[BoulderCouncilHotline] Item 6A/Infrastructure Tax

[Yates, Bob]

Council Colleagues:

While I was in a traffic accident yesterday afternoon, I hope to make it through most or all of tonight's virtual council meeting, albeit with my camera off. In case I don't make it to item 6A on tonight's agenda, I share with you here what I had hoped to say.

When this tax was first proposed in 2014, the ballot measure presented to the voters a list of seven promised items. Four were city infrastructure projects and three were community infrastructure items (although, in the case of two of them, on city property). When the tax was presented for renewal in 2017, 13 items were promised to the voters on the ballot: Six for city infrastructure and seven for community infrastructure.

In this year's ballot, we are unlikely to list any specific community infrastructure projects, only a set-aside of a portion of the tax proceeds, for granting in support of worthy projects at a later date. For this reason, I believe that council should endeavor to list in this year's ballot measure six to 10 city infrastructure projects, to entice voters to support the measure and to commit to them that, at a minimum, these projects will be completed.

For example, we could list the following seven projects on this year's ballot:

  *   Boulder Creek Corridor Improvements ($5M)
  *   Fire Station #3 Relocation ($11M)
  *   Pearl Street Mall Refresh ($4M)
  *   Recreation Center Improvements & Maintenance ($5M)
  *   Transportation Maintenance ($4M)
  *   ALS Vehicles ($2M)
  *   Boulder Civic Area Phase 2/Central Park ($8M)

These seven projects total $39 million, leaving a substantial amount of discretion for future councils, depending on the length of the tax and whether it is bonded. But, listing these items--and perhaps a few more--will create a vision for the voters, enticing them to vote to extend the tax, knowing, at a minimum, which benefits the community will receive. And, with no specific community projects listed this year, we will want to list some projects with natural constituencies--like rec center users and downtown businesses and advocates--who can help champion the ballot measure this fall.

Other projects from the 47 listed by city staff may be presented on the ballot in addition to or in lieu of those set forth above. However, the important thing will be for council to list in the ballot a handful of committed projects, while retaining the majority of the tax funds for further purposes.

Best,

Bob

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