City News
This is news from the city of Boulder, about the city or any of its departments
Boulder citizens, youth give high marks to city in survey
Jan 5th
2011 Community Survey results available
Results of the 2011 Community Survey that was conducted this fall are now available online and will be presented to City Council at its regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012. Copies of the report are also available in the Main Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave.
In September and October, surveys were mailed to more than 3,000 households and more than 400 University of Colorado students living in on-campus dormitories. Surveys could also be completed online and were available in Spanish. A total of 971 surveys were returned, which resulted in a 33 percent response rate. That is considered a good rate of return.
The survey asked people about their priorities for the city, quality of life, and their overall satisfaction with government services. Survey responses indicated:
- Perceptions of the quality of life, quality of neighborhoods and the sense of community in Boulder remain high;
- Employment and business related ratings were also high, with 77 percent of respondents rating Boulder as “very good’ or “good” as a place to work, and 69 percent rating Boulder as “very good” or “good” as a place to do business; and,
- Respondents’ priorities for City Council included energy, housing and business development.
The survey results also provided information about public participation and how people would like to obtain information about meetings, issues and programs:
- Approximately 25 percent of respondents said that they had attended a public meeting about city matters in the last year, and about 25 percent had watched a City Council meeting on the city’s municipal Channel 8.
- The Camera (72%), direct mailings (65%), and the city’s website (55%) – www.bouldercolorado.gov – were the most common sources of public information from the city.
The 2011 survey included additional outreach to Spanish speakers through community organizations, and 43 completed surveys were received. Priorities and concerns for these respondents included safety, affordable shopping, housing, adult education opportunities and activities for youth.
A slightly revised survey was also distributed to Boulder youth to help the city determine their concerns and needs. A total of 234 returned surveys indicated that youth priorities include homelessness, improving activities for young people, jobs, discrimination, bike safety and facilities, and the environment.
Survey results will be used to inform the budget process, plan for future projects, develop community outreach and various other ways to help make Boulder a better place to live and work. A complete list of results, responses and methodologies is available at www.BoulderColorado.gov > Hot Topics > 2011 Community Survey Results.
The survey was conducted by Boulder-based National Research Center Inc. Results were weighted and the margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points from the information that would have been obtained if all Boulder adults were surveyed.
If you party hearty in Boulder NY’s eve–here’s your ride
Dec 30th
Free and expanded transit service available for New Year’s Eve
The City of Boulder, University of Colorado Student Union, RTD and Special Transit are encouraging New Year’s Eve revelers to take advantage of the following free transit services:
- Free HOP bus service – 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31, until midnight Sunday, Jan.1, 2012.
- Free Buff Bus, Black, Gold and Silver Line Late Night Transit Service – midnight until 3 a.m. on Sunday, Jan.1, 2012.
- Free RTD services, including bus and Light Rail service, access-a-Ride, skyRide and the SKIP, JUMP, BOUND, DASH and BOLT, after 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31, until 6 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012.
In addition to the free services, the University of Colorado Buff Bus will augment Late Night Transit services to expand coverage to larger areas of the city. 
The Buff Bus will provide service on Broadway south to Greenbriar Boulevard and on Baseline Road east to 30th Street up to Arapahoe Avenue. The Silver Line will extend service on Broadway north to Iris Avenue. The Black Line will extend service on Moorhead Avenue south to Table Mesa Drive and the Gold Line will provide service to areas east of downtown to 30th Street from Arapahoe to Iris avenues. These expanded services will allow passengers to access most areas of the city after celebrating the arrival of 2012. As always, you can ask your driver for more information if you are unsure about which bus to take.
The HOP, and all RTD services will operate on a regular Saturday schedule on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, on a Sunday/holiday schedule on New Year’s Day, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, and on a Saturday schedule on Monday, Jan. 2.
For more information on the free HOP and Late Night Transit Service, call Special Transit at (303) 447-8282. For maps, fares and other information, visitwww.goboulder.net or www.rtd-denver.com.
For real-time arrival information for the HOP, visit www.nextbus.com.
Boulder wavering on unpopular closure rules for public property?
Dec 27th
City to hold public hearing on proposed park closure rule Jan. 3
The City of Boulder will hold a public hearing on a proposed rule that would close parks, parkways, recreation areas and open spaces from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly. The hearing will occur during the already scheduled City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012. The meeting is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. and will be held in Council Chambers, 1777 Broadway.
The public hearing will give community members an additional opportunity to express their views about the proposed rule. The hearing also will provide a forum for council members to ask questions of the city manager and city attorney and provide some direction in light of feedback they have received from their constituents.
The city manager proposed the nighttime closure rule on Dec. 16 because of increasing concerns about safety and health risks associated with encampments and other activities that occur in these locations after dark. The rule would not apply to individuals passing through the affected areas on foot or bicycle – or to events that have been approved through the city’s permitting process. Nor would it prohibit lawful activity, including constitutionally protected activity and political protests, during the remaining 18 hours of the day, between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Unlike most public hearings, council is not currently considering an ordinance related to park closures. The discussion that occurs, however, is likely to shape the city manager’s decision about how to proceed with the rule she has proposed under authority granted to her by Boulder Revised Code.
The decision to hold a public hearing was made today during a Council Agenda Committee meeting. The Council Agenda Committee includes city staff and three council members who look ahead to upcoming meeting agendas and determine how to make the sessions as efficient and productive as possible. Committee participants agreed that a public hearing would result in a more focused discussion, allowing for council questions to be informed by public comment and a staff presentation.
“We recognize that this is an important decision for our community, and the committee felt that this additional opportunity for public input would be valuable,” City Manager Jane S. Brautigam said. “I am looking forward to hearing the perspectives of community members and City Council as we work together to address important health and safety issues.”
In addition to the public hearing, the city has been collecting written comments as part of a 15-day public comment period. Written comments are being accepted by email at parksclosurerule@bouldercolorado.gov or by US mail at Parks Closure Rule, City of Boulder Box 791, Boulder, CO, 80306, until 5 p.m. on Jan. 2, 2012.
