Good Wednesday morning, Boulder.
Leading today: A battle is brewing in North Boulder over who should pay for an $8.4 million street and drainage project on Sumac Avenue. Some homeowners could be charged tens of thousands of dollars. One resident says his estimated bill exceeds $100,000 — a cost he says he cannot afford.
Residents argue that upgrades to a public road should be funded through taxes, while city officials point to decades-old annexation agreements that could require homeowners to share the cost. With the proposal ultimately headed to city council, the dispute is raising broader questions about infrastructure funding and fairness. Brooke Stephenson reports.
Also today: School may be out, but the debate over school closures continues. As the district considers possible elementary school closures and consolidations, parents across Boulder have organized to defend their schools. District leaders say the issue is not whether schools are successful, but whether the district can continue operating so many underenrolled buildings. That tension is at the heart of the debate. Jenna Sampson reports on two parent-led organizing efforts.
More, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Windy, hot day before a cooler Thursday.
- Fire: Restrictions ease across eastern Boulder County.
- Water: Boulder Reservoir levels expected to remain normal.
- Wildfire: New guide urges homeowners to ditch junipers.
- Planning: Artists help imagine Boulder’s next decade.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Rachel Friend is an attorney and former Boulder Mayor Pro Tem running for Boulder County Treasurer. For the past decade, Friend has championed affordability, transparency, and responsible fiscal stewardship in local government. She is endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, DA Michael Dougherty, Mayor Aaron Brockett, Senator Judy Amabile and many other local leaders. Learn more at friendfortreasurer.com.
Boulder homeowners could be charged up to $90,000 each for a street project. Many are fighting back.
Residents say they support repairing Sumac Avenue but object to being asked to pay for part of an $8.4 million project under decades-old annexation agreements. Continue reading…
As Boulder Valley School District weighs closures, parents organize to save their schools
Parents are working to prove their schools are worth saving. District leaders say that may not be what ultimately decides which schools remain open. Continue reading…
Downslope gusts and upper‑80s warmth
Boulder ends up on the dry and windy side of things today. We’re catching the southern edge of some unusually strong mid‑June westerly flow, which means downslope winds will make a triumphant return. Expect frequent gusts in the 25-35 mph range under full sunshine. It will be hot, too, with highs pushing into the upper 80s. Much of Colorado is under Red Flag Warnings, but not here in Boulder County where fuel moisture is adequate thanks to our soggy month of May.
A blustery cold front will sweep through tonight, dropping us into the lower 50s by morning. Tomorrow runs noticeably cooler, topping out in the upper 70s with mostly sunny skies.
The heat bounces right back Friday with highs near 90 degrees, plus more wind and elevated fire danger across the state.
Our next chance of thunderstorms comes late Saturday as another storm approaches. Cooler, more unsettled weather is likely beginning Sunday.
Fire restrictions lifted in eastern Boulder County
Stage 1 fire restrictions have been lifted in eastern unincorporated Boulder County after wildfire danger eased, Boulder County officials announced Tuesday.
Restrictions remain in effect in western Boulder County, including mountain and foothill communities, where fire risk remains elevated. In those areas, open fires are only allowed in permanent fire pits and grates at developed recreation sites. Fireworks, recreational shooting outside of lawful hunting, smoking outside of buildings or vehicles, and parking in grassy areas remain prohibited.
Despite dry winter, Boulder Reservoir levels expected to remain normal this summer
Despite record-low winter precipitation and ongoing drought conditions, Boulder Reservoir is expected to maintain normal water levels throughout the summer, according to reservoir manager Stacy Cole.
“Our levels will be normal all summer,” Cole said.
The outlook contrasts with nearby Union Reservoir, which recently announced its swim beach will be limited to wading this season because of low water levels. Cole said Boulder Reservoir could see an increase in visitors as a result.
In addition to recreation, Boulder Reservoir supports irrigation for farmers in unincorporated Boulder County and provides water to Erie and Lafayette. The reservoir is managed jointly by the City of Boulder and Northern Water. Read more on BRL.
Boulder’s new wildfire guide says: Ditch the junipers, rethink mulch and create a buffer around your home
A new City of Boulder guide is urging homeowners to take a closer look at what they’re planting, and where.
The city’s new wildfire-resilient landscaping guide, released this week, offers practical recommendations for reducing wildfire risk around homes, including replacing highly flammable plants such as junipers, creating a noncombustible zone immediately around structures and spacing trees and shrubs to prevent fire from spreading.
Among the recommendations: Avoid planting new conifers near homes, use low-flammability plants, keep vegetation from becoming overcrowded and choose mulch materials that retain moisture and are less likely to ignite. The guide also encourages homeowners to remove plants that contain volatile oils and resins, which can burn intensely during a wildfire.
The effort builds on landscaping rules approved by Boulder City Council earlier this year that banned new juniper plantings, restricted high-water-use turf and emphasized landscaping practices designed to improve both wildfire resilience and water conservation. City officials say the recommendations draw on lessons from the Marshall Fire and are intended to help homeowners create landscapes that are both fire-smart and better adapted to hotter, drier conditions.
What does Boulder’s future look like? Artists took a crack at it.
An exhibit highlighting the role artists played in the latest Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update is on display at the Canyon Gallery in Boulder’s Main Library through July 26. An opening reception is scheduled for June 17 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Titled “Experiments in Public Art: A Boulder Future,” the exhibit features creative projects used to gather community input for the city and county’s once-a-decade planning update. The 2026 update marks the first time artists were formally integrated into the process.
Featured works include a live theater project based on community feedback, a children’s book about planning concepts and a large-scale mural. Artwork from the effort also appears in the plan itself.
Final hearings on the comprehensive plan begin this month, including a June 11 hearing before the County Planning Commission and Boulder County commissioners.
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