To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Bryan Weimer, Director, Public Works & Development
Prepared By:
prepared
Larry Mugler, Planner, Public Works & Development
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Subject:
title
Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Englewood regarding the South Metro Enterprise Zone Subzone of Arapahoe County
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is requested to adopt a resolution approving the proposed intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the City of Englewood in the form attached and granting signing authority to Bryan Weimer, Public Works and Development (PWD) Director. Staff presented this action to develop an IGA to the BOCC at a study session on April 23, 2024. The IGA defines the roles and responsibilities in managing the Arapahoe County Subzone of the South Metro Enterprise Zone.
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Background and Discussion: Arapahoe County has been exploring opportunities to support businesses and nonprofit entities through the Colorado Enterprise Zone program. In study sessions with the Board of County Commissioners on October 10, 2023, and April 23, 2024, staff described the South Metro Enterprise Zone that includes portions of Englewood, Sheridan, Littleton, and Parker. The City of Englewood currently serves as the Enterprise Zone Administrator which involves certifying businesses for state income tax credits, working with nonprofit entities on contribution projects that make contributors eligible for state income tax credits, and filing necessary reports with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
Based on direction from the BOCC at the April 23, 2024, study session, staff worked with the Englewood staff and prepared a boundary adjustment request to include portions of eastern Arapahoe County in the South Metro Enterprise Zone. That request was approved by the Colorado Economic Development Commission on June 20, 2024. The Intergovernmental Agreement identifies the roles and responsibilities of each party in managing the Enterprise Zone, especially the County’s efforts for the newly added area.
This new role for the County is an experiment to learn more about the level of effort required of an Enterprise Zone Administrator. Every ten years, the State is required to review the Enterprise Zone program and is currently conducting that review. Their recommendations are expected to be presented in mid-2026. The City of Englewood and the County will be exploring options for any revisions to the size of the South Metro Enterprise Zone and management of the zone. The experience gained through working with the Arapahoe “subzone” will help inform the decision-making for the future management of the entire South Metro Enterprise Zone.
The IGA has been reviewed by staff and attorneys in Arapahoe County and the City of Englewood. The final stage is the signatures from the City of Englewood’s City Council and the PWD Director, with authorization from the Board of County Commissioners.
Alternatives: Approve, modify, or deny the resolution authorizing the signing of the IGA with the City of Englewood. Without the IGA, the businesses and nonprofit entities in the eastern section of the County would have little support in participating in the Enterprise Zone program. County staff would not be authorized to provide assistance, and the City of Englewood does not have the resources to provide administrative functions beyond its current area. Staff recommends that Arapahoe County sign the Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Englewood and provide support for the Arapahoe County Subzone of the South Metro Enterprise Zone.
Fiscal Impact: The Planning Division will provide the staff to carry out the responsibilities identified in the IGA. Staff anticipates needing less than 0.5 FTE and has the personnel available. Part of the IGA effort is to confirm the level of effort needed to administer the South Metro Enterprise Zone and to determine if a long-term role for the County is appropriate.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☒Be fiscally sustainable
☐Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community focused
Concurrence: The IGA has been reviewed by the County Attorney and the City Attorney for the City of Englewood. Both have concurred in the approval of the IGA. The Englewood City Council has the IGA on its agenda for review on September 16, 2024, and formal action in October.
Resolution: Attached.