Focused solutions are key to an optimistic future
As the City Council embarks on its annual retreat to set priorities, I thought I’d share with you some of the insights from our 1,200 members at the Boulder Chamber. What they seek: Focused solutions to some of Boulder’s most intractable challenges.
Since the inception of the pandemic, many of us have been in crisis mode. Between a once in a lifetime virus, to a mass shooting, to a historic wildfire, who could blame anyone? This doesn’t even take into account continued struggles with affordable housing, racial inequality, inflation … the list goes on. All of this has been compounded by vexing challenges for area businesses. Property tax increases, supply chain disruptions, the continued struggle to secure workforce talent … the list goes on.
On the other hand, as we observe the trends in our local economic ecosystem, I believe we have reason to enter a new optimistic phase. New businesses of all sizes are popping up. Voters are supporting affordable housing and transportation in droves. Whether it is well-established bio-science operations, new creative arts cafes or a safe social space for cannabis consumption, we have huge opportunities to continue to be the innovative destination we are known for.
So how do we move out of crisis mode and lean into optimism? For an organization with the motto “We Build Community Through Business,” we’ve identified a few key areas that we believe deserve the City Council’s focus for the coming year. These issues aren’t new, but in many ways, the circumstances are more grave and impede our ability to build on the positive momentum of our POST-COVID environment.
Permitting processes: Whether it’s a new small business accumulating crippling debt as they await approval for a remodeling project or a biotechnology company desperate to produce new medicinal therapies, permitting delays can create terrible consequences. It is well beyond time for the City Council to partner with their stretched staff to address the horrendous delays in our development permitting processes. While we appreciate the efforts of staff to triage the current permitting backlog, it’s clear that a much more focused effort is necessary to resolve the cultural and systemic issues that have frustrated businesses and staff.
Workforce housing: In last year’s election, voters approved a statewide initiative (Proposition 123) that will add 10,000 affordable homes per year around Colorado and Governor Polis is advancing statewide initiatives in support of housing development. For a city with a median home price of $1.2 million, we need to demonstrate our leadership in this larger movement. That includes opting-in, with expedited housing review processes and housing development commitment, to secure the funding support Proposition 123 offers. The council also should press forward with a focus on transit-oriented development and other opportunities for infill and mixed-use development.
Homelessness solutions: We can no longer accept homeless encampments that populate our public spaces. At the same time, we recognize that incarceration is costly and ineffective as the primary solution for addressing the needs of our unhoused population and the impacts of homelessness on our community. Developing a comprehensive framework of services and enforcement measures must be a top priority for the City Council. The Boulder Chamber, with support from our business support partners, Downtown Boulder and Visit Boulder, are rolling up our sleeves to offer our own solutions. We must collectively commit ourselves as a community to addressing this issue.
Mobility investment: Supporting our workforce and protecting our environment also means more transportation options. Boulder Transportation Connections, Boulder’s transportation management organization, has developed strong alliances with the City of Boulder and Boulder County transportation teams that are beginning to improve local and regional transit service. With the City Council’s full attention, we can move the needle even further on reduced traffic congestion, air quality improvements and convenient mobility services. This includes focused efforts to secure funding to complete mobility improvements for the Diagonal Highway and State Highway 7 and to pilot micro-mobility solutions.
The world is very different than the one our City Council faced when it first developed its priorities at the beginning of 2022. Certainly, there are many of those initiatives to continue pressing forward, but we also need our policy leaders to demonstrate flexibility in the face of the challenges and opportunities we now confront. Fortunately, the heat from our recent crucible of instability leaves us more resilient and capable of tackling the most vexing issues. Let’s take those issues on and help our local businesses, the economy and our entire community move toward a more optimistic future.
Jonathan Singer is the senior policy program director for the Boulder Chamber of Commerce.