Good Monday morning, Boulder. A Red Flag Warning is in effect today as strong winds and low humidity raise wildfire risk across the Front Range.
Before we jump into the news, a quick announcement: John Lehndorff’s Nibbles food column will soon have its very own BRL newsletter, bringing Boulder together around the table and into your inbox like only he can.
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Leading today’s edition: With Election Day approaching, Boulder’s political lines are largely drawn, but the policy stakes remain a bit murkier. One key issue: The city council race could shape pay for restaurant and bar workers. Several candidates say they’re open to raising the city’s tip credit, allowing employers to count more of workers’ tips toward the minimum wage — a move that could ease costs for businesses but lower take-home pay for some employees. Others say it’s too soon to revisit the issue. The dividing lines are sharp. John Herrick reports, and you can jump to where the candidates stand on the issue, in their own words.
In case you missed our coverage: Thousands filled downtown Boulder on Saturday for the “No Kings” protest. Read more + see photos.
Also today: Silvia Pettem looks back at how the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps built Boulder’s mountain roads and rebuilt lives with housing and jobs. As she notes, the CCC’s model of putting people to work on public projects seems worth revisiting as Boulder grapples with addressing homelessness, a challenge that’s hardly new here.
More, Below the Fold:
- No power shutoff: But Xcel warns outages may last longer.
- SNAP aid: Federal shutdown delays November benefits.
- Compost plan: Longmont ends land-swap talks but stays open to county partnership.
- Inbox rules: Boulder tightens council email, newsletter policies.
- Things to do: Ceramics, calligraphy, opera, spooky shows, casino night, climbing party + more.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Rob Kaplan is a Dad, former Firefighter and Captain, Founder of Pro Peloton Bike Shop, and an active Parks and Recreation Board Member. After years of service protecting the community as a Firefighter, he brings critical insight and experience in helping mitigate wildfires in Boulder. With experience as a small business owner and Board Member, Rob works to strengthen community spaces and support families while ensuring Boulder is prepared for the challenges ahead.
Boulder City Council election could decide future pay for tipped workers
Several candidates want to increase the “tip credit,” which lets employers count more of workers’ tips toward meeting the city’s minimum wage, potentially helping businesses but lowering take-home pay for some. Continue reading…
The New Deal program that built Boulder’s mountain roads — and rebuilt lives
Nearly a century later, Boulder still bears the marks and the lessons of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the federal relief program that put people back to work and gave them a place to live. Continue reading…
Thousands fill downtown Boulder for ‘No Kings’ protest: In pictures
Part of a nationwide day of action, demonstrators packed the Boulder Bandshell and surrounding streets to rally for democracy and reject authoritarianism. Continue reading…
Red Flag Warning, high winds expected today
Strong winds and dry conditions are expected to create critical fire weather across the Front Range and eastern plains Monday. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., covering the Denver metro, southern foothills and parts of east-central Colorado.
Wind gusts could reach 50 to 55 mph on the plains, with even stronger gusts — up to 75 mph — in the mountains. Relative humidity could drop to 15%, raising the risk of fast-moving wildfires. Residents are urged to avoid outdoor burning or spark-producing activities.
In Boulder, the high will reach around 58. Winds are expected to ease by late afternoon. Monday night will be mostly clear, with a low near 34.
Xcel won’t preemptively shut off power today but warns outages could last longer
After announcing Sunday afternoon it might proactively cut electricity to reduce wildfire risk, Xcel Energy changed course Sunday evening and said it no longer plans to shut off power in parts of Colorado on Monday. The decision came after updated forecasts showed lower wind speeds than initially expected.
The utility had been evaluating Public Safety Power Shutoffs — or PSPS — for several Front Range counties, including Boulder, due to extreme fire weather and high winds. That plan was canceled as wind speeds dropped in new modeling. This latest update is from Sunday evening; we’ll update today if anything changes.
We recently wrote about how Xcel promised clearer warnings and more coordination with local officials after a chaotic April 2024 shutoff left about 55,000 Boulder customers without power, causing business losses, confusion and a near-overflow at the city’s wastewater treatment plant.
Instead of a shutoff this time, Xcel is activating what it calls Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings, or EPSS, which allow power lines to shut off automatically if something like a branch hits a line. That could mean outages are more likely to occur — and may last longer than usual — as lines will stay off until crews inspect them. People who rely on powered medical equipment are encouraged to take precautions.
Federal shutdown delays November SNAP benefits
The federal government shutdown has paused November SNAP (food assistance) benefits for all households, according to Boulder County officials. The county will continue processing new applications and renewals so residents can receive aid once funding resumes, though payments may be delayed.
The timing comes as Boulder County’s major family resource centers already report surging demand for food assistance and warn the system is already stretched thin, we reported last week. The three organizations we covered expect to distribute more than 4 million pounds of food this year, even before the latest federal cuts and shutdown impacts take effect. “This is not sustainable,” said Sister Carmen’s executive director, Suzanne Crawford.
Meanwhile, open enrollment for health coverage will still begin Nov. 1, with free assistance available through the Boulder County Enrollment Center.
Land-swap talks collapse, but Longmont still wants to partner with Boulder County on compost site
The Longmont City Council has ended negotiations with construction company Amrize over a proposed land swap that could have cleared the way for a new county composting facility. But councilmembers reaffirmed their commitment to working with Boulder County to build one elsewhere on city property.
The council voted unanimously on Oct. 7 to halt discussions with Amrize, which leases the Distel and Tull properties for gravel operations. City Manager Harold Dominguez told councilmembers the company “failed to respond to numerous attempts for information.”
“The deal flipped on its head, and it’s more advantageous for us to not move forward,” Dominguez said.
The proposed swap would have transferred the Distel parcel from open space to city utilities, making it available for municipal use, including a compost site favored by staff for its limited ecological restoration potential compared to the other site on the swap, Tull. But residents raised concerns about possible underground contamination, impacts on eagle habitat, and noise and traffic from the facility. The project has implications beyond Longmont. The proposed facility was intended to help Boulder County solve a regional challenge: the lack of a local composting site. Read more on BRL.
Boulder adopts new rule on councilmembers’ use of emails for campaigns, newsletters
Boulder City Council has adopted changes to its procedural rules, including a proposal to bar councilmembers from using email addresses obtained in their official capacity for campaign purposes, personal newsletters or any communication unrelated to official council business. The proposal comes as several councilmembers publish personal newsletters and four incumbents are seeking reelection.
The proposed change stems from a 2023 complaint against former councilmember Bob Yates, who was accused of collecting city residents’ emails and adding them to his personal newsletter. He denied this allegation. A special counsel hired by the city found Yates did not violate the city’s code of conduct. (Yates became a columnist for Boulder Reporting Lab earlier this year).
The special council’s report recommended that the city “establish clear guidelines to all members of city council, and not harvest any emails of people who contact City Council for addition to any newsletters without express consent.”
This is not the only time the city has had to respond to questions about boundaries between official and personal communications by city councilmembers. In February, a complaint was filed against Councilmember Taishya Adams for blocking a resident from her Instagram page and not responding to requests by that same resident and two others to join a book club she organized. A special council ruled that Adams did not violate the city’s code of conduct.
☀️ 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.
Persian Calligraphy Workshop: Monday, Oct. 20, 5:00-7:00 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Read More
Ceramic Surface Decoration – 5 week course: Monday, Oct. 20, 6:30-9:00 p.m., Solid State Depot – The Boulder Makerspace, 5765 Arapahoe Ave Unit B. Read More
Trident Poetry Series: Screaming at America: An Anthology of Disobedience: Tuesday, Oct. 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Trident Booksellers & Cafe, 940 Pearl St. Read More
TEDxBoulderSalon: Boulder’s Housing Myths: Tuesday, Oct. 21, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave. Read More
Reapproaching Media and Migration with Motus Theater’s UndocuAmerica Project: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 6:00-7:00 p.m., The Center for Academic Success and Engagement Chancellor’s Hall, 1725 Euclid Ave. Read More
Jeff Wahl: An evening of guitar and storytelling: Thursday, Oct. 23, 7:00 p.m., Muse Performance Space, 200 East South Boulder Rd, Lafayette. Read More
Dead Man Walking opera: Friday, Oct. 24, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Macky Auditorium Hall, 1595 Pleasant St. Read More
DANGEROUS SUMMER with Bad Luck: Friday, Oct. 24, 8:00-11:45 p.m., Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St. Read More
Psychedelia: An Immersive Blacklight Climbing Party: Saturday, Oct. 25, 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., The Spot Climbing Gym, 3240 Prairie Ave. Read More
Sanitas History Hike: Saturday, Oct. 25, 1:00-3:15 p.m., Centennial Trailhead, 301 Sunshine Canyon Dr. Read More
Candlelight: Halloween Classics: Saturday, Oct. 25, 2:45-4:00 p.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church of Boulder, 1419 Pine St. Read More
Deals for Meals Casino Night: Saturday, Oct. 25, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Boulder Elks Lodge #566, 3975 28th St. Read More
Spooky Cabaret: Saturday, Oct. 25, 6:00-7:00 p.m., and 8:00-9:00 p.m., Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance, 3022 E. Sterling Circle. Read More
Cocktail Class: Scotch: Sunday, Oct. 26, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Nora’s Speakeasy, 957 Main Street, Louisville. Read More