Ask Golden

This was a Study Session discussion topic at City Council on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.  Two City Councilors submitted a proposal to ban the amplification of music and broadcast on City ROW/Sidewalks within the downtown core. The proposal was supported by City Council and staff will be developing regulatory language for Council review, with first and second readings of proposed ordinances on July 8 and July 22. 

The justification for the proposal and ban on amplification was related to the disturbance that it generates for those visiting and working in downtown shops and businesses. In some cases forcing retailers to close doors to communicate with their customers. Enforcement of existing noise ordinances is challenging in these instances due to ambient noise which can influence noise meter readings. Additionally, if a warning or citation is given and they turn down the volume, once the officer/CSO leaves they can just turn it back up again. By eliminating the use of amplification, it removes the noise level variable, easing enforcement and eliminating disturbance for those visiting and shopping in the area. Street musicians and performers will still be allowed, just not with amplification. 

Thank you for your message and for bringing this to our attention. We’ll share your feedback with Parks and Recreation and will consider adding signage to help educate visitors about the importance of cleaning up and the lasting impact of litter. We appreciate your commitment to keeping our parks clean and enjoyable for everyone.

Thank you for your inquiry. At this time, there are no plans for upgrading Discovery Park.

Greetings Lutz family,

The Water Rescue vehicle was a grant funded apparatus procured in 2015 that saw very limited use over its 10-year lifespan with the City of Golden. With a new larger, heavy rescue placed into service in 2022 (Rescue 21) all water rescue equipment was recently transferred from the standalone water rescue unit to Rescue 21 which provides for a ‘one stop shop’ for not only water rescue, but also heavy rescue and technical rescue as well. The majority of water rescues within the City and up Clear Creek Canyon have been historically handled by either the Fire Engine at Station 21 or Rescue 21. Rescue 21 also has a raised cab which allows for rescue swimmers to get dressed prior to leaving the station, or once they arrive at the scene, which maintains a level of privacy for the rescuer donning a dry suit.

The Fire Department has recently shed two heavy apparatus from our fleet and consolidated rescue equipment into fewer, newer units because as you mention, fire trucks are very expensive to procure and also require costly, regular preventative maintenance as well. Water Rescue 21 was sold to South Adams County Fire and 100% of the proceeds from the sale were added back to the Fire Department’s fleet lease fund for future use.

Decisions like this certainly aren’t made in a vacuum, we have collaborated with department staff and city management to ensure they were informed for the reason of the sale, with the primary reason being that a unit which averaged only 500 miles a year is hard to justify retaining, especially when we have other vehicles that can fulfill the same function.

Thank you for your inquiry.

Respectfully,
Kasey Beal
Fire Chief, City of Golden

Thank you for your comment. The City will add permanent signage for the crosswalk.

Hello, This location is Jefferson County, not within the City of Golden boundaries. You may want to reach out to the County to learn more. Thank you for your inquiry!

Hi John, You can dispose of your extinguishers at Rooney Road. You can find a full list of locations and hard-to-recycle items on the City website here: https://www.cityofgolden.gov/community/sustainable_golden/waste_diversion/hard_to_recycle_items_guide 

Thank you for your interest in the Colfax Complete Street Project. The project is still moving forward but has faced some challenges.

Before construction can begin, the area must be removed from the 100-year floodplain, which requires ongoing drainage improvements to Lena Gulch. This process takes time and must be approved by FEMA and coordinated with state and local entities before the Complete Street Project can proceed.

Additionally, recent changes in federal grant funding have created some uncertainty. While grants were awarded, final funding is still pending, and we are monitoring the situation closely.

We appreciate your patience and will share updates as we make progress.

As this is within Jefferson County Public Schools' jurisdiction, we recommend you reach out to the school directly to address their concerns about dead and combustible vegetation. You are welcome to copy our Fire Marshall, Brett Ballentine, at bballentine@cityofgolden.net on your correspondence. 

The Miller Pipeline gas line project is expected to be completed by the end of the month, with restoration work—such as concrete and asphalt patching—scheduled to be finished by mid-April.

Regarding concerns about careless driving, there are a few reporting options:

• If you witnessed an incident involving a specific truck, you can report it directly to the department responsible (e.g., Jefferson County or the agency operating the vehicle, such as Parks or Public Works).

• If you want the violation addressed by law enforcement, you would need to report it in the jurisdiction where it occurred. However, because officers were not present at the time, you would need to serve as a witness should further action be taken.

• Many prefer to report concerns without being involved in a formal complaint process. In those cases, reaching out to the responsible agency is the best course of action.