City Council - Regular Meeting

17th, 2026 regular meeting of the Boulder City Council. I'm going to go ahead and call us to order. Alicia, can we have a roll call, please?

Thanks so much. Can you go over the, we're going to go to open comment now. So Alicia, can you go over the public participation guidelines, please?

Thanks so much, Alicia. All right, we've got 20 people signed up to speak. All of them are in person. Everyone will have two minutes. of time, and I will be strict about that in the interest of fairness. Our first three speakers are Anne Lindsey, Leith Stevens, and Ana Rey.

Thank you. Now we'll go to Leith Stevens, Ana Ray, and Margo Smith.

Thank you. All right, folks, please no noise in the audience. If you agree with what you're hearing, please, you can do jazz hands, but please no clapping. Thanks so much. Now we've got Anna Rae, Margo Smith, and Fran Sheets.

Thank you. Next, we have Margo Smith, Fran Sheets, and Eve Dreher.

Thank you. Now we'll go to Fran Sheets, Eve Dreher, and Rob Smoke.

Thank you. Now we'll go to Eve Dreher, Rob Smoke, and Claire Gleason.

Thank you. Now we'll go to Rob smoke, Claire Gleason and Jonah Faulkner.

Thanks. No, it's good. No noise in the audience, please. If you agree with something, you can Shake your hands or do jazz hands. Okay, now we go to Claire Gleason, Jonah Faulkner, and Lorraine Berger. Is Claire here? Looks like not, so let's go to Jonah Faulkner. No? How about Lorraine Berger? All right, and after that, we'll have Heather Thorne and Gaia Panetta.

Thank you. Thank you. Now we'll go to Heather Thorne, Gaia Panetta, and Steven Engle.

Thank you. Now we'll go to Gaia Panetta, Stephen Engel, and Donna Wilder. Is Gaia coming? Do we have Gaia here? Maybe not. So Stephen, go ahead.

Thank you. Now let's go to Donna Wilder, Chelsea Blake, and JC Longbottom.

Thank you. Now we'll have Chelsea Blake, JC Longbottom, and Kat Yaku.

Solutions to your time is up, but thank you for your testimony Now we'll go to JC Longbottom Kat Yaku and Susan black icky If you can get the mic up, yeah a little taller here.

Thank you. All right, let's go to Kat Yacoub, Susan Blakicki, and Alicia Curtin.

Thank you. All right, our last three speakers are Susan Blakicki, Alicia Curtin, and Tyler Haney.

Thank you. Now we have Alicia Curtin and Tyler Haney.

Your time is up, but thank you for your testimony. Our last speaker is Tyler Haney.

Looks like Tyler's not here, so that brings open comment to an end. Thanks, everybody, for coming out and speaking with us this evening. We really appreciate you taking the time. I'm going to turn to our city manager and our city attorney, I guess assistant city manager, to see if you have any responses. Yeah, good evening. Deputy, pardon me.

Yeah, thank you. Just you mentioned that you've been in coordination with BVSD or talking. Could you just speak just sort of at a high level what you've talked about and especially if you can address sort of future land use of school sites and what that looks like. I was here for the closures in 2003 and the readaptation of the Mapleton School and of course the Washington Elementary School, but just curious what that looks like.

Chris, I'll just ask a follow-up question. What you described about why partial access isn't possible to see you south, do we have that on a city website anywhere?

Yeah, that would be great if it could be on a website and also sent to us so that we can share it with constituents who are questioning why the full closure is necessary. Can do. Thanks. We'll wait for comments until at the end, but Tysha, a question?

Thank you, Mayor. I asked last week about the grant place and what the possibilities were since the impact is not aligned with our intent and was told that staff was going to look to see what our options were and get back. So I was just curious the status of that request.

Not seeing any other hands raised. I'll give another one.

Yeah, I was taking just on the BVSD front. A couple of things that hasn't come up. I was concerned around the evacuation with the new traffic patterns that are going to happen. So just the impact if we have to do evacuations, what does that mean and what does that look like? And then I'm also just curious to Tina's questions around what happened to the repurposing. of those buildings. What is the city's responsibilities and opportunities? I know that we're first in line in those conversations, but given the facilities conversations we've been having, I'm just kind of curious where that would s

All right. Another BVSD question. We've heard multiple perspectives that have offered the idea that the actions the BVSD takes can have an impact on the city and our land use plans and further prospects for families and demographics. I'm wondering, at the staff level, have we taken the recommendation or proposed decision? I'm not sure what it's called. the plan direction and given any kind of an assessment to that effect and considered whether there's a, I don't know, um, a thought to responding, something like that.

I guess I have another continuing conversation question, and it's regarding what Alicia Curtin brought up. I'm seeing these homes in this area bought up by developers, and they're not turning into single family homes. They're putting as many bedrooms as they possibly can. It's already being marketed to an investor. for CU students, the one on 10th Street. And just looking at it holistically from the Boulder Valley comp plan to House Bill 101, the transportation-oriented communities down to our ordinance 8666, how are we moving forward from the top down with the Boulder Valley comp plan integra

All right, I think that's our questions. Roberta, did you have anything to follow up with?

Okay, thanks so much. All right, so if folks want to give very brief responses, now would be your opportunity. Tina? Tara?

How many times? Just kidding. Okay, Flatirons. Point of order. Can we get the one minute on the clock?

I know that, Mayor, you have it. I got it on my phone. I know it as a speaker. I just love to have it up there. Thank you.

Well, I better speak fast then. Flatirons Elementary School parents and fans, this is the letter I'm about to send to the BBSD board. Hello, BBSD board. Our neighborhoods matter to us so much that our new comprehensive plan centers around them. Neighborhood schools are a vital part of that fabric. They hold neighborhoods together. Parents are asking BBSD for a pause. Please listen to the parents who love their neighborhood schools and pause this decision. Thank you for listening and considering this. Tara Weiner, Mayor Pro Tem, Boulder City Council, and the subject is plea for a pause. And it

Okay. Folks, quiet please. Appreciate your enthusiasm. Any other brief remarks? Yeah, Matt.

Taysha. Thank you. I would love if that would work for me because I'm not good at that. Thank you. So one, I have asked last week, I asked this week and it was great to hear council member Matt ask again about what can be done about a code that is not moving in the direction that we need to, particularly with the wildfire issues. And then for BVSD, I have had to close schools before in previous capacities and I do have know firsthand the disruptions that that has. I agree that a pause, that a decline is happening and they needed to do something, but I also agree that a pause gives us more time

Not seeing any other hands raised. Thanks again to everybody who came out. We appreciate all of your passion for making our community a better place. And with that, we're wrapping up open comment. And I'm going to take us to a recess. We'll come back at 630 for the business portion of our meeting. Thanks, everybody. Back to order. And we are going to go to our declarations. Item number three. The first one is a declaration congratulating the South Boulder Little League 11U All-Stars on their recent victory. And by the way, you can clap for the declaration. So go for it. Go for it. Congratulati

All right, first, everybody up. Everybody come on up. That's not everybody, but just the people that are. First, I'm going to read this declaration. I'm so excited to read it. Yes, declaration honoring South Boulder Little League 11U All-Stars, 2026 Colorado State Champions. September 17, 2026. South Boulder Little League has served the youth of Boulder for more than 55 years, providing a fun, safe, and supportive environment where young athletes learn the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, discipline, and perseverance. This year, the South Boulder Little League 11U All-Star Team won the Distr

All right, another big congratulations. Way to go, team. All right. We're going to go to our item 3B, which is a declaration for welcoming week to be read by Councilmember Taisha Adams.

I'm just waiting to see if there's any recipients for this. Oh, wonderful.

I think John Lopez from Intercambio is here and is going to come on down.

John, I hope you won't be offended if there's a little bit less clapping for this one, but we're also excited. That was awesome. All right.

Last fall, city staff and Last fall, city staff and community partners collaborated to tell the story of the ways Boulder values immigrant inclusion during a rigorous audit process to become a certified welcoming city and earning a three-star certification. This September, we join Welcoming America and cities across the country to celebrate Welcoming Week, September 10th through the 19th, 2026. During Welcoming Week, organizations and communities bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving coll

Thanks so much for joining us, John. And we stepped it up. We did some pretty good applause there. All right. We have one more declaration, which is item 3C, Declaration for the UN International Day of Peace, to be read by Council Member Matt Benjamin. And do we have, is Jen Spettel from Boulder Rotary here? Doesn't look like it. All right.

All right. Thanks, Matt. Elisha, can we go to our consent agenda now, please?

Very good. Does anybody have any questions or comments on the consent agenda? Okay.

I got Ryan and then Nicole. Comment. I have, unfortunately, a couple of no's. So item D, that's the FAA grants one. I understand this would be the final decision that we would make. to obligate the city to operate the airport in perpetuity, which would be a covenant of the grant. I continue to believe that that type of decision calls for an analysis of liabilities and how they compound out into the future that we don't yet have. So I had proposed an alternate way to give us more time. That was not the will of council. So I will be voting no on that. And then also no on F, which is weighing in

Thank you. I just wanted to share a couple of no's tonight too because it's rare for me to do that for consent agenda. So thank you for the time, Mayor. I appreciate being able to explain myself. Similar to Councilmember Shewhart on item D, I'll be voting no. I've shared before that given the size of the parcel involved, uncertainty at the federal level, and my desire to maximize flexibility for future generations, I don't believe accepting FAA grants is the right choice at this time. For item E, because the land use is so limited there due to the floodplain, I'm comfortable supporting that it

All right. Thanks, Nicole. Any other comments or perhaps a motion? Matt?

Understood. Anybody else? I will, seeing no other hands raised, I will go ahead and move that we approve the consent agenda. And this is a roll call, so if we could do that, please, Alicia.

Yes, except no on D and no on F. Thank you, sir.

Speer? Yes, but also no on D and no on F. Thank you.

Thanks so much. And if the folks who were here earlier speaking about Ponca Place are still here, item G was approving the vacation of Ponca Place. So that has just been accomplished. Oh, you are still here. Okay. Thanks for coming. And that's all approved. All right. Can we go to our call check-ins, please, Alicia?

Questions, comments, or desire to call this one up?

Yeah, I would like to call this up. I understand how people feel about it who spoke tonight. I feel it's the right thing for us to just look at it one more time and just be sure either way.

Makes sense. Would you like to make a motion, someone?

Any further comments before we go to a vote?

Great. Tina, did you want to speak to it? Seeing no other hands raised, I'll go ahead and call for a vote. Please raise your hand if you're in favor of calling this up. So that's 8-0. Okay, that one's getting called up. Can we go to the next one, please?

Question, comments, or desire to call this one up? I got Tara out of the gate again.

It's my night, yes. I would like to call up. non-conforming use review application LUR20250091.

In the packet, it said Mark McIntyre, seconded by Kurt Nordback, moved to deny the application for failure to meet 9-2-15 and the BRC Code 1981. They didn't have a majority, but I want to look at it again and see if it satisfies all applicable criteria of BRC 9-2-15.

Thanks. Matt, you had your hand up. Yeah, I was going to second that.

I would like to make a motion to call up non-conforming use review application LUR 2025-0091.

Very good. Any other comments before I go to a vote? I'll just make a quick comment myself, which is to say I'm fine with calling it up, and then we can take a look at whether it meets the criteria or not. So I'll vote in favor. So all in favor, please raise your hands. So that's a seven, all not in favor, and one. So that's called up on a vote of seven one. All right, can we go to our first public hearing please?

I will go ahead and move that we suspend the council rules of procedures for a six to allow for three public hearings. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Thanks for the prompt, Alicia. Now let's go to item 6A.

Thanks, Valerie, for joining us. Thanks for the presentation. Any questions for city staff? Seeing none, Valerie, did you want to address the council about the application at all? We welcome you to come up and read that.

And if you can speak right into the mic, please.

Thank you. All right. So council will come back for deliberations if anyone wants to open with comments or perhaps a motion.

Yeah, Rob, go ahead. I'll make the motion. I'd like to make a motion to adopt Ordinance 8765, designating the property at 1004 Lincoln Place, City of Boulder, Colorado, to be known as the Beard Stoyva House as an individual landmark under the City of Boulder Historic Preservation Ordinance and setting forth related details.

I'm so sorry. Hold that thought, Rob. Hold that motion. We have one person who signed up to speak in the public hearing. So I'll go ahead and open the public hearing. And Lynn Siegel, you'll have three minutes to speak.

Okay. Thank you. All right. I'll close the public hearing. And, Rob, do you want to try again? One more time.

I'd like to make a motion to adopt Ordinance 8765, designating the property at 1004 Lincoln Place, City of Boulder, Colorado, to be known as the Beard Stoyva House as an individual landmark under the City of Boulder Historic Preservation Ordinance and setting forth related details.

Second. Motion to second. Would you like to speak to it?

Sure. I mean, it is a beautiful representation of the early century. And Valerie, you said it has a peaceful and melancholy air. I think that has a lot to do with the owners, too. So thank you for bringing this forth.

Very good. Any other comments? Seeing none, we have a roll call, please, Alicia.

Very good. Well, Valerie, congratulations. And thanks so much for bringing your property forward for designation.

All right. Let's go to our next public hearing, please. Come grab those glasses.

So I have visited this property on a couple of occasions for meetings or events, but that does not prevent me from being What's the word? Unbiased on the matter.

Thanks so much, Marcin. Any questions for city staff? Seeing none, I'll ask if Joe or Caroline, if either of you would like to speak to the council on this matter tonight?

And Joe, if you can get into the microphone a little more.

Thanks so much. All right, I will now open the public hearing, if you remembered it this time. And we'll turn to our one person who signed up to speak. So Lynn Siegel, you have three minutes.

Stay on topic, but thank you. And that brings the open comment or the public hearing to a close, so I'll come back to council and see about comments or perhaps a motion.

Nicole? It looked like one of the owners had one more comment potentially to add, and so I guess my question is can we hear that? If so, I've loved your stories. Thank you.

Lovely. Would you like to make a motion?

Sure, happy to. And so I move to adopt Ordinance 8766, designating the property at 844 to 850 12th Street Place, City of Boulder, Colorado, to be known as the Heilman Bedell Stepanek Property. as an individual landmark under the City of Boulder Historic Preservation Ordinance and setting forth related details.

Sure. I just wanted to thank the owners for coming and sharing some additional history with us tonight. I really appreciate having that. And thank you so much for bringing this forward. It's beautiful homes, beautiful property. And yeah, thank you. Thanks for bringing this to our community.

Great. Seeing no other hands raised, let's go ahead and do our roll call vote, please, Alicia.

Well, huge congratulations, Joe and Carolyn. And thank you so much for bringing this forward. And as I mentioned, I've been in your gorgeous home and so glad that you're protecting it for the future. And with that, let's go to our final public hearing, please.

Thanks so much, Carolyn. Any questions for city staff? Tina.

Yeah, when you showed the pie chart that showed the office and commercial, use in that pie chart, are there any outstanding users that any types that are using a lot of energy or?

Okay, thanks. Any other questions? Seeing none, I'll go ahead and open the public hearing. We have one person signed up to speak, so Lynn Siegel, you get three minutes.

Second. Any other comments to your motion? Not seeing any, then I will go ahead and ask for a roll call, please, Alicia.

Very good. And so Carolyn and team, I just want to thank you for seeing an area where the cost benefit was no longer there for the city to maintain this regulation and expense, and then bringing it forward to us for revocation. So keep it coming as you see the need. Thanks so much. All right. Well, that brings us to the end of our agenda for tonight. So I will go ahead and close this out at 7 33 PM.