Boulder County Commissioners · Meetings
Business Meeting
September 29, 2026 · Regular meeting
Commissioners backed an $11.2 million-plus grant to help residents buy San Lazaro mobile home park, then heard BCHA and emergency tax updates.
The commissioners reviewed a letter of intent to support residents buying the San Lazaro mobile home park. They agreed to the resident-requested amount, with a preference for a grant through the Boulder County Housing Authority instead of a loan. They authorized two executive sessions for September 30, one on the Suncor Supreme Court case and one on collective bargaining. Sitting as the housing authority board, they heard one public comment about a terminated housing voucher, then staff updates on HUD vouchers, the Willoughby Corner project, vacancies and the 2027 budget. In the afternoon work session, staff presented the emergency services sales tax grant program, and commissioners discussed larger multi-year and capital grants.
Summarized by a language model from the meeting transcript.
- 5 votes
- 21 agenda items
- 1 public comment speakers
Votes
Agenda
Call to Order
9:30 a.m. Morning Session
Business Meeting
Items to Note for the Record
Housing Authority Consent Items (Sitting as the Boulder County Housing Authority Board of Directors)
- 5Housing Authority Consent Items (Sitting as the Boulder County Housing Authority Board of Directors)▶ 0:01:08
Commissioners' Consent Items
- 6.aAssessor's Office - Waiver of Bid Requirements for Just Appraised, Inc.
- 6.bAssessor's Office - Waiver of Bid Requirements for Just Appraised, Inc., Front Desk Voice Expansion.
- 6.cCommunity Services - Contract with Boulder Valley School District for Mental and Behavioral Health Tax Direct Funding
- 6.dCounty Administrator's Office - Longmont Urban Renewal Authority Tax Increment Funding Agreement
- 6.eCounty Attorney's Office - McWhinney Earthwork & Barn
- 6.fCounty Attorney's Office - Proposed Policy 6.91 – County Employee Boards and Committees
- 6.gHuman Resources - Marathon Health Bid Waiver
- 6.hOffice of Financial Management - SOQ-286-26 Award Recommendation
- 6.iPublic Works - Easement Agreement with the City of Longmont for EV Charging
Commissioners' Discussion Items
- Staff presented a letter of intent to support a resident purchase of the San Lazaro mobile home park. Commissioners favored a grant through the Housing Authority from affordable housing tax funds, removed loan language, and supported the resident-requested amount of about $11.2 million.passed 3-0 Vote details
Confirmation of Executive Session Topics
- Executive session topics were confirmed.
Authorizations for Executive Sessions
- Commissioners authorized a September 30 executive session on the Suncor Energy Supreme Court case.passed 3-0 Vote details
- Commissioners authorized a September 30 executive session on collective bargaining negotiations with the county employees union.passed 3-0 Vote details
Public Hearing of the Boulder County Housing Authority (Sitting as the Boulder County Housing Authority Board of Directors)
- 10Public Hearing of the Boulder County Housing Authority (Sitting as the Boulder County Housing Authority Board of Directors)▶ 0:14:44After a recess, the board sat as the Housing Authority board. One resident advocate described a voucher and lease termination after a disputed drug test. Staff then gave director, HUD voucher, development, operations and 2027 budget updates.
1:00 p.m. Afternoon Session
- In the work session, staff presented the emergency services sales tax grant program, its results, and feedback on possible changes such as larger multi-year awards and an inflation cushion.
Commissioners' Office - Emergency Services Sales and Use Tax and Grant Program
Conversations by topic
Housing and land use
Staff said the city of Boulder wants to support the San Lazaro resident purchase but has given no amount. The residents' co-op is pursuing state funding and has hired counsel, and the community foundation remains involved. Commissioners Levy and Loachamin preferred a grant through the Housing Authority funded by affordable housing taxes, and Stolzmann asked to drop loan language so other financing is not impaired. They agreed on the original resident request of about $11.2 million.
“I guess I'll just express my preference that it be in the form of a grant”
On a Lafayette-area project with Louisville fee waivers, Stolzmann said Louisville already owes the county over a million dollars and asked for binding intergovernmental agreements with dates. She wanted the unit count stated as 17 rather than 14 to 17 and the Housing Authority's land value counted as a public contribution, about three million dollars in total. Loachamin and Levy supported firming up the agreements, and staff said they are working on an MOU.
“it's important that we clearly identify all the public contribution that goes into these units”
Housing staff said HUD has not issued guidance on tenant protection vouchers for emergency housing voucher households under lease as of September 30, with transition expected December 31. BCHA applied for HUD shortfall funding and is meeting with Boulder Housing Partners about backup options. Staff also reported vacancy work, Willoughby Corner design changes, and a 2027 deficit of about $206,000 before capital, with a county subsidy request of about $1.5 million.
County budget and services
Housing Authority staff presented 2027 budget figures: a roughly $206,000 operating deficit before capital projects and a capital subsidy portion of about $1.29 million, totaling about $1.5 million from the county. They noted the Aspen Ridge and Josephine Commons properties offset BCHA's structural deficits. Commissioners asked for property age and renovation history and staff confirmed this would come back during the budget session.
Public safety
Staff presented the emergency services sales tax grant program: six rounds since 2023 have awarded $6.5 million, about $5 million to fire districts and $1.5 million to search and rescue. The largest categories were radios and communications at about $2 million, then vehicles, station upgrades and life-saving equipment. Examples included dual-band radios, a fixed-wing drone for Boulder Emergency Squad and a new Hygiene fire station.
Commissioners discussed stakeholder ideas for larger multi-year and capital grants. Loachamin wanted proposals from attorneys and finance staff and a survey to see how widely the idea is held. Stolzmann said fire districts own their capital and they should not open the door broadly, but a consensus request from districts and the sheriff, such as a shared helicopter, could be brought forward by letter.
“I don't think we should just open the door wide open quite yet.”