Boulder County Commissioners · Meetings
Business Meeting
November 5, 2026 · Regular meeting
Commissioners named Paul Janipor sole County Administrator finalist, sunset the cannabis energy fee, and set 2027 budget direction.
The board named Paul Janipor, the county's IT director, as the sole finalist for County Administrator. A 14 day community feedback period follows, using a Formstack survey. In the afternoon, the board gave direction on the 2027 budget. General fund reductions stand at about $13.1 million, and the board restored the $60,500 Youth Corps cut and reduced the economic vitality grant cut by $35,000. Roughly two hours of the morning comment period went to the planned aerial spraying of indaziflam herbicide on open space at Red Hill, with speakers asking for a pause. The board adopted Resolution 2026-0070 by 2-0 (Commissioner Stolzmann was excused), ending the cannabis energy impact offset fund fee and moving marijuana licenses to two year terms.
Summarized by a language model from the meeting transcript.
- 3 votes
- 10 agenda items
- 13 public comment speakers
Votes
Agenda
Call to Order
9:00 a.m. Morning Session
Business Meeting
Commissioners' Consent Items
- The board approved the two consent items by voice vote.
- 4.aCounty Attorney's Office - Bowman House
- 4.bCounty Attorney's Office - Colorado Lookout LLC Use of Community Significance
Commissioners' Discussion Items
- The board named Paul Janipor as the sole County Administrator finalist and chose a Formstack survey for 14 days of community feedback.
Confirmation of Executive Session Topics
- Staff confirmed that the executive session topics noticed on October 27 were discussed as scheduled.
General Public Comment Session
- Most speakers urged a pause on indaziflam spraying on open space. Others raised a mobile home park purchase, septic rules for vacation rentals, and an energy retrofit loan.
Public Hearing on Energy Impact Offset Fund and Marijuana Regulations Amendments
- Staff proposed ending the cannabis energy impact offset fee, keeping the fund open to 2030, moving to two year licenses, and removing assessor and treasurer referrals. One cultivator supported it. The board approved it 2-0.
1:00 p.m. Afternoon Session
- Staff reviewed the 2027 budget fund by fund. The board gave direction on general fund reductions and agreed to adopt the budget on December 8.
Conversations by topic
County governance
Deputy Natalie Springett described the recruitment: 31 qualified applicants, 12 first round interviews, 2 semifinalists interviewed in person on October 29. Naming a finalist starts a 14 day wait under Colorado law before an offer. All three commissioners backed Paul Janipor, the county's IT director, who started in housing and human services. They chose a Formstack survey with a clipped interview recording, and the feedback returns to a business meeting after 14 days.
“I am fully in support of bringing Paul and Janipor forward as our soul finalist”
Open space, water, and drought
About ten speakers asked the board to pause or stop aerial and drone spraying of indaziflam on open space, especially Red Hill. They cited a recent City of Boulder study that the chemical stays in soil four or more years and cuts native seedling growth. They also raised wildlife, water, and farm volunteer concerns, and a lost district court case against the county. They proposed a grazing alternative and volunteer weed pulling. The commissioners did not respond.
“Please pause the spray and leave a positive legacy that supports life on Boulder County Lands and OpenSpace for years to come.”
County budget and services
Staff said general fund reductions total about $13.1 million, about $59,000 under the $13.2 million target, with $8.2 million from personnel and $4.8 million from operations. Three October 1 changes were agreed: cut $289,000 of public health transfer for communications, add $28,000 of assessor savings, and drop the $84,000 hazardous materials facility cut. Staff projected 2027 general fund revenue of $273.3 million and spending of $269.4 million, with fund balance rising to $105.4 million. Staff also noted union agreements costing $8.3 million and about $1.04 million for the police union.
“we haven't achieved the 7030 distribution”
Commissioner Loachamin asked to keep the total but move cuts toward the sheriff and district attorney budgets. Levy and Stolzmann declined, citing jail staffing, state mandates, and rising caseloads, and Stolzmann said the county administrator's office grew fastest. Loachamin then listed specific items. The board cut the economic vitality grant reduction from $75,000 to $40,000 and restored the $60,500 Youth Corps funding. It kept the commissioner grant cut ($50,000), the Circle of Honor cut ($30,000), racial equity training, and the hazardous materials and shuttle cuts. The Area Agency on Aging volunteer visitor cut of about $150,000 stays pending a talk with the director before the December 8 adoption.
“we can keep the number, but we're going to have to take a portion out of, um, DA's office and sheriff's office”
Staff walked through the remaining funds and got consensus with no objections. Levy questioned large fund balances in voter approved funds, including the $17.9 million IDD fund and $6.4 million in the health and human services fund. Staff will return on the dedicated resource fund reconciliation, the certificates of participation proceeds, and a construction update. Homelessness positions could not be moved to the housing tax fund per the County Attorney. Adoption is set for December 8 at 9:30 a.m.
“Our schedule budget adoption is December 8th at 9. 30 a. m.”
Downtown and the economy
Levy discussed the $75,000 economic vitality grants to the chambers of commerce and the Small Business Development Center. She said the county should not lead economic development but values the Latino chamber and the Boulder chamber's data work. Staff said the cut roughly halves the grant, and the board agreed to a $40,000 cut instead.
“I don't think that is our job”