Good Wednesday morning, Boulder. Today’s newsletter is lead-sponsored by the Boulder Chamber — check out their City Council Candidate Forum on Aug. 26.
Leading today’s edition: For more than three years, Boulder police fed license plate data from Flock Safety cameras into a national network searchable by thousands of law enforcement agencies — including some that used it for immigration enforcement. Records show Boulder’s system was tapped more than 5,000 times in a single day. In June, after months of pressure from a local advocate, the city restricted access to about 90 Colorado agencies. But privacy experts warn the technology still enables mass surveillance with little accountability. Police, meanwhile, defend the system, citing its role in reducing auto theft and in helping track the suspect in the June 1 terror attack on Pearl Street. Brooke Stephenson has the story.
In other news: The Boulder County commissioners Tuesday voted 2 to 1 in favor of putting a sales tax measure on the 2025 ballot to fund mental health programs, John Herrick reports. The decision followed scrutiny from city councilmembers, state leaders and others who questioned whether the tax would be targeted enough to make a meaningful difference.
More, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Mid-90s now, big cooldown this weekend.
- Lookout Road fire: Crews knock down blaze, no injuries reported.
- Sprinklers: Last call for free Resource Central evaluations to help you save water. (sponsored)
- Water testing: East Boulder checks system Thursday morning.
- Canyon Blvd.: Concrete issues delay road work until Aug. 31.
- Electric bills: Xcel’s $22B plan could double rates.
- Wildfire prep: New DIY videos show homeowners how to cut risk.
- CU Boulder: New Buffs arrive from 50 states, 47 countries.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Election season is heating up — and the Boulder Chamber is at the forefront. Join us August 26 at New Vista High School for our City Council Candidate Forum, where all qualified candidates will tackle the issues shaping Boulder’s future — housing, transportation, public safety and more. Free and open to the public, this is a can’t-miss evening for business leaders, voters and engaged residents alike. Space is limited — register now to secure your seat in the conversation.
Until recently, Boulder shared license plate data on a national network accessed by ICE
Boulder uses Flock Safety’s license plate readers, which fed into a national database used by immigration enforcement in several states. The city recently stopped sharing its data nationally, but advocates say that’s not enough. Continue reading…
Boulder County to ask voters in 2025 to approve new mental health and addiction tax
Commissioners voted 2-1 to refer the measure to the November ballot, after some likely supporters questioned whether its broad uses would make a meaningful difference. Continue reading…
A few more hot days ahead, then big changes
August may be fading, but we’re still stuck in the oven right now. A stubborn ridge of high pressure is camped overhead, and it’s cranking up the heat again. We’re talking mid-90s today, while tomorrow we might challenge Boulder’s Aug. 21 record high of 98 set in 2023. Abundant sunshine will make the heat feel worse.
But here’s the good news: Relief is on the way. A cold front will roll in Friday, likely ushering in a full-on seasonal reset. Highs will drop into the 70s — maybe even the 60s — over the weekend and into next week. It’ll feel more like early fall than late summer. And with monsoonal moisture making a comeback, we’re looking at much better rain chances during this time, though the setup could also spark severe weather.
Fire extinguished on Lookout Road
Fire crews responded Monday afternoon to a house fire on Lookout Road near Erie. The cause was an unlicensed fire in an outbuilding near an unused pool. The homeowner believed the fire had been extinguished, but winds spread embers to the outbuilding, according to a Facebook post by Mountain View Fire Rescue. The homeowner was ticketed for fourth-degree arson.
The property, nearby homes and animals in a pasture were evacuated, according to the sheriff’s office. No injuries were reported.
Mountain View crews arrived to find the outbuilding in flames and spreading toward the house. The fire also ignited a half-acre grass fire that firefighters were able to contain. Damage to the home was limited to charring and a few broken windows. Lafayette and Louisville fire departments also responded, with support from Erie police and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.
Last call for free sprinkler evaluations (sponsored)
Save water and improve your sprinkler system! Boulder-based conservation nonprofit Resource Central offers free Slow the Flow sprinkler evaluations to check irrigation systems, provide a detailed audit report, and create a custom watering schedule to reduce outdoor water use. Appointments are free for eligible homeowners and renters in partnership with local water providers and municipalities. Sign up before the summer ends!
Water system testing in East Boulder this week
The city will test its drinking water system Thursday, Aug. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon in East Boulder, south of Valmont Road and east of Foothills Parkway. The testing area is highlighted in yellow on the city’s map. Residents and businesses may notice brief pressure changes or discolored water as sediment is stirred up, but officials say it’s not a safety concern and is not related to any current safety issues. The work is part of preparing to connect a new water pipe under 63rd Street.
What’s up with the road work on Canyon?
The road work on Canyon Blvd. is part of a larger $4.6 million pavement rehabilitation project managed by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and contractor Brannan Sand and Gravel. The project covers Colorado Highway 7 (Canyon Boulevard) between 28th Street and Broadway, as well as Colorado Highway 119 (Boulder Canyon Drive) from Broadway west to the mouth of Boulder Canyon.
Originally scheduled to wrap up by Aug. 18, the work has been delayed until at least Aug. 31 due to issues with the quality of the concrete, according to CDOT spokesperson Jared Fiel.
Some residents reached out to Boulder Reporting Lab after noticing crews jackhammering what looked like a finished roadway. Fiel explained that while the roadway was paved earlier this month, additional grinding was needed to meet CDOT’s smoothness standards. That left patches that appear as though the asphalt was removed.
“There ended up being more grinding work than usual because CDOT has higher standards for this type of roadway, which is technically a state highway but operates as a city street also,” Fiel told Boulder Reporting Lab
CDOT says the rehabilitation will extend the roadway’s lifespan, improve safety, and make sidewalks and crossings more accessible for all users.
Xcel’s $22B plan could double electricity bills
In an in-depth story this week, The Colorado Sun detailed how Xcel Energy’s massive spending plans could send electricity bills sharply higher in the coming years. The state’s largest utility plans to invest more than $22 billion in Colorado by 2032, more than in any of the seven other states it serves. That will expand its “rate base,” the pool of assets upon which customer rates are set, from $8 billion in 2021 to more than $44 billion by 2032.
Regulators at the Colorado Public Utilities Commission warn that if electricity demand doesn’t grow as fast as Xcel projects — in large part due to new data centers — residential bills could double by 2036 and triple by 2044. Even Xcel’s own forecast shows the basic residential charge rising 30% by 2032. Critics argue the company’s profit model, which rewards capital spending, could be inflating costs and leaving too much risk on customers. Xcel, meanwhile, points to state climate mandates and infrastructure needs as drivers of its building boom.
New Boulder County videos show DIY steps to cut wildfire risk
Boulder County’s Wildfire Partners program has released two new DIY videos for homeowners showing easy, affordable steps to reduce wildfire risk. One covers how to install fire-resistant materials in wall bases, while the other demonstrates how to create defensible, non-combustible space around a home. These measures are especially important because wind-driven embers can ignite fires far ahead of a blaze, often by accumulating at a combustible base of a house. More resources are available on the Wildfire Partners website.
The videos come as the City of Boulder expands its wildfire danger zone. Earlier this summer, city council grew the city’s wildland-urban interface (WUI) from about 4,600 to more than 16,000 properties, meaning thousands more homes are now considered at higher risk. Starting Aug. 1, 2025, new construction in those areas must follow stricter fire-resistant building and landscaping rules.
For now, the ordinance applies only to new construction and major remodels. But councilmembers are debating whether to extend the same standards to existing homes, a step advocates say is critical for safety but would require more staff and funding despite the city’s hiring freeze.
CU Boulder’s newest Buffs: from all 50 states, 47 countries — and a few sets of triplets
More than 7,000 first-year students have arrived at CU Boulder, and this year’s class is a diverse mix, the university announced. New Buffs hail from all 50 states and 47 countries. After Colorado, the most common home states are California, Texas and Illinois.
The class includes some quirks, too: 82 sets of twins and two sets of triplets are among the arrivals. The most popular names? William for men and Sophia for women, nudging out last year’s leaders Jack and Ava.
Beyond the fun facts, CU is drawing top scholars: 24 of Colorado’s 50 Boettcher Scholars chose Boulder, and 43% of the class entered with a 4.0 GPA or higher.
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