Awards

Oakleigh Thorne II for more than 50 years of service to the community and especially its young citizens providing environmental education and activism.

Although PLAN-Boulder County is not the only organization to honor Oak Thorne in recent months, we hope that our award will be the most meaningful because Oak was a founder of PLAN-Boulder County in 1959 and continues as an active member. In addition, he was an original member of both the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Board and the University of Colorado Natural Areas Committee.

As a University of Colorado Ph.D. candidate in 1954, Oak incorporated the Thorne Ecological Foundation, later called the Thorne Ecological Institute, as an environmental research non-profit. Through his work with the Institute, Oak has educated over 100,000 of young people on environmental issues, introducing them to the principles of ecology and instilling in them a sense of environmental stewardship Ð now in its third generation of students. PLAN-Boulder County is not ready to give Oak a lifetime achievement award because it sees many years of Oak Thorne-led education and activism ahead. This award merely honors Oak's achievements to date.

Alison Burchell for her citizen activism to further Colorado's renewable energy goals and her untiring advocacy on behalf of a livable and sustainable environment.

Whether in the field, in the classroom, in Council chambers, or in backroom political negotiations, Alison's vocal imperative and the scientific expertise she brings to the discussion of many environmental issues is difficult to ignore. She spearheaded the Boulder County effort on behalf of Amendment 37's successful adoption. She has played a leadership role in co-founding BREEE, the Boulder Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency work group and WISE, Women In Sustainable Energy.

Her work with the City's Professional Hydrology Advisory Panel and the South Boulder Creek Citizen Advisory Board is well known to many of you. Both personally and professionally, Alison has dedicated her considerable energy and skills to improving the community, the state, and the world we all share.

Boulder Housing Partners for its quality redevelopment of the Holiday Drive-in Theater site in a manner furthering the City of Boulder's affordable housing, transportation and environmental goals.

While it is somewhat unusual for PLAN-Boulder County to give an award to a developer, in this case the award is well-deserved because of the land use and environmental goals furthered by Boulder Housing Partners' high density quality design of the Holiday Drive-in Theater site.

Boulder Housing Partners has successfully tackled the city's development process to redevelop along a well-utilized transit route a large site with a high percentage of housing affordable to persons who work in the community. By selling portions of the site to various developers while maintaining control of affordability requirements, Boulder Housing Partners has once again proved to the community that it is more than a housing authority but is an active partner helping to resolve the city's jobs/housing imbalance.

The Ricky Weiser Award
This special award was designed to honor the many aspects of Ricky as she attended municipal and county meetings over the decades. Fearless in her approach to any elected or appointed official as she worked to preserve our natural habitat in Boulder County, Ricky also pushed for civility in discourse and respect for others' points of view; she watch-dogged the public's interest and furthered cooperation among governmental entities and between people. The second Ricky Weiser Award went to June Howard this year. It seems that every time there is a public gathering, June is in attendance, smiling and quietly talking to people and bending officials' ears about the issues of concern to her.

Founders Awards
This being our 45th year, the awards committee wanted to especially honor those who began PLAN-Boulder County in the late summer and fall of 1959. According to Lynne Wolfe, the first gathering in the late summer was at his and Arlene's home, with Kurt and Eva Gerstle, Bob and Mavis McKelvey and Bill and Jean McDowell. On September 17, 1959, a letter was sent out to citizens calling for a meeting to address the changing face of Boulder to be held on September 24 at the Washington School annex on Broadway. Those founders we were able to track down and honor at the annual dinner, were Al and Eleanor Bartlett, Kurt and Eva Gerstle, Hal and Carrie Malde, Hugh McCaffrey, Bob and Mavis McKelvey, Mary Matlin, Oakleigh Throne II, and Lynne Wolfe and his deceased wife, Arlene. Each was individually awarded a certificate of appreciation for their vision and their dedication to improving the life of all Boulderites. After all, their efforts helped to create both the City of Boulder Parks Department and later the Open Space program.

The Ricky Weiser Award
Paul Danish, Jana Mendez and Ron Stewart, Boulder County Commissioners, received the newly created Martha "Ricky" Weiser Award, for having done so much " ... to help realize the values Ricky so consistently and articulately advocated as she promoted cooperation and civil discourse in sound planning and in protecting our open spaces, natural resources and wildlife habitats for this and future generations."

The Jim Crain Award
Jim Crain received the newly created Jim Crain Award, for his " ... unwavering support for the Greenbelt vision begun by PLAN-Boulder and the citizens of Boulder in 1967."

Special Award
Pat Cahn receoved a special award for " ... Exceptional service as an active and involved member ... and especially for starting and writing the PLAN-Boulder County newsletter for its first five years."

• Lafayette Citizens for Smart Growth for ensuring that Lafayette will continue to manage and limit its growth, and for building community by informing citizens about civic issues
• The Terra Foundation for its dedication to habitat preservation and restoration, and for its extraordinarily generous contribution to the City of Boulder Open Space riparian restoration project on Coal Creek
• Janet Roberts for exceptional service and personal generosity which has nurtured PLAN-Boulder's survival and helped us to flourish for more than forty years
• Alan Taylor for tireless and passionate advocacy of wise management, protection and enhancement of Boulder's wetlands, riparian corridor and floodplains
• Will Toor for extraordinary leadership and commitment to environmental protection and awareness as Director of the CU Environmental Center and as Mayor of the City of Boulder

Ricky Weiser
Ricky Weiser had received one of the annual awards some years back, but the board felt it was time to give her further recognition. Citing her many years of service as a faithful guardian of the land and outspoken critic in both city and county affairs, the board expressed its gratitude for her firm support of the goals of PLAN-Boulder County.

As long-time active members of PBC, both Janet and Ricky received floral bouquets from the board and the sustained applause of the audience.

Louisville Environmental Action Forum

LEAF activists felt strongly that Louisville needed a comprehensive plan for managing open space purchases. At that time, City policies did not distinguish between "open space" for developed park uses and "open space" to preserve natural values. LEAF believed that preservation of natural lands should be a high priority, and that open space land acquisition should occur with citizen participation and oversight.

The City Council was not especially interested in preserving natural lands, so LEAF drafted a citizen initiative. After gathering more than enough signatures to force a vote, city council representatives met with members of LEAF to reach an agreement that would come close to meeting everyoneÕs objectives. The resulting plan categorized lands to allow stricter protection for the most environmentally sensitive lands, with more flexible management for lands with lower values or lands which are located in higher impact areas. Last spring, this draft plan was adopted by ordinance by the Louisville City Council, avoiding the necessity of holding a special election.

A seven member Open Space Advisory Board was established, and held its first meeting last June. There are big tasks ahead for this new board: overseeing land inventories and developing detailed management plans based on sound ecological principles. But thanks to LEAF and its supporters, recreational uses and natural preservation will be planned on Louisville's open space lands - instead of occurring in haphazard fashion. Today, LEAF continues as an educational force in Louisville around environmental themes.

PLAN Boulder County wishes to recognize the members of LEAF for their sustained energy over two years, and their success in helping to preserve our critical open spaces.

Longmont Open Space Committee

Three of these citizens decided to act on their concern. John D'Amico, Dan Wolford and Ken Moran spearheaded an effort to get a tax for open space on the ballot last November. They organized the Longmont Open Space Committee and embarked on an arduous and ultimately successsful campaign.

First, they had to persuade the Longmont City Council to refer such a tax to a vote of the people. A city opinion survey (which itself was due largely to the Committee's lobbying of Council) revealed substantial support for the acquisition of open space, and the Council agreed to place a 20-year sales tax, with bonding authority, on the ballot.

But that was only the beginning. The Open Space Committee convinced the daily newspaper, the Daily Times-Call, to endorse the tax proposal, raised money for the campaign, and generated support among the electorate. As a result of their hard work, the open space tax proposal passed handily, and Longmont will soon embark on a program of acquiring and preserving natural areas, habitats, and corridors, and creating trails and urban buffers.

PLAN-Boulder County is pleased to recognize with its Annual Award the dedication and perseverance of the Longmont Open Space Committee. Thanks to their commitment to a vision, Longmont's open space program is off to a flying start."

John D'Amico accepted the award for the Longmont Open Space Committee.

Rich Koopman

During that time, Rich has served in many capacities, including park patrol, environmental education, volunteer training, and drafting publications. More recently, as Senior Natural Resources Planner, he has been responsible for overseeing interpretive nature programs, law enforcement and resource management of open space properties, historic preservation, and water rights issues. Additionally, along with Graham Billingsley, Rich was instrumental in getting an historic preservation program established for County properties.

Rich's recent accomplishments include the development of the Lower Boulder Creek Master Plan and the preservation of an historic Longmont barn through relocation to the new Macintosh Agricultural Center, due to open this spring.

And one of RichÕs sidelines, nature photography, has been recognized by many as contributing to the publicÕs appreciation of some of the finer natural and historic resources found in Colorado, particularly Boulder County. His slide presentations are well-known for their beauty, interest and humor.

As one co-worker described him: "Rich has been a Jack of all trades for County parks and open space." Rich's long record of public service -- going well above and beyond what was required of his job -- his commitment to the environment, and his hard work have helped provide us with a remarkable creation: publicly owned open spaces and parks that will be preserved forever.

• To Kirk Cunningham, whose tireless dedication, commitment, knowledge, tenacity, and plain hard work have made him an indispensable environmentalist.
• To Kurt Gerstle, a founder and devoted member whose consistent and principled defense of our environment has made him a conscience of PLAN-Boulder County.
• To Jane Greenfield for her dedication, integrity, precision, stubbornness, and tireless commitment to maintaining the standards of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan.
• To the Editorial staff of the Daily Camera for perceptive, clear, informational and thought-provoking editorials that consistently championed the importance of long-term environmental protection.

• The late Carolyn Holmberg was recognized for her legacy of courage, determination and commitment to environmental preservation, as embodied by her creation of a County Open Space program that will be treasured forever. The posthumous award was accepted by her husband, Norman Holmberg.
• David Skaggs was away at the time of the dinner. He will instead receive his award at the March 12 Friday luncheon meeting at the University Club when he will be the guest speaker. The award citation, read at the dinner, recognized his extraordinary dedication, public service, and support of the environment, and for "leaving the campsite cleaner than he found it."
• Charlie Manlove's award cited his conscientious efforts on the Planning Board, his fairness and commitment to quality and his unwavering support of real comprehensive planning.
• Jon Howard was presented an award for his notable efforts on the Open Space Board of Trustees to ensure that we continue to acquire, preserve and correctly manage our precious open space.
• The award to Beth Pommer recognized her tireless work on the Planning Board, her many years of community service and her passionate support of the best in Boulder.
• The PACE program (Partnerships for a Clean Environment) and its governmental, non-profit and private sector partners were recognized for creating a remarkably successful collaborative program that helps local businesses improve our environment by preventing waste and pollution.