[BoulderCouncilHotline] Retreat HW

[Nagle, Mirabai]

Dear Council, and Hotline,


Wishing all a healthy, productive and happy 2019.

  *   HOMEWORK ITEM #1:
  *   Please review the above list of 14 work plan priorities for the 2018-19 council that we established at our last retreat and indicate the following:
  *   A. Rank the work plan priorities in the order that you think is most important to least important for this council to complete before the end of October 2019.
  *
  *   B. If there are projects that are not on this list that you believe that this council should complete before the end of October 2019, state and briefly describe the new project. Also indicate which of the 14 previously-established priorities that you would remove from the 2018-19 work plan to accommodate the new project.
  *
  *   C. If you believe that two or more projects can be combined, please so indicate.
Issues this council needs to be working on

  *   Community Benefit
  *   Use Tables and Site Review Criteria Updates

Site Review and Community Benefit: I would like to see a shift in reducing the use of Site Review as often. Instead I would like to see most projects being done within the zoning rules, especially with respect to height, density and setbacks. It is clear from the height moratorium that we don’t need to allow high buildings in most parts of the City. I do not support granting more height or density to the detriment of the nearby citizens (or others who have to look at it) for “Community Benefit” that we should require and be able to obtain by right in the first place. Also, introducing another judgement call into the already too flexible Site Review process creates more uncertainty for the citizens who stand to be impacted.


  *   North Central Boulder Subcommunity Plan & Alpine-Balsam Area Plan
  *   Manufactured Housing Strategy
  *   Shared Equity Middle Income Program
  *   Large Lots

Issues that are in progress or have been addressed

  *   Climate Commitment
  *   Boulder Electric Utility
  *   Broadband
  *   Open Space Master Plan
  *   Transportation Master Plan
  *   Vision Zero

Transportation Master Plan and Vision Zero: I believe we need put more attention on reducing traffic. Accident reduction will be a great benefit and something that many citizens would greatly appreciate, rather than trying to solve a problem that, by and large, is a function of too much traffic. I support a well thought out TMP. It would include standards such as no increase in VMT, no increase in travel times, and no further increasing wait times at intersections. It would shift much of the transportation funding to user fees, like parking charges, while moving away from sales tax. It would use charges on SOVs to pay for carpooling, and van pooling, so as to actually reduce traffic. I think that this has been neglected for some years and it needs to be restored to a primary focus.


  *   Commercial Linkage Fees
  *   Housing Advisory Board


  *   HOMEWORK ITEM #2
  *   If you believe that there are process changes or improvements that council should implement, please briefly describe the change and the reason for it.


  *   With regards to process, I would strongly support staff work on policy analyses. It is difficult on the community and council when we receive staff recommendations that we may not agree with.  Rather than uniting, it can divide, and I don’t believe that is anyone’s intention or goal. Instead, I propose, staff hold off on making recommendations for a set period of time. Instead I suggest they focus on thorough analysis of the alternatives with detailed looks at contextual issues as well as costs, benefits and other factors that could affect the outcome. There are many citizens and staff, who are experts at this way of working. They could frame a more productive and helpful process than we currently have. It could also be combined with the Public Participation group’s recommendations.
  *   I also support Bob's suggestions regarding Study Sessions.


  *   HOMEWORK ITEM #3:
  *    Please indicate whether you would like any changes in your assignments to intergovernmental organizations, internal city committees, local boards or sister city committees.
  *    No changes requested.
Kind regards,
Mirabai Nagle
Boulder City Council

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