When an Emergency Ordinance prohibiting camping and sleeping overnight on public property appeared on the 8/19 Lone Tree City Council agenda, two possibilities came to mind: Was my teenager's latest camping excursion closer to home than I imagined? Has somebody passed out in the park again?

Nope. When Democratic National Convention protesters get kicked out of Denver every night, suburbanites fear they'll hop the light rail, carrying their bedrolls into bedroom communities. After all, we know there are no hotel rooms available (or affordable). City manager Jack Hidahl indicated other far-flung municipalities hastily enacted similar laws, allowing police to arrest the miscreants. At least they'll have somewhere to sleep in jail.

Council member Pat Braden asked if the law prevented residents' guests from sleeping in RVs parked on the street, a practice she has vigorously lobbied against. Responding to that application of the statute caused some hemming and hawing in the Staff seating section, but eventually the Legal Department confirmed the law would probably have that effect. Mayor Jim Gunning focused on the statute's temporary emergency nature, which expires in 90 days if not affirmed. By then all the troublemakers (except visiting grandmas in campers) will have left town.

In other news:

Protester by another name.

Assistant city manager Seth Hoffman mentioned in Study Session that Lone Tree could send up to four Staff delegates to Minneapolis September 20 (estimated cost $2,500) to vote for strengthening building code energy efficiency standards by 30%. Missing the Republican National Convention by a few weeks, Sierra Club members (cosponsoring the Cool Cities Initiative and the 30% Solution) should be able to find a room.

Lone Tree good credit risk for now.

The Standard and Poors City bond rating came in as AA. Another agency wanted to be lower, so we didn't use them. Our Bond Attorneys estimate interest at slightly below 4% and will start selling September 8 to avoid political convention market turmoil.

Sales tax increase already?

A Citizen's Initiative to purchase more open space for people not to camp on, raising sales tax .148%, could be on the ballot. As a result, Council passed an Intergovernmental Agreement with Douglas County sharing voting expenses on a local TABOR-related ballot question. The IGA can be revoked if petitioners haven't collected 328 valid signatures by September 5.

Jewish Center instead of daycare

Council seemed remarkably delicate framing parking and potential noise concerns to the ultimately approved Chabad Jewish Center proposed in Centennial Ridge. Maybe because the firmly confronted previous applicant for the vacated building decided to go away.

Studies begat analysis; and analysis begat surveys; and surveys begat meetings; and meetings begat consultants; and consultants begat studies... - Book of Lone Tree, 1:1-3,000

Council approved a new feasibility study identifying uses and needs for the Cultural Arts Center, updating the old 2003 report and cost estimates for operation and maintenance. They added an extra $5,000 to the $23,500 cost so there can be two public meetings, where nobody better fall asleep.