Posts tagged Boulder County
Boulder protesters need a permit for courthouse camping
Dec 7th
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Courthouse plaza has been a venue for protest and assembly for more than 100 years and the Board of County Commissioners strongly supports freedom of expression and rights to peaceful assembly.
For nearly three weeks, a protest group has located tents in the plaza in support of the nationwide Occupy movement and Boulder County has asked only that protesters follow established rules for use of the plaza.
City of Boulder ordinances state that public camping is illegal. Boulder County has not given its permission for overnight and residential use of its property and has supported the city police department’s enforcement of this regulation. Dogs also are not allowed and neither is using the plaza as a restroom.
More than 30 tickets have been issued and arrests have been made for repeat offenders and those with outstanding warrants, but no serious crimes have been reported or observed. Because gatherings of more than 25 persons are required to obtain a permit, Boulder County will be notifying protesters of their need to apply for a permit for use of the Courthouse plaza. Permits generally allow use of the plaza from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. and Boulder County encourages people to freely gather and discuss issues peacefully during those times.
“The ability to assemble and protest is a value we hold in high regard and such an important part of our culture,” Commissioner Ben Pearlman said. “People have experienced unprecedented economic difficulties recently and we respect their desire to gather and protest, whether as part of the Occupy movement or any other cause.
“But we have an obligation to enforce the camping and other regulations in front of the Courthouse to preserve public health and safety, regardless of the subject matter of a given protest or who is participating in it.”
Protesters will be provided with the use of county property policy and the permit application. Conditions of approval may include the protection of health and safety for participants and the public and to mitigate impacts on county property.
Boulder County: GMOs, pesticides, herbicides all on the table?
Dec 5th
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Commissioners will hear public testimony and comment on the Cropland Policy Advisory Group’s recommendations for Boulder County Open Space croplands on Thursday evening.
What: Cropland Policy public hearing
When: Thursday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m.
Where: Longmont Conference Center, 1850 Industrial Circle
The evening will begin with a presentation from Parks and Open Space staff. The presentation will cover existing practices and programs, the CPAG’s recommendations, and input from the Food and Agriculture Policy Council, the Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee, and Parks and Open Space staff..
The presentation will be followed by open public comment to the commissioners. Members of the public are welcome and encouraged to provide input, and comments will become a part of the public record. Speakers may sign up starting at 5 p.m. Speakers are held to a three-minute time limit and can pool time up to 10 minutes as long as everyone who signed up is present.
The CPAG, consisting of nine members appointed by the commissioners, held meetings over a nine-month period. Its policy recommendations address soil health, economic sustainability, pest management, program administration, water, livestock, recreation and natural resource protection on agricultural lands. Through a consensus process, CPAG developed more than 80 policy recommendations. Three areas failed to achieve consensus: genetically engineered crops, use of certain pesticides, and experimental farming practices.
Three public meetings have taken place: a staff presentation and public hearing on Nov. 15, FAPC deliberations on Nov. 16, and POSAC deliberations on Nov. 17. Members of the public provided input, and all comments were recorded as part of the public record.
For a copy of the Cropland Policy provided to the commissioners and information about the policy, please visit the Cropland Policy website or contact Resource Planner Jesse Rounds at 303-678-6271 or croplandpolicy@bouldercounty.org
See what it’s like to be poor in Boulder County
Dec 2nd
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Circles Campaign will host a poverty simulation on Dec. 15 in Longmont to allow residents, members of the business community and representatives of local nonprofit agencies to understand the realities of poverty.
What: Poverty Simulation
When: Thursday, Dec. 15, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Longmont YMCA, 950 Lashley St.
During the simulation, participants role-play the lives of low-income families. Some are Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients, some are disabled, and some are senior citizens on Social Security. They have the stressful task of providing for basic necessities and shelter on a limited budget during the course of four 15-minute “weeks.” They interact with human service agencies, grocers, pawnbrokers, bill collectors, job interviewers, police officers and others..
The simulation enables participants to look at poverty from a variety of angles and then to recognize and discuss the potential for change within their local communities. The simulation was designed to sensitize those who frequently work with low-income families, as well as to create a broader awareness of the realities of poverty among policymakers, community leaders and others.
Please contact Kara Edin at 303-441-3977 or kedin@bouldercounty.org or Eliberto Mendoza at 303-441-1503 or emendoza@bouldercounty.org for additional information and to register.
The Circles Campaign is part of Boulder County’s continued effort to help move individuals and families out of poverty and into a life of sustained self-sufficiency. The campaign provides a stable structure for people working their way out of poverty to receive guidance and support from mentors to help them develop skills and access resources needed to move toward economic stability