📝 Five commissioners? Boulder County measure likely headed to ballot

Good Wednesday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by Downtown Boulder Partnership. Pearl Street Arts Fest returns July 17-19, transforming the Pearl Street Mall into an outdoor gallery with more than 100 juried artists from across the country.

Leading today, a scooplet: Boulder County voters are likely headed for a high-stakes decision in November after supporters of a proposal to expand the county commission from three members to five submitted more than 18,000 signatures Tuesday — well above the number needed to qualify for the ballot if verified. Backers say a larger commission would improve representation and better serve the county’s 330,000 residents. If the signatures are validated, voters will decide both whether to expand the commission and how the additional seats would be elected. Brooke Stephenson reports.

Curious about the future of local journalism? Join Boulder Reporting Lab Publisher Stacy Feldman and KGNU Station Manager Tim Russo for a free conversation, moderated by Boulder Bookstore’s Arsen Kashkashian, Friday at 2 p.m. Friday at Boulder Bookstore.

Plus more, Below the Fold:

BoulderCAST: Mid-90s through the weekend before moisture returns.
Boulder Falls: City plans safer overlook for reopening.
Climate grants: Boulder County offers up to $400,000 for local climate projects.
Victim advocates: Boulder County seeks volunteers to support crime victims.

Thanks, as always, for reading,

– The BRL team

Support our Boulder journalism

Pearl Street Arts Fest returns July 17-19 for its 49th year in downtown Boulder. Stroll the Pearl Street Mall as it becomes a lively outdoor gallery showcasing 100+ juried artists from across the country. From bold sculpture and fine photography to handcrafted jewelry and mixed media, there’s something for every art lover. Bring friends, bring family and experience one of Colorado’s most iconic summer celebrations of creativity, culture, and community.

Measure to expand Boulder County commission from three to five members likely headed to November ballot

Big Tent Boulder County submitted more than 18,000 signatures to place the measure on the November ballot. The county has up to 30 days to verify the petitions. Continue reading…

Sponsor Content

Boulder Community Health Foundation raises $1.7 million at Spring Gala for Foothills Hospital Family Birth Center remodel

With nearly 350 dedicated supporters and sponsors in attendance, the Boulder community showed its heart, coming together to help create a more modern, family-centered care environment for generations to come. Continue reading…

Mid‑90s are locked in through the weekend

Heat is still the headline in Boulder, and it’s not going anywhere soon. A big, stubborn dome of high pressure remains camped over most of the country, keeping us locked into a hot, dry and relentlessly sunny pattern.

Very dry air hangs over eastern Colorado, meaning plenty of blue sky but also elevated fire danger. Highs will reach near 94 in Boulder today, and we’ll more-or-less repeat that sizzling number through the rest of the workweek. A few isolated mountain storms may pop way out past the Divide, but they’ll be more about lightning than rain, not great news for fire starts.

Overnight lows will stay warm, hovering in the mid‑60s.

As we roll into the weekend, the heat won’t back off — if anything, it will dial upward with mid to upper 90s looking likely.

A real pattern shift arrives late in the weekend into early next week as monsoon moisture finally starts to creep into Boulder County. First as a trickle Sunday, then a more meaningful push Monday and Tuesday. Rain chances jump, clouds increase, and temperatures should finally start easing down.

—BoulderCAST

Boulder begins planning safer viewing area for Boulder Falls reopening

Boulder Falls, a popular viewing area and climbing access point, has been closed since a late 2024 rockfall damaged critical infrastructure. Now, city officials are beginning work on plans that could eventually allow the site to reopen.

Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks is seeking an engineering partner to develop a conceptual plan for a new viewing platform, according to the Open Space Board of Trustees’ July meeting. The new platform would be located near the entrance to Boulder Falls, outside the hazardous rockfall zone. Staff hope to present an initial design before the end of the year. There is currently no timeline for construction, and work is not expected to begin before 2027.

Boulder Falls received about 261,000 visits in 2023. Rockfall barriers and erosion nets have been in place since 1993, but the site has frequently been closed because of ongoing rockfall hazards. A 2009 flash flood left the area closed for years, and construction to reopen it cost $1.23 million. In November 2024, a rockfall spilled tons of rock onto the trail, with larger boulders continuing to bounce downslope. Consultants concluded that Boulder Falls faces a high risk of ongoing rockfall events. The threat of serious injury or death has kept the site closed ever since.

Boulder County offers up to $400K for community climate projects

Boulder County is accepting applications for up to $2 million in grant funding to support community-led climate projects, with individual awards ranging from $20,000 to $400,000. The Climate Equity Fund is open to grassroots organizations and community leaders working on initiatives such as clean energy, food justice, emergency preparedness and climate education. Applications are due Aug. 31.

To help applicants, the county will begin offering weekly virtual and in-person office hours on July 14, along with an in-person networking event from noon to 1:30 p.m. July 20 at the Boulder County Historic Courthouse. The county has also posted an applicant guide, webinar recordings in English and Spanish, and other resources online. The fund awarded more than $2 million to 15 projects in its first year in 2025.

Boulder County seeks volunteer victim advocates to support people in crisis

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office is recruiting volunteer victim advocates to provide emotional support and practical assistance to people affected by crime, trauma or other emergencies.

No previous experience is required. Volunteers must be at least 21 years old and able to remain calm, compassionate and nonjudgmental in difficult situations. Training consists of 40 hours held on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings from Sept. 8-26.

Volunteers can serve either as on-scene advocates, responding to hospitals, police stations and other locations to support victims during an immediate crisis, or as outreach advocates, who follow up with victims to provide information, referrals and community resources. Applications are due Aug. 14.

Remembering June Clark, lifelong adventurer, gifted illustrator and Ted’s copilot in every sense

Remembering Judy Walker, devoted advocate for children, bridge Life Master and cherished friend

☀️ 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 in our Thursday Culture Club newsletter, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.