Janet Perry, Nederland.  The Nederland Downtown Development Authority started off the year with a discussion of ways to ‘increase participation’ in the NDDA and their events.

As stated on the NDDA website, “The NedPed project (also known as the “Nederland Pedestrian Enhancement Design and Nederland Pedestrian Transportation and Storm Water Management Improvement Project”) is intended to make improvements to our non-motorized transportation system while at the same time addressing issues in the town’s storm water management system.”

The NedPeds project being discussed involves a sidewalk down 2nd Street. There would be two ‘spurs,’ or off-shoot sidewalks, one running from 2nd Street up Snyder Street to the bus stop on Hwy 119, and one from 2nd Street up East Street to that bus stop, also positioned on Hwy 119.

The NDDA was awarded a grant from CDOT for the ‘spurs’ in the NedPeds project.  NDDA agreed that the material used should be concrete unless there was an equivalent sustainable substance that was able to handle the harsh climate and would allow for accessibility by people with disabilities.

The Board of Trustees then approved a bidder, Consolidated Resources of Greeley, for the NedPeds project. The BOT then approved their proposal for NedPeds, although they wanted to change the material selections to reduce costs. The final decision was for recycled materials.  Construction will happen in the Spring, when it’s easier to hire crews. The project should be finished by May or June.

Treasurer, Eva Forberger, created a new format for NDDA financial reports, allowing for easier tracking of trends from month to month.

Forberger informed the NDDA that $15,000 had been set aside in the 2015 budget for Downtown Colorado Inc. DCI has been hired to assess Nederland and to make recommendations. NDDA Secretary Cindy Downing said that the NDDA was nearing completion of the final phase with DCI.

The NDDA was awarded $7,000 from DOLA. Forberger said that after phase 1 and Phase 2, the Master Plan Update must be finished and the NDDA would need a plan regarding how to spend the $7,000. She noted that additional resources may be needed for drawings or ecology reports, etc.

Town Administrator Alisha Reis urged the NDDA to have an ecological survey of the waterway area to help with planning. She added that the NDDA would need to know for certain the ecological health of the creek as well as its limitations, if any projects were to be proposed in that area. The study was initiated.

In November, Administrator Reis announced that the Creek Study Report should be available soon and that the NDDA would then be able to incorporate its findings into the Master Plan Update. Three meeting dates were set up for discussion of the Master Plan Update objectives. An August 12th meeting was set for Capital Projects and infrastructure improvements to the built environment of downtown. A September 9th meeting was set to review specific issues such as parking, sidewalk maintenance, and the improvement and promotion of businesses. A September 16th meeting was for presentation of preliminary project and program ideas garnered from the previous meetings.

NDDA member Armani-Munn attended other Nederland groups and meetings to explain using NedZero, the local sustainability plan and STAR, Sustainability Tools for Assessing and Rating Communities’ rating system. Armani-Munn explained how they interface, their priorities and corresponding actions. The hope is that the participation with STAR will eventually help with grant applications. Armani Munn also did a great deal of work on the Master Plan Update.

Elizabeth Allen’s proposal was chosen for the Nederland flower beds and planter boxes’ planting and upkeep. She has submitted a proposal for the following year as well.

Katrina Harms announced that the NDDA will work with the Economic Development Task Force on a Citizen Satisfaction Survey. Incentives for encouraging citizen participation in the survey were offered by Jeffrey Green and Karina Luscher.

Karina Luscher suggested sponsoring the Library Foundation, along with other ‘branding’ with the NDDA Logo on projects they’re sponsoring.

Ron Mitchell suggested three things he would like the NDDA to consider: a bridge across the creek at Snyder Street, a plaza for a town center, and a downtown entertainment district.

Katrina Harms was reappointed to Chair of the NDDA and Amanda Kneer was chosen as the Vice Chair. Kneer later took over as NDDA Treasurer and Jeffrey Green was then appointed as the new Vice Chair.

Katrina Luscher resigned from the NDDA. Outreach begins to find a replacement for the vacant seat. As of the November 18th meeting, there had been no applications for the open NDDA seat. A new deadline of January 8, 2016 was set for the open position.

The NDDA wrote a letter of support for a GoCo grant application for Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center.

NDDA Treasurer Amanda Kneer reported that a payment of $450 was made to Terra Cognito for a new district map, approved at the September 19th meeting.

The 2016 budget saw $2100 approved for the Wayfinding Project. $2208.75 was approved for an ecological review of the riparian corridor.

From the 2016 budget, $5,000 has been set aside for the cost of writing the debt authorization and bond. In November, Administrator Reis stated that she was asking Eva Forberger and Kim Crawford for Bond Counsel on debt authorization. Reis said she will have numbers available soon which can then be incorporated into the budget.

$1,000 was approved for the 2016 Nederland fireworks display.

The NDDA was asked by the town to take over the Visitor’s Center. Money for inventory is to be sought from the county. TARP funds will also be looked into for running the Center, as well as Economic Development Grant funds.

Treasurer Amanda Kneer announced that there would be carry-over funds for 2016, and that the secretary position was under budget. That money will also be available for the next year. There will be $10,000 still remaining for the Master Plan Update.

Harms asked NDDA Board-members to consider projects for the coming year that could be put into the debt authorization.  Then a list of priorities and costs would be prepared for Bond Counsel. She also thought getting engineering plans ready and locating grant money would help get the projects begun quickly.

Administrator Reis suggested that prioritizing the projects would mean they could share the list with voters. Reis also suggested contacting Longmont’s DDA for advice regarding TIF funding.

Trustee Kevin Mueller suggested a zero waste program and a partnership with the town to help make it happen. Mueller also made the suggestion of an energy efficiency program for improvements to existing businesses and buildings. Trustee Mueller then suggested a partnership with Wild Bear.

Administrator Reis stated that she’s been working with Jill Dreves and negotiating a few properties. They are grant-writing for this.

Susan Schneider asked whether the Master Plan Update would allow the NDDA budgeting for purchasing property in Nederland for business development.  Katrina Harms suggested that it was possible and that a ‘shared workspace cooperative’ was also possible.

Chair Katrina Harms then suggested a program for keeping the town clean. Harms said she thinks clean-up and temporary improvements of undeveloped areas and gaps would make the town more inviting while they wait for them to be developed by owners. She mentioned the space between the Rustic Moose and Cross Cut Pizza as an example. Chair Harms added that after the Debt Authorization was approved, the DDA could hire a program manager for projects.

These ideas will be discussed again at the next NDDA meeting on January 20 at 6:30 PM. The meeting will be held at the Nederland Community Center in the Multi Purpose room.