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PLAN-Boulder CountyThe Boulder County Peoples Advocate Nov. 1, 2006Boulder County public affairs news and analysis |
In this issue
PLAN-Boulder County Endorsements
Yes on 2A — Annexation By VoteABV requires that citizens have the final say, by vote, on all major annexations to the city for development. We believe the citizens are best to make these critical decisions.Yes on 202 — Climate SmartThis will allow Boulder to take a leadership role in setting up a direct energy-use tax to fund the implementation of the Kyoto Accord's measures. It will also act as an incentive for the community to utilize the energy conservation incentives.Yes on 1A — Boulder County Transit and TrailsThis small sales tax increment would provide fundingfor improved levels of transit service and critical trail needs. It would also lead to more widespread EcoPassavailability and improved special transit service.CandidatesMark Udall — U.S. Congress, District 2
Angie Paccione — U.S. Congress, District 4
Bill Ritter — Governor
Tom Mayer — Boulder County Commissioner
Joan Fitz-Gerald — State Senate District 16
Alice Madden — StateHouse District 10
Jack Pommer — State HouseDistrict 11
Paul Weissman — State House District 12
Claire Levy — State HouseDistrict 13
Dianne Primavera — State House District 33
Boulder Council Starts Budget Approval Process
At their Oct. 17 meeting members of the Boulder City Council began the process of approving City Manager Frank Bruno's proposed budget for fiscal year 2007. Council members have been meeting with staff during periodic work and study sessions over the last several months but the Oct. 17 meeting was the first time the public could comment on the proposed budget.
Most of the comments during the meeting addressed the operation of Boulder Television, which manages the City's community access channel 54. A previous City Manager had, without notice or Council approval, directed that funds earmarked in the City's cable television franchise agreement be channeled to City general revenue accounts instead of funding community access. The current Council voted last year not to restore the funds.
At the Oct. 17 meeting Councilman Shaun McGrath offered a motion to appropriate $226,550 to Boulder Television to operate channel 54. Seeing that he lacked support on Council for the appropriation McGrath offered an alternative that instructed City staff to bring to Council, at their Nov. 14 meeting, optional funding scenarios for the community access channel. McGrath's motion was approved on a 7 to 2 vote, with Council members Tom Eldridge and Jack Stoakes opposing.
On a motion from Councilman Andy Schultheiss the Council unanimously approved, on first reading, the proposed budget. The budget process is not over, however, since there will be at least one more reading before a final Council vote.
City Council Oct. 17 agenda packet
Budget discussion
Channel 54 website
Boards Select Transit Village Options
Members of the Boulder Planning Board and the Transportation Advisory Board narrowed down the options for the proposed Transit Village area plan at a joint meeting in Oct.. The plan covers an area of about 160 acres, generally bounded by Foothills Parkway, Valmont Road, 30th Street and the irrigation canal south of and parallel to Pearl Street east of 30th Street. The centerpieces of the area plan are the planned RTD bus and commuter rail stations.
The boards selected Option 2 from four concepts developed by the City planning staff and consultants. It maximizes residential uses in the area, whereas Option 1 had a greater balance of residential and employment uses and Option 3 a greater orientation to employment over residential. Another option, with less development based on current trends and zoning, was not favored by staff or the boards.
Board members modified staff's Option 2 with the following recommendations: An emphasis on residential but with flexibility, including retail uses on the ground floors of buildings and a concentration of shops at the northeast corner of 30th and Pearl streets, including some Òmid-boxÓ retailers. o Placing the highest density of uses in the southwest quadrant of the planning area, including around the planned RTD bus station and on City-owned land (currently Pollard Motors) at 30th and Pearl streets. o Distributing affordable housing throughout the area. o Placing high density residential uses along the Goose Creek open space corridor between 30th Street and Foothills Parkway. o Retaining space for existing commercial service and light industrial uses along parts of Valmont Road and Old Pearl Street. o Encouraging mixed-use development similar to The Steelyards along 30th and Bluff streets and Valmont Road, west of the planned rail station. o Allowing higher density redevelopment for office and light industrial uses in the current Wilderness Place area south of Valmont Road between the railroad track and Foothills Parkway. Board members also stressed the importance of good design for streetscapes and the plaza in front of the rail station and adequate pedestrian and bicycle connections.
Option 2 layout and information
City Council Gives Staff Direction on Transit Village
At a special meeting on Oct. 30 members of the Boulder City Council generally concurred with the recommendations of the Planning Board and the Transportation Advisory Board on the Transit Village area plan. City staff requested that Council members narrow the options for the plan. Under the current schedule a public hearing on the final plan will occur in early 2007, followed by a vote by Council.
Council members supported Option 2 and offered some additional suggestions about design and land use, with special concerns voiced about retaining some of the service commercial and service industrial businesses that now operate in buildings on Valmont Road and Old Pearl Street. Council members also addressed transportation demand management, connectivity principles, the design of the Depot Plaza (including the use of the historic Boulder Depot) at the planned RTD rail station and the implementation plan. There was also considerable discussion about financing options for infrastructure in the area, including new streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, parks and civic spaces.
Several Council members, especially Robin Bohannan and Mark Ruzzin, voiced interest in creating a system of density bonuses for development in selected parts of the area. They suggested using density bonuses to encourage affordable housing, retain affordable commercial and industrial rental buildings and requiring environmental enhancements.
Council did not take any formal votes on the selected Option 2 but approved their recommendation by consensus. Councilman Jack Stoakes was absent from the meeting.
What the Public Said About the Transit Village Plan
The Boulder planning staff established a program to solicit public comments about the Transit Village and the surrounding area. The process lasted almost two years, including redirection by City Council after public concerns that the initial planning area was far too large.
Once the planning area was reduced to about 160 acres, with special emphasis on the transportation aspects (rail and bus stations, sidewalks and bike lanes), the staff conducted a series of meetings to discuss what citizens desired in the Transit Village and surrounding area. Citizens were encouraged to respond to the staff's issues, and from the process came the four options presented to Planning Board, Transportation Advisory Board and City Council.
About 150 people attended five public sessions. Another 150 responded to a questionnaire printed in newspaper inserts in the Boulder Daily Camera and the Colorado Daily. According to a staff compilation of comments, the public generally: o Wants the Transit Village area to be particularly friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists. o Approved Option 2 as the primary basis for continued planning (more residential than employment). o Wants environmentally friendly buildings, special attention to civic spaces and parks and a variety of housing types, including affordable housing. o The lowest priority was placed on allowing additional retail space, more employment, high-density housing and preservation of existing service industrial uses. The Planning Board generally supported the public input, although seeking more higher density housing and retail development. City Council concurred with that approach.
Past and future meeting schedules and location
Camera article on Transit Village decision
Council Approves Photovoltaic Tax Rebate Program
Boulder City Council members approved the creation of a sales and use tax rebate program to help encourage Boulder homeowners and businesses install photovoltaic thermal and solar energy systems. At their Oct. 3 meeting Council voted to authorize City staff to develop an ordinance that will give 65% of the first year rebates to non-profit organizations and residents of affordable housing.
Councilman Andy Schultheiss offered a substitute motion appropriating all of the first year rebates to affordable housing and non-profits. His motion was defeated on a 5 to 3 vote, with Council members Crystal Gray and Jack Stoakes joining him in support. Council members Ageton, Bohannan, McGrath, Polk and Ruzzin voted against the Schultheiss motion. Tom Eldridge was absent.
Richard Polk, one of Council's strongest proponents of renewable energy systems, offered the motion to approve the ordinance, which was supported on an 7 to 1 vote, with Schultheiss in opposition and Eldridge absent.
Information on photovoltaic energy
Polk Apologizes to Council, Community
Boulder City Councilman Richard Polk offered an emotional apology to members of City Council and the citizens of Boulder for his arrest Sept. 25 for driving while allegedly under the influence of marijuana. Polk has a court date of Nov. 6 to answer the police summons.
At the Oct. 3 meeting of City Council the chief of Boulder Police, Mark Beckner, appeared and assured Council and the public that Polk received no special treatment due to his position as a City Councilman.
Depending on the outcome of Polk's court appearance City Attorney Ariel Calonne will have to determine whether Polk can remain on City Council. The City Charter requires removal of any Council member convicted of a Òcrime.Ó The issue for Calonne will be whether the Sept. 25 incident rises to the level of criminality as defined in the City Charter.
16th Street Historic District Approved
Historic Boulder, on behalf of property owners in the 700 block of 16th Street, filed an application to create a historic district encompassing five houses in the block north of Baseline Road. The recommendation was approved by the Landmarks Advisory Board but opposed by City planners due to its small size.
At the Oct. 17 Council meeting the recommendation was approved on a 6 to 3 vote. Council member Crystal Gray offered the motion, which was also supported by Robin Bohannan, Tom Eldridge, Shaun McGrath, Richard Polk and Jack Stoakes. Opposing the creation of the district were Council members Suzy Ageton, Mark Ruzzin and Andy Schultheiss.
Historic Boulder
Bob Greenlee's commentary
Jan Otto Cleared of Conflict of Interest Charges
Boulder City Attorney Aerial Calonne released to City Council and the public the results of his investigation of allegations against Jan Otto, a member of the University Hill General Improvement District. Otto was the subject of a complaint filed by a number of University Hill business owners who alleged that Otto had a financial conflict of interest and was hostile to the University Hill business community.
Calonne found that Otto had no financial interest in any pending University Hill redevelopment projects and that he had not participated in any UHGID actions against University Hill restaurants and bars. Calonne did state that Otto's advocacy positions on the UHGID board was perceived as raising questions about his objectivity on University Hill business matters. The City Attorney stressed that UHGID is not a business advocacy organization but rather an improvement district.
Otto has been an outspoken opponent of certain establishments in University Hill that possess liquor licenses, citing noise, litter and underage drinking problems affecting the surrounding neighborhood. He serves on the UHGID as a Council-appointed board member representing University Hill residents.
Vacancy Created on Parks Board
Boulder Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member Steve Brown submitted his resignation, creating a vacancy on the board that will be filled by City Council. Brown's term runs until 2010 so a new appointee will fill the unexpired portion of the term.
At their Oct. 3 meeting Council members agreed to consider the applications of Boulder citizens who had applied for Parks and Recreation Advisory Board appointments earlier this year. Four of those applicants indicated an interest in the vacancy appointment, but at the Oct. 17 meeting Council members agreed to keep the position vacant until the annual board and commission appointment process in January.
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
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