By Nicole Speer in Nicole's Notes — 04 Oct 2026

October 5, 2026

2026 ballot measures explained, more myth debunking, power reliability and resilience, city climate case goes to US Supreme Court, Halloween fun.

My last loop around CU South before it closes for South Boulder Creek Flood Mitigation work. Please give your South Boulder neighbors a hug. This is a necessary, important project and it's hard to lose access to an area many of us have used on a regular basis for decades.

What's new?

I've been trying to keep up with the many myths about the city's finances, bond measure, and capital improvement projects. Listen to a recent Boulder Valley Frequency podcast about the city's bond measure (2K) or read my article in the Daily Camera about how it differs from the Alpine-Balsam project.

I took a slightly different approach to the typical voting guide this year by translating the ballot measures into plain language, explaining why I'm voting the way I am, and including some resources so you can make up your own mind.

Click here to learn more about state, county, and local ballot measures

Upcoming Topics

This week's study session will be a Community and Council Forum on Power Reliability and Resilience. Twenty community members will join Councilmembers to provide feedback on the city's Power Reliability and Resilience Roadmap.

Learn more about this week’s topics + upcoming items

Recent Decisions

A majority of Councilmembers voted to pass the budget on first reading, with no amendments, largely due to insufficient agreement as to what to cut if the City Council were to increase funding for specific projects or programs.

Learn more about recent decisions

Get engaged

Those interested in the liquor licensing process for Sundance Film Festival activations can join a virtual workshop on Oct. 12. Find details here.
Staff are hosting an all‑ages community event on Oct. 13 to help shape the city's approach to reducing single‑use plastics. RSVP here.
Halloween drive-in movies at the Boulder Reservoir are back! Get tickets to see Coco on Oct. 16 or Poltergeist on Oct. 23 here.
The city is accepting name submissions from K-12 and university students for Boulder's snowplow fleet. Submissions are due Oct. 18. Learn more here.
Stop by the South Boulder Rec Center Halloween Carnival on Oct. 24 for some family-friendly Halloween fun. Details here.
Be sure to return your ballot to a drop box by 7pm on Nov. 3. Find drop box locations and other details on how, when, and where to vote here.

Find more updates and engagement opportunities on the city's news website.

Community kudos

Thank you to the city and county teams bringing Boulder’s climate accountability case to oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court this week. Staff have made it easy for residents to follow along on Monday morning. You can find details here.

What I'm reading/listening to

Lots of ballot measures and explanations from our local journalists. I posted a list of the most helpful compilations I've found here and will add more as I find them.

Quote for the month

Back in the day we threw stones
Now we throw judgment from phones
It's like takin' a breath or reachin' for cigarettes
We reach for who to hit next

-Joy Oladokun, Hope is a Heavy Thing

Community resources

Click here to find additional financial and social assistance programs, report an issue, contact staff or Councilmembers, learn about grant opportunities, and more.