The semiannual meeting between the city听of Boulder and CU Boulder leadership led off with a mix of outrage, gratitude and compassion on Wednesday afternoon.
Chancellor Philip DiStefano and Mayor Sam Weaver were joined by several members of their teams to discuss topics of importance and partnership between the university and city.
The discussion first addressed the riot that took place on University Hill over the weekend. Both the chancellor and mayor expressed appreciation for the close partnerships between the city and university that are enabling a collaborative investigation into the crimes committed, as well as increased dialogue about how to mitigate against such events from occurring in the future. The chancellor expressed his appreciation to council members Rachel Friend and Mark Wallach for their efforts in facilitating discussions with the University Hill Neighborhood Association this week.
鈥淲e are grateful for the strong relationship we have with the city of Boulder, the Boulder Police Department and Boulder County Public Health,鈥� DiStefano said. 鈥淎ll of our organization, plus the District Attorney鈥檚 Office, are coordinating efforts to find solutions so this doesn鈥檛 happen again.鈥�
In a nod to the 30,000-plus students who didn鈥檛 participate in the melee, CU Boulder Chief Operating Officer Patrick O鈥橰ourke made a plea to city leaders to help support those students.听
鈥淪ometimes the CU [Boulder] population gets painted based on the minority rather than the thousands of students who are doing the right thing,鈥� O鈥橰ourke said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e proof that our students are caring, talented and committed to their education and the community. If you can help us reinforce that they are welcome in the community, we would greatly appreciate it.鈥�
Weaver did not hesitate to join in, noting that the statements by students this week condemning the conduct on Saturday were well-received by City Council and community members, as were the students who helped with the cleanup of the University Hill area on Sunday.
鈥淲e understand and acknowledge that the CU students who did create a public safety hazard and misbehaved badly are a very small fraction of the CU student body,鈥� Weaver said. 鈥淎nd we value and recognize what a great contribution CU students make to our community.鈥澨�
As Boulder police on Wednesday听began to make arrests related to Saturday鈥檚 events, O鈥橰ourke noted that the CU Police Department is doing everything it can to help augment the investigation, devoting one full-time investigator and two others on a part-time basis. The university system is also contributing, with an officer from the baby直播app Springs campus joining the investigation on Thursday.听
Following the University Hill discussion, the meeting shifted focus toward a number of other areas of collaboration. Other topics of discussion included:
CU Boulder South
Weaver and CU鈥檚 senior strategic advisor for government and community engagement, Frances Draper, provided a brief update on the progress being made in negotiations regarding the university鈥檚 , a 308-acre parcel that is key to the city鈥檚 flood mitigation efforts and the university鈥檚 future development potential.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really important for us all to understand that this project is mutually beneficial, and we need to work to come to terms on the remaining outstanding issues because of those upsides for both of us,鈥� Weaver said.
Draper announces retirement
Draper, who has been vital to the advancement of both the CU Boulder South negotiations with the city and the development of the university鈥檚 Conference Center and Hotel project, announced to the group that she will be retiring at the end of the month. Draper has served at the university since 2011, including several years as vice chancellor for strategic relations and communications prior to taking on her current role.
鈥淔rances, you鈥檝e been an invaluable asset and much-loved member of the university and the Boulder community,鈥� DiStefano told Draper, who was executive director of the Boulder Economic Council prior to her time at the university. 鈥淏efore joining CU, you were already and for many years an esteemed and valued leader in the community. I鈥檝e always counted us extraordinarily lucky to have you join us. I鈥檓 so glad that you did and I just want to thank you for everything you鈥檝e done at this university.鈥澨�
Added Weaver: 鈥淚 would like to begin by acknowledging all the work that Frances has done to build bridges between CU and the city for the many years of her career at the university. We will miss you, Frances, in the remainder of the (CU Boulder South) discussions that occur between CU and the city.鈥�
CU Boulder鈥檚 assistant vice chancellor for business strategy, Derek Silva, who has spearheaded the university鈥檚 CU Boulder South efforts with Draper, will continue leadership of the project, along with Abby Benson, the associate vice chancellor and chief of staff for Strategic Resources and Support.听
Diversity, equity and inclusion
DiStefano provided city leadership with an overview of the campus鈥檚 Inclusion, Diversity and Excellence in Academics (IDEA) Plan, noting that it shares many of the aims of the city鈥檚 . Aimee Kane, the city鈥檚 equity program manager, gave an overview of the Racial Equity Plan, which City Council adopted last month.
鈥淭hese are separately but similarly aimed at achieving an environment characterized by a sense of belonging, a commitment to respect and care for all members of the community, and setting and achieving goals of diversity in our organizations,鈥� DiStefano said.
Amid the areas of overlap and collaboration already occurring, Kane noted a desire of the city to partner with Career Services at CU Boulder to try and attract more students of color to internships with the city that could ultimately lead to more diverse representation in city government roles as those students learn about the career opportunities available.
Hotels update
City and university staff provided updates on a pair of hotel development projects slated for the intersection of University Avenue and Broadway that will be complementary to each other and play key roles in catalyzing revitalization of the University Hill business district.听
Jacob Lindsey, the city鈥檚 director of planning and development services, said a 189-room hotel proposed by Denver-based Nichols Partnership for the southwest corner of the intersection goes before the city鈥檚 Planning Board on March 18, with the potential for construction to begin in the fall.
Silva said the conference center and hotel planned by the university for the northeast corner of the intersection could see construction commence in the first half of next year, with an opening in the second quarter of 2024. Silva said the university is finalizing agreements and may have a partner announcement this spring. The project includes a 250-room hotel and 25,000 square feet of conference space that has long been a desire of the city, university and the local business community.
