UPDATE | Tuesday, April 14 at 4:35 a.m. | The story was updated with a statement from the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS).
City of Northglenn and State of Colorado leaders cannot agree on safety protections for two mental health transitional living homes.
Concerns over the properties began in 2024 when neighbors started a petition to stop one of the homes from opening, citing concerns over sex offenders being housed there. Two years later, those same concerns remain top of mind.
Martina Martinez, who started the petition two years ago, emailed concerns to Denver7 regarding the renewed discussion over allowing registered sex offenders to be housed in these units.
"This is especially concerning given the location—within 1,000 feet of a school..." Martinez said. "This would place vulnerable children in even closer proximity to individuals with serious offenses," Martinez said.
Northglenn Mayor Meredith Leighty said the city had an unwritten agreement with the state not to house registered sex offenders in these homes, but she said that has ended.
- Watch the full story in the video player below.
Northglenn demands permanent safety rules for mental health homes
The city is now fighting for a formal agreement, as well as protections like installing security cameras and sharing data with Northglenn police on a regular basis.
Leighty said the state submitted a policy document on Friday, saying there will not be registered sex offenders in the home. Her concern is that a policy document isn't permanent.
"Our concern is that a policy document can change any day right? They changed it on Friday, so they could change it next week. They could change it next month. So we want a permanent solution," Leighty said.
Leighty said a Colorado House of Representatives bill is slated to go in front of a committee Tuesday.
The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) submitted the following statement to Denver7 in response to the story:
"The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) is disappointed to hear from the press of reports of a breakdown in negotiations, especially given that the State and Northglenn’s representatives had met on Thursday, April 9 and agreed on the next steps to further that discussion. The State has engaged in these meetings in good faith and considered them productive interactions, which have addressed all of Northglenn’s stated objectives. The State affirms its strong commitment to the safety of the Northglenn community and to the successful working relationship with city officials regarding the Mental Health Transitional Living (MHTL) homes. The State has extended and memorialized its statewide internal policy to not admit individuals who are required to register pursuant to the Colorado Sex Offender Registration Act, to reside in MHTL homes for at least the next five years. We understood this to be Northglenn’s principal concern, and the State affirmed that commitment in dialogue with the City and City representatives.
To memorialize those conversations, the State drafted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which outlined improvements to safety protocols and ways the State and City can best work together as issues arise. The draft MOU also committed to consultation with the City on any future changes to policy, including the statewide internal policy regarding sex offenders.
The State remains committed to working with the Northglenn community to provide excellent service for those in need of transitional services, and would appreciate the same commitment to good faith collaboration from the City."
Northglenn City Council is meeting Monday at 6 p.m. at City Hall to discuss next steps. The public is encouraged to attend to make their voices heard.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
