January 2020 GO BIG • GO AURORA

Introducing Aurora’s new mayor and councilA new mayor, three new City Council members and two incumbents were sworn in Dec. 2 following their election to office in November.

Newly elected Mayor Mike Coffman, Ward IV Council Member Juan Marcano, Ward V Council Member Alison Coombs and At-Large Council Member Curtis Gardner, along with Ward VI Council Member Françoise Bergan and At-Large Council Member Angela Lawson, who retained their seats, joined Ward I Council Member Crystal Murillo, Ward II Council Member Nicole Johnston, Ward III Council Member Marsha Berzins, At-Large Council Member Dave Gruber and At-Large Council Member Allison Hiltz on the council. Johnston also was appointed as Mayor Pro Tem.

To view profiles of the mayor and council, visit AuroraGov.org/Council.

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman

Join us for the city’s third annual Career and Hiring Fair from 4 to 8 p.m. March 11 at the Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, in the lobby.

Bring your resume and meet ourdepartments to learn about a career with the city. Everyone is welcome, but this year’s fair is emphasizing our temporary and seasonal positions available, such as lifeguards, after-school leaders and coordinators, swim instructors, park rangers and cooking assistants.

Explore a CAREER at

the city of AURORA

Aurora City Council town meetings are open to everyone, and are a great opportunity to hear from your council member and learn about what’s happening in the city. To find out in which council ward you are located, visit AuroraGov.org and click on the Property Information button on the home page. Please call 303.739.7015 or visit AuroraGov.org/Council to confirm meeting times and dates.

Upcoming Aurora City Council TOWN MEETINGS

Ward II Town MeetingCouncil Member Nicole Johnston• Feb. 20, 6:30-8 p.m.Central Recreation Center18150 E. Vassar Place

Ward III Town MeetingCouncil Member Marsha Berzins• Feb. 12, 6:30-8 p.m.Aurora Municipal Center15151 E. Alameda ParkwayAspen Room

Ward IV Town MeetingCouncil Member Juan Marcano• Feb. 20, 6:30-8 p.m.Stampede, 2430 S. Havana St.

Ward V Town MeetingCouncil Member Alison Coombs• Feb. 1, 12:30-2:30 p.m.Meadowood Recreation Center3054 S. Laredo St.• Feb. 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m.Central Recreation Center18150 E. Vassar Place

303.739.7000 • AuroraGov.org • Follow us @AuroraGov • AuroraTV.orgThe city of Aurora Communications and Marketing Department produces this newsletter. Contact us at communications@auroragov.org.

2019 Business Recognition Award winnersEach December, the city of Aurora honors local businesses that go above and beyond. In 2019, five businesses joined 68 others that have been honored since the city’s Business Recognition Award event began in 2005. This year’s winners are:

Barton SupplyIt’s hard to imagine while standing in a building or driving through a parking structure that facilities like these have to support enormous weight loads, and that the most important engineering elements in concrete are largely left unseen. Enter Barton Supply. This 46-year-old Aurora company is the state’s leader in supplying building sites with post-tensioning and construction systems. Employees give back to the community through activities like an in-house “Adopt a Family” program, donating food to veterans clubs, providing fabrication for Hope House, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and participating in Builders for Babies.

This Aurora company with over 4,700 clients (mostly non-golf related) proudly offers mobile repairs so clients don’t have to bring in their carts for service. In fact, it’s the only metro-area business to offer comprehensive mobile golf cart service to ensure minimal disruption for the customer. To benefit the community, Golf Cart Doctor Inc. loans a truck and trailer to carry children with disabilities in the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and provides complimentary repairs for golf cart vehicles during special events like the Halloween train at Nick’s Garden Center and The Children’s Hospital Toy Run at the Aurora Sports Park.

An old auto parts warehouse off of East Colfax Avenue is now one of Aurora’s most creative coffeehouses. In the front of the building is a warm, welcoming space for customers, filled with local art on the walls, plenty of space to lounge, books to read, and garage doors to open when warm weather beckons. In the back, affordable studio space is available to artists to practice their craft. Coffee is roasted on site and sold to other businesses. The company strives to engage the neighborhood and be sustainable, in keeping with their philosophy “To Create Well & Be Good Neighbors.”

Mushrooms are magical in so many ways. MycoTechnology is extracting that magic to create massive innovations in the way certain foods taste. Their signature product, ClearTaste™, is a fermented shitaki fungi powder that can be added to sodas, teas, coffee, bread and more to block any bitter taste organically and reduce the need to add sugar or artificial flavor enhancers. The ClearTaste™ product was recently approved as a product that can be safely used in more than 70 countries. The company’s commercial production facility has been recognized for the highest level of cleanliness, and earned certifications for organic, kosher, halal and Non-GMO Project Verified.

Every pet is treated like royalty at Pet Palace, a mainstay in a shopping center at South Parker Road and Quincy Avenue since 1993. The company provides stellar customer service (to both people and pets), with a vast amount of knowledge gained over nearly three decades and hard-to-find, competitively priced products. To give back to the Aurora community, Pet Palace regularly hosts adoption and foster events in partnership with local animal shelters, and donates gift baskets to schools. An annual pet costume contest with prizes in October and Santa photos in December with proceeds benefitting the Aurora Animal Shelter are customer favorites.

The city also announced a new award this year—created by the Aurora-South Metro Small Business Development Center—that is designed to recognize an individual who has had a positive impact on Aurora’s small business community. The inaugural award was presented to Chuck Hahn, who recently retired after serving the city and the Aurora-South Metro SBDC for over 16 years.

Chuck Hahn Small Business Advocate of the Year Award

Barton Supply

Golf Cart Doctor Inc.

Jubilee Roasting Co.

MycoTechnology

Pet Palace

“Aurora’s Historic Growth”Through May 319 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Aurora History Museum, 15051 E. Alameda Parkway303.739.6600 or AuroraMuseum.orgFrom the humble roots of a farming community to the prominence of being the third-largest city in the state, Aurora’s population has boomed over the last century. Take a deeper look at Aurora’s growth and how it has impacted the economy, environment and cultural landscape of our ever-changing community. Free

“Secrets of the Universe and Other Songs”Feb. 21 to March 15Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave.Tickets at 303.739.1970 or AuroraFox.orgStars will collide when the true story of lifelong friendship between Albert Einstein and Marian Anderson comes to life in this musically re-imagined world premiere.

International Winter Bike to Work DayFeb. 14, 6:30 to 8:30 a.m.High Line Canal trail underpass off of Chambers Road near the Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda ParkwaySign up and more info at WinterBiketoWorkDay.orgGive winter bike commuting a try, and get rewarded with a warm beverage and breakfast burrito at our breakfast station.

A Space OdysseyFeb. 16, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.The Hangar at Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St.Free, but RSVP requested at AuroraSymphony.orgThe Aurora Symphony is hosting this Young People’s Concert featuring musical selections from Star Wars, Star Trek, Apollo 13 and more. Created as a first-time concert experience, this fully bilingual English/Spanish event is designed with a shorter music presentaton, stories and fun entertainment, and more.

Ou t &about in Aurora

Construction underway on Aurora’s first protected bike lanesIn recognition of the need for safe transportation of all types of modes, Aurora is implementing a project to provide improved connections between regional trails and Regional Transportation District Florida Station. The plans were developed with input from community members. The project focuses on improvements along Jewell Avenue, Potomac Street, Florida Avenue and Mexico Avenue to allow safe ways for bicyclists and pedestrians to get from the Westerly Creek Trail and Toll Gate Creek Trail to the R Line.

The project passes three schools, medical facilities, businesses and residences, and will facilitate safer travel in this part of Aurora, expand transportation options, improve area access to the Florida Station and the trail system for recreating and commuting, and calm traffic near schools and neighborhoods.

Construction began in June, and initial efforts were focused on utility work, pavement and traffic signal improvements. Installation of the physical barrier separation has occurred on Jewell Avenue, Potomac Street, Florida Avenue and Mexico Avenue. Last steps will include final striping and signage installation. Substantial completion of all segments is expected by March 2020.

Improvements include 10-foot-wide, barrier-separate bidirectional bicycle lanes, roadway surface reconfiguration for on-street bicycle lanes, crossing improvements, a new drop off area and bicycle racks.

For more on the project, visit AuroraGov.org/TrailConnector.

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Water Billing Questions: 303.739.7388 • Service Questions: 303.326.8645 • AuroraWater.orgWater Billing Questions: 303.739.7388 • Service Questions: 303.326.8645 • AuroraWater.org

NO INCREASE for water rates; slight increase for sewer rates Water rates in 2020 will not increase. However, there will be a 4% rise in sewer rates for all customers, with a $0.91 monthly increase for the average Aurora household to meet rising costs. Aurora Water is funded by rates and fees, and receives no revenue from sales or property tax.

For a complete listing of the 2020 rates and fees, visit AuroraWater.org.

Do you Know Your Flow? Resolve to become more water efficient with Aurora Water’s Know Your Flow program. This free program can help you save water through its customized monthly emails, which summarize your real water use and allow you to make household changes to conserve more water and ultimately save money your water bills. You will also receive weekly emails April through October with recommended water times for your sprinkler system.

Space is limited, so sign up now for this program at SurveyMonkey.com/r/KnowYourFlow or by calling 303.739.7195. Visit AuroraWater.org for additional information.

Ultra-High-Efficiency Toilet Rebate Program updateAurora Water now offers $100 rebates to residential customers who replace their old 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) or more toilet with a 0.8 gpf model. As of Jan. 1, rebates for 1.1 gpf models are no longer accepted. Aurora Water also offers toilet rebates for multi-family and commercial accounts. Touch base with a water conservation specialist before you begin replacements.

For more information visit AuroraGov.org/Rebates, or call 303.739.7195.

DON’T LEAVE YOUR TREES CARE FREE Don’t forget to water trees, shrubs and newly

established perennials at least once a month so they will be happy and healthy this spring.

For watering tips, visit AuroraGov.org/Trees.

Homeowner’s guide to service linesWhenever you turn on the faucet, wash dishes or flush the toilet, the water flows from your service line – the part of the pipe that extends from your house into the street, alley, easement or right-of-way – into the city’s main sanitary sewer line. The city is responsible for maintaining and repairing the main line. Homeowners are responsible for repairing and maintaining their service line. If your community has a homeowners’ association, the portion of the line for which you were responsible could be slightly different. Check with your HOA for more information.

Sewer line backups can be caused by tree roots that grow into the line. Trees won’t bother an intact line, but any crack or separation will attract the roots to the moisture.

In some cases, backups are caused by what people put down the drain or in the toilet that can cause serious clogs. The toilet, bathtub, sink, etc., all lead to a single sewer line. To prevent expensive sewer backups, here are some things you can do to protect your pipes:

• Do not put grease, dairy products or scraps down the drain. Instead, scrape food and grease off and put it in the trash.

• Do not flush hair, cigarette butts, aquarium gravel, dental floss, kitty litter or cotton swabs down the toilet.

• Do not flush paper products other than toilet paper or tissue. Other products such as paper towels and so-called flushable wipes do not break down and cause sewer problems.

While most homeowners’ insurance policies will cover damage to the interior of the home from a back-up or line collapse, they do not reimburse for the cost of repair of the line itself. Umbrella and line insurance policies are available, but like any financial decision, those choices need to be researched carefully. Significant repairs can be expensive.

For more information visit AuroraWater.org.

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