Lakewood LRA approves $94,600 for West Colfax cleanup

The Lakewood Reinvestment Authority voted unanimously May 18 to authorize LRA funds to pay the West Colfax Business Improvement District $94,600 for corridor cleanup and blight remediation services.

LRA Executive Director Will Chan told commissioners the proposal would fund one year of services to remove graffiti, pick up litter and clear encampment debris across five service zones of the West Colfax corridor. "It's $94,600 to fund cleanup activities on the Colfax corridor," Chan said, adding the BID identified two competitive vendors and would manage the contract and reporting.

Commissioners pressed staff for more detail before contract execution. "I noticed that that's not included in this packet," Commissioner Qazi said, referring to the service agreement and asking how the board would ensure equitable coverage across the corridor. Chan said the LRA would negotiate the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the BID and include change‑order language and reporting requirements; any costs beyond the $94,600 allocation would require return to the LRA for approval.

Under the proposal, vendors would service five zones twice a month; Chan said monthly vendor costs would be about $7,700. The BID would manage oversight and produce reporting to the LRA. Commissioners asked that quarterly or regular reporting be included in contract language so the board could monitor delivery and distribution of services across zones.

Several commissioners framed the cleanup as a community priority tied to economic stability for small businesses along Colfax. Commissioners also discussed related longer‑term investments the BID has proposed — including bus shelters and electric‑vehicle chargers — and were told staff would continue conversations with partners (RTD, public works, grant programs) about those potential projects.

Clerk read item five into the record as "LRA 2026‑3 authorizing an agreement with the West Colfax Business Improvement District for corridor cleanup and blight remediation services along the West Colfax Urban Renewal Corridor." Chairwoman Strom called for a motion; the board adopted LRA Resolution 2026‑3 with the motion passing unanimously on the board's vote screen.

Next steps: staff will negotiate the IGA and the contract scope with the BID and vendors, include reporting and contingency language that returns funds to the LRA if services are not delivered as proposed, and bring contract documents back as required by board direction.

Action at a glance: LRA Resolution LRA 2026‑3 — authorized $94,600 to the West Colfax BID for corridor cleanup; motion passed unanimously.