Good Monday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by Groundworks Art Lab, where registration is now open for fall studio classes in clay, glass, metal, wood and print for everyone from curious beginners to experienced artists.
Leading today: Boulder City Council is taking up another of this summer’s most contentious issues, following heated debates over tipped wages and the airport’s future. On Thursday, councilmembers will decide whether to ask voters to create a downtown development authority.
John Herrick explains what the proposal would do. In short, the authority could redirect as much as $14.7 million in sales and property tax growth over its first six years to projects downtown and on University Hill. Supporters say it would revitalize Boulder’s commercial core. Critics call it a risky, long-term commitment that could divert money from public services. If referred, about 2,500 eligible district voters would decide its fate.
Plus more, Below the Fold:
- Weather: Heat advisory today; cooler Tuesday.
- Comp plan: Final deliberations resume this month.
- Undergrounding: Xcel buries North 75th Street powerline.
- Clean energy: Free heat pump event Thursday.
- Road closure: Folsom and Colorado closes Saturday.
- Power outages: Boulder survey closes Aug. 9.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Step out of your routine and into our studios this fall! Groundworks Art Lab opens Session 5 registration on July 27 for studio classes in clay, glass, metal, wood and print running Aug. 24 through Oct. 18. From curious beginners to experienced artists, our instructors meet you exactly where you are. Classes are offered at three locations in Boulder. Find your class today!
Boulder City Council divided over whether to put downtown tax measure on November ballot
The proposed downtown development authority, or DDA, would temporarily divert future growth in sales and property tax revenue that would otherwise support city services and other public agencies to finance downtown revitalization. Continue reading…
Hot Monday, cooler weather arrives Tuesday
A heat advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. Monday, with temperatures expected to reach 99. Patchy smoke is possible late in the morning, followed by a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 2 and 5 p.m.
Monday night will be partly cloudy, with a 20% chance of showers before midnight and a low around 61.
Tuesday will bring some relief, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 80. The overnight low will be around 59. Temperatures will begin climbing again Wednesday, though it will remain cooler than Monday, with sunny skies and a high near 86.
Boulder Valley Comp Plan deliberations to continue this month
Final deliberations on the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan will resume this month after adoption was delayed because of disagreements over Boulder Municipal Airport and other issues.
Updated every five to 10 years, the plan guides long-term land use, housing, transportation and open space decisions in Boulder and Boulder County. The latest draft includes new language stating that “the city supports increasing the housing supply.” City officials have said the draft is expected to create capacity for about 35% more housing than the current plan, largely through land-use changes that support more duplexes, triplexes and townhomes.
The remaining review sessions are:
- Aug. 6: Boulder City Council discussion (rescheduled from July 23)
- Aug. 13: Board of County Commissioners public hearing
- Aug. 18: Boulder Planning Board public hearing
- Aug. 19: Boulder County Planning Commission public hearing
- Aug. 20: Boulder City Council public hearing
Xcel begins burying North 75th Street power line; more projects planned this year
Xcel Energy has begun undergrounding a powerline along North 75th Street as part of its wildfire mitigation program, with construction expected through the summer and more undergrounding projects planned elsewhere in the Boulder area later this year.
The 1.7-mile project between Windhover Lane and Lookout Road is part of Xcel’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan, which aims to reduce the risk of utility-caused wildfires and public safety power shutoffs. The underground line would also help maintain power to one of Boulder’s wastewater treatment plants during future shutoffs. During the city’s first public safety power shutoff in 2024, the plant nearly spilled sewage into Boulder Creek.
Crews are installing the line using a combination of boring and open trenching because existing underground utilities leave little room beneath the roadway. Once the underground line is complete, the existing overhead poles and wires will be removed. The project is expected to take three to six months. Read more on BRL.
Free event spotlights heat pumps and clean energy careers
Curious about heat pumps or a career in clean energy? Workforce Boulder County is hosting a free event on Thursday, Aug. 6, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the St. Vrain Community Hub in Longmont as part of Colorado’s first Heat Pump Week.
Homeowners, students, job seekers and contractors can learn how heat pumps work, explore local clean energy career opportunities and tour a fully electrified mobile home. The event is free, and light refreshments will be provided.
Colorado Heat Pump Week is organized by Power Ahead Colorado, an initiative backed by nearly $200 million in federal funding.
Folsom and Colorado intersection to close Saturday
The Folsom Street and Colorado Avenue intersection will close to all traffic Saturday, Aug. 8, as the City of Boulder completes pavement repairs and safety upgrades before the fall semester.
Single-lane closures begin Friday, Aug. 7, with traffic controllers directing vehicles through the intersection. On Saturday, the intersection will be closed to drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and the HOP bus.
The project includes fresh pavement markings, new floating bus stops on Colorado Avenue, a protected corner island and a new bicycle ramp to improve safety for people walking, biking and taking transit.
How prepared are you for a power outage? Take Boulder’s survey.
Boulder is seeking resident feedback as aging infrastructure, wildfire risk and Xcel Energy’s public safety power shutoffs raise concerns about grid reliability. In 2024, Boulder customers experienced an average of 630 minutes without electricity, nearly twice the statewide average for Xcel customers. Some neighborhoods now experience more than a dozen outages a year, and Boulder has undergone four wildfire-prevention shutoffs since 2024.
The city is developing a broader resilience strategy that could include faster undergrounding, neighborhood microgrids, battery storage and backup power for critical facilities. Responses will help the city understand how prepared residents are and what support they need. The questionnaire, available in English and Spanish, is open through Aug. 9.
☀️ Explore events in Boulder and use the self-submission form on our events page to reach thousands in our community — for free! To have your event featured in our Thursday Culture Club newsletter, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.
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