Broomfield Taxpayer Matters

March 3, 2025

This newsletter contains the following stories and information:

Sign Up for the next Make Your Voice Heard Event
Broomfield Town Square will not make CCOB money
Will In-N-Out come to Broomfield?
Butterfly Pavilion is out of Broomfield
Council's Disrespect
Colorado leads the Nation in Inflation
Upcoming Council Meetings
March 11, 2025, Regular Meeting
March 18, 2025, Study Session
March 25, 2025, Regular Meeting
City Council member contact information

Pay Attention to these upcoming items in the Broomfield Council Agendas:

March 11 - Regular Meeting

2C. Housing Ballot Initiative Update
2D. Police Department Updates
7A. First Amendment to the 2025 Budget
7B. First Amendment to the BURA 2025 Budget
7D. Police Building Design Amendment

March 18 - Study Session

2B. Creation of a Structure of Governance Committee - more unaccountable government, namely bureaucracy
2C. Medium to High Density Residential Code Updates - most likely increases costs
2D. Broomfield and Interlocken Economic Real Estate Analysis and Considerations

March 25 - Regular Meeting

2D. Front Range Passenger Rail Joint Service Update
6C. I-25 Sub Area Plan Phase 2 Contract
6E. Approving an MOU with Adams County for Emergency Election Relocation Procedures
7A., 7B., 7C. Business Improvement District (BID) Formation for Broomfield Town Square - Second Reading - URA Agrements and Amendments

Please let us know if you plan to attend by registering here.

Local News

Our next Make Your Voice Heard Event is coming up at the end of March.

Investigative Research

Saturday March 29 2025

1-3PM

(Event details will be provided following confirmation of your RSVP)

As you do your own research on issues that affect you, learn about what to look for, where to find information, and how to submit Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests.

Broomfield Town Square will not make CCOB money

In the continued saga of the Broomfield Town Square, the Broomfield Council voted in the February 25 Council Meeting to approve the first reading of the creation of a Business Improvement District (BID).

A Business Improvement District (BID) is created by a municipality and has the power to own property, impose a tax levy, consult on development plans, and maintain infrastructure. The council can also approve the BID to incur debt. There is a cost to the taxpayer much the same as a metropolitan district.

In this first reading, the related staff memo says, "The costs of the public improvements include the costs of design, acquisition, construction, and financing. A preliminary estimate of the costs is approximately $68M (emphasis added). The proposed 2025 and 2026 budgets for the BID total $50,000 annually."

The initial debt limit is $104M, this debt limit also includes any metropolitan districts within the BID. The maximum mill levy (read - property taxes) would be 50 mils, with 15 mils being used for administrative and operational purposes.

In this clip for the recent Council Focus Session, City Manager Jennifer Hoffman says that the "catalytic development" via Broomfield Town Square, will not make the CCOB money, it is an amenity. Read that again - this will be an "amenity". The City and County of Broomfield and the taxpayers are squarely looking at its next boondoggle, and one that dwarfs the now demolished 1stBank Center. We'll foot the bill for development of a massive government project on a huge property that will not generate revenue.

In-N-Out in Broomfield?

A recent post to the Broomfield Voice page shared that there will be a concept review where an In-N-Out proposal will be presented. The Concept Review has not been scheduled yet, but you can take a look at the plan here, and leave any comments about the project on that page.

The site location is 5005 W. 120th Avenue, which appears to be the location where Jax is currently, so not sure if Jax is moving out or the address is incorrect. Some of the concerns at this location are: traffic flow into and out of the parking lot, circulation in the parking lot, and parking itself.

What do you think of this project? Let us know at broomfieldtaxpayermatters@gmail.com.

Butterfly Pavilion Says They're Walking Away From Broomfield

Back in September 2017, The Butterfly Pavilion announced that they had chosen to move from Westminster to Broomfield. This was heralded a great win Broomfield as a city and a community, and would have been part of an 81,000 square foot Baseline development.

Eight years later, after little progress on the move, the Butterfly Pavilion announced that they are pulling out of the Broomfield project and will expand elsewhere. The CEO of the Butterfly Pavilion cited "a changing business landscape makes the move no longer feasible"

Our take on this is that since 2017, the Broomfield Council continues to make it clear they are not business friendly, and are not interested in growing a strong business base in Broomfield. Make no mistake, losing the Butterfly Pavilion is a bad blow to Broomfield, and you should look no further than the Broomfield Council's mismanagement of priorities as a contributing factor to the Butterfly Pavilion's decision.

Shouldn't the Broomfield Council be listening to citizens?

When citizens come to speak to council, it is usually a very nerve-racking experience, but it is necessary that council hears their constituents concerns.

At the February 25th Council Meeting, a citizen was concerned about the division sitting councilmembers are sowing in their community because they do not agree with what President Trump or the citizens who support him. In this video clip, Councilmember Todd Cohen is called out for smirking and showing a disregard for her concerns about the vitriolic language used by councilmembers toward some members in the community. Mayor Castriotta cuts off the citizen's addressing Councillmember Cohen, and tells the citizen to address remarks to the Mayor.

Is this condoning the poor behavior of Councilmember Cohen? Is it ok for Councilmembers to call out groups like ours from the dias with no opportunity for the public to respond? Isn't that a bit of a double standard? The fact of the matter is that citizens should have the ability to raise concerns on this type of behavior. As citizens, we deserve to be heard and respected.

State News

Colorado Inflation the highest in the U.S.

Do you wonder if Colorado is the only state experiencing inflationary pressures? Per the State Inflation Tracker from the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), the average household in Colorado is paying $1,329 more per month to purchase the same basket of goods and services as in January 2021. Colorado ranks first in this prestigious category! The graph below shows the breakdown for food, energy, transportation, shelter, and all other goods and services. Colorado is right there at the top!

The average Colorado household has spent $43,408 more due to inflation since January 2021. Coloradans have seen a cumulative inflation of 21.8 percent compared to the U.S. cumulative inflation of 20.7 percent. State legislators and local officials have passed a slew of bills and ordinances in the past several years, requiring taxpayer money to support this inflationary spending.

They told you they would make things affordable, the only way they know how is to take more money from you and subsidize other's who cannot afford this affordable economy!

Upcoming City Council Meetings - Please let us know if you plan to attend by registering here.

March 11, 2025

Regular Meeting - 6:00 p.m.

Agenda

Meeting Commencement (1)

1A. Pledge of Allegiance

1B. Review and Approval of Agenda

Petitions and Communications (2)

2A. Recognition of Holy Family High School State Champion Winner

2B. Proclamation Declaring March 2025 People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

2C. Housing Ballot Initiative Update

2D. Police Department Updates

Councilmember Reports (3)

Public Comment (4)

Public is allowed to comment on items other than those listed in the current agenda

Reports (5)

5A. Colorado General Assembly Legislative Update March 11

Consent Items (6)

6A. Minutes for Approval - February 25, 2025

6B. HOME-ARP Agreement Approval for The Grove at Cottonwood

-- No resolution number provided

Action Items (7)

7A. First Amendment to the 2025 Budget

-- Resolution No. 2025-44

7B. First Amendment to the BURA 2025 Budget

-- Resolution No. 2025-52UR

7C. Police Building Design Amendment

-- Resolution 2025-55

7D. Reappointment and Amending the Employment Agreement for the Presiding Municipal Judge

-- Proposed Resolution No. 2025-37

Mayor and Councilmember Requests for Future Action (8)

Adjournment (9)

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March 18, 2025

Study Session - 6:00 p.m.

Agenda

Concept Review (1)

Study Session (2)

2A. Our Broomfield Magazine's Presentation of Our Favorites Award to Broomfield Recreation

2B. Creation of a Structure of Governance Committee

2C. Medium to High Density Residential Code Updates

2D. Broomfield and Interlocken Economic Real Estate Analysis and Considerations

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 25, 2025

Regular Meeting - 6:00 p.m.

Agenda

Meeting Commencement (1)

1A. Pledge of Allegiance

1B. Review and Approval of Agenda

Petitions and Communications (2)

2A. Child Abuse Awareness Proclamation

2B. Recognition of Broomfield High School State Champion Wrestler

2C. Proclamation Declaring April 26, 2025 World Tai Chi and Qigong Day in Broomfield

2D. Front Range Passenger Rail Joint Service Update

Councilmember Reports (3)

Public Comment (4)

Public is allowed to comment on items other than those listed in the current agenda

Reports (5)

Consent Items (6)

6A. Minutes for Approval - March 11, 2025

6B. Social Services Expenditures 2024 Q4

-- Resolution No. 2025-66-BSS

6C. I-25 Sub Area Plan Phase 2 Contract

-- Resolution No. 2025-53

6D. First Amendment to Network Standardization Solutions

-- Resolution No. 2025-56

6E. Approving an MOU with Adams County for Emergency Election Relocation Procedures

-- Resolution No. 2025-16

6F. Marijuana and Natural Medicine Ordinances - First Reading

-- Ordinance 2266

-- Ordinance 2267

-- Resolution 2025-64

Action Items (7)

7A. Business Improvement District Formation for Broomfield Town Square - Second Reading

7B. Broomfield Town Square URA Agreements and Amendments

7C. Broomfield Town Square URA Amendment

7D. Public Hearing - 11961 Quay Street Use by Special Review and Rezoning - First Reading

-- Ordinance 2264

-- Resolution 2025-60

7E. Water Runs Back Open Space Naming

-- Resolution 2025-49

7F. Process Improvements and Authorized Spending for On Demand Services

-- Resolution 2025-59

Mayor and Councilmember Requests for Future Action (8)

Adjournment (9)

Contact the City and County of Broomfield

Contact your City Council or City Staff about one of these stories:

Mayor - Guyleen Castriotta

gcastriotta@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

720-607-1527

Ward 1 -

James Marsh-Holschen

jmarshholschen@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

720-507-9184

Kenny Nguyen

knguyen@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

303-438-6300

Ward 2 -

Paloma Delgadillo

pdelgadillo@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

720-916-6406

Austin Ward

award@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

303-817-0991

Ward 3 -

Deven Shaff

dshaff@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

970-344-8032

Jean Lim

jlim@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

303-349-2745

Ward 4 -

Laurie Anderson

landerson@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

920-378-9654

Bruce Leslie

bleslie@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

210-324-5750

Ward 5 -

Todd Cohen

tcohen@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

720-900-5452

Heidi Henkel

hhenkel@broomfieldcitycouncil.org

303-349-0978

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