Loveland council approves midyear budget items and set Pulliam rental rates as community group urges prompt opening

The Loveland City Council voted on May 20 to adopt midyear budget appropriations and a resolution setting initial rental rates and fees for the Pulliam Community Building as the Pulliam Community Building Foundation urged the city to open the renovated facility promptly.

The Pulliam Community Building Foundation’s chair, Norm Ramey, told the council the foundation and community volunteers contributed $2.5 million toward the $11,000,000 renovation and said the city should open the facility after construction is complete. “Any dollar that you receive now is profit,” Ramey said, asking the council to allow discounted rates for nonprofits and an even lower community or family rate.

The council adopted a package of midyear appropriations that included funds related to opening the Pulliam and approved resolution R-40-2025 to establish fees for Cultural Services, including the Pulliam. The resolution passed on a 7–1 vote after discussion about whether the city should hold the building’s liquor license and how rates would be set. Matt Elliott, the city’s budget manager, told council initial operations would be covered using existing 2025 appropriations and that detailed operating costs would be developed as part of the 2026 budget process.

Why this matters: The Pulliam Building has been a long-running renovation project and leaders who raised private funds said opening it will support downtown activity. Council and staff also emphasized the need to balance market-based fees with community access and nonprofit discounts.

City staff described how rates were set: Cultural Services Director Susan Heisen said staff compared about 14 venues along the Front Range and proposed market rates with a nonprofit discount. “The nonprofit rate is the for‑profit rate is a 25% of the nonprofit rate,” she said while explaining the discount structure and the method used to benchmark Pulliam rates.

Foundation leaders said the Pulliam should not remain closed after construction and urged the council to allow staff flexibility to set community-friendly rates. Sarah Warnock, the Pulliam Foundation president, said the facility “is a piece of the puzzle that we need to open” and asked council to budget for operations in 2026.

Council discussion focused on two topics: (1) whether the city should hold a liquor license for Pulliam or allow third‑party vendors to use privately held licenses; and (2) whether council wanted staff to revisit rates after meeting with Pulliam Foundation representatives. Councilor Foley argued the city should avoid competing with local businesses, noting the Rialto’s liquor sales affect private vendors; other members said having a city license can produce revenue that lowers the subsidy required to operate the venue.

Council direction and next steps: Council approved the fees resolution and, by separate motion, asked the city manager to meet with Pulliam Foundation members and return to council with any recommended adjustments before the standard 2026 budget review. Staff said they would begin booking events using the rates on file and would present refined operating cost estimates as part of next year’s budget work.

Additional details: Foundation testimony said construction was expected to complete in late July, with staff aiming for a late‑summer opening and subsequent operational discussions as part of the 2026 budget.

The council then moved to other agenda items.