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NDDA plans for multiple events

Christopher Kelley
Posted 3/20/23

The Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) met on March 8, 2023, at 6 p.m. to vote on funding requests for two town events and to decide locations for new signage as part of the town-wide

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NDDA plans for multiple events

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The Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) met on March 8, 2023, at 6 p.m. to vote on funding requests for two town events and to decide locations for new signage as part of the town-wide accessibility initiative known as the Wayfinding project.

Town Administrator Miranda Fisher and Administrative Support Manager Peter Cacek provided an update on the planning for Nederdays, the town-owned event taking place the weekend of March 24 and 25, and answered questions from the NDDA board members.

Cacek spoke to the NDDA about several of the main events planned, including the 5k run and the ice sculptures that will be displayed throughout Nederland. Cacek also noted that the proceeds from Nederdays merchandise, such as T-shirts and hoodies, will go to the Parks Department Scholarship Fund.

NDDA board members asked for an itemized spending budget to be provided by the Town. Fisher noted that so far only $3000 of the total $10,500 budget for Nederdays has been spent, and a more complete breakdown of spending can be provided closer to the day of the event after receiving total invoices from the production vendors working on the barn dance and silent disco.

Fisher added that the plan is to spend the total budget for the event, though any amount left in the budget would be returned to the NDDA.

The Town of Nederland released the following request to businesses on Friday, March 3:

“The goal of this event is to attract locals and visitors to our downtown area over two days; and to draw them into your respective businesses. Of course Nederdays is a new event, so we’d like to know if it really helps your business. One way we believe we can measure that impact is if you’d be willing to voluntarily share with us just a few simple numbers from your business over this month’s Nederdays weekend versus the comparable weekend from last year.

“This is voluntary, but it’s not complicated, and we promise to keep the info anonymous. We will create an online form where you can plug in any simple business data you’re able to share.”

The NDDA heard a request from Peak to Peak Endurance for funding to cover traffic control, policing, and marketing costs for both the Ned Gravel cycling event and the Ned*Ned trail run event. The total amount requested to help with marketing costs for both events equals $4,500; the amount for traffic control and policing for both events equals $5,500. There is $10,000 available in NDDA’s special event fund and $21,050 available in the traffic control fund.

Gavin Coombs of Peak to Peak Endurance spoke with the NDDA about how funds from both events benefit the community by going to youth programming and youth organizations in the Peak to Peak area. Coombs spoke about how the weekend of the Ned Gravel event in July produced the highest tax revenue for 2021 and 2022.

Coombs requested $4,000 for traffic control and policing specifically for the Ned Gravel event, with the high cost attributed to having to hire officers through Boulder County Sheriff’s Office as opposed to last year, when policing was covered by Nederland Police Department and Boulder Rangers.

Peak to Peak Endurance is also now in charge of the planning of the Ned*Ned event, a fun run through Nederland for all ages previously organized by TEENS, Inc. Ned*Ned will still act as a fundraising event for TEENS, Inc. Coombs asked for $3,500 in order to bolster the marketing campaign and drive registration for the event.

NDDA board members discussed the amounts being requested by Peak to Peak Endurance, raising concerns that there are more 2023 events expected to apply for special event and traffic control funding, including the Farmer’s Market, the Bizarre Cat Bazaar, and the Ned Jazz & Wine Festival. The NDDA desired to stay closer to the suggested amount on the funding application of $1000 from each fund.

A motion was made to approve $1,000 from the special event fund and $1,000 from the traffic control fund to both the NedGravel and Ned*Ned events, totalling $4,000. The motion was seconded and approved.

Board member Steve Karowe presented the first Action Item on the agenda, which concerns the approval of the Wayfinding Committee’s recommendation for sign locations. The board also discussed placement of informational kiosks at parking spots, which include maps and a QR code for access to the Wayfinding app being developed for smartphones.

Karowe provided a color-coded map that highlighted the recommended locations for parking-related signs, as well as signs indicating major points of interest. If approved, Karowe and the Wayfinding Committee hope to have the signs ready to be put into the ground before late October.

The board voted to approve the recommended sign locations; a site visit from the design firm Merje to finalize the signage map is the next step following this approval.

The NDDA were tasked with approving the authorization of $30,000 to fund a new roof, new siding and trim, and new window boxes for the Nederland Covered Bridge. A $6,000 deposit is required to preserve the services of Kape Roofing and Exteriors, which the NDDA will provide once the funds have been authorized.

Board members voted unanimously to approve the authorization of the funds for the covered bridge repairs.

Chair Barbara Hardt requested that board members choose their preferred date for a future work session when they can begin discussions on the board’s Master Plan and the project ideas stated therein.

Board members had the choice of April 5, April 19, or April 25, according to dates available on the Town calendar. After the NDDA discussed several issues, it was determined that dates from May should also be considered in order to assure that the maximum number of members can be present for the work session.

Fisher led the group in a discussion regarding Colorado’s plastic bag fees and polystyrene product ban. As per the Colorado General Assembly’s adoption of HB21-1163 in 2021, stores are required to charge a ten-cent bag fee for recycled paper carryout bags or single-use plastic carry-out bags as of January 1, 2023.

Beginning in January, 2024, stores and food establishments can no longer provide single-use plastic carry-out bags to customers and cannot “distribute an expanded polystyrene product for use as a container for ready-to-eat food.”

In 2015 the BOT adopted an ordinance which implemented a plastic bag fee. However, due to pushback from local businesses, the ordinance was never properly enforced. The questions before the NDDA were, if they would approve reinstating, updating, and actively enforcing Ordinance 737 to institute a plastic bag fee, and if the Town should pursue banning polystyrene products before January, 2024.

The NDDA was generally in favor of enforcing both a plastic bag fee and a polystyrene product ban, though several board members discussed making the transition easier for local businesses by suggesting alternative packaging solutions and sustainability programs. There were also concerns about banning polystyrene products “immediately” without giving businesses more of a notice about the ban, considering that restaurants order packaging months in advance.

The Nederland Downtown Development Authority meets the second Wednesday of every month. Their next scheduled meeting is for Wednesday, April 12, 2023, and will be held online as well as in person at the Nederland Community Center. For more information go to: https://townofnederland.colorado. gov/downtown-development-authority