT!
ps - it will pass 9 to 0!
(Side Note - it will only be hot dogs, but that is by no means the idea of the outreaches, it is too get out important information and connect with neighbors and friends)
Stay Positive and Smile, life is going good so far.
no business comes and you get upset, business comes and you get upset.
You can't win.
from BBQs to Bi-Planes, the roofers are trying everything to get in on the HAIL PIE!
MicD, I agree with you 100%
For some nothing is going to satisfy.
They only look for and talk about the bad!!
So very sad-
The person who wrote the original post about help after the hail storm was being sarcastic about the city officials and the building department. We saw the PD, Public works on 104th and Neighborhood Services at least posted information about the door to door and how to pick a contractor.
And as a side note- I hope the hot dogs are the healthy kind :)
David Foster has a 100% success rate with all city councils. Why?
PRO CITY-
Tell me how paying for new roads and paying for all the road construction that a new business generates with their truck traffic is "good" for the city? Before the city paid nothing and now they have to pay? This new contract means that taxpayers "pay"!
Hey city council make Flannery pay for his house like EVERYONE else in the city has to pay for housing. Hey city council make Flannery pay for his own insurance and taxes like EVERYONE else in the city has to pay. Hey city council make Flannery pay back the $72,000 with interest since he lied about when he sold his house and it was not sold at a loss. Hey city council quit saying you need to see more citizens come to speak about this when you do not listen to them when they do come to city council and speak. Hey city council quit trying to promote "The Emperor Has New Clothes" because there is NOTHING HAPPENING in Commerce City and we have no new clothes and quit treating us like we are all stupid. Wake up and start using some good old fashioned common sense, you seem to be real short on that.
New company that is coming to Commerce City is bringing their own employees so how does that help us??? Cause I am sure that they won't be paying any taxes, any fees, or making any improvements. What happens in these "back room deals" with Foster is that all of this is worked out beforehand in private closed meetings and it is just a big show that Foster comes to council and talks. Council already knows what he is going to say and they already know how to vote. A big charade is all any of this.
Taxpayers did you know that since Flannery has been manager of Commerce City that two employees have filed lawsuits and you the taxpayers had to pay one employee $130,000 and you the taxpayers had to pay the second employee $70,000? I wonder how soon the city will just flat out run out of money under Flannery's watch. Pretty scary stuff actually. Cities can go bankrupt, it does happen and he has our largest taxpayer Suncor mad too. Great job there sir.
Where is Walmart in the northern range? If they are going "vertical" in ten days, shouldn't we see something, anything on the site? Or was this just another story to quell the anger of the serfs?
In the past it was the city stance that development would "pay its own way".
That seems to no longer be the case anymore, thanks to a very talented negotiator who I thinks gets too much free advertising on this blog.
I would challenge the city council to for once stand up as one council to these "deals" that are being presented to them.
Nothing against Cummins, I am sure they will make a great addition to the northern range.
What is fair is fair.
Reply to:
New company that is coming to Commerce City is bringing their own employees so how does that help us??? Cause I am sure that they won't be paying any taxes, any fees, or making any improvements. What happens in these "back room deals" with Foster is that all of this is worked out beforehand in private closed meetings and it is just a big show that Foster comes to council and talks. Council already knows what he is going to say and they already know how to vote. A big charade is all any of this.
You are more right on this then you will ever know.
Maybe everyone who is posting to the blog should identify when sarcasm is being used. An example would be, "The city is such a great place to live. I am so glad that the current city manager has only cost the taxpayers just a little shy of a million dollars in added expenses." Then just note - SARCASM.
I would think that the citizens should be happy that a business would want to come to Commerce City.
It looks like our incentive program is actually working.
Stay the course, we will be okay (no sarcasm) it really will be okay.
here is something that is NOT SARCASTIC.
Take the Zillow.com Challenge with this knowledge: I heard that the city manager was "AGGRESSIVELY" try to sell the AZ House during the early contracts, when the AZ house was a factor of paying back the taxpayers.
Looks like it was not even listed, maybe a FOR SALE sign in the yard or window, but that does not constitute "AGGRESSIVELY" selling a house.
Here again is the link:
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2697-N-Sandstone-Way-Flagstaff-AZ-86004/7359398_zpid/
Secondly, I would really like to know who is paying the deductible on the Reunion house that I assume received hail damage in the recent storm.
Questions from Gateway News about Hail Storm in Commerce City to the Commerce City Council and Staff.
In regards to the new incentives and discounts on building permits as of June 1, 2010, will all homeowners in Commerce City be given a 50% discount on all building permits now pulled for all the work being done on the $70 million dollars of damage from the hail storm?
Have the current permits that have already been pulled been afforded the 50% discount?
In regards to the city owned house in Reunion that is occupied by the current city manager Flannery, who will be paying the deductibles and any other expenses related to storm damage at that property?
How will all the contractors that are new to Commerce City, that have come here due to the storm, know about the incentives and discounts? Are they told when they pull permits?
Thank you,
Kathy McIntyre
Gateway News
We will post the answers as soon as they respond.
kathy,
why do you think it is your responsibility to ask these questions?
Kathy
I appreciate you asking the questions on behalf of your readers. If the city was called, it would be one person at a time that gets the answers. This way, more of us know the answers.
I dont get it.
A business comes that will bring about 100 new jobs starting at over $50,000, and some of you in effect say...."I don't care that building businesses has been stopped, that the economy is bad..that few are coming to Colorado. The city of CC shouldnt help by changing and supporting new business, it should stick it to the new business because Commerce City can. Why eat some costs and bring in someone entirely new to the state, that will bring in jobs, tax dollars and new business!"
You don't make sense. Oh yes, because a land attorney that knows his business is involved, bad, bad bad!
The video could show the city response to the recent hail storm. Public Works making sure the hail was off the streets, drainage was working, and things were safe. It could show the police department making sure we all knew about reputable contractors and how to report scammers. Neighborhood Services protecting the citizens from door to door scammers.THE SARCASM STARTS HERE Members of city council and senior staff walking around the affected neighborhoods, making sure the citizens knew they were there to help. The building department putting in the expedited permit process, especially for roofs, even opening on the three day weekend, knowing a number of homeowners need to get started.
The mission of the Gateway News and gatewaynews.org is to inform, educate, and entertain our readers. We embrace the community, we are the voice of the people, and we are advocates for the greater good. Responsible media holds govenment accountable to the taxpayers. Greater good means the best result for the greatest number. Not what is good for one person only.
unable to connect to the city online video, have to wait until video is up.
Hey city, your live streaming is not working. I have been trying since 6:30 pm and I have not been able to get it going. You really should have a phone number that citizens can call in and get help to get it working or put up a message so citizens know it is not going to be working. Oh well, guess I missed it. Too bad.
Is Bison Grill going to be another loss to the taxpayers, like the house we were all forced to buy in Reunion for the city manager to stay in for free, and the golf course? Is the city looking for a tax write off? Wait the city doesn't pay taxes. Maybe no one eats at the Bison Grill cause no one knows they are open again or maybe they don't want to pay ten dollars for a salad and have to eat alone.
As concerned homeowners, we have our insurance adjuster coming to our home in the morning, along with the roofing contractor that we have chosen to do the repair work on our roof. This is for our first home in the northern range of Commerce City. Since we also are part owner of a second home in Reunion at 10960 Unity Parkway, the taxpayer owned home currently occupied by the city manager, we will send the roofing contractor over there after to get the first estimate on that house as well. We think we need to start getting estimates on the damage on the Unity Parkway house as it seems to take city staff and city council forever to get anything done and we do not want to miss any deadlines on contracts or anything like that. We are just being responsible owners getting the process started.
It is a different city Marty (Shea Homes)! Great comments!
process is dead, like the process of getting the citizens answers to the question they ask.
Here is mine: WHY DID THE CITY MANAGER GET $72,000 IN CASH OF THE TAXPAYERS MONEY FOR A SUPPOSED LOSS ON A HOUSE IN ARIZONA THAT HE SOLD FOR A PROFIT AND FOR A HOUSE IN REUNION THAT HE HAS NOT BOUGHT YET OR GOTTEN A MORTGAGE ON OR PAID A DIME ON? THERE WERE NO LOSSES SO WHY WAS HE GIVEN THIS MONEY?
Hi there. My name is Bob and I own the roofing company Hail Yes. I would like to know if the taxpayer owned house has been seen by the taxpayers insurance adjustor. How does that work? Do all the taxpayers each have to call the adjustor and the adjustor has to meet each one of the homeowners, that's like 40,000 people. Wow. Well anyone here at Hail Yes, we would like to give a free estimate and have the taxpayer owners sign our contract. So do we at Hail Yes have to go door to door to get each of the taxpayer owners sign the contract. We at Hail Yes are willing to do this. We really want the job cause we know that if we don't like the first contract we get with the City of Commerce City we'll they will just keep on changin it til we all get it right. Hail Yes!
A Hail Yes promise, we don't need BBQ or Bi-Planes, just Quality Roofing for a Lifetime.
Regarding the Parkway Area in the Core City,
It is very difficult to maneuver, Anything seated council can do to make it easier and safer I say please pursue it.
the parkway liquor curb cut process is completely backwards.
Why do we even have a process?
Such a Joke, Marty is right, it is Chicago.
about the curb cut for parkway liquors:
tracey snyder, kathy teter, and paul natale took money from parkway liquors
If Commerce City wants business, they are going to have to relax on the rules a little.
I would ask the Comm. City Council to Please do what you can to enforce the 2500 ft. liquor store rule.
Council man Rene Bullock, thank you for standing up to the liquor store deal (CU-90-10).
Good job.
*and no I am not being sarcastic, I really mean it.
Welcome Rocky Mt. Cummings to Commerce City.
We hope that your new employees buy homes in our northern range.
reply to "hail yes roofing company"
are you for real?
2010 Re-appropriation List by Fund, Since Council pushed it off, I will give you my opinion.
Professional Photographer for Commerce City Key Marketing Photo's
$10,000
A little much?
Police Substation in Northern Range
$63,878
Are they not going in the fire house?
On-Call Consultant Time
$3,600
Who is this? Interesting
Civic Center Exterior lighting/power upgrade design (Facility/Building issue)
$10,000
How old is the civic center?
China (6 visitors from Nanning, 3 for Summer trip to China & NLC in Denver)
$23,500
Good for who? Denver? Are we ever going to see anything from China?
Communications Strategic Planning
$23,000
Don't we have a Communications department with highly talented employees in it? So why is this even a cost?
Can the no texting rule extend to staff? Seems like they are always texting during the meetings. I agree with Councilmember Bullock- it is rude!
Don't know if fact or fiction but I heard that reunion and Belle Creek were asked not to build any more parks and reduce its recreational activities to force its residents to participate in city run activities. Are these the back door deals people complain about
It is my understanding that the texting "rule" only applies to the city council and not the city staff.
A short message about the Rene No Blackberry Rule.
The ability to have the city staff communicate with each other in real time during the council meetings has been very beneficial and makes the process much more efficient in getting in and out information.
I will not elaborate much more then that.
reply to:
Don't know if fact or fiction but I heard that reunion and Belle Creek were asked not to build any more parks and reduce its recreational activities to force its residents to participate in city run activities. Are these the back door deals people complain about
something to think about, but I think that at least Shea has gone above and beyond when it comes to parks and open spaces.
great QandA with city. good information.
June 10th and May edition of City Lights is not up on city's website.
Maybe we should pay our city employees more to keep them motivated.
http://www.ci.commerce-city.co.us/Archive.aspx?AMID=35
Commerce City Neighborhood Outreach
TODAY! June 10th!
Start Time: 6:00 PM
End Time: 9:00 PM
Address: 11515 Oswego Street, River Run Park
Seriously, a rule had to be made about city council not texting during city council meetings! I have never been in favor of recalls BUT it seems we have some very immature people representing us on city council. They let a Denver lawyer tell them (or demand of them) how to vote, they have a city manager that has stolen hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars by borrowing and not paying it back and they refuse to even admit that he's doing a very bad job of running the city, two employee lawsuits that cost the taxpayers $200,000 and now they have to be told not to text during meetings. Wow we all should be so very proud of our representatives.
Gateway,
Don't miss the boat on this one, ask the city for the two pas employees that settled out of court and how much they got. A real eye opener.
so where is the form I need to fill out for my hail rebate, I don't see it on the city's website.
why is May pdf of city news not on city's website, today is June 12th.
Commerce City is so slow, no wonder they need a fast lane friday.
I would really like to get a hold of that rebate form to get the ball moving on getting my incentive. Can anyone who gets the link please post here ASAP.
If I learned anything, Commerce City is not very speedy.
The sooner we all get the form the better it will be.
ps - I think the city manager is only paying the deductible because the Gateway News asked the question.
Brighton Councilman Terry Moore has been hospitalized @ Swedish Medical Center. Brighton Council wishes him well & pray for a quick recovery
I was told Walmart should be going up soon. Actually I was told they should be building now. The middle of June.
Any word?
Love the marijuana decision, way to go cc!
June 16th and counting, Commerce City still has no May edition of City News up on their website.
I am beginning to think they are not putting it up on purpose.
Makes us look bad.
I am sure Walmart is coming, it will just take some time.
Don't worry, you will get your grocery store soon.
Incentives
City Council has passed the new guidelines for both Existing and Prospective Business in Commerce City for the CC Economic Development Incentive package. This incentive package uses the same guidelines for Existing Business that it offers Prospective Business. The Prospective and Existing businesses are not eligible for incentives, if, they have signed a lease or closed on a property, or, if, the business has an existing incentive agreement with CC.
Furthermore, there is a difference in that a new retailer is offered a 50% rebate of sales tax collected from the business for the first and second years of business operation and existing retailers that are in the two retail leakage categories, Grocery stores and Eating places are offered a 5% rebate of the sales tax collected, if, they add new positions or new equipment.
A new builder for a residential unit can get a $1,500 tax rebate with certificate of occupancy. A current home owner can get a 50% waiver off of fees "with the new improvement." If, you have a green business or are using green building practices for renewable industry, you are eligible to apply for a $100 tax rebate per job for above average wage positions or $50 tax rebate per job for below average wage positions.
Commerce City has a higher unemployment rate than other surrounding counties. One could estimate we need to create another 10,000 new jobs for the Historical City area and at least 10,000 new jobs for the Northern Range area if we are to live and work in CC. This economic package is estimated to create a total of about 10 to 11,000 new jobs. We need a hotel of some kind next to Dick's Sporting Goods Park and several eating places along Quebec Blvd. for the many events held in that area.
Not all incentive programs are the same in different States. For example, Arizona's Senate Bill 1070 passed April 23, 2010, (23-214) states that, before employers can receive the economic development incentive "the employer shall register with and participate in the e-verify program." If, an employer does not comply with this Arizona law they must "repay ALL monies received as an economic development incentive." 1. "Economic development incentive" means any grant, loan or performance -based incentive from any government entity that is awarded after Sept. 30, 2008."
"Every three months the attorney general (Arizona.) shall request from the United States department of homeland security a list of employers from this State that are registered with the e-verify program." In Arizona, an "employer can not knowingly employ an unauthorized alien." If, they do employ an authorized alien they can be fined up to $1,000 per each employee, put on probation for a year or more, lose all incentives and their license to do business.
Commerce City and the State of Colorado has made a choice not to use e-verify as a tool to help them in the hiring process of new employees and instead rely on documentation provided by the applicant as proof of citizenship putting the responsibility on the applicant themselves. If, we are paying thousands of dollars in incentives of taxpayer money to employers to create new jobs we need to put the responsibility on these employers to hire only U.S. Citizens for American jobs by using the e-verify program.
Walmart has not started building at 104th Avenue and Tower Road. So the city staff, city manager and mayor lied to the people. Can you believe it? I am shocked. Well June 15 was the day they all said that Walmart was going "vertical" and today is June 22 and no action. Shop locally. Shop Brighton. At a minimum Brighton tells the truth.
Thats to bad, go to Brighton.
The Walmart is coming. I understand that it may have been stated by some that mid June it will be gong vertical. I have also heard the same thing.
It will come, it may not be the time line stated, but it will be coming soon.
Yes Estelle, I know for sure that Commerce City and Adams County has illegal immigrants in its employment and doesn't cooperate with the IRS or DHS. Mexico owns most of our country's politicians so don't expect any change. Until Commerce City gets some members of council that care about "citizens" continue to press 2 for english
WOW! all of a sudden people are leaving comments again. It was quite for some time there.
As City Manager Said: IT'S NOT QUITE ANYMORE!
I have also heard from a good source that walmart would be going vertical in mid june. is there any kind of a firm answer about when the walmart will be built?
Since you all like Brighton so much, just shop there!
do we have a choice to shop in brighton? oh yes we can shop in green valley ranch, thornton or northglenn!
So is anyone ever going to answer the question, WHY DID THE CITY MANAGER GET $72,000 IN CASH OF THE TAXPAYERS MONEY FOR A SUPPOSED LOSS ON A HOUSE IN ARIZONA THAT HE SOLD FOR A PROFIT AND FOR A HOUSE IN REUNION THAT HE HAS NOT BOUGHT YET OR GOTTEN A MORTGAGE ON OR PAID A DIME ON? THERE WERE NO LOSSES SO WHY WAS HE GIVEN THIS MONEY???????
The Gateway News is baaaaaccccckkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Had a chance to open the hard copy of the Gateway New the other day. Wow! It appears you guys sure got a lot of ad revenue from the hail storm. I’m very happy for you, nothing like having a good local paper. This shows that not only the citizens but businesses recognize you as the news source for community. That being said, could you or anyone in the know tell me why the city doesn’t use GN for its legal notices, announcements ..etc
C_City Voter
To anonymous who said the city council, mayor, city staff lied about walmart going vertical.
You are lying.
I tried called the mayor last week and he has been out of the country.
Get your facts straight.
Because "someone" announces something doesn't mean "all" announced it.
Don't lump all council, the mayor etc with something mentioned or released by the city.
don't miss out gateway, ask questions about past employees.
Commerce City Incentive Program Information for Commerce City Residents who have hail damage
http://tinyurl.com/23n233g
I heard Walmart should be breaking ground sometime in June. Is this not the case anymore?
I don't care I just want to know.
If you are a Commerce City residential property owner and are planning to make home improvements that require a permit, you are eligible for a 50 percent rebate of city fees associated with the home improvement.
http://c3gov.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=551
Industry Standards
The Sunday, June 20, 2010, Denver Post had an interesting article about our economic crisis and the high salaries of CEO's in Colorado companies. The highest paid CEO in Colorado, Gregory B. Maffel of Liberty Media Corp. earns $87.5 million dollars a year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics and Denver Post writer, Thomas McKay broke these earnings down and compared them to an average Colorado wage of $45,990 per year and a minimum wage at $15,142 per year. The average wage earner in Colorado would have to work 1,902 years to earn $87.5 million dollars. The minimum wage earner would have to work 5,778 years to earn $87.5 million dollars. Moreover, current CEO's of major Colorado companies receive equally large dividend earnings off of stocks, option awards and company perks. These executives earn top wages in a company whether their companies make a profit or not. These top CEO's earn wages and receive awards and perks inconsistent with actual company profits and out of all proportion to area wage earners. This, then, is the Industry Standard across Colorado and these United States.
When one compares, the Industry Standard with Commerce City's City Manager, Jerry Flannery, who received $522,000 in the form of a Bonus for relocation and a home loan that he has steadfastly refused to pay any money on. That, Industry Standard says that it doesn't matter if the city manager does a good or bad job in making money for the city nor does it matter that the perks of office would take the average wage earner, $41,747 in CC about 12.5 years to earn $522,000 or a minimum wage earner, $15,142 about 34.4 years to earn. Currently, Mr. Flannery earns $172,800.00 per year, about $3,600 per week, about $720 per day and about $90 per hour. It would take Mr. Flannery 11.5 weeks to earn the average workers salary for one year and 4 weeks and 1 day to earn the minimum wage salary for one year. It does not matter if the city taxpayers can not afford this kind of extravagance with our money, It only matters that CC keep up with current Industry Standards according to City Council's majority vote excluding James Benson and Kathy Teter who voted against Flannery's contract, Aug. 31, 2009. This Industry Standard makes no sense to begin with. Is any CEO or City Manager worth this kind of money in this economic crisis? This is a "Breach of Trust" and disconnect between City Council excluding Benson and Teter and new members and CC taxpayers!
Finally, it breaks a person's heart to read the story of "Joe the poor man" in the Gateway News, Vol. 6 Issue 11, about Commerce City's wage earners who have lost everything in this economic crisis and compare the earnings of Colorado's CEO's and our City Managers. Two deputy city managers earn $130,000 each per year.
Estelle I doubt that you were in attendance for any of these votes (I wasn't either), public or behind close doors.
Don't go by Benson's letter.
He isn't what he is claiming...
unless you walk in anothers shoes many decisions, are not as black and white easy as you want to portrary.
Yes...wasted breath on my part
did commerce city do away with the marketing department?
i know the director of marketing left in a hurry.
just curious
The director of public relations left, not of marketing/economic developement
I spoke to the city's building department last week. They said that the Wal Mart has put the project "on hold" and that they do not know when Wal Mart would build.
In the past marketing was under the PIO, has this now changed?
City Charter
Commerce City's Charter was passed May 5, 1970 through a special election. It is made up of "Charters of several other Colorado cities." The Charter provides for a Council-Manager form of city government to be guided and controlled by the people through their charter representatives. (Prefatory Synopsis.)
Thus, for forty years, the City Charter has served as the basis of our Home Rule here in Commerce City. In case of any emergency the Mayor shall "proclaim the existence and termination of the emergency." An emergency is defined by City Charter to be: "An existing condition actually arising from unforeseen contingencies which immediately endangers public property, health, peace or safety." (Sections 4.9; 19.4.)
In the event of a "natural or enemy caused disaster" there will be an orderly line of succession of officers in the city. When no members of City Council survive to act as Mayor or if the City Manager does not survive, then, the Chief of Police shall assume the powers granted to the Mayor and council. Section 4.17, clearly states that the Chief of Police serves as City Manager only as a last line of government in cases of emergency.
When the City Manager is away from office, he may appoint or designate an Acting City Manager during the City Manager's Temporary absence from the city or temporary disability. However, it can not be any elected official. (Section 7.5.)
Under City Charter, Section 19.11, there are penalties for violation of this Charter. a. Any violation of a provision of this Charter shall be deemed a misdemeanor, and may be tried in the Municipal Court of Commerce City or in any other Court having jurisdiction under the Statues of Colorado.
Contrary to our City Charter, this fourth week of June, Police Chief, Phil Baca was appointed Acting City Manager while City Manager, Jerry Flannery, was "out of office through June 28th." To our knowledge, no state of emergency was declared by the Mayor or City Council.
Estelle,
I think everyone is busy with China Delegation that is in town, or coming to town soon.
Curious in Reunion:
You are correct the PR Person WAS the marketing person.
ED is different.
Who the hell is voting behind closed doors? Somebody on this blog referred to voting behind closed doors. Please call the district attorney right away if that is happening. This is so out of control with the current mayor, it is like some kind of dictatorship. Scary scary stuff.
OH GREAT!!! mayor and economic development director LIED. are any of us shocked. guess what, NO WALMART IN THE NORTH now. oh well maybe Brighton will build us a grocery store on their south side, maybe by Adams Crossing.
Some facts about the Northern Walmart.
1. YES is has been heard by many that MID-JUNE was a possible time frame of going "vertical". That time has now came and went. The Walmart will be coming, but the time line in unknown.
2. The Walmart has been in discussions years and years ago. It was by NO MEANS the doing of this current staff and much of the current council.
Those are the facts people and that is all that matters
I thought that city council is not supposed to text or staff. What are we doing?
WHERE IS WALMART??????
Obviously no one at city hall can do basic math. Lets see, if total revenues at the Bison Grill are ONLY $225,000 for the year so far, that would be at 180 days so far this year ONLY $1,250 per day. Anyone who works in the restaurant business knows that is a very very poor daily performance for a restaurant. At about $25 per person that is only 50 people a day. That is not PACKED as it was just stated in city council. Anybody willing to start telling the TRUTH.
The only reason the city of Commerce City made such a big deal out of their story about the Walmart coming to the north was because of the embarrasment about the Deal Breaker story on Channel 9, in the Denver Post, on Westword, in the Brighton Blade and the Commerce City Sentinel Express and the Gateway News. Also they had NOTHING else to report in the mayors State of the City Address. So better to just make something up. Very soon all this will be catching up with a lot of them.
Someone who has ACTUAL corporate or administrative experience please explain to all of us poor serfs out here why it is better to make us homeowners apply for a REBATE instead of just giving us the damn discount when we get our builing permits. We were just told that it was an "administrative nightmare" to give discounts right away. Ya it makes a hell of a lot more sense to make homeowners pay the full amount, go find a form on the city's unfriendly website, fill it out, mail it in and pray the city will send you a check for your so called REBATE. But wait - they just said that a certificate of occupancy is required to get a rebate. We have to move out of our house to get our roof repaired???? And then wait for the city to come give us a certificate of occupancy?? OH I SEE THERE ACTUALLY WILL BE NO REBATES FOR HOMEOWNERS BECAUSE THE RULES WILL KEEP CHANGING AND CHANGING AND NO ONE WILL STAND BY ANYTHING THEY HAVE SAID. SORRY HOMEOWNERS.
Why did the city have to give ANOTHER presentation about the city's incentives? Didn't they just give this presentation about a month ago? Didn't they put it in their monthly news piece? Guess no one is listening and guess no one reads the junk mail.
Hey McEldowney, you say there should be "no undue overhead" for the incentives. Can you think? At all ever??? If you give someone the discount at the counter IT IS OVER. If you don't, then you have to hire additional extra expensive staff to process forms, approve forms, go back and look up the original building permits, send a staff member out for the certificate of occupancy to the residence, have them inform staff if the work is done, then make a check request, then cut the check, then mail the check, then do extra bank reconciliations. Yes this make SO MUCH DAMN SENSE.
So is anyone ever going to answer the question, WHY DID THE CITY MANAGER GET $72,000 IN CASH OF THE TAXPAYERS MONEY FOR A SUPPOSED LOSS ON A HOUSE IN ARIZONA THAT HE SOLD FOR A PROFIT AND FOR A HOUSE IN REUNION THAT HE HAS NOT BOUGHT YET OR GOTTEN A MORTGAGE ON OR PAID A DIME ON? THERE WERE NO LOSSES SO WHY WAS HE GIVEN THIS MONEY???????
OH NO only ONE response was given by city council to McEldowney regarding the city manager review process. Hey people, even your city council doesn't give a damn. Of course what are they going to say HE IS DOING SUCH A DAMN GOOD JOB. Please God make the next sixteen months go by quickly for the sake of the people of Commerce City. And please do not let these clowns destroy our city and our city's resources anymore than they already have. Thank you God.
Just because it is printed on a blog, does not make it so.
Just because people repeat a rumor, does not make it so.
Just because people like to attribute a statement to someone, does not make it so.
So....everyone needs to find out the truth, not assume what is printed or repeated.
Why can't Commerce City have meetings on Channel 8?
cc will lose out on restaurant as we did on real estate.
Good Job Council!
Adams #14 School District has an IGA with the city of Commerce City to run channel 8, they will use it to broadcast school news. The city doesn't have the money to run channel 8 now.
whats going to happen with the recycling program. I heard it will turn into a "pay if you want" deal.
Anyone else hear this?
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