What We Do

We plant the flowers Many of those beautiful flowers in town were planted by our municipal government. The next time you stop and smell the roses, pause and think about the hard working men and women who care for our community.

The grass, shrubs, trees, and flowers in parks and along the streets in your community are planted and maintained by the town government. In addition to adding beauty to neighborhoods, numerous studies have shown that trees help reduce greenhouse gasses that cause global warming, control erosion, prevent water runoff, and provide natural cooling to buildings and pavement. Trees yield economic benefits such as lower energy bills, reduced noise, and higher property values. So they’re not just nice to look at, but serve a practical purpose as well!

We go with the flow The crystal clear water coming out of your faucet is the responsibility of our municipal government. The time you take a warm bath or get a refreshing cup of water, think about the hard working men and women who care for our community.

Whether from a well or from a stream, cities and towns take the water they own and turn it into safe drinking water for people and pets. No matter the source, cities and towns do what is necessary to ensure that the water you drink is crystal clear and tastes great.

An intricate network of pipes are constantly monitored to be sure that water you pay to be treated is not lost before it reaches you. Cities and towns invest significant resources to make sure the infrastructure you count on works any time you need it.

Cities and towns also help you conserve this vital resource so that there is enough for everyone now and in the future. Programs, classes, and assistance are available in almost any city and town to help you learn more about what you can do to conserve.

We take it from here What goes down the drain goes to our municipal government’s treatment facility. The next time you are washing your hands, pause and think about the hard working men and women who care for our community. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

Colorado is a headwater state, which means the water we use may be used by others many more times before it is used up. Colorado municipalities are stewards of the environment and make sure the water we use returns to the streams clean and ready for the next use.

The infrastructure that takes wastewater away from your home or business and transfers it to your local wastewater treatment facility is maintained by hard working men and women that care about their communities. It is not always a pretty job, but the work they do means that your community remains free from disease and that the environment in and around your community is allowed to flourish.

We recycle You may not think about it, but our municipal government is leading the way in sustainability by implementing programs that reduce, reuse, and recycle. The next time you toss your can into a recycling bin, think about the hard working men and women who care for our community. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

Many cities and towns across the state are committed to the wise and careful use of resources and to developing and maintaining low-waste policies wherever feasible. While each municipality is different, many offer several types of recycling programs for residents, including recycling drop-off locations, Christmas tree recycling, household hazardous waste, electronic waste, tree limb recycling, and more.

We pave the way You may not think about it, but the streets and roads you drive on are maintained by our municipal government. The next time you go out for a spin, think about the hard working men and women who care for our community. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

Municipal governments maintain the streets we drive on every day. The funding to maintain streets comes primarily through the local community’s capital improvement program, which is composed of funds from local revenues, as well as from some state revenue and federal grant monies. Local revenues are generated by sales taxes, property taxes, road tolls, fuel taxes, advertising space on public facilities, state lotteries, municipal bonds, and special property tax assessment. Other possible, but less frequent sources, of funding include private developer contributions.

Street maintenance is prioritized by need. Generally, streets that are in the worst condition will be given the highest priority. Nevertheless, a number of additional factors are considered, including the age of the street, traffic volume and its weight, the number of visible cracks or other defects, available funding, proximity to emergency services or schools, and fairness-to-the-taxpayer concerns. This means that streets in poor condition will not necessarily be repaved first; while that mean seem logical, once a street has reached a certain level of disrepair, it is more costly to repair it than to wait until a total replacement of the street can be justified. Constructing an entirely new street is often easier to justify to elected officials and residents, particularly when the money needed to make minimum repairs will not result in a dramatically visible improvement for the users. This strategy demonstrates the high cost associated with deferred maintenance.

The long-range street planning of a jurisdiction will also influence repaving. For example, studies have shown that is more economical to maintain streets that are already in fair or better condition first. This prevents them from deteriorating into poor condition or worse, at which point the cost of repair is significantly higher. Thus, there is a strong financial incentive to maintain streets because the cost to rebuild streets is much higher than the cost of ongoing maintenance.

We direct traffic You may not think about it, but traffic safety is a service of our municipal government. The next time you are stopped at a light, think about the hard working men and women who care for our community. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

Cities and towns implement traffic safety measures for residents. This includes installing traffic signals, stop signs, speed bumps, flashing beacons, crosswalks, and everything else having to do with traffic safety. The decision to install a traffic signal is based on engineering assessments derived from national safety standards. Criteria include the need to assign right-of-way to conflicting traffic, engineering standards, sight distance, technical analysis, traffic volumes, potential and actual number of accidents, and space for pedestrians. These criteria are called warrants.

It’s all about getting you where you want to go safely. We have all seen the old newsreels of the policeman standing in the middle of an intersection directing traffic. Then came the traffic signal light which became the universal method for traversing busy intersections. Red, yellow, and green are part of our everyday world.

Today, traffic management has become so much more. Municipalities in Colorado have used innovations to help move traffic in a safe and timely manner. Traffic signals are often tied into computer systems that automatically gauge traffic flows and change the timing of green lights to keep traffic moving. High Occupancy Vehicle lanes have been built and the use of electronic transponders for billing allows motorists to use HOV lanes as toll lanes to speed their trip. Red light cameras have made high-accident intersections safer through enforcement. Focusing on extreme traffic violations by municipal police has reduced the number of drunk driving fatalities.

City engineers are taking a new outlook on traffic safety. The old philosophy of adding more and more traffic lanes is being challenged by substituting transit, bicycle lanes and pedestrian access. Roundabouts add a continuous flow to traffic, reducing the amount of time vehicles idle at intersections. Streets are being made pedestrian friendly to help shoppers and the businesses they patronize.

Traffic engineering has become a science – and we will need continuing innovations to get the ever increasing number of people living in our cities and towns where they want to go – safely.

We make it clear You may not think about it, but keeping the roads open and safe during the winter is the job of our municipal government. The next time a big storm hits, think about the hard working men and women who care for our community. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

Cities and towns strive to keep roads clear during the winter. The overall goal is to plow all streets as soon as possible after a storm. Specific streets and locations are prioritized according to various factors such as street or highway classification, traffic volume, and emergency services. Emergency routes used by the police and fire departments and ambulances are given the highest priority; next are the heaviest volume streets, with lower traffic following. Consideration is given to critical public services, such as hospitals and airports. Cul-de-sacs and low volume residential streets are usually last due to the concentration of driveways, intersections, and in some cases, the need for adequate snow storage space.

We serve and protect You may not think about it, but our men and women in blue represent our municipal government. The next time you see a police car on patrol, pause and think about the hard working men and women who care for our community. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

Municipalities provide events at community centers, classes at recreation centers (for people of all ages), and may even offer computer classes. In the warmer months, some municipalities offer free outdoor public concerts where families are invited to have a picnic on the lawn while listening to great local music. Public art may not be in a museum but scattered around town in recreation centers, the city or town hall, on the streets, libraries, and parks; selection and purchase of public arts frequently is coordinated through an art commission or committee.

Many Colorado cities and towns operate their own police departments. The officers and civilian employees who work for these agencies provide many emergency, as well as non emergency, services for their communities. Some police departments include personnel assigned to animal control and/or code enforcement duties; some staff the 9-1-1 centers that receive calls for assistance and dispatch fire, emergency medical, and law enforcement personnel.

Colorado’s police departments offer a wide range of services to the tax-paying public. These agencies operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Officers respond to emergency calls ranging from serious crimes in progress to vehicle accidents. Officers take reports on already-occurred crimes and investigate to determine the identity of the offenders responsible. Whenever possible, the culprits are arrested and entered into the criminal justice system to stand trial for their alleged crimes. Officers assist prosecutors during the sometimes-lengthy justice process.

Most Colorado police chiefs urge their officers to interact with the public on an informal basis as much as possible. This style of community policing sees officers spending as much time as possible out of their cars and meeting people both in residential and commercial areas. The idea is to strengthen the problem-solving partnership that exists between the police and the customers they serve.

Local law enforcement officers are perhaps the most visible to citizens in their role as enforcers of traffic laws. Officers issue both summonses and warnings in an attempt to reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities on Colorado’s roads. Police also participate in education programs in schools and elsewhere aimed at providing information to drivers on safe and unsafe traffic behavior.

Local police conduct programs on crime prevention and public information topics. Subjects covered are virtually limitless but often include child safety, burglary prevention, sexual assault prevention, domestic violence prevention, vehicle theft prevention, bicycle safety, neighborhood watch, drug abuse prevention, gang prevention and response, and credit card scams.

Many police departments maintain their own websites that are very informative. Visit your city or town’s website and look for a police department page to find information relating to citizen police academies, crime prevention advice, employment with the police agency, online crime reporting, general (nonemergency) telephone number to contact for nonemergency questions or comments, and how to request a program from your local police department.

We entertain You may not think about it but providing community facilities is the job of our municipal government. The next time you drive by a senior center or take a class at your recreation center, think about the hard working men and women who care for our community. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

Municipalities provide events at community centers, classes at recreation centers (for people of all ages), and may even offer computer classes. In the warmer months, some municipalities offer free outdoor public concerts where families are invited to have a picnic on the lawn while listening to great local music. Public art may not be in a museum but scattered around town in recreation centers, the city or town hall, on the streets, libraries, and parks; selection and purchase of public arts frequently is coordinated through an art commission or committee.

We play You may not think about it, but the fields and parks for our recreational activities are the job of our municipal government. The next time you take a stroll in the park, seesaw at the playground, or kick a ball on a soccer field, think about the hard working men and women who care for our community. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

Taking your kids to the park is a slice of Americana - one that cities and towns ensure stays a part of American childhood. From trimming the grass to providing the slides and swings, parks are a part of your municipal government.

We run You may not think about it, but many of your favorite hiking, walking or running trails are maintained by our municipal government. The next time you hit the trail, think about the hard working men and women who care for our community. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

Take a moment and think about your daily routine. If it includes walking or jogging on a maintained trail, you likely are utilizing a service provided by your city or town.

We bring people together You may not think about it but providing community facilities is the job of our municipal government. The next time you drive by a senior center or take a class at your recreation center, think about the hard working men and women who care for our community. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

Cites and towns strive to provide high quality facilities with well-planned programs for residents of all ages. Many municipalities produce recreation guides containing schedules of the various classes and activities to residents. These usually are posted also on the city or town website.

We balance the budget You may not think about it, but managing taxpayer resources wisely is a priority of our municipal government. The next time you’re planning your household budget, think about the hard working men and women who care for our community. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

Cities and towns in Colorado are required to have a balanced annual budget. Budgeted expenditures cannot exceed available resources (revenues budgeted to be received in the current year, plus reserves (or fund balance) carried over from the prior year).

Municipalities generate revenue from several sources: sales and use taxes, property taxes, franchise fees, charges for services, license and permit fees, fines, grants, revenue from other governments (county, state, federal), interest earnings, bonds or other forms of borrowing, donations, and other miscellaneous sources. Tax revenues are primarily used to pay for essential services that citizens need or demand, but don’t lend themselves to a direct charge for service. Examples of these essential services are police and fire protection; street maintenance, including snow plowing and resurfacing, and park maintenance. User fee services, such as water and sewer service, are paid for through monthly utility charges dedicated to providing those services.

Elected officials, staff, residents, and community groups all provide input regarding how a municipality’s revenues are spent. Supplies, tools and equipment, personnel, utilities, repair and maintenance, and capital related costs are expenses that must come out of a municipal budget. Creating a budget is a transparent process, with city councils and town boards holding public hearings on the proposed annual spending plan before adoption.

There are many things that municipalities consider critical such as public safety, street and bridge maintenance, traffic signals. There are things that municipalities should do, such as providing street lighting, building inspections and plowing snow. And there are community enhancements that citizens want, such as parks, open space, trails and bike paths, community centers and other recreational opportunities, school resource officers, downtown improvements, public art, etc. Citizen input is critical to find the appropriate balance of wants and needs, while maintaining a balanced budget.

We listen You may not think about it, but your feedback helps guide our municipal government. The next time you have a suggestion on how to make our community a better place, speak up and reach out to the hard working men and women who care for our community. Speak up and be heard. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

Your feedback matters. Your ideas and suggestions help guide your city or town leaders. The next time you have a suggestion on how to make your community a better place, speak up and reach out to share your thoughts. It’s easy to do! Visit your city or town’s website to get contact information and meeting dates. Also, more and more municipalities are creating Facebook profiles and are on Twitter. Do a quick search to see if yours does as well. If they do, sign up!

We have bright ideas You may not think about it, but conservation is a priority of our municipal government. The next time you change a light bulb (hopefully to a compact fluorescent bulb), think about the hard working men and women who care for our community. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

Bright ideas aren't just about "going green"... they save green. When Colorado cities and towns across Colorado replace traditional light bulbs with LEDs, which use a fraction of the electricity, the cost savings can add up to many thousands of dollars each year. Municipalities aremove, remix, and repave using the existing asphalt on our streets. Cities are attaching microgenerators to their water systems to generate electricity. Heat generated organically by wastewater treatment plants is being captured and used to heat buildings.

The ideas are big and small. Remotely read utility meters. Mail-in ballots. Reverse 9-1-1. Bicycle lanes. It’s not just business as usual for city and town government. Municipal employees are inventive and looking for ways to stretch their budgets to better serve their community.

We have answers You may not think about it, but when you have questions about your community, our municipal government can provide you with answers. The next time you wonder about anything from street maintenance to community events, think about giving a call to the hard working men and women who care for our community. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

A municipality's website is a great resource when you have a question - whether you need the starting time of an upcoming community event or dates for street maintenance, this is a smart place to start! You also may find details on upcoming festivals, locations of parks, information on where to renew a driver’s license, the municipal code and zoning regulations, a job bank and volunteer opportunities, notices for future council meetings, election information, economic development, utility billing, current road construction and traffic conditions, and more. In addition to visiting its website, you can also call or visit your city or town hall. Colorado cities and towns work for you!

We watch over the neighborhood You may not think about it, but zoning and code enforcement keep your community clean and safe, and it’s the job of our municipal government. The next time you take a stroll through the neighborhood, pause and think about the hard working men and women who care for our community. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

A city or town strives to preserve and enhance existing commercial and residential areas as quality places to live and shop, and to provide a quality living environment for citizens. This is accomplished by ensuring the regulation of nuisance codes and zoning ordinances. In some municipalities, this is handled in the planning department; in others, the police department. These regulations keeps people from leaving abandoned vehicles on streets, for example. Imagine what your community would look like if these regulations were not in place!

We have pride You may not think about it, but protecting the character and economic health of our community is the job of our municipal government. The next time you shop on main street and look around town with pride, think about the hard working men and women who care for our community. Colorado cities & towns work for you.

Municipal government is a mirror that reflects the pride we have in our community. When you enter a city or town, you quickly get a sense of the pride that residents take in the place they live, work, and raise their families. There are many ingredients: thriving commercial areas, employment opportunities, healthy downtowns, community parks, safe neighborhoods. And then there’s something more. It’s a spirit in a community that is difficult to measure by can be sensed by just walking around town. Often it is reflected in the little things, flowers blooming in planters along downtown sidewalks or the sounds coming from a community center that is used for everything from public forums to private weddings.

Economic health is an ingredient that benefits everyone. Cities and towns provide the basics that make Colorado an attractive place to do business, providing utilities, transportation, and police and fire protection. They also work to attract new business and expand existing business through such tools as tax incentives and site redevelopment. Cities and towns also provide what makes an attractive place to live ... playgrounds, parks, recreation centers, senior centers, swimming pools, and other opportunities to exercise your body and libraries to exercise your mind.

You can make a difference You may not think about it, but people just like you manage our municipal government. The next time you come up with that great idea to make our community better, consider running for office or volunteering to serve on a committee. Colorado cities & towns work for you — and now they need you to work for them.

Consider becoming a more active citizen. A democracy thrives when citizens are involved, informed, vote, and speak out on issues. Make a difference in your community by voting; staying informed; attending council or board meetings; writing letters to elected officials or letters to the editor of your local newspaper; volunteering; serving on a board, commission, or committee (usually an appointment by the mayor or council/board); or even running for office. Visit your city or town’s website for opportunities to get involved.

From www.coloradocitiesandtowns.org