Updates from the Town Hall June 2nd, 2026
- Frontline Farming 👩🏽🌾
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
Call To Action!
Join us on Tuesday June 16th to give public comment at the Arvada City Council meeting!
Are you an Arvada resident? Are you an organization that benefits from our work? RSVP by sending us an email at info@frontlinefarming.org (link will fill out the subject and body)
Town Hall Notes:
On June 2nd, 2026 FrontLine Farming invited community, supporters, CSA members, the Arvada City Council and press to Majestic View Farm to take tours of the land and learn about the context of the termination letter we were presented with in April. City Council did not send representation though Arvada residents did and expressed concerns over lack of attendance from City representatives.
FrontLine Farming was clear in our request:
Grant FrontLine Farming a 99-year lease on the agricultural acreage currently under cultivation at Majestic View.
Provide a three-year transition period to allow FrontLine to separate from shared infrastructure and construct independent systems, including access, utilities, storage, irrigation and operational infrastructure.
Commit to a collaborative planning process that recognizes the value of community agriculture, food production and long-term land stewardship.
We asked our partners and supporters to attend the June 16th, 2026 Arvada City Council Meeting and sign up for public comment to tell them:
FrontLine Farming should remain on the land.
The City should pursue a long-term lease rather than displacement.
A three-year transition period is necessary for any infrastructure separation.
Community agriculture is a public benefit and should be treated as such.
Personal stories matter more than form letters - ask your council members to review our timeline below and meet directly with FrontLine Farming.
We also ask that community requests meetings with City Council members - small groups of residents and community partners can have a significant impact and often mean more than public comments, alone.
TIMELINE OF THE LAND
The following timeline was presented and the slides and handout from that presentation are attached below.
PART I: LAND & COMMUNITY CONTEXT
Date | Event | What Happened |
Pre-1850 | Indigenous Stewardship | The land now known as Arvada and Majestic View sits within the traditional homelands of Indigenous peoples, including the Arapaho and Cheyenne, who stewarded these grasslands, waterways, and food systems for generations. |
1850s–1860s | Settlement & Agricultural Development | Following the discovery of gold at Ralston Creek, settler expansion transformed the landscape. Irrigation systems and agricultural production became central to the region's development. |
1910s–1930s | Agricultural Identity | Arvada became nationally known as the "Celery Capital of the World," building its identity around farming and food production. |
1920s | Ku Klux Klan Influence | Like much of Colorado, Arvada and Jefferson County experienced significant KKK activity and political influence during the 1920s, reflecting a broader period of exclusion and racialized power in public life. |
2002 | Majestic View Nature Center Opens | The Nature Center opens with a focus on local natural and agricultural history. |
2016 | Equity Added to Parks Planning | Arvada adopts planning documents emphasizing equity and access within parks and open space systems. |
2022 | We the People Consulting Controversy | The City hires We the People Consulting, a Native woman-owned DEI firm, to support diversity and inclusion work. Following public controversy and backlash, the contract is terminated, becoming a highly visible local debate regarding equity and inclusion efforts. |
2024 | Oberon Outdoor Classroom Approved | Expansion of educational infrastructure adjacent to FrontLine Farming's leased property moves forward. |
PART II: FRONTLINE FARMING AT MAJESTIC VIEW
Date | Event | What Happened |
February 2019 | Lease Begins | FrontLine Farming enters a lease with the City of Arvada for approximately 1.83 acres at Majestic View. |
2019–2024 | Partnership & Stewardship Era | FrontLine transforms the site into a productive community farm, providing food production, CSA shares, food access programs, youth education, cultural events, volunteer opportunities, and farmer training. Relationships with Anne Hoover and previous Nature Center leadership are collaborative and productive. |
2020–2024 | Pandemic Era & Deferred Management | Throughout and after the pandemic, portions of the Kennedy Property and surrounding areas experience deferred maintenance and inconsistent management. FrontLine routinely identifies maintenance issues, removes debris, stewards shared spaces, and helps care for portions of the property beyond its leased acreage. |
March 2024 | Lease Renewed | After successful years on the land, building and maintaining relationships with Anna Moore, Nature Center Director and Enessa Janes, Arvada Parks Director - Lease is amended to clarify responsible parties and is renewed for 5 years with a 5 year option. |
April 2025 | Leadership Transition & First Meeting | Lindsay Gillis becomes Majestic View Nature Center Director. During the first meeting, she has not reviewed the current lease agreement but begins discussing responsibilities, standards, and expectations. Fatuma documents the interaction as dissonant, hierarchical, and disrespectful, noting that the conversation begins from a position of authority rather than relationship-building. Lindsay later apologizes, acknowledging that the initial meeting "did not sit well" and asks for a fresh start. |
April–May 2025 | New Direction from Nature Center | Lindsay begins discussing changes to Kennedy Property, future programming, responsibilities, and management expectations before a broader alignment process has occurred. FrontLine requests that discussions first occur through Ryan Stevenson and the lease structure. |
May 8, 2025 | First Meeting with Ryan Stevenson, Arvada Director of Vibrant Neighborhoods | Ryan tours the farm, hears concerns regarding communication, partnership, and management of shared spaces. |
May 9, 2025 | Lindsay Apologizes | Lindsay apologizes for the first interaction and states she wants a fresh start and a better relationship moving forward. |
May 9, 2025 | Ryan Retracts Warning Letter | Ryan retracts a certified warning letter and requests a reset of the relationship, acknowledging the letter was sent too abruptly. "I left a voicemail about a certified letter that may reach you soon. It was sent far too abruptly since we just met yesterday and I would much rather work with you in an amicable way. The tone of the letter may not convey that and I would like to do the 'reset' we discussed yesterday." |
May–June 2025 | Relationship Rebuilding | Ryan receives annual reports, visits the site, attends meetings, and discusses future collaboration. |
Summer 2025 | Formal Concerns Raised | FrontLine raises concerns regarding communication, treatment, unilateral decision-making, project planning, and management of shared spaces. FrontLine expresses concern that collaborative processes are being replaced with directives. |
Summer 2025 | "Unused Land" Discussion | During discussions about future planning and programming, Lindsay describes portions of the property as "unused land" while discussing future use of the site. |
June 2025 | Scheduling & Shared Space Conflict | Lindsay begins issuing programming schedules and requests that FrontLine avoid certain uses of Kennedy Property. FrontLine responds that no shared-space restrictions should be imposed until broader conversations with Ryan have occurred and notes that the garage, lunch area, and daily operations depend on access through Kennedy Property. |
Summer 2025 | Agreement to Plan Together | Discussions occur regarding planning and coordination for the 2026 season. FrontLine understands that future planning and major site decisions will be addressed collaboratively during winter planning conversations. |
July–October 2025 | Calendar Coordination Efforts | Both parties exchange calendars, event schedules, and attempt walk-throughs. Multiple meetings are postponed due to scheduling conflicts, illness, and staffing limitations. FrontLine shares Farm-to-Table, World Heritage Potluck, Corn Fest, and other major events. |
November 2025 | Materials Moved Without Permission | FrontLine discovers materials and equipment have been moved while staff are absent. FrontLine objects and states that no equipment or farm materials should be moved without communication and consent. Lindsay later agrees that farm supplies should not be moved without permission. |
November 2025 – February 2026 | Communication Breakdown | FrontLine repeatedly requests meetings regarding infrastructure, planning, shared spaces, and operational concerns while preparing for the 2026 season. |
February 2026 | Planning Discussions Resume | FrontLine raises concerns regarding communication, Kennedy Property access, shared spaces, and future planning. |
March 2026 | FrontLine Shares 2026 Calendar | FrontLine submits its annual programming calendar and longstanding event schedule for the upcoming season. |
Spring 2026 | City Programming Calendar Issued | The City distributes a programming calendar containing camps, archery, educational activities, and periods where FrontLine is informed it will not be able to fully use portions of the driveway and surrounding shared spaces needed to access the garage and leased property. |
March 10, 2026 | Electrical Line Discovered | City staff discover an electrical line serving farm infrastructure. |
April 6, 2026 | Lease Termination Issued | Allison Scheck issues a lease termination notice. |
April 9, 2026 | Master Electrician visit on behalf of FrontLine | A licensed Master Electrician noted:
|
April 15, 2026 | City Hall Meeting | Fatuma Emmad, Damien Thompson, Jessica Caouette, and Jenifer Rodriguez (Arvada citizen and Board member) meet with Ryan Stevenson and Allison Scheck, Deputy City Manager. Lindsay Gillis attends. |
April 15, 2026 | Retracted Violations Revisited | Ryan references concerns previously contained in the March 2025 warning letter despite retracting that letter and requesting a reset. FrontLine reminds him of the voicemails and email quoted. Allison confirms this is not "about previous lease issues" and agrees that letter is not on the record per Ryan's communication. |
April 15, 2026 | "The Space No Longer Serves You" | City representatives repeatedly state that Majestic View no longer serves FrontLine Farming's needs and suggest that the partnership has reached its natural conclusion. |
April 15, 2026 | Discussion of Future Farmers | During discussion of the future of the property, City representatives indicate that farming could continue under different circumstances. Jenifer Rodriguez asks whether Black farmers are being displaced while farming remains acceptable on the property. |
April 15, 2026 | Discussion of Race & Displacement | FrontLine raises concerns regarding the displacement of a Black-led farm from public land. Allison responds that she views the discussion as threatening and states she will bring the full force of the City to bear if necessary. She reiterates that the City will prove this is not true. |
April 15, 2026 | FrontLine Raises Process Concerns | During discussions about treatment and process, Allison states, "It seems like you all sit here and say City of Arvada bad, FrontLine good." |
April 15, 2026 | Meeting Ends at Impasse | The meeting concludes without resolution and is later characterized by the City as an impasse. |
Spring 2026 | Follow-Up Meeting with Allison | During a subsequent conversation regarding race, land access, and public land stewardship, Fatuma explains that Black-led farms often operate in constrained spaces. Allison responds that Majestic View is "great for everybody because of that." |
May 18, 2026 | Lease Extension Granted | The City extends the termination date to November 30, 2026, while maintaining the termination decision. |
May 18, 2026 | New Operational Restrictions | The City establishes new conditions regarding programming, storage, shared spaces, and use of the Outdoor Classroom and Kennedy Property. |
2025–2026 | Community Impact at Risk | FrontLine produces nearly 20,000 pounds of food, donates approximately 11,000 pounds, provides CSA access, SNAP/WIC support, education, volunteer opportunities, cultural programming, and farmer training from the site. |