City of Boulder Expands In-Person Services Beginning May 5

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the city maintained its commitment to the Boulder community by shifting many city services from in person to online to follow public health guidelines and to keep the community safe. While critical safety needs continued to operate in person throughout the pandemic, most public meetings moved to a virtual model and virtual service capabilities were broadened throughout the organization.

On May 5, the city will expand its offerings by restoring in-person options for several services in the newly consolidated New Britain Services Center. The center will serve as a key location for community members to interact with city staff in essential areas such as human services and planning and development. At the center:

• Housing and Human Services staff will be available to answer questions about assistance programs and accept applications and documents. In addition, community members can make appointments to discuss topics such as homeownership, mediation, food tax rebates, eviction prevention or human rights concerns.
• In-person appointments for Planning and Development Services will be added to the department’s extensive virtual offerings. Appointments can be scheduled on topics such as building, construction, design, development planning and zoning. Walk-in services will also be available to help community members navigate planning and development resources and answer simple questions.

“The past two years have taught us a lot about who we are and what we are capable of as an organization,” said City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde. “Our staff continue to demonstrate resilience and adaptability while offering a high level of service to the Boulder community. As a public service organization, our work is inherently connected to the place we serve, and we could not be more pleased to expand our in-person service offerings. This expansion also underscores the city’s commitment to equity, as we recognize not every community member can connect with us virtually.”

The services center is located on the first floor of 1101 Arapahoe Ave. It will initially be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will expand to Tuesdays through Friday on May 16, and then to five days a week on June 20. The New Britain Services Center is accessible by public transportation and offers a parking area.

On April 19, City Council moved to in-person meetings with virtual public participation and attendance. On May 17, council will shift to a fully hybrid model, meaning the community will be invited to attend and participate in council meetings either in-person or virtually. Council study sessions will remain virtual.

City staff are currently evaluating the impact for board and commission meetings and anticipate being able to provide more definitive guidance in May. Boards and commissions meetings will remain virtual as the resources require to move these meetings to a hybrid model are explored.

Virtual services options that were created during the pandemic remain an effective way to connect with city staff. For a full list of city services, visit the city’s website.