Boulder County sets Nov. 20 public hearing after first reading of local minimum wage ordinance

Boulder County commissioners on Nov. 4 conducted a first reading of a proposed revision to the county’s local minimum wage for unincorporated areas and set a public hearing for Nov. 20 at 9 a.m.

Natalie Sprague, commissioners deputy, told the board the ordinance was brought forward following direction given at a mid‑October public hearing and confirmed the ordinance language was available to the public more than 24 hours before the meeting. Sprague said the posted draft starting on page 36 was tentative language that references the formal second reading and does not yet include an ordinance number; staff will publish the ordinance in full in the Daily Camera and notify local municipalities and chambers ahead of the Nov. 20 hearing.

A commissioner asked whether the county should both adopt on first reading and set a firm second‑reading date on the record; commissioners agreed to set Nov. 20 at 9 a.m. as the public hearing date. During the motion, a friendly amendment was made to characterize the action as an amendment to the county’s existing local minimum wage rather than an initial establishment; the amendment was accepted and seconded.

Commissioner Stoltzmann (name as rendered in the transcript) said they would vote against the motion, arguing that lowering wages at this time would harm lowest‑paid workers who face rising rent, lost benefits and health-care reductions. The chair called a voice vote after the discussion; the motion to adopt on first reading and set the hearing date proceeded according to the transcript’s voice-roll call.

Staff indicated they will publish the ordinance language and clean up packet wording to explicitly note the Nov. 20 public hearing date. The board’s action advances the ordinance to the scheduled public hearing, where the item will receive a formal second reading and public comment.