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Downtown authority takes important first steps
Special to the News-Press
Downtown voters approved the formation of a Downtown Development Authority, Town Council appointed its first Board members, and now that board has held its first official meeting.
Brad Brown, K.C. Neel, Diane Evans, Darrell Gubbels, Mark Williams and Rick Stucy met Nov. 20 to hammer out organizational details and to take the first actions necessary to mark 2008 as the base year for the increment financing voters approved as well as to ask Town Council to approve the 2009 DDA Budget and to certify the 3-mill property tax levy approved by voters. Town Councilman Chip Wilson, who also serves on the DDA Board, was unable to attend the meeting.
“I have a strong sense of community, and it gives me a great deal of personal satisfaction to be involved in the shaping and building of our wonderful community,” said Mark Williams, the first DDA Board chairman. “The formation of the DDA and the financial ballots that were passed with voter approval are enormous tools to encourage significant investment in our downtown historical community.”
The DDA Board passed a resolution adopting a Plan of Development. The next steps for the plan include going to the Planning Commission on Dec. 4 then on to Town Council for its approval Dec. 16. The Plan of Development is a framework for re-energizing downtown, and can be changed over time depending on circumstances and priorities. Adoption of the plan was necessary in order to establish 2008 as the base year for sales and property tax increment. For the life of the DDA, any total sales and property tax revenues that are in excess of the base year are given to the DDA to carry out its mission. The tax rate themselves do not increase. The increment happens only when there are more in total sales and when property values improve over the base year. While it is impossible to predict sales and property values in the uncertain economy, it is estimated that the sales increment could bring in about $44,000 in 2009, and no increment is expected from property values.
In addition to the Plan of Development, the Board also passed a resolution requesting Town Council to certify the 3-mill property tax levy on downtown properties, which was approved by downtown voters. The property tax is expected to bring in about $130,000 in 2009, and the current Town Council has pledged to match that amount. Town Council is scheduled to certify the 3-mill levy Dec. 9.
The 2009 budget also was adopted, which is estimated at $305,390, the bulk to be spent on programs to enhance downtown. Town Council is scheduled to approve the 2009 DDA budget Dec. 9. It is expected that the DDA Board will amend the budget in 2009 as they more clearly define their priorities for the year.
At this first meeting, the board elected Williams as chairman; Stucy as vice chairman; and Gubbels as secretary. The Board also set a regular meeting schedule.
The public is invited to their meetings, which will take place the first and third Thursdays at 4 p.m. at Town Hall, 100 N. Wilcox St. While the DDA may eventually have its own Web site, in the interim agendas and meeting minutes will be posted at CRgov.com. Click on Downtown Castle Rock Information in the left-side menu. The same link also provides more information about the DDA.
Downtown voters approved the formation of a Downtown Development Authority, Town Council appointed its first Board members, and now that board has held its first official meeting.
Brad Brown, K.C. Neel, Diane Evans, Darrell Gubbels, Mark Williams and Rick Stucy met Nov. 20 to hammer out organizational details and to take the first actions necessary to mark 2008 as the base year for the increment financing voters approved as well as to ask Town Council to approve the 2009 DDA Budget and to certify the 3-mill property tax levy approved by voters. Town Councilman Chip Wilson, who also serves on the DDA Board, was unable to attend the meeting.
“I have a strong sense of community, and it gives me a great deal of personal satisfaction to be involved in the shaping and building of our wonderful community,” said Mark Williams, the first DDA Board chairman. “The formation of the DDA and the financial ballots that were passed with voter approval are enormous tools to encourage significant investment in our downtown historical community.”
The DDA Board passed a resolution adopting a Plan of Development. The next steps for the plan include going to the Planning Commission on Dec. 4 then on to Town Council for its approval Dec. 16. The Plan of Development is a framework for re-energizing downtown, and can be changed over time depending on circumstances and priorities. Adoption of the plan was necessary in order to establish 2008 as the base year for sales and property tax increment. For the life of the DDA, any total sales and property tax revenues that are in excess of the base year are given to the DDA to carry out its mission. The tax rate themselves do not increase. The increment happens only when there are more in total sales and when property values improve over the base year. While it is impossible to predict sales and property values in the uncertain economy, it is estimated that the sales increment could bring in about $44,000 in 2009, and no increment is expected from property values.
In addition to the Plan of Development, the Board also passed a resolution requesting Town Council to certify the 3-mill property tax levy on downtown properties, which was approved by downtown voters. The property tax is expected to bring in about $130,000 in 2009, and the current Town Council has pledged to match that amount. Town Council is scheduled to certify the 3-mill levy Dec. 9.
The 2009 budget also was adopted, which is estimated at $305,390, the bulk to be spent on programs to enhance downtown. Town Council is scheduled to approve the 2009 DDA budget Dec. 9. It is expected that the DDA Board will amend the budget in 2009 as they more clearly define their priorities for the year.
At this first meeting, the board elected Williams as chairman; Stucy as vice chairman; and Gubbels as secretary. The Board also set a regular meeting schedule.
The public is invited to their meetings, which will take place the first and third Thursdays at 4 p.m. at Town Hall, 100 N. Wilcox St. While the DDA may eventually have its own Web site, in the interim agendas and meeting minutes will be posted at CRgov.com. Click on Downtown Castle Rock Information in the left-side menu. The same link also provides more information about the DDA.
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