John Scarffe, Nederland.  The Mayor’s Task Force on Economic Development presented its recommendations to the Nederland Board of Trustees during a regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3, at the Nederland Community Center. Development Task Force Chair, Randy Lee, summarized a report of 14 recommendations, including a second crossing over Middle Boulder Creek and hiring an economic development staff person.

The Board of Trustees created the task force in December 2012, according to background information. The group was asked to compile a report of recommendations which would advance ideas for the Town’s goals of a stronger, more localized economy during the next ten years in Nederland.

A previous task force had been seated by the Board, during the summer of 2010. Work was conducted by the then-operational Chamber of Commerce in 2004 to study economic conditions and barriers, producing recommendations that led to the creation of the Nederland Downtown Development Authority, according to background.

Lee told the Board the 2012 Economic Development Task Force was constituted because the earlier task force was meeting while Vision 2020 was being developed, and the previous task force didn’t incorporate the vision. “I left very disappointed. I felt we owed the Town a more systematic approach.”

The 2012 task force adhered to the principles of Vision 2020 and took a comprehensive view, Lee said. The group also did a classic Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis to provide the trustees with an achievable set of recommendations.

“We drafted a vision and then tweaked it,” Lee said. “We broke it apart and picked out the critical elements.” The group looked at each element, where the town is now and what will it take ten years hence to get to where the town wants to go.

The Vision Statement the task force created follows: “In 2026, the pedestrian-friendly Nederland downtown commercial district is fully populated with modestly sized, locally owned shops providing essential goods and services for residents and attractive venues for shopping and entertainment.

“Our customer-friendly and service-oriented local businesses pay their employees a livable wage and have stable year-round income, boosted by – but not dependent upon – tourism, and work collaboratively to foster a healthy, environmentally sustainable and diverse business environment.

“Residents of Nederland and the Peak to Peak mountain corridor look to Nederland as their first choice for goods, services, employment, entertainment and social needs. Nederland’s localized, diversified and sustainable economy is internationally recognized as a model for small resilient communities.”

As a part of the process, they issued a 15-question community survey, which was mainly done through the web site. The report of recommendations also draws on public input gained from Nederland Downtown Development Authority public meetings during 2015 and feedback received from on online posting and public presentation the report draft.

First the task force recommended creating a pedestrian-friendly commercial district by expanding the Nederland trail system identified in the Nederland Trails Master Plan and expanding bus services through more frequent RTD runs, mountain connector routes and neighborhood shuttle routes, according to the report. The town should support NDDA pathway expansion and improvement projects by establishing a second crossing over Middle Boulder Creek, either a two-way auto and pedestrian bridge connecting Snyder and Conger Streets or a pedestrian and emergency access bridge.

The task force recommended working with Eldora Mountain Resort and the Colorado Department of Transportation to mitigate traffic congestion through the imposition of traffic impact fees or negotiated financial assistance from Eldora for traffic flow improvements. The town should facilitate commercial district build-out by offering financial incentives for small-scale, environmentally sensitive development of businesses that meet essential needs and provide sustainable infill development.

Fostering local business ownership would help by giving priority to local owners in granting incentives, seeking diversity in commercial property ownership, discouraging chain stores and sponsoring a Nederland business incubator. The task force recommended promoting essential locally sourced goods and services, engaging with new property owners to create a positive image and closing the gap towards providing essential goods and services.

The town also should improve the attractiveness of shopping and entertainment venues by rewarding businesses that improve their external appearance, internal cleanliness and comfort and supporting town funding for general cleaning and maintenance. Customer-friendly, service-oriented businesses are encouraged by sponsoring a Put Nederland First program and promoting a living wage for local employees.

The town should strive for a stable year-round income for businesses by supporting a Nederland online marketplace with single checkout and delivery for local shops and restaurants. The Town also should support an economy that is boosted by, but not dependent upon, tourism by attaining recognition as a Continental Divide Trail Gateway Community and giving pass-through tourists reasons to stop.

Nederland could foster business collaboration by reestablishing a Town-supported chamber of commerce and funding a staff economic development position. Newsletters, the web and a unified community calendar could open dialogue and keep residents and visitors informed about local business offerings, events and achievements.

Business owners could be educated about environmentally sustainable practices, and environmentally responsible measures could be encouraged in the municipal code and through public recognition. A diverse business environment could be developed by seeking to encourage diversity in businesses and business offerings and actively recruiting for gaps in services and offerings as well as offering incentives for new, unique businesses.

Local businesses should be the first choice for goods, services, employment, entertainment and social needs. The town should support cottage industries and entrepreneurship, develop a small conference center or institute focused on sustainable communities and promote vehicle-free tourism to the eco-conscious. The report recommended that the town, “Do less, better (i.e. only undertake projects that we have the capacity to succeed in achieving really well).”

DDA Chair Katrina Harms told the Board she worked with the Task Force on this and a lot of the materials in the master plan. Trustee Julie Gufstason asked her if the DDA can afford a full-time staff member, and Harms replied that the DDA can’t right now but could have if the debt authorization defeated in the April election had passed.

Gustafson said the town should look for funds for a full-time staff position and suggested an internship from the University of Colorado to help with media outreach. Trustee Kevin Mueller said the task force’s work was inspirational, but it needs an explanation as to how it gets it to the town’s vision.

Mueller said the town should come together and develop a vision of where we want to be and then look at where we are and how we get to where we want to be. “How do we get from needing more parking to a pedestrian friendly community?”

Mayor Kristopher Larsen replied: “So you were here when this first started, and now you’re saying it’s all wrong? “We have a list of good ideas on the basis of community input. Let’s take this as a goal and figure out how best to spend the money.”

Town Administrator Alisha Reis said the recommendations would be placed on the Town web site. The Nederland Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, May 17, and will meet again on Tuesday, June 7, at 7 p.m. at the Nederland Community Center.