[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 79 (Friday, June 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO CITY OF WESTMINSTER FOR DISTINGUISHED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARD

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                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 13, 2002

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the city of Westminster, Colorado. This outstanding community was 
recently recognized at the 40th Annual Excellence in Government Awards 
Program hosted by the Denver Federal Executive Board as the recipient 
of the Distinguished Local Government Award.
  Westminster, in the Congressional District I am proud to represent, 
has used the concept of ``Improvement through Cooperation'' as it 
strives to improve local services through a series of innovative 
intergovernmental cooperative agreements with local, state and federal 
government partners.
  The City has taken a leadership role in providing strong, 
representative management on complex issues that affect citizens living 
in Westminster and surrounding communities. Westminster led the way in 
1980, bringing the cities of Thornton and Northglenn and other 
stakeholders to set up a water-monitoring program that led to The Clear 
Creek Watershed Management Agreement in 1994. Over a period of 20 years 
the original agreement has been expanded to more than 23 entities that 
benefit from this successful watershed-monitoring program. Water 
quality has been improved and enhanced and many ancillary groups help 
in the sampling efforts, sample collection and quality assurance.
  In 1986 Westminster negotiated a first of its kind Intergovernmental 
agreement with the city of Thornton to address the development of the 
Interstate 25 corridor to make a commitment to study and plan for 
orderly growth and development. The goal was to simplify governmental 
structure and reduce and avoid friction between the two cities. This 
groundbreaking agreement crafted a joint land use plan, established 
annexation and service areas and revenue sharing.
  In 1997, Westminster led the way again by taking the leadership on a 
second intergovernmental agreement with the cities of Broomfield and 
Thornton to study additional highway interchanges on Interstate 25 as 
the traffic impacts continued to grow. New intergovernmental agreements 
were signed, original agreements were amended to meet current needs and 
the citizens of these communities have highway corridors that are 
designed to address traffic demands.
  Water rights and water quality are concerns for every western city. 
In a state with limited supplies and an expanding population, carefully 
negotiated water agreements are critical to limiting legal disputes and 
preserving financial resources. Fourteen years ago, Westminster 
provided regional leadership when it signed the Clear Creek Water 
Quality Agreement with three neighboring cities and the Coors Brewing 
Company. Citizens have cleaner, more abundant supplies of water and can 
be proud of the sophisticated legal agreement that has served the 
partnership for more than a decade.
  Regional parks, libraries and recreation facilities have all been 
enhanced by cooperative agreements with neighboring cities and 
educational institutions. Strong intergovernmental agreements expand 
services for local residents in several communities. New golf courses, 
fitness centers, ice skating arenas and parks with campsites, hiking 
trails, campgrounds and water recreation all provide exceptional 
leisure time activities.
  On a personal note, I have, on my own, ``adopted'' a section of the 
Dry Creek open space in Westminster as a way to help maintain the 
quality of life and the environment of this community. Through these 
efforts, along with many volunteers, I have witnessed firsthand the 
pride that the citizens of this city have for their community and its 
environment. This dedication has also been manifest in the City's 
extensive oversight of the cleanup of the Rocky Flats facility, a 
former nuclear weapons production facility that exists just west of 
Westminster. The City was one of the first to suggest that this site be 
converted into a national wildlife refuge once it is cleaned and 
closed.
  Westminster continues to find innovative ways to partner with private 
corporations, sister communities, public officials and local citizens 
to bring a superior quality of life to its residents. I applaud 
Westminster for the outstanding examples of cooperative agreements that 
have been instituted and look forward to their continued success on 
behalf of the Coloradans they serve.

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