[bouldercouncilhotline] Hotline: Community members think the City and City Staff are supporting 2B and 2C

[kohls at bouldercolorado.gov]

Sender: Wilson, Ken

I have received comments from several community members who think that the City and City Staff are supporting Ballot Issues 2B and 2C in ways that are not appropriate.  The article in this morning's paper is an example.  The last paragraph says: "But the city could also have some long-term agreements with electricity providers in place before bonds are sold, according to Jonathan Koehn, Boulder's regional sustainability coordinator."  This statement is clearly speculative and definitely seems to have been made as an argument about why people should vote in favor of the ballot issues.  For one thing, the municipal utility would not be formed for years - probably many years.  Natural Gas prices are highly variable and to speculate on how generation might be purchased in future years, and on agreements that might be signed before a utility is even formed (or ever formed based on future bond conditions) is unrealistic. There are also operational costs that will not be known until operations are actually started.  Yes, a utility could contract out all the operations to an outside company (where would all the green jobs go?) but such contracts would no doubt have many provisions for additional charges for unforseen problems.  My experience with big projects like this is that there would be many unforseen problems that could raise costs significantly.  So for staff to defend a position about future costs and the resulting viability of the proposed municipal utility is a big stretch.

I also understand that staff members are still participating in forums, defending the City's optimistic and improbable business case as if it was a plan that was sure to happen and sure to succeed.   The City is also apparently providing "Know Your Power" booklets that support municipilization to organizations that are adamently in favor of 2B and 2C.  Renewables Yes is using the city produced video on their website as though it were a campaign commercial.  I have been told that the City's actions have had a chilling effect on some people who would like to speak out against 2B and 2C because they do business in the city and with the city and don't want to oppose something the City is actively supporting.

In summary, I think the City is on thin ice here with respect to legal issues of supporting ballot measures.  I would ask the City Manager and City Attorney to review these issue so that we stay within the law and also do not have the appearance of supporting ballot measures.  These issues are very polarizing and the City should not be adding to this problem.

Ken Wilson
Deputy Mayor and Council Member