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04_16_24_am_headlines John Kelin
Polis Signs Occupancy Limits Bill
Governor Jared Polis has signed into law a bill that eliminates most restrictions on how many unrelated people can live together in Colorado.
The new law makes it illegal for local governments to create occupancy limits, which the governor and others have called discriminatory.
The governor signed the measure yesterday, with the law set to go into effect on July 1st. The Denver Post says it will still allow local governments to limit housing occupancy for health or safety reasons, or under affordable housing guidelines.
In Boulder, officials raised occupancy limits for much of the city last year. Under that rule, up to five unrelated people can live together as roommates. A senior policy advisor for the city told the Daily Camera that in view of the new state law, Boulder will probably need to revise its occupancy limits, but exactly how it will do so remains to be seen.
Hwy 36 Bikeway Proposed
Boulder County officials are developing a plan that could lead to a new dedicated bikeway along an eleven mile stretch of highway 36, between Boulder and Lyons.
That portion of highway 36 has the reputation of being hazardous for cyclists, and statistics back that up: Boulder County data shows that there are more crashes on that part of 36 involving bicycles than on any other road in unincorporated Boulder county.
The North Foothills Bikeway Feasibility Study is looking at creating a dedicated bike path, separated from motor vehicle traffic, to make it safer for cyclists riding there.
The plan is in its early stages.
Two public meetings are scheduled on the proposal. The first is tonight, a virtual meeting at 6pm.
The second is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30th at 6pm, at the Lyons Public Library.
Registration is required for tonight’s virtual meeting. For more information and to register, visit Bouldercounty.gov, and search “foothills bikeway.”
Denver Homeless Health Services Grant
In Denver, the City Council has approved a $2 million grant agreement to pay for homeless services in the city.
Council members approved the agreement unanimously yesterday. The money is for the micro-communities that are part of Mayor Mike Johnston’s “House1000 Behavioral Health and Substance Misuse Program.”
About $850,000 will be managed by the city’s Department of Housing Stability, while the rest will be managed by the Denver Department for Public Health and the Environment.
While the vote was unanimous, council member Shontel Lewis voiced her concerns about the control of the money, adding that the city should improve budget oversight.
Fewer Avalanche Deaths
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has recorded more than five thousand avalanches this winter. The season is winding down now, and there have been only two recorded fatalities – far fewer than in years past.
117 people have been caught in an avalanche so far this year, and while every fatality is tragic, two is an unusually low number.
Avalanche Center officials say that over the last twenty years, there is only one other winter season where the number of avalanche fatalities is comparable. That was eight years ago, when snow levels were below average.
In a number of cases this year, some people got lucky, according to Brian Lazar, the avalanche center’s deputy director. He told the Colorado Sun that in some cases skiers were successfully rescued by partners, and in others, the rush of snow from an avalanche broke in such a way that potential victims were spared. He said cases like that can just as easily go the other way.
Currently, every river basin in Colorado has an above-average snowpack. Even so, snowpacks tend to stabilize at this time of year and the avalanche threat declines somewhat. But the season isn’t over, and Lazar says all of these statistics could change in the blink of an eye.
Andrew Buen Trial
Testimony has begun in the trial of a former Clear Creek County deputy, charged in the shooting death of a Boulder man nearly two years ago.
Andrew Buen is one of six deputies charged in the death of 22-year old Christian Glass in June of 2022. Body camera footage shows he broke the window of Glass’s car and shot him five times. Buen is charged with second degree murder, official misconduct, and reckless endangerment.
Boulder Immigrant Business Event
The City of Boulder and the CU Boulder Law School are sponsoring an event to help non-citizens go into business for themselves.
The event is aimed at Boulder-area non-citizens. Professors and partner organizations will provide information on legal pathways for them to start their own businesses.
It’s set for this Saturday from 9:45 A.M. until noon, at the City Council chambers at 1777 Broadway.
The presentation will be in English, with Spanish interpretation available.
