Keep Boulder Airport Operations Under Local Control!
Do not give away our authority to control our own land FOREVER!
Take Action
Contact City Council here.
Tell them they must not rubberstamp a bad decision based on bad information.
Airport data demonstrate a significant unrealized revenue potential for financial independence
On April 23, 2026 Boulder Council held a Study Session to discuss Boulder Airport. Despite the obvious discomfort and unanswered questions of many councilmembers, the study session ended with pressure to take a straw poll. In a 5 - 4 outcome, which several councilmembers interpreted as a binding vote, a bare majority directed staff to maintain airport operations "indefinitely" and move forward with pursuing FAA grant money to help fund the airport. Taking these funds would obligate the city to run the airport not just "indefinitely", but IN PERPETUITY.
A legal memo concluded that the Study Session actions may run afoul of the law. After the Study Session, the city attorney did clarify that the straw poll was not a binding vote. But the decision is still pending. Council will decide on next steps at their meeting on Thursday, May 28. They need to hear from us now!
A legal memo concluded that the Study Session actions may run afoul of the law. After the Study Session, the city attorney did clarify that the straw poll was not a binding vote. But the decision is still pending. Council will decide on next steps at their meeting on Thursday, May 28. They need to hear from us now!
The information presented at the Study Session was incomplete, erroneous, and highly skewed. A group of concerned citizens have compiled a "Gaps and Errors Report" that identifies a multitude of problems with the presentation.
A very real option for the airport is to be funded by other sources, which would keep the pathway open for greater local control of its operations. There are other sources of funding for the airport that have not been analyzed besides FAA money with its attached obligations. This scenario was not discussed at the Study Session.
We advocate a process of Joint Fact Finding followed by a public hearing. Furthermore, no FAA grants with obligations in perpetuity should be taken without a public vote in an election.
A very real option for the airport is to be funded by other sources, which would keep the pathway open for greater local control of its operations. There are other sources of funding for the airport that have not been analyzed besides FAA money with its attached obligations. This scenario was not discussed at the Study Session.
We advocate a process of Joint Fact Finding followed by a public hearing. Furthermore, no FAA grants with obligations in perpetuity should be taken without a public vote in an election.
Tell Boulder City Council that they can and must fix this mess!
Key talking points:
- The future of the Boulder Airport is one of the most controversial policy decisions facing Boulder today.
- It is a violation of public trust for the city to quietly attempt to authorize the city manager to take FAA funds that would lock the airport in place in perpetuity, with no public hearing and no public vote.
- The April 23 study session was a travesty of bad information -- as shown in the Gaps and Errors Report -- and violations of open meetings law, as shown in the Ireland Stapleton Legal Memo.
- Council must remedy the situation by engaging in a process of Joint Fact Finding and holding a subsequent public hearing based on fair, balanced, and accurate information.
- Council must consider a scenario of working toward Local Control of the airport site, refusing FAA grants, and utilizing available non-city funding such as CDOT grants, landing fees, and bringing ALL airport rents and charges up to market rate.
- NO FAA FUNDS should be taken with obligations in perpetuity, unless authorized by the people of Boulder with a vote in a public election.
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Got questions? Want to copy us on your email to Council? We love to see what you write! You can reach us at [email protected]