Ways to Engage
It’s not always easy to connect with your local government. The City team wants to do better to ensure that we communicate effectively and make everyone feel welcome to participate in these complex issues. As we continue improve communications and engagement, this section will grow to include more opportunities for you to get involved. In the meantime, here are a few ways you can participate in your local government and help make a difference:
Vote - Voting is a fundamental right of our democracy and your chance to stand behind the leaders you support and issues you care about. For information on Arvada’s elections, visit arvada.org/elections.
Serve on a jury - The right to a trial by jury is one of the most important rights we have as Americans, and yet, it only works if people serve on juries when summoned. Jury service is a privilege (one that people in many other countries do not have). It’s an opportunity to give back to our community and democracy, and it’s required if you are summoned. For more information on jury service in Arvada, visit arvada.org/juror-information.
Engage with your City Council - At meetings of the Arvada City Council (held on Mondays), councilmembers hear public comment about and discuss and vote on a variety of resolutions and ordinances that set the strategic and policy direction of the City and affect the lives of Arvada residents. City councilmembers want your input. You can attend a public hearing to share your views, or participate in the Open Comment portion of Council meetings on items not otherwise on the agenda. For more information about engaging with City Council, visit arvada.org/city-council.
Participate on Speak Up Arvada - Speak Up Arvada is the City’s online engagement platform, designed to make it easy for you to share your perspectives, ideas and questions on topics that make a difference in how we live, work and play in Arvada. New topics are launched monthly. Check it out at speakup.arvada.org.
Participate in Neighbors Connected - The Neighbors Connected program provides you and your neighbors with resources to help build trust. Not only is this a benefit to your neighborhood, it is a critical step towards being prepared and resilient in an emergency, which benefits our entire community. To learn more and sign up, visit arvada.org/neighborhoods.
Volunteer for the City - The City relies on volunteers to help make the organization successful. Volunteers serve as ambassadors at the Arvada Reservoir, in our parks and at Majestic View Nature Center. They serve on boards and commissions. Volunteers help keep our streets and trails clean. And our public safety volunteers support the Police Department by helping with administrative functions and other day-to-day operations. Volunteering for the City is a great way to participate in local government and give back to your community. For more information on volunteer opportunities, visit arvada.org/volunteer.
Attend a community meeting or open house - The City team regularly hosts community meetings and open houses across the city to inform the community about various projects and often to solicit resident input to help improve the project. The City regularly advertises public meetings on social media, in the Arvada Report and the ArvadaNews.
Serve on a City board or commission - The Arvada City Council relies on community volunteers to study special community issues, obtain public comment on key projects, and offer recommendations on matters that affect the quality of life in Arvada. These groups are part of the community’s voice, influencing public policy and decisions that affect the entire city. For more about boards and commissions, visit arvada.org/boards-and-commissions.
Stay informed - It’s important to stay up-to-date with what’s happening in your community. There are many ways to learn more about City projects, including reading the Arvada Report, subscribing to the ArvadaNews, following the City on social media, and reading and watching local news media. Visit arvada.org/find-us-online.