New interest rate on Boulder tenant security deposits for 2011
Dec 17th
The City of Boulder has calculated the interest rate for tenant security deposits for the 2011 calendar year to be 0.35 percent, effective Jan. 1, 2011. This is the mathematical average of the one-year certificates of deposit from the top three financial institutions in Boulder, based on market share data as of Dec.15, 2010.
This calculation has been prepared in accordance with Ordinance 7320, which was adopted on Feb. 17, 2004. Relevant code language may be found in Sections 12-2-2 and 12-2-4 through 12-2-7 of the Boulder Revised Code.
Tenants may contact their landlord if there are questions about their lease. The city offers support for lease questions and tenant/landlord issues through Community Mediation Services at 303-441-4364. Another resource for tenants who are University of Colorado students is Off-Campus Student Services (www.colorado.edu/OCSS).
Rob Smoke doesn't like motorized vehicles on Boulder reservoir
Dec 16th
Over the past two years, and certainly in the lead-up to the decision on the reservoir, I offered my two bits
regarding the various master plan issues at stake.
The key issue was certainly whether council would continue to allow high-impact motorized recreation, and while that’s still
important, the more significant gap exists in that council simply “passed over” the opportunity to both preserve the wildlife
and make the reservoir a better spot for the average Boulder resident’s recreational interests.
(Try to remember…every statistical element available indicates that the “average” Boulder resident does not own or operate
a fuel-powered motor boat.)
The council passed over the opportunity to put in a beach or a swimmer’s dock. The council passed over the opportunity to
improve the facilities with a locker room or other amenity typical of a recreation center and found presently at
existing city-owned rec centers. The council passed over the opportunity to improve the water quality, or at least maintain it
at its existing level with the possibility of improvement. The council passed over the opportunity to seek out and create partnerships
with upstream water sources to improve the quality of the water.
These decisions — in addition to the decision on boating — reflect very poorly on council. In fact, it is a disgrace that there
were no members of council willing to commit the small amount of time necessary to “flesh out” the various options.
At the finish, from staff and apparently — council’s perspective — the options I mention simply did not exist or have any valid
basis for full investigation by staff and/or the other participants interested in securing the future of Boulder res.
The final issue here is that no one deserves to drink water contaminated — not by sources within the purview and control of the municipal water authority. For instance, if we lived in an area where some water came from a mountain source that was pure — and another source that was less pure — but by virtue of no actions taken upon it by government — that would be one thing.
Here, we’re looking at a horse of a different color. The quality of the water IS IMPACTED BY POLICY. Further, it is not policy dictated by health and safety concerns. You can’t stand in front of a jury and tell them and the rest of the world that people need to skl or they will die — however, if people do not have uncontaminated water, they can either get ill or possibly die of that cause.
The reservoir needs to be thoroughly tested forensically. If there are heavy metals at the bottom of the reservoir, the standard
treatment includes not creating turbid water with motor boats.
We’re going to get there with this — I’m sorry to see that there is not a shred of responsibility the Boulder city council would
choose to share with those who seek — quite simply — a better result for all of the city’s residents.
Rob
720-982-2439
FLASH! 15 electric cars debut LA Auto show; electric car era begins
Dec 15th

Press Days Attendance
Photo source: Convention Photo
Land Rover hosts the World Premiere of the 5-door Range Rover Evoque with help from fashion journalist and television personality Louise Roe.
With a final count of 30 world and 25 North American debuts, the 2010 LA Auto Show was the most newsworthy in the show’s history. Press days were also the best attended ever—up more than 25 percent.
Click here for a photo gallery from a few of the 25 press conferences on Nov. 17 & 18.
|
Hyundai debuts its Elantra at the historic Hotel Figueroa in Downtown LA.
LA and its celebrity residents helped the automakers debut vehicles at nearly a dozen VIP evening events throughout the city.
Click here for a photo gallery of evening events.
|
Photo source: Convention Photo
The Chevrolet Volt wins 2011 Green Car of the Year®.
News of the highly-anticipated arrival of the modern electric car era made LA a focal point for important green news.
Click here for a photo gallery of events and press conferences.
|