BJAD budget proposal includes $300,000 for digital wayfinding; commissioners press staff for details on garage renovations and options to boost district visits

City budget staff on July 23 presented a 2026 budget submission that asks the Boulder Junction Access District to set aside $300,000 for electronic wayfinding signage and $500,000 over five years for district capital improvements, and described a larger $25 million construction-management/general-contractor (CM/GC) program to renovate downtown parking garages.

The presentation, given by Chris Scott, budget analyst for Community Vitality, outlined the citywide budget schedule and said the executive budget team will review department proposals next week before the city manager nd ultimately city council take up a final budget in October. "We are asking for $300,000 in 2026 for the electronic signage updates in BJAD coming from BJAD parking," Scott said during the meeting.

Why it matters: the request would draw from BJAD parking funds that pay for district maintenance and capital improvements; commissioners said they need project specifications and cost estimates before supporting the request, and some asked whether funds might be used instead to temporarily subsidize parking to encourage visits to local businesses.

City staff summary and key budget requests - Digital signage: Scott said the 2026 submission includes a $300,000 placeholder for new electronic wayfinding signs in the district, paid from BJAD parking funds. Staff described the request as a preliminary line item that would require a separate specification and procurement process if council or staff decide to proceed. - District capital improvements: the submission also requested $500,000 over five years beginning in 2027 (roughly $100,000 per year) to support "general…