Published: March 11, 2021

The semiannual meeting between the city 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.

“We are grateful for the strong relationship we have with the city of Boulder, the Boulder Police Department and Boulder County Public Health,” DiStefano said. “All of our organization, plus the District Attorney’s Office, are coordinating efforts to find solutions so this doesn’t happen again.”

In a nod to the 30,000-plus students who didn’t participate in the melee, CU Boulder Chief Operating Officer Patrick O’Rourke made a plea to city leaders to help support those students. 

“Sometimes the CU [Boulder] population gets painted based on the minority rather than the thousands of students who are doing the right thing,” O’Rourke said. “They’re 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.”

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.

“We 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,” Weaver said. “And we value and recognize what a great contribution CU students make to our community.” 

As Boulder police on Wednesday began to make arrests related to Saturday’s events, O’Rourke 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 Colorado Springs campus joining the investigation on Thursday. 

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’s senior strategic advisor for government and community engagement, Frances Draper, provided a brief update on the progress being made in negotiations regarding the university’s annexation application for CU Boulder South, a 308-acre parcel that is key to the city’s flood mitigation efforts and the university’s future development potential.

“I think it’s 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,” 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’s 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.

“Frances, you’ve been an invaluable asset and much-loved member of the university and the Boulder community,” DiStefano told Draper, who was executive director of the Boulder Economic Council prior to her time at the university. “Before joining CU, you were already and for many years an esteemed and valued leader in the community. I’ve always counted us extraordinarily lucky to have you join us. I’m so glad that you did and I just want to thank you for everything you’ve done at this university.” 

Added Weaver: “I 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.”

CU Boulder’s assistant vice chancellor for business strategy, Derek Silva, who has spearheaded the university’s 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. 

Diversity, equity and inclusion

DiStefano provided city leadership with an overview of the campus’s Inclusion, Diversity and Excellence in Academics (IDEA) Plan, noting that it shares many of the aims of the city’s Racial Equity Plan. Aimee Kane, the city’s equity program manager, gave an overview of the Racial Equity Plan, which City Council adopted last month.

“These 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,” 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. 

Jacob Lindsey, the city’s 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’s 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.