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Commissioners back community-led advocate, prefer independence from city control
Summary
Public commenter Robin Baker urged a dedicated advocate for Boulder City’s historic district; commissioners agreed advocacy is needed but generally said the role should be run outside city government and suggested using Historic Preservation Day to solicit community input and shape a grassroots program.
Robin Baker, a resident and public commenter, told the Boulder City Historic Preservation Commission on July 23 that the city’s preservation goals point to the need for a dedicated advocate for the historic district. "I believe that the historic district... needs an advocate, a person who is willing to learn, a person who is willing to collaborate, and be responsive to the needs of the historic district," Baker said during the initial comment period.
The commission discussed Baker’s proposal during the agenda item on an advocate for the historic district. Chair Davenport and other commissioners expressed support for advocacy but said they preferred that an advocate or advocacy group operate independently of city hiring or direct city control. "I personally don't think that that position should be in the city... I believe that position should be some should be outside of the city's control," the chair said, noting potential conflicts when city staff must also work with developers and zoning matters.
Commissioners and staff sketched next steps: use Historic Preservation Day (and related events during Historic Preservation Month) to host a workshop or roundtable to gather community input and clarify what residents would want from an advocate. Commissioner S3 asked staff to add the topic to a future agenda so the commission could plan a community workshop and capture public expectations. Staff said it could include the discussion in the staff report and use those events for outreach.
Members suggested preliminary public engagement tools such as pre-event surveys and targeted outreach to stakeholders — nonprofit partners, the Chamber of Commerce, local museums and the railroad museum were named as potential collaborators. Staff reminded commissioners that any formal program or funding decisions would need to be coordinated with the city’s budget calendar and existing consultant contracts.
The commission did not adopt a formal policy or hire personnel at the meeting. Instead, members directed staff to retain the item on future agendas and to incorporate the advocacy discussion into planning for Historic Preservation Day so that the commission and community can co-design how an independent advocate or grassroots group would operate.
The commission moved to the next agenda item without a formal vote on creating an advocate during this session.
