Department of Local Affairs Announces Leadership for the Divisions of Emergency Management and Local Government

Reeves Brown, executive director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), has announced the selection of David Hard as the director of the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) and Tony Hernandez, as director of the Division of Local Government (DLG). 

About Dave Hard's appointment, Director Brown said, "I am so pleased Dave Hard will be coming on board to lead the Division of Emergency Management.  His experience in emergency management and local government as a fire chief will serve him well in this position and brings an important perspective that will benefit Colorado communities."

Dave Hard will join the Division starting June 1, 2011.  He has a career in fire safety and emergency management that spans more than three decades.  A returning Colorado resident, Hard served the state of Oregon for several years as Fire Chief for the Jackson County Fire District No. 3 from 2007 - 2010, and the Klamath County Fire District No. 1 from 2004 - 2007.

He also served as Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Marshal of Oregon's Ashland Fire & Rescue from 1999 - 2004.  Prior to that, he was the Assistant Fire Chief of the Glendale Fire Department in Colorado from 1978 - 1999.

About Tony Hernandez' selection, Brown said, "Tony's depth of experience and distinguished career serve Colorado local governments and communities well.  He is an asset to the department and the work we do on behalf of Colorado."

Hernandez has served as the Division's director since December 2008 and was selected to continue his work in this State Executive Service (SES) position for another two year contract. 

Hernandez served as Director of Fannie Mae's Colorado Business Center since 1998, during which he oversaw the House Colorado Investment Plan which directed $15 billion of investments toward assisting at least 135,000 families.

Prior to joining the Fannie Mae Corporation, Hernandez was appointed by Secretary Henry Cisneros as the HUD Regional Administrator for the Rocky Mountain States from 1994 to 1998.  Tony was responsible for the administration of all HUD funded programs in the six-state Rocky Mountain Area of Colorado, Montana, North and South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

He served in the Colorado legislature as a State Representative from 1984 to 1994, where he successfully carried legislation that enabled cities, counties and non-profit organizations to access money from the state's "Short-Term Loan Revolving Fund" to assist in acquiring land and building single, multi-family and handicapped accessible housing for low and moderate income people.  In 1989, the Economic Councils of Colorado recognized Hernandez as the "Legislator of the Year" for making the most significant contributions to economic development in Colorado.

High Water Status & Info. Resources Available at COEmergency.com

Colorado’s northern and central mountains have experienced an unusually deep snowpack over the 2010-2011 winter season. Consequently, the speed at which the snow melts, compounded by additional water from spring rains and a new round of mountain snowfall has the potential to create high water conditions throughout the northern and central mountain and Front Range regions.

For information and resources, go to DOLA's Division of Emergency Management blog.

Additional resources include:

• National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services (AHPS)

• Snotel's Colorado snowpack map

DOLA's Community Development Office to Co-sponsor Planning Commissioner Training Session

The DOLA Community Development Office is cosponsoring a planning commissioner training session at the annual American Planning Association's Colorado Chapter (APA Co) conference on June 10, 2011.  Planning commissioners and planners in Colorado will spend the first half of the session discussing the unique role of planning commissioners and their responsibilities.  They will learn tips on conducting effective public meetings, making motions, and more importantly – how to stay out of legal trouble.  Recent case studies will be highlighted to give the discussion context.  The remainder of the session will focus on the diminishing supply of water in Colorado.  Planning commissioners will learn their specific role in preparing for the future of water supply and conservation, and discover the importance of integrating land use planning and water supply planning efforts.  Denver Water will provide an update on the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, a recent landmark agreement that changes the way Colorado’s water resources are managed from the West Slope to the Front Range and in between. 

June 10, 2011 - 8:30 am to 12:30 pm

Session includes presentations by:

Wayne Reed, AICP, Community Development Director for the City of Centennial

Eric Heil, AICP, Heil Law & Planning, Inc.

Eric Hecox, Colorado Water Conservation Board

Denver Water (TBD)

The session will be moderated by Tareq Wafaie, AICP, Department of Local Affairs

Please visit APA Colorado's website for further information at:http://www.apacolorado.org/content/annual-conference    

RMPBS' "Colorado State of Mind" Video Featuring Sustainable Main Streets Initiative (Feb. 2011)

Watch the full episode. See more Colorado State of Mind.

DOLA's Sustainable Main Streets Initiative Named Finalist in ColoradoBIZ Magazine's 2011 Sustainability Champion Awards

Congratulations to DOLA's Office of Community Development for its work on the Sustainable Main Streets Initiative (SMSI), which was launched in April of 2010.  The SMSI was chosen as a finalist for ColoradoBIZ Magazine's 2011 Sustainability Champion Awards.

Chosen among dozens of entries, the SMSI, which has focused efforts on four pilot communities: The Five Points Neighborhood, the Town of Fowler, the City of Monte Vista and the City of Rifle, was recognized for meeting criteria in the areas of environment, economy, innovation, society and education.

To read more about the awards and this important recognition, go to 2011 Sustainability Champion Awards - ColoradoBIZ Magazine.

DOLA Takes Part in Georgetown Water/wastewater Upgrade Celebration

DOLA was proud to take part in a recent celebration marking vital upgrades to the water/wastewater facility serving Georgetown and Silver Plume.  Tony Hernandez, Director of the Division of Local Government (DLG), Clay Brown, DOLA Regional Manager, and Jarrod Biggs, Research Analyst, joined Georgetown and Silver Plume officials for a special ribbon-cutting event applauding construction made possible through more than $9 million in grants and financial assistance.

The water/wastewater system upgrades are the culmination of ongoing facilitation and technical assistance that helped create an intergovernmental agreement between Georgetown and Silver Plume, paving the way for improvements in water quality and infrastructure.

Tony Hernandez, Director of DOLA's Division of Local Government (far l) and DOLA Regional Manager Clay Brown (c), joined local officials from Georgetown and Silver Plume for a ribbon-cutting celebrating water/wastewater system improvements.

You can read about this important project in the Clear Creek Courant.  Photo by Ian Neligh.

State Demography Office staff change and job announcement

Eddie Hunsinger, our estimates demographer will be leaving to head up the State Demography Office in Alaska.  His last day will be April 8th.  Attached is the job announcement if you are interested in applying.  For those who have questions regarding population estimates, you can contact Elizabeth Garner at elizabeth.garner@state.co.us.