The Nederland Board of Trustees approved the Town’s 2022 budget and fees but suspended the proposed Adopt-a-Bench program during a regular, virtual meeting on December 7, 2021, at 7 p.m. The Board also approved mail-in ballots for the April 2022 election and discussed the Boulder County IGA.

Adoption of the 2022 budget

Treasurer Rita Six said they have been talking about this budget since September. “We are in a very good financial position,” she said. She proposed three resolutions: adoption of the budget, the second for the mill levy, and the 2022 fee schedule.

The proposed budget has been presented and discussed in its component parts since September. The Board conducted the latest review during a Public Hearing on November 9.

Board members agreed that they have looked this over and over, but the proposal from the Parks and Recreation Open Space Advisory Board (PROSAB) regarding benches should be discussed. The Adopt-a-Bench fee would increase to $1,000.

Mayor Larsen asked if they strike the fee for the bench program from the current fee schedule, would that mean a suspension of the program, and Board members suggested bringing this back to PROSAB.

The Board approved the annual budget with the modification to suspend the Adopt-a-Bench program, setting fees, charges and striking the line item for the Adopt-a-Bench program. Pending applications, however, will continue to be processed.

Occupational Tax Funds Allocation Request

A Peak-to-Peak Housing and Human Services Alliance formed a subcommittee to discuss how the occupational tax received from short-term rentals could be used. The subcommittee consists of members from TEENS, Inc.; Boulder County Area Agency on Aging; EFAA/ Southern MRL; Canyon Cares; and the Nederland Food Pantry.

At the November 16 meeting, the Trustees discussed allocating 99 percent of the occupational tax to health and human services and agreed to work with this subcommittee to distribute those funds to help human services. The remaining one percent would go to law enforcement.

The Board approved the request.

Mail ballots

In an effort to encourage robust voter participation, Town staff recommend that the April 5, 2022, election be conducted through mail-in ballots. The town does have drop boxes. The Board approved mail-in ballots.

Boulder County IGA

The Nederland Board of Trustees will host a work session next week regarding the Boulder County and Nederland Intergovernmental Agreement. The Comprehensive Development Plan Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Boulder County and the Town of Nederland is set to expire on March 7, 2022.

Trustee Coombs Esmail and Trustee Taylor met with Commissioner Levy about the IGA on November 29. The County has requested the current IGA be extended nine months, until the end of 2022, to allow time to work on drafting an IGA with amendments.

Trustee Coombs Esmail and Trustee Taylor provided an overview of the conversation with Commissioner Levy and County staff. Trustees supported bringing this back to a work session.

The next Nederland Board of Trustees meeting will be virtual on December 21, 2021. For more information, go to https://nederlandco.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=391.