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Metro District Review
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Summary and Background Information:
Metro districts are a topic of ongoing concern for City Council. On December 19, 2022, Council passed Ordinance 2453, which placed a moratorium on the creation of new residential metro districts. The intent of the moratorium was to allow time for staff to provide answers to questions from Council and develop additional regulations. On November 27, 2023, Council passed Ordinance 2549, which enacted new regulations governing metro districts, as well as Resolution 2023-136, which adopted a new model service plan based on those regulations.
These regulations were the culmination of a multi-year process that included extensive public and stakeholder outreach and significant input from Council. The regulations were based on best practices gleaned from other cities and reviewed by third-party consultants to ensure they met Council’s intent. Ordinance 2555, which would have repealed the moratorium, failed on first reading at the November 27, 2023 meeting in a 4-4-1 vote. Council indicated they wished to see additional information on potential alternatives to metro districts before considering a repeal of the moratorium.
At the February 26, 2024 study session, staff presented alternatives to metro districts, focusing on other forms of special district financing, including SIDs and GIDs. The presentation was designed to answer Council’s outstanding questions and provide them the information necessary to make a decision on repealing the moratorium. Council gave staff direction to bring back an ordinance that would repeal the moratorium. Council considered Ordinance 2573 on first reading at the March 18, 2024 Council meeting. The ordinance failed 3-5-1.
Council provided staff with additional direction to conduct a thorough review of the service plans and mill levy certifications for all metro districts within Commerce City. The facts ascertained by this investigation will serve as the base for a ...
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