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Littleton board debates lodgers-tax policy: formal Tier 1 criteria and a restructure of Tier 2 grants proposed
Summary
The Arts & Culture Board reviewed the lodgers-tax grant policy and broadly supported drafting objective criteria for Tier 1 institutions, protecting Tier 4 programs, and restructuring Tier 2 into a smaller number of fully funded award categories (with 'up to' language) to tie grants more directly to the board's strategic plan.
At its Nov. 13 meeting the Littleton Arts & Culture Board conducted an in-depth review of the lodgers-tax grant policy, focusing on clarifying Tier 1 criteria, how funds are allocated across tiers and a proposed restructure of Tier 2 award categories.
Staff presented a proposed rubric of characteristics for Tier 1 designation — including sustained years of operation, multiple revenue streams, annual reporting and significant community reach — and suggested reserving Tier 1 for roughly four to five institutions (the museum, library, town hall art center and Hudson Gardens were named as examples). Several board members supported adopting objective criteria to provide transparency and to create a defensible process for adding future Tier 1 organizations; others urged caution about formally downgrading institutions with established community value.
Board members debated Hudson Gardens' Tier 1 status. Supporters noted free daily public access and large visitation; critics questioned whether South Suburban-operated Hudson Gardens is sufficiently accountable to Littleton and whether it leverages its own revenue. Staff noted recent leadership changes and improved city engagement.
On allocations, staff reviewed past targets and recent practice (Tier 1 had sometimes consumed ~60% of funds). Given flat revenue projections from finance, the board discussed returning to a clear baseline split (Tier 1 50%, Tier 2 25%, Tier 3 15%, Tier 4 10%) while protecting critical Tier 4 programs such as the mural program and awards.
A major staff proposal was restructuring Tier 2 grants into fewer, fully funded categories so that applicants pick a funding band and, if approved, receive the full amount (examples discussed: a small number of large awards, several mid-size "Goldilocks" awards and micro grants). The board favored "up to" language and moving applicants toward strategic-plan-aligned projects to improve outcomes in a lower-revenue year.
Members also asked about short-term-rental (STR) monitoring and enforcement; staff said the city currently tracks STR licenses and runs spot checks but finds enforcement challenging and that economic development will present a fuller report in January. Staff will draft policy language reflecting the board's direction and circulate a redline for review; they will also determine whether council study session review is warranted.
