City News
This is news from the city of Boulder, about the city or any of its departments
Family Gathering Place Renovation begins today
Mar 14th
After 34 years of service, the area is being improved to remove deteriorating wood timbers and improve safety and accessibility. Renovation of the area will include adding an ADA-access ramp, replacing surface material, and replacing wood timbers with new, untreated, Ipe hardwood timbers. The existing bridge that was replaced recently will remain.
The renovation process is expected to take approximately 6 to10 weeks (depending upon weather) and has a budget of $150,000 (from the Parks and Recreation Department’s Capital Improvement Project fund).
Access to the area will be restricted throughout construction using perimeter safety fencing. Additional safety measures will be employed as needed when construction equipment is operating in the area.
Every effort will be made to minimize the impact to area businesses and visitors. This work should not require closure of any businesses.
County seeking input on economic development plan
Mar 1st
An important part of identifying the top economic development priorities and needs for Boulder County is an online survey that is open to everyone through the month of March.
Boulder County’s economic development plan will be informed by survey results specific to the community, along with input from a range of stakeholders and information from existing municipal and organizational economic development plans.
“While most of our municipalities already have formal economic development plans, this survey provides a unique opportunity for residents in Boulder County that otherwise aren’t involved in business or local government networks to provide their input on our local economy’s priorities and issues,” said Leslie Irwin, policy analyst in the Boulder County Commissioners’ Office.
Gov. John Hickenlooper has requested economic development plans from each Colorado county to capture priorities, strategies, actions, expected outcomes, primary partners, available and needed resources, and timelines. The effort is being coordinated by the state’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
The effort calls for the county plans to be combined into 14 regional plans by May 15. Boulder County’s plan will be a part of the Metro Denver regional plan. As part of Gov. Hickenlooper’s goal to create an economic development plan “from the bottom-up,” the regional plans will then be rolled into one statewide plan.
Aside from the survey, Boulder County residents can provide input online at www.advancecolorado.com/bottomup, by email to input@state.co.us, by fax to 303-892-3848, and by mail to Bottom Up Economic Development Initiative, 1625 Broadway, Suite 2700, Denver, CO 80202.
For more information, visit www.advancecolorado.com/bottomup or contact Leslie Irwin at 303-441-3546 or lirwin@bouldercounty.org.
U.S. census: Boulder barely grew in last decade
Feb 23rd
Today, the U.S. Census Bureau announced Boulder’s official population count for the 2010 Census is 97,385. The newly released number represents a 2.9 percent increase from the 2000 population count, or 2,712 people.
The city estimates Boulder’s population to be around 103,600.
“We believe our actual population is higher than the Census number,” said City Manager Jane Brautigam. “Having an accurate population count ensures our share of funding, and is the base statistic that will be used for population-based decision making for the next 10 years.”
Along with the rest of the nation, there was much effort on behalf of the City of Boulder to achieve a higher return rate. The city’s individual goal was to exceed its previous return rate of 75 percent, and that was accomplished with a 77 percent return rate.
Previously, the 2000 decennial Census missed over 2,000 housing units and a significant portion of group quarters facilities. The population count at that time was 94,673.
“Last year, the Census put out an estimate that Boulder’s population had reached over 100,000, but the official count doesn’t match that estimate,” said Chris Meschuk, city planner. “We will review the Census data closely to see if there is anything to warrant a formal challenge to this number.”
The city conducted additional outreach and coordination on the 2010 decennial Census in hopes of a more accurate population count than in 2000.
A challenge can be submitted on the basis of errors in the community’s boundaries or placement of living quarters and population, or coverage errors where the Census erroneously removed data due to processing or duplicates. The city has until June 1, 2013 to submit a challenge to the Census Bureau.
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