August 7, 2025 — City Council Regular Meeting

Transcript

Captions from City of Boulder YouTube recording.

[0:27] 30 p.m. So, welcome everyone to the Thursday, August 7th, 2025 regular meeting of the Boulder City Council. I'll go ahead and call us to order and Elisha ask for a roll call, please. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. We'll start tonight's roll call as usual with Council Member Adams. >> Present. Benjamin >> present. >> Mayor Brockett >> present. >> Mayor Pro Tim Folks >> present. >> Council member Marquis >> present. >> Shuhart >> here. >> Spear >> present.

[1:00] >> Wallik >> here. >> And Winer >> present. >> Mayor we have our quarum. >> Thanks so much. So we are going to start tonight with item number two which is open comment. Alicia can you go over the public participation guidelines please? Um, my understanding was we were doing item number two and then going to 1A. >> Okay. I wasn't aware of that. Thank you, sir. All right. Well, tonight we'll go over the public participation at city council meetings. Thank you all for your participation at tonight's council meeting. We ask that you abide by the rules of decorum found in the voter revised code, including

[2:01] participants are required to sign up to speak using the name they are commonly known by. Individuals must display their whole name before being allowed to speak online. Only audio testimony is permitted during open comment. No attendee shall disrupt, disturb, or otherwise impede the orderly conduct of any council meeting in a manner that obstructs the business of the meeting. This also includes failing to obey any lawful order of the presiding officer to leave the meeting room or refrain from addressing the council. All remarks and testimony shall be limited to matters related to city business. No participant shall make threats or use other forms of intimidation against any person. And lastly, obscinity, other epithets based on race, gender, or religion, and other speech and behavior that disrupts or otherwise impedes the meeting will not be tolerated. Thank you for listening and again, thank you for joining us.

[3:01] >> Thanks so much, Alicia. All right, we've got um 20 people signed up for open comment. I believe one withdrew. We're going to do a variation tonight between in-person and virtual speakers. Um, so I will announce three people at a time. Each of you has two minutes and we are strict about those time limits so that it is fair for everyone. So our first three speaker, oh and by the way, I'm having some computer issues. So if I'm looking at my screen, I'm still listening to you, but I'm have to get something working here. Okay, so our first three speakers are Sarah Napier in person, Eric Bud virtual, and Clarissa Catrell in person. So Sarah

[4:04] Look at it. That is a 2 and 12year-old child that starves to death today. A two and a halfy old child to death today. Where is your for months and months and months we have asked you to do the bare minimum and I the world is waking up to the reality of what is happening. Thousands and thousands of children are going to die. I don't know about you. I don't know why you got into politics, but you probably wanted to do something for your city. You probably cared. But this is going to be your legacy.

[5:01] Your legacy is going to be 20 years from now, we're going to have to apologize for you guys. You're going to have to make public apologies for not standing up for children who are dying of starvation. Starving to death is painful. Your body shuts down. Your brain shuts down. You cannot move. You scream in agony. What type of human being think that this is okay? Meanwhile, we send thousands of our tax dollars to this genocidal country of Israel. When people are outside in 90 degree weather, smoke fire wildfires or there's smoke from wildfires living outside. >> What the hell? >> Your time is up. Um and to the person

[6:01] that just entered um with signs, we have a sign size limit of I believe it's 11 by 17. Um, if any signs larger than that would need to be removed from the room, please. >> And if I can just look to the city attorney for confirmation about our rules of decorum there. >> Uh, thank you, mayor. Uh, Roberto Ramirez, deputy city attorney. Uh, you are correct. Um, so they will have to be outside. Thank you. We'll just give you a minute to remove those signs. Thanks. Uh the signs will need to be out of the room. I believe those signs are still within

[7:00] the chambers. if you can please remove them from the room. Thank you. Our next three speakers are Eric Bud virtually, Clarissa Catrell in person, and Freda Silva in person. Um, hi city council. This is Eric Bud. I live in Boulder. Um, I'm addressing something that's on the agenda tonight, the um, Falsam Street project. Um, I'm asking the council to approve uh this project, not call it up, let and let the staff move forward. Um, I really just want to highlight how far we've come since 2015. Um, those of you who may remember back then, um, the city council moved forward on protected bike lanes and then quickly voted to take out protected bike lanes, which was one of the first cities in the country to ever take that step. and it was really damaging to the the movement of creating safer streets. And um I was

[8:01] looking at some quotes from the Daily Camera from an article in 2015. Um I'm just going to share some of those with you quickly that councilwoman Lisa Moselle rejected the idea that the city is abandoning the Fulsome project. That is not the case. she said. Um, Councilwoman Susan Jones, Suzanne Jones, who was later mayor, "The direction is not to be less bold, but perhaps to be more strategic," she said. Um, I just want to highlight how far we've come. Um, I'm one of the people who organized the protest when the fold bike lanes were voted to be removed. Since 2021, we've elected a council with a bold vision to improve transportation in Boulder. I want to thank council members Matt Benjamin, Nicole Spear, Lauren Fulkurtz, and the rest of the council that has supported this plan. We have an incredible city transportation staff, and they should be supported in moving Folsam Street to a final design. Now is the time to build on our progress. Thank you all for moving ahead

[9:01] to make Folsam Street a place for everyone. >> Okay, our next three speakers are all in person. Clarissa Catrell, Freda Silva, and Angelique Velasco. Um, and sorry, just before you get started, uh, ma'am, I'm afraid those signs are still larger than 11 by 17. >> Um, and also signs cannot be held above your head so as to not obstruct people's views. So, ma'am, who's seated with the larger signs I'm speaking to you here? Um, those are not permitted by our uh rules of decorum. If you can please remove the larger signs from the room. >> Yes, that's too large.

[10:07] Still too large. 11 in by 17 in. >> And if we can have quiet in the room, please. All right. From my perspective, thank you. And also we need people seated please. >> Look to the city attorney. The rule on standing is that there shall be no standing in the aisles or in any way that obstructs vision or audio of other audience

[11:00] members. Ma'am, if you do want to stand, uh, you may wish to stand in the back. >> Ma'am, ma'am, >> so you you will you will need to sit down, ma'am. Word, >> please. And also quiet in the audience. This is a requirement of our >> you you do need to sit down, please. And if you do not, we'll have to call a recess and there will probably be consequences. >> Views are still being obstructed. look to the city attorney again for whether this is in compliance with our rules of decorum >> because because there are individuals that are behind her. She is obstructing the view. >> Okay, we need quiet in the audience. Needs quiet in the audience. Everyone

[12:00] needs to be quiet. Everyone needs to be quiet and no views may be obstructed. All right, this is your last warning everyone on being quiet. >> All right, we're calling a recess. Please calm down.

[21:06] I see one person who is not seated. You need to sit down so that we can continue the u public comment. >> Uh um >> this is your last warning. Please be seated. Otherwise, we're going to have to call another recess. If you can't comply with the rules and you can't allow it, okay, then we'll just have to call another recess.

[30:21] options. Um, we did clear council chambers of partis of attendees. We're going to do 15 more minutes of open comment and get as many people still in as we can. So, we're going to bring them up uh here one by one. And those first three people are Freda Silva, Angelique Velasco, and Eliso Velasco. So if we can have freedom please

[31:04] and just a reminder that with our changed rules of procedures we'll be 15. Oh, Clarissa Catrell is the next one. Are you Clarissa? Okay, sorry I got I had the wrong next person. Please continue or get going. Pick two. Um, my name is Clarissa. Um, and I've lived in Boulder for 22 years. My husband grew up here. Um, I've worked in local government for 14 years. I worked for the city of Golden. Um, and I understand the complex juggling act that you uh that you all and city administrators as well take on every day. I know it's not easy to serve. Um, so thank you for undertaking this often very thankless job. Um, it is appreciated. Um, I'm here tonight not to weigh in on the conflicts dominating the headlines, um, but to speak with gratitude for this city and for the daily things that make

[32:01] living here meaningful. Um, and to make one small request. I love living in Boulder. I love our trail system. It's more crowded now, sure, but that's because the secret's out. I love that I can run into friends at the farmers market while or while walking my dog and that my neighbors are kind and they look out for each other. I love that even strangers show up um for music, for policy um for each other and we don't always agree, but we show up. I love that I can take the bus to the airport. Um though I'd love it more if there were always seats. Um, and I appreciate the uh public comment process, flawed as it may be, because it reminds me that local voices do still matter. I also really love the smile um uh graffiti. So, um that makes me happy every time I see it. Um the current the concern I wanted to raise though is

[33:00] about traffic on 9inth Street, particularly the stretch between downtown and North Boulder Park. um cars fly down that hill and the grade makes it hard for both drivers and pedestrians to see each other. Um I'd love to see maybe some traffic calming um considered there. Speed tables. Um anything that would help. >> Thank you. >> Your time is up. Thanks. Okay. Next we have Freda Silva for real this time and then Angelique Velasco and Elisa Velasco. Well, you took away my audience because I really didn't want to talk to you all. But so it goes. My name is Freda and I

[34:01] really didn't want to talk to you all. I wanted to talk to the fellow people, but you took away the people. So, I wanted to let them know and give them a message, a warning, and let them know that their city council inch by inch is dismantling civic engagement as we know it, further contributing to the fascism that is being felt across the country. And here are some examples. First is the gross weaponization of Judaism. When people speak out against Israel, the IDF, the political, militaristic, financial objectives, the genocide that they're executing against Palestine, they're deemed anti-Semitic. Anti- speaking out against Israel does not mean that you are anti-Semitic. Being anti-ionist, Zionist does not mean you are anti-Semitic. you. This board conflates the both and it's negligent and it's dangerous and you all know

[35:02] that. So, cut it out. Second is the clear and racist behavior against Taiisha Adams by her white colleagues. Taiisha has spoken out against injustice and she has faced violent verbal attacks from Zionist and you guys don't stand up with her. What the [ __ ] We all know what happens when black voices speak out against injustice. Their risk, their safety is at risk and even their lives. Hence, Chris Malls. Next is the stringent rules of decorum. This council has made it difficult more and more to participate. [ __ ] with the flags. This flag matters. This flag doesn't. You can't clap. You can't clap. Um, cutting out video for access. What the hell? What is going on? That's an accessibility issue. 30 that affects working-class Americans trying to get here on time. >> Your time is up.

[36:00] >> And stop working with time. Time is up. Your time is up. >> Your time is up. Okay. Our next three speakers are Angelique Velasco, Eliso Velasco, and Jazelle Herzfeld. Um the virtual ones are interspersed with the inter in person. So you can begin. >> Okay. I wasn't sure if you would make something virtual. Yes. My name is Angelique and I wanted to bring to your attention as far as mental health goes in our community, especially for our elders. And um I do appreciate that

[37:00] we've recently had the Hilltop senior housing built for our unhoused homeless seniors. And I would like to see more focus on that as well. But we still continue to see a lot of unhoused folks who are struggling mentally and their mental health is deteriorating the longer they're on the streets. So, I'd like to see more of the Hilltop senior housing. I think that's going to do a huge uh positive effect on the community so we can support our elders that are needing our care in the later stages of life. Um that is the biggest thing is just finding that support also for resources for our unhoused so that we can continue to find uh housing jobs and accessibility. I know working with the unhoused population myself I am finding that there is a lot of boundaries that come up for folks and they are unable to navigate. I know libraries are very helpful but they can't provide advocacy.

[38:00] Um, if we could help to provide advocates in the libraries for mental health, uh, I think that would provide, uh, and cut out a lot of the running around and red tape and the walls so that folks, especially our unhoused seniors can get that assistance before they get into a point that they're not able to uh, get help anymore and they continue to be on the street. I've just seen the deterioration. Um, I know my time is limited. I thank you. And uh I do would I would love to see more discussion as far as folks having a time where can they just discuss openly. I know there's a lot of tensions tonight, but I think everyone needs to be able to speak and maybe looking at how that you've chosen to do that. Thank you. >> Time is up. Thank you. Okay. Now we have Eliso Velasco, Jazelle Herzfeld, and David Ensign.

[39:11] Good evening. My name is Elisio Velasco. >> Sure. Can you raise the microphone? I moved to Boulder 40 years ago and I found this the best city in Colorado to for my work and my family. So the s the facilities we have in this town are very superior to many other places. Uh the system to go to the airport is very helpful. I'm retired now, but I had a chance to use the transportation to Boulder from Boulder to the airport

[40:00] during the RTD. At the beginning, I had to go to Stapleton and it was no transportation facilities like we have now. Uh the One observation I have in Boulder is there are intersections at rush hour needs to increase the timing for the left turn because at rush hour the traffic gets jammed and is I don't know what else to say. So >> what? >> Yeah. >> Thank you for letting me talk. >> Thank you. >> Okay, our next three speakers are in person, Jazelle Herzfeld and David Enzy, and then Hillary Eisenman virtually.

[41:02] Although we do only have five minutes left in open comment. Good evening, Boulder City Council. I address you once again as the great granddaughter of a Jewish victim of the Holocaust. My whole life, I have carried a deep ancestral trauma from this horrific crime against humanity. I've spent my life studying war crimes and genocide. My deepest question has always been, how can good people stand by and allow their nation to commit a genocide? And if I ever get the chance to meet my great-grandfather in the afterlife, I want to be able to look him in the eye and tell him that I did everything in my power to end the cycle of violence that claimed his life. For the last two years, I have witnessed the horrific slaughter of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the violent occupation of the West Bank committed in the name of the ancestral trauma that I carry. I have witnessed Boulder City Council deny any

[42:00] responsibility for addressing these crimes against humanity using the convenient excuse that this is not a local issue and too controversial. Regarding locality, yes, it is an issue that affects us here locally. In addition to our Palestinian community members whose families are directly experiencing Israel's violent occupation, many more members of our community are being traumatized by bearing witness to the first live stream genocide, which they know their tax dollars are paying for. The city of Boulder holds investments in companies like Caterpillar and Microsoft, which are responsible for the demolition of Palestinian homes and underly the military and surveillance technologies being weaponized against Palestinians. Regarding the controversy, standing against the status quo of a morally corrupt society has always been a controversial act. From those who protested Nazi Germany to those who participated in the civil rights movement, throughout history, there have been a small minority of people who recognized that what their society was doing was wrong and put their lives and

[43:00] comforts at risk to do what was right. And this brings me to my final point. I want to thank and acknowledge council member Taiisha Adams who has demonstrated great courage and compassion in bringing this issue to the forefront of the conversation. I urge you to vote in favor of diversity and Microsoft. >> Thank you. Your time is up. >> Okay. The last two speakers we're going to have time for within our 45minute comment period are David Enzy in person and Hillary Eisenman virtually. Hello, city council and staff and uh thank you so much for allowing me to speak. My name is David Ensign. I live at 4020 Evans Drive in Boulder. uh for former planning board member. I just uh wanted to um I was going to just speak as a person who bikes all the time about my uh love for the core artiller network

[44:01] concept and uh uh my love for really uh good uniform markings that help us all be safe. So, thank you for all that work. I'm going to skip everything else I was going to say and just add that Lucy Carlson Crackoff and Mike Mills were also going to speak tonight on on in favor of can and I want to read this from Alexi Davis from Community Cycles who's on their board. First, thank you staff for your great work to improve the safety and comfort of Folsam Street, making the central corridor appealing with minimal impact on vehicle travel times. This plan will substantially reduce the hundreds of crashes on Folsam and hopefully prevent crashes like the tragic death of Helen Gresler at Canyon Boulevard. We encourage council's support of the Folsam plan. Second, the Bolam commu Boulder community wants to thank council for your ongoing support of the core arterial network. We collected 88 cards thanking you and I handed those over to Alicia a moment ago. Thank you. Uh, my favorite quote,

[45:02] "Thank you for caring about biking. It's life-changing and makes Boulder so special." Thank you so much. Thank you. All right, we're going to wrap up today's open comment with Hillary Eisenman speaking virtually. >> Good evening. I hope you can hear me. >> Yes. >> Okay, great. Um, my name is Hillary Eisenman. I'm a lifelong Boulder resident and I would like nothing more than open comment to be dedicated solely to homelessness and mental health, transportation and other local issues. Frankly, I would love to come back and speak with you about that in the future as a criminal defense attorney. That is where my passions are. But I am here to talk tonight about the local climate with regards to anti-semitism and basically city council um being hijacked

[46:02] to discuss Israel again and again. The past few years have been extremely difficult for the Jewish community and unimaginably painful since June 1st. It's horrifying that Jews anywhere should be attacked in the streets for being Jewish, but terrifying that this happened in Boulder. Many of us are grieving. We are grieving the loss of a sense of security and truly reeling knowing the depths of anti-semitism that lay somewhat dormant but have been unleashed and coded as political or anti-Israel. So, contrary to the last speaker, frankly, I disagree with everything she said, but I wanted to thank the city council members who have spoken out against anti-semitism and have boldly spoken out against a certain city council member and her own anti-semitic speech and online posts. This has not gone unnoticed and we thank you for

[47:00] speaking out for the Jewish community. I also applaud the changes to public comment and I think still more needs to be done. City council will not change the course of foreign affairs, but it can certainly stand for the citizens of Boulder. And I also implore those city council members who can't stand with their citizens to reconsider their values and whether they can in good faith be a public figure. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, so that's all that we have time for. uh to those that we did not get to, I'm sorry that we did not, but you will be first in line um for the next open comment. So, please, we'll reach out to you to make sure that you're still interested in doing that. So, I'll look to um our city staff to see if you had any responses. >> Not from me at this time, mayor. Thank you. >> No, thank you, mayor. >> Good. And our revised rules of procedures do allow for a 30 second per person council member response if anyone would like to do so.

[48:00] Nicole. >> Okay. >> Yeah, Nicole first and then go. >> Um, I just wanted to say uh to a couple of the speakers um who were uh bringing up what the devastation that's happening in Gaza um comparing it to the Holocaust. Um it's a comparison that that really is unnecessary. The horrific conditions in Gaza speak for themselves. There's no reason to invoke Jews or compare it to the Holocaust. Um I would also say that um outrage that targets only the Netanyahu government while Hamas's ongoing role in Palestinian and Israeli suffering is ignored or championed is also showing some bias. Um so I really hope that moving forward we can speak um without invoking Jews or making Holocaust comparisons. >> Thanks for that Nicole. I think Taiisha you had something >> the clarifying questions. Go ahead. >> Okay. Thank you. Um I just have clarifying questions um for things that

[49:00] came up. One um I met with the chief about the use of the flock data and I believe our flock data was available online for how it is used and and just more information. But I was curious if there's an opportunity um to get a little to um get that information again just to I I I want to honor the concerns that have been raised. I know that that the use is different in Denver than it is here based on what I've been told. And I just want to again get a little bit more clarity on on the concerns that community raised that weren't on the agenda right now, but are are certainly something that our community is is very concerned around. Um the other is the um somebody mentioned mental health support at the library. I think I misheard her. Maybe the recommendation was getting more services at the library for the seniors and mental health support. And I just was curious about about that. Um because I I hadn't heard anything about it and I

[50:00] just was curious about the um mental health services for our our aging and elder community members. >> Uh as to the flock data, I will say that I'm happy to uh send over. We have certainly received some inquiries about that. We have sent some information to council previously. happy to send that over again. Uh, as to what services the library is currently given, I will say that I do not uh I'm not up to speed anymore now that the library is its own district. Um, but certainly I'm happy to uh send the inquiry to David Farnon and see what he sends us in in response. >> Okay, wonderful. And then lastly, the Ninth Street. So, as somebody who bikes all the time, um I I too have seen that Ninth Street, you know, uh raceway if if if if it were. So, I just want to lift up and co-sign. Yes, I am I am I too am interested in in some of those speeding. And I wouldn't I would say that and I also I don't live as closely to incar as I do now but um I just remember a lot of

[51:02] fancy looking speeding cars up at the top sometimes and just in general any kind of drag racy type things that are happening. Um I'm just hearing a little bit more about it. So just was curious if somebody could look into that and see if it's >> I know the chief has had in the past we have had uh complaints and we have observed oursel drag racing at different parts of the city. Certainly that is not something we condone we permit. Um I know the chief and and many folks in PD have been um clamping down wherever we see that. Uh I don't know particularly if 9inth Street uh what in particular interventions they have had but certainly happy to follow up with council. >> Awesome. And then lastly, and this is you can start my 30 seconds now. Um I just want to say that um once again, anything that distracts from the message of peace of um transnational liberation um is a misstep. And again, I apologize for any

[52:02] um anything that distracts from that. Um I also just want to say um in response to my fellow colleague about the Holocaust and who compare what um I just want to honor it's not a comparison. It's a continuum. It's not a comparison. It's a continuum. They learned it from us. They the Nazis learned their methods from us. And it is important that we always honor the continuum and that and but this is my professional work not work here and so I will remain and keep it there. Thank you. >> Thanks. Right. I'm not seeing any other hands. So that's going to bring us to the end of open comment. So our next item is an executive session which we have to perform some actions here to go into. So Elicia, if we can go to item 1 A, please. Yes, sir. Item 1A on tonight's agenda is

[53:00] the consideration of a motion to call an executive session of the city council on Thursday, August 7th, 2025 as authorized by subsection 24-6-424E of the Colorado Revised Statute related to determining positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, developing strategy for negotiations, and instructing negotiators as well as CR RS24-6-424B for a conference between city council and the attorneys for the city for the purpose of receiving legal advice concerning said negotiations. >> Oh, sorry. I got a I got more that I have to read into the record to make it make it up and up. Okay. So, so bear with me everybody. There's a lot of words. The city manager and the city attorney have requested an executive session as authorized by 246424ECS related to determining positions

[54:00] relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, developing strategy for negotiations, and instructing negotiators concerning the Boulder Police Officers Association collective bargaining agreement as well as CRS 246424B for a conference between city council and the attorneys for the city for the purpose of receiving legal advice concerning said negotiations. The following provisions of the Colorado Open Meetings Act authorize an executive session to discuss this matter. The purchase, acquisition, lease, transfer, or sale of any real personal or other property interests. CRS 246424A. Conferences with an attorney for the city to receive legal advice on specific legal questions. CRS 246424B. Determining positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, developing strategy for negotiations, and instructing negotiators. CRS 246424E and consideration of documents protected by the mandatory non-disclosure provisions of the Colorado Open Reps Act CRS 246424G. This topic announcement provides as much

[55:00] detail as possible without compromising the purpose for which the executive session is authorized. So now I will entertain a motion to convene an executive session pursuant to CRS section 246424 for a conference with the city manager and attorney for the city for the purpose previously stated. So moved. >> We have a motion and a second. A motion for executive session must pass by twothirds of the core of council members present. If we can have a roll call, please. Miss Elisha. >> Yes, sir. >> Yes, sir. We'll start the roll call for item 1A regarding the executive session with council member Shuhart. >> Yes. >> Spear. >> Yes. >> Wallik. >> Yes. >> Winer. >> Yes. Adams, >> yes. >> Benjamin, >> yes. >> Mayor Brackett, >> yes. >> Mayor Pro Tim Folks, >> yes. >> And council member Marquis, >> yes. >> Item 1A is hereby passed unanimously. >> Okay, the motion has passed. The council

[56:01] will now recess and reconvene immediately in executive session to discuss the matter previously stated for the purposes previously stated. [Applause] Session has been concluded. The participants in the executive session were um Taiisha Adams, Erin Brockett, Matt Benjamin, Lauren Fulkurts, Tina Marquis, Ryan Shuhard, Nicole Spear, Mark Wallik, Tara Winer, Nura Rivera Vandermide, Chris Meschuk, Roberto Ramirez, Laurel Wit, David Bell, Megan Pierce, and Charlotte Husky. For the record, if any person who participated in the executive session believes that any substantial discussion of any matters not included in the motion to go into executive session occurred during the executive session or that any improper action occurred during the executive session in violation of the open meetings law, I ask that you state your concerns for the record. Now, seeing none, I will now continue the August 5th, 2005 meeting agenda.

[57:03] And our next thing to work on is the consent agenda, please, Elicia. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. Our consent agenda is item number three on tonight's agenda, and it consists of items 3A through 3E. >> Thanks so much. So uh on one of these items uh is consent agenda item 3D which is consideration of the arbitration report and a motion regarding the Boulder Police Officers Association BPOA declared impass on economic issues during negotiation of the collective bargaining agreement for the 2026 contract year. This item requires us to pick which motion to proceed with. So, we have um a couple of options that are in our packet and Roberto, can you remember um remind us what options A and B are? >> Thank you, Mayor Roberto Ramirez, deputy city attorney. U option A is the 4%, option B is the 6%.

[58:02] >> Very good. So, I will look to someone from council to propose which motion they would like to proceed with on this item. I'm going to >> I Mark, go ahead. >> I'm going to move that we adopt option A. >> Very good. Do I have a second? >> I'd second. >> Okay, Terra's got second. >> Okay, so we have a um and actually this was um we did not yet need a motion, so I apologize. So, you're proposing option A, the 4% increase. Would anyone like to oppose um to propose a different option? Okay, seeing no one then um option A looks to be the selection of city council. Uh since no one's proposed anything else. So I would now entertain a motion for the consent agenda. Now is the time for the motion with the motion including option A from the staff memorandum for item 3D. So you want to go again, Mark? >> I would uh move that we adopt the

[59:00] consent agenda then including option A >> for item 3D. Great. I second. But I have a question. >> Could Could you um tell me when I could speak about the um Nuropa? Is that now or is that >> No, no, no. We'll get to that later. >> Okay, great. Yeah. Okay, great. >> Thanks for asking. >> Second. >> Okay, so we've got a motion and a second. Uh Mark, did you want to speak to your motion? >> Yes. I um I like I I believe a number of members of this council would like to give maximum raises to our uh first responders uh particularly the police. Uh but we are in a very constrained economic environment uh which is becoming clearer by the day and as a consequence this going beyond uh what I have proposed as a as a motion is simply not tenable for the city at this time and so uh that is the basis on which I've suggested we adopt the 4% increase. >> Thank you for that. Terry, did you want

[60:00] to speak to your second? Um, yes, as you all know, I've historically been very supportive of our police and I continue to be. They do an amazing job. But we have to keep in mind that first of all, 4% is a race and that we aren't an extremely physically constrained environment and we have to do what is fiscally responsible in my opinion. So, I think we should go with 4%. >> Very good. Um, did anyone else want to speak to this before we go to a vote? Seeing no hands raised, um, can we get a roll call vote, please, on the consent agenda, Elicia? >> Yes, sir. We'll start the consent agenda roll call vote for items 3A through 3A, which will include the adoption of option A with council member Spear. >> Yes. >> Wallik. Uh, I >> Winer. >> Yes.

[61:01] >> Yes. >> Adams, >> yes. >> Benjamin, >> yes. >> Mayor Brackett, >> yes. >> Mayor Pro Tim Folks, >> yes. >> Council member Marcus, >> yes. >> And Shuhart, >> yes. >> The consent agenda items A through E are hereby adopted unanimously. >> Thanks very much. Yes, Lauren. >> Um, I wanted to speak to another me um item on our consent agenda, item E. Um, regarding the sale of the dairy. I just wanted to thank Nura and Melissa. Um, it is a testament to both of you that you could turn this sort of year-long yearsl long negotiation over a dollar a year lease um into such fruitful conversations that we're able

[62:02] to get to a place that benefits both our organizations. Um I strongly believe that the tenant of a building is the best long you know provides the best maintenance and that this really puts um the dairy in a really positive place that I'm excited for and also at the same time um reduces some risk and cost in the long term for the city. Um, I will miss being on the board because I am currently the council representative to the dairy board and as this goes forward my position on that board um will end. But I have really enjoyed um my time with your group and all of the work that you do. Thank you so much. >> Thanks for that, Lauren. That was very well said. I'll just chime in real quick that um I was also a dairy board rep one time and got to see how hard that that board and that organization works. It's

[63:00] a cornerstone cultural institution in the city of Boulder and so excited for this next chapter of owning the building themselves and so congratulations and I can't wait for the next show. All right, so that finishes out our consent agenda. So we will now go to our call-up check-ins of which there are three. So, our first one, please. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. Our callup check-ins are item number four on the agenda, and we have item 4A, and it is the community and environmental assessment process, known as the SEP, for the Folsam Street safety improvement projects. >> Great. Does do any council members have any questions or comments or desire to call this one up? I saw Ryan and then Tina. I just wanted to thank staff for working so hard on this and certainly support moving it forward as is without further discussion. As one of the uh commenters earlier pointed out, this has been going on for more than 10 years and the the

[64:02] council approximately a decade ago said this is the kind of thing in principle that we should be doing. We just need to be strategic and thoughtful and I think we've uh done done more than that. So, thank you and look forward to moving forward. Tina, >> yeah, I just wanted to commend the design of this particular um area and I think one of the emails we received from Better Boulder thought about this redesign as a model redesign and I concur just the um the way it's uh configured and the way it looks is really aesthetic. Um my only concern is which and I'm definitely supportive of this redesign is just to ensure that we have the funds for the maintenance so it looks like the designs um I think this is a citywide issue that we're talking about in our constrained environment. How do we maintain things the way they were designed so they continue to look beautiful and inviting and provide a great experience for people who are enjoying downtown or riding a bike on Folsam. So, I hope that we can pay

[65:01] attention to those details and what that what it looks like to experience our city. So, um that's it. >> Matt, >> uh yeah, I want to echo uh Ryan and and really Tina's um compliments to staff. Um I think we can say that can is rolling down the street uh pretty pretty well. And thanks at least somebody got that one. Appreciate it. Um yeah, see you can nice. Um, you know, I'm hopeful that by redesigning this, this actually ends the PTSD that Fulsome 2.1 had created or well 1.0 1.0 had created. Um, and and I just think this has been a great job and I think it shows that we can do great work quickly and I hope that that is sort of where we keep leveraging going forward. I know as we really got our feet under us as we sort of shifted to CAN, this sort of shows that we can move quickly and do good work. Um, I do have just one piece I wanted to sort of make sure that we highlight is, you know, one of the major Boulder institutions is the Boulder Boulder and Folsam is a is a major

[66:01] artery for that. And so, just as we think about all this great design, just making sure that we accommodate what the Boulder Boulder is and will become in future years and that and that it becomes part of this design in many ways. So, um, I think that's something we can look forward to. But anyways, great job and look forward to seeing this come to fruition. >> Great. Uh, not seeing any other hands. I'll just say a couple words. Just huge thanks to the transportation department. You all have uh hit it out of out of the park. Again, I tried to think of an alternative transportation metaphor for hitting it out of the park. I couldn't come up with one. Um but another phenomenal design and I appreciate your uh approach to being creative with the hybrid uh designs and considerations. Um so very excited. The fulsome was the f-word we couldn't say for a long time. Um and I'm really looking forward to seeing this move forward um as funding becomes available. Um, plus one to what you said about the Boulder Boulder. That's a great community partner and organization. We want to make sure that it works great for that event as well. And also a big thank you to Council Member Benjamin and then Council Member

[67:01] Rachel Friend uh for putting the CAN initiative together back a few years ago now. So very excited to see it moving forward. All right. Um, so I have not heard anyone opine that we should call this up. So I think we're done with that item. >> Thank you, sir. Item 4B on tonight's agenda is the site review amendment and use review to allow the existing structure at 183619th Street to be used as a single family detached dwelling unit in the RH2 zoning district and to amend the existing PUD to maintain the existing rear deck. This is reviewed under case cases numbers LUR20-22-000044 and LUR2023-000010. >> Thanks. Any questions or comments or desire to call this one up? >> I saw Matt and Tara. >> Uh yes, I would like to see us call this up. Um,

[68:00] you know, this is an interesting thing as I've gotten to learn more about it and it just is it's sort of it's a strange situation that we've got ourselves in and I think we need to give it some review and really give it uh some due diligence um which maybe it hasn't quite gotten yet. So, I think it's appropriate here to call us up. >> Very good. Terra. >> Yeah, I agree. We should call it up. I watched the planning board um meeting which is becoming one of my new hobbies and I have to say that some of the remarks I agree with it is a bit of what was somebody called Kaf Kaskka-esque >> Kafka >> Kafka see I shouldn't have even tried that word here I'm a little too stressed Kafka-esque overreach I would call it that or government overreach so I really would like us to bring it forth as discussion and see what we have to say about Yeah, I agree with my colleagues on this one. So, did you want to make a motion to that effect or Mark, did you want to speak to it before? Just briefly, I I also watched the planning board meeting

[69:01] and I found it a bit strange to say the least in terms of how they approach this property and the seeming unwillingness to come to a reasonable solution that protects the owner of the property as well as our values and interests. And I I just thought this was a little extreme, so I'd like to call it up, too. I'll go ahead and make a motion to uh call this up. Item 4B. Second. Anybody? >> Second. >> Tina seconds. All in favor, raise your hand. That is unanimous. 90. So, we're calling that one up. Next, please. Elicia. >> Yes, sir. Item 4 C is the concept plan review for the proposed redevelopment of the Nuropa campus at 2130 Arapjo Avenue with two new buildings containing approximately 133 residential units in a

[70:02] variety of 1 to 5bedroom layouts. The proposal would require a Boulder Valley comprehensive plan land use map amendment as well as a reszoning from public to residential high-5. The proposal would also require a height modification to allow for the building to exceed the threetory threestory 35- ft height limit. The proposed design would maintain the existing historic Lincoln Hall building. This is reviewed under case number LUR2025-000033. [Music] >> Question, comments, or desire to call this one up. Mark, >> yes, I would like to just given the size of the project, its complexity, the uh importance of the location um and the just the overall significance of the project, I I think we ought to have a little bit of a um review of it. And so, yes, I'd like to call it up. Okay,

[71:00] chair. >> I don't know that I necessarily want to call it up, but I am h I've studied it and I went there and to me the question is really RH5 versus RH1 and I feel that I'm I like what planning board said here. Um there was some comments that said that they're not positive that RH5 is necessarily appropriate. uh they would need a strong argument to believe that that is um the way to go and I agree with them. So um where do we go from here for what's my next step? >> Uh well I would say so I personally um don't necessarily need to call it up but I would give the feedback more that RH5 would be the appropriate zone. So I might look to to Roberto the city attorney. Could we do like a straw poll in terms of whether council would favor the the lower density or the higher density alternative or is that too much to do in the just the discussion of a call-up? >> No, you can certainly do that. >> Okay. So, what it and let me just say

[72:00] that I think that um I thought the planning board and staff had some excellent comments about revisions that were important for the project to improve it. So, I I thought those were great, but I think it would be helpful for council to say um would does council support more of the lower density RH1 alternative or the higher density RH5 alternative? >> Can I ask a process question? >> Sure. So, if we didn't call it up and understanding that planning board, they had four members who wanted to explore what the density should be and I think staff concurred with that. My understanding is if we didn't do anything at this point that there would be a process with staff and then with planning board to think about the density and make a recommendation as well as some of the other items that they brought up like the cutout on Arapjo so that we don't necessarily need to weigh in on that now but we can let more process and more um study from staff happen. >> So I might invite playing director Brad Mueller up to the podium if you don't mind Brad. In terms of the process, um, is the next step submitting for a site

[73:01] review approval when things are pretty baked or is there going to be some additional back and forth between the applicant and the board before they get to that point? >> Yeah, good evening, Council Member Brad Mueller, uh, director of planning and development services. So, uh, you would be seeing it only at that next, uh, site review, and we've got, uh, Chandler, the planner who's working on this, available, too, to keep me honest. number one. Um I will say it is just concept plan now, but uh straw poll is also good information. So we're happy to follow whatever direction council's interested in this evening. >> I I think that they're going to they're going to do a lot of work based on the feedback that they're getting on the concept plan. So I think it would be helpful for council to indicate which direction we'd prefer to see them go. So if folks don't mind. Yes, go ahead. Um, so if if we're about to to pull for the five versus one, is there um an option that we can also have for letting planning board work out the process with

[74:00] staff? Can that also be one? Okay, thank you. >> So, thanks for that suggestion. So, I'm going to straw poll three options. The lower density RH1, the higher density RH5, or let the applicant work it out with staff going forward. >> Can I ask another clarifying question on process? I wasn't thinking that we'd be doing straw polls on a call up and giving direction in that way. So, um Oh, wow. Okay. >> It just got very bright. >> So, >> can can we turn those lights back down? And I also didn't um so when I was engaging with staff a little bit on this I wasn't planning to make a density recommendation because of my guess is our straw poll will be taken as direction. >> So I'm just not real confident about whether so my preference is to not call it up and let staff do the um go through that process with planning board. Um, but I'm one voice.

[75:00] >> Okay. Well, call real quick. >> I'll just say that would be option three. >> Okay. Because I never that's always what I wanted to do. I I'm not prepared to make that big of a decision. I was I was only remarking that we should think about it. So, >> totally fair. So, that and if you feel that way, then go for option C, which is to let them move forward. So, I'll go ahead and straw poll. Option one is lower density RH1. Option two, a preference for higher density RH5. And option three is send it back and let staff and the applicant work it through. So all in favor of option one, raise your hand. Zero hands. All in favor option two. >> I'm the lone person. And then all in favor of option three. And that's eight. So there's a an overwhelming support for option three of letting staff work it through with the applicant. So um now I'll come back to it. Having said that, is there any desire to now call it up? Mark, you mentioned wanting to Did you want to make a motion?

[76:00] >> Do we get any opportunity to >> wait to review uh what staff and the applicant work out? >> I don't think so. But Brad is that >> uh again Brad Mueller. So, uh, it would just be the traditional point at which you'd be looking at the site review and the and the zoning. >> Okay. >> Could we get an IP with some information about what staff and the applicant work out when they do? So, >> I would have to turn to the attorneys on that because it is quasi judicial. I don't know that we'd be doing that for a quasi judicial item. Bless you. >> Thank you. That that is correct because of the nature. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yes, T.

[77:00] >> Sorry, just explain to me one more time. So, let's say it comes back and I was like, "Oh, that's too big. I don't like it." Let's say I make believe I say that. >> We would have to call up the site review. >> Okay. Like we do everything else. >> Yes. Yeah. That would be our so we will see this again if they move forward with the project and we would see it at the time of the site review whether planning board approved or denied or approved it with conditions. We would then have the chance to call up that decision if we felt like we wanted to go in a different direction. >> I'm content with that. >> Okay. So then no motion to call this one up. All right. So we're not calling this one up either. And that moves us forward to our public hearing item five, please. >> All right. Thank you, sir. Our public hearings are our public hearing is item five on tonight's agenda. And we have two items under consideration. The first item is the second reading and consideration of a motion to adopt

[78:00] ordinance 8710 submitting to the electors of the city of Boulder at the general municipal coordinated election to be held Tuesday, November 4th, 2025. the question of without raising additional taxes extending the existing 0.3% community culture resilience and safety sales and use task beyond the current expiration date of December 31st, 2036 in perpetuity to build and maintain capital improvement projects and use up to 10% of the resulting tax revenue to fund a grant pool for nonprofit organization projects to be authorized as a voter approved revenue change, specifying the form of the ballot and other election procedures, and setting forth those related details. And our second item, if desired, is the second reading and consideration of a motion to adopt ordinance 8711 submitting to the electors of the city of Boulder at the general municipal coordinated election

[79:00] to be held on Tuesday, November 4th, 2025. the question of authorizing the increase of debt to build and maintain capital improvements with the proceedings thereof to be used for capital improvement projects in the city of Boulder as set forth in the ballot specifying the form of the ballot and other election procedures and setting forth related details. >> That was a mouthful. Thanks, Alicia. >> I was just going to say that, mayor. Uh, and last time we saw this council uh was June 26, 2025 when you gave us some direction. Uh, and as the item move forward, I will pass this on to our budget officer, Charlotte Husky. Good evening, council. Good to be here with you this evening. Charlotte Husky, budget officer for the city of Boulder. I'm uh here to present tonight on the 2025 ballot measure in front of city council for consideration on the community culture resilience and safety tax permanent extension. The ballot measure, as uh Alicia read

[80:00] out, uh includes ordinance uh 8710 for city council consideration attachment A that would place the 2025 ballot measure before the voters without raising taxes to extend the.3% uh community culture resilience or CCRS tax in perpetuity uh to fund capital improvement projects identified in the ordinance. The ordinance also provides for a 10% of the proceeds of the tax extension to fund a grant pool uh supporting nonprofit organizations and capital improvement projects for nonprofit organizations. Ordinance 8711 or attachment B would allow the debt or the principal amount to be increased up to 262 million for capital improvement projects funded by this tax. The uh ballot measure in front of you all this evening is the work uh of coordinated efforts over the past year and a half of the work of the long-term

[81:01] financial strategy. And so this is in uh support of the multi-year ballot measure framework that staff has worked on also in partnership with the financial strategy committee. City Council first indicated support for the multi-year ballot measure strategy during the May 2024 ballot measures study session last year. The multi-year ballot measure strategy and framework is a two-year approach within the city's long-term financial strategy to look at proposed tax ballot measures for 2025 and 2026. The financial strategy committee uh has provided staff policy guidance for this framework in particular for 2025 focusing on taking care of what we have prioritizing flexibility of funding recognizing the challenges of restricted funding, coordination of tax ballot measures with our broader city financial planning um including alternative funding mechanisms and outcomebased

[82:02] budgeting as part of budgeting for resilience and equity. and distributing the tax burden more equitably. Throughout the work of the long-term financial strategy and the multi-year ballot measure framework, city council considered two ballot measure options, including both the.3% CCRS sales and use tax as well as the public realm or parks and public improvement uh property tax. Uh, Nuria mentioned earlier that our statistically valid uh, polling survey that we brought to city council June 26 uh, just a month ago demonstrated the highest support for the CCRS permanent extension among likely voters within this survey. The initial vote being 64% approval. After that meeting and during that meeting, council provided direction to staff to move forward with the permanent

[83:00] extension of the.3% CCRS tax for this November's ballot. The CCRS tax extension would provide the permanent extension of the existing CCRS tax for an estimated 13 to 15 million annually to support critical capital infrastructure needs and maintenance needs for the city's portfolio and reserve 10% of the revenues for nonprofit capital projects. That's consistent with the ballot language today. Our existing tax for CCRS that was passed in 2021 has supported critical capital infrastructure projects so far and those planned uh uh in the in the near term. Those include the completion of fire station 3, replacements of C Central Avenue bridge and Violet Bridge uh as part of the Primos Park development in North Boulder, improvements to Civic area, the

[84:02] civic area park, renovations and retrofits at uh the East Boulder Community Center, acquisition of all of the city street lights from Excel, and multimmodal transportation projects along 30th Street and 28th Street, among others. The 2025 CCRS tax extension would provide enhanced flexibility for debt financing beginning in January of 2026 and additional annual revenue beginning in 2027. It's important to note here that the CCRS tax extension would support flexibility of funding and support the the critical backlog of capital infrastructure in the city's portfolio. uh and uh maintenance uh needs as well. Included in uh the two ordinances that are in front of council this evening are the categories of types of capital projects in ordinance 8710. This is

[85:01] aligning and uplifting the uh categories of projects that were included in the uh statistically valid polling survey that we brought forward to city council at the June 26 meeting. The categories of types of capital projects incorporated into the ballot would include flexibility and such as language including roads, paths, bike lanes, and sidewalk enhancements, recreation center renovations and replacements, snow and ice response, parks and playground refurbishments, fire and police station renovation and replacement, critical bridge replacement, and open space trail and trail head improvements. In ordinance 8711, city council is considering increasing the debt authorization up to 262 million. This is our current uh principal amount that we have in our existing taxes uh 110 million. This would increase up to 262 and provide flexibility for financing across a

[86:02] 30-year horizon. Right now, we are limited to to 10year uh to a 10-year horizon based on the term of the tax. As part of the work with our staff planning, we always perform a careful consideration and balance between annual revenues coming into the fund and annual debt service payments. And so we would look to uh to support a blend of capital infrastructure projects with smaller infrastructure uh and maintenance projects as well uh with this uh extension. additional capacity uh debt capacity above our planned issuances within the current six-year CIP. So, the 2025 to 2030 CIP capital improvement program is planned for the Eastbuilder Community Center, Civic Area, and Fire Station 2. And with that, uh, happy to take any

[87:01] questions from council, uh, public hearing, and then we have suggested motion language when ready. >> Clarifying questions from council members. I had Matt, Mark, and Tina. Nicole, >> thank you for this update on where we're at. It's nice to sort of get to this place. Um, question I have kind of references to, I think, uh, slide number six. I just want to be clear that the w the projects we have planned out currently that we've specified only go to about a time horizon of about the year 2030 in the CIP as those projects are specified. What we haven't laid out yet in either the discussion or what we're maybe considering putting onto the voters is what are the things that we might be funding starting after 2030 because I know that there's one a number of critical needs that we have. I know one in particular is like the South Boulder Rec Center which is crumbling before our eyes. It's closed right now because of the critical maintenance needs. So is it fair to say that

[88:01] projects like that would be considered post 2030 given the time horizon of the money and the in per the perpetuity nature of this grant? And is there a process in which to give voters some sense of those projects so they know what they're voting for in the future rather than just sort of a blank check? Thank you for the question, council member. So we have intentionally uh looked to provide enhanced flexibility as part of uh the policy guidance received from the financial strategy committee which is consistent with the blue ribbon commission reports from 2008 and 2010. And so the categories of types of capital projects provided here are to be able to provide us that flexibility. As part of the annual budget development process, we look to incorporate and include uh additional projects or changes to capital projects as part of that annual capital planning that we perform. And so that would come forward

[89:01] as part of uh our annual budget development process uh with city council for city council consideration on an annual basis. Um >> okay I'm not sure I hear what I hear the answer and maybe not maybe I didn't maybe it's not the answer I was looking for. Um which is fine too. I I see again the real core is the voters want to know when they ask for perpetuity. These projects have been in the queue. What's next? There's something to look forward to. This is an investment they're making in the future. I know we don't want to say a specific project because that's more than 5 years out, but we could at least be pointing to some things that are critical needs that give confidence to the voters that this money is headed to the things they want. >> Yeah, happy to uh chime in. Chris Mchuk, deputy city manager. And I think Matt, the question that you're asking is a really good one. Um, and there's a combination of things. And I think as as Charlotte referenced in the annual

[90:00] capital planning we do, well, what's in the the capital budget is only the next six years. We're thinking well beyond that. So, if you're in utilities, it's they're looking 20 years out. Um, for many of our departments, they have done that long range planning, what we used to call master plans. So, we have some of that information. As we're changing the way we do that process, we're going to be revising it, but there's lots of info out there. So, to your point, we know all of our rec centers need work. Our public safety building needs work. Th this building sadly needs work. The air conditioning doesn't work in half of it. So, there's there's lots in there. And I think as Charlotte described, um, while there is lots of capital needs, the ones that are in the such as list in the ballot language, one are ones that we know for sure we're going to fund that are probably going to con continue beyond the five years of the current CIP

[91:00] and are also ones that that we heard from the community are high priorities for them. So, as Charlotte described, while the tax is flexible and so as the needs of the city evolve, this extension would help fund those, we also know these are ones that are top of the list. Does that help? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I just was I those are gen those are general and people can read between the lines. I I'd love to give them a give them a little more of a specific carrot, but I get why we we perhaps don't. But if we could that would be great. Got it. I just had a little detailed question on the bottom of the list of categories of types of capital projects. It mentions open space, trail and trail head improvements. Do we generally do open space improvements through these general um financing mechanisms or do we also use the dedicated tax primarily? >> Thank you for the question, council member. majority of the open space capital improvement program is supported

[92:01] by the open space fund. Um there are other funding sources that have in the past supported capital improvement projects such as the lottery fund um for uh open space uh trail and trail head improvements. >> Yeah. Um I just uh just kind of a clarifying question around our strategy. Um so one of the reasons that we are uh struggling a bit right now is uh because we didn't tend to build in uh repair and replacement costs into the budget over the decades when we built all this infrastructure and everything. U but that is being included now right so that just in 25 or 50 years um barring more increases in construction costs and things like that that money is being built in. So presumably that council wouldn't have to go back to voters and ask for another.3% increase or something like that. Is that correct? >> That's correct. >> Brian, just one question. Um, I've heard

[93:02] um some members of the community pose the question with uh federal tax and service cuts uh happening, will uh the city be looking to pass those new new costs or burdens onto us as residents? And so I just like to ask does this does this come from a response to you know re recent events with the federal situation or is it is it more of a longerterm process or just can you speak to that? >> It is one uh it is a process that we have been working on for a year and a half um for that development. So it is certainly part of a a broader comprehensive and holistic planning picture. Um, and it does provide the city uh enhanced flexibility to be able to uh to uh look into the future for for planning um uh um purposes that might uh

[94:01] we the city might be impacted, but it certainly has been um part of our planning efforts for the past year and a half. Great. Thank you. >> All right, not seeing any other questions. We'll now go to the public hearing. We have two speakers, Lynn Seagull and Rob Smoke. Each of them will get three minutes to speak and we just uh we do have the requirement to speak to the topic at hand. So our first speaker is Lynn Seagull. >> Mayor, I do not see Lynn or Rob online tonight. >> Okay. Um then Rob Smoke's turn. >> Oh no, you didn't see Robert either. Oh, okay. Sorry. I was reading a >> He's in person. That's why he wasn't virtual. >> You're up. Yes,

[95:01] >> Am I on? Okay. My name is Rob. A lot of echo here, huh? Is that supposed to be there? All right. My name is Rob Smoke. I live in Boulder and uh I guess you know having me as the last speaker for uh a hearing plus the open comment is kind of like when you get a scratch ticket for $2 and you get a dollar back uh a lottery ticket. It's not a big win. But uh the reason I say that is because I think you know the the issue of a 0.3% tax isn't that you know sales tax on people can be viewed as as a regressive way of raising money because people who have less of it still have to buy the same uh carton of milk or or food for their kids

[96:00] and so forth. So, I think even if you are putting this on the ballot, that's something to keep in mind for the future because uh Boulder does have a very high sales tax right now. And uh even though it doesn't look like a burden to add another 0.3%, it can be a burden. I'm also concerned about the use of language here. You know, you include a term resilience and you know, it's it's so ambiguous people could think resilience is almost anything. If you say public safety, well, you know, I could probably figure out that it's fire and police, you know, something like that. When you start throwing in words like culture and resilience, what are they trying to fund? I mean, and they're asking, you know, you're asking, so people are going along and people are probably almost certainly going to pass this and and give an approval to it. But I still think there are a lot of questions.

[97:01] Personally, in my life, when it comes to resilience, um, part of it is just coming to consciousness about some of the issues that we've unfortunately avoided here over the last year and a half. And I think if you're taking away meetings where you know a regular meeting like we didn't have a regular meeting in July even though article 2 section 9 paragraph 1 says that council is required to have at least one regular meeting per month. >> So the public hearing is on the tax proposal. >> I've gotten answers on that. But I think when you're talking about resilience, resilience means working with the public in a forthright manner, in a truthful manner. And when you take away open comment, you wind up with a situation like we had tonight where people were getting very upset and they're it's a

[98:00] topic they feel passionate about. Thank you for giving me your time. >> Thank you. All right, that brings the public hearing to a close, so I'll look to council now if anyone wants to lead off. Yes, Nicole. >> I was just going to do a clarifying question. Um, which is that Can I Is that okay? >> Sure. >> Um, that this isn't a this is an existing tax, right? So, it's not um adding per se to people's taxes. If it passes, people's um sales tax will not go up next year. >> Correct. >> That's correct. >> Yeah, Lauren, clarifying question. And in our long-term financial strategy, we are trying to look at ways to shift away from sales tax. Is that true? >> That's accurate. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Ta. Considering the um the regressive tax, are there any in the projects that were listed? I didn't notice um any preference or um

[99:01] additional considerations to um ensure that those who are again paying a higher higher percentage of their income um towards this. I'm just curious if that's a consideration when we're talking about projects and project criteria. Thank you. part of the uh for city projects. Um we we uh develop those as part of the the annual capital improvement program. um the the 10% uh amount uh that that goes to to support uh nonprofit organizations and capacity building and uh capital infrastructure investments was intentionally developed to be able to provide a range of funding support across uh organizations um in the 2021 passing and that is uh um would be would continue to be supported uh by that 10% of revenues um with this extension of

[100:02] the 2025 CCRS tax. >> Okay. So, it sounds like we do have 10% but the other 90% there's nothing in in uh per se. I did see Primo Park though and so again I just want to honor that some of those I again I just want to honor that this is a regressive tax that we're using and just making sure that those who are paying bigger percentage of their taxes to this work is are being compensated. So that's good to know. there is no necessarily standard or and no those projects don't necessarily require racial equity um review as a part of their a part of their work is >> I I just wonder if ner if you might speak to how we interweave that throughout this and other work. >> Yep. We do use a racial equity instrument on on different criteria on some of our capital improvements. I will say that we also have to use criticality. There are some uh there's a variety of uh criteria that goes into some of the decision-m on timing um

[101:01] certainly public safety, public health, but we also uh take a look at um other criteria as uh the community that it's serving. So we do use the instrument as part of that and we use other factors such as as again criticality and safety issues. So it is weaved into some of those decision-makings. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Um, I guess where I'm going with this is considering again for these types of things. Um, I'm hopeful that it's not necessarily a nice to have, but something that really is required. And I just look to Joe Joe and the water team who continue to exemplify how that you that tool is not just lip service, but is actually leading to poly policy change and um making right what we've done wrong. Thank you. >> Right. Uh, anybody want to add additional comment or a motion even? >> Me. Oh, go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead, Nicole. >> I saw Nicole first. >> Um, yeah, I I did want to make a motion.

[102:00] Um, and I also Well, I'll have a chance to talk after I make a motion. >> And we are going to need two motions. >> Yep. Okay. And you want me to do both or just the first one? Just first one. Okay. Um motion I uh move to adopt ordinance 8710 submitting to the electors of the city of Boulder at the general municipal coordinated election to be held on Tuesday, November 5th, 2025 without raising additional taxes extend the existing community culture resilience and safety sales and use tax of 0.3% beyond the current expiration date of December 31st, 2036 in perpetuity to fund capital improvement projects and use up to 10% of tax revenue. revenue to fund a grant pool for nonprofit organization project projects as a voter approved revenue change specifying the form of the ballot and other election procedures and setting forth related details. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Great. Do you want to speak to your motion? >> Yes. I just uh wanted to thank the

[103:00] finance team um for bringing this forward and for all the hard work that's gone into um figuring out how to address not just the remaining needs um that we have from our I think it's almost $400 million backlog of capital improvements um but really thinking about you know how we can do this um into the future. And I also just wanted to um thank the the um folks in the community who have um been supporting this tax already and um who who were open to it as a way to or open to continuing into perpetuity um as a way to help fund a lot of our critical infrastructure needs. So um I look forward to this being on the ballot hopefully. >> Thanks. Chair, did you want to speak? only that um many many years ago I was on the uh CCRS working group way back when and so this is extremely meaningful to see all that we've been able to do with this tax. >> Roberto, did you want to say something? >> I did. Thank you. Um before the before

[104:03] you go any further on this motion, uh just want to make sure that what you said um is proper. You actually said November 5th and not November 4th. So, >> so if you want to clarify your motion for purposes of the second. >> Yes, I would like to clarify that. Thank you. Um, November 4th, 2025, not November 5th. >> Good catch. I didn't didn't hear that at all. >> I can assure you that was not me. >> Thank Thank you, staff member who got that. Okay, great. So, we've had a motion to second. Um uh we can go ahead and go to a vote then. Elicia, roll call, please. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. We'll start the roll call for the adoption of ordinance 8710 with Council Member Wall. >> Absolutely. Yes. >> Winer. >> Yes. >> Adams,

[105:00] >> yes. >> Benjamin, >> yes. >> Mayor Brockett, >> yes. >> Mayor Pro Tim Folks, >> yes. >> Council member Marquis, >> yes. Shoeart, >> yes. >> And Spear, >> yes. >> Ordinance 8710 is hereby adopted unanimously. >> Thanks so much. Did you Are you on a roll, Nicole? Do you want to >> I can certainly turn to somebody. >> Get the date right. >> Um I move to adopt ordinance 8711 submitting to the electors of the city of Boulder at the general municipal coordinated election to be held on Tuesday, November 4th, 2025. the question to authorize the increase of debt of the city to fund capital improvements with the proceeds thereof to be used for capital improvement projects in the city of Boulder as set forth in the ballot specifying the form of the ballot and other election procedures and setting forth related details. >> Do we have a second? >> Okay, that's a second. Um did do you

[106:00] want to say anything additional? >> I don't need to say anything else. Okay, Mark. >> I I think everything has been said. >> Very good. Um, let's have a vote then, please. Elisha, roll call. >> Thank you, sir. We'll start the roll call for the adoption of ordinance 8711 with Council Member Winer. >> Yes. >> Adams, >> yes. >> Benjamin, >> yes. >> Mayor Brackett, >> yes. >> Mayor Pro Tim Folks, >> yes. >> Council member Marquis, >> yes. >> Shuhart, >> yes. Spear. >> Yes. >> And Wallik >> again. Yes. >> Ordinance 8711 is hereby adopted unanimously. >> Fantastic. All right. Well, Charlotte, thanks so much to you and your team for bringing this forward and we uh we look forward to uh seeing this on the ballot here before too long. >> Appreciate it. >> Um I don't feel good, so I'm going to go home. >> Okay. Feel better. Tara, we have one agenda item left. If we could please show. >> Yes, sir. Our last agenda item on

[107:00] tonight's agenda is item number 6A from matters from the city manager and it is the review of the Dr. Cog regional housing needs assessment to comply with Senate Bill 24-174 that is the sustainable affordable housing assistance. >> Guess I'll look to the city manager. >> Thanks so much uh for that. And as uh Jay gets situated here as we start our presentation, I just want to thank council member Spear. uh she's been uh our representative at Dr. Cog for uh all the work that's gone there. Uh but this is great work. This is work that we are required to bring forward for feedback, but certainly terrific work uh that Dr. Cog has done in figuring out what uh housing needs are across the region. Uh so hopefully I have bought Jay enough time to sort of get his presentation up and ready as we figure out what the data says. Jay, >> lovely. Found the cursor. Good evening. Jay Snuggnitch with Housing and Human

[108:00] Services and I am here tonight with a very brief agenda item. So, basically, we'll just give you a bit of a reason why we're here tonight. Uh go through a couple of the highlights from the assessment uh and then talk about some next steps. So, a little bit of background. The reason we're here is Senate Bill 24174 that requires that jurisdictions complete a housing needs assessment. Fortunate for us, uh, Dr. Cog, the Denver Regional Council of Governments, uh, had was already well underway and pretty much completed a housing needs assessment for the entire region. So, they did quite a bit of, uh, stakeholder engagement over the last two years. Uh, there's a little bit of graphic to show you that. Uh they even came to the city's housing advisory board in February which was fascinating. Um and what what the state determined also this year was that uh this analysis could be used to satisfy the requirements of the Senate bill. Um all that's required is

[109:03] that uh we submit comments from council by September 12th. Uh and that will ensure that we are competitive for future available funding from the state. So no no no action by council is required um just a public meeting. So a little bit of what it is hopefully none of this um is a surprise but um Dr. Car uh embarked on this really at the request of participating jurisdictions. Uh they found that uh housing was definitely uh better addressed at the regional level um and asked Dr. Cog to start this process. So the intent is to provide a shared datadriven foundation to understand how much housing the region needs but more importantly sort of where and what price points um all in the hopes of guiding a future housing plan. So um one thing to keep in mind so we can quibble about the methodology the numbers uh the consultants who developed the report are

[110:01] not here to defend themselves. Uh so but the precise numbers really are not as important as really the understanding the scale and the scope. So I just really wanted to emphasize that. So a few of the basics, this is what shouldn't be a surprise. So um the region experienced pretty significant growth in population without a commeerate increase in housing production. Uh that resulted in very low vacancy rates um and median home sales prices that had basically uh three times faster than incomes. uh over half of the households are cost burdened or severely costburdened. Uh and understanding the housing need um it again is just good foundation for policy makers to address the overall housing supply and affordability challenges. So the analysis has several submarkets or sub regions um which is extremely helpful um as we go along. Just keep in

[111:00] mind the Boulder is in the north. So quite a bit of criteria goes went into the analysis and the needs um at current and future populations, current and future employment um as well as factors around transportation as well as housing. So this is the overall housing need uh over half a million new units by 2050. Um, they also did a 10-year horizon, uh, which is 223,000 new homes. And that 223, the little subbox breaks it out in terms of the current need and also the future need, which I think is helpful. Um, and then fortunately, they broke it down by income levels. So, specifically, what is the demand and what is the current supply? So the um shaded box is the current supply at each of the income levels 0 to 50, 50 to 80 etc. Um and what this shows is that the

[112:01] greatest need is that 0 to 50%. And then fortunately they also broke it down even further by sub region. So you can see that that's that need at the 0 to 50% is pretty consistent across all the sub regions. and then we'll show you Boulder. So again, Bold shouldn't be a surprise as well. Um really reinforces the the investments that the city of Boulder has made in supporting in terms of funding as well as policy um particularly for households in that zero to 50%. And then the second statistic and then I I'll be done. Uh it has to do with housing burden. Uh this is extremely useful. Uh helps us understand how much people are paying of their annual income in rent. As you can see the they're rent burdened if they're paying more than 30%

[113:00] and they're severely burdened if they're paying more than 50%. So the north has some of the highest rates of um being rent burdened in the region. And then Boulder has some of the highest rates uh throughout the region. Uh so the 30% and above has remained fairly stable, but um the of concern is that severely burdened. So there's lots more data points. Um I'm not going to go through them all, but again consider this sort of a baseline uh guide for information for future planning efforts. So next steps. So, we're going to submit comments. So, you could provide those verbally tonight. You could send them to me or Kurt uh in writing. We'll submit those to Dr. Cog. Uh and hopefully that will satisfy a requirement for the Senate bill. Uh the Senate bill also requires a housing action plan by January 1st, 2028. Um and the idea is uh to do that also

[114:02] regionally recognizing the benefit. Um so, we could either do that through Dr. or continue our um regional work in Boulder County through the regional housing partnership. Um so there are different options. Staff will continue to explore that. At this point, happy to answer any questions you might have and any comments. >> Thanks so much for that. Jay, does council have any clarifying questions for Jay? >> I I've Oh yeah, go ahead. So, I just want to make sure I'm not reading this incorrectly. Um, when it on page three 10 of the packet, it indicated that there was no equity analysis completed and that there was no climate resiliency or sustainability either. I'm just I don't I so not so much of a question for you although in this moment, but more so for

[115:00] Nicole. I'm just kind of curious Um, I I just have concerns about the reliability and validity of this report if there was no equity analysis or climate analysis. >> So, I don't I don't know that that was referring to what Dr. Cog did, right? Was that page? Can we go to page 310 then to find out? Do you mind? Sorry. >> The city's like for my understanding of what that was in the packet for tonight was that that was reflecting that to do the presentation tonight. on the report there wasn't an equity analysis or climate analysis is that it's not saying that there wasn't it was it was an incredibly inclusive process like if you want to go and see in the the report too um they engaged with a lot of different community groups with the um demographers things like that um it wasn't um so that when this was done which was 23 2023 um there's certainly more more work there and I can ask I'm

[116:00] happy to ask the Dr. Cog staff about it and get some more information if that's it. But I don't Anyway, >> I think what you're referring to and I I think both is both are right. In our template in our new memo format, we have racial equity or equity considerations fiscal note. Is that what you're referring to? Because we did not do that. >> No. If we if I So, one of the um technical issues I'm having with our new system is sometimes the session expires and then I can't go back and get Is this something that's happening for you? Okay. So, I can't find the page that I just had up to tell you where it was. And that's why I wrote down page 310. So, if somebody can go to page 310 >> and is that >> is that that's the report from echo something. So, can somebody please and No, that's not the Oh, god. That's not the 310 from the PDF that I had to download because I couldn't do a search word search find on the thing. >> So, I'm so sorry. But anyway, my larger point is is if you're telling me if you're telling me Nicole that there was a thorough equity analysis because again

[117:00] a whole bunch of people in a focus group is not an equity analysis. That is a qualitative component and they have the information to be able to tell us you know what are the what are the conditions that led to such a large gap? whether the right like a that's a b I know that and again feel free to correct me if I'm wrong but I'm just going to make an assumption that the people making those decisions weren't made up of predominantly those that make the 0 to 50% income and so I had the comfort class uh article from the uh from the Atlantic recently that talked about people with generational wealth u making decisions for the poor and how complicated that is um and so that's where I'm just coming in and based on the conversations that and the information that you have shared previously about Dr. Cog. I was surprised to see that component in the report. So that's where I was coming and it and it wasn't the same template from there. It was in there in their report. I I can't find it at this moment. But my

[118:00] larger point is it's good to know that there is one. My larger concern just in general with this report going back to our water conversation when people say 2050 anything I just based on the meetings that I've had and conversations I've had with water people it feels like we're having two different conversations and so I'm just curious to from that p from that inter uh disciplinary perspective how involved are the water people in this Dr. her call report >> and and also I wonder I know that we're allowed to submit comments and questions for for a little while now. So I wonder if we can do some additional followup afterwards because I imagine Dr. Cog folks probably have some responses to some of these. So do you think we can, you know, put that in that pipeline? >> Okay, cool. >> Thank you. >> Can may I page? >> No worries. >> May I add one one more thing? Um, so the the other piece of this is that this was sort of a a first step work. So it's nice that it counts for the state requirement also, but it was the first

[119:01] first step in getting to um a regional housing strategy document which is just about to get started. And so um I I I Does this go to Dr. Cog? Does it go to the state? Who does who do the comments go to? Who's collecting them? >> They go to Dr. Car. >> They do. Yeah. So So that would be another thing there, right? To to talk about that. And just yesterday um at our study session I'm happy to send out the link um as soon as it's posted um we were uh talking through um the uh engagement and how to set up the the beginning of the regional housing need or sorry not housing needs assessment regional housing strategy um which is that second step which I think is the part where we get into more of the details of who are who's here how are we meeting those needs and and that sort of thing. Um so I think it'll come in more there but it it's a good time it's the short version it's a good time to make those comments. Okay, thank you. And on that, while we're commenting, I just want to align that with the integrated water plan that we talked about, too. So, I'm curious about the timing and if they're toggling with each other. Thank you,

[120:00] >> Lauren. >> Yeah. Related to that, I think one of the things that's I've been thinking about is how water availability might impact housing need because not all communities have the ability to expand in the same way. And so, that likely might move around you know, we might end up seeing more housing need or less housing need kind of based on that. So, is that something that they're going to consider or through these next steps? >> Um, absolutely. Because that's a requirement of the Senate bill. Okay. >> So, the Senate bill has specific language about water availability and other infrastructure. >> Um, it's just not as well defined as to what the requirements are for housing needs analysis. Um but that next step by January January 1st 2028 that'll have to be addressed. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Go ahead. >> Thanks. I just one question and I

[121:00] apologize if this is too big and should have gone into a hotline. feel free to we can address it later. But I'm just thinking um in a in a big picture we've seen some of the the data graphics around housing need and you know the sort of overall message is we have a need for more housing and I'm wondering if you're able to speak perhaps from we know from Dr. Chicago's perspective, what what what's on the table for, you know, if if we meet the housing need, what do we get for that? Or or conversely, what is at stake if we don't meet this housing need? Like what what what are the big ideas about why we should care about this? >> That's a great question. I like it. >> And I'm sorry, this is like a pretty big question. So feel free to >> No, that's >> we can put that into the comments to Dr. Cog if that's easier. >> I can do that. I can take a stab. I mean what what I see the value of um I'm not sure about Dr. Cog or what the legislaturator's intent was um but there is no necessar there isn't necessarily any penalty for not meeting it um nor is

[122:03] there any sort of reward is providing housing and having a more complete community I think is the actual reward so um it's it wasn't set up to be punitive or set up a reward system um but I'll definitely share that with Dr. Cog. >> Thanks. And just to clarify, yeah, I think I was getting at more from Dr. Cog's perspective. What what what is what is the need? What does meeting or not meeting the need mean from a like a public service delivery standpoint? So, I think it's maybe it is a question more for Dr. Cog and I know it's in the notes, but I just thought I'd try it for discussion. Thanks. >> Great. I have one question for you. Although maybe the winning community should get a sticker or something. So, you met your goal. Great job. But my one question is, are we going to be using this as one of our inputs to the comprehensive plan process? >> Yes, absolutely. >> Great. That's what I wanted to hear. Anything else from anybody else?

[123:00] Not seeing anything else. Um, thanks very much, Jay. Appreciate you doing this. I know we got lots of work ahead. And just Nicole, thanks for your service on Dr. Cog. It is a large time commitment and very important. So, thanks for all the time you spend on that and the great work you do there. All right. So that brings us to the end of the meeting. We have no further agenda items. So >> uh not discussion time per se. >> If you want to sorry I'm Yeah. If you would like a council member could say something here at the end. >> Yeah. >> Asking if people want to hear it. I'm asking is am I allowed to say it? Um, so I just wanted to share I had a most beautiful opportunity to learn more about the land back that was provided by Boulder County to representatives of our indigenous community. Um, and I know we're fiscally in restrained and all of these different things, but um just I just

[124:01] it was really powerful to know that that's possible and um and still wanted even if it's a small piece even I mean it doesn't even m it it um I know we've done a lot of work. I know we're ahead of many cities and even having tribal consultations and that's incredible. Um, but there was something that I wasn't expecting um in in that um in that transfer of of property of of of being able to have a mailbox and an address in in on in their ancestral lands um was just really powerful. So, as we're going through and doing all this different work, um you know, that was really the intention of that post. And I've actually been quite consistent in advocating for our tribal and indigenous, not only here on council, but my entire life. Um, and anything that would take away from that was never ever meant. Um, to me, I I'm always curious, why wouldn't you want to be by my side, our side, those who have experienced diff similar oppressions?

[125:00] There's not anything that takes away when you're by my side. It doesn't take away from my experience as an enslaved African. When I'm with indigenous or, you know, other communities that are marginalized, it makes us stronger. And so, that was really the intention. And to know that governments are capable of doing what's right. That's it wasn't saying no, nobody should get that. Why they get it? No, it's saying everybody should get it because they're worthy and they deserve it. That was the intention of that. And I would have appreciated a phone call. And I'm open anytime for a phone call always. I don't want us to have conversations that are important and critical and hard on social media. I'm just asking you please talk to me directly. You've known me for a year and a half. Do you really really believe that I want to put our community at risk? Do you really believe that I would diminish something as horrific as something my own people have experienced? Why? What

[126:02] is the benefit? What what about me about my work? About what you've seen? not on social media, but face to face. That would make you think that I would ever try and do that. I have apologized for not doing it right and not saying it right. I'm sorry. I'm not going to be perfect, but I'm asking you, please, I'm asking us. We have to model the kind of heart-to-heart work that we know needs to happen both in the mirror and with each other. I'm committed to doing that work with you all. There is no other way. This is the team and I'm honored to be on the team with you. Even if I disagree in this on this issue, there are so many other issues that we showed today that we can get together and connect on. And so I look forward to those hard one-on- ones with all of you. Um, and I just ask respectfully if you don't like something I've done, please contact me directly

[127:01] first. I think I I think I deserve that and I'll be sure to do the same. Thank you. Thanks, Tasa. I'll reach out offline. All right. Anything else before we wrap up? 52 p.m., I'll go ahead and gavvel our meetings close. Meeting closed.