The Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) met on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at 6 p.m. to discuss priorities for their 2023 Budget. The NDDA also voted on a funding request for a Transportation and Mobility Plan, and formally reviewed the candidates running for the two available seats on the NDDA.

Trustee Karen Blakemore presented a request for matching funds of $17,500 from the NDDA to apply for a $140,000 grant to fund a Transportation and Mobility Plan for the Town of Nederland. The plan is aimed to address issues of emissions, congestion, and safety by prioritizing actionable projects related to parking, a town shuttle, pedestrian and biking paths, emergency egress, and alternative and multi-modal transportation. The plan is meant to guide local government for the next 10 to 20 years as to which town- wide transportation-related projects are most cost-effective and desired by the community.

Funding required for the formation of a long-range Transportation and Mobility Plan would be applied for from the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), with a due date of June 24, 2022. The $140,000 being applied for requires a 20% match from the Town, totaling $35,000, which Trustee Blakemore was requesting be split between the town and the NDDA.

If the NDDA and Board of Trustees approve, and if the funding is acquired, a third party firm would be hired to perform a traffic study. The Transportation and Mobility Plan would take an estimated 12 months to be drafted once the traffic study is completed.

The NDDA was concerned that the scope of the Transportation and Mobility Plan exceeds the boundaries of the NDDA, though some members noted that the NDDA’s designated area of the Central Business District (CBD) is integral to the plan and would also greatly benefit from its implementation. A traffic study for Nederland hasn’t been done since a parking study was completed in 2012. A recent traffic count from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) documented 6600 cars currently driving through Nederland on average every day, with that number expected to rise to 8342 by the year 2042.

The NDDA moved to allocate $10,000 from their 2023 budget to be used towards the required $25,000 matching funds required to apply for $100,000 from TIP for the creation of a Transportation and Mobility Plan. This matter will be on the Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT) agenda for a special meeting on Tuesday, June 14.

NDDA Board Member Danielle Crouse presented the NDDA a draft for a plaque to be hung alongside the mural that now adorns the wall of Nederland Feed and Pet Ltd. The mural was painted by local artist Greg Marquez. The plaque commemorates the artist and the organizations who assisted in the mural’s creation, and states the artist’s dedication of the mural to the children of Nederland. The NDDA approved the wording of the plaque; the plaque will be complete before the end of the summer.

Crouse continued the meeting with a presentation to the NDDA on the proposed mural design to be painted on the West and North walls of Nature’s Own, 5 East 1st Street in Nederland. The mural is set to cost $11,250, with half of the cost covered by the NDDA, and the remaining $5350 coming from building owner Ron Mitchell and business owner Roy Young.

Local artist Sally Eckert was selected by the NDDA on May 11 to create the mural, and was present for the meeting on June 8 to share her preliminary design. The design features area- specific species of dinosaurs and plant life from 160 million years ago, with the dinosaurs grazing in a field near a majestic lake.

The NDDA gave their feedback on the design, addressing concerns of how effective a clear coat on the mural would be against graffiti. Eckert noted that a clear coat only helps for a small amount of graffiti damage, though she would be available to work on any repairs to the mural in the future, if needed. Building owner and NDDA Treasurer Ron Mitchell offered to fund any repairs, if needed.

The NDDA moved to approve Eckert’s design, with suggestions of some slight adjustments to the section of the mural which integrates into the business’s sign (in case it’s in violation of Town sign code). The mural is expected to be completed before the end of the summer.

The NDDA were tasked with reviewing the candidates for the two vacancies on the NDDA, and voting on their recommendations. Board members Rea Orthner and Steve Karowe’s terms have ended, creating the two openings. Karowe applied for reappointment, with Scott Papich, founder of his own business consulting firm, and Rob Bagtaz, owner of Kaleidoscope Fine Arts Gallery, also applying for appointment.

Each candidate was asked six questions pertaining to their positions on the NDDA Master Plan and on Nederland’s opportunities for growth and potential future redevelopment of the CBD.

Bagtaz wishes to prioritize more beautification efforts for not just the CBD but for the entire town, with a focus on preserving Nederland’s “charm and quirkiness” while creating an accessible pedestrian loop to create more foot traffic to all the businesses in town.

Karowe expressed a desire to continue prioritizing the Town’s Wayfinding plan, which is an effort to maximize pedestrian mobility throughout town through signage and the construction of new sidewalks and crosswalks. Karowe is also in favor of a “creek walk” extending along the creek behind the businesses on the south side of East 1st Street, for locals and tourists.

Papich wishes to prioritize the parking problem in Nederland’s CBD, as well as utilizing his expertise in business consulting to focus on redeveloping 1st Street to be more commercially viable and to create more opportunities for local business ownership for Nederland’s residents.

The NDDA voted for Bagtaz and Karowe as their recommendations for the two vacancies. The recommendations will go to the BOT for their consideration; all three candidates will be reviewed by the BOT at their next scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 21.

Town Administrator Miranda Fisher led the NDDA in a discussion about an upcoming Advisory Board and Commission Collaborative Meeting on Tuesday, July 12. The meeting is meant for all of Nederland’s local government boards and commissions, from the BOT, the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Advisory Board, and the Planning Commission, to work together on several intersecting issues, ranging from Wayfinding, to parking in the CBD, and a Trails Master Plan. The meeting will be open to the public and held outdoors at Chipeta Park from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

NDDA Executive Director Kate Masingale led the NDDA in a discussion as to which projects should be prioritized in their 2023 budget, which is to be finalized by their next meeting on Wednesday, July 13. Board members gave their feedback on what projects they’d like to see highlighted, including an actionable parking project in conjunction with Eldora. Other projects mentioned were the aforementioned proposed creek walk, more beautification across town, a second bridge across the creek for better mobility, and a performance space to be considered at Barker Reservoir.

The Nederland Downtown Development Authority meets the second Wednesday of every month. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 starting at 6 p.m. and will be online as well as in person at the Nederland Community Center. For more information go to: https:// townofnederland. colorado. gov/ government/boards-and-commissions/ downtown-development-authority