PO Box 20646 Boulder, CO 80308 Ph: 720-222-9602 Email: info@bouldertomorrow.com Web: www.BoulderTomorrow.com Twitter: @bouldertomorrow

The Best Business Ideas Shaping Boulder's Future

January 22, 2015

Re: City Council’s 2015 Goals Retreat

Dear Boulder City Councilors,

As you discuss the complex and competing issues facing Boulder in 2015 and make decisions on where

you want to focus the city’s resources, we want to voice our support for your efforts to create a

cohesive vision for the city’s future. We offer a perspective from the local business community and in

that spirit we suggest a few key themes you take into consideration during this weekend’s discussions:

Assess the interconnectedness of major goals. The ripple effects between development, transit,

employment, social services and other components of our community have to be discussed with

recognition of their effects on each other. What will we gain or lose if significant changes are proposed

in any of these areas? We suggest using the city’s Economic Sustainability Strategy as a crucial filter to

any new goals.

Keep in mind the fiscal component of various goals. The cost of living in Boulder is frequently mentioned

as becoming an exclusionary factor; various ideas have been suggested regarding development that

could simply make housing and commercial tenancy more expensive. Current demands on the city’s

budget range from extensive flood recovery to the millions spent on the municipalization effort –

beware of creating additional expensive obligations on the city’s budget, and by extension, our

residents and businesses.

Finally, please consider the ability of the private sector to manifest the various goals you discuss. Try

not to presume further mandates, restrictions or ordinances are always necessary. We champion the

notion that entrepreneurial and experienced business people are problem-solvers by nature; with your

clarity on what you wish to achieve we can work collectively and as indiv idual companies to provide

ideas and solutions to help bring forth the best vision for Boulder.

Sincerely,

Dan Powers

Executive Director

Boulder Tomorrow

About Boulder Tomorrow: We are a 15-yr old, non-profit organization providing research, policy statements and

events highlighting the positive impacts of Boulder's businesses and how our members are shaping what Boulder

will look like Tomorrow. Read more at www.BoulderTomorrow.com.