Good Monday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by the Downtown Boulder Partnership. Get the Downtown Boulder Gift Card, the perfect way to celebrate graduates, thank teachers and support downtown Boulder shops, restaurants and experiences.
First: BRL is now news you can listen to. Every article includes an audio player at the top so you can catch up on local news on the go, at a speed that suits you.
Leading today: At the last city council meeting, councilmembers voted to keep the municipal airport open indefinitely, a decision tied to federal funding that could limit future efforts to close it.
The vote, made informally at a study session, has left some councilmembers with regret and raised broader concerns about how major decisions are made. Several said the choice was framed as a stark either-or without a clear middle-ground option. Others stand by the outcome. Now, questions remain about whether the council could revisit the decision and what it means for the airport’s long-term future. John Herrick unpacks what happened and what comes next.
Also today: Mustard’s Last Stand must leave its longtime home in a floodway slated for demolition, a timeline known for years. Whether the restaurant itself survives is still an open question. “Give me something concrete, a proposal,” co-owner Dan Polovin said, as the city explores potential relocation options. Brooke Stephenson reports.
Plus more, Below the Fold:
- Spring storm: Rain Monday, snow possible Tuesday night.
- Pools: Boulder adjusts summer hours, fewer early and late swims.
- Thunderbird Lake: Low water and odor issues expected to persist.
- Prairie dogs: Up to $10K to keep them off private property.
- Things to Do: Running memoir, live recordings, puppy yoga, bread class, climate dance, new play festival, Mother’s Day + more.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Treat your favorite people to a little downtown magic with the Downtown Boulder Gift Card. It’s the perfect way to celebrate graduates, thank teachers, cheer on coaches and show appreciation to moms, dads, friends and neighbors. Redeemable at a wide variety of downtown Boulder shops, restaurants and experiences, it turns every gift into an opportunity to explore, dine and discover something new while supporting the local businesses that make downtown Boulder shine.
‘It doesn’t feel good’: Boulder councilmembers still reeling after airport vote to stay open indefinitely
An informal vote to keep the airport open indefinitely has prompted regret among some Boulder councilmembers, while others stand by the decision. The outcome has also raised questions about the use of ‘straw polls’ on major issues. Continue reading…
Mustard’s Last Stand must leave longtime Boulder location, but a new home may be possible
The city plans to demolish Mustard’s current building because it sits in a floodway, but says it is still exploring options for the restaurant to relocate. Continue reading…
A wet, colder pattern returns, with a spring storm on the way
Moisture returns Monday, with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon and a high near 70. Rain becomes more likely Monday night, with a low around 38.
A stronger system moves in Tuesday, bringing steady rain, colder temperatures and highs near 42. In lower elevations, rain may mix with or change to wet snow during the day, with the heaviest impacts expected Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as temperatures drop near or below freezing. In the foothills and higher elevations, snow is more likely throughout the event, with significant accumulation possible.
Forecasters say the storm could bring substantial moisture overall, with heavy, wet snow overnight raising the risk of slushy roads, tree damage and power outages, especially as snow builds on leafed-out trees.
The shift comes after an unusually dry stretch. April marked Boulder’s seventh straight month with below-normal precipitation, one of the longest such streaks on record.
Summer pools begin opening mid-May; residents urged to seek alternatives for shoulder-hour use
Boulder Parks and Recreation will adjust summer pool hours this year, according to a memo presented to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in April.
Scott Carpenter Pool will open for lap swimming on May 15, while leisure pools will open May 23. The outdoor lap pool will remain open until Sept. 20, while the leisure pool will shift to weekends only after Aug. 11, when the school year begins.
Spruce Pool will open Memorial Day weekend and close Labor Day weekend, with reduced hours later in the season as student staffing declines.
Swimmers who rely on early morning, late evening or shoulder-season access at Scott Carpenter and Spruce pools are encouraged to use indoor facilities instead.
“These changes reflect a data-informed approach to outdoor aquatics, concentrating service during peak demand hours while reducing costs during historically low-attendance periods,” the memo said. Staff plan to monitor the changes and adjust next year based on feedback.
Boulder Parks and Recreation is facing budget constraints due to rising recreation costs, including higher trash service expenses and increases in the minimum wage, as city sales tax revenue levels off. Last year, Spruce Pool closed weeks ahead of its usual Labor Day shutdown. The department also introduced higher fees, new membership tiers and paid court reservations to generate revenue, and expects additional service cuts in 2027.
City to continue maintenance at Thunderbird Lake near Frasier Meadows
Residents nearby have for some time complained about low water levels and occasional odor at Thunderbird Lake in southeast Boulder, near Frasier Meadows. The city says those conditions are tied to long-term decisions and are expected to continue.
The conditions stem from persistent drought and a decision made more than a decade ago to stop supplying the lake with dechlorinated potable water, according to a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board memo. Staff currently performs routine maintenance, including applying microbes to manage algae blooms between April and September, vegetation management, maintaining aeration systems and removing noxious weeds.
City staff also noted that fish in the lake are illegally released goldfish. Water levels are expected to continue declining without new investment.
The city will continue to monitor conditions at the site. Thunderbird Lake was originally constructed before 1918 as a reservoir for livestock.
Prairie dogs damaging your yard? Boulder offers up to $10K to help keep them out
Boulder is accepting applications through May 15 for a program that helps homeowners and landowners pay to keep prairie dogs from spreading onto their property.
The city’s Prairie Dog Cost Share Program, now in its second year, will cover up to 50% of the cost of installing barrier fencing, at $12.88 per foot, up to $10,000 per project. The barriers are designed to limit prairie dogs from moving off nearby open space and onto private land.
The program is open to residential and agricultural properties that border or sit directly across a road from city-owned open space with active prairie dog colonies. You do not need to live in the city to apply.
Prairie dogs are native to Colorado and play an important ecological role, but they can also damage landscaping, create hazards for livestock and degrade land over time.
City officials say barriers are meant to reduce those conflicts while allowing prairie dog populations to remain on open space. Boulder has also used lethal control methods since 2021 and plans to continue those efforts in 2026.
Applications close May 15, with awards expected in early June.
☀️ 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 on our Monday to-do list, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.
BMA Skills Clinic – Climbing & Descending: Monday, May 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Valmont Bike Park, 5275 Valmont Road. Read more.
Conscious Breathwork for Healing and Transformation: Tuesday, May 5, 6:30-9:30 p.m., The StarHouse, 3476 Sunshine Canyon Dr. Read more.
The Blue Trail: Wednesday, May 6, 4:30-6:00 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Alternative dates May 7-8. Read more.
Salomé Songbird & Mr. Knobs: Wednesday, May 6, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Stone Cottage Studios, 1928 Pearl St. Read more.
Blood, Sweat & Spikes: Running the Wetmore Way: Wednesday May 6, 6:00-8:00 p.m., In Motion Running, 1880B 30th St. Read more.
Ramble & Write: Friday, May 8, 1:00-2:30 p.m., Boulder Public Library George Reynolds Branch, 2595 Table Mesa Dr. Read more.
Home Cook Series: All About Bread (2-day class): Friday, May 8, 4:45 p.m. and Saturday, May 9, 2:00 p.m., Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, 637 S Broadway St, Suite H. Read more.
From Movement to Movement: Friday, May 8, 5:00-6:30 p.m., Glen Huntington Bandshell, 1212 Canyon Blvd. Read more.
Greg Schochet & Little America – Record Release Show: Friday, May 8, 7:00-9:30 p.m., eTown, 1535 Spruce St. Read more.
Rescue Puppy Yoga: Saturday, May 9, 10:00-11:30 a.m., Rembrandt Yard, 1301 Spruce St. Read more.
Scottish Ceilidh: Saturday, May 9, 3:45-6:00 p.m., Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Rd. Read more.
Fireside Ink Writers IGNITE 1st Annual New Plays Festival: Saturday, May 9, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Junkyard Social Club, 2525 Frontier Ave., Unit A. Read more.
Mother’s Day Stained Glass Class: Sunday, May 10, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Colorado Glass Works, 1500 Pearl St, Ste. D. Alternative dates and times available. Read more.
Mothers’ Day with Hazel Miller and the Collective: Sunday, May 10, 2:30-4:00 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Read more.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra: Sunday, May 10, 8:00 p.m., The Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St. Read more.