Dave Skilling has organized a study session special districts/metro districts with his Development Dialogue committee Thursday, July 23 at 6:00. Here is the link:
The presenters will be the staff, three industry representatives:
Tom George – Attorney with Law Firm Representing Developers In Metro Districts
Denise Gammon – Gammon Real Estate
Kyle Thomas – Metro District Education Coalition (Developer Lobbying Group)
and
Megan Schrader – Denver Post Editorial Page Editor
John Henderson – Attorney (retired) who has researched and written on metro district abuse for the past 4 years (and author of this blog and Solterracommunity.org.)
Each presenter will have 10 minutes. The remainder of the two hour session will be addressing questions by the city council members.
It is anticipated that there will be a follow up Development Dialogue meeting and then hearings before the full Lakewood City Council on the issues presented.
It is unclear whether or not citizens will get to speak during the development dialogue meetings. But they certainly will be able to speak at subsequent hearings and of course contact city council members to raise questions or submit information.
Those of us working on metro district reform sincerely appreciate the opportunity to address this critical issue before the Lakewood City Council. Thank you to Dave Skilling and Ramey Johnson for making this happen.
The first question is whether or not the City should permit metro districts in residential development. Longmont City Council recently decided to prohibit metro districts in residential development.
Traditionally, and in most other parts of the country, there are no metro districts for residential development – they cost more, have virtually no accountability and provide no benefit to the residents.
The second question is, if the city decides to permit metro districts, is the city willing to make the commitment of the substantial resources necessary to regulate metro districts in order to eliminate metro district abuse.
It should be an interesting journey.
Here is my memo in anticipation of the meeting Thursday and the Lakewood City staff memo.
Metro Memo Lakewood June 11, 2020 2
Metro Memo Lakewood June 11, 2020
John Henderson