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ScottRendleman

Priority

Strengthen Public Confidence in Our City Government

Strengthen Public Confidence in Our City Government — related photograph.
City of Boulder Penfield Tate II Municipal Building

Who does our local government serve?

It should serve the people who live and work here.

With five City Council seats on this November’s ballot, Boulder voters want a fresh voice with a serious commitment to serving our city—someone who understands the value of constituent service, listens carefully, and considers the many sides of an issue. Voters and non-voters have said they want at least one council member from outside traditional political circles who has lived here long enough to understand solutions to today’s challenges must reflect Boulder’s values.

Boulder faces consequential choices about climate adaptability, economic vitality, growth, public safety, housing access and affordability, and transportation. At the same time, the arrival of the Sundance Film Festival presents an exciting opportunity to enrich the city’s cultural life and strengthen its economy. Making the most of Sundance in Boulder will take thoughtful adaptation to welcome visitors, support local businesses, and minimize disruptions to residents’ daily lives.

On these and other issues, I want to hear from the experts as well as our neighbors and members of the business community affected by our decisions. Public service requires taking public opinion seriously and being able to explain differences with candor and respect.

Listen carefully and be deliberate, before deciding

Today's issues will require community input, and the solutions must reflect our values. If I am elected, the community's input will always be part of my decision. I'll work to find consensus where it exists, and when it does not, I won't try to have it both ways. Before deciding on a proposal, I want to understand who benefits, who may be hurt, who will pay and how will we measure success.

On City Council, with any city staff proposal or initiative, I will ask the question, “What happens if we don’t spend this money?” Strong programs merit our support and underperforming ones need to improve.

The time is now for independent performance auditing

Other Colorado communities rely on performance audits to measure effectiveness and economy of their programs. Independent performance auditing, beholden to no one, will provide transparency into what is working and what is not. On City Council, I will vote proudly in favor of creating the Office of Independent Performance Monitoring. With the creation of this office, I would also insist on a sunset provision that requires after several years, City Council to reauthorize, or not, spending taxpayer money for this new program. City Council will have the responsibility to understand the monitoring reports, take corrective action where we have deficiencies, and build on the areas where we excel.

Engage the community robustly in decisions about city facilities

  • Strong plans were in place for the Alpine-Balsam property. Look at it now. The first building under substantial construction is a grand civic facility overlooking Mount Sanitas. To be used primarily as offices for 500 city employees.
  • Meanwhile, the community does not know where any of the rec centers stand among city priorities without passage of an unpopular bond that would amount to the largest property tax increase in Boulder history. Our rec centers are community centers, used year-round by the children, teens, adults and seniors who live here. These facilities should never face closure.
  • At some point, the condition of the Penfield Tate II Municipal Building will no longer honor this truly legendary figure in Boulder history. How we address this will require thoughtful and inspired decision-making.
  • "We are identifying more issues than we had anticipated." That explanation applies to why the city is unexpectedly spending $650,000 in 2027 to repair corroded streetlight poles the city bought from Xcel in 2024. Why didn't the city know about the condition of the 4,400 streetlight poles before agreeing to the purchase? When spending taxpayer money, due diligence goes a long way.

Answers to these issues, and others, will require a City Council that advocates for the people and businesses of this community. If elected, I will talk with, email with, and town hall with the many stakeholders who want their voices heard on these topics. And if I disagree with someone's point of view, I'll do it respectfully, like I did in court for over 30 years as a civil trial attorney.