Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fire Resilience Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
New trustee urges study session on OSMP role in citywide fire resilience; board debates oversight versus workload
Summary
Trustee Sarah Glenn asked the board to hold a study session to review Open Space’s staffing, budget and responsibilities within Boulder’s citywide wildfire resilience work. Trustees discussed timing, staff workload and whether the board was already sufficiently engaged through regular meetings and field trips.
Trustee Sarah Glenn requested a short (60–90 minute) study session before the June board meeting for trustees to review Open Space’s role in citywide wildfire resilience efforts, staffing allocations, and how the board should exercise oversight and make recommendations to City Council and the city manager’s office.
Glenn said the request was not a critique of staff performance, but an attempt to ensure the board is following the charter by providing program-level recommendations and to better understand recent organizational changes, new positions and staff time devoted to citywide resilience work. She cited the Boulder City Charter (Article 7, Section 175) language calling for board recommendations to council and the manager.
Trustees split on the timing and value of a special study session. Some trustees urged a short targeted meeting with staff to shift tone and build trust; others said the board already addresses wildfire repeatedly in regular meetings, field trips and retreats and that adding another meeting would burden trustees and staff during peak season. Several trustees proposed alternatives: use upcoming regular agenda items over the next three months to address Glenn’s objectives, hold the deeper dive at the annual off‑site retreat, or convene a shorter meeting if staff capacity allows.
Staff and trustees agreed to keep the request active and to coordinate timing with Director Dan Burke, with an emphasis on minimizing staff disruption during a busy field season. Glenn asked that the discussion include org charts, job descriptions, budget allocations and the specific citywide commitments staff are managing. Trustees stressed they want to be supportive and work as a team while being deliberate about not micromanaging staff.
