The Boulder Landmarks Board on April 2 administered the oath of office to Michael Ray and used an orientation-style meeting to introduce staff, review program statistics and preview a major update to the city’s historic preservation plan.

“I, Michael Ray, do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of The United States Of America and the state of Colorado and the charter and ordinances of the city of Boulder and faithfully perform the duties of the office of a member of the landmarks board, which I am about to enter,” Michael Ray said while taking the oath.

Board Chair Abby Daniels told members the chair and vice chair positions are typically selected soon after a new appointment and encouraged potential candidates to contact staff ahead of the May 7 meeting so elections can proceed smoothly.

Principal Historic Preservation Planner Marcy Goring gave a program overview and said Boulder’s program manages a substantial caseload and a large inventory of designated resources. Staff reported roughly 1,300 designated properties, including 10 historic districts and about 220 individual landmarks, representing about 4% of city properties. About half of Boulder properties are more than 50 years old, and staff estimated the program receives roughly 320–370 applications annually. Over the past five years the department recorded an average of about 170 landmark certification applications and 136 demolition applications per year; it also handles between two and six tax-credit applications and two to six new designations annually.

Goring summarized recent operational changes and ongoing projects: a shift in review responsibilities that has moved most routine work to staff or the weekly Landmarks Design Review Committee (LDRC) — which handled about 63% of cases last year — and reduced the number of items the full board must review. “We’re seeing that those committee meetings are being cut in half,” Goring said, noting the change reduced volunteer time for cases that do not require full-board consideration. Staff also described a policy that allows review of certain post‑1940 non‑designated demolitions at the staff level, with about 7% of those cases reaching the full board.

Staff described two multi‑year projects likely to occupy the board: a major update to Boulder’s Historic Preservation Plan (the plan was first adopted in 2013 with a minor update in 2018) and migration of application intake from PDFs to a direct online application system intended to simplify submittals and reduce processing overhead. Christopher Johnson, senior manager for comprehensive planning, noted the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan — now undergoing a 10‑year update — will include preservation as a component and that the board will be invited to participate in community events and the preservation‑plan update.

Staff also mentioned a nomination the city is preparing for the state’s register of historic places tied to the national America250/Colorado150 activities; the nomination focuses on Second Baptist Church. The department reminded board members about the annual Square Nails awards on May 12 and said the board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for May 7. Staff scheduled a more detailed orientation and asked new members to shadow an LDRC meeting before their first case with a public hearing.

Board members and staff discussed the subjective and procedural challenges of preservation work, including the emotional nature of hearings, balancing property‑owner concerns with code‑based criteria, and reconciling preservation goals with other city priorities such as sustainability and wildfire resilience. Several members referenced work on making the ordinance and program more “relevant” to contemporary needs — including allowing newer, more fire‑resistant materials in historic districts when appropriate — and pointed to the national “relevancy” conversation in preservation practice.

No formal votes were recorded during the meeting beyond the swearing‑in ceremony. The board agreed to proceed with orientations and to consider chair and vice‑chair selections at the May meeting.

Ending: The meeting closed after roughly an hour and a half of introductions and discussion; staff will follow up with orientation materials, schedule shadowing for the Landmarks Design Review Committee and provide calendar invitations for the Square Nails awards and upcoming meetings.