City Council approves Broadway general improvement district; organizers to seek November voter authorization

Denver City Council on Aug. 4 adopted an ordinance to create the Broadway Denver General Improvement District (GID) and to establish an 11‑member advisory board that will manage the district’s work plan and budget. The council approved the ordinance by roll call vote with 12 ayes; the creation ordinance authorizes the district to pursue voter approval of a mill levy and related matters at the Nov. 4 special election.

Under the ordinance the proposed GID would have authority to levy up to 8.96 mills on taxable property in the district once elector authorization is obtained. Staff estimated the district’s first‑year revenue at roughly $1.1 million beginning in 2026 (the district will not be able to impose the mill levy in 2026 because of timing and would seek collection in 2027). The GID’s initial work plan anticipates spending on safety and security ambassadors, street cleaning, landscape and maintenance, marketing/branding and festival and programming…