ARPA funds expand mental health and social resilience programs
The Boulder County Board of Commissioners allocated funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to expand or create mental health and behavioral health support in seven nonprofits and two school districts in Boulder County.
“These ARPA funds will go toward programs and services that strengthen system transformation for communities most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring that any door is the right door to get mental health support,” Marnie Huffman-Green, manager of the ARPA mental health and social resilience project, said in a press release.
Boulder County was allocated $11 million for mental health and social resilience programs in March 2021 through ARPA and is now in its “project implementation” phase. The grantees are El Centro AMISTAD, Emergency Family Assistance Association, OUR Center, Out Boulder County, Rise Against Suicide, TGTHR, and the Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley school districts. Nonprofit grantees work with primarily underserved populations and have programs that focus on issues like financial assistance, food distribution and equity. The school districts will expand services for mental health.
Potential amendment to land use code could mean more options for composting
Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting is considering a change to the Land Use Code to allow farms in unincorporated Boulder County to source composting materials from the public, then use the finished compost on site or sell it back to the public. Community members have argued the current code restricts a circular economy, especially with people practicing regenerative farming.
County staff are seeking public input during a Feb. 16 community meeting at the St. Vrain Community Hub (515 Coffman St., Longmont) from 6-8 p.m.
Boulder City Council supports treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons
On Feb. 2, the Boulder City Council voted to support the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by signing a proclamation presented by the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center. The City joins Denver, Longmont and 70 other municipalities and states that have passed resolutions supporting the treaty. More than 80 countries have signed the treaty, but none of the nuclear nations have signed, including the U.S.
Comcast franchise agreement up for renewal
The City of Boulder is looking for community feedback to inform the negotiations of its non-exclusive cable franchise agreement with Comcast, which is up for renewal on April 30, 2025. The agreement gives Comcast access to city right-of-way for cable infrastructure, but doesn’t give the company exclusive rights in providing cable in Boulder. In exchange, Boulder gets a franchise fee of approximately $900,000 per year. The City also collects 50 cents from each subscriber to pay for capital costs for three public channels: the City’s Channel 8, Boulder Valley School District’s Channel 22 and the University of Colorado’s Channel 63.
The City hopes to negotiate for better reliability and improved customer service. Negotiations could start as early as May this year.
Gig work transparency bill proposed at state senate
There’s a bill proposed in the Colorado State Senate that would increase transparency for drivers who connect with consumers through digital platforms, like Lyft, Uber and DoorDash. Sponsored by Sen. Robert Rodriguez (SD-32) and Reps. Jennifer Bacon (HD-7) and Stephanie Vigil (HD-16), the Gig Work Transparency bill (SB23-089) would require companies to share information with drivers and consumers about consumer payments and driver payments. The legislation, introduced to the Senate on Jan. 30, could lead to an adoption of rules that require transparency in both these payment disclosures and procedures surrounding driver termination and anti-discrimination.
