BEC, Boulder Chamber seek political advocacy solutions

BOULDER – The Boulder Economic Council and Boulder Chamber of Commerce are at the drawing board to figure out how they can take political stands legally.

Solutions include forming one or more political action committees or ceasing to work with the city altogether.

“Both the chamber and the BEC are looking at how to address this going forward,´ said BEC Director Frances Draper. “We’re looking at the structure issues and should know by the first of the year how that will come together.”

Draper said the city is coming up with guidelines for the council and chamber so the organizations could legally advocate for political candidates or ballot initiatives in the future.

In October, City Clerk Alisa Lewis found that campaign contributions made by the council to the “No on 2A” campaign violated the city’s campaign laws that bar city contractors from donating to city political campaigns. The $10,000 contribution was quickly refunded, and no penalties were assessed.

In the wake of the controversy, the city canceled its current $5,500 contract for economic vitality services with the BEC.

City guidelines

The city is a member of the chamber and of the BEC, and the Boulder County Business Report is a member of the BEC.

“You could decide you do advocacy and not have a contract with the city,” Draper said, but reiterated she was waiting for city guidelines.

At the same time, Draper said the council is renegotiating its economic vitality contract with the city.

Draper anticipates the new contract will include “a little less involvement” than when former BEC Director Sean Maher was in charge.

Draper was hired as Maher’s replacement in September.

She said the city didn’t need as much help now that former City Planner Liz Hanson has been appointed business liaison for the city.

Maher had been working closely with Boulder City Manager Frank Bruno on economic development under a contract that had been set to expire at the end of this year. Under the contract, Maher completed a business incentive program that was approved by city council in September.

The $850,000 pilot program is being funded by the city of Boulder’s economic vitality fund.

According to Draper, many businesses have expressed interest in the program, which is posted on the city’s Web site, www.bouldercolorado.gov.

Program elements are geared toward primary employers, those that derive at least 75 percent of revenues from outside Boulder County. They include a flexible rebate program that could cover a wide range of fees and taxes charged by the city including permit and development review fees and equipment and construction use taxes; up to $1,000 in matching employee training assistance per employer; an owner-occupied loan pool of up to $100,000 per loan; and a Parks and Recreation employee discount program that gives all employees of businesses locating within the city resident pricing at Boulder recreation centers, the Boulder Reservoir and outdoor pools.

on Facebook on LinkedIn