Heads Up August 12, 2022

City Launches New Homelessness Dashboard

The city’s Housing and Human Services Department has launched a redesigned interactive tool, the Homelessness Services dashboard, that highlights coordinated entry and program referrals, shelter utilization, exits out of homelessness and metrics on the new BTHERE homelessness outreach efforts with Boulder Shelter for the Homeless.

This dashboard combines information from two previously available dashboards: the Single Adult Homelessness dashboard and Shelter Utilization dashboard. It was designed to provide a more streamlined and user-friendly experience for community members seeking data about homelessness.

Staff have also included a notes and definitions section which can be accessed by clicking the ‘?’ icon on the navigation bar. The dashboard is interactive, and users can hover their cursor over points of interest. In many cases, this results in more detailed information.

For more information, contact Megan Newton, homelessness policy advisor of Housing and Human Services, at newtonm@bouldercolorado.gov, or Vicki Ebner, operations senior manager of Housing and Human Services, at ebnerv@bouldercolorado.gov.

Popular Crime Blotter Returns; Feature is Automated and Tied to Crime Dashboard

The City of Boulder’s Innovation and Technology and Boulder Police departments have jointly created an updated, digital crime blotter as part of the city’s efforts to be more transparent and share information about crime in the city.

The new blotter shares provides narratives and basic facts about incidents that have been reported to Boulder Police. The new blotter can be found at https://bouldercolorado.gov/crime-dashboard.

As an alternative to visiting the website, Twitter users may opt to follow the new BPD Blotter Twitter account. The information is shared there as soon as the reports have been reviewed and approved by a supervisor. This program will ensure the public receives timely information on crime in their neighborhoods while protecting victim privacy with measures put in place to redact sensitive information. In the past couple of weeks, the Twitter account has already gained nearly 700 followers. It can be found at https://twitter.com/BPDBlotter.

Some may recall earlier iterations of the blotter, which were created manually by staff, when time allowed. As other responsibilities took priority and staffing became constrained, a decision was made to discontinue this form of communication. Some council and community members provided feedback that they missed the level of detail. This new approach addresses the community interest.

So, how about a bit of trivia? Why is it called the blotter? The term “blotter” stems from the large ledgers used to note down entries of daily events in businesses and police stations back in the day when ink was the recordkeeping method of choice. These notes were often made with quill pens on highly absorbent paper that soaked in the record, giving it a sense of permanence.

For more information, please contact Police Chief Maris Herold at heroldm@bouldercolorado.gov.

Prairie dog lethal control application submitted 

Planning & Development Services has received an application for a prairie dog lethal control permit on private property. The application is for the trapping and euthanization of approximately 520 prairie dogs on 32 acres of private land in the city.

Pursuant to policy, notice of the application will be sent to several interest groups on Aug. 15, and will be posted in the Camera on Sunday, Aug. 14, under the "Legals" section. A 60-day comment period will begin on Aug. 15 and will end at 5 p.m. on Oct. 14. The purpose of the comment period is to solicit feedback from the public on possible relocation alternatives.  

The city’s Wildlife Ordinance requires that these permit applications remain confidential and that the name of the property owner and the location of the property not be released to the public.

Since the permitting program went into effect in 2005, the city has issued 13 lethal control permits for private landowners. 

For more information, please contact Val Matheson, Urban Wildlife Conservation coordinator, at mathesonv@bouldercolorado.gov or 303-441-3004. 

Regards,
Nuria