Posts tagged city
City staff recommends that voters be asked to support a local power utility
Jul 15th
City staff recommends that voters be asked to support a local power utility
City Manager Jane S. Brautigam
Brautigam also said she is confident that the process following a vote for municipalization will provide adequate opportunities to address concerns raised by some that the cost of purchasing the system from the current provider, Xcel, could exceed current estimates.
A positive vote is required before the city can enter into acquisition negotiations and/or condemnation proceedings. During this process, the city would determine what the final price would be. If the costs of buying Xcel’s system turned out to be significantly higher than anticipated or would result in rate increases that were unacceptable to the community, council would be under no obligation to issue the bonds necessary to pay for buying the system and launching a utility. The city could then re-consider how to proceed.
“There are off-ramps in place that allow the city to move forward with its eyes wide open,” the city manager said. “Our community has spelled out both its goals and its expectations. City staff and elected officials take the responsibility of balancing these very seriously.”
The recommendation follows more than two years of discussions about whether to enter into another 20-year franchise agreement with Xcel Energy. In 2010, City Council rejected that option, determining that a business-as-usual contract for two decades was too long and would limit Boulder’s ability to take advantage of exciting changes in the energy industry. Since then, the city and the community have been involved in an intensive study and discussion of other options.
The Boulder community has set clear energy future goals. These include cleaner energy, with as much local generation as possible; reliability; rate stability and more local decision-making and control.
The city hired industry specialists to conduct a detailed financial assessment of the possible creation of a local utility. They have concluded that Boulder could buy the system from Xcel, pay off the debt associated with those costs, start a utility and operate it reliably while still making money. The local utility would be able to keep customers rates lower or equal to what they would be under Xcel, maintain emergency reserves and still have a net present value of $112 million over 10 years. The cost model developed by the consultants has some room for increased costs. This flexibility is spelled out in more detail in a staff memo to council.
The staff recommendation also includes support for an increase and extension of the Climate Action Plan tax. While a locally owned power utility would cover its costs entirely through its revenues once it was up and running, the city would need additional money to cover engineering and legal expenses before that time. It is estimated that the city would need about $1 million a year for three to five years before a final determination could be made about whether to issue bonds to buy Xcel’s system. This funding mechanism would allow the city to continue this process without impacting existing programs and services.
City Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, July 19, starting at 5 p.m., to discuss items for the November ballot. The full memo and other valuable information about the energy future project are available at http://www.boulderenergyfuture.com. There is also a comment form on this website if community members wish to give input to the staff team and City Council.
City of boulder monitors creek levels for flooding: Boulder news briefs
Jul 11th
City of Boulder monitors creek levels
City crews were out today along the Boulder creek path shutting down underpass section because of flooding. Water and run off are normal for this time of the year but city officials are con cerned about possible cloud bursts in Boulder canyon.
City of Boulder News Briefs
Gilbert White Memorial Flood Level Marker dedication event to be held July 17
A Gilbert White Memorial Flood Level Marker dedication event will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 17, in Central Park, just east of the Broadway Bridge on the north side of Boulder Creek.
The Gilbert White Memorial Flood Level Marker is an 18-foot tall LED-illuminated structure that shows the creek’s 50-year, 100-year, 500-year and Big Thompson historic flood levels. Gilbert White (1911-2006) is known as the “Father of Floodplain Management.” He was Gustafson Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography at the University of Colorado, where he founded the Natural Hazards Center, which still functions within the CU Institute of Behavioral Science. He was widely recognized as a leader in the world environmental movement, and received numerous international awards and honorary degrees.
The structure was planned, designed, and constructed by a committee of Gilbert’s colleagues, students, friends and family, who also helped raise funds for the marker with private contributions and fundraising events. The marker will be donated to the city and maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department.
For more information on Gilbert White and the Gilbert White Memorial, visit: www.colorado.edu/hazards/gfw
For more information, call Paul Bousquet, Parks and Recreation, at 303-413-7239.
Grass Roots Ultimate Benefit tournament proceeds to assist Boulder’s Youth Services Initiative program
The City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department’s Youth Services Initiative program (YSI) has been selected as the beneficiary of the Grass Roots Ultimate Benefit (GRUB) fundraising tournament. The ultimate disc tournament will be held July 16 and July 17 at Pleasant View Fields, 3805 47th St. in Boulder. Proceeds from the event will support YSI programs by providing funding for sports equipment, activity fees, summer camp programming and scholarships for classes within Boulder’s recreation centers.
Ultimate is a non-contact sport played with a flying disc and combines elements of soccer, basketball, and American football. More than 650 athletes are expected to participate in the 20th annual GRUB tournament.
The mission of Youth Services Initiative (YSI) is to provide youth from low income housing the opportunities and resources necessary to make positive recreational, educational and lifestyle choices.
For more information, call Paul Bousquet, Parks and Recreation, at 303-413-7239.
Adults mentors needed to work with youth
Applications are currently available for the Fabulous Adult Assistance Board (FAAB). FAAB members work with the City of Boulder’s Youth Opportunities Advisory Board (YOAB). YOAB members are high school students who advise City Council and local agencies on youth-related issues, make recommendations for funding youth agencies and plan events for youth.
FAAB members must be available the first Friday of each month from September through May, from noon to 2 p.m., and for occasional other meetings.
YOAB is part of the Youth Opportunities Program in the city’s Department of Housing and Human Services. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, July 26, 2011. For more information or an application contact Alice Swett at 303-441-4349 orswetta@bouldercolorado.gov.
City of Boulder Briefs
Jul 1st
City of Boulder parks affected by Boulder County fire ban
Due to a Boulder County issued fire ban on areas west of the North and South Foothills highways and areas east of the Peak to Peak Highway, users of the following City of Boulder parks are prohibited from using park grills until further notice:
● Chautauqua Park – 9th Street and Baseline Road
● Eben G. Fine Park – 3rd Street and Arapahoe Avenue
● North Boulder Park – 9th Street and Dellwood Avenue
● Harlow Platts Park – 1360 Gillaspie Drive
● Foothills Community Park – 800 Cherry Ave.
Gas grills are allowed at these parks with a permit.
For more information, visit www.BoulderParks-Rec.org, or call Shelly Ruspakka, Parks and Recreation, at 303-413-7214.
Municipal Court to be closed from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, July 8
The Boulder Municipal Court will be closed from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 8, for a staff meeting.
