The Advisory Commission for an Inclusive Community has been in existence for the better part of a year now. The commission is still struggling to establish it's own "rules of engagement" to perform it's stated function to provide advice to the city council. Some of the commissioners would prefer that all forms of advice that come from the commission should be voted upon by the entire commission in a manner consistence with a legislative body. However, there have been several requests from the council that have required a rapid turn around which make it impossible for the entire commission to even discuss the matter since they only meet on a monthly basis. In addition, it has also been pointed out several times by the City laison staff and their leadership that they are an Advisory Commission and not a legislative body. That is to say that they provide "advice" and there is no responsibility for the City Council to either act upon or accept their advice.

During the June 18, 2008 meeting of this body I listened to a presentation from the Environment Committee Chairman. Several of the proposals, if enacted by the council, would force waste collection companies that operate in Lakewood to provide a recycling program. The chairman didn't seem concerned that such an action would cause an immediate price hike to Lakewood citizens. So the question in my mind is "Does the advice that comes from this commission reflect the desire of all it's citizens" (i.e. are they inclusive) or has the body become a "select group of activists" that are about intruding into our lives in an attempt to force their particular agenda on the rest of Lakewood Citizens (i.e. are they intrusive)?

To muddle matters even more, "Mayor Murphy" sent a communication via the city liason Erma Steck which essentially instructed the commissioners not to act upon any public comments regarding the "Betterments" for the Wadsworth Blvd and Oak Street Light Rail Stations. As you may know these "Betterments" will cost the city of Lakewood approximately $2,800,000.00 and will commit the City of Lakewood to pay a yearly maintenance fee of an amount that is still to be determined to RTD for the maintenance of the "betterments". So if it becomes the standard that the City Council not only directs the commission to focus on specific issues of the council's choosing but it also places limitations upon issues that the commission can even consider then I have to ask what do they mean by the term "inclusive community".

Amendment: June 23 ,2008
At the city council this evening (June 23, 2008) Mayor Murphy approached me with a clarification, stating that the citizens commission which was chosen to review the "Betterments" was chosen, as I understand it, in a manner which is consistent with an established policy that requires the selection of certain number of business owners and residents in the area. So if I left you with the impression that the "Inclusive Community" was ever involved in the matter then I wish to correct that innaccuracy. I believe the Mayor was under the impression that a member of the public was going to speak to the inclusive community on the matter of "Betterments" and his communication was meant to inform the commission that the issue was already under review by another commission. As it turns out, no member of the public spoke on that issue. So thank you Mr Mayor for the clarification and I regret any innaccuracies in my original story.

So here we are correcting inaccuracies with the hope of eliminating misconceptions. However, there are several issues surrounding the Wadsworth Bridge Station that could lead to much more signficant misconceptions. It's hard for me to understand why RTD has chosen to put the station on top of a bridge. I mean they're already taking a bunch of land from Lakewood citizens on the east side of Wadsworth so it can't be that they're uncomfortable with exercising their eminent domain powers. But it is easy for me to believe that a " deal under the table" was made that goes something like this. Some City of Lakewood person says to an RTD person - If you will put the station on top of the bridge then we will put betterments on it so that we can make a more iconic statement with the bridge that will become a Metro Area Landmark. We will also be commited to help you pay for the Station and it's long term maintenance. RTD guy says I don't care as long as you guys are paying for it. So to be clear I have no information whatsoever and I have no facts to back up such a perception. I have no idea who the City of Lakewood person could be and I know nothing about RTD. But we are still left with the possibility of a misconception. Perhaps someday it will become clear to us why we didn't just let RTD build their own structure and use the $2,800,000.00 and the yet unknown $???,000.00 dollars per year for maintenance on more practical matters.