Meeting of the Boulder County Board of County Commissioners

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 9:00 A.m. - 10:00 A.m.

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 1:00 P.m. - 2:00 P.m.

Third Floor Hearing Room

County Court House

1325 Pearl Street, Boulder

Members Present:

• Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann
• Commissioner Marta Loachamin
• Commissioner Claire Levy

All documents referred to in these Minutes of Commissioners’ Proceedings are on file and may be reviewed online or in the Office of the Boulder County Commissioners.

Boulder County wants to ensure that everyone has equal access to our documents, programs, activities, and services. To request an Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accommodation, please email , or call 303-441-1386.

 

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

The Board of County Commissioners of Boulder County met in Regular Meeting in full conformity with the law and resolution of said Board at the regular place of hybrid meetings, 1325 Pearl Street, Boulder and on Zoom Webinar, on January 14, 2025. 

The meeting was called to order at approximately 9:02 a.m. by Chair Ashley Stolzmann.

2.

9:00 A.M. PUBLIC MEETING: 2025 BOULDER COUNTY REORGANIZATION MEETING

2.a

SWEARING-IN OF ELECTED BOULDER COUNTY OFFICIALS BY ACTING CHIEF JUDGE NANCY SALOMONE OF THE TWENTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT

1. County Commissioner Claire Levy
2. County Commissioner Marta Loachamin
3. County Coroner Jeff Martin

Presenter(s): Chief Judge Nancy Salomone

3.

STATEMENT BY COUNTY CORONER JEFF MARTIN

Presenter(s): Jeff Martin, Boulder County Coroner

The commissioners went into recess from 9:12 - 9:25 a.m.

4.

COMMISSIONERS' STATEMENTS

By County Commissioners Claire Levy, Marta Loachamin, Ashley Stolzmann.

5.

COMMISSIONERS' STRATEGIC PRIORITIES UPDATE

By County Commissioners Claire Levy, Marta Loachamin, Ashley Stolzmann.

6.

2025 REORGANIZATION MEETING CALLED TO ORDER TO ADOPT:

6.a

Commissioners' Office - Adopt Resolution 2025-001 Electing the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board of County Commissioners

• Moved by Commissioner Loachamin
  Seconded by Commissioner Levy
  Carried Unanimously

7.

ADOPTION OF REMAINING 2025 RESOLUTIONS

7.a

Commissioners' Office - Adopt Resolution 2025-002 Designating the Daily Camera and the Times Call as Boulder County's official newspapers for the year 2025

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

7.b

Commissioners' Office - Adopt Resolution 2025-003 Designating meeting days of the Board of County Commissioners and posting of Board meetings

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

7.c

Commissioners' Office - Adopt Resolution 2025-004 Designating Allan Beezley, Esq. as the Local Liquor Licensing Authority for Boulder County

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

7.d

Commissioners' Office - Adopt Resolution 2025-005 Designating the official county holidays for the year 2025 and New Year's Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day holidays for the year 2026

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

7.e

Commissioners' Office - Adopt Resolution 2025-006 Designating depositories, custodial, and investment institutions for Boulder County public funds and securities in 2025

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

7.f

Commissioners' Office - Adopt Resolution 2025-007 Authorizing the Vice-Chair to act in the absence of the Chair and allow the Vice-Chair to execute documents

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

7.g

Commissioners' Office - Adopt Resolution 2025-008 Providing for the Board of County Commissioners to serve as ex-officio as the Board of the Boulder County Housing Authority

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

8.

DESIGNATE THE OFFICIAL COUNTY AUDITORS FOR 2025 TO CONDUCT THE 2024 AUDIT

CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP

8390 E. Crescent Parkway, Suite 600 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

9.

REAPPOINT BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO AN AT-WILL POSITION:

1. Assistant County Administrator: Yvette Bowden
2. Chief Financial Officer: Ramona Farineau
3. Chief Sustainability Officer: Susie Strife
4. Commissioners' Deputy: Natalie Springett
5. Community Planning & Permitting Director: Dale Case
6. Community Services Director: Robin Bohannan
7. County Administrator: Jana Petersen
8. County Attorney: Ben Pearlman
9. Housing Department Director: Susana Lopez-Baker
10. Human Resources Director: Julia Larsen
11. Human Services Director: Susan Caskey
12. IT Director: Paul Jannatpour
13. Office of Racial Equity Director: Carrie Inoshita
14. Parks & Open Space Director: Therese Glowacki
15. Public Works Director: Steven Durian

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

10.

SITTING AS THE BOULDER COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of County Commissioners sat at the Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA) Board to consider Item(s) No. 10.a and 10.b and then reconvened as the Board of County Commissioners.

10.a

Appoint Susana Lopez-Baker to serve as Secretary and Executive Director of the Boulder County Housing Authority

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

10.b

Adopt BCHA Board Resolution 2025-001: Delegating authority to the Executive Director and her designees to take certain actions on behalf of the Boulder County Housing Authority

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

11.

SITTING AS THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - APPOINT REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO SERVE ON THE FOLLOWING BOARDS

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann

  to approve Items No. 11.a - 11.f.

  Carried Unanimously

11.a

Boulder County Consortium of Cities

Meets every other month, the first Wednesday of the month.

Membership includes one elected official representative from each of the municipalities in Boulder County, an ex officio representative from the City and County of Broomfield, and one County Commissioner, who chairs the Consortium. The purpose is to promote interaction and communication among Boulder County municipalities and the county for the benefit of the separate governments and the residents of Boulder County as a whole.

 Appointment: Commissioner Loachamin

11.b

Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Board of Directors

Meets the third Wednesday of each month.

Membership includes one elected official representative from each of the member cities and
counties in the six-county Denver/Boulder Metropolitan Area. The purpose is to act as the
regional planning entity for land use, transportation, and water quality, among other regional
efforts.

Appointment:  Commissioner Levy

11.c

Mile High Flood District

Meets on the third Thursday of the month.

Membership includes an elected official representative from each city and county
government in the district. The purpose is to plan for and authorize the allocation and
expenditure of funds from the district-wide property tax among the district governments for
urban drainage and flood control projects.

Appointment:  Commissioner Stolzmann

11.d

NW Mayors and Commissioners Coalition

Meets on the second Thursday of the month.

Membership consists of the mayor from each member government and a Boulder County Commissioner (Cities of Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette, Longmont, and Westminster, the Towns of Superior and Erie, and the City and County of Broomfield).  MCC advocates for transportation solutions to increase mobility in the Northwest Metro Region.

Appointment:  Commissioner Levy

11.e

Workforce Boulder County

Meets quarterly, virtual and at the St. Vrain Hub.

The board is made up of 20 members who are appointed by the Boulder County Commissioners and certified by the Governor.  Members represent the private sector, education, community-based organizations, economic development agencies, and unions.  The board serves to advise the Board of County Commissioners on workforce related issues in addition to exercising its federal law responsibilities.  The Board of County Commissioners has the responsibility to plan, oversee and evaluate the operations of Boulder County's two Workforce Centers and appoint one Commissioner representative to this board.

Appointment:  Commissioner Loachamin

11.f

Opioid Settlement Council

Meets every month, the third Friday of the month

The Colorado Opioid Abatement Council (COAC) was created by the Department of Law in agreement with local governments to provide oversight of the opioid funds and to ensure the distribution of those funds complies with the terms of any settlement and the Colorado Opioid Settlement Memorandum of Understanding. The COAC is specifically responsible for oversight of opioid funds from the regional share and for developing processes and procedures for the statewide infrastructure share.

Appointment: Commissioner Levy

The Commissioners' Board of County Annual Re-Organization Meeting ended at 9:58 a.m.

12.

BUSINESS MEETING

The commissioners' business meeting began at 9:58 a.m.

13.

COMMISSIONERS' CONSENT ITEMS

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann

  to approve the Commissioners' Consent Agenda as a whole.

  Carried Unanimously

13.a

Community Planning & Permitting - Memo to BOCC Regarding Use of Nederland EcoPass District Funds for Supplemental Transit Service

Approval to use $27,000 in previously budgeted Nederland EcoPass District funds for supplemental bus service connecting the Town of Nederland and the City of Boulder.

• Staff Contact(s): Alex Hyde-Wright, Community Planning & Permitting

13.b

Community Services - RFP-117-24 Boulder County Alternative Sentencing Facility Food Service Award Recommendation ($1,127,850)

The evaluation committee recommends awarding RFP-117-24, Boulder County Alternative Sentencing Facility Food Service, to Aramark Correctional Services, LLC. 

• Staff Contact(s): Michele Hudson, Community Services; Monica Rotner, Community Services

13.c

Housing & Human Services - Benefits In Action, Amendment-1-303536

This amendment introduces data-sharing requirements to the existing contract. The vendor will provide the County with data collected from participants they assist in completing SNAP applications. No additional funding is being allocated through this amendment. Since the original contract, valued at $300K, was previously approved and signed by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), this amendment requires their signature, despite there being no change to the contract amount.

• Staff Contact(s): Jahlia Daly, Housing & Human Services

13.d

Office of County Administrator - Contract Amendment with Insight Global ($200,000)

Request approval to amend the existing contract for county-wide temporary staff augmentation services. Boulder county has been working with Insight Global since 2022. This amendment would allow the county to continue to utilize Insight Global for temporary staffing support. The amendment extends the contract term from January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025, and increases the contract amount by $200,000, resulting in a new cumulative not-to-exceed total of $3,200,000. RFP #7327-22. OFS# 301880.

• Staff Contact(s): Kurtis Alberi, Office of County Administrator

13.e

Office of County Administrator - Decision on Hearing Officers' recommendations and Refunds over $10,000 for Abatement Cycle December 2024

Petitions for abatement or refund of taxes were heard by hearing officers December 16 through December 18, 2024, who have provided the attached recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.

• Staff Contact(s): Julie Brow, Office of County Administrator

13.f

Public Works - 2025 Annual Highway Users Tax Fund Memo

Boulder County Public Works has prepared the attached Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF) annual submission form for Commissioner review, approval, and signature. The HUTF program requires each Colorado jurisdiction to update the CDOT database on number, length, and width of roads maintained by the jurisdiction on December 31 of each year. Reported mileage and widths are used to determine the amount of HUTF funds distributed for the following year.

• Staff Contact(s): Dave Watson, Public Works

14.

COMMISSIONERS' DISCUSSION ITEMS

14.a

Assessor's Office - Ratification of Signatures of Annual Reports to State of Colorado

Requesting ratification of Commissioner Stolzmann’s signature for the 2024 Annual Final Certification of Values sent to the Colorado Division of Local Government and the Division of Property to taxation.

Requesting ratification of Commissioner Stolzmann’s signature for the 2024 Annual Mill Levies and Revenue Report sent to the Colorado Division of Local Government and the Division of Property to taxation.

Presenter(s): Cindy Braddock, Assessor's Office

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

14.b

Commissioners' Office - Community Action Programs Administering Board appointments

Presenter(s): Robin Valdez, Commissioners' Office

The following new applicant was appointed to the Community Action Programs Administering Board:

Richard Garcia, Low-Income Sector Representative

Lisa Marie Maes, Low-Income Sector Representative

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

14.c

Commissioners' Office - Metropolitan Football Stadium District Board Appointment

Presenter(s): Robin Valdez, Commissioners' Office

The following applicant was re-appointed to the Metropolitan Football Stadium District:

Alex Boian, Member-at-Large

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

14.d

Commissioners' Office - Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee Appointment

Presenter(s): Robin Valdez, Commissioners' Office

The following new applicant was appointed to the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee:

Jim Ditzel, Niwot Business Association Representative

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

15.

CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE SESSION TOPICS (SITTING AS THE GUNBARREL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS)

Confirming Executive Session topics noticed at the January 7th, 2025 Regular Meeting were discussed as scheduled.

The Board of County Commissioners sat as the Gunbarrel Public Improvement District Board of Directors for Item No. 15 and then reconvened as the Board of County Commissioners.

Presenter: Natalie Springett, Commissioners' Office

Item No. 15 was noted for the record.

16.

AUTHORIZATIONS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

16.a

Authorization for Executive Session

Authorization for the Board of County Commissioners to go into Executive Session pursuant to C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(a), real property issues, on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. with Ben Pearlman, County Attorney regarding the following topics: 1) Potential acquisition of property in Coal Creek Canyon near Nederland.

Presenter(s): Ben Pearlman, County Attorney's Office

The topics to be discussed during the aforementioned Executive Session, pursuant to § 24-6-402(4)(a), C.R.S., are:

1. Potential acquisition of property in Coal Creek Canyon near Nederland

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

16.b

Authorization for Executive Session

Authorization for the Board of County Commissioners to go into Executive Session pursuant to C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(b), legal issues, on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025 at 1:15 p.m. with Ben Pearlman, County Attorney regarding the following topics: 1) Implementation of the County’s Disparity Study recommendations; 2) Potential use by the Town of Erie of tax increment financing of development on the northwest corner of County Line Road and Erie Parkway.

Presenter(s): Ben Pearlman, County Attorney's Office

The topics to be discussed during the aforementioned Executive Session, pursuant to § 24-6-402(4)(b), C.R.S., are:

1. Implementation of the County’s Disparity Study recommendations
2. Potential use by the Town of Erie of tax increment financing of development on the northwest corner of County Line Road and Erie Parkway 

The Commissioners' Board of County Commissioners Business Meeting adjourned at 10:07 a.m.

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Carried Unanimously

17.

1:00 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING

Commissioner Stolzmann was excused from Item No. 17.

17.a

Public Hearing on Community Planning & Permitting Docket LU-24-0015: Lopez Ag Worker Accessory Dwelling Unit

Limited Impact Special Review for an Agricultural Worker Accessory Dwelling Unit on an approximately 83-acre parcel. The application is submitted by Kristin Lopez (owner/applicant). The subject property is in the Agricultural (A) zoning district at 10790 N. 49th Street, an approximately 83-acre parcel located approximately 0.3-mile south of the intersection of N. 49th Street and Saint Vrain Road, in Section 4, Township 2N, Range 70W.

This public hearing was called to order at 1:02 p.m.

Staff Presenter(s):

Pete L'Orange, Community Planning & Permitting Department

Other Presenter(s):

Kristin Lopez, Owner

County Attorneys Present:

Liana Larremore

Public Speaker(s):

1. Tim Seastedt, Boulder

The commissioners' public hearing adjourned at 1:53 p.m.

• Moved by Commissioner Levy
  Seconded by Commissioner Loachamin

  to conditionally approve Docket LU-24-0015 in accordance with staff recommendations, commitments of record by applicant, and with additional conditions as discussed and contained within the official record. 

  Carried