Posts tagged downtown
Smoking ban on Pearl Street Mall has Teeth
Mar 21st
The ordinance banning smoking on the Pearl Street Mall went into effect on Jan. 18, 2013. The ordinance bans all smoking between 11th and 15th streets on the Pearl Street Mall, and on the lawn of the Boulder County Courthouse. The maximum penalty for a first or second offense within two years is a fine of $500; a third and subsequent conviction within two years triggers the general penalty provision of a maximum $1,000 fine and/or maximum of 90 days in jail.
Boulder police officers who patrol on the Pearl Street Mall have been educating people about the smoking ban since it went into effect, and have not written any tickets while the signs were being manufactured. On Monday, April 1, the ordinance will be fully implemented, and enforcement will begin.
Signs were ordered after City Council approved the ordinance in December; however there was a delay in the sign manufacturing. The signs on the mall are custom enameled and take longer to fabricate. The enamel signs are more resistant to graffiti and other tampering.
The city is collaborating with several partners, including Boulder County Public Health and Downtown Boulder, Inc. (DBI), to create a coordinated educational campaign for downtown employees and visitors about the smoking ban on the mall. A celebration event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 12, on the 1300 block of the Pearl Street Mall, where county, city and DBI staff will be available to answer questions about the smoking ban and about free resources available for individuals who wish to quit smoking.
City manager approves business incentive for Gnip
Mar 15th
City Manager Jane S. Brautigam has approved a flexible rebate application for Boulder-based Gnip for up to $45,000 in rebates. The rebates were authorized for sales and use taxes, and permit-related fees.
“Gnip is a fast-growing company in Boulder’s thriving downtown and high-tech communities,” Brautigam said. “The city is very pleased that it can support Gnip’s expansion so it can grow as an industry leader, delivering three billion social media activities per day.”
The flexible rebate program is one of the city’s business incentives, covering a wide range of fees, equipment and construction use taxes. Under this program, the city manager may consider a specific incentive package for tax and fee rebates to meet a company’s specific needs. The company is then eligible for the rebate after it has made its investment and paid the taxes or fees to the city.
Gnip is the largest provider of social data in the world, partnering with Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and WordPress, among others, to aggregate social media data and information for their clients. Founded in 2008, the company has emerged as a leader in the social media industry. With 50 employees, Gnip recently expanded into a new space at 1050 Walnut, Suite 115, to maintain its presence in downtown Boulder. In addition, Gnip was named “best place to work” by both the Boulder Chamber and the Denver Business Journal.
“We’re excited to be a based in Boulder and we think our growth is facilitated by the many advantages offered by the City of Boulder”, said Gnip CEO Jud Valeski. “We think Boulder offers the world’s best place to work and live.”
The flexible rebate program uses social, community, and environmental sustainability guidelines. Companies choose the guidelines that best fit their circumstances, but must meet minimum requirements in order to receive the rebate. Gnip has exceeded the requirements and, of note, the company has initiated the Gnip Gives Back program. This program coordinates charitable giving and organizes group service opportunities for the company to participate in. Gnip also offers Eco Passes, Boulder B-Cycle memberships, and annual City of Boulder Recreation passes to their employees and is located in a LEED Gold certified building.
Gnip’s application is approved as part of the 2012 flexible rebate program; one application is still pending. The city’s approved 2012 budget includes $350,000 in funding for 2012 flexible tax and fee rebates for primary employers.
For more information about the city’s economic vitality program, go to www.bouldercolorado.gov, click on “Business,” or call Liz Hanson at 303-441-3287.
Free, expanded bus services to provide safe transportation New Year’s Eve
Dec 28th
· free HOP bus service from 7 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, until midnight on Tuesday, Jan.1, 2013;
· free Buff Bus, Black, Gold and Silver Line Late Night Transit bus service from midnight until 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan.1, 2013; and
· free RTD bus services, including the SKIP, JUMP, BOUND, DASH, BOLT and SkyRide routes, from 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013.
In addition to the free bus services that are being offered, the University of Colorado Buff Bus and Late Night Transit services will expand coverage to larger areas of the city. The Buff Bus will provide service on Broadway south to Greenbriar Boulevard, on Baseline Road east to 30th Street, and on 30th Street north to Arapahoe Avenue. The Silver Line will extend service on Broadway north to Iris Avenue. The Black Line will extend service on Moorhead Avenue south to Table Mesa Drive. The Gold Line will extend service from areas east of downtown to 30th Street between Arapahoe and Iris avenues. These expanded bus services will allow passengers to safely access most areas of Boulder while celebrating the New Year. Passengers do not have to be University of Colorado students to ride and may ask any bus driver for information if they are unsure about which bus route to take.
The HOP bus and all RTD bus services will operate on the regular weekday schedule on New Year’s Eve and on a holiday schedule on New Year’s Day. The normal weekday services will return on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013.
For more information about the free HOP and Late Night Transit bus services, call Via at 303-447-8282 or visit www.viacolorado.org. For bus route maps, fares, schedules and other information, visit www.rtd-denver.com and www.goboulder.net.
For real-time arrival and departure information for the HOP bus, visit www.nextbus.com.