WHY SUPPORT THE BID?

  • The Historic Loveland Business Improvement District (BID) was created by Downtown commercial property owners in 1999, but was never funded.

  •   The Loveland Downtown Partnership (LDP) was later formed to provide operational support and funding for staff for Downtown. Funding was limited, and primarily provided by the City of Loveland, who put a 10-year timeframe on their annual commitment. Their funding for staff expires at the end of 2024.

  • In 2015, the Loveland Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was formed to support LDP’s work, however there are legal limitations to utilizing DDA funds to support staff and operations.

  • While the LDP and DDA’s work and impact in Downtown has expanded greatly over the years, our operational resources have not. There is so much great work left to do in Downtown, but we cannot do it without staff to carry out the work!

BID FUNDING PRIORITIES:

  • Improved security and safety measures – including resources to address homelessness – in partnership with the City of Loveland and Loveland Police Department.

  • Cleaning and maintenance via a dedicated Downtown Cleaning and Ambassador program - something Downtown has never had before. This will include full-time staff addressing daily cleaning, power washing and graffiti removal through the BID area.

  • The continuation and expansion of events and programming, holiday décor and additional beautification projects throughout the BID area.

  • Development of a Downtown Master Plan to establish the long-term vision for Downtown and set forth exactly how the City and Downtown stakeholders can support that vision.

  • Continued administration of the Façade Program, the TIF Program, HIP Streets and all of the significant programs that are changing the face of our Downtown.

 
 

SUPPORTING THE HISTORIC LOVELAND BID

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THE BID?

In 1999, Downtown Loveland commercial property owners petitioned the city to form the BID, and an ordinance establishing the BID was created. The final step needed to fund the BID – a special election of property and business owners in the BID to authorize a property tax – was never completed. In November 2023, a special election will be held to fund the BID, and we need you to vote!

 

WHO CAN VOTE IN THE BID ELECTION?

The BID election will be a special mail ballot election. Only commercial property owners and lessees of commercial property (i.e. businesses) can vote in the BID election – it cannot be unilaterally imposed by the City. Residential property owners or those living in residential properties who run a business out of their residence cannot vote. The only other qualification is that you be registered to vote in the State of Colorado.

 

HOW DO I GET A BALLOT FOR THE BID ELECTION?

There are a few things to know about obtaining a ballot for the BID election:

  •   If you own a commercial property in the BID in your personal name, and you are registered to vote in the State of Colorado, you will automatically receive a ballot at the address where you are registered to vote.

  • If you own a commercial property in the BID in the name of a company or corporation, your company or corporation must designate a person as an elector and complete a Designation of Elector Form.

  • If you lease a commercial space in the BID (i.e. a business) in the name of a company or corporation, your company or corporation must designate a person as an elector and complete a Designation of Elector Form.

  • If you lease a commercial space in the BID (i.e. a business) in your personal name, and you are registered to vote in the State of Colorado, you must submit a Ballot Request Form.

  •   If you are a resident living in a commercial property in the BID and you are registered to vote at that address, you will automatically receive a ballot at the address where you are registered to vote. If you are not registered at that address, you must submit a Ballot Request Form. Keep in mind that by law you can only be registered to vote at one address, so your voter registration may need to be updated.

    NOTE: Residential property owners and residents who live in a residentially-assessed property are not eligible to vote.

 

All forms can be obtained at the links above, or by contacting Sean Hawkins at the Loveland Downtown Partnership at shawkins@lovelandpartnership.org or via phone at 970-699-2856.

Completed forms can be returned to the BID’s Designated Election Official consistent with the instructions at the bottom of each form, or may be returned to Sean Hawkins via email (address above) or mail at Loveland Downtown Partnership, 201 E. 4th Street, Loveland, CO 80537.

Forms should be submitted at least one week in advance of the November 7, 2023 election. All voted ballots must be received by the Designated Election Official by 7:00 PM local time on election day – November 7, 2023.

WHAT WILL THE BID COST YOU?

The BID assessment will be based on the assessed value of your property. The 2024 proposed BID assessment rate will be 5 Mills. To calculate your annual assessment, you can multiply your property’s assessed value by .005. Examples of annual assessments are included below:

 

The first year BID budget is anticipated to be approximately $272,000.  

 

SHOULDN’T MY CURRENT PROPERTY TAXES PAY FOR THESE THINGS?


Your current property and business taxes go to pay for basic services and infrastructure. BIDs fund only services and projects that are above and beyond these services provided by the City. That said, with the creation of the BID, the City has agreed to establish a Base Level of Services Agreement, which will codify both their standard services to the BID, and those that they have agreed to augment because of the BIDs creation, including but not limited to additional funding for policing, cleaning, parking management and Downtown infrastructure needs.

 

IF WE APPROVE FUNDING FOR A BID IN LOVELAND, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE CITY OF LOVELAND WILL STOP PROVIDING SERVICES IN DOWNTOWN?

No! BIDs carry out services and improvements that are in addition to those that are already provided. By law, they must continue to provide basic services at the same level they provide them to any other part of the city. It’s important to note, however, that the operational funding the city has provided to the LDP will end in 2024 UNLESS the BID funding is approved by voters, in which case the City has committed to providing both operational and programmatic support for the next 10 years.

 

WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER SUPPORTING A BID FOR DOWNTOWN LOVELAND?

BIDs allow stakeholders in an area to come together, leverage resources, and collectively advocate for the future of their district and neighborhood. By providing resources that stakeholders manage, a BID puts greater control of the district in your hands and allows Downtown Loveland to leverage even more funds to ensure our long- term success. With all the changes currently happening in and around Downtown, the BID will help ensure our collective vitality.

 

WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THE BID DOESN’T PASS?

For almost 10 years, the City has been the primary funder for staff and operations for our Downtown team. That funding commitment expires in 2024. However, the City has agreed to a $250,000/year commitment in operational funding PLUS additional programmatic funding IF we approve the BID. If we do not approve the BID, the City funding goes away, the downtown has no funding for operations, and Downtown stakeholders lose the organizational resources to champion the significant investments needed here.

 

WHO IS ON THE BID BOARD?

The initial BID board consists of the following BID stakeholders:

  • Ray Steele, Jr. (Chair), Friendly Pawn

  • Cheri Waneka (Vice-Chair), desk chair workspace

  • Jon-Mark Patterson (Secretary/Treasurer), Patterson, Rutledge & Associates, LLC

  • Kim Bernhardt, KTB Holdings, LLC

  • Caitlyn Wyrick, First National Bank

  • Jacob Fellure, American Family Insurance

  • Christina Gressianu, The Gressiwick

  • Kurtis Loomis, Law Offices of Loomis & Greene