Good Wednesday morning, Boulder.
Leading today’s edition: A dark money group — meaning it doesn’t disclose its donors — that’s known for spending heavily in recent Denver and Aurora city elections explored involvement in Boulder’s 2025 city council race before deciding not to get involved. One Main Street, which has recently faced scrutiny for agreeing to fund a Vail retreat attended by state lawmakers and lobbyists, contacted local candidates in August about possible endorsements but later stepped back. The outreach is the latest sign that outside political groups are showing growing interest in potentially trying to influence Boulder’s historically low-spending, nonpartisan elections. Brooke Stephenson reports.
In this week’s Nibbles: Which Boulder restaurants actually live their farm-to-table values? More are earning Slow Food’s Snail of Approval for regenerative farming, fair labor and community impact. John Lehndorff spotlights the local winners. Plus, buttery perfection at Dry Storage, Bobby Stuckey’s Julia Child Award and oyster-fest season at Jax.
Reminder: In a few weeks, John’s column will be email-newsletter-only! Nibbles is getting its own newsletter. To get it, add your email here, or just reply to this email with “opt in.” If you already did, thank you, you’re on the list.
More, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Mild, calm day ahead with highs near 70.
- Wildfire prep: Mitigation work starts at Wonderland Lake.
- Compost crunch: County study out, feedback sought.
- Transit gap: RTD still $1B short on FasTracks.
- Health signup: Insurance enrollment opens Nov. 1.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
I am running for a third term on Boulder’s City Council. I have brought a steady, pragmatic voice to Council and have been a moderate, focused on work that will directly impact the people of Boulder. I do not shy away from tough issues or difficult votes. I am focused on public safety, sound financial management and an aggressive approach to wildfire resilience. My approach is always practical and results-driven in order to move Boulder forward.
Dark money group weighed involvement in Boulder City Council 2025 election
One Main Street, a political group that has spent heavily to back moderate Democrats in other Colorado races, explored engaging in Boulder’s city elections this year before deciding to step back. Continue reading…
Nibbles: Which Boulder restaurants truly walk the farm-to-table talk?
Slow Food’s Snail of Approval honors local spots living their sustainability values. Plus, a chocolate-croissant obsession at Dry Storage, Bobby Stuckey’s Julia Child Award and what’s cooking at Jax Fish House and Gold Hill Inn. Continue reading…
Sunshine holds steady
Boulder will enjoy another calm, comfortable day as we remain nestled between weather systems beneath a ridge of high pressure. Expect mostly sunny skies, light winds and highs near 70, just about ideal for a fall afternoon. Tonight, temperatures will dip to around 40 with clouds increasing.
Looking ahead to Thursday, a weak storm will skirt across southern Colorado. It’s too small and too far south to bring much our way, but we’ll see much more cloud cover and perhaps a stray shower. Most of the activity is likely to stay south of Denver. Across the high mountains, a couple inches of snow are possible.
Wildfire mitigation project coming to Wonderland Lake area
A series of wildfire mitigation efforts are planned for the Wonderland Lake area in North Boulder, including cattle grazing, perimeter mowing and the removal of juniper trees on city-owned land. The project will also extend to nearby private properties, supporting home-hardening and defensible space improvements through partnerships with residents.
The work is part of a cross-boundary effort funded by Boulder County’s Strategic Fuels Mitigation Grant, which aims to reduce wildfire risk across both public and private land. “By aligning work across city departments and partnering with residents, we can reduce wildfire risk more effectively than any one group could achieve alone,” said Paul Dennison, the city’s wildland fire senior program manager.
Work is expected to begin this winter and continue for about three years as part of the city’s broader wildfire ready initiative. If successful, officials say the model could be replicated in other high-risk areas across Boulder.
County releases full compost facility study — and looks for public feedback
Boulder County has released the full compost facility feasibility study, offering a detailed look at what it would take to build a regional composting site that keeps food and yard waste local instead of trucking it 50 miles to A1 Organics.
The study finds a county-run, privately operated facility could process 63,000 tons of material a year — a 20,000-ton increase over current composting — and generate millions in annual revenue. The recommended model uses aerated static pile composting, praised for its smaller footprint and odor control.
The study initially focused on Longmont’s Distel property as the top site, but that land is no longer available. County and city officials are now exploring the nearby Tull property in Weld County and other potential locations.
Residents can ask questions and share feedback at a public meeting Nov. 17, 5-7 p.m. at the Boulder County Recycling Center, or via the online form.
RTD faces $1.1 billion gap to finish promised FasTracks rail lines
RTD’s long-running FasTracks program, a 2004 voter-approved transit expansion meant to transform mobility across the Denver metro area, remains billions short of completion two decades later. The program set out to build more than 120 miles of new commuter and light rail, nearly 20 miles of bus rapid transit, and dozens of transit hubs.
A recent 2025 Finishing FasTracks draft report, released in response to a state mandate under Senate Bill 24-230, details how RTD plans to complete the unfinished corridors — including the long-promised Northwest Rail to Boulder and Longmont — by 2034. The report estimates it would cost $1.6 billion, but RTD has identified just $441 million in potential funding through 2034, leaving a $1.1 billion shortfall.
Lawmakers required RTD to submit this plan after years of stalled progress. The report updates cost projections, identifies possible revenue sources and outlines new funding challenges driven by inflation and competing statewide needs.
Health insurance enrollment opens Nov. 1
Open enrollment for Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s health insurance marketplace, begins Nov. 1 with several changes affecting financial assistance and plan options. Premiums are expected to rise as federal funds expire, and cost-sharing reductions — such as lower deductibles and co-pays — will also decrease.
The Colorado Premium Assistance program will now provide monthly premium discounts for households earning 100-400% of the federal poverty level. OmniSalud, which offers coverage for undocumented Coloradans, will continue but with fewer low-cost plans and a lottery system for renewal.
Boulder County Health Coverage Guides offer free, confidential help with enrollment in person or online. Email HealthCoverage@bouldercounty.gov or call 303-441-4530 to schedule an appointment.
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