The Nederland Board of Trustees approved three grant applications during a regular, virtual meeting on November 9, 2021, at 7 p.m. The Board also discussed a new fee schedule and a fee waiver for Wild Bear.

Three Grants

The Nederland Sustainability Advisory Board applied for Boulder County Environmental Sustainability Grant funding of $15,000 to continue funding the contracted Sustainability Coordinator position in 2022 for the Town.

In 2020 and 2021, the Town contracted with Garrett McDaniel as the Sustainability Coordinator. His contract will end in early 2022. The Public Works department has previously budgeted $3,750 for this position as a Town match for 2021 but was recently approved to increase to a $15,000 match from Town funds for the 2022 contract.

The Board said McDaniel has done a great job and the Town should retain him. Town Administrator Miranda Fisher said that would make the total request for $18,750. The Board approved the request with Trustee Julian Taylor voting no.

Maya MacHamer, Boulder Watershed Collective Director, submitted a grant application due on November 11 for the Action, Implementation and Mitigation Grant. The Boulder Watershed Collective submitted a concept paper to Action, Implementation and Mitigation (AIM) for grant funding for mitigation project planning and an update of Nederland’s Colorado Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). The concept paper includes outreach and larger scale programs, and they will produce three videos to present to communities.

AIM found the concept paper acceptable and invited the Boulder Watershed Collective to submit a full grant application. The Colorado Water Conservation Board is providing match funding for mitigation planning and outreach, but AIM would like more varied match funding.

MacHamer requested that the Town and the Nederland Fire Protection District (NFPD) consider a $5,000 match. The Parks, Recreation, Open Space Advisory Board (PROSAB) met on Monday, November 1, to discuss the grant application and whether the Town should provide a match. PROSAB thought that a $5,000 match would be appropriate and that the Town should contribute the full $5,000 using funds available from Eldora’s previous rental of Guercio Field for parking or Tungsten Village.

The Town already has a plan, so this would be an update. “We are wanting to move the process forward.” It will be developed with the help of agencies. More than 200 people have been contacted and attendance ranges from 15 people to 200 people. They have four staff members and would hire consultants for more robust planning. The Board approved the $5,000 match.

Town Administrator Miranda Fisher introduced the Zero Waste grant for up to $15,000.

The Town seeks Board approval to apply for Boulder County’s Zero Waste grant for a rebate to restaurants purchasing recyclable to-go ware. Boulder County is offering up to $15,000 to organizations for reuse, recycling, and composting programs.

One of the main reasons they are not using compostable or recyclable to-go ware is cost. This grant would fund a rebate program for restaurants purchasing recyclable to-go ware and would assist all restaurants in Nederland. Town staff has contacted the majority of restaurants.

The primary objective of this program is to determine a sustainable model for businesses to participate in the purchasing of recyclable to-go ware. This was discussed with the Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) on Wednesday, November 10, and the Town will be asking the NDDA to provide a match.

Trustees said it is another way of addressing climate change and a lot of businesses would like to take advantage of it. The Board approved applying for the grant.

2022 Draft Budget Hearing and Fee Schedule

Staff presented the 2022 draft Budget including summary budgets for the government and enterprise funds. Town Treasurer Rita Six said the Board had several work sessions and public meetings regarding the budget.

The Board participated in two work sessions in September and was presented with a draft of the proposed 2022 budget during a regular Board meeting on October 19. The Board took public comments on the recommended budget and fee schedule.

Based on year-to-date 2021 actuals, staff is conservatively projecting that 2022 tax revenue will surpass 2020 actuals by 6 percent. 2022 operating expenses in the General Fund are projected to increase by 6.1 percent when compared to the 2021 Budget.

Town staff recommended changes to the 2022 fee schedule. When businesses make changes to their signs, no fees cover staff time spent on processing the request, so $50 is an appropriate fee to charge for this request. When a business modifies their liquor license premise, no fee covers staff time spent on processing the request, while the state charges $150 for modification of premise requests.

The Town has been waiving facility and park rental fees for events up to 19 people for four hours or less, since they are typically for kids’ birthday parties or meetings. They would like to make it official on the fee schedule that they waive all fees if an event of this size is for less than four hours. Staff recommended the rental fee still be waived for a full day event, but would like to charge a $50 deposit which is refundable if there is no damage following the event.

They are recommending the deposit be increased to $5,000 for events of 5,000 – 9,999 people, since an event this size has a significant impact on the facility rented. With 10,000-plus people events, staff recommended the deposit be increased to $10,000, since an event this size has a significant impact on the facility rented. For recurring events, staff recommended charging $50 per month.

Fisher said the $10,000 would reimburse the Town for reseeding at the ballfield, which would need to occur following the completion of the GOCO grant. Public Works Manager Chris Pelletier said they haven’t reseeded it since it has been a parking lot. Much discussion followed, including public comment. Frozen Dead Guys Festival Coordinator Amanda McDonald said they could never have an event if it cost $10,000.

Mayor Larsen said they will rework the fee schedule in the coming weeks. Fisher said that at the next meeting the budget comes back, which could include the amended fee schedule. The Board gave a nod to bring this back at the next meeting.

Wild Bear variance

Wild Bear is seeking a variance request to decrease permitting, plan review, and plant investment fees (PIF) for the Wild Bear Nature Center at Peak to Peak Highway. Wild Bear Nature Center will be developing their 4.95-acre parcel with an 8,500 square foot multi-use building to encompass a nature center.

Based on the project valuation of $3.5 million, estimated costs of permitting fees are $492,707.13

Town staff met with Wild Bear Executive Director Jill Dreves on October 26 to review the variance request. Upon further discussion, Town staff agreed to a 90 percent PIF reduction, with the plan and permit fees to be reduced by 20 percent, for a total of $ 239,756.07.

Mayor Larsen said the Board agrees with the 20 percent reduction for plan and permitting fees, and the Board is in favor of 100 percent waiving the PIF fees and working on wayfinding. The Board approved moving this to the consent agenda for the November 16 meeting, with Trustee Taylor voting no.

The next Nederland Board of Trustees meeting will be virtual on November16, 2021. For more information, go to https://nederlandco.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation. aspx?Org=Cal&Id=391.