Web User Control - ListItemCollection

I am using VS 2005 and VB.net. I have a web user control that I have added a drop down list. I would like to add custom property of list item collection. I would like for the property to display in the properties window on visual studio. I can't seem to get this to work. The property displays, but no elipsis to add items to the collection. Any help?

*************html********************
<table>
    <tr>
        <td align="right">
            Filter where:</td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList ID="ddlDimFilt" runat="server" AppendDataBoundItems="True">
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:DropDownList ID="ddlDimLimiter" runat="server">
                <asp:ListItem Selected="True">Begins with</asp:ListItem>
                <asp:ListItem>Contains</asp:ListItem>
                <asp:ListItem>is Exactly</asp:ListItem>
            </asp:DropDownList>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:TextBox ID="txtDimFilter" runat="server" ValidationGroup="DimFilter" Width="128px"></asp:TextBox>
            <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="rfvDimFilter" runat="server" ControlToValidate="txtDimFilter"
                ErrorMessage="Filter text required" ValidationGroup="DimFilter">*</asp:RequiredFieldValidator>
        </td>
        <td>
            <asp:Button ID="btnDimFilter" runat="server" Text="Filter" ValidationGroup="DimFilter" />
            <asp:Button ID="btnDimClear" runat="server" Text="Clear" />
        </td>
    </tr>
</table>
 
*************html********************
 
************code behind snippet**************
Public ReadOnly Property Items() As ListItemCollection
        Get
            If Me._cItems Is Nothing Then
                Me._cItems = New ListItemCollection()
            End If
            Return Me._cItems
        End Get
    End Property
 
    Protected Overloads Overrides Sub CreateChildControls()
        If Me._cItems Is Nothing Then
            Me._cItems = New ListItemCollection()
        End If
        If _cItems.Count > 0 Then
            For Each item As ListItem In _cItems
                Me.ddlDimFilt.Items.Add(item)
            Next
        End If
    End Sub
 
    Public Overloads Overrides Sub DataBind()
        CreateChildControls()
        ChildControlsCreated = True
        Me.ddlDimFilt.DataBind()
        MyBase.DataBind()
    End Sub
************code behind snippet**************

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