Arvada Mayor Pro Tem Delivers State of the City Address

Updates on homelessness, staffing, and infrastructure highlighted in annual speech

Apr. 13, 2026 at 10:04pm

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A serene, cinematic painting of a single city street lamp or traffic signal standing tall against a backdrop of warm, golden sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of civic pride and community resilience in the face of challenges.The annual State of the City address offers a chance to reflect on Arvada's progress and future plans, from addressing homelessness to upgrading infrastructure.Arvada Today

Arvada Mayor Pro Tem Randy Moorman delivered the city's annual State of the City address on April 10, highlighting progress on key issues like homelessness, police staffing, and infrastructure. Moorman celebrated the city's efforts to move around 100 unhoused individuals into permanent housing, announced the police department is close to being fully staffed again, and discussed plans to increase road maintenance funding in 2026.

Why it matters

The State of the City address provides an important annual update on the priorities and initiatives of the Arvada city government. As a fast-growing suburb of Denver, Arvada faces challenges common to many Colorado communities, including addressing homelessness, maintaining aging infrastructure, and recruiting and retaining public sector employees. Moorman's speech offered insights into how the city is tackling these issues.

The details

In his address, Moorman praised the city's efforts to provide temporary shelter and permanent housing for unhoused individuals, noting that around 70% of those who used the city's Suburban Studios program moved into permanent homes. He also announced that the Arvada Police Department has hired 31 new officers in the past year thanks to a revamped recruitment strategy, helping to address longstanding staffing shortages. Additionally, Moorman discussed plans to nearly double the number of lane miles resurfaced in Arvada in 2026, though he acknowledged the city still has the fifth-worst roads in the region.

  • Moorman delivered the State of the City address on April 10, 2026.
  • In 2025, the city began leasing units in Suburban Studios to provide temporary shelter for unhoused individuals.
  • The Arvada Police Department hired 31 new officers in 2025.

The players

Randy Moorman

Arvada Mayor Pro Tem who delivered the 2026 State of the City address.

Lauren Simpson

Arvada Mayor who was unable to deliver the address this year due to recovering from surgery.

Don Wick

Arvada's new City Manager.

Allison Scheck

Arvada's new Assistant City Manager.

Marc Williams

Former Arvada Mayor who inspired the city council to wear colorful wigs during the WIG report.

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What they’re saying

“I am absolutely, positively thrilled to be here with all of you today. Unfortunately, I can't stand for an hour quite yet. But don't worry, I'll be back again next year.”

— Lauren Simpson, Arvada Mayor

“Mayor Simpson, I am proud to serve with you. Many of us are wearing pink today to show our solidarity and our support for you and those impacted by breast cancer. Thank you for raising the awareness about the importance of screening and early treatment, and I know I speak on behalf of all of us here today that we hope you have a very speedy recovery.”

— Randy Moorman, Arvada Mayor Pro Tem

“When I look back at 2025 what stands out to me is not just what we've accomplished, but how we've accomplished it. We delivered real results... (there is) a lot happening in the world around us that requires us to be resilient, ready for environmental changes, technological advancements and societal challenges.”

— Randy Moorman, Arvada Mayor Pro Tem

“These numbers matter, because behind every number is a person; someone who needed help navigating vital documents, income, healthcare, employment and the housing system itself, and this program focused on helping people clear those barriers so they could move forward.”

— Randy Moorman, Arvada Mayor Pro Tem

“Our police department reimagined how they recruit the next generation of officers through a redesigned strategy and year-long campaign. Applications reached record levels, and the largest academy class in years graduated in December. We are close to being fully staffed once again here at APD.”

— Randy Moorman, Arvada Mayor Pro Tem

What’s next

The city council will continue to focus on the Wildly Important Goals (WIGs) outlined in the address, including increasing cybersecurity measures, getting more unhoused people into housing, improving roadways, and celebrating upcoming anniversaries.

The takeaway

Arvada is tackling key challenges facing many Colorado communities, from homelessness to infrastructure needs, through a combination of innovative programs, strategic staffing, and a commitment to serving the city's residents. The mayor pro tem's speech highlighted the city's progress and plans to build on its momentum in the year ahead.