The Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) met on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 6 p.m. to select artists to create new murals in town. Board members also voted on the funding methods they prefer to use for each of their 2024 projects.

The NDDA first voted on the Public Art Committee’s recommendations for artists who applied to paint murals in three different locations.

Of the 16 artists who answered the Request for Proposal, the committee recommended Aerica Raven to paint the Southeast and Southwest concrete pillars of the Kathmandu Restaurant building, David Schwartz to paint the Northeast wall of The Mountain-Ear’s building, and Sophia Ramirez to paint a 500 square foot mural on The Flower Collective’s building.

NDDA Executive Director Kate Masingale spoke of the success of the committee’s mural projects, noting that many of the 16 applications came from artists who desired to work within the public art program for a second time, and that other applications came from positive word of mouth.

Board members voted to approve the Public Art Committee’s recommendations for the three artists, with the added friendly amendment to have artists show their preliminary design ideas to the NDDA before moving forward.

The Authority heard a presentation from Masingale concerning the Public Art Committee’s community project for 2024. The proposal is to do the picnic table project again, which was a successful public art project in 2023 that featured Nederland students designing and painting six decorative tables stationed behind The Deli on East 1st Street.

The Agenda Information Memorandum (AIM), prepared by Board member Danielle Crouse, explained that the Public Art Committee may already have a potential donation of picnic tables. The committee also recommended that last year’s Art Director for the project, Casey Pyle, should be hired again for the 2024 iteration of the project.

Pyle was paid $1400 last year, with each of the six tables having cost $400 in materials and artist’s time and labor. Crouse stated that Pyle saved much of the materials from last year’s project, which would help mitigate the cost of painting eight new tables.

Crouse stated that the discussion would commence at a later time as to where in Town the tables could go if the project is approved. NDDA Chair Ron Mitchell noted that he had offered to donate the tables to the Public Art Committee, with some of those tables expected to be located in Mitchell’s lot between East 1st and 2nd Streets during the Farmer’s Market.

The Authority approved the 2024 picnic table project and approved Pyle to be hired as the Art Director.

The NDDA were tasked with selecting funding sources for their 2024 projects, from Beautification and Public Art to Wayfinding and the Summer Concert Series, in order for resolutions to be drafted and approved so the funding can be released.

NDDA Vice Chair Andrew Dewart suggested that larger scale projects with high costs should use the Authority’s $500,000 line of credit, while smaller projects should use their Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds. Masingale specified that the TIF funds must be transferred into their checking account through some sort of formal action.

The Authority voted to approve line of credit funding of $140,000 for the Sidewalk Replacement project and any payments over $50,000 for the Wayfinding project.

All other project budgets will be paid from TIF funds, including the $60,000 for Beautification; $50,000 each for the River Walk, Summer Concert Series, and Traffic and Safety budgets; $30,000 for administration costs; $20,000 for the Parking Plan; and $10,000 for Event Support.

Dewart opened a discussion concerning the plan for traffic control for Summer, 2024. The AIM, prepared by Mitchell, proposes that two flaggers would be required for 12 weekends over the summer for six hours a day, and would cost an estimated $25,000 of the Authority’s $50,000 Traffic and Safety budget.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) also requires the traffic control plan to be submitted for approval. That review process may take up to 60 days.

Board member Scott Papich asked for a review as to how traffic control management went last year.

The NDDA hired traffic flaggers for the 2023 leaf peeping season who were found not to be properly certified by CDOT. Town staff received reports from residents concerned about the flaggers’ behavior, which prompted an investigation into their certification status.

During the Authority’s meeting on October 11, 2023, Mitchell accepted responsibility for the flaggers not being certified. On April 11, 2024, when asked by Papich what happened last year, Mitchell stated that Board member Barbara Hardt objected to the use of the uncertified flaggers, but that those flaggers are now certified.

Masingale suggested tabling the traffic flagger budget discussion until next month, when applications for special events are assessed. Chair Mitchell stated his objection to waiting a month as he wanted the discussion item to be made into an action item during the April 10 meeting in order to expedite CDOT approval.

Papich suggested a compromise: approving $15,000 for traffic flaggers. NDDA Treasurer Steve Rowntree recommended waiting until Town Parks Manager and CDOT-certified traffic control instructor Nicki Dunn complete their own traffic control plan.

The Authority voted to approve $15,000 for traffic control.

The Nederland Downtown Development Authority meets the second Wednesday of every month. Their next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 8, 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.