Although the proponents of “No Eviction Without Representation” began collecting signatures before the pandemic, the pandemic’s economic downturn has certainly heightened awareness of the issue. Early on in the pandemic, an eviction moratorium and some rental assistance were set in place, and recently Gov Polis established an Eviction Prevention Task Force which will issue recommendations probably in early October.
In normal times a tenant’s failure to pay rent can land the tenant in county court. The landlord, who has to serve the tenant with official documents, often has legal representation, while the tenant who is struggling to pay rent probably cannot afford an attorney. Legal representation for a tenant may not prevent an eviction, but it can often buy time for the tenant to scrounge up money for late rent or to find another living situation and avoid a black mark on the tenant’s record.
Under 2B landlords would be taxed $75 for each rental unit. Originally the revenue was called a fee and dedicated only to legal representation, including a coordinator to administer the program and an oversight committee. City council wanted some money to go to rental assistance also and the proponents agreed. Negotiations turned the fee into a tax so it would be “legally defensible” in our TABOR world.
Recommendation: Yes/For
We all know that Boulder is an expensive rental market. The proponents modeled 2B after San Francisco’s 2018 Prop F, which passed 56% to 44%.
Boulder does not have rent control like San Francisco so some people question the need for this measure and worry that the city will be on the hook for any tenant attorney costs over the $1.9M collected annually. We don’t know what the actual costs will be but the tenants’ committee and coordinator will be monitoring that information.
Opponents argue that the $75 tax per year will get passed on to renters, but $6.25/month seems like a rounding error more than a rent increase.
Information will help even out the current power imbalance. An attorney can explain the process to the tenant but in the end the tenant and landlord still have to settle their contract dispute.
The proponents were unhappy that Boulder Housing Partners (BHP), which manages 1,400 affordable housing units for the city, would be exempt from the $75 tax. BHP was described as “one of the biggest evictors in the city.”
Website for the Yes side – No Eviction Without Representation
https://www.newrboulder.com/
Website for the No side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.
Approved Ballot Language (in the city of Boulder format)
City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2B
No Eviction Without Representation
Shall the City of Boulder’s taxes be increased annually by one million, nine hundred thousand ($1,900,000.00) (first full fiscal year increase) commencing on Jan. 1, 2021, and by whatever additional amounts are raised annually thereafter from an excise tax to be paid by landlords on dwelling units with rental licenses in the amount of $75 per year, with the tax rate increasing every year thereafter at a rate that does not exceed the Colorado consumer price index on each rental license for a dwelling unit that is issued by the city;
and in connection therewith, shall all of the revenues collected be used to fund:
• the administrative cost of the tax, and thereafter to
• establish, run and fully fund a program to provide legal representation to tenants who face the loss of housing in eviction and administrative proceedings;
• provide a tenant’s legal services and assistance coordinator to administer the program;
• create a tenants’ committee comprised of five members paid a $1,000 per year stipend; and
• provide rental assistance for persons that are vulnerable to eviction; and
shall the full proceeds of such taxes at such rates and any earnings thereon be collected, retained, and spent, as a voter-approved revenue change without limitation or condition, and without limiting the collection, retention, or spending of any other revenues or funds by the City of Boulder under Article X Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution or any other law?
YES/FOR _____
NO/AGAINST _____
Ordinance No. 8412 to put issue 2B to the voters
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/o-8412_3rd_rdg-1-202009101508.pdf?_ga=2.232524247.954903512.1600536510-1345314453.1596765451
Monday, October 5, 2020
Sunday, October 4, 2020
City of Boulder 2C – New Xcel Franchise Agreement After a 10-Year Lapse
The 2C ballot language consists of 61 words, but don’t let that fool you. The proposed 20-year Franchise Agreement is 38 pages long and is part of a larger proposed Settlement Agreement. (See the links at the bottom of this page.)
In 2010 the city of Boulder chose not to renew a franchise agreement with Xcel. Nevertheless, Xcel was required to continue providing electricity until the city formed its own municipal electric utility or entered into an agreement with a different investor-owned utility.
Municipalization came up again on the ballot in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 with the municipalization proponents prevailing each time. The city even created its own municipal utility in name only.
This summer a group called End the Muni tried to get a measure on the ballot to end the municipalization effort. Although End the Muni did not collect enough signatures, the city council on a 2nd-reading vote of 6 to 2 (with one member absent) referred a similar measure to the ballot.
Empower Our Future, a group that supports the municipalization efforts, is unhappy with the city’s proposed Franchise Agreement and the process. This ballot measure is essentially a go/no go vote on municipalization. We have learned much about the costs of municipalization, but Empower Our Future feels that the city is not fulfilling a promise to inform the citizens of the “final costs” of municipalization before calling for go/no go vote. Their argument leans on the 2017 measure 2O – Vote Prior to Municipalization Construction Debt.
Under the proposed Settlement Agreement most litigation would cease, undergrounding investment to improve reliability would restart, and the city would maintain the option to terminate the franchise at several specified times in the future, particularly if certain emissions reduction targets are not met.
In legal documents the name Xcel is more properly called by the utility subsidiary’s name, Public Service Company of Colorado.
Recommendation: leaning yes/leaning for
Our 21st-century effort to create a municipal electric utility has run into many legal and regulatory stumbling blocks and cost tens of millions of dollars, including the need to borrow from the general fund. (See companion ballot measure 2D.) Some long-time proponents of municipalization believe that the proposed Franchise Agreement is the best deal we can get.
On the other hand, Empower Our Future feels that the proposed Franchise Agreement (pFA) has been rushed and is too risky, giving Xcel the upper hand. They point to responses to a 2018 Request for Indicative Pricing that shows “local power” energy suppliers could provide Boulder with more renewable electricity at less cost than Xcel. The community choice aggregation (muni-lite) option might have become a reality in Colorado via Boulder Rep Edie Hooton’s bill HB20-1064 but, like many other bills this year, it did not survive the pandemic.
A different 2019 bill with Boulder co-sponsors Sen Steve Fenberg and House Speaker KC Becker addressed greenhouse gases. SB19-236 requires retail utilities with more than half a million customers in Colorado, such as Xcel, to reduce carbon emissions by 2030 to 80% of 2005 levels.
If you continue to strongly support a city municipal utility and want to be free of Xcel, you should vote against this measure. Given the uncertain economic and health situation we are in at the moment, an ongoing municipalization effort seems to be a low priority for the city right now and will likely fall off the radar if the proposed Franchise Agreement is passed.
Website for the Yes side – End the Muni
http://endthemuni.org/
Website for the No side – Empower Our Future
https://empowerourfuture.org/
Approved Ballot Language
City of Boulder Ballot Question 2C
Public Service Company Franchise
Shall the City of Boulder grant a franchise to Public Service Company of Colorado to furnish, sell and distribute gas and electricity to the city and to all persons, businesses, and industries within the city and the right to make reasonable use of all streets and other public places and public easements as may be necessary as described in Ordinance 8410?
YES/FOR ____
NO/AGAINST ____
Ordinance 8410 to put 2C to the voters. Exhibit A included in the ordinance is the proposed Franchise Agreement.
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/Ord_8410_-_Franchise_Agreement-1-202008281144.pdf?_ga=2.187918700.518549467.1599345017-1345314453.1596765451
City of Boulder’s webpage for question 2C
https://bouldercolorado.gov/elections/2020-ballot-measure-public-service-company-franchise
City’s webpage on the details of the proposed Xcel Settlement
https://bouldercolorado.gov/local-power/potential-settlement-xcel-energy
In 2010 the city of Boulder chose not to renew a franchise agreement with Xcel. Nevertheless, Xcel was required to continue providing electricity until the city formed its own municipal electric utility or entered into an agreement with a different investor-owned utility.
Municipalization came up again on the ballot in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 with the municipalization proponents prevailing each time. The city even created its own municipal utility in name only.
This summer a group called End the Muni tried to get a measure on the ballot to end the municipalization effort. Although End the Muni did not collect enough signatures, the city council on a 2nd-reading vote of 6 to 2 (with one member absent) referred a similar measure to the ballot.
Empower Our Future, a group that supports the municipalization efforts, is unhappy with the city’s proposed Franchise Agreement and the process. This ballot measure is essentially a go/no go vote on municipalization. We have learned much about the costs of municipalization, but Empower Our Future feels that the city is not fulfilling a promise to inform the citizens of the “final costs” of municipalization before calling for go/no go vote. Their argument leans on the 2017 measure 2O – Vote Prior to Municipalization Construction Debt.
Under the proposed Settlement Agreement most litigation would cease, undergrounding investment to improve reliability would restart, and the city would maintain the option to terminate the franchise at several specified times in the future, particularly if certain emissions reduction targets are not met.
In legal documents the name Xcel is more properly called by the utility subsidiary’s name, Public Service Company of Colorado.
Recommendation: leaning yes/leaning for
Our 21st-century effort to create a municipal electric utility has run into many legal and regulatory stumbling blocks and cost tens of millions of dollars, including the need to borrow from the general fund. (See companion ballot measure 2D.) Some long-time proponents of municipalization believe that the proposed Franchise Agreement is the best deal we can get.
On the other hand, Empower Our Future feels that the proposed Franchise Agreement (pFA) has been rushed and is too risky, giving Xcel the upper hand. They point to responses to a 2018 Request for Indicative Pricing that shows “local power” energy suppliers could provide Boulder with more renewable electricity at less cost than Xcel. The community choice aggregation (muni-lite) option might have become a reality in Colorado via Boulder Rep Edie Hooton’s bill HB20-1064 but, like many other bills this year, it did not survive the pandemic.
A different 2019 bill with Boulder co-sponsors Sen Steve Fenberg and House Speaker KC Becker addressed greenhouse gases. SB19-236 requires retail utilities with more than half a million customers in Colorado, such as Xcel, to reduce carbon emissions by 2030 to 80% of 2005 levels.
If you continue to strongly support a city municipal utility and want to be free of Xcel, you should vote against this measure. Given the uncertain economic and health situation we are in at the moment, an ongoing municipalization effort seems to be a low priority for the city right now and will likely fall off the radar if the proposed Franchise Agreement is passed.
Website for the Yes side – End the Muni
http://endthemuni.org/
Website for the No side – Empower Our Future
https://empowerourfuture.org/
Approved Ballot Language
City of Boulder Ballot Question 2C
Public Service Company Franchise
Shall the City of Boulder grant a franchise to Public Service Company of Colorado to furnish, sell and distribute gas and electricity to the city and to all persons, businesses, and industries within the city and the right to make reasonable use of all streets and other public places and public easements as may be necessary as described in Ordinance 8410?
YES/FOR ____
NO/AGAINST ____
Ordinance 8410 to put 2C to the voters. Exhibit A included in the ordinance is the proposed Franchise Agreement.
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/Ord_8410_-_Franchise_Agreement-1-202008281144.pdf?_ga=2.187918700.518549467.1599345017-1345314453.1596765451
City of Boulder’s webpage for question 2C
https://bouldercolorado.gov/elections/2020-ballot-measure-public-service-company-franchise
City’s webpage on the details of the proposed Xcel Settlement
https://bouldercolorado.gov/local-power/potential-settlement-xcel-energy
City of Boulder 2D - Extend and Repurpose the “Extra” Utility Occupation Tax
We’ve seen versions of this ballot issue before, namely 2010 (2B), 2011 (2B), 2015 (2O) and 2017 (2L). The 2011, 2017 and this year’s measures all specifically refer to the part of the Utility Occupation Tax (UOT) which does not replace the Xcel franchise fee, but rather is allocated for efforts to form a municipal electric utility.
Ballot question 2D is a companion measure to 2C and only takes effect if both measures pass. The $1.9M portion of the Utility Occupation Tax (UOT) would be extended for three more years to Dec 31, 2025 and could be used to repay the General Fund for costs associated with municipalization and to fund projects that support the city’s clean energy goals in the context of the city’s racial equity goals.
Recommendation: leaning yes/leaning for
Persuading voters in the midst of an economic downturn to extend a tax could be a tough sell – probably less so in high-cost-of-living Boulder where voters tend to support higher taxes. Let’s also hope that, by the time the extension would take effect on Jan 1, 2023, the pandemic is in the rearview mirror and the economy is strong again.
Although the city has suffered from the recession and still has bills to pay, the city’s climate and equity goals are not forgotten in this ballot issue. Some revenue would “provide energy-related assistance to disadvantaged members of the community, improve system reliability and modernization, and support clean energy-related business.” Those people who would otherwise be most adversely affected by the increased UOT could instead be helped by 2D.
Website for the Yes side
No known website – Info on a supporters’ website appreciated.
Website for the No side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.
Approved Ballot Language (in the city of Boulder format)
City of Boulder Ballot Question 2D
Repurpose the Utility Occupation Tax
Without raising the tax rate shall the existing Utility Occupation Tax, which in 2021 and 2022 will be in the amount of $2,076,181, be extended from a current expiration date of December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2025 and be repurposed to pay all costs associated with the formation of a municipal electric utility and to be used to fund projects, pilots, initiatives and research that support the city's clean energy goals in the context of the city's racial equity goals and the community's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement such as:
• Providing energy-related assistance to disadvantaged members of the community, including support for utility bill payments and access to renewable energy;
• Improving system reliability and modernizing, and supporting clean energy-related businesses, including, without limitation, new approaches in electrification of buildings and transportation, enhancement of resilience;
• Implementing a partnership agreement with Public Service Company of Colorado; and
• Increasing access to energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions
Only if a majority of registered electors approve a Franchise Agreement with Public Service Company of Colorado at the November 3, 2020 Election, And shall the increased and extended portion of the tax be subject to the same terms and conditions as the original tax and all earnings thereon (regardless of amount) constitute a voter approved revenue change, and an exception to the revenue and spending limits of Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution?
YES/FOR ____
NO/AGAINST ____
Ordinance No. 8417 to put 2D to the voters
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/Ord_8417_Utility_Occupation_Tax-1-202008281155.pdf?_ga=2.256608975.518549467.1599345017-1345314453.1596765451
Ballot question 2D is a companion measure to 2C and only takes effect if both measures pass. The $1.9M portion of the Utility Occupation Tax (UOT) would be extended for three more years to Dec 31, 2025 and could be used to repay the General Fund for costs associated with municipalization and to fund projects that support the city’s clean energy goals in the context of the city’s racial equity goals.
Recommendation: leaning yes/leaning for
Persuading voters in the midst of an economic downturn to extend a tax could be a tough sell – probably less so in high-cost-of-living Boulder where voters tend to support higher taxes. Let’s also hope that, by the time the extension would take effect on Jan 1, 2023, the pandemic is in the rearview mirror and the economy is strong again.
Although the city has suffered from the recession and still has bills to pay, the city’s climate and equity goals are not forgotten in this ballot issue. Some revenue would “provide energy-related assistance to disadvantaged members of the community, improve system reliability and modernization, and support clean energy-related business.” Those people who would otherwise be most adversely affected by the increased UOT could instead be helped by 2D.
Website for the Yes side
No known website – Info on a supporters’ website appreciated.
Website for the No side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.
Approved Ballot Language (in the city of Boulder format)
City of Boulder Ballot Question 2D
Repurpose the Utility Occupation Tax
Without raising the tax rate shall the existing Utility Occupation Tax, which in 2021 and 2022 will be in the amount of $2,076,181, be extended from a current expiration date of December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2025 and be repurposed to pay all costs associated with the formation of a municipal electric utility and to be used to fund projects, pilots, initiatives and research that support the city's clean energy goals in the context of the city's racial equity goals and the community's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement such as:
• Providing energy-related assistance to disadvantaged members of the community, including support for utility bill payments and access to renewable energy;
• Improving system reliability and modernizing, and supporting clean energy-related businesses, including, without limitation, new approaches in electrification of buildings and transportation, enhancement of resilience;
• Implementing a partnership agreement with Public Service Company of Colorado; and
• Increasing access to energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions
Only if a majority of registered electors approve a Franchise Agreement with Public Service Company of Colorado at the November 3, 2020 Election, And shall the increased and extended portion of the tax be subject to the same terms and conditions as the original tax and all earnings thereon (regardless of amount) constitute a voter approved revenue change, and an exception to the revenue and spending limits of Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution?
YES/FOR ____
NO/AGAINST ____
Ordinance No. 8417 to put 2D to the voters
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/Ord_8417_Utility_Occupation_Tax-1-202008281155.pdf?_ga=2.256608975.518549467.1599345017-1345314453.1596765451
City of Boulder 2E - Direct Election of the Mayor Using Ranked Voting
Ballot measure 2E asks if Boulder voters want to, beginning in 2023, elect their mayor directly rather than have city council choose the mayor from its ranks and, if so, does Boulder want to use ranked choice (instant runoff) voting when there are more than two candidates.
The mayor’s job duties, 2-year term, and selection in odd years would not change from the status quo. Someone who has served for 3 terms as a member of city council could be elected to 2 mayoral terms. Others could be elected for up to 4 mayoral terms.
Instead of electing 5 council members every two years, the city would elect 4 council members, all for 4-year terms. If a city council member in the middle of a 4-year term is elected mayor, then the 5th vote-getter would be elected to finish the two years. The voters would presumably have voted for 4 council members though, not 5.
The county clerk weighed in at the eleventh hour to notify the city that it should plan to hold its own election, not rely on the county to coordinate a ranked voting election. This announcement changed the council vote to put the measure on the ballot from the first reading of 7 – 2 to the second reading of 5 – 4. The council was unable to get the necessary 6 votes to put a contingency clause in the ballot language to delay the use of ranked voting until the county clerk is able to conduct the election or the city has sufficient funds to conduct its own election.
At their retreat this year, city council discussed but chose not to pursue adoption of any alternative form of voting. Filling the void, a subset of members from Open Boulder’s two boards organized an “Our Mayor, Our Choice” petition effort to get this measure on the ballot.
The decision not to allow electronic signatures in the midst of a pandemic despite the voters’ approval of 2G in 2018 irked many working on citizens’ initiatives. Then varying interpretations of the number of required signatures and the time allowed for collecting signatures added fuel to the fire. (One of the interpretations is in 2E passed by Boulder voters in 2018.)
The ensuing chaos did not put the city attorney in a positive light. “Bedrooms are for People” was another ballot effort negatively impacted by the city attorney’s change in interpretation of petition signature requirements and deadlines, and ultimately sued the city unsuccessfully to be put on the ballot.
City council was somewhat more receptive to referring the Our Mayor petition to the ballot, but the ballot language needed modification to fix a vacancy that was built into the original language. Council member Bob Yates worked with proponents to improve the ballot language. Along the way the mayor’s election year and term reverted to the status quo.
Recommendation: No/Against
From this ballot measure’s many twists and turns, you can see that it was not well planned nor well executed. The county clerk also says that the city is on its own with a ranked voting election, and the city has admitted that it is not ready. The proponents say that they can come back to the voters and ask for an implementation delay if needed.
Given the implementation hurdles and the 2023 start date, why didn’t council take a reasoned approach and wait a year to put this on the ballot? If this doesn’t pass, council can put it on the ballot again next year. Or perhaps a different ballot measure could propose replacing ranked voting with a simpler alternative, such as approval voting.
Some council members believe that the directly elect mayor proposal is a solution in search of a problem. According to the proponents, many Boulderites didn’t even realize that city council, rather than the electorate, chooses the mayor.
Boulder’s council/manager system means that Boulder has a “weak” mayor. (In interesting timing, Jane Brautigam, our city manager announced that she is retiring effective October 30, after 12 years on the job.) Opponents of this measure point to power conflicts between a directly-elected weak mayor and a council-hired manager.
Some people question why we should bother holding a separate election for a “weak” mayor. The 2E campaign points out that every city in Colorado larger than Boulder directly elects a mayor. With only 3 exceptions (Denver, CO Springs and Pueblo), all mayors in Colorado are in the weak category.
Why would people run for a 2-year term as a weak mayor when they can run at-large for one of four council seats with a 4-year term? Maybe only term-limited or almost term-limited council members will run as mayor.
In our current system, the voters in Boulder narrow the pool for mayor to 9 candidates, and the losing candidates in the mayoral race continue to serve as council members. In the proposed system, two or more candidates would vie to be mayor; assuming that all the candidates are good, the city loses out when only one wins.
During the conversation on 2E, the city council expressed support for changing to a proportional way of electing members of city council in the future. The city is likely to convene another Elections Working Group to resolve the very visible petition signature problems and to study proportional representation.
Website for the Yes side – Our Mayor, Our Choice
https://www.ourmayor-ourchoice.org/
Website for the No side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.
(Steve Pomerance penned a few Daily Camera columns noting flaws in 2E.)
https://www.dailycamera.com/2020/09/16/opinion-steve-pomerance-mayor-ballot-measure-still-has-serious-problems/
Approved Ballot Language
City of Boulder Ballot Question 2E
Charter Amendments Related to Direct Election of the Mayor
Shall Article II, Sections 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 14, and 15 of the Boulder City Charter be amended to provide for the direct election of the mayor by ranked choice (instant runoff) voting?
YES/FOR _____
NO/AGAINST _____
Ordinance No. 8420 to put 2E to the voters
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/o-8420_2nd_Rdg_Our_Mayor_Our_Choice_SIGNED-1-202009101508.pdf?_ga=2.67266649.954903512.1600536510-1345314453.1596765451
Supplemental Memo (Sept 1, 2020, Item 3K) – Analysis of Administrative and Legal Issues with the Letter from the County Clerk
https://boulder.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/AttachmentViewer.ashx?AttachmentID=3456&ItemID=3195
The mayor’s job duties, 2-year term, and selection in odd years would not change from the status quo. Someone who has served for 3 terms as a member of city council could be elected to 2 mayoral terms. Others could be elected for up to 4 mayoral terms.
Instead of electing 5 council members every two years, the city would elect 4 council members, all for 4-year terms. If a city council member in the middle of a 4-year term is elected mayor, then the 5th vote-getter would be elected to finish the two years. The voters would presumably have voted for 4 council members though, not 5.
The county clerk weighed in at the eleventh hour to notify the city that it should plan to hold its own election, not rely on the county to coordinate a ranked voting election. This announcement changed the council vote to put the measure on the ballot from the first reading of 7 – 2 to the second reading of 5 – 4. The council was unable to get the necessary 6 votes to put a contingency clause in the ballot language to delay the use of ranked voting until the county clerk is able to conduct the election or the city has sufficient funds to conduct its own election.
At their retreat this year, city council discussed but chose not to pursue adoption of any alternative form of voting. Filling the void, a subset of members from Open Boulder’s two boards organized an “Our Mayor, Our Choice” petition effort to get this measure on the ballot.
The decision not to allow electronic signatures in the midst of a pandemic despite the voters’ approval of 2G in 2018 irked many working on citizens’ initiatives. Then varying interpretations of the number of required signatures and the time allowed for collecting signatures added fuel to the fire. (One of the interpretations is in 2E passed by Boulder voters in 2018.)
The ensuing chaos did not put the city attorney in a positive light. “Bedrooms are for People” was another ballot effort negatively impacted by the city attorney’s change in interpretation of petition signature requirements and deadlines, and ultimately sued the city unsuccessfully to be put on the ballot.
City council was somewhat more receptive to referring the Our Mayor petition to the ballot, but the ballot language needed modification to fix a vacancy that was built into the original language. Council member Bob Yates worked with proponents to improve the ballot language. Along the way the mayor’s election year and term reverted to the status quo.
Recommendation: No/Against
From this ballot measure’s many twists and turns, you can see that it was not well planned nor well executed. The county clerk also says that the city is on its own with a ranked voting election, and the city has admitted that it is not ready. The proponents say that they can come back to the voters and ask for an implementation delay if needed.
Given the implementation hurdles and the 2023 start date, why didn’t council take a reasoned approach and wait a year to put this on the ballot? If this doesn’t pass, council can put it on the ballot again next year. Or perhaps a different ballot measure could propose replacing ranked voting with a simpler alternative, such as approval voting.
Some council members believe that the directly elect mayor proposal is a solution in search of a problem. According to the proponents, many Boulderites didn’t even realize that city council, rather than the electorate, chooses the mayor.
Boulder’s council/manager system means that Boulder has a “weak” mayor. (In interesting timing, Jane Brautigam, our city manager announced that she is retiring effective October 30, after 12 years on the job.) Opponents of this measure point to power conflicts between a directly-elected weak mayor and a council-hired manager.
Some people question why we should bother holding a separate election for a “weak” mayor. The 2E campaign points out that every city in Colorado larger than Boulder directly elects a mayor. With only 3 exceptions (Denver, CO Springs and Pueblo), all mayors in Colorado are in the weak category.
Why would people run for a 2-year term as a weak mayor when they can run at-large for one of four council seats with a 4-year term? Maybe only term-limited or almost term-limited council members will run as mayor.
In our current system, the voters in Boulder narrow the pool for mayor to 9 candidates, and the losing candidates in the mayoral race continue to serve as council members. In the proposed system, two or more candidates would vie to be mayor; assuming that all the candidates are good, the city loses out when only one wins.
During the conversation on 2E, the city council expressed support for changing to a proportional way of electing members of city council in the future. The city is likely to convene another Elections Working Group to resolve the very visible petition signature problems and to study proportional representation.
Website for the Yes side – Our Mayor, Our Choice
https://www.ourmayor-ourchoice.org/
Website for the No side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.
(Steve Pomerance penned a few Daily Camera columns noting flaws in 2E.)
https://www.dailycamera.com/2020/09/16/opinion-steve-pomerance-mayor-ballot-measure-still-has-serious-problems/
Approved Ballot Language
City of Boulder Ballot Question 2E
Charter Amendments Related to Direct Election of the Mayor
Shall Article II, Sections 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 14, and 15 of the Boulder City Charter be amended to provide for the direct election of the mayor by ranked choice (instant runoff) voting?
YES/FOR _____
NO/AGAINST _____
Ordinance No. 8420 to put 2E to the voters
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/o-8420_2nd_Rdg_Our_Mayor_Our_Choice_SIGNED-1-202009101508.pdf?_ga=2.67266649.954903512.1600536510-1345314453.1596765451
Supplemental Memo (Sept 1, 2020, Item 3K) – Analysis of Administrative and Legal Issues with the Letter from the County Clerk
https://boulder.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/AttachmentViewer.ashx?AttachmentID=3456&ItemID=3195
City of Boulder 2F - Increase Arts Commission from 5 to 7 Commissioners
The Boulder Arts Commission has 5 commissioners, one appointed each year by city council to serve 5-year terms. In its annual letter to city council, the commissioners asked to increase the size by 2 commissioners. The two additional commissioners would be appointed in March 2021, one for a 5-year term and the other for an initial 3-year term to provide for staggered terms.
The Arts Commission was established in 1979 by ordinance and appears in Chapter 14-1 of the Boulder Revised Code. However, Section 130 of the city charter provides for “general provisions concerning advisory commissions,” including setting the size at 5 or 7 members. The city council is asking the voters to enshrine the Arts Commission in the city charter and simultaneously asking the voters to increase the size of the commission. Any additions to the city charter must be approved by voters.
The Arts Commission “advises the City Council and local arts groups in connection with all matters relating to the artistic and cultural development of the city.” A large part of the commission’s work is administering the city arts grant program. The request to city council noted that “[b]eing effective … requires a steep learning curve.”
A panel of 5 commissioners and 4 community members review and award grants. If the number of commissioners increases by 2, the commission would decrease the number of community members by 2.
Recommendation: Yes/For
Members of city boards and commissions are not paid for their service, other than an EcoPass and perhaps dinner during in-person meetings. Sometimes finding people to do this volunteer work is difficult. Five years is also a long commitment, and vacancies often occur when a member doesn’t complete a term. Increasing the number of Arts commissioners should lead to better continuity and more experience on the commission.
Website for the Yes side
No known website – Info on a supporters’ website appreciated.
Website for the No side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.
Approved Ballot Language
City of Boulder Ballot Question 2F
Charter Amendment Related to the Boulder Arts Commission
Shall new Sections 135 and 136 be added to the City Charter pursuant to Ordinance 8405 to increase the size of the Boulder Arts Commission to seven members, allow for continued service by existing Arts Commission members, provide for staggered terms for the new members and for filling of vacancies?
YES/FOR _____
NO/AGAINST_____
Ordinance No. 8405 to put 2F to the voters
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/o-8405_2nd_rdg_Arts_Commission_five_to_seven_bond_copy-1-202008261155.pdf?_ga=2.267554378.518549467.1599345017-1345314453.1596765451
The Arts Commission was established in 1979 by ordinance and appears in Chapter 14-1 of the Boulder Revised Code. However, Section 130 of the city charter provides for “general provisions concerning advisory commissions,” including setting the size at 5 or 7 members. The city council is asking the voters to enshrine the Arts Commission in the city charter and simultaneously asking the voters to increase the size of the commission. Any additions to the city charter must be approved by voters.
The Arts Commission “advises the City Council and local arts groups in connection with all matters relating to the artistic and cultural development of the city.” A large part of the commission’s work is administering the city arts grant program. The request to city council noted that “[b]eing effective … requires a steep learning curve.”
A panel of 5 commissioners and 4 community members review and award grants. If the number of commissioners increases by 2, the commission would decrease the number of community members by 2.
Recommendation: Yes/For
Members of city boards and commissions are not paid for their service, other than an EcoPass and perhaps dinner during in-person meetings. Sometimes finding people to do this volunteer work is difficult. Five years is also a long commitment, and vacancies often occur when a member doesn’t complete a term. Increasing the number of Arts commissioners should lead to better continuity and more experience on the commission.
Website for the Yes side
No known website – Info on a supporters’ website appreciated.
Website for the No side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.
Approved Ballot Language
City of Boulder Ballot Question 2F
Charter Amendment Related to the Boulder Arts Commission
Shall new Sections 135 and 136 be added to the City Charter pursuant to Ordinance 8405 to increase the size of the Boulder Arts Commission to seven members, allow for continued service by existing Arts Commission members, provide for staggered terms for the new members and for filling of vacancies?
YES/FOR _____
NO/AGAINST_____
Ordinance No. 8405 to put 2F to the voters
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/o-8405_2nd_rdg_Arts_Commission_five_to_seven_bond_copy-1-202008261155.pdf?_ga=2.267554378.518549467.1599345017-1345314453.1596765451
Sunday, March 15, 2020
The COVID-19 Pandemic and the 2019 Election
To help Colorado “flatten the curve” of the coronavirus pandemic, yesterday the General Assembly suspended its session for at least two weeks. Last night Gov Polis ordered the ski resorts closed for at least one week. Many other government services announced extended closures earlier in the week or went to online services only – CU Boulder, Boulder Public Library, city rec centers, and Boulder PK-12 schools.
Colorado has over 130 confirmed cases and 1 death. Expect the numbers to climb.
Colorado held its presidential primary on Super Tuesday, March 3. For the first time, 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the Nov 3 general election were also allowed to vote in the primary and to participate in the March 7 caucus for the non-presidential contests. The CO primary for non-presidential contests will be held on Tuesday, June 30.
Louisiana and Georgia have postponed their presidential primary elections because of coronavirus concerns. More states and members of Congress are calling for all-mail ballots, the model that Colorado already uses and which contributes to Colorado consistently having high voter turnout.
In the 2019 election, state voters rejected Prop CC to “de-Bruce” Colorado, but approved Prop DD to allow sports betting with tax revenues on the industry dedicated to helping fund the 2015 Colorado Water Plan.
Locally, voters approved the county coroner term-limit extension and the three city of Boulder ballot issues (2 taxes and a loan program), some of them by very large margins.
The General Assembly may be limited in how much it can accomplish this session, and petitioning to get issues or candidates on the ballot will be more difficult with so many public venues closed and everyone practicing social distancing. Everyone's biggest priority right now is mitigation of COVID-19 so we can try to get back to our normal lives as soon as possible.
Colorado has over 130 confirmed cases and 1 death. Expect the numbers to climb.
Colorado held its presidential primary on Super Tuesday, March 3. For the first time, 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the Nov 3 general election were also allowed to vote in the primary and to participate in the March 7 caucus for the non-presidential contests. The CO primary for non-presidential contests will be held on Tuesday, June 30.
Louisiana and Georgia have postponed their presidential primary elections because of coronavirus concerns. More states and members of Congress are calling for all-mail ballots, the model that Colorado already uses and which contributes to Colorado consistently having high voter turnout.
In the 2019 election, state voters rejected Prop CC to “de-Bruce” Colorado, but approved Prop DD to allow sports betting with tax revenues on the industry dedicated to helping fund the 2015 Colorado Water Plan.
Locally, voters approved the county coroner term-limit extension and the three city of Boulder ballot issues (2 taxes and a loan program), some of them by very large margins.
The General Assembly may be limited in how much it can accomplish this session, and petitioning to get issues or candidates on the ballot will be more difficult with so many public venues closed and everyone practicing social distancing. Everyone's biggest priority right now is mitigation of COVID-19 so we can try to get back to our normal lives as soon as possible.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Vote on the Ballot Measures!
You could be forgiven for thinking more about next year’s election than this year’s election. From the presidential race and the National Popular Vote Compact to the US senate race to the county commissioner race, 2020 seems to be the focus.
Please vote in this election. Off-year elections also have consequences. When turnout is low, your vote has a greater weight in determining the outcome. When turnout is high, we get a better picture of the electorate’s opinions.
The two state ballot issues and two of the city ballot issues concern taxes. The other city issue concerns the city taking on debt. The one county issue has to do with term limits for the coroner.
Each of the 6 ballot measures has its own post if you’d like more information or if you would like to make a comment on a specific ballot measure. Please limit comments on this introductory post to general comments about the process or the election.
In general, the further down the ballot you go, the more your vote counts! Please research the issues and candidates and vote the entire ballot. Encourage your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and anyone else eligible to vote to do likewise. In the city of Boulder we are also voting in the city council and school board elections.
At the bottom of this blog entry are other ballot issue websites as well as a link to the Boulder County Clerk’s website. The links will be updated as more information becomes available.
Remember that in Colorado you can register and vote as late as Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th. You have 3 ways to vote:
1) In person at one of your county’s Voter Service and Polling Centers
2) Mail your ballot allowing for adequate time for postal delivery.
3) Drop off your ballot at any Colorado polling place or ballot drop box, even outside of your county.
If you are already registered, you have probably received your ballot in the mail by now.
VOCABULARY - STATE OF COLORADO
Amendment = Constitutional change [none in 2019]
Amendments can only be changed by a vote, usually a 55% majority, of the electorate.
Proposition = Statutory change
Propositions can be modified by the Colorado General Assembly.
Initiatives - denoted by numbers [none in 2019]
Electors signed petitions to put these on the ballot.
Referenda - denoted by letters (state) or a number and letter (county, city, BVSD, SCFD)
The governing legislative body (General Assembly, County Commission, City Council, or District Board) put these on the ballot.
VOCABULARY – OTHER JURISDICTIONS
Ballot Issues = Tax or debt measures
Ballot Questions = Others
2019 BALLOT MEASURES
STATE OF COLORADO
Proposition CC
Retain State Government Revenues
YES/FOR
Proposition DD
Legalization and Taxation of Sports Betting to Fund Water Projects and Obligations
No/Against
COUNTY OF BOULDER
Boulder County Question 1A
Coroner Term Limit Extension to Five Terms
YES/FOR
CITY OF BOULDER
City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2G
Tax on Tobacco Vaping Products
Yes/For
City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2H
Sales and Use Tax Extension for Open Space and Long's Gardens
No/Against
City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2I
Imposition of a Middle-Income Housing Program
Yes/For
ELECTION ADMINISTRATION SITES
Colorado Secretary of State - Voters
https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/vote/VoterHome.html?menuheaders=5
Below - a similar site with a simpler URL
http://govotecolorado.com
Boulder County Clerk and Recorder
303 413 7740
https://www.bouldercounty.org/elections/
Look up your voter registration to see a sample ballot, check your ballot status, and find the county Voter Service and Polling Center locations.
GOVERNMENTS' BALLOT SITES
Blue Book Online (Colorado Legislative Council)
https://leg.colorado.gov/content/initiatives/initiatives-blue-book-overview/ballot-information-booklet-blue-book
The real name of the Blue Book is the 2019 State Ballot Information Booklet – available in English and Spanish. The website also has the following link to a page listing all the state ballot issues dating back to 1880.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/lcs/ballothistory.nsf/
County of Boulder
https://www.bouldercounty.org/government/county-ballot-issues/2019-election/
City of Boulder
https://bouldercolorado.gov/elections
Boulder Valley School District
https://www.bvsd.org/about/board-of-education/candidate-information
MEDIA SITES
Boulder Weekly Election Guide
https://www.boulderweekly.com/content-archives/voters-guide/vote-2019/vote-guide-2019/
Daily Camera Election Page
https://www.dailycamera.com/2019/10/13/voter-guide-for-boulder-broomfield-and-weld-counties/
Colorado Sun Voter Guide
https://coloradosun.com/2019/10/11/colorado-voter-guide-2019-proposition-cc-proposition-dd/
Colorado Public Radio Ballot Guide
https://www.cpr.org/2019/10/19/2019-colorado-ballot-guide-how-to-vote-and-what-youre-voting-on/
KGNU Radio Boulder Elections
https://news.kgnu.org/category/boulder-elections-2019/
NON-PARTISAN SITES
Ballotpedia
https://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_2019_ballot_measures
Entries for individual ballot measures list supporters and opponents, campaign finance information and more.
League of Women Voters
Vote411.org
See your ballot, learn about the issues and the candidates.
https://www.lwvcolorado.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=314195&module_id=353044
Colorado Ballot Issue Pamphlets (English and Spanish)
https://www.lwvbc.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=629866&module_id=348482
Boulder County Ballot Issue Pamphlets
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION SITES
Better Boulder
http://betterboulder.com/ballot-measure-endorsements/
Boulder Chamber of Commerce
https://boulderchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-boulder-chamber-ballot-scorecard.pdf
PLAN-Boulder County
https://planboulder.org/endorsements/plan-boulder-endorses-five-boulder-city-council-candidates-and-2-ballot-measures/
Bell Policy Center
http://www.bellpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-Ballot-Guide.pdf
CITIZEN SITES
Mike Rosen (Complete Colorado)
https://pagetwo.completecolorado.com/2019/10/14/rosen-my-ballot-picks-no-on-prop-cc-yes-on-prop-dd/
Richard Valenty (Boulder citizen)
https://richardvalenty.com/2019/10/city-of-boulder-ballot-issues-2h-2i-and-2g/
Please vote in this election. Off-year elections also have consequences. When turnout is low, your vote has a greater weight in determining the outcome. When turnout is high, we get a better picture of the electorate’s opinions.
The two state ballot issues and two of the city ballot issues concern taxes. The other city issue concerns the city taking on debt. The one county issue has to do with term limits for the coroner.
Each of the 6 ballot measures has its own post if you’d like more information or if you would like to make a comment on a specific ballot measure. Please limit comments on this introductory post to general comments about the process or the election.
In general, the further down the ballot you go, the more your vote counts! Please research the issues and candidates and vote the entire ballot. Encourage your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and anyone else eligible to vote to do likewise. In the city of Boulder we are also voting in the city council and school board elections.
At the bottom of this blog entry are other ballot issue websites as well as a link to the Boulder County Clerk’s website. The links will be updated as more information becomes available.
Remember that in Colorado you can register and vote as late as Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th. You have 3 ways to vote:
1) In person at one of your county’s Voter Service and Polling Centers
2) Mail your ballot allowing for adequate time for postal delivery.
3) Drop off your ballot at any Colorado polling place or ballot drop box, even outside of your county.
If you are already registered, you have probably received your ballot in the mail by now.
VOCABULARY - STATE OF COLORADO
Amendment = Constitutional change [none in 2019]
Amendments can only be changed by a vote, usually a 55% majority, of the electorate.
Proposition = Statutory change
Propositions can be modified by the Colorado General Assembly.
Initiatives - denoted by numbers [none in 2019]
Electors signed petitions to put these on the ballot.
Referenda - denoted by letters (state) or a number and letter (county, city, BVSD, SCFD)
The governing legislative body (General Assembly, County Commission, City Council, or District Board) put these on the ballot.
VOCABULARY – OTHER JURISDICTIONS
Ballot Issues = Tax or debt measures
Ballot Questions = Others
2019 BALLOT MEASURES
STATE OF COLORADO
Proposition CC
Retain State Government Revenues
YES/FOR
Proposition DD
Legalization and Taxation of Sports Betting to Fund Water Projects and Obligations
No/Against
COUNTY OF BOULDER
Boulder County Question 1A
Coroner Term Limit Extension to Five Terms
YES/FOR
CITY OF BOULDER
City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2G
Tax on Tobacco Vaping Products
Yes/For
City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2H
Sales and Use Tax Extension for Open Space and Long's Gardens
No/Against
City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2I
Imposition of a Middle-Income Housing Program
Yes/For
ELECTION ADMINISTRATION SITES
Colorado Secretary of State - Voters
https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/vote/VoterHome.html?menuheaders=5
Below - a similar site with a simpler URL
http://govotecolorado.com
Boulder County Clerk and Recorder
303 413 7740
https://www.bouldercounty.org/elections/
Look up your voter registration to see a sample ballot, check your ballot status, and find the county Voter Service and Polling Center locations.
GOVERNMENTS' BALLOT SITES
Blue Book Online (Colorado Legislative Council)
https://leg.colorado.gov/content/initiatives/initiatives-blue-book-overview/ballot-information-booklet-blue-book
The real name of the Blue Book is the 2019 State Ballot Information Booklet – available in English and Spanish. The website also has the following link to a page listing all the state ballot issues dating back to 1880.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/lcs/ballothistory.nsf/
County of Boulder
https://www.bouldercounty.org/government/county-ballot-issues/2019-election/
City of Boulder
https://bouldercolorado.gov/elections
Boulder Valley School District
https://www.bvsd.org/about/board-of-education/candidate-information
MEDIA SITES
Boulder Weekly Election Guide
https://www.boulderweekly.com/content-archives/voters-guide/vote-2019/vote-guide-2019/
Daily Camera Election Page
https://www.dailycamera.com/2019/10/13/voter-guide-for-boulder-broomfield-and-weld-counties/
Colorado Sun Voter Guide
https://coloradosun.com/2019/10/11/colorado-voter-guide-2019-proposition-cc-proposition-dd/
Colorado Public Radio Ballot Guide
https://www.cpr.org/2019/10/19/2019-colorado-ballot-guide-how-to-vote-and-what-youre-voting-on/
KGNU Radio Boulder Elections
https://news.kgnu.org/category/boulder-elections-2019/
NON-PARTISAN SITES
Ballotpedia
https://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_2019_ballot_measures
Entries for individual ballot measures list supporters and opponents, campaign finance information and more.
League of Women Voters
Vote411.org
See your ballot, learn about the issues and the candidates.
https://www.lwvcolorado.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=314195&module_id=353044
Colorado Ballot Issue Pamphlets (English and Spanish)
https://www.lwvbc.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=629866&module_id=348482
Boulder County Ballot Issue Pamphlets
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION SITES
Better Boulder
http://betterboulder.com/ballot-measure-endorsements/
Boulder Chamber of Commerce
https://boulderchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-boulder-chamber-ballot-scorecard.pdf
PLAN-Boulder County
https://planboulder.org/endorsements/plan-boulder-endorses-five-boulder-city-council-candidates-and-2-ballot-measures/
Bell Policy Center
http://www.bellpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-Ballot-Guide.pdf
CITIZEN SITES
Mike Rosen (Complete Colorado)
https://pagetwo.completecolorado.com/2019/10/14/rosen-my-ballot-picks-no-on-prop-cc-yes-on-prop-dd/
Richard Valenty (Boulder citizen)
https://richardvalenty.com/2019/10/city-of-boulder-ballot-issues-2h-2i-and-2g/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)