Ready, set, go for anyone wanting to run a metropolitan district in Boulder.
The Boulder City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on Thursday night that gives the green light to metro districts. Those operate with some autonomy as quasi-municipal corporations that can finance public infrastructure. Thursday’s vote was the second reading of the ordinance, meaning it still needs a third and final reading before it’s codified.
Metro districts can levy taxes, issue debt, impose fees and charges on property owners within the district. They can vary in size. The Rangeview Metropolitan District near Watkins covers about 40 square miles, while the Platte River Metropolitan District near Brighton encompasses a subdivision with fewer than 500 single-family homes. The governing board for a metro district consists of property owners within the district — commercial or residential…