Mayor Durgin Addresses Issues
Growth and Development
Author: Anonymous
On September 17, Mayor Leslie Durgin, who is completing her final term as Boulder's mayor, addressed members of Boulder Tomorrow and their guests at a luncheon held at the Boulder Broker.
The mayor used the forum to discuss the results of the City's recent Citizen Survey, which is conducted every two years.
Not surprisingly, traffic, affordable housing and population growth were key issues of concern to citizens responding to the survey. A majority of residents also reported concern that the job growth rate is too little, as is the growth rate for well-paying jobs.
The overall quality of life, air and water quality continue to improve for Boulder residents, but shopping opportunities and the quality of Boulder Valley Schools were rated as declining. Individuals also felt a loss in "sense of community" and "feeling welcome in Boulder" as compared to survey results from 1993.
Perhaps most telling was the finding that there has been a significant decline in public trust over the past four years, with residents expressing less confidence in the local government and more concern about the direction in which the City is heading. As compared to 1993, significantly more citizens in 1997 do not believe their involvement in City government is welcomed.
Mayor Durgin shared her personal list of "big issues" facing the City and region during the next several years. That list includes:
- Regional Cooperation
- Revenue Sharing
- Transportation
- Growth Control
- Affordable Housing
- City Management
- Crossroads Mall Redevelopment and Sales Tax Revenues
