January 20, 2024 — Boulder Junction Access District Joint Session

Transcript

Captions from City of Boulder YouTube recording.

[0:04] Come to the Vulgar Junction Access District Joint Commission's meeting. It is January 20, fourth, and it's 405 pm. And I will call roll. Susan, print here. Jennifer Schreiber. Rebecca du Michelle. present Brian cook present Kevin Knapp here. and Robin Ronan. Present. Thank you, and I will turn the meeting over to our chair for procedural items. Thanks. Believe our first is the approval of the meeting minutes from last time. Would you like? Should we proceed with the approving on the parking side and then come back later to Tdm.

[1:10] yeah, that works. We've done that previously and just had. Tdm, you know we've had Tdm. Approve it in a future meeting, or later on in the meeting. Great did anybody have concerns questions or corrections for the meeting minutes from November. Great! Would anybody like on the parking side like to make a motion? I move to approve the meeting minutes. I second great think all in favor. Then, Kevin. Okay.

[2:00] so that's unanimously approved. And then that moves us into approval of resolution. 49. I don't believe we can do that right now, because that's just tdm. I need everybody here. Okay is, do we wanna just any conversation, any discussion of that until we have the quorum for a Tdm, okay? And yeah, it's up to you. If if there any questions about it, we can certainly answer but hopefully we'll hear. So that C. Attendee I love, that's, you know. hopefully, Jennifer is able to join us, at least for a few minutes, otherwise we'll need to table the that, though, for either a special meeting or future meeting. Okay? Rebecca, would you like to comment?

[3:00] Yeah, I have a question about the details in there. There's one line item that says that the property will remain taxes up, and then, of course, there's the actual agreement that says they will continue paying the the fees as if they were being taxed. So are those 2 statements in conflict, or is that normally how it's written out. Regan, do you? Wanna take that one? Well, so given that it is a tax exempt property we'd be, are you? Referring to the it actually says, like moving forward that we agree that they continue remaining remaining taxes up. So right? It's a tax exempt property. But if they are going to be included into the district. we would still invoice them as if they are paying taxes.

[4:01] Okay. and then the second question is actually about the terminology, about the termination of the contract, which includes when they sell the property when they're no longer the owner of the property. So what the property be kicked out of the district at that point or no, because even if they sell in Chris, correct me if I'm wrong. But my understanding is that even if they sell the property. The property is still benefiting from being in the district, so the only way to terminate would be to petition for an exclusion from the district. Is that correct, Chris? Sorry, Chris, if you said something I couldn't hear it. Did you say? Oh, okay, thank you.

[5:01] Did that answer your question, Rebecca. I'm going back to the language to see if it was an and or an or it looks like it's an and but it's still somewhat confusing that there's a way that it could be terminated if they sold the property, and the pilot catch up. Payment is paid in full. But I think as long as this is the correct legal terminology, I'm okay. So the the cooperation agreement that it that requires them to pay us on annual basis the equivalent of the mill levy needs to be in place in order for us to provide any services to the residents in this space. So if the cooperation agreement were to be cancelled for any reason. it does not mean that the parcel would exit the district, but until the property. whoever's owning the property at the time enters into a cooperation agreement. If it still remains tax exempt. they're not eligible for any of the services until they meet that additional requirement.

[6:12] Thank you, Chris. Go ahead, Sue. So since people are living there now. they is it true? Then, until we vote on this, they wouldn't be paying the taxes, and then wouldn't be getting their eco passes until we do this. And do they have to pay for their taxes for a little bit, and then get the Eco pass, or can start the same time. So since they've already signed the cooperation agreement we did conference with the city. There's office on that question, and the resolution can be approved after the fact of the services beginning. So now that they've signed the cooperation agreement, they will be eligible. They are eligible to receive services. We just need to be crossing our t's and dotting our eyes on the the legal paperwork associated with the military. So they are going to be receiving services. We're putting Vtc and transportation connections in touch with the Blue Bird Books. So no worries there.

[7:24] Thanks. I think the most one of the consequential things in the in there just described was related to the outcome of the second vote from the Tdm. Folks last time about attempting to suggest an increase in the the discount. Which sounds like that's not allowed by statute set. Is that right? Correct? The forming ordinances for the Gids requires that any new parcels that are partition into the district need to be treated equally to the parcels in perfect. The rest of the parcels that have been in the district in perpetuity.

[8:11] We were hoping that since we haven't had to charge anybody this catch up Fee, and this way before that, we might be able to make an adjustment after the fact. But the city attorney's office they found that we need to conform to the forming ordinances. regardless of whether or not they've been applied over the past decade or not. So we're not able to make any adjustments there. Thanks any other questions or comments. Okay, alright. Well, we can come back to that. When we have the quorum for Tdm. there's, lastly, for procedural items, a reminder to send

[9:01] a headshot photo to Lisa for the city website. Robin. I see your hands raised just curious on the headshot. I need to get one for work regardless. Do you have a standard format of what is required for the headshot that you could send out to the group. Just so I can make sure I'm conforming to it. Yeah, I do. I do. City clerk's office did send out some requirements. And basically, it's just we can clearly see your face, and maybe like from the shoulders up or the chest up so. But I'll send that to you for sure. Thanks, Lisa. I don't believe we have anyone here for public participation. not seeing anyone here from the public.

[10:01] Okay. Karen, I have. I have you next with the btc update. Great thanks. Can everybody hear me? Okay. great I'll introduce myself. I'm Karen Norming House. I'm the senior manager of transportation with boulder transportation connections, and we're part of the boulder chamber. So hence the 2 logos above my head. Did everybody I could screen share, if that's enabled, or if that would be helpful, the main thing that I have this screen share is the report that was included in the packet. So if you'd like me to screen share that I can. I'm not sure if I me let me try. Let me try and see if I have the capability for stuff. How about that? So everybody seeing my screen that looks like it? Great, excellent! So this is this is the exact same report that should be in your packets as well. So feel free to follow along in that regard as well, too. But, my understanding, what I'm planning to do is just give a overview of the 5 Series Event series that we call the function at Boulder Junction that was held last year. So we were contracted

[11:18] with the with community vitality. To do the 5 events. And Yup and somebody saying, it's on page 25 of the packet. Is where this report starts. So the intent of this was to do activation within the community, and particularly also to help educate on the various Tdm benefits, namely, the free ego passes free B cycle discounted car share memberships and so forth. So that was the broad, broad intent of that. And we created like, if you can see to on our website, do you also see this? I just jumped over to great on our website, boulder. Tc, there's a

[12:00] under our news and events section, there's a pulldown area that we have a special page with all the information as well, too. That'll have a few more photos, but they're all listed there. so I'll start off and just kind of recap we we start out in February. This is one of the very successful events. As well, too, is Bike home. Happy Hour. We held that in the lower level of Roadhouse Depot Square, or roadhouse boulder depot, I should say. It was a cold day, but it was it was planned to be an indoor event which was great. We had a really nice turnout. 100 and 50 people came, so we pretty much filled that lower level of the roadhouse, and also significant kudos to community cycles as well for really helping with outreach on that as well, too. This has been a historical event. That we've been doing for number. That Boulder has been doing for a number of years. This is the first year that we were the organizers. Typically, it's community cycles. And I know they're hosting. I'll give a little plug. They're hosting the next one, which is February ninth at the local, I believe, up in North Boulder. So but anyway, thanks thanks to community cycles, we had a really nice attendance and turn out for that one. So that went really well.

[13:17] And there, like I said, there's some pictures, of the particular events on our website as well, too. Then our second one was held in April, called that one the clean air kickoff that was held at High place. Initially, we had intended to have that mostly outdoors in their kind of patio area. It did get a little windy and rainy that day. You'll hear me talk a fair amount about weather throughout this presentation, because it was a major factor in in a lot of our events. So it did get a little. It was threatening winded wind and rain. So we moved that the bulk of that event indoors, including the speakers. So we had all of our Tdm partners there. B cycle car share via mobility was there. They brought in one of their electric hop buses and Boulder Valley School district also brought in an electric school bus, which was quite a quite a hit. A lot of people enjoyed getting on the bus for a little tour.

[14:15] And that one, as I mentioned, we held it high at place boulder and as you'll see, too, we we really tried to utilize all of the various restaurants that had the capacity for these events that we'd. you know, move things around, namely, with the roadhouse, with higher place with zeal, and then doing an outdoor event in the plaza, too, so that we would rotate, rotate things around, and all the businesses could benefit as much as possible. And that one we estimated about 60 people attended again. Weather impacted that one as well cause we're hoping to be primarily outdoors for that, and we had to move indoors then our bike home. Happy Hour. This was another good, successful event. Bike home, happy hour on summer bike work day. So that was June 28. That we held in front of zeal in the war enough worn off area. Zeal was a great partner to work with, we were able to. They were able to do the petitions or permits, I should say

[15:15] to close down the warner so we could have bicycle parking along there. And there's some really great photos of this event on our website as well, too, that show. I think we have at least at least 50 plus cyclists there, and bicycles parked in that Warner area. For the events that one is I'd say very, very good success. And again, all of our partners, Tdm, partners had tents up there, and informational tables B cycle, lime, Colorado car share community cycles, Vm mobility, and a few others. So that was that was great. Then we had our big premiere event the function of Boulder Junction. This was all all the other ones. By the way, think you guys might be familiar. We called them function at Boulder Junction. Most of them had a lower. It was fun, emphasis on fun. This one was the emphasis on funk.

[16:06] So this was function. This is the one that we had outdoors in the Plaza Jeff and Paige, and then our headliner music was family. lot of time and effort went into this one. It was outdoors plaza. Unfortunately, as some of you know the ones that were there. Weather did not cooperate for this event, which definitely impacted attendance and so forth. We it was. It was a major lift for us to do this event particularly cause we worked with the road house to expand the permitted beer guard and liquor license areas. We had to get fencing and go through that whole process of getting the liquor license temporary permit. If we hadn't had the. if it would have been flexible, and we could have moved the date we would have. But we, you know, rented, rented the stage and the tent, and the music, and the all the permitting and everything. So it just wasn't from a logistical standpoint, wasn't gonna be feasible for us to shift the date at fairly last minute notice. Unfortunately, it was. Still, if you take a look at the photos online to actually jump over to, I think.

[17:17] let me go to this one. There's there are some really great photos, despite it, didn't. It didn't rain the entire time, I'll say as as evidenced by the photos. So there's some. There's some great photos, particularly when Jeff and Paige were performing. The kids get out. They didn't seem to mind the rain. So it was, and we had a lot more partners for this one, too. We brought in like Northwest Rail Colorado. 7 multimodal project. Rtd was there big slushy wheel. So it was really a a lot of a lot of community partners or transportation partners. Visit. Boulder was there full cycle, you know. You'll see. There had a

[18:06] table. Yeah, this was this was the what's called big wheel beverages. Slushy wheel. Kids can go inside and power to make their own slushies. That was a significant hit and very popular. So yeah, it was. It was. It was a good event when it wasn't downpouring. Let's put it that way. so that was that one and we estimated overall throughout the event. II listed most of the partners. Here again we had recycle line car share community cycles and so forth. I think I mentioned most of these front range passenger rail was also there. Yeah. So I think I via mobility. And yeah, think we got the highlights for that. And about 160 people attended that event. And then our final event was the electrify October series. And that one featured more electric vehicles and also a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle from Nrel, and also the Via mobility's hot bus that one. We had outdoors again. In front of zeal by the Warner area. That one worked out quite well as well. However, we did have a big wind gust at the beginning of the event, a little bit of rain, but mostly it was the wind that

[19:20] crimped the style a little bit in the beginning, but then things got better. And we estimated about 160 people turned out for that one. So that's a very quick recap of those events, and I had a bit more information than to as far as just feedback, and so forth, of what we found, as far as successes and challenges as I mentioned, we did a rotate around to different venues. So the roadhouse that was the winter bike tort day event. This was for the clean air. Kick off the second one here it's high place, and then this is If you zoom in more on this picture, you can just see that there was a white. Quite. This whole area was filled with bikes. And thanks to community cycles, for helping us out with the bike parking there as well. So nice partner, community event

[20:12] and then one, I'd say one of the significant wins out of this for us. as far as just activating the area as well. It took it took a little bit of doing but we were able to successfully send out a postcard notice, and this is an example. The front and the back to over 5,000 recipients. That include residents and employers in the in the area in the B jet area. So we worked with the city on bold city of Boulder. On this took a little bit took more work, was actually getting the addresses and drilling down. And It wasn't something that was readily available from the city. But we eventually did get that. And now that we have that, when I say, like one of the wins is, we can now utilize that information for future Tdm mailings if we want to do another postcard mailing about the Tdm benefits of Builder Junction, it would be a lot easier for us to do that. So

[21:10] and I think I may have misspoken the postcard itself went to 1,000, practically 1,100 recipients the it was the email blast, and so forth, that were going out to our 5,000 recipients. So but yeah, postcard, and we put the QR code on there so we could track the bump in people going to the website as well. So this was a recap of the participation numbers that I went over earlier. Just kind of some of the highlights. And the electric buses were definitely a hit in 2 of our events. So that was that was great. People really like to get on, particularly the electric school bus cause. That was quite a bit novel thing. I don't know. A lot of adults just enjoyed getting back on a school bus as long as it was on a voluntary basis. And our partners really

[22:07] showed up, and it was like great team effort again. I think it was great exposure for B cycle, lyme, community cycles and car share get for folks to get questions answered, and so forth. so that was a bit of the successes. The lessons learned, and recommendations. Certainly for us, I would say one of the key weather was a key challenge. When we were trying to plan the outdoor events. And also we as we're we're transportation management organization. So you know our I guess our niche is getting Ega passes out there and sharing transportation information, and particularly the September event. It was, you know, heavy into event, planning and securing the working with the roadhouse to expand the liquor license, getting a temporary permit for that. So there was a lot of work that was outside of our

[23:02] normal normal channels and so forth that I'd say like it. It took it took away from time that we would have had more to work wo more locally on some of the Tdm efforts, and that became we became more event planners than than Tdm. Outreach specialists, I would say so in reflecting on this, and our our team did a fair amount of reflecting, too. If if the I think you know, there's there's sort of 2 different goals. Here one is, if the goal is to get Tdm information out. Doing so generally in a smaller scale manner and working directly with the residential developments and employers, we find that to be very successful, some of that can be done virtually, sometimes in person, but having that be much more targeted per individual. Like residential complex, is is good. The other piece is, you know, if the goal is activation of the area and of the neighborhood and of the district, then certainly events, and particularly outdoor events, is a good fit for that. But

[24:10] It's it's a bit of a trade off. As to being able to do both simultaneously. I would say from that. And one, the other thing, yeah, I wanna I was need to mention this to one of the challenges that we're struggling with again is our Td. Still does not have service at Boulder Junction. So we've been doing a tremendous job of Will Shepherd is our dedicated person for Boulder Junction, he actually lives over Boulder Junction, which is fabulous. So he's he's you know he's he's there every day and networking with the community and so forth. So we're doing a great job and getting more passes into people's hands. But the main options for them are the the hop in the bound routes. But there's no direct regional service. There's no flat iron flyer. There's no direct connection to the airport.

[25:03] So that comes up time and again in these outreach pieces of great people are like, I've got my past now. But where's the bus service? And we've continued to push that issue with Rtd. And we've more or less gotten the answer of Don't count on anything. Don't count on any bus service restoration this year. And I really feel like that we, as a community in the city, we need to start looking potentially at other other options. If Rtd isn't in a position to provide local service, we need to start looking at some other options. One of those in my mind. But we've been floating internally is contracting with via potentially to provide some peak service in the morning, in the evening that could shuttle people over to the flatter and fly or Ff. 2 and Ab. At least in the morning and at night kind of similar to northwest rails. Looking at a peak service study is, can we do some sort of peak service? To at least get people connected to the regional routes. That particular suggestion is not in this report. I don't think because we were having those discussions after this report was

[26:06] written. But that's definitely something we keep coming up against. Again and again. So I would encourage you. If you, if you do want more information, feel free to look at our website as well, too, and look through the photos and so forth. yeah, so that's I wanted to kinda keep it short. But that's the main summary, and I'd be happy to answer any questions. People may have questions or comments or suggestions as well. Going forward. I'll I'll start with a comment, Karen. I thought there were great events that the ones I were able to make it, I was able to make it to, and I'm so glad we did them obviously unlike you with the weather especially the the function event, but still super fun, you know, still great to bring the community together. And you know, bring people into the district. So I think you know, as far as that one is still really successful.

[27:04] Great thanks. Kevin. Looks like Rebecca. Yeah, also. Thank you for your work on this. I do think we did have 2 2 goals, and activation was definitely one of the top ones there. As far as weather and function events one lesson learned would be to have some sense inside the liquor license area. Because I think that kind of change people's behavior a bit right, so they couldn't. They couldn't stay dry and participate in an item. So thanks. And I guess 1 one of my questions, too, would be if if there were event series or larger ones like this, too, is how important to I'll be on the call both, I'd say, Commissioners and staff. The the liquor license piece. The Expanded beer garden was definitely that

[28:02] definitely created. Quite a bit more work for us. To do that. Ha! Like. Had we not done that, it's, you know, might have been possible that we might have been able to have, like the bandwidth and the flexibility to actually shift the date or something to weather wise. So that would be a question that I would just put up as folks look for future events is, how important is it to have. If you have an outdoor event, how important is it to have an expanded beer garden area? I mean, I think it was fine when it was out half outside at Zeal. You know, it's hard to judge I got. I hadn't been that wet and cold in a really long time, but it's really right. So it was really hard to judge. But to me, knowing what electric license takes, it's not worth it.

[29:00] I'm gonna be the honest one and say that I completely weaned out because of the weather and didn't end up going. And I think the the issue with the liquor license, and I feel you, because I definitely do. Events also, and liquor licenses add such such an insurmountable burden, sometimes especially depending upon staffing. Having said that, I think it entirely depends upon the kind of demographic that we're trying to reach. If you have young families, liquor license is definitely less, I think important. But if you're trying to get. you know, the young professional groups that, having, you know, brewery options just will increase that. I'm wondering if, like on a feedback survey through QR. Codes. It could just be a direct ask like, how important is it for you to have to have an option at this event. and and I'll follow thanks for that feedback and the other, as you were saying that to the other piece, having live music also made it substantially a bigger, heavy lift like if we hadn't had done the live music and the tent, and the stage, and all of that, we could have been more flexible and nimble as well. So those those 2 factors, both the expanded beer garden area and the live music

[30:13] certainly made that a much bigger endeavor. I think the live. Music was really important and differentiator from the other events. And and I was there at most of these events. So II do know what the weather was. But there were also a lot of really beautiful days. So yeah, I was that everyone except that last one, the electric vehicle, one and it's definitely skewed by the weather. But I would say my favorite one was the winter bike tour day one. and and would you say, see the the winter one, even com, could you? You're at the summer one, too, right? Actually drizzle the low. But it was fine, because it was summer. Yeah.

[31:02] I mean, I think that that was good. And there were definitely more tables at that, because we couldn't really table so much at winter. And you did have the vehicles out there, which was interesting. But, I don't know. There was just a really good energy at the winter one that I didn't see as much in any of the others. So and one other thing that was coming mind to is the doing 5 of them actually like towards the end like felt like a lot least. Well, personally, the organizer, and so forth, like, you know, it was. It was heavy, but like I feel like, even with our partners like we're starting, we're getting burned out of. Like, you know. Yeah, bicycle community cycles. It's like there was a lot to even just have them show up and table at. So I'd say year there was definitely like, you know, I had to go because my other stuff people were like, you know. I don't love event, you know. Hey? We do a lot of events to add 5 more as a lot.

[32:04] So there's 2 things there. For the event planning and whether or not we actually need to have tables at all of these events. Right? So I think this was an experiment to see whether or not B. 2 C. Was a good fit for the event planning. and we were doing all the tabling to to justify that kind of relationship there. So maybe what we consider is that some events are not so focused on those kinds of tables. My second question is actually, who is responsible for the liquor licensing? Is that the city? Or is that a state requirement? Yeah, there's both like you. It's both. It's both the city and state piece, and the piece that we had. Basically, the roadhouse knows what it takes as well, too. So they were very reluctant to do it on their own, so that they basically ask us, like we, we did most all the paperwork and the legwork and everything, and got the fencing and everything done. They just essentially had to sign the form and

[33:13] post it in the window. But we were having to up like. We filled out the application and was doing all the permitting process. so yeah, but it's both. And Lane, I'm sure, could say more about this, and it's probably ready to chime in. So what you have at it? Oh, you did great. But there are usually 2 options. One is to use a nonprofit to pull a temporary liquor service event permit, and in this case that was not very viable for this group. So then the roadhouse stepped up, and they can do what's called a temporary modification of their physical space, which that allowed them to expand out so long as they keep one contiguous wall with the building. It's it's allowed. So that was the option that

[34:00] Karen and her team use to to get that through. And you're correct. We have the boulder licensing authority. And then that is overseen by the State of Colorado. So both that application has to go through both levels. Okay, thank you. I find it weird that the State is so linear on some things and so strict on. like your licenses for events from the city, not the state. Correct. We're we're we're to con to create containment. as we saw during the pandemic containment of some places was a single rope strung between some home depot buckets. But, as you'll see it bans on the bricks, where it's a lot more density. It does require 6 foot fencing, especially where the alcohol is served, and then at least 4 feet out from that. and that also gets a little bit more lax when you have a 5 year track record with no violations. So something that was

[35:05] a one off this time in Boulder Junction did require the the 6 foot. But again, I think Karen or team get a great job with just getting that flexible you know, outdoor event fencing? So. But that is, you know, we are part of the college town. And so those issues do pop up time and again. I also do want to give a huge shout out to Lane and his team as well, too, was this series was a heavy lift on our end, but particularly the September event, was also very heavy lift on their end of you know, we'd be entering stuff in the portal, and they'd have to be, you know, going through doing that and helping, you know, helping us along the way as they could to so it was. It was certainly a team effort. I know Lane and Justin and others, and just the city in general invested quite a bit at time on the back end, and to get that permit through as well. So huge, thanks to that, and recognize how much time and effort was involved there.

[36:05] Thank you, Karen. Thanks, Karen, thanks everyone. Any other questions or comments before we move on. Thanks, thanks for the opportunity to do it. We at this point like Will has been continuing the Tdm outreach on like the small scale strategy of working with say, like, you know, apartment complex one at a time, and employers wanted a time to get the Tdm. Information out there, particularly with the conversion to my ride, mobile app, and so forth. So, so that's our our focus right now. Is helping the residents and employees that my ride conversion and doing it a small scale. So but appreciate, appreciate the opportunity. And yeah, thanks for the feedback. Thanks.

[37:02] Thanks, Karen, so the next 2 items were just for comments or questions from commissioners on the consent, agenda or fund financials. Did anybody want to bring anything up from either of those out of the packet before we move past? I see a hand. Yeah, I think we will continue to bring up the fun financials and the plans to reduce the the mill levy for the parking district until stuff comes with a proposal there. as we mentioned in Q. 4 of last year. I think it was the November meeting. You brought some materials, the commissions and we promise to come back to you. And then Q. One of this year, and the topic will be on your market.

[38:01] It will not be a reduction of mill levy topic, it will be reduction topic of options for us to consider in anticipation of the 2025 tax share. Will that include no levy inductions. I'm not. I'm unsure what you're saying. Yes, so we have. We have 5 districts that we miss. Sorry for Gids that we manage and we have similar considerations in all of our dids related to fund health. And so we I'll be talking about this later in the Cv work plan, Boulder Junction. Gids are on the list for alternatives. Analysis, understand? A number of fund health considerations that we need to get advice from our commissions. Before we take those recommendations to council for implementation

[39:05] so that could include certainly mill levy reductions in the districts where that makes sense. But there's a lot of analysis that we need to include in network. Yeah, then, this. This was also a a topic of concern for you at the last meeting. Do you have any questions or comments? You know I think I've I've probably said my piece before. It's II think, as a as a group. As a you know, collective body here. II don't think there's a good understanding of the intent, the ongoing intent of the parking district like the services that are being continuing to be provided to the residents and the businesses there.

[40:00] And so I think to me, that's what needs to be established. I think that those services are more clear in the Tdm. District. But but for parking, II think that you know this needs to be clarified. What? What's our ongoing role? What are we providing to the to the district? And what are we asking for from the district? And we agree. So that is on the 2024 work plan and so we look forward to having that conversation and seeing that Zansky maybe is. I turned off his mic cause. He and his team will be helping to leave this conversation again, not for just for full retention, but for each of the general improvement districts to understand long term capital liabilities and possibilities. In conjunction with possible modifications to. okay, I look forward to the March discussion, or whenever that meeting is that we have that I would just

[41:06] like to express my preference for urgency on some of these topics, because it is a topic that we brought up a year ago. And you know we've brought it up. And then it's always been okay, not the next meeting up, not meeting. But we're meeting every couple of months, and I don't know if there's there's something that we can do that would be more expedient. even even though. So we didn't discuss this last year, which means it didn't make into this budget, and it will be next budget, you know, next year's budget. So maybe you missed the meeting where we had the agenda item with the city attorney's office to outline the different options that we had available to us last November. I was at the November meeting. This is. we can resend the memo that was prepared by the city attorney's office that outlined the various options that we have

[42:09] that can be expedient in reducing, at least temporarily. the property tax obligation. Happy to resend that information to you all. I think we have a long track record of this commission as an advisory commission. suggesting things that they would. You would like to see, and we deliver on those things. It doesn't happen overnight. Look forward to continuing the conversation with you all. And I don't think we disagree with anything that you suggested that we should be considering. I asked for your patience and face. and acknowledging that we have this work to do in all the districts that we serve on top of a number of other things which I'll look forward to sharing with you shortly.

[43:00] Thank you, Chris. Thanks. I think that's a great segue. For staff to take over with the 4 items they have for us today. Great! Oh, I need you to make me a columnist, so I can share my screen. I'm going to share my screen as soon as I can. and I'm also going to trying to move quickly, to make up some time or some of the other presentations. So let's see, start everyone seeing perfect. I think we're good. Alright. so 2024 community by vitality work plan, we've been spending some time reflecting on the citywide sustainability, equity, and resilience framework. Our departmental strategic plan, as well as our the pillars strategic pillars of the Department of Vibrancy district vitality access for all working toward what we recently want to accomplish

[44:10] in 2024 toward these goal areas. Real quick, though I want to talk about some of the highlights of all the work that we accomplished in 2023. I'm gonna bring up some notes because matches and shared some bullets with me that are much more accurate that I'm gonna share from the top of my head. But in the cultural vibrancy work area. We distributed 1.0 8 million dollars and community funding to artists and nonprofits. Among the programs. This includes Arpa rescue funding that helps arts, organizations. We hire back positions for artists and arts, administration professionals that were let go during the pandemic. The public art program completed a community selection process to hire an artist. That is designing. This sculpture that's going to be located at Belmont Park. This is the Belmont Park Ring gardens. So, looking forward to more progress there

[45:11] and our special events, office has been partnering with many you've been hearing about the activations in Boulder Junction, but also we've done a number of activations in the downtown area social streets as well as other events. In partnership with the downtown boulder partnership. So we've learned a lot and we'll build building on our evaluation of all the activations from 2023 to consider how we want to move forward with activations, not from Boulder Junction, but downtown other areas moving forward. In the district vitality work area. We implemented 3.4 million dollars in capital improvements in all of our districts, and majority of those improvements were in downtown garages. But maybe one of the more noticeable investments. For you all is the branding way, finding place, making improvements in the Boulder Junction. Totems that hopefully some of you or all of you have seen show up this last week so really excited about that improvement.

[46:19] We've also had ongoing efforts. The University Hill area focused on revitalization anticipation of the Hill Hotel, opening up in March just a couple of months, as well as, of course, the limelight hotel, which is quickly coming out of the ground. We want to make sure we're leveraging those major transformations the greatest extent possible to help that commercial area. Be more successful on the access for all fronts. We went to gateless technology and all of our downtown garages. If you have not signed up for metropolis yet I highly encourage you to do so. It's this is not the same system we're using at Boulder Junction. Though we are working with our partners. At the Deposit Association to possibly move to this technology. Not too distant future, but really excited about that change in the downtown.

[47:13] We've also replaced all of the lollipop signs in front of the downtown garages to provide better way finding and codons to identify which garages are owned by the downtown district as well as real time parking information on the signs and in the garages direct to direct folks to where they're available. Parking is in the garages we replace all of the on street signage for on street parking and all the paid manage district. So hopefully, you've noticed those updated signs at Boulder Junction. and Overall just really excited about all the the noticeable changes for our customers in all the districts that we serve. We're continuing some concrete repair capital work at the same Julian Randolph. Our TV and spruce downtown. We have some work to do to to finish repaving the spruce parking lot.

[48:09] More work is happening on the affordable commercial pilot program which you all see or heard about a little bit over the last year ongoing work with University Hill. We are continuing to expand the outdoor dining pilot program. We have a number of restaurants that have expressed interest in signing up this year. So you're gonna be seeing more restaurants in the city participating in that program and then finally working on getting our trees upgraded around our downtown washes. Moving forward and the cultural vibrancy work plan for 2,024. We acknowledge that the community cultural plan. It's the time horizon planning horizon of that work ends this year, and combined with the approval of the 2, a ballot item that's establishing a long term funding for the arts. We're working to and continuing into 2,025 to conduct research data analysis and community engagement

[49:15] to map out our long term vision for how those dedicated funds are gonna be spent in support of a long term vision for arts and culture. Our special events team has been leading a strategic planning effort. That will be completed in the coming months. That will include recommendations for more more efficient and structured special events program and so then we'll move toward implementing those recommendations with the goal of being a better partner. In the production of special events throughout the city. There is an audit of our citywide collection of more than 200 works of public art. Now that the libraries it's on district. We've community vitality in our office of Arts and culture hasn't inherited a lot of art that we need to get a good inventory on this work. Will be the first step in understanding how we can take care of these assets. And we'll be completing

[50:17] renovation of all of the ways that these things are identified. And also incorporating an online education resource. So everybody can enjoy and understand our Outdoor Museum of Public Art. So we're gonna continue to work with our partners at the Dairy Art Center on a renewal of their long term lease this is to ensure that the dairy can continue to thrive in the city for many, many years to come. We had a 20 year agreement that expired a couple of years ago. We've been extending it by one year over the past couple of years, working towards establishing another long term agreement there.

[51:01] The office of Arts and Culture will be relaunching and creative neighborhoods. Program that includes initiatives like neighborhood murals, artists, work projects and support our comprehensive planning office to ensure that cultural culture and creativity are part of area planning and comp and the comprehensive plan. So we can expand arts, opportunities beyond our key visitor commercial areas, but into neighborhoods throughout the city. And finally, our cultural grants program will again be supporting expansion of arts in the community. The. It's important that this can take some new account. Diversity and equity goals. In our granting and there's the new equity pipeline fund that helps young leaders and underrepresented groups to gain new skills and build their networks so they can grow into the future leaders of bowlers, creative industries. So that's our cultural vibrancy work area. Thank you, Matt, for your talking points.

[52:09] In the district vitality work area. We have a 5.2 million dollar capital program this year. Part of that is an assessment of all of our existing capital assets to understand their current state and map out their capital needs over the next 5, 10 years. Specifically, in 1,500 pearl we are going to be working to replace the Hvac system, and the fire suppression system in the garage area, we might find ourselves replacing the the fire suppression system in our tenant spaces as we had a major freeze in that building last week, after a failure in the deep freeze. The entire building lost heath and froze when we had negative kind of the 17 degree temperatures. So we've all been working outside of that building as we have been repairing

[53:05] over a dozen breaks and cleaning up water and trying to get our tenants back into spaces over there. So that's been super fun. At 1,100 spruce we are replacing some landings at the elevators. As well as the fire suppression system. There. At the same, Julian, we're going to be replacing some stairs at that facility and installing a traffic coding between the first and second parking levels to reduce some corrosion that's been occurring over the past 20 years. There. We're working on our planning for the fiftieth anniversary of Pearl Street, Mall which is coming up in 2027 to have some resources directed toward that, to make sure, we at least have a refresh look and feel by the time we enter into the fiftieth anniversary, as well as a long term vision for major improvements in the the downtown area to set the the Mall and the downtown for another 50 years of success.

[54:04] The we're looking at some improvements to the mobile vending cart program. So community vitalities responsible for soliciting for and leasing space in both Google actually downtown university. And we have the opportunity in Boulder Junction as well. To lease space for mobile vending parts to operate. You really familiar with seeing these downtown unsuccessful over many years. We have not seen this take off in University Hill. But we would love to see more activity and activation in this room. Up there as well as at the Depot Square plaza. So we'll be working on that this year as well. We have some capital funds directed toward undergrounding power lines within the downtown district. We have allocated funds over at least the next 5 or 6 years, and so incrementally, we're going to be working with climate initiatives and excel energy to get all, or, if most, if not all, of the overhead power lines, the downtown district underground over the next several years will improve safety, aesthetics, reliability of the system. So looking forward to that work as well.

[55:24] Finally, this general improvement district's alternatives, analysis and capital plan is a big lift. That I mentioned that I mentioned in my response to the consent agenda, where we are taking a look at the financial components of all of the general improvement districts. And analyzing our long term capital obligations as far as keeping our assets and shape our operational obligations for Tdm for staffing. Wanting to understand possibilities for

[56:00] new capital enhancements as well as opportunities to reduce mill levy obligations where appropriate. So you all will be very much part of this conversation. It's not going to be a one year effort, but we will be looking toward some near term action items to implement, possibly in anticipation of the 2025 text year. So more to come on that. And you'll hear more about this in March. in our access for all work area. This year, we're going to be replacing our back end. Parking management system. So we're in 2023. We made a lot of changes that were noticeable to the customers that we serve in our garages as far as the gateless technology and and other improvements in that area. This year, we're we're replacing some of the back end systems that are going to be as noticeable to our customers, but our really big for us. The current parking management system that we have called t, 2 is a legacy system that is.

[57:02] not very user friendly on on our side of of the equation. This system needs to communicate in real time from our on street parking, pay stations to the Park Mobile app to our citation writing systems that are parking Enforcement officers carry around to the municipal court that processes tickets as they're written and has to consider appeals and voids or educations of those tickets. So this, the current system that we have is is antiquated, connects all those things together. It's critical to our operation. And we're going to be replacing that in the months ahead. We're really excited about a commutative pilot program which you're going to be hearing about shortly. So I'm not going to talk about that right now. because regents here to to present that work to you. We're also doing a comprehensive review of all of our access related products. And coming up with some recommendations for changes in those products to better serve our cost customers. In all the districts we serve. And finally, we are implementing a digital asset management system.

[58:10] called beehive in partnership with a number of other departments. City. This will allow us to better manage our routine maintenance and inventory of all the things the community vitality is responsible for in keeping in good work and order throughout the city. So with that, that's a high level overview of everything we have planned in 2024. Happy to to answer questions. and I'll stop sharing the screen. Chris, you brought up the the Pearl Street anniversary and the work there? So I will ask, is there an been any update or work on the seasonal closures of West Pearl

[59:03] for outdoor dining. So that is a bigger conversation affiliated with the older social streets. That is, being led by transportation and mobility and planning and development services. We are certainly very interested in in what the outcomes of that work are. I know that Council city council is also looking to get that on their agenda in the months ahead. So nothing to share with you specifically right now related to West Pearl. But I do know that the Polar Social streets effort. Will be raised. kind of likely of a study session in the next few months. Thank you. If there are no additional questions on our work plan. Then I'm happy to move into an update from Regan on the way, finding and branding.

[60:13] Alright. Thanks, Chris. Let me share my screen. Here. I have an exciting update for you all regarding the wayfinding project. Just gonna share some photos and just an fyi when I share my screen, I can't see raised hand, so feel free to interrupt me. Or just wait till I stop sharing the screen. Alright. Give me 1 s. The top bar won't move, so I can't like actually fully present. Thanks. There, at the bottom of your screen. There we go. I got it. Sorry. Just me a second. Okay, I know I shared some of these photos with you all. During the last commission meeting, but again just to recap. So this was kind of the construction phase, pouring the concrete, really laying the foundation for the signage.

[61:11] the fabrication but now, finally, this week, some of the signage has begun to get installed we so all signs in the public right of way are installed except for 2 vehicular directional and one pedestrian directional. and then just a reminder. The private property signage will be rolled out. Sort of in a phase, too. We're just getting permission from private property owners at this point. And at this point we have gone either verbal or written confirmation from all those on private property that they'd like to pursue this signage, so all of it should be complete and installed by this spring. But if you haven't had a chance again, most of it in the public right of way is out there, so I encourage you to go check out perl and Junction Place. There are 2 primary gateway signs there

[62:07] on thirtieth, in Pearl, both on the north and south side of Pearl. There's some secondary gateway signage. There's one right in front of the road house. indicating Depot Square plaza, as you can see on the left here. I personally think it looks fantastic. But I I'm being biased because I've been working on this for almost 2 years now. So definitely go check it out. Very exciting. Update for us. It does look good. Yay, thank you. Yeah. It really does. Awesome. Thank you. Regan, very excited to to see the fruits of all that labor. And again, you know what we heard from the Commission a couple of years ago in our strategic in our retreat was. This was a a primary priority for the Commission, so really glad that we were able to translate that into these improvements.

[63:09] Reading your next on the agenda. I will share my screen again, this time presenting on commutify pilot program. Alright. And again just a reminder. I can't see hands. So if commissioners can wait till the end for questions that would be great, but also feel free to interrupt me alright. Are you seeing my slides. Yep. great. So we are launching a pilot program in partnership with commutify this year, for those of you who aren't aware commutify is a tech start up based here in boulder, and their focus is on developing platforms to better understand

[64:02] as well as quantify commuting patterns and encourage folks to to take sustainable commutes. So the pilot program will run through 2024 in the focus area will be in the central area. General improvement district, also known as caged or downtown as well as in Vijad. Tdm. so just wanted to start with a high level overview of the purpose and kind of what we're seeking to achieve through this pilot program, and then I'll get into the specific program elements. The purpose in summary is to encourage companies in Caged and Holder Junction to fund and participate in sustainable commuting commuting practices through a financial incentives matching programme directed at their employees. So it will essentially provide financial incentives to employees within these districts who use sustainable transportation methods to get to and from work. So whether that be recycle riding their own bike, car pooling, public transit, walking, etc.

[65:13] And the result that we're trying to achieve is that commuters will become more aware and more educated on boulders, multimodal transportation options, all really in an effort to reduce carbon footprint, update commutes decrease traffic congestion, improve air quality and support local business, which is the component that I'll get into in the next slide. So now, diving into some of the specific elements of the program, first unify, I will develop a public information hub for employers and their employees to learn more about the program and explore the transportation options that are available to them will then work with commutify, to conduct outreach to employers within Caged and Boulder Junction, so that they can register their organization on a project landing page if they so choose to participate in the program.

[66:13] And that's where they'll also be able to determine the amount that they'd like to incentivize for each employee. So again, if an employee takes a sustainable commute to work. They can receive this financial incentive from their employer in doing so. and then the city will then match that amount up to a dollar 25, a dollar and 25 cents per trip. So ultimately, an an employee can earn up to $2 and 50 cents per commute commutify will then assist participating employers in recruiting their employees to join this incentives program. They will develop and maintain an online dashboard where employees can register into the program

[67:02] as well as validate their qualified commuting trips, which they can do either through self reporting or automatic integrations that we are currently working on with our micro mobility partners. So, for example, if an employee takes a B cycle. it will be reported onto the B cycle app, but it will automatically that information will translate onto the commutified dashboard. And it is important to know that an employee can report 2 times per day so to and from work so technically, they do have the ability to earn up to $5 a day with the city's match. But there will be a limit to how much we can put towards matching each employer. So if the program is super successful, there may be a point down the road later in the year where we do need to communicate to employers in advance that we're close to running out of funds or reaching that funding limit.

[68:01] And so that's just an Fyi. The employer can still contribute as much as they'd like. But we do have limited resources for the pilot program. Employees will also receive their financial incentive funds on a platform via a virtual mobility card or physical card. If requested on a case by case basis, we do have that option. and the funds can either be reinvested into using sustainable transportation methods, or they can be used at local retailers. So that's kind of the supporting the small business piece. And we're still working on identifying who those local retailers will be engaging in Boulder Junction that qualify but right now we're really thinking any small local business. So there will be plenty of options there and then. Lastly, another important component is that participating employers can apply for the State tax credit from this program. which is the alternative transportation tax credit where employers can receive a 50%. Credit on any funds they use to invest

[69:14] in alternative modes of transportation in which this program would certainly qualify. So that's kind of the big incentive for employers. There is getting that 50% tax credit implementation timeline. So we are currently working with commutify on product development and configuration in which we plan to begin product testing and conducting outreach actually, probably in February to employers. At least we're we're already finalizing some of the marketing materials. So conducting outreach, probably before March. But the goal is to launch the platform and incentives program officially on April first. So on April one employees can start logging trips and earning funds for those sustainable commutes

[70:07] and then next steps. So the incentives program will run until the end of the year, so employees can use funds until the end of December. or sorry can earn funds until the end of December but they do have until the end of January 2025 to spend their incentive money that they earn and then thereafter will evaluate the program, identify opportunities, challenges, opportunities to maybe improve it. And then the goal is to continue it in the coming years, if successful and maybe even expand to other areas of the city. but happy to yield any questions from commissioners. Still very much in the product product development phase. But any feedback or comments. That's great. We appreciate it.

[71:01] Gregan. Do you expect the taxpayer funds to cannibalize any of the funding that employers already give to their employees to take alternate transportation. I think there there used to be. There may still be some employers downtown that used to pay employees to to take the bus instead of take up a parking spot, so they kind of paid them the equivalent of a parking spot every month, like $80 a month, or something like that got it. So I mean, you see, this program is kind of being, and I guess, added benefit to that. Is that your question, Commissioner? I'm wondering if they would use this to subsidize their existing programs rather than like there, they may be already be paying certain employees to to for this behavior, and they see this more as a way to subsidize their their funding versus

[72:01] and and added. Yeah, is largely customizable to individual businesses. And so, as Regan said. We see this tool as additive. where it's certainly possible that now that we are putting some money in that employers might realize modest savings. If they're spending a lot of money on a specific tool right now that we're targeting our incentives. But I would say through the partnership, first of all, I think, would be modest and if that means that they have more capacity to to support a broader portfolio of incentives for their employees than it could be a win-win, but certainly something that we'll want to keep track of and understand. As we're working with individual employers. In our analysis.

[73:21] Robin. Oh, you're on mute. II have a question about security of user data on these. So obviously, they're doing data collection so that they can better understand people using other using public transit. I'm just curious. How is that anonymized so that someone doesn't have to worry about their particular movements being tracked. I understand big tech companies have done this. Just curious. I'm sure this is something that's been taken to account. But how are they doing that I am not entirely sure. But that's something I'll want to escalate, to commutify.

[74:02] make any assumptions. Question so. And yeah, thanks for the question. I do know that this is something that not just communicating, but in order for us to contract with, commutify our our. It department needs to be really comfortable with the approach as well. And privacy and anonymization of data is is important piece of that. Happy to to pass the question on, to communicate and get that back. But we certainly are. We have the same questions, and I'm just curious. Has have any of the offshoot portions of see? You looked into doing this as well like, I know, target, we're looking at small businesses and obviously taxes is not an issue for the university. But we have a number of of locations on the hill, and so forth, that might be directly impacted by that.

[75:04] So I'm not aware of any efforts for them. I don't know if you are, Chris. I have not and that's why we're excited about this pilot, because if it does prove to be really successful and easily duplicated. Then it would be our hope that maybe more folks would adopt this approach to incentivizing travel, behavior. Change for employees and others cool. Thank you so much. Thank you. Any other questions. Alright. thanks, Regan. Thank you. Last Smith. Here. I don't know that you all have met her before. She is our new communications program manager. I don't know if I got that title exactly right. But yeah, good so we used to work with Jen Bray from the communications and engagement Department, and Jen has retired. And now we are very lucky to be supported by Emmy Emmy. Before she was at the city was with the downtown boulder partnership

[76:19] where we work with her at that time. In her role there and then she came over the city, was supporting the library for a number of months in their transition into a new district, and now she's been sign assigned to community vitality, and we hope that that is a permanent condition for cover and ever and ever. But she's here to talk to you about Commissioner recruitment effort to introduce yourself and talk about Commissioner recruitment. So over to me, yeah. Hi, everyone. It's nice to meet you all virtually, and in addition to all the really great things about me, I've also had the privilege to live in Boulder Junction

[77:00] for about 2 and a half years now. So I'm really familiar with the area, and it's an awesome to see the signs come up and see the districts really come alive the last few years as a resident but I'm happy to share out some information about how the city has been recruiting commissioners. And there's a couple of different levels. So on a citywide level, in terms of how we've been recruiting for all the various, for submissions across all the different departments there was a huge press release that was distributed in the middle of December. Information shared out across all city social media channels on the next door platform their flyers that have been created and distributed throughout the city. And then there's been highlights in various newsletters. So in City Wise, folder, Newsletter, and in the Volunteer Newsletter a lot of information has gone out about all the various Board and Commission recruitment efforts and then specific to community vitality. One of the Commissioners from the Downtown Management Commission spoke on inside Boulder news about what it's like to serve on a Cv specific commission. And so that was awesome to get his perspective and share out what it's like to be a volunteer within the community vitality department.

[78:12] We've also shared a lot of information about Cv openings, arts and culture channel, so on. Arts and culture, social media, and 3 or 4 different arts and culture newsletters. Now information about all commissions, including bull or Junction have gone out of there and then. We've also shared it with a lot of community partners so downtown. Boulder partnership and the Hill have also been sharing information about openings. Including older junctions. So happy to answer any questions about what's been done so far. The application is about to close. It's open through Monday, January 20, ninth. And so we're nearing the end of that application period. But happy to take the offer suggestions for potentially what we could do in the future. especially with Boulder Junction. I know that we have a lot of specific requirements for commissioners here. So whatever we can help you to get the word out

[79:11] any questions from any may I just ask? I know that the the I know that the applications have not closed yet. Have, what kind of engagement and interest have we gotten so far? Yeah, so unfortunately, we're not able to see how many people have applied to specific commissions. Yet that all goes through the city manager clerk's office. So we aren't able to see what engagement has been like as of right now. So we'll know a lot more once the application period officially closes. Thank you. Everyone. Thanks, Ami, welcome. And that concludes matters from Staff. I do want to point out. There is possibly a member of the public who's been listening in. I'm not. I know we're past the public participation. But if we wanted the chair wanted to go back to public participation. But we could ask for anybody who wants to participate to raise their hand.

[80:23] Have happy to do that good idea, Chris. Alright. I'm seeing one member of the public. If you are interested in speaking to at the Commission, you're welcome to raise your hand. Now, if not, we will move on with the agenda. and not seeing a raised hand, so we can move on to man or some commissioners. Go ahead, Sue. So I have a Cp from car share, and he was asking about getting a second car in

[81:03] Boulder Junction. Apparently that's one of their better utilized cars in Boulder. They seem to do a lot better in Denver. But anyway, I don't know if he's talked to you. If that's guess just asking about that and seeing if there's any update, or if there's anything he should do. we can get in touch with them. So II can chime in thanks, Commissioner. Oh, for Christine, but II have been in touch with car share. He connected with Stan, Samantha Bromberg, and myself, and we connected him to Margo with our parking services front desk. Who's gonna try to make some movement on that, Christine? Do you have any other additional updates. Yeah, it turns out there was some turnover with Sp plus, which is the company that manages the garage over there. So we had to figure out new contact is, we just got that this morning so hopefully, progress soon. But we're also excited about getting them up and running

[82:00] if possible. Thank you. Gotcha. Yeah. 2 items. The first of which is City Council's retreat is coming up in March. Do we have any more guidance on letters? But it's so. The retreat has been rescheduled for April. There was a a conflict with the mayor's schedule. We have not received any request or guidance which we? If we do, we will certainly let you all know. There is a new Retreat Committee. that. They're the ones that these are the council members that work together to plan out the retreat process, so they'll be the ones here to determine in the next number of weeks of of what they would like specifically from commissions, if anything.

[83:03] as soon as we hear he will let you know. Can we add a discussion item to the nuts meeting just on what we want to include in the letter. Sure. Thank you. Any other comments from commissioners on that item, and then I'll move to my next one. Alright. The second one is, I'm actually out of the country in March, and I was wondering if we could see about having the meeting the week before March thirteenth, and if that would work for other commissioners, and if that, if we could public notice that if that is acceptable. 13.

[84:02] I have a standing 40'clock, but her boulder meeting. Sorry, Rebecca. No, I mean I'm I'm suggesting that as a date, but I could do it a different day that week or so. How about if the commissions would like set to seek out another time, and everybody to agrees that you would like to do that, or we have a will of a majority to do that. We're glad to do that for that great to find a workable time for the that works for everybody. Okay? And then related, it looks like we never did get a quorum for Tdm tonight. So do we need a special meeting to vote on the property.

[85:02] We're gonna conference with the City Trees office to see if we can wait till the regular meeting. But yes, we very likely will need to at least schedule a 5 min. Special meeting to get that passed. Alright. Thank you, sir. Ryan. Those are all of my matters from this, Commissioner. Thanks, Rebecca. I didn't have anything. Robin, shaking her head. Kevin. Anything from you see me. No, thank you. Okay. I think. Chris, unless there's anything else from you or staff, then we can adjourn. We are all good. Thank you. Okay, thanks, everybody. Thanks. All. Take care. Have a good night.