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BOT moves towards second bridge

Christopher Kelley
Posted 3/13/23

The Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT) met for their regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at 8 p.m. to hear an update on the upcoming new town festival Nederdays. Trustees also

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BOT moves towards second bridge

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The Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT) met for their regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at 8 p.m. to hear an update on the upcoming new town festival Nederdays. Trustees also continued their discussion on drafting new regulations affecting downtown development.

The BOT first approved within their Consent Agenda Resolution 2023-16 regarding the Town investing in the Colorado Surplus Asset Fund Trust (CSAFE). Trustees and Town staff had heard from Marketing Advisor Bob Krug during their meeting on January 17, and came away from that presentation generally in favor of investing with CSAFE.

Resolution 2023-16 presented Town staff’s recommendation for Nederland to invest $1 million dollars into the CSAFE Core Fund and $500,000 into the Cash Fund.

The BOT approved the appointment of K.C. Conilio to the role of alternate board member on the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Advisory Board (PROSAB). PROSAB reviewed four applicants for the position and voted to recommend Conilio during their meeting on February 16 after PROSAB Chair Jessie Ansari gave her official resignation from the board and applicant for the alternate position Lindsey Ute expressed interest in the newly vacant board member position.

Also within the Consent Agenda the BOT approved four resolutions pertaining to funding the 2023 budgets for four projects from the Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA). The NDDA approved the funding of all projects during their 2023 budget planning process, and unanimously approved all resolutions during their meeting on February 8.

Resolution 2023-10 pertains to authorizing the $30,000 in funding to the Beautification project for 2023. On January 11 Master Gardener Judy Evans provided information concerning the $30,000 budget, specifying that it would fund $16,250 for the hiring of a professional gardener during the late spring and summer, and $9,650 for the design fee and transport of the annual flowers.

Resolution 2023-11 involves authorizing the $20,000 in funding to the Public Art project for 2023. A portion of the $20,000 budget will fund a 615 square-foot mural to be painted on the west-facing wall of the Mountain People’s Co-op building. The mural is estimated to cost a total of $9,525.

Resolution 2023-12 concerns authorizing $30,000 in funding to the Traffic and Safety Support Grant Program for 2023. On January 11, the NDDA approved utilizing $8,500 from the Traffic and Safety budget to fund the March special event Nederdays. The adjustment to the budget will be made at the NDDA’s March 8 meeting.

Resolution 2023-13 pertains to authorizing the $10,000 in funding to the Special Events Grant Funding Program for 2023.

Parks Department Manager Nicki Dunn and Administrative Support Manager Peter Cacek provided an update on the planning for Nederdays, the town-owned event taking place the weekend of March 24 and 25.

The advertising and marketing campaign for Nederdays began on Monday, February 13. The Nederdays website, nederdays.com, is up and running thanks to Cacek’s hard work, and is updated daily with activities and an event map. The main events, as well as smaller events hosted by local businesses, have been planned and scheduled.

Dunn listed many of the events, including the sled race on East 1st Street, hosted by the Parks Department with sleds donated by Ace Hardware. The Barn Dance, a wood cutting contest, and a hot cocoa trail are just some of the events planned in addition to special sales, promotions, and live music acts within Nederland’s many businesses.

Dunn also noted that proceeds from several of the events go to the Parks Department’s Scholarship Fund. One such event that will raise money for Nederland’s youth is a “Pie Toss,” hosted by local pastry chef Natalie Duplessy, which provides members of the public the opportunity to throw pies at Nederland’s Mayor and Trustees.

The BOT continued their discussion on amending Nederland Municipal Code (NMC) Chapters 16 and 17 and on forming a subcommittee to analyze potential new regulations to the Central Business District (CBD).

The proposed amendments to NMC Chapters 16 and 17 would require any lot line consolidation approved by the Planning Commission to be subject to the Planned Unit Development (PUD) process regardless of lot size. The PUD regulatory process forces a developer to meet community goals pertaining to density and land-use.

The Planning Commission will review the proposed ordinance amendments at their next meeting on Wednesday, March 15. If approved by the Planning Commission the BOT will then hold a public hearing on the matter during their scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 21. The aim is to have the new ordinance effective by April 23, with one lot line consolidation application tentatively set to go before the Planning Commission on April 26.

There was also discussion regarding whether or not the BOT wanted to potentially hire a planning consultant or land use professional to help develop regulations for the CBD. Town staff provided various proposals from planning consultants, legal planning supports, and public relations and communications organizations.

Trustees heard from Bill Ray, Principal with public relations firm WR Communications Inc., and Derrick Webb with planning consultant firm Bohannan Huston about their specific areas of focus. Attorney Madsen from law firm Widner Juran LLC, Kat Correll from advisory service Downtown Colorado Inc., and Joe Minicozzi from urban planning firm Urban3 were also noted as potential resources, though Minicozzi was not contacted by Town staff but rather was recommended by Trustee Seavers.

Town staff also recommended that the BOT also complete a full update to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan while drafting new regulations for the CBD. A comprehensive plan should be updated every ten years; Nederland’s has not been updated since 2023. It was also suggested that the team being formed to create new regulations pertaining to the CBD could potentially work on the comprehensive plan update as well.

The Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grant (EIAF) was highlighted as a possible source for funding the update. The EIAF grant is administered by DOLA and is aimed to “promote sustainable community development, and increase livability and resilience of communities through strategic investments in asset-building activities.” The $200,000 grant requires a 50% match from Nederland, and the application period is currently open until April 3, with another application cycle not opening until June 30.

The BOT gave a nod of four in favor of pursuing completing a full comprehensive plan update and in favor of hiring one or several consultants. Town staff will be in contact with a DOLA representative to express interest in the EIAF grant and the 50% match will come from a supplemental budget. Requests for proposals from various consultants will be released by May.

Trustee Nichole Sterling presented two options to the BOT concerning the formation of a team consisting of Town staff, Trustees, Planning Commission members, and community stakeholders who would “investigate, plan, review, and analyze potential new Town regulations” for the CBD.

Option 1 for the process of forming the Town Improvement Group for Enhancing Revitalization (TIGER) involves the team being made up of three Trustees (Tania Corvalan, Jesse Seavers, and Sterling) and seven members from all of Nederland’s other boards and committees. The applicants “must reflect an attitude of openness and curiosity, creativity, be able to surface multiple perspectives, have a track record of debating issues not people, bring a diverse perspective to the core team, and not currently have a business interest in the CBD.”

In addition to ten members from Town government, TIGER, under Option 1, would also include five members from the community, Town Administrator Fisher, and city planning and/or marketing specialists. A stakeholder group comprised of business owners and property owners will also be utilized to provide the core team with constructive feedback.

Option 2 involves the core team being comprised of three Trustees, two members from the Planning Commission, five community members, a member of Town staff (Fisher), and city planning and/or marketing specialists. The stakeholders group for Option 2 includes CBD business and property owners, as well as all of Nederland’s boards and committees.

The BOT was generally in favor of Option 1 as the majority of Trustees felt it featured the most balanced representation of Nederland’s various interests. There was discussion about TIGER not conducting any formal votes but to just have discussions and provide recommendations, as well as discussion on there being less BOT representation on TIGER.

Trustees also heard from NDDA Chair Barbara Hardt and Sustainability Advisory Board Co-Chair Melody Baumhover about their boards’ interests in being part of TIGER.

Fisher presented to the BOT the first Action Item on their agenda which was a request to apply for $3.5 million dollars from Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) funds to pay for the construction of a second bridge across town. CDS allows members of Congress to request funding for specific projects in their home state. Congressman Neguse previously selected the Big Springs Egress study as the project to receive CDS funds.

A 25% match of $875,000 would be required from the Town of Nederland if it is decided to request the $3.5 million dollars, which is the projected cost of the project, including a feasibility study, according to Town’s engineering consultants firm JVA. The application for the CDS funds is due by March 10; if awarded, the funds would be released to Nederland in October.

Nathan Skalak of JVA, as well as members of Town staff, members of the public, Mayor Billy Giblin, and Trustees Corvalan, Seavers, and Sterling met on February 7, to discuss viable options for a second bridge across the creek. Of the four suggested locations, Fisherman’s Lot and 100 East 1st Street were identified as the most ideal options for a second bridge.

An Emergency Action Study needs to be completed before any action on the second bridge project can be taken by the BOT. JVA began their preliminary assessment work after the February 7 meeting and is expected to produce design drafts for a Town Hall meeting with the public on March 21.

The BOT voted for Town staff to apply for the CDS funding. Trustees and Town Staff were sure to reiterate that the decision to apply for the funding is not a commitment at this time to any bridge construction. There are a number of studies which need to be completed, as well as concept designs, and several BOT discussions to be had before a second bridge project can be cemented and approved.

The BOT heard a recommendation from Town staff to split the Administrative Support Manager position into two distinct positions. These would be a Public Engagement Manager and an Administrative Assistant, the latter requiring the authorization of funds from the 2023 General Fund including $59,000 for the salary and $2,000 for the purchase of a laptop. A Public Engagement Manager would “be responsible for the ongoing communication, outreach, and engagement with members of the Nederland community, as well as visitors and prospective visitors to Nederland.”

Trustees voted unanimously to approve Town staff’s recommendation to create two new positions and to authorize $61,000 for salary and equipment.

The Nederland Board of Trustees meet on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Their next scheduled meeting is on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at 7 p.m. and can now be attended either online or in person at the Nederland Community Center. For more information: https:// townofnederland.colorado.gov/board-oftrustees