City of Boulder 2E – Increase Penalty for City Charter Violations

The proposed change to Section 151 of the city charter would impose a maximum $1000 fine for any violation of the city charter for which there isn’t already a penalty specified. Section 120 specifies the penalty for public utility companies failing to file annual reports with the city manager. The penalty would increase from the current $100 to $1000 with an additional fine for each subsequent day after the filing deadline has passed.

Recommendation: for

The Boulder Revised Code specifies a maximum fine of $1000 for violation of a rule. This charter change would align the two documents. I like clean-up measures especially if they simplify code, align the city with state or US code and move from specifics to generalities.

A previous version of this ballot issue proposed changing the penalty from $100 to “the same penalty applicable to other misdemeanors occurring within the city.” To me that wording makes more sense than specifying the exact amount of $1000. Section 150 of the city charter defines misdemeanor as a violation of an ordinance over which the municipal court has jurisdiction and “shall not have the meaning attached to it in the statutes of the state.”


City of Boulder Ballot Question No. 2E (Approved Ballot Language)

Change in Penalty for Violations of the City Charter

Shall Sections 120 and 151 of the Charter of the City of Boulder be amended as set forth in Ordinance No. 7800 to change the penalty for violating the Charter from $100 to $1000?
‐ For the measure
‐ Against the measure


See Ordinance No. 7800 to refer 2E to the voters.
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/files/Elections/2011/Ordinances/7800.pdf