Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Open Space trustees recommend Xcel subsurface line easement to council
Loading...
Summary
The Open Space Board of Trustees voted 4–0 Jan. 14 to recommend that City Council approve a conveyance of a utility easement for the Public Service Company of Colorado (DBA Xcel Energy) to install subsurface electric feeders across OSMP-managed land. Staff cited failing feeders, increased outages, and an 8–12 week construction window.
The Open Space Board of Trustees on Jan. 14 unanimously recommended that City Council approve conveyance of a utility easement to the Public Service Company of Colorado, known as Xcel Energy, to install and maintain subsurface electric lines beneath city open space land.
Bethany, the city's real estate services senior manager, told trustees the request responds to failing infrastructure in a corridor between Sunshine Canyon Drive and Boulder Canyon Drive. "These lines are critical to the city's electric framework," she said, describing two feeders installed in the early 1980s and noting recent faults and an area that has been operating on a single feeder.
Staff said construction is anticipated to take about 8 to 12 weeks and will use a mix of boring and trenching techniques depending on geotechnical conditions. The proposed alignment follows an existing disturbed corridor and would be adjusted in the field to avoid sensitive resources; cultural-resource staff would monitor excavations.
Public comment included a call to prefer undergrounding where feasible and broader utility-policy changes; Lynn Siegel urged municipalization and criticized development patterns while also saying the undergrounding project was "great." The board's motion (moved by Trustee John Carroll, seconded by Trustee Michelle Estella) approved recommending a conveyance under the disposal procedures in Article 12, sections 175 and 177 of the City of Boulder Charter. The vote was recorded 4'to'0 in favor; one member (Robinson) was absent.
Why it matters: staff said replacing the failing feeders will reduce outage risk to important city infrastructure including the Sunshine Hydro facility and lower the likelihood of service strain during summer heat. The easement will be temporary in disturbance during construction but will include provisions for restoration, ongoing maintenance access, and reversionary terms if the corridor is abandoned.
What's next: the board's recommendation goes to City Council under the charter disposal/licensing process. Staff will return with final, field-adjusted plans and any required construction agreement language if Council directs further action.
Provenance: presentation and staff description of project needs (SEG 849'SEG 1006); public comment and final motion and roll-call (SEG 1014'SEG 1185).
