Loveland City Council’s June 16 meeting: tourism district approved, consent agenda sparks Parcel 504 debate

The Loveland City Council’s June 16 meeting mixed major policy decisions with a wide-ranging consent agenda, highlighted by approval of a new tourism district and a 7-1 vote on a consent package that drew debate over a temporary sales-tax-credit financing deal for Parcel 504. That consent package also carried several other measures, while council separately took up rule changes, utility code updates and a marijuana-tax ordinance.

On consent, council approved the full agenda package after debate over the Parcel 504 tax-credit item, with Ward 2 Council Member Sarah Rothberg casting the lone no vote. Items folded into that package included 17 board and commission appointments, a fast-track affordable-housing code change tied to Proposition 123, historic landmark designation for the Peters “M&M” House, and a 10-year renewal of Comcast’s cable franchise through 2036.

Outside the consent agenda, council voted 5-3 to adopt new rules requiring a study session before future moratoriums can be considered and a two-thirds majority to adopt one. Council also unanimously approved creation of the Loveland Tourism Improvement District with a 3% hotel room assessment, intended to support destination marketing, tourism promotion and event development aimed at increasing overnight stays.

Council also moved two code updates forward on first reading, unanimously advancing a broad overhaul of Loveland’s water-use rules and an update to the city’s marijuana-tax code after correcting ballot language in the ordinance.