September 3, 2024 — University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission Regular Meeting

Transcript

Captions from City of Boulder YouTube recording.

[0:00] That is the signal to our secretary to through the law. Thank you. We are recording. It's Tuesday, September 3, rd 2024. This is the University Bill, Commercial Area Management Commission meeting, and I will call Roll. Trent bush present. Tell Jones. Present. Annika Powell. Present. Ted Brocco present. and you're shooting here. I will turn our meeting over to our chair. Commissioner Rockwell. Thank you, Lisa. Appreciate that. We are. 1st agenda. Item is procedural items. Approval of the July 24th meeting minutes. Does anyone have a motion to approve? Salute? Got a couple more minutes, I think. Alright apologies. Yeah, yeah. No problem. On page 6

[1:03] of the chat. I think there are a couple of minutes, too many screens it's on. Let's see 71, 3. It's on page 4 of the minutes. It's the second to last paragraph. It just seems like it's missing the word there, and it says, shoemaker asked what percentage of funding by the district is calculated. But she just said how the percentage by funding paid by the districts back in. and then the next paragraph. dying person and shoemaker grass about the streetscape renovations. And if they're going to be plans. I probably said available. I don't see. I don't think, I assume run for without any plans at all, because and then the last one. This is just odd, too, but

[2:04] where we it's the second to the last page. Second and last paragraph. I mean, it just doesn't sound like something that I said. If you could just check it. If it's right. It's right. It's not. The shoemaker shared that he had chosen a location for his business that is, outside of the bill area due to the parking limitations. That's it for me. A second. Alright. So we are. The motion on the table is to approve the minutes submitted with the corrections submitted by Commissioner shoemaker. and give second all those in favor of approving the minutes with the edits as indicated. See one. Tell Danica, are you on the line. Yes, I'm here. Can you see me.

[3:01] Yeah, we can hear you. I can see you, Danica. I can see you tell. and everyone else. Are you approving the the minutes the motion on the table? Yes. Alright, now unanimous approval of the meeting minute approval. We are at the portion of the agenda where you invite the public to participate in a meeting. Do we have any members of the public available now, or comment there, I see Mary Ellis is raising that. It's updated right, Mary. Yes. Can you hear me? Yes, ma'am. Okay. I'm here on behalf of the the University Hill Neighborhood Association, as you know, and I was unable to get in touch with Nancy Blackwood before this meeting. So it's pretty sketchy. I don't have a whole lot to to add here just that there has been.

[4:12] I think it's fairly typical of the return and and fall of students, and a bunch of new students who maybe don't know everything here, that there's been a big uptick in noise and fireworks and open trash cans. And there's been a whole lot of of chalking on houses. and I don't think any of these things probably are much of a concern to you, except the fireworks could potentially be for us all. because we are still in a severe drought and in a stage, 2 fire status. So it's it's pretty dangerous. I and the police don't seem to be able to do much about it, and I'm not real sure what anyone can do about it. But that's where we are.

[5:01] And as for the trash cans. you know, it's a death sentence for the bears when they get into these things eventually. So I don't know if that's something that you all are experiencing. I mean, I kind of doubt it. But just putting it out there. Those are kind of the concerns du jour right now in the neighborhood. Thank you. Thank you, Mary. Does anyone have any comment they would like to make in light of Mary's comments. 100 member of the oh, yeah. don't see again, Princeton. Well. can you comment on Mary's comments first, st only that I live up there, and I've never stick to it. Yeah. So it's definitely. The trash, especially this year, seem to be really bad, especially leaving furniture and other things in corners which happens every year. The couches come from

[6:00] set on fire sometimes, you know. But yeah, it seemed excessive fireworks. That is bad. But again. recap some perspectives. There's written here. I I would be interested that, you know I likewise I've experienced. you know, all, all of what's been described along with the the bear activity this year seems to be higher than normal but regardless. I wonder if the box see, you know. Think about the commercial district, and I was noticing some loud party activity right next to the hotel and what they include. Anyway, I I just don't know. Are they checking in with us, or do we hear from them? But does any of this affect them, since they have the outdoor seating. it's really in an almost in a neighborhood setting where it is. And is there any way. I mean we just don't want. but I don't know. At least I'd like some feedback. I don't know how to get it.

[7:00] If I may add something. I don't believe any of the well. I could be wrong, but as far as I know. the commercial district has not been the source of the noise problem in the residential part. Andrew, your your experience may be different. No, I was referring to whether or not it was impacting the commercial district, which is our duty, as as you know. And so just seeing if if there's a hook's not the right word, but a the reason that you. the the Commission, needs to be more involved in those types of issues. because it might be affecting, for example, the the but we're hoping to be the catalyst for reinvestment on the hill, like. us. Personally on the sink or on our property. We haven't experienced any issues per se.

[8:03] We're pretty mindful about once the trash cans aren't able to open and close properly that we call Western disposal and get those swapped out, and they do it pretty quickly. As far as fireworks and whatnot. I mean, I think I think we're closed by the time that starts. One other thing I'll just add that we and I've seen, then I don't know if others trend if you've experienced it. And, Mary, if you've experienced. And again a question goes out to the Moxie. But this drag racing thing it's really gotten like loud. You could hear people racing up Blackstaff at night in motorcycles, I think. And then there's been some activity out out a little further, too, that it's so. It's so loud that I think the police office, the police department put out a press release and appear to the yeah. I we were in South Boulder and it's been going on since pandemic. It woke me up a Saturday night.

[9:06] And that's not the 1st one. I again not sure where the relevance to the Commission is going to end up being there. But it, these get taken in totality. They do have impacts on a commercial area districts. Ability to remain positive remains that people wanna do their business, will go and spend their money. So anything else regarding Mary's comments alright. Are are there other members of the public here. to engage the commission. Okay? Seeing none. We're going to move on with our agenda. Then we are in the consent agenda, and from the financials section of the agenda. So any questions regarding the consent agenda. The Commission has

[10:08] moving, then, towards the Fund Financials any questions regarding either the consent, agenda or from financials. Alright. I'm going to move forward, then, in the agenda. No objections. We are to the hill boulder update Jake Hudson. Humphrey is slated to give us update. He's out sick. Okay, we do not have any other updates. Yesterday. I will leave it up to the chat. I let's go ahead and do one go ahead. So the Live music series on the Hill and Partnership music project has come to record. There's 1 more in Warner Junction at the end of September, a number of businesses on the hill for the after parties food. So we were really impressed by the response, there

[11:26] and the last event is in September 26, th and from 4, and then for the pavement pavement initiative, we did have to shift direction a bit from the intersection at Long Ray and Pleasant. We're now pursuing the intersection. At 13 Pennsylvania we were unable to recreate the design that the mural artist had proposed with Gobeco the company that would recreate the design on the computer and then print the adhesive Vinyl onto pavement

[12:04] just because of the amount of detail in the artist's design. And so what we're now doing is we're having the artist simplify the design into 4 separate crosswalks. That will all be applied at that 13th and Pennsylvania intersection. So we do a creative design on all 4 of those crosswalks there. So we're just waiting on that Updated updated designs from artists. And we're also on hold with the attorneys office. Creating an agreement template that would execute with the artist. So we're looking at about 3 to 4 weeks. The goal is to have it. Well, we have one more chance. And look at the new updated model. Yeah, absolutely. Once I've got that on your is there? Is it final step? Is there any concern that we need to have? All the cold snow and scraping, and all that kind of stuff is problematic. Or I brought that up.

[13:07] said, we could wait 2 weeks later this month, if that's a concern. So I guess their phone options are. I do we know it's boy. We're getting way, you know. Do we know what the lifespan of a typical application is? And whether or not this that would make sense of the way it. It seems to reason that maybe the more months would be harder on an application like that and so maybe we need ourselves. the partial area. It ends up having the asset completely more durable than painting. So yeah, the we will experience some degradation of the thermal plastic every winter. We have an intersection that we did a couple of years ago at 18th and pearl, and we go in every spring and add, you know we add the pieces it's got scraped away. So if we were to do it this fall. I imagine that bits and pieces of it could get scraped up through snow renewal, and we would need to come in and replace those pieces.

[14:28] yes, right. An alternative would be to wait till next spring, and we'll have one full warm season without that degradation. And of course, then you'd have to come in, probably the spray and do touch ups. So does it cost the whole tension process. Is that okay? Let me see. yeah. it's so. Transportation mobility has to do they do this at all the intersections across the city. It's all the same material. Just this is a little bit more custom, so we'll be purchasing extra, you know, duplicates of the artistic thermal plastic, and then just gets added as needed, just like any other restaurant where it's just blank

[15:09] and so it can't tell you the incremental costs of the labor costs, but there will be costs of replacing, replacing bits and pieces of the mural over time that we will have to either start doing next spring, or we start doing the following spring. So maybe once we get the artists designs. share them with you all and see where we're at. Well, it seems like the supplier should be able to tell us also, yeah. if it's a bad time of year, then yeah. it. It feels like such a minor detail nitpicking on it. But at the same time, you know, given the lack of resource to bring to bear on the hill might make sense to extend the life. Can I chime in.

[16:01] Yes, tell. I don't. I guess I'm confused on the purpose of the murals on the roads. I I originally thought, you know, is to provide safety with heavy, trafficked areas. And I understand that it's a benefit to the sink to have it right outside of our building. But if we're talking about doing it next spring. Should we think about maybe proposing to do it in a different spot? Maybe Pennsylvania and Broadway, or even University and Broadway, where we're expecting crowds to come from the limelight hotel up to the hill to provide safety. So there are specific criteria. For where transportation mobility department is willing to employ a different type of typical crossing treatment, and it's tied to the vehicle volume. So as we start getting closer to Broadway.

[17:03] the volumes at University and the volumes right at the intersection of Pennsylvania and Broadway are going to be outside of those parameters. And so that's part of the considerations of working with another department. So we try to identify locations that don't have as high traffic. the benefit of that is, it does see less wear and tear over time. But yeah, so there's there is a there's a trade off there, and then there's a safety consideration. When it comes to traffic engineering. So just some considerations as to why this intersection's been narrowed in on as you all will hear more. There's also the University Hill streetscape improvements capital budget that we're working within hopefully next year, as long as City Council, acting as the Board directors of Euget approves, that will allow us to do some other improvements

[18:03] that might also include restoring the brick crosswalk that was previously at Broadway, and pleasant before the Moxie was allowed to tear it out and just repave it in as well. We'll have a package of capital improvements for you all to hopefully bless at some point next year that we could incorporate this art as a part of a package of improvements. So we're not just looking at at one little thing that we're able to do with more broader investment in the district. Thank you. Discussion or questions for Regan. Thank you for filling in alright. We will move on in the agenda. Then, to matters from staff. Chris. All right. Thank you. We have 1st up with Matt Suzanski as our project manager on our commercial areas, update connections and analysis. We're preparing for a city council meeting on September 19, th and we have a fresh hot off the presses Powerpoint presentation.

[19:15] That that metaphor doesn't really apply anymore, although I'm sure Matt's computer is very warm in all of the updates. So this is really our 1st dress rehearsal rehearsal. That we want to go through these slides with you all. I will warn you that it's a dress rehearsal. There's been no non dress rehearsal so we are hoping to get your feedback both on content and flow. The questions that we are posing to. I think you all are the same questions. We're posing to council or we're sharing. We're sharing the questions. We're sharing the questions that we're that we're asking the Council of you. So really appreciate your feedback. And we're going to stumble through these because this is the 1st time we've gone through it altogether. But we'll try to also move quickly, because we want to be respectful of your time.

[20:08] Next slide, please. So we're going to 1st start with a little bit of background of how this conversation around the importance of connections to our commercial areas has come about. We'll dive into some projects. First, st the things that have been happening that are planned to be happening, and some additional work items that we are envisioning for the next couple of years ahead. In support of these efforts. There are a number of things that community vitality is leading. But there's also a lot of other work that's happening across the city in support of district connections and quality of life improvements. And we're gonna have some key questions for council to make sure that we're headed on the right path. In all this work next slide, please. next slide. So I always like to start with kind of the much abridged history of all things, commercial areas and community vitality in the city of Boulder. It's important to remind ourselves of all the the legacy that we've inherited and how we've gotten to a space where we're trying to to solve today's problems. But it's important to recognize the context of how these problems have been

[21:19] addressed in the past. So when you think about our key commercial areas specifically downtown and University Hill and how they came to be prior to the 19 forties and the proliferation of the automobile, largely pedestrian centric or mass transit center. When you think about the Denver boulder inner urban rail coming into Pearl and Broadway. and other street car services and a much more walkable commercial area where all the services that she needed were available. In the downtown, largely and Boulder was much smaller back. Then. of course, between the 19 forties and 19 seventies after World War 2, our population exploded. The proliferation of the automobile changed land use patterns, commercial or crossroads. Mall opened up in what was an unincorporated

[22:14] boulder County land, with the sea of free parking, where downtown boulder to to accommodate for more vehicles showing up. We started charging for parking, managing on street parking as early as 1,943. So a lot of change was happening. The retail mix in the downtown was shifting and there was a lot of concern about how was Boulder going to maintain its character in the future. So, thinking about the 19 seventies to the 19 nineties, when the General Improvement districts were established downtown in University Hill, the Pearl Street, Mall was created. Our 1st protected Bike Lane, maybe in the country, I would like to say, was established on 13th Street, from Central Park through to the Blorado a lot of of improvements were made. Our parking lots that Cajun owned were slowly transitioned into the buildings that you see today. The mixed use parking garages that we now own and maintain which then led into the 19 nineties, where we realized that we were not going to

[23:22] park our way out of our challenges when it comes to how people come downtown. So in 1,989 we established one of the very 1st in the country, a contract with the regional transportation district to provide bus passes, universal bus passes to all downtown employees. We partnered with transportation and mobility on the creation of the Hop High Frequency bus service connecting downtown to the University and the Boulder Valley Regional Center, 29th Street areas. We really focused on expanding options to get to downtown knowing that while it's expensive to do those types of things, it's still cheaper than building and maintaining another parking garage. So now we are here to today, where we've learned a lot of lessons

[24:06] from the way that we've managed our challenges. As it relates to maintaining the character of our commercial areas. We've duplicated our successes in Boulder Junction through the the creation of the districts out there. And now, Post Covid, we're in a new space where we want to again have a conversation with stakeholders, with the community of Where are we going next to continue this long, positive legacy of addressing the the current needs anticipation of how do we build a better future for our key commercial areas? I just made that up right now. Next slide, please. Well, just before you do, they're in the headline of that word should be deleted. I believe I'm sorry, but commercial area priorities over the decades. Oh, oh, yeah, thank you. And then good catch also lower on the screen. I believe that you should

[25:05] capitalize downtown protecting downtown. You know, I have an ongoing battle. So communications on whether or not to capitalize downtown. But here I think it's completely appropriate. Yeah, just I think that it makes sense. Given thanks for catching piece of feedback for you as well. I think that the the Rtd pass was also the city performed a coup in partnering with the university to convince Rtd. And I think university partnership is actually also part of where you're going to be going with some of the rest of the presentation, so could be a good time to make sure we acknowledge our counting down relationship. Thank you, you bet. So when it comes to the work of community vitality. Of course, a big part of what we do is management of the general improvement districts. And we currently have 4 Gids next slide. Please

[26:01] want to remind ourselves that the districts are created as an animal of State statute. and Gids are focused primarily on providing capital improvements, and public facilities, and then maintaining those capital improvements. The. Our revenues are generated through assessment on property taxes, and then the income from those improvements that we have made, using those taxes. Governed by a board of directors, which is city council with you all, as our commissions as our Advisory Board. We do through the Gids. We do have the ability to condemn properties, operating facilities, and to shoot office, and this is all enabled through State section so as a breakdown of how these Gids are performing. You all have seen this before. This will be Council's 1st deeper dive into this. So just want to highlight kind of the the different spaces that each are in. As you know. Budget, we have currently 1.6 9 mills.

[27:05] generating approximately $33,000, and those are 2420, $24, 25 collect. So $2024 collected it to me, got it? and so each of our districts are in a different space. I'm not going to go through all these. You guys are familiar with the slide, but really wanted to familiarize council with the the different status of our different districts compared to our other districts. Absolutely. You're gonna take a laser pointer and just 33,000 man. I notice we didn't do it in alphabetical next slide, please. Alright. So a little bit more about the community vitality department. It's evolved over the years. The title community vitality came about in about 2,015 after some reorganization of the city.

[28:06] The department, or the division of downtown University Hill management and parking services has been around since the 1st Gids were created in 1,970, and on street parking management was added to portfolio of responsibility in the 19 nineties, and as the new districts were created at Boulder Junction is acknowledged that we probably shouldn't have a department. It's called Downtown Universal Management Boulder Junction Division and parking services. So we showed it up into community vitality. But evolution has continued to change since then. Since then we've added the arts and culture and special events functions to the department. So we've done a lot of work to better Orient, both internally and externally. What is the unique role that community vitality has at the city? Compared to other departments. And how do we talk about it in a way that makes sense? So it doesn't feel like just this potpourried or Frankenstein together department. So we've established 3 strategic pillars in the department. Those are cultural vibrancy district vitality access for all

[29:11] next slide. And we support those pillars through many different work functions. So our district management work groups focus on that district vitality function. So this is through Regan and Matt's and Lane, where we support programs and operations in support of our Gids maintenance of Gid owned assets. And then capital improvements. So reinvesting dollars into new stuff. On the cultural vibrancy front. We have the office of Arts and Culture and the office of special Events, also under Matt's purview and then finally, on the access for all side. We have our parking access services from customer service folks are selling parking permits at the front desk, neighborhoods also in support of permits in our garages, maintenance of on street parking, pay stations, making sure that all of our on street parking and garage parking systems are working well, and then enforcement citywide enforcement of all of our parking and access related ordinances

[30:17] next slide. So some additional context about what we've been able to do within the Gids over time. We've been able to build 7 mixed use parking garages. And we currently own 2 surface lots. One of those lots is on the hill. One of the lots is downtown. 6 of the garages are in the downtown. One of the garages is at Boulder Junction. We manage over 2,300 parking spaces. In district owned assets that doesn't include about 1,000 managed on street parking spaces throughout the city, as well as 1,300 bike racks. Again, as all access related. Infrastructure.

[31:03] We manage about the same amount of parking as all of the 29th Street Retail district. We also again manage the on street parking, infrastructure downtown University of on Boulder Junction, and also in the civic area Given that the purpose of the district can expand outside of things that are strictly access related. We also maintain other infrastructure, such as newspaper racks on the Pearl Street mall flower pops on the hill. Different capital enhancements that have helped us better fulfill the purposes of the districts. and of course, public art. In the realm of now our newly adopted arts and Office of Arts and culture as part of our broader portfolio, not necessarily paid for by district dollars, but part of the portfolio of things that we manage and intake. Can I ask a really, the clarifying question here, do you back one slide? Is that? Okay, yeah, of course. Alright.

[32:05] 14th Street lots. So I didn't realize. Of course, that's 14th Street. We're so focused on hill maps that we refer to it as the port the singular 14th Street line. Yes, and I'm wondering if maybe that does a disservice because it gets lumped in. Then with this other. it's basically, it's not even really. I guess it's a lot. But it's a street that has parking right? Is there a terminology thing there that maybe we should be addressing to ensure that the hills getting its it's fair shake or sure. Traditionally, these have been referred to the civic as a civic area laws. But I've been hearing it coming up more and more as the 14th Street boss, which gets confusing, because when I think 14th Street lot. I think the help but more recently, because of the civic area work, I think the 14th Street lots keeps on coming up. And so I've I've been noticing that same thing. So thanks for bringing it up.

[33:05] we will see what we can do to better normalize. A separate name, because it does get very confusing. Yeah, I I think that we would want to make sure we reflect that language as well with the Commission, just because, yeah, they're distinctly different issues. Yeah, so thank you, Kelly. Yeah, I I agree. I was confused as well. And then likewise on this chart, on this picture here, is there? Is there a oh. A reason that it wouldn't show like that. The picture is not zoomed out enough to show all the lots that are covered here, because when you say 7 garages and 2 lots. somebody's gonna assume that all the lots are in that picture. But there, there are a lot you can't too loud, it's sure. Usually we will do. We will get a better image. I did not like this because the the red squares actually aren't even over where all the it's yeah. So thanks for the feedback. I've been displeased with this image, and we will do a better.

[34:12] Thank you, Chris. And before we start getting into all the upcoming work, it's important to to note that one of our 1st priorities is, of course, to take care of the things that we already have. And so we do spend a significant amount of district dollars on capital maintenance, primarily in the downtown, because it's where a majority of our structures are so just want to highlight some for and afters of a lot of work that's been happening over the past couple of years on concrete repair facade improvements, traffic coats. This is work that's been ongoing. It's going to continue to be going. It's still our 1st priority. But we want to make sure that we're also understanding what our capacity is to take on new priorities when it comes to

[35:01] district of infrastructure next slide. So that leads us to where we are at today. I'm not going to read through all of this. But at the Council retreat back in April commercial area connections and quality of life improvements was established as one of 11 council priorities. Their focus primarily was on the connection between downtown and University hill to take advantage of the new Moxie Hotel and the Limelight conference and Conference center and hotel acknowledging that if we're gonna have a lot of new folks visiting that part of our city. How do we make sure we're better building better connections? And so we know that this is a we've known for a long time that this is something that needs some effort and some planning council has now identified it as priority. Which means that we're we're going to be able to spend a lot more time with them on advancing this in a very meaningful way. And so this is going to be our 1st touch of council. in respect of that council priority, but we also want to use it as an opportunity to daylight some other conversations that we need to have around managing the Gids and other work plan items related to connections between other important commercial areas in the city.

[36:23] And so with that, I'm going to hand it over to Regan. I believe to do sorry we we shifted things around a little bit at the last. Yes, I said, off presses before we start getting into all of the work that we are planning ahead of us. It's important to remind ourselves all the efforts that are already underway, or or recently completed when it comes to commercial area improvements. and connections. So, Regan, if you want to provide a highlight, a real of what we've been up to. To date, sure, specific to the hill correct? Or

[37:01] this is more than that, more than okay. Sorry so well, I can start with the temporary way, finding that we implemented on the hill to better connection with those downtown so so we install temporary wayfinding on the hill. We are evaluating the outdoor dining pilot program which funds currently until 2027 was launched in 2022 with the goal is to make that a more permanent program for the city. So we'll be analyzing that and making recommendations to the Council in quarter one of 2025, we recently completed, except for one on private property, the Boulder Junction way, finding signage, branding and way, finding signage out in Boulder Junction. So that was the biggest success in 2024.

[38:03] Oh. I'm gonna pause, you because we could spend a lot of time on this slide. One of my asks of the team as we went through this presentation about an hour ago. Was this needs to be better organized and and categorized? So it's not the potpourri of things, so we're not going to go through all of them with you. But we wanted to take the opportunity to remind Council that we haven't just been hanging out wondering what to do. We've been busy. We're taking care of what we have. We have been pursuing enhancements based on guidance from our commissions in all the districts. There is a lot going on. There's still more coming. Of course, but we're still looking forward to this additional conversation with Council around some new work priorities in support of their their priority. So with that we can will give you a free, for now we'll get this fixed up for next time, and we'll move on to the next slide. And before we do, just so, you're aware that we do want to take this opportunity, since Counselor did have information about a year ago about University Hill revitalization plans to update on it. So we'll take, you know. I'll pause for a couple of seconds just to make sure they're up to speed.

[39:18] I think this, that slide could also benefit from another map, maybe with some pictures. I think the like you had on the previous side of the 3 garages, but that might help organize it a little bit, too, and it'd be cool to, you know, to see the mural and such. Oh, just doing this one. It's in the wrong place. Come back to this. Well. it is, and it isn't so again, before we dive into. I want to highlight community vitality does not work in a vacuum. There is a lot going on across departments. So we want to make sure that folks know that while we again, we're presenting some 3. We're asking for feedback on some 3 key work areas and community vitality. We are working really closely across departments. Thank you. Yeah, that's the right context. And and especially given that the update to Boulder Valley. Comprehensive plan is coming up.

[40:21] You'll see that repeated many times throughout here. But aligning with that effort is going to be really important. As we continue the discussion. so The 3 starting off the 3 projects. Something that you have seen. A lot of council will get introduced for the mostly for the 1st time, as the improvement districts. Analysis. You've seen this call districts outlook and commercial area analysis. But this is this is the title. And we're we're locking it in. And the goal vision, for this is that city council as a board of directors, and you as their advisor, will have a toolbox of governance and financial tools in order to meet the community's priorities for each of the districts. As we think back to that timeline.

[41:11] each sort of 20 to 30 year block of generational projects around what our commercial areas are, how to provide the tools. And so to understand that that's why the prioritization, the visioning for each of the districts is so important. And so this project will do a couple of things. It will do the research data, the literature review, and the benchmarking to understand what we've already learned about the districts where the current state is, what the vision for the future is. You know, we've talked about. The hill is the most studied area boulder, and we have a lot of information coming in. We also have a lot of engagement that's happened, and it's coming up again. Boulder Valley. Comprehensive plan. Update the civic area phase 2. A lot of the ideas about the vision for the districts and the connections between them

[42:00] are going to be asked in those different projects. And so we are seeking to align engagement and research around all the works that's been done and coming up, and then we'll produce some supplement to that. We'll have some unanswered questions. We're going to ask directly of stakeholders what those generational priorities are going to be, and make sure that we have a clear vision for each of the districts. Once we've set those priorities for each district, and perhaps some consensus on what that means. That's when we provide the tools, the governance and financial tools in order to achieve the vision that comes in the form of options, and just to give you a taste. the state provides 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 different options for improvement districts. Each of them has a different focus, a different way of collecting money, a different way of governance. So you can look at this project as what are the right tools for the current state of each district, the future state of each district, and potential new districts? Where are the areas of town that could benefit to achieving goals with some of these tools. So there's a lot of words there, there's a lot of content. The study and detail of that will be coming up.

[43:10] But that gives you an idea of the menu of options that are available to us, and we need to do some serious understanding of what is going to be best for each district. and then, we're gonna kick that project off as soon as possible. We're going to get feedback from you all from council, and then get running on this because we'd like to do the research and engagement. Starting at the end of this year into the beginning of next and making sure that we are carefully paying attention to some city deadlines. With how this the cadence of the budget and of the Worker City Council, also the State deadlines for making changes to some of the details of districting. So there's a lot embedded in just 3 little bullet points on timeline. But we would like to over the course of next year, get this completed, have the recommendations to be able to move forward.

[44:08] The engagement that happens is going to be like, I said, aligning with other projects, making sure we're not overlapping with them or over exhausting the community with questions. But make sure we get all that information. A lot of stakeholder and community feedback for each district, and then we'll deploy the racial equity instrument in the findings and make sure that we're considering that before recommendations are the interest dry on those recommendations. So next of the projects. Are the district enhancements and investments, and as you kind of heard from Chris and the talk of the timeline and the establishment districts. this idea of the city council priority around connections and quality of life in districts is just the work of community vitality. And we're going to continue to do that work. So thank you, Regan, for sort of highlighting. Some of the things that have happened are ongoing right now. We're also going to keep an eye on what's happening coming up.

[45:07] So we have a vision for this, and it boils down to that. The direct investments of capital projects and the programming that's associated with that is going to work towards those those priorities. We're going to create vibrant, economically vital, culturally active districts and the ways that we do that and think about the connections to transportation, the workforce, the deployment of the businesses is all wrapped up, and and the things we're going to invest in and so some of the things coming up. We're going to start looking into the the scope and design of a cultural trail or a cultural corridor along 13th that connects the hill and downtown. We're going to start implementing some of the boulder social streets recommendations. We're focused on policy and and process. This year, we're going to look at some more active implementation next year. Continuing to expand district activations looking for new ways to for each of the districts to add to vibrancy. We're going to deploy some enhanced special events sponsorship. So, taking a look at the events that happened in the district and trying to sponsor the type of events that the community desires and give resources to events in order to make the best possible experiences.

[46:22] yeah. One thing we're gonna add to this is University Hill Street. Improvement on Council approved. Thank you. And the special events. Sponsorships are tied up. Yes, I know we're sort of going through this, but this may be a weeds question, or it's sort of the how and whatnot. It seems like timing of some of this could be like. In other words, if if one of the the improvement district analysis that the improvement district analysis results in some sort of solution adopted by council

[47:02] that may help the enhancements and investments. Right? And so it's a chicken and egg issue a little bit right? I mean. So while you've been hearing projects, yeah, it's really work. It's work areas, right? So they're all they all work in tandem. They're not 3 separate projects. Yep, it's 3 components of of one giant giant project in support of the council priority. And so we can do a better job of kind of tuning it up that way. It's we're not seeing this as 3 separate things. They are 3 very interrelated things. We're starting with the boring walkie stuff and getting to the sexy. What Council really wants to talk about is, is, what's the well, how do I? How do I get a gondola? Just kidding? But where? Where do I get to have that conversation?

[48:04] Areas or focus areas are all okay. One other question again, this might be, too, in the weeds. But the issue of So we went on this this we call it last couple of weeks ago. But this very issue. Yeah, the Dci meeting and one of the discussions had to do with if you do a Dda, for example, that that the property value increase. Is is important. And you know questions that that I think people have been batting about is, how do what could be done to increase the property value to, you know, we've actually sort of gotten behind the 8 ball with the Hotel Conference center. But there's been talk, you know. Some people have expressed ideas that maybe there are areas within a potential Dba that would that could support more student housing or other kinds of housing that would really pop

[49:08] values. And so what role is planning playing in? I know it doesn't normally seem to be in the context of that. But it's is playing a role. Yes, next slide. Okay, all right. One thing you're gonna hear over and over in these work. Priority areas is the benefit. Okay? And so we are, we are being charged with tying into that broader process, whereas key subject matter, experts and district management. And wanted to forward, you know, move forward these specific conversations. As part of that broader context of land use transformation. So that we're not working independently on separate projects. It's all planned to be incorporated within that.

[50:01] and one or 2 council members might understand the connection I'm assuming you'll indicate that. There are implications for these districts, how how the planning, the zoning decisions could dramatically change the numbers. Right? Absolutely. Okay. And that will be part of some of that analysis work of envisioning different futures. And here's, you know, the inputs and outputs. Yeah, is going to be a big part of the key considerations of which direction we want to go. Yeah. Another way to look at this. That sort of tags into both of your topics is that this is sort of what is on the table. Immediately given the rules that we have now the scope. You know the zoning. Everything is sort of like the the bold, comprehensive plan. The district analysis will make adjustments to that, and it'll necessarily make adjustments to this, too, and maybe confirm some things. But this will be a definition based on

[51:06] yeah, it's almost like there's a mountain or a pyramid, or something. There's all these different pillars underneath, and you know something about a Rubik's cube. There we go something to get people to realize that it's just like 3, 4, or 5 dimensions. Right? Yeah. see what the data gets available. I guess I kind of. I don't know if Andrews I maybe I'm thinking about a different way hopefully, is we, you know, when you have developments. We have, like the transportation master plan. And there's things that are adopted that when developers developments come forward they have to implement public improvements. Is there any way that we could get ahead of this a little bit and have some of these that M might be in a plan that if another property got redeveloped they could, they would have to, you know, create some of that, or build build upon that framework.

[52:03] So really great question, that's all being contemplated. Also, again, underneath the Boulder Valley Comp plan, in the desire to move away from individual departmental master plans, if you will, but more as a a comprehensive plan. That isn't just 3 30,000 foot level, but in includes detailed plans. That are guided by the focus areas, areas of the sustainability, equity and resilience framework. So that it's not just. It's not a fire master plan and a transportation master plan and an open space master plan. It's a healthy and socially thriving master plan and accessible, connected master plan. We're not using master anymore. Blueprint a healthy and socially thriving blueprint accessible and connected blueprint. And each department feeds into our collective, our communities collective success in those framework areas. And we want to make sure that the desire of the city manager's office is to make sure that we're all working together in the development of those plans, not having individual departments being the sole keepers of this is my plan, even though it's contradictory to the climate initiatives plan or the you know, the facilities, master plan, or whatever

[53:23] so great question. And it's exactly what's being contemplated to make sure that we're not being contradictory. That said so that means that there's a lot of planning that's that's coming. To make sure that that the next iteration of whatever of the transportation and mobility blueprint is reflective of all these other efforts. Not a standalone thing. That's that is just one more plan that a developer has to respond to. That might be contradictory to whatever's come out of community vitalities planning process. We want to make sure that they're complementary.

[54:00] That sounds like really big effort, and I commend the staff. I thought we were going to simplify the Boulder Valley Comp plan. But I am interested to see cause I think it's it's we only update it every 5 or 10 years. And it's it's a big, bulky document. So I think some of these more individual plans are important to to be more timely and and responsive to what's actually happening on the ground. So I'd be interested to see how that all unfolds, and I have the kick off on my calendar, and I don't know if there's an opportunity for that planning staff to come, maybe to one of our meetings and get feedback or present about the the comp plans. scope of work. Yes, they the thank you for the question. We will follow up with them to confirm where on the their engagement, timeline. Each of our commissions are, but that will certainly be pretty much.

[55:02] Thank you. About next slide. So the last of the 3 projects that we're going to discuss with council is commercial areas, connection and quality of life, Charrette. and this is the most direct response to their priority and the vision for this is that all the efforts across all departments that have to do with commercial areas, their their vibrancy, their quality of life and connections between them. We should have the experts in each department set the shared language set of criteria, and basically the information and the policy to copy and paste and all be on the same page on what it means to have a vibrant, safe and well connected commercial center. And so it'll be a series of meetings. And it'll be bringing in experts. Taking a look at the data. You know, doing some

[56:02] connected outreach again to Boulder Valley. Comprehensive plan and making sure that it's aligned with that. In fact, we're in conversation with comprehensive planning right now about actually embedding it very deeply, so that it aligns perfectly with their schedule and then, on the other side of it. It will be an internal document, one that you and Staff will use to basically have in front of us everything that we need to deploy the principles and policy for great commercial centers. So the timeline, I you know I I put some dates up there, but really this is about aligning to the comp plan. So we're going to be working on refining that so that it has very precise parallel to the comp plan. But it'll be facilitated by community vitality as the experts on commercial areas. And then engagement again, it'll be largely internal. But we're going to do literature Review. Make sure that we understand all of the studies and engagement that's been done already. Embed some questions into Golden Valley. Comprehensive plan, process and overlay again the racial equity instrument on the outcomes.

[57:12] So I'll that slide because we already talked about that. But this is just a summary of those 3 community vitality projects that are the subject of the conversation at council, so that they have something to respond to, and the questions that we're looking at overdues alright. So the 2 questions that we have that we're bringing to council are, is there any feedback on the vision or scope recommendations for the 3 focus areas of the current commercial area efforts. So we then list the 3, and then, is there. Are there any other comments or direction provide on our engagement, strategy, timelines, or other topics. and then, of course, I'm sure there will be some demand on it. Healthy discussion. And then we have next steps

[58:03] which I was working. Okay, we just put the slide in today. So this is not final yet. But we're gonna we're gonna communicate our next steps. We've done that yet. So that is our dress rehearsal of our September 19th a council conversation. so certainly welcome any additional feedback from you all, I will note that we are. We're going to make sure that the the Eugen specific items are better highlighted. The memos almost done. And it's very. There is a big memo that's associated with this, which you can have the the privilege of of reviewing. But so we do. We do present a lot of content in that, and try to slim it down to a very quick presentation. So still, some polishing to do on presenting. I also want to acknowledge the email that she sent out. That we'll talk about surely is in matters from Commissioners. But acknowledging that

[59:24] that there's the the budget. Ask for streetscape improvements. That is dipping into the existing or proposing that we dip into the existing Budget Fund, and we would like to daylight that possibility with council. They will have heard about the budget the week before already. But want to build a better understanding of of this is all interconnected, and we, if we don't dip into the huge fund, we still have 1.2 million dollars of work that we would like to do so. It has to come from somewhere. And we would like to explore that broader question of how do we just make sure that we can continue to make the enhancements that we want to make, regardless of what bucket of money we're pulling from at a specific time.

[60:14] and so would ask for the Commission's support and pointing to this work and the analysis work to make sure that you're not in feeling the space of stressful about a fund balance that you know when it comes down to it. The general fund is is what's supporting the majority of our annual budget already. And there's no presumption of the city that that there's going to be a discontinuation of resources for the hill. It's more about, how do we create a better mix of how we are paying for the things that we want to do on the hill. So not going to tell you what to do and how you wanna engage with council on their budget decisions? But just want to try to make sure that's balanced with the city manager's desires of the budget that she's presented

[61:06] question on that. And that is I mean, I see we can. I don't know if we're gonna talk about it later. One of this meeting, too. But I sort of see the there's 2 functions. One is to raise highlight, which you're doing as well with this presentation highlight, that the dire straits that we can see is in the huge exam which which I don't think all council members are aware of, and how that works. And you know, even if the even if the sentiment ultimately is well, let's use that money now. But because don't worry, it'll be around later. At least we've got that commitment right? That you know, hey? We might be using this now. But we it's not going to argue later down down the line. That's the important sort of commitment, and then the last is just the issue of that. Given all of this, which is, which is relatively new, I mean this this idea that we're you know everybody's coming together with the skew concept

[62:04] is. is the streetscape? Are the streetscape improvements? Right? The right answer right now? Or are they just a Band-aid. That may be the wrong band aid given where we're going. So we didn't get into the scope of that work. But as part of the 1.2 million dollars there. Yes, there is stuff that we can and should be doing right now. The mediums on Broadway, that's included. you're just not paying for that component of it. We do know that there are. There are certainly bus stops entry wells, you know, within the district that there's no space to really do anything anything transformative. Maybe more along Broadway. But there are opportunities to think about different ways to invest dollars on 13th Street or on the 14th Street lot or we leverage those resources as well, and sell that property off to, and have even a bigger bucket, an even bigger bucket of money to do something in the public right of way, as part of the 1.2 million. Some of that will be carved out to do the planning process of bookending of what are small changes on the hill? How much is that going to cost us long term? Just boosting up what we have, and planting trees and doing. Kind of that, the low hanging fruit. But no major transformation all the way over to

[63:22] how do we make the hill boulders next? Great pedestrian space? What does that look like? What is the price tag associated with that? Making sure that we've we've explored the realm of possibility before we pick exactly where on that spectrum we want to land. And and then how long it's going to take us to not not. Can we afford it? It's just how long is it going to take us to afford it? whatever it is. Is that fair? Yeah, I I think so. I guess just you know, I know this this 1.2 or whatever the number is. That number was arrived at a little while back, and it seems like things keep evolving, and your timeframe is great. I mean, that's a that's a fast timeframe for figuring this stuff out going at hiring a contractor. And all it just makes me wonder.

[64:12] is everything that was planned to be spend, to be spent? Is it really necessary, before all those decisions are made. No, so we we wanted to make sure that there was a bucket of money available to have the conversation originally, it was just a Broadway Median Reconstruction project, and we thought that was a little bit too limiting to the conversations that we wanted to have. the cip is a multi year. So while there will be 1.2 million dollars sitting in an account that are tied to universal street skate increments, it doesn't have to be spent immediately we have, we project will stay open as long as we need it. So it means that we are establishing an initial bucket of money to make near term progress, and the things we know we need to do right now, like preparing the median. But also it'll it'll be an account that we can turn to once we have a better idea

[65:13] gone through. This work done. This, you know, gone through some process and narrowed in. And what are maybe long term transformation. desires are. And then we can direct dollars to that. So the 1.2 million is not fully committed to these are the street trees that we're redoing the tree wells, or any of that. What's the advantage of Budget? What's the advantage of plopping that 1.2 into there, and particularly from our standpoint, taking it from you. Just money to do that as opposed to just leaving it in. You. Just run for now, I mean, what? What's we? We cannot spend against money that hasn't been allocated to something. Yeah. And that's why we wanted we wanted to make sure that it wasn't

[66:00] Broadway Medians project is then then we can't do. We can't do anything to support anything other than driving. So by going broad. we have an opportunity to actually start doing something. And streetscape. It's pretty much all a public right. It doesn't necessarily tackle the 14th Street lot, but it can. That can be part of that broader vision and conversation of what's what's trans, what's next for transformational and 1.2 isn't going to be enough. no matter what we decide there. But it will. It'll be a bucket that we can start spending down from to start having that conversation. So that's that's more than 10. If it sits in the fund balance, then we can't touch it. I think that that maybe what I've I love all this information we're putting in front of City Council. The danger is that the the maintenance

[67:05] stuff, the stuff that, honestly, I would say is, has been necessary for the last 5 years. 10 years gets lost, or the actually, the bigger the bigger priorities help get lost in those shorter term improvements, things that should have been happening all along. that we don't have enough city Council members who understand the fund balance what it really means, and that there's been multiple steps that have been taken, including selling a city asset, allowing a developer to then develop on it. and that that was then supposed to be a part of the transformation of the hill that there's an additional investment necessary beyond streetscaping big, bigger and better. I mean, let's be honest. The Yujit Fund is not going to cover whatever a transformation bill would be. It's merely seed money.

[68:00] but it's still precious money, because you don't come up with an acre or 2 of land every day. It's something that only happens when it's several generations. So that's the thing I'm concerned about is that you know a focus on kind of the near term. This is what we can do in the next couple of years to make things look pretty may hide this this need for a larger visioning. I hear you talking that that will happen. But, boy, that's going to be really important to make sure that we're tying those things together. because it'd be pretty easy to just say, well, we've, you know, put some trees up, and shouldn't that be good enough? Would we all know that that something more transformative needs to be addressed, some bigger thinking and some risks need to be taken in order for the hill to be a sustainable district or next generation beyond sounds like, maybe we need to have a commission retreat, and that can be a key. 2025 priority. Yeah, cause. I I think Staff would agree with you. We're not just looking to plant some trees, and, you know, pick up our blocks and go home. We want. We want to create a better path for this district, and whatever it's going to be to make sure that

[69:19] that it doesn't have itself in this place another 1020 years from now, after one big investment, and then whoever succeeds us is still dealing with the same questions, and I think it'd be great for city and commission to be kind of city staff and commission to be in lockstep. How we're communicating about that because I think that that's a real key thing. Again, there are other mightier districts in this conversation. We are just the We Hill folk. Who want to make sure that we're getting the attention that I think the city has been really intending for it to get so we want to support whatever we can of your work to get that done may need some special coordination for us to get there, and sure that we're all speaking the same language.

[70:11] makes sense more to come. It's basically any other feedback for us before we we have one more dry rehearsal with damandering mission next week. And at the prime time. We've got that. and we'll gladly, unless unless you plan to to listen in or or be in attendance. But you're not paying. and our own business here. Yes, we do. Thank you for the feedback. Thank you. All right. Moving ahead. And we've already talked a little bit about this. But Elliot has a few slides to share about, and and Ted, and I think tell, or was that heard about this at our bi monthly check-in meeting. But just some updates for you on where our budget asks landed. Or, thanks. Chris, so

[71:11] 1.2 is actually 1.3 8. It's a little bit higher, and a mix of general fund and correct. So the the biggest change from the last time that we presented we originally asked for the the major request to be from the general fund. So the 1.4 5 we were asking for the majority of that to come from the general fund, and only about 250. After some review, and the constraints and everything in the General fund, City manager put forward the request and kind of modified. It decreased the amount a little bit more, and increased Egypt's contribution. So that's the big change. From the last time we had a conversation. So this is what's going to be going to the city manager? As a city manager's recommended budget. Yeah. Yeah. Question. I. It says, 250 to 727. But is it adding 727 on top of the 250? No, it's a total of 727, is it? If you add 250 and 727, it equals the amount that's in your budget. Page just half. Maybe that's coincidence.

[72:13] But when you look at on the fund, financials 2025 projected 9, 7, 7, 500 is about 2 50 plus 7, 27, 500. Right? That's very good point, and either an error it is not. It is, I assure you. It's only 727500 is what they've asked for from budget. That's a great catch, and I don't believe that should be in there trying to think what else we've been in there in the capital improvement line. So my apologies on that thanks for asking that and clarifying but yes, 7, 27,500 is what they're asking for from the contributions of budget. And then the remaining of that will be coming. And that's 50% right? That's essentially what the city manager is suggesting. There is half would be covered by Youtube. Correct? Got it correct?

[73:07] So that's the biggest component for this commission in terms of like what's going forward from the Semo. Recommended Budget most. Everything else that we proposed went forward. There was some modifications in terms of whether it was one time or ongoing fixed term versus a full position. Those types of things and those highlights are here in the slide. But that's really the the bulk of it for this commission. Any other questions, Danica, or tell. So if it's if it's it was 50% of 1.4 5 million. 50% of 1.3 8 million would be less than 7 27 quote. asking me to do maths on the fly. So that's I don't. It's not exactly 50, right? And that's that's what I was picking up on there. It feels almost like the ask it meant on the prior number. So

[74:06] splitting hairs. But it would mean relatively significant difference. It is, it is, you know, I think, regardless of the percentage. It's it's a big jump for you jade in terms of what's available for the fund balance. So I know you guys kind of talked a little bit about this in terms of like the conservation of those funds, and what that means for the future and those types of things. And we were certainly aware of that going forward, and that's kind of why we did a I guess. Modest 250 but we also wanted to show that, you know Euget is willing and able to do some investments. In addition to the median so and then this change did you know it's a little bit different, and we had to accommodate that, and I think it's still a good investment. But I think this goes forward as is and is approved, that it thinks you know, Ted, to your point earlier is okay. What? How does this serve? The best needs for the district, for the future, and what the district is going to look like, and can it serve as a big enough of investment to make sure that that district, then, can live up to its future potential?

[75:14] I know the the Moxie Hotel and limelight are going to be adding a lot of foot traffic, and we actually have a presentation a little bit about foot traffic here on the slide, coming up, or sorry in the next presentation. But I think that's really something to be considerate of is is, how do we appropriately utilize this money? Not like to your point, just putting in trees and tree walls. And those types of things is what's our best investment that we can put our foot forward going into this. So that's something we're consciously aware of and trying to be very considerate of when it comes to these dollars. Yeah, I would just add, just you know the part of the you know. The reaction from from the Commission, too. I think it speak to myself is, you know, is just look at that $33,000 revenue for us. I mean, just the interest on the 3 million dollars is greater than that. So it's like right now. It's it's adding a significant amount.

[76:16] It just it's paint over. Well, the money will still generate interest, even if it's in a cip account right as long as the fund balance. So until the cash has gone to somebody else. it's still going to be accruing interest, and I will try to make sure that we spend the general fund dollars first, st and then 6 50. That's coming from the general fund. To Chris's Point, a a portion of that not at probably 2 thirds, if not more, is probably kind of earmarked for the median the median work that needs to happen up there. So that does give us a little bit of funds from the general fund to be able to do some other things that are kind of within the public right of way.

[77:07] And then, of course, we'll have huge dollars for anything that we want to do for investments within that public right away as well. So next steps if you go to the next slide, Lisa. you'll see here. These are the dates of things that are coming up so in just a few days. I'm to be exact. I suppose Council will have a study session. So this is open to the public commissioners are obviously part of the public, and but there is no comments allowed. So it's just the discussion between staff and city council that will be on the the 12th and then the 1st reading and public hearing will be on October 3.rd The tradition and kind of the concept is that the resolutions for general improvement, specific budget, and the appropriation thereof doesn't happen until second reading. So 1st reading if it does pass on 1st reading does not necessarily mean that the resolutions have passed because those have to then be in second reading, so the timings of it a little bit different with the general improvement districts, however, both of those meetings are open to the public, and they do have public being as it is, a public hearing. There is public comment available as well.

[78:24] Great any questions on the schedule. Yeah. that was the quick presentation of budget updates. Thank you very much. Absolutely alright. But you're not open up your next item. So if we want to pull up the property overview, so you all should have had this in the meeting packet. This is again coming from place or AI. This is again visitation. So this is foot traffic. This does not translate to sales, tax dollars, or revenue within businesses. But it does kind of highlight kind of what the

[79:01] how things are changing within the district. So we're looking from January to June. So. q. 1. q. 2 of 23 versus q. 1, q. 2 of 24. And we can kind of see how those some of the changes have had throughout those that year periods. Good. So the blue it's a little confusing. You think that 23 is on the left. Sorry it's actually 24 is on the left, so blue is 24. Red is 23. So we've seen a little bit of decrease in terms of visits but a little bit of increase of visitors. So the difference there is the visits are basically, if I were to come in and out of the district 10 times in a day, that'd be 10 visits, whereas my one self would be a visitor. So we're actually seeing more visitors over visits which is a good sign. That means there's more people coming into the district, and of course this is before the Moxie Hotel was open, so we don't have the really big change in that. So Q, 3 will be a very exciting, because we just opened like, 2 weeks ago, the Moxie. Okay.

[80:10] a portion of this this the average roll time has decreased a little bit, and that's not a really big, significant flare or anything like that. And you know some of the changes in the year over year again. Not anything, too, concerning we're not seeing drastic measures where the visits are completely dropping off. I think the the big highlight here is the visitors. Yeah, the the closure of Taco junkie and their inability to continue serving underage plus has has had an impact on the frequency of visits on university. Okay. move on, Lisa. So this kind of shows you a little bit of the trends in terms of this is by week over, you know, weekly visits or sorry visits over a week. So you can kind of see, the trends are pretty much the same. However, in 24 weeks 1516, 17 did kind of drop down a little bit compared to 23 but 24 is recovering a little bit more in terms of week 23 and 25. So I think that's where you're starting to see a little bit of indication of what the Moxie Hotel is going to be doing to that district in terms of the visits

[81:25] I was struggling with this chart, trying to. I was trying to figure out. So one through 25 weak numbers. So we're seeing half years worth, I mean, yeah. So q, 1. And Q, 2. Oh. of course. Okay, got it right? January 1st and June 30. Okay, you got it. Thank you. All right. No, it's good. These are good questions, because I have to ask myself these things all the time when looking at this data. And then there's not a ton of flexibility. And how placer spits out the the information. So there are things that we can tweak to make it a little bit more obvious. But we can't just like change the numbers to.

[82:09] you know, week of blah blah. So week week 13 is that is probably spring spring break. That's exactly right. I could see repeated gallery over there nailing the dates. So yeah, it's easy to see spring break. Obviously, when summer starts that chart on the right. How are those numbers identical to it? I'm trying to figure that out. So that's that's over a course of a year. Yeah. Yeah. And there is another. We can just take that straight out of this report that still has the annual. Yeah, those are annual numbers. Not just q, 1, q. 2. But then, oh, okay, bear in mind. Yup got it. Okay, thank you.

[83:05] Okay. Some of the audience overview. You'll see here. not a big change. There was a slight change, I believe. Actually, if you go to the next slide. There was a slight change in 24 the Hispanic or Latino community a little bit more visitation from that group rather than and then, obviously, we had a decrease with the the white population, and how that's changed a little bit. So that was kind of an interesting change in terms of like who what ethnicities are visiting the hill and household size has pretty well stabilized. The one person household did decrease slightly, and you see the 2 person household with. and the 4 person kind of increased a little bit, but pretty well stable across the board in terms of. And again, this is coming from census data. So it's kind of aggregating everything and averaging it across the board. So it's it's a.

[84:05] It's an idea of what we're having. But it's not necessarily 100% accurate it. This, however, is very interesting, is the ranking overview. So what this does is this looks at other comparative shopping districts. And I, I think on the next slide you'll see here some. So here's the examples of them. But if you could go to the previous slide. Lisa. The the thing is, is Euget. As a shopping district is actually ranked very high, nationwide, and within Colorado which is awesome to see so comparative its size. So this is visits per square foot. So some of these shopping districts, you'll see, are much larger. So the number of visits they have are obviously greater. But if we're looking at it from a size comparison in terms of how many people are actually coming into this district? And then using that for the square foot. It's ranked very high, which was very neat to see, and we can kind of see on that next slide. Some of the

[85:08] rankings of what it falls against. So it's from a nationwide side you can see here it's comparing things with places like the Rockefeller Center, Pearl pearl brewery in San Antonio, district shops in Arizona. So it ranked relatively high compared to some of the larger, probably more popular. If you will, shopping districts. Which is great, that's great. We have still that high visitation, and hopefully that continues to grow as we get more and more visitors next slide and you can just see there where Egypt falls in at Slot number 12. Great. And then this is the Colorado comparison. Here's a quick question, is there a way to? I mean, that's fascinated the number of visits? Is there any data that allows us to sort of see how

[86:02] revenues from our district compares to those other districts with similar numbers of visits. I would love that. Yeah, but we can't with later. The closest comparison we have is is that we have readily access to is the sales tax. Okay? That we have for Eugen. We can compare that to of course, our downtown areas here. So we can always do that comparison from sales tax perspective. But in terms of raw revenue we don't really have that, because it's not really reported by businesses. right? But it would be interesting to see like for commitment, because we're right next to the East End, right of Pearl and West End as well, and like just tax revenue differences on those you know the fact that we're only. you know, our breath and stuff. The district's revenues are so low it just it just shows the imbalance. Right? Yeah. And I, I think so. The

[87:03] district revenues from a property tax standpoint are very low from a sales sales tax perspective. They're pretty well online, right? But I will say that if you were to compare it to say the East End. The East End is a very small geographical boundary compared to Eugen, so it's sales. Tax dollars would be substantially lower, just because it's a lot smaller. But then, of course, we could extrapolate that per square foot and those types of things. We could get that information by doing some back end work. And of course, our sales tax reports. Actually, we did include it in the packet as well for this year or for this up to May, I believe? And we can do that comparison because they do break it out by kind of districts. So I believe 29th Street, Mall downtown Pearl Street, far downtown, I think, is one of the categories east. Yeah. And then we've got a vacancy rate that's probably similar to East Pearl. But lower than west pearl guessing. And then in that show, maybe potentially.

[88:07] yeah, 100%. Yeah, yeah. yeah, I think Euget has a lot of potential for for sales, tax growth, revenue growth for attracting new businesses, and bringing in new visitors, and everything like that, going back to that investment of the Eugent funds, and how it can be used to really put propel fugit into the future is going to be very important to that number of visits is blowing my mind slightly. How? And maybe this is just something I should already understand. How is it calculating business? The west end of pearl is lower than Eugen. So that's visits versus visitors. Yeah. So visitors are unique. Individuals coming and going. Visits are that same person coming and going. So, for instance, the student may come and go from Eugen 3 times. Well, 4 times, 5 times week, or a day. Excuse me, which really increases the number of visits.

[89:10] Okay, that's super helpful. Thank you. It's a transient number. Yeah, really equating the dollars whatsoever. Right? Well, yeah. And we need to think about so, Placeray is largely used by shopping centers like Nayce, rich and best are, and they like to use the status to say, Hey, business! This is how many people are walking by your space. If you had a compelling business you should locate here. We basically move this book to walk out here. So it's really about footfalls and pedestrian traffic. As a tool to to those spaces and attract certain tenants. And so we're using it for a little bit more broad. Analysis, but that's largely what placers have been built for. Yes. So a visit to West Pearl the West End is a really different meaning to the visit. Hill. Yes, and that's where you know, like, that's where we do. We in the background are doing comparisons between all the different places and the duration of stay on the West End is quite high. Where on the hills so often, but in terms of monetizing those visits.

[90:22] what I see there's a potential there because people who do monetize clicks eventually, I mean, walking through the through is a click, right? And what about advertising revenues? Are there any ways we can we? Can? We can generate revenues for the district like that well, or screens mobile notifications that every time you go to the district, it tells you, hey, you're in Youtube. It could be art, and then flash like they do in the down in the Denver Arctic spread. Yeah, when? And

[91:00] we, as the city do have some latitude to do some things that go, that the private sector is not allowed to when it comes to the sign code. But we don't want to press that too hard, so certainly something to consider. And how do we? How do we monetize our investments in space? Without getting outside the boundaries too far outside the boundaries of role created for everybody else. But certainly. But that's we certainly want folks to be seeing these numbers. And well. there's this common thing in Boulder that if you're you spend in the space too long, you think everything's terrible and then you get some perspective. It's like, Oh, actually, we're it's could be better. But it's not that bad and so try and help folks feel excited about direction that these cases are headed and motivated to make investments, and I mean, we've got still, like landlords on the hill that are not reinvesting in their facades. They're seeing the places run down area of town. They're not.

[92:08] Their behavior's not reflecting the positives. So certainly want to get there. But also, if there was some interesting ways to monetize our knowledge about how many folks are walking through this space. and I think to kind of like along the work that Reid and her team is doing with the way finding is, you know, kind of going back to that signage is directing people who maybe are downtown up to the hill and vice versa, so that we get that that flow of traffic. So it's not just, hey? I came to Boulder. I went to Pearl Street. And so I went to Pearl Street. Oh, what's this other area that's on the hill? And so we get that visitation and it flowing more organically throughout these 2 districts, and then also within our other commercial areas. And a lot of the work that we're doing with this the memo that we're putting forward with council and kind of their 11th priority, too, is is, how do we get people moving throughout and supporting more broadly the city in our commercial areas.

[93:05] Yeah, this one. And I don't know if you have the origin and destination. The folks who are going to the hell are completely different than the folks who are from at that time, for the most part and so certainly something to dive into. So I don't think I don't know who doesn't know what this is. So the before and afters for folks in the hill is the Rec. Center the library. You know it is. It is very much heavy on that student back and forth behavior, and so that the movement of downtown to the hill and vice versa is something that we can tap into better the hell would be better off. Yeah, I mean, it's not a bad thing. So they're not competing overhead, sure. But there's an experience that could be had there. If it's a different experience, and there's a lot of traffic, even if it is transfer passing through, there's tons of opportunity to keep.

[94:01] Maybe we'll shoot. We can put some gates up to just like it's always a left turn. You always have to make a lot. These are great questions. And these are these are the types of things that we're also chewing on, too, is like, what does all this data mean? And and what does it mean in terms of like, how we make investments and and think about, like the conceptual big projects, to be able to make these districts more healthy, more vibrant into the future. Yeah, thanks, Elliot. Yep. And I think these last few ones just kind of a little bit terms of like change of the days, but just because of the visits. Kind of dropped a little bit in 24 for q. 1 q. 2. You can kind of see how that played out in the weeks as well, and then next slide. and you can kind of see the hourly visits to 24 had a little bit of a drop after 10 pm. Which was kind of interesting, might have something to do with what Chris was mentioning earlier in terms of closing certain businesses, and then I think there should be one, or maybe 2, more

[95:09] visit duration. So the greater than 150. Think of that as like your kind of your employees. Who are being there and working full time. There was kind of a drop off again. Average 12 time, 91 min. Could that be in part due to the with the workers at the Moxie with the construction workers? Do they? That could have? Yep, yep. almost guaranteed they all had a cell phone in their pocket. So yep. good! That's it. Great! Alright! Regan, did you have anything else you want to share on the paper. You're on mute. You're the genesis. Okay? Great? Well, that concludes management staff.

[96:01] Thank you very much. Next up on the agenda is actually the discussion the bimonthly check in recap we've dealt with most of the items that came up in that recap tell. I don't know if you wanted to bring up anything specifically. thank you again for making that opportunity for us. I think it's a really valuable opportunity to be able to kind of continue talking about the work that we're doing on the commission matters from Commissioners. I sent out a letter to the Commission today and to staff. Basically, in response to, or it came about as a response to the knowledge that there would be an increased ask of the Ujit Fund to fund. The Streetscapes project an increase from $250,000 up to somewhere around $750,000,

[97:01] $727,500. I would like to put that on the table here for us to discuss. Currently, I think that we all have copies. Here in person. I think that you should all be able to tell, and Nana could be able to pull them up. Via the email I sent today. The idea here is that there is a concern that if we continue spending down the Egypt Fund it will not be there for future use. More more importantly, that some of the things that are being proposed in terms of streetscape may be something that should be supported more generally by the city. and so putting it on the table for us to discuss. I think that what I would like to do is have a bit of a discussion, knowing that city council is going

[98:05] into its study session next week and then into a process for establishing and then. approving a budget that we have an opportunity to make this issue known and either get a commitment problem. the city and maybe city council that if the fund is spent down, then there would be a commitment to support Eugen future, or that this is a good point, and then we should be protecting that once in a several generation, amount of money that that exists there, currently anyone have anything they'd like to add or discuss around this slide could. I think we just want to get Staff's feedback on? I mean, obviously City Council City council of it. But I mean, what

[99:03] is this the most effective way to to. We've talked about. Why, you know. is there a more effective way? What what are your thoughts, I mean? Are you sitting there cringing and saying, it's not a good idea, you know, or you know about point. I don't see a downside to it, you know. What's your what's your take I know that there was $700,000 to play with citywide budget this year, so I part of me feels like the fact that we got what we, what we got, what we asked for was significant. And will be able to work in pursuit of improvements on the Hill. The color of money for us is is less relevant. As long as as you folks feel like we're continuing to represent this part of the community. The way that you hope

[100:04] and that's that's the message that we would hope to send is through work being led by Matt. That it's not like we're trying to slowly eat away at the district and walk away. It's more in the broader balancing of all the buckets of money. While this 2025 proposal feels like it's it's threatening the future. That certainly would. That's not the message that we want you all to be feeling or receiving, but it's more. Yes, we know. We. We know that this is not the direction that that we want to add, as far as the long term trajectory of investments on the hill or resources available investment. So now we have some work planned to get the district on a better trajectory. In the meantime we have some things that we know we need to do in the near term, and we would like to have a bucket of money to do that. The General Fund's gonna put some money in, but the request is, the 4th is asking for more of the year.

[101:14] originally suggested. So the staff side we are going to represent the city manager's budget wholeheartedly and enthusiastically. We would love for our commissions to be in that same space. But that's not. That's that's not are well, so we we will continue to work toward progress and continued investment, regardless of what happens. I don't know. The the letter will make a difference per se. But it might highlight for some council members this dilemma that we've been trying to to address through this feature

[102:00] as a follow up, is it but this taking the money from the that you should fund is there a disadvantage to that, anyway? And what I mean by that is, you know, you could use general fund. You know general funds for whatever the Streets gate now is necessary. I was talking to that before. But if there is something big later on, let's say 2 years from now, it's like. here's what we're going to do. We're making this up. We're going to build a parking garage on 14th Street line. probably not going to. But you know whatever we did there, and and you needed 3,003,000,000 4 million dollars to do it. If we've got it in a pot already, we can use that money, whereas that you know to to cause that event to happen. Then there's like this 1 million dollar, maybe at that point 2 million dollar ask that's got to be made from the general fund, or you've got to raise it through bonds, or whatever is, are we tying our hands by taking that out of the huge funds anymore?

[103:06] in the context of a half a billion dollar budget. I would hope that that the answer is no but I don't think it's unreasonable to be asked to be held harmless in future priority setting or investments on the hill, that even if we spend these dollars down from this particular bucket of money. that in the grant scheme of prioritization of capital investments of the city that that the district isn't is held harmless. For future possible investments. For whether it's the 14th Street lot, or pedestrianization of 13th Street, or whatever it is. I I don't think it hurts to kindly say that and get that commitment set, because I think that is, that is where the city is at, and I think that is the intent of the manager's office, even if they're dimping into this particular budget bucket deeper than we had originally, all effectively get their thumbs up to

[104:13] well and less equitably. When you compare to other districts. I think that's really what my, where, where I said is. If if we, what we were talking about is we're suggesting as a city, we're going to take 25% off the top of each district's fund balance. Then we have plenty of money to go around. But we're talking about 25% of this districts and much less in other districts. And that and I would. And I would probably push back on that a bit. I would say that Cajun gets dipped in to quite a bit. It is our healthiest fund. Yeah. And Cajun is paying for 100% of the ambassador program. Sure in the down. Well, the city's portion of the downtown, whereas, not being asked to pay as an example right? Mainly because there's no money to do. If if you know there was fund balance there, then we would be, you know, gladly helping participate in that way. I think that's the the biggest concern is.

[105:19] you know, in order to be is is this I? I'm asking myself, like, Okay, so how long would it take for us as a district to generate the kinds of funds that we're talking about. Let's say we figure the whole thing 1.3 million dollars, whatever it is. how long would it take for us in its current state to pay that 1.3 million dollars? The answer is a ridiculous amount of time. It would be in a generation. Yeah, is this a once in a generation improvement we're talking about? It's probably a once in a several year. less than a generation by a significant amount. That's what's unequitable. The the ask does not match the ability of the district to actually recoup the funds, to be able to then redo it again at some point.

[106:08] and on top of it the city itself is committed to ensure that you're investing in the hill, and that's that's what the selling of the lot represented. That's what that money that's in the district spawn represents. There's an additional commitment that the city needs to demonstrate to show that that will come to fruition, that the entire plan is something that is continued to be worked on rather than being distracted by things that feel like maintenance, that feel like things that we're just doing to ensure that we're keeping the lights on and the trees. So that's the concern that I have is it's similar to Andrews of once we spent the money, the money's gone. Is there any commitment that that will be there in the future, if necessary, when necessary. In this case. It's when necessary, because it's a multi-pronged plan that was embarked upon several years ago.

[107:05] The city agreed to 7. So that's that's where I'm at with this is, it feels not only like something that happened without us really being fully engaged as a commission, but then also. even if we agreed to it. It doesn't feel physically responsive to me. I have my hand raised. I don't know if you guys can see that. But It's hard. It's hard to jump in in these conversations. Well, I guess I think your last point, Ted, is good, like, if we could compute that number like it would take us like 25 years, or you know I mean I I'm new to this board, but I'm not new to what I don't know. Having been involved in the projects on the hill. There was a real promise, the city made to the hill by investing in those the 2 hotels and all I heard, you know, while I was working on those projects is we need to clean up the hill. We need that. I mean, there needs to be better trash management. We heard about the bears tonight. I mean, I it just seems like there's so much work to do. And can that money be used to do some of the things that

[108:18] we're talking about? Or is it only like a 1 time? Capital expense, or what is what are the restrictions on that fund? They are one time dollars. No, I mean how we can use them. So. Oh, cool no restriction, no restriction. So if we said, we want to do a bare improvement like in. I don't know, like we want to do something in alignment with the city sustainability goals around waste management or something. Could we use that money to pilot a program on the hill and do something to try and solve the problems that we hear about every single week. You know. Yes, so I'd say that the the list of things that we could do with the and the cost of those things that we could do with the 2.5 million in proceeds from the Pleasant street lot

[109:11] is longer than 2.5 million dollars. So we're in this space. Of how do we make sure we have a conversation with our key stakeholders? Of what? What is the actual top priorities of of what we want to do and it's not necessarily list, you know, that's not a limited to 2.5 million dollars worth of things. It's a priority list. But so the money is almost being taken away before we were able to have that conversation. Is that. Being put into a bucket that has the label universal streetscape improvements. It's not necessarily spent. But it's available there to do these things that we're hearing that need to be done. Soon. Okay. Our original. Certainly we were. We were planning for more of that to be from the general fund, not from the user fund. And that's the challenges that

[110:08] there are. There is a need for streetscape improvements. the scale that it's all that's all scalable, right? We could limit streetscape improvements to 700, and whatever $1,000, or 600, and whatever $1,000, with the general funds portion and leave this money available, we still have that label on it until we close the project out and it goes back to the fund balance. So it's not spent till it's spent. But it's putting. It's putting a label on these dollars. Yeah. Heightened with their bills. You know this, you know, just for institutionally, for you even, you know, from from from Ucam C's perspective over the past. Since this project and the Moxie project incurred, I think that at least people have been thinking about it when I say people the the business help business owners and thinking about it as that money from the sale wouldn't a lot of people thought it was going to be used for parking lot right gone through the process and thought about well, maybe that's not the best idea right now, and so forth.

[111:20] But it was for a large project. It wasn't just that we would. The city would sell the land, and then turn around and beautify the hill to make it look good for the hotels with that money. That was not what people were thinking. I don't think anybody was thinking that at the time. It, you know, and that that feels like now what it's being used for, and and I think for for some people I know I could. I probably would speak, for some of the former members of you can see, or business owners. I don't know, they would say, Yeah, and it's being done because a lot of people right? And so across the whole city are saying, Hey, our tourists are now coming through the hill. You need to have a pretty place for them to show up, so they don't have a bad time.

[112:03] Okay, but why should we spend our one savings account for you? When nobody's sending for the help of the past 30 years. So that's that's just sort of a feeling, you know that for what it's worth and and so that I think they're like, I think there's a lot of people that don't even realize this has happened, including some former. You can see commissioners who would go through the roof of fate part of this, and so I guess the the thought is just Is there a way to to preserve those funds for now, or at least have the special counsel if they make the decision right but and to and and to. and just sort of make the point, but do it in a I don't think anybody here wants to do it in a way that's combative or aggressive. It's more. But, as you said at the end of the day. If City Council says, Hold on us.

[113:03] it's their call to the board. But but it'd be nice to get that. Yeah. I think that there was a you know we've done so much studying of the hill right? And there there is this idea that there would be seed money at the very least that that fund balance is the ability for the hill that then enact some sort of larger change, some sort of larger initiative. whether it's a construction project or something else. But if we, you know nickel and dime it down, that won't be there later. That's the concern. That wasn't. I don't believe that that was the intent. I haven't gone back to look to see what the push was when this was approved, to have the sale happen beyond to enable the the boxing hotel, but I would almost guarantee there's other language in there. I I took a look actually at the City Council.

[114:06] Would the Commission be comfortable with. There's certainly the option of elevating the Council and trying to get their attention in a big budget. Conversation. That has both. You know there are hazards in that or could there be a motion some language for Staff's consideration associated with the original amount of money that you all did support. To the tune of $250,000, that that staff will prioritize the general fund, spending the general fund dollars first, st and no more than $250,000 towards streetscape improvements. Before we've had a chance to visit with you, to to make sure that any that the delta between 2 50 and 7,

[115:02] that amount is in pursuit of transformation. the the intent of the dollars. It's an interesting proposal. Yeah, I mean, I I think that Andrew's question is a good one of how how to approach this and what city staff would be in support of it is, is as he's he's stated. I don't think that there's any, you know. a desire for this to feel combative, but at the same time. There is, you know, significant sake. Here there's consequences

[116:01] gets transferred. The money gets transferred. any other. Anyone have any thoughts about President Chris's suggestions. Very reasonable. Yeah. The other side of this. There's some sort of give and take and get less than. but it's still part of the conversation. The reason why I would never let me. It doesn't have to check. Here's another idea. I don't know what the numbers are, but the thing that's fathersome is the principal. What interest have we generated in it? And is that interest? That's, I mean, I don't think we're probably 10% of the versus we'll set versus 2.5 and 3. I don't know what sort of interest we've generated, but but over a number of years.

[117:01] you know, it seems like that. So I mean. that's a real valid sort of commitment. And and we're we're keeping the spirit of the principal there. I don't know what those numbers are, but that to me feels the other one just feels arbitrary, I mean, as I thought about this later, I was like, Well, why do we even agree to 50? You know it's it doesn't really make sense from this conversation. And the and so the question is, is that exactly? Is that a way to look at it? Are you suggesting it's the 2 50 plus whatever interest. No, I'm just suggesting that over the past, however, many years now that we've had the money, and you know, going forward, we just you know that money continues to to this more general purpose. beautification, purpose. But we're saving the principle for either the seed or the decision that we're not going to do some big project. And now that we've got a brand new district, we're getting

[118:05] convert it as a giveaway, I mean. I mean, I don't know. You know what those numbers would be. I'm interested, I mean, in in the in. We deposited that in the real market in the past 2 years, and I know we don't do that. It would be over $250,000. Yeah. Well, there's there's another revenue source we haven't discussed, and that's the transfer end, the general fund and so that's the general fund support for Eugene, and that does support some of the like, the more citywide goals. So like, there's the ecopass program. There's the maintenance of the on street meters, those types of things. and that that is the tune of 270,000. So that's a little bit more than what we were kind of earmarking for the hill suitescapes. That is actually the largest for Uj right now. The interest in the investments earnings that the fund currently makes is not. It's, I'd say

[119:03] aggressively, 5% would be really good events, like 80,000. Give the dollar amount. Yeah, yes, it's basically 80 85 $90,000. I don't think we're gonna see that anymore. I think that's gonna that 5% is really the kind of the high CD high interest rates that we've seen from the Federal Reserve. That's gonna more than likely go down so I think a a comfortable number would probably be about 3% to 3 and a half percent. So the the amount that the fund is earning off of its fund balance isn't, I think, significant enough that it would be who the commission to preserve the fund balance just for that sake? I think you know a large part of why this project was put forward. In the 1st place, is because of the the large visitations that's going to start coming to the hills that whole strike by the irons hot. Let's make this district extremely attractive, so that we do get those visitations in. So

[120:07] I it's it's a shock to the fund to spend the money. But I also think it's a large investment. Now. that doesn't necessarily help this specific fund, right? Because, as we invest the money, you could potentially help the general fund from the sales tax perspective as we get more visitation up there and we get more retail use. It's still helping the city as a whole, and I think that gives us a little bit more of an ammo to say, Hey, we've invested this money to make this district attractive, and in doing so we're seeing sales tax goes up. Could we have some of the general fund dollars? Right? I think that's also an opportunity that could be said. Now, that's not a guarantee right? But I think that an investment of this nature does help the district. It just might not help. This fund is the other component of it. So it's the color of money, right? Which bucket are we dipping? Into which bucket are we filling up? So I still think there is a a need for this. So I think that's something else to consider. So

[121:11] yes, it does kind of hurt the fund, but it also does invest in the district itself. And then, you know, to Dan, at this point there are some other priorities that could be potentially discussed as well. and we still have fund balance to potentially do those investments? We still have an asset. And what does the future of that asset look like? What is the future of the general Improvement district look like? Does the future of it look like the big etc, etc? There's a lot of unknowns right now. and I I feel like this sort of investment gets us to the point where we have a place to pivot and create a future for you, jad, because we're putting money back into it, so that it does retain its beauty now, so that we have an opportunity into the future. As we see the dollars increase like I said, not necessarily in Egypt, but maybe in the general fund. With those sales tax with the property taxes, I mean

[122:04] $3,500 increase is what the Hill Hotel will probably add. The Moxie Hotel will probably add to huge portion of property taxes that's significantly smaller than what the general fund is going to be getting for property taxes from the Hill Hotel. So it's not just that. There's also the revenue from sales, tax, and property tax that's going to be increased into the general fund. So I think it's also an opportunity for the Commission to also say, Hey, okay, we're willing to make this investment out of our fund. If we can see that there's a return into the other buckets that we can potentially tap into into the future, which is kind of Ted. What you're saying is like, yeah. we we see this as like a hit. But we also see this as an opportunity to let you know, like we're serious in the district that we're willing to potentially sacrifice some current fund balance in hopes that it overall increases the district.

[123:03] It's a lot of words. But the and the challenge is even getting city council to engage on this subject here, even at actually, there's so many things they're looking at right in this broader picture. That broader budget. That explanation you just gave was great. But but you know it's tough. You all are representing your role right? You were asked by city Council to represent the you did with a different name. It's not. It used to be the huge commission. But and so you're certainly doing a great job of representing one little piece of a really big pie. That council is not going, not empowered to really be as as close to, because they have a lot of different priorities so certainly trying to balance

[124:03] that management of of the piece of the pie with the broader priorities that we're hearing from the community of what are the things we should be doing right now? In support of Council's priority. In this downtown universal connection. And the stuff that we're we're hearing from folks about things that should be done right now. Why isn't city? What is the city doing. And why isn't it doing right now? So trying to be responsive to that? Balancing these can be an interest. Let me ask you this, I mean. So if we were to send this letter, which I'm I'm starting to feel like there's not. There's not a downside to it as long as we. It's soft. It's not, you know, and the question becomes, do you have concerns with the tone or their ways that you think are primarily Johnny.

[125:00] things that are inaccurate or disrespectful, or things like that, where? If we were to, if if some of us or all of us were to communicate with council members and send it with the right message, right? Which is Here's we're just trying to elevate the issue. I'd say the only the only thing that is is contradictory to the city manager's recommended budget is the request to preserve the funds. So that would mean either we we spend less money on street or or allocate less dollars for streetscape improvements. or allocate more journal fund dollars to for the same size of the project. So that's that's the only element of this that feels a little contradictory to what the city manager is putting forth. And so be our hope that we can get to

[126:00] the same space again. Something else I'll note, too, is. And I, Andrew, you said that it might be hard to elevate this concern. Given all the other concerns throughout the city. I will say that there is still, you know, one of the 11 priorities was commercials connection between Eugen and Kj. And I think that that's 1 of the reasons why you know Staff put together this proposal. It's also one of the reasons why city managers also putting together this proposal. Is because it is such a high priority. So I wouldn't say it's a nonstarter for council to to even look into this. I think it's likely, but I don't know if it's to your point going to be the highest of all of the things given anything else that's happening right. So if there was an opportunity to change language of you know, I would say that if we could convert the you know the Puget.

[127:03] the Eugent fund is held harmless in pursuit of these, whatever comes out of the current studies and priorities, and but measured funding or more, is available for plans to develop, and you know, to redevelop the Fortune Street. So where everywhere it says preserve it would just change. The fund would be health departments. Oh, we did say, preserve or elements just add after reserve, or held from this. and I think that that is something that I would that the city manager's office would really support. Based on my conversations. Intent is not to have the district felt threatened.

[128:00] as far as its existence goes, based on this particular budget proposal. that the intent. Of course, things change right the the 5 years from now there'll be a bunch of faces, perhaps, but I'll still be there. And so how do we? How do we memorialize that? And that's certainly important. and I hope that you all feel that it's Staff's intent not to try to just make the problem go away. It's more, how do we? How do we set the district up on the side for better long term success. And that is, that is the work that that is good pursued right now. when we also know that we like to get some improvements done eventually. Actually, I appreciate that. And I didn't think we are on this occasion. I feel especially comfortable. Given the fact that you saw us as okay to do your 1st dry run. That means you feel like you're in. You're with family, right?

[129:15] We are beyond time by a stretch now. So trying to find an elegant path through. It sounds like we're coming to a place where you're suggesting some additional language to letter that has been presented. That we could. Potentially. How do we do this? yeah. Me, too. We did this once. We were doing the letter for council to how do we get this properly without violating? If you so, we would need a motion right now that some language associated with edits

[130:03] and as long as we have a majority approval of that motion of this language with those edits. Then we should be good. So let me just make some suggestions. And then, could somebody just type them in as we're is really sorry able to? Yeah, can we just word snip it? Get it done? Yeah. So you have a description for possible. So everywhere, everywhere it says, preserve or preserved. you just do a word search, but I see it in the 1st sentence. There. It's probably just. I think it's okay to leave the subject. say, but by the 1st sentence it says. funds for the Pleasant Street Park do not be preserved or held harmless.

[131:02] It's a little. and then. or help harmless to use the fund. The the fund balance. Okay with the fund balance from the sale. Yeah of the closeness you'd like, so right, yeah, there you go. And then I know that there's a there's a sentence at the end there where it publishes the same thing. Yeah. Last paragraph. we respectfully request, however. that the City Council preserve or or let's see. the City Council about. We respectfully request, however, that the funds from the what do we call it? Again. the fun, balance, fun, balance.

[132:02] that the fund balance from the sale of the Pleasant Street lot be preserved unpreserved, or held harmless. Wild current study, you see, and then just delete. But from while to yep perfect. And so we need to insert what we learned about. So basically, this is the what's the official name of the Streetscape project? Universal streetscape improvements? Right? So we understand that the University Health Street State streetscape improvements. Are a priority and support that as priority.

[133:04] Would you want to say that because we don't even know what cause we were saying pretty sweet. and we just want to say we understand that the current proposed budget for 2025. There you go utilizes 700, and whatever fun from the Sale Fund balance for the sale of funds. You live right. Yes, it. I have to go? Can I register my support in advance of the vote? Or I can put this on my phone if you need my. No, I think we can. We can register your support if if what you're saying is that you generally are agreeing with the direction we're taking here. We can take that as proxy. Yeah, I like the that we're we're. I don't know. I like the the way that this has progressed. I think it's an important statement to make. I'm sure we probably won't win. But at least we're going on record, and I like how we're working together on it. So thanks for all the hard work. Ted.

[134:08] Thank you, Danica. I'm sorry that. Andrew. it's okay. I just gotta go run and do a kid things. But is this the last item. This is the last item. Okay, well, you have my support. Thank you. Thank you to everyone. So you understand, the current proposed budget for 2025 includes use of what's see now? $727,500, $727,500 dollars. 70% qualified. the use of the balance at the front of balance, and then the sale of the monthly streamline

[135:03] which is fund balance from this. AI, yeah. And then the only other thing I thought we should. I guess that we might probably don't need both if you don't mind specifying the the current proposed capital improvement program. Budget. Yeah. there's more than $727,500 in the use of the funds. Yeah. for the most capital improvement budget. Yes. in what you're saying. Yeah. So just say that the fund balance be preserved. Yeah, that's right. Yeah. And then the only other thing I was thinking that if the paragraph above

[136:04] where we've got when we're talking about all the work. Now we know we could insert before there are many ideas under discussion we could insert as well. perhaps. Most importantly. miss. the city staff is proposing. and we support. and we strongly support the study of what we call the improved or the the improved district. Analysis. Yeah. or we strongly support the improved district analysis study. right? Is that what you're calling is that? Is that not? That is not yeah, it's not. It's not what it's called do we want the full title of the medal commercial area?

[137:04] We were focusing on that more specific project improvements and improvements. As a strict analysis improvement district. No. let's look it up. And I computer died here. I gotta get up. What is it we're pre plugging your yeah. Regan, do you have the what's the name of the second work product out of the analysis and improvements and districts district in the presentation. Again. Yes.

[138:02] enhancements. No. I think it was the 1st one. What was the 1st 1st one is called improvement district analysis. Yeah, that's district analysis. If we want to capitalize, we need to capitalize the improvements. Yeah. So I, Cadillac cattle, d. Catalan. it's something to turn alert right? At the very top. We need to adjust the date. Let's make it. Today's day. Lisa. I'm going to make a motion to accept this letter to City Council as presented on screen here in this meeting for a second. Okay, let's have discussion.

[139:02] parliamentary procedure. Tell, I know you're remote. We haven't really been great about making sure. People remote are getting the most voice here, but I want to make sure you haven't had a chance to say anything, or if you have any feedback specifically. No, I'm supporting this entire conversation that we've been having over the last 10 min. Great. I appreciate that. I apologize. If you felt a little remote there any other discussion? Alright, I'm gonna call for a vote on the motion on the table to approve the letter to council. All those in favor. Alright. we showed we have unanimous support with Danica also supporting via my proxy. can I just ask clarifying question, how best to get this to council? Is this something that is taken care of through Florida business here, or is it something that we will? Yeah, we'll work through our channels to see how to best get it or incorporated into the budget. Really appreciate that, and thank you for the conversation very appreciated. A reminder that we are next meeting is on Tuesday, November 12.th Sorry

[140:20] now. November 5.th Yes. a reminder. Next meeting is November 5.th Yeah, your election date excellent. and our next bimonthly is on October 8, th Trent. You and I forget that anything else we do the order before we adjourn we are adjourned alright. Thank you very much. I really appreciate it. Thank you all. Do that.