Mayor John Hickenlooper is launching his newest public-input initiative: Denver Listens.

Denver Listens is a citywide effort to gather public feedback on how to achieve the City’s five goals established by the Mayor and his administration. The goals are as follows:

By 2007:

1. Denver City government will achieve the highest customer service rating in the country.
2. Denver City government will create 25,000 net, new private sector jobs in the region.
3. People who live in Denver will say it is an even better place than it was in 2003.
4. People who work for Denver City government will say it is an even better place to work than it was in 2003.
5. Denver City government will live within its means.

“We know these are the goals around which we want to organize our efforts,” Mayor Hickenlooper said, “but we want ideas and suggestions from our citizens as to what efforts they would like to see in order for us to successfully accomplish these goals.”

Mayor Hickenlooper will host five community sessions in March; dates and locations are listed below. The public input that is gathered at these sessions will help determine priorities for City services, which will be an important part of the budget-setting process performed later in the year.

Dana Bryson, director of the Denver Office of Accountability and Reform, which is spearheading the meetings, noted, “Improved customer service is a top priority for the City. We want to hear from the public how we can improve services.”
 
How does it work? Participants will use touchpad technology facilitating discussion and allowing for real-time data gathering and feedback. The sessions will be interactive and fun while providing crucial information for Denver City government. Mayor Hickenlooper, City Council officials, and members of the Mayor’s Cabinet will be in attendance.
 
People are asked to attend the session in their geographic area. An RSVP is required as space is limited to 150 participants for each session. You can call (720) 865-9074 or e-mail denverlistens@ci.denver.co.us to reserve your space.

Dates and Locations
All meetings will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

SOUTHEAST DENVER
· Tuesday, March 2
· Temple Sinai, 3509 S. Glencoe St.
CENTRAL DENVER
· Tuesday, March 9
· Tivoli Center, Turn Halle, 1342 10th St.
SOUTHWEST DENVER
· Wednesday, March 10
· SWIC Center, 1000 S. Lowell Blvd.
NORTHWEST DENVER
· Tuesday, March 16
· Academia Ana Marie Sandoval, 3655 Wyandot St.
NORTHEAST DENVER
· Tuesday, March 23
· Clayton Foundation, Tower Building, 3801 Martin Luther King Blvd.
DENVER CITY EMPLOYEES
· Wednesday, March 24
· Wellington Webb Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave.
MAYOR’S TRANSITION TEAM
· Tuesday, March 30
· Denver Athletic Club, 1325 Glenarm St.