Good Wednesday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by Boulder County’s call for residents to serve on its boards and commissions — check out this opportunity to help shape local government.
Leading today’s edition: Wildfire season is here — and so are the risks of power shutoffs.
If you were in Boulder last April, you probably remember the wildfire-related power outage that spiraled out of control. Critical facilities lost electricity. Raw sewage nearly spilled into Boulder Creek. Businesses lost an estimated $1.4 million in spoiled food and revenue.
Xcel says more shutoffs are likely as wildfire risk grows. But this time, the utility claims it’s better prepared. And with hotter, drier weeks ahead, the next one may not be far off.
Today, Por Jaijongkit breaks down what’s changed: a phased alert system, better coordination with emergency managers and earlier, more frequent notifications — especially for people who rely on electricity for medical devices. If that’s you, enrolling in Xcel’s Safe for Colorado program is essential.
Also, in BRL Opinion: Brian Keegan responds to reader feedback on his June column challenging the idea that Boulder is “full.” He shares new data on CU enrollment, housing supply and how we compare to other college towns — and makes the case for more informed, data-driven civic debates.
More, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Storms, flood risk and heat ahead.
- Senator charged: Felony filed after ethics probe into Longmont lawmaker.
- CU South delay: Residents get more time in flood project lawsuit.
- Firefighter shortage: Colorado staff sound alarm as feds claim full staffing.
- Teardown fee: Boulder wants your take on charging for big rebuilds.
- Compost plans: County backs local site, eyes Longmont land swap.
- Speak up: New storytelling project invites Boulder voices.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
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After last year’s chaotic wildfire power shutoff, Xcel promises clearer warnings. Here’s what to know.
Xcel urges residents with medical needs to enroll in its Safe for Colorado program for improved outage alerts. Continue reading…
Brian Keegan: Rethinking Boulder’s growth debate — with data, not nostalgia
In an age of misinformation and partisan posturing, let’s use open data to raise the bar for public arguments and hold each other accountable. Continue reading…
Stormy weather on the way, including a flood risk
Subtropical moisture is surging into northern Colorado, and it’s bringing stormy skies to Boulder this week. Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and again on Thursday, with some packing torrential rainfall capable of localized flooding. Our mountain burn scars will be most at risk.
Not everyone in town will catch the storms this afternoon and evening, but if they pop over your neighborhood, expect intense rain for a brief stretch. Thursday will offer a repeat performance.
Temps will hover in the mid-80s through Thursday, but brace yourself — the heat cranks back up Friday into the weekend, with highs pushing well into the 90s.
Former Longmont state senator charged with felony amid ethics fallout
Former Democratic state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis of Longmont, who resigned in February amid an ethics probe into her treatment of legislative aides, has been charged with attempting to influence a public servant, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison and a $500,000 fine, The Colorado Sun first reported Monday.
The Denver District Attorney’s Office filed the charge on July 6, the Sun reported. It stems from alleged conduct between Jan. 31 and Feb. 11, shortly before her resignation. Jaquez Lewis is scheduled for arraignment on Aug. 7. Prosecutors have not publicly commented on the case.
Her resignation followed an investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee, which found she submitted at least one fabricated letter of support, falsely attributed to a former aide. The committee’s review was prompted by a January 2024 complaint from the Political Workers Guild, which represents Democratic staffers.
As we previously reported, the Boulder County and Denver District Attorney’s Offices began investigating Jaquez Lewis earlier this year after the State Senate referred materials from the ethics probe. The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office is also reviewing her campaign finance practices following allegations of unreported spending and misuse of campaign funds.
Jaquez Lewis, a licensed pharmacist and former chair of the Senate Local Government and Housing Committee, has denied the allegations and called the complaints politically motivated.
Residents challenging CU South project get four-week extension to respond to city’s legal fees request
The Boulder County District Court has granted residents challenging the CU South flood project a four-week extension to respond to the city’s request for attorneys’ fees. The court’s decision to grant the extension could further prolong a case the city has argued will increase the cost of the flood project, which has been in the works for decades.
Earlier this month, the City of Boulder asked the court to make the residents pay its legal fees, arguing their lawsuit is a baseless attempt to delay the $66 million South Boulder Creek flood mitigation project. The plaintiffs said they need more time to prepare a “measured and time-consuming” response, including hiring an expert to evaluate whether the city’s fee request is appropriate. They also said they want to address the “chilling effect” such requests for attorneys’ fees have on the rights of residents to challenge the government. The judge gave them until at least Aug. 19 to file their response.
Ironically, the city’s motion for fees appeared intended in part to discourage the residents from extending the case or appealing it further. The city had hoped to begin construction earlier this year. However, it still required several permits as of earlier this month. Read more on BRL.
Colorado park staff among those reporting federal firefighter shortages
Despite Trump administration claims that the U.S. Forest Service is nearly fully staffed for wildfire season, a ProPublica investigation found nearly 4,500 firefighting jobs remain vacant — about 27% of the workforce. A Colorado national park employee said staffing is “worse than it’s ever been,” following layoffs and early retirements earlier this year.
Forest Service officials insist the agency is operationally ready, but internal data and memos reveal growing concern as more than 1 million acres burn across 10 Western states. “We have engines that are completely unstaffed,” said Riva Duncan, a retired fire chief still working wildfire assignments.
Boulder may charge for teardown rebuilds — public input wanted
The City of Boulder is still collecting public input on a proposed fee for property owners who tear down modest homes and build larger, more expensive ones in their place.
The idea stems from a city-commissioned study that found such projects reduce the supply of relatively attainable housing and increase demand for subsidized affordable homes. Consultants recommended a $15 per square foot fee on added space, projecting it could raise a modest $1.2 million annually for the city’s Affordable Housing Fund.
The findings underscore a broader challenge: how to rein in housing costs in a city where land is incredibly valuable and teardowns push the market upward.
The proposal would close a gap in Boulder’s inclusionary housing policy, which currently exempts most single-family redevelopments from contributing to the fund, unlike multi-unit projects.
Council expressed support for the concept in April and directed staff to draft an ordinance by October. Some councilmembers have asked for exemptions for modest additions, such as those under 500 square feet. You can read or submit public comments here.
Boulder County releases first look at possible new compost facility
For all of you interested in compost, Boulder County is one step closer to building a local composting facility.
The county just released Phase 1 of a feasibility study exploring how and where a new site could work. The study found that a method called aerated static pile composting is the best fit for our area. It’s faster, controls odors better and has a smaller environmental impact. (Basically: Fans help manage temperature, oxygen and moisture to break stuff down more efficiently.)
The facility would focus on food waste, yard trimmings, branches and clean wood. But it likely won’t take compostable cups, utensils or packaging.
Why now? Since A1 Organics limited what it accepts in 2023 — and has to send materials to a facility 50 miles away — the need for a local solution has grown. About 36% of what we throw away could be composted, according to the county.
The site currently being studied is the Distel Property near Longmont, but it’s still early. A land swap would be required to allow the land, currently designated as open space, to be used for municipal purposes. Longmont’s city council is reviewing that now.
Phase 2 of the study, due out in September, will look at costs, site design and what to do with the finished compost. Public feedback events are planned for fall.
📄 You can read the full report here.
📖 And here’s our story on the proposed compost site and land swap debate.
New storytelling project invites Boulderites to help shape city’s future
A new public art and storytelling project, Voicing Boulder, is collecting photo and audio reflections from residents about life in the city — what’s working, what’s not and what could be — as part of the City of Boulder’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan update.
Organizers hope to capture a wide range of voices, especially those not typically heard in city planning conversations. Submissions will be compiled into a public archive and interactive map at voicingboulder.com/app, helping inform future city decisions. Anyone can contribute by uploading a photo or voice note about their daily experience in Boulder.
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