Adopt Ordinance 8763, submitting formation of the Boulder Downtown Development Authority to the November 2026 ballot.

Moved by Matt Benjamin.

Roll call

Agenda item 5A

1. Second reading and consideration of a motion to adopt Ordinance 8758 submitting to the electors of the city of Boulder at the Regular Municipal Coordinated Election to be held on Tuesday November 3, 2026, the question of authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds for the purpose of financing community recreation, safety infrastructure, and other capital projects; specifying the form of the ballot and other election procedures; and setting forth related details
2. Second reading and consideration of a motion to adopt Ordinance 8759 submitting to the electors of the city of Boulder at the Regular Municipal Coordinated Election to be held on Tuesday November 3, 2026, the question of raising taxes in the city of Boulder by the adoption of a Vacancy Excise Tax imposed on homes that are occupied for 183 days or less per year, with such amount to increase annually in accordance with the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Consumer Price Index to support general city services; specifying the form of the ballot and other election procedures; and setting forth related details
3. Second reading and consideration of a motion to adopt Ordinance 8761 submitting to the electors of the city of Boulder at the Regular Municipal Coordinated Election to be held on Tuesday November 3, 2026, the question of amending the Boulder Home Rule Charter to add a new Section 73, “Collective Bargaining for Firefighters,” creating a charter guaranteed right for full-time fire department employees to bargain collectively; specifying the form of the ballot and other election procedures; and setting forth related details
4. Second reading and consideration of a motion to adopt Ordinance 8762 submitting to the electors of the city of Boulder at the Regular Municipal Coordinated Election to be held on Tuesday November 3, 2026, the question of authorizing an amendment of the Boulder Home Rule Charter to modify the calculation of the city’s debt limitation, as set forth in the ballot; specifying the form of the ballot and other election procedures; and setting forth related details
5. Second reading and consideration of a motion to adopt Ordinance 8763:
   1. determining the necessity of establishing the Boulder Downtown Development Authority
   2. submitting to the qualified electors of the proposed Boulder Downtown Development Authority at the Regular Municipal Coordinated Election to be held on Tuesday November 3, 2026, the question concerning the formation of the Boulder Downtown Development Authority and a ballot issue to waive applicable revenue and spending limits in the city of Boulder, Colorado, declaring the necessity for an election on November 3, 2026, concerning the formation of such authority pursuant to Colo. Const. Art. X, Sec. 20 and statutory revenue limitations for such authority, allowing the city to pledge tax increment funds on behalf of the Boulder Downtown Development Authority, determining organizational aspects of the Boulder Downtown Development Authority board; specifying the form of the ballot and other election procedures; and setting forth related details

Time on the agenda: staff 20 min · council 165 min

What was discussed

After a lengthy public hearing with over 60 speakers, council referred four measures to the November 2026 ballot: the recreation and safety bond (amended to name a lap pool), the vacancy excise tax, the firefighter collective bargaining charter amendment, and the debt limit charter change. A motion to refer the downtown development authority failed on a 4-4 tie.

Summarized by a language model from the meeting transcript.

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