The Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) met on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at 6 p.m. to vote on funding requests for traffic control for the upcoming Harvest Festival and leaf peeping season and to give their final approval on the 2023 NDDA budget.

NDDA Executive Director Kate Masingale presented an Event and Traffic Control Funding Request for $2,390 to help with the traffic, security, and general costs of the Harvest Fest event for the Nederland Farmer’s Market. The project was approved as part of the NDDA 2022 budget and an application for the funding was received in September, 2022.

The NDDA unanimously approved the funding request. The Harvest Festival would utilize the funds to hire traffic flaggers and security for the five hour event taking place on Sunday, October 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Masingale presented the next agenda item, which was a funding request for the hiring of a traffic control firm to assist during this year’s leaf peeping season. The request is for the remaining traffic control budget for 2022; the amount available is contingent on the NDDA’s decision regarding traffic control funding for the Harvest Fest.

With the NDDA voting to approve the funding request for the Harvest Fest, the available budget for 2022 in the Town’s traffic control fund went from $9,000 down to $7,610. Masingale requested the full amount to be utilized for traffic control during the last weekend in September and first weekend in October, which are the peak times for leaf peeping.

The NDDA approved the request on the condition that any remaining funds not used for leaf peeping traffic control be used for additional traffic control during the upcoming ski season.

NDDA Treasurer Ron Mitchell presented a proposal to increase the Town’s Certificate of Deposit by $250,000, increasing the line of credit to $500,000. The CD interest rate received would be 0.5% and the interest rate paid on the line of credit would be 4.75%, according to the Wall Street Journal daily published prime rate.

The proposal suggests the Town borrow from the line of credit on one day and then pay it back the next day to establish credit as a secondary source for funding projects that exceed the reach of the NDDA budget. The Town has needed to borrow from its current $250,000 line of credit and there are no projects in 2023 expected to go over- budget.

The matter of increasing the Town’s Certificate of Deposit was denied at the NDDA’s previous meeting on Wednesday, August10,2022,witha3-3tievote. Due to online connectivity issues during that meeting the NDDA agreed to bring this Action Item to the table again at the September 14 meeting.

Board Members expressed worry that establishing such credit would allow for risky borrowing, leading the town to go unnecessarily into debt. Most Board Members agreed, however, that there was little to no risk increasing the Certificate of Deposit and that having the established credit could prove helpful for “unforeseen circumstances.” Ultimately, the NDDA approvedtheresolutionwitha6-3vote.

NDDA Board Member and Head of the Wayfinding Committee Steve Karowe addressed the NDDA about making a final decision concerning the next phase of the Wayfinding plan. Phase Two of the accessibility/walkability plan for Nederland requires a third- party consultant to assist in designing and mapping a signage expansion which would be used in the bidding process for the fabrication and installation of the signs.

The Wayfinding Committee has been working with the third-party consultant firm Merje during the first phase of the project and suggests continuing into the next phases of the project with their guidance.

Karowe, as per concerns raised at the NDDA’s August 10 meeting, spoke with Merje and was assured that they will be coordinating with The Colorado Department of Transportation, as well as the Town of Nederland, when developing the detailed signage map. The NDDA voted to approve continuing into Phase Two of the Wayfinding project with Merje as their consultant firm.

NDDA Board Member and Head of the Public Arts Committee Danielle Crouse presented to the NDDA a revised mural design by artist Julia Williams for the Poe Wall under the boardwalk between The Deli and Busey Brews. The original design was meant to evoke Nederland’s history of music and highlighted Elton John, Stephen Stills, and Joe Walsh as artists who had recorded at the famous Caribou Ranch recording studio.

On Wednesday, August 10, 2022, the NDDA, upon reviewing the original design, requested legal clarification regarding the use of the musical artist’s likenesses. After talking with an attorney, Williams provided a revised design for the mural including depictions of Jeff Austin of Yonder Mountain String Band, Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon, and Bill Nershi of String Cheese Incident.

The NDDA was tasked with whether or not to approve the revised mural design as well as approving the Image and Likeness release form to be distributed to the previously mentioned artists depicted in the mural.

The NDDA was completely in favor of Williams’ new mural design and voted unanimously to approve it. Board Members raised some concerns that the language in the Image and Likeness release form was too broad when defining the mural artist’s right to promote and profit from their design. The NDDA approved the release form under the condition that specific edits be made.

NDDA Executive Director Masingale presented to the NDDA the final draft of their 2023 Budget which required approval before being brought to the Nederland Board of Trustees for review and final approval. The NDDA approved the budget draft at their last meeting on Wednesday, August 10, 2022; however matching funds of $10,000 for an approved transportation grant that has since been awarded to the Town must be added to the final draft of the 2023 budget.

The NDDA approved the final draft of their 2023 Budget.

The Nederland Downtown Development Authority meets the second Wednesday of every month. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 19, 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