Top Cops
Centennial contracts city law enforcement with the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office (ACSO), a highly accredited agency with a long record of excellence. ACSO is the only sheriff's office in the country to earn the coveted Triple Crown Accreditation from the National Sheriffs' Association under four different Sheriffs. Our deputies continually train to provide best-in-class service to Centennial. Sheriff Brown, Chief Halaba, and all of ACSO are committed to keeping Centennial a safe community. In addition to working with ACSO on Council, I was also a volunteer ACSO Victim Advocate for several years. Responding in the middle of the night, I’ve seen the high cost of crime. Last year, I completed the comprehensive 5-week Citizen's Academy.
Helping when needed
A call for service to the Sheriff’s Office can come in many shapes and sizes. In this year’s budget, Council increased funding for our co-responder program with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office. Centennial now funds four co-responders - licensed mental health clinicians – who respond with deputies on calls involving persons with mental illness, behavioral health crises, and emotionally charged situations. Service calls de-escalate faster, individuals receive the appropriate mental health services and deputies return to service sooner. I strongly support Centennial’s co-responder program.
Where your money goes
Centennial receives taxpayer money from multiple sources, including the county, state, and federal government, with over half of our revenue coming from sales tax. When the pandemic response closed most of our retail stores, Centennial weathered the crisis well because of our sound fiscal approach to city finances. The city allocates resources conservatively, spends judiciously, and carefully plans for future needs in our biennial budget. I have served on the budget committee for several years and have helped create, debate, and approve the city's budget. The budget is crucial in determining the city's plan for efficient and effective operations.
Many hats
A Centennial City Council member wears many hats. My fellow Council members voted me the Mayor Pro Tem for the 2022-2023 term. Mayor Pro Tem helps during Council meetings and substitutes for the Mayor as needed.
I am the city liaison to the Arapahoe Park and Recreation District (APRD). APRD builds and maintains beautiful parks and trails in District 4. I serve as a Director for the Southeast Metro Storm Water Authority (SEMSWA). SEMSWA provides floodplain and stormwater management for Centennial and surrounding areas. I am the City alternate to the Centennial Airport Community Noise Roundtable. I am an Honorary Board Member of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. I serve on the Defense Council which promotes and supports the people of our local military installations. I served a year on the National League of Cities Technology Committee. I am a representative of the Colorado Municipal League’s Legislative Policy Committee and served on the Centennial Commission to craft our positions on legislation.
Nothing says economic health like a ribbon cutting or grand opening. Both the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce and the Aurora Chamber of Commerce keep things rolling. It’s fun, it’s busy, and something I thoroughly enjoy.
Noisy Neighbors
It was almost every weekend. Visitors to a house in Piney Creek caused disturbances in the neighborhood with loud and disruptive parties. The house was a new short-term rental catering to visitors here to enjoy Colorado's relaxed marijuana laws and other attractions. Despite repeated calls to the sheriff, the parties persisted to all hours of the night. Nothing beats a good time but you also need to be a good neighbor in District 4 and Centennial. I worked with the City Attorney's Office to develop an ordinance to license short-term rentals, set minimal requirements, and have a representative always available to address noise and other complaints. The ordinance passed Council unanimously. Since the ordinance's implementation in 2022, nearly 80 short-term rentals have been licensed in Centennial, promoting good neighborly conduct while balancing the interests of property owners, visitors, and residents.
Work hard, play harder
The Centennial City Council is made up of nine voting members, each committed to serving our districts and the city as a whole. We rely on the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Staff for their expertise, knowledge, and guidance on the issues presented to Council. We take their input as the basis for respectful and constructive debate. The result of our discussion is the best solution for the city. Many challenges facing Centennial - homelessness, and transportation for example - are regional issues. My strong relationships with council members in Littleton, Greenwood Village, Lone Tree, Aurora, and other area towns help address these issues.
