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PLAN-Boulder CountyThe Boulder County Peoples Advocate April 1, 2007Boulder County public affairs news and analysis |
In this issue
Council Makes Board and Commission Appointments
Members of the Boulder City Council conducted their usual annual process on March 20 of filling positions on City advisory boards and commissions. Most of the appointments are for five years terms. 86 Boulder citizens applied for the 18 positions open this year.
Council members review applications and conduct public interviews with applicants. The voting results have been difficult to track in the past since the City Clerk does not maintain records of how each member of Council voted on specific appointments.
In order to give the people of Boulder a better idea of who is being appointed, and which Council members support them, PLAN-Boulder County follows the voting process and lists the major appointments in this newsletter. In addition, the specific votes by Council members are shown at www.planbouldercounty.org. In all votes Tom Eldridge was absent and excused for health reasons.
The following appointments were made to boards and commissions on March 20 that have direct impact on Boulder's environment, planning and growth management:
Francis Hartog was appointed to a three-year term on the board by a vote of 5 to 3 with support from Robin Bohannan, Crystal Gray, Shaun McGrath, Mark Ruzzin and Jack Stoakes. For a one-year term Council members appointed Pete Webber by a vote of 5 to 3. Voting for Webber's appointment were Robin Bohannan, Crystal Gray, Shaun McGrath, Richard Polk and Mark Ruzzin.
A vacancy on the Planning Board was created by the election of Claire Levy (D-Boulder) to the Colorado House of Representatives. Council members approved Bill Holicky, an architect for Coburn Development, to fill out the remaining two years of Levy's term, by a vote of 5 to 3. Supporting Holicky over Sierra Club activist KC Becker were Ageton, Polk, Ruzzin, Schultheiss and Stoakes.
Nuisance Abatement Ordinance Changes Considered
After a nearly five-year process the Boulder City Council may soon implement changes to the City's nuisance abatement ordinance. The changes, sought mainly by residents of neighborhoods near the University of Colorado campus, including Goss Grove, Martin Acres and University Hill, would give City officials greater latitude in combating problems caused by noise, underage drinking and littering.
The City staff developed four proposed changes after the long process that involved input from neighbors, CU students and landlords, including:
On a unanimous vote (with Councilman Tom Eldridge absent), Council voted to direct staff to bring back for first reading, possibly in April, an ordinance incorporating the four major changes.
City, County May Cooperate on Mosquito Control
At its March 6 meeting the Boulder City Council approved, on first reading, an ordinance to combat nuisance mosquitoes in wetlands in east Boulder. The vote, on a motion by Councilman Shaun McGrath, was unanimous, with Council members Eldridge, Polk and Schultheiss absent.
The ordinance implements a two-year pilot program to kill mosquito larvae. Boulder County currently sprays to kill both adult mosquitoes and larvae, a concern to some residents who are worried about health issues. McGrath's motion directed staff to draft an agreement with Boulder County to better coordinate mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing spraying.
Disabled Residents Criticize Sidewalk Snow Removal
A group of disabled Boulder residents appeared at the Boulder City Council meeting on March 6 to criticize the City's failure to enforce its ordinance requiring property owners to clear their sidewalks after snowfalls. The residents also voiced concerns about City of Boulder snowplows clearing streets by pushing snow onto sidewalks and into bus shelters.
Boulder City Manager Frank Bruno vowed to work with the residents to address their concerns. Part of the problem involves budget cuts by City Council in recent years to the City's environmental enforcement staff, leading to inaction on complaints about snow and ice-covered sidewalks.
Council Calls Up Board's Approval for 16th Street House
On March 20 residents of the 16th Street Historic District in University Hill successfully appealed to City Council to call up for review a landmark alternation certificate approved by the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board. The owner of a house at 704 16th Street obtained approval for a large addition to a historic home, triggering concerns from neighbors about setbacks, tree removals, design and floor area ratio (lot coverage).
On a motion by Council member Crystal Gray, the Council voted 4 to 3 to call up the approval for review at a future date. Joining Gray in supporting the motion were Council members Bohannan, Schultheiss and Stoakes. Voting to uphold the certificate were Council members Ageton, McGrath and Ruzzin. Councilmen Eldridge and Polk were absent.
Polk Recuperating from Heart Surgery
Boulder City Councilman Richard Polk underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery on March 3. During a routine physical Polk's physician found evidence of artery blockages and immediately scheduled the surgery. Polk's surgery was successful and he returned to participate in part of the City Council meeting on March 20, voting on appointments to City boards and commissions.
Across the country people are concerned about the lack of good local journalism in their communities. In many cases the problem revolves around out-of-town corporate ownership of newspapers, radio and television stations that puts higher priority on profit than quality. The concentration of so much of the nation's media under a few corporations also limits the diversity of views and often results in a pro-business slant on the news. Boulder, with both of its daily newspapers owned by the same firm, is no exception.
PLAN-Boulder County is pleased with the response from Boulder County residents to the Peoples Advocate. We'll keep working to let you know how your city and county representatives are voting on important issues, and we'll continue to provide detailed information on the nuts and bolts of public process.
In order to spread the word we encourage those of you who are receiving this publication to pass it around. Please forward the Peoples Advocate to your friends and associates. Encourage any community organizations in which you are a member to distribute the Peoples Advocate to their membership.
If you like what you read, please sign up to receive the newsletter directly to ensure continuity and simplify our process by contacting PLAN-Boulder board member David Cook. And most importantly, let us know what you think about the publication and the issues we cover.
| The Boulder County Peoples Advocate is published monthly by PLAN-Boulder County and distributed free to persons interested in local public affairs issues. Eric Karnes, Editor
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