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.
Gerchard Pfau Newsletter May 1st 2026
This is the fourth 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.
I appreciate the feedback and I’ve made a few changes. I’ve eliminated the details on council meetings from this email but they are available on my website. Go to www.gerchard4golden.com/past-monthly-summaries/ and select the month you are interested in to find them.
Looking back at April Events
Sheriff Retirement Celebration
DRCOG
Meet your council members Ward 1,2 & District 1
First Office Hours
Coffee with Councilors
Community Water Restriction Meeting
Golden Startup Coffee
JEFFTAG
Resident Phone calls
CSM Musical
Jeffco Spring Homelessness Meetings
Legislative Meeting
Checkin with City Manager
Chamber Awards
Second Office Hours
Google Fiber Groundbreaking
Resident Meet at their homes
Jeffco State of the County
Bringing to your attention
Water and Drought – If you are looking for more information regarding Golden’s Drought Status and restrictions please go to the following link Water Conservation. There you will find the current drought status and rules. The goal is to reduce our water use by 15-20%. So a primary tool is to restrict lawn watering to twice a week along with no daytime watering between 10am and 6pm. For all the details go the webpage. You can monitor your water usage by signing up for an Aquahawk account – it’s free. I have one and get regular emails when my water usage is above a value I set.
- Monitor your water usage with AquaHawk to help catch leaks and unusual use
I received a number of phone calls in regard to E-Day’s Fireworks. I have to tell you that there are residents both opposing and pro the fireworks. Ultimately the final safety decision is with our Fire Department. My recommendation is to contact CSM directly with your opinion regarding E-Day fireworks now rather than waiting until the week before the event.
Mines Spring semester finishes May 15th.
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 Rebate Program. Go to
https://www.cityofgolden.gov/community/sustainable_golden/rebates.php#faq-questions-34
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.
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
https://www.cityofgolden.gov/business_detail_T31_R191.php
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.
Emily, Lisa, and I held our first Community Meeting on April 1st. Our next meeting is scheduled for May 13th at Wrigley’s.
I am continuing my ‘office hours’ in May.
May 18th 9am – 10am @ Scully’s Café , 1812 Miners Spur Rd, Golden CO 80401, Building 5
If the weather is nice, I’ll be hanging out at one of the outside tables. Come by and have a coffee with me.
May 27th 6pm – 7pm @ Scully’s Café, 1812 Miners Spur Rd, Golden CO 80401, Building 5
If the weather is nice, I’ll be hanging out at one of the outside tables. Come by and have a coffee, beer, or wine with me – yes, I’ve been told Scully’s now serves beer and wine too.
Headsup – Extra Yard waste Collection scheduled for May 4th – 8th . Start gathering your yard waste.
Reminder: If you see suspicious behavior in our parks, please contact the police department.
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 recent press releases from the Golden regarding the recent daytime sexual assaults and auto/bicyclist crash. Go to the link below:
Upcoming Meetings – mark your calendars
- May 4th – 8th, Extra Yard Waste Collection Week
- May 5th, 5:30pm Clear Creek Trail (formerly Peaks 2 Plains Trail) – Design Public Open House – @ Golden Community Center
- May 6th, 5:30pm Mayoral Town Hall, @ Natural Grocers 2401 Ford St
- May 9th, 10am Coffee with Councilors, @City Hall, City Development with DDA and GURA
- May 12th, 10:30am Friends of the Front Porch @Golden Community Center
- May 12th, 5pm City Council @ City Hall
- May 13th, 6:00pm Community Meet & Greet, @Wrigley’s 18200 W. Colfax Ave; Meet your councilors – Lisa, Emily, Gerchard
- May 26th, 5:30pm Golden Bike Cruise @ 818 14th St. (behind the Armory building)
- May 26th, 6:30pm City Council @ City Hall
For a full list of upcoming meetings please check the city calendar at
https://www.cityofgolden.gov/calendar.php?view=month&month=02&day=01&year=2026
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:
https://www.cityofgolden.gov/government/public_meetings.php
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 April.
April 14, 2026, Tuesday 5pm City Hall – City Council Regular Meeting & Study Session
Study Session
• Manage Parking Request – Water and Jackson Streets
Staff reviewed a request for neighborhood permit parking. Council expressed multiple opinions on the matter. I agreed with Patty to wait for recommendations from the Mobility Board before picking a solution.
• Fire Department Data Analytics
Interesting presentation from the Fire Department. Key point was the improvement in response time for south Golden due to the second firestation which is a result of the 2023 Mill levy Golden voters approved. One slide concerned me. It showed call volume growing at an alarming rate (slide 4 if you want to see it). The FD said that call volumes are showing signs of flattening in 2026. I’ll be monitoring to see if call volume continues to grow.
Regular Business Meeting
Consent Matters
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3299– A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden authorizing an IGA between Golden and Pleasant View Metro District, Golden Gate Fire Protection District and Intermountain Health (Platee Valley Ambulance) for Emergent and Non-Emergent Ambulance and related mid services.
Passed and I supported;
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3300 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden approving an IGA with Georgetown for water storage in Guanella Reservoir.
Increases our net water supply, passed and I supported.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3301 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden approving an IGA with Blackhawk for water storage in Guanella Reservoir.
Increases our net water supply, passed and I supported.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3302 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden approving a water storage agreement with Soda creek Prop Owners’ Association.
Increases our net water supply, passed and I supported.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3305 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden authorizing an IGA with Jefferson County regarding use off the county’s parking lots in connection with City special events.
Eases parking issues during special events, passed and I supported.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3307 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden approving the purchase of three Cevrolet Electric Silvarado Trucks and four Cevrolet Electric Blazers.
Ongoing replacement of aging vehicles. In budget, passed and I supported.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3308 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden approving the upfitting of four police responder vehicles.
In budget, passed and I supported.
• Introduction, first reading and consideration of a motion to order published – Ordinance No. 2291 – A Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance changing the 2026 Budget for Carryover and additional Appropriation Requests; and setting second reading and public hearing for April 28, 2026
This is an accounting process that shifts work/spend that was not completed in the previous year to the current year. All these projects are still on budget and on time. Passed and I supported.
Regular Business
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Ordinance No. 3303 – A Resolution of the City Council Golden repealing the 2011 Comprehensive Plan and approving the 2026 Comprehensive Plan.
Passed and I supported; 5 for, 2 against. It attempted a compromise to strike a balance around housing (affordability, diversity of housing, growth). It’s interesting to remember that the city has grown by around 1000 people over 10 years – a growth rate of less than 1% per year (from approximately 19000 to 20000 over 10 years) see ch 1 of the Comprehensive Plan. The opposing view appeared to want more language around the diversity of housing.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Ordinance No. 3304 – A Resolution of the city Council of Golden amending the Council Rules.
Passed and I supported; 7 for,0 against. The Rules Committee (Don, Gerchard, Sandra Llanes) proposed changes to the council rules around leadership in the various boards the city creates. The words stress that it is preferred that the chair of the various boards not be a council member
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3311 – A Resolution of the City Council of Golden establishing an administrative enforcement framework and water service surcharge schedule for violations of outdoor water use restrictions.
Passed and I supported; 7 for, 0 against. These are the fines for when water restriction rules are violated.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 2292 – An Ordinance of Golden amending sections 8.25.010, 8.25.120, 13.04.190 and 13.04.195 of the Municipal code regarding enforcement of water use restrictions, limit use of water, and waste of Water and setting the public hearing for April 28, 2026
Passed and I supported; 7 for, 0 against. These are the details for the water use restrictions, etc.
April 28, 2026, Tuesday 6:30pm City Hall – City Council Regular Meeting & Study Session
Regular Business Meeting
Consent Matters
• Introduction, first reading and consideration of a motion to order published – Ordinance No. 2294 – An ordinance of Golden approving an application to rezone approximately 85.5 acre property generally located at 17601 W. Colfac Ave from C-1 and Planned Unit development (PUD) Districts to PUD District and approving the Golden Terrace Mobile Home Community and Recreational Vehicle Official Development Plan (ODP); and setting second reading and public hearing for May 12, 2026
Passed and I supported; this will help maintain the mobile home park.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3310– A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden approving the purchase of one Ford F-150 Truck and one Ford F-350 Cab Chassis Truck.
Passed and I supported– maintain fleet replacement program, in budget
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3312 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden approving a fifth amendment to a Construction Contract between the Golden and Diamond Contracting Corp regarding the 2023 Utility Replacement Project.
Passed and I supported; renews contract for Utility Replacement – in budget
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3314– A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden approving the upfitting of two Dump/Plow Trucks, one Ford F-550, one Ford F-350 and one crane Uplift.
Passed and I supported– maintain fleet replacement program, in budget
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3315 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden updating the Golden comprehensive Fee Schedule.
Passed and I supported – fixed an error found in the fee schedule
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3316– A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden approving the purchase of a Toro Groundsmaster 4000-D Mower
Passed and I supported– maintain fleet replacement program, in budget
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3317 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden authorizing an IGA between Golden and Jefferson county School District regarding transportation services.
Passed and I supported – transportation plan for summer
Regular Business
• 2026 Sustainability Awards
Two awards were presented to two of our HOA’s for their work on sustainablity
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3319 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden accepting certain grant awards related to sustainability programs and policies.
Passed and I supported. Always a pleasure to accept grant funding that our city staff has secured the promotes the policies of the city.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3313 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden appointing members to City Boards and commissions.
Passed and I supported. Congratulations to everyone who applied for their interested in serving on the various boards.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Ordinance No. 2291 – A Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance changing the 2026 Budget for Carryover and additional Appropriation Requests; and setting second reading and public hearing for April 28, 2026
This is an accounting process that shifts work/spend that was not completed in the previous year to the current year. All these projects are still on budget and on time. Passed and I supported.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 2292 – An Ordinance of Golden amending sections 8.25.010, 8.25.120, 13.04.190 and 13.04.195 of the Municipal code regarding enforcement of water use restrictions, limit use of water, and waste of Water
Passed and I supported; 7 for, 0 against. These are the details for the water use restrictions, etc.
Upcoming Council Meetings
Note that the agendas can change and are not firm until the Thursday before the scheduled meeting.
May 12th, 2026, Tuesday 5:00 pm City Hall – City Council Study Session and Regular Business Meeting
Study Session
• Noxious Weed Plan
• Thriving Communities Grant Revamp
Consent Matters
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3309 – …approving an Intergovernmental agreement between Arvad, the Arvada Fire Protection District, and the City of Golden for Information and Cost sharing of a software service product from the company Julota
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3318 – …approving Fleet Purchases – Tractors
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. 3320 – …approving a rededication of the expanded utility easement at 311 10th St.
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Resolution No. XXX – …approving a Multi-Jurisdictional Agreement for Soda creek Property Owners Association Short-Term Water Storage.
Regular Business
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Ord No 2294 – An Ordinance … rezoning the Golden Terrace. Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden adopting the Comprehensive Plan
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Res No 3321 – A resolution … approving the Transportation demand Management Plan
May 26th , 2026, Tuesday 6:30 pm City Hall – City Council Regular Business Meeting
Consent Matters
• Consideration of a motion to adopt – Res No 3294 – A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Golden approving the contract with Weitz for CM/GC Construction Services for the Fossil Trace Golf Course Pump Station
Regular Business
•nothing listed right now
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.