Regular Meeting

September 17, 2026 · 2:10:12 of video

Council took no formal action on BVSD school closures despite heavy public pressure, but called up two land use decisions for review.

Twenty people spoke in open comment, most about BVSD's plan to close Boulder elementary schools and about the CU South flood project closing open space for years. Council members did not take a group vote on BVSD but several said they would send individual letters asking for a pause. Council voted to call up the Glen Huntington Bandshell landmark alteration and a non-conforming use review at 969 10th St for closer review. Council adopted two new individual landmark designations and repealed the city's energy offset rule for marijuana cultivation, since that industry has shrunk sharply in Boulder.

Agenda and votes

Call to Order and Roll Call

Open Comment

Declarations

3ADeclaration congratulating the South Boulder Little League 11U All-Stars on their recent victory as State Champions in their age bracket to be read by Mayor Pro Tem Winer 10 Min
Council read a declaration honoring the South Boulder Little League 11U All-Stars for winning the 2026 Colorado State Championship.
Declaration Honoring South Boulder Little League 09-17-2026 FINAL
3BDeclaration for Welcoming Week to be read by Council Member Adams 10 Min
Council read a declaration for Welcoming Week, recognizing Boulder's certified welcoming-city status and immigrant-support partners such as Intercambio.
Welcoming Week 09-17-2026 FINAL
3CDeclaration for the UN International Day of Peace to be read by Council member Benjamin 5 Min
Council read a declaration for the UN International Day of Peace, recognizing the Boulder Rotary's Boulder Builds Peace Initiative.
UN International Day of Peace 09-17-2026 FINAL

Consent Agenda

4AConsideration of a motion to accept the August 13 Study Session Summary regarding the Strategic Planning Check-in
Study Session Memo
4BConsideration of a motion to accept the August 13, 2026, Study Session Summary regarding Civic Area East Bookend Development Partnership Request For Proposal
Study Session Memo
4CConsideration of a motion to approve the proposed 2026 board vacancy appointments for the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District
Matters Memo Attachment A - 2026 Downtown Boulder Business Improvement Board of Directors & Board Vacancy Appointments
4DConsideration of a motion to approve an application to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Grant (AIG) FY24 in the amount of $144K for reimbursement of design and construction administration costs associated with a 2026 pavement maintenance project at the Boulder Municipal Airport
Agenda Memo Attachment A - Grant Application Materials Attachment B - FAA Assurance Airport Sponsor
4EConsideration of a motion to adopt Resolution 1390 regarding a Colorado Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Grant application by the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department to fund improvements supporting the Boulder Creek Park Phase 2 Project
Agenda Memo Attachment A - Resolution 1390
4FConsideration of a motion to adopt Resolution 1391 in support of Boulder County’s citizens’ initiative increasing the County Commissioner seats from three to five; and setting forth related details
Agenda Memo Attachment A- Resolution 1391 Boulder County Expansion to Five Commissioners
4GSecond reading and consideration of a motion to adopt Ordinance 8756 vacating and authorizing the City Manager to execute a deed of vacation for Ponca Place right-of-way generally located adjacent to 350 and 355 Ponca Pl. (LUR2026-00006)
350 and 355 Ponca Place Second Reading Memo Attachment A - Proposed Ordinance 8756 Attachment B - Proposed deed of Vacation Attachment C - Written Public Comment

Call-up Check-In

5AConsideration of a Landmark Alteration Certificate application for changes within the landmark boundary of the Glen Huntington Bandshell at 1236 Canyon Blvd
Council voted 8-0 to call up the Landmark Alteration Certificate for changes to the Glen Huntington Bandshell for further review.
Call-Up Agenda Memo
passed 8-0 unofficialat 1:23:10
Call up the Landmark Alteration Certificate for the Glen Huntington Bandshell at 1236 Canyon Blvd for council review.
5BConsideration of a Nonconforming Use Review at 969 10th St. for the expansion of an existing duplex
Council voted 7-1 to call up the nonconforming use review for a duplex expansion at 969 10th St for further review.
Call-Up Agenda Memo Attachment A - Applicant Plans and Written Statement Attachment B - Planning Board Notice of Disposition Attachment C - Draft Planning Board Meeting Minutes
passed 7-1 unofficialat 1:24:44
Call up the Nonconforming Use Review at 969 10th St for the duplex expansion for council review.
Moved by Tara Winer

Public Hearings

6ASecond reading and consideration of a motion to adopt Ordinance 8765 designating the property at 1004 Lincoln Pl., City of Boulder, Colorado, to be known as the Beard–Stoyva House, as an individual landmark under Chapter 9-11, “Historic Preservation,” B.R.C. 1981; and setting forth related details Staff Time: 10 Min Council Time: 5 Min Applicant Time: 5 Min
Council held a public hearing and unanimously adopted Ordinance 8765 designating 1004 Lincoln Pl. as an individual landmark, the Beard-Stoyva House.
Quasi Judicial Memo Attachment A - Ordinance 8765 Designating 1004 Lincoln Pl
passed 8-0 unofficialat 1:39:40
Adopt Ordinance 8765, designating 1004 Lincoln Pl. as an individual landmark, the Beard-Stoyva House.
Moved by Rob Kaplan
Marquis: yesSchuchard: yesSpeer: yesWiner: yesAdams: yesBenjamin: yesBrockett: yesKaplan: yes
6BSecond reading and consideration of a motion to adopt Ordinance 8766 designating the property at 844-850 12th St., City of Boulder, Colorado, to be known as the Heilman–Bedell–Stepanek Property, as an individual landmark under Chapter 9-11, “Historic Preservation,” B.R.C. 1981; and setting forth related details Staff Time: 10 Min Council Time: 5 Min Applicant Time: 5 Min
Council held a public hearing and unanimously adopted Ordinance 8766 designating 844-850 12th St. as an individual landmark, the Hailman-Bedell-Stefanic Property.
Quasi Judicial Memo Attachment A - Ordinance 8766 Designating 844-850 12th St
passed 8-0 unofficialat 1:53:04
Adopt Ordinance 8766, designating 844-850 12th St. as an individual landmark, the Hailman-Bedell-Stefanic Property.
Moved by Nicole Speer
Schuchard: yesSpeer: yesWiner: yesAdams: yesBenjamin: yesBrockett: yesKaplan: yesMarquis: yes
6CSecond reading and consideration of a motion to adopt Ordinance 8770 amending Chapter 14, “Medical Marijuana,” and Chapter 16, “Recreational Marijuana,” B.R.C. 1981, repealing Energy Offset Requirements; and setting forth related details Staff Time: 15 Min Council Time: 45 Min
Council held a public hearing and unanimously adopted Ordinance 8770, repealing energy offset requirements for marijuana cultivation because the industry in Boulder has shrunk from 44 to 9 licensed businesses.
Agenda Memo Attachment A - Proposed Ordinance 8770
passed 8-0 unofficialat 2:07:02
Adopt Ordinance 8770, repealing energy offset requirements for medical and recreational marijuana businesses.
Moved by Aaron Brockett
Speer: yesWiner: yesAdams: yesBenjamin: yesBrockett: yesKaplan: yesMarquis: yesSchuchard: yes

Matters from the City Manager

Matters from the City Attorney

Matters from the Mayor and City Council

Discussion Items

Debrief

Adjournment

12AConstitution Day Declaration
Constitution Day Declaration 09-17-2026 FINAL
12BHispanic Heritage Month Declaration
Hispanic Heritage Month 09-17-2026 FINAL

Other votes

passed 8-0 unofficialat 1:20:40

4A-4G · Approve the consent agenda, items 4A through 4G.

Kaplan: yesMarquis: yesSchuchard: yesSpeer: yesWiner: yesAdams: yesBenjamin: yesBrockett: yes

passed 8-0 unofficialat 1:25:32

6 · Suspend council rules of procedure to allow three public hearings at one meeting.

Public comment

BVSD school closures · 6 speakers
Parents and residents asked council to send BVSD a letter requesting a pause on closing Boulder elementary schools, citing conflict with the city's new comprehensive plan and concern over long-term community impact.
CU South flood project closure · 4 speakers
Neighbors asked the city to keep part of the CU South open space accessible during the multi-year flood mitigation construction rather than closing the entire site.
Panka Place street vacation · 4 speakers
Frasier Meadows residents and neighbors supported vacating Panka Place to create a safer shared street while keeping it open to through traffic.
Glen Huntington Bandshell seating · 2 speakers
Speakers opposed removing historic wooden bandshell seats in favor of turf and concrete benches, asking council to call up the decision.
Palestine and Gaza divestment · 1 speakers
A speaker called on the city to support divestment over the humanitarian situation in Gaza; similar brief remarks recurred later in the meeting.
University Hill density and wildfire risk · 1 speakers
A resident described nearby homes converted into high-bedroom-count rentals and asked the city to weigh wildfire risk in the wildland-urban interface when reviewing such projects.
Council meeting research request · 1 speakers
A graduate student asked for volunteers for a thesis study on public participation in council meetings.

Conversations by topic

School closures (Resilient Schools)

CitySep 17, Regular Meeting at 0:08:07

Multiple parents asked council to send BVSD a letter asking for a one-year pause on closing Boulder elementary schools, saying the closure list clashed with the city's new comprehensive plan and its 15-minute neighborhood goal. Staff said the decision rests with BVSD but the city has coordinated on interim and long-term use of any closed buildings. Council members Winer and Adams each said they would send individual letters asking BVSD to pause; Benjamin said a pause would not fix declining enrollment and questioned whether delay serves a real purpose.

Open space, water, and drought

CitySep 17, Regular Meeting at 0:26:09

Several speakers objected to a planned three-to-five-year full closure of the CU South property during flood mitigation construction, asking staff to keep safe portions open to the public. Staff said phasing the closure is not feasible because construction staging sits in the middle of the site between the north flood-mitigation zone and the south environmental-remediation zone, and said alternative recreation sites are listed in the city's CU South FAQ. Council member Adams asked staff to post that reasoning publicly and send it to council.

Housing and land use

CitySep 17, Regular Meeting at 0:37:16

A University Hill resident described a neighboring home converted into a nine-bedroom rental and a proposed 13-bedroom duplex at 1084 Grant Place marketed as student housing, calling these outcomes unintended results of Ordinance 8866. Council member Benjamin said the ordinance's intent for family-friendly neighborhoods is not matching outcomes and wants council to look at options. Kaplan connected the issue to the Boulder Valley comprehensive plan, House Bill 101, and wildland-urban-interface density.

Boulder Municipal Airport

CitySep 17, Regular Meeting at 1:16:15

Council member Schuchard voted no on the FAA Airport Improvement Grant, saying it commits the city to operate the airport in perpetuity and needs more analysis of long-term liability before that decision. Council member Speer also voted no, citing the parcel's size, federal uncertainty, and a wish to keep flexibility for future generations.

County governance

CitySep 17, Regular Meeting at 1:16:57

Council members Schuchard, Speer, and Benjamin voted no on Resolution 1391 supporting the county ballot measure to expand county commissioner seats from three to five. Speer said it is not good governance for the city to weigh in on the county's internal structure, cited concerns about outside funding of the campaign, and noted county staffing reductions make new commissioner costs a concern.

Wildfire and Xcel

CitySep 17, Regular Meeting at 0:37:16

A University Hill wildfire ambassador said the neighborhood is unmitigated wildland-urban-interface land and asked the city to actively educate residents on wildfire risk when reviewing dense rental development nearby. Kaplan followed up by asking staff how the city will integrate wildfire risk into land-use decisions across Boulder.

Antisemitism, Israel, and Gaza

CitySep 17, Regular Meeting at 0:19:01

A public commenter said humanitarian organizations have called the situation in Gaza a genocide and called for divestment in Boulder; similar brief remarks recurred from other speakers during later hearings.

Bandshell seating redesign

CitySep 17, Regular Meeting at 0:12:22

Public commenters opposed the parks department's plan to remove historic wooden bandshell seats and replace them with turf lawns and concrete benches at the Glen Huntington Bandshell, calling it costly and inconsistent with the site's landmark status. Council member Benjamin moved to call up the landmark alteration certificate for further council review, which passed.

Panka Place street vacation

CitySep 17, Regular Meeting at 0:06:23

Several Frasier Meadows residents and church neighbors supported vacating Panka Place right-of-way to create a safer, calmer shared street while preserving through access for emergency vehicles and the public. The vacation was approved as part of item 4G on the consent agenda.