Published On: August 23rd, 2019Categories: Uncategorized

Dear City Council Members,

Here is some important information about North Broadway reconstruction, Pottery Lab, Harbeck-Bergheim property, the Chautauqua playground and a homelessness engagement event.

North Broadway Reconstruction Project

The North Broadway Reconstruction Project from Violet Avenue to US 36 will improve the pavement condition and create pedestrian, bicycle and transit stop improvements to address safety and comfort for travelers. The project also includes the installation of a traffic signal at Broadway and Yarmouth and improvements to the Fourmile Canyon Creek Underpass and drainageway which provides future flood mitigation of Fourmile Canyon Creek and improves travel for pedestrians and bicyclists through a widened underpass.

At the Aug. 12, 2019, TAB meeting, the Board voted (4-0, one member was absent) to support the revised design option for the project as the most viable option consistent with the Transportation Master Plan, as well as Vision Zero, North Boulder Subcommunity Plan and Low Stress Walk and Bike Network Plan. The Board also urged further action to address public interest in a 25mph speed limit for at least some portion of the corridor. The recommended design incorporates raised, buffered bike lanes in the north and southbound directions from Violet – Lee Hill, buffered bike lanes from Lee Hill to US36 and a bidirectional multi-use path on the west side of Broadway from Violet to Laramie Blvd. The additional cost to construct these bicycle facilities will come from a one-time use of Transportation fund reserves.

Updated project designs will be shared with the community in late September through an open house meeting and online on the project webpage. The project team has also been coordinating with area private and public projects, including the upcoming Ponderosa Community Stabilization Project, North Boulder Branch Library, Backbone Fiber Project. Staff is meeting with area residents and internally on issues such as the replacement driveway following the closure of the Ponderosa access via Broadway.

Staff will finalize the engineering and project plans in first quarter of 2020 and plans to advertise the projects for bids and begin construction in 2020. Construction is anticipated to take approximately 18 months.

Staff is very appreciative of the support and collaboration for this project by City Council, TAB and the community to determine a high-quality, multimodal project for this important community corridor.

For more information on this project, please contact Noreen Walsh, senior transportation planner, at [email protected] or 303-441-4301.

The City of Boulder opens two separate competitive processes for lease and programming  

This August, Boulder’s Parks & Recreation will issue a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) opportunity through BidNet pursuing interest in programming and facility lease; this public-private programming opportunity first was explored in 2014 at which time the city awarded Studio Arts Boulder the bid. The city will issue a similar RFP for Pottery programming and the Pottery Lab facility this month, as the current lease and its extensions will expire at the end of the year. A contractor selection is expected before year-end. For more information about the Pottery Lab, please visit https://bouldercolorado.gov/parks-rec/pottery.  

Also, the department soon will open the process to select a lessee for the landmarked Harbeck-Bergheim property, located at 1206 Euclid Ave. Per the city’s direction, the listing will reflect the community values and process. This listing will welcome proposals and will be shared with previously engaged stakeholders, posted on the city website and by the competitively selected listing agent, The Colorado Group. The property will be listed as of the end of August. For more information about the Harbeck-Bergheim House, please visit https://bouldercolorado.gov/parks-rec/harbeck-bergheim-house

The department will update respective webpages and issue a press release alerting the community of these opportunities when both are posted. 

Questions concerning the Pottery Lab should be forwarded to Megann Lohman, Parks and Recreation Programming and Partnerships Manager, at [email protected] or 303-441-4427. 

Questions concerning Hornbeck-Bergheim House should be forwarded to Tina Briggs, Parks Planner, [email protected] or 303-413-7291. 

Parks & Recreation launches engagement for Chautauqua playground refreshing 

This August, the City of Boulder will begin community engagement around potential improvements at Chautauqua Park, located at Baseline Road and 9th Street. The Parks and Recreation Department’s annual Capital Investment Program (CIP) identified the playground at this site as a priority for funding in 2019 due to the backlog of needed repairs and equipment replacement.  

The Chautauqua Park playground equipment has exceeded its life expectancy, and the department will replace it to meet current industry standards. ADA accessibility and playground equipment safety regulations are examples of new guidelines that must be followed in the renovation process. Additional consideration will be taken based on the historic nature of the property and close connections to natural lands. 

A public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 29 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Chautauqua Park Community House, 900 Baseline Road, to share the foundation of information and interpretation of the research with the community. The meeting offers an opportunity for community members to comment on options and ideas about improvements to the playground and tennis court. In addition to the city’s playground enhancement, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about a few other projects occurring including Chautauqua’s Sustainability and Resiliency Strategy and the Colorado Chautauqua Association’s proposed preservation lab/maintenance facility. 

The playground renovation planning process started in June 2019 with project research and scope development and, following the robust community outreach scheduled for this fall, will continue through spring 2020 when the city plans to implement a preferred concept plan developed with the community. More information and timelines related to the improvement project are available at https://bouldercolorado.gov/parks-rec/chautauqua-park-playground-renovation

For more information and updates about all park projects and construction plans, please visit BoulderParksNews.org. 

For more information, please contact Tina Briggs, Parks Planner, [email protected] or 303-413-7291. 

30th and Valmont/Pearl community process to address impacts of homelessness

City staff is supporting a community engagement effort to identify and address the impacts of people experiencing homelessness on businesses and residences in the 30th Street area between Valmont road and Pearl parkway.  Through an initial dialogue, the community has shared its concerns surrounding public health, sanitation and safety. Community members are seeking solutions to the concerns raised.

Staff will meet with community members again on Wednesday, Aug. 28, to discuss the information shared, collaboration going forward and possible solutions that address the initial concerns. Representatives from the following city departments and programs planning to attend include: Community Vitality, Police, Housing and Human Services, and City Manager’s Office. In addition, Council Member Mary Young will be in attendance to hear and support the conversation.

For more information, please contact Brenda Ritenour, [email protected] or Carin Armstrong, [email protected]

Regards,
Jane


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