Bike trails contract draws concern

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 | 9:31 a.m.

The Boulder City Council Tuesday adopted its 2005-2006 budget that increases spending 6 percent and maintains services and employees at their current level.

A near-capacity crowd filled the chambers over the possibility the council might eliminate a $48,000 contract to Brent Thomson, the consultant who built and maintains the 40 miles of Bootleg Canyon mountain bike trails. The city has contracted with Thomson the last two years.

Councilwoman Andrea Anderson suggested the city reduce the contract before she ultimately dropped her proposal. Anderson said she was convinced by arguments that Bootleg Canyon is receiving national and international acclaim and wants to keep that publicity going as it is. The trail is considered a tourist attraction for the city and has backing from merchants, restaurants and hotel operators, she said.

Anderson said she would ultimately like to see a contract contain incentives to get Thomson to bring in more revenue. She said the city has received $20,000 in revenue from rentals of the trail for bike conventions.

Mayor Bob Ferraro said he received 68 e-mails from around the world Tuesday supporting the current contract amount for Thomson. He said the expense has been worthwhile.

"Since its inception it has been great at bringing in a number of people who spend money, stay in hotels and eat in restaurants," Ferraro said.

Boulder City's general fund, which covers most city services, will increase 6 percent from $18.1 to $19.3 million. The increase is attributed to higher health care, worker compensation and retirement costs.

Boulder City's property tax rate won't be determined until the state finalizes language on how its new tax cap will work, Finance Director Bob Kenney said.

In March, the council backed a 10 percent rate reduction from 20.3 cents to 18.4 cents per $100 assessed value. That plan, because of a jump in values, would have raised property taxes in the community 3.4 percent.

Whatever rate is ultimately set, the city only plans on generating $37,000 more in property tax revenue, he said.

The tax relief law limits the maximum increase to 3 percent for homeowners and 8 percent for all other tax bills in Clark County.