Transcript

0:00:10Commissioners, are you ready? Yes, we are. We are recording. Good morning. Thank you all for joining us for the May 7th County Commissioners meeting Commissioner Loch Chuman Installment, our President Commissioner Levy is excused. We have until 10 o'clock to take public comment. We have many people signed up, so we're going to try to get to it as quickly as possible. There's interpretation service in the back of the room. I don't know if the interpreters want to come say anything at the start of the meeting, but you're welcome to. All right, they said they're all set. And so we're good. I just want to say we have a couple of just sort of housekeeping thanks to cover. We're going to go in the order. People have signed up. There are more people signed up. There will be able to get to likely this morning. So if you can be concise, that will just allow us to hear from more people. We ask that people don't clap or cheer or boo or jeer during the comments because you may disagree with one another. And we want everyone to be able to tell us whatever they would like to tell us. And then just the last thing I'll say, I do want to encourage everyone to say whatever they came to let us know, but we did receive

0:01:22an email very late yesterday afternoon from County Public Health, indicating that they were going to make a change with the way they're looking at the vacation rental permit renewals. And it will likely make it so that the approximately 15 people waiting to renew their vacation rentals will be grandfathered in with regard to their septic systems. So I would still like to hear what everyone would like to say, but just wanted to let folks know that we did get an email about that. And still the other requirements that have always been required would be required, but just we did get indication that there would be a change of interpretation on the renewals and grandfathering and existing licenses. And so Commissioner Lutschman, have I missed anything. All right, so with that, we'll go to folks who have signed up. And again, they're in order. If you see someone in yellow, it just means they're not here. We'll circle back. If you see someone in purple, it just means they're virtual. And you'll see your names up online so you'll know if you're coming up. And first we have Aaron Meshke. Good morning, commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. My name is Aaron Mesh. Gay live in Bouldern represent myself. Last month, I attended the post - Ac retreat and was quite concerned about changes made

0:02:32to public comment that were announced. While I understand wanting to protect the time of your Board Commission and Advisory Committee members, this change is an overreaction that stifles proper representation and participation. By removing all off agenda comments as well as limiting comments only to things that are being voted on that evening, you have essentially shut down any avenue for the public to bring concerns to Posac. And given new meeting constraints could limit post - Act members'ability to raise their own concerns. The BOCC monthly public comment time is limited to one hour and some months, like this month, that is woefully insufficient for you to engage with citizens over issues that are important to them. If people don't use their full three minutes and are very efficient about the lineup, like I hope will happen today.

0:03:18You might get to hear from a maximum of 20 people a month, which I have never seen happen. Normally you get to maybe 13 to 15 in an allotted hour. This change will result in shorter meetings, but less representation in all Boulder County residents should be concerned about this undemocratic change. It should be noted that if commissioners responded to the majority of concern, some of your most time and resource consuming issues would be resolved easily instead of dragging out four months or years. Or moving to the courts because you ignored your electors. The supermajority of you are now term limited, but that does not excuse this gross abuse of power. And I ask you to reverse the decision to limit engagement with Posac and other County Boards Commissions and committees. Public participation must be valued and protected. Thank you. Thank you. Next we have Wendy Sweet. Good morning, Commissioners. I'm Wendy Sweet, and I'm here to talk about the alternating trail use pilot project. I want to start with a quick clarification. I am a full - time employee of the Boulder Mountain Bike Alliance.

0:04:19The majority of our funding comes from memberships and donations from the community and they support my position in part so I can be here on a Thursday morning, speaking on their behalf. I first want to address the process of this project as it has not followed the standards that Boulder County lost my place has used in the past. For example, the last Parks and Open Space pilot was the 2018 e - bike Pilot. Staff communicated with Pozac multiple times before that pilot went to a commissioner vote in November. There was a news release announcing it. There was a public process. There was advisory input. There was a clear path before the pilot implementation. With this pilot, we are hearing that none of that is needed because it is temporary. But temporary decisions still have real impacts. They change how people access public land. They set precedent. And they deserve the same level of transparency and public process. There are also proven tools for managing trail use that could be implemented before restricting access. Good trail design reduces conflict. Directional trails reduce the chance of conflict.

0:05:23Single use trails can improve experiences for everyone. And expanding trail systems help people out instead of concentrating them. And more broadly, instead of seeing the popularity of mountain biking is something to restrict. We should recognize it for what it is. A widely enjoyed way people connect with our open space. That's an opportunity to design for. Bike - only directional trails are one example of how other land managers are improving experiences while reducing conflict. As you know, there are no bike - only trails anywhere in Boulder County. These solutions exist. They are becoming widely used and they focus on improving the trail experience for everyone, not limiting access to some. I also want to talk about timing and the ongoing County Budget Crisis. Teresa retired in December, Jason started in April. 20 parks in open space staff took early retirement or relayed off in 2025. And most of those positions were not rehired. So at a time when staff is already stretched, then, and facing further budget cuts this year, you are asking them to take on a complex and conservational new pilot. The vast majority of residents want a careful balance between conservation and recreation on open space. But this pilot feels rushed out of step with past processes and disconnected from both staff capacity and better solutions. I would urge you to slow this

0:06:41down, bring it through Pozak, and make sure you're setting both your staff and the community up for something that actually works. Thank you. Thank you. Next we have Joshua Latin. Good morning. Thanks for the opportunity to speak today. A little background I've lived. And they feel just say your name for the record. I should have mentioned that to everyone. When you come up, I will have just said your name and then I need you to say your name again. No worries. My name is Joshua Lutton. I've lived and worked in Boulder County essentially since 2004. Um, brief due to her to Denver. But, um, I'm also somewhat of an unusual trail user. I grew up on a cattle ranch. Riding horses into high school. Then I discovered mountain biking in college. And I still ride a day, just on a little bit less capable bike.

0:07:30Um, more recently, I'm a trail runner and it's my daily outdoor ritual. And I shared this because I genuinely love all modes of trail use. And I bring a perspective, I bring that perspective to my role as board president of Boulder Mountain Bike Alliance, which is why I'm here. I've got serious concerns about the process behind this pilot program for alternating trail use, not just as potential impact on cyclists, but all on ultra L users. It feels rushed. And frankly, little forced. My ask is simple before we restrict access to any single user group. Let's exhaust every other option first. Um, the strong examples from across the country on trail use. And infrastructure. And it serves hikers, runners, equestrians, cyclists. Without pulling access from anyone. Let's apply those lessons here. If this pilot was born out of trail conflict, again, any group has bad actors and a single unpleasant encounter can color a whole experience.

0:08:34But I'll say this plenty. In the 80 to 15 hours a week that I spend on County Trails, city and County, um, on foot or by bike, I can count the genuine conflicts with fingers. That's not a small sample size. Over the last 20 years of recreating. On your website on outlining the program, it states conflict may occur when visitors interfere with one another's goals on the trail leading to unpleasant experiences. And that definition of conflict might actually be more of an inconvenience to many. So I'm just asking you to slow down, engage with the people who represent and steward these spaces and reach for better tools before restrictions. Thanks. Thank you. Next we have Sarah Sharp. Sarah Sharp. Good morning. I wrote the early childhood special district plan that came before you in 2023.

0:09:37After that hearing, I went back and made a verbatim testimony. I mean, a transcript so that we would know specifically what was where your concerns. You recognize that there was a crisis. The crisis has not improved for child care since 2023. You thought that initiative should come from the federal government or from the state government. Donald Trump has just made it clear that he's not in favor of spending for child care. And the state, as usual, has a huge deficit and they're up against the taber. You said that the specific plan for Boulder County. You thought it should come through the early childhood council. The plan that is being proposed is coming through the early childhood council. You did not want a special district. This plan does not propose a special district. You wanted to control more control of any board for so groups like white nationalists did not take control. You were given oversight authority of the community board that is planned. Um, you were concerned about duplication of services. Again, you have, um, fiscal oversight and would have legal authority over this proposed plan so that doesn't seem that that would be a problem. Now we're told from a, from a newspaper article that you're concerned is polling for the childhood, uh, uh, issue. All three of you know that child care measures

0:11:04do not poll well, but you also know that in 2025, a number of Colorado jurisdictions put measures on the ballot, including Larimor County without Stiller polling results. They passed, number of them passed. And their children are reaping the benefits. We ask only that you put the initiative on the ballot and let the voters decide whether Boulder County children will also reap benefits. Thank you. Thank you. Could you please send us the newspaper article you're referencing email us. Uh, Times Coal is what I don't have the exact. I can provide it to you. That's what I'm asking after the fact that would be helpful. Thank you. Um, did you have any other questions? I had the same question. So thank you. Thank you. Next we have Edward Yagi. Good morning. Are my audio and video all right? Yes, sir. My name is Edward Yagi and I'm co - owner of sixth generation family property in Allen's park. This is a call for the resignations and firings of Commissioner Levy, Commissioner Lochamine Public Health Director Noland Use Director Case and County Attorney Ben Perlman. You have all screwed up and screwed up big time. I, and most of the others speaking here this morning. You're here to say, we told you so for four years I and many others showed you over and over again in public

0:12:27hearings and hundreds of documents that you were making a huge mistake with your STR and vacation rental rules. We proved that they were absurd, wasteful, illegal, unconstitutional or unenforceable. We told you they were grossly overcomplicated and designed to cause confusion. We begged you not to do this. But in your stupidity, arrogance and lust for power, you plowed ahead and exactly is predicted. Here we are with a major scandal. Last year, you began imposing an illegal change of use fee and OWTS permit requirement that appear nowhere in the STR ordinance. You misapplied a residential to commercial standard that vacation rentals, even putting those words in teenager air quote quotation marks on your website, despite knowing and acknowledging they are residential as established by multiple Colorado courts. You are enforcing new licensing conditions outside the public rulemaking process. And you are illegally retroactively applying them to renewals.

0:13:24At this moment, you are illegally withholding my own families vacation, rental license renewal. Pointing a gun at someone's head and demanding their wallet is not policymaking. It is a crime imposing an unauthorized fear permit violates Colorado Constitution, Article 14, Section 18 and is an illegal tax or extraction under Colorado's taxpayer bill of rights. Tabor. The thin air is grossly disproportionate to County Work performed, making it doubly illegal. Adding requirements without due process violates Colorado state law CRS - 24103. Deliberately misapplying change of use beyond its defined scope is illegal under CRS 2510 104 and a violation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. Having already illegally charged taxpayers, unnecessary fees in trouble. It is now your moral ethical and legal responsibility to publicly apologize, refund this money and fire those responsible. Your land use department, everyone in public health, your taxpayer fed army of attorneys and new commissioners with the exception of Ms. Stolzman clearly either don't know your jobs or the law or you do know and simply don't care how many laws you break. Of course you've spent the last three months trying to figure out how to sweep this mess under the rug like you always do. And your comments this morning, notwithstanding. I think your luck is finally run out.

0:14:48This fiasco is national news material. This concludes my remarks. Thank you. Next we have Marissa Connolly. Hello dear me okay? Yes we can. Okay. Good morning. My name is Marissa Connolly. I'm here to address the Disconnect between the counties adopted ordinances. And the current implementation of the vacation rental licensing. Specifically I'm objecting to the requirements being enforced by public health that were never authorized through the Public Legislative process. Uh, this is not a grievance regarding a single property, but it is a question of whether County agencies must remain within the limits of their delegated authorities. Uh, during the multi - year development of the 2024 short - term rental regulation, Public Health had ample opportunity to provide input. The resulting ordinance which this board approved already addressed wastewater concerns by tying occupancy directly to system capacity. However, we are now seeing new mandates introduced through the back door after the Public Process has closed and licenses have been issued. When regulations are added outside of an official ordinances, it creates a lack of predictability that undermines the integrity of the entire framework. In previous hearings, it was suggested that the Board of Health operate independently and is therefore beyond the board's intervention, respectfully I disagree.

0:16:14The licensing framework is a product of your ordinance. If a department is tasked with administrating your law, they must do so in manner consistent with the text you formally adopted. When departments act outside the scope, it is a responsibility of the board to provide oversight and ensure the county speaks with one voice. Anything less erodes public trust in your governance. Let it legitimate governance. Requires that the rules do not change after the game has started. Therefore, we are asking for for clear actions. Bruce and requirements not explicitly authorized by the ordinance. Align all licensed additions. Strictly with the letter of the law. Remedia any fees collected under these unauthorized mandates. And finally, restore transparency to this process. We ask the board to exercise its oversight authority to ensure consistency and fairness for all residents. Thank you. Thank you. Next we have John Bellows.

0:17:25Morning. I have some packets. If you'll give them over here to our deputy, that would be great. Thank you so much. Good morning commissioners. My name is John Bellos. I'm a resident of San Lazaro Mobile Home Park. And I serve on a resident steering committee. Thank you for your time. As you've likely heard, our park is for sale. Under Colorado's opportunity to purchase law, we have 10 day window to make an offer to buy it ourselves and form a resident - owned cooperative. That window closes in early July. We are 213 households over 800 of your neighbors. More than 140 of our kids attend Boulder Valley Schools. Some of our families have lived in San Lazaro for over 40 years. We are diverse community of Latinx, Bosnian, retirees, veterans, refugees. People with disabilities and essential workers. When our community received the letter of intent to sell, we banded together quickly and I'm pleased to inform you that we've gotten over 80 percent of our community to sign on in support of exploring a resident - owned cooperative. We did that across three languages, 213 households.

0:18:40It is something I think deserves a highlight to show you that we're organized and we're ready for this challenge. On the numbers, the total acquisition for To Buyer Community is 42. 5 million dollars. Thistle has indicated they can potentially help with up to 15 million. And so our focus is on addressing a 27. 5 million dollar gap. We are pursuing every state. Foundation, and private source available to us. But the Colorado precedent is consistent in Aspen Basalt and Parkling in every successful resident purchase of significant scale, local government commitment has been the cattle - related capital that unlocks the rest. That is why we're here today. We are not asking Boulder County to invent something new. In 2023, this County offered one million to preserve, 34 homes at La Luna Cooperative. Last year, seven Colorado local governments taken an Eagle County, the city of Aspen and four others combined to form over 12 million to preserve 240 homes in the roaring fork valley. We are asking Boulder County to do for 213 of its households with those counties did for theirs. The packet in front of you lays out the precedent, the math, and the two anchors that frame the appropriate scale of partnership. We are not naming a number today. We trust this board to weigh the facts and the numbers. We've done our

0:20:02best to help with that through the data in those packets. Please read through what we provided, listen to our stories today. And schedule an action item to provide a specific funding commitment. All in time to inform our July offer. The Affordable and Attainable Housing Tax exists for moments exactly like this one. We hope you put it to work for San Lazaro. Thank you. Thank you, John. As your contact information in the packet? Yes, it is. Thank you very much. Next we have a Elizabeth. Hiring. Sorry, I'm so sorry. If you'll tell us your name when you come up here. I can't. My name is Elizabeth Hieronimous and Susanna Hernandez and I are going to be changing time slots at the gentleman and the hall said that was all right. So it's your time now, Elizabeth.

0:20:51And we just need to stick with that because we're going in the order people signed up. Thanks so much. Sure, no problem. Just a moment please then. My name is Elizabeth Haronomus and I am a resident of the Sunlessdero community. Um, I am a relatively new resident, but this community is very special to me. So I have also joined the steering committee to help become a resident - owned community. Um, I am going to read several stories from longer term members of the community who submitted them as part of our demographic. Paperwork. First family, I am a bolder native. My family of six moved to San Lazaro in 1979 when I was six years old. It's always been home. The pets grew up here relocation for all would be disturbing. Affordable living is becoming impossible in my hometown. It would hurt to uproot and leave.

0:21:48We currently don't have anywhere else to go. Our mobile home is too old to move. From another resident. I am retired and on a fixed income. My stun and grandchildren live in lions, and I live here so that I can help them out with the children. Another son works at Google and lives in Lewisville. I love Boulder very much and send Lazaro makes it affordable to be near my family. I don't know where I would live otherwise as they are the only family that I have left. This is true affordable housing in a housing market that is simply unattainable for most of us. I am so grateful to have it here. My fear is that if someone buys it, they will increase the lot rent to such a high rate that even this becomes unaffordable.

0:22:40Another family writes. My mom and I moved onto our mobile home in March 1997. I was 12. I grew up in this park. When my son was born, my mom found a very cute little place in the park. My husband and I took it over the one that we grew up in. My mom's home is the perfect size for her. She is 71 and living so close to her is so important for our family. Also being able to raise our son in Boulder is very important to me and my husband. Losing our home would upset so much in our lives. We work both in Boulder and would not be able to stay if we lost our home. I want to keep my home. One other family wrote. I love this park. I have lived here 30 years. My daughter grew up here and now lives down the street from me. This park is the best of both worlds, city, and county. I am hoping to spend my golden years here. It will break my heart if I can't. We really appreciate your time today and hope that we can count on Boulder County to support our community. Thank you. Thank you. Next we have Ralph Kuhlmeyer and I apologize to everyone whose name I say wrong this morning. And it has a small typo, but

0:24:00I didn't think that matters. Good morning everyone. Good morning commissioners. My name is Ralph Kuhlmeyer and thanks for your time this morning. Um, so a couple of weeks ago became aware of the alternate use pilot. So I took some time to research the information, the County presented on the website. Um, I was happy to learn that like my own experience, people were really enjoying our trails, whether you're a hiker, a biker and a question. And I've enjoyed all those activities. I'm a cyclist. I enjoy trail running. I enjoy hiking. Um, I don't write horses, but I'm sure they'll be pretty fun as well. So I looked up the data and, uh, yeah, I was very encouraged that everyone seems to be having a good time on the trails. There's very little trail conflict. I'm sure the numbers are not that exact, but it's something like four, five, six percent. And then the other thing I'm very well aware of is if personally, if I don't want to be around cyclists and want to acquire while the trail experience, I have ample, uh, trails that are for hikers only around Boulder County. It's a real kind of luxury and, um, opportunity we have. So the data does not inform the pilot. Um, to try and understand this pilot better. I attended the Commissioner meeting in Ned

0:25:22where I got the impression that the commissioners felt that restricting access by Deo 2 is not a big deal for the user community. So that by itself is really 15 to 30 percent of someone's access to their favorite trail. And God forbid you only recreate on the weekends with that can certainly be 50 or a hundred percent of your axis gone to your favorite recreational activity and trail. So not only does the data not support the pilot, the pilot can do real harm. So what happens when you close one trail, what happens to the neighboring trails? I'm assuming trial usage will go up. And we may really have the potential for more conflict. Have we thought about the impact on our small business community in North Boulder and lions? I think those communities benefit a lot from the additional, um, user traffic on the weekends.

0:26:20And it's tough to have a small business in today's economic climate. And I don't think it's fair for the, for the government to come up with initiatives that are not that well thought through, they could impact their livelihoods. Um, the only bad trial experience I've had in recent times was trail running on Batasso where there's a couple of the large German shepherd dog that for some reason felt like it needed to eat me or attack me or something. And they almost lost control of the dog. Those are one of incident. I didn't leave that saying I need to lobby to get rid of dogs on trails or restrict access. Um, so an interest of time. I think we can do better. We can improve safety on the trails. And I think the trail community and the cyclists want to be part of that. And look for solutions that are more effective. And work on them together as a community. And not against each other. Thank you very much. Did you have a question? Thank you.

0:27:20Next we have Debbie Stringem. And she's forgoing her time or they are. Angie House Boo. So sorry everyone. It's okay. You both have tough last names too. So, um, good morning. Thank you for that opportunity to speak. Angie Holsubas. Um, I'm a resident of Boulder County and I hike run in mountain bike equal mounts on our Countless Amazing Trails. Um, I'm here to ask you to please cancel this pilot project. We obviously have a lot more important issues to spend our time on. I understand that the commissioners want to reduce mountain bike access by 30 to 50 percent. On the Wipidi Trail at high ranch for no honest reason and it sounds like Commissioner Lebies may be leading this. Not sure. Um, we're being told this is just a casual experiment. But the implications are serious. This feels like a management tool feels less like a management tool and more like a solution, just looking for a problem. My main four reasons are there's no data. We have a 96 percent happiness rate. Um, so I think the mountain bike community is happy to step in like if we know there's a conflict, please tell us what it is. We got into all the meetings, open houses. No one knows. So tell us what it is and we'll help. We're happy to help like we

0:28:56volunteer all the time. Happy to help. Um, these are our shared resources and making a big change like this is not the way you should be running government. It just feels like something's really off. And I'm just wondering if an entire user groups may be being punished for one person's bad day or, you know, it's a really outsized reaction to one or a few incidents. Um, we also, you know, there's, it's not a crisis compared to the other pressing issues. The county has, but we, we don't have mountain bike access. If you're a hiker, you might think that we do, but, um, that's just like a symptom of that if you don't mount bike, you don't understand the problem. There's not an adequate amount of trails, uh, applied to mountain biking. Um, I think Commissioner Levy told lions that they're getting a paved trail lock highway 36. That's not mountain bike trail. Um, people enjoy nature in different ways. For me, mountain biking is a way to be out in nature and stay strong mentally and physically how vale ranch has been open to us for 30 years. It's been considered as a solution for mountain biking because we knew it was a growing thing for 30 years. So let's not wreck it now. So our chill systems worked really great. Appreciate everything you do.

0:30:25Um, let's cancel the pilot and work on better things like, let's put a no smoking sign or something, you know, something that matters. So thanks for your time. Thank you. Next we have Damien Teague. Good morning, Commissioners. My name is Damian Tig. I've lived in San Lazaro for 18 years and I'm a member of the steering committee. I'm here today not only as a resident, but someone who has watched this community hold itself together through rising costs, uncertainty, hardship. And now the possible sale of the land beneath their homes. San Nazaru is home to 213 households and more than 800 residents in unincorporated Boulder County. We are seniors unfixed incomes, veterans, refugees, school employees, working families, people with disabilities. And children attending the Boulder Valley schools. Some families have lived here for generations. Others came here after fleeing war or economic hardship. Trying to build stability in Boulder County. But what makes Sandas are important is not only the number of homes. It's the community that those homes support. People here share food, transportation, child care, translation, tools, repairs, care for elderly neighbors. Their deep social networks and informal systems here.

0:31:56The mini communities no longer have. What exists at San Lazaro is not temporary housing. It is an interdependent community that has evolved over decades. And when residents received notice that the park was being sold, something extraordinary happened. Instead of giving up residence organized. More than 80 percent of the community came together in support of exploring resident ownership through a cooperative structure. That level of engagement is rare anywhere. Especially in a community this large and this diverse. People organized because they understand what's at stake. A cross Colorado on the front range, we've already seen what happens when mobile home parks are purchased by large or outside investment groups. Lot rents rise dramatically. Family has become an unstable. Longstanding communities begin to disappear. And once these communities are lost, they're almost never replaced. At a time when Boulder County continues to face a severe affordability crisis, preserving naturally occurring affordable housing is not just compassionate policy. It's responsible governance. Because the costs do not because the costs do not disappear when affordable affordability disappears. They simply move downstream into displacement, school instability, emergency assistance, healthcare strain, and deeper economic insecurity for families already struggling to remain in this county. We also want to be candid. We know the real challenges ahead. Infrastructure, water systems, roads, power systems, and long - term stewardship all requires serious planning and

0:33:37investment. But resident ownership changes incentives. When residents have a voice and long - terms take in their community, the focus shifts from extraction to stewardship. Thank you so much. Your time is up, but it looked like you may have your comments written. And so if you send them to us, we can get those. Thank you. Next week. Next we have Hannah Craven. And Hannah, if you'll pull the microphone up close to your mouth, um, when you're speaking, just because the little bit of feedback coming. Hi, my name is Hanna Craven, and I have been a resident at San Lazaro for nearly eight years. This has been the safest community. I have ever lived in. And amidst this. Soul crushing housing crisis. I have found my faith in humanity. It restored consistently. In this community. And I will read a testimony from our community. As follows.

0:34:47I'm terrified I will have to move out of San Lazaro. People take care of each other here. There are families and immigrants. And people with disabilities like me, older folks, and many people living off of low incomes. There are people who have become created to survive. There are a number of small business owners like me too. Some of whom can't find a job that works for them. So they create their own. We are resourceful people. And we understand interdependence. And we contribute to the community in so many ways. I cannot find anywhere else to go boulders affordable programs are not accessible to me. They are structured for a narrow demographic of people. I am afraid I will be out on the street along with my neighbors if the rent grows with no limits. People are going to be displaced. It's already a really scary time in the US. The safety net is crumbling. I'm truly afraid of what will happen if someone else buys this park. When you don't have a home, everything else is really tough to keep up with. The last thing people stop paying when they aren't making ends meet is rent and housing costs. They'll forgo food and medication. And heat and electricity. That says something. My family miraculously survived Nazi occupation in their country. Other people here are the descendants

0:36:19of ancestors who experienced and survived similar tragedies. Some people here survived tragedy directly. This is about survival. And I'm a hundred percent in step with this. And heavily relate. As I know several of us completely agree with and feel. So thank you for allowing me to speak. I can try my good. Thank you so much. Um, next we have Samuel Arietti. Hello. This is Sam Marietti from Alan's Park. Commissioners, as you know, I've run into some difficulties because the health department wants me to change the septic system permit for my single family home from residential to commercial for reasons that have no support under Boulder regulations or Colorado law. And while I'm grateful, you now say the health department is backing down as it relates to license renewals. That simply doesn't go far enough. If they're still going to impose that requirement on others.

0:37:30Now a few others have already spoken about this. So instead I'm going to ask about why the health department would disregard its own rules and impose such unnecessary requirements. And it seems more than anything else that this is being driven by a sense of arrogance and impunity, which runs deeply in the culture, County employees. And to illustrate that point, when I reached out to you about the septic issue, I attached some, um, emails I had with various county employees. And those described how for two years after a land use hearing that I had before a couple of you, the planning staff failed to issue the action letter documenting the result of the hearing. And that prevented me from obtaining the license you had authorized. So after two years of all this delay, um, and excuses, I sent a message not only to the planning staff, but also copying their supervisor and others. And then the staff responded immediately in self - defensively. Um, they emailed me a copy of assigned action letter and they told me they'd send it to me two years before, but I knew that couldn't be true. So I right clicked on the files property settings. And I saw that it had been created and signed that very morning. And when I confronted the staff about it, supervisor day okay, admitted,

0:38:38I was right about the files just having been created, but he excused the staff's lies and explained that she had no intent to deceive me. And that was simply unbelievable, which is why I printed it out and I've kept it incentive to you. Now nevermind repercussions, both the staff and Dale case are still working in the same roles today. But in any other setting lined your boss and to the public to cover up your mistakes, backdating and tampering documents, it just wouldn't be tolerated. But it is tolerated and Boulder. And this shows itself repeatedly, including now when it helped department employee ignores their own rules and events fake permitting retirements out of thin air. And when confronted about it, well, I'm not sure they've backed down. In fact, it seems like they're only going to back down with respect to license renewals. Commissioners, you are the publicly elected leaders of Boulder County. You are accountable to the public, but employees who lie in Tamper would documents have your name signed at the bottom. Well, they're not accountable to the public. And they know it and their actions show it, but they are accountable to you.

0:39:38Um, so I ask, what are you going to do with this knowledge? Will you ignore it? Will you challenge the County employees as unpleasant as that may be for you? Will you require accountability and enforce basic ethical standards? Well, we'll see what actions you take to address those questions. Thank you. Thank you. Next. Week. Thank you. Next we have Ronald Mitchell. My name is Ronald Mitchell. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to the subject. Of the residents of San Lazaro home park and their quest. To obtain ownership of the park. My comments are from observations. Of the overwhelming support of the residents. And the unity that is quickly developed. To achieve the ownership goal. More than 80 percent of the residents of positively responded to the participation. And that is still growing. Particularly commendable are the individuals who have stepped up to serve on their steering committee. Young and old, they are an interject mix of ethnic groups whose representatives are dedicated to and willing to put the effort and work. To work together on a long - term basis. This is a classic effort to achieve a conflict. To see achieve a concept. That has many definitions.

0:41:25The American dream. This case has manifested complex hurdles, technical difficulties, and financial challenges. We do know the magnitude of the project is dawning. It's achievable. With your consideration of answering this effort with financial support, professional advice, technical assistance, and approvals is needed and requested. Your participation as a partner will strengthen the enhance their resolve. In life, we only help somewhere along the line. Nobody really achieves anything without help. Thank you. Next we have Julie Hines. Good morning. Thanks for letting us speak. My name is Julie Hines. I live in San Las Romobile Park. I've been a resident there with my husband and son for 37 years. It's been a safe place to raise a child. It's been a great place to learn all the skills that I've learned in my life. I've worked at the University of Colorado. I've worked at a publishing company.

0:42:51I've been self - employed. Um, and enjoyed the support and neighborliness that we have in our community. I'm also a member of the steering committee. And I am looking forward to being able to work with Boulder County in the hopes that you can give us all the support possible. In any form. I have also a testimonial that I'd like to read from one of our residents. I was five years old when I first learned that home could disappear overnight. Back then, Home was not a place you could point to on a map. It was wherever we happened to be safe for a moment. Sometimes a forest where we slept under trees. Sometimes a crowded camp, sometimes the borrowed corner of someone else's house. We moved from apartment to apartment never unpacking fully. Never certain how long we would stay. I remember the quiet fear in the adults, the way they spoke in low voices, always watching, always ready to leave. Stability was something other people had. Safety was something we hoped for. When we finally left everything behind for a chance at a better life, it wasn't just a move. It was a leap into the unknown for years we carried that uncertainty with us like a shadow that never quite faded. And then we found Sen Lazaro. For the first time home became something

0:44:30real, not temporary, not borrowed, not fragile in the same way. We built a life here slowly, carefully. Neighbors became familiar faces, then friends, then something closer to family. The streets held memories instead of fear. The walls we lived within didn't feel like they could vanish overnight. For 21 years, for me, and 28 years for our family, San Lazaro has been more than just a place to live. It has been a proof that the stability is possible. That roots can grow even after being uprooted so many times. That's why this community matters so deeply. Because when you've spent your early life running, hiding and wondering where you'll sleep next, having a place where your children feel safe enough to dream freely is everything. I will end my talk there, goes on. Thank you very much. Next.

0:45:31We have letty. Sorry about my audio issues. And I see that the translation services coming up. So just for folks in the room, um, we allow time for the speaking and time for the translation when we have translation services. There's one wood mocket. Yes. Buenos días, comisionadas. Mi nombre es Leticia García. He vivido en Bolde por 25 años y los últimos ocho años en la comunidad de San Lázaro. Good morning, Commissioners. My name is Leticia García. I have lived in Boulder for 25 years. And the last eight years in the community of San Lázaro. En San Lázaro mi familia encontró algo muy importante. Estabilidad de vivienda. Y no solo mi familia. Muchas otras familias también han encontrado aquí un lugar seguro y estable. En San Lázaro, my family found something very important. Housing stability. And not only my family, many other families have also found a safe and stable home here. Presidentes que han vivido en esta comunidad hasta por 40 años. Eso demuestra que San Lázaro no es solo un lugar para vivir sino una comunidad fuerte y un hogar para muchas familias trabajadoras. That shows that San Lázaro is not just a place to live, but a strong community in a home for many working families. Somos una comunidad muy diversa y la mayoría de nosotros estamos con la esperanza de conservar nuestros hogares.

0:47:15And most of us are hoping to preserve our homes. En mi caso tengo dos hijas estudiando la universidad de Boulder Colorado. Mi hijo mayor está estudiando su doctorado en audiología y la menor está cursando su último año de licenciatura en narcisiencias. In my case I have two daughters studying at the university of Colorado of Colorado Boulder. My oldest daughter is studying her doctorate in audiology. And my youngers is taking her last year of her bachelor's degree in art and science. Yo tengo mi pequeño negocio de limpieza. Además, soy promotora de salud en el centro amistad y conectora comunitaria con la ciudad de Boulder. Al igual que yo, mi esposo también tiene un pequeño negocio de jardinería. In a community connector with the city of Boulder. Like me, my husband also has a small gardening business. El tener un lugar estable y asequible ha sido fundamental para nuestras hijas.

0:48:15Puede continuar sus estudios y construir su futuro. Así como mi familia hay muchas otras familias en San Lázaro que han podido salir adelante gracias a su estabilidad en esta comunidad que les ha dado. Thanks to the stability that this community has given them. Somos personas que contribuimos a la economía del condado. Nuestros hijos van a las escuelas aquí. Trabajamos aquí y aquí construimos nuestras vidas. Our children go to school here. We work here and we have built our lives here. Hoy estamos preocupados por los dueños que quieren vender el parque. Tenemos temor que nuevos propietarios suban la renta o cierren el parque y muchas familias se han desplazada de sus hogares. We are afraid that new owners will raise rent or close the park in many families will be displaced from their homes. Perder esta estabilidad añaría a las familias de muchas maneras económicamente emocional y académicamente. Mis hijas y otros muchachos jóvenes de la comunidad también están preocupados por lo que pueda pasar con sus hogares y su futuro. Losing visibility with harm families in many ways. Economically, emotionally and academically. My daughters and many other young people in the community are also concerned about what may happen with their homes and their lives.

0:49:44Por eso pedimos el apoyo al condado. Los residentes queremos tener la oportunidad de comprar san azaro y preservar nuestras viviendas, pero no podemos hacerlo sin su apoyo financiero. We residents wants to have the opportunity to buy San Lázaro and preserve our homes, but we can't do it without you. Salazar es parque de casas manufacturadas. Un tipo de vivienda que representa una de las pocas opciones realmente asequibles en nuestra comunidad. Conservar este lugar significa proteger hogares, estabilidad y oportunidad para familias trabajadoras que hoy para las futuras generaciones. A type of housing that represents one of the few truly affordable options in our community to preserve this place means protecting homes, stability and opportunities for working families. Today and for future generations. Por eso acudimos a ustedes y las agradecemos su consideración hacia nosotros. Muchas gracias. Thank you for listening. Thank you. Thank you. Next we have Erica Yagi. My name is Erica Yagi and I'm one of the co - owners of a family property in Allen's Park. I want to object to and protest in position of a thousand dollar change of views fee in the new requirement for an on - site wastewater treatment system permit. For those who already hold a permit and for the new applicants. There's no authority for these requirements in the county's adopted vacation mental ordinance or regulations, especially

0:51:17since they're now being applied at retroactively to listen to renewals like our families. Imposing this fee and permit requirement is outside the scope of the permit. We feel that the county is trying to apply a residential to commercial standard certification rentals while also acknowledging that vacation rentals are still primarily used as residents. On top of that, the new requirements were never adopted through public rulemaking process. If they're now being enforced as an afterthought. That raises serious legal and procedural concerns. License holders like our family have already complied in good faith with every published requirement. We follow the publish rules, participate in the process, and relied on the county's own guidance. Now we're suddenly being told there are new fees and requirements that were never clearly adopted. This new demand creates confusion increases costs and adds administrative burden while providing no public health or safety benefit.

0:52:08It imposes additional requirements on systems that are generally, um, used less intensively than full - time residences. What's a special troubling is the lack of transparency. These requirements were never openly debated or formerly approved as part of the ordinance process. They appear to have been added administratively afterward. That utterminds the trust and leaves property owners on certain about what rules actually apply. Allowing this distance at the dangerous precedent. It signals that compliance today does not guarantee compliance tomorrow and the requirements can change without notice justification or formal adoption. That uncertainty affects current licenseholders and anyone considering participating in the program because it is already punishing those who went through to get the permit. We all know that the licensification rentals, especially if you look at the number of accommodations posted on verbal or Airbnb websites, either on purpose or by ignorance. These random retractive pressures will only lose trust of the few who were actively complying and those who are going to apply. Um, what's worse is that some new license holders have already been required to pay these fees and comply with these new conditions. At a minimum those individuals, um, deserve reimbursement. We are asking for clear resolution and forced ordinance as adopted, eliminate unauthorized requirements, compensate those unfairly burdened, hold those accountable for this unfair confusion and restore predictable transparent process that

0:53:33resins can rely on. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next is David Ulrich. Good. Morning. Good morning. I'm a resident of San Lazaro. I'm here in support of our steering committee. And I feel just say your name. I know I just said it. Thank you. I've lived in the park for 13 years. Um, I was, uh, Royal Mobile Home Park in Longmont in 2013 when we were flooded and our park was taken for a flood mitigation and a park for the city of Longmont. I was looking for another place that was on a river, um, and I found this home in San Lazaro on Boulder Creek. I'm extremely happy there. Um, as I said, I've lived there for 13 years. I know my neighbors. We are a community. Um, the, uh, we looked up the crime statistics for our park in the last year that have been eight calls.

0:54:44Six of them were fire related and two of them there were automated alarms. There were no arrests. Uh, this may be one of the safest places in Boulder. I really want to continue living there. I support our steering committee and I am looking to you as the commissioners of Boulder County to help us achieve our goal of ownership. Thank you. Thank you. Next we have Susanna Rodriguez. Buenos días comisionadas. Muchas gracias por darnos el tiempo de estar hablando aquí con ustedes y escuchar nuestras peticiones. Good morning Commissioners. Thank you for giving us a time to talk about our concerns and to listen to them. Mi nombre es Susana Rodríguez. He sido residente de San Lázaro por más de 24 años. My name is Susana Rodríguez. And I have been a residence of St Lazaro for over 24 years. Como líder comunitaria y enlace cultural he tenido el privilegio de servir a esta comunidad durante muchos años. A través de este trabajo he sido testiga de muchas historias. Algunas llenas de alegría y otras profundamente dolorosas.

0:56:08No puedo compartirlas todas hoy, pero quiero contarles dos experiencias que dejaron una huella profunda en mí y que reflejan lo que verdaderamente significa pertenecer a San Lázaro. As a community leader and a cultural broker. I have had the privilege of serving this community for many years. Through this work, I have witnessed many stories, some filled with joy and others diplopynful. I cannot share them all today, but I would like to share two experiences that left a profound mark on me and truly reflect what it means to belong to San Lázaro. Hace dos años era en diciembre. Un vecino de la tercera edad que vivía solo justo enfrente de mi casa era un hombre callado, pero salía todos los días afuera de su casa. Mi esposo y yo comenzamos a notar su ausencia por unos días que no lo habíamos visto por varios días. Fui a tocar su puerta y algo. Se sintió, no se sintió muy bien. Two years ago in December, there was an elderly neighbor who lived alone directly across the street from my home. He was a quiet man, but he came outside every day. My husband and I began to notice his absence for several days of not seeing him. I went to knock on his door and something did not feel right. Um volante que se había dejado días antes

0:57:40seguía exactamente en el mismo lugar. Incluso la pequeña piedra que lo sostenía no se había movido. A flyer that had been left there days earlier was still in the exact same place. Even the small rock holding it down had not moved. Llamamos a la oficina de los sheriffs porque estábamos preocupados por él. Les dijimos que no habíamos visto a este señor por varios días y les pedimos que fueran a revisar su casa después de varias horas. Ellos llegaron y lograron entrar a la casa y lamentablemente había fallecido. We call the Sheriff's Office because we were worried about him. We told them we had not seen him. He's for several days and ask them to check on his home. After several hours they were finally able to enter the house and sadly he had passed away.

0:58:34And en ese momento no rompió el corazón. Pero también nos enseñó algo muy importante. Nadie debería de pasar desapercibido, pero también hemos visto la belleza y la fuerza de lo que sucede cuando una comunidad permanece unida. But it also taught us something very important. No one should ever go unnoticed. But we have also witnessed the beauty and strength of what happens when a community stays united. Otro de mis experiencias. Una noche muy fría. Un niño de cinco años con autismo desapareció. Su mamá estaba desesperada. Lo buscamos por más de 30 minutos. Compartimos la información en nuestro grupo de comunitario. Y en cuestión de minutos vecinos comenzaron a salir de sus casas con lámparas en manos. Niños en bicicletas, scooters. También se unieron a la búsqueda. Recorriendo las calles y llamando por su nombre. The other experience I wanted to share is that one very cold night, a five - year - old boy with autism when missing. His mother was desperate. We search for him for more than 30 minutes. We share the information in our community group. And within minutes, neighbors become coming out of their homes carrying flashlights. Children on bicycles and scooters also joined the search. Riding through the streets and calling out his name. Hasta que de repente escuchamos un grito a lo lejos. Aquí está el niño, el pequeño estaba

1:00:15sano y salvo. Los oficiales de los sheriffs que respondieron esa noche nos dijeron algo que jamás voy a olvidar. Que era hermoso, era una comunidad tan linda y tan comprometida con nosotros. Eso es San Lázaro. From the distance. We found the boy. The little boy was safe. The sheriff's deputies who responded that nine told us something, I will never forget. That it was beautiful to witness a community so united and so committed to one another. That is San Lázaro. Salazar es un lugar donde si alguien desaparece, la gente lo nota. Donde si alguien se pierde los vecinos salen a buscarlos. Donde nadie debería de sufrir en soledad. Hoy hemos venido a pedirle su apoyo para preservar nuestra comunidad y ayudarnos a adquirir nuestro parque. Porque San Lázaro no es solamente un lugar donde vivimos. Es una comunidad construida sobre cuidado, dignidad, protección y amor que merece continuar para las futuras generaciones. Simplemente queremos la oportunidad de preservar el lugar que tantas familias y niños y residentes de la tercera edad llaman hogar. Thank you so much. And your time is up. The whole six minutes is up. So we'll just stop right there. And thank you, because I cut people off. Sorry about that. Thank you. And luckily we both understood. Um, so with that, we are out of time this morning. I really appreciate

1:01:44everybody's comments and thank you very much. And you can email us if you weren't able to get through. And there are other opportunities for comment at our, um, open houses and at our public comment periods and town halls. And so with that, we are adjourned. What's your. Life?