Good Friday morning, Boulder. 

Boulder City Council is moving its meetings online — at least for now. After months of disruptions during public comment, largely from protesters demanding a Gaza ceasefire resolution, councilmembers voted last night to shift all meetings online through mid-February. They say the move is temporary and aims to keep city business on track while ensuring a safe environment for public participation. Mayor Aaron Brockett called the disruptions “frustrating” and said the council is working with the city attorney on long-term solutions.

🎧 Listen to this story! We’re now offering limited audio versions of our stories, thanks to your feedback. You can find the audio at the top of the story. Let us know what you think — if it’s a hit, we’ll expand audio to every BRL story.

In other news, Boulder is taking its fight over body camera fees to the Colorado Court of Appeals. The city is challenging an August ruling that bars fees for footage related to alleged police misconduct — like the $1,425 it quoted for video of a fatal 2023 police shooting. Yellow Scene Magazine sued, arguing the fees violate a 2020 police accountability law aimed at improving transparency. Boulder argues that redacting sensitive footage creates an “undue burden” on municipalities. The outcome could set a statewide precedent for access to police records. 

Finally, the devastating fires in L.A. are a sobering reminder of the heartbreak and challenges communities face during such crises — and of our own wildfire risks. Here’s what you need to know to stay informed about local emergency alerts if a fire breaks out. Plus, details below on an upcoming event to learn about emergency preparedness from local experts.

Also below the fold:

  • City council advances new zoning rules for affordable housing.
  • Boulder man faces felony charges for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
  • Construction begins Monday on Downtown Boulder Station’s expansion.
  • Nursing vacancies continue at the Boulder County Jail amid overcrowding.

Enjoy tomorrow’s snow, and we’ll see you Monday.

— Brooke, reporter

Boulder City Council shifts to virtual meetings amid public comment disruptions over Gaza ceasefire demands

The decision is the latest effort by councilmembers to prevent delays in city business and ensure community members feel comfortable attending council meetings. Continue reading…

City of Boulder appeals ruling in Yellow Scene body camera case, setting stage for statewide precedent

A Boulder County District Court judge ruled in August that Boulder cannot charge fees for body camera footage related to alleged officer misconduct under a Colorado police accountability law. The city argues the decision imposes an undue financial burden on municipalities. Continue reading…

Freezing temps and snow ahead this weekend

Temperatures will climb into the 40s today, but freezing conditions and snow showers are expected tomorrow. Gusty winds tonight could reach up to 34 mph, with wind chills plummeting to zero. The snow should clear by Sunday, but the chill lingers with highs in the mid-30s.

Council advances zoning reforms to increase housing density

The Boulder City Council voted 6-3 on Thursday to advance zoning reforms designed to increase housing density and address the city’s high housing costs. The changes aim to enable the creation of thousands of new housing units over time by easing restrictions on converting single-family homes into duplexes and triplexes. A final vote on the ordinance is still required.

A key goal of the ordinance is to expand options for “middle housing,” such as duplexes and triplexes, which are currently scarce in Boulder. The reforms include reducing minimum lot size requirements in mixed-use neighborhoods like Whittier and University Hill. In lower-density areas — including parts of Newlands, Old North Boulder and South Boulder — homes within 350 feet of a bus line could be converted to duplexes regardless of lot size.

The changes preserve existing restrictions on building height, massing and setbacks, likely preventing large-scale redevelopments while protecting certain older and more affordable homes. The ordinance also exempts 100% permanently affordable housing projects from site review, streamlining approval to encourage faster development.

City officials estimate the reforms could allow for thousands of additional housing units, helping to address Boulder’s housing shortage, recently estimated at more than 10,000 units.

Mayor Aaron Brockett, Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Folkerts and Councilmembers Ryan Schuchard, Nicole Speer, Taishya Adams and Matt Benjamin voted in favor of the ordinance. Councilmembers Tina Maquis, Tara Winer and Mark Wallach voted against the measure. Read on BRL.

Boulder man arrested on charges tied to Jan. 6 riot

A Boulder man and his father have been arrested for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, the Colorado Sun reported. Jonathan “Duke” Valentour, 26, of Boulder, was taken into custody Jan. 6, in Colorado, while his father, Joseph Charles Valentour, 66, was arrested last week in Ohio.

Federal authorities allege the two tried to push past police guarding the Capitol as rioters stormed the building during Congress’s certification of the 2020 presidential election results. Both face felony charges for assaulting, resisting or impeding officers, along with five misdemeanors, including disorderly conduct and physical violence inside the Capitol.

The FBI identified the Valentours through surveillance footage and publicly available photographs more than two years after the attack. The arrests come amid ongoing federal investigations and just days before former President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. Trump has pledged to pardon Jan. 6 rioters, though it’s unclear who would qualify.

Correction: Parent in Jan. 1 crash may not have fallen asleep at the wheel

On Jan. 8, the Colorado State Patrol issued a correction about the tragic Jan. 1 crash that killed two parents and injured their two children.

The crash occurred as the car was traveling north on Highway 36. The vehicle drifted out of its lane, crossed the center grass median, and came to a stop after rolling into the southbound lanes. Initially, authorities said the father, who was driving, had fallen asleep at the wheel.

However, the Colorado State Patrol now says that “no definitive cause has been determined” for the accident and has issued an apology to the family and friends of those involved for the earlier inaccurate statement.

Construction begins Monday on Downtown Boulder Station expansion

The City of Boulder will begin construction on Monday, Jan. 13, to expand bus service capacity at Downtown Boulder Station on 14th Street. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2025, weather permitting.

Construction will close some sidewalks, parking spots and single road lanes but will not block travel on 14th Street.

Downtown Boulder Station serves nearly as many bus lines as Denver’s Union Station but operates with only half the gate capacity and less than one-eighth of the space, leading to overcrowding. With demand expected to rise due to upcoming bus rapid transit routes along Canyon and Arapahoe, the planned expansion aims to alleviate these issues.

The project will add five bus gates, wider ADA-compliant sidewalks, improved signage, pedestrian shelters and bike racks. Boulder City Council approved the design in 2022.

Boulder County Jail struggles with nursing vacancies amid overcrowding

The Boulder County Jail is in its fifth consecutive year of nursing staff shortages while grappling with severe overcrowding. The jail houses more than 450 people, far exceeding its designed capacity of 287.

“Since Covid, we have had vacancies in at least one nursing position in the jail at any given time,” said Melanie Judson, the jail’s health services administrator.

To address staffing shortages, the Sheriff’s Office has extended a $350,000 contract with American Medical Response through 2025, for one EMT per shift to support the nursing team. Five new nursing positions, funded in the 2025 budget, will be listed once the facility’s 64-bed expansion is complete. The expansion is designed to ease overcrowding but will not be finished until later this year.

The jail has faced criticism for its medical care, including a lawsuit alleging inadequate medical care contributed to the death of a 22-year-old man in 2022. Despite the growing population, the nursing staff has remained at 14 full-time and four part-time positions for over a decade.

Few tickets left: Disaster Preparedness Basics Workshop on Jan. 14

The Boulder Office of Disaster Management is hosting for a free workshop on disaster preparedness basics. Learn about local hazards, emergency alerts, personal risk assessments and how to create a disaster preparedness plan.

📅 When: Tuesday, Jan. 14, 6–7:30 p.m.
📍 Where: 2967 Bluff St., Boulder

Spots are limited, For registration support, call 303-441-3647.

☀️ Have an event in Boulder County? Use our self-submission on our events page form to reach thousands in our community — for free!