Upcoming Aurora City Council Town MeetingsCall 303.739.7015 for more information.

Ward I Town MeetingCouncil Member Sally Mounier• Feb. 4, 6-8 p.m.• Feb. 13, 1-3 p.m. (Say It to Sally)• March 3, 6-8 p.m.• March 12, 1-3 p.m. (Say It to Sally)Martin Luther King Jr. Library9898 E. Colfax Ave.

Mornings with Marsha and MounierCouncil Members Marsha Berzins and Sally Mounier• March 17, 7:15-8:30 a.m.Tin Cup at Aurora Hills50 S. Peoria St.

Ward II Town MeetingCouncil Member Renie Peterson• March 28, 7-9 p.m.Aurora Municipal Center, Aurora Room15151 E. Alameda Parkway

Ward III Town MeetingCouncil Member Marsha Berzins• March 9, 6-7:30 p.m.Aurora Chamber of Commerce14305 E. Alameda Ave., Third Floor

Ward IV Town MeetingCouncil Member Charlie Richardson• Feb. 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m.• March 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m.EcoTech Institute1400 S. Abilene St.

Ward V Town MeetingCouncil Member Bob Roth• March 8, 6-8 p.m.Shalom Cares14800 E. Belleview Drive

Ward VI Town MeetingCouncil Member Françoise Bergan• Feb. 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m.Tallyn’s Reach Library23911 E. Arapahoe Road

At-Large Town MeetingCouncil Members Barbara Cleland, BobLeGare, Angela Lawson and Brad Pierce• March 10, 6-8 p.m.Aurora Central LibraryLarge Community Room14949 E. Alameda Parkway

February 2016

AURORAnewsaccessible • comfortable • advancing • worth discovering

YEARS

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303.739.7000 • auroragov.org • facebook.com/auroragov • twitter.com/auroragov • AuroraTV.org

2016 is a significant year for the city of Aurora. Not only are exciting development and transit projects coming to completion, but also the city turns 125 years young. To celebrate Aurora’s quasquicentennial, there will be a series of events throughout the year, starting in March with a photo exhibit at the Aurora History Museum, “Worth Discovering: 125 Years of Aurora History,” and a Mega Birthday Party Kickoff event on April 30. Dry Dock Brewing Co. will launch a 125th commemorative beer, brewed expressly for Aurora’s anniversary. But the commemorative beer is not the only special creation in honor of the 125th anniversary of Aurora. The Aurora Symphony will host a concert May 15 to premiere a new composition, “Aurora Colorado Variations,” by Aurora composer Joseph Scardetta. Later this year, residents may look forward to a variety of activities such as history walking tours of Colfax Avenue, bus tours of historic/interesting sites, neighborhood block parties, family activities at the Aurora Public Library, and summer concerts throughout the city—including one with 1890s songs with the Aurora Singers. The idea is for this celebration to include all members of the Aurora community with activities.

Everyone is welcome to attend these events and encouraged to use social media to celebrate the city’s anniversary. Just record a short video of yourself talking about your favorite place/thing in Aurora and post it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #AuroraCO125. To see the list of all the events and partnering organizations involved in the coordination of this year-long fiesta, visit AuroraGov.org/Aurora125.

AURORA: CELEBRATING 125 YEARS

OUT AND ABOUTThink Small, Drink Local: APL Craft Beer TourThrough December at various locations.Big things happen when you think small, so why not take this opportunity to explore Aurora’s microbreweries? Registration is required; visit auroralibrary.org or any Aurora Public Library to sign up and receive your passport. Obtain stamps from four of our participating breweries and earn a limited edition pint glass.

Volunteer Steward Open HouseFeb. 27, 10 a.m.Morrison Nature Center, 16002 E. Smith Road303.326.8445Learn more about the city's Volunteer Steward Program, and discover how volunteers provide essential support for Aurora's true nature through trail patrol, steward work projects, resource monitoring, educational programs and more.

Aurora Singers presents "Songs for the Soul"March 5, 7:30 p.m.March 6, 2 p.m.East Middle School, 1275 Fraser St.Tickets are available at aurorasingers.org or atthe door.$12 ($10 students/seniors)

Financial Fitness Class: Credit & DebtMarch 15, 5:30 p.m.Martin Luther King Jr. Library, 9898 E. Colfax Ave.To reserve a spot in the class or ask questions, call 303.739.7912.This free class will explain debt along with a process for paying off debt more quickly; credit scoring and the process of improving your credit score; and how to monitor and protect your credit.

Worth Discovering: 125 Years ofAurora HistoryMarch 15 to July 10Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Aurora History Museum,15051 E. Alameda Parkway303.739.6660 or auroramuseum.orgDiscover the quirky and interesting past that led to the Aurora we know today through photos. Revisit your favorite stories and learn something new.

Unconventional Women of the WestMarch 19, 2 p.m.Mission Viejo Library, 15324 E. Hampden Circle303.326.8600 or auroralibrary.orgTravel back in time to hear the stories of women who made a significant impact on the west with The Legendary Ladies, a nonprofit, educational women’s performance organization. Free; no registration required

Little Foxes Children’s Theatre Summer Productions AuditionsFor youth ages 7 to 18 and adult professionals (paid, non-equity)April 22, 4 to 6 p.m., April 23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and April 24, 9 a.m. to noonThe Aurora Fox, 9900 E. Colfax Ave.Memorize a one-minute monologue, appropriate to your age and children’s theatre and preferably from a published play. Costume fee is $50 per youth, once cast. Call 303.739.1970 for other details.

Emergency sirens testing March 8At 11:30 a.m. March 8, the city’s Office of Emergency Management will test the early warning sirens. You will hear a three-minute wailing sound, which in the case of a real emergency would warn residents to seek shelter. At the end of the test, sirens will sound a 30-second whoop tone indicating an all-clear.

Moorhead closed for renovationThe 4,500-square-foot Moorhead Recreation Center has remained relatively unchanged for the last three decades when it was last renovated. Yet in that time, attendance has shot up—nearly tripling from 2007 to 2014.

So the 44-year-old center is finally getting the attention it deserves with a renovation project that will transform this north Aurora asset into a nearly 26,000-square-foot, full-service recreation facility.

Many recreation programs have moved across the street to Fletcher Community School, 10455 E. 25th Ave., while the center is under construction. On school days, activities for kindergarten through fifth grade are taking place there from 2:45 to 6 p.m. at a cost of $5 per month (registration required). On Saturdays, activities for sixth- to 12th-graders are offered from noon to 6 p.m. at a cost of $2 for the day, and no activities are scheduled Sundays. In addition, fitness and boxing classes will be offered throughout the week.

The $13 million project slated for completion in the spring 2017 will expand the center’s small gymnasium into a larger space with courts for multiple uses including a running track around the perimeter, separate the kitchen from the fitness room, add new locker rooms and a youth center, and refurbish the outdoor pool. In the end, the center will become a place that combines physical activity with broader health and wellness goals.

Library hours expandingAs part of the 2016 city budget, three Aurora library locations will open another day of the week. Starting Feb. 1, the Aurora Public Library will add Mondays to its hours of operation: • Martin Luther King Jr. Library, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. • Mission Viejo Library, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. • Tallyn’s Reach Library, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Energy TipIs your thermostat heating the house when you’re not home? Understanding your habits and providing yourself reminders to turn the thermostat down before leaving could save you money. Investing in a smart thermostat may also help bring down your heating bill with minimal effort. The EPA recommends setting your thermostat to 70 degrees for the time when you are home, and 62 degrees for the hours you are either away or sleeping.

FOLLOWING THE SIGNALSAs with many other technologies, transportation operations continue to evolve. As a result, you may come across some different types of traffic control devices that may be unfamiliar. This is part two of a two-part informational series covering some of the devices you may see around Aurora and elsewhere in the metro area. For questions regarding these devices, please call the Public Works Department at 303.739.7300.

This type of pedestrian crossing control has several benefits, including minimal delay for pedestrian and cyclist users as well as decreased overall delay for drivers, since they can proceed after having to come to a complete stop if there are no pedestrians or cyclists in the crosswalk. The city currently has this type of control at the trail crossing on Mississippi Avenue between Chambers Road and Buckley Road, and several other locations on Fitzsimons Parkway are planned to be installed with the Aurora Line/I-225 rail. Below is an example of how the system works and what users see:

Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon Systems

RRFBsRectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons, or RRFBs for short, are a type of pedestrian crossing enhancement. RRFBs are a pedestrian pushbutton-activated system that provides enhancement of a marked pedestrian crossing (crosswalk) by means of yellow flashing indications that flash rapidly in a wig-wag alternating flash pattern for additional driver awareness of the pedestrian presence. The RRFBs are only active when a pedestrian pushes the button, so drivers learn to associate the flashing lights with the actual presence of a pedestrian and not just the possibility of encountering a pedestrian in the roadway that is indicated by plain static warning signage.

Drivers must of course yield to pedestrians in the marked crosswalk as required by state law in either case.

The city currently has this type of control at three locations: 11th Avenue at Chester Street, Jewell Avenue at Vaughn Way, and at 30th Avenue and the Sand Creek Greenway Trail near Ursula Street.

In the case of requests for marked crosswalks, each request is evaluated individually with consideration for things like numbers of pedestrians crossing, frequency of pedestrian use, distance to be crossed, type of roadway, posted speed limit on the adjacent roadway, etc. If a marked crosswalk is determined to be warranted, the appropriate type of crossing treatment and features are also evaluated.

Pedestrian CrossingHybrid Beacon: How it works.

All clear;proceed as normal

Flashing yellow;slow down

Solid yellow;prepare tostop

Two solid reds; cometo a full stopas pedestrianscross

Alternating flashing red lights; stop and proceed with caution if no pedestrians are still in the crosswalk

Proceed if all is clear

Wait

Continueto wait

Cross when vehicles are stopped

Continue crossing as signal counts down. BUT do not start crossing if you are not already in the crosswalk

Push the button to activate,BUT DO NOT CROSS

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Push the button to activate,BUT DO NOT CROSS

Drivers Pedestrians Will see... Should... Will see... Should...

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Remember to water your trees at least once a month throughout the winter.

Water Billing Questions: 303.739.7388 • Service Questions: 303.326.8645 • aurorawater.org

Water Conservation ClassesLearn how to lower your water bill, help conserve water and create an incredible landscape. Registration is required. Visit auroragov.org/waterclasses or call 303.739.7195.

• Aurora Municipal Center, Aurora Room 15151 E. Alameda Parkway• Central Library, Large Community Room 14949 E. Alameda Parkway• Aurora Municipal Center, Bighorn Room (4th floor)15151 E. Alameda Parkway Home Water AssessmentLearn how to check for leaks, decipher your water bill and complete your own indoor water assessment at home. You’ll even go home with a bucket of conservation goodies. Feb. 25, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aurora Municipal Center, Aurora Room

DIY Xeriscape Design, Part OneLearn about the basic principles of design and draw your site map. This class is required for Aurora Water customers participating in our free design consultation service. March 2, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aurora Municipal Center, Aurora Room

DIY Xeriscape Design, Part TwoGet started on your landscape design. Participants must bring their site map packet to class. March 10, 5:30 to 7 p.m.Aurora Municipal Center, Aurora Room

Grow Food, Save WaterVegetables can thrive on as little as 30 percent of the water required by your lawn. Learn how to design and install a water-saving vegetable garden. March 12, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Central Library, Large Community Room

Reduce Your Water FootprintLearn how to save money and water by reducing your usage inside and outside. Work with our easy-to-use conservation tool and develop a list of the most effective changes you can make. March 16, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aurora Municipal Center, Bighorn Room

Build Your Own Drip SystemWater efficient drip irrigation systems are great for gardens of all types. We’ll show you how to design, construct and maintain your new drip system in this hands-on class.March 26, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Central Library, Large Community Room

Keep it clean folks

Water pollution can be caused by the things that we do every day. When it rains or snows, storm water mixes with trash, antifreeze, motor oil and any other things we’ve left on our sidewalks or streets. It then flows into storm drains that discharge into the nearest stream or river.

Here are some simple things you can do to prevent water pollution:• Use and dispose of chemicals properly. Never pour household,

automotive or lawn and garden chemicals into the storm drain. • Manage yard wastes. Keep leaves, grass clippings and pet waste off

driveways, sidewalks and streets.• Look for alternatives. Use non-toxic products, such as vinegar,

ammonia and baking soda, for your cleaning needs. • Read product labels. Avoid products labeled “Danger” or “Poison.”

Products labeled “Warning” or “Caution” are less hazardous.• Use commercial car washes. Commercial car washes collect and filter out

dirt, soap and oil. The wash water is then cleaned and recycled.• Don’t litter, and pick up the trash you see.

Sign up for budget billing by April 14 Aurora Water’s Budget Billing helps customers spread utility costs evenly throughout the year. The department calculates your utility costs, previous usage and seasonal fluctuations in water to provide a more predictable bill each month. You will still receive a monthly bill to monitor your consumption, actual charges and actual balance. Customers must enroll in Autopay to qualify for budget billing, and applications will only be accepted until April 14, so go to aurorawater.org and sign up now. Questions? Call 303.739.7388.

Volunteers needed at Canal CleanupDo your part to keep the planet—and the fish—happy by joining us at this year’s High Line Canal Cleanup from 8 a.m. to noon March 12. The cleanup, which will involve removing trash from the 11-mile stretch of the canal that runs through Aurora, is a great opportunity for scouting, youth or religious groups to learn about the importance of preventing pollution of our waterways. Children can also earn a badge from Aurora Water. Volunteers must be at least 8 years old, and minors must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteer check-in is 8 a.m. on the day of the cleanup at the Community College of Aurora's Student Center, 16000 E. Centretech Parkway. For more information, contact Environmental Specialist Mary Dawson at mdawson@auroragov.org or 303.739.7372. Once you register, Aurora Water will send you information about where to sign in and how the cleanup is organized. The rain/snow date for the event will be March 19. You can confirm event cancellations by calling 303.739.7372 on event day.