Thursday, July 26, 2007

GOV. RITTER URGES QUICK PLAN TO ADDRESS OZONE


 
RITTER URGES QUICK PLAN TO ADDRESS OZONE
 
As the Front Range continues to experience high ozone levels this summer, Gov. Bill Ritter today urged the Denver Regional Air Quality Council to craft a plan to reduce ambient ozone concentrations earlier than the September 2008 deadline.
 
"Developing short and long-term strategies to continue to reduce ozone levels in the Front Range will be difficult and challenging," Gov. Ritter wrote in the letter. "It will require a significant commitment of the RAQC and all interested stakeholders over the next several months to develop solid and dependable actions that will achieve the ozone reductions we need to protect the health of our citizens. I am confident the RAQC can develop and propose both ozone control measures for the 2008 summer ozone season and a long-term plan to ensure compliance with the national standard to protect air quality and the public health in the Denver metropolitan area."
 
The complete text of the letter follows: 
 
July 26, 2007
 
Andrew Spielman
Chairman
Denver Regional Air Quality Council
1445 Market Street, Suite 260
Denver, Colorado 80202
 
Dear Chairman Spielman:
 
The Denver Regional Air Quality Council has been presented with a difficult and challenging assignment – developing an effective plan to reduce ambient ozone concentrations in the Denver metropolitan area.  This plan to reduce ozone must be submitted to the Air Quality Control Commission no later than September 2008. However, because reducing ozone levels is critical to protect the health of our citizens, I urge the RAQC to act more quickly to propose measures that will further reduce ozone concentrations in the 2008 summer ozone season.  The RAQC should set as its immediate goal the reduction or elimination of ozone levels measured above 0.08 ppm.
 
As you are well aware, over the last several years ozone levels in the Front Range have hovered very close to the federal standard of 0.08 parts per million. Throughout the summer season it has become common for many of the 15 Front Range monitors to measure ozone levels above this value.  On Friday, July 20th the Rocky Flats ozone monitor recorded ambient ozone concentrations high enough to violate the federal standard.
 
While this data still must be validated, it underscores the need to be more aggressive in developing and strengthening air quality programs to reduce ambient ozone concentrations.  High levels of ozone can compromise the health of our citizens. The health of the elderly, young children, persons with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, and those who are active outdoors can be impacted on high ozone days. 
 
Through the past efforts of the RAQC, the Air Quality Control Commission, the Air Pollution Control Division, other state agencies, local governments, conservationists, industry and others, strategies have been put in place to reduce ozone levels.  These strategies have worked to reduce ozone, but now more needs to be done.
 
The RAQC is the lead air quality planning organization for the Denver metropolitan area, and as such, I challenge the RAQC to work with these stakeholders to begin immediately to develop and propose additional measures to further reduce ambient ozone concentrations to assure compliance with the national standard.  The RAQC must develop a plan that will ensure long-term compliance with the current federal ozone standard, and consider the addition of elements that would further reduce ozone levels that may be necessary to meet the recently proposed lower federal ozone standard. 
 
Developing short and long-term strategies to continue to reduce ozone levels in the Front Range will be difficult and challenging.  It will require a significant commitment of the RAQC and all interested stakeholders over the next several months to develop solid and dependable actions that will achieve the ozone reductions we need to protect the health of our citizens.  I am confident the RAQC can develop and propose both ozone control measures for the 2008 summer ozone season and a long-term plan to ensure compliance with the national standard to protect air quality and the public health in the Denver metropolitan area. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
 
 
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Monday, July 23, 2007

GOV. RITTER, LT. GOV. O’BRIEN AND FIRST LADY JEANNIE RITTER

GOV. RITTER SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, July 24

8:15 a.m. Gov. Ritter will be delivering a morning speech to ColoradoBiz Magazine’s 13th Annual Minority Business Breakfast.

Location: Denver Performing Arts Complex, Donald Seawell Grand Ballroom, 1101 13th St.

11:30 a.m. Gov. Ritter will be delivering closing remarks to the Douglas County Schools’ Leadership Conference.

Location: Denver Marriott South, 10345 Park Meadows Drive, Littleton.

Thursday, July 26

Noon Gov. Ritter will be delivering remarks to the Colorado Health Foundation’s 2007 Dorsey Hughes Symposium on Health Care.

Location: Beaver Creek Park Hyatt Hotel, 50 W. Thomas Place, Avon.

6 p.m. Gov. Ritter will be speaking to members of Progress Now during the organization’s first “Progresstival” meet-and-greet.

Location: Vinyl Restaurant’s Rooftop, 1082 Broadway, Denver.

Friday, July 27

11:30 a.m. Gov. Ritter will be speaking to the Statewide Liaison Council of Higher Education Classified Employees.

Location: Northeastern Junior College, 100 College Ave., Sterling.

Saturday, July 28

9 a.m. Gov. Ritter, First Lady Jeannie Ritter and Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien will be joining community volunteers across the state as part of Colorado Cares Day. A more detailed advisory will be issued mid-week. Click here for more information about Colorado Cares Day.

12:30 p.m. Gov. Ritter will be delivering brief remarks and participating in the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival’s “eye dotting ceremony.”

Location: Corner of West Byron and Sheridan, Denver.

3 p.m. Gov. Ritter will be speaking to the Colorado Springs African American Leadership Group.

Location: New Jerusalem Missionary Church, 5485 Alegre St., Fountain.


LT. GOV. O’BRIEN SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, July 24

5:30 p.m. Women’s Forum’s New Membership Reception. Oxford Hotel’s Sage Room at McCormick’s, 1600 17th St., Denver.

Friday, July 27

7:30 a.m. Metro Denver Health and Wellness Commission. Denver Athletic Club’s Grand Ballroom. 1325 Glenarm Place, Denver.

Saturday, July 28

9 a.m. Lt. Gov. O’Brien, Gov. Ritter and First Lady Jeannie Ritter will be joining community volunteers across the state as part of Colorado Cares Day. A more detailed advisory will be issued mid-week. Click here for more information about Colorado Cares Day.


FIRST LADY RITTER SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, July 25

11:30 a.m. Reach Out & Read. Sandos Westside Family Health Center, 1100 Federal Blvd., Denver.

Saturday, July 28

9 a.m. First Lady Jeannie Ritter, Gov. Ritter and Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien will be joining community volunteers across the state as part of Colorado Cares Day. A more detailed advisory will be issued mid-week. Click here for more information about Colorado Cares Day.

6 p.m. Carson J. Spencer Foundation Fundraiser. The Wynkoop, 1634 18th St., Denver.

Friday, July 20, 2007

Ritter apoints Hoskins to Weld bench

GOV. RITTER APPOINTS 19th JUDICIAL DISTRICT JUDGE

Gov. Bill Ritter today announced he has appointed Julie C. Hoskins of Greeley to serve on the District Court bench of the 19th Judicial District. The district serves Weld County.

Julie Hoskins currently serves as a Weld County Court judge, presiding over the domestic violence misdemeanor docket. She also worked as a District Court magistrate for the 19th Judicial District from 2003 to 2005. From 1993 to 2003, prior to her position as a magistrate, Hoskins was a partner at Houtchens, Houtchens and Greenfield, L.L.C., and before that worked as a contract attorney for Perry Goorman, Attorney at Law (1991 to 1993). She earned her bachelor’s degree from Bethany College in West Virginia, and her law degree from the Dickinson School of Law in 1991.

The judgeship is a new position created pursuant to House Bill 07-1054. The initial term of office is a provisional term of approximately two years, and if retained by the voters, a term of six years.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

GOV. RITTER and FIRST LADY RITTER SCHEDULES FOR WEEK OF JULY 16

GOV. RITTER SCHEDULE:

Monday, July 16

11 a.m. Gov. Ritter will attend the inauguration of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and City Council members. Temple Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th & Curtis.

Tuesday, July 17

7:30 a.m. Gov. Ritter will welcome home the Colorado National Guard’s 169th Fires Brigade. Marriott Denver Tech Center, 4900 S. Syracuse Ave.

10 a.m. Photo-op with Pueblo Teen Council/Accolades Magazine, State Capitol, Governor’s Office.

11 a.m. Gov. Ritter will address the Western Governor’s Association Energy Efficiency Workshop, Red Lion Hotel Stapleton, 4040 Quebec St., Denver.

Wednesday, July 18

1:30 p.m. Gov. Ritter and House Speaker Andrew Romanoff will address the South Metro Chamber of Commerce on education issues, CH2M HILL Conference Center, West Building, 9191 S. Jamaica St., Englewood.

Friday, July 20 – Monday, July 23

Gov. Ritter will attend the National Governor’s Association 99th Annual Meeting in Traverse City, Mich. The complete agenda will be posted at www.nga.org later this week. For more information, contact Laura Chapin: 303.866.6386.


FIRST LADY JEANNIE RITTER SCHEDULE:

Colorado First Lady Jeannie Ritter travels to northwest Colorado on Monday for a three-day tour to discuss the region’s mental health needs. She will be meeting with health care providers and community groups in Walden, Steamboat Springs, Meeker and Craig on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Task force of foster care created

GOV. RITTER NAMES MEMBERS OF NEW COLORADO TASK FORCE
ON FOSTER CARE AND PERMANANCE

Gov. Bill Ritter today announced the first members of the new Colorado Task Force on Foster Care and Permanence.

Established by Senate Bill 07-64, the 24-member task force will examine the child foster care and adoption systems. The panel will report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court and the House and Senate Judiciary and Human Services committees by May 31, 2008.

The task force will continue to accept applications for seven remaining vacancies from the following categories: former foster children; a foster parent who is not currently a member of a statewide foster parent association; a biological parent of a child who has been involved in the foster care system; and a community child advocate.

To obtain an application or for more information, please call (303) 866-6380, e-mail boards@state.co.us or visit www.colorado.gov/governor/boards-commission.html.

The new appointees are:

State Sen. Moe Keller of Wheat Ridge

State Rep. Jerry Frangas of Denver

Deborah L. Cave of Louisville

Adoree L. Blair of Littleton

Sarah Padbury of Denver

Shari F. Shink of Wheat Ridge

Sharen E. Ford of Aurora

Jerri J. Spear of Akron

Paula K. McKey of Boulder

Cyril “Skip” A. Barber of Centennial

Sherry A. Caloia of Glenwood Springs

Sister Michael Deloros Allegri of Denver

M.A. “Bunny” Nicholson of Denver

Carl A. Lawson of Aurora

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Capitol reopens after shooting

CAPITOL RE-OPENS; GOV. RITTER SCHEDULE FOR TODAY (TUESDAY, JULY 17)

The Colorado state Capitol will re-open to visitors and employees at 7:30 a.m. today following yesterday’s shooting. Access will be limited to the north side, street/basement level entrance on Colfax Avenue. Metal detectors will be in place. (North side is accurate but differs from information originally announced yesterday.)

Gov. Ritter is maintaining his public calendar for today:

6:50 a.m. Gov. Ritter will join Brig. Gen. (select) Trulan Eyre and members of the Colorado National Guard to celebrate the homecoming of the 169th Fires Brigade.

Location: Denver Marriott Tech Center, 4900 S. Syracuse Ave., Denver. Media must be in place by 6:50 a.m. A press conference will be held at 7:20 a.m. and the actual ceremony starts at 8 a.m.

11 a.m. Gov. Ritter will deliver the opening remarks to the Western Governors’ Association Energy Efficiency Workshop, Red Lion Hotel Stapleton, 4040 Quebec St., Denver.

Ritter appoints John Thomas Bryan

GOV. RITTER APPOINTS 17th JUDICIAL DISTRICT JUDGE

Gov. Bill Ritter today announced he has appointed John Thomas Bryan of Thornton to serve on the District Court bench of the 17th Judicial District. The district covers Adams and Broomfield counties.

John Thomas Bryan has served as a magistrate for the 17th Judicial District since 2004. Prior to his position as a magistrate, Bryan was an assistant attorney general for the Criminal Justice – Appellate Division from 2000 to 2004 and a clerk for Judge Leonard P. Plank on the Colorado Court of Appeals from 1998 to 2000. From 1996 to 1998, Bryan acted as president and managing partner at Bryan, Downie & Associates, P.C. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in 1982, his master’s degree from New Mexico State University in 1985, and his law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1996.

The judgeship is a new position created pursuant to House Bill 07-1054. The initial term of office is a provisional term of approximately two years, and if retained by the voters, a term of six years.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Ritter on Colorado Cares Day

GOV. RITTER ENCOURAGES COLORADANS TO VOLUNTEER
ON COLORADO CARES DAY

Gov. Bill Ritter today encouraged all Coloradans to take part in Colorado Cares Day on July 28, the 9th annual community service day celebrated on the anniversary of Colorado statehood.

“Fulfilling the Colorado Promise happens in many ways, shapes and forms, and there is no better way for us to mark statehood than by participating in volunteer community activities,” Gov. Ritter said. “Through outreach and service, we not only raise awareness about community needs, but we better serve our fellow Coloradans by aiding in their projects.”

On Aug 1, 1876, the State of Colorado was created by a Presidential proclamation designating Colorado as the 38th state. Gov. Ritter has declared the Saturday before Statehood Day (July 28th) as the 9th annual Colorado Cares Day.

Gov. Ritter, First Lady Jeannie Ritter and Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien will all be taking part in community service projects that day. Gov. Ritter is encouraging all members of his staff, Cabinet and all state employees to participate in Colorado Cares Day.

He also is asking all Coloradans to participate by registering their community service projects on a statewide master list. The list will be available for public review to make it easier for people to locate and participate in a project in their own community.

For information about how to register a project or take part in one, visit www.colorado.gov/coloradocares, or for questions, e-mail governors.commission@state.co.us or call 303.866.2389.

GOV. RITTER TO WELCOME HOME COLORADO

Gov. Bill Ritter will join Brig. Gen. (select) Trulan Eyre and members of the Colorado National Guard on Tuesday to celebrate the homecoming of more than 100 soldiers from the 169th Fires Brigade, who returned to Colorado on July 10 after a 15-month deployment in Iraq. The unit accomplished 150 missions and returned home without a single casualty.

The 169th Fires Brigade deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom in support of Multi-National Division North. The Brigade provided strategic planning tools, personnel and equipment to foster capacity-building for communities in Iraq while also supporting the 101st Airborne Division and 25th Infantry Division.

“It's a great honor for me to welcome home such a well-trained and dedicated force,” Gov. Ritter said. “These soldiers have served their nation proudly and I'm pleased to thank them on behalf of the State of Colorado. Moreover, I thank the families; those parents, spouses and children who have been asked for the past 15 months to carry out their daily lives without their loved one. You have my deepest gratitude for your dedicated support. Your soldier couldn't have done it without you.”

The 169th Fires Brigade, formerly the 169th Field Artillery Brigade, is structured to provide a powerful fires-and-effects headquarters to plan, synchronize and execute counterstrikes. It also has the necessary communications architecture to integrate air, ground and naval forces. The Fires Brigade has target acquisition assets to include counter-fire radars and unmanned aerial vehicles. A Fires Brigade can control up to six battalions of Artillery and has units consisting of a UAV company, a target acquisition battery, a communications technology company and a support battalion.

Ritter statement on Capitol shooting

GOV. RITTER STATEMENT ON TODAY’S INCIDENT

Gov. Ritter issued the following statement regarding today’s shooting at the state Capitol:

“There was a shooting on the first floor of the Capitol this afternoon in the hallway area outside of my office. I was in my office interviewing a judicial candidate and heard what sounded like gunshots.

“We are very mindful of the visitors who come to this building and the people who work here, and we’re doing all we can to take care of them.

“When there is an incident like this, there will always be a discussion about security. In our democracy, there is a constant tension between security and openness. This is the people’s building.

“There will be heightened security in the building for the remainder of the week while we have discussions about how we maintain that balance. It will be a prudent and thoughtful discussion and it will include leadership in the legislature.

“This is a safe building. I encourage people to keep visiting the Capitol. This is their building.”

The Capitol will re-open to the public and employees tomorrow morning. Access will be limited to the South Entrance at 14th and Sherman. Magnetometers will be in place at that entrance.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Homeless Council tkaing apps

The newly reestablished and renamed Colorado Community and Interagency Council on Homelessness is now accepting applications for members from across the state.

Applications will be accepted through July 27 for the 25-member council that will work to make inter-agency and community cooperation the norm in responding to homelessness and to use a more efficient and supportive approach in creating and implementing evidence-based plans to address, and to the extent possible, end homelessness.

To obtain an application or for more information, please call (303) 866-6380, e-mail boards@state.co.us or visit www.colorado.gov/governor/boards-commission.html.

Under Gov. Bill Ritter’s Executive Order B-004-07, the Council on Homelessness will meet regularly to:

· Streamline the administration of programs across agencies and jurisdictions to reduce duplication, consolidate availability of services and ease clients’ ability to access services;

· Streamline funding of homelessness programs to leverage existing resources more effectively;

· Facilitate tighter partnerships and linkages among service providers;

· Integrate state policy and coordinate relationships among all levels of public and non-profit agencies working to address homelessness;

· Increase access by homeless people and families to mainstream supportive services and resources for which they may be eligible;

· Solicit input and suggestions from faith communities, advocacy organizations, the business community, the concerned public and other governmental agencies on the most effective strategies to address homelessness;

· Assemble accurate data upon which strategies and policies should be based and against which outcomes can be measured;

· Identify best practices from other states in combating homelessness;

· Educate other involved agencies, the public and the legislature about the causes and consequences of homelessness; and

· Create comprehensive plans and develop effective collaborative strategies to prevent and end homelessness in Colorado.

The Council shall serve as the advisory body to the Governor on homeless issues and shall recommend such policies and programs as it believes will assist in preventing and, to the extent possible, ending homelessness in Colorado.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

SEN. SALAZAR, GOV. RITTER TOUR ROAN PLATEAU, RENEW PUSH FOR ADDITIONAL REVIEW TIME

 

Colorado leaders renew push for additional time to review Roan drilling plan

 

RIFLE — After a 2½-hour aerial tour of the Roan Plateau and northwest Colorado, U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar and Gov. Bill Ritter today renewed their request for the federal government to grant the Ritter administration 120 days to review the Roan management plan for future oil-and-gas drilling.

 

"Today's tour was a great opportunity to see all of the areas where energy development is occurring, to see what the impacts are and to get a sense for what the future impacts might be," Gov. Ritter said. "There is so much development happening now, and much more that is planned, that 120 days is a reasonable request. There's no reason to rush the leasing or drilling of the Roan."

 

Currently, 4,000 to 5,000 drills are extracting oil and gas from northwest Colorado. Over the next 15 years, federal leases already have been sold that will expand the number of drills to 60,000. 

 

"Securing America's energy independence is critical for our Nation, and I support efforts to developColorado's energy resources. But the top of Roan Plateau is a special place that should be protected," Sen. Salazar said. "It's important for Coloradans to be asking what they want western Colorado to look like in 15 or 20 years, or beyond. We need a clear understanding of the impacts of 60,000 wells before the BLM proceeds further with any plans for the Plateau. Taking 120 days to review the management plan is responsible and will allow us to move forward in a thoughtful, balanced way, and I plan to use the Senate rules to send a strong and clear message to the BLM that their decision and action to ignore the requests of the Governor of Colorado and myself are unacceptable."

 

Joining Gov. Ritter and Sen. Salazar on the helicopter tour was Harris Sherman, executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and Kimberly Kaal, the Colorado Division of Wildlife's energy liaison. In addition to the Roan, they flew over the Vermillion Basin, Parachute Creek, Piceance Creek, Little Snake Basin and several oil shale demonstration projects. They also stopped on the Vermillion Basin. Gov. Ritter and Sen. Salazar described it as "pristine, uninhabited and a very special place."

 

Gov. Ritter asked the federal Bureau of Land Management in March for 120 days to review the Roan resources management plan, which was crafted under the Owens administration. The BLM and Department of Interior denied the request in June. Sen. Salazar is scheduled to meet with Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne later this month and will ask the Secretary to reconsider Gov. Ritter's request.

 

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