Water, ICE, a Special Event, and the life-or-death ballot question this November
"Civics 101" is back
If you missed it, see my previous newsletter:
Agenda
Special Events: HD29 “Meet your Westminster Candidates” on August 28
Important Announcements
Civics 101: Where Westminster Gets Its Water
🚨 Special Events 🚨
The next HD29 meeting will be held in-person on August 28 at 6PM featuring a special event called “Meet Your Westminster Candidates” with coverage of Westminster City Council, Westminster Public Schools, Adams 12, and JeffCo School Board; the event will be heavily promoted, include guest speakers such as Rep Lorena Garcia, and candidates will speak and bring literature for attendees to take. Reply to this email for the address.
Downtown Westminster Restaurant Week runs August 4–10 with exclusive specials, daily spotlights, and a Passport Program with prizes.
Important Announcements
A June survey of 1,506 Westminster voters showed 66% support for a November ballot measure to fund life saving emergency services, a true life or death issue, and to fix our growing pothole problem, so we need your Yes vote this November.
Westminster does not cooperate with ICE: A friendly reminder that I spoke with our Police Chief and City Manager back in January and they assured me that Westminster Police does not and will not enforce civil immigration detainers. These are not legal warrants as defined by Colorado Revised Statute § 24-76.6-102, but rather involve non-criminal violations like overstaying work or school visas or unauthorized entry into the country, and make up the vast majority of immigration-related issues. We do not detain individuals solely based on an immigration detainer because that would constitute a new arrest under state law and a seizure under the Fourth Amendment, which is unconstitutional (People v. Burns, 615 P.2d 686, 688 (Colo. 1980)). See my official statement about the ICE raids published January 31, 2025. Any rumors of recent ICE raids? Send me an email at oezeadi@westminsterco.gov if you want me to verify with Staff.
Jefferson County Spring Forum on Homelessness:
On May 29, 2025, the Jefferson County government held its first Spring Forum on Homelessness with elected municipal officials and city/county managers from across the county, resulting in commitments toward a 2025–26 cold weather sheltering approach.
We backed a regional support model covering costs for facilities like the MAC, Lakewood Navigation Center, White Swan, EChO, and motel vouchers.
Westminster opted to support the one-year countywide agreement, which will include the MAC (our Adams County partner facility) and allow Westminster clients to access other Jefferson County shelters. It also supports long-term plans for a second navigation center closer to us. Since joining Council, I’ve prioritized real investment in addressing homelessness, but there’s only so much a city can do alone without regional support. Thanks to our existing efforts, and with this new cost-sharing model, Westminster’s net contribution would be just $55,720 (which is far less than the $164,720 gross share you see below):
Civics 101: Where Westminster Gets Its Water
Standley Lake holds about 42,000 acre feet…that is 13.7 billion gallons (1 acre foot = 325,851 gallons). Westminster shares Standley Lake with Thornton, Northglenn, and the Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Company (FRICO).
Westminster controls the largest share: about 22,200 acre feet, or 7.25 billion gallons. Westminster also has an additional 13,500 acre feet of independent storage, making ours the largest single supply in the lake.
Thornton holds about 11,750 acre feet (3.8 billion gallons), Northglenn holds about 7,000 acre feet (2.27 billion gallons), and FRICO holds about 1,150 acre feet (375 million gallons).
In terms of share ownership, there are 2,375 total shares in the Standley Lake Division. Westminster, Thornton, and Northglenn together own more than 90 percent:
Westminster: about 1,080 shares
Northglenn: about 842 shares
Thornton: about 393 shares
FRICO: about 60 shares
Since 1979, the Four Way Agreement has guided how the lake is managed. The three cities split all annual operating costs equally. FRICO does not contribute to those costs. Westminster and Thornton also hold independent storage space beyond what their shares provide. Northglenn does not.
Westminster and its partners are studying a plan to raise the Standley Lake spillway by 3.3 feet, which could add 4,200 acre feet of storage, giving each city 1,200 to 1,400 acre feet and FRICO up to 420, with public input required before any decision.
Westminster helps manage regional water needs through long‑standing agreements with neighboring cities. For example, while we no longer use treated water from Thornton due to high costs and quality concerns, a 2009 arrangement allows Thornton to send that water directly to Brighton, with Westminster serving as the financial pass‑through so Brighton covers the cost in full. This ensures our neighbors have the supply they need while Westminster focuses on maintaining the strongest possible share in Standley Lake.
“Civics 101” is a series where I shed light on the inner workings of our government and tackle important topics of our political discourse with the public. It's an educational initiative designed to break down complex processes and foster an informed, active community.
I have written countless Civics 101 lessons. Here is a small collection for your perusal:
About Obi Ezeadi
Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American with a diverse background in entrepreneurship and business leadership across healthcare, housing, technology, transportation, and hospitality. As a City Councilor, he champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms, ensuring prosperity and protection for families, seniors, and local small businesses.
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Click: Obi’s Community Resources Master List
This page has a collection of links to important community resources related to water bills, housing, healthcare and more. If you know of a resource that should be added to this list, please email me to let me know!
Link to my full voting record.
Some ways I try to meet you where you are:
I hold weekly office hours (every Monday at 4:30PM at City Hall) - no appointment needed
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Text or call me: 720-447-5606
Door-knocking (not for an election) to meet you where you are, connect you to resources and hear from you about issues I should prioritize
City Council Town Halls around the city