Agenda Memo

City of Boulder City Council Agenda Item Meeting Date: October 23, 2025

Agenda Title Consideration of a motion to approve the proposed 2026 budget, operating plan and board appointments for the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District

Staff Contact • •

Charlotte Huskey, Budget Officer, Finance Department Bettina Swigger, CEO, Downtown Boulder Partnership

Draft Motion Language Staff requests council consideration of this matter and action in the form of the following motion: Motion to approve the proposed 2026 budget, operating plan and board appointments for the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District.

Executive Summary The purpose of this item is to approve the 2026 budget and operation plan of the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District (BID) as per state statute, and to approve appointments for two board positions per city ordinance. The total City allocation to the 2026 BID budget is $668,000.

Council Action Options Option

Outcome

Approve motion language as drafted

If the motion is approved, the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District will have an approved budget, operating plan, and board appointees for the 2026 fiscal year.

Define and adopt a modified motion

Council would need to define any modifications or amendments to the draft motion language. This will require staff to bring back an amended version.

Deny the motion or take no action

Business Improvement Districts in Colorado are required by state statute in Title 31, Article 25, Part 12 to annually obtain approval of an operating plan and budget for the district. This requirement is detailed in Colorado Revised Statutes 31-25-1211. If this motion is denied, Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District will be out of compliance.

Refer back to staff

If council refers this item back to staff, council will need to define the modifications or amendments so that staff is prepared to present modified and amended district budget resolutions at a second reading.

Alignment with City Plans and City Council History Sustainability, Equity and Resilience (SER) Framework and Citywide Strategic Plan Alignment SER Framework Goal Area N/A - this is a standard Business Improvement District item.

Citywide Strategic Plan N/A - this is a standard Business Improvement District item.

Staff Notes N/A - this is a standard Business Improvement District item.

Alignment with Additional City Plans N/A - this is a standard Business Improvement District item.

City Council History N/A - this is a standard Business Improvement District item.

Analysis The Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District was created pursuant to the “Business Improvement District Act” part 12 of article 25 of title 31, Colorado Revised Statutes. Sponsored by a coalition of property owners and business owners and Downtown Boulder, Inc., in cooperation with the City of Boulder, the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District (BID) was created to provide enhanced or otherwise unavailable services, facilities and improvements to commercial properties located in downtown Boulder. Operational since January 2000, the BID provides services above and beyond those provided by the city, including, but not limited to, marketing, communications, events, maintenance, Business assistance and downtown ambassadors. The Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District has a direct impact on the economy of Boulder. The BID organizes and funds promotions designed to increase sales and to raise awareness of downtown as a shopping, dining and office destination. Downtown is an important sales tax generator for Boulder. In addition, the BID staff works with property owners, brokers and tenants to increase occupancy rates for both office and retail space.

Equity Analysis N/A - this is a standard Business Improvement District item.

Fiscal Note The total City allocation to the 2026 BID budget is $668,000 included within the 2026 Recommended Budget presented for City Council.

Climate, Resilience, and Sustainability Considerations N/A - this is a standard Business Improvement District item.

Community Engagement N/A - this is a standard Business Improvement District item.

Workplan Considerations N/A - this is a standard Business Improvement District item.

Next Steps for City Council N/A - this is a standard Business Improvement District item.

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Attachments A – 2026 Operating Plan B – 2026 Budget