John Scarffe, Nederland.  During a special session at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at the Nederland Community Center, the Nederland Board of Trustees voted on whether to place a debt authorization for the Nederland Downtown Development Authority on the ballot in April. The meeting followed an hour-long executive session beginning at 7:30 p.m. Mayor Joe Gierlach and Trustee Kristopher Larsen were absent.

The Board considered a resolution to call an election of the Nederland Downtown Development Authority electorate to consider a ballot question for debt authorization in support of projects and programs in the downtown district, according to background information. The DDA Board approved the question at its Jan. 20, 2016, meeting.

DDA Chair Katrina Harms told the Board that the DDA met in January and used the five-part plan of development and the DDA master plan to guide the process. The DDA Board approved a $2.9 million debt authorization with an overall 20-year repayment of $5.1 million, conservatively anticipated.

The debt authorization will finance projects in line with the DDA’s Plan of Development, a document that governs all expenditures within the district and further described in its Master Plan. Once voters approve the debt authorization, the DDA would still need approval from the Board of Trustees for each loan it seeks for each project or refinancing.

“We’re moving forward on these projects,” Harms said. “Our Board is ready to start working. The Downtown needs something to happen. We could really show that we can get some things done.”

The DDA itemized first priority projects for possible funding through the debt authorization:

Traffic Study, $60,000; Lakeview intersection project, $500,000; Underused Parking Lot Improvements, $50,000; On Street Parking -- Lakeview & Big Springs, $20,000; 1st Street Loading zone, $5,000; 1st Street Pedestrian/ADA walkability, $500,000.

Second priority items: 2nd crossing at Middle Boulder Creek, $360,000; River pathway design, $40,000; Mitigate storm water and water quality issues, $550,000 (Hwy 119, $235,000; Hwy 119 to MBC, $165,000); Conger St Storm water mgmt, $150,000.

Third priority items: Loans, grants, and rebate programs, $125,000; Improve vehicular and pedestrian signage/wayfinding, $25,000; Event Support, $25,000; Business Incubation (bank office space & property purchase), $254,000; Beautification (public art installations, pocket parks, native planting and landscaping), $25,000; Visitors’ Center operation, $60,000: Bury 1st Street utility lines, $250,000; Amphitheater, $75,000. Total all projects: $2,924,000.

Many of the projects from the last debt authorization in 2012 were funded by inter-fund loans from water fund reserves, which have all been repaid so far, according to background information. The last remaining loan will be for about $340,000 this spring for the completion of the NedPeds multi-modal pathway and storm water project, set to be completed by the end of this summer.

Since the DDA’s 2005 inception, it has funded the initial sidewalk program throughout downtown, the update of the DDA Master Plan, design and pending construction of the new pathways and storm water program at 2nd Street/Highway 72, the holiday lighting program, downtown flowers for the summer season and other smaller initiatives, according to background.

The ballot question will be put before the electors of the DDA district, which includes property owners and tenants within the DDA’s boundaries. The ballots will be mailed on March 14.

Trustee Kevin Mueller asked why the election should take place in April instead of November. Harms explained that summer is a good time to start working.

“We’re ready to go. Nothing will change drastically,” Harms said. “Our Board voted to move ahead now and not wait until November. Our budget is completely budgeted out.”

Town Administrator Alisha Reis said the Town is already going through an April election for Nederland trustees, and it won’t cost anymore to add this question. Boulder County would charge them $3,000 to $5,000.

“We are running our own election in April, but the County will be running the election in November,” Reis said. It will cost $5,000 to work with attorneys to write the question.

During Public Comment, DDA Board Member Jeffrey Green said this is not a vote to give the DDA money. It’s a vote to allow the voters to make that decision. “As a business owner, I’m excited to see this money being used,” Green said.

Trustee Randy Lee said: “I think it’s a no brainer, and I think it’s important we move ahead with this. Our business owners have been telling us downtown needs it.”

Trustee Topher Donahue also said the Board should do it. The issues people have had with doing it now are largely based on misunderstandings. Every step of the way and every dollar spent has to be approved by the Board. Many people thought the Town would be committing to the whole package right away.

Trustee Charles Wood agreed on putting it to the voters. “The Board will be involved, and the public will be involved. Let them vote,” Wood said.

Trustee Mueller said the last time in 2012 the plan was more specific. In 2012 the Board asked the DDA to do the master plan and asked for the master plan to be approved before another debt authorization was approved.

“I have concerns about it,” Mueller said. The master plan is not complete. It hasn’t gone in front of the Planning Commission so the list hasn’t been vetted. He suggested waiting until November when the plan is fully developed.

“The plan needs to go through the NPP process [Nederland Planning Process involving all Town boards] before we ask the voters to borrow money,” Mueller said. “We were supposed to get the master plan in the fall and then we would be vetting this. We’re moving forward with a plan that isn’t finished. It has the capability not to meet the vision of the community.”

Mayor Pro Tem Peter Fiori said that $2.9 million would be essentially crippling the DDA for the next 10 years. “I’m not comfortable with having our Town borrow to its fullest extent,” Fiori said. “I would be much more comfortable with half that amount.”

The Board asked the DDA to update the master plan and just saw a draft a week ago, Fiori said. “It’s feeling a little rushed. I think we should give authorization for some money. We’re authorizing them to borrow all the money their ever going to re-coop. That’s reckless to me and it’s not fair. If we were to authorize $1.5 now, in another five years they can ask for another $1.5.”

Reis said this debt authorization allows the DDA to look for opportunities for grants and partnerships. The Board passed the resolution sending the question to the April election on a three to two vote with Trustees Donahue, Lee and Wood in favor, and Trustees Fiori and Mueller voting against it.

The next meeting of the Nederland Board of Trustees was on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, at 7 p.m. at the Nederland Community Center.