Boulder City residents already voting

By Jean Reid Norman

Thursday, May 28, 2009 | 1 a.m.

In the first week of early voting, 1,342 people have voted at City Hall, an average of 192 each day the early polls were open.

Early voting runs through May 29 at Boulder City Hall. Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.

Election Day, June 2, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the three sites, Boulder City Recreation Center, 900 Arizona St., Garrett Middle School, 1200 Avenue G., and Martha P. King Elementary School, 888 Adams Blvd.

The race for one City Council seat, between project developer Cam Walker and former City Councilman Bill Smith, a retired travel agent, is on the ballot, along with six questions.

Five of the ballot questions propose changes to the Boulder City Charter, and one is an advisory question asking whether the city should allow geothermic and geothermal energy exploration and production in the Eldorado Valley.

The geothermal energy question was put on the ballot, because the City Charter currently specifies only solar energy development in the Eldorado Valley. A geothermic company has proposed building a 250-megawatt plant on South Buchanan Boulevard, near the Western Area Power Administration substation, which is not a part of the Eldorado Valley.

All of the other questions would change the charter, which requires that they pass twice. They are:

• To require open meetings when the council considers terminating or otherwise disciplining city officers — the city manager, city attorney or city clerk. The charter allows open meetings but does not require them, but state law requires such meetings be open. The question passed in 2008.
• To clarify term limits on the City Council, noting that the mayor may serve for 12 years and that council members may serve for 12 years. State law governing term limits left it unclear whether a single person would be limited to serving 12 years total on the council, as mayor and council person. If it passes, it will appear on the ballot again next November.
• To limit votes approve expenditures from the Capital Improvement Funds to general elections. State law does not allow advisory questions in primary elections, and votes on the use of Capital Improvement Funds are considered advisory. If it passes, the question would appear on the ballot again next November.
• To make the City Charter gender-neutral. This question passed last November and would change the charter if it passes this time.
• To add the Western Area Power Administration corridor, which was annexed into the city last June, to the charter's description of the city limits. If it passes, it would be on next November's ballot.