The Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) and the Town’s Board of Trustees (BOT) both have voted to approve a special election to ask the voters in the NDDA district to approve a Debt Authorization. On November 5, 2019 the Nederland Downtown Development Authority will ask voters in the NDDA to approve a Debt Authorization which will allow the authority to access and use their by Tax Increment Funding (TIF) for improvement projects in Nederland’s Downtown.
This Election will be conducted by mail ballot. Walk-in voting is also available at Town Hall, 45 West First Street, Nederland, Colorado, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from October 15, 2019 through November 5, 2019. Mail Ballots will be mailed between October 14, 2019 and October 18, 2019. Please contact the Designated Election Official listed below if you did not receive a ballot or need to designate a natural person to vote on your behalf.
On Election Day, November 5, 2019, the walk-in voting will be available from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.
TO: ALL REGISTERED VOTERS (QUALIFIED ELECTORS)
Notice of Election on a Referred Measure
TOWN OF NEDERLAND
Boulder County, Colorado
Election Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Election Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Local Election Office Address and Telephone Number:
Miranda Fisher, Town Clerk
Town of Nederland
45 W. First Street
PO. Box 396
Nederland, Colorado 80466
Telephone: (303) 258-3266 ext. 1030
Designated Election Official Address and Telephone Number:
Micki L. Mills
390 Union Boulevard, Suite 400
Lakewood, Colorado 80228
Telephone: (303) 218-7206
Ballot Title and Text:
TOWN OF NEDERLAND BALLOT ISSUE 1:
SHALL THE EXISTING TOWN OF NEDERLAND AD VALORUM PROPERTY TAX LEVY, WHICH IS DUE TO EXPIRE DECEMBER 31, 2019, BE EXTENDED THEREAFTER AT THE RATE OF NOT MORE THAN 5.0 MILLS ON TAXABLE REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE NEDERLAND DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY; AND SHALL THE TOWN AND THE NEDERLAND DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT, RETAIN AND SPEND ALL REVENUE RECEIVED FROM SUCH PROPERTY TAX RATE AND ANY OTHER LAWFUL SOURCE, FOR THE PURPOSES SET FORTH IN TITLE 31, ARTICLE 25, PART 8, C.R.S., WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY SPENDING, REVENUE-RAISING, OR OTHER LIMITATION CONTAINED WITHIN ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW?
Total Fiscal Year Spending
| Fiscal Year | DDA | Town | |
| 2019 (estimated) | $32,600 | $3,849,095 | |
| 2018 (actual) | $34,195 | $3,900,652 | |
| 2017 (actual) | $25,136 | $3,847,138 | |
| 2016 (actual) | $25,382 | $4,543,3861 | |
| 2015 (actual) | $20,482 | $3,820,690 |
Increase in revenue in 2016 attributable to receipt of non-federal grant monies
| DDA | Town | |
| Overall percentage change from 2015-2019 | $12,118 | $28,405 |
| Overall dollar change from 2015-2019 | 59% | 0.7% |
Summary of Written Comments FOR Town of Nederland Ballot Issue 1: A vote for this Ballot Issue will NOT increase taxes. Money for DDA projects comes from TIF Funding, which predicts property value increases over time (historically proven) and borrows against them. This allows for improvements and programs focused on downtown. Since improvements further increase property values, it becomes an evolving payback system that is incredibly effective. Improvements also usually lead to more sales tax revenue that will benefit all of Nederland.
Approving the Ballot Issue is NOT a blank check for the Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA). Each project is carefully evaluated, and brought to the townsfolk, property owners and Nederland Board of Trustees for review. The Nederland Board of Trustees must approve all spending by the DDA.
Approving this Ballot Issue IS required for the NDDA to continue its work past 12/31/2019.
The NDDA is asking for approval from commercial property and business owners for authorization to pursue carefully considered infrastructure improvement and economic development programs in downtown Nederland.
Here are some examples of projects that the DDA is currently working on:
- Lakeview and Big Springs intersection project
- Additional parking on Big Springs Dr., Lakeview Dr., and Conger St.
- First Street Pedestrian/ADA walkability, loading zone, and parking improvements
- Loans, grants, and rebate programs
- Event Support
- Signage and Wayfinding
- Beautification (public art installations, native planting and landscaping)
These projects aim to address the sources of frustration for local residents, such as parking, intersection traffic, and lack of clear signage, including parking signage.
We are asking for your support for this debt authorization. Voting YES for this Ballot Issue is required for the DDA to continue its work past 12/31/2019.
We also ask you to communicate with the NDDA to ensure that projects that you are most passionate about are being addressed. The NDDA is committed to working on behalf of the talented, creative people who live and work in Nederland, but we need your input and a YES vote on this Ballot Initiative.
Summary of Written Comments AGAINST Town of Nederland Ballot Issue 1:
No comments were filed by the constitutional deadline.
Notice of Election
Tabor Notice- includes ballot language
- DDA FAQ
- Election FAQ
- Election Schedule
- Resolution 2019-10(includes Ballot Language)
- 2017 Master Plan
- Letter to Property Owner
- Designation of Elector Form – property owner
- Letter to Tenant
- Designation of Elector Form – Leaseholder
- Affidavit of Qualified Elector (only used if lease in is an individual’s name)
- Letter sent on 9/15 to all property owners and business lessees
The Debt Authorization Ballot Question will ask the NDDA district voters (the property owners and business lessees within the NDDA district) to approve allowing the NDDA to borrow up to $2.3 million plus interest (amount pending approval) to pay for improvements and programs in the district. Repayment of this debt will come from the TIF portion of the NDDA revenues. The amount of TIF revenue is currently over $150,000 per year and has steadily increased since the formation of the NDDA. Because TIF funding will be in place until 2035, a predictable income stream is available for repayment of the proposed debt.
Passing of the Debt Authorization Ballot Question does not give the NDDA $2.3 million, it gives the NDDA permission to ask for project and program funds. The NDDA will have to develop detailed projects, programs and budgets, and then ask the BOT to borrow the money from the TIF fund. This is a very important part of the checks and balances for the NDDA.
A Debt Authorization is NOT a new tax. TIF funds are a portion of already assessed property tax on commercial property. The DDA may use the assessed funds, with the approval of the DDA district electors, for infrastructure, revitalization projects and economic development projects.
The DDA’s projects are guided by a Plan of Development and Master Plan, which was updated at the beginning of 2017, and approved by the Nederland Planning Commission and Board of Trustees.
Priority projects from the 2017 Master Plan, the DDA hopes to fund with this debt authorization include:
- Lakeview and Big Springs intersection project, area storm water management and parking improvements for Lakeview, Big Springs, Conger and Chipeta Park.
Rough concept of proposed improvements around the Caribou Shopping Center. - 1st Street Pedestrian/ADA walkability, loading zone, and parking improvements
- Signage and Wayfinding
- 2nd crossing at Middle Boulder Creek
- River pathway design and construction
- Loans, grants, and rebate programs
- Event Support, Entertainment District
- Property purchase
- Beautification (public art installations, pocket parks, native planting and landscaping)
- Visitor center improvements and operation
- Bury 1st Street utility lines
- Amphitheater at Guercio Field/Barker Reservoir Park.
A major component in the financing NDDA projects is the ability to partner with other organizations to share in the expense of the project. By partnering with local entities, regional partners and leveraging funding from government departments like Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Colorado Department of Transportation and Colorado Office of Economic Development (full list can be found in the Master Plan, pages 34 – 37) we can increase the value of the TIF as we did with NedPeds. The NedPeds project cost a little over $1 million with only $340,000 or about 1/3 coming from actual TIF funds.
You can email any board member with questions, there will be an question and answer session at both the September and October DDA board meetings. The Executive Director can be reached at ndda.ed@gmail.com
Since its formation in 2005 the NDDA has completed the following projects.
- Electric Car Charging Station was installed behind the visitor center and provides 2 spots for electric vehicles to charge.
- Downtown Beautification has been funded by the NDDA for the last 5 years and the past 3 years contracted out to Coloring Colorado, who has changed the flowers to more hardy, native plants. This last year the pots were installed with self-watering systems to save on labor and water.
- A Master Plan update was completed the beginning of 2017. The plan, includes a vision for Nederland’s downtown area and a broad, wide-ranging group of projects from infrastructure to economic development that benefit not just downtown, but the whole town through increased sales and property tax.
