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PLAN-Boulder CountyThe Boulder County Peoples Advocate Dec. 1, 2006Boulder County public affairs news and analysis |
In this issue
Boulder County 2006 Election Recap
Boulder County voters joined millions of their counterparts nationwide on Nov. 7 in deciding elections for federal, state and county offices and a series of state and local referenda, initiatives and bond issues. About 64% of Boulder County's registered voters turned out for the election, either in person or by mail. Turnout in the City of Boulder was 60.5%.
As usual Democrats won all state legislative and Boulder County offices. In House District 33, centered primarily in Broomfield County but including several Boulder County precincts, an incumbent Republican lost to Democrat Dianne Primavera. Statewide, Democrats added to their majorities in the Colorado House and Senate. Colorado's Democratic Governor-elect, Bill Ritter, won 70% of the votes cast in Boulder County.
Boulder County voters also continued their liberal voting tradition, approving a state ballot initiative recognizing same-sex domestic partnerships by margin of over 2 to 1 while rejecting an anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment by a similar vote. The domestic partnership initiative was defeated statewide by 52% to 48% while the anti-marriage amendment passed 55% to 45%.
On local ballot issues voters decided a number of City and County referenda and tax questions:
Lafayette citizens approved a waiver of the City's growth management ordinance to allow redevelopment of the former Wal-Mart store and surrounding property at South Boulder and South Public roads, including a number of housing units in excess of the annual limit set by the ordinance. Louisville voters narrowly defeated a use tax.
Full election results from the Daily Camera
City of Boulder Sets $225 Million Budget
The Boulder City Council approved a $225 million budget to operate Boulder City government during 2007. At its meeting on Nov. 14 council members voted 7 to 2, on a motion by Mark Ruzzin, to tentatively approve the budget. Council members Ageton, Bohannan, Eldridge, Gray, McGrath, Polk and Ruzzin supported the budget motion while Councilmen Andy Schultheiss and Jack Stoakes were opposed. A final vote on the budget was held on Nov. 28, at which time all seven council members in attendance voted in favor. Councilmen Eldridge and McGrath were absent.
The most controversial discussion during the consideration of the 2007 budget was funding for community access channel 54 and educational channel 22. The franchise agreement with Comcast requires cable television subscribers to pay a small fee designated for operation of those channels plus TV-8, the City's government programming channel. A previous City Manager, without approval by City Council, directed the earmarked funds to the general revenue account. Since then the funding of channels 22 and 54 has been periodically considered for elimination. Currently channel 22 usually rebroadcasts The Learning Channel, a commercial network, and Boulder TV manages channel 54.
At the Nov. 14 meeting Crystal Gray moved to authorize a one-time $150,000 appropriation for the operation of channels 22 and 54 during 2007. Council approved Gray's amendment to the City Manager's proposed budget (which had no funding for the channels) by a 6 to 3 vote, with council members Bohannan, Eldridge, McGrath, Polk and Ruzzin joining Gray in support. Opposing further funding for the public access channels were council members Ageton, Schultheiss and Stoakes.
Council members also committed to discuss next year the long-term future of all three of the public access, educational and governmental channels so that dedicated funding (or elimination) could be determined once and for all.
City of Boulder 2007 Recommended Budget
Channel 54 BTV
Letters to the Editor - Nov. 17: BTV
Chamber Guilty of Election Law Violation
Boulder City Attorney Ariel Calonne reported to City Council members and the public on Oct. 30 that the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, and its affiliate the Boulder Economic Council, violated City election laws. The organization contributed $12,500 to an effort to defeat the citizen initiative requiring public votes on major annexations. According to City of Boulder statute companies or organizations doing business with the City as contractors cannot attempt to influence City elections.
The money donated by the Chamber to the anti-vote campaign was returned after Calonne's findings were made public. City Clerk Alisa Lewis, who is responsible for overseeing City elections, declared the Chamber in violation but did not apply any penalties or sanctions. The Chamber's funds were intended to assist a coalition of real estate and business interests in defeating the initiative, which was seen as limiting future development on Boulder's fringe.
The City of Boulder contracts with the Chamber, through its Boulder Economic Council, to assist in business recruiting and "economic vitality" efforts. Under the contract the City was paying the Chamber $5,000 per month. City Manager Frank Bruno, upon receipt of Calonne's report, immediately cancelled the contract with the Chamber.
Several members of Council, including Andy Schultheiss, voiced concerns that Bruno's actions were unnecessary, since the violation of election laws was "cured" by return of the $12,500 from the anti-vote campaign. Concern was also voiced that the City's campaign finance laws might be too restrictive on the ability of City contractors to influence City elections. While the immediate issue is likely moot there may be efforts in the future to weaken Boulder's campaign finance controls and to draft a new contract with the Boulder Chamber.
City clerk: Economic council broke law- Daily Camera
Parking Fee Increase Draws Downtown Opposition
Strong opposition was voiced by downtown merchants and businesses to a proposed increase in downtown Boulder parking meter fees. During a Nov. 14 City Council hearing on the proposed 2007 budget for the Central Area General Improvement District (CAGID) several merchants spoke against the increase from $1.00 to $1.25 per hour and presented to City Council a petition bearing the names of 357 downtown business owners and managers opposing the increase.
Council members were taken aback by the level of opposition, since City staff had not reported such controversy during public meetings on the increase. On a motion by Crystal Gray council members voted 7 to 1 to approve the property tax mill levy for the district but postponed consideration of the parking meter increase until December.
Andy Schultheiss was the only council member voting to immediately approve the increase, questioning the validity of the petition. Tom Eldridge, who owns four downtown properties including the building housing the popular Tom's Tavern, recused himself from voting due to the possible perception of a conflict of interest.
Parking Recommendations - Molly Winter
Parking proposal protest Boulder Daily Camera
County May Regulate Oversized Houses
Boulder County commissioners are considering changes to the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan to regulate the increasing number of large houses being built in rural areas. In just four years the average size of new houses permitted in unincorporated areas of Boulder County has nearly doubled to 6,900 square feet. The intrusion of such large houses in rural areas has generated complaints from neighbors and environmentalists.
The concept under consideration by the County Commission would allow County staff to require builders to at least partially ameliorate the effects of such large buildings in rural areas by requiring larger lots and better energy conservation measures. The Boulder County Land Use Department staff may draft proposed changes, which would be subjected to public hearings prior to adoption by the Commission.
County seeks input on comp plan
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.
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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 If you wish to unsubscribe, please contact Morgan Rogers, 619-808-6079.
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