City of Boulder

Boulder is taking a big step towards zero-emissions electricity and a cleaner energy future with the Prime Time Virtual Power Plant project. Led by Xcel Energy and funded by up to $12.7 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, this project will help Boulder build an electric grid that fully utilizes rooftop solar, battery storage, electric vehicles and other renewable energy technologies, also known as distributed energy sources. A virtual power plant is an invisible network of distributed energy sources that work together as if they were a single large power plant. These sources are small, local and spread across different locations, potentially allowing for greater flexibility and resilience compared to traditional large central power plants. The VPP connects these resources using smart technology to manage and balance the energy they create and store. Learn more at https://ow.ly/irH750TS11q

City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde has announced that Chief Financial Officer Kara Skinner will leave the city on Nov. 8 to accept a consulting position that will allow her to work fully remotely and better balance her professional life with family goals. Skinner has accepted the role of Director – Fiscal in the Government Consulting section of MGT Consulting. “It has been an incredible privilege to serve our city for the past seven years, and I am leaving with only the deepest respect for my many talented colleagues and the Boulder community,” Skinner said. “This decision will allow me to continue to provide strategic counsel in my chosen profession while also letting me spend more time in another role I love, as a grandmother.” Rivera-Vandermyde plans to conduct a national search for the city’s next CFO but has asked Deputy Director of Finance Joel Wagner to serve as interim finance director until a permanent leader is named. Read more at https://ow.ly/JKmf50TTCP9

For the second year in a row, Boulder proudly participated in Construction Girl Day, a fantastic initiative aimed at inspiring the next generation of women in the trades! We were proud to participate with an interactive booth where young women learned about our mapping systems, how we respond to community requests, and had fun filling pretend potholes. Events like these highlight the diverse careers we're hiring for, from hands-on trades to leadership roles. Supporting gender equity is a key part of our work toward creating a more inclusive city. We loved showcasing the incredible opportunities available for all gender identities in fields that have been traditionally male dominated. Everyone, no matter their gender identity, can help make an impact with critical work that strengthens safety, infrastructure and the quality of life of our community. A huge thank you to everyone who made this day possible and to the participants who brought energy and enthusiasm. Together we can keep breaking barriers in the construction trades and work towards a more inclusive workforce across our city! 👏

Deputy City Attorney and Prosecutor, Chris Reynolds shares his role in pioneering a compassionate approach to justice through Boulder’s Community Court. By focusing on support, not punishment, he’s helping to break the cycle of homelessness. Read the article by University of Colorado Law at https://lnkd.in/gyjvYVDZ

John Kinney, the manager for the Boulder Municipal Airport, has accepted the role of director with Northern Colorado Regional Airport, which serves the communities of Loveland and Fort Collins. His last day as a Boulder employee will be Oct. 25. Kinney has overseen airport operations in Boulder for three and a half years. During this time, he worked with city colleagues to re-establish a culture towards safety; proactively manage leases; apply rules evenly to all airport tenants and users; and identify critical infrastructure needs. Kinney has also participated in extensive community engagement about the future of the airport, sharing his professional perspective and expertise. The city will conduct a national search for the next airport manager. Until that search has concluded, the airport will continue normal operations. Read more: https://ow.ly/i88w50TLetP

The City of Boulder has completed the acquisition of over 4,400 streetlights from Xcel Energy. The purchase is a significant step toward improving financial resilience, environmental stewardship and safe travel. Transitioning to high-quality streetlights will offer better efficiency, reliability and cost savings while reducing pollution from light and electricity generation. Learn more at https://ow.ly/RXyz50THc1M

The City of Boulder extends its gratitude to Tribal Representatives for nominating the city for an American Cultural Resources Association (ACRA) for its consultation and engagement efforts with American Indian Tribal Nations, which the city received at the association's annual conference last week. City staff who work with Tribal Representatives were deeply touched by the thoughtfulness Tribal Representatives put into their nomination that led to the city winning this award. While it’s an honor, the true achievements are the meaningful relationships we have built with Tribal Nations and Tribal Representatives over the years. We're grateful for the opportunity to listen and learn from Tribal Representatives, and we look forward to more opportunities to collaborate and work together in the future. Learn more at https://ow.ly/VOA050TCLc0

In the wake of COVID-19, the City of Boulder received $20.15 million in one-time funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to help our community recover from the pandemic. In addition to federal guidelines for how ARPA dollars can be spent, the city developed its own guiding principles for the funding, which incorporate the city’s equity, sustainability and resilience goals, using the city’s Sustainability + Resilience Framework and Racial Equity Framework. Learn more about how ARPA funding safeguarded Boulder from the impacts of the pandemic: https://ow.ly/tsom50TCnCo

The City of Boulder and Boulder County are kicking off an update of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP). The community is welcome to a family-friendly Open House on Oct. 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Dairy Arts Center to learn about the update and help create "A BOULDER Future." The BVCP was first adopted in 1977 and is intended to guide long range planning and policies to meet the Boulder Valley community’s vision and goals for the next 20 years. The plan undergoes a major update every 10 years. The BVCP has shaped the Boulder Valley for the past five decades, and we invite everyone in the community to help us shape the next 20 years. Help us celebrate 50 years since the adoption of the plan, and to jump start this year-long update, taking place throughout 2025. Learn more at https://ow.ly/L84r50TxELU

We're launching a new Wildfire Resilience Assistance Program to help property owners in specific areas of the western edge of the city create more wildfire-resilient homes through cost-sharing assistance. Learn more about the program ➡️ https://ow.ly/2HX550TrlAV