FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 19, 2014

Contact: Gabi Boerkircher, Communications Specialist, 303-441-3399

Commissioners to hold study sessions on multiple flood recovery topics

First session to discuss transportation-related progress will be May 20

Boulder County, Colo. – Over the coming weeks, the Board of County Commissioners will hold public meetings on various complex issues related to long-term flood recovery. These sessions are intended to assist the Commissioners and county staff in gaining an in-depth understanding of different aspects regarding rebuilding and recovery as they make lasting decisions and invest resources that will impact our communities’ and residents’ recovery and resiliency.

On Tuesday, May 20, at 3 p.m. the Commissioners will hold a study session with Transportation staff. Updates will be provided on work in the canyons/mountains surrounding:

• The creek planning initiative
• Floodplain/way analysis
• Private access recovery (bridges and culverts) and permitting
• Permanent roadway designs and construction timeline

This hearing will be in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room, 1325 Pearl St, Boulder, 3rd Floor. Public comment will not be taken at this session; instead smaller community-specific hearings will be held at future dates to receive input.

On Tuesday, May 27, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. a hearing will be held to discuss the application for Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. During that presentation, Leslie Irwin, the county’s CDBG-DR project manager, will provide an overview of:

• The CDBG-DR grant
• A summary of Boulder County’s application for CDBG-DR funds
• Background on prioritization and planning for that funding
• Explanation of the countywide city-town-county collaborative planning process for using funds most strategically

This hearing will be in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room, 3rd Floor, 1325 Pearl St, Boulder. Public comment will be taken at this hearing. Residents will have 3 minutes each to provide their comments after the staff presentation, or comments can be submitted ahead of the hearing to commissioners@nullbouldercounty.org.

On Thursday, June 5, from 1-3 p.m. the Commissioners will hold a study session on implementation of CDBG-DR Housing Programs. Boulder County anticipates receiving millions of dollars in the coming years for CDBG-DR Housing Programs to help individuals and families recover, including Housing Repair and Temporary Rental Assistance. During this study session, Housing and Human Services, Finance, Commissioners’ Office and other staff will present on topics such as:

• Overview and timing of the grant
• Applications and intake
• Eligibility and award determination
• “Client” flow through the system
• Data management and finance
• Pertinent regulations

This hearing will be in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room, 1325 Pearl St, Boulder, 3rd Floor. Public comment will not be taken at this session.

Future study session topics likely will include a Parks and Open Space presentation on Flood Damage and Repairs, a discussion of hazard mitigation through acquisition of properties or elevation of structures and an overview of all roads projects in the county.

Flood recovery is a long-term undertaking and these sessions will help the Commissioners as they work with residents, staff and community partners to rebuild more resiliently and use public resources wisely.

For more information about flood recovery, contact the Boulder County Flood Recovery Center at 303-441-1609, floodrecovery@nullbouldercounty.org or stop in at 1301 Spruce St., Boulder from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

–BoulderCountyFlood.org–