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PLAN-Boulder CountyThe Boulder County Peoples Advocate Aug. 1, 2007Boulder County public affairs news and analysis |
In this issue
Wilson Wins Special Council Election
On July 10 Boulder voters selected Ken Wilson to fill the vacancy on the Boulder City Council created by the death of Councilman Tom Eldridge. Approximately 30% of the city's registered voters participated in the mail ballot election.
According to unofficial returns Wilson received about 33% of the 10,676 ballots cast. The other top candidates in the 14-candidate field were Matt Appelbaum with 18%, Angelique Espinoza with 12%, Eugene Pearson at 6% and Alan O'Hashi with 5%. The other nine candidates split the remaining 26% of the ballots cast.
Wilson will serve until the November municipal general election at which time his seat and those of six other Council members will be filled by Boulder voters. He was sworn in at the July 24 Council meeting.
Domenico Named to Boulder County Commission
Cindy Domenico was chosen by the Boulder County Democratic Party to fill the vacancy on the County Commission created by the death of Tom Mayer. Domenico was serving as the Boulder County Assessor.
At a July 2 meeting of the party's vacancy committee Domenico received 58% of the votes to fill the vacancy. A native of Lafayette, Domenico will serve as a Commissioner until the 2008 election, at which time Boulder County voters will fill the remaining two years of Mayer's term.
Council Considers Charter Amendments
During their July 24 meeting members of the Boulder City Council discussed possible changes to the City Charter. Any proposed amendments to the City Charter must be approved by Boulder voters at the Nov. 6 municipal general election.
A committee of Council considered a number of potential amendments and reported that about seven may be recommended for the ballot. Council will give first reading to the proposed amendments at its Aug. 7 meeting. The seven topics that may be subjects of amendments include:
Council Starts Community Dialogue, Survey Process
The Boulder City Council on July 24 gave preliminary approval to City staff's recommendations for a community dialogue on issues and concerns about Boulder's future and City services. The process will include a number of small group meetings designed to elicit opinions about Boulder from "underserved and under represented" residents, including the elderly, youth and Latinos. The "citizen survey" previously conducted by the City of Boulder between 1987 and 2001 will be reinstituted.
The dialogue process and the survey will cost about $100,000, with much of the cost due to fees for several outside consultants. Council members generally supported the process but voiced concerns about the schedule and the questions to be put to residents in the meetings and the survey questionnaire. The consultants recommended completion of the process by November, a date several Council members felt was not realistic.
Parks and Recreation Fees Study Approved
At their July 24 meeting the Boulder City Council approved City Manager Frank Bruno's proposed study of the City's pricing for various park and recreation user fees. The study will include an analysis of fees charged in comparable cities, a review of park and recreation funding options and the creation of a "working group" to make recommendations about the City staff's methodologies used in establishing fees.
Representatives of a number of athletic groups spoke to the Council about rising fees and concerns over excessive administrative costs. On a motion by Crystal Gray Council members voted 5 to 2 to support the manager's proposal. Gray's motion also included a proviso that current fees would be frozen until the study is completed. It did, however, include an option for Council to revisit the fees question during the upcoming 2008 budget considerations.
Council members Suzy Ageton, Shaun McGrath, Richard Polk and Ken Wilson voted in favor of Gray's motion. Opposing were Council members Andy Schultheiss and Jack Stoakes. Robin Bohannan and Mark Ruzzin were absent.
Gordon Named Acting City Attorney
Assistant City Attorney Jerry Gordon was named acting City Attorney by the Boulder City Council during their July 24 meeting. Council voted unanimously (with Bohannan and Ruzzin absent) to name Gordon to the post, effective Aug. 11.
Gordon replaces City Attorney Ariel Calonne, who will resign effective Aug. 10 to take a position with the City of Ventura, California. A special Council committee will be formed to develop a procedure for selecting a permanent City Attorney. That committee is due to make its report to the full City Council by Aug. 21.
Council Amends Education Tax Guidelines
Boulder City Council members, at their July 10 meeting, adopted revisions to the guidelines used to appropriate funds from the City's Education Excise Tax. Under a change proposed in a motion by Robin Bohannan the funds may be used for both capital and non-capital items.
Council members voted 6 to 1 in favor of the revision, with Shaun McGrath opposing and Mark Ruzzin absent. A more controversial expenditure of the excise tax revenues may be considered at the Council's Aug. 21 meeting when a proposal to help fund construction of a new Casey Middle School could be on the agenda. The Boulder Valley School District's plans may call for the demolition of an historic building that forms the core of the school at 13th and High streets near downtown Boulder.
Mapleton Hill House Expansion Approved by Council
At their July 10 meeting members of the Boulder City Council refused to call up for consideration a landmark alteration certificate issued for an expansion of a house at 2399 4th Street in the Mapleton Hill historic district. Since the house was built in the 1970s it is not considered a "contributing" structure but its location in the historic district required approval by the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board.
Several Mapleton Hill residents asked Council to call up the certificate, claiming that the expansion and design violated historic district regulations. Council member Crystal Gray offered a motion to bring the issue to Council for discussion but her motion was defeated on a 4 to 3 vote. Joining Gray were Council members Robin Bohannan and Andy Schultheiss. Voting not to consider the issue were Suzy Ageton, Shaun McGrath, Richard Polk and Jack Stoakes. Mark Ruzzin was absent.
Department of Peace Resolution Under Consideration
The Boulder City Council may once again delve into foreign policy issues when it considers a resolution supporting the creation of a federal Department of Peace. A group of citizens asked Council at their July 10 meeting to approve such a statement.
On a motion by Crystal Gray the Council voted 5 to 2 to create a special Council committee to draft a resolution for subsequent consideration. Gray's motion was supported by Council members Bohannan, McGrath, Polk and Stoakes. Opposing the motion were Council members Ageton and Schultheiss.
Council Voting Records Available Online
PLAN-Boulder County has been tracking since 2005 all votes by members of the Boulder City Council. Often amendments and procedural motions are as important as final decisions on major issues and we wish the people of Boulder to know how their Council members vote on issues of importance to the community. Included in our tracking is how Council members voted on appointments to City boards and commissions.
The votes are recorded on a spreadsheet that can be found on our website, www.planboulder.org. PLAN-Boulder County encourages you to keep informed about how Boulder's City Council represents you and your views.
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.
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| 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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