[BoulderCouncilHotline] Recommended Changes to city's Policy Statement on Regional, State and Federal Issues

[Castillo, Carl]

Good Evening Council Members,

Last Thursday, council's Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, consisting of Mayor Brockett and Council Members Friend, Benjamin and Folkerts, met and discussed the city's Policy Statement on Regional, State and Federal Issues<https://bouldercolorado.gov/media/4804/download?inline=>. The committee made two recommendations, captured below and in the attached document, with changes reflected through double-underline and strike-through formatting. The first recommendation, to position 22 (land use), was a unanimous recommendation from the committee. The second recommendation, to position 23 (homelessness), was recommended by a 3 to 1 vote.

The full council will have the opportunity to consider whether to adopt these recommendations at their business meeting on Thursday, February 9. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions or concerns.

Carl
Proposed Revisions to City's Policy Statement on Regional, State and Federal Issues<https://bouldercolorado.gov/media/4804/download?inline=>

22.         Encourage Local Governments to Adopt Land Use Policies that Reduce Greenhouse Gasses and Discourage Unnecessary Single Occupancy Vehicle Travel
The city would support policies that encourage land use policies designed to reduce GHG and unnecessary vehicle travel. This could include promoting density or creating activity nodes and regional activity centers.

22.         Support of Limited State Involvement in Land Use Matters That Furthers the City's Housing Affordability, Transportation, Climate and Equity Goals

The General Assembly is expected to consider a series of bills over multiple sessions that would result in the state assuming some level of authority or oversight on zoning and land use matters currently under the exclusive control of local governments. The city is traditionally reluctant to cede local control, especially when it results in unfunded mandates. The justification for such hesitancy is rooted in a view that local problems demand local solutions, and that one size cannot fit all. However, under circumstances where the problems sought to be addressed by the state overlaps with city goals that transcend local borders and which cannot be achieved by acting alone, Boulder has supported the creation of minimal state standards narrowly tailored to meet those goals. A prime example of such a problem is the housing affordability crisis in and around Boulder. Addressing this crisis, especially when doing so advances climate, transportation and equity goals, is a city priority. Like many of its neighboring cities, Boulder has dedicated a substantial amount of attention and resources toward achieving this goal and has seen some progress. However, making a meaningful impact on this regional issue will require a coordinated and shared commitment among all local governments.

For these reasons, the city supports state policy changes that encourage local governments to adopt land use policies that reduce greenhouse gasses and discourage single occupancy vehicle travel. The city may also support state policies that go beyond incentives if narrowly targeted to further the goals of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, if they take into account the range of land use priorities throughout the state, if they allow for flexibility in implementation and if they provide clarity on how local governments already meeting state standards can be exempted. The following are four policy categories that the city expects will soon be considered by the statehouse. To the extent that they are consistent with the above qualifications and the below descriptions, the city will support them.


a)                Reduce barriers to development of accessory dwelling units and multiplexes.

b)                Create minimum average housing density standards along high-frequency transit corridors and multimodal transit stations.

c)                 Reduce the number of parking spaces that can be required.

d)                Create regional housing assessments that identify housing needs, local housing targets proportional to the needs of all income levels, and a requirement that local governments develop housing production strategies to meet these targets.

23.         Fund and protect the city's ability to reduce homelessness
The city's homelessness strategy is built around the belief that Boulder community members should have the opportunity for a safe and stable place to live. The strategy expands pathways to permanent housing and increases access to programs and services. The city supports state legislation that funds and facilitates such efforts. Furthermore, it will advocate for the following:

a)                Support minimum requirements for local governments to combat homelessness.

b)                Oppose preventing local governments that meet the above requirements from banning camping in public spaces.

c)                 Support increased funding and programming for prevention and supportive services, expansion of mental and behavioral health prevention and treatment, temporary and permanent housing options, and proposals that affect targeted populations, including the challenges presented by family, youth, and single-adult homelessness.
Carl Castillo
Chief Policy Advisor
[CMO_lockup_COBlogo]
O: # 303-441-3009
C: # 303-859-4504
castilloc at bouldercolorado.gov<mailto:castilloc at bouldercolorado.gov>

City Manager's Office
1777 Broadway | Boulder, CO 80302
https://bouldercolorado.gov/intergovernmental-affairs<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbouldercolorado.gov%2Fintergovernmental-affairs&data=02%7C01%7CCastilloC%40bouldercolorado.gov%7Ccb703426a61f4de33d4008d8491c1ae7%7C0a7f94bb40af4edcafad2c1af27bc0f3%7C0%7C0%7C637339732351265459&sdata=zO5Qi1gvoBFrVD8GdOahWUSIwmlaUnK%2BLi4SUdNtXUg%3D&reserved=0>

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