Good Friday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by the Chautauqua Association — celebrate their fifth annual, free Festival Del Sol this Sunday, Sept. 21, with live music, food, dance, hikes and more.
Leading today’s edition: Boulder City Council last night approved a new “festival lodging” license, intended only for the Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027, John Herrick reports. The ordinance drops the owner-occupancy rule, opens ADUs and affordable housing units to short-term rentals, and could add more than 1,000 listings to help absorb tens of thousands of visitors. Some councilmembers raised concerns about housing impacts, while others said the changes balance protecting long-term housing with accommodating Sundance crowds. A final vote, expected to pass, is scheduled for Oct. 9.
Separately, council also passed a first-of-its-kind ordinance requiring developers to provide ongoing transit benefits for tenants.
And with city elections coming up Nov. 4, don’t miss Silvia Pettem’s look back at another pivotal vote: November 1917, when Boulder adopted a council-manager system of government. The shift brought in Edward O. Heinrich, a former California police chief, as the city’s first manager, and elected Ida M. Campbell — a 57-year-old widow and clubwoman — as Boulder’s first female councilmember. It marked the city’s entry into the progressive era and helps explain why today the city council has less executive power than strong mayor cities like Denver.
More, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Summer warmth makes a weekend comeback.
- Siren test: Boulder County to sound 20 new alarms this morning.
- Transit rule: Developers must fund EcoPasses, bike- and car-share.
- Reservoir warning: Algae bloom spotted; keep dogs out.
- Startup surge: CU Boulder ranked No. 1 in the U.S.
- Planning survey: 5,000 Boulder households selected.
- Wildfire work: Youth Corps crews to aid underserved residents.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Celebrate the fifth annual Festival Del Sol at Chautauqua this Sunday, September 21! This free, family-friendly, and bilingual Latin festival brings the community together with live music, food and market vendors, dance lessons, guided hikes, and more. Don’t miss this vibrant day of culture, connection, and celebration at the base of the Flatirons!
Boulder City Council approves new short-term rental licenses intended just for Sundance
The ordinance eliminates the owner-occupancy rule and allows ADUs and affordable housing units to be rented during the Sundance Film Festival, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors to Boulder. Continue reading…
How a clubwoman and a former police chief ushered Boulder’s city council into the progressive era
In 1918, widow and clubwoman Ida M. Campbell joined reformer Edward O. Heinrich in reshaping Boulder politics with the city’s first council–manager system. Continue reading…
Warmth returns for a mostly dry weekend
After a stretch of cooler days, Boulder’s weather is ready to flip the script heading into the weekend. Friday brings a few more clouds overhead, but highs will still climb into the low 80s. Saturday and Sunday follow suit — warm, mostly dry and perfect for getting outside. Expect highs in the low to mid 80s, with just a slim chance of a late-day storm popping up.
Early next week, we’re keeping an eye on a system sliding down from Canada. It could spark some storms late Monday into Tuesday and usher in a noticeable cooldown. Highs will likely dip into the 70s. And if that cooler air really settles in, we might even see some 60s.
Happening this morning: Newly installed outdoor warning sirens to be tested
Boulder County will test 20 new outdoor warning sirens today, Friday, Sept. 19, at 10 a.m. The three-minute systemwide test will include beeps, a voice message, a siren tone, and a closing voice message confirming, “This is a test.”
The sirens have been installed in Eldorado Springs, Erie, Jamestown, Lafayette, Louisville, Lyons, Marshall and Superior. They’re designed to alert people outdoors to weather emergencies, wildfires, or hazardous materials incidents.
While you’re at it, check out our explainer on how to make sure you’re fully signed up for emergency alerts.
New Boulder ordinance makes developers pay for transit incentives
Boulder City Council on Thursday, Sept. 18, approved an ordinance requiring developers to pay into an escrow account for transportation benefits, such as RTD EcoPasses and bike and car share credits. The change is expected to increase construction costs for commercial and housing projects, while boosting funding to help people get around without driving.
The goal is to minimize the impacts of new development on the city’s transportation system and enable more people to avoid driving vehicles. The policy follows the city’s repeal of parking minimums, which was part of a broader effort to reduce housing costs and rethink car-centric streets that left an excess of parking.
Currently, as a condition of approval, the city typically requires developers to contribute to an escrow account that tenants use primarily for EcoPasses. However, many of those payments expire after three years with no requirement to continue them, according to Chris Hagelin, a senior transportation planner for the city.
The new ordinance requires annual, ongoing payments from developers or property owners when a project exceeds certain size thresholds. The money would then be disbursed to tenants for amenities like EcoPasses and others. It could also fund a “transportation wallet” used to pay residents not to drive. Read more on BRL.
City warns of algae bloom in Boulder Reservoir
The City of Boulder is warning residents to stay out of Boulder Reservoir after a potentially harmful algae bloom, or cyanobacteria, was detected. Dogs should also be kept out of the water.
The advisory comes exactly one year after the city issued a nearly identical warning. Cyanobacteria can produce toxins that are dangerous for people and pets. Anglers are advised to clean fish thoroughly and discard waste properly.
While the swim beach is closed for the season, boats are still allowed. Officials recommend avoiding areas where blooms are visible, and advisory signs will remain posted through Oct. 31 due to the high risk of recurrence.
CU Boulder tops U.S. ranking for university startups
CU Boulder has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for launching startups based on university discoveries, according to the Association of University Technology Managers, the university announced this week. The campus spun out a record 35 companies in fiscal 2024, more than any other U.S. university.
The startups include Mana Battery, developing sodium-based batteries for sustainable energy storage; Flari Tech, using Nobel Prize-winning technology to detect disease via breath; and Mesa Quantum, building next-generation chip-scale atomic clocks and sensors.
A Boulder planning survey might be in your mailbox
The City of Boulder and Boulder County are seeking community input as they update the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. Beginning this week, 5,000 randomly selected households will receive a survey by mail, with one adult per household asked to complete it. A companion questionnaire open to all community members will be available online Sept. 22-Oct. 17 at ABoulderFuture.org.
The Comprehensive Plan, first adopted in 1977 and updated once a decade, serves as a roadmap for how the Boulder area grows, addresses climate change and supports an inclusive local economy. A draft update is expected in spring 2026.
Youth Corps to lead wildfire mitigation projects
This fall, Mile High Youth Corps is offering free wildfire mitigation services for underserved residents in Boulder County. Funded by the Wildfire Mitigation Sales Tax, crews will work in Allenspark, Coal Creek, Lafayette and Louisville.
Projects include removing juniper, clearing debris, and creating defensible space around homes to reduce wildfire risk. The work is part of Wildfire Partners’ Youth Helping Underserved Individuals and Communities program, in partnership with Nederland nonprofit TEENS, Inc.
The program follows a summer effort in which youth crews completed wildfire mitigation at more than 40 homes, including two mobile home parks. BRL reported in December that hundreds of Marshall Fire–damaged mobile homes remain unrepaired three years later, leaving many residents still waiting for help.
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