Colfax Community Vision & Action Plan

Thank you for reaching out through this project page. Our Deputy City Manager had responded to these same questions in response to your formal correspondence dated June 8, 2026. The responses we provided are included below, although modified slightly since the DDA board is now in place.

Regarding Question 1 — Impact of Seating the DDA Board Without Community-Led CDC Representatives i. "What is the legal, procedural, and community impact of seating and swearing in DDA Board members before ii. community-led CDC representatives have been identified, vetted, and appointed?"

Under C.R.S. § 31-25-805, a DDA Board of Directors must be appointed by the municipal governing body and must consist of not fewer than five (5) nor more than eleven (11) members. By state statute and city ordinance, each member of the DDA board has staggered term limits, with the shortest term being one year. The statute requires that the majority of board members either own property or reside within the DDA boundaries. Colorado law does not itself mandate a specific community development corporation (CDC) seat. However, the Plan recommends the appointment of CDC members to ensure collaboration and accountability between the two organizations. The city is committed to ensuring that the DDA Board composition reflects the Plan’s recommendation.

The process to engage the community and identify the appropriate structure for the CDC requires an intentional community-centered approach that takes time. Once the structure for a CDC is determined, the formation of the CDC board and associated representation will also need to occur. The process to form the DDA which included evaluation, planning, community engagement, and goals identification under the guidance of the Steering Committee took over a year to complete.

Regarding Question 2 — Authority to Conduct Official Business Before CDC Representatives Are Appointed i. "Does the DDA Board have legal authority to convene, conduct official business, vote on matters, or incur ii. obligations before all required Board seats — including those reserved for CDC representatives — are filled?"

Colorado’s DDA enabling statute (C.R.S. § 31-25-806) establishes board composition criteria but does not prohibit a partially constituted board from conducting official business, such as electing officers and adopting bylaws. The Plan of Development governs the DDA. It is important to note that pursuant to C.R.S. § 31-25-807, the DDA may not collect Tax Increment Funding (TIF) revenue or commence any project until the Plan of Development has been approved by both the DDA board and City Council.

The recommended nine appointments for the DDA board, which is an increase from the six members originally contemplated, have been approved by the City Council. The inaugural board appointments were expanded from six to nine members in recognition of the exceptional pool of candidates and the value of bringing diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to the board. Community feedback also played an important role in the recommended appointment of nine members.

The appointments include staggered terms, which will allow the CDC to get established and operational while preserving the opportunity for the CDC to appoint its designated two representatives to the DDA board, in fulfillment of the Plan’s recommendation.

Question 3 — Timeline and Process for Appointing CDC Representatives i. "What is the City's defined timeline, vetting criteria, and transparent process for appointing CDC ii. representatives to the DDA Board, and what accountability measures ensure this process is not delayed, iii. circumvented, or completed as a formality?"

The city, under the sponsorship of Council Member Gianina Horton and Council Member / DDA Board Member Alli Jackson, is partnering with the Colorado Health Foundation to form a working group to guide a community-centered process with the assistance of a CDC facilitation expert. CM Horton is currently soliciting interest from community members in serving on the working group as well as potential third-party facilitators. Additional detailed information on the process and timeline will be communicated publicly as it becomes available.

Additional information:

The Aurora Downtown Development Authority's first official meeting is happening from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at The People's Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave. It is open to the public. Agendas and minutes for all meetings will be posted at AuroraGov.org/DDABoard.

Hello, and thank for reaching out. As you note, grants to improve buildings is a recommendation in the Colfax Community Vision and Action Plan. This plan will guide what types of projects and services the Aurora Downtown Development Authority (DDA) undertakes, but the DDA is still being set up. Right now, the city is seeking input on the final candidates for nomination to the Board of Directors. Once appointed, the DDA board should convene its first meeting this summer, after which it will begin drafting a budget and initiating projects outlined in the Colfax Plan later this year