City Of Boulder 2019 Election Results: City Council, Measures

BOULDER, CO — City of Boulder residents have voted for their next city council members and which measures will become policy Nov. 5. A total of 15 candidates were vying for six city council seats.

Three local measures also appeared on the Nov. 5 ballot. Voters will decide whether they want a tax increase on tobacco vaping products, a middle-income housing program and a tax extension for Open Space and Long's Gardens.

The top four candidates with the most votes will serve four-year terms; the fifth candidate will serve a two year term, and the sixth candidate will fulfill a vacancy for a two-year term after Jill Adler Grano's resignation from council in January.

(Return to Boulder Patch for local election results: Free Newsletters and Email Alerts | Facebook)

City of Boulder Council results

*As of 9 a.m. Nov. 6*

Some top issues the new council will face include improving affordable housing, combating climate change, improving public transit and sustainable infrastructure, supporting small businesses, preserving arts and culture and fighting for social justice.

In a Boulder League of Women Voters candidate forum Oct. 12, community members submitted questions to the candidates. The first question asked was about density versus neighborhood character — a debate that ties in climate change, affordable housing, public transit and social justice.

"Some places, density does make sense," Yates said. "But we also have to be very very respectful of neighborhood character. Many of you ... have invested your life savings into your home and you bought into a neighborhood that has a certain character and you have expectations."

In areas such as the Alpine-Balsam neighborhood, the city has to make sure "the density does not exceed what the neighborhood can carry," Yates said.

Brockett said density is appropriate in areas that have good transit corridors.

Friend said her concern is that neighborhood character isn't very definable, but climate change is.

"I prefer that we drill down to something that is a tangible fact. Are we talking about noise? Are we talking about traffic? Are we talking about the volume of people living in a home?' Friend asked. "In terms of density, I think we need to look in the context of the climate crisis, and I think that housing and transportation and the climate are pretty inextricably intertwined ..."

Swetlik said he believes that boosting Boulder's population would drive out some residents who moved here for the "small-town feel."

McIntyre said the term, "neighborhood character" has been used for racial suppression across the country.

"When I think about neighborhood character, I think about Boulder, and I think about rich, white and suburban," McIntyre said. "If we build some ADUs, we build some granny flats and we build some affordable housing, and it makes Boulder more diverse — if that addresses our social justice goals and the greatest common good, then I'm all for it."

The Daily Camera Editorial Board endorsed Aaron Brockett, Paul Cure, Rachel Friend, Junie Joseph, Mark McIntyre and Bob Yates.

People’s League for Action Now (PLAN) – Boulder County, a group that's dedicated to ensuring "slow and careful" growth for the county, endorsed Adam Swetlik, Susan Peterson, Mark Wallach, Corina Julca and Brian Dolan. The organization's co-chair, Peter Mayer, called the candidates for the Nov. 5 election "an unusually diverse group that is varied in age, experience, race and ethnicity."

"Each candidate made important contributions to the discussion of issues that they will face if elected to the city council," he said.

Ballot questions

2G: Tax on Tobacco Vaping Products

Shall City of Boulder taxes be increased two million five hundred thousand dollars (first full fiscal year increase) annually by imposing a sales and use tax of up to 40% of the retail sales price of all electronic smoking devices, including any refill, cartridge or component of such a product; the term “electronic smoking device” shall have the meaning as in Section 6-4.5-1 of the Boulder Revised Code; And in connection therewith, shall all of the revenues collected be used to fund:

• the administrative cost of the tax, and thereafter for:
• implementation and administration of a licensing program for all nicotine product retailers;
• health promotion;
• education programs regarding nicotine product use including enforcement;

With any remaining funds being available for general government services, including library, police, fire, parks, transportation and general government administration?

All effective January 1, 2020, and in connection therewith, shall the full proceeds of such taxes at such rates and any earnings thereon be collected, retained, and spent, as a voter-approved revenue change without limitation or condition, and without limiting the collection, retention, or spending of any other revenues or funds by the City of Boulder under Article X Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution or any other law?

Latest results:

2I: Imposition of a Middle-income Housing Program

Shall City of Boulder debt be increased by an amount not to exceed $10,000,000, with a maximum repayment cost of not to exceed $15,000,000, without raising taxes, to provide for a housing assistance program that will include permanently affordable deed restrictions and make loans to middle-income households to purchase homes sold in boulder, such debt to be sold at such time and in such manner and contain such terms, not inconsistent herewith, as the City Council may determine and to pay all necessary or incidental costs related thereto by the issuance and payment of notes, bonds, lines of credit or other debt obligations as provided by the City Charter, which obligations shall be payable from the general fund and any other legally available funds of the city, all without in any other way affecting the city’s other taxes, revenues or expenditures under the constitution and laws of this state?

2H: Sales and Use Tax Extension for Open Space and Long’s Gardens

Without raising additional taxes, shall the existing 0.15 cent city sales and use tax for transportation purposes, approved by the voters by Ordinance No. 7913, be extended beyond the current expiration date of De. 31, 2019 until Dec. 31, 2039; and beginning Jan. 1, 2020 until Dec. 31, 2039 designating the revenues collected to fund the maintenance, restoration, acquisition and preservation of open space land including the use of funds generated in the first year to purchase a conservation easement at Long’s Gardens located at 3240 Broadway as a voter approved revenue change?

• Results for Boulder County ballot questions and the Boulder Valley School District

• Results for the statewide ballot questions