Good morning, Boulder. Here’s what we’re leading with today:

Alpine Barbers, a fixture in North Boulder for 65 years, is closing its doors after losing its lease, Sally Bell reports. The barbershop, known for its classic look, old-fashioned barber pole and no-fuss cuts, will shut down on Oct. 25. The management of the Ideal shopping center signed the lease for the space over to Alive and Well, a wellness center next door that said it needed the additional space to expand its services.

Owner Richard Kaiser said he felt blindsided and resentful when he lost the lease but wishes the new business well. “It will be one more of those things that just aren’t anymore,” one customer said.

Also, minimum wage is on the agenda for tomorrow’s city council meeting, and at least one councilmember is trying to get the 15% increase planned for 2025 back on the table after it was removed. Xcel proposed a plan to restore groundwater polluted by coal ash at the Valmont Power Station on Boulder’s edge (which we investigated last year, ICYMI), and state environmental regulators are now accepting public comments. Meanwhile, Boulder has purchased over 4,400 streetlights from Xcel and plans to switch them to LED, potentially saving $1 million annually. More news below.

See you Friday,

— Brooke, reporter

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In other news

Temps stay in the 80s

Until Friday, it’s still hot — 80s hot — and dry. “Starting to wonder if we’re just going to skip from summer straight to winter this year!” NWS Boulder wrote on X. Meanwhile, the state issued an air quality alert through yesterday due to fires in Utah and Wyoming sending haze and smoke around the Front Range.

City council to hold public hearing on proposed minimum wage increase on Oct. 10

Tomorrow, the Boulder City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on a proposed ordinance to establish a citywide minimum wage. In previous discussions, councilmembers have said they want to address the city’s high cost of living while balancing the impact on local businesses.

Most councilmembers support raising the city’s minimum wage above Colorado’s current rate of $14.42 an hour, but the exact figure has not yet been finalized.

In September, the council directed city officials to draft an ordinance raising the city’s minimum wage to $15.57 in 2025, with annual increases of 8% for two years, followed by adjustments tied to the consumer price index. However, Councilmember Lauren Folkerts, who has been working with other local governments on a broader minimum wage initiative, proposed a steeper increase of 15% in 2025, which would set the rate at approximately $16.58. Folkerts’ proposal aims to align Boulder’s minimum wage with Denver’s by 2027, potentially reaching nearly $20 per hour, assuming a 3% inflation rate. Read more on BRL.

Xcel’s toxic legacy: Valmont coal ash cleanup plan open for public comment

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has opened public comment on Xcel Energy’s cleanup plan for the coal ash site at Valmont.

Why it matters: Xcel’s inactive coal ash landfill, located on Boulder’s city limits, spans 15 acres and is an environmental concern few are aware of. An investigation by Boulder Reporting Lab last year, with a group of CU students, revealed that toxic chemicals from the site’s 1.6 million tons of coal ash — containing heavy metals like arsenic — have seeped into the groundwater, spreading toward a residential area in unincorporated Boulder County to the north and east of the plant. The coal ash is a byproduct of nearly a century of burning coal for electricity at Valmont. The plant hasn’t burned coal since 2017, but the ash is still there. Xcel has reported unsafe levels of groundwater contaminants for six consecutive years. In at least one case, residents were provided alternative water due to a contaminated private well.

Under EPA rules, Xcel must restore Valmont to its pre-contamination state. This involves stopping the contamination and preventing further pollution either by removing the ash or using other methods. Xcel has outlined a plan to extract polluted water and remove contaminants, and now the CDPHE has opened its public comment period for input on Xcel’s plans.

Besides groundwater pollution, excavating and handling coal ash releases dangerous particles, and the county has raised air quality concerns. Xcel plans to process the ash onsite for reuse in local concrete. If you want to weigh in on Xcel’s cleanup plan, check out our award-winning investigation for background. There’s even a summary version. The story also covers a separate landfill likely contaminating groundwater that Xcel still needs to address. The comment period is open until Nov. 20. Email comments to Taylor Pierce at taylor.pierce@state.co.us.

Speaking of Xcel: Boulder takes control of streetlights, plans LED upgrade

Boulder has finished buying over 4,400 streetlights from Xcel, covering most of the city’s public lights. In 2025, the city plans to switch to LED models, which could save up to $1 million a year and cut carbon emissions by 1,000 metric tons — equivalent to removing about 250 gasoline cars from the road, according to the city. The upgrade will also add smart technology for real-time outage reporting, adjustable lighting to reduce light pollution, and dark-sky-friendly fixtures to protect wildlife and night views.

Taking ownership gives Boulder full control over the infrastructure, including repairs. Currently, the repair system relies on residents reporting outages.

The acquisition reflects Boulder’s push for more control over its infrastructure and comes several years after voters rejected a yearslong effort to form a municipal electric utility. The roughly $7 million project is partly funded by the Community, Culture, Resilience, and Safety Tax. Boulder chose warmer, 2,700 Kelvin LED fixtures to meet dark-sky standards. City officials aconducted a community survey to align lighting choices with residents’ preferences.

Man killed in a hit-and-run on North Foothills Parkway

A 75-year-old man was struck and killed by a pickup truck as he walked down the middle of Highway 36 near Longhorn Road shortly before 11 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6. The Boulder County Coroner’s Office has identified the man as Howard Pelerine.

Investigators are seeking help identifying the driver, who fled the scene. Police believe the vehicle is a white GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado with a chrome front bumper, black grille and possibly black wheels. “Damage to the vehicle would include damage to the front driver side bumper, as well as damage to the grill and fog light housing,” according to the press release from the Colorado State Patrol. Anyone with information is asked to call Colorado State Patrol Dispatch at (303) 239-4501 and reference the case number 1D244004.

Rosie the Riveter performance to highlight women’s WWII contributions — today

The Longmont Genealogical Society will present a live performance of “Rosie the Riveter” today, Oct. 9, at 1:30 p.m. Historian Gail Beaton will portray Gail Murphy, a World War II bullet case worker at the Denver Ordnance Plant, to showcase the vital role women played during the war. The event will be held in-person at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 803 3rd St., Longmont, and virtually on Zoom. The performance is free and open to the public.

BRL’s to-do list: What else is happening

☀️ Explore more events in Boulder and use the self-submission form on our events page to reach thousands in our community! For free.

Fall Fair at the Confluence Small Business Collective in Lafayette: Wednesday, Oct. 9, 4:00 p.m., 75 Waneka Parkway. Read More

Growing Gardens Community Harvest Festival: Wednesday, Oct. 9, 3:30 p.m., 1630 Hawthorn Avenue. Read More

All Them Witches with Emily Wolfe at Boulder Theater: Thursday, Oct. 10, 8:00 p.m., 2032 14th St. Read More

Fall Festival of Choirs at Grusin Music Hall: Thursday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m., 1020 18th Street. Read More

Watch Party: A Journey into the Hidden World of Tropical Bats with Scientists from the Smithsonian: Thursday, Oct. 10, 3:30 p.m., 1125 Pine St. Read More

Blues Dance Party with Rex Peoples & special guest Martin Marks Band at Roots Music Project: Saturday, Oct. 12, 7:00 p.m., 4747 Pearl Suite V3A. Read More

Fall Foliage Hike with Rocky Mountain Hiking Co: Sat Oct 12 7:45am, Gregory Canyon Rd. Read More

One-Day Hiking Excursion: Boulder Skyline Traverse: Saturday, Oct. 12, 6:00 a.m., 4009 Eldorado Springs Drive. Read More

Carnegie Library for Local History Grand Re-Opening at Carnegie Branch Library: Saturday, Oct. 12, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., 1125 Pine Street. Read more.

Boulder Ballet: Dancer’s Choice at Dairy Arts Center: Saturday, Oct. 12, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., 2590 Walnut St. Read more.

Come Back to Earth (Mac Miller Tribute) at The Fox Theatre: Saturday, Oct. 12, 8:00 p.m., 1135 13th St. Read more.

Clothing Swap, Shop & Consign (& KIDS Clothing & Halloween Costumes too!) at Nude Foods Market: Sunday, Oct. 13, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., 3233 Walnut Street. Read more.

Get your brand in front of Boulder’s most engaged residents, directly in their inboxes. Contact BRL’s publisher, Stacy Feldman, to learn more.

💈North Boulder staple since 1958 closing its doors

Featured stories

‘An institution in our neighborhood’s history’: Alpine Barbers, North Boulder staple since 1958, to close after losing lease