[bouldercouncilhotline] Hotline: RE: P&DS Advisors

[cmosupport at bouldercolorado.gov]

Sender: Rait, Maureen

Hi Mary,

Charles Ferro is taking some well-deserved vacation over the holidays.   Provided below are responses to your questions about the P&DS Advisors' group.

As mentioned previously, P&DS Advisors are a customer / stakeholder group that is convened by staff on a quarterly basis.  The group was originally formed as part of the efforts to better integrate the city's services related to the development process over ten years ago when the Planning and Development Services Center was created. The group's mission is to:

".. advise the P&DS management team on administrative improvements to the development review, technical document, building permit and inspection processes.   Meetings provide the opportunity for customers to offer suggestions about improvements and provide feedback on changes proposed by staff." 

We serve a wide array of customers and this group includes advisory board members, architects, attorneys, contractors, civil engineers, commercial and residential developers, representatives from Boulder Housing Partners, neighborhoods and property management companies and local businesses.  

We maintain a list of customers who have expressed interest in participating in these meetings.  We send out emails in advance to confirm the meeting date and time.   We meet in the community room of Alfalfa's.      

The meetings are not considered public meetings and are neither noticed nor recorded.  Staff maintain notes of meetings and structure agendas to focus on topics of potential interest and we provide general updates, such as the status of filling vacant staff positions.

As you may recall, the city is in the process of replacing several key systems including its development tracking software.  Stakeholder feedback has been used to inform the business process updates that relate to that software replacement.   Additionally, the city's website and GIS systems support all customers and have been updated and improved in response to customer feedback.   In particular, staff is working to roll out a more effective online tool/map for the public on current development review projects.   

The Information Resources Manager, Administrative Services Manager, Chief Building Official, Development Review Manager for Public Works (PW), Development Review Manager for Community Planning & Sustainability (CP&S), the Deputy Director of CP&S, the Executive Director of PW and the Executive Director of CP&S typically attend these meetings.   


Please let us know if additional information would be helpful.

Susan Richstone
Deputy Director of Community Planning & Sustainability 

Maureen Rait
Executive Director of Public Works 



-----Original Message-----
From: Young, Mary 
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2014 10:25 AM
To: Ferro, Charles
Cc: HOTLINE
Subject: RE: P&DS Advisors

Hi Charles, 

A few questions have come to mind:

1. How are advisors selected?

2. Can a non-industry professional member of the public become an advisor?

3. Are the meetings noticed?

4. Are the meetings open to the public?

5. Are they recorded, and if they are, where can the public find the audio?

6. Are meeting minutes kept? If they are, please provide links to the minutes.

7. What kind of business and/or process improvements/suggestions have resulted from these meetings?

8. Who from staff attends the meetings?

Thank you.

Wishing you the best for a happy holiday season,

Mary Dolores Young
Boulder City Council Member
303-501-2439
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