Capital Investment Strategy

Round 2

Round 2 of the city's Capital Investment Strategy involves looking at a possible 2012 ballot measure, or other future ballot, that would allow voters to choose to raise taxes to pay for new community investments. The city has a list of unfunded capital projects that have been identified over the years through various master planning efforts as either high priority or desirable needs for the community. The city also considered new project idea submissions from the community.

Draft Round 2 Purpose and Guiding Principles 

Round 2 Purpose

Develop a bond package for consideration in 2012 that raises new revenues to invest in capital projects¹ that "make Boulder Boulder" and includes ongoing operating & maintenance (O & M) to support those projects.

Guiding Principles

Focus on projects that:

• Further Boulder's unique role and sense of place.
• Further the city's economic, environmental, and social sustainability goals.
• Reflect community values and benefit a broad cross-section of the community.
• Have been identified in or will carry out goals in an adopted plan.
• Have a clear project scope and have been sufficiently vetted such that costs and an identified site or site options are known.
• Provide for ongoing and/or greater efficiency in conducting the city's business.
• Leverage funding from other sources, such as public/private partnerships.
• Avoid higher cost investments later.
• Address existing unfunded significant deficiencies (including health and safety).
• Add significant value to the community or provide a return on investment.

The Capital Investment Strategy Committee (CISC) is tasked with creating proposed packages, gathering community input and making a recommendation to City Council on a possible ballot item for the 2012 ballot or later.

Some key themes have arisen out of the committee's discussions thus far. Those key themes include:

• The next ballot measure must be different from 2011 – not about existing deficiencies, critical needs, backward looking
• Should be exciting, forward thinking, retain Boulder's status, something new that you can't do now in Boulder
• Should have broad appeal
• Should focus on a short list of projects
• Should have community value that voters are willing to pay for
• Should provide community spaces for gathering, business opportunities
• Should help to reduce the "digital divide"

General Round 2 Schedule

August- October 2011: Develop overall process and schedule and assemble background information.

November 2011 – February 2012: Capital Investment Strategy Committee (CISC) reviews draft project lists from departments, gets input on new ideas from the public, and preliminary public opinion polling results. CISC develop draft 2012 bond package options.

→February 2012: Based on public opinion polls, political climate, economic outlook, and recommendation from CISC, City Council decides whether to move forward or put the project on hold. If council puts the project on hold, materials will be held for consideration at some point in the future and the CISC will be disbanded. If council directs that the project move forward, council will also provide direction on what options to take out to the public.

March – May: Get public input on bond package options (projects and revenue sources).

May 2012: Get results of more thorough public opinion poll. CISC finalizes its recommendation.

June – July: City Council provides direction and a final decision on a potential ballot item.

Potential Round 2 Projects

The CISC has discussed numerous potential projects to consider for a Round 2 recommendation. All projects considered can be found in the  summary and details of all the Round 2 projects. The projects are listed in the categories listed below, with a brief project description and proposed funding, where known. Since some of the project amounts are unknown at this time, the project category totals do not include those projects.  Following the summary pages, detailed project sheets have been developed for each project and are listed in alphabetical order.  

Project Categories:

Projects from Departmental Master Plans

Significant Deficiencies – Capital projects in this category are those that support the programs and services that are essential to basic service delivery within existing budget targets, based on industry standards, health and safety issues, or legal requirements.

Action Plan – The next step of service expansion or restoration that should be taken when funding is available, either within current revenue sources or if new sources are approved (should become available). Action plan projects should address the service(s) that are most in need of restoration, growth or addition. This category is split into two sub-categories: High-priority action plan and low-priority action plan, to further prioritize this category.

Vision Plan – The complete set of services and facilities desired by the community and aligned with values and policies. Projects in this category are typically those that complete a system or service, or require significant capital and operating expenses beyond the current level of funding.

New Ideas

City New Ideas – These are projects which are not addressed in current departmental master plans or strategic plans, and come from the community, City Council, boards and commissions, or very recent initiatives that have yet to be analyzed in a master plan or other planning document. Most projects in this category require additional study, planning, and scoping prior to determining actual costs or feasibility.

Community New Ideas – These are projects that were submitted by the public, and have various levels of detail and planning necessary. Some of the ideas are similar or overlap with other projects from master plans or city new ideas, and projects in this category require additional study, planning, and scoping prior to determining actual costs or feasibility.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Capital Investment Strategy Project Manager, at 303-441-3297.

Round 2 Capital Investment Strategy Committee

Some members of the original Round 1 committee are not participating in Round 2. The members of the Round 2 Capital Investment Strategy Committee are listed and pictured below.

• Leslie Brown
• Natalie (Tally) Costa
• Nino Gallo
• Cynthia Husek
• Dan King
• Kristin Macdonald
• Victoria Marschner
• Miriam McGilvary
• Michael Minard
• Bill Shrum
• Max Taffet
• Bob Yates
• Jessica Yates

Top row (left to right): 
Nino Gallo, Bill Shrum,
Victoria Marschner, Leslie Brown,
Cynthia Husek, Bob Yates

Bottom row (left to right): 
Max Taffet, Tally Costa,
Jessica Yates, Michael Minard 

Not pictured: 
Dan King and Miriam McGilvary 

Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 June 2012 09:40