Jennifer Livingston, Nederland. The Nederland Board of Trustees Meeting (BOT) began in the Nederland Community Center at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, 2020. Mayor Kristopher Larson was the only absence. The meeting began with a series of staff and committee liaison reports. 

Karen Gerrity, Town Administer, reported on a new initiative of Miranda Fisher, Town Clerk, recognizing the successes and advancements of town staff. Erich Gerthe was recognized for his committed persistence in an investigation that informed felony charges, including sexual assault, against Michal Czeponis. Cynthia Bakke finished the Citizen Planner Certification Program and immediately enrolled in the Master Citizen Planner certification program. Her ongoing endeavor to increase her knowledge and skills will enable town staff to make well informed best practice decisions for planning, zoning and community development issues. Chris Fields earned his Water Distribution System Operator license which required didactic, on-the-job, and home study. Town staff congratulated Fields on his achievement. Jen Landen was promoted to Water Operator II and was recognized for her enthusiasm and commitment to the town. 

The Nederland Area Historical Society, Nederland Mining Museum, Nederland Community Library and the Town of Nederland are working together with the members of the Miners’ Day organizations to bring back Miners’ Days which will be held on September 19 and 20, 2020. The event will be family friendly and include live music. There will also be a Pack Burro Race which will take place on September 20. This will be a 10K race of people leading their burros over Caribou Road and figure in the Wester Pack Burro Ass-ociation’s race schedule. The Nederland Miners’ Days and Pack Burro Race will allow Nederland to celebrate its heritage and history as well as honor the memory of Tom Hendricks. Volunteers are needed and an informational event will be held on Thursday, January 30, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. in the Nederland Library 

Chris Pellitier, Public Works Manager reported on an ongoing effort to assess and mitigate contaminants at the “old shop” site. The site is now an unassuming 30’ x 50’ concrete slab, north west of the current Fire House. It has been many things over the last 40 plus years including a garage, town shop, and bus barn. The slab contains “dry wells,” essentially culverts run vertically 10’ into the ground. Sampling from the area has tested positive for both lead and chromium, the aftermath of now outdated methods of waste disposal methods.

The plan is to take a few more samples once the ground thaws to understand the extent of contamination and determine how to clean it up vs placing a deed restriction on the property. Results may be available as soon as August. Public Works will likely seek grant funds for the clean up. 

Other Public Works updates included unfortunate results from a recent microhydro study funded by a grant from the Colorado Power Authority. Microhydro refers to the generation of power from the current of water moving through existing pipe infrastructure, something that has been done successfully in some communities to offset their power requirements. However, the study indicated that installing the necessary equipment would not yield a return on investment as hoped, and Public Works will not seek to move forward with any implementation.  

Trustee Apt, liaison to Nederland Sustainability Advisory Board, reported that the board is still in the process of hiring a part time sustainability coordinator. 

Trustee Johnathan Baumhover, liaison to the Nederland Parks, Recreation & Open Space Advisory Board (PROSAB), shared that PROSAB and the Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) have moved forward with Excel Energy to install an electrical box at Guercio Field, maybe even in time for Frozen Dead Guy Days. 

Trustee Baumhover also related concerns that a single staff person and about $20,000 in the budget for parks was not enough to maintain all of the facilities that Nederland currently enjoys such as Chipeta Park, the Nederland Ice and Tennis Park, Nederland Skatepark, as well as many trails. Trustee Baumhover would like to see a committee formally established to research other means and opportunities for care and funding. Trustee Dallas Masters agreed that it was an important issue to discuss and find solutions for, even potentially creating a recreation district. The topic is expected to be on an upcoming agenda.   

Trustee Masters, liaison to NDDA informed the BOT that the NDDA will likely continue funding for the Fire Department. This funding is essential for inspections and prevention work. The NDDA is also moving forward with establishing a Public Art Committee, working through bids for the wayfinding project, and interviewing two applicants for the downtown beautification position. The NDDA is also researching and compiling a menu of options to incentivize and encourage retail and property upgrades in the business districts. Another vacancy exists on the Authority as well, interested parties can find contact information on the NDDA website.

The Action Agenda included a presentation by JVA Inc., an engineering firm very familiar with the town. Kevin Tone and Nathan Skalak presented the findings of their study of parking, pedestrian, and traffic circulation around the Caribou Village Shopping Center in Nederland. They created various options to increase parking, place sidewalks and preserve existing bioswales along adjacent sections of Big Springs, Conger and Lakeview. One plan would see the formal demarcation of 39 parallel spots, installing some angled parking could bump the number of spots to 45, and using perpendicular parking on Big Springs could add yet another five spots. Ultimately, the presentation was moved to an information item rather than an action item as JVA Inc. had not discussed the various iterations with Tebo Properties. Tebo Properties owns both the shuttered Black Forest Inn and the shopping center. The NDDA was aware that Tebo Properties was willing to consult and perhaps assist with installing agreed upon solutions, which could include a right turn lane from Big Springs to the highway, something JVA Inc. did not mention. JVA Inc. was directed by the BOT to return to the NDDA and consult with local owners. The NDDA can then bring a thorough plan to the BOT. It’s worth noting that JVA Inc. charged handsomely for their presentation. 

In terms of specifics Trustee Karin Conrad, who lives in the area, would like to see sidewalks to maintain pedestrian safety and flow from parking to shopping and recreation facilities, Trustee Baumhover appreciated versions that maintained the greenspace and bioswales along the north side of Conger. Trustee Karen Blakemore also supports concrete sidewalks, as well as a painted centerline on roadways. Trustee Masters wanted to know how much the project would cost.   

Frozen Dead Guy Days (FDGD) are fast approaching. The event is slated for March 13 -15, 2020. Nederland town staff have been working with event organizers to draft a Lease Agreement for town property including Guercio Field and Fisherman’s Lot. The agreement also includes management and parking requirements for the event. Trustee Baumhover asked town staff what significant changes have been made over previous years. Notably wood chips may not be used on the field, perhaps straw instead. There is also a new emergency plan and contracts with paramedics. Discussion of parking and traffic issues aggravated an event owner from Boulder who complained that “it never quite works” and exhorted the town to “figure out how to park your [expletive] town.” The fact remains that love it or hate it, the town is small, and does not have adequate parking for the throngs of revelers. A parking plan is to be forthcoming. 

Short Term Rental (STR) occupancy limitations were formally set at two adults per bedroom. There was some desire to create a special review process to allow some STR purveyors to host larger groups. Ultimately the opportunity to create such a process was left to a future BOT despite Trustee Baumhover and Conrad’s efforts. Additionally, STR owners will be required to respond within two hours to any complaint by or regarding a renter, this will require owners to be available even at night, and to have a back-up contact should they be unavailable. “Responding” is essentially acknowledging that a complaint has been made via a hotline number the town is setting up. Noise and other municipal violations will be handled by the police.

The BOT also changed language on the Occupation Tax that Nederland voters will see on their ballots this spring. The occupation tax will be assessed on all short term lodging, including hotels, in an effort to generate much needed social services funds. The cap will now be set at $85,000 per year.

(Originally published in the January 30, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)