News Flash

Public Input on City Manager Recruitment

City Manager Recruitment The public is invited to two events to meet City Manager Finalists Thursday, August 8 8:30 -11:45 a.m.City Council ChambersThe finalists will present a prepared presentation on the Aspen Area Community P...

City Council Hosting Free Community Picnic and Children's Fair August 14 at Red Brick

City Council Hosting Free Community Picnic and Children's Fair August 14 at Red BrickAspen City Council’s annual picnic for the community will take place on Wednesday, August 14 from 4:30-7pm at the Red Brick Center for the Arts lawn.  This year,...

Water Department Receives $186K+ Grant to Augment River Flows and Enhance Municipal Supply

Water Department Receives $186K+ Grant to Augment River Flows and Enhance Municipal SupplyThe City of Aspen is pleased to announce its water department is the recipient of a $186,356 grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board to investigate how the ...

Free Irrigation Audits

The City of Aspen Environmental Health Departments want to help you get lean and green! 

Typically, without realizing it, most of us overwater our landscape. Reduce water use and optimize plant/grass health with a free sprinkler checkup. Optimize ...

Aspen Tennis Club Family Day

Aspen Tennis Club Family DayJuly 20 from 10am - 12pmThis free event is a fun family morning of tennis for all skill levels, from beginners to tournament level players. This is a great chance for parents and kids to play socially and competitively. Advance...

Give Your Input on the Marolt and Thomas Open Space Management Plan

City of Aspen Parks and Open Space is preparing a management plan for the Marolt and Thomas properties to aid the efficient and effective management of the site. This new planning document will outline appropriate uses of the open space and guide natural ...

Attention Development Community - New Permit Software Coming This Month

Attention Development Community - New Permit Software Coming This Month

The City's new permitting system - Salesforce - is going live this month.

Read here to learn more about the schedule for applying for new permits and more about the registration process...

Do you think Aspen needs more event and performance space?

The Wheeler Opera House is asking for community input to help the City assess the feasibility of expanding the Wheeler onto the adjacent parcel for event and performance space.

Our consultants, Theatre Projects and Keen Independent Research, are asking for...

Apply Now for 2019 Citizens Academy

Deadline to apply is July 12 and classes run twice monthly from August through December.  Learn more here: https://www.cityofaspen.com/337/Citizens-Academy

Citizens academies are programs for citizens to learn about their local government. They ar...

Max Marolt Scholarship for Young Athletes

Scholarship opportunity for young athletes. Apply to receive up to $1,000 for being an ambassador for the Aspen community, with the Max Marolt Athletic Scholarship Fund. Deadline July 1, 2019 at 5 pm.

Athletes competing at high levels of competition may re...

Marolt and Thomas Open Space Management Plan Open House

Marolt and Thomas Open Space Management Plan Open HouseTuesday, June 254:30-6:30 p.m.Red Brick Center for the Arts Conference RoomThe public is invited to attend the open house and offer input on the Marolt and Thomas Open Space Management Plan.  ...

Aspen for Animals Adult NTRP Tennis Tournament

USTA sanctioned tournament for NTRP skill levels of 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5. This includes Men’s & Women’s Singles and Doubles and Mixed Doubles. All proceeds are donated to the Aspen Animal Shelter. Friday starting at 4:00pm. Saturd...

Castle Creek Bridge Detour for Downvalley Motorists on Friday, May 31

Castle Creek Bridge Detour for Downvalley Motorists on Friday, May 31Westbound motorists to use Power Plant detour via 6th Street 7-11 a.m.On Friday, May 31, the City of Aspen will be making a temporary repair to pavement peel on the Castle Creek Bridge. ...

Workshop for Community Input for Wheeler Expansion

CALLING ALL:ARTS ORGANIZATIONSFRIENDS OF THE ARTSCOMMUNITY MEMBERSWe want your input!Please come to a workshop and provide your perspective on the long-term performing arts, and culture, and event space needs in Aspen.Community Input WorkshopThursday, May...

2020 Grant Applications Now Open for Arts and Non-Profits

2020 Grant Applications Now Open for Arts and Non-Profits The City of Aspen is pleased to announce the application process for community arts and non-profits grants is now open with over $1 million in available funding.  To make it easie...

Celebrate Arbor Day Saturday, May 18 in Paepcke Park

Celebrate Arbor Day Saturday, May 18 in Paepcke ParkThe City of Aspen Parks Department will host a community celebration for Arbor Day on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Paepcke Park.  Festivities will include: free hotdogs a...

Electronic Waste Collection Events in Aspen

Electronic Waste Collection Events in AspenThe City of Aspen is hosting two events for residents and businesses to responsibly and safely recycle electronic waste.   On Saturday, May 18 from 9am-1pm, community members can drop-off personal e-wast...

Aspen Community Invited to Participate in Engagement Session on City Manager Recruitment

Aspen Community Invited to Participate in Engagement Session on City Manager Recruitment The Aspen community is invited to attend an engagement session with recruitment firm Peckham & McKenney to provide input on desired qualities for the nex...

Map of City Department Locations

Map of Department Locations

City of Aspen Hires Peckham & McKenney to Conduct National Search for New City Manager

City of Aspen Hires Peckham & McKenney to Conduct National Search for New City ManagerThe City of Aspen is pleased to announce it has selected executive search firm Peckham & McKenney to conduct the recruitment for a new City Manager.  Pe...

Childcare Financial Aid Deadline is May 1

 PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTChildcare Financial Aid Deadline is May 1Contact: Kids First, 970-920-5769Aspen, Colorado – March 25, 2019 – Kids First and the City of Aspen provide a financial aid program to help defray the expen...

City Seeks Public Input on Future of Rio Grande Recycle Center

City Seeks Public Input on Future of Rio Grande Recycle CenterThe City of Aspen is seeking public input on the future of the Rio Grande Recycle Center.  Since 1993, the RGRC has been in operation for drop-off recycling services for glass, cardboa...

Applications Available for Food Tax Refund

Aspen residents who lived within city limits for the entire year of 2018 and who have been registered to vote since at least January 1, 2018 are eligible to apply for a $55 food tax refund, which is now available as an online application here: https://www...

Night Work for Aspen City Offices March 19-21

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTNight Work for Aspen City Offices March 19-216 p.m.-6 a.m. Delays possible at Rio Grande Parking Garage EntranceMedia Contact: Kathleen Wanatowicz, Public InformationP: (970) 618-5114 | E: kathleen@prstudioco.comAspen, CO &n...

Public Open House at Golf Course March 14

Public Open House at Golf Course March 14

The public is invited to attend and open house on Thursday, March 14 from 3:30-6:30pm at the Aspen Golf Clubhouse featuring bunker project information, free golf on the simulator and to purchase golf passes. Food w...

Pothole Repair in Aspen Friday and Saturday

Pothole Repair in Aspen Friday and SaturdayFriday – CDOT Crews at Roundabout; Saturday – City Crews at CCBAspen, Colorado – March 13, 2019 – The City of Aspen is working with CDOT on repairs to the pothole at the ro...

Lift One Corridor Plan Ballot Issue Information

Learn more about the ballot issue for the March 5 election here.

Aspen City Office Building Project to Begin February 4 after 6 Years of Planning

Aspen City Office Building Project to Begin February 4 after 6 Years of PlanningOn February 4, the City of Aspen is scheduled to begin initial utilities work and minor demolition activities on the site of its new office building at 425 Rio Grande Place. &...

Owl Creek Chase Nordic Ski Race February 10

Owl Creek Chase 21K Nordic Ski Race February 10, 2019

The Owl Creek Chase has been one of Colorado’s premier cross-country ski races since 1985. The challenging course from Snowmass Village to the Aspen Cross Country Center presents the ...

Council Appoints Sara Ott as Interim City Manager

Aspen City Council has appointed Sara Ott as its Interim City Manager while council members work with the City's Human Resources team to select a recruitment firm to execute a national search for Aspen's next City Manager.  Sara Ott's appointment...

Free Christmas Tree Composting Through February 14

Free Christmas Tree CompostingStill have your Christmas tree?  Compost it for free at the Rio Grande Recycling Center.  Bring trees with no lights or decorations to the Christmas tree corral.  Christmas tree lights can be recycl...

Environmental Health and Sustainability Department Has Moved to Old Powerhouse Building

You can now find the City's Environmental Health and Sustainability Department on the 2nd Floor of the Old Powerhouse Building, 590 North Mill Street.  Stop by for all of your environmental health and sustainability needs including restaurant lic...

The City's Building Department is now located in City Hall

Independence Pass Closed for the Season

Independence Pass is closed for the season.  Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) crews will keep the Aspen and Twin Lakes winter gates closed for the season. Crews have recorded over a foot of snow that fell along the pass from the storm...

City Council and Opposers Reach Settlement on Conditional Water Storage Rights

PRESS RELEASE 

City Council and Opposers Reach Settlement
on Conditional Water Storage Rights on Maroon and Castle Creeks

TheAspen City Council has reached settlement agreements with all opposers to
Aspen’s two pending water court cases regarding its conditional storage rightson Castle and Maroon Creeks. The settlement stipulations are a result of
negotiations between the City and all parties over the proposed sites of thefuture reservoirs.  The next steps will
be obtaining water court approval of the stipulations and entry of decreescontinuing the conditional water rights for another six-year period. 

“This
is a great example illustrating that collaboration and working toward common goalscreated a water storage solution that is better for all parties involved,” said
Margaret Medellin, City of Aspen Utilities Portfolio Manager.  “There is great reason to celebrate when youbegin a process at opposite ends of the spectrum and end the process in
agreement.  This is a big win for ourcommunity.”

Throughout
this process, the City’s primary concern, in concert with its commitment toenvironmental values, has been to safeguard its water storage rights to meet
the needs of its water customers with a sufficient, legal, and reliable watersupply, now and into the future, despite future risks and uncertainty, most
notably from climate change.

Overthe last few months the City of Aspen reached agreements with opposers
including Wilderness Workshop, Western Resource Advocates, American Rivers,Trout Unlimited, Pitkin County, the U.S. Forest Service and private land
owners.  Last week, the City reached anagreement with the final opposing party. 

Forthe last year and a half, the City has been working with these parties to find
a suitable resolution where the City’s water storage rights would be protectedwhile also providing environmental protections for these delicate areas.  

“The
City of Aspen has always had the interest of its water customers and community in the forefront of itsgoals to ensure Aspen could deliver adequate and safe water to its residents
and visitors,” said Mayor Steve Skadron.

“Throughout thisprocess, City Council was acting in the best interest of its current and future
water customers as part of prudent water management. I am proud we were able tosafeguard our future water storage needs while also collaborating to protect
sensitive wilderness areas,” he added.

Inaccordance with the stipulations, Aspen will file a water court application to
transfer both of its water storage rights to one or more locations that are notin wilderness areas.  The new storage
locations include City-owned land in the Woody Creek area, the Aspen GolfCourse, Cozy Point Ranch, Zoline Open Space, Vagneur Gravel Quarry and/or any
other location agreed to in writing by the City and the parties opposing thecurrent cases. In addition, Aspen has agreed to limit the total amount diverted
annually to storage to a total of 8,500 acre-feet.

Aspenhas held its conditional water storage rights on Maroon Creek and Castle Creek
since 1965.  Over decades, Aspen CityCouncil has protected its water storage rights in order to be responsible
stewards of the water supply needed for Aspen’s utility customers, now and intothe future.   In 2016, as required by
law, Aspen filed applications with the Division 5 Water Court to continue theseconditional water storage rights for another six-year period.  A total of ten parties filed statements of
opposition to one or both applications.  

Afterthe stipulations have been approved and the decrees entered in the current cases,
Aspen can begin planning and engineering work and developing a water courtapplication to change the location of the storage rights to one or more of the
new sites outside of the Wilderness Area. 

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Ballot Fact Sheets

Click here for these fact sheets: 2B- Charter Amendment for Enterprise Fund Bonding; 2C - Charter Amendment for Franchise Agreements; 2D - City Office Space Location

Stormwater Cleaning Work - October 15-November 1

Stormwater Cleaning Work

The City of Aspen is conducting necessary work to clean the underground storm drains throughout Aspen during the month of October.  The work is an essential part of maintaining the City’s stormwater infrastructur...

Community Forest Management Plan Open Houses - October 10 abd 17

Community Forest Management Plan Open Houses

October 10 and 17

The City of Aspen Forestry Department has just completed an update of the Community Forest Management Plan.  The public is invited to learn about the plan and ask questions at...

City and CORE Offering Free Home Energy Assessments for Aspen Residents

City and CORE Offering Free Home Energy Assessments for Aspen Residents

Contact: Laura Armstrong, Climate and Sustainability Programs Associate at 970.920.5104 or laura.armstrong@cityofaspen.com.

Aspen, Colorado – October 3, 2018 &nda...

Free Residential E-Waste Day - Saturday, October 6, 2018

Free E-Waste Residential Recycling Day.  Saturday, October 6 from 9am-1:30pm at Pitkin County Landfill.  Come by and recycle your electronics.  Examples of items you CAN recycle include: TVs, laptops, keyboards, desktop computer...

Shining Mountains Film Festival - October 7 and 8

As a celebration of Native American culture and history, The Shining Mountain Film Festival will debut nine dynamic and diverse films on October 7th and 8th 2018. This date commemorates Indigenous People’s Day which, as of last year, the City of...

Bicycle Friendly Community Survey

Did you know that the City of Aspen has a silver rating from The League of American Bicyclists program called Bicycle Friendly Community?  See our report card here.  How do you think we are doing as a bike friendly city?  This s...

Open House for Stage 2 Water Shortage

City of Aspen Stage 2 Water Shortage Open House

We invite you to attend an open house to learn more about what Stage 2 means for you, your business, and our community.  City water managers and conservation staff will be present to answer your ques...

Changes in Tobacco Law and Taxes Coming to Aspen

Changes in Tobacco Law and Taxes Coming to Aspen

In November 2017, Aspen voters elected to put an additional $3 sales tax per 20-pack of cigarettes in City limits and change the purchase age of tobacco from 18 to 21 years old starting January 1, 2018. The ...

Aspen Community Saves $1.6 Million in Energy Costs Over Two Years Through Aspen Energy Challenge

The City of Aspen and the Community Office for Resource Efficiency are pleased to announce that the organizations helped facilitate $1.6 million in energy savings in the community, compared to a 2013 through 2014 baseline in partnership Holy Cross Energy ...

What Does "Locally Serving Restaurant" Mean to You?

In the past, the rent for the restaurant has been subsidized in an effort to serve and attract local diners, including those attending Wheeler events. But what does "locally serving" really mean? We want to hear your opinions so we have a broad ...