The Nederland Board of Trustees approved language and candidate order for the upcoming election during a regular, virtual meeting on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at 7 p.m. The Board also approved a Climate Emergency Resolution and discussed parking in downtown Nederland.

April elections

Town Administrator Miranda Fisher introduced ballot language for the April election as amended at the previous Board meeting. The next municipal election will be on April 5, 2022,

The resolution sets forth a ballot language and appoints the Town Clerk as administrator. The current sales tax that supports the Community Center is set to expire December 31, 2023. The Town would like to go to the voters in April 2022 and ask for approval to continue the tax without a sunset. It would broaden the scope of these funds to include ongoing capital expenses needed to properly maintain and operate the Community Center.

Since the tax will be collected in perpetuity, any excess would be held in a Community Center reserve fund for future or unforeseen needs outside the scope of normal budget, including but not limited to potential expansion or renovation, according to background. The resolution includes the TABOR ballot language that will be added to the ballot.

The Board approved the resolution, and it will be on the ballot in April.

The Board discussed the drawing of lots for the election. Nomination petitions were due to the Town Clerk by 5 p.m. on Monday, January 24, 2022. The Town Clerk reviewed all the petitions to confirm completion, accuracy, and to verify the names and addresses of the people who signed the nomination petitions. All petitions were deemed sufficient as of Friday, January 28, 2022.

Mayor Julian Taylor is running unopposed, but the Board needed to approve the order of Trustee candidates listed on the ballot. The Board drew names to determine what order the candidates will be listed on the ballot using the “Wheel of Names” online program.

Trustee Candidates are Karen Blakemore, Tania Corvalan, Thomas (Tom) Mahowald, Riley McAllister and David Sites. After spinning the wheel, Karen Blakemore will be listed first followed by Riley McAllister. Thomas (Tom) Mahowald is third, Tania Corvalan fourth, and the last, David Sites.

Mayor Larsen thanked the candidates for stepping up, and it’s a labor of love. He asked how they will do a debate, and Fisher said the Town can’t organize it so candidates should have their own meet and greet, but she will work with an outside organization to work on a debate.

The Board approved the candidate order.

Climate Emergency Declaration

Melody Baumhover with the Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB) introduced the Climate Emergency Declaration. They have been working on the resolution since the last meeting.

This resolution was introduced to the Board of Trustees on January 18 as a discussion item. Feedback and edits were incorporated into this document. Nederland has long supported climate action and commitments including zero waste initiatives, committing to 100 percent renewable energy and supporting necessary transitions to make the community more sustainable but it’s not quick enough nor to the extent that it needs be to reduce the dramatic implications of a rapidly changing climate, according to SAB.

The Nederland Sustainability Advisory Board asked the Trustees to vote to approve the Climate Emergency Resolution to continue to align ourselves and the community with climate change as a priority that requires focus and dedication. The Board approved the resolution.

Parking Surveys

Trustees Danforth and Corvalan were appointed to work with Town staff on addressing ways to resolve the parking issues currently in the Central Business District. Town staff were tasked with researching parking codes of other municipalities as well as assessing where parking could be developed. At the January 11, 2022, work session, the Trustees supported releasing a survey to the community and business owners to get their feedback on parking.

Trustee Danforth developed surveys, which were reviewed and edited by the Nederland Downtown Development Authority. These are surveys they’d like to release to the community and businesses.

Fisher said they are ready to release these on February 25. Board members had concerns about the wording of some questions, so the Board agreed with a nod of four to bring this back to the next meeting after working on some of the wording.

The next Nederland Board of Trustees meeting will be virtual on February 15, 2022. For more information, go to https://nederlandco.civicweb.net/ Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=391.