March 12, 2024 — Downtown Management Commission Regular Meeting

Transcript

Captions from City of Boulder YouTube recording.

[0:02] We are reporting welcome to the downtown Management Commission meeting. It is 401 Pm. March twelfth, 2024, and I will call. Susan is your speaker. That's Don Pope here. speakers. so we we cannot hear you. You try again here. So well, we have this problem. Turn on your speaker. Okay. I'm talking. I am talking, and I'm talking. I'm talking. Give me a thumbs up to hear me. I now you're muted. I am talking. I am talking. I am talking blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Blaine is not standing outside.

[1:01] Belane hears me. but the room doesn't hear me, so Don is working, cause Lane hears me so shy I just unmuted. So now you can hear us done talking. I'm talking. Hello, anyone viewer. Now we're talking tiny bubbles jingle bells on Thursday. It's gonna be jingle buttons. Don, can you hear us now? I can hear you coming to you through Regan's laptop? So let us know if you are not hearing somebody speak, because I don't know that the microphones across the room number one. So

[2:00] yeah, it sounds crummy. It's the heat. That sounds crap. So I don't know what to do about that. Yeah, Reagan, if you don't need your laptop, if you put it kind of over by. Okay. I'll just move. Okay. can't be there. It's just the similar city meetings are going on with for my family at the same time, and it just makes life hard. We'll test that second recently. Okay. alright. So no, no, it's probably first 5 min.

[3:03] Welcome to the downtown 2024, and I will call. Do the still here. Don't know. Remote listening definitely here. And okay. thank you. Lisa. Okay, we have a motion to approve the January second. Second. okay, did you ask me. members of the public present? Absolutely memorable. That's good. Okay. The next item is the consent agenda. So do any Commissioner have questions for staff regarding any topic from agenda? I don't mind

[4:02] a little bit pleasure to some members in the transportation here. Just the announcement. I'm just starting as our transportation plan manager and Alison. They submitted some information to you. Gender related to Microsoft to be your but if there aren't any. We just wanted to give you some face silence. You folks in thanks. So much. Yeah. Happy to answer any questions on the update from mobility program. And we received an email earlier today. And II just want to apologize. It sounds if if there was feelings of misrepresentation in the opening to that update of of information regarding, as we said, expansion received broad support and stakeholder reports and commissions, as well as counsel. At the meeting in January 2023. So I do apologize. If that feels misrepresented. It wasn't generalization to move forward with the update. So I do apologize for not providing more detail and more nuance of what this Commission has shared before. So

[5:22] you know I do apologize for that and and we can certainly make those adjustments on any communication, or I don't know. Is this going to be presented to council? Can this be changed before presenting to council? Yeah, it's a great question. So we'll next be sharing an update on the shared micro mobility program to the Transportation Advisory Board in April, and we'll be sharing an update on the program to counsel in May. So we can certainly make those updates to the language before that

[6:00] great, just because, everyone may not see the sentence that was called out. There is one sentence that said expansion received broad support from stakeholders, boards, and commissions. and I just didn't feel that the downtown Management Commission's voice had been, while we may not have final say. or whatever we were presented, and I would say that our I think our we've had enough conversations through our commit commission that we didn't feel like we would necessarily be in broad support of it. And so I didn't want to have. if other I don't wanna speak out of line of the rest of the commission members, but with a line that said that there is broad support from commissions. That's what I was talking about, and also likewise I don't know if downtown boulder partnership would have any. II think there's good goods and bads to everything.

[7:00] but I wouldn't say broad support would be the term I for what is coming out of the commission, and I didn't know if Dvp. Had a a different opinion to looking at me. Ii haven't had a chance to review this with our board of directors. So we would certainly welcome a chance. We have a board meeting on Thursday. Discuss that at that time when to come to cancel as well. Yeah, we can. yeah, we can talk to remind me. Your name is one more shine policy. Alison Steven. Okay. I'm Stephanie. II wanted to say that I appreciated the update and the detail around it, and also was excited to see the positive impact on boulders, climate goals. Sure, important. And I think why we're doing this one of the many reasons and I wanted to ask also in life the new signage which I think is really creative

[8:01] and appeals to the writer population. how can you enforce? Are there other ways to enforce the rules around? Kind of scooter mobility? II saw that see you just like gives every student a pass. And is there any like accountability or ways that see you, or Lyme, or the city can help keep students accountable to following the rules. My thought being is, there's no consequences for dropping a scooter in the middle of the sidewalk, and you can continuously have access to your past without any consequences. How do we like enforce people to just do better? The great question, so just some clarity there. So see you actually provides these cycle passes. Line does not have a pass that can be provided. So just I know I spoke about both. So are part of the sharing micro mobility program. But that's for the cycle line doesn't have any sort of past program. So it's individual ride basis.

[9:04] and in terms of enforcement and incentives and disincentives. If you park in a mandatory parking film which is currently the maps are on on the update, on currently in the downtown area as well as the use canvas in the University of Commercial District. If you park in a mandatory parking zone outside of the library, painted green rectangles. You continue to be charged on your account, and you keep getting. please put in an aligned group. So that is one way of just in front of you. Continue to be charged. We're actually and mentioned in the update. We're expanding the University bill mandatory parking zone to include the neighborhood area. and we're actually also adding on a fine for this part students. So outside of this. so again as a disincentive we've we've

[10:03] learn that we, we really need folks to be following the rules and changing that user behavior, to align with the rules that have been established that are established to meet our city. So those are some of the disincentives we've also been working with. Boulder police is under boulder police purview to enforce. we recognize boulder places a lot on their enforcement. Agend. You know things to do. So we've shared that information. But we recognize that it's it's not going to be everywhere. And we need to look at other ways of enforcement, but also education, which is why we did that education campaign, and we're restarting again next week. So we'll have some updated signage and everything. Again universal the large broken because there's kind of been a lot of friction in that area. But we'll also be putting some signage down. Okay? And that's you said next week and start that. And when is the finding the new findings start? It'll start once the mandatory parking zone is implemented in University Hill, which is in about 2 to 3 weeks weather dependent. So we're before the spring. So I say, weather dependent.

[11:14] Lime has ordered the materials they are going to be putting in, you know the paint and everything. But again, just weather dependents about. Okay. And you, you sound like a good way to kind of deal with some of the negative externalities that we've been experiencing in the downtown. So II wanted to see if any other commission members had comments about this. I think we have addressed concerns, not about the scooters, but just about the negative impacts of just not falling right, Ray. Or I'm just being in a and running over pedestrians, or whatever it is. But any other commissioners have comments. Question. I have a question, has there been any discussion about expanding the mandatory parking zone in downtown? We haven't had any discussions of that at this time. We've been focusing on the University Hill area. Because these are really data driven decisions where we want feedback from from residents, from business owners, from everyone involved in the community. But we're really looking at also data driven. And we're seeing more usage in the University Hill area. As you'll see on the map. In that area.

[12:22] it's very purple around the and I also need in this document, a regional online dashboard that the Denver Regional Council governments, host and they host it for all the cities in the region who have micro mobility. And it's a third party provider that uploads all this information. So you it's it's a really dashboard. I recommend you dig in if you want, but it's so you can see the usage by time of day, and all of this to really understand where? Where usages, and then we can also see where smoothly parked and and really kind of understanding where folks are going with that. So a lot of that is driving our decisions to manage that parking

[13:07] And we've we've had questions. Why aren't there mandatory parking zones in the whole city and part of why, that is is because when you create a mandatory parking zone. You need to then identify locations where both can park if you're identifying. So that takes up public right of way. And we need to identify that. So so it's really strategic looking at that data where that makes the most but if if you see needs, you know again. We we are looking at feedback, and and we'll kind of dig in further need. Another. Okay, II would say, I live. just a little bit east of downtown. and I think it's got better. I mean, there are fewer like upside down scooters, things like that. So

[14:10] speaking of the how all this transportation stuff works. There's a new building that has been was granted much lower parking spots than generally required at Fifteenth and Canyon. The new olive building. They have, you know, it's just about to open. They could have between 700 or 1,000 people living there, depending on how many people they decide. You know any one person decides to put in their bedroom. And they have a hundred one parking spots. And so I do see that is a main thoroughfare for Boulder High School students. We do have scooters kind of scattered across Fifteenth Street. I see it as part of the slow zone. but as Olive is about to implode into a new dorm in downtown boulder, I suggest that maybe the parking thing be extended to Sixteenth Street, so that the whole radius of olive

[15:06] be encompassed within the parking and slow zones. Okay, that's great feedback. Thank you so much. I've actually been working with that development on their eco passes. very much based on their location. So we'll keep an eye on that area. Once they do have occupancy to really understand. kind of how scooters are functioning in that area. So thank you so much for that. Yeah, we do see scooters littered on the street from time to time, I'm sure line keeps track of where they have them, but with boulder high students tracking up and down there. That's a high through affair for students, too, for walking. Yep. yeah, that's great feedback. Thank you. And like, I said, if you have additional questions, my information in here. I'm happy to share anything else. If you have additional questions and we'll be sharing updates with.

[16:09] you know so much. I have a question about the mobile vending cards. Lane, I think this is your territory. Can you give us a rundown on? It looks like we're full. So who are the new people and who are the existing people? Okay, thank you so much. Yeah, I'm happy to fill in on that existing. I'll try to do this here. So starting at 11 and perl we have a long time vendor, which was first Free Grill, he also goes by the name to stand by his his own permit. He's not allowed to be out before 10 Pm. So you probably don't see him unless you're a night owl and a a late night social bug.

[17:01] But he's very welcome as he provides a little bit of food relief to those who have been overextending themselves. and as we move down towards Prana, of course we have the very friendly Freddie's hot dogs, Mike. Coming across the Street. We currently have King Kama case ideas as you cross over Broadway. They've also found that their product is much more desirable after dark, so they don't really do any lunch sales right across from them between Haganda's and Heli Hanson will be A a great new vendor called kindness gemstones. and actually, 3 years ago, before the pandemic, we had soul stones down there. So it's almost my identical product line. And she's coming forward to take over that vacant space.

[18:00] Then if you move down towards the capital, one cafe okay. Sorry. Sorry. Where the sales where the jewelry store is is what used to be the sun spot, the I work cart that was then subsequently purchased by Chris Norris, who runs the hat cart, and you'll notice that he has both of those cards that he runs concurrently down near the Visitor Information Center, and he does a great job. He's a huge friend of the city under the Pd. He's got eyes on everything. Okay? Right? Regress back to them. The jewelry cart will now be a really cool concept that apparently does it already does events in Boulder called Denver pops, and their gourmet popsicles made out of a variety of frozen fruits and interesting flavors. So he's going to be very near where all of our performers are, with their crazy acts of their tight wires. So I think that's a really good fit. And then, coming across near the visitor Center again. As I said, Chris has the hat cart, the sunglass cart. We have cherries, Momo, which won a Dvp award last year for Rising Star. They also subsequently have bought the old fast eddies cart, which had been out of service for several years.

[19:19] It's not out much. They're not having as much traction with that. But again, they keep both of those cards running when possible, in the busy times, and then the last part in the 1,300 block would be vulnerable the beans and rice card. which again was a great success story. It's something that previously had been run by Javier, and after the pandemic he was tired of it. One of his employees, husband and wife team, bought it from him, and they've been running it and then jumping across by Avante, we will have a brand new concept which I'm excited about a very French style. Fresh flower cart. She's calling it Grace fluores. And so she'll be kind of basically out there in front of hurdles, jewelry, and across from Avanti. So again, I think that's a really good place to reach out to, to folks who enjoy the finer things in life. And then seasonally, we have

[20:17] the owner of pizza colore is running the ice cream cart, for with glacier ice cream locally branded boulder product out seasonally. And he's right by the children's play area with all those marble animals questions. That's a great mix. I'm excited. So not since before the pandemic have we filled all 13 cart spaces. So this is it's a nice return to the status quo. That's great, I think successful. One thing that's interesting is, you talked about several places that don't see a good return during the day. How does that differ from pre-pandemic to now?

[21:01] Well, and actually, the Tina's there, and she can probably fill you in better than I, with the upstairs office vacancy rates being quite a bit considerably higher than our downstairs retail. Having just done a lot of travels along Route 66 A couple of weeks ago, I could tell you we are an an unbelievably lucky city, or our retail vacancy being so low. But in any case a lot of the stuff upstairs no longer has the folks who need to rush out and and make lunch purchases and quick grab and goes so I hear really great reports from Mike. At Freddie's and from cherries. Momo! Even boulder bowls. Chris Norris, the hat vendor. He's actually had some record sales, particularly in 2,023. So he's very happy. But I think overall we're just not sorry about that. We're not seeing as many of the

[22:01] those those folks coming out to grab and go products. So, as I said, 2 of the well, one of the vendors, by his permit is only allowed to be out after 10 pm. And that's because there's so many restaurants in the on the 1,100 block. They didn't want the competition from him. He's happy with his late night service. The pub loves it because they can't really keep up with the the need at that time of night. and then again, the the case of Deia cart. They actually go to the tasting rooms, and they have a really good slot at some of our tasting rooms during the the evening hours, and then they do late nights on twirl. Very good. Thanks. Any other questions for the commissioners for staff on. That's a check.

[23:04] It sounds like we're gonna move in on that. Hello. also. Not unless there are any questions posed by Blake. the updated report. It says, 2023 year to date is, are these final figures? Yep. they should be finally questions, but strictly. only in the I'm sorry I can't hear very well. In the past. We've had the year to date before you also stated. It's always handy to say what the year to date is just so that it's defined in the dashboard so that we can. because in a way, I didn't examine it as much, I soon being March, that it was full.

[24:04] 2023. So that is, that is correct, it is the full 2023. Thus we hear from Elliott, otherwise. Yes. So then, our parking revenue being about 2 million dollars lower. does that? Is that because of perking so like reserve spots like in the behind Bemoka? Or is that the on-demand parking that's made it be so much lower than budgeted? So that's a really great question. 3 weeks to really hate us. We invoice for parking permits quarterly in the month in advance of the beginning of the quarter change to metropolis. We're now invoicing monthly at the start of the month that the payments, too. So

[25:02] as a result, some of the for 2023 it used to get crew and advance where we were December of 2022. The invoice work permits that approved 2, 2020 This year we did not have that not roughly, not invoice for permits. or 2024 until January. So there is. That's the largest impact to parking revenues, which will also, you know that we did produce the right. $3, 201 cents transaction. We also reduce the first hour

[26:00] rates by 49 cents. and so we participate in a reduction parking revenues as a result of that. So those 2 things combine I've led to that. don't. So we'll see. Hiring will see this normalized over the years. Do we want those? Wait for me to consider what that correct 8 mutating? I'll wait. We'll also notice that with we also any more questions. We're also gracious. Also, it's the but

[27:07] need them under that. Make sure that our projections questions last week. and if you do need to make adjustments, certainly we were. Excuse me. when is the debt service retired? This is our last. Yeah. Elliot. correct. anyhow. yes, I believe this is our last year. But it's here, too. But okay.

[28:04] Hi, there, Commissioner, my apologies. Can you guys hear me? Okay. yes, yes. awesome. I apologize. I'm having wonderful times with connections to zoom. So just to clarify. Yeah, the debt service has expired. And I was just coming out of the tail end of Chris's conversation regarding the decrease in revenue for parking revenue, Don, that you proposed? Did you get your answer for that, or is there some more that I can clarify on that. Then you're on mute, just as a heads up since I'm having a hell of a time. Hearing Chris over the microphone, I assume, Ellie, you understood what he was saying, just because you know it. But I heard because of the way that it's billing be from quarterly to monthly, and that's one thing, and then maybe something about just the the rate. Being a little bit different. Yeah, so that that is correct. So the the shift in our policy from going to gateless. We're no longer building on a quarterly, and it's it's oddly enough, I was doing the analysis over this on a quarterly over

[29:11] year over year quarter basis. And we saw in a dramatic decrease and revenue. And that was because of way that we are now doing billing on permits. It's now on a monthly basis. And we're the way that we're bringing in revenue. Has timed a little bit different. We're really expecting to see a kind of a higher year for 2024 because of that. So some of the revenue that would have traditionally been collected in 23 is now spilling into earlier 24. That's the majority of the reason why we're seeing from what I'm seeing, an analysis of revenue decreases there for the parking. Maybe my other question. As long as I'm talking, then I'll stop. Is the lease's rents and royalties is about 40%.

[30:00] Of what was budgeted. Yep. And I do remember saying that last Commission meeting, that we would expect to see some revenue and did some more digging, and the policy that was kind of being followed with repairs and tenant improvements. actually reduced our revenue, because, rather than doing a direct expense for those types of costs. We just absorb them through the revenue. So our property management company would then offset our revenue cause of those expenses. So that's one of the major reasons why we saw such a decrease in revenue last year's cause. We had some major capital expenses that the Property Management Company provided for us. So we again through the revenue offset is is how we had that change. That said going forward. We have asked that we can be now more connected to the billing. So we're doing a lot more direct billing. So it works out the same if you will. It's just we're now putting expenses where expenses should live so that we can show revenue on those tenant properties. We feel it's very important to really have that balance look on the fund financials. Again, it'll work out about the same. But it's a policy change that we're making this year.

[31:18] Okay, so you're comfortable with the issues on both of these. And it's just kind of some shifts. It's not that like. or eating something in a bad way. Correct? Yeah. So with the decrease in those revenues we were seeing. There's actually a decrease in some of the expenses. And even on long term may have remembered from when Teresa Pinkle was my predecessor was in this position. She may have mentioned that there is a fees associated with some of these parking revenue, so you, in order to make money. You have to spend money concept with our new vendor taking over on the gateless side. They are now also paying those credit card processing fees.

[32:07] So although we may see a decrease in revenue, we're also seeing a decrease in expenses. So it's in some terms of wash, and we're continuing to do an analysis and doing year over year comparison of those and actually, we're we're doing that here in the very near future, just because we have a full quarter behind us now, with our new Gate Gateless Company and our the vendor. We wanna make sure that we're we are trending in the right way. But there's no red flags that I'm seeing that has me concerned for the the fund. Health in a long term for for Cajun great any other questions, and it is a it's a little hard to hear anybody that's not sitting right next to the computer. So if I do miss something, please. Please let me know. Thanks, Elliot. Alright, thank you.

[33:01] Next we have our public safety update. Hardcore is here, and we have 15 min of general update, and then we'll have some Q&A system absolutely. absolutely. First off, a very hard topic again. Interim depth over Pd. And Chief Redfern, which is, he could be here. Unfortunately, he's in San Antonio at a a conference. I'm gonna cover 3 things for you real quick. Start off with some staffing. I wanna cover some data and and get into some some highlights. I know there's some pretty significant events took place downtown for the last 30 days. I wanna give you all some updates on that and answer the questions with regards to our staffing. I'm happy to say that our downtown all teams are fully staffed now. We brought one additional officer over in February to

[34:00] augment a 2 person team, and so now we have 3 teams that are fully staffed, 2 person teams that are fully staffed for the downtown Mall area, and their coverage is continuing to be the same, which is Monday through Saturday, from 6 Am. Until 7 pm. Typically, we are still at 6 for our staffing for our impact team, which for those that don't remember impact team. That's our team that works from 5 Pm. Until 3 Am. Typically, they have been assigned to the hill predominantly. Last year they were 4 officers, so they spent most of their time on the hill. We went ahead and added 2 more officers to that team this year. and part of the expectation with adding to that team is that they provide better coverage down along the area. During those those evening and early morning hours from again, 5 pm. To 3 am. So that increase in staffing is actually led

[35:01] to some increases. There's some interesting stats that have come out of it in that our proactive policing has gone up significantly. Our pedestrian contract contacts for the last month, compared to 2023, has increased by 400%, which is very significant. And I think that is a threat correlation to the increase in officers. The 3 2 puts in officers that we have downtown. They're much more assertive for getting out and making a lot more contacts. That's very helpful in terms of increasing our exposure to the public. We've also seen an increase with regards to our traffic stops downtown, which is another benefit. Unless you were people stop for traffic violation, and I don't think you'd consider the benefit. But again, that's some exposure that I think is helpful getting getting the public to see our officers are out and about which has led to the data part of it, which is that unfortunately, our

[36:02] stats are slightly higher in terms of salts, serious assaults. They're a little bit higher in terms of. I think they're actually interesting enough. flat, close to being about the same in terms of robberies, which is interesting because robberies have been a big big topic down on the Mall for the last to 30 days or so. The one thing that we've seen a significant increase in is shoplifting, which I think is not gonna be a surprise to anybody. When you look at calls for service down around the Mall area, they've actually they're at a lower rate over the last 2 months that we've had in the last 3 years, which is kind of interesting. because we've seen a slight increase in in certain crimes. But it's interesting how calls for services dropped just a little bit. I don't understand what that correlation is quite yet. Because we do have an increased presence on the ball, and that's that's offset that call for service a little bit. But I'm eager to see what happens as we get into the warmer months

[37:01] any questions about the data? At this point another question. You talked about numbers, results. How many of those occurred downtown in a month. Just rough. Usually we have about 8 in terms of assaults we can have around 8 assaults, give or take, and that's that's just simple. We call them simple assaults, not aggravated assaults, aggravated assaults which include either a weapon or serious bodily injury. We usually see 3 to 5 of those each month. And again, it's gonna be very start getting to a warmer months or a month are going to bring in some different clientele. probably in terms of unhoused, and in my experience being being involved in this for 30 plus years. Here in Boulder. we're gonna see an increases, everything warms up. And all of you that have been around Boulder for a long time. You know, it's just gonna we're gonna see this increase. But yeah, over the last couple of months we've been right around that 3 to 5%, 5 to 8 for other results.

[38:04] robberies. usually 2 or 3, which is down from what we had before. But keep in mind, the robberies can be something as it's not what we typically picture in on TV. Sometimes it could be something as simple as somebody walking into a store grabbing an item that they want to shop with, and as they're walking out and a a clerk, it's in front of to try to stop them names force and push that clerk out of the way. We are actually categorizing that as a robin. and I know that we have a significant increase in that over certain K. Last year, and that has gone down quite a big circle case actually done quite a bit of stuff to help mitigate the issues that they've had, and we've been working with them to try to deal with that very long answer. Of course. No, that gives good respect. Have the downtown robberies occurred when police are walking the Mall? Yes, so they do occur during those that timeframe. I don't know if specifically we've had officers on the Mall at time. It would surprise me if it occurred when we had officers on the Mall at that time.

[39:10] you know, it's it's a pretty significant area in when the Arabs are being carried out honestly, unless the officers are actually looking into each of these stores, they may not notice that something has gone right, especially the last robbery that we had had a tensio. It was very, very quick, and and there. unless our option will have on top of it. there, there wouldn't have been able to do anything with regards to it. I know that they were on duty. It was on conduit as well, and I heard that call come out, and I know that they were on foot. Got over that that store very, very quickly and start dealing with it. So we do have options in room. But hopefully, they can help to mitigate some of that. But these 2 rockets that we did have, which is gonna give us right into the highlights. So thank you for that Segway. That. That's that's

[40:00] It will hopefully dissuade some of the people that that are opportunists. It's not necessarily going to dissuade those that have a plan in place, and they come down to, they come to downtown boulder with the intention of committing a robbery. It's if they're junior. They're just going to simply wait until time seems to be right for them with their and mo, and then they're going to take advantage of it. So, speaking of that, the highlights, we had the the significant robbery at the jewelry store, which happened early February, as I call in terms of timing where it was essentially a store takeover for lack of a better term. I'm happy to say that we did make some brushes on that. This isn't something that we want, necessarily public cause. It is still under investigation, but there were 4 suspects in that. 4 suspects it's still an ongoing investigation working on it. And hopefully, we'll get to a point at some point or to a point in this case where we can

[41:03] put out a pressure, we can go more public with what what we know about the entire case. So that's some good news there. The second one we are continuing to work on leads. With regards to that, we do not have a suspect. In that case, we we don't have an arrest that's been made. There is quite a bit of video downtown. Our suspect in that case was wearing a Covid mask which made it difficult for us to be able to identify them. We're looking for video that maybe is is shows our first pipe. Without that mask on, we can use that to hopefully identify them and the board of the case on that. In terms of any other significant cases. We did have a shooting downtown that happened last month. It happened during the early morning hours. I don't know. Many of you are aware of it. It was an isolated event that did not necessarily was accidental, based on everything that we're we're discovering. involving 2 individuals, and was not necessarily

[42:01] a threat to the general public as a whole. and they were taken care of. But nobody died or anything that they were responding. yeah, the website, yeah. Yep. So those are the highlights. Questions. Do you still think given recent events or any changes year every year, that you would prefer to have more staffing, and that I mean, obviously, you would always want more staffing. But my context here is that I just I feel like the ambassadors are also like they feel over capacity. I will go and talk to them occasionally and like, did you this person breaking this I'm like. and I'm like, did you do something about it. And they're like, Well, I gotta take care of this first and yeah, these are like minor things that don't seem like they're, you know. People

[43:00] have large speakers or their their dogs everywhere on the Mall. Like they're small, they add up, but they add up to end of no one follows rules. There's no consequences for following rules. and one person who's off playing the public restroom isn't really able to like enforce that. And and sadly some of the ambassadors. They don't feel empowered because no one will listen to what they get right cause they can't really work. So what are your thoughts on this general space of like rule breaking versus crimes. So staffing, when I first came on the department, I was actually part of the Hill team back in the nineties to show my age, and there was 2 of us and there were virtually nobody was riding their bicycles on the Mall. We didn't have. We didn't have a lot of animals on the well. People were smoking in the Mall. It we there was

[44:01] there were there weren't those those low-level crimes taking place. and we took that very, very seriously. We now have 3 2 person teams on the Mall. When we had these robbers we actually hired some off-duty officers to come in for overtime and sign them to the Mall area for high visibility, patrolling to try to dissuade anybody else from from pulling off a robbery, and and so that seemed to help to some degree. But again, that's that's adding another one or 2 officers to these 6 officers. So that's putting 8 officers in this 4 square block area. You know. We have increases a little bit. But I was down at the Mall yesterday, taking care of something. I saw 3 or 4 people riding their bikes. I saw a couple people with their dogs. I saw a group of 4 or 5 members sitting smoking.

[45:00] It's a problem. If I if I had the opportunity absolute, I'd love to increase our footprint found on the Malls by at least another 2 person team, if possible. The fact that we have ambassadors that are down here that are overwhelmed. We have officers that are down here that are overwhelmed. We're to the point where we are. We are unfortunately overlooking these low level crimes, which, in my opinion, when you overlook the low level crimes it empowers certain groups to do other things that are considered role level. such as the shoplifting, such as some assaults, things like that might result and the best way for us to combat that is, to have more officers down here than I'll support the ambassadors every year. So if I had my way. Absolutely, we have more officers downtown. We are still short staffed. When it comes to the impact team. We're 6 officers on the impact team. That impact team was supposed to have 12 officers assigned, so their 6 officers down for our evening and early morning hours.

[46:01] Right now we're 19 officers down overall with regards to our rep for staffing ideally. we like to get much closer, and I know that Chief Redburn, as is mentioned this numerous times, we'd like to get closer to that that number, that magic number that we're supposed to be at, so that we can ask for 10 more officers, 15 more officers to help out than what we currently have and help bolster what we have downtown in Jersey downtown really is the anecdotally my opinion, they tend to be the epicenter for a lot of the issues that take place. All of our unhoused individuals that that end up in boulder initially from downtown has been my experience, and they spend quite a bit of time downtown. It took force over all of our tours, and as well. So it's a bad mix of oh. certain groups that that them to be more of our repeat offenders and our tourists. So we've got to be able to do something to try to deal with that

[47:01] we do have the 6. I am absolutely open to other suggestions. We're we're trying to staff as many people as we can or up staff as much as we can but absolutely open to suggestions. If the ambassadors are. are feeling overwhelmed, and I would love to to care about that and figure out how we can help support them. Yeah, I think it's an interesting comment about the 90 S. Compared to today. And like, it seems like more police presence doesn't always mean more. People are following rules, and the whole point of the ambassadors was to have a non police presence. And so I guess maybe I'm interested to just explore that. like the role responsibility of the ambassador. Where to the police and like, how are are there other ways to incentivize people, to follow, encourage people to follow rules. so that we get back to essentially the the ball as it was designed to be. Well, I think, my experience, and seeing some coming down to the Mall and and seeing some of the people that are gonna face it down to

[48:08] there. the my experience is a lot of them aren't. And and you all work downtown. You guys are very familiar with downtown. So you may have a different perspective on it, but I feel a lot of it is that the the signs are up. But don't. People don't pay attention to it. People that I've contacted before and today shouldn't have your dog on the Mall by and large. But my mistake! You didn't realize it. I'm going to step off, and they'll walk to. They'll walk to one of the alleys, and they're good about every once in a while we'll get one. That is. that is very confrontational about it. But it feels to me like a lot of this is an educational piece more than anything else. and and I feel like we, there needs to be more education associated with it. Not. I'm not saying we put a bunch of cops downtown and start writing tickets to everybody. I don't think that's gonna accomplish anything.

[49:04] Aggravate a lot of people. I think our best bet is to talk to people. It's it again. When I was down in the Mall in Ids. That's what we did. Walked around. I didn't. I didn't write a ticket all week long. It was more of just talking to people educating them on. What was going on. What? Why, we live a little more downtown! Why, we have these rules downtown! Why, we don't want bicycles on the Pearl Street Mall. Why, we don't want people with their dogs on the Hill Street Mall, and by and large there was a lot of operation. You just think that there is a significant. a change. and the the types of people that we deal with now. and what we had back in the nineties, I was in a meeting that I was talking about to, I think, to keep referring back to my the good old days. But when I was when I worked down on the Mall. Back in the 90 S. We had about 15 unhoused people that we knew that we dealt with on a regular basis.

[50:00] and by and large. They were just drunks. If they could find some marijuana, then they were. They were living high and loving it. Things were great. but we didn't have really any issues. Then meth became a problem. and with meth coming into Albert Nerx for 6 years back. up until 2013, and in the from 2,008, 2013, I couldn't find meth we couldn't buy meth anywhere in Bullwinkle. It wasn't anywhere. You had to go to other towns nowadays it. It's happening with all of our unhoused and a bunch of other people. And it's leading to additional issues for us. So this is a very complex problem. You're right. I don't think throwing more cops at it is the solution. I think it would help find the solution, and that I think there needs to be a piece of education associated with all of this stuff. But then there's also has to be the ability to. When education isn't working.

[51:03] there has to be the ability to hold people accountable. And that's the other part of what we're dealing with. And I'm sure you've heard about it before. We're having issues. And ever since Covid happened. we can't just take people to jail like we used to before, not saying the jail's the solution to everything. It truly is not. But every once in a while you run across somebody that is not going to cooperate with us somebody that is going to continue to break the law, and we need the best place for them at that point is to be in jail where they can decompress, and they can get off the meth for a day or 2. Unfortunately, unless there are certain crimes that they commit, we can't take them to jail anymore. There's gel standards that are associated. Rest standards that are associated with with certain crimes, and it means that we have to give them a ticket, and they commit. They take that ticket and they throw it on the ground. It used to be. You do that.

[52:00] We're gonna take you to jail now they throw it on the ground. We cut them another ticket. Give it to them. They throw in the ground. We'll cut them another ticket. 10. All we're doing is now littering, and we're contributing to that. So it's a it's a tough situation that we're in in that the pandemic and meth Hello! And the proliferation. I'm speaking my opinion of the proliferation of the mental health issues that we're having. And and honestly as a State as a county. we could be doing that a lot more in terms of mental health. And we're not. And it's leading to us having these individuals and repeatedly contact. And they get they get shipped around. We end up with new people coming into town all the time that come in from Denver that come in from, or they come in from from Fort Collins that comes from out of state. and and they'll come here because they either get put on a bus

[53:01] by buy a Denver cop, for example, or they get told. Go to Boulder. You'll they'll give you a tent, they'll feed you. They'll make sure that you get only medical attention and obviously wanna be compassionate to our our fellow people. But it creates this really interesting situation that that is impacting what we're experiencing. Right? May I add a little bit sort of slippery slope question that you're asking about the person. I'm sorry to hear that you're what our ambassador well, I mean, I told him I was profession. They want to tell everyone. Yeah, definitely, not the optic. We want to present it to the demo But we, we compile really robust statistics from the ambassadors, and both the ambassadors and the city of Boulder Park Rangers do compliance checks. And so we actually track every time there's an ordinance violation our ambassadors go out and say, Hey.

[54:02] did you know that you're not supposed to ride your bike on bricks to your point? They will say, Oh, my gosh! I have no idea you're not supposed to have your dog here. they'll say, Oh, my gosh! I have no idea. So we track both compliance and non-compliance of those. So just in the month of February, for example, there were 18 people who complied with the ordinance said, Sure, no problem. And then there were 10 people who said probably words I shouldn't say in this room decided not to. But it's it's it's interesting to talk about that right. And then we also did a little bit of a re-education campaign. with Parks and Rec. About the dogs. The no pause on the Bricks campaign, and I think the other thing that's changed is people's relationships with their animals really changed fundamentally. Pandemic. People take their dogs everywhere. It's very easy to save it as animal or animal, even if it's. you know, not a specifically designated animal. We reached out to some of the businesses to see if they would be willing to post some posters and windows and say, Hey, just a reminder, don't pause on bricks

[55:07] to protect their pause. Actually, because in the summertime bricks get really hot. And a lot of the businesses, said, I bring my dog. and also, like we don't, we'd rather we're not. Gonna this is just a low issue. That's not a challenge solve the bigger problems. We've we're not gonna put up this sign. So at a certain point, we need to, you know, sort of move with the the tides, I think. So. That's just a little bit of color for some of the other courses. Education. it's interesting talk about parks and Rec. Are they the ones that do the gardens? Because the other thing that's here in the nineties, Paul Hester. During the day, Lester? He was he kicked everybody. Yes, he was awesome. That's when we had the worst thing we ever had was one of our unhouses with a bag of marijuana seeds, and went to all the flower beds and threw the marijuana seeds and all the flower beds, and Paul Hester, the entire summer was picking marijuana plants out of all of the flower beds. Yes, he was a saint.

[56:08] He was fantastic he sort of took the role of an ambassador in that sense. But to your point. People aren't listening. They used to. I mean anything from anyone. But yeah. yeah, maybe the parks and Rec people can assist in. And the ambassadors and the urban rangers are fantastic. Every experience I've had with them has been absolutely wonderful, and I think that they they offer, and a great tool to help try to get that that education piece out. But please, this present, this reeducation. Yeah, it was in February. Okay. I'm curious that if that has an effect. at least among some people I mean the we've. We've sort of asked the the businesses that they would be interested in, so that they didn't

[57:01] like the direct public. but the the education efforts from the Park Rangers as ambassadors. Well, maybe the next question should be, should talks be left? People are paying attention, and some people support having them. Then what's the point of having permission? Last meeting officers and training? Yep. yep. yep. So we ended up putting 16 out in the field, and and they were spread throughout the watches, and that that's what allowed us to then move an officer over to the Mall team. And yeah, so they've all done very, very well. And we are. We're actually going through another

[58:04] hiring process this week. And I think we've got like 60 applicants. Get some good ones out of there. Any other questions. Well, I'm gonna take off and hit back to Pete. We had a busy afternoon. Unfortunately we have a Dave think I sent over a slide deck. I think it looks like it made it out into. Your packet? And it occurs to me that I could be sending you quarterly ambassador ports as well as just these sort of verbal updates, if that would be helpful for the Commissioners, because we do really track this information very best ways. So I'll make sure that in comparison

[59:03] tickets. Thanks absolutely. So I just wrapped up my first 90 days is the downtown boulder partnership, CEO. So it's been a wonderful time of learning and accommodating and being welcomed into this community. I want to thank all of you and especially the city staff, for being so helpful and answering all of my many, many questions. I'm sure I will continue to ask more. It's particularly exciting to me to see the seasons change right now. I don't know if you're any of you were downtown on Sunday, but that was A truly kind of winter central summer day in Boulder was really thrilling to see some people activating our spaces and all street musicians. And it was just a glorious time. So now we're gonna have since. No, I understand that Wednesday, since we last met we had our annual Dvp Awards luncheon in early February. Thanks to the Commissioners who attended that event. That was really wonderful. We gave out 5 awards for 6 awards to 5 awards.

[60:07] to different businesses and individuals. and one of the things that I highlighted in my remarks at that luncheon came up earlier today, and that's our second and third floor 17 calendar statistics at the end of December that show that we're at 28 vacancy in our offices downtown and when Lane was presenting on the different streetcar vendors. We see that in the Monday through Friday daytime traffic. So one of the priorities that we're really identifying and working on is how to activate. really try to bring some people downtown and get those office spaces reactivated. We really do have a very high occupancy rate for the first floor. But it's the the upper floor that are the challenge that 28% that's spaces available. That's our vacancy rate. Okay, that's

[61:01] all of the options releases is still. yes, and that was as of December 30 first. So I'll be watching that figures pretty carefully, because there are a lot of leases that were signed prior to the pandemic 5 year and 10 year leases that are now kind of written. So that's been big topic. And I know Regan is working on some portable office space initiatives and city has priorities for how to how to work on this. But these are conversations that I'm having daily with our constituents, especially wanted to share a little bit with you about our pedestrian counts. So December year over year for the next slide. We have a number of ways of visitation to the downtown, and December was up 20, almost 20% last year. Which is fantastic, especially considering that we had that really hard fall the hard, beginning to the December shopping center with

[62:03] stopping season with shops, small Saturday and Black Friday, where we had that massive snowstorm, and so that kind of killed sales but then rest of December was fairly seasonal and seasonable, and we had people coming out quite a bit. So we're happy to see the football, returning to downtown but unfortunately, if you go to the next slide. our sales tax showing this. but they are not necessarily spending 20% more money in our shops and in our restaurants. So this is probably going to be something that we'll be hearing about city level, of course, sort of flat sales tax like this is. It's directly correlated to a vacancy office space and also just their but uncertainties in the economy. So we're keeping an eye on that. We're trying to appoint our businesses. What is working for them? What promotions are actively helping them be successful. We had a

[63:06] a midwinter sale event that was quite successful. And that happened to coincide with Martin Luther King Day in January. And so it's a 3 day weekend and midwinters, winter sales, and the weather was good, which those 3 things are like. If we can have all of those once a month. That would be fantastic. If we have a group of sales, then on the next slide some things that are coming up. We have updated the banners on the Pearl Street Mall. And this is such a fun, wonderful event. We have student artists who get their work selected to be on these banners. We're gonna be having a reception, and you're all welcome next Tuesday, at 5 30, and we'll be putting out special prizes and awards and kicking off over our towards week, so that will be amendment on the next slide. We also have some treasured events coming back. Taste of pearl is coming up on April fourteenth, and that'll be 15 different retailers, and we have

[64:07] 40 different restaurants and beverage suppliers who will be providing tastings and retail stores. So this is a shopping and dining and drinking event. All of the fun things we want to do downtown. And then the tulip barrier and elf festival is happening on April 20 eighth, and the tulips are starting to come through so hopefully, there will be blooms where he comes out. I just bought my dress to wear exactly. and we're always looking for volunteers for those too interested. And then we're also looking ahead to our ban on the brick series 100 confirmed for that. So that will be that'll be wonderful. And the Boulder County farmers market is gonna get operations. So they'll be starting to Wednesdays and Saturdays. So with the spring weather comes, more activations, more activities.

[65:04] We're excited about that. And then next Saturday, or sorry. This Sunday is the world's shortest Saint Patrick's Day parade. Which I'm excited to see. Don't be late. That'll be on the Sixteenth Street and pro bring your lawn chair. Join in working with businesses. specials, and stuff that has been. I mean, we had a survey. I don't know what it was, but the 2 top issues were. It's too expensive to do anything right downtown, mostly to buy lunch and in general. And so I was curious about what initiatives you're working on to a visit. Think housework feels that those where it's. you know, 20 plus dollars or happy hour isn't really happier

[66:00] like, it's not just cattle. So just questions about that, like, yeah, I know, I always go down to folder section to look at who has been happy hours, and what are real, what I would consider real happy hours. Curious what you're doing here to kind of address, the lunch too expensive, and even just in general for a lot of people. I'm not gonna go down too expensive to to eat downtown. Well, I think in in some ways we're at the mercy of the free market and the cost of doing business. Just it's going up. It's skyrocketing, and sure you might be able to tell us a little bit about the materials and goods are just more expensive. Labor is more expensive, insurance is more expensive. So unfortunately, they're having to adjust price. And I understand there's a lot of pricing fatigue in the market in general. But we, you know, we try to encourage people, especially like with the midwinter sales, to incentivize the retailers, to, to cut down on things. But when it comes to things like restaurants where they're having to buy a certain amount of food and food waste.

[67:04] It's not like a bag or a piece of jewelry where you can keep it on the shelf for a while, and maybe bring it out a couple seasons later. Not that our stores do that cause. They're all very up-to-date and very seasonal. But that is really something that we we just can't control that pricing. Unfortunately. But we do try to highlight things on our blog and through our marketing to to highlight the I understand that I mean I I also think it's unreasonable that people are going to keep spending money with prices. Go up this much. you know, for where this really comes. economic state, where, like, we're, we're gonna expect this to happen price keep going up. People might be downtown, but they might just be hanging out and not buying stuff and project. and we want them to still come downtown and hang out absolutely, and and I will say, I mean, this is not data driven, but this is totally anecdotally from the fact that I have eaten. And I think I'm in 55 different restaurants in the last 90 days I've been having one on one so just steadily trying to

[68:09] figure out each. It's been a real hardship. But I do think that there's there is. There are different price points depending on where you want to go. And I think there's a pretty good mix. Actually. So you can have a super high End cocktail that costs $18, or you can go and have like a $7 market somewhere else. So it's just requires a little bit of exploration. And that means maybe there are more chances to come down to tonight. That's my ultimate book. Well, just with the bigger picture of the impression of some safety issues and stuff downtown. and I remember seeing report from last year about people who? Yeah. people who are in town versus people who come from the region, or even just wider. Tourists. Are you working? Is the downtown roller partnership doing anything with like the

[69:01] visitors and convention bureau people to a bring people into town in the first place. Yes, absolutely so. Visit Boulder is one of our biggest partners. We we collaborate on Pearl Street, Mall official guide that came out in January. I should have brought copies of that to distribute to you, but you can grab them at the kiosk of the visitors. Information Center at Work Kiosk on it. 1,200 1,300 block of Pearl Street, we do extensive marketing, both in older market and also to a 30 mile driving range. Our 30 min driving range and we have extensive extensive public relations efforts where we work with visit holders so that they're taking one side of the market. We're taking another. So we work hand-in-hand with them. And this starting in March. The Visitor Center is open. More days a week. It's actually open 7 days a week now for January and February was only open on weekends, and in the summer months we collaborate with visit folder, and they provide staffing for the Vic.

[70:06] So their tourism, facing entity trained hospitality workers will be working alongside our ambassadors at the Vic We're also having a lot of conversations about connectivity to the new Moxi Hotel, which is scheduled to open in May or June, and of course, the the Limelight Conference Hotel and Conference center that's scheduled to open in 2026. So we're working with visit boulder and other community partners, as well as the hill district, on how to make sure that people who are staying on the hill come downtown, and that people downtown know how to get to the Max. That was my next question with those 2 new facilities. If you'd been in conversation with them. Yes, absolutely. And, in fact, Regan from community vitality and Terry from downtown border partnership, has been working on some. Some pilot wayfinding science that are going to go in there's a sort of ad hoc group of downtown business owners and visit Boulder, personnel, and staff. We had a very quick meeting with Nuria this morning talking about some of our opportunities sites that we've observed for improving the walkways along

[71:16] Broadway Street and on the Arboretum Pass. In the short term while we wait for the civic area refresh to really get underway. And that is happening which I plan to discuss more under matters from staff. I'm sorry to and of course all of the work that we're doing is guided by our downtown vision plan, which I'm delighted to report was nominated. You can go to the next slide downtown Colorado, Inc. Which is our statewide organization of downtown organizations. We were nominated for a downtown Colorado downtown excellence award so that conference is taking place in Durango the first week of April, and we'll find out if we won. It's always a joy, as they said on Sunday night to be nominated.

[72:08] and that really is a wonderful. and I think that concludes my my report! Oh, so one more thing. Have a Town hall meeting for all groups of the bid at E-town on May second. This is going to be from 8 30 to 10, and the 2 topics that we're going to be discussing are public safety and downtown vibrancy. So we'll have a couple of panel discussions. We'll have District Attorney Attorney Michael Doherty, Commander Mike Heath from Boulder police Department and Sheriff Curtis Johnson on a public safety panel. And then we're gonna have some private real estate brokers. We're gonna talk about office vacancy and vibrancy trends, not just in Boulder and Denver metro region, but across the.

[73:00] So I invite you to put that into your calendar, you sending it any questions. There still is a meeting on Thursday. Yes. which will probably be on Zoom, because it's the weather, and I will send out okay, tomorrow. Apologies about last time. Any other would also like to attend that meeting exposure as well. Any other questions. or Tina looks like we have the Pearl Street small public bathroom discussion at the end of 2 36. So no more questions for Patina. We'll move on to the batters. Yeah, it looks like the first matter is this 2511 report?

[74:02] Yes. So we don't really have okay here to 3 weeks. That's what kind of returns on. Yes. we as we're that's account for that. So thank you. I'm not sure the highlights this work. so as mentioned there. because to we're really pleased. What we invested for last year we had budgeted

[75:02] tour, including not recommending or treats that are are awesome. spending this one's loving, that my apologies. Could someone move the laptop closer to Chris? I messaged Regan. But she's now gone. Thanks. sorry, mom. so we want to be able to preserve the fun balance for some upcoming work that match Zansk is here to produce. Related to some alternatives, analysis and capital planning that we want to do for all of the general beer man. So there aren't any questions. About 2023 year end

[76:04] Eliot, to anything else to add where we can move on to. I think you covered everything, Chris, I appreciate it. Yeah, thank you so much. I'm gonna pull up my screen to share for just a quick graphic to be the background of what I'm about to tell you. But you may recall apologies for recording Matt Zanski. I'm interim senior manager community vitality. And You may recall that during the discussion of this, the Work Plan this year. that the alternatives, analysis, and capital plan was an important part of what we're going to be taking on this year. And so I just wanted to give some quick context, and then we'll run a long time, so I'll just fire it off. So you can ask any questions. Yeah, give some advice, and then we'll have a request at the end. But this will be the subject of conversation. For quite a while ahead of us, so we'll have plenty of chances to talk about it. But the alternatives, analysis, and capital planning project

[77:15] is going to be a really a set of recommendations for financial decisions that everyone needs to make. We've got your computer here. Don't worry. That really addressed the the things we can affect, the levers we can pull in each of our general improvement districts in order to effect change, and on the one side we have revenue. The taxing that we do the parking revenue, and how that impacts businesses and residents in our districts on the other side, we have the services, the programs, the capital expenses. That could provide the services that our benefit to being in the district. And so what we want to do is to create that balance and make sure that's functioning in circum the circumstances we find ourselves in.

[78:04] So when we think about. Why we would do this now. The important things that are sort of. you know, General, across all of the general improvement districts are things like the new circumstances after the pandemic the retirement of debt that we were just talking about the evolution of transportation options become something that wasn't envisioned when when these were set, new public safety challenges and new opportunities, like the Hill Hotel in the Conference Center. So circumstances have changed. The current state is is new, right? This is all exciting things that we wanna wrestle with. Zoom that you can't leave us. Okay. So in this project, what we what we hope to do. Is to first of all really understand the current state. analyze the data. Understand exactly what the needs are. Right? Now also look at governance, make sure that we're in compliance, but also being most efficient and effective, and how we make decisions about the districts.

[79:11] Then examine a future state. We need to have a vision for where we want to go to understand certainly new services and programs that need to come online over the next set of decades. And how to afford those things, but really, in particular, the capital planning. In order to get everything prepared for doing new building. We need to really have a good vision of what new new construction projects need to go on to continue to create the right circumstances in our district. And that is not necessarily gonna be. We're gonna build this in this spot on the schedule. It's more like, what are the assets that we need, so that we can do the further work to actually go through sites, design and build these things. and then another sort of related to that is the connections. Right is that each of the districts means have stronger connections. We need to address new circumstances of mobility. And so that's going to be sort of the capital planning, and the connections are discrete parts of this study.

[80:13] So in order to do that visioning part of it, we need to have really strong engagement. And so we need to have a staff team. We need to get experts from across departments. We've already started that process to assemble the brain power. We need to really understand this and move it forward. Right? We need to have a strong outreach to community stakeholders to build that vision with us, and we're gonna need you to participate with us on this. So like, I said, this is something that has a long timeline. We're thinking that this project is gonna go through the third quarter. 2025 lot of discussions need to happen. But one thing that we would love to do is in the coming months assemble a subcommittee of all the general improvement districts, all 4 general improvement districts to have the conversations with us to set this up right and get that visioning process started.

[81:00] So I'm happy to answer any questions. If you have about the the scope and the project. But one thing we will be looking for is to assign one or 2 commissioners to serve on this subcommittee super committee, whatever we want to call it. And that's not something that happens have has to happen tonight. I know, having a process going on to extend the stay of of certain important people in the room. But certainly, by the May meeting we would love to have representatives of Dmc. To serve on that committee. So any questions that you have about before we get to questions. And yes. agent problems are going to be in a position with the retirement debt 2.1. So much the resources in University Hill District, where, in a space where there isn't. there's pretty significant appetite these days for investment.

[82:03] They have a which is like a camera. So we have some in announce rooms analysis on the Flip Side Junction railway to the newer district we are taxing. We're in both districts 15 months somewhere. It's not 5 or Asian. So a significant amount taxes over junction sort of their disparate personnel they're over. And so we need to have a conversation making sure that we're right sizes. There are a lot of reasons why we're talking. You're also retiring.

[83:01] So we're at this new chapter that we want to make some changes and bring some recommendations to city Council, which really is the Board of Directors of each of them. The district's new Advisors Council. So we're gonna as you make some pretty meaningful recommendations for so a lot more content that we need circuit. Now we don't have a schedule yet. But it will be something that's responsive to the schedules of the people on the committee, so we will make it as easy to participate as possible. Do as much as we can through email and online. I am not going to entertain anything that's more than a monthly meeting at the height.

[84:17] Thank you. Yeah. fantastic. There are no other questions. Justin's came down. A little kind of one is fine, 2 is great and you need to figure out what the monthly outcome. Hello! And this one. But I think which all of them tourists felt without that it is 2 monthly. Yeah,

[85:05] or next meeting. and so certainly one would be great. 3 is a week. So okay, no more questions back over the weekend. Of course, my specific Daniel, exactly to. It's always good. It's it's your idea those never break down. Well. this, okay. sorry. Okay, better connecting the hill to downtown. I'm gonna jump right into the next slide here. So the purpose of this work is that we're really trying

[86:08] to improve connectivity between the hill and downtown, both through implementing better wayfinding as well as exploring improvements to the physical landscape between the 2 areas. as many of us already know. And we've discussed tonight. The hill is undergoing a lot of changes, especially with the opening of the Moxie boulder, this upcoming spring. and then thereafter the limelight hotel and Conference center in 2025 so this will, of course, create more foot traffic and visitation to both of these areas. And with that the outcomes we are trying to achieve include helping visitors feel a sense of safety and welcoming, ensuring that visitors can easily navigate the area, and then, lastly, enhancing the vitality in generating that positive economic growth for both the hill and downtown.

[87:06] So with that, and as Patina already met referenced, we're working on implementing pedestrian wayfinding and in an effort to really get this way, finding signage up quickly with the antic, the anticipation of increased visitors and foot traffic will be replicating the existing way, finding signage that is currently installed in, in and around downtown, which I'm sure many of you are familiar with. So we'll be installing it in and around the hill as well as on the central corridors that connect the hill to downtown and so an example of the signage again. I'm sure many of you have seen who's on the right hand side here. And so what we're currently doing is finalizing locations for the signage as well as landmarks that the signage will point to

[88:00] but the intent is to not only place it within the the hill commercial district, but on the central corridor. So Broadway, along Thirteenth and Eleventh Street. Really, those main connection points to downtown, and the idea is that it will likely be double sided so that it points to the Hill commercial district in one direction. and then, when you're heading downtown, it kind of points to some of those key landmarks. So Pearl Street, the civic area ban, shell, etc. Okay. comments Pearl Street Mall. Potentially. Yeah, I think so. Yeah, and so just wanna know also, though, that that this is really a temporary solution. We're kind of treating it as a pilot just because it can be implemented very quickly. And the intent is that we're gonna strategize something a little bit longer, something longer, term larger and scale more engaging signage. That is maybe a bit better than just signage with arrows. So something like, think of in Boulder Junction, and I'll do a full esteem. A new gateway signage out in

[89:09] Boulder Junction. There's vehicular gateway signage and pedestrian signage. It's kind of artistic and and really engaging. So something similar to that in the future. So just briefly going over next steps again implementing this temporary signage which I just discussed. We are also exploring some painting, the pavement initiatives. certain areas. So for example, we are currently in discussions with the Moxi developers to potentially install a creative artistic crosswalk at Pleasant Street and Broadway. They're required per their development agreement to install a standard crosswalk. So we're working with them to see if they'd be interested in doing something a little bit more creative there and then we intend on investigating where we can install new murals working with streetwise.

[90:06] We're working super closely with the forestry department. To assess tree canopy improvements and potentially planting more trees, looking at where we need to maybe install new grapes and tree guards in the future as well. and then other like city-led initiatives. The civic area phase 2 project which is being led by the planning department with support from other city departments that a key component of that is exploring connectivity improvements between the hill and downtown later in the year, and also on my work. Plan is to investigate what a cultural corridor might look like along Thirteenth Street with connection to Pearl Street. and then, lastly, led by the planning department as well. There are improvements to the Arboretum Park.

[91:00] and then looking a bit further ahead, as I already referenced strategizing a longer term, more engaging, way-finding strategy connecting the hill to downtown. But that's kind of where we're at now, and I anticipate the the pilot. The temporary signage to be installed within the next 2 to 3 months. We're working closely with Dvp to really get this off the ground running quickly. Yeah. Any questions sterile in the downtown garages pointing up to the hill. I don't. I don't see why why we couldn't do something like that. We can definitely explore. Yeah.

[92:08] yep, I'll take note of that, and we can bring that up. I think Justin wants to know why it doesn't point to the sundown oops also for the hotel itself. To what extent can they or like to sign it? Is it going to be like right near the hotel? So we're encouraging people to not be driving? Or maybe we want people to be driving. And so Or we like encouraging walking. you know, writing for the tone. Curious what type of like communication here so oh, near the lawn. near the hotel itself will likely point to the hill. Commercial district is this way? And then I'm I imagine, downtown as well, yeah, we're still finalizing the landmarks that are going on each of the signage locations. And then we have to go out and physically walk the area to see. Is there a lamp post here that we can install the signage on?

[93:17] And so those details are still being worked out? But yeah, it'll it'll point to the Hill Commercial district and then don't near the Hill Hotel. Do you know if there's a if there's recycle gear there? B. Cycles. it's not good. 6 on Earth. Yes. Hello. Yeah. That's interesting. Just because people who are staying there aren't good. right? So other great ways to get people.

[94:02] perhaps scooters. But I think I don't know. I think, yeah, because you have tripping over. Okay. Yep, thank you. Okay. one. Duncan. the motion. the bathrooms very brief. just you know, baseball switching?

[95:16] so this is project that's done. thank you scope what was that

[96:02] so oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, of course. Yeah. So the the sculpture will be installed soon, and we'll give you a full update at the main meeting. When that's done, and there, will be an anniversary event. So make sure everyone has nothing on the I'll be back. What's going on? I do have an update on the spruce on the spruce garage project. so they're in design right now. And they they actually had to slow down because there was some research had to be done on the structure of the wall that they're installing on. That's being done currently. And so we should still be on track for an installation later this year. unless we find something unfortunate in the looks. But right now we are hopeful and optimistic that we're on track for installations. People inside of me.

[97:06] That's it you have. So that's that's matters from Staff. If you have past discussion. So first I would be board meeting. I virtually missed it. So there is no you can check. Thank you. Conference. Looking at everything here today towards the most recent activity. a highlight from that meeting, perhaps, that we should know about. wasn't there? What was the general topic and theme? But no, I mean, I think, that the topic of safety of course, continues to arise. We.

[98:05] the downtown community, really in about cast a poll over, especially the jewelry stores in retail. careful. combined with the sort of the the doldrums of January and February need for a little bit of it challenging City Council request top Dmc priority. So I'm assuming that folks have read that. So comment. what's that name, please? Okay. right. Punches and

[99:00] real time. Bye. try not to do that in public meeting. wait one one comment. I wonder if we should put anything in here about the continued vacancy we have? Oh, on the commission itself. Yeah. that's a good idea. It's because well, maybe it should be. Yeah, because we've had constant issues with full group. Yeah. so and city council. I think, maybe be the city manager priority or responsibility in the future. But

[100:04] I think it's limited at home. We ha! We haven't had a full flight years. Yeah, we don't have full attendance. Bring like it's still important. Not, and I think Commission goal. And I understand it represent. and the general public, and without much business reputation, with seats being open except for don adaptability that's particularly representative. So if City Council, the veterans would take the best body to take that to, or so committee. I wonder if we could give something to patina to circulate as well. But then, with. How should you go up to individual business owner

[101:02] Joy, which is. I think that's okay. Update just takes a lot. So I might offer purposes, letters to be formed. So while issue of responsible thing. David's presenter. okay. it's not the website. We are what we are glad to.

[102:02] I, personally, don't think it meets the standard of like speed, but I would like to escalate. It does come like click. I think I want. but I'm hoping it is. This letter is not designed for issues. do? Yeah, I do. However. is there? Yes. I believe so we have. you know. Commissioner Highlight. not just the mission that they're

[103:00] We did have more volunteer. this brown we've had since that's before Covid. And this was very curious to us. Yeah. several applications port seats. And it's about proceeds. So it's really surprised. So it wasn't really curious that any other person I've seen 9 patients per Arts Commission for one of the same. Just tell them that they're on the so can may I? Maybe I would request that the See how this next round of it was? Because now we really focus on just we might be really successful

[104:08] or a new retard everyone. So your too much longer. if that doesn't go well. well, now, soon. Yeah, certainly not so incorporate that also partially into a conversation on this. for instance, the whole reduction in 2. She's up 5 C in a really small district. Yeah. So it's it has is usually challenging most. Yes, sir. How is the the business owner? How is

[105:01] so? someone needs to physical property owners. It's not it's not business. all right. you said all the so you put over, and my question is more. how is that division great? Can we change? No. So that's set by state steps? Because it is property administrative taxes. and so the majority then, could Justin switch to a business owner. So there's a property owner and downtown. or anyone else proxy. That person's

[106:00] anybody gets a designation. I'm a puppy, and they're saying. Yes. right? So okay. Couldn't close that topic for now and go back to this one. I could put here back. We can in terms of this letter. Does anyone have any more feedback, or is there a motion? I maybe had one? This is the smallest of like small things. The very last point. bye. Fourth line down improve condition connections to University Commercial Hill Commercial District. I put the words in Conference Center and enforcing rules to maintain order. just to try to get the kind of conference center in there to help plan ahead.

[107:00] We will gladly make that another. Hello! Thank you. Maybe we need to read a word and just like combat all on the goal of enforcing rules to maintain order or something, just because now we got 2 ands in a row. Another potential comment, I have. I don't know if it will help that matters that much, but my my understanding is downtown. State concerns actual safety concerns, and then perception of safety. which I think are 2 different things. and you might be looking at prime Staff, and they may not be that different or worst year. But since someone might respond, well, not actually that big.

[108:02] it's a perception issue. So I might want to add more nuance. the first point. cause it's not just about safety, but I think it's about making people feel safe. which is, which is a bit different. Yeah, you could say, ensuring the safety and perception of safety. Oh, which one? The surgeon? It definitely sounds very wrong. like your very own safe place to live. ensuring the safety of residents and nurses. Yeah, it it does sound strong like there's a very unsafe place for which is not. you know. feel things that. But they might be worth getting that out.

[109:03] Yeah. Estimated. What about? Instead of, as as it was written like with the change that was just done. What if we put it at the end in our downtown areas paramount, and people don't feel safe now. or there's not a perception of safety. Now, I'm not sure it's widespread enough for us to be able to make that statement. Okay, I'm fine with it, as is those 2 things motion away to struggle. Thank you. But the little bill needs Robert. So I think you have to be away from this function. Thanks. Fall in favor. Hi, I

[110:01] all opposed. Aye. okay, thanks for doing this. Thank you. And staff. This is good to go awesome. Okay. Our final item on the matters. Commissioners. Pearl Street. small public bathroom sessions. which really are kind of left and we want to end on time or early. I believe I, unless someone else. Okay? The this item came out of the conversation that I had not too long ago around the fresh drink member thought to once used. because I know where to go to the bathroom, and so, and and I of older residents, and not a tourist who might not have other options for no other.

[111:00] So I think that that got to the discussion, which I think was perhaps escalated to your meeting. Not in. It sounded like that. The way that I intended it to be, which was maybe a side discussion with you. to talk about. Perhaps creative solutions like we have in the past about doing temporary. I know they're not 45. What do you call it? Western trailer, Western trail? Thank you. Restroom trailers like at the farmers market. But I do think it's just an interesting topic to elevate. I had a conversation with the downtown about almost at the point of cheers about house. How he thought that the facilities were just not designed for tourists, and that people had nowhere to go, and felt embarrassed about that. And in high tour seasons when it the weather's nicer. I wanted to bring up the topic of perhaps doing something creative. an alternative

[112:01] bathroom option for tourists. As we did with conference. So that is the topic to discuss. I think it's been just sore thumb on the downtown and curious what's happening, and a lot of discussion around better monitoring at first drug use, but not what. How do we address like? Where do people go who are visiting Boulder? Where do they go to the bathroom because they're not likely going there. So do that. Need I agree thoughts about this, and maybe what work? What would you not? There's potential that you have the same issue, that restaurant training as the building. But people use it for active. Well, you have to like actually have rules and a portion you can attended. Yeah, and I don't know how like there, I'd be curious to hear what happened.

[113:02] but I don't also think it's right that there are people that really take math and books back and and know what he's back. You know, couple of people. So I can share the

[114:06] typical risk from okay. but okay. which is. you know, within the realm. yeah. pre-worthy, smaller.

[115:01] I read evening yeah. well and the downtown basket, we're all cleaning it all the time, right? It just distracts you a lot. There's a cleaning. not on top of meeting. The answer is, it's a Scotch facility. And that's the answer

[116:02] coming up in every community recently at a conference. and Starbucks has changed their policy about like spacecraft professionals all over the country. So we don't have any service situation for us, but also rely on the capital. One cafe businesses they they see we'll bathrooms one all that's

[117:07] purposes minutes and first phone makes sense long term. Yes. up. I just support that. Thank you. Last.

[118:02] Sorry about or vacancies. Yeah. I'd say that was reopen. They're stations that are. We have classrooms in her upstream, burning other solutions. So it's not just

[119:01] see -stricken the business we're done. Thank you. So I don't want to continue that for you. I do want them. But hard to hear. Okay. time. popular feeling of unprepared which I I'm they don't want it. That's a real fear. So we think talking about this size. I wish we could do something like the money, something that we have to do. and I'd like now. Not that I won't spend money, but I think

[120:00] this is a real seeing that like effect time. our ability be the place for people. Yeah. Circle upper. Continue on staff cited. We wrote this letter. It was based on them. yeah, muted. Okay. so that is Eric. Yeah. yeah, I think one more point to, that is, with them. We, the longtime fans that

[121:03] ambassadors, and we also want them to be doing like meaningful work where they connect with people. and that we have good retention and that they people know them. I respect them right and like, if they're doing this stuff, they're not doing that. And I and that was obvious. My conversation that is just a huge downer, and that would impact. Really, it is a distracting thing for them. I think, to have to do that. So my recommendation is that we don't put that on them, their role very distracted. I appreciate those kind words absolutely right. but it also make sure. Yeah, that's a in fact, truck the number of that are outside of the. So we we want to advocate. And people do use about this for their intended purpose.

[122:03] What do you want? We can. Women are using them. Yeah. it's data. Okay. Yep, thank you for for that. Okay. at least 5 years will be next. Okay. So I think. And there are other matters. Commissioner. Okay, do I have there a motion? Sure, I'll move to adjourn. So we haven't. Aye, okay. Meeting in adjournment.