Posts tagged closure
Occupy Boulder hour of doom rapidly approaching
Jan 6th
Boulder Police Chief Mark Beckner, along with Boulder Police Cmdr. Carey Weinheimer, visited participants at the Occupy Boulder encampment outside the Municipal Building this afternoon to discuss the new rule that goes into effect tonight, which closes city parks between the hours of 11 p.m and 5 a.m.
The rule prohibits anyone from remaining in city parks, parkways or recreation areas, with the exception of bicyclists and pedestrians who are passing through the areas. Individuals remaining between the hours of 11 p.m and 5 a.m. will be in violation of the city’s trespassing rule and subject to receiving a summons or being arrested. The chief and commander handed out copies of the new regulation as they spoke to individuals at the encampment this afternoon.
Boulder chief of police warms Occupy protestors of deadline
Because Occupy Boulder protestors have been camping overnight on the Sister Cities’ Plaza outside of the Municipal Building for several weeks, Chief Beckner wanted to make sure individuals were aware of the change, which goes into effect tonight.
“Boulder police officers have been engaging in dialogues with Occupy Boulder participants all along. I thought it was important to continue those dialogues so that they understood the new rule, when it goes into effect and what the potential consequences are if they decide to stay,” Beckner said. “The police department intends to enforce the trespassing regulation, but what we are really hoping for is voluntary compliance. We support all people’s First Amendment rights to express their opinions, and hope they will do so during the daytime hours.”
Discussions between the chief and the participants at the encampment were low-key and positive, as most of the interactions have been to date. Many of the protestors are planning to comply with the new rule and some shared with Chief Beckner their plans for packing up their tents and making arrangements to protest during hours that the city parks are open.
Police intend to enforce the park closure rule, although the department has not set a timeline to do so.
Boulder wavering on unpopular closure rules for public property?
Dec 27th
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.
And more nightmares on Boulder streets
Nov 14th
Starting on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, the Broadway (Euclid to 18th) Transportation Improvements Project will begin construction. The project, previously on hold for federal historic and environmental clearances, was put out for a competitive bid process and a contractor was chosen in late September. The construction along Broadway is expected to take approximately nine months to complete and will be finished by fall 2012.
In general, traffic impacts for fall/winter 2011 include:
- Daytime off-peak lane closures on Broadway, Euclid, and 16th Streets;
- Detours along the Broadway multi-use path near Euclid Avenue; and
- Closures of the northbound bus stop near Euclid Avenue.
- Opening a temporary southbound Broadway left lane at 18th Street
Beginning in late 2011/early 2012, full-time lane reductions on Broadway (from two thru lanes in each direction to one thru lane in each direction) and closure of the cross-streets (16th and Euclid) will be necessary to construct the underpass beneath Broadway. For weekly traffic updates, visitwww.boulderconezones.net.For those traveling through the city, alternate routes are advised. For those traveling on Broadway, alternative modes like walking, biking and taking the bus are good options. Otherwise, please travel slowly and use caution in construction zones.
Remaining project improvements include:
- Construction of a pedestrian/bicycle underpass beneath Broadway at 16th/Euclid;
- Expansion of the northbound and southbound transit stops with additional transit amenities;
- Changing the existing Broadway/Euclid/16th four-way intersection into two “T” intersections;
- Broadway multi-use path improvements; and
- Functional art, urban design, landscaping/irrigation lighting improvements.
Improvements to the Broadway and 18th Street intersection were completed in summer 2011. The newly configured intersection is currently open to traffic, and provides the main vehicular access point from this part of campus to southbound Broadway.
The local match for this project was composed of funding from five agencies: City of Boulder, Boulder County, RTD, CU – including land donation and funding from University of Colorado Student Union and Vice Chancellor for Administration.
For more project information, visit www.bouldertransportation.net>Projects>Broadway (Euclid to 18th) Improvements Project or contact Noreen Walsh at 303-441-3266