Council:

Over the past two years, and certainly in the lead-up to the decision on the reservoir, I offered my two bits
regarding the various master plan issues at stake.

The key issue was certainly whether council would continue to allow high-impact motorized recreation, and while that’s still
important, the more significant gap exists in that council simply “passed over” the opportunity to both preserve the wildlife
and make the reservoir a better spot for the average Boulder resident’s recreational interests.
(Try to remember…every statistical element available indicates that the “average” Boulder resident does not own or operate
a fuel-powered motor boat.)

The council passed over the opportunity to put in a beach or a swimmer’s dock.  The council passed over the opportunity to
improve the facilities with a locker room or other amenity typical of a recreation center and found presently at
existing city-owned rec centers.  The council passed over the opportunity to improve the water quality, or at least maintain it
at its existing level with the possibility of improvement.  The council passed over the opportunity to seek out and create partnerships
with upstream water sources to improve the quality of the water.

These decisions — in addition to the decision on boating — reflect very poorly on council.  In fact, it is a disgrace that there
were no members of council willing to commit the small amount of time necessary to “flesh out” the various options.
At the finish, from staff and apparently — council’s perspective — the options I mention simply did not exist or have any valid
basis for full investigation by staff and/or the other participants interested in securing the future of Boulder res.

The final issue here is that no one deserves to drink water contaminated — not by sources within the purview and control of the municipal water authority.  For instance, if we lived in an area where some water came from a mountain source that was pure — and another source that was less pure — but by virtue of no actions taken upon it by government — that would be one thing.

Here, we’re looking at a horse of a different color.  The quality of the water IS IMPACTED BY POLICY. Further, it is not policy dictated by health and safety concerns.  You can’t stand in front of a jury and tell them and the rest of the world that people need to skl or they will die — however, if people do not have uncontaminated water, they can either get ill or possibly die of that cause.

The reservoir needs to be thoroughly tested forensically.  If there are heavy metals at the bottom of the reservoir, the standard
treatment includes not creating turbid water with motor boats.

We’re going to get there with this — I’m sorry to see that there is not a shred of responsibility the Boulder city council would
choose to share with those who seek — quite simply — a better result for all of the city’s residents.

Rob
720-982-2439