Good Wednesday morning, Boulder. Let’s dive into local election and other news:
Given the stakes of the Nov. 5 presidential election, local voter turnout is expected to be high. While no city council seats are up this year — four will be in 2025, ahead of Boulder’s shift to even-year elections — there are three local ballot measures you’ll want to know about. John Herrick breaks them down today, covering what’s at stake for each.
Later this week, we’ll publish our mini election guide — emphasis on mini — since most local races were decided in the primary, including all Colorado House and Senate races representing the City of Boulder and most countywide races.
In other news: The city confirmed the South Boulder Rec Center won’t be renovated. As infrastructure like sewer lines and boilers fail, parts or all of the building will close. The big question now is whether the city will fund a replacement or send South Boulder residents to other rec centers.
Finally: Boulder’s airport manager heads to Northern Colorado, no lead found in city water lines, CU instrument launches on NASA mission, Vesper Trail opens, Halloween drive-in movies return, and more.
Thanks for reading, and see you Friday,
— Brooke, reporter
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Featured stories
2024 City of Boulder election: Ballot measures on council pay, privacy and powers over boards explained
Boulder voters will weigh in on three ballot measures addressing councilmember salaries, executive sessions and oversight of city boards and commissions in the upcoming Nov. 5 election. Continue reading…
South Boulder Rec Center building is failing and nearing the end. Will the city replace it?
One thing is certain: Renovating the 50-year-old building isn’t an option. A new facility may hinge on a future local ballot measure, as the city has already sought community input on the next steps. Continue reading…
In other news
Rain and cooler temps arrive as bears bulk up for hibernation
After weeks of clear skies, today will turn cloudy by afternoon, with a good chance of rain. Thursday follows a similar pattern, with sunny mornings and highs in the 70s before clouds roll in. By Friday and Saturday, expect temperatures to drop into the 50s. Hello, autumn.
Meanwhile, as bear season approaches, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is urging residents to secure trash and livestock. Bears are actively bulking up for hibernation, and habitat loss, along with climate change, is pushing more of them into urban areas. A local effort, highlighted on NPR by Sam Fuqua, is helping mitigate the problem by harvesting fruit before bears can reach it. Boulder’s Community Fruit Rescue has collected over 14 tons of apples this year, reducing attractants like fruit and garbage. Colorado is home to 17,000-20,000 black bears, and while they usually avoid humans, their need to fatten up often overrides caution this time of year.
Boulder’s airport manager departs for Northern Colorado Regional Airport position
John Kinney, Boulder’s airport manager, will leave his position on Oct. 25 to become the director of the Northern Colorado Regional Airport, which is jointly managed by Loveland and Fort Collins.
Kinney joined the City of Boulder in December 2021 with decades of experience in airport operations. His tenure coincided with a period of uncertainty at the Boulder Municipal Airport, including debates over its future and since-rescinded ballot measures that proposed closing the facility to repurpose the land for housing. Meanwhile, the city is suing the Federal Aviation Administration in a lawsuit that will help clarify the legal and financial implications of potentially closing the airport.
In contrast, Northern Colorado Regional Airport, located in Loveland, handles about 100,000 annual operations — roughly double that of Boulder’s airport — and is poised for expansion.
“While I was not seeking other opportunities, the more I heard about the issues facing Northern Colorado’s Regional Airport (FNL) the more my interest was piqued,” Kinney said in an emailed statement to Boulder Reporting Lab. “I was particularly intrigued by FNL’s substantive and exciting work including, to mention a few, activating a new airline terminal, widening their runway to accommodate the next generation of aircraft, and working to certify one of only two ‘virtual towers’ in the nation.” Read more on BRL.
Carbon dioxide leak closes North Boulder Recreation Center
The North Boulder Recreation Center was evacuated and closed Tuesday after Boulder Fire-Rescue responded to a report of a natural gas smell around 10:30 a.m. Upon investigation, elevated levels of carbon dioxide were found, likely due to an overfilled CO2 tank or a faulty valve in the pool system. No injuries were reported, but the facility remained closed for the rest of the day, Oct. 15, for repairs. CO2 is used to balance pH levels in the pool water. The rec center will open late this morning at 9:30 a.m.
Boulder finds no lead in water lines, will investigate fewer than 60 unverified lines
The City of Boulder has released its annual Drinking Water Quality Report and completed an inventory of its water service lines to meet state and federal regulations. No lead lines were found — Boulder’s water lines have been made from copper since the 1950s — but fewer than 60 lines lack historic records and will require further investigation.
The inventory, which began in 2022, aims to ensure no Boulder water customers have lead service lines. The U.S. EPA has determined there is no safe level of lead exposure in drinking water, as even small amounts can cause lifelong health damage, especially for children, who may suffer delayed development and learning problems. The city has also published an interactive map for residents to check the service lines near their homes.
CU Boulder instrument launches aboard NASA’s Europa Clipper mission
On Monday, as NASA’s Falcon Heavy rocket launched from Kennedy Space Center, scientists at CU Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) cheered for the Europa Clipper mission. Among the instruments on board is the Europa Surface Dust Analyzer (SUDA), a $53 million device designed and built by LASP researchers to help answer one of humanity’s biggest questions: Could life exist beyond Earth?
Developed over nearly two decades, SUDA will analyze dust particles ejected from Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa, by micrometeorite collisions. The data could offer insights into the moon’s potential habitability. “SUDA will provide a unique way to explore Europa’s surface without landing on it,” said Dr. Sascha Kempf, SUDA’s principal investigator. “What we learn could answer fundamental questions about life beyond Earth.”
Chancellor Justin Schwartz praised CU’s contribution, calling SUDA “a remarkable instrument embarking on an amazing journey of discovery.” Read more on LASP.
City opens Vesper Trail after burrowing owl nesting success
The City of Boulder has opened the new Vesper Trail near 75th Street and Lookout Road after two pairs of burrowing owls successfully raised eight owlets. The trail had been temporarily closed during the breeding season to protect the federally protected species.. The new trail is part of efforts to improve both visitor experience and wildlife habitat on Gunbarrel Hill.
Halloween drive-in movies return to Boulder Reservoir
Boulder’s annual Halloween drive-in movies are back at the Boulder Reservoir on Friday, Oct. 18, and Friday, Oct. 25. The featured films are Addams Family (2019) on Oct. 18 and Beetlejuice (1988) on Oct. 25. Movies start at 7:30 p.m., with two screens to accommodate more attendees this year. Admission is $10 per car, and each guest will receive a goody bag. Tickets can be purchased online or at one of the city’s rec centers.Dogs are allowed on leash and food is allowed provided you pack it out.
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