Meeting of the Boulder County Board of County Commissioners

Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 9:00 A.m. - 10:00 A.m.

Third Floor Hearing Room

County Court House

1325 Pearl Street, Boulder

Members Present:

• Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann
• Commissioner Marta Loachamin

Members Excused:

• 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 [e-mail], or call 303-441-1386.

Artificial intelligence (AI) captions are provided during this video recording as an assistive aid, not as a legal transcript.

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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 March 27, 2025. 

The meeting was called to order at approximately 9:06 a.m. by Chair Marta Loachamin.

2.

9:00 a.m. Business Meeting

3.

Commissioners' Consent Items

• Moved by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Seconded by Commissioner Loachamin

  to approve the Commissioners' Consent Agenda as a whole.

  Carried

3.a

Human Services - 2025-26 Colorado Department of Early Childhood Colorado Child Care Assistance Program MOU

Request for approval of Amendment No. 2 to the existing MOU between the Boulder County Department of Housing & Human Services and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. This amendment extends the MOU term by one year through June 30, 2026, and removes the requirement for annual reaffirmation. The MOU will now automatically renew annually unless terminated by either party with 90 days' notice prior to July 1.

• Staff Contact(s): Susan Caskey, Human Services

3.b

Office of the County Administrator - Hazard Mitigation Grant ($92,508) application from Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

The Office of the County Administrator seeks to apply for a $92,508 grant from the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to support the required update of the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, which expires in 2027. The grant includes a state cash match of $15,981 and a county in-kind match of $15,419 through staff labor. The Disaster Mitigation Act requires states and communities to maintain Hazard Mitigation Plans to identify risks and reduce disaster impacts. Updating the plan ensures continued compliance with federal and state requirements and eligibility for mitigation funding. Office of the County Administrator will hire a consulting firm to facilitate the update by conducting data collection, coordinating stakeholder engagement, and managing the planning process.

• Staff Contact(s): Atilana Retana, Office of the County Administrator

3.c

Parks & Open Space - Contract Amendment Number 1 for WSP USA Inc ($0)

Amendment number 1 for change in work scope, reallocation of funding and time extension for RFP #4080-24: Boulder County Cardinal Mill Water Treatment System Design and Installation Project. Commissioners already approved Bid Waiver for amendment number 1 on February 18, 2025.

• Staff Contact(s): Sharla Benjamin, Parks & Open Space

3.d

Parks & Open Space - Girls Scouts 2-Dave Miller Ditch Easement

Boulder County proposes to grant a 20-foot-wide non-exclusive utility easement to the Dave Miller Ditch Company (“Ditch Company”) in exchange for the relinquishment of the prescriptive easement for an existing open ditch the Ditch Company has held since the late-1800s. The new easement allows for a newly installed underground pipeline to convey irrigation water under county open space to the ditch shareholder’s properties in a manner that creates more efficient, flood-resilient irrigation water delivery with much less surface disturbance to county open space. Staff supports this request. This document needs to be signed to complete the transaction: 1) Girls Scouts 2-Dave Miller Ditch Easement.

• Staff Contact(s): Tina Burghardt, Parks & Open Space

3.e

Parks & Open Space - Twin Pines Conservation Easement (CE) Donation

On December 28, 2023, Doug and Vicki Sigg donated a conservation easement to the county over 80 acres located at 6603 and 6500 Rabbit Mountain Road, following approval by the Board of County Commissioners on November 14, 2023. Form 8283 is needed for the landowner to be able to claim the donation as a charitable contribution.

• Staff contact(s): Melissa Arnold, Parks & Open Space

3.f

Parks & Open Space - Windy Ridge Conservation Easement Donation

Rick and Breida Geesaman propose donating a conservation easement over their approximately 137-acre property located just under a mile west of Gold Hill. The property is comprised of two vacant parcels having addresses of 0 and 10601 Gold Hill Road. The conservation easement will merge these two parcels together, restrict development to one residence and accessory structures within a two-acre building envelope and protect the property’s open space values. Staff recommends approval.

• Staff contact(s): Melissa Arnold, Parks & Open Space

3.g

Public Works - Contract for Alternative Sentencing Facility Furniture Purchase and Installation ($648,657.43)

Public Works Building Services requests to contract with Workplace Resource for the fabrication, delivery and delivery coordination, and installation and post installation support for the Alternative Sentencing Facility.

• Staff Contact(s):
  • Beth Perry, Public Works
  • Laura Konersman, Public Works

3.h

Public Works - Fleet Zero-Emissions Resource Opportunity ($148,000 with County Match $14,800)

Public Works would like to accept a grant award from the State of Colorado for the Fleet Zero-Emissions Resource Opportunity Grant to install DC Fast Chargers at the following locations: 1) 5600 Flatiron Pkwy, Boulder, Colorado 80301 - The lesser of $74,000 or up to 90% of eligible project costs for two (2) 100 kW+ DCFC fleet charging ports; 2) 5201 St. Vrain Rd, Longmont, Colorado 80503 - The lesser of $74,000 or up to 90% of eligible project costs for two (2) 100 kW+ DCFC fleet charging ports Grant award of $148,000 with a County match of $14,800.

• Staff Contact(s):
  • Denise L Grimm, Public Works
  • Laura Konersman, Public Works

3.i

Public Works - Mountain Rescue Building Contract Amendment with Oz Architecture ($1,478,784)

Building Services would like to amendment the contract with Oz Architecture for the design services of the Mountain Rescue Building to add an East Wall Precast Revision with an increase to the amount of the contract by $20,720 for a total of $1,478,874.

• Staff Contact(s):
  • David McLeod, Public Works
  • Laura Konersman, Public Works
  • Seth Jacobs, Public Works 

3.j

Sheriff’s Office - Colorado Department of Public Safety 2026 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant Application

Each year the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) applies for the Victims of Crime Act grant through the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice.  This grant funds services provided to victims in Boulder County.  These services may include trauma-informed crisis intervention, information and education on victim rights, community resources, training for BCSO advocates, and funding of advocate positions.  BCSO has requested funds in the amount of $158,463 for the 2026 grant term. 

• Staff Contact(s): Pam Thompson, Sheriff's Office

3.k

Sheriff's Office - Boulder County Hazard Mitigation Update Report 2024

Boulder County Office of Disaster Management is requesting adoption of the Boulder County Hazard Mitigation Update Report for 2024 which allows credit under the Community Rating System.  The 2022 goals and objectives identified by HMPC are listed below and are updated in the 2024 Mitigation Report: Goal 1: Reduce the Loss of Life and Personal Injuries from Hazard Events; Goal 2: Reduce Impacts of Hazard Events on Property, Critical Facilities/Infrastructure, and the Environment; Goal 3: Strengthen Intergovernmental Coordination, Communication, and Capabilities Regarding Mitigating Hazard Impacts; Goal 4: Improve Public Awareness and Preparedness Regarding Hazard Vulnerability and Mitigation; Goal 5: Address Hazard Identification in the Context of Climate Change.

• Staff Contact(s): Pam Thompson, Sheriff's Office

3.l

Sheriff’s Office - Colorado Department of Law 2025-2026 Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Grant Application

Each year Boulder County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) applies for the Peace Officers Standards and Training grant through the Colorado Department of Law.  This grant provides funding for the required law enforcement training in crisis intervention, field training, firearms, peer support, and driving.  BCSO has requested funds in the amount of $174,479 for the 2025-2026 grant term. 

• Staff Contact(s): Pam Thompson, Sheriff's Office

3.m

Sheriff’s Office - Colorado Division of Criminal Justice 2025-2026 Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Application

Boulder County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) will be submitting its application for the Justice Assistance grant through the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice. This grant will help fund the abuse prevention education program provided by Blue Sky Bridge.  Blue Sky Bridge, the only child advocacy center serving Boulder County, conducts forensic interviews for reported child abuse cases and handles urgent crisis calls.  They provide school-based abuse prevention education programs and adult prevention education training and workshops. BCSO has requested funds in the amount of $68,182 for the 2025-2026 grant term.

• Staff Contact(s): Pam Thompson, Sheriff's Office

3.n

Commissioners' Office - Ratification of the Lyons Library District Selection Committee's of their nomination of Cathy Christensen to the Lyons Library District Board of Trustees.

• Staff Contact(s): Robin Valdez, Commissioners' Office

4.

Commissioners' Discussion Items

4.a

Commissioners' Office - Appointment to the Adult Protection Review Team

Presenter: Robin Valdez, Commissioners' Office

The following new applicant was appointed to the Adult Protection Review Team:

Lizbeth Parker, Area Agency on Aging

• Moved by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Seconded by Commissioner Loachamin
  Carried

4.b

County Attorney's Office - Legal Representation Agreement for Michelle Sudano

Plaintiff Pierce Spinelli filed a lawsuit titled Spinelli v. Byars, City of Boulder, and Deputy District Attorney Michelle Sudano, Number 25-CV-00798-KAS. The Complaint names former 20^th Judicial District deputy district attorney Michelle Sudano as a defendant.  At the time of the events at issue, Ms. Sudano was a public employee of the County acting within the scope and course of her employment. The County Attorney’s Office is requesting approval and signature from the Board to provide legal representation for Ms. Sudano in this matter. 

Presenter: Colin Mayberry, County Attorney

• Moved by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Seconded by Commissioner Loachamin
  Carried

4.c

Human Resources - Amendment to the Medical Leave Policy

Amend a portion of the Medical Leave Policy to the Policy and Procedure Manual.

SECTION 6 EMPLOYMENT - BENEFITS
NUMBER 6.38 Leaves

7.  Additional Requirements 
   b. A request to use medical leave may be made to the employee’s supervisor orally, in writing, or electronically. When possible, the employee should provide advance notice when the necessity for the leave is foreseeable, and they should make a reasonable effort to schedule use of leave in a manner that does not unduly disrupt business operations. When possible, the employee shall include the expected duration of the absence.
   b. Employees should notify their supervisor a minimum of one hour before their start time that they need to use medical leave. The employee’s supervisor is responsible for arranging any necessary coverage for the employee’s absence.

Presenter: Ryan Ankrum, Human Resources

• Moved by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Seconded by Commissioner Loachamin
  Carried

4.d

Community Planning & Permitting - Letter of Support for the Town of Superior’s Fiscal Year 2026 Congressionally Directed Spending Request for the McCaslin Boulevard Multi-Use Trail

The Town of Superior has requested a letter of support for their FY26 Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) request to construct a portion of the McCaslin Multi-Use Trail. The town is not requesting any local match funds.

Presenter: Kelly Leadbetter, Community Planning & Permitting

• Moved by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Seconded by Commissioner Loachamin
  Carried

5.

Confirmation of Executive Session Topics

Confirming Executive Session topics noticed at the March 11th, 2025, Regular Meeting were discussed as scheduled.

Presenter: Natalie Springett, Commissioners' Office

Item No. 5 was noted for the record.

6.

Public Hearing on Proposed 2025 Quarter 1 Budget Amendment Requests

Office of Financial Management: Proposed 2025 Quarter 1 Budget Amendment Requests; All budget amendment requests will be presented to the Boulder County Board of Commissioners for their consideration. Copies of such proposed supplemental budget requests are available for public inspection at the following location: County Finance Office, 1st floor, 1325 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80303 or at the Boulder County Budget website. Any interested elector of Boulder County may inspect the proposed 2025 budget amendment requests and state any objection thereto by registering to provide public comment at the March 27, 2025, Public Hearing of the Board of County Commissioners or e-mail  prior to the Public Hearing. Budget amendment information will be posted no later than 24-hours in advance of the Public Hearing.

This public hearing was called to order at 9:18 a.m.

Staff Presenter(s):
Emily Beam, Office of Financial Management
Carey Weinheimer, Sheriff’s Office

County Attorney Present:
David Hughes, County Attorney

Public Speaker:
Peter Salas, Lafayette 

The commissioners' public hearing adjourned at 9:57 a.m.

• ACTION: To direct staff to summarize today's discussion for presentation at a future business meeting
  Moved by Commissioner Stolzmann
  Seconded by Commissioner Loachamin
  Carried