John Scarffe, Nederland.

January

The Nederland Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors tabled a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a firm to conduct a study and develop a plan for parking, pedestrian mobility and traffic flow in Nederland and specific to the Downtown District during a regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 9, 2019, at the Nederland Community Center. Executive Director Josiah Masingale introduced the RFP and suggested tabling it for now. The board also discussed a Pavilion at Barker Meadows Park and reviewed a drawing of proposed improvements to the park, which showed where a previous amphitheater was filled in with dirt from the NedPeds pathway project. A new pavilion could be located in the same place and would look out toward the lake with a solid wall between the pavilion and the waste water area. Board member Mark Stringfellow said he will take information from this meeting to the Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Advisory Board (PROSAB), which is leading the project. The NDDA Mill Levy is set to expire on December 31, 2019. Extending the Mill Levy for another seven years requires voter approval, and the NDDA has retained an attorney to assist with the election process. The attorney is putting together a plan for the election to be presented at the February 2019 board meeting.

February 

On February 13, the board learned about a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) grant from federal funds to replace sidewalks, reconstruct parking lots and add electric charging stations. The full proposal would have an estimated value of $2.3 million, with a five percent town match of about $69,000. Regarding the RFP for the traffic study, the board requested further discussion due to the high costs of the two proposals received. The board agreed that updates needed to be made to the 2007 and 2010 parking assessments, wayfinding and paid parking plans. The Nederland Fire Department requested an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to support the DDA mill levy revenue.

March

On March 20, DDA Executive Director Josiah Masingale and DDA Secretary Cindy Downing both announced their resignations. Brent Tregaskis took over as board chair after Susan Schneider’s resignation. A vote will be needed to appoint an interim vice chair. The board approved $10,000 in the TIF budget for the 2019 Beautification Agreement contracted with Coloring Colorado, Inc. Staff provided an overview of steps needed for the November 2019 elections and extending the DDA Mill Levy. Key points include having a physical location for ballot drop-offs two-weeks prior to the election and a designated election judge. 

April

On April 18, Former Nederland Town Clerk Hope Jordan was recommended to the Board of Trustees to fill position of NDDA executive director after fellow applicant, Nicole Cavalino, decided to withdraw her consideration. Nicole showed her support for Hope by stating that due to her presence and knowledge of the community of Nederland, as well as her experience, she would be better suited for the position. 

May

On May 15, the board discussed a Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) traffic survey conducted during two days in September 2018 to count the number of cars and the average wait time and length of backups at the intersection of Lakeview and Highway 119 after the DDA directed staff to reach out to CDOT for assistance in creating possible improvements for the flow of traffic at this intersection. CDOT analyzed the Level of Service (LOS), which is the quality of traffic flow. In December 2018, CDOT completed their analysis and determined four different scenarios for improvement with the fourth scenario being the best received, as it is a better long-term solution. It involves constructing a mini roundabout at the intersection with a smaller center than the average roundabout due to space limitations. An estimated 25 percent was recommended to be added to the projected cost of $740,000 to account for utilities, surveying and unexpected costs. In February, staff introduced plans to apply for TIP funding, and have decreased their application amount to $1.55 million from $2.3 million due to removing parts of the project that would not qualify for the federal grant. The DDA has agreed to fund $69,000 toward the project and the town will contribute $46,000, but an additional $70,000 is being requested to meet the five percent match required for the grant. 

June

For the first time, Nederland’s three advisory boards met together with three members of the Nederland Board of Trustees for a work session on developing Barker Meadows Park, at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2019, in the Nederland Community Center. About 15 board members attended the meeting representing the Downtown Development Authority (NDDA), Parks, Recreation and Open Space Advisory Board (PROSAB) and the Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB). NDDA Chair Brent Tregaskis said the board sees its role specific to the business district, and it just happens that Guercio Field fits in and is pretty much their purview. The NDDA intends to build up business in the winter when it is slow, getting people to stop and spend money and making the town looking more attractive. The NDDA has the ability to raise money and can help subsidize a grant with matching funds. The NDDA could set aside $100,000 to match a $1 million grant for Guercio Field, because it would be good for business in Nederland.

At the board’s regular meeting on June 12, they discussed ideas for solutions to the Lakeview Drive traffic issues and a possible roundabout. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) did not offer any funding toward this project even though a section of the road is managed by CDOT and not the town. NDDA members suggested adding a righthand turn lane to the proposal and relocating a small section of the sidewalk to install this turn lane. After reviewing the proposal for the TIP federal funding for transportation improvements, the board agreed that the Jefferson Street section does not fit the criteria for this grant, so the $69,000 match funding committed by the NDDA has been reduced to $50,000.  Because Jefferson Street needs repair and the TIP funding does not cover local road reconstruction, staff requested an additional $70,000 for the project. The board tabled this item until the next meeting so the NDDA could review the information. The NDDA’s food truck survey revealed that local businesses were in favor of having food trucks in town, and the board voted to move this discussion item to an action item to be presented in front of the Nederland Board of Trustees.

July

On July 1, Brent Tregaskis served his last night as chair. The NDDA Board unanimously approved the nomination of Steve Karowe for the chair position and Mark Stringfellow for the vice chair position. A unanimous vote also approved $500 to hire an attorney for a workshop on “Business Owners and Their Rights.” Board Member Claudia Schauffler was appointed the role of PROSAB liaison for the NDDA. A resolution was ready to be presented at the July Board of Trustees meeting to engage Collins, Corkrel and Cole for the November election. The board requested Elizabeth Allen to meet during the August meeting to discuss a proposal for the 2020 summer season and Nederland’s beautification project, funded by the DDA. Schauffler introduced Jessica Ansari to design several signs to be used in the wayfinding project for downtown Nederland. The NDDA enjoyed Ansari’s presentation and agreed that her designs fit well with the town. 

August

At the August 14, 2019, meeting, Elizabeth Allen gave an update on the town’s beautification project, stating that everything was coming in on budget. The garden at Highway 119 and Third Street is in place and blooming. She discussed planting fall bulbs such as mums and daffodils. CDOT’s previous plans to start construction at the current traffic circle this month have been postponed to next summer, so the area will be weeded and planted. Allen said that after five years, this will be her last year working on the beautification project and thanked the NDDA for their time working together and the NDDA thanked Allen for her hard work. Hope Jordan agreed to write the RFP for the 2020 Beautification proposal and will seek to continue a relationship with City Floral, as Elizabeth Allen has done. The board approved an independent mailing ballot for extending the expiring bill levy for the upcoming election on November 5, 2019.

September

On September 11, the board approved meeting with town engineers to discuss creating diagonal parking spaces for engineering drainage on Big Springs and Conger Streets to create diagonal parking spaces near the Caribou Shopping Center. Because JVA is town approved, the DDA does not need to present an RFP for JVA services. The board reviewed a request to fund wayfinding signage aligned with the DDA Master Plan, which defines areas where wayfinding signs were designated. The board directed Jordan to contact three sign fabricators. Rea Orthner requested funds for noxious weed control, which came before the board already. The board tabled this item for discussions about the 2020 budget. The board also placed the 2020 Beautification Request for Proposals on the budget discussion.

October

Board Member Tregaskis agreed to advocate for businesses by writing a letter to CDOT regarding canyon construction on behalf of Nederland Businesses and the Nederland Downtown Development Authority, because he believes the construction schedule could potentially devastate the community. CDOT offered the opportunity to close the canyon from Friday to Sunday, and business owners have contacted him about the issue, assuring him that they will not survive if the canyon is closed on weekends. DDA board members met with town staff and JVA to discuss the parking project, and JVA sent a parking agreement to the board for approval. Chair Karowe discussed the NDDA election and suggested that board members review discussion points before meeting with business owners and landowners.

November

The DDA and the Town Clerk discussed the election and complaints of business owners that they did not know what the DDA was or why there was an election. The DDA committed to improving awareness of its existence, importance, purpose and future elections. Katherine Correll, the Executive Director of Downtown Colorado Inc.,  and Longmont DDA Executive Director Kimberlee McKee spoke with the Nederland DDA board members about productive ways to use Tax Increment Finance (TIF) funds. They suggested that the NDDA take stock of the plans and studies already conducted and prioritize projects that get property owners, business owners, developers engaged. Purchase and renovation of properties, such as Synder's Garage was also discussed.

(Originally published in the January 2, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)