Transcript

0:00:21All right, commissioners, are you ready? Yes, we are. And we are recording. When I see us. We're here for a meeting of the board of county commissioners in Boulder county. Today is Tuesday, November 4, 2025, and we're here at the third floor. Hearing room of the county courthouse at 1325 Pearl street in Boulder. I'm going to go ahead and call our business meeting to order and take us to number two, which is our 930 a. M. Business meeting. Move us to number three. Which is? Housing authority consent items, which means we'll be sitting now as the Boulder county housing authority. Board of directors on page six of the packet. I move approval of three a through three c. Second. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. And that? Takes us to item number four, which is commissioner's consent items, which means we'll. Be sitting back as the board of county commissioners, Boulder county, and we are moving to. Oh, go. Ahead. I just wondered if we could move for a. To the discussion agenda. Absolutely. I don't have an issue with that. So that would move.

0:01:29So then we'll have items for. E it looks like. For consent? Yes. Move approval as stated. Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you. And so we'll go to commissioner's discussion items item number five, and we'll do five a that's presented here first, and then we'll have a new five b, and that's. At page 57 of the packet. Five a is commissioner's office adoption of 2026. State legislative and budget principles and priorities. Good morning, commissioners. Mark Ruzn from the commissioner's office policy team and Cindy Copeland and I are pleased to be here this morning. On behalf of the policy team to present for your consideration Boulder. County's 2026 state legislative and budget priorities. We have a short presentation to give. This morning. The county's state legislative and budget priorities serve the key function of guiding and informing Boulder county state legislative advocacy work, including any positions the county will take on state legislation and the state budget. The principles and priorities before you this morning build from the work completed in past years and were developed. In consultation with the commissioners.

0:03:06County departments and staff, community partners and key stakeholders, including the members of our state legislative delegation, the principals and priorities have been updated to reflect outcomes from the General Assembly's 2025 regular and special sessions and to capture new policy priorities and needs that have emerged over the past year. As noted in the previous slide, the legislative principles guide the policy team and county staff in the development of the positions that the county takes on state legislation and the state budget. The principles speak to the values of the county organization and align closely with the commissioner's strategic priorities. The fourth principle, democracy, is new for 2026 and speaks to county support for policy that maintains and strengthens the democratic form of government in the United States. For example, as the federal government continues its attempts to weaken the fundamental tenets of democracy, Boulder county would support state legislation that creates state law to support. Basic democratic principles such as voting rights, LGBTQ plus rights and reproductive rights. The priorities proposed for 2026 will be the primary focus of the policy team's lobbying. Efforts during the legislative session, in short, introduced bills that touch on the priority areas that you see on this slide and the following slides will be prioritized over the hundreds of bills that.

0:04:37Will be introduced over the course of the legislative session. We'd like to take a moment. To highlight several of the proposed priorities for 2026. For example, in 2026, we are expecting legislation that will advance county language access priorities and support competency system reforms. Under. Oops, sorry. Under the energy, environment and sustainability priority area. A key legislative priority for 2026 will be on bill repayment legislation to facilitate energy efficiency. Electrification and renewable energy upgrades to buildings without upfront costs. Such legislation would make these solutions more accessible to homeowners and businesses. And the advancement of environmental. Justice continues to be a legislative priority for the county. In respect to financial and organizational stewardship, staff is recommending a legislative priority to improve and increase access to safety net services through operational and technology upgrades to the Colorado benefits management system and other state admin. Administer technology platforms and in respect to housing. We are expecting to see legislation that will look. To generate funding for affordable and workforce housing through fees or taxes on the use of housing for investment purposes and also vacant home taxes. Lastly is listed in the taxation and Finance policy area, a key theme for the 2026 legislative session will be consideration of policies to enhance a fiscal autonomy of county governments, for example, by granting counties with authority to collect excise taxes

0:06:20on products and services if approved by. Their voters. Moving to the state budget. As the commissioners know well, the state budget plays a critical role in your ability to meet local goals and priorities for serving the residents of Boulder county. Staff is proposing that the commissioners adopt these five state budget principles as asks of the state administration and general assembly. For example, when proposing programs, reforms and services that will be provided by county government, we ask that the General assembly provide adequate funding for the staffing and administrative costs associated with those efforts. Counties and the state are partners when it comes to meeting the needs of Coloradans in that collaborative approach must extend to funding. Advocating for county priorities in the state budget is a year round effort, and to begin organizing that work staff is recommending this initial set of 2026 state budget priorities that you see on the slide staff has been engaging with state departments through the development of the governor's budget.

0:07:25Which was released. This past Friday. And now that the work has been handed off to the General assembly and the joint budget committee. We will be engaging with the supplemental process all the way through the adoption of the long bill in March. We are expecting to come back to the commissioners with additional state budget priorities after we have had an opportunity. To thoroughly review the governor's budget proposal. In closing, the commissioners will be hosting the county state legislative delegation listed here for the county's. Annual legislative breakfast on November 19. We are excited to have the opportunity to work with them. All when those state legislature convenes on January 14. And the commissioners and staff will also be working closely with a long list of legislative partners and stakeholders, many of which you see listed on this slide. We will just note here that the leadership roles the commissioners play in the membership organizations in particular, is critical to amplifying the county's voice and influence at the capitol and. Ultimately making it more likely that we can successfully achieve the legislative and budget goals adopted by the board. Lastly, working with organizations that are county led by people of color and people who face discrimination provides opportunity to ensure that the county's legislative work is guided and informed by their direct experience. With that. Commissioners the

0:08:50policy team is asking for Commissioner adoption of the Boulder County 2026 state legislative and budget priorities. Cindy and I would be happy to take any questions the board may have. Thank you. Thank you both for the presentation. Any questions, commissioners? I don't have any questions, just a quick comment to thank you. For the work that you've put into this. I think it does a very good job of just reflecting the values. Of this board of county commissioners and Boulder county more broadly. And as you've noted, This is a statement of our principles and our priorities and addresses some of the legislation that. We anticipate will be introduced. And the nice thing about the way it's written is that? As other legislation comes along that we're not aware of. They come up until three days before the end of the session. We have something that we can point to to help guide the decisions that we're making. So I just want to express my thanks and appreciation, and I also think it is. Very important to have that principle in there about democracy. In this time in which we are seeing. The norms of what we've all expected. And accepted. In our constitution, challenged on a daily basis. And. Kind of illustrating the fact that so much of. Just the institutional principles. That we've come to

0:10:30rely on. Are really a matter of comedy. And respect. And not necessarily things. That are codified. In an enforceable way. And so I'm pleased to see us step up and begin. To assert some principles in that arena, so thank you. And I just had one question on the presentation. Thank you both. And I was just looking through the packet. The slides. So it was actually the slides versus what? Was in the memo ahead of time, and it was just a curiosity around one of the slides. Was. I don't know if you want to bring it up. That's great if. Not. It's okay too. I think it talked about memberships or I don't remember the title of it in regards to the organizations. I didn't see Mac on there. Our metro area county commissioners and as member organizations, but I didn't know if that was just because there isn't. A membership fee. Or just from an awareness, just putting. Into thought that perhaps commissioners will use this slide deck for other presentations, or you all will, as staff and conversation, so I just wanted to ask that question. Thank you, commissioner. We'll be sure to add Mac, metro Area county commissioners onto this slide. As you know, the matt. Has been dabbling a little bit more over the past few years in the legislative space, so

0:11:52it would be important to acknowledge that they may do so again in 2026. So we'll add that. Okay, it was just a curiosity. So no direction, but something to talk about too. Otherwise, that was it. Appreciate the work and the updated documents to present today. And I don't know if. Georgia, I'm wondering if you're looking for. An approval of that. Yeah. No. I was waiting to see if Commissioner Stolzman had any comments, so I move approval of five a second. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. And then. I'll correct myself for the record here on item. Four a, which is commissioner's consent items. I was suggesting we move it as five b. But I've always told here in the back that I don't need to make that change. And so the item is just four a and we're moving it for discussion. Good morning, commissioners.

0:12:46Natalie Spring, commissioner's deputy. For the record. I had not prepared a formal presentation on the first reading. Of the new proposed local minimum wage ordinance for an incorporated Boulder County. This item is coming forward to the commissioners in advance of the scheduled November 20 2nd reading, which will be a public hearing. And this is following the previous public hearing that the board of County Commissioners held in mid October. Where you all gave direction to staff to bring this forward for a first and second reading, so. I'm happy to take any questions or comments. Thank you, Natalie. Commissioner Kofman, thank you? Yes, I just had a few questions. This. Seemed to be a late addition to the packet, so I wondered a few things. Just when it was posted, where it was posted, and then I have a couple of questions about the detail in the ordinance itself. Thank you, Commissioner Stillsman, for those questions. It should not have been a late addition to the packet, so I do apologize if it wasn't. Previously posted. I did confirm that it was available more than 24 hours.

0:13:56In advance of today's meeting and even communicated that to some members of the public and letting them know exactly what page they would be able to find the language of the entire ordinance. So we did meet the business meeting notice requirements, and then if the board does pass this ordinance, today. We will be publishing this ordinance. In its entirety in the daily camera, and I will also be sharing the ordinance out with our local municipalities and chambers and notifying them of the hearing date. Should the board confirm that at today's business meeting. And that answers, I think, most of my questions. So is it typical that we wouldn't. Post the ordinance until second reading or before second reading, like we wouldn't normally post a first reading of an ordinance in the paper. Yes, Commissioner Stoltsman, that is accurate based on our interpretation of Colorado revised statute as it relates to ordinances. And then it just seemed odd to me that in posting the ordinance for first reading, it lists it as second. There's no staff memo or anything. There's just an ordinance in here, and it listed as a second rating in the ordinance that's posted, which just seemed different to me than other things, and I wondered what that was about. Oh, thank you.

0:15:11That's. Because the language that. You see starting on page 36 is the tentative ordinance language, which. Does include it as a second reading when it will be formally presented to the board on November 20 in that public hearing. And you'll also note there's not a corresponding ordinance. Number with that. So that would be the technicality reasons for that piece. And I think one of the last questions. Maybe not the last, but one of the last questions is on that same point, just. Around. What I've seen as a customary practice is that when the first reading sentence also sets the public hearing for the second reading, and I just don't see that in the packet. So if someone was following this, I don't know if all they did was read our business meeting. How they would know when the public hearing is. Oh, thank you for that feedback, Commissioner Stoltzman. That would be just a process cleanup. We do have. More steps required at this point that we will be taking in order to notify the public. Of the November 20 public hearing date following today.

0:16:23Thank you. You're welcome. Those are my questions. Thank you. Chair. Thank you. Levy. Yeah. Thank you. Just one follow up question on Commissioner stolen. 's last question around the date of the second reading. If that November 20 date. Is set and firm, and I realize things could change, but. Would it be appropriate for us? I guess this is the way I would expect this to happen. As well. Would it be appropriate for us today? To adopt this on first reading and. Set it for a date certain for second reading so that that is done on the record today. Commissioner Levy. Yes, I think that. That would be a fantastic way to approach this. Thank you both so much for the grace and conversation around setting for the date. Okay, thanks. And that would be November 20 at 09:00 a.m. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. And I didn't have any additional questions in regards to this piece of the process. I see the October 14 date noted in the ordinance for this first reading. So I don't have any additional questions, all right? I move that we adopt. On first reading. The ordinance in our packet.

0:17:49To establish a local minimum wage. And that we set it for public hearing on November 20 at 09:00 a.m. If I may, I just had a friendly amendment, and you can tell me. I heard you use the language of establishing, but I'm looking at. This document as an amendment of our current local minimum wage. And so, just from we've done the process of establishing, but this is for me, is just an amendment. Absolutely accept that in a friendly amendment. So there's a motion. And then I will second the motion that's presented. With the minor amendment. Commissioner stole my discussion. Thank you. Yeah, just a comment. I'll be voting against the motion today. I find the timing of lowering wages in the county to be just something I cannot stand idly by and support. People have lost access to food benefits. Rent is through the roof.

0:18:47People are about to lose significant portions of health care. These are literally the lowest paid workers in the unincorporated portions of the county, so I will not be voting to lower their wages at this time. Thank you. And we have a first and a second. All in favor? Aye. Any in opposition? No. Thank you. And so that will then move us to item. Six confirmation of executive session topics thank you, commissioners. Natalie Springt, commissioner's deputy for the record. I'm here to confirm that the executive session topics that were noticed at the October 28 2025. Regular business meeting of the board were discussed as scheduled. So I'm happy to move us. And this is just a note for the record, so I'm happy to. Move us to item seven. We have multiples, separate requests for authorization for executive session. Given that. Our standard business meeting next week will be used to recognize the Veterans Day holiday.

0:19:45So if you don't mind providing a vote on each separate item, that would be wonderful. Item seven a. I'm here to request authorization for the board of county Commissioners to go. Into executive session with county attorney Ben Pearlman pursuant to CRS 24. Six four two subsection. Four a real property issues regarding Boulder County's North Broadway complex at Broadway and Iris. On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 01:00 p.m. so. Moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. Thank you. And for item seven B, I'm here. To request authorization for the board of county commissioners to go into executive session with county attorney Ben Proman. Pursuant to CRS 24 6402, subsection four B, legal advice regarding El Dorado springs wastewater treatment plant and community implanting. Permitting stock at SPR 25 0017. Perkins Lance Editions and shop, located at 385 millionaire drive. On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 01:00 p.m. so moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. Thank you, commissioners. And for item seven, c, I'm requesting authorization for the board of county commissioners to go into executive session with County Attorney Ben Pearlman. On Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. pursuant to CRS 24.

0:21:05Six four two, subsection four. B. Legal advice regarding the potential creation of a stormwater utility enterprise. Okay, so moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. I hesitated. I can't anticipate what legal issues we may need legal advice on, but this. Is something we've discussed in our public administrative meetings. Pardon my pause. And commissioner Levy. It is both a PMI and space for legal advice separately. Sure. Okay, so I think I had two. I think we voted. You just didn't say yes or no, but. Oh, yes. Okay, thank you. All right. Thank you, commissioners. And item 7D. I'm here to request authorization for. The board of county commissioners to go into executive session with county Attorney Ben Pearlman pursuant to CRS 24 six four two, subsection four B, legal advice on Thursday, November 13, 2025 at. 11:00 a.m. regarding the El Dorado. Artesian Springs Inc. Versus Board of County Commissioners of Boulder County Court, case number 24 cv 350. So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye.

0:22:25And, commissioners, I appreciate you bearing with me. We're on item seven, eauthorization. I'm here to request authorization for the board of. County commissioners to go into executive session with county Attorney Ben Perlman pursuant to CRS 24. 6402, subsection four e. Instructions to negotiators regarding. The collective bargaining agreement with Boulder County Employees Union on Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. so moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And next, that'll take us to item eight, which is scheduling and communications. Good morning, commissioners. Matthew Ramos, clerk to the board. The public hearing on Riverside Cabins Lodge and boundary line adjustment. Which is the docket Su 23. Sc 24. Zero. Five. Which was originally scheduled for today, Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at 01:00 p.m. has been rescheduled to a date uncertain. Thank you. And that's just a. Note for the record. Thank you. And that moves us to item number eight b, community services. That runs proclamation. And it looked like maybe we had Nick Morgan and Joseph Westbrook.

0:24:00Morning, commissioners. My name is Nick Morgan. I'm an accredited veteran service officer with Boulder County. I'd like to start by thanking you for funding a third veteran service officer for our office at the end of last year. This is a great relief, as our caseload has only been rising as veterans needs increase and become more complex. A third position allows us to better meet the needs of Boulder county veterans and their families by allowing us to be more visible and accessible. Through outreach in the community. It helps us to connect with more veterans independence about benefits they've earned providing sustained financial outcomes as well as other unique services to the veteran community. So thank you. And as we know, not every military experience is positive. Many carry the invisible wounds of war veteran. Service officers.

0:24:52Instead of thanking veterans for the service with compulsory words, we get to thank them by providing tangible pillars of support while navigating VA disability compensation, housing assistance, health. Healthcare, education, benefits and more. Many veterans over the generations did not receive a warm welcome home and the work of vsos allows us to finally welcome home and put them at ease by supporting positive outcomes in their lives. What this looks like in practice is directing funds directly from the federal government directly into the hands. Of our veterans in our community. Needless to say, this is critically valuable at this point in our history. And here's an example. We had a veteran come to our office a couple of months ago, claiming that. They had been denied service connection for rare cancer. That falls under the presumptive conditions under the Pact Act. Well, we looked into the file and. We gathered evidence, submitted a supplemental claim to the VA for the service. For this presumptive cancer. We were able to get the veteran connected from 0% service. Connection all the way to 100%. Also, he received over $52,000 in back pay. And a substantial income moving forward to take care of himself while he's being treated. This also connects the veterans family with champ VA healthcare benefits. As well as in the worst case, if something happens. The

0:26:24family will be taken care of through dependent indemnity conversation, what we call Dic. Which is a pension the VA offers in the case. Of veteran passing from a service connected condition. And without us working together with this veteran, they would have never gotten this kind of outcome, which is a sustained financial outcome, among other things. Moving forward. So I just want to share that and as an example of what we're able to do in the community, Joseph. Thanks, Nick. Morning. Commissioner. Name is Joseph Westbrook. You may want to move the microphone up just a little bit. Thank you. Thank you, commissioner. My name is Joseph Westbrook, and just to share a story like my colleague Nick did. I had a similar veteran who I assisted. With a complex appeal that went to the Board of Veterans Appeals. This veteran was awarded. His first back check was over $100,000. His second back check was, I believe, $82,000. Huge win for not only him, that was life changing money that assisted him and his family. In addition to the other things, as far as the health care that him and his family had access to that they were denied for quite some years. Just the complexity that Nick spoke of. It was interesting that. It took me, I want to say maybe two months to convince

0:27:54this veteran to spend those funds. Just because. Of his apprehension of all the things that he had went through. He was so concerned that these funds were going to be taken away from him. That's just my example of what we do. And how it's impacted our veterans in our county. Your boater. County vsos have been veterans for over 20 years. Both of us have navigated. A variety of complex. Systems of services for veterans over that time. It's withdrawal to this work. We want veterans to have an easier, more thoughtful and overall and more positive, positive experience than we have had. It can be exceedingly difficult for veterans to obtain benefits to which they are entitled from the VA. We are here to support veterans throughout their disability claims process. And more complicated appeals process. War is hell and we believe the experience after the welcome home in connection to service should not be. This is personal for us. And finally. Admits other hurdles which. We constantly navigate. There are clear, documented racial and gender inequities and disabilities and pension claims approval rates from the department.

0:29:22Of Veterans Affairs. It is our mission to serve veterans of color, women veterans. And other underserved military veterans in a way that reduces this inequity within the systems. Thank you, commissioners. Thank you, Nick and Jessica, for the presentation. We're going to go ahead and read the proclamation. Proclamation recognizing Boulder County's veterans and their families. Boulder county is home to over 14,000 active duty reservists and veterans service members who make significant contributions to our community. Each day, our armed forces members and their families have made selfless sacrifices defending freedom. Democracy and security for our country. Boulder county is grateful towards and honors the commitment and courage of the many people in Boulder county. Who have served and are serving our nation. Boulder county and our community partners work to support all veterans as they transition to civilian life, end to end veteran homelessness in our community and. Thank you for sharing more about the work that you do. It's so important to the people of Boulder county. Boulder County's veteran Service offices provide a critical role in assisting veterans and their families in obtaining benefits and services earned through military service to improve their economic stability and quality of life. We honor our community partners making positive impact in the lives of veterans in their families in Boulder. County the Boulder County Commissioners proclaim November 11,

0:30:542025, to be veterans day. The Boulder County Commissioners honor those who served or are serving the United States armed forces and their families, dated November 4, 2025. Thank you all. And I understand that we have some of our Boulder county veterans here with us. And so we'd like to invite you to come up to the PodiUm for a picture. For anybody who would like to. Gloria Handyside gave me those instructions, and now I don't. See her in the room. But from a business standpoint, that's the last item for our agenda, so I'll go ahead and adjourn our meeting, but invite our veterans to join us up here. Here she is. For a photo together, if you'd like. And we do have some celebration. And just want to appreciate you for your service. And for the work that you're doing here in Boulder county and to take your own. Lived experience and move that into a way to respond to folks is really commendable and we appreciate each and every one of you and your families and your support circle and your network. That you would choose to be here at Boulder county with us. So join us in celebration if you would like to. Anybody who wants to be in the photo, but it's not a requirement.