Inside Arvada

Send us Fan Mail Don Wick talks about his 30-year journey of serving the Arvada community, from starting out as an entry-level police officer in 1985 to recently becoming the new city manager .  Don explains how all of his previous experience – Police Chief, Public Works Director, and Deputy City Manager – has prepared him to step into his new role leading the city.  In this episode: How the city...

Send us Fan Mail Utilities Engineering Manager, Mary Stahl discusses some of the public improvement projects happening throughout Arvada to replace aging water and sewer systems. Much of Arvada's underground utilities were installed in the 1960s-70s and now, 50-60 years later, they need to be replaced to maintain public health and prevent service disruptions. In this episode: Sheridan sewer l...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready for the City's new summer kickoff celebration, Arvada Summerfest , with Special Events and Public Arts Manager Adelle Burton.  Summerfest is a brand new event sponsored by the Arvada Festivals Commission on Saturday, June 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ralston Park Addition (64th Ave. and Quail St. just north of Arvada West High School). The free event is both family-...

Send us Fan Mail Sam Rogers, Civil Engineer with Arvada's stormwater and floodplain team, details how the City manages flood risks through infrastructure projects. Sam provides updates on the Ralston Creek Improvement Project near the West Woods Golf Course that stems from the 2013 floods. Also mentioned in the episode:  The Lake Arbor Restoration Project that is complete Other work of the st...

Send us Fan Mail Arvada's Open Space Supervisor Bob Bromley shares his 35 years of experience managing the city's trails and natural areas. He explains the ecological approaches used to maintain over 150 miles of hard surface trails and 3,400 acres of open space using sustainable practices. Topics discussed in this episode include:  Arvada's trails network , which includes the Ralst...

Send us Fan Mail Manager of Golf Course Maintenance and Operations Joe Kunze brings 30 years of industry experience to Arvada's two city-owned courses, Lake Arbor and West Woods , implementing sustainable practices that benefit both golfers and the broader community. Topics discussed in this episode include: • Tips on how to maintain your own lawn, including when to fertilize and aerate • How...

Send us Fan Mail Arvada partners with two organizations providing support and healing for victims of crime and child abuse in our community. Jennifer Griffin of Victim Outreach Incorporated and Don Mosley of Ralston House discuss their organizations' missions, services, and unique partnerships with the City of Arvada. Mentioned in the episode: Victims Rights Week (April 8 - 12)  Jefferson Cou...

Send us Fan Mail Arvada's Pavement Program Manager Ben Sawaya gives an inside look at how the City maintains and repairs its 1,500+ lane miles of roads. Ben explains the different types of work the program is responsible for, how they prioritize work, and how they address program challenges, stretching limited resources as much as possible to perform maintenance and rehab work throughout the...

Send us Fan Mail Learn about the work of the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority (AURA) with Executive Director, Maureen Phair, focusing on urban revitalization efforts over the last two decades. Hear about AURA's funding structure, relationship to the City, and a variety of projects that showcase a commitment to improving our community and fostering sustainable development. In the episode: Introd...

Send us Fan Mail Sarah Kolb from the Arvada Arts and Culture Commission, joins us to talk about some of the new public art projects in the city.  In this episode:  History of the Arvada Arts and Culture Commission and how it relates to the Arvada Center  Garrison Street Underpass Mural Quaker Street Underpass Mural   Update to the Babe Walls murals   Upcoming projects for the Arts and Culture Comm...

Send us Fan Mail Homelessness Resolution Case Managers Alex Williams and Hudson Janz share information about their work with the unhoused population in Arvada.  In this episode: How the case management process works Understanding the Point-In-Time count Sharing City-run and other local resources The day-to-day work and recent success stories Cold weather resources and other challenges facing the u...

Send us Fan Mail Senior Landscape Architect Maki Boyle discusses the Gold Strike Park revitalization project. Located at the confluence of Clear Creek and Ralston Creek in southeast Arvada, Gold Strike Park is known for being the location of the first documented gold discovery in Colorado.  Maki shares what's happened so far with the project and what to expect next!   In this episode:  Histor...

Send us Fan Mail Happy New Year to all our listeners! As we reflect back on 2024 with some of our favorite moments throughout the past year, we are also looking ahead to be an even better podcast in 2025. Help us improve the show by taking a short 3-question survey . Provide us your address at the end of the survey and we'll mail you an Inside Arvada podcast sticker!  This best-of episode fea...

Send us Fan Mail Chase Amos, Public Information Officer with the Arvada Police Department, joins us to discuss trending topics in public safety. Chase shares his unique career path, from the US Foreign Service in Israel to local law enforcement in Arvada.  In this episode: Which situations you should use the non-emergent line to contact Arvada PD , 303-980-7300, and when you should call 9-1-1  Sta...

Send us Fan Mail Learn about what it takes to help keep our roads safe and passable in the case of a snow storm.  Hear from Streets Manager Keith Bohan about the City's snow plow operations. Keith shares information about the routes City teams plow, how they make decisions about deployments, what materials they use on the roads, and innovations the team uses like route optimization technology...

Send us Fan Mail Arvada's Utilities Department ensures that our high-quality, essential water, wastewater, and stormwater services are running 24/7, 365! Join us with guest Sharon Israel, the City's Director of Utilities, who shares how water, wastewater, and stormwater services are handled with care. Learn more about how the City budgets for these services, including the upcoming adjust...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered what it takes to bring a state-of-the-art aquatics center to life? Want to know when the new Arvada Aquatics Center will open? Tune in to hear it here first, the grand opening of the Arvada Aquatics Center is just around the corner! The new facility promises to be an amazing asset for local swim teams and regional meets, boasting a 50-meter competitive pool,...

Send us Fan Mail Finance Director Bryan Archer joins us to talk about the City budget, taxes, bond projects and more. Bryan has been with the City of Arvada since 1996, serving several roles, including budget analyst, accounting manager and controller. In his role as Finance Director, Bryan oversees all areas of finance, including treasury, budget, cash, investments, accounting and purchasing. Top...

Send us Fan Mail Join us on Inside Arvada as we sit down with Nalini Margaitis, Arvada's Senior Sustainability Coordinator, to learn more about the City's first Climate Action and Sustainability Plan. Together, we explore the history behind Arvada's sustainability initiatives, the creation of Nalini’s position, and key focus areas of the new plan.  Topics discussed in this episode: ...

Send us Fan Mail October is Pedestrian Safety Month! In preparation, we sat down with Arvada's Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Kellee Van Bruggen, to talk about the City's transportation safety and planning efforts.  What goes into making a city bike-friendly and ensuring pedestrian safety?  We tackle this question and more as Kellee dives into the challenges, opportunities, and inno...

Send us Fan Mail The City's Emergency Management Coordinator Nick Adams is our guest as part of September's National Preparedness Month. In this episode, Nick shares why it's important to prepare for emergencies and disasters in order to keep you, your families and your community safe. Learn practical tips like having a fire extinguisher and an emergency plan, and understand how new...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to be a quasi-governmental entity? What does an economic development association do? And can they really help improve our community? Join us as we talk with Executive Director, Iza Petrykowska about the Arvada Economic Development Association (AEDA) . From helping recruit and retain businesses to collaborations with city teams and everything in between, AEDA is a...

Send us Fan Mail How does a city balance preserving its historical charm with the pressing need for affordable housing? What is a comprehensive plan? And how is it different from the land development code?  Join us as we engage with Jessica Garner, Arvada's Community and Economic Development Director, who explains the multifaceted role of her department. Jessica delves into the inner workings...

Send us Fan Mail On August 24, 2024 Arvada will turn 120 years young! Join us as we find out how to celebrate the city's 120th anniversary with Rachael Kuroiwa, the City's Director of Communications and Engagement. Rachael shares information about the ways you can celebrate all summer-long, including at Arvada Days on August 24th . Learn about the establishment of the city, discovering g...

Send us Fan Mail July is Park and Recreation Month in Arvada! Join us for a special edition of the podcast as we celebrate this year's theme of "Where You Belong." To celebrate, we visited a variety of parks and trails in Arvada to hear from community members how our parks and trails provide a sense of belonging. Interviews included in this special edition episode include:  Dave and...