Heads Up May 6, 2022

Update on JTTF MOU and plans to seek community feedback on federal partnerships

There has been a lot of thinking on the best way to move forward in light of council’s discussion on Feb. 1, 2022 about the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This update is intended to ensure alignment on the progress that has been made in this area, as well as next steps related to engagement.

As you may recall, on the MOU itself, council approved the agreement with the proviso that members would like to see it amended consistent with the conversation, as well as suggestions that Police Chief Maris Herold made. The goal was to create an agreement that aligned as much as possible given the FBI’s standard boilerplate template with Boulder’s specific policies and expectations. Council indicated a desire to see the revised changes, for situational awareness, not another vote.

This week, Chief Herold forwarded me an amended agreement that reflects the understanding she was able to reach with the Denver Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI. I am reviewing this and will work with the City Attorney’s Office to share the document with you soon. Once you have had an opportunity to review it, the SAC has offered to meet individually with any council members who wish to discuss the matter with him.

While this MOU has been voted on, some council members expressed an interest in having staff gather community input on these types of agreements, more broadly, as part of the ongoing Reimagining Policing effort. Staff is working to make this happen.

The Reimagine Policing project is currently in an engagement window focused on shared learning. This window consists of the preparation and release of explainer documents around specific aspects of BPD operations, coupled with Town Hall meetings that give community members a chance to ask questions and share their input. The chief and I have asked the project team to develop a document about how the department currently approaches these types of partnerships, including the recent JTTF MOU, and to include this topic in the agenda for the Town Hall in July. This engagement will inform a section in the draft Master Plan that outlines the desired approach to partnerships for the future. The community will also have an opportunity to provide feedback on the draft plan, as part of Engagement Window 4, later this spring and into the early summer.

If you have questions about the MOU or the engagement approach described above, please reach out to Police Chief Maris Herold.

City Water Supply Status for 2022

In May of each year, the city evaluates its water supply status to determine whether customer water use restrictions should be imposed under Boulder’s Drought Plan. These evaluations are primarily based on snowpack levels in the mountains west of Boulder, the city’s reservoir storage levels and the city’s allocation of water from Northern Water’s Colorado-Big Thompson (CBT) Project.

As of May 1, 2022, the water content in the Silver Lake Watershed snowpack is about average and the city’s CBT allocation for the year is average. The city reservoir storage levels are average compared to the past decade and reservoirs are expected to fill.

Although the region and Colorado River basin are experiencing dry conditions, the city’s key water supply factors are all within normal ranges, and water restrictions are not necessary at this time or anticipated for this summer. However, recognizing the intensity of climate conditions in recent years (e.g., numerous wildfires) and that April was one of the driest on record on the eastern plains, staff will continue to closely monitor conditions and provide future updates to City Council and may recommend additional measures if anything should change.

Staff is in the process of updating the city’s Drought Plan to reflect updated planning assumptions and to provide a more directive response plan. The Drought Plan was recently presented to the Water Resources Advisory Board and will be brought to the City Manager for approval this summer. Staff are proposing code changes to support the updated plan, which will be presented to City Council later this year.

Water conservation is one of the primary strategies for managing complex water issues and supply variability. The City of Boulder emphasizes efficient water use through its Water Conservation Program, as well as through the city’s water budget rate structure, which encourages water efficiency by charging higher rates for water use that exceeds an account’s specific budget. Recognizing there may still be dry conditions ahead and to support the continued wise use of water, the community will see ongoing water conservation outreach efforts throughout the year, including utility bill inserts and social media posts.

For questions please, contact Kim Hutton, Water Resources Manager or 303-441-3115 or visit https://bouldercolorado.gov/services/water-conservation.

Regards,
Nuria