Jul. 11—Boulder's city clerk has dismissed an election complaint that housing advocates filed against groups opposed to closing the Boulder airport.
On May 23, Airport Neighborhood Campaign, a pro-housing group, filed a complaint against the Boulder Airport Association and the Boulder Aviation Association. The Airport Neighborhood Campaign was circulating petitions at the time for two ballot measures to decommission the 96-year-old airport and create a neighborhood made up of at least 50% permanently affordable homes. Since then, the group has gathered enough signatures to get both measures added to this fall's ballot.
The complaint alleged the pro-airport groups were working to oppose the ballot petitions without disclosing their expenditures or contributions as official ballot measure committees. According to the complaint, the groups had been soliciting and receiving contributions since at least May 15. The Boulder Airport Association's May 13 newsletter stated that the group had hired Matt Moseley, a public relations professional, and had already raised $10,000.
But in an email from last month shared with the Daily Camera, City Clerk Elesha Johnson wrote that she had reviewed the complaint and found no elections violations.
"Immediately upon receiving the knowledge of the organizations soliciting support, our office contacted the Boulder Airport Association and Boulder Aviation Association notifying them of the election requirements to establish a Ballot Measure Committee ... and they responded immediately," Johnson wrote. She added that the Boulder Airport Association-Save Boulder Airport committee was established on May 22 and its first statement of contributions and expenditures was filed within three days.
The committee's first report, filed on May 24, listed $3,001.60 in contributions and $2,400 in expenditures as of that date. The Airport Neighborhood Campaign's initial report, dated March 24, showed $79.48 in contributions and no expenditures.
"We are happy that our complaint prompted the Boulder Airport Association to file a ballot measure committee, and we're glad that they are now aware of their obligations under campaign law," said Laura Kaplan, a city Planning Board member who is working on the Airport Neighborhood Campaign in her personal capacity.
Late last month, Boulder City Council members asked city staffers to talk with members of the Airport Neighborhood Campaign about the language of the ballot measures, but it's not clear yet whether those conversations could result in changes to the measures, as has happened in years past.
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