January 9, 2024 — University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission Regular Meeting

Transcript

Captions from City of Boulder YouTube recording.

[0:02] Okay, we are recording. It is 401 Pm. Tuesday, January ninth, 2024. Welcome to the University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission meeting. and I will call off Cheryl, legorate, President Trent Bush. Present Cal. Jones present Ted Rockwell present. and Andrew Schumacher yet. and I'll turn the meeting over to our chair. Commissioner. We're going to consider the first line here minutes. Anyone have anything they want to add before I call promotion to approve. No, Nope. it's motion to approve the November seventh meeting minutes as submitted. So.

[1:07] second, I was in favor of approving the need. Yeah, that's true. There was an intense and then there's a reminder here that we probably all saw to email head shots to the executive assistant, Lisa. Missing now or 2. I don't think I've sent one. so can we just use one that we had from last year? Well, there weren't any. We hadn't put any. Yeah, there were no photos. Yeah. So just as part of the, you know, improvement of the website and kind of kicking it up. But sure, II found a picture of you, and I put it on, but you can let me know. cause it's a professional picture was the only one that I saw the other day.

[2:02] Alright. So we have the public participation portion of the meeting agenda. Are there any members of the public here who would like to speak to us. I'm just saying, and raised good Mary Alice. Mary, you should be able to unmute yourself. Yes, indeed. Can you hear me muffled shortly. little muffle? Sorry about that. Don't know quite how to raise the the volume here. Is that better? Is that any better? Okay, that's fine. I just wanted to fill you in on just a few little items from the University Hill Neighborhood Association.

[3:00] Nancy Blackwood wanted me to mention that we were looking forward to meeting with Jake and business owners. And she had written to the city council and received some encouragement from the mayor, that you know, the city would try and go along with any efforts to keep things good looking good on on the hill. She also said that Sueleen Harrison and Mark Meyer had met with the planning director last week regarding the parking program and strategy for the Marpa House residents, the new ash house that the good neighbor. Agreement stipulates. she said, that there's some disagreements with the interpretation of the Use review conditions of approval regarding the number of visitor permits to be allocated. So that's where that stands right now. It's still in limbo. We have been working really hard for the last 3 months to get the city to address the problem of line scooters on the hill. I mean, it's residential, and people leave them in the middle of the sidewalk, and there are a lot of older people who can't negotiate

[4:12] around them. Apparently some progress is being made. Scott, Thomas, Mark Meyer, and Evan Thomas are working with the transportation Micro Mobility Department to come up with a plan to ensure that the scooters are put in the right place. The last item is that one of the Executive Committee members of the Neighborhood Association. Valerie Storylots is sort of leading the charge on addressing the the talking on houses, historic houses, and you know, on the hill. and she has sent a letter to Barha. try and get a grip on this, because basically, once a how's it talk? Then the kids next door. Wanna talk there's and it just keeps keeps going.

[5:04] So that's really about where things stand right now with, you know. Gary, this is, Ted. I'm wondering if you could repeat the envoy. We're talking about the chocolate once the building is chopped in what I didn't catch what you said. There. Just that. There is somebody on the executive Committee of Una who's trying to address the problem of story that through Barha, the you know, the landlords group. And basically, this is just a new campaign to try and get a grip on it, because it's getting a little bit out of hand. It's ruining the facing the the brick on these old buildings, and you can't power wash it off without destroying the old mortar. So it's a bit of a problem. But that's not probably something that you are interested in just in relaying to you what the ongoing

[6:02] agenda is with with Una really appreciate that II was not aware that shocking at any sort of negative kind of longer term consequence. So that was, that's what I was trying to clarify. Thank you for that. Any commissioners have any. Follow questions from Eric or anything Neighborhood Association at this time. Thank you very much, Mary. Good thing, thank you. Oh, it's to me! We are now. We can set agenda section of our agenda of our agenda. These will not be discussed. Is there anything there anyone wanted to. Highlight seeing none. Fund financials were also part of that. Okay, the one that's in there. Alright.

[7:00] We're gonna move them to a hill hill up folder update. So you should have a some updates from me in the packet. I wanted to first talk about a little bit of feedback from ordinance 8, 5, 9 0. That went into effect. December fifteenthish, I think. I sent out an email to the business owners with information about how to take advantage of the new rules if they so desire. And then I wanted to share a little bit of feedback that I got back from businesses. Only I only got kind of explicit feedback from about 4 businesses, but general sentiments is this is great news. A great step in the right direction for the hill. so sort of half of that, and then half of a little bit of kind of disappointment that it's not easier to take advantage of it for existing businesses who are already on the hill. This is a great thing for any business who's gonna come to the hill in the future, but for the ones that are already on the hill. I had the owner of the Waffle Lab, for example, now called the lab who said they spent 10 months and $10,000 in, you know, legal fees and everything getting the original user view process done. And

[8:15] there aren't in a place to be able to do that again, to take advantage of the new the new, you know, one a M. Or whatever it is, close. so that's that's just some some mixed feedback definitely so grateful for the for the progress, you know, for the hell as a whole. But a little bit of that sentiment of wishing it was easier to for the existing businesses to take advantage of it. Second, I wanted to invite you all to the Hill stakeholder meetup next month on the 20 fourth. at 1 30 at the same location at the Crown Institute. Originally it was going to be on Tuesday, the 20 third, and had to move it for scheduling conflict. But you're all welcome to attend. II want to focus most of the meeting on kind of brainstorming for 2024 in the future and

[9:05] kind of opening it up to how we're gonna prepare for the New Ho, the new hotels to come in. But we'll also have some updates at the beginning from ambassadors, and see you and the city, and all that. and if there's any, if anyone has suggestions or requests for that agenda, I'm happy to hear those. There's 2 new businesses on the hill, I think, since since my last update to you all Nana's or John as dim sum and dumplings is now open where Jimmy Johns used to be soup. Smith has its grand opening this month. It's in the food hall. And then Saint sneakers and Vintage, which was in the police annex. They closed, I think, 2 months ago, but I didn't. I haven't told you guys that. And then iphone repair on the hill is no longer inside of the any questions.

[10:00] I know that the letter that Nancy sent but just kind of watching that the responses, and it seems like there's a a request to activate as well as and Regan's feedback on on the grant it it is there any capacity or any discussion in that meeting that would at least start that process? Or is that part of the brainstorming that's gonna know that the hill that the hill folder doesn't have the capacity to to do events. Unless you're planning on. Yeah. So for events activation stuff, Regan and I are going to be working with some money that's in a Popper Hill Revitalization American Rescue Plan Act funds for commercial area activations on the hill. So Jake and myself, Justin, on our special events, team will be coordinating in the coming months to kind of make up

[11:18] plan for that ideally will encumber the funds by the end of this year and hold a series of activations, or whatever it'd be in 2025. That's the intent. Right now. I think our like our general sense is, we're gonna hire a consultant, or some some external external events company to produce, just like high quality, good events for the hill, but still some planning to go into that any any interest in seeing you clubs and doing anything, have we? I know in the past Snowboard Club would do a few things, and I think the intention of the event street? Was that

[12:05] it? That to you clubs would become more active? So that was just my question is, there's no funding for 2024 really is there? I think the idea is that we want to save the funds for 2025 to jump in when the hotels are here. But I I'm sort of paraphrasing from it's not decided yet. So there are ways that we could use the Arpa phones to incentivize activation concurrently with this conversation about hill activation. We're also doing a strategic plan for a special office of special events. But seeking to streamline the process for activating spaces that are well attuned to be activated. Because part of the challenge that we have with the event street as much as the infrastructure was was modified in order to make it easy to activate. We're still we're not seeing right so. And that's not the only place in the city that

[13:18] that we've identified that we'd like to figure out ways to streamline the process. And so were to come on that. Okay, but we'll make sure that that's part of that strategic planning effort. And then yes, some of these are funds could be leveraged to incentivize others to activate space. But that's yet to be returned. Thanks. I just have a quick question jumping back to the 85 p. Yeah. If if it's a district wide. if it's a total review of the code. Why don't the existing businesses already just fall into? Yeah, cause the code changes. Just it's not. You can't stay open till access. You can apply for a user view to stay up until it does automatically apply to the existing businesses. But all it gives them is the option to apply for the user view. So what's the by my piece? That is, if you're gonna close by 11, if you're gonna be smaller than a certain amount. So like the lab. For instance, they would.

[14:21] they would by right fall into the new food percentage to the 25%. Correct. I'm just speaking. Yeah. They want to stay up until 2. Yeah, but they don't want to spend $10,000 totally to do that. Just wanted to note on the businesses. the stakeholder meetup that if more than 2 commissioners show up, either we need to make sure you're you're not engaging in formal business of the Commission, or we are happy to

[15:04] publicly notice that meeting so that you can engage with each other and have you can't see related conversations. If there's a preference. You know little hard to be at a Hill business meeting without it be relevant to the Commission, maybe. Ask who would be planning? On going to the meeting. I had it on my calendar. Tell? Yes. I mean I was planning that I can send somebody else. Well, I'm realizing that you change the date to the 20 fourth. You said right, the Google invite I got, which is like not my still saying the twenty-third. So I have a doctor's appointment that afternoon, and so I probably will not be able to attend. So I better get to that. So I know this keeps coming up.

[16:00] Want to communicate with each other with each other, engage with a third person there and whatnot. So I think I'll ignore you. I definitely won't be there. It feels like. We may only have 2 there anyway. So but I really appreciate the the advance heads up on that again. Thank you. Anything else for Jake and Michelle business. I have something that I'm assuming. It's just for planning. So we can do that on 24. And just so, you know, I shot a question to about this.

[17:02] You know, I just. I've watched that alley a couple of times, and I'm like, how can we beautify that in some way when they open in a couple of months. So if they're available, yeah, I mean, we can work on figuring out how to maintain them. If that's the issue if you have the parts. Yeah, so that you know what I'm talking about. You know the city has. This may have a supply of the big cement parts, and if we put them in that alley, leading from the front entrance to the Event street, with some good greenery, it could help distract from the less attractive parts of the alley, the building on the sink. It had graffiti style. Have you seen anyone up the alley? Yeah, I actually, I think. II we gave the artist the fox money because he couldn't get access to put that on your

[18:09] no tagging on top of that. But yeah, if you go to Denver on that tennis, and they did the same thing with all the murals it it would be great if everyone participated to have them. They're all on their building, but I think the fox paid for the one on your building, and there is some kind of financial participation required to pay the artists like that. So do we have any funding in that?

[19:05] Our funds for the year to do something like that? It's really a landlord decision. But if you don't. it just depends if if landlords are willing to allow it. Yeah, I had from streetwise come to our meetup like a year ago or something, and asked if anyone had a open wall that they'd want Meryl. Then I could do that again. I think if we pinpoint like if we're targeted and then reach specifically to the property owner where it could make sense. and then that with greenery, and then they don't see the how far mean? What is the city home? Just the alley, and it's like a 2 foot spacing. There's not a lot of space on the side of the alley, so I don't know whether

[20:05] the city could help us figure out, and then we can reach out to landlords if if we need this much more space, but it would be great to know. if the idea is even workable. Yeah, I mean, the public right of way is pretty narrow through there as far as where city infrastructure could just be placed, and then there needs to be enough space for to get through. I know that we do have the Alley activation plan. Not that we are going to be able to implement that by the time the hotel opens, but there might be some pieces that we can. That's what I'm thinking we can. You can get something ready for this spring when the hotel opens. What what if we went about it, and but straight out to Broadway. not on the gas station's property, but on the sidewalk, and then kind of right up and kind of directed people to go that way

[21:07] through signage or whatnot to alleviate your alley, for now I guess it's just the alleys right there, and it's so unsightly. That's kind of what I was. I think you're talking way finder. And I saw what you were kind of talking about as well, so that could potentially be incorporated to move in that. So we do storage. I checked with our maintenance team today. And then I had suggested to you earlier I would love to plan, maybe a site visit and just walk the hourly and identify specific areas that we think we could reasonably face a followup. And then I'm happy to. That would be great, the planning department, or whoever. If you see, if we are allowed we have the space to do it. It feels like what we're talking about here is sort of a both rather than either, or or if the Allies offline, then we know that there's another option pursuing to try to do something cause the last I heard the hotel is going to be online here by the end of March. Is that yeah? I mean, we are up against it. So I'm I'm just thinking, tem, you know, quick, easy, temporary.

[22:26] potentially, or some some way to beautify it for the spring. because we will have. It will be used, probably for conference on moral affairs, and there will be a lot of people. so we can talk, I think, with this is actually on the agenda later for more last year that we want to keep moving forward, that falls into all these categories. So what? It's the hope. What's the low hanging fruit

[23:06] that we can pursue in the very near term kind of help these issues? It's Chris. Anything else for Jake before we move on to the agenda discussion. Thanks, Jake, for that. Update. We are now in matters from staff with community vitality, annual work plan. Alright, good segue. Let me share my screen. This works correctly. Okay, good. Alright. Have a very brief presentation to to run you all through. First, what we really wanna highlight some of the things that we're proud of. From 2023 we had a very, very, very busy year, and all of our work areas. And we have another very busy year

[24:07] ahead of us. But I wanted to remind everybody that all the work that the city does falls within the sustainability, equity and resilience framework. These are some key goal and objective areas in the in the area of safe, healthy, and socially thriving, liveable, accessible and connected, environmentally sustainable, responsibly governed and economically. Bio, you think back about 15 years ago there was this whole movement of triple bottom line, social, environmental economic older takes a little bit further. So we've got these main objective areas that we might wanna make sure that we're thinking about in all the work that we do throughout the entire organization. So, including community vitality. Within that we have the Boulder Valley comprehensive plan, which is our long term vision for how our community will develop over the years. And then within that, there's a lot of ongoing work. When it comes to building our city's budget. Individual departments, work plans, strategic plans, master plans, area plans or capital improvement plan.

[25:14] So. But everything is fueled by the goal areas of the sustainability, equity in the science framework in community vitality specifically say this before we have 3 strategic pillars. That represent our unique work in the organization, their cultural vibrancy. So that's our office of arts and culture in the office of special events. We have district vitality. That's our management of the city's general permanent districts. In our commercial areas there are 3, and then access for all that. So all of our work in the area of access parking, parking management, access management ecopasses for employees. Tdm, tools to change the way the people are accessing our special places. Those 3 pillars work really closely together, to help our communities possible.

[26:04] So we have a number of efforts. In 2023, in pursuit of those pillars in the area, cultural vibrance vibrancy. We distribute 1.0 8 million dollars through 158, or experience. The Belmont rain garden is a highlight of Major Milestone. I haven't been able to check it out yet. I'm not sure if anybody here has but a cool art installation over Atmont Park. We use our Arpa dollars versus commercial area activations in the downtown, in partnership with the Boulder social streets and the downtown boulder partnership number of activations downtown. They also had a number of activations in Boulder Junction. We're planning to do this similar type of work. It's in university health this year in Nice. In the district vitality area. We had a capital program of 3.4 million dollars last year. This is largely focused on

[27:03] maintenance in our downtown garages. So a lot of we're gonna know how much time you will spend downtown. We had a lot happening in, I think all but one parking garage last year. And that's going to continue into 2024 we made some great progress on the Boulder Junction, we finding and branding signage. So that's another project that Regan was leading. You can see an example of the rendering of that signage. It's currently being stall installed right now. So we're looking forward to having those installations completed here pretty soon in the access for all fronts. Hopefully, maybe you've all been able to enjoy the new gateless technology in our downtown garages. But so far, that's going really, really well. And we combined with that, we had resources to replace. All of the lollipop signs is what we call them in front of the garages to identify the city on garages with real time information about the number of spaces that are available in the garage, as well as a signage interior to the garages with directional arrows, to say how many spaces are. If you go this way, and how many spaces are if you go another way.

[28:14] So really excited about that improvement in our technologies. And finally we replaced all of our on street, park and sideage on hill downtown and Boulder Junction. So hopefully, you've seen kind of the the refresh look to the way finding for where people can find the pay stations, as also really clear regulatory side of saying, if you bark here unique to pay. Here are the arrows that indicate the the extent of the paid parking. So that's really going to help us reduce the amount of voids that are Municipal Court. Has been issuing over the years due to the signage. That wasn't exactly clear for how people were parking. That's just oh, I skipped over University Hill revitalization efforts.

[29:02] So you know, so happy, for all the great progress we made. In 2023, through the Uli effort and then making really rapid progress with council and the planning department on the the land use changes that are really going to help set us up for more success in the future. So we wanna maintain that momentum, we have a lot more work to do. And we're gonna be hearing a little bit from Regan. After this presentation on what's coming up in that work? Some of the projects from 2023 that are rolling over into this year we still have concrete work going on. At the St. Julian, the Randolph barrage, Rtd. And 1,100 spruce we're also. We've made some. We've had some pothole issues at the spruce parking lot. We're getting ready to repay that. Regan is continuing to lead the development of our affordable commercial pilot program.

[30:01] ongoing work with University Hill revitalization. We'll also continue to be offering the outdoor dining pilot program. And that is on regents. Play as well. Your your name is coming up a lot of so and we're also working to improve the tree. The tree cannot be in our district as well done a lot of work over the past couple of years on the hill. We're also wanting to do more of that work in the downtown area. Some things that are upcoming, some new stuff. Now that the 2 way past the new sales tax dedicated to arts and culture funding. We are working to scope an update to the community cultural plan and continue engage over the community of establishing priorities and expectations for how those dollars are going to be spent. We're certainly anticipating the last bullet point here. We're gonna continue to do our regular arts and graphs funding. But we now have additional resources that we'll want to understand how we wanna program over the 20 year life

[31:10] of that new tax. We are. I mentioned earlier this special events strategic plan. That's underway. So you'll all be hearing more information about that in the months to come. That's then I think they kicked off in November. So that's all. Can be finished up here in the next few months. Our our arts and culture team is doing an audit of all of the public art assets that we have throughout the city. We inherited a lot of art that was owned by the library when Arts and Culture was housed at the library. And so we needed to get an inventory of all that. So we can have a digital inventory of everything that our team is now managing. It's it seems like a small thing, but it's a big thing. The city owns the building that the dairy art center operates in. We had a 20 year lease with the dairy that is needing to be renewed. And so we're in negotiations with them. And what the next 20 to 30 years is looking like for that lease.

[32:15] I would. I would like to say that we are really close to getting that wrapped up. But we'll see. We have neighborhoods is a a newer addition to the work plan for the arts and culture, a work group that's focusing on expanding public art opportunities specifically in neighborhoods around the city. Well, we have a lot of murals and public art. In our commercial districts. This is working to expand. Using some arco resources. Expand that into neighborhoods more than we've seen previously. And I mentioned the ongoing brand dollars in the District vitality work area. We have an even larger capital campaign in 2024 5.2 million dollars in improvements that includes a an assessment of all of our existing capital assets to plan out the next 10 years of our our capital improvements needed for our district owned facilities

[33:20] in our downtown garages, the fiction and pro garage. We're replacing the Hvac system as well as fire suppression system 11 are spruce. We have some platforms that have deteriorated that need to be replaced, and we have to replace the fire supplies system there as well at the St. Julian, we have some stairs that need to be replaced. And we're gonna put in a new traffic coating to reduce the amount of deterioration. And see in that garage. We are also planning for the fifteenth anniversary of the Pearl Street Mall investments. And with that coming up in 2027, we're working with the department and planning and the community and envisioning what are the improvements we wanna have ready by the fifteenth anniversary. And then what's the bigger vision? For what the malls gonna become over the next 50 years? So more work coming down the pike

[34:18] in that area. We're also working to update our mobile vending card program which primarily has been downtown. But we also have the opportunity to pursue mobile vending carts on University Hill. While we love and appreciate our current mobile vendors, we wanna make sure that process and that opportunity is accessible as as possible to as many people as possible. Support our our broader strategic goals of the the city. So more to come on that. We also have some dollars to underground power lines in the downtown district using dollars. We're programming that over the next 5 years we need to do an inventory of all the power lines downtown and prioritize which power lines are gonna be underground at first, and that maybe we can couple that with other capital projects that need to be happening. So another big project.

[35:19] last, but certainly not least, is a general improvement district. Alternative analysis and capital planning. So we each of the districts that that committee vitality managers are in different places when it comes to their fund health the amount of funding that the the property taxes are currently supporting and long term capital. Planning for those funds. So, as you know, on University hill. There's been a lot of conversation about the the 1.7 mills only reduces $38,000 a year, which is not. Get us to where we want to be. We also have money in the bank. So she sell doesn't street lot. So we have some work to do. As part of this alternative analysis and capital planning

[36:05] to project that out and decide how we're going to to move forward downtown. We have paid off all of the debt all the bond debt that's built. The same Julian garage, the 1,600 pro garage. There's an opportunity to either adjust the mill levy rate to relieve some property taxes for downtown businesses, or we can, on the other end of the spectrum, is envisioning the next 20 plus years of capital investments in the downtown and prioritizing that, understanding what that is, and planning that out so, and then at Boulder Junction, similarly to downtown, we paid off all of our debt on the mill levy. If you are in both districts in Boulder Junction, you pay 15 mills on your property. so there is a desire to adjust those mill levies down, maybe combine both districts into one and adjustability down to a place that still allows for opportunity to to pursue possible transportation, related improvements, but without such a burden on commercial properties in that district. So, anyhow that's a maybe a long winded summary of that specific project.

[37:21] We will be engaging with the consultant help with that Matt Zanski, who's who's listening in. and Regan will be helping to lead that conversation as well. And then our access for all pillar we have. We made big moves with our going gate lists this year, which is very public and noticeable change to operation this year we're working to replace our integrated parking management system. This is the whole back end system. That allows our on street parking pay stations, park mobile coming from your phone all those technologies to communicate directly with our parking enforcement team to make sure that the moment that you paid for parking our parking Enforcement team knows it and doesn't write you a ticket

[38:12] if. for whatever reason you haven't paid for your parking. The moment that you get a ticket, that information needs to go directly to Missile Court, where, if you want to contest that ticket. You can do so in real time. Online. It's also our permanent sales system. So our point of sales system doesn't do that manage point of sales systems. You know how complicated these things are. So we are. We are planning to replace that in 2024. We have a number of proposals. We've already gone through our Rfp process. And we're in the process of interviewing the finalists. And so there'll be a big lift, probably not so noticeable to our customers. It'll be a really big change for our internal work groups. The community. 5 pilot is also getting ready to be underway, I'd be able to hear a little bit from Regan. Is that on their well, this is targeted to downtown and Boulder Junction, where, since books have evolved a little bit from the Eco pass, and our we've had significant cost savings with the eco

[39:24] passes, Rtd. Has lowered their fares. People are taking transit less. We're exploring new ways to encourage and incentivize folks to choose other modes of transportation. So it's not just focused on transit passes. But car share the cycle. It other possibilities, and we can give you the rundown. So we're doing a pilot in the downtown in Boulder Junction. That if successful, might be able to be something that we can expand to the hill. When resources allow. We're also doing a comprehensive review of all of our parking and access products. So as we're replacing this whole back end point of sales system, and since we've moved to gateless technology. It provides us an opportunity to rethink some products that had existed associated with our old technologies. To rethink. Maybe we can explore new ways to allow access for folks to.

[40:22] We want to, you know, come to the hill or downtown or junction to begin. And finally, we're implementing a digital access management system called beehive to digitize our work orders for daily or routine maintenance practices for our maintenance team, but that also ties into long term capital asset planning. So we've still been kind of in the twentieth century when it comes to some of our operating procedures for our maintenance team and identifying who's doing what? When? On a regular basis, to keep all of our facilities and good working and clean condition, and so working to digitize that this year as well.

[41:09] So just a few things. What we wanted to share with you all. kind of the comprehensive look. And it what? Well, and it wasn't comprehensive. We have even more than that. As a typical public servants. We we take on huge bites and chunks and make as much progress as we can. And this is these are the areas that we really wanna make some progress on 24. So, without happy to answer any questions. an addition accomplishment for you completed on the hill, but completed 23. So yes. any questions for Chris. No. thank you so much, Chris, appreciate you. I just do the talking. It's the extend your thanks to. But with that we have more details specifically for the work plan this year and Hello station. So we gonna open to you.

[42:12] We start with U like final report. As you know, we met with the tap. Back in June we received a draft final report from them. I think I mentioned this during the last commission meeting. We finally have files. Our internal feedback with the holidays and the annual work plan and whatnot. It was a little bit of a delay process, but please compile their feedback, and I'm meeting with Yoli this week to discuss incorporating some revisions that we've identified as important. ultimately to just better reflect the engagement process and the interviews that was conducted with several of you all. That ultimately helped inform the recommendations that they had for us. So once those revisions are incorporated, and we have a final version in our hands. We will share it with the Commission, and more broadly fingers crossed before the next Commission meeting.

[43:07] But just know that we are making progress on that front. And then that related to just the broader Hill revitalization efforts and the recommendations from that tap program so shorter term efforts, for the hill is on our 2024 work plan. So this is activating better connecting with districts downtown to downtown and within and enhancing its brand and identity. So we're really beginning to build a vision for this work, scoping out current projects that may or may not impact the hill. assessing gaps. developing a timeline and intend to bring on a planning design consultant this year to identify actionable projects that activate the district again, better connected to downtown within as well as further exploring concept of enhancing the district brand and identity.

[44:07] So still very much in the scoping phase. But we'll certainly keep you all posted. As this work progresses, including, when we began to develop an Rfp. To bring on that planning and design consultant, and then happy to also just continue the conversation around these low hanging through options as well that we were discussing earlier. These projects that can be quickly implemented without a planning consultant. But that's kind of where we're at now, really, in the scoping phase of the printing and planning for this work. So I'd say hopefully, by the March meeting since we meet every other month. We can at least have an outline of the scope. For the big effort, and some some of these low hanging fruit. Items. There's a number of things that been mentioned in this meeting, and there are some other things that we already have in the works that we can make sure that we've got something happening

[45:05] when the hotel opens, even though we still need to do this longer term. make our picture work pick one. And II Should've ask this when mary was talking, but in that letter there was a comment about this. The city revitalization. Person, which used to be Sarah. I think Sarah was more the scope of her work was specifically the hill. And that's not your scope of work. Right? So right? It certainly includes the help thought about that as you were talking, I'm like.

[46:12] yeah. And then transition actually happened before Sarah even before, but cause she had been hired as the University Development Coordinator by the time she left her position, had and because the position was, it was, it was. It's general fund funded so not funded by the district. Specifically and it would. The position was charged largely. The Hill Hotel efforts and some of those key things. And so once those have been completed. the priorities. No, that makes but that makes sense. But there's a there's trade offs there. Of course. that job that she had at first was created to jump, start the hill.

[47:07] and we wouldn't even have anyone service on anymore. But for the fact that. Yes, yeah. And thank you. Yeah. Just wanted to make sure that I was clear. The change I look forward to hearing we're in March mainly just because when this first hotel opens. do we know the name of the hotel? Are we allowed to say it out loud? There's no sign up yet. So you know, you never know. The box? Yeah. Once the moxie is is opened, there'd be all sorts of kind of attention and pressure there, and so kind of hearing where we are in March will be helpful.

[48:05] As a representative of that area, to be able to help the public generally know what's going on there. or people who work nearby like I do. So appreciate that any other questions for, Regan. Thank you for your work, do you? II haven't jumped back into my email in a few hours, so I'll I'll reach out anybody as long as we don't have to sounds. Do you want? Would you be interested? Yeah, I think that would be great. Sounds good. Thank you for checking, too. Course. Is there no other questions for me again. Move into the Commission or recruitment efforts, update new name on the agenda, maybe a new base for summer, all of you. Sammy Smith has joined the vitality supporting us from the city's communications team. So jennifer Bray retired. Late last year. So any

[49:25] some desiring to want to join the community vitality team. And we're very excited about that because we worked with her, Tom, when she worked for downtown. All the partnerships. She's got a lot of pre-existing relationships, understanding of the work that we does and so really wanted to take this opportunity to share about how we're recruiting for Commissioners, but just have new, hopefully, a lot in the years ahead communication on the commission project.

[50:16] And so I can share an update on some of the efforts that have been done so far with recruitment. I know that on this specific commission there's at least one seat opening up next year we might be recruiting for 2 but I know that in your packets there should be flyers. We said to be passed out, those flyers and those packets so please feel free to distribute that flyer with. You are not working anyone, you know, that might be interested in joining the commission on the city side of things. We had a press release that went out earlier in December, and that got sent to all of the city employees, helpful members, media contacts and all of our community partners. And so that was a really broad way to share out the message. We've had call outs in the city newsletter that goes out to over 10,000 people. You had call outs and all kinds of city social media posts on the next door platform.

[51:06] on the volunteer cooperative newsletter. So that went out with that specific volunteer framework. Asking people to volunteer their time with the Commission. And then, earlier this afternoon there was an inside Boulder News interview that happened with a Commissioner on the Downtown Management Commission. That will be aired later this week, but they kind of share the perspective of the community vitality Commissioner, and what it's like to be on one of these commissions. And then our culture is also been sharing on social media, and in their newsletter highlighting all the different Cv. Openings for commissions next year. And that application is open through Monday, January 29. So please feel free to keep sharing it on your end through them, and the city will certainly keep sharing it out on our end. So yeah, it's 2 positions. Because, Cheryl your seat if it doesn't.

[52:08] So I'm gonna add a lesson. But I do have a question. It's still true that the person has to reside within the city of Boulder, or the at large seats, both with the seats that are being need to be property owner, property owner, representative right? If you are a property owner, representative. Lisa, we might need to confirm with Support Office. I don't know that you need to be a city builder resident. If you are sitting in a seat as a property owner. We're probably gonna represent this. Hmm, that makes sense. and there has to be a female on the commission. Yes. I reached out to 2 females to see if they were interested, but I reached out to one.

[53:03] I don't know if this came through yet. I mean, you know, if it if it ends up that there's a need I'm happy to carry us through. Absolutely appreciate that. But we would like to also give you a little bit of a break. Cause I've done on this commission for more than just this. I might had to go off for a year, and then came back. II do have one question. Just are you on the Connector meeting next week. did I not? You, Andrew? Have you been participating with the hill downtown connector. because then there would be 2 commissioners if I if I

[54:00] end up participating there. No, I stepped. I still got that. So unless I think Mark Mark is pretty active in that peace. Pretty good. very good city. Alright. I'm still a little confused on, on what I need to do if anything to, or if I'm have the opportunity to continue. Yeah, for sure. I talked to John in the. So I just need to actually reapply.

[55:04] Still applicable. Has that changed? I know that there was some discussion about. If that what's necessary, there are still a number of recommendations that are being considered by the city clerks office that would change our approach to all boards and commissions throughout the city. But it does some time. It's not none of those changes are going to be. In other words, does he have to go off for a year before he can apply? Or I need apply for this year. I'm I think, what our hope is, because he didn't feel like he didn't complete because he wasn't. He set. He came into a seat that had been, it would be great to clarify that for 10, but it will also depend on how many applicants we get. So there are 2 seats

[56:04] that that we need to fill. One of them needs to be filled by a female if we don't get a lot of applicants, then, even if the seat, if the the term expires. if we don't get any other applicants, then we don't have to go through an interview process because there's will compel you to continue to serve, is there? Is it? Is there any way that? The Commission said. Let's say we don't get? We get 2 applicants. A lot of them is trying. Is there any way for the Commission to advocate for trend to continue on the commission? Basically

[57:08] because the the thing I'm concerned about there is not having enough to go around and having someone who's spent the last couple of years getting themselves educated. What's happening. I prefer for us to have an educated individual about matters of Lr, then to not serve, not have tests and take a year off because of a rule. Yeah, we don't. There's not like a formal. It's cause. It's Council's decision, sure. And it's it's depending on their priorities. Fortunately, this is not a hyper political commission. Think about planning board. If there was a dynamic on planning board that was not compatible with new councils direction that they wanted to take. Then they're gonna be the no, that's a recommended change. That's just like concerns that some arbitrary thing like having to take the year off just happens. And that's it. Unfortunately, it's all dictated by code. Yeah. So it's we don't have a lot of

[58:16] flexibility in in that but because trends not been in the seat for the entirety of the term. Sure, there might. I think there might be some of them. Let me know if I need to go be really really nice to them, or something really important. Time to have somebody who doesn't need to spend a couple of years getting up to speed. Thank you. and I'm a warm body here, I said. Well, we will look. We will look forward to look forward to.

[59:01] Is that right? That one's a different group of Boulder Junction has seat open. But we have a just even smaller districts. Yeah, Egypt. So we've had a heck of a good time. And there's 2 commission, right? So it's right. 10 people for 2 commissions, and it's been challenging careful any questions or follow up for Amy anything further around recruitment metrics? Oh, I guess that's fans I'm assuming, especially with the new hotel, I mean. is there an outreach going to those folks as to whether they might. I'll have some money. Yeah. it has been discussed in the past, and I think that's certainly worth making sure that they're aware of the opportunity. And have we put something else through the merchants? I am not. I'd be happy to do that as well. I talked to Tanaka specifically to have her mention as well. Okay, good. Good.

[60:15] That makes yeah. Kind of sense. I can also seek clarification to as far as if the property owners and representatives need to be residents. I'm kind of leaning towards II don't wanna misspeak, but I'm kind of leaning towards note, but I'll I'll want to get the answer, then I'll send that out to everybody. I'm pretty sure you don't have to be yeah. But then, since he doesn't live in town. Alright. Anything else that matters from staff that needs to be addressed. We move to matters from commissioners

[61:06] have anything they would like to bring up. Section agent. Yeah. Where do we start here? figured out how much room taking in yearly on compounding interest from selling the property. So I don't need that answer. So I know that we're gonna have this report later in March. What what kind of things we have, and that we know that we're gonna do as far as getting people from the Moxie up to the hill. Is it signage that we know we're gonna do? Are we doing any painting sidewalks to leave people up. So there's not a defined plan right now. Parks and recreation is leading on the civic area. Master Plan.

[62:00] phase, 2 implementation which includes some work around the parks owned arboretum space. And so that's that is work that is happening right now. So that's that is a part of it. It's certainly not the only part. I'd say that what we can do is certainly explore some of these lower hanging fruit. One example is, we already have all the the pedestrian lighting that went in a number of years ago along the Eleventh Street corridor. If you've been downtown. Maybe you've seen these smaller signs of downtime border partnership produced that have arrow, saying, You know, 5 min walk this way. Takes you to wherever one thing that we are considering is, how do we expand that? That it's a small thing, but it can. It's appealing to pedestrians. And how do we use that type of approach to expand beyond just the downtown up the hill on a few different routes? Here, in the very short term.

[63:05] Those are. Those are certainly things that are under consideration, because it doesn't take a lot of money. Takes a bit of time. But that could really help with that effort to pull people in both directions with the the new hotels beyond signage? Would it follow to the bill folder to if we wanted to create something that can be put in the hotel rooms. The lobby, you know, some kind of sales piece about the variety of businesses that are on the hill. II find that a lot of people still don't know what services are available if they're looking whatever to get a tan, or if they're looking to get their nails done, or if they're looking to get new

[64:02] sneakers. You know what II think there's a boulder can be a big piece of that, right from what I've heard. specific something that they are contemplating, I think it does make a ton of sense for the Merchants Association could take 2 months just to money last year to commission a student to draw map of the hill. that with the eventual, the eventual plan was to turn that into kind of one of those like downtown has one where it's an old, you know map, and then around it there's ads, I think, and that was kind of the idea, and then that would be able to be put in the lobbies of the hotels. So we have the map. There's nothing I haven't designed anything around it. It could be it could be a booklet, it could be anything but

[65:22] a big chunk of that's already out of the way. I think a private company you had to buy that advertising space around the map, and a private company created the downtown boulder map. But I think anything that we can do that. you know, gives people an understanding of all the various pool things they can find on the hill. Yeah, yeah. So I would be really easy for me to create that we just don't necessarily have any funding like you're marked to print or distribute or continue to keep printing it.

[66:01] But that's something we could potentially explore with activation. QR, if it's a QR code wouldn't be a digital map at that point. If it's a QR code. Yeah, then that would be much cheaper. Yeah. Asking the hotel. if you know that could be part of their what to do around. You know, town like, yeah. So it could be a QR code to a little. Yeah. Digital? Well, making the hotel aware of it generally, I think, that getting something like QR. Code or a map in the hands of people who are seeing. There's one thing but having the hotel aware as well for concierge services and other service workers. So they're aware to be able to do the same kind of thing. This comes up from time we're we're talking about right now. What's the best way of making sure that we're getting the information into the right property owner? Who who's running the relationship with the hotel. Essentially well, there is a general manager,

[67:06] and and maybe the contact through you would be a great way to go. Do you have a contact for the yeah, it's from Danica, and I'll have to dig for it. We're trying to nail down the contact, is there? And I think they're still compiling their leadership team. That's what I was last told couple of weeks ago. Okay, no matter what

[68:03] basket of some sort that goes to the concierge and the general manager, and you know some key people, I think, with the merchants who are active and willing to put a little money to our budget for something like that, because the help holder isn't a membership organization. But there are some of us who understand the urgency to have. Do not miss an opportunity like this. I agree, and I have that on my notes I was actually thinking about coming in with some kind of campaign after our meeting, where we can have business owners, invite the general manager, and or whoever else the owners, and get to know them, and whether it's up at the same or whatnot that we would just find ourselves and just get them up to the hill and face to face introductions.

[69:06] It's gonna point. Yeah, yeah, it's almost here. she said. March and March. I thought it was mid March last night. Heard this. Whatever doesn't look like. yeah. But II don't know depends on the weather pretty much. Everything that needs to happen outside has happened. We think it all glass is gone in even. Yeah. There's maybe 2 broken windows that better fix. But yeah. March does not sieve. And also just thinking while you're typing away over there. you know, there's something to be said for local people to give a what's the word I'm looking for like a testimony or a

[70:03] I had the best meal or the best time, or I got my, you know. using the services that are tied to people to to engage rather than maybe a list of of things. some some kind of engagement for the guide for the local sky. I love the QR code cause we use QR. Codes a lot sure tickets on posters. We have a QR. Code feels like that bigger opportunity, not just for the services, but also for people who aren't necessarily looking for services, but just one. A little bit of local history. There's so much up there, and they used to do when they used to be organized still walking tour and that kind of stuff. It's long gone now. But to, you know, integrate some of them. This is maybe longer term thinking next couple of months. But yeah.

[71:07] longer term path to actually do just like a pure kind of thing. Talking about the stuff would be really interesting and pretty doable, especially digital people who are looking for like, we're gonna get a pizza, you know. Why should I go out of my hotel and explore definitely, yeah, that sounds good. The connection, then, to see is there people will, you know, Moxy people, maybe for the first time, just been a little label. And then did they get to the university without having to cross the street. Maybe. I mean, maybe they don't. Yeah. So I think shortest term QR code link to our Directory next shortest term. QR code with a link to a digital guide that's a little more designed and has some testimonials longer term printed map or booklet, or something in the

[72:11] that's actually in the lobbies. Maybe I think if we don't have an image with a QR. Code, you don't even need I? Wanna make sure Jake does a good job of maintaining boundaries between his role and supporting the help merchants. But we certainly are are wanting to to help the help be as successful as possible. And but also doing that

[73:02] thoughtfully efficient place as well, and understanding how people get information these days versus how they used to and let's make sure we're spending our limited resources in the most effective way possible. One more question, when do you will? Will we have a final 2023 kind of budget to actual report for the march. Yup, Yup, so you can see here the 2023 year today. And so that's we still have to close out December so that we'll just slightly. But because of the fund challenges we certainly have been working to to keep our expenses below revenues. And so hopefully, it's not going to shift too much from what you see here for the the year to date. But it will be slight.

[74:14] Okay, thanks. One more question. Fourteenth Street parking update. So that's related since after the Uli work. So it's all related to our near term strategies, certainly not gonna be turning dirt. In 2,024 but want to explore, especially during lower Utah, lower parking utilization months. What are some other things we can do in that space that are drawing people to the hill because they're interesting and exciting and innovating in innovative. So that would be part of this conversation. Are we aware of any large events happening at the Stadium? I was, I was just gonna say, but I figured I mean, there are 2

[75:08] that will be definitely happening. what time of year? Well, Tyler Childers is in August and Ojensa oh, I'm not saying something that's maybe not public yet. That was June, maybe. But I could be wrong. The the reason I ask again, is activation of the Fourteenth Street pod right around one of those events could be an interesting use, and and one that could be publicized ahead of time. To allow for there to be sufficient awareness both among vendors. But then also public general. I know, during dead and Co. The activation of the Boulder High feel end up being giant event and well, I'm not advocating to do anything quite as ambitious as that the wrong word it would seem to me that the Fourteenth Street, while would be really a great asset for the city, and we we are very open to folks wanting to use that space for something other than parking lot. Yeah, of course.

[76:24] we are also subjected to the plan departments. Use rules. Ii hope that we would be able to maybe expedite some of those things. Pbsd is not subjected to the same rules. So that's kind of an interesting dynamic for the shape downstream. Versus what we would, as far as oh, it's getting getting other folks to. Yes. cause we would love to. We want that asset to generate revenue from the district.

[77:00] and that revenue does not have to be perfect. It can be from somebody who's built a bar from a shipping container and is selling in front of our barbecue. Sorry I we would, I'd say that. Cv, that is exactly what we want to be seeing and under utilized public space. I can't commit that. That is something that the rest of the organization will just be like, Yeah, go do it again. That's the that's decreases the districts parking right? And that's well. During the summer that lot is traditionally under utilized not that might, you know, that might change a bit with the hotel. Maybe the demographics will will shift, and there's going to be a high demand. Lot. But how do we? How do we best optimize the utilization of space? Whether it's given me, will I? You know, panel suggestion which included, you know, being flexible with that one. Is there a way to?

[78:12] Is there a way to get whether it's an ordinance or something else to be able to expedite or loosen this plan. The the fact that bbs D is more flexible than this or faster than the city, and this is an important thing for the hill. Is there a way to get an exemption for that lot, or something that allows a different process or a faster process. probably. And there's there's probably a way that the city manager, because city owned facility, could just say that I, the city manager, we are not following these rules. City? So that's certainly the possibility. I'm not gonna commit an area to that in this meeting. But yes, there are ways to cut through for the city to cut through. It's on my tape. Is there a way that maybe March meeting explorer? That's part of the things that we want to

[79:07] explore. That's certainly one of the things I think insurance is a key component and who ensures an event city property. something to think about, you know, and that's certainly something that we're used to. And yeah, we would just be subletting to an app somebody who's activating space. and then, that we would need to clear through a lot of red tape to allow a private operator to do whatever the thing with this so and there are paths. and everyone has books. But we figure out the bumps for these special events over the summer that where my head was going with that is next year's football season as well.

[80:02] and again bringing up like, oh, that's in demand parking, you know space all that for, perhaps. But if we're successful figuring out how to smooth the bumps, we find ourselves in a situation where maybe over the summer, we know tested the concept works. There may be real opportunity to do something this next football season. We we thought it was not this year. It's gonna be not again next year. There are. There's some really important things happening around that football program right now. and I anticipate next year to be a fairly well trafficked season yet again, to get people to come to the hill during the football games. I think it's gonna be or before the football games that could be a really active area to help get that done. So just again, brainstorming and bringing things up. Yeah, I mean, would it again? Maybe it's too many weeks. But I mean what I mean got tailgating at the school, but it's almost wonder if there's a a business district kind of people I'm assuming would be love to tailgate there as well, and probably pay more than people would pay to park there

[81:19] and then we'll bring all those people. Yeah. course that. Well, in the working street lot. Certainly that revenue would go to the district on street would go to the general fund, but not that we wouldn't want more money for the general fund So I'd say that there's certainly a lot of possibilities. and some with bigger bumps than others. You know the the football team themselves broadcast the games frankly, field right next door, to the stadium, and I know that II ran across at least 2 in prompt to tailgates at one of the games where people had a television set in the back of their truck in one of the parking lots.

[82:03] City could do the same kind of thing in that kind of space for people who don't have tickets to the game, or people who are not interested in like slipping back and forth really quickly. They come up to the hill half time or something, and then go back. There's a lot of opportunity there, especially the night games. Those night games, I'm telling you, like people were wandering around even while the game was going on looking for things to do. So there, I think there's a lot of opportunity for the hill to be able to realize benefits due to that traffic. But we can all years ago, decade ago, maybe before the hotels are coming. You know they were proposal, those ideas. But you, I think Chris, is is this to put a large screen

[83:04] on the wall overlook of the city's lot right next to the the new Alice's restaurant, or yeah. And so if you could do that at the Fourteenth Street, I mean the company would, hey? I mean, they would give you that screen for free for the day in exchange for also putting a screen next to it with an advertisement. and so you could get you could actually get the game put up on a screen. I'm sure a company would do that for free. And then, you know, then you've got the whole tailgating people to pay a lot of money for those types. But how do we explore these ideas? Might have they're in in Denver. There there was. and I think it was through the Arts district. Maybe the led advertising

[84:05] that they came out to Boulder to explore even, and maybe even talk to folks. Some of us who had businesses on the hill about using stuff like that led was with the the group tied to the avalanche, anyway. So anyway, there's all kinds of yeah, I mean, there's a lot of possibilities. There are a lot of things other can user doing that we frankly have not been doing. We don't have. We have facilitators. I know that's a good question. And that's is a question that we are contemplating in our special events, strategic planning cause. We're largely facilitators. We've when folks come to us saying, I want to do blah blah blah. It's like, okay, how do we get them through? The process to make sure they've processed us. Otherwise, people safe. All the rules that we apply to everybody

[85:07] sharing events with this a few times. we could be doing more. Some communities do do more. It's just has not been something that's been resourced up till now. It doesn't mean that it's it'll never be resource. one of the few things that we have taken on as far as the stuff party, but that they have remembrance for the shooting number of years ago. So that's something that we have taken on that we are going to organize and make sure that that's something that continues. But it's a lot of work, and and it's not about making money. It's about, you know, making sure that that we are following through with our commitments to victims. And that's a whole. That's on our work plan. I didn't mention it specifically. But that's that's our current limit. Doesn't mean we can't

[86:07] do more fun stuff. We need to think about resourcing. We're not gonna figure that out by March. But we do want to keep as many doors open as possible for possibility, certainly for others to come in. See, you has screens, right? It's like they. And that's something that I think we will really interested in, not necessarily for home games, but away games. Where people watching their away games. And how do we capitalize on that? As just one thing on a long list of things that that would be really nice to do? What are we approach prioritizing what we're actually gonna do and how we're gonna pay for it? And those are things that we need to continue to contemplate. We'll leverage and see you on some of the stuff. It's like important. And you know, to the point of you know, I was really upset. Actually, years ago. there used to be a lot of see activations on the hill, you know. I mean, this is going old time, even like on coming parade, and you know there was. There were so many things that happened up there, and then it all got moved to Pearl Street, and then the Hill got forgotten as the home of See

[87:11] right? And then there became such a disconnect. But there's got to be a way to then tie them back in, you know, cause I'm sure there's broadcast rights. I'm sure there's all kinds of crazy stuff that we would need their support on. Anyway. years just be exclusive to Franklin Field and surround for the people. Yeah, I mean, how can you then start time? That back? And I think this this football program here point is, that's the leverage point right now. you know, like you said, it's only bigger for the more looking, but it also feels like C is kind of much bigger interest now in actually tying them back together. You know they're helping with the ambassadors a bunch of stuff. So maybe it's wishful thinking. But I think that there's a way to to maybe tie that back in and get their support.

[88:02] They're party planners, they can. They used to be the party planners. Yeah, I think Andrew's question about how do we get momentum on? This is really the the heart of the matter. it. It does seem like there's a lot of ideas. It's a matter of how do we document those ideas, prioritize the ideas and then take action on them? It's meaningful. It doesn't overburden staff. It's reasonable. It's not gonna end up working the budget or something like that. But I think that's the real question. We should all kind of ground with, beyond recruiting for the Commission. Is, you know, how can we translate some of the ideas that we have into action in realistic ways? This is a lot of opportunity in the next 2 years. And we're really fortunate to have the stadium getting activated over the summer. And then also the football program that's bringing people in and bringing attention to all their

[89:01] that doesn't happen even sometimes in a generation. So I'm sorry. Yes, of course 2 hotels. Exactly. Alright. Well, we thoroughly beat that to a call, which is, you know, exactly what we're supposed to do, and and we do it in this space, because we can't meet as a group. Talk about these things. Which maybe is another form of strategy we should talk about in the future if we need to do that. We should schedule or meetings to do these things. Not gonna suggest this in this meeting at this moment. But maybe in March we can bring suggest, maybe throwing some things on the calendar, and whether or not we use them isn't as important as we have a day on calendar. We can get together to zoom or something and discuss something. Without it running foul of public participation rules any other matters from commissions. So from Commissioner settings. Okay.

[90:05] you know. and reminder that our next Commission meeting is Tuesday March for us at 4 Pm. Virtually we have zoom. and there's nothing else going to adjourn the meeting. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.