A Conversation with a Boulder City Council Candidate
Lauren Folkerts, AIA, is one of us. She’s an AIA Colorado member, an architect, and a passionate Coloradan. There’s one big difference, however. She’s running for Boulder City Council.
Folkerts’ campaign is motivated by the city’s affordable housing crisis. “What we say we want as a community is not aligning with the policies that Boulder has in place,” she said. “There are significant mismatches.”
Now in her third year of chairing Boulder’s Design Advisory Board (with a term limited to 5 years), she has seen the unintended consequences of the existing regulatory language. Should Folkerts be elected to Boulder City Council on November 2, her knowledge of designations within zoning definitions, use codes, and how envelopes are dictated will be invaluable.
How She Got Here
Graduating in 2010 from University of Oregon, Eugene, with a Bachelor of Architecture, Folkerts now works at HMH Architecture + Interiors specializing in sustainable design. Â
We asked Folkerts, “Why architecture?” People around her as a child would suggest architecture as a career path given her strengths in math and art. While her childhood girlfriends would imagine marrying their crushes, she would design houses for the imaginary newlyweds. Folkerts grew up outside of Seattle, Washington, and at age 9, she visited the University of Oregon with her mom. During the tour, she questioned the guide “Do you have a good architecture program?” Years later, she asked herself what would make a meaningful impact and lead to doing good. University of Oregon’s strong sustainability program was a natural fit. And then came Boulder.
“Moving to Boulder and working in architecture, I expected something more from a sustainable city,” said Folkerts. “But the way the regulations are set up, while it’s good in some aspects for sustainable design, it restrict us from important options. A big part of why I decided to run for City Council was to change some of these rules. It’s time to make changes and incentivize the kind of sustainable design you would expect from a city with a reputation like Boulder.”
Creating Change
To help shepherd that change, Folkerts’ platform is based on solutions to help our community’s affordable housing crisis along with strategies to address the climate crisis.
She also believes that that Boulder needs to provide day-treatment services, and she would like for the city to implement more harm-reduction strategies regarding drug use. With current enforcement of the camping ban, she is concerned the city is causing additional harm. Many people fall in-between, and the housing fulfillment process is not fast enough for them. She cites statistics indicating that the number of days without housing increases one’s risk of not finding stable housing again. According to Folkerts, criminalizing people makes it harder to qualify for housing, which makes the problem more intractable.
There is a ballot initiative endorsed by many underrepresented groups titled, “Bedrooms are for People,” which addresses affordability of housing. The proposed ordinance modification would adjust the occupancy figures in housing. Folkerts supports that initiative and in expanding transportation options to connect where people live. Increasing density in some zoning districts, she says, is part of the affordable housing solution.
How We Can Help
We discussed how architects may make a difference in their communities and get involved. She noted that architects are trained in design thinking, trained to look for opportunities and to solve problems. Architects have information how sustainable improvements are essential to both the affordable housing and climate crisis. Those facts are incredibly useful for policymakers to hear. The education we can offer to shape government policy is under appreciated, especially when it so well aligned with voter’s wishes. The council has an existing work plan to make meaningful progress; the use code is due to be updated. Folkerts noted making significant changes in Boulder depends on the synergy with nine people on council.
There are huge opportunities to make sustainable gains for buildings and transportation—opportunities are the forces at play. At work, one project at a time, we do the right thing for our clients and make these sustainable choices. Architects have skills and understanding to address issues at large in a larger context and not be afraid of public advocacy involvement. Our time is limited. We need support from our firm leaders to be involved with these initiatives. We need to be involved and shape our communities and educate where we can. By sharing what we know regarding embodied energy versus operational energy, we can increase the level of understanding. Both the general public and policy holders do not have strong understandings about these issues.
Why should firms encourage community involvement? “Because it’s a good way to give employees experience in leadership and engage the community at large, while furthering goals among the architecture profession,” said Folkerts. “So you get two really big boosts from that. It’s about educational opportunities within the firm, but also leadership within the community. Whenever you have chances like that, it takes investment from the firm, but the benefits far outweigh the cost.”
What’s Next
Folkerts has earned endorsements from the Sierra Club, Boulder Weekly, and the Boulder Labor council. She has also received endorsement from current Boulder City Council Members Aaron Brocker, Junie Joseph, and Rachel Friend. When asked her where she imagines she will be in 15 years, Folkerts acknowledged she is focusing between now and November 3—after the election of course.
As we left our meeting, “Boulder Strong” signs were omnipresent. It’s a good reminder that the strength of any community is precious and worth advocating for—and to get out there and vote.
Meet the 2020 Outstanding New Legislator
How are you making a positive difference in the built environment in Colorado?
I’m really proud of the work we have been able to accomplish by teaming up with great groups like AIA Colorado to make a difference here in Colorado. I’ve been fortunate during my three sessions in the Colorado legislature to pass legislation to help reduce carbon emissions, which not only helps to mitigate climate change, but also gives people better places in which they live, work, and enjoy.
During 2019, my first year in the legislature, we were able to pass legislation to ensure building codes in Colorado comply with one of the three most recent versions of IECC (International Energy Conservation Code). The IECC is updated every three years, so passing legislation that has continuous improvement built-in, is a big win for improving building codes and energy efficiency now and into the future. In 2019, we also passed a bill to improve appliance energy efficiency standards, which among other things, kept light bulb efficiency standards in place when they were rolled back for a time nationally.
For the past two years, we’ve been working on the building benchmarking and performance bill, which will improve the energy efficiency of large commercial buildings in Colorado. This bill builds on benchmarking programs already in place in Denver, Fort Collins, and Boulder, and will ensure energy performance of these buildings improves over time.
How did you become interested in pushing the issue of using more current energy building codes?
One of the people I ran against when I was elected to the Colorado House reached out to me after the election and asked to work with me on legislation to address climate change. I came from the world of education and didn’t have much experience with environmental issues, so I gladly accepted her partnership and her expertise. We have been working on bills together ever since and have become good friends.
How do you see this issue changing in the future?
We need to continue to make progress in the areas of energy efficiency, clean energy, and reducing carbon emissions. The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly obvious here on planet Earth. Let’s hope that, as a species, we choose saving the planet at the cost of a little inconvenience.
What do you think is the most impactful aspect of the building energy benchmarking/performance bill from the 2021 session?
At least 15 percent of Colorado’s carbon emissions comes from the large commercial buildings the benchmarking/performance bill addresses. This bill means we will be helping building owners to save both energy and money while helping to achieve Colorado’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.
How has your relationship with AIA Colorado shaped the way you view some of these issues?
Part of doing my job well is making sure I listen to people who have expertise in all the areas touched by the legislation I run. It is important to me to be able to rely on the architects at AIA Colorado for their valuable perspectives and advice. Thank you, AIA Colorado, for your involvement in crafting this meaningful legislation!
What can architects do to further your efforts?
I hope you will all stay engaged and reach out to share your ideas and advice. You make the laws we pass better.
Is there anything you want to add that I should have asked that you’d like for architects to know?
Thank you for recognizing the challenges Colorado has and for being part of the solution. There is a lot I don’t know. I truly appreciate the architects reaching out to engage and make sure I learn what I need to know before we pass legislation. It’s much easier to solve potential problems than actual problems.
Meet the 2021 Outstanding New Legislator
What inspired you to seek office and how will the office allow you to make a positive difference in the built environment in Colorado?
I want to make the world a better place! My dad was an engineer, and he instilled in me the values of honesty, integrity, and the pursuit of excellence. My mother was a lifelong activist for environmental causes and inspired my brothers and me to make the world a better place. My core passions are the environment, education, and equity. I am also a world-class runner, No. 1 in my age group for indoor mile, with asthma. I’ve completed 36 marathons. I have to check air quality when other runners just look at the weather. I know that we are in a climate crisis that is also a health crisis.
I worked as a Research and Policy Analyst for environmental legislation with Mike Foote and Faith Winter. My first report was 86 pages on the Health Effects of Climate Change in Colorado. I attended a seminar on new energy and became interested in buildings as the hardest nut to crack. Buildings are the most difficult to transition to the new economy, and I wanted to start on the hardest problem first.
How has your experience as a civil engineer influenced your values and priorities in the state legislature?
I am not afraid to ask technical questions. My sweet spot is technology and business, specifically how technology impacts the business world. I went to Cornell for Engineering and Harvard for an MBA. I worked on the design of nuclear engineering plants, in the aerospace defense industry on international development projects, and was an entrepreneur as a computer industry analyst consultant before being elected to the legislature. I connect technical topics to real impacts that people care about.
Let me tell you a story. It was 10 p.m., Saturday night on the house floor, we were talking about concrete. There I was, talking about concrete in the middle of the night, thinking to myself, “Who the heck cares about concrete?” Let me tell you why you should care. Concrete generates 14 percent of the total greenhouse gas in world. Cement, if it was a country, would be the third largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. If we address concrete, we can decarbonize, greenhouse gas is reduced, and pollution is reduced because we can use recycled content. Colorado has some of the greenest steel and concrete suppliers in country, so it’s good for our economy, too.
What motivated you to add CDOT projects into the “Buy Clean” embodied carbon bill? Do you see potential for the bill to expand in the future?
The Buy Clean Colorado Act is only the second Buy Clean bill passed in the U.S. and is unique in its scope. Colorado’s bill not only covers both buildings and transportation, but also is the most comprehensive in terms of materials. It was proposed in 2020 but didn’t pass. I took it in 2021 and included the State Architect and CDOT. I heard from the AIA, suppliers, and manufacturers that so much asphalt, steel, and concrete are used in transportation projects. Transportation projects are challenging. There was a lot of education in transportation stakeholder discussions. They need more latitude to understand life-cycle costs even per mile between asphalt and concrete. I partnered with the Carbon Leadership Forum to demonstrate the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool, worked with the Asphalt Association to share that Arizona has systems that use half of the emissions of Colorado, and that it would apply here. There will be tweaks; we need to give people time to learn.
What are your other priorities for legislative action regarding the climate crisis in Colorado?
My priorities are to continue to work on decarbonization and buildings. I worked with Senator Chris Hansen on HB21-1238: Public Utilities Commission Modernize Gas Utility Demand-side Management Standards, known as “The Clean Heat Plan,” a gas-demand, side management rebate from utility companies for using more efficient gas furnace and appliances. This will encourage the use of more energy-efficient items, like moving to heat pumps, and adds a social cost to carbon dioxide and methane generation. This is a first-in-nation plan and could reduce greenhouse gas by 22 percent by 2030. I want to build performance and impact at on a large scale as well as at the individual building scale.
How can AIA members help in those efforts?
Send Ideas! I’m a big picture thinker that is interested in sustainable infrastructure, the grid, resilience, decarbonizaton, and how to transition from fossil fuels. There is more work to be done in the future and I am excited to help.
Has your daughter’s degree in architecture or your relationship with AIA Colorado reshaped your perspective on certain topics?
At Cornell, I looked into double-majoring in Architecture but it would have taken forever—I am a frustrated Architect! I am living vicariously through my daughter, who graduated with an M.Arch from Cornell. She is interested in sustainability beyond LEED; she has worked with Bill Browning (founding member of USGBC LEED) at the Terrapin Bright Green Center. She has done research for a program to make early design decisions that optimize energy and embodied carbon. Her thesis is on a negative carbon development in Indonesia. She is a strong influence.
Is there anything else you’d like AIA members to know?
Climate change is a health crisis, we need to slow it down, increase resilience, and fight for our children and grandchildren. Architects get it, but there is a lot of education to be done.
For more information on Representative Tracey Bernett’s perspectives, see her op-ed on why we should care about embodied carbon and the social impacts of carbon dioxide and methane. For more information on Representative Tracey Bernett’s experience and support of the “Buy Clean Act,” see her op-ed on HB21-1303. Representative Bernett will also be a panelist at New York Climate Week on September 21 and speaking at the Carbon Leadership Forum Policy Webinar on Oct 8.
2021 Legislative Session Summary
Another legislative session has come to a close. This was an exciting year for AIA Colorado’s advocacy efforts with the passage of HB21-1147: Simplify Architects Continuing Education Requirement. Read on for highlights from the 2021 session, then join members of our Government Affairs Committee at noon on June 30 for a deeper dive on these and other 2021 bills that affect the architecture profession.
Thanks to all the members of our Government Affairs Committee and especially those on the legislative subcommittee. Their expertise and commitment are key to effective advocacy efforts.
HB21-1147: Simplify Architects Continuing Education Requirement
AIA Colorado drafted an update to our practice act to remove the language stating we must demonstrate retention of the information presented in continuing education courses. This means that soon we will no longer have to keep DORA forms or quiz scores for our CE records.
Don’t stop filling out those DORA forms out yet though! This bill won’t go into effect until September and the state AES Board must update its rules this summer, as well. We’ll share more details as soon as the draft rules and schedule are released.
HB21-1303: Global Warming Potential for Public Project Materials
The legislature recognizes that reducing embodied carbon of building materials is critical to climate action. We’re only just beginning to have this data available though. The goal of the bill is for more material suppliers to develop environmental produce declarations (EPDs) for their products and to encourage the selection of suppliers whose manufacturing and transportation embodied carbon levels are below national averages.
To achieve this goal, future state-owned building design/construction projects will set greenhouse gas limits for certain building materials (asphalt, concrete, glass, structural steel, wood structural elements). We expect to see these limits go into effect in 2024 after the Office of the State Architect develops policy details.
HB21-1286: Energy Performance for Buildings
With building sector operations being responsible for more than a quarter of annual global greenhouse gas emissions, the legislature wants existing buildings to improve energy efficiency. This bill tackles problem head-on with two requirements for most buildings over 50,000 square feet (though we expect this to expand in the future).
First, these buildings must submit annual energy benchmarking reports to the state using the Energy Star system. If this sounds familiar, it’s based on similar requirements already in effect in Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins.
Second—and this is truly a paradigm shift for the building sector—every five years, the same buildings will have to submit performance reports. Standards will be developed later this year by a task force, which will include an architect member. Buildings below the performance threshold will have to make at least incremental energy improvements every five years until they are in full compliance with the standards. We’ll have more details on what this means for architects when the standards rule-making process begins.
Becoming a Citizen Architect: Through the Member's Lens of Testifying to the Colorado State LegislatureÂ
Last month, six Colorado architects testified to the Colorado House Business Affairs and Labor Committee. They spoke in support of House Bill 21-1147: Simplifying Architects Continuing Education Requirement to eliminate the unnecessary continuing education provision requiring proof of retention documentation. Colorado has been the only state with this provision in its architects’ practice act and is atypical among professions regulated by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). This is a necessary step toward updating our DORA board’s rules to remove the requirement to maintain forms or quiz results from continuing education courses.
To learn more about their experiences of advocating and creating change in the profession, we caught up with AIA members T J Carvis, AIA; Erin Braunstein, AIA; and Amy Graves, AIA. Below, they share their experience as citizen architects testifying in support of the bill.
AIA Colorado: What were your personal and professional motivations for testifying in support of the bill?
Amy Graves: My motivation for testifying was mainly professional. I previously lived in Illinois, which did not have this extra requirement to document that I retained the material. Here in Colorado, it is onerous to have to complete this documentation and save it just in case I am audited. It is extra paperwork that isn’t necessary.
T J Carvis: My goal in testifying was to promote this bill that would bring clarity to the DORA requirements without lessening the importance of continuing education. I also thought it would be a great life experience!
Erin Braunstein: I appreciate the efforts AIA Colorado has taken to help craft and propose this bill. My representative from House District 34 serves on the committee that was reviewing the bill that day [Business Affairs and Labor].
AIA Colorado: Has the experience changed your view of how architects can advocate for their interests at the state level?
TC: I’ve been active with the AIA’s Government Affairs Committee (GAC) for a few years, but I had not testified until this bill. I personally believe that architects should strive to have a bigger voice in the law-making process. We have an opportunity to shape the law in Colorado by providing valuable input to legislators. When aligned with the AIA’s mission, the input may allow architects to more effectively meet the challenges we face as a profession and as a society.
EB: It has underscored for me how important it is for legislators to hear from their constituency as they are reviewing legislation in committee. This was a simple statement of my point of view.
AG: Being somewhat aware of what the GAC does has provided me with the insight on how architects can be influential.
AIA Colorado: What was the “day-of” experience like for you? What happened during the proceedings and how did you feel?
EB: The virtual connection was straightforward, and we had a window of when the agenda would turn to our topic. After I closed my statement, Representative Mullica expressed kind words of thanks. I’m glad I took the small amount of time to participate while the bill was in committee and gaining momentum to be passed in the house.
AG: Nikolaus Remus [AIA Colorado Advocacy Engagement Director] provided the witnesses testifying with the wording of the bill itself and the history behind it. He also suggested making it personal. I wrote out what I wanted to say and how the bill relates to me personally.
TC: Aside from the typical concerns that can arise from the format of a remote meeting, it was enjoyable! I testified in the middle-to-end of the group. I was surprised that even though as a group we did not review our testimony together, everyone spoke of different reasons that they were in support of the legislation.
AIA Colorado: Would you consider testifying in the future?
AG: Yes, I would testify again, and I have been asked to testify in front of the Senate Business Committee for the same bill. I encourage my fellow architects to get involved in something outside of architecture whether it is testifying at the State Capitol or joining your neighborhood group—you never know what kind of influence you can have.
EB: Yes. It felt empowering to speak, be heard, and feel my testimony helped the bill move forward.
TC: Absolutely! Testifying for, or against, a bill is one of the privileges of living in a democracy. It was gratifying to participate.
Witness testimony is a powerful way to directly influence legislation and advance the interests of our profession. Your engagement and advocacy do matter—as proof, House Bill 21-1147 passed both chambers with no objections. The bill awaits the signature of Governor Jared Polis.
Civic Activism and the Greater Good
AIA Colorado’s Bill to Streamline Continuing Education Moves to House Vote
Newly proposed legislation aims to ease continuing education reporting requirements for Colorado architects.
Architects who have completed their Colorado continuing education requirements will be familiar with the state’s rules regarding documentation. Specific language in the Architects Section of the Practice Act directs the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) to adopt rules establishing regulations for continuing education and requiring an architect to demonstrate retention of the material presented in a continuing education course. That particular point about demonstrating retention of the material has proven especially onerous for architects throughout the state. While it might sound quite reasonable at first blush, the requirement actually ends up serving no meaningful purpose for the public or the profession.
Architects either pass a test provided by the continuing education course presenter and retain a copy for their records, or they use a DORA Structured Report form to write up a few paragraphs about the course that they then retain for their records. Nothing is done with this paperwork unless an architect is audited, and it serves no other meaningful purpose. In other words, it’s unnecessary bureaucracy. Moreover, it has made regulatory compliance uniquely burdensome for architects. The requirement to demonstrate course material retention is not typical among other licensed professions in Colorado, nor is it common for architects in other states either.
In 2008, AIA Colorado worked with state legislators to introduce SB08-029: Continuing Education Architects, which established continuing education requirements for architects as licensed professionals charged with protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public. This was part of an AIA push to promote nationwide continuing education standards, which now exist in 47 of the 54 jurisdictions that license architects. In the final version of SB08-029, however, DORA successfully lobbied to include language requiring architects to maintain “professional competency” and prove they retained the knowledge presented in continuing education courses. As there is no legal standard regarding “professional competency,” that language was removed two years later in HB10-1148 Architect License Renew Professional Competency.
In 2020, as the DORA Architects/Engineers/Land Surveyors (AES) Board updated its rules, AIA Colorado formally recommended that the material retention requirement be simplified. The AES Board determined the current arrangement was indeed the best solution they could develop to comply with the law as written. As a result, AIA Colorado has been working with lawmakers to introduce legislation removing the material retention requirement altogether, allowing the DORA AES Board to simplify their continuing education rules. Removing this language promotes consistency across professions and reduces unnecessary regulatory requirements.
On March 3, 2021, HB21-1147: Simplify Architects Continuing Education Requirement was introduced in the Colorado House of Representatives and referred to the Business Affairs and Labor Committee for consideration. The bill has received bipartisan support from legislators interested in reducing unnecessary bureaucracy. Primary sponsors of the bill include Rep. Donald Valdez, Rep. Kevin Van Winkle, Sen. Chris Hansen, and Sen. Cleave Simpson, as well as 16 additional co-sponsors.
On March 17, 2021, our bill passed 13-0 in the house business committee and will move on to a full house vote. Thanks to the following members for testifying in support of this bill: Erin Braunstein, AIA; T J Carvis, AIA; Amy Graves, AIA; Chris Green, AIA; President Rachael Johnson, AIA; and Nikolaus Remus, AIA, Advocacy Engagement Director.
For questions about this initiative, contact Remus at nikolaus@aiacolorado.org.
Architects as Advocates: Get Involved
Advocacy is often seen as something that other people do. It’s one of those things that we tell ourselves that we should be more active in doing and make deals with ourselves to get more involved “soon,” but like other mental pacts like exercising and eating more vegetables, it’s usually easier to brush it off. The words architect and advocate may not be the most natural pairing, however, history is strewn with architect advocates, from the well-known and obvious like Thomas Jefferson to the lesser known like Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, Harvey Ganntt or Mir Hossein Mousavi.
Architects taking an active role in shaping public policy is not only a logical pairing because of ability to problem solve and navigate often complex regulations, but also because our profession is actively shaped by public policy on a daily basis.
As architects, we are always given some sort of parameters to which our designs must conform. Whether it’s through building codes, environmental requirements, zoning regulations, or just generally through public funding, architecture is directly affected by the political climate. Because of this, it seems obvious that we should not only take an active role in the process but be leading it.
This is not to say that all of us need to run for political office—although having some architects in office wouldn’t be the worst thing. Nevertheless, our country is experiencing a rise in political advocacy, and architects are no exception. There are numerous AIA groups that take on advocacy roles centered around specific issues. There are also a number of easy ways to get involved on an individual basis.
Regardless of the shape that our advocacy roles take, it is critical that we get up from the sidelines and be involved. For too long, we’ve let decisions be made for us rather than be part of the process. As someone once told me, “If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re on the menu.” Below are a few ways that we can take the political energy that many of us are undoubtedly currently feeling and turn it into lasting efforts.
VOTE!
This should be obvious and at this point a redundant message, but it doesn’t make it less important. Make sure you are understand what’s on the ballot—here’s a quick breakdown of the issues from Colorado Public Radio or the 2020 AIA Colorado Ballot Guide. Also make sure you turn in your ballot or show up to vote by the deadline: Tuesday, November 3, at 7 p.m. While you’re at it, make sure your friends and neighbors are also registered, informed and turn in their ballots on time, too.
Know your state representatives and get on their mailing lists.
The state legislature is one of the most directly consequential bodies to architects. They develop and adopt many of the policies that affect architects, from setting environmental guidelines in order to combat climate change to allocating budgets for public projects like schools and other public projects that many of our offices rely on for work. Sign up for their mailing list and send them an email or call. They work for us, and they want to hear from the people in their districts.
Contact and get to know your city or town councilor.
Many local policies are developed at city and town councils, and their meetings are almost always open for public comment. You can attend and make your voice heard. If nothing else, it’s worth knowing who your council representative is, their stance on policies, and taking the time to contact them regularly so that they know what is important to their constituents.
Get involved with the AIA Government Affairs Committee.
This is the advocacy committee of AIA Colorado that directly deals with policies at the state level. They read bills during each legislative session and decide whether AIA will take a position on those bills. In addition, they also work closely with our lobbyist to advance policies and relationships that can benefit our industry. If you are looking to have the most direct impact on policy decisions through the lens of an architect, this is the group to join. The call for volunteers goes out next month, so consider getting involved.
Sign up to be part of the Architecture Advocates Network.
This is another AIA committee, but is less formalized than the Government Affairs Committee. This group aims to have a robust network of people across Colorado that can speak to issues in various parts of the state, connect architects to existing advocacy efforts, and create a network that can be called upon to take up specific issues when they arise. The levels of involvement can vary from being an active committee member to simply being “on-call” for when a larger group needs to be called upon.
Support EDI efforts.
The AIA Colorado Equity, Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee specifically takes up issues that now more than ever are taking center stage and architects need to have their voices heard. This is a very proactive group that is trying to move the needle toward equality, not only within the practice of architecture, but also across the city, state, and country.
Get plugged in with the Local Advisory Councils
AIA is implementing Local Advisory Councils in 2021 representing the four regions in Colorado (Denver, South, North, and West) to focus on local issues. This is a great way to be more involved in our communities.
Help with the Sustainability Working Group
This group focuses their efforts on improving sustainability efforts within the practice of architecture in an effort to combat the larger issue of the climate crisis.
Volunteer with groups outside of AIA.
There are hundreds of groups that we can be involved in, and many of them have nothing to do with architecture. Whether it’s an industry adjacent group like Urban Land Institute or Downtown Denver Partnership or something more outside of architecture, these groups could always use more help.
Get involved with campaigns.
Not all of us will be able to work directly in campaign offices for specific candidates or ballot initiatives, but almost all of us can take the time to sign up to phone or text bank, write letters or post cards, and knock on doors (in a non-pandemic future). These things are happening anyways, and it’s important that we be involved with them so that, again, we can be out ahead of the decision-making process instead of reacting to it.
For more information on any of the efforts listed above or to figure out how you can best get plugged into AIA advocacy, please contact AIA Colorado Advocacy Engagement Director Nikolaus Remus, AIA.
AIA Colorado 2020 Ballot Guide
Overview
Welcome to the AIA Colorado 2020 Ballot Guide, providing a brief overview of the entire statewide ballot with a more detailed look at everything of particular relevance to the architecture profession in the following categories:
- Federal Elections
- Colorado Legislature Elections
- Colorado Ballot Measures
An important reminder: Mailed ballots will start arriving the week of October 12 if you are already registered to vote at your current address. With the current delays in USPS delivery times, promptly completing and returning your ballot will help statewide efforts towards a smooth election season in Colorado. Local government websites typically feature a list or map of ballot drop-off locations as an alternative to mailing back your ballot.
If you’re looking for in-depth non-partisan information, ballotpedia.org is highly recommended and all registered voters have (or will) receive a Colorado 2020 State Ballot Information Booklet (the “blue book”) in the mail.
AIA Colorado does not endorse candidates for office. ARCpac, the Architects of Colorado Political Committee, has made campaign contributions to state legislature candidates as detailed in the state races section below.
Federal Elections
This section hardly needs an introduction if you’ve been paying any attention to the news lately. Architecture-related issues are probably far down the list of priorities for any voter at the federal level, but here are the races on the 2020 ballots.
President
President Trump (R) is running for reelection this year in one of the most closely watched races in recent memory. In addition to typical partisan issues common to presidential races, we’ll see very different responses to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic from each candidate, likely to occupy their attention for at least the first year of the next term.
- Republican (incumbent): Donald Trump, (2017-current)
- VP: Mike Pence (2017-current)
- Democrat: Joe Biden, former Vice President and US Senator (DE)
- VP: Kamala Harris, U.S. Senator (CA)
U.S. Senate
As the Democratic party looks to regain control of the U.S. Senate (currently held by Republicans 53-47), Colorado is one of their highest priority races. This has brought additional outside spending and national attention to our senate race this year.
- Republican (incumbent): Cory Gardner, (2013-present)
- Democrat: John Hickenlooper, former Colorado Governor
U.S. House of Representatives
There is less at stake in the U.S. House this year, as Democrats are expected to retain their control of the chamber by a comfortable margin. In Colorado, HD-3 has gotten the most attention as the only race without an incumbent, after Rep. Scott Tipton lost his primary.
U.S. House, Congressional District 1 (Denver)
- Democrat (incumbent): Dianna DeGette, (1997-present)
- Republican: Shane Bolling, (no previous electoral experience)
U.S. House, Congressional District 2 (Northern Front Range)
- Democrat: Joe Neguse, (2019-present)
- Republican: Charles Winn, (no previous electoral experience)
U.S. House, Congressional District 3 (Mountains, South, and West Colorado)
- Republican: Lauren Boebert, (no previous electoral experience)
- Democrat: Diane Mitsch Bush, former State Representative
U.S. House, Congressional District 4 (East Colorado)
- Republican (incumbent): Ken Buck, (2015-present)
- Democrat: Isaac McCorkle, (no previous electoral experience)
U.S. House, Congressional District 5 (Colorado Springs)
- Republican (incumbent): Doug Lamborn, (2007-present)
- Democrat: Jillian Freeland, (no previous electoral experience)
U.S. House, Congressional District 6 (East Denver Metro)
- Democrat: Jason Crow, (2018-present)
- Republican: Steve House (no previous electoral experience)
U.S. House, Congressional District 7 (North Denver Metro)
- Democrat (incumbent): Ed Perlmutter, (2007-present)
- Republican: Casper Stockham (no previous electoral experience)
Colorado Elections
Every two years, there are elections in all 65 House districts and half of the 35 Senate districts. The outlook for 2021 is that Democrats will retain their strong majority in the House, likely holding 40-42 of the 65 seats. On the Senate side, Democrats are also expected to retain control with 19-20 of the 35 seats. ARCpac has made contributions to the following candidates:
Boulder Metro Area
Tracey Bernett (D-Longmont) HD-12
Colorado Springs Metro Area
Mark Baisley (R-Douglas County), HD-39
Terri Carver (R- El Paso County), HD-20
Paul Lundeen (R-Monument), SD-09
Denver Central Metro Area
Chris Hansen (D-Denver), SD-31
Denver East Metro Area
Janet Buckner (D-Aurora) SD-28
Denver North Metro Area
Shannon Bird (D-Westminster) HD-35
Yadira Caraveo (D-Thornton) HD-31
Kyle Mullica (D-Thornton) HD-34
Kevin Priola (R-Henderson) SD-25
Denver South Metro Area
Kevin Van Winkle (R-Highlands Ranch) HD-43
Denver West Metro Area
Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada) SD-19
Greeley/Loveland Metro Area
Mary Young (D-Greeley) HD-50
Judge Retention
In Colorado, judges are appointed to their positions by elected officials, then reviewed by the non-partisan Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation after two years and are put on the ballot for a retention vote. After the first vote, subsequent votes happen every 4-10 years based on the position.
Judge retention doesn’t affect the architecture profession, but you can look up recommendations for retention in your county here. Only two of the 104 judges reviewed across the state this year did not receive favorable recommendations in their review.
Colorado Ballot Initiatives
There are 11 statewide measures on the 2020 ballots. None directly affect the practice of architecture, but the paid family/medical leave measure could affect firms and many measures have state or local budget implications. It’s important to emphasize that Colorado has suffered a massive budget shortfall in 2020 (~$3 billion, reduced to $2 billion after federal assistance) due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. The 2021 budget will be similarly affected.
Architecture-related state budget items include B.E.S.T. grants for K-12 schools, historic preservation tax credits, and capital construction projects for state-owned buildings (including public universities). In a budget shortfall situation, the state spends significantly less on capital construction (including maintenance) projects. If a state-funded program such as BEST loses its funding entirely, the reality is that it becomes much more difficult to bring it back in the future. It’s unknown if these state-funded programs will see additional cuts or how severe they might be. The bigger the shortfall, the more likely they get affected though.
All measures are listed here for the sake of completeness, but only those of interest to members will include details. Propositions are statutory changes and like any state law, can be changed by future legislative efforts. Constitutional amendments, if passed, can only be changed by the voters should a new amendment be approved for a future ballot. Numbered measures were instituted by the public and submitted signatures for approval. If identified by letters, the state legislature voted to put the measure in front of voters.
Proposition 113 – Adopt Agreement to Elect U.S. Presidents By National Popular Vote
Not related to the architecture profession.
Proposition 114 – Restoration of Gray Wolves
Not related to the architecture profession.
Proposition 115 – Prohibit Abortions After 22 Weeks
Not related to the architecture profession.
Proposition 116 – State Income Tax Rate Reduction
Colorado has a flat income tax rate of 4.63 percent. If passed, it would be reduced to 4.55 percent. The state estimates next year’s budget would be reduced by approximately $170 million. This could affect architecture-related state budget items.
Another important note is that in Colorado, voters must approve any income tax increase. This tax cut cannot simply be undone in the future by the state legislature like other proposition ballot initiatives.
Proposition 117 – Voter Approval Requirement for Creation of Certain Fee-Based Enterprises
In this context, a fee-based enterprise is a state-owned business that is largely reliant on user fees for funding. State universities are an example of such an enterprise. If passed, this measure will require future and existing fee-based enterprises over a specific revenue threshold (affecting 7 of the current 22) to be approved by voters. These enterprises have become popular in Colorado exactly because they aren’t a tax increase that requires voter approval. This measure takes away that exemption. If voters don’t approve the enterprise, it must seek alternate funding sources or cease operating.
These enterprises don’t typically fund individual building projects, but some do directly fund infrastructure projects and indirectly result in building projects (state universities in particular). The removal of any fee-based enterprises will impact future state budgets, but the extent can’t be predicted since voters may keep or vote down enterprises individually.
Proposition 118 – Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program
If passed, this program would require paid family/medical leave benefits for nearly every employee in the state. The funding is split between employers (with more than 10 employees) responsible for part and employees themselves paying through a deduction every paycheck. However, businesses that offer qualifying benefits already will be exempt from paying premiums.
This type of program has had champions in the state legislature for multiple years now but could never get the votes to pass. Proponents argue that lower income earners deserve these paid benefits just as much as higher income earners (who’s employers are already more likely to offer them). Opponents of this ballot measure point out that many businesses are already stressed by the current economy and may not be able to afford to fund their share. Future premiums may increase if today’s funding projections prove inaccurate.
Proposition EE – Increase taxes on nicotine products
If passed, nicotine (including vaping) products will be taxed at a higher rate, raising an estimated $168 million next fiscal year. Revenue will primarily target preschool funding and rural school financial support, as well as tobacco education programs.
Amendment 76 – Citizenship Qualification of Electors
Not related to the architecture profession.
Amendment 77 – Local Voter Approval of Gaming Limits in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek
Colorado’s constitution places strict betting and game type limits in Colorado casinos. This amendment gives local jurisdictions with casinos the ability to expand their games and betting limits if local voters approve.
This change is anticipated to increase tax revenue from gambling in Colorado. Of note to architects, 28 percent of this gaming tax goes to the State Historical Fund for preservation of historic sites in Colorado.
Amendment B – Repeal Property Tax Assessment Rates
This amendment is tricky to explain, so let’s start with the key takeaways. Passing the amendment effectively keeps residential property taxes at their current levels. These taxes are primary funding sources for school districts across the state. They also fund other local government services to varying degrees, depending on the jurisdiction. The state legislature would also have greater ability to adjust property tax rates in the future, but rate increases would require statewide voter approval like any other tax increase. If it does not pass, local governments will have to either deal with budget shortfalls (especially for K-12 education) or get local voter approval to raise taxes enough to offset the shortfall.
Statewide school district revenue is estimated to drop $491 million if Amendment B fails. There will be fewer K-12 construction projects across the state. Local budget shortfalls will likely trigger changes to the state budget as legislators look at how much the state should offset that drop in local tax revenue. Opponents of Amendment B note that local governments can continue to propose specific tax increases to offset this loss on their own (subject to voter approval). There are also concerns that this amendment makes it easier to raise residential property taxes in the future, which will make housing less affordable in general. Rental properties in particular will pass these costs on to renters.
Why is this a constitutional issue? The “Gallagher amendment” added to the Colorado constitution in the 1980s created a requirement that residential properties taxes must be 45 percent of the total combined residential and commercial property taxes. This keeps residential property taxes low in general. In the ’90s, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights was added to the constitution and it says any tax increase in Colorado must be approved by voters as a ballot measure. If the economy in Colorado takes a sharp downward turn (as it certainly has in 2020 due to COVID-19), there will be a drop in commercial property taxes collected by the state. This forces residential property taxes to drop as well. That’s great for individual taxpayers, but it wreaks havoc on local budgets where different services are funded by different taxes. The lost revenue is immediate but trying to rebalance or increase tax revenue takes significantly more time since voters must approve it.
Amendment C – Bingo Raffles Allow Paid Help and Repeal 5-year Minimum
Not related to the architecture profession.
For more information or to discuss any amendments, email Nikolaus Remus, AIA, Advocacy Engagement Director.
How to Research a Candidate
Have you been wondering who is running in our local elections? Where does each candidate stand on the issues? And what are some trusted sources to get educated on candidates and issues? We’re here to help you sift through the daunting Google search results. During our process, James Coleman will be referenced as an example—not as an endorsement, but simply as an illustration as we walk you through how and where to learn more about your local lawmakers.
If you’re starting from the square one, first register to vote! The Colorado Secretary of State website offers online voter registration. Now that that’s done, let the research begin. Navigate to Find My Legislator to find out who your current legislators are in the house and senate, as well as what house and senate districts you live in. Once you have your house and senate districts identified, you can use Ballotpedia to identify who is running in 2020 in your district races.
Once you have identified your candidates, you can begin your research. To start with a cut and dry look at an incumbent candidate, go to the Colorado state government website to find the registry of current legislators. On the legislator’s page, you’ll find information on their occupation, party affiliation, any leadership positions, committee assignments, sponsored bills and resolutions, as well as contact information. In addition, there are links to the sponsored bills and resolutions for a brief summary of what the legislator supported. Ballotpedia is another good starting resource for information on incumbents and non-incumbents. The Ballotpedia page includes the candidates sponsored legislation, in addition to a general biography of the candidate and their election history.
Now that you have the background on a candidate, the next stop will be the candidate’s website, typically found through a simple search engine. Their website will give insight into the candidate and the campaign from their perspective. In the case of James Coleman, there are tabs for ”issues,” ”endorsements,” “news,” and “ways to get involved,” including volunteer opportunities and through monetary donations. The candidate’s Facebook page and other social media channels are a great next stop and, similar to their website, will be a resource to get to know the candidate in their own words and through a more informal platform. In the case of James Coleman, his Facebook page had personal information, resources for constituents for things like help during the pandemic and the cold weather resources, as well as “Convos with Coleman,” which are hosted on Facebook and cover a wide variety of pertinent topics.
By using this article as a research guide, a lot can be learned about a gleaned about a candidate quickly by cutting through the formidable search results and offering some proven resources.