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Jenny on the Record tracks Boulder City Council decisions, analyzes what’s on the agenda, and breaks down how your elected leaders vote clearly, objectively, and in plain language.

As a former candidate and lifelong community advocate, I’m here to bring transparency, context, and a balanced, results-focused perspective to local government. There are only about 20 City Council meetings until the next election, let’s stay informed!

I will be sending email updates the Monday after each Council meeting.


Accountability doesn’t end on Election Night, it STARTS there.

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I am a longtime Boulder community leader, small business owner, and former City Council candidate. 
After years of running, serving, and working alongside Council members, I created Jenny on the Record to help residents stay informed, engaged, and empowered. This platform is about politics, clarity, and accountability. I believe Boulder deserves transparent, balanced leadership and that starts with giving residents the tools to see what’s really happening inside council chambers.

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Recent blog posts

<h2>Transportation Funding / Approved Citywide Transportation Maintenance Fee</h2>Date of Vote: October 23, 2025<h2>What happened:</h2>The Boulder City Council passed the 2026 budget, which includes a newly approved property-based transportation maintenance fee.&nbsp;Residential detached dwellings are slated to pay approximately $54 per year; multifamily dwellings about $42 per unit.Non-residential properties will be charged based on the “trip-generation” model (e.g., 1,000 sq ft of retail or office space is charged a set amount).The fee is projected to raise around $6.4 million annually, starting mid-year 2026.<figure id="figure-1jnc66h6mi0mx579"data-full-width><img id="1jnc66h6mi0mx579" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/dMplcvGDScKIDbkwotjDutvhsOAGxvC6FtiILwAixaVYyBmnQRWmC0Z5UrJxH7lz.png" alt="Boulder, Colorado" title="Boulder, Colorado" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="large" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="null" data-positionY="null" data-fullWidth="true"/></figure> <h2>Why it matters:</h2>The city argues that its transportation system like roads, sidewalks, multi-use paths, and signals are becoming seriously underfunded, with existing sales tax streams insufficient to keep up. This fee represents a new dedicated revenue stream, shifting cost burdens from more general taxes to a property-based assessment.Because the fee was passed as part of the budget and not via a voter-approved ballot measure, many view it as a hidden tax. For residents, small business owners, and property-owners, this means an additional annual charge regardless of income, use, or the broader tax burden.<figure id="figure-vbz8ji4z6gmi0nsxx1"><img id="vbz8ji4z6gmi0nsxx1" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/214NpXSzwrdGFn7wJDSNpvF03muyAzPNYUM9d6nMuJpszxKHxVFVsc1RcXHpeeL8.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 25%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="25%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/214NpXSzwrdGFn7wJDSNpvF03muyAzPNYUM9d6nMuJpszxKHxVFVsc1RcXHpeeL8.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 25%;"></figure><h2>Jenny’s Take:</h2>I opposed this fee and would have voted no.First, because the nature of the fee is effectively a tax, and taxes of this sort demand voter approval. Doing this through a budget line item circumvents that democratic check.Second, I believe our existing budget resources, including sales and use tax revenue and other general funds, should be sufficient to cover core transportation infrastructure maintenance. We should not place another separate burden on residents and property-owners to fill a budget gap created by rising costs or deferred maintenance.The shift from general tax funding to a property-based fee changes the policy principle: It makes infrastructure costs into monthly or annual fees rather than shared public investment. That is a direction I find troubling, especially for longtime residents and small business owners who already carry a large share of Boulder’s cost-of-living pressures.In short: Infrastructure is essential, but how we pay for it matters. When a fee targets property owners directly and bypasses the ballot, it raises concerns about fairness, transparency, and fiscal priority. Boulder must ensure every dollar of existing revenue is accounted for before layering on new fees.

Boulder's New Transportation Utility Fee: How they voted

Mountain town nestled below Flatirons. Residential community in Boulder, Colorado with dramatic Rocky Mountain backdrop.

<h2>Inclusionary Housing / Redevelopment Impact Fee</h2>Date of Vote: November 7, 2025<h2>What happened:</h2>City Council voted (7-2) to approve a new $11-per-square-foot impact fee on single-family home demolitions, replacements, and large additions. The money will go toward Boulder's affordable-housing fund as part of the city's inclusionary-housing program.&nbsp;Homes under 2,000 square feet and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are exempt, and the first 500 square feet of an addition is excluded. Staff estimate the fee could generate around $1.2 million annually for affordable-housing initiatives.<figure id="figure-a5mck9v0fmhwjp7mp"data-full-width><img id="a5mck9v0fmhwjp7mp" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/31ovhqDYCBmT899fGY6WReeZktkbCgDdE411luHZsJEPVRaTkQJlOjmNGBjwL1rY.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="large" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="null" data-positionY="null" data-fullWidth="true"/></figure> <h2>Why it matters: </h2>This ordinance extends inclusionary-housing requirements into the single-family redevelopment space - an area previously not subject to such fees. Supporters argue it helps offset the loss of smaller, more affordable homes and ensures that wealthier redevelopment contributes to the city's affordability goals.<figure id="figure-cl6i6cgf7mhwjpctw"><img id="cl6i6cgf7mhwjpctw" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2FPgqoRbhDuTWTNK46aq8Zac5Cqvyr6VUcJReNAvSr26Ph1LNabyBu9jyVdfmiUV.jpeg" alt="affordable housing" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2FPgqoRbhDuTWTNK46aq8Zac5Cqvyr6VUcJReNAvSr26Ph1LNabyBu9jyVdfmiUV.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure>Opponents, however, warned that this adds another financial burden on long-time residents trying to renovate, expand, or stay in their homes - particularly seniors and families.<h2>Jenny's Take: </h2>I would have voted no on this measure. Not because I oppose funding affordable housing - I strongly support it - but because I believe this particular approach crosses a line that makes it harder for existing residents to remain in Boulder. Boulder cannot afford to keep over-charging the very people who make this city a community.

Boulder's New Housing Impact Fee: How they voted

Panoramic view of a south Boulder, Colorado neighborhood at dawn with the Flatirons and mountains behind. Autumn foliage.

Welcome to Jenny on the Record – Tracking Boulder’s decisions and giving the community a voice.&nbsp;Hi friends, The campaign may be over, but Boulder’s story isn’t. Over the past few years, I’ve run with and against every current Council member. I’ve seen what promises were made, what priorities were set, and how hard it is for the community to keep track once the yard signs come down. That’s why I've launched Jenny on the Record, a biweekly newsletter that breaks down what City Council is voting on, how they voted, and what it means for you. No fluff, just facts. Context, clarity, and accountability.<figure id="figure-rrkq0mkf9bmhxixzou"><img id="rrkq0mkf9bmhxixzou" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2110587698/photo/ballot-box-with-american-flag-background.jpg?b=1&s=2048x2048&w=0&k=20&c=oMDqoWKGpLJmWiahj4hNsf_SrfE2h3HJYqEk7Kc2qsM=" alt="ballot box with american flag background" title="ballot box with american flag background" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="null" data-positionY="null" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure><h2>The Need for Accountability</h2>Each issue will include:&nbsp;• The Record – a plain-language breakdown of the week’s key votes.&nbsp;• Jenny’s Take – my perspective as a moderate voice who believes in balance, not extremes.&nbsp;• Dear Jenny – your questions, comments, and frustrations about what’s happening in our city. My goal isn’t to stir outrage, it’s to rebuild trust. Because the more we understand what’s happening in council chambers, the better equipped we are to shape Boulder’s future. Thank you for continuing to be part of this community. Let’s hold our leaders accountable together — vote by vote, promise by promise.&nbsp;Warmly, Jenny Robins Founder, Jenny on the Record&nbsp;<figure id="figure-lqk2pzwxurmhxiy48j"><img id="lqk2pzwxurmhxiy48j" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/26echHLZ5oqgrGwzvJH3xIQKXnpQ89hl7wtyfs4JWPcNMq0UW5G2EwGfj33DxiGc.jpeg" alt="team collaboration" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/26echHLZ5oqgrGwzvJH3xIQKXnpQ89hl7wtyfs4JWPcNMq0UW5G2EwGfj33DxiGc.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure>

Accountability didn’t end on Election Night. It starts now.

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