January 7, 2025 — University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission Regular Meeting

Transcript

Captions from City of Boulder YouTube recording.

[0:05] Hi, Danica! I see you there. We're waiting for Trent to have Forum about to come into the virtual room. There it is, here we go. Think it's. Trends. Pandemic. Hi, Trent! How are you? Recovering, how are you? Good. Cool. I don't know if I can PIN them both. Oh, Spotlight, sorry! Why don't you? make me an administrator, and I'll do that. Sure we are recording.

[1:00] Welcome to the University Hill Community Management Commission meeting. It shows news recording. it says, pause or stop recording at the bottom of my screen. Is it only recording me. Mine says, recording the top right. Sorry for not bringing on top of himself there. So usually it shows up on the screen up here. All right. Let's yeah. Okay, thanks, Holly. Sorry, or it should be recording the sound from there. Okay, we're good. I just wanna make sure. Alright sorry. okay. welcome to the University Hill Community Management Commission meeting. It is January 7, th 2025, and I will call Rule Trent Bush. Here. Tell Jones is not here.

[2:01] Annika Powell. Present. Ted Rockwell, President Andrew Shoemaker is not here. I will turn the meeting over to Chair Walkwell for procedural items. Thank you, Ellie. Appreciate that? So we have 2 procedural items on our agenda. The 1st is the approval of the November 24, meeting minutes as presented in our package. Does anyone have any corrections or additions to the meeting minutes that were submitted to us in the packet? Okay, I will move to accept the meeting minutes as presented. Do I hear? A second? Danica is seconding. I see that I know I'm calling for a vote on it. Approve approption.

[3:00] Yeah, okay, you're approving it. Thank you. Thank you very much. Item B, under procedural items is commission recruitment. Kennedy. Ellie, you've got your name on this. So just a brief update very short. We do not currently have any applications for the residence seat. So I will keep you updated if that changes. So that's where we're at right now. There is an open house coming up. Is it appropriate to bring that up here? There's a boards and commissions like open house happening here in a couple of weeks that I got an email about. I don't know if anyone has time to show up to that. I'm pretty sure we all got that email. It may be an opportunity for us to be able to help recruit. Everyone shows up to that to this commission. So just putting that on alright! We are now to the public participation portion of our agenda. Is there any member of the public here

[4:04] who would desire to speak to admission. I do not have anyone on the zoom correct. seeing none. We'll move on to the consent. Agenda. We got consent, agenda in the packet. Is there anything in the consent agenda that commissioners would like to bring up and discuss. seeing none. Going to move forward, then to the Fund financials? Does anyone have any question around the fund. Financials as presented in the packet. No. Seeing none, I move on to the the Euge Visitation report. Are there any items of discussion or questions commissioners have about the visitation report

[5:11] moving right along. Does everybody want to go home? Some of them are already home? No, I I mean, I'll just make a note that I think the visitation report shows what we have all been seeing, which is, traffic is up on the hill as a result of both football, and then, the hotel being open in the city. Yeah, I and real quick. Sorry I was trying to get my unmute button going. Yeah, the it was. It was encouraging, for sure was the the 1st year. Was that still a Covid year, or was that not I think it was 2022, 23. So is that. Hope it was 2021. Yeah. So that's post Covid. Okay? So if I read it correctly, we're up 66% in 2 years.

[6:05] Is that what that reflected. It's about correct. Yeah. Okay. So that was highly encouraging. We went from 2.9 million visits to 3.8 million visits between 22 and then 24. Yeah. So looking really closely. So 3 year, you know the good year over year by 3 years, a hundred 39% above the worst of the pandemic last year. And then this year we're 62 and a half percent. Oh, yeah, okay, that's what it was. 2022. So anything else city commissioners want to bring up regarding any of the above, including flood financials or otherwise.

[7:03] Alright. seeing none. I'm going to move on then to the Hill bowler update is Jake present online? He is online. Yes. I'm here. Hey! Hi! Everyone. Hi, Jay! Hey! There! Happy New Year. So I sent along some updates to Ellie, and I think, some of those got included. I'm also gonna mention the half ass subs. Fire that happened a couple of days ago, and I heard back from Fred about that. But I'll start with the Excel outage update. So this is something I mentioned at the last. Either the full you can see meeting, or one of the bi-monthly, or one of the kind of in between check-ins. I did get a written statement from the Excel rep that I had talked to, and I reprinted it in the agenda there. But basically half of the feeders that feed the hill have been

[8:01] improved, although it's a little less. i i i understood it as like big, huge changes. That will mean, you know, nothing bad will ever go wrong ever again. It sounds like, basically they just went out there and did improved wildlife management like vegetation management around the feeders. They were not able to find any actual physical mechanical issues that caused the outages, but they added kind of like a double barrier to keep vegetation and wildlife out of those feeders, and they also let me know that all of the feeders that feed the hill have been identified for a series of repairs and improvements that are tied to this larger plan that they have that they linked, and that I linked in the agenda, so happy to answer questions. I don't really know much, though, but I'm happy to relay questions, to excel

[9:00] anything on that. Okay, Commissioners has a question. So Jake, did they give you a timeline on when they're gonna make those appearance. All they did was link me to the entire project, and I think they told me that that whole project has, like a 5, 10 year horizon. So no, they did not give me any specifics about Kill Hill timelines. Now. Thank you. Alright, so I'll speak about the half assed subspire that happened over the weekend, so I heard from Fred, he said, that they will have to be closed for a couple of months. that's his estimate, he said, that they're having assessments performed tomorrow, and after that he'll know more about an exact timeline. We did put out a social media post because they have a gofundme that they've started to try to support their staff. So not for property costs or anything but to support the staff while they're out of work.

[10:13] So we promoted that and then what else did Fred say, hold on. yeah. Just emphasizing nobody was hurt. No one was there at the time but that the the damage was pretty significant. Was it? Was it just to have fast. or was it also to the residential units upstairs. The both. Yes, the fire started in the apartments above half fast, and I guess the burn through the ceiling burn through the floor of the apartments and the ceiling of half ass. Oh, shit. Because he described that the whole he described the whole place was soaked. So I mean, they're putting out fires. I guess that's why. But. So there's no fire penetration into the commercial space. It's all water damage from water that trickled down through the building. So the the damage. The fire damage itself has been limited to the top floors. But the water damage is what does causing issues.

[11:17] And is it snag, too? Guessing? Snag is probably also same issue. I haven't heard about Snag, but I've reached out. Okay. Probably not nearly as bad. The fire was limited to the northern half of the upper levels as well, so I'm not sure how bad snack was impacted as far as damage. But of course, the city's building chief building official is, gonna decide when the building can be occupied for business and living. And so that's gonna that's gonna take some time. Are there any resources that the city has or or recommendations for this business owner and helping bridge this gap for their employees between this

[12:07] no other than hopefully, they have a traditional insurance policy that covers these types of instances. I'm not sure about lost wages, because that's what their gofunding request is for about whether insurance policies ever do that. But yeah, no no direct resources as far as. Alright then a couple of business updates. So the Taco junkie space has been filled with a new variant of Scrooge Mackie called Scrooge Soul. Same owners but now open at the Taco Junkie space, for at 1149 13th Street boss, Lady Pizza space has been filled with a slice spot. So that's great. It's called slice shack.

[13:03] The sports optical that was the small business next to Lolly Cup did not make it, unfortunately, and has been replaced by Emmy's charm bar. Emmy's charm bar is actually a. It has a pretty big following on social media, which is really good for us, so we'll see how it, you know, performs brick and mortar, but she has. She has, like 50,000 followers or something, and she's just like a a single person jeweler, jeweler. So that's exciting. And then I attached the Ambassador survey results, and the Ambassador Year end report that James put together the survey results I've mentioned at the last at the last meeting and the Year End report is something more recent that James put together to show all the hard work they're doing up there. and that's all I've got.

[14:01] Do any commissioners have any questions about the above for Jake. No. Excellent. Thank you very much, Jake, for those updates appreciate that. Thank you all. You matters from staff, Chris. I guess I'll turn that over to you. Thanks, Ted. So, and I'll quickly turn it over to Matt Shazanski. At our meeting. Last year we presented our draft work plan for 2025. There have been no dramatic changes. But given the work that the Commission did over the last couple months. On setting priorities, we wanted to share how our 2025 work plan is is working towards those priorities. And then there were some items that I think we wanted to clarify that we were able to clarify for other commissions. Since this is our 1st stop along a series of meetings over the next several weeks we did make some changes to the

[15:00] the the work plan presentation. I think that's going to share some thought. So, Matt, over to you. Great. And while the screen's back up. so yeah, the with the you can't see priorities. We wanted to sort of get organized, because it's a great way for you to advise Staff on the important things and how to have a perspective on our work plan. So on the second slide. Yeah, come on, I think we could read that. That's fine. I just wanted to kind of go through this real quick, because we do have these 4 priorities and there are things that are, you know, they're going to be in discussion with all of you, and it's part of an evolution as you work through the year, and new new Commissioner coming on board. So I I understand that that's a sort of a living conversation, but wanted to highlight the things that are already underway. And get your input on this. But, more importantly, is just kind of keep this in mind, because as you continue to have discussions about all those things. We want to continue to hear about how it might impact these or gaps in our our work plan so that we can continue to evolve as well. So

[16:19] ju real quick, I'll read through them. I promise I won't bore you too much. But on the issue of increased attention and foot traffic our maintenance team and our enforcement team led by the very capable Christine Edwards is going to be working on parking code updates with planning development services. And that's across all of our districts, but obviously on the hill that there's got specific implications. there's going to be a new piece of public art. It's probably not going to be installed during this work plan year. But, the work will begin on that, and we've already had some discussions about that should be really exciting.

[17:03] Regan and her team are looking at the mobile vending card program. Obviously, that's a downtown issue. But we have had mobile vending card permits available on the hill in the distant past. We want them to come back. We've got a couple of creative ideas. We'll be bringing back and talking with you about that and then this special events sponsorship program. So this is something that's existed for a while. And it's led by Justin Greenstein and the office of special events. We're going to be retooling the sponsorships this year, trying to drive events to address some of the citywide stable sustainability, equity, resilience, framework goals, and have some very specific criteria. So those are really effective uses of funding to drive events in certain directions for gaps in the community to help cover things like 0 waste and other additional costs. So we'll be leveraging sponsorship program, especially around the Event street on the hill. Thinking about the issues of cleanliness and safety. The Streetscape project.

[18:05] That could probably hit all 4 of these. Honestly, that's going to be a big deal. We're going to be collaborating closely with transportation and transportation mobility. Department, in order to start design and hopefully get pretty far along this year in creating some more pleasant, engaging, beautiful improvements to Broadway and the entrance into the hill, but it obviously will address safety, and the pedestrian experience, as well as the experience of driving along there. So we put that in there. But you'll get sick of us. Talking about that entree. Enforcement is a part of our regular business cycle. But that team is going to be looking at how to improve. Looking at data on specifically to the hill and trying to find ways to improve the parking experience up there and make sure that everything is safe. And there's eyes on the streets.

[19:03] obviously the whole ambassadors. Thanks, Jake, for including that report in there. That's gonna be important to cleanliness and making sure. That we're doing that right. A quick note that downtown boulder, who has the the vendor is contracted to them. They have been talking extensively with their contractor. Which is called block by block. Thank you. About making improvements. They actually have a new supervisor for that program. So there should be some things to say about that in over this year. And then the business services team is going to be taking it. In addition to the great work they already do with placer AI, and looking at all the data from parking. And they're going to be taking a look at how to improve our tracking of data so that we can have some good programmatic evaluation across all of these things. The issue of the redevelopment plan for the 14th Street lot. Obviously, Rican has a lot of thoughts about that, and we'll continue to talk about how we move towards a long term solution for that. But really, the 2 things that I think play into this is, we are going to be taking our parking and access teams to be taking a look at.

[20:17] You know the camp program and how Chicago plays into this in the neighborhood program, but also taking a look holistically at the parking situation, and that will play into the 43 lot, and how we mitigate any future development on there, so that they're going to be important. Part of that. But most important is the boulder commercial areas blueprint. When we take a look at the long term future of the hill district. This is going to be important part of it as the post, your stamp of land that we can play with. That's got to be important, and we've got to make sure that that's thought through, and that's how we'll do it. And so you'll hear about that later on this year. And then fiscal resiliency in addition to entree parking space, pricing the permits pricing and the improvement district analysis which we'll talk about in a second.

[21:07] The business services team is really gonna be keeping an eye on this. And as we work through the the future, and any sort of strategic, financial or governance tweaks we can make of mapping that up carefully, so we can have a good conversation. So sorry that I rambled through that. Chris, do you have anything to add about these connections to the priorities. Great. Then I just wanted to show you this slide for your edification. In addition to we went to some deep detail about the District management work plan that Regan. is leadership on. But across all of our divisions we have a really robust work plan. This is just the highlights of what all of our team is going to be doing over the course of 2025, and over all of our districts and citywide. I'm not going to read much of any of this, but I will distribute this for everyone so that you can take a look at it. And if you have any questions about specific things in there, please do reach out to me

[22:09] and we'll get those answers. But I'm just really proud of this team and the amount that we're doing and mobilizing this year, and a lot of new sort of complicated work as well. So we'll keep you informed as things sort of land on the hill. With some of these projects. Trent, Danica, do you have any questions for Matt regarding his presentation. no, I'm just trying to digest it all. Well, I guess I do have a question. Sorry. How does the valuation of the Kajid and Euget fit in. Did I see that? I know you're hiring a consultant to work on that is that.

[23:01] As I think you're referring to the Improvement District Analysis. Yeah. The financials. Yeah. So one of the tasks. Actually, we'll be talking about this in a second. But we'll we'll table that for a second. But yes, the answer is, yes, we're looking at it. Does it fit into this? Or is it just separate? No, it does, and we've got it at the bottom at sort of the fiscal resiliency priority. The improvement. Oh, I see it. Okay. Sorry about that. It's a. Just trying to take it all in. I'm really sick, too, so sorry. I'm doing my best. Totally good and and important point is, we kind of sorted these things into these categories in order to sort of line them up. But really, that's another one of these projects that really fits across all 4 and has some tentacles out to other discussions that we're gonna have. But it. It does fit neatly into fiscal resiliency, because at the end the improvement district analysis is going to give us some financial tools and efficiency tools. So that's where we split it.

[24:01] I I have a question regarding the eye chart, which is the 3rd slide. Yes. customer service. So on the chart you obviously things can fit in more than one category. See? Customer service. And I just I'm I'm curious what that that works for us to. It's just I'm not clear on what that is in terms of how the city shows up to provide service. So I I can give you an answer. But 1st is Christine on the call. I don't want to steal your thunder. Hi, I'm actually sitting at the customer service desk right now over in case you guys are wondering we have a whole customer service team. But we work with residents all over all over the city to manage Npps and all of the garages and parking permits, and so a lot of it has to pertain to or pertains to parking management vendor like, if people are wanting permits in order to be a vendor down on the Pearl Street Mall. The team is involved with that sort of work. So

[25:06] there are lots of types of customer service that we provide to businesses and individuals across the city. Okay, that's super helpful. Thank you. I just. Yeah, you're welcome apologies for not being there in person. But Margo's 40th birthday is today. So she needed to be released from to go enjoy herself. So teamwork. All right, I'm gonna pop back off of video. So you don't have to look at me. Any other questions from the Commissioners for Matt or Staff. Thank you very much. Aki. Thanks, Matt, of course. Your name is listed next to the next item, but I think you'll probably quickly hand it over to Regan and the consultant team that hopefully. But we I don't know if we're able to PIN them. Both. Brad and Amanda, I think, are on the call.

[26:02] Yeah, alright. So will be quiet. Thank you. Is that me? Somebody. I'm on mute. And I'm like, Okay, almost out of it. Hi, everyone. So just as a reminder sort of a recap, we are working on an Improvement District Analysis Project. So this will provide guidance on financial tools and governance structures to support healthy and vibrant commercial areas throughout our city, and the analysis will include reviewing existing conditions, planned future investments. including within our existing general improvement districts. So that was what you were referring to Danica with Ucfc and Cajun, but also Boulder Junction.

[27:01] and the goal is to really provide the city with a comprehensive toolbox of strategies that focus primarily on near term improvements and long term sustainability for our districts. So we recently brought on a consultant for this work. Brad and Amanda are on the call. They're with progressive urban management associates also known as Huma. They're based out of Denver. They are a team of experts in downtown management and community development have a ton of experience working in Boulder so would love to pass it over to you, Brad, to introduce yourself and Huma, and Amanda as well. Great thanks, Regan. Can you all hear me? Just fine over there? Yes. Great. So thanks for making time on your agenda to to meet us today. We just want to get acquainted. Give you a sense of who we are and and what we do, and to the extent we have time for any questions. Today we'll we'll stick around

[28:04] But I'm Brad Brad Siegel, and also on the screen is my colleague Amanda, who you'll meet in a moment. and we are one quarter of puma. So puma Progressive Urban Management Associates is a firm in Denver. We specialize in downtown and business district management. I'm a Denver native. I got started in this work almost 40 years ago in downtown Denver. So I worked with the downtown Denver business Improvement district. My job back then was lower downtown. It was not doing so well. And and so I worked in economic development, helping small businesses get into low to and late eighties. And then the early nineties, the last 31 years, our team, which is primarily planners and real estate economists. We've worked all over the country. We've worked in 40 States 300 clients, and we do strategic planning. We do financial analysis. We've put together a lot of improvement districts.

[29:06] And the last thing I'll say is, I go back with the hill. So I have parachuted in and out from Denver on several occasions over the last 25 years. With with the the general improvement district. So I know you guys reasonably well. Not to mention that my wife's an alum as is my son. So there you go. Amanda, you're you're up next. Thanks, Brad. Hi, everyone very nice to meet you all. My name is Amanda Kennard. I have been with Puma coming up on 8 years it'll be my 8 year anniversary in March, and during that time I've had the opportunity to work with Brad on various types of special districts, both throughout the front range and nationally. So this is my 1st time working in Boulder.

[30:01] excited to be there, though, and I'm well versed in these types of districts all over the State of Colorado. So my background is in planning as well as Brad mentioned. Many of us are planners. So again, thanks, happy to be here and I'll be the Overall Project manager on the District Improvement Analysis Project. So thank you. So just an additional thing, I'll say, is, 1st of all, just kudos to this board and and to the city of Boulder. For doing this. Your general Improvement district's been in place almost 40 years, I think, more than 40 years actually. So I don't know if you're in midlife crisis, or or just an appropriate time to take stock of of what the General Improvement district is doing, particularly with the changes that are happening. Moving forward. You've had some pretty profound changes in the last couple of years. Certainly the hotels are going to be game changers, I would think, for the hill.

[31:04] and then there's always the issue of the hill, and how it relates to downtown and the connection between the 2. So we'll be looking at the hill. We'll be looking at downtown. We'll be looking at Boulder Junction. We'll be leaning heavily on past plans and studies. There are no lack of past plans and studies up there? And then trying to look at how these improvement districts work with the city, with the property owners, with the businesses. Really, to create the most prosperous district we can. So with that, Regan, I I don't know what else. We're we're again. We're here. We got as much time as you'd like. I don't know what else you'd like us to explore, or maybe just take questions. Thank you, Brad and Amanda. I'll briefly go over next steps, and we can open it up to the Commission for questions directed at either Brad or Amanda or city staff. But we are currently in the research engagement portion of this work. So we've given the puma team plenty of reading to do

[32:06] formation ordinance documents to Uli top work that we did last year or 2 years ago. Now, but Huma is gathering data on all existing conditions. Really leveraging existing studies and plans and prior engagements. We'll then work on filling any gaps in engagement and or research, but the goal is to have preliminary recommendations ready for you all in March. Where Huma is planning to be here in person to have a thorough conversation with you all in preparation to going to council for a study session on April 24th to present. So those are next steps. and if I could add on to that. A big next step is the commercial areas blueprint that we talked about briefly and just to remind everyone of the distinction. The Improvement district analysis is a near term study of the commercial areas. Blueprint is going to be broader and broad.

[33:14] and the district is 54 years old this year, so well beyond midlife. Mid fifties, the new mid forties. Yeah, I was. Gonna say, speak, speak for yourself. And hey? And Regan, I just wanted to let you know I did get your email regarding this. I'm sorry I haven't, responded I. I was in the throes of Covid. Which is why I'm not there right now. So I'll respond to your email regarding next steps. I I have a question right off the bat. It's it's kind of softball. I think. I don't know. Brad, it sounds like you've been in this line of work for a long time, and so I'd love to hear your thoughts on and and what you see coming, and what your thoughts are, knowing what you know about the hill, on what this engagement looks like for your office.

[34:08] and what that looks like in terms of how the city, then, can respond to those things. What what should we be looking forward to in the next 3 or 4 months. Well, yeah, that's a bit of a softball. So I'll try to hit it. I mean in summary, it's going to be kind of fast and furious. This is a fairly short engagement in the next 3, 4 months, but we're building upon years of work that's already been done. I also think the beauty of the hill. It's compact. For better or worse, you're pretty much landlocked. and that provides maybe a little bit more certainty about the future than maybe some other commercial areas. In boulder and and other places we work in. So so for us, and actually for me personally having the 25 plus year history

[35:06] with you guys. I I'm I'm really excited to sort of get under the hood and just look at the the mechanics, if you will, of the improvement district, and how that matches with what the demands are moving forward. It's interesting to me while the district has changed. And while your relationship with the city, I would say, too, has dramatically changed and parentheses for the better. we wanna make sure you can. You can sort of maintain and hold that moving forward. So I guess the last thing I'd say here, I think our role is to come in. And you know, despite having that knowledge to be objective, you know, how is the improvement district? Doing? And and maybe most importantly, are we optimizing the partnership between the Improvement district in the city. And when I say the improvement district, I'm I'm really talking about your stakeholders, about the property owners, the business owners that

[36:03] that are on the hill. And lastly, there may be some, you know, hopefully some. There's there's enough time where we may come up with some innovation and some new ideas. So anything from maybe some tweaks to the improvement district to maybe some ideas on some wholesale changes. The sense I'm getting from the city is they're pretty open, you know, in terms of potential adjustments to the district ranging from again, you know sort of minor to maybe long term more significant changes moving forward. So I kind of rambled a little bit, but hopefully answered your question. No, it's really helpful. I appreciate that. Thank you very much. Danica Trent. Do you have any insights or questions, or anything for the consultants or city staff. Here.

[37:01] no, I am again. I may have missed this. Sorry, but I'm excited to meet you. Are you? How does the university play into this? Are they seen as a stakeholder that you'll be engaging with, or how did you? I don't know if they were mentioned as as you look at this district. Yeah, I mean, I'll I'll boot that over to the city staff. I I you can't look at the hill and not talk to the university, as is my opinion of it. So I would hope you know that that we'll be talking to the University as we go through this. And then. you know, some of the development across street that hotel they're building is is a pretty ambitious you know, it's pretty ambitious, and and it's also, while it may be on state land that that's a commercial venture that that is going to impact your district. So we're going to certainly want to learn more about it. We're going to want to learn more about the University's plans for around you. and we'll rely on city staff to help us navigate that.

[38:02] Yeah, and that's a joint venture with the Aspen Ski Company. as well. I worked on both the hotel projects, and they definitely are seen as as together. You know, sister projects for the hill, but you mentioned the relationship with the city has gotten better, you know. I also think the university and the city relationship has gotten a lot better in the last few years. And that's that's an example. I think of that collaborations. I would hope to see that continue. I know there's a lot of talk about that, and I know the district. They're not in the district, but they certainly are seen as People don't see it that way like you said they don't see it as State land. I don't think. Along the Broadway corridor. Right. Well, especially people who go to the hotel and go to the conferences. They don't know where the boundaries are right, and so we do need to include them in all conversations, for sure. Yeah, which I guess. And it's a limelight hotel. It begs the question, though, are they?

[39:02] Are they paying like lodging taxes and other city fees? Are they completely separate because of the the Quebec and the nature of the University relationship question for staff. A really good question. So yes, to some, not to all. So the and there were some concessions that the city made to incentivize the project in its location. So some of the logic taxes being directed toward nonprofit subsidies to use the conference space as an example. So there are some nuances associated with the project that isn't. And it's and it's not in the Eugene district. Most specifically, it's not generating any revenues directly as far as property taxes for the Eugene district. That's right. I should know that. But when we get to that point where they are generating lodging taxes, we should be publicizing that for the nonprofits to be able to use the space, because that is a wonderful thing for the community.

[40:11] They are included in the new Tourism Improvement district. That Council will likely be establishing here in the upcoming meeting, which will generate additional revenues to be utilized by the convention visitors bureau to support things like shuttle systems. Other infrastructure that supports improved experience for visitation in the city. Awesome. Anything else from the other commissioners. Talk here a little bit by saying it's a pleasure to meet you all, and good luck at all of your work. If there's any way in which commissioners can provide any support, we're at your back and call. Practically, this is, you know, one of the things that we're responsible for, but also looking forward to hearing more about how this engagement goes with Staff

[41:13] 7. Thank you for taking the time today to introduce yourselves and let us know about your work. Sure, and and also again, thank you for making time on the agenda. We will take you up on that offer. We will seek out your your knowledge and your experience on the hill as we go through this and and I think, Regan mentioned, we're going to be there in person, at least in March. Maybe more. As this moves forward. We're we're not that far. We're just, you know, down the hill a bit. Well, and if I remember correctly, but I think both Trent and or Ted volunteered to be part of the stakeholder. You know, steering committee. I don't know what we're calling it advisory, so there will be engagement between now and the March meeting at that.

[42:02] Yeah. And and that was what I was mentioning to Regan that I I did get your email. But I was not not effective when I received it, so I'll reply to that. But yes, I I very much volunteered to do that. Thank you. Brad and Amanda. Great. Thank you all. Yeah, thank you for having us. You're on the next item. Okay, I have a few slides to share screen sharing.

[43:19] Yeah. Oh, okay, on the outdoor dining pilot program. Just gonna jump right in here. I will start by just providing a kind of high level summary reminder of the program. So it was launched in September of 2022 is a citywide program. It's a 5 year pilot as it stands currently available year round for businesses who participate. It's currently set to expire in October of 2027. I'll touch on that more in a little bit. Here we have some recommendations for making it

[44:02] a more permanent offering for the community. It is available for businesses who are in the public right of way in front of their storefront, in on street, parking spaces or on the Row Street Mall. as well as businesses on private property in parking or other open spaces. And another note, I'll add, here is that businesses have a couple of different options if they are participating in the program, if they're in the public right of way, which includes leasing Parklet infrastructure from the city In which we selected Bond Street as our Parklet manufacturer. They're based out of Durango. So we've been working with them for a few years already, and so businesses have that option to lease the infrastructure. We purchase it in bulk each year, depending on the applicant pool. Currently the application windows from February 1st to March first, st but we'll be changing that as well.

[45:03] I'll go over that on the next slide. The other option is businesses can either build or privately purchase their own compliant infrastructure. So they have 2 options in that regard. so to help inform the future of the program and get a sense of how it's going. We did conduct a survey to existing participants. We had a response rate of 57%. So 12 out of 21 businesses responded to our survey. Generally a lot of positive responses. Almost everyone agreed that the program increases. Builders, vibrancy everyone reported a positive impact on their business revenue. So they indicated an average of 7.3% increase in business revenue, which we thought was great. and it also enable businesses to hire a total of 14 new employees, as well as offer additional hours to existing staff members.

[46:09] They, in the survey businesses, identified some challenges and suggestions for improvement which include ensuring clear program guidelines. The current guidelines are in the form of a very lengthy document as it stands now, and businesses have indicated a bit of confusion around what's permissible in terms of lighting, maintenance, cleaning, etc. So we're working on just providing clearer language that's more digestible to the business community, and then another suggestion was moving the application window. So, as I mentioned, currently, the window is February 1st to march 1st annually. which is not proven to allow enough time for businesses to get their infrastructure before the summer months. The busy season if they're leasing the infrastructure so due to delays permitting businesses, maybe not submitting all their required materials before the deadline

[47:16] and then, once we actually do approve an application. We're seeing this manufacturing timeline. Once we get that order to Mona Street, so it can sometimes cause pretty significant delays. And so that was a suggestion for improving the program. and then the next slide, I'll get into some program improvement. So that were based on the survey and internal conversations about the program. So moving forward, we will be transitioning to a rolling application window to allow for more flexibility for businesses. It also helps city staff to not have an influx of applications each year, and really allows for us to provide more hands-on-one assistance to businesses require materials in and whatnot.

[48:09] We will be, as I mentioned, updating the program guidelines to allow for more simplicity clarity. Again, making sure it's more digestible to the business community. So we'll update that on our website, we're just working across Departmentally right now to ensure that those guidelines are clear and accurately. and then MoD Street agreement, renewal. So Mock Street. The news is now outsourcing all their standard products instead of manufacturing them in house. which it means that their lead times are significantly decreasing. So previously we've seen manufacturing timelines from 6 weeks up to 12 weeks. So we're facing this 3 month delay. Once the business is approved to get their infrastructure. They have promised us a 6 week delivery time moving forward, which I will be writing to our agreement renewal with them. So that'll be the case. Moving forward, which is a huge win.

[49:17] And then, lastly, it's not on this slide, but we are currently working with our cross departmental colleagues to prepare ordinance language for council, in hopes of making this program a more permanent offering. So that will go to council sometime in 2025. I'll have more info for you all by the next meeting on exactly that. Was it happy to answer any questions. any questions for Regan about the outdoor dining project. There any current applications on the hill, or is it, I'm trying to think? Is it the corner that has.

[50:01] The corner has a patio. think that's it, for the hill and the rolling application window will launch before February first, st and so we'll get that out in newsletters. I'll coordinate with the whole builder, and we'll get the word out about that to give everyone an opportunity to apply. Is, is there any way? Well, 1st of all. are these because I was trying to think which ones were on the hill mostly more, mostly a pearl street when these restaurants aren't open. Is there any way to like activate them by doing like a I don't know a takeover like could half pass subs like you, you know. Is there a way to you like, or make it more affordable, like 2 restaurants could share a patio, and they could run food from somewhere else. Or have you looked at any options like that to kind of get more activation at different times, like, if there are only lunch and dinner restaurant they could do somebody else could do

[51:02] coffee. Breakfast. Has that been discussed at all to kind of make more use of these spaces? That's a good question. It is a tricky one, because permits are specific to the business to apply and received the permit. So release agreements are written. For a specific business as well as the liquor license. If they they circle the hall so It's a good question and something I can definitely pose to the other departments and see what our possibilities. Yeah. And I've heard that there's really what the arrangement is with the city is. It's a revocable lease that allows them to use the public right of way for their own purposes. Everything beyond that is, up to the folks who hold that lease. They could certainly work with a neighbor when they're not using that space to sublet it for some sort of use in the cities as long as it's not getting outside the you know, they're gonna run a

[52:06] I don't know a winter gear, an outdoor winter gear sales outlet that probably will not be looked upon very happily. But if it's a hot chocolate, you know, cafe some sort of food sales that's up to them. So I don't know that there's anything currently that prohibits. Think people thinking creatively how to utilize that spaces. They're paying for it right? It's a lease. They're leasing that space from the city. If they are, want to be entrepreneurial, and think really creatively about how to make money off of that space during a colder months. There's certainly ways that they could do that if that's something that they were interested in. Oh, cool, good to know, I think about like Sancho's, and how much like or not Sancho Santo, and how many burritos they sell in the morning, just, you know, out of their little front space

[53:03] and and how that really creates a different activation of that restaurant and that shopping center so cool. Is this, and just maybe I don't know if anybody knows this question or the answer, but because Ginger Pig had picnic tables outside and those were removed. Is that because they didn't have the necessary permit, or was it not allowed on the sidewalk? Does anybody. Yeah, I don't think that they, if I'm remembering correctly, they did not have a permit. They are more than welcome to participate if they don't want to pursue outdoor dining. We also have the cafe seating program which allows businesses to put tables and chairs out on the sidewalk as long as they bring them in every evening. So I think we communicated that to them. Yes. Got it.

[54:03] Anything else for you before we go to the next agenda here. Thank you. Appreciate that. Chris. I think you're up. Yeah, this is really short. I just know the last meeting. There was a a request or desire of the Commission to write a letter to Council. We had heard on the Staff side weren't sure whether or not Council was requesting letters. There was because there was some discussion at the Board and Commission Council Committee about possibly requesting letters. but as of today, that request has not come through. So it's not being requested of any boards and commissions. It does not prohibit you all from organizing on your own. We can't tell you what to do on that front. So if that's something that you want to pursue that is up to you all, but we have not been asked to facilitate letters from commissions.

[55:00] or in advance of their midterm retreat. Coming up in February. Chris, that concludes matters for staff. Thank you, Chris. so we're matters from Commissioners. You can't see bi-monthly meeting recap the recap of the check in recap on December 10th there, wasn't we? We discussed a little bit about priorities. At that meeting, because we when we left the last official meeting priorities, were a little unclear, and I think there's some confusion. I think we were able to take submissions that have been sent by commissioners and discuss a little bit about that in that mid, that 5 monthly recap what you what you see in the packet for the priorities is essentially where we landed. We're going to discuss that here coming up next in the next meeting agenda. Item.

[56:10] That was predominantly what we discussed in that recap. I don't think there was anything else that we need to try to bring up there. We don't have any. That was last year, so long ago. It's funny how December 10th to January 10.th Feels like no time at all. even though it's a whole year. It's that's fine. All right. I'm gonna move on to the next thing, which is the finalized 2025 priorities. It is in your meeting packet. I don't know what page. It's on 27. Thank you. Appreciate that. the 2024 commission priorities were the 3 that you see below. They have a bit of a description, each one, and then we added a 4, th

[57:04] which is the near and long term fiscal resiliency, and you should because, as as we have seen in the last couple of years, just trying to figure out what Eugene is gonna end up. Being financially over. Time is is a priority needs to be something that needs to be addressed. So here are the priorities submitted for Ucfc. I now kind of opening it up for other commissioners to make comments or feedback on the priorities that are presented. No, they look. They look in in line with what we had discussed. Did I? I don't see what you have on the screen, and it's not up, but it's just the same as the packet right. It is. Yeah, it's page 27 of the packet as well. Yeah, yeah, exactly. So. I mean, my only question, do we? You know, in

[58:03] the the 2024, I mean, I guess they're the addition of the last one. Do we just have the little breakout of? I guess we don't really need it. I mean, it's pretty self explanatory, near and long term fiscal resiliency of Uj. But do we need to add that sort of descriptive paragraph to that for people to. You know I it's just. I don't know if we need or not. Yeah, I mean, that's that's that is something that we could consider doing if we wanted to have more specificity about how you know what we mean by that fiscal resiliency. I mean, it feels like, I mean, depending on who's using this. So this is just internal for us. We know what we mean. If this doc is being used, or being disseminated, or or used outside, or whatever it might be worth just giving a little bit of a a description, a little context for that last one.

[59:01] I think that's a good idea. Even if we're all still here in a year, we probably might forget what we met. Just like, we had some questions on some of the previous priorities. So I like that idea. And then we can just change this to 2025. And then. if all ever, everything else, is still accurate for the description. Yeah, I mean, we could if you wanted to. You could update the first.st The readiness of the hill, you know where it's with the expectations of increased attention and foot traffic. It it's proving out, as we just saw in the in the visitation study. It's no longer expectations. It's it's true, right? So maybe to put that one a little more in the in the present tense of of what is actually occurring might just put a little more onus on the fact that we we need to be ready now right.

[60:09] Yeah, you can. Just you could just delete expectations out with increased attention for traffic and. Yeah, there, you go. That's presence. So sorry I'm I'm this is what we submitted. We don't need a letter. You're saying there's no need for a. We could. The words number the description for number 4. I would suggest that potentially we could do that offline. Maybe send each other some email around that and provide that to some staff. Yeah, not each other. Oh, well, but yes. So yeah, that's the challenge. It would need to be facilitated by us combining multiple thoughts into one thought for open consideration. Unless someone had a really bright idea right now, I could just spit out about 2 sentences about number 4.

[61:13] I think we may want to take more time with it than that is kind of where I'm coming at it. Yeah, I'm I'm not. I'm not fully up to speed, you guys. So that's a brain brainpower above what I'm capable of right now. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only you're. I'm not the only one, Trent. Sorry you're sick. Yeah, no, I'm have. I'm struggling. And we're missing 2 other commissioners. And so I feel like this. This really should be something each of the 5 of us pay attention to, but it shouldn't prevent us from addressing the priorities themselves and approving those. And so my suggestion would be that we take offline

[62:02] the and work with city staff to create verbiage around, for that could be added to the priorities. But in the meantime I'm going to make a motion to approve the 4 priorities as presented in the meeting packet. Well, here a second. Just 1 1 other quick thing. We're we're not a discussion, do I hear? A second sorry parliamentary procedure. Sorry I second. Okay. Now you can discuss it. Pardon me, number 3, just the way it's worded parking in the redevelopment plan. Maybe the inclusion of parking in the redevelopment plan, or the necessity of parking. just to make it a little bit more of a complete sentence. Oh, yeah.

[63:01] I accept your your suggestion for an amendment to the motion. And I don't know if inclusion is the right word, or if importance, I you I don't know. Whatever you think is the the better. Evaluate, or. Consider parking. I don't know. Whatever I mean in inclusion. Is that all? It all works? that that works for me? I don't know, you guys, what you think.

[64:00] The inclusion. Or consideration whatever. Whatever's on the screen now. Oh, I don't see. Oh, I have that same consideration right now. just because you used consider further down here. It is central to consider provisions right that that makes sense to me, and I'll I'll amend my motion to say as suggested. Without it got it. I think they were in pretty good shape there any other suggestions before we moving forward? Any other discussion? All right, I'm gonna call for a vote on the priorities for 2025 for all those in favor of improving the 4 priorities submitted with the edit. They're approved. Yep. Yeah, thank you. Guys appreciate that.

[65:02] Let's see. Oh, yes, excellent. We have a letter. Thank you to city staff for composing this for us. A letter to the University. To thank them for the support of the ambassador program. I'm hoping you've all had a chance to read through this, and wondering if anyone has any feedback or any anything they want to adjust to this. Open that up, see if anyone has anything they'd want to add. No, I thought it was. I thought it was. It was good, and it and it definitely reflects what the sort of all the feedback was from the people who took the that those in the meeting packet. Sorry my brain. but it it looked great. I was

[66:05] I was thinking we should write one to Paul with the program itself to just from the Campsey, thanking him for being, you know, or the staff that the ambassadors, the actual ambassadors. Saw you go off mute. I'm not sure if you had any feedback. No, I didn't mean to, but I like I was just reading the letter again, and I like Trent's idea. I think they're doing an amazing job. I see him out there all the time, and I'm not even on the hill that much like every time I'm up there I see him. I mean, it's been the biggest difference maker, I think, in the hill in years, you know. I mean more so than the hotel. I mean, they have. It's clean, and it's it's approachable. And when, you know, after games and all that stuff, it's back in shape pretty quickly, and those guys really do a great job. I do know Paul does a great job with outreach with all the you know. Everybody knows him. And it's just it's definitely a much more

[67:13] just approachable part of Boulder because of it. I completely agree. But yes, agreed to send this letter absolutely. Who is this? From? Is it? From. It is us signed by the chair. It's it's got my name on it. I don't know if I was gonna bring that up actually next is, whether made, is that appropriate? Or do we have the entire commission? Yeah. So on behalf of the Commission with that line addressing that, thank you, but it is, and so we would. If we were to send this, we would need an approval from majority to 3 days.

[68:00] All right, I'm going to make a motion to approve the letter to the University, thanking them for the ambassador program as presented. Wait a second. Not good. I think, Dan, I could just barely be alright any further discussion on this. I'm gonna call for a vote. Then, all in favor. All right. It passes in terms of getting a letter to Paul and the ambassadors. That idea is that something that needs to be formalized is that something that city staff can just help support doing. I'm not quite sure about that. Well, I mean, I have a close relationship with Latina. They contract the block by block. We could. CC. The Tina on this letter, but she just approved, and then I could then ask her to follow the call and make sure that you know this is extended to

[69:03] to him. Right! Did you capture that transit? You hear what? What Chris was just. Yeah, yeah, I know I heard it. I just thought it'd be nice to do something directly to, if possible. Just I mean, it's just nice to say, thanks right? Because he really does go above and beyond. And it'd be nice to recognize him. for that. But I mean, I understand. If it's an official city thing coming from, you can see, and we can't do it. Then I'll just go thank him myself. Which I'll do anyway. I like the idea of ccing them on the letter and publicly doing that. I think that's what you were saying. Yeah, that's what Chris was suggesting. Yeah. I like Trent's idea, and maybe we can work. Chris. You can work with Bettina also on some recognition that maybe she's already working on, but I'm happy to maybe next time you know we can. I think CC' them on a letter to the Chancellor is is a good easy step we could do now. I don't know if we need to.

[70:04] what. Gonna make a new motion, which is, we're going to add a CC. For patina. To this letter. We CC, the group, too, that we that that's doing the work. I can, so that the- the Ambassador team is quite large. So and it covers both downtown and University Hill. So I just want to be thoughtful about, you know. Scope, creep. Well, isn't I thought you out? They outsourced it to a a group. 2 block by block, and that they do both downtown and university. So it's the same. Did you? CC block by block. We don't really have as Tina is, the is gonna be the best. The best way to make sure that they get it by block is A is a national corporation. So it's kind of a

[71:04] yeah. I think I I can make sure that Bettina is aware of this discussion and make sure that the the message, the thank you, gets through loud and clear. That they think that would be great, and that would be sufficient. Alright, so I've made a motion to add Latina as a CC. On this letter. Do I have a second? Thank you. Danica beats Trent. Yet again, I'm gonna call for a vote on that. All in favor. Alright. And we've passed that. Appreciate that. Sorry about the weirdness of 2 motions to do one thing, works and. You're doing a very good job, Ted. Thank you. God damn account! We're we're very grateful. Can we send Ted a letter to say thank you for running? Well, Trent and I are like. Yeah, yeah, like, while we're coughing and hacking on the other side. Trying to stay upright.

[72:00] It's like nobody's here. All right. That is the end of those matters from Commissioners. Is there anything Commissioners wanted to bring up? Just open comment at this moment in the meeting. I just had a quick question on the Moxie matt swisher has departed. The GM. Do we know who the new GM. Is at the Moxie. Jake on the call, sir. That's a really good question. I do not have a name top my head, but I believe it's been as a topic that is out there. Okay, I just we've we've got some momentum with, had some momentum with them. and they were doing some really great things. And I'd just love to keep that momentum. So if yeah, if anybody it catches wind

[73:00] it'd be nice to reestablish that that relationship and just make sure they feel welcome from a Ucamc perspective. I'm happy to ask if it's helpful. Sure if you I mean, if you can, it'd be great. And then we also the they named the GM. Of the limelight and I got. That's just a point of, I guess information. I don't have his name at the top of my my head, but I met him one day. He seems like a good guy. Yes, and a long time older. Hospitality professional. So someone who knows the community and I can't think of my head either. But I think everyone's been super excited about that investment.

[74:01] Alright. Any other just open items before I move on to the requirements here at the end of the meeting. Okay, no, seeing none. I'm going to remind everyone that we have our next by monthly check in meeting. Tuesday, February 11th at one Pm. It's me and Andrew Shoemaker. Ellie, I'm assuming they'll send out a meeting reminder for Andrew, and our next Commission meeting is 4 Pm. Tuesday, March 4, th for that meeting sounds like there's gonna be some great stuff coming up for that. Any other matters to do the order. seeing none, we are adjourned. Thank you very much, Trent and Annika, for attending virtually while you were on your sick beds. Yeah, yeah, desks, or whatever. Nice. Thanks. You guys, thank you so much. Yeah. Thank you. See you soon.

[75:00] Bye-bye. We're gonna use it on all kinds of stuff.