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PLAN-Boulder CountyThe Boulder County Peoples Advocate Dec. 1, 2007Boulder County public affairs news and analysis |
In this issue
Boulder Voters Select New Council
Seven candidates were elected to seats on the Boulder City Council in the November 6 election. The seven include two returning incumbents, Ken Wilson and Crystal Gray, and newcomers Susan Osborne, Lisa Morzel, Angelique Espinoza, Macon Cowles and Matt Appelbaum.
Although newly elected, Appelbaum and Morzel served on City Council in the past and will bring experience to the new body. Incumbents Suzy Ageton and Shaun McGrath were not on the ballot, since their terms do not expire until 2009.
Turnout for the municipal election was well below average, with only about 36% of the city's active registered voters casting a mail ballot. Under the City Charter's election provisions Wilson, Gray, Osborne and Morzel will serve four-year terms, ending in 2011. Espinoza, Cowles and Appelbaum will have terms expiring at the 2009 municipal election.
County Issues Get Voter Approval
Boulder County Commissioners placed two sales tax extensions on the November 6 ballot and both easily won approval from voters. An extension of a Boulder County tax designed to acquire and maintain open space passed with 59% of the vote. A sales tax for additional trails, intercity bus routes and road and pedestrian improvements received 69% of the votes cast.
Boulder Voters Split on Charter Amendments
The Boulder City Council submitted four proposed amendments to the City Charter on November 6, of which two passed. Voters rejected by a 61% to 39% margin an amendment that would have allowed leases of up to 40 years of City of Boulder properties. The Charter currently allows only leases of up to 20 year. Voters narrowly rejected a proposal to increase salaries for members of City Council.
Boulder citizens approved the other issues by wide margins, with 61% supporting the amendment defining the severity of crimes that would require removal of a City Council member from office and 90% approving a new method of filling vacancies on City Council.
Most Effective Endorsements of Candidates
As mentioned in the November 1 issue of the Peoples Advocate, a number of civic, community, environmental, recreation and business groups made endorsements in the race for the seven available City Council seats. All three of Boulder's newspapers also made recommendations to their readers. 18 of the 22 candidates received at least one endorsement.
Of the endorsements made, the following groups were most effective in supporting candidates who were elected:
Council Elects New Mayor and Deputy Mayor
At their first meeting of the new term members of the Boulder City Council elected Shaun McGrath Mayor and Crystal Gray Deputy Mayor. McGrath was elected by acclamation after being nominated for the position by Crystal Gray. Suzy Ageton withdrew her candidacy for Mayor in favor of McGrath's election.
On a contested vote Ageton was defeated for another term as Deputy Mayor by Gray. Gray was first elected to Council in 2003 and reelected in 2007. Councilman Macon Cowles nominated Gray and Councilman Ken Wilson offered Ageton's candidacy.
Gray was elected Deputy Mayor on a 6 to 3 vote, with support from Matt Appelbaum, Cowles, Shaun McGrath, Lisa Morzel and Susan Osborne. Ageton was supported by Angelique Espinoza and Wilson.
Council Approves Green Points Regulations
Boulder City Council members, in the process of clearing the deck of pending issues before their terms expire, approved the proposed Green Points building standards program. The program, which addresses residential construction, is designed to improve energy efficiency, reduce construction waste and help Boulder meets its goals under the Climate Action Plan.
Second reading of an ordinance adopting the program was held, along with a public hearing, at a special Council meeting on October 30. Almost all speakers at the hearing supported the standards and most encouraged Council to adopt stricter regulations than those proposed by City staff.
Boulder County Commissioners also encouraged Council to adopt the stricter standards currently under consideration by the County. Council member Robin Bohannan offered a motion doing just that, but her proposal was defeated on a 4 to 4 tie vote. Supporting stricter Green Points standards were Bohannan, Crystal Gray, Shaun McGrath and Ken Wilson. Council members wishing to adopt only the weaker City staff recommended standards were Suzy Ageton, Richard Polk, Mark Ruzzin and Jack Stoakes.
The Green Points program was then approved on a unanimous vote. Also approved during the meeting were minor changes to the international building codes used by the City of Boulder.
Casey School Decision Could be Reconsidered
A controversial appropriation to the Boulder Valley School District may be reconsidered by the Boulder City Council. In August the previous Council authorized the expenditure of $1.8 million in City education excise taxes to help pay for the reconstruction of the Casey Middle School at 13th and High streets near downtown. Council members at that time ignored complaints that the school district was refusing to accept any restrictions on the funds, including preserving all or part of the historic school building.
At its first meeting on October 20 the newly elected City Council voted unanimously to begin a process that may lead to a reconsideration of the appropriation. On a motion by Matt Appelbaum, the Council instructed the City Attorney to report on the status of planning for the reconstruction and whether the Council can overturn or amend the funding.
Council members Suzy Ageton and Angelique Espinoza spoke against the motion but ended up voting for it. Councilman Ken Wilson was absent.
Board Appointments Forthcoming in 2008
The Boulder City Council will make appointments to boards and commissions in February. The annual process for filling positions will begin after the first of the year, with citizens interested in serving on boards and commissions filling out applications and being interviewed by City Council.
Most positions are for five years, with terms starting in March. A number of popular and influential board and commission positions are coming available although Council may reappoint some incumbents to another term. All board and commission appointments are solely volunteer and without pay.
The following boards and commissions will have positions available for appointment in 2008:
PLAN-Boulder County's 2008 annual meeting and banquet will be held Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008. More details will be forthcoming about the speaker and the specific times.
The annual banquet will be held at the Spice of Life Events Center on Arapahoe Avenue east of 55th Street. Members and friends will have an opportunity to socialize, talk politics, have a great meal, enjoy a presentation on a topic of importance by a well-known speaker and help PLAN-Boulder County recognize citizens who have contributed to the community. Elections of members of the board of directors for 2008 will also be held.
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.
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.
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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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