In a determined effort to grow, sustain and maintain the vibrant spirit of our beloved town, we are excited to share with you the strategic objectives and key results that we as a Town and Board will focus on until December 2024. These objectives are the outcome of thoughtful discussions, research, and a deep commitment to make Nederland a town that truly serves the needs and aspirations of its residents. Each objective will be approached with a commitment to public engagement and sustainability, ensuring that our actions not only meet the immediate needs of our community but also serve the larger goal of maintaining a thriving and sustainable town for generations to come.

Guided by our town planning documents, we intend for this document to be reviewed every year by all the town boards to assess accomplishments and to add on additional goals. However, more importantly we want this to be a “handing off” document to new boards to help create consistency and continuity, something the community has long lamented about as new board members often bring new projects instead of focusing on finishing existing projects the community has long asked for.

This plan is ambitious, and we are aware that the road ahead will be challenging. But with your support and active participation, we are confident that together we can make Nederland an even better place to live, work and enjoy life. Let’s build a future where we continue to grow, thrive and take care of each other.

OBJECTIVE #1: Foster a strong organizational culture where Town employees are valued and the Town is an employer of choice.

1. Bring every town staff employee to their minimum salary/hourly rate by January 2024 based on the compensation study that was completed in July 2023.

2. Establish professional development plans for each employee. In alignment with the 18-month goals plan, these professional development plans will outline the training(s) to be completed in 2024 to advance each employee’s knowledge, skills and abilities in their respective roles.

OBJECTIVE #2: Protect the Town’s water rights ensuring the delivery of water to residents and businesses is continuous.

1. Continue the diligent development of the Town’s Nederland Reservoir water rights, including by filing an application for a finding of reasonable diligence for the water right in Water Court by February 2024.

2. Continue evaluating potential alternative water storage locations.

3. Continue pursuing the engineering, design, permits, and permissions necessary for construction of upstream storage to secure the important objectives of fortifying the Town’s water rights, water delivery infrastructure, and a safe and resilient water supply.

OBJECTIVE #3: Promote orderly, sustainable and resilient development in the Town through thoughtful, engaged and equitable planning processes.

1. Understand the housing needs for Nederland by completing the Housing Needs Assessment by December 2023.

2. Complete the Tourism Management Marketing & Branding Strategy Project to help locals communicate to existing tourists about our identity and how Nederland wants to be treated by April 2024.

3. Revise water and sewer rates and plant investment fees based on the results of a professional rate study by August 2024.

4. Establish a long-range guiding document for Nederland to achieve its vision and goals by completing the Comprehensive Plan update with an initial focus on a Central Business District sub-area plan by December 2024.

5. Identify what is needed to create an equitable transportation system that incorporates all modes of transportation and aligns with community goals and objectives by completing the Multimodal Transportation Plan by July 2024. Secure funding to implement short-term strategies identified with the Multimodal Transportation Plan by December 2024.

6. Update the community’s goals and create a trails connectivity plan under the Parks Department assets by completing the Park, Recreation, Open Space and Trails (PROST) Plan Amendments by December 2024

OBJECTIVE #4: Maintain and modernize the town’s infrastructure to reduce public safety and health risks and improve the quality of life in our Town.

Streets Infrastructure

1. Ensure safe crossings and sidewalks during peak pedestrian usage by completing the Safer Main Streets grant by June 2025.

• Secure a contractor who will complete the crosswalk and sidewalk improvements by April 2024.

•Install a signalized crosswalk at 1st Street and Highway 119 by October 2024.

• Install a signalized crosswalk between the RTD Park-n-Ride and the library by October 2024

• Replace crusher fine sidewalks along the north side of Hwy 119 by October 2024.

2. Foster sustainable urban development and enhance resident experiences by completing the Transportation Improvement Project sidewalk development project by June 2025.

• Secure a contractor who will complete the sidewalk improvements by April 2024.

• Install a dual high-speed Level III electric vehicle charging station to accompany the Level II electric vehicle charger in the Visitors Center parking lot by June 2024.

• Install bike racks in the Visitors Center parking lot September 2024.

• Implement a sidewalk on West 1st Street connecting RTD Park-n-Ride with the Visitor’s Center and on Jefferson Street adjacent to the Kathmandu Plaza by October 2024.

• Pave Jefferson Street by June 2025.

3. Improve resident satisfaction with streets infrastructure.

• Repave the Visitor Center parking lot including the east portion of West First Street to where the new power pole lines were buried by September 2023.

• Repave Lakeview Drive by September 2023.

• Pave the remainder of Big Springs Drive to the switchback by September 2023.

• The Streets Department will execute the “Summer Road Improvement Plan.”

. Examine each road for any signs of erosion, rutting, potholes or improper drainage and develop an asset management plan that outlines proper maintenance techniques to address the specific issues per road by January 2024.

. Construct drainage ditches along our town’s roads by September 2024.

. Add aggregate (sand, gravel and stone) to the roads where needed to ensure stable foundation for our road surfaces to create a strong, durable surface that can resist the wear and tear of regular use and reduce the potential of erosion, rutting and potholes by September 2024.

. Identify funding for the installation of driveway culverts to lessen the financial burden on homeowners who do not have culverts but need them for appropriate drainage by September 2024.

Emergency Preparedness

1. Complete the foundations of the Emergency Operations Plan by December 2023.

2. Allocated $10,000 in the 2024 budget to train and educate residents about emergency and disaster management and preparedness.

3. Disseminate information to all homeowners regarding tax incentives or funding to have fire mitigation conducted on their property through Boulder County’s Wildfire Partners program by February 2024.

Emergency Egress Development

1. Complete the Big Springs Egress Study by December 2024. Secure funding to build out the egress route that will be designed under the study by December 2024.

2. Secure $3.5 million in external funding for the secondary bridge enabling the commencement of the design and construction process, and guarantee the project’s sustainability by allocating $875,000 matching funds in the 2024 budget to provide an alternative safety egress during an emergency evacuation.

Asset Management

1. Develop the management system which will be used by the Emergency Services, Parks, Streets and Utilities Departments by December 2024.

Parks & Recreation

1. Improve the beautification of our reservoir by completing the Barker Meadows Park, which was paid for by the Great Outdoors Colorado grant, by September 2023.

2. Improve the aesthetics and safety of our ice rink and pickleball/tennis courts by securing funding for their design and redevelopment by June 2024.

3. Secure funding to improve ADA accessibility at Chipeta Park by upgrading the playground equipment by October 2024.

4. Increase engagement in youth activities (sports, music, art, dance, or any other youth activities) through the distribution of the Metropolitan Football Funds among local organizations by December 2024.

Town Hall Maintenance

1. Build into the budget the maintenance needs for the 2024 budget.

2. Apply for historical building designation (if eligible) and possible grant funding for repairs by January 2024.

3. Address the maintenance needs at Town Hall by September 2024.

Broadband

1. Work with Clear Creek and Gilpin County to select a consultant to develop a plan for extending broadband to Nederland, including funding opportunities for middle mile services by October 2024.

Sustainability

1. Further consider and analyze the benefits of hiring a full time Sustainability Coordinator in January 2024 to manage and coordinate various sustainability projects, programs and initiatives in collaboration with other Town departments and stakeholders, and develop, recommend and implement strategies to achieve sustainability goals in alignment with Town’s planning documents and the strategic plan.

OBJECTIVE #5: Augment and leverage the Town’s financial resources to support desired levels of services, economic growth, and to ensure upkeep of the Town’s infrastructure. Review, evaluate and choose three opportunities for additional financial resources by October 2023 from the following:

• Water and wastewater user rates and plant investment fees.

• Paid parking, which will require updating the Nederland Municipal Code.

• Fee for EV charging stations.

• Franchise agreements with private utilities for use of the Town’s rights-of-way.

• Parks and recreation participant fees.

• Promotion of special events and advertising opportunities.

• Pursuit of financial grants.

• Leverage the Town’s current tourism in order to increase sales tax revenue.

OBJECTIVE #6: Listen to the voices of our workers, residents, and property owners and implement changes to the Nederland Municipal Code from the results of the Housing Needs Assessment.

1. Coordinate with the advisory boards and commissions to identify the most impactful code changes by September 2023.

2. Create policy language for the Board of Trustees review by November 2023.

3. Solidify code changes for housing by December 2023.

4. Apply for second phase of grant funding to implement housing infrastructure by June 2024.

For questions or comments on the 2023-2024 Strategic Plan, please contact the Town Administrator at 303-258-3266 or townadmin@nederlandco.org.