Issues That Matter

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Centennial Center of Generations is a partnership on the west side of the city with the YMCA to conduct programs that bring together seniors and youth, addressing the need for companionship and meaningful relationships.  Check out the Centennial Senior Commission for more.

There are several non-profit and low-cost organizations serving Arapahoe County that have programs directed to Senior Care.  SECOR operates a Senior Mobile Food Market. GoGoGrandparent offers low-cost senior transportation or meal delivery services.  Transportation options on the EAST side of Centennial exist and can serve our aging-in-home population.

A thoughtful and budget-balanced approach to supporting a high quality of various Senior Care services can be expanded WITHOUT creating a new government department.  Start by vetting the existing network of Senior Service organizations, providing reasonable levels of grant money and utilizing the vast communications capabilities of the City of Centennial so constituents are aware of how to connect with them.  

The Public Works department in Centennial is responsible for road maintenance AND planning of road construction projects.  The Safety Action Plan (SAP) provides a framework for all future projects to ensure safety goals are attained towards Centennial's "Vision Zero" for eliminating traffic-related deaths by 2040.  Centennial's partnership with the Arapahoe County Sheriff's office has received high marks as well.

In 2024, Centennial completed road striping on dozens of neighborhood streets creating new yellow center-lines and white bike lanes.  Traffic measurements taken a year later prove a reduction in traffic crashes of 12.3% and a vehicle speed reduction of over 8 MPH. Combined with the efforts of the County Sheriff, southeast Centennial has the safest areas (most concentrations of A+ ratings) in the county.

A fresh approach of examining specific intersections is called for.  We should seek neighborhood survey input, orchestrated through existing HOA boards, to identify the most troubling intersections of pedestrians and vehicles.  In some cases, simply adding clear signage or adjusting green lights when pedestrian crossings are active could be installed.  Increasing the Sheriff staff presence in the highest crime sections should be pursued as well.

Under the guidance of the Planning and Zoning Commission, Centennial completed a Housing Assessment in 2022.  This included issuing a Request For Interest (RFI) from developers to determine potential partnerships in future affordable projects.  The Centennial Council also created guidelines for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to allow the ability of ADU permitting subject to neighborhood authority. 

Market forces driving home values do not move easily.  Adding to housing supply is clearly the objective but developers will always seek incentives that preserve their profitability.  New housing does not equal affordable housing. And existing home owners will resist government efforts that reduce overall housing values since home equity is typically the primary source of net assets.  Finally, new high-density housing must address parking, traffic volume and utility impacts. 

City Council has the authority to negotiate a minimum number of dwelling units in all new development projects that can be reserved for affordable rent rate or purchase price levels, offered only to low-income buyers who qualify. These are not "projects" but quality units within an entire quality housing development. It's past time to use this authority.