The Boulder City Council’s decision involving the continued operation of the Boulder Municipal Airport has cost the council one of its members.

After the council’s vote to keep the airport in operation in their July 23rd meeting, Councilmember Mark Wallach “accordingly, and in sorrowful protest,” announced his immediate resignation.

Wallach’s statement opened, “I’ve often advised prospective candidates for Council to always act as if you’re without fear of losing the position. If you hang on too tightly, you will become bound to the politics, not your values. Today, I get to put that belief into practice.”

Wallach, the sole councilmember to vote against the airport’s indefinite operation, held his position from an April meeting, citing a lack of overall community input as a continued oversight. Accepting state and federal funding for the airport’s high cost requires accepting operational obligations, potentially requiring the airport’s operation in perpetuity.

“I’m known as an opponent of the airport, but in one sense, I am actually indifferent,” Wallach addressed in the July meeting. “If the community wants an airport, so be it; they should have an airport. But we haven’t asked the question, and we should.”

The Councilmembers deliberated for another hour on the motion and amended language. Ultimately, the council approved the airport’s continued operation in an 8-1 vote to pursue further funding.

Wallach then asked to speak on the “momentous and misguided decision.” He expressed his respect and affection for his fellow Councilmembers but emphasized his personal values as his reason for resigning.

“I will not be a party to the surrender of our valuable airport land in perpetuity for no purpose, little consideration, failure to properly consider our alternatives, and entirely without the extensive community input that this subject requires,” Wallach stated.

“I will not be a party to elevating the interests of fifty to sixty resident pilots over what I regard are the interests of 107,000 residents,” Wallach continued. “For once, simply being a recorded vote in opposition does not suffice.”

Wallach served since 2019, and had he continued, his third term would have ended in 2028.

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