Gold Hill Fire Protection District Board Meetings are held the 3rd Thursday of each month (except December, usually), at 8:00 pm at the Community Center.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  November 7, 2011  Contact: Barb Halpin, 303-441-1622

Open House scheduled for Boulder County Comprehensive Plan

Community invited to provide input into future direction of county planning at staff-hosted event on Nov. 15 in Boulder

Boulder County, Colo. – From late August to early October, Boulder County Land Use staff hosted a series of six community meetings around the county to gain public input into the first steps for updating the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan (BCCP).

An open house hosted by the Boulder County Land Use Department is scheduled for Nov. 15 to provide feedback from those community meetings and to further solicit input from county residents on the BCCP.

When: Tuesday, Nov. 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: Boulder County Courthouse, Commissioners’ Hearing Room, third floor, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder

The goal of the open house is to help attendees leave with a better understanding of the BCCP (what it is for and how it is used), contribute to the scope and content of the draft Guiding Principles, and become engaged in the broader plan update effort.

The open house is expected to last for two hours and will include:

• Land Use staff available to answer questions and provide information;
• A viewing of two videos, one on the BCCP and one on growth and planning in Boulder County since 1950;
• An introduction of a new set of draft Guiding Principles that aim to incorporate established goals and objectives currently found in the plan, including land use and sustainability;
• The solicitation of participants’ reactions, questions, response, and feedback on the draft Guiding Principles;
• An opportunity to discuss with staff the next steps and information on how to stay informed and involved.

All residents of Boulder County are encouraged to attend, and it is hoped that diverse perspectives from around the county (including rural, mountain and urban communities) are well-represented at the open house and throughout the formal public process for adopting a revised plan.

For more information, visit the county’s website at: Boulder County Comprehensive Plan Update or contact: Peter Fogg or Bill Davidson, Long Range Policy Team, at the Boulder County Land Use Department, 303-441-3930.

BCCP background

Originally adopted in 1978, the BCCP helps shape Boulder County land use regulations and provides direction to programs and plans administered by the county’s Parks and Open Space and Transportation departments, among others. It further helps promote strong relations among the county, its municipalities, all residents, and other jurisdictions.

The established goals in the BCCP help direct urban development into urban areas and maintain the agricultural, environmental resources, and rural character of the unincorporated areas of the county. Sections of the BCCP have been amended incrementally since 1978, but the plan has not had a full review, major revision or update since it was initially adopted.

-BoulderCounty.org-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     October 24, 2011

Contact: Barb Halpin, Public Information Officer, 303-441-1622 

Boulder County Commissioners to hold public hearing on Oct. 27 to solicit input from residents

 Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27 to solicit input from residents on suggestions and recommendations for the 2012 county budget.

 The hearing will take place in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room on the third floor of the Boulder Courthouse at 1325 Pearl St. in Boulder, and members of the public are invited to provide input on 2012 funding for county services and programs.

During the months of September and October, each county elected office and department, along with representatives from local nonprofit human services agencies, presented their 2012 budget requests to the commissioners at a series of public hearings.

Those funding requests, which can fluctuate up until the time the County Commissioners make their recommendations to budget staff for inclusion in the 2012 budget package, can be viewed in-person Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Commissioners’ Office, also on the third floor of the Courthouse.

The Board of County Commissioners will review all budget requests and public input at the 2012 Budget Work Session to be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3 in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room. The public is invited to attend the work session, but no public testimony will be taken.

 Members of the public may provide comments about 2012 county funding at Thursday’s hearing, by email tocommissioners@nullbouldercounty.org, by mail to Boulder County Commissioners’ Office, P.O. Box 471, Boulder, CO 80306, or by phone at 303-441-3500. A final public hearing on the budget will be scheduled in mid-November.

 Information about current and prior year’s budgets is available on the county’s website at:www.bouldercounty.org. Search for “budget” in the search field at the top of the page.

 By state law, the Board of County Commissioners must adopt a final 2012 budget by Dec. 15.

 -BoulderCounty.org-

If you haven’t heard us enough….we, Susan Fernalld, David Brigham, R.C. Wittenbaugh, Janilee Chapin, Leslie Finn, Karel Starek, John Latham, and Debra Yeager will be performing “The Insecta Invasion” yet again at REI on Thursday evening, November 10^th for the Colorado Native Plant Society of Colorado.  You are all invited and it’s free.  We begin promptly at 6:30 pm at REI, just north of Canyon on the west side of 28^th street.  The show is one hour long.  This may be our final performance of this repertoire.  We hope to see you there.

Debra Yeager <deb@nullmountainvisions.net>

In both Gold Hill and Sunshine Canyon, residents have brought up important questions regarding the resolution listed below.  These folks have invited county officials and county wide CWPP members to attend a meeting to try to thoroughly understand this resolution that affects all of us in the mountains. There is an informational meeting scheduled and the details are below.  

Attention Mountain Residents 

There will be a Town Hall meeting on October 24 at 7:00 pm at

Fire Station #1, 311 County Road 83 in Sunshine to discuss some questions and concerns about Resolution No. 2011-94

RESOLUTION NO. 2011-94

CONCERNING THE CREATION OF THE BOULDER COUNTY MOUNTAINS FOREST IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, REFERRING TO THE VOTERS OF THE PROPOSED DISTRICT A BALLOT ISSUE CONCERNING ITS CREATION, AND APPROVING A BALLOT TITLE FOR THE ISSUE.

The Forest Improvement District (FID) emerged as the administrative entity of a countywide Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), a document created by a group of hardworking people that outlines the need for fire mitigation in the mountains of Boulder County. Some questions, however, surround the resolution. For instance:

• Why are incorporated areas like Nederland and Ward excluded from the plan?

• Incorporated areas (like Nederland and Ward) within Boulder County, however, can opt-in to the communitywide CWPP. What would be the advantage/disadvantage for them to do so?

• Beside the creation of the FID, what else did the Citizen Advisory Team recommend?

• The FID proposes the possibility of future sales and/or property taxes. Will all Boulder County residents be taxed? Or only those who live in the mountainous boundary of the FID?

• Some communities have created and are supporting their own CWPP through property taxes. Will they be double taxed?

• The FID excludes incorporated municipalities such as Nederland and Ward. If Resolution No. 2011-94 is passed and later property taxes are approved during a future election, will the residents of these incorporated areas be excluded from taxation?

These are only some of the questions that mountain residents are asking.  This is an opportunity to invite county officials to the mountains and get a better understanding of this ballot initiative.  There will be at least one county official as well as a core member of the countywide CWPP present to help clarify questions and give us a more thorough understanding of Resolution 2011-94

If you have questions, please e-mail bocomountainresidents@nullgmail.com

Fourmile Fire report  – Public open house 

Just days after the Fourmile Fire began in September 2010, Sen. Mark Udall requested a study of the fire similar to the one he requested after the Hayman Fire in 2002.

 The preliminary findings of that study will be presented to Boulder County residents and any interested members of the public at an open house this Friday afternoon in Boulder.

 What:     Public open house to discuss findings presented in the preliminary report of the Fourmile Canyon Fire Assessment

 When:      Friday, Oct. 14, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. A presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the assessment researchers

 Where:     Commissioners’ Hearing Room, Boulder County Courthouse, third floor, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder

 Light refreshments will be provided.

 Researches will be available to answer specific questions regarding the report and representatives from Sen. Udall’s office, Boulder County, the U.S. Forest Service, Colorado State Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management will also be available.

Background

USFS agencies collaborated with the CSFS and assembled a team to conduct the study in December 2010. The study was led by scientists with the USFS’ Rocky Mountain Research Station.Issues on which the study focuses include the:

• •         Existing on-the-ground conditions and how they influenced fire behavior

            •         Success or failure of specific aspects of firefighting activiti

            •         Factors that influenced how and why structures burned

            •         Existing science related to restoration and protocols in place to learn about recovery.

Dan Rowland | Communications Specialist      Boulder County | Board of County Commissioners      Office: 303.441.3399 | Mobile: 303.579.7573

The location for the fire aviation operations presentation has been moved. It now will be held at the Boulder County Courthouse.

What: Fire Aviation Operations Presentation

When: Wednesday, Oct. 12, 7-8:30 p.m.

Where: Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl St., Commissioners’ Hearing Room, 3rd Floor

The presentation will teach about the types of aircraft used for fire aviation, their capabilities and limitations, Colorado’s current aviation program, where these aircraft come from, who flies them, and what it takes to become a firefighting pilot. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

For more information, contact Dave Zader at 303-441-4353 or zaderd@nullbouldercolorado.gov. Zader is the Fire Management Officer for the Wildland Division of the City of Boulder Fire Department.

As part of Wildfire Awareness Month this October, Boulder County is presenting a series of events to help people prepare for a wildfire, take action to protect their homes, and work with neighbors to reduce their risk. See the schedule of events.

Gold Hill Town Meeting

Monday, October 10, 7:30 p.m. Community Center

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of Minutes of last meeting

3. Treasurer’s Report

-John to read the report sent by Adriana

4. Committee Reports

a. Community Planning/Trails

b. Historical Zoning

c. Forest Mgmt/CWPP

d. Fire Department

-Gretchen to give a report from the last fireboard        meeting

e. Weed Mgmt

f. Historic Gold Hill

g. Mining

h. Gold Hill School

5. Old Business

6. New Business/Announcements

-Rummage Sale Report- Deb Yeager

–  Please vote November 1, 2011. Even in an off year there are important issues on the ballot.

The ‘mountain forest improvement district’ is a Boulder County ballot initiative that proposes to create a Mountain Forest Improvement District as a recommendation of the Citizen Advisory Team concerning the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. This would be the entity that would “plan and implement forest improvement projects in wild land-urban interface areas, including projects to reduce hazardous fuels and protect communities.”  For more information you can look up 2011 ballot initiatives at www.bouldercounty.org.

–  Allen Bishop from Boulder County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (BCARES) came to speak at our mountain mayors meeting

-Message from Amy Hardy:  I have continued to attend the Mountain Mayor’s meetings.  We had a meeting two weeks ago and Allen Bishop from Boulder County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (BCARES) came to the meeting to talk about using HAM radios as a method of communication in the case of an emergency in the mountains.  Allen and BCARES played a very valuable role during the Fourmile Canyon Fire and he has been working with the Sheriff’s Dept. as well as local fire chiefs.  There are plans to install an antenna on the Gold Hill fire barn as well as in Ward.  There is already one in Nederland and they are looking at installing one in Jamestown as well.  The intention is to create a Mountain Emergency Radio Network that will enable the small mountain towns west of Boulder to continue to communicate with authorities as well as one another in the case that mainstream communications fail. The goal of MERN is to provide clear information during an emergency and eliminate the rumor mill.  BCARES is workings in conjunction with local fire departments and Foothills United Way to provide the radios and training for any local that wishes to learn the HAM radio system.  This training will provide the individual with a federal certification in HAM radio operation.  These trainings are from 9am to 3pm on October 22^nd at the Nederland Community Center and October 29^th from 9am to 3pm at the Gold Hill fire barn.  Following these training dates will be test dates for the federal exam.  Please contact Amy Hardy at ahardy105@nullyahoo.com if you have any questions.

As part of October Wildfire Awareness Month, chipping services will be provided at no charge by the Sheriff’s Office Fire Crew.  This is your chance to get rid of your slash piles and create defensible space on your property.

Date: Saturday, October 8^th, 2011

Time: 10:00 am-3:00 pm

Location: Soby Residence, 9998 Gold Hill Rd. 100 yds west of the Gold Hill fire barn
What do you have to do?  Get your slash to the Sobys.  If you do not have a truck to haul your slash, call Pete Soby (303 444-9249).
Drop-off Guidelines:

·         Site is open for material drop-off between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.  (No material accepted before then.)

·         Onsite registration/check-in is required.

·         Maximum diameter of slash: 6” (minimum diameter of slash: ¾”)

·         At drop-off site, stack slash neatly with the cut ends out.

·         Longer branches are acceptable, no need to cut them short.

·         Only forest slash will be accepted. No leaf litter, trash, construction waste, dirt, metal or rocks.  It is very important that slash does not contain any metal (including old nails and fencing). That material will damage donated chippers.

For more info, call Ashley Garrison, BCSO Volunteer Fire Fighter Coordinator (720 564-2673) or Susan Fernalld (303 447-0634)

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA, SEPTEMBER 29, 2011

2:00 P.M.

PRESENTER: Land Use Department Public Hearing: Docket BVCP-10-0001 Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan 2010 Major Five Year Update; Staff presentation on the policy, text and map changes to the BVCP as approved by the City of Boulder Planning Board, City Council and revised by action of the county Planning Commission on August 24, 2011. ACTION REQUESTED: Adoption

Boulder County, Colo. – Residents who plan to cast a ballot in the 2011 coordinated election have less than one month to register to vote.

The deadline to register for the 2011 coordinated election, which will be conducted by mail ballot, is Oct. 3.

Boulder County voters can visit BoulderCountyVotes.org to register to vote, request a mail ballot, or check and update their voter registration. They can also call 303-413-7740 for more information or visit one of three Boulder County Clerk & Recorder’s Office branches: 1750 33rd St. in Boulder; 529 Coffman St. in Longmont; or 722 Main St. in Louisville.

Voters who have moved since the previous election will need to update their registration if they plan to vote in the upcoming election.

Election Day is Nov. 1, but voters will begin receiving ballots in mid-October.

Key Dates for the 2011 Coordinated Election:

• · Monday, Oct. 3: Last day to register to vote for the election.
• · Tuesday, Oct. 25: Last day to apply for a ballot if you’d like to receive it by mail. (Active voters can apply for and receive a ballot in person through Election Day.)
• · Nov. 1: Election Day. Ballots must be in hands of Boulder County Clerk & Recorder’s Office no later than 7 p.m.

– BoulderCountyVotes.org –

Fall kick-off at museum. Two new exciting exhibits and a reception.

University of Colorado Museum of Natural History
Two exciting and new exhibitions and an opening reception kick-off fall semester

Burning Issues: The Fourmile Canyon Fire
Sept. 6, 2011 – Jan. 26, 2012.

One year ago an errant spark ignited the most destructive and expensive fire in
Colorado history. Visit this exhibition to learn what happened, the ecological
importance of fires and how environmental and human factors affect fire
activity. Photography, scarred trees and video interviews tell the story and
illustrate how scientists reconstruct fire history.

Thurs., September 15, 2011
6:00 p.m. Opening Reception for Burning Issues: the Fourmile Canyon Fire
7:00 p.m. Presentation: Fire in the Mountains: Understanding Fire History
and
Fire Dynamics in Colorado, by Geography Professor Dr. Tom Veblen

For more information: http://cumuseum.colorado.edu and 303-492-6892

Bird Shift: The Anthropogenic Ornithology of North America
Aug. 22 – Dec. 31, 2011

Through a collaboration with nationally recognized artist Brian D. Collier and
local scientists, transportation professionals and birders, EcoArts Connection
and the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History are co-presenting an
exhibition exploring how human activity affects local bird behavior. Included
are colorful photos, objects and video presentations. A series of animated
talks, panel discussions, bird walks, a poetry reading, family activities and a
website are included along with Bus Birding activities on the Long JUMP bus
route, and at selected Long JUMP stops.

For more information:
http://cumuseum.colorado.edu and
http://www.BusBirding.SocietyRNE.net
303-492-6892

The University of Colorado Museum of Natural History is located on campus in
the Henderson Building next to and just west of the UMC at 15th and Broadway.

“The smoke was so thick in here at that point, nobody could tell what was burning and what wasn’t.”

—Bob Mason, Gold Hill resident

PACKED is a film about the Fourmile Canyon evacuees and what they chose to take with them, not knowing if everything left behind would be destroyed. Their choices might be surprising, but each response has something to teach us about  the things we surround ourselves with and what is truly irreplaceable.

“The luxury of time creates the problem of decision-making…you’ve got to think: What do I want? What do I need?

What do I love?”

—Joanne Cole, evacuee

Please join us on September 20, at 7:00 p.m., at the Main Library auditorium

of the Boulder Public Library for this FREE Fourmile Fire anniversary program.

Max’s Annual “Sunday Before Labor Day” picnic at the ridge

It’s happening this coming Sunday beginning at 2 pm.  Bring your dish to share, your favorite beverage, musical instruments – Mary Russell is playing – and plan on having a great time.  Max provides corn on the cob, barbecued ribs, hamburgers, and beer.  He’s lost count of how many years this has been happening so if you know, let us know.  We’ll see you there!  Remember, this party happens as long as you’re there.

See you on Sunday.

Debra Yeager <deb@nullmountainvisions.net>