John Scarffe, Nederland. The Nederland Downtown Development Authority Board approved the Town of Nederland treasurer as NDDA accountant and appointed Board Member Ron Mitchell as treasurer during a regular online meeting on May 13, 2020. The Board also discussed a Public Art Contract with Mandy Vink and a proposal for picnic tables downtown.

The Nederland Downtown Development Authority Treasurer and Accountant Mandy Kneer stepped down from her duties in January 2020, according to the agenda information memorandum. Kneer was the NDDA accountant for several years and received $600 a year for her services. She also was the NDDA Treasurer. 

NDDA Chair Steve Karowe and Executive Director Hope Jordan met with Kneer and Town Treasurer Jen Hagey to discuss the procedure when Mandy was the DDA treasurer and accountant. They confirmed that Jen was required to do almost everything that Mandy did as NDDA accountant to get the information into the town’s accounting system, according to the memo.  

Jen was not doing only two procedures, which she would do if acting as NDDA accountant, creating warrants for monthly meetings and paying bills weekly. The Town gets a full audit of their books annually, so if the Town was acting as NDDA accountant, then the NDDA books would be included in the Town’s annual audit, according to the memo.

Board Chair Steve Karowe presented the item to the Board and asked whether the NDDA should use the Town as accountant, use an upstart accountant or also hire an accountant to do an audit. The Board agreed to use the Town Treasurer as accountant.

Board Member Brent Tregaskis said, “We are in partnership with the Town, so we should have them continue to do it. It’s redundant to go to outside for accounting and cleaner to keep it under the town.”

The Board passed a motion to continue to use town resources for NDDA finances and work with the Town Treasurer for accounting services for the NDDA. Although the Town will do accounting services, the Board still needed to elect a treasurer.

Board members were asked if anyone wanted to become the treasurer. According to a description of the treasurer’s duties from bylaws: “The Treasurer shall keep the financial records of the Authority and together with the Director, or in lieu of no such director, the Chair, shall approve all vouchers for the expenditure of funds of the Authority. The Treasurer shall prepare and submit a monthly report stating the assets, liabilities and year-to-date and month-to-date expenditures of the Authority. The Treasurer shall submit the report to the Director or Chair and the Director or Chair shall report to the Board.”

Board member Ron Mitchell volunteered to be treasurer, and the Board passed a motion to elect Mitchell as treasurer. 

Board member Rea Orthner introduced a proposal for a Public Art Contract with Mandy Vink. She had a meeting to get this project started on May 14 at 4 p.m. She provided a link to the contract in the agenda for $5,000 and said they don’t need a lawyer just to create a contract.

In the 2017 Master Plan (p. 26), the Nederland Downtown Development Authority recognized the installation of artwork in the Downtown District as a potential beautification project for the NDDA, according to the agenda memo. 

At the November 13, 2019, NDDA board meeting, Patrick Marold introduced himself to the Board during public comment and asked if Board members could meet with him to discuss art projects in Nederland. Board members Rea Orthner, Claudia Schaufler and Executive Director Jordan met with Marold to learn more about his interest in boosting economic development in the downtown district by developing art projects and creating a Public Art Plan through the NDDA. 

Developing a Public Art Plan opens the doors to additional funding for Downtown Nederland, according to the memo. “While the NDDA budgeted money in 2018 for a mural, a true understanding of art placement strategies, artistic potentials and creative destination concepts were not understood until Patrick Marold brought them to our attention at our November 2019 and December 2019 Board meetings.”

During the December 2019 meeting, the NDDA board unanimously agreed to invite Boulder Public Art Administrator Mandy Vink to the January 2020 Board meeting to discuss Nederland’s Public Art potential, strategy and value, and in a PowerPoint, she presented Arts and Cultural Planning for the Town of Nederland.

To move forward with Public Art Planning, the Board needs to sign a contract with Mandy Vink. Town Administrator Karen Gerrity told the Board that they just need a service agreement, because contracts have to be signed by the mayor, or under a certain amount, she can sign a contract, but a service agreement might fall within the procurement policy, and she would be happy to review it. 

The Board agreed to pursue a service agreement, and could either pay half up front or the entire payment when it is done. 

Board Member Ron Mitchell introduced a proposal for picnic tables downtown. With the Coronavirus, restaurants and businesses will need additional dining and waiting space because they will have to limit the number of people in the stores, so it would help to have a place to sit down and relax. 

Mitchell proposed trying it for the summer to get actual data on the parking. Social distancing is probably going to be the new normal for some time to come, Mitchell said, and probably well after a vaccine has been developed and millions have been vaccinated.  This could mean more than two years. 

It will be particularly difficult for restaurants to maintain a six-foot distance between tables.  Most of the restaurants in this town have less than adequate seating as it is, and this will make matters worse. 

Many cities and towns are considering street space as a solution for restaurant seating, and some have been doing it very successfully long before the Corona Virus dictated it. Louisville, CO, is a good example, according to the agenda memo. 

“I request that the Nederland DDA and Town of Nederland BOT consider a partnership with the local business community through cooperation with participating merchants to take advantage of the street space idea. Picnic tables with fixed, attached benches would be used and plenty are available at no cost to the DDA along with umbrellas that go into the center of each table.  To achieve social distancing, they would be placed at least 10 feet apart, outer edge to outer edge. This would be about every other parking space,” Mitchell wrote.  

The tables would be placed on the north side of First Street from 119 to Snyder Street and available for the customers of all businesses on both sides of the street.  An adequate access path for emergency vehicles would be on the south side where traffic normally flows, but the street would be for pedestrians only with both ends closed by barricades.

This would be a trial period for the summer for 14 Saturdays from sun up to sun down.  An hour would be needed for removal of tables, trash containers and other sundry items used for the activity.

Two trash containers will be provided for each two tables. They will strive for zero waste.  

For traffic, they will need for four certified flaggers. To make up for lost parking, spaces will be provided at the veterinarian clinic on Second and Snyder and in the front and side yards of the residences on the north side of Second street. 

Parking on the south side of Big Springs Drive would be converted to back in parking and create 10 to 12 additional spaces for the shopping center and a possibility of 15 more spaces on private property owned by the Maurer family, which is a triangle bordered by Spring Street, Jefferson Street and Highway 119. This would be facilitated by one of the flaggers, and supervision of the shopping center parking lot would be also needed.

Mitchell said that two property owners, Steven Tebo with the Caribou Shopping Center and myself, are discussing a commitment that could be up to $10,000 each or $20,000. The property owners would expect the NDDA to commit up to $40,000 on behalf of the rest of the owners and businesses for a total budget of $60,000. 

Mitchell said he would like to bill it as a trial and invited the Board to look at the proposal, make adjustments, or not do it at all.

Board members expressed concerns about the expense and asked about storage and why not Sundays. Mitchell said the tables would be trucked in, and he will take care of the storage. 

Board Vice Chair Mark Stringfellow said he likes concept, but it’s very expensive. He likes the idea of just leaving them up and more picnic tables at the park and along the Riverwalk and those could be put up and left at a reduced cost.

Mitchell said he already has park benches at the roundabout, and three tables already along First Street. The big table was used frequently today, and he thinks families will gather at those tables. He has a third table at Wings of Lace so husbands can sit while wives go in and has served function for three years now.

Tregaskis discussed creating a mini Pearl Street and trying to do something creative. He liked the idea of the NDDA buying more picnic tables all over town. Having more sitting outside this summer is going to be key to have a viable economy. “I would feel more comfortable outside than inside,” he said. 

Board members also suggested adding handwashing stations. Board Member Claudia Schaufler suggested taking comments offline, exploring it and coming back with more information. Trustee Liaison Jonathon Baumhover said he is not in support of the proposal in its current form but would support the idea of picnic areas and handwashing stations. 

Baumhover would like to see the proposal mitigate mud concerns and would like to see surveys from businesses that they want this. “Let’s table this idea in its current form and talk to businesses, Nicki Dunn in Parks and Recreation and town staff,” he said.

Tregaskis said he would be interested to find out how many picnic tables it would take to establish a corridor. If Mitchell will contribute the tables, permeant seven days a week, it seems like a no brainer as long as they are all over town. He suggested big metal tables that would take three men and a boy to lift. 

The Board moved to direct a subcommittee to explore tables and bring a proposal back to the June 10 meeting. 

(Originally published in the May 21, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)