City News
This is news from the city of Boulder, about the city or any of its departments
City to remove emergency call boxes from the Hill due to lack of legitimate use
Feb 4th
The call boxes, also known as “blue phones,” have instead become a source of frequent pranks. In 2009 and 2010, police received 351 calls from the blue phones – all of which turned out to be false. In each case, police responded, diverting them from other responsibilities and actual calls for help.
The city has been providing the blue phone service since 2002, and at that time, the equipment served an important safety purpose. Today, however, with the prevalence of cell phones, the police department believes they are no longer needed. Emergency calls for service from that area universally come from cell phones and landlines. In addition, the phones are starting to break and would require costly repair or replacement.
“We remain committed to providing prompt and effective public safety service to University Hill and all other areas of the city. That is our number one priority,” said Police Chief Mark Beckner. “While these phones helped the community feel safer when cell phones were not as prevalent, their value and purpose has diminished with the changing times.”
The phones that will be removed are located at:
1202 Pleasant St.
12th Street/Pennsylvania Avenue
13th Street/Euclid Avenue
12th Street/College Avenue
1000 block of 14th Street
The city has met with both university officials and representatives of CU Student Government, and all are in agreement that the phones on the Hill have outlasted their intended purpose. Any money saved from keeping this equipment operational will be put back into the Hill maintenance fund.
North Boulder Recreation Center to close early Saturday, Feb. 5, to prepare for special event
Feb 3rd
The North Boulder Recreation Center will close at 5 p.m. (instead of 7 p.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 5, to prepare for the sold-out Father/Daughter Valentine’s Dance. Pools will close at 4:30 p.m. The East Boulder Community Center and South Boulder Recreation Center will be open regular hours. For a full schedule, visit www.BoulderParks-Rec.org.
Boulder extends search for library director
Feb 2nd
“The field had been narrowed to four candidates, two of whom the city was interested in potentially making an offer,” said city spokesman Patrick von Keyserling. “Unfortunately, family reasons prevented one candidate from relocating, and the second candidate was not willing to accept the director position within the range offered.”
Von Keyserling said the city will work with the recruitment firm Peckham and McKinney to extend the nationwide search for the Boulder Public Library director. Until the position is filled, acting library director Jennifer Miles will continue in the position.
The city did not state when it anticipates the next round of interviews for finalists, and said that Boulder will follow a similar process before making an offer to any candidate. The field will be narrowed to top finalists who will be required to make public presentations and attend a public candidate reception.
“Our vision for the Boulder Public Library remains the same,” said City Manager Jane Brautigam. “The city is searching for the most qualified director who can lead a complex organization like our library system and its performing arts center. This is an important position that deserves the best candidate within Boulder’s salary range. While it is certainly disheartening that neither of our top two candidates is able to join the library, we will continue the selection process until we find the right candidate for Boulder.”
The Public Library Director position has been advertised since November 2010. The recruitment firm Peckham and McKinney is conducting the search process and will continue its work under the original contract of $10,500 without additional compensation.