Janet Perry, Nederland.  The last 2015 Nederland Downtown Development Authority, NDDA meeting was held on November 18th in the Community Center multi-purpose room.

Previous meeting minutes and warrants from September and October were approved.

F & D International’s Todd Ficken updated the board on NedPeds, saying that there had been a meeting that day with Consolidated Resources, and that construction will happen in the Spring, when it is easier to hire crews.  A construction schedule should be available in two weeks, and the project should be finished by May or June.  An agreement will be presented to the Board and the Mayor’s signature will be all that is needed.

As stated on the NDDA website, “The NedPed project (also known as the “Nederland Pedestrian Enhancement Design and Nederland Pedestrian Transportation and Storm Water Management Improvement Project”) is intended to make improvements to our non-motorized transportation system while at the same time addressing issues in the town’s storm water management system.”

Town Administrator Alisha Reis announced that Boulder County Transit will be adding a bus stop for Big Springs.

NDDA Treasurer Amanda Kneer reported that a payment of $450 has been made to Terra Cognito for the new district map, approved at the September 19th meeting.  The cost was switched to ‘Master Plan Update’ because ‘office supplies’ couldn’t cover it.

Kneer also gave an update on the NDDA’s budget and noted that they would be under budget in several areas.

Administrator Reis announced that the Creek Study Report should be available soon and that the NDDA would then be able to incorporate its findings into the Master Plan Update.

Reis also stated that she was asking Eva Forberger and Kim Crawford for Bond Counsel on debt authorization.  Reis said she should have numbers available soon that can then be incorporated into the budget.

The 2016 NDDA budget was approved unanimously.  Reis informed them that the Board of Trustees would then give their approval for the budget on Dec first.

Amanda Kneer was appointed as the NDDA Treasurer.  Jeffrey Green was appointed as Vice Chair.

Katrina Harms announced that there had been no applications for the open NDDA seat.  A new deadline of January 8, 2016 was set for  the open NDDA position.

Katrina Harms said that the website should be ‘taken to the next level’ and connected to the Visitor Center’s kiosk.  She went on to explain that this would mean that they could ‘include all local businesses’ and not just the DDA businesses.  She noted that these new businesses added to the website would need to be registered.

Harms also suggested that the NDDA Board-members consider projects for the coming year that could be put into the debt authorization.  Then a list of priorities and costs would be prepared for Bond Counsel.  She also thought getting engineering plans ready and locating grant money would help get the projects begun quickly.

Administrator Reis suggested that prioritizing the projects would mean they could share the list with voters.  Reis also suggested contacting Longmont’s DDA for advice regarding TIF funding.

Trustee Kevin Mueller made the suggestion of a zero waste program

and partnering with the town on it to help make it happen.  Katrina Harms suggested a program for keeping the town clean.  Jeffrey Green added that helping businesses with permits for improvements would be a good program.  Harms added that after the Debt Authorization was approved, the DDA could hire a program manager.  Susan Schneider questioned whether the Master Plan Update would be a good fit for hiring a program administrator.

Alisha Reis pointed out that Boulder County has similar programs and that they can work with business owners.  She encouraged the DDA to work with Boulder County on this, as she finds their programs easier to use as an example.  Reis also spoke of Longmont’s great ideas with administrative programming.

Susan Schneider also asked whether the Master Plan Update would allow the DDA budgeting for purchasing property in Nederland for business development.  Katrina Harms suggested that it was possible and that a ‘shared workspace cooperative’ was also possible.

Trustee Mueller made the suggestion of an energy efficiency program for improvements to existing businesses and buildings.

Jeffrey Green would like to see a program that helps new property owners tap into water lines.

Harms said she thinks clean-up and temporary improvements of undeveloped areas and gaps would make the town more inviting while they wait for them to be developed by owners.  She mentioned the space between the Rustic Moose and Cross Cut Pizza as an example.

Harms also mentioned that the town has asked for a proposal for taking over the Visitors Center.  She said it was possible to have it operate as a Chamber.

Trustee Mueller suggested a partnership with Wild Bear.  Administrator Reis noted that she’s been working with Jill Dreves and negotiating a few properties.  They are grant-writing for this.

Harms thought it a good idea to discuss the projects at the next meeting.

The NDDA then went into Executive Session to discuss a possible real estate transaction.

The NDDA will meet again on January 20, 2015.