Proposed designs for Ned murals: Artist Aerica Raven’s proposed mural for the concrete pillars on the Kathmandu restaurant’s exterior.[/caption]

The Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) met on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at 6 p.m. to discuss possible alternate locations for their Summer Concert Series. The Authority also provided their feedback on the latest updates to the Multimodal Transportation Plan.

The NDDA first voted on the preliminary designs for new murals to be painted on three of Nederland’s businesses in the downtown district. The Public Art Committee had previously recommended that Aerica Raven paint murals on the Kathmandu Restaurant building, David Schwartz paint The Mountain-Ear’s building, and Sophia Ramirez paint The Flower Collective’s building, all of which the NDDA approved.

Board members offered their feedback on the designs, with a consensus that The Flower Collective concept should be more cohesive and include imagery specific to the area. Most members described the preliminary design as an abstract collage of disparate images, and were confused as to the meaning behind the symbolism.

Mural artist Sophia Ramirez’s preliminary design for The Flower Collective’s building. Bottom: Artist David Schwartz’s proposed mural design for The Mountain-Ear’s office.[/caption]

The mural designs for The Mountain-Ear and Kathmandu buildings were approved; the design for The Flower Collective’s building was approved to move forward with the NDDA’s suggested revisions taken into consideration.

The Authority was tasked with making their recommendation for the appointment of two out of four candidates to the available positions on the NDDA. Ron Mitchell and Catherine Valen’s terms end in June, 2024; both Mitchell and Valen applied for reappointment, and Everett Nielsen and Nathan Smallwood also applied for four-year terms on the Authority.

Valen expressed her interest in continuing on the NDDA and noted that her experience as a longtime resident, and as a chiropractor with the ear of the community, are a benefit to the organization.

Smallwood introduced himself as the new CEO of Wild Bear Nature Center with a passion for nature and public art, and with experience in managing some of the largest and most successful nature centers in the country.

Artist David Schwartz’s proposed mural design for The Mountain-Ear’s office.[/caption]

Mitchell also expressed his interest in continuing on the NDDA, having been one of the first to have initiated the organization, and noted his interest in the NDDA pursuing a second bridge across Middle Boulder Creek, as well as renegotiating the AmeriGas property.

Nielsen was absent, unfortunately, for the meeting, reportedly because his position with the Colorado Department of Transportation required him to repair a sudden issue on Highway 119 near to the Train Cars.

Mitchell and Smallwood were officially recommended for the positions by the NDDA; the Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT) made the final determination on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. For more information regarding the outcome of this matter, please read our full coverage of the BOT meeting in this edition of The Mountain-Ear.

Charlie Alexander of Fehr & Peers, the consultancy contracted by the Town of Nederland to draft the Multimodal Transportation Plan, led the NDDA in a discussion regarding their progress on the plan so far.

Fehr & Peers presented their draft recommendations for improved vehicle transit through Nederland, including a widened central roundabout, and for better transportation for pedestrians and cyclists via connected trails and sidewalks.

Board members asked questions specific only to the proposed traffic light at the pedestrian crossing across Highway 119. Alexander reiterated that the traffic light would only stop traffic upon pedestrian activation, and that the red light could be delayed to allow vehicles adequate time to pass through the light.

Mitchell and Executive Director Kate Masingale led the Authority in a discussion to determine whether hybrid meetings are serving a useful purpose to the organization. Each member of the Authority voiced their opinion regarding hybrid meetings and were split down the middle on the issue.

Four members stated their belief that the online component of hybrid meetings creates delays and complications that hinder the progress of the meeting, while four other members expressed their belief that an online option allows them to continue to volunteer and participate despite other life and career responsibilities and obligations.

Board member Steve Karowe was not present to offer his opinion. Due to the stalemate, the discussion ended and the NDDA moved on with their agenda.

Members of Time Served Productions, the group contracted by the NDDA to book and organize its Summer Concert Series, discussed the prospect of alternate locations for future concerts.

The first of six concerts took place in Chipeta Park and was received positively by the community. Though the original purpose of the Summer Concert Series was for each of the six concerts to be held in a different location to provide helpful data for the Authority’s performance space project, Time Served previously mentioned a preference for hosting every concert at Chipeta Park.

NDDA Vice Chair Andrew Dewart noted that the only other locations being considered are privately owned lots, including the lot owned by Mitchell used for the Nederland Farmers Market, and the open land in between St. Rita’s Catholic Church and the Nederland Post Office.

Dewart added that each of the private lots comes with its own complications, including their size and the required mitigation of the land to make them viable. Though some Board members felt that it was worth having Time Served assess all available options for locations, the consensus was to use Chipeta Park for every concert due to time constraints and to the positive feedback generated so far from the community.

Board member Scott Papich inquired as to how the NDDA can best utilize the Summer Concert Series to boost the patronage of downtown businesses, and questioned whether businesses had been invited to sell merchandise or alcohol at the events.

Peter Fiori of Time Served spoke about how they intentionally sought not to have sponsors for the concert series, and that, though local businesses were reached out to, food and beverage vendors would be responsible for acquiring their own insurance, permits, and licenses. He added that serving alcohol would require more portapotties, fencing, and security.

Fiori expressed that he personally witnessed local bars and restaurants being full after the first concert ended at 7 p.m. The NDDA committed to providing Time Served with a script to read during concerts in between the musicians’ sets, urging crowds to visit Nederland’s local businesses.

The Authority was tasked with approving the use of funds from the 2024 Traffic and Safety Budget, including $15,000 to contract with Ranger Event Services for traffic flagging services over the summer, and $16,610 to be used to hire security services for the Summer Concert Series.

The bid from Ranger Event Services was the only one received; they offered five certified flaggers to operate six hours a day at a rate of $38 an hour. The estimated cost of service from June 1 to October 6, 2024, is $36,100.

Board members determined that the Town would require four flaggers for seven hours a day, totalling a cost of $1,064 a day for at least 13 days, factoring for all the peak weekends over the summer and fall, for a total of $13,832.

The NDDA voted to continue negotiations with Ranger Event Services for a revised contract that would include a stipulation about the cancellation of services due to bad weather.

The Nederland Downtown Development Authority meets the second Wednesday of every month. Their next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at 6 p.m. and will be held online as well as in person at the Nederland Community Center. For more information go to: https://townofnederland.colorado.gov/downtowndevelopmentauthority.