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Voters Approve All City-Initiated Ballot Measures
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"The city council and staff are pleased that voters approved all of the questions the city placed on the ballot," said Littleton Mayor Kyle Schlachter. "Even though there were many matters to consider, it is clear voters looked carefully at the issues and made informed decisions that will keep Littleton moving forward," he added.
The 5% Lodger's Tax on rooms at hotels, motels, and short-term rentals will generate approximately $975,000 per year invested into arts, culture, and tourism programs that will make Littleton an even better place to live and visit.
The Charter Amendment will modernize the city's competitive bidding threshold enabling award of contracts to vendors who provide the best overall value to the city.
Three questions to organize the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to finance improvements in Downtown Littleton will: establish the DDA; collect, retain, and expend the full revenues received by the authority; and establish a mill levy to fund operations such as public safety, maintenance, and marketing.
The citizen-initiated ballot question repealing a 2021 council decision regarding zoning at Aspen Grove that would have allowed up to 2,000 residential units was approved for the ballot earlier this year. However, since that time, Aspen Grove submitted a revised plan under the new Unified Land Use Code that was approved by planning commission, allowing less than 500 new residential units. "Voters were presented with a question concerning Aspen Grove that was confusing since the project they were voting on is no longer being considered," Schlachter said. "A Master Development Plan was approved by the planning commission in August that complies with the city's land use code and will allow far fewer units than initially proposed," he added.
These results are unofficial until certified by the Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson County boards of canvass.
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Special Election to be Held in March
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At its November 15 meeting, the Littleton City Council approved an ordinance setting the date for a Special Election that would amend the City Charter reducing the number of signatures required for citizen initiatives and shortening the time frame to conduct a Special Election. This is a result of a citizen-initiated petition seeking to reduce the number of signatures required from 10-15 percent (depending on circumstances) to five percent of registered electors who voted in the last municipal election. It would also require that an election be held between 60-150 days following verification of petitions as specified in state statutes.
As a Home Rule Municipality, Littleton chose to adopt its own procedures relating to elections through its Charter and Code that differs from some requirements in state law. In order to change the City's Charter it requires a vote of the registered electors.
It is estimated that the March 7 Special Election will cost upwards of $165,000.
The Littleton City Clerk's office verified 3,933, signatures which exceeded the required amount of 3,628 signatures of qualified registered electors. This is 10 percent of the registered electors of the city when the intent to circulate petition was submitted, which compels city council to place the measure on the ballot.
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Candlelight Walk November 25
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Littleton's 38th annual Candlelight Walk will take place in Downtown Littleton the day after Thanksgiving, continuing the tradition of free hot cider, holiday entertainment, a parade down Main Street, and a visit from Santa.
Main Street will be closed to traffic at 4 p.m. Parking is available at Arapahoe Community College, the Littleton Center, Arapahoe County, or take light rail and make the short walk from the Downtown Littleton light rail station.
When: Friday, November 25. Street entertainment starts at 5:30 p.m.; parade begins on the east end of Main Street at 6:30 p.m.
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Downtown Littleton Mural Crawl
November 26 and 27
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 As Littleton prepares to launch its mural program to incentivize art around the city, residents are invited to join two upcoming Mural Crawl walks!
Tell Me More Tours, in partnership with the Littleton Museum, will host two strolls through the core of historic Downtown Littleton and talk about the myriad artists who have painted the town! Guests of all ages are welcome. Come and appreciate just how artistic and colorful this "flour mill town" has become!
This is an outdoor walking tour, so weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended. Tickets are $28.
When: 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, November 26 and Sunday, November 27
Click here for more information or to buy tickets to the Downtown Littleton Mural Crawl.
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Volunteer for City Boards and Commissions
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The Littleton City Council invites residents to apply for vacancies on the city's authorities, boards, and commissions. Service on a city board helps ensure that city council hears the voices of many citizens as it considers future policies and programs. There are 11 citizen committees who meet monthly unless indicated otherwise.
The application deadline is Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 5 p.m. Interviews will be scheduled in February. Terms will begin April 1, 2023. Applications can be found on the city's website, www.littletongov.org. Contact City Clerk Colleen Norton at 303-795-3753 for further information.
- Arts and Culture Commission (meets second Thursday at 6:30 p.m., four vacancies)
- Board of Adjustment (meets third Thursday at 6:30 p.m., one vacancy)
- Building Board of Appeals (meets third Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., two vacancies)
- Election Commission (meets prior to an election as needed, one vacancy)
- Fine Arts Board (meets third Thursday at 6:30 p.m., one vacancy)
- Historical Preservation Board (meets third Monday at 6:30 p.m., two vacancies)
- Licensing Authority (meets second Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., one vacancy)
- Next Generation Advisory Committee (meets first Thursday at 6:30 p.m., ten vacancies)
- Planning Commission (meets second and fourth Monday at 6:30 p.m., two vacancies)
- South Metro Housing Options (meets second Thursday at 6 p.m., three vacancies)
- Transportation and Mobility Board (meets fourth Thursday at 6:30 p.m., four vacancies)
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2023 Littleton Calendars to Arrive
Mid-December
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The 2023 Littleton Calendar and Annual Report is almost here! Calendars are expected to be delivered and distributed to sponsors and other locations by mid-December.
Calendars will be available while they last at the following locations. Contact the business directly for calendar availability. Limit five calendars per person.
- Bemis Public Library, 6014 South Datura Street
- Buck Recreation Center, 2004 West Powers Avenue
- Carson Nature Center, 3000 West Carson Drive
- Centura Littleton Adventist Hospital, 7700 South Broadway
- Depot Art Gallery, 2069 West Powers Avenue
- Farm House Restaurant at Breckenridge Brewery, 2990 Brewery Lane
- Littleton Center, 2255 West Berry Avenue
- Littleton Municipal Courthouse, 2069 West Littleton Boulevard
- Littleton Museum, 6028 South Gallup Street
- PDA Road Gear, Inc., 1600 West Mineral Avenue
- Redstone Bank, 5350 South Santa Fe Drive Unit G
- South Metro Housing Options, 5808 South Rapp Street, Suite 100
- Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 Main Street
The calendar captures the city's neighborhoods, parks, people, landscapes, and events. For the 2023 calendar, members of the Littleton Fine Arts Board selected the winners from 163 photographs submitted by 65 photographers.
The city is grateful for the continuing support of the 2023 calendar sponsors: Arapahoe Community College Foundation, Aspen Grove Lifestyle Center, Bradford Auto Body, Inc., Centura Littleton Adventist Hospital, Commonwealth Realty Services, Breckenridge Brewery, Lautenbach Insurance Agency, Littleton Public Schools Foundation, PDA Road Gear, Inc., RE/Max Professionals, South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, Western Welcome Week Inc.
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Denver Water Project Coming Near Harlow Park
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 In the coming weeks, Denver Water will start a water main replacement project in the neighborhood west of Harlow Park to replace over 11,000 linear feet of aging water mains underneath the road. Denver Water does not anticipate encountering any lead service lines as part of this project.
Work will begin mid-to-late November and is expected to last through spring 2023. Denver Water will make every attempt to complete this project within the stated timeframe; however, as with any construction project, unforeseen circumstances, such as weather conditions, material shortages and crew availability may extend the completion of work. Emergency work may also take priority. Working hours are typically Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Some night or weekend work may be required.
Phase one:
- West Latonka Road between South Cimarron Road and South Lowell Boulevard
Future phases:
- Camargo Road between West Latonka Road and West Hillside Place
- South Newton Street between Camargo Road and West Hillside Place
- South Newton Street between West Belleview Place and West Belleview Avenue
- South Meade Street between West Latonka Road and West Belleview Avenue
- Manitou Road between West Latonka Road and West Hillside Place
- South Mabre Court between West Latonka Road and West Belleview Avenue
- West Hillside Place between South Perry and South Meade Streets
- West Belleview Place between South Perry and South Meade Streets
- West Belleview Avenue between South Mabre Court and South Meade Street
Neighbors with questions about the project should contact Denver Water Customer Care at 303-893-2444.
Click here for more information from Denver Water.
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Littleton Donates Trees to Australian Sister City
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Dignitaries from Littleton and its sister city of Bega, Australia pose with a newly-planted cut-leaf birch planted in Bega's Littleton Gardens. Eight delegates traveled to Bega in October, part of an exchange dating back to the 1950s. Littleton donated five trees to the park.
A delegation from Bega will travel to Littleton in August 2023, in time for the Western Welcome Week Grand Parade.
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Holiday’s Evening at Littleton Museum December 11
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Join the Littleton Museum for Holiday's Evening on the grounds of the museum's 19th century living history farms Sunday, December 11. Guests will be transported back to the winter holidays of the 1800s with wagon rides, cornbread and cookies, live music, and hot cider. Costumed historical interpreters will bring the past to life.
Admission prices range from $3 to $10 when purchased in advance. Children under 2 are free.
When: 5:30 to 8 p.m., Sunday, December 11
Where: Littleton Museum, 6028 South Gallup Street
Click here for more information or to buy tickets.
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Get Rid of Grease and Oil December 3
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Dispose of used grease and oil safely, for free! Residents within South Platte Renew's service area, which includes the cities of Englewood and Littleton, as well as 19 connecting sanitation districts, are invited to drop off up to 10 gallons of used oil and grease per household.
Cooking oil and automotive oil must be separated into different containers and be free from contaminants such as fuels, solvents, or water. Cooking oil should be liquid and free of food debris. Oil filters, antifreeze, or oil from commercial businesses will not be accepted.
When: 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, December 3
Where: South Platte Renew, 2900 South Platte River Drive, Englewood
Questions? Email SPRCommunications@englewoodco.gov.
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Building and Safety Codes Updated
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The Littleton City Council approved an ordinance on November 15 to update building and property maintenance codes.
The mission of the city's Building and Code Compliance Division is to ensure the safety and usability of structures, and the maintenance and functionality of properties and housing within the city. One of the primary tools used by the division in executing its mission is the application of building and property maintenance related codes adopted by the city council.
The following building and property maintenance related codes were adopted:
- 2021 International Building Code
- 2021 International Residential Code
- 2021 International Mechanical Code
- 2021 International Plumbing Code
- 2021 International Fuel Gas Code
- 2021 International Energy Conservation Code
- 2021 International Fire Code
- 2021 International Existing Building Code
- 2021 International Property Maintenance Code
- 2021 National Electrical Code
- 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings
Implementation of the newly adopted versions of these codes will begin January 1, 2023. A copy of each of the codes is available for viewing in the Permit Center located on the first floor of the Littleton Center.
Click here to read the approved codes and amendments.
The newer versions of the codes aid in promoting consistency in the city's codes with those of neighboring jurisdictions and assist in aligning the Building Division's code adoption cycle with the publication of the codes, which occurs every three years. Changes highlighted by adoption of the 2021 codes and amendments on November 15 are:
- Clarification and coordination of administrative provisions within the codes, resulting in more consistent and seamless processes
- Residential fire sprinkler system installation will be required in new townhomes constructed after January 1, resulting in a greater level of safety for occupants
- The International Existing Building Code has been added, creating greater flexibility in the application of codes in existing structures
- The latest version of the National Electrical Code, the 2020 NEC, was adopted and now coincides with the version adopted by the State
- An updated version of the International Energy Conservation Code was adopted, creating more efficient structures and reducing energy consumption
The adoption of new codes also ensures that the city remains compliant with requirements for properties located in flood-prone areas, minimizing the cost of flood insurance for those properties.
The Building and Code Compliance Division will hold a public meeting to discuss changes precipitated by the new codes on January 11, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. in the Community Room at the Littleton Center.
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This week's featured jobs:
Building Inspector I, II, or III (Structural or Combination)
The City of Littleton has an opening for a structural or combination inspector to join its talented team of building inspectors in providing outstanding customer service, working with contractors and the public, and ensuring code compliance for commercial, residential, and industrial structures throughout the community.
HR Analyst - Risk
The City of Littleton Human Resources team is looking for an experienced HR professional to manage a wide variety of human resource and risk functions. This position administers leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), manages Workers' Compensation and property and liability claims, and serves as the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) Coordinator for the city's transition plan to ensure programs and physical infrastructure are accessible. This position also serves on and/or leads committees, including the Safety Committee and the Employee Recognition Committee.
Civil Engineer (I, II, or Senior)
The Civil Engineer manages the planning, design, and construction administration of capital construction projects. The Civil Engineer also provides engineering expertise in the areas of development review projects to provide a high quality of life for residents and businesses by delivering well designed and constructed infrastructure. Positions perform and/or coordinate consultant engineering reviews of plans and specifications for both private and public projects in the city.
Visit the City of Littleton careers page to view all current job openings.
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Happening at Bemis Public Library
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Drop-in Discovery Art
Drop-in on the third Saturday of each month and explore different art materials and techniques in the Children's Room. The library will provide materials and inspiration, and kids can work through the process of creating an original piece of art. For children in preschool to fifth grade. 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, November 19.
Movie Matinee: DC League of Super-Pets
Krypto, the Superdog, fights side-by-side with the world's greatest superhero and his personal best friend, Superman. But now Superman and his human super friends have been taken away by a mega threat. Krypto has taken it upon himself to unite the world's most elite pets to rescue the Justice League and maybe even the world. Popcorn will be served. Run time 105 min. Rated PG. For families with children age 3 and up. 2 to 3:45 p.m., Tuesday, November 22.
Baby Story Time
Bring infants and babies for 30 minutes of stories and songs that are perfect for little ones. For caregivers with babies from birth to one year old. 9:30 to 10 a.m., Wednesday, November 23.
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Thank you for reading this issue of the Littleton Report Online
Let's take care of each other
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