A fundamental piece of the awards dinner each year is the presentation of the Metro Vision and Local Government Innovations Awards. Representing the best in local government programs each year, these awards give the council the opportunity to shine the

spotlight on its members and their achievements.

Metro Vision AwardsThese awards recognize public-sector efforts or public-private partnerships that lead the region into the future by implementing activities and strategies from Metro Vision, the region’s long-range growth plan. The collaborative plan directs the region’s development pattern, transportation system and air and water quality protection.

First Place Redevelopment of Stapleton International AirportCity and County of Denver and Forest City EnterprisesPeter Park, Manager of Community Planning and Development, City and County of DenverJohn Lehigh, Chief Operating Offi cer, Forest City Stapleton

Second PlaceThe Bradburn DevelopmentCity of Westminster and Continuum PartnersJohn Carpenter, Director of Community Development, City of WestminsterMark Falcone, Managing Director, Continuum Partners LLC

Third PlaceBelmarCity of Lakewood and Continuum PartnersFrank Gray, Director of Community Planning and Development, City of LakewoodTom Gougeon, Director of Belmar, Continuum Partners LLC

Local Government Innovations AwardsThese awards are given in four catego-ries, each of which recognize problem-solving by local governments in different ways.

Cooperative Service DeliveryThis category recognizes projects that show the value of shared arrangements between governments, nonprofi t orga-nizations, community groups or other public agencies.

First PlaceGreater Littleton Youth InitiativeCity of Littleton, Littleton Public Schools, South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, Arapahoe CountyChristian Gibbons, Director of Business/Industry Affairs, City of LittletonDiana Holland, Board Member, Littleton Public Schools Board of EducationDave Lorenz, Executive Director, South Suburban Parks RecreationJohn Brackney, President, South Metro Chamber of CommerceGrayson Robinson, Sheriff, Arapahoe County

Second PlaceFront Range ExpressTown of Castle Rock, City of Colo-rado Springs and RTDBob Watts, Director of Public Works, Town of Castle RockSherre Ritenour, Transit Services Division Manager, City of Colorado SpringsBruce Abel, Assistant General Man-ager, RTD

Third PlaceTrouble Traffi c Task ForceCity of ArvadaCommander Kathy Foos, Arvada Police Department Tiffany Hild, Professional Leverage

Honorable MentionJoint Southeast Public Improvement Association: A Partner in Progress for Two DecadesRay Bullock, DenverTechnological Center President

Productivity ImprovementThis category recognizes projects that save money and improve effi ciency.

First PlaceDPR and VAR ImplementationCity of LakewoodCommander Les Williams, Lake-wood Police Department

Second PlaceWater/ Wastewater Utilities Strategic Planning InitiativeCity of LongmontDale Rademacher, Director of Water/Wastewater Utilities, City of Longmont

Third PlaceLand Use Services Department AdministrationCity of CentennialRandy Pye, Mayor, City of Centen-nial

Public-Private PartnershipThis category honors outstanding exam-ples of local problem-solving between governments and private agencies.

First PlaceThe Green Valley Ranch Shared Use Facilities ComplexCity and County of Denver Parks and Recreation Department,Denver Public Schools, Oakwood Homes LLC, Foundation for Edu-cational Excellence, Edison Schools, Town Center Metropolitan DistrictKim Bailey, Manager of Denver Parks and Recreation

Second PlaceDecommissioning the Leyden Natu-ral Gas Storage FacilityCity of Arvada and Xcel EnergyMark Floyd, Civil Engineer, City of ArvadaBill Uding, Gas Engineering Projects Director, Xcel Energy

Third PlaceBow Tie ParkArapahoe County, City of Centen-nial, Arapahoe Parks and Recreation District, Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality Authority, Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners, Steve Grove,Orchard Valley at Cherry Creek Park, State of Colorado, Cherry Creek State Park, Trust for Public Land, Urban Drainage and Flood Control DistrictRandy Pye, Mayor, City of CentennialLanae Raymond, Drainage Engineer, Arapahoe County Public Works and Development DepartmentDoug Robotham, Colorado State Director, Trust for Public Land

Community Outreach/Public EducationThis category, new to the Local Govern-ment Innovations Awards this year, recognizes exceptional efforts to inform and involve the public.

First PlaceLittleton Immigration InitiativeCity of LittletonKevin Burke, Director of Administra-tive Services, City of Littleton

Second PlaceNeighborhood Partnership InitiativeCity of NorthglennKaren Skifalides, Deputy City Man-ager, City of Northglenn

Third PlaceCivics Beyond the ClassroomTown of Parker and the Douglas County School District—Ponderosa and Chapparal High SchoolsJim Cleveland, Director of Recre-ation and Park Development

Annual Awards and 50th Anniversary Dinner

Thanks to our 2005 Awards Judges:

Peter KenneyCivic Results and Metro Mayors Caucus

Barbara KirkmeyerColorado Department of Local Affairs

Allan WallisUniversity of Colorado--Denver

Distinguished Service Award Winners

These awards honor those who have made outstanding contributions of time and energy to DRCOG programs and activities. This year’s honorees have worked to bring the region the best possible transportation, spent untold hours visiting and advocating for the residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities and on behalf of older adults, helping ensure smooth operation of the region’s FIRE pro-gram, and educating the public about pressing local government issues. The council of governments is grateful for the dedication of the 2005 Distin-guished Service Award Winners.

Fern OsborneOlder Americans Coalition

Chairman

Susan ThorntonDenver Post Local

Government Columnist

Ken WatkinsWestminster Fire Department

Deputy Chief

Fabyan WatrousDRCOG Advisory

Committee on Aging

DRCOG would like to thank the organizations whose sponsor-ship made the Annual Awards and 50th Anniversary Dinner a night to remember:Adams County Economic DevelopmentGeorge K. Baum & CompanyCH2M HillComcast CoorsCRL AssociatesDenver Metro Chamber of CommerceFelsburg, Holt & UllevigArthur J. Gallagher & Co.Hi Country Wire & TelephoneICMA Retirement CorporationInnoVest Portfolio SolutionsKnaster Technology GroupXcel EnergyCatering by Design

Meg SteinbornOmbudsman Volunteer

Mary Blue wins Christensen

This year’s John V. Christensen Award winner had an advantage that no winner in recent years has had—she knew that she was receiv-ing the award well before the night of April 13. Mary Blue had to decline an invitation to attend the dinner, as she was going to be out of town—in Ghana, Africa, as a matter of fact. Blue, former chair of RTD’s Board of Directors, was leaving for three weeks of volunteer teaching in Ghana, and therefore was unable to accept her award in person. Blue gave a heartfelt acceptance speech that was taped in advance of her trip. The presentation of the Christensen Award is the highlight of DRCOG’s Annual Dinner each year, as it rep-resents the utmost effort to achieve regional cooperation by an outstand-ing individual. The award is named after an Arapahoe County commis-sioner instrumental in the founding of DRCOG. Blue’s volunteerism after years spent as a legislator and RTD board member, among other achievements, only highlights how deserving she is of this honor.

Denver Public Works Manager Bill Vidal engages Denver Council Member Doug Linkhart and Denver City Council Liaison Happy Haynes in conversation. Vidal ia a former DRCOG executive director.

Broomfi eld Council Member Clark Griep, RTD Gen-eral Manager Cal Marsella and Carla Perez of Carter and Burgess mingle during the cocktail reception.

Former DRCOG Executive Director Bob Farley and his wife, Judy.

Roland Cole, chairman of DRCOG’s Board from 1995 to 1997.

A trio of past chairmen: Jan Schenck, former mayor of Golden, Sharon Richardson, former mayor pro tem of Federal Heights, and Margaret Carpenter, former mayor of Thornton.

Former DRCOG Chair-man Vesta Miller was a John V. Christensen Award winner in 1985.

Anderson receives outgoing chairman award

Arvada Council Member Lorraine Anderson was honored at the dinner for her year of service as DRCOG Board Chairman. The Out-going Chairman Award was presented by Anderson’s successor, Boulder County Commissioner Will Toor. Anderson brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role as chairman. A member of the Board since 1991, Anderson has served on many Board committees, particularly those related to transportation, and has served several years as a Board offi cer. She has advocated for fund-ing equity, and during the past year brought passion and commitment to the Baghdad-Denver Region Part-nership. Anderson will continue to work with the Board in 2005, serving as Immediate Past Chairman.

DRCOG Immediate Past Chairman Lorraine Anderson.

Representing the CDOT MOU team were (from left) John Muscatell, Bill Swensen, Laurie Reed, Joe Jehn, Greg McKnight, Jennifer Finch and Joe Blake. Not pictured are Tom Norton, Steve Parker and Jennifer Webster.

An evening at the Seawell