The initial plans for a $1.2 million community center that will boost efforts to educate residents on ways to protect the environment and relieve the effects of climate change got the unanimous approval of the Westminster City Council Monday night.

The facility, which will be built near the city’s new drinking water treatment plant on Westminster Boulevard north of 98th Avenue, will advance careers in water utilities, environmental management, sustainability and other related trades and professions, according to a city staff report to the city council.

Local non-profit groups and businesses could use the center, which will be built to conserve resources and to adhere to the newest landscaping standards.

“…The transformative community center… aims to empower residents and visitors to be active participants in the health and wellbeing of the environment and to mitigate and adapt to the severe impacts of our changing environment,” the staff report states. “The Center aims to be a community hub that improves social networks and connections.”

Councilors unanimously approved the facility, which will be funded through a $1 million grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and $250,000 in matching funds from the city’s Capital Improvement Fund.   

Councilor Claire Carmelia said the center will provide environmental education for the community as well as providing instruction on environmental careers for students. “I am just so excited about this,” Carmelia said. “This is going to be huge. A lot will be going on in this small space.”

The state grant comes from Colorado’s severance tax on energy and mineral production and from a portion of the state’s share of royalties paid to the federal government for mining and drilling of minerals and mineral fuels on federally owned land, according to the staff report.

The local matching funds were already appropriated in the city’s 2025 budget, the city states.

The center project is nearing the end of its initial “visioning” phase, city officials said. “As it moves out of this phase, the city will engage residents; prospective partners including organizations, non-profits, schools, and institutions of higher education; and additional shareholders on the project,” the staff report states.

City councilors will also get periodic updates.