The installation of Speed Bumps in a residential area is governed by Jefferson County Ordinance 5.56.   In Brief:

• A proposal for installation of speed bumps may be initiated by either the County Division of Public Works or by any interested citizen or resident.  Upon receipt of such a proposal, the County Department of  Highways and Transportation shall  designate one or more segments of street or roadway to be evaluated.
• Speed bumps may be installed within an Evaluation Area only upon the petition request, approval, or authorization of at least 60% of those property owners or residents whose property abuts or is directly affected by excessive speed within such area.
• A study and evaluation of relevant traffic factors and conditions shall be performed by a qualified private engineer or by the Jefferson County Division of Public Works with respect to each Evaluation Area.
• Speed bumps shall be installed only where reasonably necessary to protect the safety and  welfare of children, pedestrians, property owners or residents.
• Speed bumps may be installed only when:
  • traffic analysis shows an average daily traffic count of approximately  1,000 vehicles or more, with approximately 300 vehicles or more exceeding posted speed limits by 5 miles per hour or more; or 
  • traffic analysis shows an average daily traffic count of approximately 800 vehicles or more with approximately 240  vehicles or more exceeding posted speed limits by 5 miles per hour and the Department of Highways and Transportation  has made a finding that conditions warrant utilization of speed bumps.

Contact the Jefferson County Department of Road & Bridge at 303-271-5200.  Give them the exact address and/or street intersection where the "pot-hole" is located.  You can also visit their website at http://co.jefferson.co.us/road/index.htm.

Contact XcelEnergy at 1-800-895-4999 or via the Internet at http://www1.xcelenergy.com/ODL/OUTAGEREPORT.

According to Jefferson County Ordinance 5.55.10.3 "no major recreational vehicle or trailer shall be parked on any County highway within any residential district in unincorporated Jefferson County for a period in excess of two (2) weeks for any one-year period."

• A "major recreational vehicle" means a vehicle:

  • Designed to provide temporary living quarters and which is built into, as an integral part of or a permanent attachment to a motor vehicle chassis or van which is used primarily for pleasure, enjoyment, other recreational purposes, or family transportation of the owner, lessee or occupant; or

  • With wheels having an overall width not exceeding eight (8) feet and an overall length, excluding towing gear and bumpers, of not more than thirty-two (32) feet, without motive power, which is designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle and to provide temporary or permanent living quarters, and which is used primarily for pleasure, enjoyment, other recreational purposes, or family transportation of the owner, lessee or occupant.

• A "trailer" means any wheeled vehicle, without motive power, which is designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle and which is generally and commonly used to carry and transport personal effects, articles of household furniture, loads of trash and rubbish, horses, or other property over the public highways.

The Kipling Villas Homeowner's Association will place notices on major recreational vehicles and trailers parked in the street reminding them of this ordinance and asking that they please remove them from the street.  Failure to comply with this request will prompt the KVHA to forward the matter to the Jefferson County Sheriff's office for appropriate action.

According to Jefferson County Ordinance 5.55.10.2, it is “unlawful for any person to park any major motor vehicle upon any County highway within any residential district in unincorporated Jefferson County, except for the purposes of loading, unloading or other immediate and active use.”

• A “major motor vehicle” means any motor vehicle “eight (8) feet or more in width including the truck bed; and/or twenty-five (25) feet or more in length; regardless of size, a truck tractor, road tractor or semi-tractor.”
• A "trailer" means any wheeled vehicle, without motive power, which is designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle and which is generally and commonly used to carry and transport personal effects, articles of household furniture, loads of trash and rubbish, horses, or other property over the public highways.

The Kipling Villas Homeowner's Association will place notices on semi tractor-trailers parked in the street reminding them of this ordinance and asking that they please remove them from the street.  Failure to comply with this request will prompt the KVHA to forward the matter to the Jefferson County Sheriff's office for appropriate action.

According to Jefferson County Ordinance 5.55.10.4 “it shall be unlawful for any person to park any motor vehicle or trailer for sale upon any County highway within any residential district in unincorporated Jefferson County.” 

The Kipling Villas Homeowner's Association will place notices on vehicles parked with "For Sale" signs on them reminding them of this ordinance and asking that they please remove their vehicle from the street.

While we support private small business, and understand the importance of making the business as visible as possible, parking vehicles to advertise business on residential streets is not the appropriate place for this type of activity.  According to Section 10, paragraph B1b, of the Jefferson County Zoning Regulations “no sign shall be placed in the right-of-way of any public road, street or highway except as specifically provided for [by Jefferson County Zoning Resolution].”  This zoning resolution expressly prohibits “portable or wheeled signs or advertising devices.”  (paragraph C1)

The Kipling Villas Homeowners Association believes that the parking of such vehicles negatively impacts our community by producing potentially hazardous traffic conditions, by damaging the character of the neighborhood, and by thus diminishing the value of our properties.  The Kipling Villas Homeowner's Association will therefore place notices on these vehicles asking that they be removed from the neighborhood, and stating that if they reappear we will file a complaint with the Jefferson County Sheriffs’ and Zoning Departments.

The Greenbelt property within the Kipling Villas neighborhood is owned by Jefferson County and managed by the Foothills Park and Recreation District.  According to the Foothills Board Policy Manual (Section IV-H.2) "No Billboards or signs, other than Foothills signs, will be allowed on District lands."

The Kipling Villas Homeowner's Association will remove signs placed in the greenbelt and encourages other residents to do the same.

According to Section 10, paragraph E, of the Jefferson County Zoning Regulations all “temporary [on-premise] ground signs advertising the construction, remodeling, development, sale, rental, or lease” of a property must be located on that property, must be “setback 10 feet from any lot line,” and must be “removed upon completion of construction, remodeling, development, sale, rental, or lease.”

Signs, therefore, are not permitted on the greenbelt fences.  The Kipling Villas Homeowner's Association will either (1) contact the owners of the signs and ask that they be removed, (2) remove the signs themselves, or (3) forward complaints regarding signs on the greenbelt fence to Debbi McIntyre at the Jefferson County Department of Planning and Zoning (dmcintyr@jeffco.us; 303-271-8725 Office, 303-271-8744 Fax).

According to Bob Easton, former Executive Director of the Foothills Park and Recreation District, at the time of the development of the Kipling Villas neighborhood the developer (Singer Housing Company) installed the fences to help obtain appropriate financing for the project.  However, they did not retain ownership of the fences after they were installed.  The chain-link fences, therefore, belong to the private owners of the property.  Foothills will not accept responsibility for the fences (except for damages that result from the mowing of the greenbelt by Foothills or their contractors).

According to Jefferson County Ordinance 5.88 :

• Property owners shall cut, or cause to be cut, all weeds growing on their property and remove or cause the removal of the cut weeds to a legal refuse disposal site.
• Whenever the Zoning Administrator finds that weeds exist on any real property ... and desires to implement ... this ordinance, the County [will cause] such property to be brought into compliance at the expense of the property owner.
• If the weeds are not removed within the time specified in the notices, the Zoning Administrator is authorized and empowered to direct the appropriate county personnel or private contractor to enter upon the subject property and remove the weeds.
• Whenever any costs are incurred by the County in causing the removal of any weeds, the Zoning Administrator shall cause a statement to be prepared showing the total cost of the removal, including an additional ten (10) percent for incidental costs in connection with their removal. The Zoning Administrator shall serve the statement on the property owner [notifying the owner] that weed removal work has been performed ... and instruct the property owner to pay the statement in full within thirty (30) days of the date set forth therein.

The Kipling Villas Homeowner's Association will forward all complaints regarding weeds on private property to the Jefferson County Department of Zoning Violations (303-271-8721) and ask that appropriate actions be taken.

According to Jefferson County Ordinance 5.17 :

• "Rubbish" means junk, trash or garbage.
• "Junk" means scrap brass, scrap copper, scrap iron, scrap lead, scrap tin, scrap zinc, and all other scrap metals and the alloys and bones, rags, used cloth, used rope, used rubber, used tinfoil, used bottles, old or used machinery of any type, used tools, used appliances, used fixtures, used utensils, used lumber, used boxes or crates (fabricated of any material), used pipe or pipe fittings, used conduit or conduit fittings, used automobiles in condition, used tires and other manufactured goods, that are so worn, deteriorated or obsolete as to make them unusable in their existing condition.
• "Trash or Garbage" means refuse, waste, worthless or discarded material, worn or used items having little or no value, and material no longer usable for its original intended purpose.
• The Jefferson County Zoning Administrator may authorize a zoning inspector to initiate proceedings under this ordinance when the Zoning Administrator reasonably believes that rubbish is being stored outside on any lot or tract within Jefferson County. This belief may be based upon a complaint from the public (including an anonymous complaint) which has been corroborated by a zoning inspector, or may be based on review of a zoning inspector's personal observations of the lot or tract in question.

The Kipling Villas Homeowner's Association will forward all complaints regarding rubbish, junk, trash, or garbage on private property to the Jefferson County Department of Zoning Violations (303-271-8721) and ask that appropriate actions be taken.

Where will the dumpsters be located?

• Two dumpsters will be located at the "Iris St. Closure" (Iris & Walker)
  
   

What times will the dumpsters be available?

• The first dumpster will arrive around 8:00 am, and the second one will arrive around 10:30 am.
• Neighbors will served on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Once both dumpsters are full (usually around 12:00 pm) we will not receive any more trash

 How much does it cost?

• 25$ for the first car/pick-up load.  (This fee also covers your membership dues for the year.)
• 10$ for each additional load.  However, we ask that you be reasonable regarding the amount of stuff you bring to the dumpsters.  Our goal is to give as many neighbors as possible the opportunity to get rid of some of their excess.

 What types of items can I bring to the dumpster?

• Yard wastes such as tree-trimmings, bushes, etc…
• Yard accessories such as swing sets, yard ornaments, small sheds, etc…
• Minor construction wastes such as posts, fence pickets, lumber, etc…
• Furniture such as chairs, couches, tables, beds, etc…

 What types of items can I not bring to the dumpster?

• Hazardous materials of any kind, such as batteries, chemicals, paint, solvents, used motor oil, tires, insecticides, fertilizer, etc…  (These items should be taken to the Rooney Road Center.  Call 303-316-6262, or visit www.co.jefferson.co.us, for more information on how to properly dispose of these items.
• Explosives of any kind, such as gunpowder, fireworks, bullets, etc…  (Contact the Sheriff’s Office at 303-277-0211 for information about the disposal of these items.)
• Electronic equipment of any kind, such as stereos, computers, cell phones, etc…
• Appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, stoves, washers, etc…

According to Jefferson County Ordinance 5.84:

• Open space lands shall mean all public recreation lands, waters or facilities owned or operated by Jefferson County which have been purchased with open space funds or are managed or administered by the Jefferson County Open Space Program.
• Anyone violating this ordinance shall be guilty of a Class 2 petty offense pursuant to 29-7-101(2) C.R.S., 1996 and shall be subject to the minimum fine.
  • It shall be unlawful to remove, destroy, deface, damage or in any other way vandalize any amenity, facility, building, structure, poster, sign or marker on Open Space lands. Fine $90.00.
  • It shall be unlawful to deposit or leave any refuse, trash or litter in or upon any open space lands except by depositing such refuse, trash or litter in designated refuse receptacles. Fine: $45.00.
  • It shall be unlawful to deposit or leave on Open Space lands any residentially or commercially generated refuse, trash, or any other litter generated outside Open Space lands. Fine:$60.00.
  • It shall be unlawful to operate any motorized vehicle on any Open Space lands except on designated public roadways. Fine: $90.00.
  • It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in any activity on any Open Space lands which constitutes a hazard to the safety of self or other persons, except in areas where such activity is specifically authorized. Fine: $120.00.
  • It shall be unlawful to conduct any commercial activity, or concession, or to provide any service, product or activity for which a fee is charged, on any Open Space lands, except when a valid Jefferson County Open Space Special Activity Permit Agreement is issued. Fine: $45.00.
  • It shall be unlawful for any person to permit any pet under his custody, control, or ownership to be off leash and not under physical control on any Open Space lands. “Leash” means a strap, cord, or chain and shall not exceed ten (10) feet in length. Fine: $30.00.
  • It shall be unlawful for any person while not physically present on Open Space lands to allow any pet under their custody, control, or ownership to run freely upon said lands. Fine: $45.00.
  • It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to pick-up and dispose of pet excrement deposited by any pet under their custody, control, or ownership in a waste receptacle where so posted. Fine:$30.00
  • It shall be unlawful to use sound amplification devises on Open Space lands or permit unreasonably loud noises which would disturb others. Fine: $30.00.
  • It shall be unlawful to construct, place or maintain any kind of road, trail, structure, fence, enclosure, communication equipment or other improvements on Open Space lands. Fine: $60.00.

The Jefferson County Animal Control and Licensing Regulation prohibits a dog from disturbing the peace of any person by loud, habitual and persistent barking, howling, yelping, or whining, whether the dog is on or off the dog owner’s property. 

Persons bothered by such a problem are urged to contact the owner of the dog and try to solve the problem on a neighborly basis.  If you have received a complaint about your dog barking, it is important to correct the problem so that your neighbors do not take legal action, or take their frustration out on your dog.  If nothing improves after a discussion with the owner, feel free to contact Jefferson County Animal Control for assistance (303-271-5070).

Owners can be issued impoundment fees, and/or a summons for a violation of the Jefferson County Animal Control and Licensing Regulation. Each violation constitutes a separate offense. The maximum penalty for a Class II Petty Offense is $300.00. The maximum penalty for a Class II Misdemeanor is $1,000.00 and/or imprisonment in the county jail for three to twelve months.

Solutions to the Problem 

The following are some suggestions that may help you solve a barking dog problem. These suggestions may not work on hyperactive or vocal dogs. You may need to seek professional training for your pet. There are numerous local obedience classes from which you can choose.

• Bring your dog in the house when you leave. Many dogs will bark continually once you are gone. If you do not want your dog to have the run of your house, you may wish to contain the dog in a certain area, i.e., a basement or laundry room.
• Put your dog in the garage. Many people choose to do this if they have a large dog. Be certain to provide old blankets, rugs, or carpet for your pet to lay on. A cold and hard cement floor is far from comfortable.
• No matter where you decide to keep your pet be certain there is clean water and shelter available at all times. Many dogs will bark and whine if they are thirsty or cold.
• When your dog starts to bark, it is your responsibility to find out what is causing the disturbance and resolve the problem. The dog should not be allowed to bark at any activity unless it takes place on the dog owner’s property. Do not ignore the barking no matter what time it may be.

Why Dogs Bark and Some Suggestions  

Boredom:  Some dogs will bark just because they are bored. Supply your pet with chew toys or beef bones. Give him a ball, stuffed toy, or something that will occupy him while you are away. 

Loneliness:  Many dogs bark because they are lonely and want some company. By barking, the dog has gotten your attention, and whether you punish him or not, he has attained his goal. Therefore, he may continue to bark just so he can see you. This is a bad situation for both you and the dog. 

Restrictions on Freedom:  A dog who is chained continuously in a small area will tend to become aggressive. He will soon bark at the slightest sound or movement, such as leaves, moving cars, or the wind. Be aware that the dog is barking to relieve his tension due to being confined and lonely; a cruel situation for any animal to be in. 

Protective of Territory:  This is very natural for any type of dog, yet consistent and habitual barking is a sign of an unruly dog. It is important to teach your dog to bark enough to alert you and then to respond to you and sit quietly. This way the dog feels he is protecting his property while the owner is still in control of his behavior.

A Cure

The best thing you can do to correct this problem is to work on training the dog. For specific directions, contact a qualified obedience instructor. Spend time with your dog and include him in your daily activities. Remember, you are his only means of exercise and love. 

Mechanical and Surgical Solutions:  Anti-bark collars, either electronic or sonic, are available through local pet stores and pet product distributors. Veterinarians can “debark” a dog surgically by cutting the vocal cords. Talk with your veterinarian about what method may be most appropriate for your pet. Both methods are more effective when accompanied by consistent training. If you are too busy to spend time with your dog everyday, then you are probably too busy to own a dog. Please evaluate your situation and do what is best for your dog.