Business Meeting

BCHA Executive Director Susanna Lopez Baker told the board HUD now requires the housing authority to track mixed-immigration-status households in a separate portal and share that data with DHS by August 3. Commissioner Levy said any errors in that data could have consequences far beyond losing housing, including deportation, and pressed staff to be accurate since BCHA is not an immigration enforcement or citizenship agency.

“we're not an immigration enforcement agency. We're not law enforcement.”

Staff reported the Willoughby Corner phase one construction loan converted to a permanent loan, a major milestone, and that BCHA is pursuing a non-competitive tax credit round for phase three around September. Entitlement work with the City of Lafayette continues, with phases shifting to move faster.

Auditor Aaron Ness of Ayd Bailey presented a clean 2025 audit opinion for BCHA with total assets of $166.7 million. The audit found one material weakness tied to a $5,338,000 City of Lafayette ARPA payment that was originally booked as grant revenue but should have been recorded as a forgivable loan, requiring a $4.5 million prior-period correction.

Housing staff proposed an Innovation Fund program offering up to $75,000 in last-gap home-ownership assistance, tiered by income up to 130% AMI, for public sector workers as a silent second loan forgiven after 10 years. Commissioner Stolzmann and most of the board favored limiting eligibility to government employees rather than including nonprofit or gig workers, and Stolzmann suggested seeking matching funds from other jurisdictions and the community foundation.

“I think there needs to be a bright line... it should be for public service employees, which would include state federal municipal County employees, public school employees, fire district employees and water district employees and library district employees.”

Staff asked the board whether to keep the current Affordable and Attainable Housing Tax split (38% Boulder County, 32% City of Boulder, plus a 5% reserve) beyond 2026. Commissioner Stolzmann raised the county's structural budget deficit and questioned whether large capital grants are sitting unspent too long; commissioners asked staff to analyze whether the $500,000 annual Innovation Fund allocation and the 24-month capital spending window should change.

Parks and Open Space staff presented survey results (7,500 responses, 300 open-house attendees) showing most respondents opposed any trail-use pilot at Heil and Hall Ranch, with concerns about speed, close passing, and crowding. Staff recommended alternative one, monthly directional bike loops at Heil, but commissioners Stolzmann and Loachamin declined to adopt any pilot now, favoring more signage, an ambassador program, and community dialogue; Commissioner Levy favored a version of alternative two separating bikers and hikers on more trails at Heil.

“at this time I wouldn't proceed with any of the alternatives.”