Heads Up July 14, 2023

City launches tools to support landlord-tenant communication as part of ongoing quality of life/nuisance properties work

As you know, we have been working on a variety of enhancements to our quality of life/nuisance property policies and practices. As part of this work, the city is launching two new tools – a rental property notification system and a tenant resource guide – designed to encourage better communication and problem-solving between landlords and renters. The tools are part of ongoing efforts to ensure all residents can thrive where they live and to address rare, disruptive instances of chronic nuisance properties.

The rental property notification system aims to bring transparency and awareness to certain types of calls for service at rental properties. The goal of the tool is to help landlords identify quickly if an ongoing issue is present so they can work with their tenants to find a solution through conversation and problem-solving. The tool will share calls for service data directly with the email on file for rental license holders for certain calls for service to their property. A call for service is when someone calls 9-1-1 or non-emergency dispatch to request assistance or report a concern. Notifications will NOT include medical calls, as well as sex crimes, child abuse or domestic violence-related calls, as the city does not want to discourage individuals from seeking assistance for sensitive or legally protected issues.

The notification system launches on Monday, July 17, 2023.

The tenant resource guide outlines who tenants can call for housing-related help. The guide includes general information and resources for renters, who to contact for urgent help, how to submit a report if essential repairs aren’t addressed in a timely manner and resources for eviction prevention or discrimination concerns.

We anticipate providing you with more information about chronic nuisance work this fall.

More information about the notification system and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the city’s website. If you have questions, please contact Brad Mueller, director of Planning & Development Services, by email at muellerb@bouldercolorado.gov.

Lime shared e-scooters expansion coming soon

As part of the city’s Shared Micromobility program, Transportation & Mobility staff are working with Lime to expand shared e-scooter use citywide, including Gunbarrel, following City Council support at the Jan. 5, 2023 meeting.

Expansion follows a successful one-year pilot program for shared e-scooter use east of 28th Street. The pilot evaluation showed that shared e-scooters benefit our community by reducing traffic congestion, reducing air pollution, increasing mobility options, and serving as first- and final-mile connections. Additionally, the evaluation included extensive community engagement from fall 2022 to winter 2023. During this engagement, the city heard from stakeholders and relevant boards and commissions that there was broad support for expansion.

Expansion will occur with an iterative, phased approach, and will be monitored closely by city staff. Depending on the timing of permit approvals, expansion is expected to begin in the first two weeks of August, before the CU Boulder fall semester begins. E-scooters will continue to be regulated by the city’s operational agreement with Lime that includes requirements for e-scooter management, operations, parking and fleet deployment.

Lime will use a variety of technological tools to manage scooter use. Through the use of geofencing, Lime will manage scooter usage based on location, including for speed, mandatory parking zones, and no-go zones where scooters cannot be operated. The expansion will continue the hybrid ‘docked’ and ‘dockless’ program piloted over 2021-2022 to organize parking in the city’s busiest areas.

Staff will be providing an update to relevant boards/commissions, stakeholder groups, and the general community in the coming weeks, including to downtown Boulder and University Hill stakeholders. In the coming months, staff will also broadcast a courtesy campaign to help educate and inform the community of the program. CU Boulder administration is still evaluating if and to what extent shared e-scooters will be allowed in designated areas of Main Campus. City staff is working closely with CU and will coordinate on any operational changes and communications, if and when needed.

For questions please, contact Valerie Watson, Transportation Planning Manager, by email at watsonv@bouldercolorado.gov or visit the city’s website.

City to take action on Wonderland Lake Park encroachments

In January, Boulder Parks & Recreation (BPR) contracted a professional surveyor to identify private property encroachments onto city property around Wonderland Lake Park. Their findings are complete and BPR will be notifying property owners soon of encroachment issues.

The parkland was dedicated to the city when the area was being developed. It was designated for the enjoyment and benefit of the public. BPR has noted an increase in quantity and size of encroachments onto city property around Wonderland Lake Park. Private uses of the park, such as storing personal property, installing landscaping, extending fences or mowing, threaten that public enjoyment and benefit.

The area of evaluation is outlined below.

PR staff took a holistic approach to identify encroachments and plans to remedy those encroachments consistently and fairly, rather than handling each encroachment individually.

Adjacent neighbors were notified of the field work via mailers sent to each property address in January. Field work was completed by the professional surveyor in April with a project report provided to the city in May. Overall, 52 encroachments were documented within the evaluation area. The encroachments vary in size and scope. Examples include small misalignments of fences to large permanent encroachments such as structures or landscaping. The estimated level of accuracy of the encroachment documentation is 4-6 inches.

Removal of smaller or more temporary encroachments will be requested within 30 to 90 days, depending on the type of encroachment. Some encroachments, like plantings, will become city property to manage in the future, up to and including removal. Vegetation management, such as mowing, will be requested to stop immediately pursuant to Boulder Municipal Code. If the property owner does not comply with the initial request, second notices will be provided prior to issuing a summons.

BPR staff will work with CAO to contact property owners with permanent encroachments, such as fencing, to determine appropriate remedies. Remedies may include temporary revocable licenses or permanent easements, for which the property owner would have to pay the city for the right to use the public property. These types of remedies will only be available in specific and unique instances where removal of the encroachment would cause an undue burden. Staff will also conduct outreach with neighboring HOAs and provide education to homeowners on acceptable and unacceptable uses of public property.

For more information or if you have questions, please contact Ali Rhodes, director of Parks and Recreation, by email at rhodesa@bouldercolorado.gov.

What’s Up Boulder engagement event returns Sept. 10

We are bringing back our citywide engagement event called “What’s Up Boulder,” which was last held in spring 2018. “What’s Up Boulder” will take place on Sunday, Sept. 10 from 1-3:30 p.m. at Foothills Community Park in the pavilions area.

This citywide engagement open house will be an opportunity to create trust and an openness for further community engagement while creating connection and a sense of belonging through shared experiences. The event will help city staff engage in dialogue with the community to better understand their needs through a “One Boulder” approach.

We’ll have free dessert, entertainment, family-friendly activities, and opportunities for community members to chat with those of you who have signed up to participate in a Chat with Council at this event. Whether you are signed up for the chat or not, you are invited to attend the festivities.

Event activities include:

• A fire vehicle, a snow plow, a police vehicle and our new Police K9 Astro
• Free dessert from Kona Ice and Best One Yet food trucks
• Free beverages with reusable cups provided by R.cup
• Face painting and craft tables

We’re hoping for up to 800 community members throughout the afternoon. Multi-lingual city staff will be present during the event to help with any interpretation needs.

In conjunction with “What’s Up Boulder,” the city’s Parks and Recreation Department will host companion activities at the future park on Violet Avenue. Community members are invited to help shape the vision for the park and brainstorm ideas for its official name. There will be food, music, giveaways, and Wilder, a goat who is the “spokes creature” for Great Outdoors Colorado’s Generation Wild Campaign, at that location.

A trackless train will be available to transport participants at both events back and forth, utilizing a multi-use path and newly completed underpass.

For more information and event updates, the staff have set up a website here: bldr.fyi/whats-up-boulder. If you have questions, please reach out to Sarah Huntley, director of Communication and Engagement, by email at huntleys@bouldercolorado.gov,

Regards,
Nuria