Gerchard Pfau Newsletter March 1st 2026
This is the second of my monthly newsletters. I hope you find it useful. Please let me know what subjects you’d like to see in the future and if I misstated anything.
Looking back at February Events
Last week I had the opportunity to meet and listen to Father Greg Boyle. He is an inspiration to us all. If you are ever in need of a pick me up check out his books or various online media contacts.
Attended the successful Hunger Free Golden Empty Bowls event
I had coffee with two residents regarding the Maps in the Wildland Urban Interface ordinance – see below.
Monitoring various bills going through the state legislature.
Coffee with councilors behind the scenes with Coors – interesting meeting reviewing what Coors and the City are doing around Clear Creek.
Golden terrace resident meeting – shared updates
‘Powering your Home’ meeting. Great attendance from residents searching for ways to prepare for future power outages.
Bringing to your attention
Affordability was one of the key points highlighted in the Community Survey Results. There are several things you can take advantage of to help with Affordability today.
City of Golden Emerald Ash Borer Subsidy Program – this is a program that will cover 50% of the costs up to $500 for ash tree removal or preventative chemical treatments. Go to https://goldenco.rja.revize.com/forms/13360 and read the detailed requirements.
The City of Golden Sales Tax Refund. This is available for Senior (65 or older) Residents, Low Income Residents, and Disabled Residents. Go to this link and review the detailed requirements. Remember this must be submitted to the city no later than April 15th, 2026.
The City of Golden Rebate Program. Go to this link and read the details of what rebates are available and requirements. Note that Portable Electric Battery Power Stations along with Solar Power Systems and whole house backup Battery Systems are included in the rebate program – along with many other home improvements. Please note that the new rebates went into affect March 1st and the application forms may still be in the process of updating.
Did you know about the FREE Home Wildland Fire Mitigation evaluation available from the Golden Fire Department? Professionals from our Fire Department and Forestry Department will come to your home and evaluate/recommend what you can do to help ‘Harden’ your home against Wildfires. Go to this link to sign up and find out what you could do to help protect your home in the event of a Wildfire. By the way, I just did mine and have started working on ‘hardening’ my home.
I plan on experimenting with ‘office hours’ later this month. Watch for info on the website and future newsletters for details.
Reminder: If you see suspicious behavior in our parks, please contact the police department.
Progress – You may be aware of the impact on 19th Street and Lookout Mountain Rd when I-70 is closed due to emergencies. Long Trucks attempt to divert through Lookout Mtn Rd and 19th Street and get caught in the hairpin turns tying up traffic and blocking access to emergency vehicles. The city has been successful soliciting Apple Maps and TomTom to make sure they report to Trucks that Lookout Mtn Rd is not suitable for vehicles over 30ft in length. Unfortunately, Google and Waze have not been as cooperative to date. Stay tuned.
I have redone my website and plan to update it on a frequent basis. Please go to www.gerchard4golden.com to see what has changed.
If you would like to talk to me, please reach out at my cell 720-593-0240, email at gerchard4golden@gmail.com or gpfau@cityofgolden.net. We can setup a time to talk or meet.
Please note the Public Safety Announcement from the Golden Police Department regarding two daytime sexual Assaults. Go to this link
Boards and Committee’s
There is still time to apply! Would you like to help with your community? Have you considered joining one of the boards that advise the city council? Applications are now open for vacancies on the:
- Community Sustainability Advisory Board (CSAB)
- Downtown Development Authority (DDA)
- Golden Urban Renewal Authority (GURA)
- Historic Preservation Board
- Investment Advisory Committee
- Mobility & Transportation Advisory Board (MTAB)
- Planning Commission
Go to this link to find out more and apply by March 16th 5pm.
Call/email if you have questions.
Upcoming Meetings – mark your calendars
- March 5th, 5pm State of the City – Golden Community Center
- March 7th, 10am Coffee with Councilors
- March 10th, 10:30am Friends of the Front Porch
- March 10th, 5pm City Council
- March 17th, 5pm City Council
- March 19th, 5pm HWY 93 Analysis and Design Project
For a full list of upcoming meetings please check the city calendar at this link.
Did you know that all council meetings and board meetings are available live via the web and recorded? You can watch from home and access the prereads for the meetings too. Go to this website and follow the links. If you need help, give me a yell.
The section below captures the actions from the last couple council meetings plus gives you a preview of the agenda for the next couple. To find out more details go to the links above and download the meeting prereads/watch the videos/or give me a yell. At the suggestion of a resident, I’ve added notes on my views regarding particular items.
Summary of Actions from the council meetings in February.
February 10, 2026, Tuesday 5pm City Hall – City Council Regular Meeting & Study Session
Preliminary Agenda Items
Study Session
• Victim Compensation Fund (City Clerk-Court Administrator) – 20 mins
This provides for a fund that the court can use to help supplement restitution when defendants are unable to pay. It’s limited to $2000 per case and funded by forfeited municipal court bonds and a $5 VCF fee assessed as court costs – so no impact on the general budget. This does not reduce the restitution ordered by the Court. I support.
• Heart of Golden East Zone Amenity Plan (ACM) – 20 mins
• Wildfire Resiliency Code and Wildfire Map Adoption (FC) – 30 mins
For residences in the wildland urban interface more stringent building codes will be required when certain thresholds are reached in remodeling, roofing, fencing, planting and new builds. Key issue is to determine which Map should be adopted in order to fulfill the state mandated CWRC SB 23-166. Three options were presented. Ranging from a minimum map the state created (166 residences in class 1 and 639 residences in class 2) to a more extensive map (1889 residences in class 1 and 640 residences in class 2). Our fire department recommended the more extensive map believing it reflects the real wildfire risks in the city. There were various opinions expressed by council. One council member supported the extensive map feeling. Six council members supported the minimum map with a re-evaluation in a year. I supported the minimum map because I’m concerned about the unintended consequences on insurability of homes, insurance prices and the additional costs imposed by the more stringent codes. In a year, after we see what the consequences are we can adopt the more extensive map. First reading will be at the next council meeting. I’ve heard from two of our residents in Ward 2 advocating for the more extensive map – what do you think?
Consent Matters
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3277– A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden approving the addendum to the Housing Needs and Strategies Assessment (AHC)
Passed and I supported– fulfilled the necessary input to support the required data for fulfilling SB24-174
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3279 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden approving contract with Goodland Construction for Grampsas Park parking lot improvements (PWPM-JH)
Passed and I supported – project was bid out via competitive bidding process. In the 2026 budget.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3280 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden authorizing the Public Works Director to execute annual agreements with the USGS to support the operation and maintenance of the USGS Golden Water Guage (PWD)
Passed and I supported – project is in 2026 budget, generates necessary data for the proper functioning of the City of Golden water works.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3281 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden approving Lena Gulch Reaches 1 & 4 Independent Cost Estimator Contract (PWCE-SA)
Passed and I supported – project is in budget and is the prep work needed for the Lena Gulch Channel Improvement Project
Regular Business
• Presentation of Community Survey Results- Polco (DCM, MF)
I recommend everyone review the survey results in order to hear an unfiltered assessment from the residents. Overall, Golden performs well especially compared to our neighboring cities. Key issues residents identified is affordability (particularly housing costs, cost of living) and employment opportunities. Public parking remains a focus area.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3278 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden approving the Strategic Plan for 2026 (DCM)
Passed and I supported. I want to draw your attention to the new Council Initiative Wildfire Management & Resiliency Planning Strategy. This pulls all the various wildfire related projects under one ‘Initiative’ making it easier for Council to regularly monitor.
February 24, 2026, Tuesday 6:30pm City Hall – City Council Regular Business Meeting
Consent Matters
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3283 – …approving a contract amendment for the construction contract with Fivestar Construction for on-call specialty concrete services…
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No 3284 – …purchase of two 2027 Freightliner 108SD Plow/Dump Trucks.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution 3285 – …approving the purchase of three Ford 2026 Police Interceptors…
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3286 – …approving the purchase of a 2026 Multihog CV350 Sweeper Vehicle…
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3289 – …renewal Sunshine Janitorial Specialists…
All consent items passed. I supported. All items in are in the 2026 budget and there are currently no issues with the city’s income
Regular Business
• Introduction, first reading and consideration of a motion to order published – Ordinance No. 2288 – An Ordinance of the City Council …repealing and replacing Ch 18.58, “Historic Preservation,” …with a revised and modernized Ch. 18.58 and setting the public hearing for March 10th, 2026
There was considerable council discussion and the key issue was that some on council felt that the planning board should review the new chapter before the council voted on it. In the end it was determined that the planning board will be part of the review process in phase 2. The first reading passed 6 to 1. I supported the motion.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3288 – A Resolution …approving certain rebates for Sustainable Best Practices in Energy, wast Diversion and water Conservation.
Passed and I supported. Please see the city sustainability webpage for details of the rebates – includes Portable Electric Batteries. https://www.cityofgolden.gov/community/sustainable_golden/rebates.php#collapse19100b6
• Introduction, first reading and consideration of a motion to order published – Ordinance No. 2290 – …amending Title 15 of the Golden Muni Code to add a new CH 15.80 entitled “Wildfire Resiliency Code”; and setting the public hearing for March 10th, 2026.
Passed and I supported the minimum map – please see discussion above Feb 10th. I’m really interested in hearing your opinion of which map to choose. Please call or email me. I can point you towards the maps if you can’t find them.
Upcoming Council Meetings
March 10, 2026, Tuesday 5:00 pm City Hall – City Council Study Session and Regular Business Meeting
Study Session
• Boards and Commissions Work Plans
Consent Matters
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3290 – …approving utility and emergency access easements for the Canyon View Apts.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Res No 3291 – …approving an IGA between the city of Golden and the Golden Fire Protection District for fleet repair and maintenance…
Regular Business
• Public Hearing – Consideration of a motion to adopt – Ordinance No. 2288 – adopting Historic Preservation Code Updates.
• Public Hearing – Consideration of a motion to adopt – Ordinance No. 2289 – adopting Victim Compensation Fund
• Public Hearing – Consideration of a motion to adopt – Ordinance No. 2290 – adopting the CWUI (Colorado Wildland Urban Interface) codes and map
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3292 – …approving the Victim Compensation Fund
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3293 – …approving the updated Comprehensive Fee Schedule.
March 17, 2026, Tuesday 5:00 pm City Hall – City Council Study Session and Regular Business Meeting
Study Session
• Establishment of the Junction Metro District
Consent Matters
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. xxxx – …approving the contract with Wieitz for CM/GC Construction Services for the Fossil Trace Golf Course Pump Station
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Res No XXXX – …appointing Eric Hutchens as a Deputy Municipal Judge.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Res No XXXX – …accepting and endorsing the preliminary design recommendations for the Heart of Golden east Amenity Zone
Regular Business
• Staff Update – Strategic Plan end of Q1
• Creek Season Overview and Recommendations
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3274 – …approving Ford/Jackson Protected Bike Lanes – Construction Contract
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. XXXX – …adopting the Water Efficiency Plan.
The content of the newsletter is my own and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the City Council or the City of Golden.