Posts tagged Boulder County Commissioners
Boulder County Commissioners reject agreement with Denver Water Board on the proposed Gross Reservoir expansion
0Boulder County, Colo. – Last night, the Board of County Commissioners declined to sign an intergovernmental agreement with the Denver Water Board regarding the proposed expansion of Gross Reservoir.
After hearing to more than six hours of public testimony over a span of two public hearings – Dec. 20 and Jan. 7 – and receiving more than 200 written communications from Boulder County residents, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously decided not to support the IGA.
The intergovernmental agreement was signed by the Denver Water Board on December 19, 2012, and would have served in lieu of review of the reservoir expansion project under the Boulder County Land Use Code. The IGA had been negotiated by the staffs of Boulder County and Denver Water as a way to address the impacts of the project and to define appropriate mitigation measures, but ultimately didn’t go far enough in protecting the quality of life for residents in the area in the opinion of the County Commissioners.
While they acknowledged some benefits that would result from the proposed agreement, the County Commissioners indicated that the terms of the proposed agreement did not do enough to protect the health, safety and welfare of their constituents or the environment and that they thought it was premature to enter into any agreement before the release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement, which is due later in 2013.
Following the release of the final EIS, the commissioners will work with county staff on a thorough response to the findings, and continue to work with members of the public to address ongoing concerns about the impacts of the proposed project.
Visit www.bouldercounty.org/property/build/pages/moffatgrossiga.aspx for more information. To view the archived video from last night’s hearing, visit the hearings page and select the business meeting for Jan. 7 at www.bouldercounty.org/gov/meetings/pages/hearings.aspx.
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Boulder county commissioners take oil and gas panel to task over water-testing
0Statement from Boulder County Commissioners on the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s new water testing rule
Boulder County – Earlier today, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC ) adopted a new rule for groundwater testing that has been deemed one of the weakest in the nation by citizens and environmental advocates:
“The Boulder County Commissioners are extremely disappointed that the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has decided against putting in place a science-based groundwater protection plan to ensure oil and gas development will not have a detrimental impact to the state’s groundwater resources.
This is especially true in the Greater Wattenberg Area, a large geographic area that includes parts of eastern Boulder County and is exempted wholesale from the statewide rule, making this significant expanse of land subject only to a cursory testing requirement despite having some of the most intensive drilling activity in the state.
This type of rulemaking at the state level is a prime example of why local governments should be able to respond directly to their citizens’ concerns and provide for their community’s request for more protection.”
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Boulder County fire ban rescinded
0Tomorrow, December 19, 2012, Sheriff Joe Pelle will rescind the current Fire Ban. The recent precipitation has reduced the fire danger threat by increasing the amount of moisture in the grasses and the other fuels.
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Boulder County budget released
0Boulder County Commissioners adopt 2013 budget
The county’s mill levy and general operating budget to remain flat for 2013
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Commissioners have adopted a budget of $319.6 million for 2013, down from $321.7 million in 2012.
The 2013 budget represents a nearly flat comparison to the one adopted in 2012, based largely on the fact that the county is in its second year of a biannual property reappraisal cycle. With property values assessed only every other year, the second year in the cycle rarely reflects much of a change in the property tax portion of the county’s projected revenue stream.
The real difference in the budget this year is reflected through a reduction in carryover funds from the year prior and the annual adjustment of revenues in funds other than the General Fund (such as the Road & Bridge Fund and Capital Expenditure Fund) which fluctuate year-to-year based on their designated purpose and funding sources.
In keeping with a flat budget, the County Commissioners have worked hard to bring expenses in line with revenues for 2013, all the while continuing to support programs popular with county residents.
As in past years, the careful and deliberate process of evaluating program requests by elected offices and departments in a public forum has led to sound fiscal decisions that allow the county to function at a high level and continue to provide excellent service to county residents with essentially no increase to the General Fund.
“The 2013 budget is a culmination of more than six months of productive discussion and input from our non-profit leaders, elected officials and department heads who work closely every day with members of the public to figure out how best to meet the needs our community,” said Cindy Domenico, Chair of the Board of County Commissioners. “We are pleased to adopt this fully balanced budget which serves as a guiding document for carrying out the values of our residents.”
Commissioner Deb Gardner said she was pleased to adopt a budget that “balances the long and short term needs of the county and works within a sustainable context to make sure that the county will stay on track for years to come in responding to the priorities set forth by the residents of Boulder County.”
Commissioner Will Toor remarked on the complexity of the county budget and praised the efforts of county leaders and staff for continuing to implement and expand on highly-desired programs for residents, even within a fiscally-constrained framework.
“Whether we look at the strong support for our non-profit community and our human services safety net programs, or the extension of the popular EnergySmart program,” which faces an end to its federal grant in mid-2013, “or the continued improvement of our county’s transportation network, including all modes of transportation, we’re very pleased with the ability to support incremental expansions of these programs despite the fiscal constraints we’re under,” said Toor.
The County Commissioners thanked staff and everyone from the public who participated in the budget process, acknowledging that the collaborative effort in creating next year’s budget made for a much better document through their efforts.
Commissioners certify mill levy
The Commissioners also today certified a mill levy of 24.645 mills, the same as the last two years, which is projected to generate property tax revenues of $134,612,456 in 2013 (up only slightly from $134,408,021 in 2012). The county’s mill levy amount represents roughly 29 percent of a property owner’s total average property tax bill within Boulder County. Other taxing entities that receive property tax revenues include (from 2012 data): school districts (53%), cities and towns (11%), and “other” fire, water and special districts (7%).
For a copy of the funding package for 2013, visit: www.bouldercounty.org/gov/budget.
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Local residents win Home Energy Makeover with EnergySmart
0Reichert family will receive $20,000 worth of energy upgrades
Boulder County, Colo. – John Reichert and his family received a pleasant surprise today when the Boulder County Commissioners and EnergySmart staffers visited to award them the Grand Prize in the EnergySmart Home Energy Makeover.
The Home Energy Makeover grand prize, valued at approximately $20,000, includes a new energy efficient furnace, air sealing and insulation upgrades to the attic and crawlspace/basement, an energy efficient water heater, cooling system upgrades, and $4,000 to use for recommended energy upgrades of the homeowner’s choosing.
John and Kathleen Reichert live in Boulder with their son, James, 6. They purchased their home intending to make it a more sustainable place to raise their family. “Have you ever been caught by a six-year-old for putting an aluminum can in the trash?” John said. Shortly after moving in, however, John’s position at work was eliminated and Kathleen’s hospice-care salary didn’t allow for the planned upgrades.
The Reichert family made it through three rounds of selection to win the grand prize. In round one, their home was identified as one of the top fifteen poorest performing homes having received an EnergySmart assessment.
In round two, the Reicherts submitted a short essay explaining why they needed a Home Energy Makeover, which was selected as one of three finalists by a panel of local energy expert judges. In round three, the three finalists were interviewed and the Reicherts were chosen as the best fit for the award.
Earlier this week, four homes won equal second place prizes, including a new energy efficient furnace, home air sealing and insulation upgrades, and $1,500 to use toward a recommended energy upgrade of the homeowner’s choice.
Contest prizes were largely donated by local contractors:
• Grand Prize package: Solar City
• Insulation/air sealing: EcoHandyman, ThermalCraft Insulation, EcoSmart Homes, ERC Insulation.
• Furnace installations: Service Experts, SAC Mechanical
EnergySmart focuses on improvements that will reduce energy waste, improve comfort, and produce cost-savings for both residential and business participants. Services include energy assessments and expert advisor assistance with finding contractors and all available rebates and financing options for energy efficiency upgrades.
Since the program’s launch in January 2011, EnergySmart has helped more than 6,600 residents and 2,200 businesses throughout Boulder County.
EnergySmart is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the U.S. Department of Energy’s BetterBuildings grant program and is sponsored in partnership by Boulder County, the City of Boulder’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) tax, the City of Longmont, Xcel Energy and Platte River Power Authority. For more information, visit www.EnergySmartYES.com or call 303-544-1000 (for homes) or 303-441-1300 (for businesses).
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Boulder County to celebrate opening of Josephine Commons, named for a mine owner AND a human rights activist
070-unit low-income development for seniors was fully leased within 5 days
Boulder County, Colo. – Just one year after its groundbreaking, project managers, elected officials, and residents will gather on Thursday, Oct. 18 to celebrate the grand opening of Josephine Commons, one of Boulder County’s largest affordable housing developments.
The grand opening celebration will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 18 at Josephine Commons, 455 N. Burlington Ave. in Lafayette. Congressman Jared Polis and the Boulder County Commissioners will be among those who will speak. There will be tours of the buildings and property, and the public is invited to attend.
Planning, construction, and operations of Josephine Commons are being overseen by the Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA), a division of the county’s Department of Housing and Human Services (BCDHHS). The county received a Certificate of Occupancy in late August for Phase I of the project, and had leased all of the apartments within five days. “The very quick lease-up is certainly a testament to the need for low-income housing in Boulder County,” said Frank Alexander, who is director of both the BCHA and BCDHHS. “It’s heartening to know that this project is helping boost the self-sufficiency and dignity of so many of our seniors.”
Phase I of Josephine Commons features 74 units on 3.4 acres of county-owned land in east Lafayette. This includes 70 apartment-style units in a mid-rise building. The 78,000-square-foot three-story main building also features a library, great room and large commercial kitchen. The project’s Phase II, Aspinwall at Josephine Commons, will feature 72 additional townhomes and duplex units for low-income seniors and families, and will break ground in mid-2013.
Funding for the $17.9 million Phase I of Josephine Commons has come largely from private investors through Low Income Housing Tax Credits arranged by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority. Significant support also came from Boulder County taxpayers through $400,000 in Worthy Cause funding. And $550,000 in Colorado Home Investment Partnership (HOME) funds were provided by the Colorado Division of Housing. Other business support included a $12 million construction loan from Citibank.
Josephine Commons is named afterone-time owner of the Rocky Mountain Fuel Company, which once ran a coal mine where the development now sits. In the early 1930s, Roche stood out as a champion of workers’ rights, instituting the highest wages in the mining industry, fighting against child labor, and inviting unionization of her mines.
Also significant is the fact that the retired coal mines were used as renewable energy for Josephine Commons. Geothermal wells were drilled to depths of 400 feet, passing through the old mine shafts. Pipes were then installed to feed the heating and cooling systems, a process that greatly reduces the energy required for temperature control in the buildings. The project also features more than 100 kilowatts of rooftop and carport solar panel electricity generation.
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County fire ban rescinded
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Sale and use of fireworks prohibited in Boulder County
0oday, the Boulder County Commissioners approved Sheriff Pelle’s recommendation to amend the current fire ban, which has been in effect since April 2, to prohibit the sale and use of all fireworks within all of unincorporated Boulder County. The new amendments to the fire ban were effective as of noon today.
All other aspects of the current ban remain in place, including the prohibition of open burning in the unincorporated mountains and foothills, including all areas west of the North Foothills Highway and Rabbit Mountain Open Space; areas north of the City of Boulder; west of Broadway Avenue through the City of Boulder; and west of the South Foothills Highway.
The decision to amend the ban was due in part to the predicted weather forecasts indicating higher than normal temperatures with lower than normal precipitation. The Fire Danger Rating continuously remains in the high to very high categories, with fire fuels continuing to dry out. As the Fourth of July holiday draws near, individuals begin to sell and use fireworks, which increase the potential for an ignition source and a large fire similar to the Hewlett Fire currently burning in Larimer County, or the Lower North Fork Fire in Jefferson County earlier this year.
Taking into consideration that firework vendors begin hiring temporary employees and purchasing fireworks for their stands, Sheriff Pelle wanted to address these concerns sooner than later. At this time, Boulder County had only received one application from a fireworks vendor to sell fireworks this year.
The fire ban will remain in effect until the hazardous fire conditions subside.
Anyone found in violation of the fire ban may be convicted of a class 2 petty offense and may be subject to a $500 fine. Higher fines may be imposed for subsequent offenses.
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Boulder County fire danger high
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Lefthand Canyon OHV area closed
Boulder County, Colo. – With dry and windy weather conditions expected through the weekend, Sheriff Joe Pelle and the Boulder County Commissioners are reminding residents and visitors to take caution and be aware that fire danger is extremely high.
The fire ban imposed Tuesday remains in effect. Open burning is restricted and Sheriff Pelle has asked people to refrain from shooting or any other activities that could provide a source of possible ignition
Additionally, the U.S. Forest Service has temporarily closed the Lefthand Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle area northwest of Boulder to all entry and uses until further notice.
“Two of three recent fires on the Boulder Ranger District were located in the Lefthand Canyon OHV area,” Acting District Ranger Dave Park said in a USFS news release. “Quick response and early detection helped us keep the fires small. But heavy use combined with dry, lower elevation conditions and expected windy weather continues to be a concern. This area will remain closed until conditions improve.”
USFS officials have asked visitors to use extra caution with all activities. At this time of year fire danger can vary by location and increase rapidly on windy days. “The county appreciates the Forest Service’s proactive stance during this time of very high fire danger and resource issues,” Pelle said.
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Tell Boulder County where it can put its $$$
0Boulder County Commissioners to hold public hearing on Oct. 27 to solicit input from residents
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27 to solicit input from residents on suggestions and recommendations for the 2012 county budget.
The hearing will take place in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room on the third floor of the Boulder Courthouse at 1325 Pearl St. in Boulder, and members of the public are invited to provide input on 2012 funding for county services and programs.
During the months of September and October, each county elected office and department, along with representatives from local nonprofit human services agencies, presented their 2012 budget requests to the commissioners at a series of public hearings.
Those funding requests, which can fluctuate up until the time the County Commissioners make their recommendations to budget staff for inclusion in the 2012 budget package, can be viewed in-person Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Commissioners’ Office, also on the third floor of the Courthouse.
The Board of County Commissioners will review all budget requests and public input at the 2012 Budget Work Session to be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3 in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room. The public is invited to attend the work session, but no public testimony will be taken.
Members of the public may provide comments about 2012 county funding at Thursday’s hearing, by email to commissioners@bouldercounty.org, by mail to Boulder County Commissioners’ Office, P.O. Box 471, Boulder, CO 80306, or by phone at 303-441-3500. A final public hearing on the budget will be scheduled in mid-November.
Information about current and prior year’s budgets is available on the county’s website at: www.bouldercounty.org. Search for “budget” in the search field at the top of the page. By state law, the Board of County Commissioners must adopt a final 2012 budget by Dec. 15.
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Boulder County Commissioners refer four issues to the November ballot
0Issues would modify term limits for the Sheriff, create a Mountains Forest Improvement District and create a special assessment for two local improvement districts
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Commissioners have referred one countywide ballot issue and three local improvement district issues to the November 1, 2011, Odd-Year Coordinated Election ballot. They include:
The modification of term limits for the Office of the Boulder County Sheriff (countywide);
The creation of the Boulder County Mountains Forest Improvement District;
A Special Assessment Bond Issue in the Pine Brook Hills Local Improvement District;
A Special Assessment Bond Issue in the Crestview Estates Local Improvement District.
The ballot titles for the four issues were certified today by the Board of County Commissioners and sent to the County Clerk for inclusion on the ballot. The certifying resolution reads:
WHEREAS, based upon the proposals for each of these ballot questions/issues, this Board considered and adopted appropriate ballot titles for each proposal in Resolutions Nos. 2011-97, 2011-94, 2011-95, and 2011-96; and
WHEREAS, this Board is required to certify these ballot questions/issues and titles to the County Clerk and Recorder for publication of the ballot titles on the ballots for the voters for the November 1, 2011, odd-year coordinated election, on or before September 2, 2011, and to meet all other requirements of state election law; and
WHEREAS, subject to any amendments or modifications or additions that the Board desires to make and of which the County Clerk is notified prior to such deadline, the Board desires to proceed to certify these ballot questions/issues according to their respective approved ballot titles to the County Clerk for placement on the ballot for the November 1, 2011, odd-year coordinated election.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the aforementioned ballot questions/issues, each of which is a referred measure, as represented by these ballot titles complete with submission clauses, shall be placed upon the November 1, 2011, odd-year coordinated election ballot, and all other constitutionally and statutorily required matters shall be performed in order to effectuate the election on each of these questions/issues.
COUNTY QUESTION 1A: [MODIFICATION OF TERM LIMITS FOR THE OFFICE OF THE BOULDER COUNTY SHERIFF]
SHALL THE TERM LIMITS IMPOSED BY STATE LAW AND IN ARTICLE XVIII, SECTION 11, OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION ON THE OFFICE OF SHERIFF OF BOULDER COUNTY, BE MODIFIED SO AS TO PERMIT AN ELECTED OFFICEHOLDER IN THAT OFFICE TO SEEK AND, IF THE VOTERS OF BOULDER COUNTY CHOOSE TO RE-ELECT THAT PERSON TO A FOURTH TERM IN OFFICE, TO SERVE A FOURTH CONSECUTIVE TERM?
YES ___ NO ___
PINE BROOK HILLS BOULDER COUNTY LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ISSUE 5A: [SPECIAL ASSESSMENT BOND ISSUE IN THE PINE BROOK HILLS LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT]
SHALL BOULDER COUNTY DEBT (FOR PINE BROOK HILLS BOULDER COUNTY LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT) BE INCREASED $ 2,654,593 , WITH A REPAYMENT COST OF $ 4,644,700 , FOR THE PURPOSE OF REHABILITATING EXISTING PAVED ROADS, INCLUDING COSTS INCIDENTAL THERETO, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RESERVES THEREFOR, BY THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENT BONDS PAYABLE FROM SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS IMPOSED AGAINST BENEFITED PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND OTHER LEGALLY AVAILABLE FUNDS, WHICH BONDS SHALL BE ISSUED, DATED AND SOLD AT SUCH TIME OR TIMES AND IN SUCH MANNER AND CONTAIN SUCH TERMS, NOT INCONSISTENT HEREWITH, AS THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY DETERMINE; AND SHALL THE REVENUES FROM SUCH SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AND ANY EARNINGS THEREON AND FROM THE INVESTMENT OF THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH BONDS CONSTITUTE A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE?
YES ___ NO ___
CRESTVIEW ESTATES BOULDER COUNTY LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ISSUE 5B: [SPECIAL ASSESSMENT BOND ISSUE IN THE CRESTVIEW ESTATES LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT]
SHALL BOULDER COUNTY DEBT (FOR CRESTVIEW ESTATES BOULDER COUNTY LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT) BE INCREASED $ 871,560.80, WITH A REPAYMENT COST OF $ 1,357,600, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REHABILITATING EXISTING PAVED ROADS, INCLUDING COSTS INCIDENTAL THERETO, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RESERVES THEREFOR, BY THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENT BONDS PAYABLE FROM SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS IMPOSED AGAINST BENEFITED PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND OTHER LEGALLY AVAILABLE FUNDS, WHICH BONDS SHALL BE ISSUED, DATED AND SOLD AT SUCH TIME OR TIMES AND IN SUCH MANNER AND CONTAIN SUCH TERMS, NOT INCONSISTENT HEREWITH, AS THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY DETERMINE; AND SHALL THE REVENUES FROM SUCH SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AND ANY EARNINGS THEREON AND FROM THE INVESTMENT OF THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH BONDS CONSTITUTE A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE?
YES ___ NO ___
BOULDER COUNTY MOUNTAINS FOREST IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT QUESTION 5C: [CREATION OF THE BOULDER COUNTY MOUNTAINS FOREST IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT]
SHALL THE BOULDER COUNTY MOUNTAINS FOREST IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BE CREATED FOR THE PURPOSES OF IMPROVING FOREST HEALTH AND REDUCTION OF WILDFIRE HAZARDS, AS WELL AS OTHER PURPOSES AUTHORIZED BY LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE COLORADO FOREST IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ACT, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ RESOLUTION NO. 2011-94?
YES ___ NO ___
Copies of the ballot language resolutions are available online at www.bouldercounty.org.
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Boulder County invites residents to voice opinions, provide guidance
0Recruitment underway for advisory boards, commissions
Boulder County, Colo. – Boulder County is seeking volunteers who would like to voice their opinions and help guide decisions on matters ranging from the aging community to land use planning and mosquito control.
The county is recruiting residents to serve on 14 advisory boards and commissions. Advisory boards and commissions provide recommendations to the Boulder County Commissioners and give residents the opportunity to have their voices heard within Boulder County government. The county, in turn, benefits from this citizen input.
Boulder County is currently recruiting members for the following advisory boards and commissions:
• Aging Advisory Council
• Board of Review
• Citizen Review Panel
• Community Action Programs Administering Board
• Community Corrections Board
• Core Services Board
• Cultural Council
• Extension Advisory Committee
• Fire Code Review Committee
• Human Services Advisory Committee
• Mosquito Control Advisory Board
• Niwot LID Advisory Committee
• Resource Conservation Advisory Board
• Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness Advisory Board
The deadline to submit applications is Friday, July 29 at 4:30 p.m. To view descriptions of the various boards and commissions or to download an application, visit www.bouldercounty.org and click on “boards and commissions.”
For more information, contact Carrie Haverfield in the Boulder County Commissioners’ Office at 303-441-1688 or chaverfield@bouldercounty.org.
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Joint City Council and Planning Board public hearing for the 2010 Major Update to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan
0City Council and Planning Board will hold a joint public hearing to consider proposed policy, text and map changes to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP) as part of the 2010 Major Update at 6:30 p.m. (or immediately following the Energy Roundtable) on Tuesday, May 24, in City Council Chambers.
The draft 2010 Major Update to the BVCP is available for review at www.bouldervalleycomplan.net.
After the public hearing, Planning Board will deliberate and take action on the BVCP. City Council will consider the adoption of the updated plan at its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 7. Adoption hearings with the Boulder County Planning Commission and Boulder County Commissioners will be held in July and August.
These adoption meetings are the culmination of more than a year’s worth of working with the community, advisory boards and City Council to revise and refine development priorities, standards and preservation for the Boulder Valley over the next five years.
The BVCP is a joint plan between the City of Boulder and Boulder County, providing shared land use decision‑making in the Boulder Valley. The plan sets a course for the future growth and development of the city and the lands just outside the city’s boundaries.
For more information about the 2010 Update to the BVCP, visit www.bouldervalleycompplan.net or contact Chris Meschuk at 303-441-4293 or meschukc@bouldercolorado.gov.
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Draft Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan 2010 Major Update available for review
0The draft Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP) 2010 Major Update is now available for review at www.bouldervalleycompplan.net; paper copies can also be obtained by calling 303-441-4293. To learn about the various feedback opportunities, visit the draft plan website. Comments received by Friday, April 29 will be reflected in future public hearing materials.
An open house will be held on Wednesday, April 20 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building Lobby, 1777 Broadway. Staff will be available to answer questions and take feedback.
The draft plan is currently scheduled for consideration at the following public meetings:
· City Council and Planning Board joint public hearing on Tuesday, May 24, 2011
· Boulder County Planning Commission on Wednesday, July 20 at the Boulder County Court House. 1325 Pearl St.
· Boulder County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, July 26 at the Boulder County Court House, 1325 Pearl St.
These dates/times are subject to change. All meetings will be posted at www.bouldervalleycompplan.net.
For more than a year, the city has been collecting community feedback for the BVCP 2010 Major Update. The major update process happens every five years to reflect changes in circumstances and community desires. The BVCP indicates the preferred long-term use of land in the Boulder Valley and provides guidance for zoning and development decisions. It is adopted by four bodies: The City of Boulder Planning Board, the City Council, the County Planning Commission, and the Board of County Commissioners.
For more information, visit www.bouldervalleycompplan.net.
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County Commissioners propose two ballot issues for Nov. election
0Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Commissioners have proposed two issues for the November ballot. The first asks voters to approve a 0.9 mill levy property tax increase to backfill state funding cuts and preserve funding for basic human services such as food assistance, medical care, and access to quality child welfare programs, low income child care and crisis intervention services.
The second issue seeks to create a 0.15 percent sales and use tax to acquire and maintain open space properties, including critical habitat and agricultural lands, stream corridors, major lands near or within existing open space mountain parks, and highly visible buffer lands between cities and towns.
The commissioners will approve resolutions referring these two issues to the ballot at a business meeting scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 27 in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder. The final deadline for certifying ballot titles to the County Clerk for inclusion on the ballot is Friday, Sept. 3.
Human Services “Backfill” Property Tax Mill Levy Increase
The Board of County Commissioners has recommended a 0.9 mill ad valorem property tax increase for a term of five years to backfill significant gaps in state funding for human services. Using current property values for Boulder County, the mill levy increase would equate to about $7 per $100,000 in actual property value (e.g., $21 for a property valued at $300,000) and is expected to generate about $5.2 million per year for five years beginning in 2011.
Currently, Boulder County is experiencing unprecedented caseload growth and human service demands, coupled with reduced financial support from the state. The combination of increased need and decreased funding has placed significant strains on the county’s ability to effectively meet the needs of Boulder County’s most vulnerable residents.
Addressing the Board of County Commissioners, Department of Housing and Human Services Director Frank Alexander stated his support for the five-year backfill of state underfunding and cuts as a limited-time effort to “help provide for a basic level of high quality services that promote family stability and ensure that people have access to the basic services they need to get out of crisis and continue toward self-sufficiency.”
Each year, the Board would be authorized to decrease the amount of property tax collected for the backfill by setting a temporary mill levy credit if state funding is increased relative to the projected Boulder County caseloads beyond current levels.
Open Space Sales and Use Tax
The Board of County Commissioners has recommended a ballot issue asking voters to approve a new 0.15 percent sales and use tax that provides funding for the Boulder County Parks and Open Space program. The tax, equal to 15 cents for every $100 spent, would be in effect for 20 years.
Revenues generated would be used for
Acquisition and preservation of major remaining open lands, including those surrounding or within the foothills open space parks of Heil, Hall and Caribou ranches
Highly visible buffer lands between the county’s cities and towns and outside of their urban growth areas
Wildlife habitats and stream corridors
Lands that include trail corridors connecting communities to open space properties
Agricultural lands and improvements that enhance local food production
“Both of these questions are quality of life questions,” Commissioner Cindy Domenico said. “The long-term vision to preserve our open space and the immediate response to fill the urgent needs of our families reflect long-held values by Boulder County residents to look after the land and the people who reside here.”







































