Sections 10, 11, 12 and 13 of Article XX of the Constitution of the State of Colorado
creating Broomfield County
Read the full
Constitution of the State of Colorado
Section 10. City and county of Broomfield - created. The city of
Broomfield is a preexisting municipal corporation and home rule city
of the state of Colorado, physically situated in parts of Adams,
Boulder, Jefferson, and Weld counties. On and after November 15,
2001, all territory in the municipal boundaries of the city of
Broomfield shall be detached from the counties of Adams, Boulder,
Jefferson, and Weld and shall be consolidated into a single county
and municipal corporation with the name "The City and County of
Broomfield". Prior to November 15, 2001, the city of Broomfield
shall not extend its boundaries beyond the annexation boundary map
approved by the Broomfield city council on April 28, 1998, as an
amendment to the city of Broomfield 1995 master plan. The existing
charter of the said city of Broomfield shall become the charter of
the city and county of Broomfield.
The city and county of Broomfield shall have perpetual succession;
shall own, possess, and hold all real and personal property,
including water rights, the right to use water, and contracts for
water, currently owned, possessed, or held by the said city of
Broomfield; shall assume, manage, and dispose of all trusts in any
way connected therewith; shall succeed to all the rights and
liabilities of, shall acquire all benefits of, and shall assume and
pay all bonds, obligations, and indebtedness of said city of
Broomfield and its proportionate share of the general obligation
indebtedness and, as provided by intergovernmental agreement, its
proportionate share of revenue bond obligations of the counties of
Adams, Boulder, Jefferson, and Weld on and after November 15, 2001.
The city and county of Broomfield may sue and defend, plead, and be
impleaded in all courts and in all matters and proceedings; may have
and use a common seal and alter the same at pleasure; may grant
franchises; may purchase, receive, hold, and enjoy, or sell and
dispose of real and personal property; may receive bequests, gifts,
and donations of real and personal property, or real and personal
property in trust for public, charitable, or other purposes, and do
all things and acts necessary to carry out the purposes of such
gifts, bequests, donations, and trusts with power to manage, sell,
lease, or otherwise dispose of the same in accordance with the terms
of the gift, bequest, donation, or trust.
The city and county of Broomfield shall have the power within and
without its territorial limits to construct, condemn, purchase,
acquire, lease, add to, maintain, conduct, and operate water works,
water supplies, sanitary sewer facilities, storm water facilities,
parks, recreation facilities, open space lands, light plants, power
plants, heating plants, electric and other energy facilities and
systems, gas facilities and systems, transportation systems, cable
television systems, telecommunication systems, and other public
utilities or works or ways local in use and extent, in whole or in
part, and everything required therefor, for the use of said city and
county and the inhabitants thereof; to purchase in whole or in part
any such systems, plants, works, facilities, or ways, or any
contracts in relation or connection thereto that may exist, and may
enforce such purchase by proceedings at law as in taking land for
public use by right of eminent domain; and to issue bonds in
accordance with its charter in any amount necessary to carry out any
said powers or purposes, as the charter may provide and limit. The
city and county of Broomfield shall have all of the powers of its
charter and shall have all of the powers set out in section 6 of
this article, including the power to make, amend, add to, or replace
its charter as set forth in section 9 of this article. The charter
provisions and procedures shall supersede any constitutional or
statutory limitations and procedures regarding financial
obligations. The city and county of Broomfield shall have all powers
conferred to home rule municipalities and to home rule counties by
the constitution and general laws of the state of Colorado that are
not inconsistent with the constitutional provisions creating the
city and county of Broomfield.
Prior to November 15, 2001, the charter and ordinances of the city
of Broomfield shall govern all local and municipal matters of the
city. On and after November 15, 2001, the constitutional provisions
creating and governing the city and county of Broomfield, the city
and county charter adopted in accordance with these constitutional
provisions, and the ordinances existing and adopted from time to
time shall govern all local and municipal matters of the city and
county of Broomfield.
On and after November 15, 2001, the requirements of section 3 of
article XIV of this constitution and the general annexation and
consolidation statutes of the state relating to counties shall apply
to the city and county of Broomfield. On and after November 15,
2001, any contiguous territory, together with all property belonging
thereto, hereafter annexed to or consolidated with the city and
county of Broomfield under any laws of this state, in whatsoever
county the same may be at the time, shall be detached from such
other county and become a municipal and territorial part of the city
and county of Broomfield.
On and after November 15, 2001, no annexation or consolidation
proceeding shall be initiated pursuant to the general annexation and
consolidation statutes of the state to annex lands to or consolidate
lands with the city and county of Broomfield until such proposed
annexation or consolidation is first approved by a majority vote of
a seven-member boundary control commission. The boundary control
commission shall be composed of one commissioner from each of the
boards of commissioners of Adams, Boulder, Jefferson, and Weld
counties, respectively, and three elected officials of the city and
county of Broomfield. The commissioners from each of the said
counties shall be appointed by resolution of the respective county
boards of commissioners. The three elected officials from the city
and county of Broomfield shall be appointed by the mayor of the city
and county of Broomfield. The boundary control commission shall
adopt all actions, including actions regarding procedural rules, by
majority vote. Each member of the boundary control commission shall
have one vote, including the commissioner who acts as chairperson of
the commission. The commission shall file all procedural rules
adopted by the commission with the secretary of state.
[Entire section added, effective upon proclamation of the Governor,
December 30, 1998.]
Section 11. Officers - city and county of Broomfield. The
officers of the city and county of Broomfield shall be as
provided for by its charter or ordinances. The jurisdiction,
term of office, and duties of such officers shall commence on
November 15, 2001. The qualifications and duties of all such
officers shall be as provided for by the city and county charter
and ordinances, but the ordinances shall designate the officers
who shall perform the acts and duties required of county
officers pursuant to this constitution or the general laws of
the state of Colorado, as far as applicable. All compensation
for elected officials shall be determined by ordinance and not
by state statute. If any elected officer of the city and county
of Broomfield shall receive any compensation, such officer shall
receive the same as a stated salary, the amount of which shall
be fixed by ordinance within limits fixed by the city and county
charter or by resolution approving the city and county budget
and paid in equal monthly payments. No elected officer shall
receive any increase or decrease in compensation under any
ordinance or resolution passed during the term for which such
officer was elected.
[Entire section added, effective upon proclamation of the
Governor, December 30, 1998]
Section 12. Transfer of government. Upon the canvass of the vote
showing the adoption of the constitutional provisions creating
and governing the city and county of Broomfield, the governor
shall issue a proclamation accordingly, and, on and after
November 15, 2001, the city of Broomfield and those parts of the
counties of Adams, Boulder, Jefferson, and Weld included in the
boundaries of said city shall be consolidated into the city and
county of Broomfield. The duties and terms of office of all
officers of Adams, Boulder, Jefferson, and Weld counties shall
no longer be applicable to and shall terminate with regard to
the city and county of Broomfield. On and after November 15,
2001, the terms of office of the mayor and city council of the
city of Broomfield shall terminate with regard to the city of
Broomfield and said mayor and city council shall become the
mayor and city council of the city and county of Broomfield.
The city council of the city and county of Broomfield, in
addition to performing the duties prescribed in the city and
county charter and ordinances, shall perform the duties of a
board of county commissioners or may delegate certain duties to
various boards and commissions appointed by the city council of
the city and county of Broomfield. The city and county of
Broomfield shall be a successor district of the city of
Broomfield under section 20 of article X of this constitution.
Any voter approval granted the city of Broomfield under section
20 of article X of this constitution prior to November 15, 2001,
shall be considered voter approval under said section for the
city and county of Broomfield. The city and county of Broomfield
shall have the power to continue to impose and collect sales,
use, and property taxes that were imposed by the city of
Broomfield and the counties of Adams, Boulder, Jefferson, and
Weld within the areas where said taxes were imposed on November
14, 2001, until the voters of the city and county of Broomfield
approve uniform sales, use, and property taxes within the city
and county of Broomfield or approve increased sales, use, or
property taxes within the city and county of Broomfield. Any
violation of any criminal statutes of the state of Colorado
occurring on or before November 14, 2001, shall continue to be
prosecuted within the county where the violation originally
occurred.
[Entire section added, effective upon proclamation of the
Governor, December 30, 1998.]
Section 13. Sections self-executing - appropriations. Sections
10 through 13 of this article shall be in all respects
self-executing and shall be construed so as to supersede any
conflicting constitutional or statutory provision that would
otherwise impede the creation of the city and county of
Broomfield or limit any of the provisions of those sections.
Except as otherwise provided in sections 10 through 13, said
sections shall be effective on and after November 15, 2001.
After the adoption of the constitutional provisions creating and
governing the city and county of Broomfield, the general
assembly may appropriate funds, if necessary, in cooperation
with the city and county of Broomfield to implement these
constitutional provisions at the state level.
[Entire section added, effective upon proclamation of the
Governor, December 30, 1998.]