Posts tagged City Manager Jane Brautigam
City of Boulder going all-out virtual (TMI?)
Aug 20th
Today, the City of Boulder is proud to announce the launch of Inspire Boulder – an idea-collaboration engine that allows for real-time engagement 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Inspire Boulder is an online, civic engagement platform that combines the ease of social sites (like Facebook) with the purpose and substance of city projects, issues and programs. A sort-of digital town hall, residents can submit ideas, help prioritize options and even do real-time budgeting. Community collaboration happens in real time so results, ideas and priorities can occur organically, as if it were a public meeting.
“Boulder has a thriving tech and start-up community and our residents are some of the most connected folks on the Front Range,” said City Manager Jane Brautigam. “Having a virtual town hall, to inspire and inform all the important work we do, just makes sense in Boulder.”
Typical workshops, meeting and open houses will still be held citywide. Inspire Boulder is meant to augment these more traditional venues for receiving community input.
The platform also combines idea submission with game theory. Registered users get ‘points’ for submitting ideas and can accrue points for getting ‘up votes’ on their submitted ideas. It’s pretty simple: the better ideas are, the more points they earn. Naturally, the best ideas move to the top.
“Boulder is also known for its well-educated residents,” Brautigam said. “We want to enrich our conversations by tapping into the many creative minds that exist in our community.”
Inspire Boulder will host topics, issues, projects and programs from around the city organization. At launch, the site includes:
- Boulder Civic Area project;
- Boulder’s Energy Future;
- Transportation (Transportation Master Plan); and
- Waste Reduction and Recycling.
Stay tuned! Additional topics from Parks and Recreation, the Boulder Public Library and more will be featured in the coming months.
CIP bonds building a head of steam
Jul 28th
Just six months into the implementation of the Capital Improvement Bond, three projects have already been completed and 13 more are currently under construction. The community projects are funded by the voter-approved bond, a citywide initiative to address significant deficiencies and high priority infrastructure improvements throughout Boulder.
The city first completed a missing sidewalk link on Gillaspie Drive, along the border of Harlow Platts Park, between Greenbriar Boulevard and Juilliard Street. Next, a new pedestrian crossing was installed at the intersection of Canyon Boulevard and 21st Street. In addition, all of the city’s traffic signalincandescent lamps have been replaced with light-emitting diode (LED) lamps.
“Replacing all of the city’s traffic signals with LEDs is a significant improvement that will make our transportation system more energy efficient and will require less frequent maintenance,” said Director of Public Works for Transportation Tracy Winfree. “Each of the LED lamps will use approximately 80 percent less energy, which will save the city thousands of dollars per year.”
During the next three years, the city will continue to utilize Capital Improvement Bond funds to implement 89 individual projects throughout the community. The projects include roadway reconstruction, park facility upgrades, critical software updates, police equipment needs and a renovation of the Main Boulder Public Library.
The 89 individual projects are grouped into 26 categories and three status types. Three projects have been completed, 13 are under construction, and 73 are in the planning and design phase. Since 85 percent of the bond money must be spent within three years, the city will provide the community with continuous project updates and regular reports on progress toward overall completion.
Other construction project updates include:
- Police equipment replacements are underway, including the assembly of a bomb robot.
- Park shelter replacements and improvements are ongoing at Valmont Park, Palo East Park and Valmont Dog Park.
- Substandard traffic signs are being replaced throughout the city.
- A new multi-use path connection is being constructed on Baseline Road from the Bear Creek Path to U.S. 36.
- Renovations and replacements of existing Parks and Recreation facilities are in progress at Canyon Park, Columbine Park and Palo East Park.
- The South Boulder Recreation Center gym floor and racquetball courts have been replaced and are now being upgraded to achieve full compliance with ADA requirements.
- Deteriorating road pavements are being reconstructed and repaired throughout the city.
- The Columbia Cemetery is being upgraded and enhanced, including irrigation system improvements, new fencing and headstone repairs.
- A new sidewalk is being built on the east side of Folsom Street from Arapahoe Avenue to 200 feet south of Arapahoe Avenue.
“The Capital Improvement Bond is allowing the city to make some significant investments in the community,” said City Manager Jane Brautigam. “These investments help to maintain our valuable existing assets and will improve our quality of life in Boulder.”
Keep an eye out for projects around town!
Capital Improvement Bond signs are posted on site as construction begins so that the community can identify the projects that are funded by the bond. The community can also track the progress of the bond implementation online at www.bouldercolorado.gov/bondprojects.
Boulder’s Capital Improvement Bond
In the November 2011 election, Boulder voters approved a ballot measure that allowed the city to leverage existing revenues to bond for up to $49 million to fund projects that address significant deficiencies and high priority infrastructure improvements. Because the bond was paid for using existing revenues, the measure did not raise taxes.
The bond sale was completed on March 22, 2012. The $49 million bond has a 20-year payback and 85 percent of the total is required be spent by March 22, 2015. As of July 2012, 10 percent of the total funding towards the 85 percent goal has been spent.
For the latest information on construction traffic impacts associated with the bond projects, visit www.boulderconezones.net.
Capital Improvement Bond video series
The website hosts an online video series that highlights what the community can expect to see during the next few years as a result of the Capital Improvement Bond. Each video focuses on different types of investments that the bond will allow the city to make, including transportation, parks, parking, library and downtown. Watch the Capital Improvement Bond videos.
Director of Public Works for Utilities Ned Williams announces retirement
Jun 13th
The City of Boulder’s Director of Public Works for Utilities Ned Williams announced that he will retire as of Oct. 28, 2011. The City of Boulder will initiate a hiring process to fill this key position in the organization.
Williams joined the city organization in 1980. From 1980 to 1990, Williams worked as the coordinator of projects and as a project manager with the Transportation and Utilities divisions of the Public Works Department. He was an assistant director from 1990 to 2001 and has been the Director of Public Works for Utilities since 2001.
Prior to working for the City of Boulder, Williams was a project engineer at Shive-Hattery & Associates in Davenport, Iowa, and a design/project engineer at HNTB in Kansas City, Mo.
Williams has a bachelor’s of science degree in civil engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is a licensed professional engineer and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Public Works Association, the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation. Williams is also a past officer in local chapters and professional societies. Williams has authored, published and presented technical papers for regional and national conferences.
”I’ve been fortunate to work with many knowledgeable and experienced members of the public and city staff during my time with the city,” said Williams. “Together, we’ve been able to develop, implement and advance several key programs that are very important to the health and safety of the community; rebuild major components of our infrastructure, secure a healthy and positive financial status in each utility, implement a conservation-focused billing system using water budgets, and achieve significant results in water conservation.”
“The city’s water, wastewater and stormwater and flood management utilities are well managed and I thank Ned for all he has done for the city,” said City Manager Jane Brautigam. “The director of Public Works for Utilities is a challenging position and we will proceed with a national hiring search. Executive Director of Public Works Maureen Rait will be working with me to hire the next director. I value inclusive hiring processes and will appreciate the involvement of key stakeholders, including the Water Resources Advisory Board and staff.”
“I’ve enjoyed working with Ned and will continue to rely on his expertise during this transition,” said Rait. “In addition to filling this key position, over the next four months, Ned and I will work with City Council, the Water Resources Advisory Board and staff on several flood studies, the consideration of a critical facilities ordinance, and a water utility master plan.”
A hiring decision involving the city’s next director of Public Works for Utilities is anticipated to be made during September.