Boulder County News

In a public hearing April 5th, the Commissioners approved a development proposal for Caribou City north of Nederland which reduced the number of building lots allowed on portions of Jim Guercio’s property from 111 to 14. Twelve of the 14 lots will be used for residential development and the remaining two lots will be used for a horse barn and a fishing cabin. There are an additional four lots on the property Guercio does not own. Also part of the Commissioners’ approval were an additional 13 structures, 11 residences and two recreational cabins, which must go through the County’s site plan review process.

The Caribou City proposal was part of ongoing negotiations Boulder County and the City of Boulder conducted with Guercio dating from 1996. The negotiations also involved acquiring a total of more than 3,000 acres of open space land straddling Highway 72 north of Nederland. In 1996, Boulder County and the City of Boulder entered into a contract with Guercio to jointly acquire a 2,640-acre portion of Caribou Ranch over a period of several years. Then in July of 2000, the County and City contracted with Guercio to acquire conservation easements on approximately 1,000 acres of Caribou Ranch. Preserving the Caribou Ranch land as open space protects Boulder’s watershed and more than 200 wildlife species that live in this wetlands area.

The cost of acquiring conservation easements to preserve Caribou Ranch as open space totals $7.7 million, with $3.5 million coming from Boulder County and $4.2 million coming from the City of Boulder. The County will be reimbursed for $225,000 from Great Outdoors Colorado. For more information concerning the Caribou City development proposal, call Current Planning Manager David Callahan at 303-441-3930. For more details concerning the Caribou Ranch Open Space, call Parks and Open Space Director/County Commissioner Ron Stewart at 303-441-3500 or Assistant County Attorney Ben Pearlman at 303-441-3435.

Census Bureau Releases Population and other Census 2001 Data

The U.S. Census Bureau released Census 2000 population, race and ethnicity figures for Colorado March 19th, including the 2000 Boulder County population of 291,288 -- a 29.3% increase from the County’s 1990 population of 225,339. Boulder County remains the sixth largest County in Colorado.

The Census Bureau released the following Census 2000 data for Boulder County:

Boulder: 94,673 ( 1990 Census: 83,312, a 13.6% increase)

Broomfield: 38,272, (1990 Census: 24,638, a 55.3% increase, the city is in four counties)

Erie: 6,291 (1990 Census: 1,258, a 400.1% increase, the town is in two counties)

Gunbarrel: 9,435 (1990 Census: 9,388, a 0.5% increase, is an unincorporated area)

Jamestown: 205 (1990 Census: 251, a 18.3% decrease)

Lafayette: 23,197 (1990 Census: 14,548, a 59.5% increase)

Longmont: 71,093 (1990 Census: 51,555, a 37.9% increase)

Louisville: 18,937 (1990 Census: 12,361, a 53.2% increase)

Lyons: 1,585 (1990 Census: 1,227, a 29.2% increase

Nederland: 1,394 (1990 Census: 1,099, a 26.8% increase)

Niwot: 4,160 (1990 Census: 2,666, a 56.0% increase, is an unincorporated area)

Superior: 9,011 (1990 Census: 255, a 3,433.7 % increase)

Ward: 169 (1990 Census: 159, a 6.3% increase)

The largest percentage increase in the County for ethnicity is in the Latino population, which increased 100% from the 1990 to 2000 census, jumping from 15,195 to 30,456. (Please see attached charts for more racial and ethnicity information.)

County Commissioner and Chair of the Board Jana Mendez said, "We will be analyzing this population, race and ethnicity census data as well as later census data carefully to see how we can better plan programs and services for all Boulder County residents. Census data will be especially useful in analyzing human service programming because it helps us to identify areas of changing needs and plan accordingly."

County Commissioner Paul Danish noted that the census population data confirms and quantifies what we already knew to be true: that Boulder County as a whole has grown dramatically over the past decade.

County Commissioner Ron Stewart said, "We are particularly interested in the 100% increase in the County’s Latino population since the 1990 census. This increase is very significant from a public policy point of view in that it is more important than ever that Latinos have a strong voice in local issues affecting them. The County will strive to continue to encourage even more Latino input into its decision making process."

Historically, Latinos and other populations are undercounted in the census. In January 2000, the Boulder County Commissioners asked their staff to organize a countywide outreach effort aimed at reaching

Latinos and other undercounted populations with census information to increase census participation.

The countywide outreach effort also provided census information to the general public. The overall goal of the effort was to reach a full, accurate Census 2000 count for Boulder County. Partners in this collaborative outreach effort included the Latino and Hmong communities, cities and towns in the County, public and private non-profit human service agencies, the Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley School Districts, C.U. Boulder, and the business and faith communities. Last July, the Census Bureau recognized Boulder County for spearheading this unusually collaborative census outreach effort.

One important reason why an accurate census count is important is that it means that the County as a whole will get its fair share of federal funding for a wide range of vital programs and services. Locally, an estimated $46.6 million in federal funding came into Boulder County in 2000, based on population and the Census Bureau’s formula of $165 dollars of federal money per capita. This means money for our schools, housing assistance, employment services, transportation improvements, hospital services, programs for the elderly and very young, and much more.

Hundreds of local public and private entities receive federal funding and some of the funding is determined by census data. Numerous County government programs receive some federal funding,  which is often passed through the State of Colorado first before coming to the County. Formulas for federal funding passed through the State are often quite complicated and in some cases are tied directly or indirectly to census data.

* Workforce Boulder County provides employment and training services locally

* The County Transportation Department administers Federal Highway Users Tax fund money locally

* The County has local Head Start pre-school programs

* The County’s Aging Services Division provides services to our older population

* The County’s Housing Authority provides housing assistance to lower income families and individuals

* The County’s Social Services Department administers programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food stamps, child care assistance, child welfare, adult protection services, and more.

*The County’s Health Department has programs for air pollution prevention, food supplements (WIC program for children and pregnant women), substance abuse, immunization, pesticide control, AIDs prevention, and more.

* The Sheriff’s Office manages the Boulder County Drug Task Force

* The D.A.’s Office administers the Victim Compensation Program

Some Other reasons why census data is important include:

*Parks and Open Spaces - The State of Colorado uses census data to determine how much State lottery money goes to local parks and open space areas.

* State and local governments use census information for planning and allocating funds for new schools, road and other public transportation improvements, E-911 emergency systems, and other vital services.

* The State of Colorado will use census data to allocate seats in the State Legislature.

The County’s Land Use Department is posting local census data on the County’s website: www.co.boulder.co.us. The local census data link is from the website’s front page. In addition, national, state and local census data can be found on the Census Bureau’s website: www.census.gov. For more information, call Land Use Planner Dale Case at 303-441-3930 or Public Information Officer Margaret McKinney at 303-441-3399. 

County offices formerly located in the County’s Administrative Services building at 2040 14^th Street east of the County Courthouse in Boulder moved in February and March to make room for the building’s new owners. Departments in the Courthouse Complex shuffle include:

The Community Services Department moved to the newly-remodeled Sundquist Building at 3482 North Broadway, Boulder, in the campus that includes the County Social Services and Health Departments and the Mental Health Center of Boulder, County, Inc. Community Services Divisions that were part of the move include: Boulder County Housing Authority, Aging Services Division, Community Action Programs, Volunteer Initiatives and Project Work Together Program, Boulder County Prevention Connection, Child Protection Review Teams, and Head Start Program administrative

offices. Telephone numbers and e-mail addresses for these offices remain the same.

The Administrative Services Department moved some of its Divisions from the County building that was sold at 2040 14th Street to the newly remodeled west wing of the County Courthouse. The County remodeled the west wing of the courthouse after the Clerk and Recorder’s Office moved to the new Clerk and Recorder’s Building at 1750 33rd Street in Boulder. Administrative Services Divisions that are now in the west wing include: the Architects Division, the Facilities Division, and the Finance Division. In addition, the Commissioners’ Budget Office staff is now in the west wing of the courthouse. Telephone numbers for these divisions and offices remain the same. For more information about these remodeling projects, call County Architect Wayne Kuhn at 303-441-3187. 

Additional Open Space Acquisitions Approved 

Some significant open space properties the Commissioners have approved acquiring to date this year include: 

Turunjian - This 57-acre agricultural property is on the east slope of Gunbarrell Hill, bordered by the Twin Corners opens space to the east, the Axelson open space to the west, the Autrey open space to the south , and by a Niwot-area NUPUD conservation easement to the north. The property is one of the last few remaining unprotected agricultural properties in this area and is highly visible from North 95^th Street. This will be a joint purchase between Boulder County and the City of Boulder, with each entity contributing $275,000 to the purchase price.

Petersen – This property comprising 75.6 acres of mining claims is located between Butzel Hill and Sunshine Saddle, off County Road 83, which is off of Sunshine Canyon Drive. Raptors nest in the area and it is partially surrounded by County open space as well as being adjacent to Butzell Hill, a large tract of BLM land which the County intends to acquire by exchange. The property was actively being marketed for development and was eligible for six residential building units, which would have interfered with views of a prominent ridge line. The purchase price for the property is $1,100,000.

Ramey This 22-acre property is west of Hygiene on the east side of North 61^st Street north of Hygiene Road. The property contains a historic farm dating to the 1860s and according to the Boulder County Historic Sites Survey, is the oldest and best preserved farm from the homestead period. The main branch of the St. Vrain Creek crosses the property. Acquiring the property will preserve a rare example of Boulder County’s early history as well as a significant stretch of this important St. Vrain Creek riparian corridor. In addition, the property is designated as land of statewide importance on the Significant Agricultural Lands Map. The County plans to acquire the Ramey property and water rights for $600,000.

Minerva Placer – This 20-acre mining claim of forested land is one mile south of the Town of Ward. The property contains Grassy Top mountain, which is a County Natural Landmark, and is within an environmental conservation area. Purchasing the property will protect two tributaries of Lefthand Creek as well as the view from the scenic Peak-to-Peak highway. The proposed purchase price is $60,000. 

Commissioners Create Technical Advisory Committee

for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

On March 20th the Commissioners voted unanimously to create a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Technical Advisory Committee and are seeking volunteers to serve on the committee. At a well-attended January 23rd County public hearing on GMOs, the Commissioners agreed to form a GMO Technical Advisory Committee. The charge of the committee is to provide direction to the County’s Parks and Open Space Department on the use of GMOs on County-owned land. How these organisms are used should consider potential impacts on nearby organic farmers -- specifically organic corn farmers.

The Commissioners will appoint the 11-member committee, which will meet monthly for about a year. The Commissioners are looking for the following applicants: up to four scientists in Molecular Cell Division (MCD) biology or crop biology; a County resident who is an experienced organic farmer; a County resident who is an experienced conventional farmer; a representative from the Rocky Mountain Farm Bureau; a representative from the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union; a representative of a state organic grower’s association; and two at-large Boulder County residents. The deadline for applying is April 30th and applications are available online at the County’s website: http://www.co.boulder.co.us/bocc/AdvisoryBoards/application.html

For more information, call the Parks and Open Space Department at 303-441-3950. 

Cities and Towns Participate in County Youth Corps Again This Year

This summer the Boulder County Youth Corp will hire 135 teenagers ages 14 to 17 along with 30 adult team leaders to work on a variety of community service projects. The youth will work 30 hours a week from June 18^th to August 9^th and will earn at least $5.15 per hour. Returning youth earn $5.65 per hour. All participants also receive an Eco Pass for the summer, giving them free rides on RTD.

This year, in addition to 10 Boulder County teams, the cities of Lafayette, Longmont and Louisville are again sponsoring 10-member teams and Superior will sponsor two 5-member teams.

Examples of past Youth Corps community service projects include building trails in parks and open space areas or landscaping at municipal sites. Last summer youth in the award-winning program completed new trails at both the Heil Valley Ranch and the Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm open space. Some teams worked on gardening and landscaping projects while others worked on fencing and weed management. Other youth worked on the historic restoration of the homestead buildings and grounds at the County’s new Lohr Agricultural Heritage Center which will open in May. For more information, call Youth Corps Coordinator Rick Meyers at 303-441-4960.

Consortium of Cities The April 4th meeting was canceled and the next meeting will be Wednesday, June 6th, with the location to be announced. For more information, call Intergovernmental Relations Director Dickey Lee Hullinghorst at 303-441-3500.

Boulder County Days Are scheduled for Monday, April 23rd, in Lyons, and Tuesday, May 15th, in Pinebrook Hills. Call the Commissioners’ Office at 303-441-3500 for more information.

2001 Elections by Mail Ballot Public Hearing Thursday, April 19th, at 3:00 p.m. before the County Commissioners presented by the County Clerk and Recorder’s Office concerning its proposal to conduct the coordinated November 2001 election as a mail ballot election. The hearing will be in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room. For more information, contact Chief Deputy Clerk and Recorder Linda Flack at 303-413-7740.

Planning Commission Meets Wednesday, Wednesday, April 18^th and Wednesday, May 16th, at 1:30 p.m., takes a dinner break and then reconvenes at 7:00 p.m. The meeting is in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room. For more information, contact the Land Use Department at 303-441-3930.

 Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee Meets Thursday, April 12^th, at 7:00 p.m. and Thursday, May 10th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room. For more information, contact the Parks and Open Space Department at 303-441-3950.

Boulder County Recycling & Composting Authority Meets Wednesday, April 25^th, and Wednesday, May 23rd at 6:00 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room. For more information, call Authority Director Jeff Callahan at 303-651-8998.

Memorial Day - Monday, May 28th, County offices will be closed in observance of the holiday.

Contract and Bid Awards

• For Longmont Courts frames and hardware with Collins Door and Hardware, the second lowest bidder ($51,500) (Note: the lowest bid was incomplete.)
• For Courthouse landscaping with Colorado Designscapes ($149,941) and Courthouse concrete with Nixcavating ($257,000)

• For Assessor/Treasurer automated computer system with Eagle Computer ($899,193)
• For S390 mainframe maintenance and support with IBM ($55,170)
• For AIX Supportline license maintenance and support with IBM ($11,285)
• For software license maintenance and support from SAS Institute ($10,500)
• For Oracle 11i and 8i installation with Rapidigm ($20,000)
• For profession/consultation services for Microsoft Advanced 2000, as follows:
• For advanced server/cluster portion with PEI ($20,000)
• For web server portion with Boulder Corporation ($10,000)
• For Novell/NDS portion to Lewan & Associates (as needed)
• For Novell Environ Consulting & Support with Lewan & Associates ($20,000)

• For electrical service upgrades at Carolyn Holmberg Preserve to Hartford Electric ($30,636)

• To purchase a previously rented belly dump trailer from Wagner Equipment ($11,592) and a previously rented water truck from Nations Rent (buy out not to exceed $90,000)
• For motor grader with Wagner Equipment ($175,361)

• For strategic planning services with The Pacific Institute ($22,700)

• For renewal of Older Americans Act transportation services with Special Transit ($100,00)
• For renewal of contract for meal services to nutritionally at-risk seniors with City of Broomfield ($15,000)

• For frames and hardware with Collins Door and Hardware, the second lowest bidder ($51,500) (Note: the lowest bid was incomplete.)

• With Erie Chamber of Commerce for Economic Development Contract ($5,000)

• Renewal of body renewal contract with Rocky Mountain Support Services ($16, 700)

• Boulder ($65,960)
• Boulder Technology Incubator ($9,920)
• Broomfield ($29,611)
• Erie ($5,000)
• Lafayette ($27,585)
• Longmont ($48,050)
• Louisville ($25,450)     
• Lyons ($11,400)
• Nederland ($11,400)
• Tourism & Recreation Partnership ($15,300)

• Dental Aid ($82,315)
• Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center ($64,701)
• Volunteer Connection ($81,000)
• Developmental Disabilities Center ($887,250)
• Hospice of Boulder County ($8,500)
• Plan de Salud del Valle ($97,241)
• Boulder County AIDS Project ($27,087)
• Alternatives for Youth ($51,000)
• Bal Swan Children’s Center ($3,969)
• Radio Reading Service ($17,850)
• YWCA of Boulder County ($97,241)

• For employee sick child care program with Take A Break, Inc. ($12,000)
• For employee wellness program with Recletics, Inc. ($25,000)
• For employee medical and dental claims processing with Mountain States Administration ($260,000)
• For renewal of employee assistance program contract with Corporate Psychological Services ($81,000)

• Purchase 24 Kenwood portable radios ($6,804)

• For mountain transfer station waste collection and spring clean-up with Western Disposal Services ($67,295)
• For collection and disposal of non-hazardous liquid wastes with Conservation Services (estimated $18,000)
• For waste collection and cardboard recycling services with Town and Country Disposal ($31,363)
• For in-house recycling, recycling drop-of center and recycling education services with Eco-Cycle (Estimated $88,400)
• For household Hazardous Waste Facility with Western Disposal Services ($18,300, with municipalities to reimburse the County for their participation)

• For permanent and temporary construction easement agreement for the North 63rd Street project with Mary Wells ($9,001)

• For van leasing with Fleet Solutions ($28,096)

 Boulder County News is published every other month by the Board of County Commissioners. The purpose of the newsletter is to provide information concerning Boulder County Government to Boulder County municipalities and others interested in County information. Whenever possible, contact names and phone numbers are included. Please direct comments and suggestions to the editor, Margaret McKinney, Public Information Officer, at 303-441-3399, or E-mail: mmmco@co.boulder.co.us.