Boulder County
News from Boulder provided by county information services, county commissioners and more
Cloud on the electric utility horizon?
Nov 18th
City requests reconsideration of state commission ruling on acquisition process for possible local electric utility
The City of Boulder this afternoon asked the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to reconsider an Oct. 29 decision that would delay the city’s efforts to acquire Xcel Energy’s equipment and facilities for the purpose of creating a local electric utility.
The application for rehearing makes clear that Boulder concurs with many of the findings the PUC made on Oct. 29. The city remains 100 percent committed, for example, to working with the PUC on issues that are within the Commission’s jurisdiction and making sure that Boulder’s efforts do not negatively impact service or reliability for Xcel’s remaining customers.
Modern electric turbine
However, there are some issues with which the city does not agree. In its filing today, the city asserts that the Commission transcended the questions it was asked to consider and issued an overly broad ruling that overlooked the powers granted to the city by the constitution. More specifically, the city argues that there are practical and legal reasons for the Commission to reconsider its conclusion that it has the authority to decide what assets Boulder can acquire. The city also explains more fully why it would be premature for the Commission to evaluate any transition plans until a condemnation proceeding has been initiated and discovery has been completed by the city.
“Boulder has no objection to, and in fact is eager to work with Commission staff to prepare the various plans necessary to make Boulder’s acquisition of the Public Service (Xcel) system that serves Boulder as cost-effective as possible, and to ensure that the electric system, both inside and outside of Boulder, is at least as safe and reliable as the current Public Service system,” Senior Assistant City Attorney Deb Kalish said in the filing. “However, Boulder has the constitutional and statutory right to determine which assets it will acquire and the timing of any condemnation action that may be filed.”
Heather Bailey, the city’s executive director for Energy Strategy and Electric Utility Development, said Monday that the PUC’s ruling with regard to these questions could have important implications.
“Boulder voters on Nov. 5 reaffirmed their desire to move forward with the creation of a local electric utility, provided that certain conditions can be met,” Bailey said. “Determining the order of the required proceedings – and the scope of authority for each deciding body – is essential to charting out both the timeline and necessary work plan for moving forward. We are hopeful that the PUC will consider the city’s arguments and help us gain clarity around these questions in a way that is consistent with Colorado law. We look forward to working with PUC staff and commissioners to address any concerns they have.”
The complete filing is attached to this press release.
–CITY–
Couple robbed at gunpoint on Flagstaff
Nov 18th
On Saturday, 11/16/13, at 9:44 PM, Boulder County Communications received a report of an armed robbery on Flagstaff Summit Road, about ¼-mile above Flagstaff Road, within Boulder County, Colorado.
Boulder County Sheriff’s Deputies responded and found two victims, a male and female couple, who reported that they had parked at the Realization Point Trailhead and began hiking up Flagstaff Summit Road toward the Flagstaff Amphitheater.
They stopped briefly at an overlook, where two males approached them. One of the males, described as about 6 feet tall and wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, shined a bright flashlight at them and pointed what appeared to be a handgun at them.
The other male, described as about 5’8” tall and wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, ordered the couple to place all of their belongings on the ground. The male then picked up their belongings, and both suspects ran back down toward the trailhead.
The victims remained where they were, and saw an unknown description vehicle driving down Flagstaff Road. The victims recalled that when they parked at the trailhead, a silver possibly Toyota SUV was also parked there, which had since left. After a few minutes, the victims contacted another couple who were hiking down Flagstaff Summit Road, and used one of their cell phones to call 911.
Anyone with any information pertinent to this case is asked to contact the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office at (303) 441-4444.
Help needy to have a good holiday season
Nov 13th
Boulder County Housing & Human Services offers several options for holiday gift giving for the 2013 holiday season
Boulder County, Colo. – With the holidays approaching, Boulder County programs that work with low-income families are once again reaching out to local residents and businesses in hopes of making the holidays a little brighter for families in need.
These programs are greatly appreciated by the people who participate in them, and Boulder County encourages members of the community to join in the effort to brighten the lives of individuals and families who would otherwise do without over the holiday season.
The following programs help provide basic needs such as groceries and household items for families, seniors and people with disabilities in our community, as well as clothing, toys and games for children:
· The Family-To-Family (F2F) Holiday Program, in its 39th year, serves the county’s low-income and basic needs families and individuals who are clients of the Child Protection, Adolescent, and Adult Protection (elderly and disabled adults) programs. Last year F2F served over 450 families (totaling more than 1,400 individuals).
As the program prepares to turn 40 next year, Family-To-Family is seeking more opportunities to give families the primary voice in decisions affecting their lives. Recognizing that many parents relish the opportunity to purchase presents for their own children, and teens and disabled or elderly adults clients have long preferred the chance to shop for themselves, F2F is asking donors beginning this year to support clients who would prefer to receive gift cards and do the holiday shopping themselves. The program typically seeks a contribution of $75 per participating individual or family member, and donors can use that figure to determine the number of individuals they wish to support. For more information, call 303-441-1050 or email Debbie at dramirez@bouldercounty.org or Lou at lcrnkovich@bouldercounty.org.
· Family Self-Sufficiency’s (FSS) Holiday Gift Sponsor program serves Boulder County families in the Family Self-Sufficiency program who are working to gain education and skills to help them achieve higher wage jobs and better living situations for their families. For the holidays, the highest-need FSS families submit a “wish list” that sponsors can shop from. Donors spend a minimum of $30 and a maximum of $100 for each person in the family. Sponsors purchase items on the list – or, for donors who find that a full family sponsorship is more than they can take on, the program also gratefully accepts cash donations or gift cards (e.g., grocery stores, Target, Wal-Mart) to help with groceries and basic household needs, as well as cash donations to assist with basic needs for FSS families throughout the year. To sponsor or make a donation for an FSS family, contact Katie Frye at 303-441-3923 or kfrye@bouldercounty.org.
· Boulder County Housing Authority Senior Services assists low-income seniors. Many of these seniors have expensive medications and other high medical costs, and buying groceries and other basic needs can be difficult. Gift cards to local grocery or discount retail stores go a long way in helping a senior make ends meet during the holidays. For more information, contact Kris at kdurso@bouldercounty.org at 303-519-7152.
· The Casa de la Esperanza Learning Center provides academic support and enrichment opportunities for over 30 families on-site plus another dozen families in a nearby neighborhood of south Longmont. These families are seasonal farm workers employed in the local dairies, farms and greenhouses. As the growing season comes to a close in the cold months just before the holidays, the Casa de la Esperanza families face economic difficulties and must endure winter on a very tight budget. Donations of school supplies, winter clothing, grocery gift cards, and presents for children are greatly appreciated. If you can help in any way, please contact Carlota Loya-Hernandez, Program Coordinator at 303-678-6220 or cloya@bouldercounty.org.
Annual donors to these worthwhile holiday giving programs include individuals, families, sports teams, clubs and hobbyist groups, faith-based organizations and local corporations and businesses. Donations are tax deductible, and contributions of any size are gratefully welcomed.
