Saturday, July 29, 2017
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Let's Fight $30 Land Deals, Arvada!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
By the People!
Citizens Respond to '$30 Land Deal'
Charter Amendment Petition
‘Protect Arvada Taxpayers’
(Arvada, CO) In the wake of a proposed $30 sale of publicly-owned land worth millions of dollars to a private developer by the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority, a coalition of Arvada citizens has launched a grassroots charter amendment petition to mandate that such deals be approved by the voters.
In the past two years citizen-initiated proposals reforming Urban Renewal Authorities have been approved by voters in Wheat Ridge and Littleton. The Arvada amendment would:
• Require voter approval for sales and property tax subsidies over $2.5 million to private business
• Require voter approval for city-owned land sales valued over $1 million to private business
The controversial $30 Land Deal is the proposed sale of nine acres of publicly-owned prime real estate worth millions of dollars on the west side of Wadsworth Bypass at 56th Avenue – for $30. The plan by Arvada Urban Renewal Authority (AURA) with Denver developer Trammell Crow would include retail and 248 apartment units in a six story structure that would rise forty feet above the grade of Grandview Avenue in Arvada's Olde Town. The deal would also rebate to Trammell Crow 100 percent of sales and property taxes collected on the improved property until 2034.
Citizen outrage over the taxpayer give-aways has largely been met with equivocation from members of the city council. Arvada's mayor has been the public spokesperson for the plan and is a self-appointed member of the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority (AURA) Board of Commissioners as well as having appointed all of the other member of that board.
If sufficient signatures are collected during the 90 day petition circulation period an election could take place early next year.
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This is the 'PAT' Amendment
Breaking News!
Report on Protect Arvada Taxpayers
Sunday, October 1, Public Meeting
Petitioning Suspended
Rogue Government:
Judge Rules Against Voters on Urban Renewal
At 'The Latest'
The Protect Arvada Taxpayers proposal is a charter amendment being advocated for by a grassroots coalition of citizens to bring reform to the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority and City of Arvada government.The $30 Land Deal -- land and tax give-aways to a private developer planned by the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority (AURA) at already traffic congested Wadsworth Bypass and 56th Avenue -- sparked citizen outrage; lack of city council response to the deal has now generated this petition drive to bring more democracy and accountability to City Hall.
WATCH: KDVR Channel 31
'$30 land deal for developer
in Arvada questioned'
This effort, completely organized by average Arvada citizens, has 90 days to collect signatures from 15 percent of the city's registered voters. After review by the City Clerk an election on the proposed amendment could take place early next year.
Your help will be vital to making common sense protection of taxpayers an integral part of the Arvada city charter. Growth and progress for our community is fully compatible with fiscal responsibility.
Petition circulators are needed! Return to this web site for updates or email HERE or HERE for more information.
The Protect Arvada Taxpayers 'PAT' Proposal
Summary
Amends the Arvada City Charter to include the following provisions:
• Voter Approval Required for Sales and/or Property Tax Subsidies/Incentives (TIF)
Over $2.5 Million to Private Business
• Voter Approval Required for City-Owned Land Sales Appraised
Over $1,000,000 to Private Business
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Whereas, the Charter of the City of Arvada shall be amended to include the following:
Therefore be it ordained:CHAPTER XIII
13.14 URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY REFORM; TAX INCREMENT FINANCING, SALE/TRANSFER OF PROPERTY, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
1) Any action by an agency, agent, authority, commission, committee, city council, department, employee or official of the City of Arvada, approving or changing a sales and/or property tax increment financing (TIF), revenue sharing or cost sharing arrangement pursuant to Part 1 of the Colorado Urban Renewal Law, must be ratified by the Arvada City Council via a vote on a formal agenda item, at a regularly scheduled business meeting, that is advertised as a public hearing.
If the value of the said sales and/or property tax increment financing (TIF), revenue sharing or cost sharing exceeds two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000.00), the city council action of approval must be ratified by the registered electors of the City of Arvada at a special or regular election.
The base amount for voter approval of any sales and/or property tax increment financing (TIF) will be any financing exceeding two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000.00). To account for inflation and/or increased construction costs, every third year after July 1, 2018, the base amount can be increased by five (5) percent.
2) Any action by an agency, agent, authority, commission, committee, city council, department, employee or official of the City of Arvada, authorizing the sale or transfer of property owned by the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority or the City of Arvada, must be ratified by the Arvada City Council via a vote on a formal agenda item, at a regularly scheduled business meeting, that is advertised as a public hearing.
If the Fair Market Value of any such property be one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) or more as calculated by an independent Colorado Certified General Appraiser, the city council action of approval must be ratified by the registered electors of the City of Arvada at a special or regular election.
Effective date: This amendment will take effect and apply to all actions undertaken by an agency, agent, authority, commission, committee, city council, department, employee or official of the City of Arvada thirty (30) days after voter approval of this amendment.
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