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Boulder divided over proposed Downtown Development Authority; council deadlocks on ballot referral
Summary
After hours of testimony from business owners, arts groups and residents — and extensive council debate — the proposed Downtown Development Authority (ordinance 87‑63) failed to gain council referral to the ballot on a 4–4 tie. Supporters argued the DDA would provide focused financing tools for downtown revival; opponents warned it could divert voter‑dedicated funds.
The Boulder City Council did not refer the proposed Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to the Nov. 3 ballot after an extended presentation, public hearing and council debate. The motion to place ordinance 87‑63 on the ballot resulted in a 4–4 tie and therefore failed.
Supporters — including downtown business owners, the Downtown Boulder Partnership and several developers and arts organizations — argued that a DDA would create a dedicated financing and governance tool to address rising vacancies and declining sales tax in downtown and on University Hill. "A DDA is the strongest tool because it's the only one that combines dedicated funding, long‑term governance and financing tools into one entity," Regan Brown, the city's economic development strategy manager, told council during staff presentation.
Opponents raised concerns about the DDA's use of tax increment financing and potential effects on voter‑dedicated funds for open space, libraries and other services; they also criticized the timing and scope of public engagement. Council debate focused on those tradeoffs, the district vote rules under state law and whether the city had sufficiently engaged all affected taxing districts. The final roll call on the referral motion resulted in no action on placing the DDA on the November ballot. Council asked staff to scope broader engagement and return with next steps.
