Transcript

0:00:25Commissioners, are you ready? Yes, we are, thank you. Thank you. And we're recording. Good morning. Today is March 24th, 2026. This is a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Boulder County. We have commissioners Stolzman and Levy present and Commissioner Locumin is excused. We will start with an item to note for the record, and that is a resignation from the Representative for the Town of Erie on the Resource Conservation Advisory Board. And we will move on to item five where we will sit as the Boulder County Housing Authority Board of Directors, and we have one item on our consent agenda. Move approval of the Housing Authority Consent Agenda. Second, all in favor. Aye. Now we will sit as the Eldorado Springs Public Improvement District Board of Directors, and we have. This is a consent item. I will move approval of the Public Improvement District, consent agenda. And I second that, all in favor. Aye.

0:01:35Now we will sit as the Board of County Commissioners of Boulder County for the consent agenda item 7A through K. I move approval of the Board of County Commissioners consented agenda. Second, all in favor. Aye. Aye. Now we're now. We will sit as the Board of County Commissioners continue to sit as the Board of County Commissioners. We'll have a discussion item. And Robin, so nice of you to join us. Good morning, Commissioners. What are we doing? Robin Valdez with Commissioner's Office, and we have. Agenda item is the Board of Review. This board currently has five vacancies. We did have a reappointment request from Steven Titus as general contractor for Representative for this board for your consideration. Okay, thank you. Any discussion or questions? I have none, thank you. Nor do I. I move approval of.

0:02:48Steven Titus. And I second that motion, all in favor. Okay, we will now look at appointments to the Fire Code Review Committee. Thank you, Commissioners. committee has three vacancies, and we received two reappointment requests. Those came from Pat Noes and Michelle Kelly applying for members at large. For your consideration. Okay, thank you very much. So we only had the reappointment request. We had no additional applications. Okay, thank you. Any questions or discussion? I have none, thank you. Nor do I. I move approval of the commission appointments. And I second that all in favor. We now move on to the Parks and Open's Face Advisory Committee. No shortage of applicants here. Thank you, Commissioners. This particular board has five vacancies, and we had four reappointment requests. Those came from Carol Beyerle, Derek Turner, Anthony Lewis, and Christine Johnson for all members of large. And then we had. Then we had nine new applicants that came in. And the new applicants are Ariel Barberry Aqib Samantha City. Deborah Foot, Jeff Adi. Or Odd. And then it's Gallagher Ring instead of Ring Galler. Yeah, we established that.

0:04:43Lauren Kelso, Robert UKley, David Drummond, and John Barbers. There was one applicant who withdrew their nomination prior to the interviews, which you had an opportunity to interview all applicants. And I bring those forward to you. Would you like me to go through some recommendations or not? That were forwarded. Something happened to entertain them. Received recommendations from Heidi Wagner. The current interim, Executive Director for the Parks and Open Space Department. And those were for reappointment of Carol Beyerley and Anthony Lewis. And then. Ariel Barberi ACHub, Samantha Cidli, Jeff Odd Gallagher Ring, and Lauren Kelso. Those are more than the five seeds did. That we have available. Yeah. But for your consideration as well. Okay, well, thank you. It's always good to get input from the folks that work with the committee. And, but we will exercise our prerogative and make the appointments that we think are appropriate, but we do appreciate that, and we appreciate your work in reviewing all of this and scheduling all of the interviews that we held. Um, Commissioner Stolzman, I was thinking maybe what we would first do is take up the reappointment requests and consider those, and then move on.

0:06:39Then we'll know how many openings we have for new applicants. Yeah. That seems like a great approach. Okay. Just in general, I just want to say the applicants are of such high quality, and we have such an amazing community that's willing to volunteer their time to put in all this effort to make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. And we really cannot go wrong. Unfortunately, we only have five spaces for, you know, a dozen or so people. So, um, we are going to have to say no to some folks, but we do. And Commissioner Levy always makes a good point of encouraging people during the interviews to please reapply and continue to stay engaged in other ways, um, because they're really fantastic applicants. That is true. And I, and yes, I had a hard time actually reviewing my notes and deciding what I wanted to do. Uh, with this, my thought on the reappointment requests was, and I didn't, did you, um, did you say what you wanted to do with those? So there are two candidates that I felt rose above the rest, one as a reappointment request. One is a new applicant.

0:07:49But they're all really great candidates. And so I, it can work any number of ways for me. And I can be pretty flexible. We almost have too many decisions, too many choices. Well, what I found, so I generally really like to reappoint people who have served well in our eligible for reappointment. Um, you reward folks that have really been doing a good job and let them continue. Um, however, I felt with, we had so many really great new applicants, uh, and I thought maybe it was time to, to bring some new voices forward, uh, but of the reappointment requests, I really appreciated the input of, uh, Carol Byrli and Kristen Johnson. And while I definitely appreciated Derek Turner and Anthony Lewis, uh, a lot in the service that they have provided, I felt that we could bring some, some new folks forward maybe that, um, that could bring some different perspective. I think that makes sense. And I support that. Thank you. I appreciate that.

0:09:00And I, um, why don't we not vote? Let's, let's see if we can get a sleep. Yeah. That sounds great. Okay. Um, from the new applicants, one, I would love to just elevate to discuss. And again, they're all really great candidates. And this is very hard. Um, but I thought Lauren Kelso, um, had really excellent responses to the questions that we asked. And then, um, her work in the community with growing gardens seems really relevant and like a good outreach point, um, to further the efforts of the board. So that seemed like a good candidate to me. And she was one that I had identified as well. So that's good. I would, I would happily support putting her into, uh, one of the spots. Um, I'll maybe go ahead and suggest another, um, and that was Jeff, Adi. That sounds great also. So that's good.

0:09:57Thank you. We're moving along quite well. And we have one more. And I have the next tier on my list is very tough. And so I don't, there's, you know, there's a lot of candidates that fell that I think would do a great job also. And so I think it's about building out the board so that they can function well together. But I don't have super strong feelings. If you have another one that you felt really strongly about, not that I felt strongly about, but as I sort of did my own scoring, um, here, I had, uh, I had several that I could put into the last spot and I felt aerial barbiery agib was slightly, um, above the others. That is in this grouping for me. So I will, I support that as well.

0:10:48So we have, I believe Carol, Christine, Ariel, Lauren and Jeff. That's what I Count as well. Were you able to keep track of that? All right. Then, um, can you put that? I will move approval of the five candidates just stated. And I second that motion all in favor. Bye. Thank you, Mr. Nice. Excellent. Well done. Thank you. Um, the next and just if it's a, if it's a, if it's all right for a point of privilege, just one more. Thanks from us all because every single person that put their name in was fantastic and would do a great job. And so please do stay engaged. Yeah. Um, thank you for saying that. And we now come to 8d, which is, um, uh, Kaylee. Thank you, um, to authorize, um, uh, DC - 26 - 0002 to work on accessory dwelling units. Tell us what you have in mind. Hi, this is Kaylee Burn Community Planning Permitting. Um, here to request authorization for a text amendment to the Boulder Countyland use code, um, to explore options for updating the existing article for dash 516H accessory dwelling regulations and make other revisions to the CODAS necessary to implement those changes. Um, there was a previous Code update DC - 22003, which was the Martial Fire Recovery Accessory Dwelling Text Amendment that created the disaster recovery units

0:12:28for properties that were damaged and destroyed by Marshall Fire, which that code update supported a broader exploration of accessory dualings in the county in a future Code update. So that's kind of what brought us here. There are some initial ideas that we offered in the authorization memo. So, um, staff is just looking for some direction if the Board has it on which ideas, any, if all of them, um, we should look to explore, um, in the Code update, um, and which ones maybe we should prioritize, um, depending on the direction we receive from the board, um, to pursue summer all the ideas, the timeline for the code update, um, might need to get extended or separated into multiple dockets to appropriately research and develop those concepts. Thank you. Um, thank you. So are you, I know you're looking for just authorization to proceed.

0:13:38Are you looking for any direction at this point. How to proceed. And what, what to put on the table? Are we going to have that conversation at a future time. If the board has direction for us today on the options that were in the memo, um, if there's a priority list of ideas that you would want us to explore or if there's only select ideas that you would want us to explore, that would be, um, great direction to get today. Um, if possible. Okay. Um, I, it's a shame that we don't have Commissioner Lochimin here for this discussion because I know this is something she's been very interested in for a number of years, but we may be what we can do is just, if we have some thoughts at this time, we can share them with the understanding that we really need to have a much fuller conversation at the outset of the project.

0:14:35To get you pointed in the right direction. Commissioner Stolzman, did you have anything that you wanted to share now? Certainly. So, um, I think the first bulleted area around site specific standards make sense to explore. So this would be things that are like access to water and sewer service transit access proximity municipalities. I think that exploring that bullet makes a tremendous amount of sense. Um, so that we don't just contribute to sprawl and create, um, additional density where we don't have services and that would be very costly to add, um, government services too. So I think that first bullet makes a tremendous amount of sense to understand. And then the second bullet regulatory approaches, uh, where there are attached to principal structures and looking at like if you have floor area left on your lot that you could use that toward it, it's like that bullet also makes sense to me. I'm interested in the third bullet that you put, uh, but I don't have, it doesn't immediately come to mind how that would work.

0:15:36But I'm interested to learn more about that through the exploration process. So all three that you have listed out there makes sense to me one additional thing that I would like to add in the exploration for consideration is a process that, um, very predictable and understandable so that it's clear. I think the misunderstanding of the current process. And there are many people that I think are eligible to have, uh, to build an accessory dwelling unit if they would want to and come through the process, but they don't understand it. And so I think just a simpler process that's more clear and less reliant on like an annual attestation of your, you know, familial status or your work status or any of those types of things, just making it more cut and dry, I think would be a positive so people can really understand what they can and can't do. Okay. Those are my thoughts. Yeah.

0:16:29And I think I, um, quite aligned with the thoughts that you've, um, expressed already. I think it's, I think it's worth maybe just a little bit of exploration around an affordable housing program. That we, that we might have. But I, I suspect it's going to end up being maybe more hassle than it's worth. And, um, because we'd have to create something new with eligibility and tracking. And I don't know that. For people who might want to undertake the project of an ADU rather than having the additional regulatory burden of having to be affordable and all of all that that tales may, may act as a deterrent. So that's not a strong thing for me. Um, I, what I think is really important to the whole project is to identify really what is the problem we're trying to solve at the outset. So we, we know, you know, what we're trying to do. And are we trying to have more homes in unincorporated Boulder County so that there are more places for people to live in unincorporated Boulder County? Do we think that this is some component of the affordability issue overall. You know, what are, what is it we're trying to achieve? And this is not a fault of the memo or anything. It's really, it's, it's something that I think we need to figure

0:18:18out at the outset is what is it we want to do. I know a lot of people want to have ADUs and maybe they want to have them to supplement their income so they can afford their home. Um, you know, maybe it's because they want to have a family member live on the property, but that they don't really fit within the family caregiver constraints. So I think this is just a discussion for the three of us to have together with you, uh, on what would, what would we really be aiming at here? Because I think, you know, for all the years that the goal of our comprehensive plan has been to, um, direct additional development into municipalities, you know, this would not be consistent with that. So why would we change course? Um, and I think we would need to really have a clear reason to do it. And I'm, I'm willing to entertain that.

0:19:18I just at this point, we've each kind of said different things about ADUs over, you know, the period of time. I'll just say one more thing. And that is, you know, what you were saying about predictability and, you know, how to move forward. Depending on where we'd land, for all of those who have a specific ADU for a specific purpose, if they would qualify, you know, if they would then be able to have it for other purposes and not be constrained, then I would want to have a process for them to have that because I wouldn't want, some of them, you know, we put in the resolution that if they don't continue to meet this criteria, they have to decommission it. So that's kind of obvious. I think you bring up some really good points.

0:20:07So there are some people that will say it helps with affordability. I have not seen any evidence of that. Like if you look at Denver and the studies that they've done around where they've added density, it has made the underlying land values go up and property values go up. So I, you know, I personally have not seen evidence that supports that. Although planners love to like write articles about it and things like that. It's just, I have not seen anything that supports that. I mean, it would mean that Manhattan was the most affordable place on earth. And it's not, um, so I do, I really appreciate what you're saying. I guess my question and maybe we can't answer it today without a full, um, complement of commissioners. But if we're not, if we don't think that it's appropriate to densify areas that don't have access to transit and those types of things, like then why would we move forward with authorizing it? Like, so I mean, I think that that's. A, I think that that's fine. If there's not been any evidence presented. That we should move away from encouraging development to happen in municipalities and that densification should happen near transit stops and where the access to services, why would we spend staff time studying this if we're not going to do it? I

0:21:17know that's, that's the fundamental question. And I, I agree with you that I don't think it is a solution to the affordability issue that we have. Um, these things are going to be expensive to build. Um, although I think there's potential with modular construction and things like that, they will be rentals. Um, no problem. I'm not concerned about that. But they, and I, well, I think back, maybe you're thinking the same thing. Um, Council Member Flynn and Denver, um, yeah, cited, uh, just work that he did looking at the underlying property values of the properties that have ADOs. And that value goes up. So for a future owner, they realize more value and they can get to rental income. And I think it does provide probably an affordable place for a person to live. You know, little A, affordable, not capital A. I think it's quite likely. So this is where I think, you know, what is the goal. Here is important. And I take your point. Why would we proceed if we actually don't support, you know, deviating from the policy that we've had for a long time. I think it's worth exploring. And what I've always said about this is I'm willing to entertain it with pretty tight parameters. And because I do think it provides hopefully a relative, affordable, relatively affordable rental

0:23:04option. On property that's already developed. In certain parts of the county. So, um, I think with, uh, you know, with your points around specific sightings, standards, um, I don't, I guess I'd have to reserve for future consideration whether I care whether it's attached or detached or new floor area or conversion. I don't know that I really have strong feelings about that, but I'm interested in hearing more about it. So yeah, I mean, I think we should, I think we should go forward and explore it. And, um, but be prepared to say, you know, we gave this thorough consideration. And we actually find that we don't want to change our policy. I think that makes sense. I, I. I definitely think, um, having access to water and sewer service is pretty important. Um, so I guess I would just put an emphasis on that. Yeah. Yeah.

0:24:09And staying out of hazard areas and I assume that would include, uh, mountain, you know, the anything that is in the mountains. Cause not, not just the wildfire risk. We don't need to put more people up in the mountains, but there's also just, um, the evacuation opportunities up there if there were to be a fire or a flood. So I would want to limit this to the planes. However, we define that. That makes sense to me as well. So, okay. Well, I think we've had a little discussion that's hopefully been helpful. And, um, I think there's a number for this docket. Yeah. It's right on the screen. I'm happy to authorize request DC 26002 with the direction that the commissioners have given this morning. Okay. Second. All in favor. Aye. Aye. Okay. Thank you, Kaylee.

0:25:09And I look forward to seeing what you produce. But let's do schedule something with the three of us pretty soon to get a little fuller discussion. Okay. Thank you. And we next have confirmation of executive session topics. Good morning, commissioners. Natalie Spring. It commissioners deputy for the record. I'm here to confirm that the executive session topics that were noticed at the March 10th, 2026 regular business meeting of the board, we're discussed as scheduled. I'm happy to take us to item 10A. Great. Um, you'll be seated as the Board of County Commissioners for this item. Commissioners, I'm here to request authorization for the Board of County Commissioners to go into Executive Session on Tuesday, March 24th at 3 p. m. pursuant to CRS 24 - 6 - 402 subsection 4E. Instructions to negotiators to discuss the collective bargaining agreement with the Boulder County employees union. Move approval. Second. All in favor. Aye. Thank you commissioners. And then I'm going to make a friendly amendment to item 10B. But first I'm going to start in requests that you sit as the Boulder County Housing Authority Board for this item. Um, I'm here to request that the BCHA Executive Board goes into executive session on. And I apologize.

0:26:41I didn't have the date up. Looks like Wednesday, March 25th at 1 p. m. This would be on Tuesday, March 31st at 2 p. m. Pursuant to CRS 24 - 6 - 402 subsection 4E. Which encompasses determining positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, developing strategy for negotiations and instructions to negotiations to discuss three areas at Willoughby Corner, which are water payments, City Approval of PUD amendments and relative timeline deed restrictions on home ownership union. Thank you. Uh, sitting as a housing authority director, I move approval stated. I second that, and I'm all excited to have for that session all in favor. Hi. Thank you, commissioners. And then we may have another topic from our county attorney who's joining us this morning. And if, uh, we don't, I might request a brief recess. Okay. Yes. Commissioner's been Roman County attorney. We do have, um, a topic or two that I would like to have you notice. Um, for Wednesday, but I have, um, to figure it out. If you can just give me five minutes to do that. Okay. We will be in recess until 10. 05. Thank you. Commissioners, are you ready? Yes, we are. Thank you so much. Whether our county attorney is. And we are recording. All right, we're back from our recess and we have an additional executive

0:28:29session to authorize. Yes, commissioner's been froman county attorney. I would ask that you authorize an executive session. To be held on Wednesday, March 25th at one o'clock. That would be pursuant to CRS 2464024E, which is instructions to negotiators. And that would be concerning an intergovernmental agreement between the Board of County Commissioners and the Eldorado Springs Public Improvement District Board addressing management of the Elder Out of Springs Wastewater Treatment Facility. Move approval. Second, all in favor. Aye. Just a question. So this is an executive session for the Board of County Commission or is, do we also need to have an execution as the board of the lid? Apparently not. Okay. All right, good. Thank you. All right, then that brings us, thank you for that. Brings us to the end of our business meeting agenda, and we will now have our monthly report from the head start. Director, and we have Akane Ogren with us. Good morning. Thank you for being here. Good morning, Commissioners. Akani Ogren, Division Manager for Boulder County had to start. And I have the report. Okay. So first item meal service.

0:29:57We are ticking right along. Data for February 5, 469 meals delivered 4, 258 meals served. BVSD invoice for meals at 15, 72338. The CACFP reimbursement based on attendance of students at 12, 41502 with a remaining cost to Boulder County had start of 3, 308, 36. The average between August and February at 3, 615, 84. And that is the February data is based on attendance. And so below an item two, 17 days of school total in February with average attendance in Lafayette at 83 percent. Boulder at 86 percent Mapleton Y ambulito. You can see again that dip and then rise, which is good news. Moving to program enrollment, we are still at 109. Just normal cycles of drop ads. And our family advocates work all the time at filling that slot. Can't seem to keep up with the drop ads. And there's that famous straight line right across our months at 109 through currently March. Can I have a question about that? Sure, is it the same slot that's open throughout all these months? Or is it different slot? No, it ping pong sites and classrooms. And so, you know, we'll have more of a wait list in Lafayette or more of a wait list and boulder and they're constantly accessing that wait list depending on where that slot is moving

0:32:02to. Okay. So it's not that there's a location where there's one less, it's sort of been rotating around different. And I know we've talked in the past about the danger of losing funding for a slot if we're, but we just haven't won opening is not correct. We have to maintain at least 106 before there's a danger of funding lost. Okay. Yes. So we are, we're safe there. Um, I am, I just added in bullet four additional data points, um, uh, of note, benefits are experiencing homelessness learners with Spanish as the predominant home language. Um, and, um, positive final bullet is that the, uh, our program maintains a 94 percent retention rate, which reflects our strong and sustained family engagement and relationships that we build with those families. That's great. I also have a question here. Sure. Just on the snap benefits, uh, what, what is the upper income limit for headstart eligibility.

0:33:31Do you know offhand? I don't want to give you the incorrect percentage. So can I get back to you on that particular? Yeah. Or next meeting is fine. I'm just, I would have thought that they were, that we'd have practically a hundred percent eligibility for SNAP. And so I would be curious if we have people who are eligible but aren't enrolled and whether, you know, whether they, um, need assistance getting enrolled or need to be aware of their eligibility. So that it's just a curiosity about whether that might be the case. It is a good question and one that we've actually been processing ourselves internally as far as our eligibility requirements. Um, and how we assess points and we're currently working with the regional office to expand our outreach to other parts of our community.

0:34:22Um, you know, for example, foster care families and really working closely with, um, the foster networks and also student housing student housing opportunities through CU. Um, and accessing that particular community as well to let them know that they are eligible for headstart, um, services. Um, and, and front range community college, other, other universities as well with students who have children. Yeah, that's great. And then along with that to make sure that everybody that's eligible for head start and enrolls also is evaluated or screened for any other benefits of them to be eligible for. Yes. Yes. Uh, we have TANF and SNAP and foster care homelessness. Those are all eligibility categories that we are trying to ensure that even intersections of those that we are directly outreaching to those communities. Great. Thanks. Okay. Um, so then just below the last bullet is families consistently access and receive, uh, Boulder County had start supporting referrals for employment opportunities, food, transportation and housing resources as well as emergency assistants and pathways toward long - term economic stability. And that a lot of times comes in the form of community partners who have trainings, um, and we are referring families to those or even offering up our sites to hold those trainings at our site so that they're more accessible to our families. This is a great addition. Thanks

0:35:53for including this. Yeah. Um, so number five, uh, bullet. After a comprehensive revision of all program financial spreadsheets, the updated graph below and I'll show that in a moment, um, reflects the most current revenue and expense projections indicating a projected surplus of approximately 20, 000 based on these updated projections, um, we do not anticipate the need to request additional funding from the BOCC during the second quarter and to close out the fiscal year. So that's great. Yeah. And there's an updated graph, excuse me, and you'll see a new line that has been added a yellow line, um, depicting the revenue as it comes in, uh, to our accounts. Great. Okay. Um, and then the final bullet ongoing monitoring and communication, um, as of March 19th. And this is actually current as of today also, uh, the NOFOS has not opened yet. We are still waiting for that. Again, we were informally told it could be May before that is open. So, uh, we're waiting. And then, um, the Buell Foundation grant Bull has indicated that unlike last year, partial funding reductions will not be issued.

0:37:12So in 2025, the Boulder County had start award was reduced by 50 percent. And so that means for 2026 applicants will either receive a full award or a denial, um, with notifications expected in April. And so we are waiting for that news. And it could be either or. Yeah. I guess, yeah, sort of jittery about that. Is there anything that we as the board can do to support your application? Is this an annual grant request? It is an annual grant request that funds, um, early childhood mental health supports for children and families in the program and for staff. Um, and partially funds our health services lead position. I don't know the answer to that question. Um, this was just a phone call that I received after having submitted the application. You know, they, the bill, representative did say that, you know, they have been funding us for many, many years. And they just have an overwhelming number of applications, um, and don't have the funding to award for every single application. And, um, they appreciate our work. And we will find out in April. Okay.

0:38:32Well, if you think a letter from the county commissioners in support of your grant request would be helpful. Please let us know. Okay. I'm sure we're happy to do that. Thank you. Okay. And that is the end of my month's lay report for month. Good. Thank you Akane. Any questions, comments? I just, I think you do such a great job and the team does such a great job. It's always a wonderful pleasure to get to see your report and hear the updates on the school. It is funny to see that flat line because it looks like nothing has happened, but it actually represents quite a lot of work of, um, getting people enrolled and then having people leave the program. And so even though it just looks consistent, it is like a ton of things happening behind the scenes. Yes. Duck feet underwater. Exactly. Yeah.

0:39:19I love that metaphor. Yeah. Keep it going. You guys are doing great. Thank you so much. Yeah. No, yeah. You are doing great. And, um, and making a big difference in the lives of the families that you serve. So thank you for coming to us. And, um, I'll let you get back to your work. And that does bring us to the end of our, uh, agenda here as the board of county commissioners. We have no further items on our public meeting agenda. So we will be adjourned. Thank you.