Boulder City · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Boulder City public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Police Supervisors Collective Bargaining Agreement and Insurance
The city's sergeants and lieutenants worked more than a year without a current contract. The new deal adds a six-step pay schedule, retention bonuses at 15 and 20 years, and moves them onto the same Teamsters health plan as other employees — aiming to keep Boulder City pay competitive with Henderson, Metro, and North Las Vegas.
Utility Rate Study and Multi-Year Rate Adjustments
Boulder City is undertaking a comprehensive rate study with FCS Group to evaluate the financial health, capital needs, and rate structures of its electric, water, wastewater, and solid waste utilities. The study will review operating expenses, debt service, and reserve requirements to ensure each utility remains self-sufficient without cross-subsidization.
New Aquatics Complex Design and Seasonal Closure
The city is moving forward with the new pool project, narrowing down construction management candidates and coordinating design work to stay within budget. Other ongoing improvements include pickleball court lighting, turf reduction, and park updates.
Fire Department Annual Report and Operational Needs
Fire Chief Ken Morgan presented a risk assessment showing significant response time gaps and staffing shortages, proposing a phased plan that includes building an administrative facility and adding firefighters.
Residential Historic Preservation Grant Program Reform
The commission approved recommending a matching grant to help homeowners paint and protect the historic 1931 home at 414 Ash Street.
Boulder City Municipal Airport Air Traffic Control Tower
The city is moving forward with a major $24 million project to construct an air traffic control tower at the municipal airport, funded almost entirely by federal FAA grants and airport funds. Construction is set to begin in September 2026 and finish by April 2028 to manage increasing flight activity and safety concerns.
Townsite Solar 2 Data Center and BLM Land Use Appeal
Residents and city leaders strongly pushed back against a data center approved by the BLM on federal land near Boulder City, citing severe water and power concerns. The council voted to appeal the federal decision to protect the community.
Proposed Motel Historic District Designation on Nevada Way
The city is moving forward to establish a local historic district for eight vintage mid-century motels and signs along Nevada Way. This designation aims to preserve authentic roadside architecture and unlock potential economic benefits and preservation grants for property owners.
Proposed Eldorado Valley Data Center Opposition
Multiple residents voiced strong opposition to data centers in the desert during public comment, urging the council to follow the Planning Commission's recommendation to deny them due to heavy water consumption and infrastructure strain.
FY 2026-2027 Final Operating and Capital Budgets
Boulder City is crafting its operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year, balancing ongoing expenses against conservative revenue forecasts while relying on accumulated savings until new solar and energy storage leases take effect in 2030.
Proposed Townsite Solar 2 Data Center Project
Townsite Solar 2 LLC proposed adding 88.5 acres of city-owned land to the Land Management Process list for a massive data center facility. Hundreds of residents strongly opposed the project, citing severe concerns over water scarcity, electrical grid strain, noise pollution, and incompatibility with the desert community's character.
Proposed Data Center Land Management Application (LMP#2603)
Residents strongly objected to adding an 88.5-acre site near Highway 95 to the Land Management Process list for potential data center uses, citing extreme water and power demands and heat generation. Despite heavy public pushback, the council voted to advance the application for planning commission review, emphasizing that the vote only permits exploration and does not approve a data center.
Proposed Data Center Ballot Measure for Eldorado Valley
The city council voted to place a non-binding ballot question on the November 2026 ballot to ask voters if data centers should be permitted in the Eldorado Valley. Residents during public comment strongly opposed data centers due to concerns over water usage, high electricity consumption, and noise pollution.
Collective Bargaining Agreements and Firefighter Impasse
The city approved a new two-year contract for local firefighters, providing salary and benefit adjustments that add hundreds of thousands of dollars to the municipal budget.