Boulder broadens group to advise on economic future

BOULDER – Putting an inclusive twist on its financial planning, the Boulder City Council has launched an Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC) that will pull together members of the community in an attempt to create an economic strategy for the city’s future.

The committee, previously led by two Boulder City Council members, now has added five representatives from various organizations. It will serve as a group of decision and policy-makers advising the city manager and city council for the next two years on issues relating to Boulder’s fiscal health.

The committee will consist of city council members Dan Corson and Rich Lopez; Sean Maher of Downtown Boulder Inc.; Ric Porreca of the University of Colorado; Joni Teter of PLAN Boulder; Peggy Wren of Peggy Wren and Associates; and Stan Zemler of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce. The group will begin meeting in September.

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“The committee will work on defining what economic sustainability in Boulder means and decide what characteristics we want to measure that define a sustainable economy,´ said Brad Power, executive director of the Boulder Urban Renewal Authority (BURA) and a city staff member supporting the ESC. “The committee will also assemble a green-ribbon panel of about 15 community members who will help identify the benchmarks that define Boulder’s economy and provide input on how to best create a healthy economy.”

City council member Dan Corson said the primary goal of the ESC will be to complete a benchmark analysis by the end of September. He said the analysis will enable the city to figure out where it stands in the regional marketplace.

“We will analyze things such as shopping gaps in Boulder … what kind of stores we don’t have,” Corson said. “This is not a direct reaction to FlatIron Crossing, but that’s part of it.” He said sales tax revenues in the future will be volatile and unknown. “As we become a mature city, we need to re-evaluate our approach and take the lead in redevelopment projects. Addressing Crossroads Mall will be a part of what we do,” Corson said.

So far, the ESC has sent invitations to 40 organizations in Boulder, including the Boulder Rotary Club, real estate groups and other professional associations.

Corson said the committee will continue working on 20 to 30 ongoing economy-related projects that he and other council members have developed over the past few years.

Economic Research Associates of San Diego has been hired to provide an analysis of the city’s situation in the region and make recommendations about future investments, keeping in mind the importance of housing and transportation, he said. “What will work in Boulder will be different than what works in Broomfield,” Corson said. “Our job will be to synthesize the information recorded and make recommendations in 2001 for a comprehensive economic strategy.”

Corson said the city investigated similar approaches to economic development in peer cities such as Davis, Calif. He said the ESC will try to work in concert with other city committees working on environmental, transportation and housing issues.

“We have opinions about what to do with the local economy, but this is a typical Boulder thing in the regard that it’s not a success unless we include everyone,” Corson said.