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Consultants begin improvement-district analysis; staff aim for preliminary recommendations in March
Summary
Progressive Urban Management Associates introduced a fast timeline to review Boulder’s improvement districts and recommend near-term and longer-term governance and finance options, including possible district types such as a downtown development authority.
City-selected consultants from Progressive Urban Management Associates (PUMA) introduced their scope and schedule to the Downtown Management Commission on Jan. 14 as part of a city-funded improvement-district analysis.
Regan, Community Vitality staff member, told the commission the study will review existing conditions across Boulder’s commercial districts and recommend near-term improvements and longer-term sustainability measures. PUMA’s Brad (consultant) and Amanda Kennard, project manager for PUMA, said the engagement will focus on existing general improvement districts and on options in governance and finance to support downtown, The Hill and Boulder Junction.
The study will assess the “tool chest” of district types used in other cities, PUMA said, including business improvement districts (BIDs), general improvement districts (GIDs) and downtown development authorities (DDAs). Brad noted PUMA’s recent work advising Denver on DDA expansion and cited that project as an example of scale: staff said Denver’s DDA expansion is expected to generate roughly $500 million for investment over more than a decade.
Why it matters: the analysis could reshape how downtown and nearby commercial areas finance and govern shared services such as marketing, maintenance and public-realm improvements.
Timeline and next steps
- PUMA said the project is on an accelerated schedule. The kickoff meeting will occur soon; staff expect preliminary recommendations in March and a more detailed presentation to Council in late April (April 24 was cited as a Council target date). - PUMA will evaluate near-term operational improvements as well as longer-term governance and finance tools and will seek commission input in March before finalizing recommendations.
Discussion vs. decision: the Jan. 14 session was an introductory presentation and Q&A; commissioners did not take formal action. Staff asked commissioners to participate actively in the March engagement and to provide local context to inform PUMA’s recommendations.
Clarifying details: PUMA will evaluate downtown, The Hill and Boulder Junction; a kickoff meeting will include commission representation; preliminary recommendations are expected in March; staff plan to present to Council on April 24.
