Boulder City Council
On April 24, council will:
Discuss the city’s approach to economic development amid slowing sales tax growth and lagging post-pandemic recovery. Boulder's downtown, one of the largest drivers of sales tax, has struggled with high office vacancy rates and visitation that hasn't yet matched pre-COVID levels.
The study session will also include discussion of the city’s commercial districts, including a staff recommendation to explore creation of a Downtown District Authority (DDA) to provide a sustainable, long-term revenue source.
DDAs are tax districts, and as such would be subject to voter approval. Staff is recommending a process that would include a November 2026 ballot measure, with financing in place before Sundance Film Festival relocates to Boulder in January 2027.
“The recent announcement that Boulder will host the Sundance Film Festival in 2027 further underscores the need to invest in the city’s cultural assets and infrastructure to support major events and ensure positive economic impacts are widely distributed across the community,” staff wrote in notes to council.
Longmont City Council
On April 22, council:
With two members absent, approved a motion to bring forth an ordinance limiting the number of unrelated registered sex offenders in a single dwelling to three, with the contingency that they discuss the legal ramifications of the legislation in a confidential meeting.
On May 6, the city will hear the first reading of an ordinance that would impose residency restrictions on registered sex offenders, prohibiting them from living within 1,000 feet of schools and daycares and 500 feet from public and private parks. There are no state laws limiting where registered sex offenders are allowed to live, although many offenders have restrictions imposed by the conditions of their parole or probation.
Louisville Revitalization Commission
On April 9, the commission:
Received updates on a number of ongoing projects, including new ownership of the historic grain elevator on Front Street (540 County Road). The group are “local business owners,” according to city staff, whose plans for redevelopment could include a bar/food truck venue.
The city purchased the grain elevator in 2012 for $950,000. The next year, Louisville sold the property to local architect Erik Hartronft and businessman Randy Caracini under the entity Louisville Mill Site, LLC for $200,000, pledging another half-million dollars to fund restoration.
Boulder County property records do not reflect a change in ownership, listing Louisville Mill Site LLC as the owners since 2016. Ross Bowdey, a local business owner, spoke on behalf of the new ownership group.
Another update involved the former Lowes site on McCaslin Boulevard, being developed as a King Soopers Marketplace. That grocery store “hopes to be open in early 2026,” according to staff reports.
City of Louisville
On April 17, the City of Louisville received the state’s approval to become a CHIPS Zone, an area wherein businesses involved in semiconductor research, development and manufacturing are eligible for tax incentives.
The zone encompasses the 400-acre-plus Colorado Tech Center and the roughly 400-acre Redtail Ridge property that will eventually be home to an industrial and medical research park and hospital. Longmont, Broomfield and Fort Collins also have CHIPS Zones.
The program was established by the 2022 Creating Helpful Incentives for Producing Semiconductors and Science Act to lessen U.S. dependence on foreign-manufactured semiconductors used in electronics. Colorado adopted its CHIPS program the following year.
Businesses can receive tax breaks for hiring and training new employees and investing in research and equipment.
Louisville City Council passed a March 4 resolution supporting the application.
Lafayette City Council
On April 15, council:
- Received an update on the city’s new partnership with the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Boulder County. A $15,000 services agreement provides support, a directory and an annual report to the city for Latino-owned businesses in Lafayette. The Chamber will provide monthly office hours at Sister Carmen Community Center, collaboration with the Lafayette Chamber and Partners for a Clean Environment, and two networking events for business owners and professionals.
- Approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to assess the feasibility of regional bikesharing with the communities of Boulder County, Broomfield, Erie, Louisville, Superior and Westminster.
The 2023 Lafayette Multimodal Transportation Plan recommends bikesharing as a priority, and in 2024, Commuting Solutions conducted a Northwest Regional Bike Share Feasibility Study. The MOU allows city staff to collaborate on the creation of a Request for Proposals to select a bikeshare vendor and identify projects for implementation.
Superior Town Council
On May 2, council will:
- Meet with members of the public from 7:45-9:30 a.m. at Superior Community Center, 1500 Coalton Road. Coffee and light breakfast items will be provided
All agenda items subject to change. Karen Norback and Mark Cathcart contributed reporting.