Tag Archives: Thornton City Council

Local News

Thornton residents launch petition to put retail marijuana on the ballot

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A majority of Thornton City Council has chosen to allow drugs into our community but a group of citizens is working to reverse that.
A majority of Thornton City Council has chosen to allow drugs into our community but a group of citizens is working to reverse that.

What to do when your elected officials ignore the will of the people?  The people take it into their own hands.

Last month, Thornton City Council voted to allow retail and medical marijuana stores in the city despite overwhelming opposition by citizens.

What they should have done, if not reject it, is at least put it on the ballot so the people could have their say.

Now a group of citizens is trying to do just that – let the people have their say. It will take 6,900 signatures to get the issue on this November’s ballot and the signatures must be turned in by Monday.  It is a tall order but not impossible.

  • Editor’s note: While we wholly support the effort to put this issue on the ballot (and deliver a slap down to city council), Thornton Weather is not involved with the effort.  We are merely getting the word out.

Below are details on where you can go to sign the petition.  With time so short, the community needs you to seek out the petition and get your name on it.  Please visit one of the locations below!

Dear fellow Thornton citizens,

About three weeks ago, in a five to four vote, our City Council passed an ordinance allowing marijuana stores and test facilities within our city. This is a link to the ordinance.

Due to the significance of this issue, we think it should be put to a citywide vote. Therefore, we are sponsoring a petition that, with enough signatures, would enable you, the voters, to have a voice in the matter.

Time is short. If the petition containing at least 6,900 signatures of registered voters living in Thornton is not submitted by September 22nd the ordinance becomes law. If you want the council to reconsider, it is imperative that you EXERCISE YOUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS AND SIGN THE PETITION ALLOWING THE MATTER TO BE DECIDED BY THOSE MOST AFFECTED – YOU. Make your voice heard.
(See end of message for locations to sign petition.)

Finally, PLEASE email this open letter to anyone you know who might also oppose the idea that the nine members of the city council will have final say over the future of the 100,000 people in Thornton. PLEASE give everyone a chance to exercise their constitutional rights.

You are also welcomed to visit our Facebook page for more information,https://www.facebook.com/ThorntonsVoice.

Thank you,
Arend Visher
Charles Peraino
Thornton, CO

Places to sign petition:

· THURSDAY, 15 September from 9 – 11 AM; WHERE: Carpenter Rec Center (main entrance) on 112th Ave and Colorado Blvd, Thornton, CO
· SATURDAY, 17 September, Pretty much all day; WHERE: Trailwinds Park at 13385 Holly St, Thornton, CO
· SATURDAY, 17 September in the Evening; WHERE: Crossroads Church Northglenn at 10451 Huron St, Northglenn, CO
· SATURDAY, 17 September in the Evening; WHERE: Crossroads Church Thornton at 53 E 128th Ave, Thornton, CO
· SUNDAY, 18 September in the Morning; WHERE: Crossroads Church Northglenn at 10451 Huron St, Northglenn, CO
· SUNDAY, 18 September in the Morning; WHERE: Crossroads Church Thornton at 53 E 128th Ave, Thornton, CO

Thornton Weather

City of Thornton announces emergency alert system for residents

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City of Thornton Emergency Management T-Alerts
The City of Thornton's new Emergency Management T-Alerts will inform residents of a wide variety of weather and civil emergencies.

Sitting at the western edge of tornado alley, the Denver metro area is home to severe weather of all forms.  In an effort to keep residents aware of the dangers Mother Nature brings every year, the City of Thornton is set to roll out an email alert system.

It has been nearly 31 years since the most destructive tornado to strike the Denver area tore through the city of Thornton.  In the intervening time between now and then, it is ironic that neither Thornton nor Adams County deployed any sort of alert system for its residents beyond Reverse 911.

Seeking to correct that lapse, Thornton’s Office of Emergency Management presented a significant enhancement to the city’s T-Alert system to city council at a planning session last night.

T-Alert is the existing email subscription system for Thornton residents that can keep them up to date with everything from traffic to trash services to recreational opportunities.  Now, emergency management announcements will be added to the service.

Emergency Manager Gene Putman explained that with the proliferation of email on mobile devices like cellular phones, the system will allow the city to send out warnings to residents in a matter of seconds.  The system was tested during the February snowstorms and was a resounding success.

Dispatches can be sent out by the city’s emergency management personnel or in an urgent situation, the new 911 center.  Spanish translations to the messages will also be included in the emails.

Putman said, “Within 30 seconds of a warning being issued by the National Weather Service we can have that critical information out to residents.”

Uses for the emergency management service will include obvious items such as tornado watches and warnings and severe hail or flooding.  Also thrown into the mix will be important announcements about major snow events, hazardous material spills and other types of civil alerts.

Jack Ethredge, City Manager, is no stranger to disasters having served as Emergency Manager along the Gulf Coast during two hurricanes.  He told council the system gives the city an “important, broader way to communicate.”

While the new system will help to keep residents safe, officials also remind residents that they must take responsibility for their own safety as well and stay aware of developing weather.  Local news media should be monitored and residents should own a NOAA All Hazards Radio.

  • Note: In addition to the city’s alert system, you can subscribe to ThorntonWeather.com’s alert system.  We believe the two systems will complement each other.  Our system provides all watches and warnings from the National Weather Service while the city’s will maintain a focus on the major events.

Thornton also continues to improve and refine its disaster preparedness as a city government.

Emergency management personnel are receiving important training on disaster response and new emergency procedures are being developed all city employees.

When disaster strikes, the speed and accuracy of a response is essential and Emergency Investigation Area Teams have been created to aid on this front.  Each team will be comprised of personnel from key city departments.  These teams will be responsible for one of six Emergency Investigation Areas and when needed, will be deployed to document a situation and provide direction.

Natural Disasters, Thornton Weather

City of Thornton discusses weather warning systems

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On June 3, 1981, Thornton was the site of the most destructive tornado in the history of the Denver metro area. The City of Thornton is now evaluating options to warn residents of severe weather threats. (City of Thornton archives)
On June 3, 1981, Thornton was the site of the most destructive tornado in the history of the Denver metro area. The City of Thornton is now evaluating options to warn residents of severe weather threats. (City of Thornton archives)

Twenty nine years ago, the city of Thornton was struck by what was the most destructive tornado to hit the Denver metro area in history – a record which stands to this day.  Now, the City of Thornton has started to investigate options to alert residents when severe weather is set to strike. 

Visitors to ThorntonWeather.com have often asked us if the city was taking any steps to protect its citizens and warn them about severe weather.  The city – and Adams County – are lacking any type of alert system.  Following last year’s ‘Summer of Storms,’ we were told the city would look into it. 

Current options for citizens range from the Emergency Alert System used by television and radio broadcasters, free and pay Internet services as well as NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (weather radio).  As we have discussed previously, these systems have their limitations. 

At this week’s city council update session, the Thornton City Council heard a presentation from city staff on the alternatives available.  Utilizing Reverse 911 and contracting with a third party provider were two of the items discussed. 

  • Read the presentation city staff gave to the Thornton City Council below

In trying to identify ways to keep citizens aware of deteriorating weather conditions, city staff told council, “Technology is changing so quickly that supporting a single system would not be efficient.” 

The Denver area is at the western edge of Tornado Alley and as we have seen historically and in recent days, the danger is real. Click image for larger view. Image courtesy NOAA.

Rather than implement their own system, staff recommended the city rely upon the federal government and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) forthcoming Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). 

Slated for widespread deployment in 2010, IPAWS will take the old Emergency Alert System and move it into the modern age by leveraging new communication technologies such as email and cellular phones. 

Mayor Erik Hansen told ThorntonWeather.com, “The City of Thornton recognizes the dangers of severe weather and we are actively working to identify solutions to protect its citizens.”

While the city waits for IPAWS, staff said they recommend the “development of a Weather Awareness Public Education Program that would be implemented in the spring of each year.”  They further would work to encourage residents to purchase weather radios. 

ThorntonWeather.com’s Take

We are pleased that the city is finally taking some steps in the right direction – albeit 29 years late. 

NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is essential to protecting you and your family.

Their recommendation that residents purchase NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is certainly a sound one.  As we wrote recently, these should be every citizen’s first line of defense against severe weather. 

The implementation of a severe weather education program is also a step in the right direction, assuming it takes the form of something more substantial than the simple brochure the city developed this year. 

Each spring the National Weather Service (NWS) offers storm spotter training seminars.  These would likely be overkill for average citizens however we think it would be ideal for the City of Thornton to partner with the Denver / Boulder NWS office to offer education sessions for citizens.  These could be taped and then shown on Channel 8 and on the city’s website.   

We do have our reservations about waiting for and relying on the forthcoming IPAWS system when commercial systems are available, proven and ready now for the city to implement.  Big government projects rarely are completed on time and often do not perform as expected.  Hopes are high for IPAWS but we are cautious on giving it any sort of endorsement. 

Granted, severe weather on par with the 1981 tornado is rare however last year’s severe weather and the Windsor tornado of two years ago show the danger is present.  If a warning system saves one life, the cost incurred is well worth it and we hope the city continues to stay on top of this issue – we will certainly be watching.

Related:

June 8, 2010 – City of Thornton City Council Update on Emergency Weather Warning Options