Published by the Boulder County Commissioners

August 1996

The Commissioners took action July 25 to place two countywide tax measures before the voters in the November election. First is a 0.10 percent (1/10 of one cent) sales and use tax to be earmarked for Children's Programs and Services. Second is an increase in the Road and Bridge Fund mill levy for safety improvements to the Eldora Ski Road. For more information, call Budget and Finance Manager Virginia Aragon at 441-3492.

After tabling a decision on the jail measure July 25, the Commissioners decided July 30 not to place the jail and programming expansion measure on the November ballot. Instead the Commissioners directed County staff in the Architects Office to begin the design and planning phase for a possible expansion which may be put before the voters in November 1997. In addition, the Commissioners extended the work of the citizen's committee studying jail crowding to investigate additional alternatives to incarceration. For more information, call Community Services Director Barbara Gigone at 441-3560.

After consulting again with the Mayors of Lafayette and Louisville, the Commissioners voted to approve the Lafayette/Louisville Buffer Area Comprehensive Development Plan IGA. The agreement provides rules governing the parties' actions concerning future development of parcels locates within the plan area, including properties within the area T1S,R69. The agreement also includes certain parcels within a preservation area which cannot be annexed for urban development unless all three parties agree. These parcels will still be allowed all of the uses which they were allowed now under the County's zoning before the IGA was approved. For more information, call County Attorney Larry Hoyt at 441- 3435.

Youth from the Boulder County Service Corps have been working hard since mid-June on community projects ranging from building trails on open space to painting fences at public housing complexes. The Service Corps will work until August 8, when it will celebrate its first year at the Pella Crossing dedication. The corps built a trail at the new county open space near Hygiene.

The Commissioners allocated $250,000 for the pilot program this year. One hundred youth divided into 10 teams are working in this unique new youth and community service program designed to develop job skills and personal pride among participants. The County's Administrative Services Department administers the program.

The program provides a number of benefits to the community and youth, including tangible improvements to public facilities and creating positive youth activities. Youth in the Service Corps earn $4.25/hour and can also earn a $100 bonus for successful program completion.

Some of the sites where the youth worked include Casa de la Esperanza, Coal Creek Trail, Woodlands Housing Complex, Rabbit Mountain Open Space, Walker Ranch Open Space, public housing sites in Louisville, Lafayette and Broomfield, Boulder County jail, North Foothills Open Space, Apple Valley Bridge, Pella Crossing Open Space area, and Jack Murphy Arena at the fairgrounds. For more information about the Boulder County Service Corps, call the Coordinator Rick Meyers at 441-4960.

In July the Commissioners approved purchasing the 37-acre Roberts property on the east side of U.S. Highway 287 south of Dillon Road. Acquiring this property is considered critical to preserving the integrity of the Rock Creek Farm and Ruth Roberts open space lands. Possible commercial development in the heart of these open space lands would have undermined years of public open space preservation in this area. Development at this site would also threaten wildlife which have been channeled to this area by nearby development pressures. The area also holds potential for significant archaeological sites. For more information, call Parks and Open Space Director Carolyn Holmberg at 441-3950.

The County's Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Program was named a 1996 Vision Award Winner in the Governor's Second Annual Smart Growth and Development Awards Program. The program gives special recognition to outstanding planning efforts around Colorado. The Governor's Office said the County's TDR Program was selected for its "innovative visions, creative ideas, and its creation of a unique project that promotes smart growth and development which helps keep Colorado a special place to live."

The County's program sets new subdivision regulations that provide a process to transfer development rights from the unincorporated portion of the County to properties adjacent to existing development where services are more readily available. Several TDR proposals are pending and one adjacent to Longmont has already preserved more than 500 acres of prime agricultural land. For more information, call Long Range Planning Division Manager Pete Fogg at 441-3930.

Human Service Coordinating Council Meets Wednesday, August 7, at 2:00 p.m. in the Commissioners' Conference Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse. For more information, call Policy Analyst Carolyn Dulchinos at 441-3500.

Mountain Area Advisory Committee Open House Tuesday, August 13, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the CDR Conference Center, 1215 Spruce Street, third floor, Boulder. For more information, call Long Range Planning Division Manager Pete Fogg at 441-3930.

Clean Air Consortium Meets Tuesday, August 13, at 7:30 a.m. in the Commissioners' Conference Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse. For more information, call Environmental Health Program Manager Tom Douville at 441-1189.

Planning Commission Meets Wednesday, August 21, at 1:30 p.m. in the Commissioners' Hearing Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse, takes a dinner break and reconvenes at 7:00 p.m. For more information, call the Land Use Department at 441-3930.

Recycling and Composting Authority Meets Wednesday, August 28, at 6:00 p.m. in the Commissioners' Hearing Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse. For more information, call the Authority's Interim Executive Director Hilary Collins at

Transportation Department Contract:

With Brannan Sand & Gravel Company for Valley Lane LID Asphalt Paving ($150,503)

1996 Economic Development Program Contract:

With Town of Lyons ($11,500)

Sheriff's Department Contract:

With DIAD, Inc. for maintenance and repair of the flood warning system ($23,825 for maintenance)

Parks & Open Space Department Contract:

With Steve Sim Roberts for purchase of Open Space ($738,800);

For the 1996 Boulder County Fair & Livestock Show ($28,130);

With Great Outdoors Colorado for Trail Project Agreement (Rabbit Mountain Open Space - $30,000 grant)

Finance Division Contract:

With Columbine Family Health Center for 1996 non-profit agreement ($9,450)

Facilities Management Contract:

With Coverall for custodial services ($53,760)

Architects Division Bid Award:

For Fire Alarm System Materials to Grinnell Fire Protection ($6,904)

Board of County Commissioners
P.O. Box 471
Boulder, CO 80306
Phone: (303)441-3500; Fax: 441-4525