March 4, 2025 — University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission Regular Meeting

Transcript

Captions from City of Boulder YouTube recording.

[0:00] Think, should we go ahead and just get started? Absolutely. I'm just very important. Excuse me, all right. We are recording welcome to the University Hill Community or Commercial Management Commission meeting. This is, it is March 4, th 2025, and I'm formal. Trent Bush. Here, okay. Hell, Jones. Here, Danica Powell here, Ted Rockwell, here, Andrew Shoemaker, here I will now turn the meeting over to Joe Walkwell for procedural items. Thank you. 1st proceed. There's 3 procedural items. First, st one's the approval of the January 25 meeting minutes. See that in our packet everyone should have a chance, should have had a chance to review it. We'll hear a motion to set the meeting minutes as presented. Salute. Have a motion.

[1:00] Second. Saw you. Alright. Discussion. Okay, all those in favor approving the meeting minutes for January 25. Hi. Passes. So next up is the commission recruitment update? Yeah, so we did have our interviews. 2 weeks ago, I think. Yeah. And we had one applicant where you can see I think it went well. And then on. At the March 20th regular meetings the Council will roll in new appointees, and then we'll be notified for this. So if Council approves that candidate, we'll end up having a new Member April meeting. No, they'll be sworn in in the the regular. You may. You can see meeting. So we I just haven't included them special meeting in April.

[2:02] Thank you. Do we have any who wasn't doing that. So the gentleman's name is Dana Anderson is just interested in getting involved in the community. So it's about large seats, and see if the Council wants to just point him, or sometimes council likes to make sure that they have more than that to consider, or just somebody to to reopen, to at least have somebody to compare. Sure, any connection to that information. Not a strong connection other than was a Cu students way back in the day. And yeah, and in the interview, yeah, went well, spoke to a lot of the stuff that we talked about. I do have a friendship with this person. So there is a connection and a complete, unknown

[3:00] correct. What? Who's going off? That is a good question. Do we have? Oh, Andrew! Big shoes to fill, so we'll have to get you and Dave together. If that's it, let's see. So cut. Will that mean that, Andrew? Then cycles off in the main meeting. That is correct. So the main meeting. If if Dana's appointed, then we'll have, we'll still invite you to come. Join us at the very beginning. Say, they're 3rd walls, or you know, yeah, it's data. Swap it. is it Dana or Dan Dan Anderson? Yes. no limits.

[4:01] I see another procedural item here. You were asking individuals for this information on the way in. But I want to give you an opportunity. Yeah, so just moving forward, I will be tracking all the commissioners volunteer hours at each meetings for the previous 2 months. This is any work that you've done outside the regular meetings, for example, we'll tell those up and down on the hill and talk to the business owners to be count that as volunteer work, and we're just trying to capture all the work that commissioners do for the city. And then there's manual report that gets sent out. So I'll just be doing that at every meeting to try to not make you all thinking about it at the end of the year. Yep, and it doesn't have to be on the agenda or anything. I'll just. I'll check that questions fairly on that client. Well, yeah, just I mean, sometimes I'm not. I guess it's in I

[5:03] I I am involved in a lot of things, and sometimes I like bring you can't see like my hat, but I'm not out there representing, like I mean, you can't see member representing this board, because I think that's tricky, if without. be in kind of authorized to represent the Board, so I don't. Can we talk a little bit more about what that might look like for volunteer hours, I think, because I think, tell yours is very clear, like what you're doing. But is there? It's like there could be murkiness. You always have to be careful when you speaking or talking like I'm not here representing this, you know. I'm on the chamber board all these other things, but sure, so do I have to say that this is part of a citywide. So all volunteers for the city. It's so. It's not an exact science and at least just been attempting to be a little bit more precise, because typically what we've done is just estimated the number of meetings, and how long meetings were. And then yes, you know, how long did it take to pack it?

[6:08] so for this for this? Yeah, for your commission. And then it rolls up at all the boards and commissions of the city. Anybody who's volunteering behalf of the city as part of our overall cui volunteer with that. So certain 1st doesn't need to be exact and then and it's pretty open, as if you were spending time in thinking about preparing for a meeting. So you weren't trying to be a more effective Commissioner. So going around walking around to businesses certainly follow the value something you wouldn't be doing if you weren't a Commissioner could be. And then, if you and again, it does have to be precise. It's not going to be like, you know, you're not going to get some exactly individually audited. It's just trying to get a comprehensive idea volunteers. And what's happening?

[7:04] Yeah, I think so. I can send you all. I think I have a web page up for the 2024 report but there's a report that there's a volunteer cooperative team in the city, and they made this massive report, and it showed the community like this is all the work that the volunteers have done for the city. And that includes metrics and stories and photographs, things like that. And also, I guess I assume somebody who might be applying for the board can see then how many hours they're going to be contributed. So I would think that if you're if we're like, you know you're you're mentioning all this work that you do that has overlap some level of just educating yourself. But it gets we haven't necessarily done a formal. Check it every meeting in the past. This is something we've been reporting on for as long as I remember. We just haven't been keeping a super accurate. So.

[8:21] Ellie, I would be curious if this is an approach that other boards and commissions are using on tracking hours, or if it's something that. It's just being implemented for our commissions. So yeah, I can look. I haven't. I mean, I'm the one who thought this up. So if you're a chair or vice chair. This clearly, are spending more time, and usually and I wonder if there's any. Is there any designation of reporting for that?

[9:04] I think it all rolls up into just 1 1 big fat. Yeah, alright. Let's make a stew out of it alright. Anything else around the tracking of volunteer hours. What is moving on to the public participation section of our agenda? Is there any member of the public here who would like to speak to the commission. You can raise your hand now on zoom, if you'd like to speak. Not seen anybody recently. Okay, not seeing anyone. So to consent agenda portion of our agenda. Is there anything in consent, agenda that commissioners wanted to bring up and ask questions about or discuss?

[10:21] No, it's okay. I got it. Oh, sure climbing. Yeah. sure, it's fine. I'm gonna move on. Then to the next section of the agenda, which is the hill board Update, Jake communicated. If he was not going to be here today, Did he have any particular update? He did not send me anything, though he just wanted to leave the space time open for y'all to bring up items for him to get back to you on. And I can

[11:05] I? I would like to have him take if he can get back to me about what the status should take them on the hills. Situation is okay. That's good. Anything else for Jake. It's I guess it's more of just general updates on limelight progress. And when it's gonna be still on schedule. As far as I know, I don't have an official anything, but I was hanging out with the were you there, too? I know, Trent, you were with the GM. For the limelight. Yeah, with Umberto. Oh, wait, no, I'm sorry. Not that was Moxie, but yes. with Lance Thompson, and then the other. The other group. Yeah. At the business the Hill business. You know, and she indicated they're on time to open. In August they started taking reservations for football weekends at this point. But other than that, they're kind of looking at soft opening. Sometime mid August. Someone asked if they were going to be available for move in, and the answer was, No.

[12:19] that is not on the table at this time. So that's what we heard a few weeks ago. Alright I'm gonna move on to the next agenda. Item, matters from staff looks like update here. Yes, thank you very much. And I'm actually on the cutting room floor of this presentation. So I'm going to hand it directly to Riga. Oh, thanks, Matt. I'll kick things off, and then I'm going to hand it to Amanda, who is on Zoom. She's with our consultant team, Progressive urban management associates based out of Denver, also known as Huma.

[13:02] So she's joining us today to give an update on this analysis project, which is the study of our existing general improvement districts and recommended actions on how these improvement districts should evolve in the near term to address some of the challenges that we're seeing today. Just to get a bit of an update so far has been gathering data on existing conditions within our districts, really leveraging past plans, past studies and engagements that have already been conducted and creating district profiles for each district to really capture the state of each district today. And so today, we'll present some opportunities which I would say, are broad potential scenarios based off the data they've collected thus far. And then on April 8, th we're going to have a joint Special Commission meeting in which will present more concrete recommendations. After spending some time analyzing those potential scenarios.

[14:09] And then, last thing, a key upcoming date, April 24th is the City Council study session, where we will be presenting this recommendation. So that's the update, Amanda. I'm gonna hand it off to you. And I think I'm sharing my screen right open and try to check. Yeah, thank you. Awesome. Thank you. Well, Hi, everyone. Thank you for having me at this meeting today. As Regan mentioned, I'm here to just give you a brief overview of what we've been up to since we last convened this group. So I think we can hop right ahead to the next slide here. So here's just an overview of what I'll cover today. I'll just speak a little bit to the existing conditions analysis. We've done those district profiles that Regan mentioned. I'll speak to some priorities that emerged in our review of previous planning efforts, as well as the the conversations we've had with

[15:24] some stakeholder groups, including you all, and and internal and external stakeholder kickoff meetings that we had. I'll speak to some challenges that we've identified for the hill district, and then I'll speak to some opportunities. As Regan mentioned, these are very preliminary opportunities, and we'll really dig into concrete recommendations during that April special session with you all next slide, please. So, as we can mention, we developed district profiles for each of the Gids. We're looking at that included looking at background information. So we looked at the history of the district and why it was formed its original purpose, the governance structure of each district, and then the existing assessment methodology.

[16:16] We also looked at some key commercial market indicators, which were pretty interesting. So we looked at various characteristics of retail office multifamily housing in the Hill district. We also looked at sales tax Devin sales, tax revenue data and then property value data as well, which was very informative. We looked at sources and uses of fund for the Gid from 2019 as a baseline prior to Covid, through 2025 to date. And then we looked at past planning efforts, including some shorter term and longer term, anticipated projects

[17:00] that were recommended within those planning efforts. And then we also looked at key partnerships, which will be important, particularly to the hill moving forward next slide, please. So here are the priorities. We determined again, looking through previous planning efforts and talking with key stakeholders, we heard a lot about streetscaping public realm improvements in particular, lighting and drainage emerged as some key priorities, and those streetscape and public realm improvements were very related to the 3rd bullet there, which is connectivity to downtown, and what that experience is like for pedestrians and cyclists and vehicles as well. We heard a lot about safety and making sure the Hill feels safe for students, for visitors, just ensuring that it feels like a safe and welcoming place. We also heard that there is a desire, particularly from the surrounding neighborhoods, for the hill to be more than just a destination for undergraduate students. So really welcoming in all members of the community in addition to students. And then, on a related note, reintegration with the surrounding neighborhoods and really serving the communities that surround the hill.

[18:18] we did hear that there's been fairly high business turnover and economic stagnation particularly recently. And then we heard that there is potential for the redevelopment of the 14th Street lot moving forward. Next slide, please. Some of the challenges that we've identified so far for the Gid on the hill is that the city is heavily subsidizing current investments and services, and that likely isn't sustainable in the long term. So we identified that as a challenge. As I mentioned, there are several key priorities, and those priorities are fairly clear between stakeholder engagement that we've done. And then also previous planning efforts. However, the Gid currently is not generating enough revenue to implement those priorities that the community would like to see.

[19:15] And then we also flagged. That property, tax assessment and revenue from district assets cannot sufficiently cover costs, both currently and likely moving forward. Just given the real estate dynamics that are currently in place. Next slide, please. And then, finally, again, these are very preliminary opportunities. We'll continue fleshing these out over the next month or so, but we sorted these into 2 buckets. So we're looking at both near term priorities. And and we're coining that as over the next 2 years and then longer term opportunities that are looking beyond the next 2 years. so as far as near term near term opportunities. We actually flagged with the newly formed tourism improvement district. There's a potential for a revenue share there. Given the hotels that are now on the hill and anticipated coming online on the hill. We flagged that as a big opportunity in the near term.

[20:17] We're also taking a look at some city administrative support alternatives and rebalancing of revenues and general fund contribution. So those are the near term priority opportunities and then longer term. We have heard a lot about the potential to create a downtown development authority that encompasses both downtown and the hill, and really serves as a connector between the 2 districts. We also flagged site-specific urban renewal for that 14th Street lot as a longer term opportunity. There's potential for an on street and general fund parking lot revenue share again a longer term opportunity, and then really leveraging and building on the existing partnerships that the Hill has with other organizations. So the downtown boulder partnership. See you the Hill Boulder and other key partners. So those again, preliminary opportunities. We're going to work on refining over the next month.

[21:21] and I think the next slide is just pausing to see if anyone has any questions or or comments. I have one. I don't know if you guys hear me. Yeah, absolutely. Cool on on the the 1st slide kind of the priorities. The thing that felt, and maybe it's included in that first, st that street streetscape and public realm improvements or in the connectivity to down. I mean, it might fit in a lot of these places, but to specifically spell out that wayfinding and placemaking. Are short term opportunities that don't cost a ton of money. but that's that's a priority. It feels like it's missing from this this list that we've. We've talked about a lot.

[22:06] Yeah, absolutely. That's great feedback. Thank you. And then one question in the tourism improvement district is the limelight included in that. It should be right, because it's a it's on rooms, not on property. Yes, this. Yeah. Okay. Is there a way to this may have been covered in the last meeting but a brief explanation of what a tourism improvement district is oh, and might be making it up a little bit, but it is an additional fee on room reservation. So it's paid for through guests at hotels. It's being run by business owners. So it is a direct funding mechanism for visitors bureau to then work with. The folks who are paying those additional fees to provide

[23:04] services and programs that are geared toward visitors. So it's really associated with currently all hotels in Boulder did not include Airbnbs, which is an option. But That required a lot of coordination with property owners who are operating Airbnbs and getting them enough to actually agree with that be attached to their not this time. But that's another realm that you can. It's the district based on that Airbnb issue. Basically, it'd be nice crossing our fingers and hope on the Sundance issue. But I mean the course of the interview. Absolutely excellent. What's the is there some sort of revisiting of the Airbnb, so I don't want to speak for Charlene Hoffman as a holder, but I do know that that is on. That's on the list. They wanted to make sure they got this this 1st step that they knew they could do because of the relationships that they have with

[24:13] hotels around town, and then a future step would be there. It certainly is a door. Is there to be open. It did require approval from city council to authorize the creation of the district and let the door open for Airbnbs to be. Does this mean like the the district will have an operating board, and like there'll be a new board form that decides, how does the funding get decided? And then how does? How does revenue sharing? How do we have a seat at that table? So it's a great question. I'm not sure the government's governments or accountability right now. I suspect it's just through their regular visit folder board. But there is. Yes, there is a 3rd of this board. And so I suspect it's just new funding revenue for decisions that they make there. And so would require Charlene and and her board to see opportunity. And

[25:17] and I know that they are certainly very much focused on success of the Conference center and and the hill. So If that wasn't the case, then you'd have a bigger mountain decline forming the partnership. But right now we're in a good space there. What we want to do, that's do it, Regan. Did you have anything? Well, I want to add something that's separate from the toys and District which is on the opportunity slide. So something we've discussed with Huma. That's sort of captured but not explicit in the last bullet point. Here leverage existing partnerships is the potential for the to expand to the hill which would be managed by Tdp. So again, not really explicit on the screen, but that is captured leveraging existing partnerships.

[26:10] So the I guess I have a lot of questions about things in the district for the tourism, but it's probably not where the money is being collected doesn't, doesn't. It? Doesn't mean it needs to be spent in that same area. It's a citywide tax, and it'll be decided by the board where it goes, and so having is Eugene having a seat at that table at some point be valuable. Or is that a different group within the city that would be advocating for those funding to be used for placemaking, to be used for other things that events so more to learn from Charlene is. It's it is a separate. It's like a like. The business improvement district is a municipal entity. But the city is actually not very closely affiliated with this current new funding mechanism is very similar, so there certainly is an opportunity for

[27:10] huge interest to be communicated to the tools on the district and seeing where that could be sending things. How do we fund shuttle services or other types of moving people around? There's there's a lot of things that are in our priorities that do align really well with what Charlene's been talking about the folks who are paying into that district. So whether or not. You know what the the appropriate collaboration, whether it's presence of commissioners yet to be determined. But we'll certainly want to make sure we're highlighting it, because it isn't decided yet exactly how that money is going to be spent, and so

[28:01] want to make sure that it all seems representative as a decision on the that cause I heard. It's a lot of money. It's gonna be a lot. It's 2%, I believe, of of room nights, right of the of the fee. I'm not sure, Amanda, do you know more about the district? I do not. Since that was that hasn't been part of our analysis today, but we can definitely make sure we've got some more information about that going into our discussion in April, I I think, between us and the and the city team. We can do some digging and get you all some, some more clear answers on that. Yeah, I'm I'm pretty sure it's 2%, just for. I've heard it's a significant amount of money that is allowing Cbp. Or to be more independently run. I mean, they were kind of been with the chamber. Maybe I don't know if we want to come to one of our meetings sometime, or one of our staff, because there is a lot of alignment. And it's not just you. I said you did. But I meant you can't see, because you did might actually change into a team.

[29:12] If you know, based on some of the recommendations here. But it just certainly seems like just having. I don't know. There seems a lot of alignment. And those 2 hotels will be generating a ton. I was. I was gonna request that Staff pay attention to this particular issue and make sure to bring it back to the Commission. so that we have those opportunities before decisions are made, or we can get part of that decision making process. Very much would love to have here as a guest to hear about your plans. But then, importantly, what are we hearing in terms of governance around that really important for us to be paying attention to.

[30:00] How did this even get approved? This is a city council. It's able to tax all this. The so it's much like Gid or a bid, whereas more than half of the folks who are going to be taxed participate in the special election to end. That district, then, then, doesn't matter. So council enables it creates it that there is and that's where I'm not clear yet on where the opportunity for the folks who are paying, and it's decline. Well, it's the. It's the visitors that are paying and not the hotel, so that would be a part. So all the hotels are on board because they're not. I mean, it's impact pricing. But it's not like it's an extra time to hotels. It's a visitor.

[31:04] Then through that. could they? If you wrap them in, then they could torpedo it. If there's more than 50% of somebody that happens correct, and that's where. So Charlene went to each hotel around the city to make sure that they were in support of the proposal before working with city council and the city manager's office to make this actually vitalities, you know, aware of it. But we are not really closely involved in it. And to any hotels opt out or there any I don't know. It's a it's a if too many hotels said that they weren't interested, then then it wouldn't have been pursued at all. So not all hotels were interested, but not enough of them said, no

[32:00] for it to yeah. and they can't later come back because more money is being spent on the hill. And say, you know, we changed our mind. We want global software, they can. Yeah. So that's so it's important. So you know, for Charlene to make sure that she's being really thoughtful about how those funds are being used and dispersed, because if the hotels turn up feeling like their needs are being represented, and they have the ability to to pursue. We should be, too. That's 1 follow up question. That's just on. The bullet left the last slide or the second last slide we got. There we go. What is the rebalancing of revenues of Gf contribution? What is that? Tell me more about that. So, Amanda, correct me if I'm wrong. But that that might speak to a potential change in the bill, levy, is that right? Yeah, yeah, that's correct. Regan.

[33:04] Does that also include the debusing? And it could include possibility. Some other elements are, you know, the general fund contribution to each of our Gids has largely, historically been tied to the on street parking revenue that's being generated. Within the district. So those numbers currently do not exactly match right now occurring in the hill area exceeds the amount of general fund transfer into the district. So something for Council's consideration, and you all that contribution exceeds or revenues exceed. and that doesn't include citation revenue. But we don't even include that. So

[34:00] not the citation. So the revenues that the parking brings does that go into the general fund? And then the general fund returns money back to our fund. But which is less than what generally. and is that happening in the other. There's actually no general fund transfer in Boulder Junction into the district. So all the On street parking revenue in general in Boulder Junction goes to general fund and in the downtown there is a general phone transfer. But it is not. Does not the amount coming back into the district. It doesn't mean that the city's not spending general fund dollars in those areas. And it just takes it takes the work of the community vitality team to say, Hey. you know, we need some general fund investment in these areas. And our justification is, you know, that we aren't just doing a straight transfer into the fund. So let's use a general fund. For for instance, the Hill streetscape. That's was part of the argument of

[35:01] Alex getting some general fund dollars, because typically transportation mobility has a dedicated fund and they prioritize their capital projects list or anything related to transportation on the right of way, and the medians on the hill are not the top priority project for them, since we were able to get the general fund dollars and use that argument to get those monies allocated. Now it's a top priority project. It would be good to rebalance that because it makes the way the budget runs makes it look like they've always been subsidized right? I mean, if if I'm wondering if if the hill actually realized how the revenue. what, what does that look like in terms of the balance sheet. But that's that's city parking versus the only parking that 14th Street. Right? Okay? So, like all the commuter parking permits all the street parking. All of that goes straight to the city right into the general on street parking.

[36:14] Alright. I had a question. Oh, Trent, I saw your hand actually up earlier, and I'm not sure if you still have a question. Oh, no, it was more of a comment. I was just going to say last time I talked to Charlene, and she did. She came, if you guys remember, I don't know if everybody was on the was there but last year, and sort of gave a an overview of of visit. Boulder's interest in in University Hill and the district. But she's very concerned, obviously with the experience of sort of the organizers of conferences and all that that they want to come here, and that they want to come back. So you know, at least in what she's. She's told us in the past that she is very interested in in the hill. I don't know. Maybe somebody knows this. I don't know if it matters, but if any of that

[37:01] you know that that room tax, or whatever it's called room contribution, is being earmarked for the sundance bid. I I have no idea, but I don't know if those are kind of hand in hand. But again, you know, regardless there should be a a pretty good amount of money available there, and the other thing that she did offer to the the hill was to sort of take over the marketing and website of of the hill itself. I know that we've had for the the. You know the Hill Business Association has had a hard time finding that and running that. And so that might be another thing that we we want to talk to her about. If if we do want to get her to come in and give us an update on on everything going on in her world. A good call. So yeah, we should certainly reach out to Charlene and see if she's in this spot where she did. She's busy, but it's exciting.

[38:07] Alright! Any other questions about this? Is that the entirety of the this presentation? Yes, that's where we're at with the work right now. With a lot of lifting to do between. Now, welcome as much feedback as as we'd like today as we're preparing more of the detailed recommendations which we'll bring to the Joint Commissions meeting in April in advance of our city session. Yeah, we'll be here in person on April 8.th So if you are able to attend in person. I think that'll be really an opportunity to have an engaging conversation with them. On more. Everyone got that invite today. Correct? Yeah. Yep. If I could just add, we're we're hoping for a quorum. Actually, we need a quorum that day, because each from each Commission. Yeah. The idea being based on those recommendations and the conversation we have. If you want to have your voice included in what we present to council. We make a motion.

[39:18] Yeah, I'll be there, too. So we just need one more. Does anyone have any concerns on that date at this point? So I think we'll have a lot excellent. Alright. Anything else before I turn Amanda loose here because she's hanging out there in cyberland. really appreciate this work. Looking forward to that conversation, Dave. Yeah, thank you all so much for having me, and and hopefully see most, if not all, of you, on the 8.th Thank you. Thank you very much. That's exciting.

[40:01] I guess we are now at the matters phone Commissioners, section of our agenda by monthly recap check in half on February 6.th Remember, this. Was I the only one there, or was I not there? Andrew was there? Oh, it was the 2 of us. Yeah, yeah. So there. I'm just kidding. I think we went over some stuff that we're talking about again. But I don't think there was anything super substitute. I think the biggest development from the last time we talked is probably we've been working on the council priority related to commercial area connections, but we have partnered with transportation mobility on closing some missing sidewalk links on 11th Street

[41:05] between Arapahoe and University. So this is part of a critical pedestrian corridor that a number of years ago the city installed pedestrian scale lighting along this border. You know, on the west side of Broadway. And so there are a couple segments of 11 that don't have sidewalks inside. So we have allocated some capital improvement dollars to be had for hill revitalization. These are not these are not huge dollars. It was a long existing capital fund that had some monies in it. So we. or partnering and splitting the cost for the. So it's 1 small thing. But it's another thing. Out of the list of we've been trying to chop away at the different opportunities to improve various connections

[42:00] other than that. I think it was probably just updates on with this work and all the stuff you're already aware of what we've got coming later this year, when it comes to murals and crosswalk treatments and median improvements, and all this other transmission. I didn't put the notes. The only other thing was what you brought up. The Enforcement horseman on the hill seems to be up to since November. Oh, I'm glad you brought that up. So I did follow up with the police department. It says, seem that there was a police officer who was maybe being a little bit zealous is like the right word, yeah, overzealous. And the interpretation of occupancy. So the Pd has circled back with the fire chief to make sure that they are using the same number for properties on the hill, so that there is no longer a discrepancy. So we've not been enforcing that since then.

[43:08] and you're getting the guidance from the fire, marshal, see what the school. I really appreciate that from talking to businesses. I know there was a couple of them who have been singled out, and they were being told that their occupancy was 20% lower than the fire ownership. And so that was becoming. They were literally every night having an argument with so hopefully. That is, I really appreciate you. Looking at that. I have 1. 0, sorry! Occupancy is that you meant like the number of people inside a restaurant at one time. Is that what you're? Yeah. They're saying that the police officer is saying, that's 20% less than yeah good, but looks like it is sorted out. And you're all on the same. So that's great, hey, Trent, I see your hand.

[44:06] Yup, just following up on that. And thank you very much, Chris, for that info, that the other thing. And and it was really interesting at that happy hour, the hill happy hour that we were at and I don't know exactly the best way to approach this one. The occupancy thing was a big one. But the other one is the pizza pie guys. And that block of college between 13th and Broadway. They've been setting up. Basically, the police have been setting up a sting on the sidewalk for underage kids drinking pizza pie doesn't sell alcohol, but he said that they've been the all the kids avoid that block now. So nobody will go in, and and they make all their money on pizza between 11 pm. And 2 Am. Or whatever their hours are. And they said that it's a really significant problem for them, in that, you know, the the customers they depend upon to to keep their business open, are completely avoiding that block on Friday and Saturday nights, when and Thursdays when

[45:10] that's you know, where they make their money. So I just wanted to bring that up, too, that I don't know if we have a real mechanism for these types of issues, but they were very, very vocal at that that happy hour. And I don't think Jake was was still there. I'm not sure when we were talking talking that through, Ted. But I think that's something that if we could find a a path for these kinds of complaints it would be really helpful for the businesses up there, because this is the kind of stuff that just happens off the cuff and causes huge huge issues, and then they have no idea where to turn. What are the what are the police actually doing like? How can they tell if somebody's underage and drinking, I mean, unless are they carry. Are they just looking for somebody caring, or they're they're not breathalyzing. You can't do that without permission.

[46:03] It's a combination of things, I think if you're visibly intoxicated, that's I don't know. All I know is that's what they're doing. I mean they stopped. My my son lives on 13th and college. See of age. Oh, but he, you know he got stopped, too. And he he wasn't carrying anything he wasn't doing anything they were checking from, you know. I I don't know what they're doing. But if you're talking about overzealous code enforcement in in occupancy. There may be some overzealous other things going on. I don't. I don't know. I would love to get the real, you know. Get the pizza pie guys in front of whomever to to bring this up. But I I do know that that block in particular, the kids definitely avoid it. Because I think there's some stuff that's going on that maybe, isn't totally. you know the way it it probably should be to to make sure a commercial district is functioning at at its highest level.

[47:03] So I've I've spoken to both the owner of pizza pie as well as chicken on the hill in the last 30 days, and provided some of the information that Ellie provided around who to contact the city if they're having issues problems, how to sort it out. And I've been up there twice after 9 Pm. Which is something I would suggest all commissioners try to do on the hill at least once. I I definitely reported it to Ellie, and I saw exactly what they're talking about on both occasions. 3 cops dressed, you know, with their vests on standing, you know, right there next to the corner one occasion, and then further down on college and essentially looking intimidating. I'll just say like I was intimidated. It's like, Oh, my gosh! There's some cops right there, and I didn't see them actually shaking anyone down. But the intent is clear. They're they're there to kind of put a chill in the air. Don't don't try anything

[48:08] so there's that. There's like a double edged sword there, right? Because then there's the complaint that the hotel folks are not feeling safe walking the hill. There is a mess. There's a large segment of unhoused hanging out in front of the fox that people have complained about, and so that presumably also deters that. And so, you know, if it's I mean, if it's if a younger person. if it's in their right within their right to refuse talk to a police officer, and as long as they're educated I don't understand how the how this can really should be chilling people from walking down the block unless you're doing something unless you're carrying a weapon or doing something that police can actually arrest you for. Yeah.

[49:01] Good, good question. I think that there's probably some some form of a community meeting in our future to try to address some of this, because what you just said about making people feel safe. And then the reciprocal which is having people feel unsafe because of safety measures effectively, I think, is really a big part of this, I will say, I mean, if you go up to the hill after like 10 o'clock on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night. It's like a big party like this. even when it's 0 degrees outside there, there's a lot of people waiting to get inside these establishments where the 20% occupancy thing is affecting people, stanchioning them out front and waiting in line to get into these places, which effectively creates a party atmosphere on the street. I could see, being of a certain age, and having that feel intimidating to have that feel unsafe.

[50:03] So I think it's there's there's complicated factors here. I do. What I saw were some police officers who were basically making a presence. They were just right there going. Do not try anything in front of us, because we will take you down right, which is probably warranted with those kinds of crowds. But at the same time certain businesses feel like their their businesses went down as a result. as they're camped out right there, right? I mean, it's just it wasn't that long ago, right, that we have people with automatic weapons. That's like, you know, there's that counter that. So you're right. It's a balance community policing kind of meeting to figure out how to strike the right balance here. It'd be. It'd be one thing if they were patrolling instead of posted up and intimidating. And and again, I mean, I use that word very carefully. I don't. You know. I don't know if that's necessarily what they were doing, but

[51:01] the way people are, if that's happening, they will avoid it, and you know that my son will get a snapchat or something just saying, hey, cops in front of pizza pie? And it's just, you know, again he's 21. He can do whatever he wants, but even his friends avoid it, and they're not doing anything wrong. It's just they don't want to. They don't want to be dealing with it. And so, you know, and it's not. It's not like those that's happening at Sundown Saloon, and it Rosetta Hall and and Spotted James, and all the places downtown. None of that same sort of thing is is happening. And there's all kinds of people down there. So again. It's just sort of singled out. I I totally agree that we want the patrolling, and we want the policing a hundred percent, and especially after the the police annex was closed. Due to, you know, lack of funds that really concerned me. But again, if if people are worried about walking up from the Moxie.

[52:01] Well, they're never going to get near College Avenue. They're not going to get nearly that far. So if those same police officers were patrolling instead of just standing. That would probably be a much better situation for the entire hill. But if they are really singling out kids and trying to, basically, you know, as Ted said, shake them down, which is basically what's happening. Then I think that that is not a positive thing, for I know it's not a positive thing, you know, with what the business owners have said. So again, I don't want to beat a dead horse here, but it's it's definitely happening. And it's definitely affecting hill businesses that are already really having a hard time surviving. I got a question on that. So chicken on the hill right now. That's their liquor license suspended. Now I know that they've had other issues with that previously for underage drinking. So is this a result? Because of that? I mean, I would think that's why we would have more

[53:03] presence on the hill right now, because I don't see a lot of crazy danger or anything since the Ambassador program kind of kicked in. I wouldn't. I would think that it would have something to do with underage drinking, or something like that, and being a problem. So I don't want to speculate. But we do have the police department. Does a public safety update every other downtown Management Commission meeting? And usually that is the chief of police or the deputy Chief of Talks with that commission fairly regular basis, we would be happy to invite them to come and do account executive. Maybe I think that that would be an excellent yeah. My my own experience up there was interesting, because what I saw was a complicated situation.

[54:00] It. It does not feel like one that I don't want to tell police how to do their job. At the same time it felt really strange that we're just standing in front of a particular business. Maybe it just happened to be the 2 times I was up there, too. I don't know and we wanted to feel like safe place. We really want that in place that we're. you know, commission manager, and but at the same time like, is it patrolling, you know? Are there other strategies that would set a chilling effect for certain businesses like that is, you're talking about the downtown boulder partnership, the ones we go to the downtown management because they show up as well. That's a really helpful. They give stats on what's happening in that district, the amount of you know. And then the the other interesting thing is, there's a rapport that develops between the shop owners and the and sort of the officer in charge of that area that would allow direct communication about what you're seeing

[55:08] with them, and then they may have an explanation, or they may not and absorb it. It's legally lose. Yeah. And we can certainly recommend to Jake that you reach out and invites to the future and the business. and I think that might be one of the more productive conversations that can happen around. This is to have that happen. I would love to hear them here, of course, but that particular one could be really beneficial for all parties involved. Maybe an in an invite to the to the next sort of hill. Happy Hour, or whatever you know, whatever the the monthly or Bi-monthly Hill business owner meeting that Jake puts together. I think that'd be great to do it. There. Exactly. Because you got to hear it right from the business owner's mouth right.

[56:02] Yeah, we will certainly make that suggestion to Jake. Thank you, Chris. That's a great suggestion. Thank you. All right. Yeah. That came up in the bottom. I was there. Yes. thank you for that. Appreciate that reminder. Alright. So anything else on that great moving on to the you can see 2025 priorities. Language. This was something. Our last meeting was sort of like 2 people sick on Zoom and me in the room with staff and we for half a second tried to provide more clarity. To our final. We added a priority near a long term fiscal resiliency. we didn't get very far. And so this went into an email kind of situation where we should email our suggestions in

[57:05] This is where we arrived. The current revenue for Eugene is limited and unsustainable without general fund money provided by the city to shore up its finances will run deficit just to basic year over year maintenance to meet the goals generally improving, transforming, sustaining the district. A sustainable financial solution must be. I like it. Alright. So I'm going to ask for a motion to approve this language, for to describe the 4th priority for the Commission, for this, I should say, for 2025, I hear a motion. He moved so. Oh, I'm sorry I just had a question which this I assume it doesn't. But is there any importance in the ordering?

[58:02] That's a good question. And we've we've talked about this in years past. Like, if you put something 1st his hands and pay more attention to it. Chris, what are your opinions about that. We don't currently treat them as one priority. I think that's what we rely, you put in bigger font. Oh, any other discussion about this point or the other priorities. The motion on the table is to approve this language associated with the article 4. It's afternoon I second. Oh, you seconded. Sorry. All right, I'm gonna call for technically in Robert's rules. The chair just facilitates an investigative mission. You're the tiebreaker you seconded. Thanks, Chris. Sorry.

[59:01] It's been a long time since Voice stayed. All right. I'm gonna call for a vote. All those in favor of approving the language. I. Bye. Unanimously. Thank you, Trent. Thank you, Ted, for working on that, getting us to the finish line. It took a lot longer than it really should have. But but having said that, yeah, that's how this anything else the Commissioners wanted to bring up at this point before we start talking about upcoming meetings and that sort of thing. I just have one question. Yeah. Trent. I don't know if anybody has the answer, because I saw in the window of the Tulagis building that it's being turned into housing. Does anybody have. What did you see in the window. Something saying something, something. Apartments coming soon. I don't think anyone in this room has heard that news. I didn't even know it's legal in the first.st Doors

[60:01] have to be one second here, and is it to. So Auggies has a second floor. It's the it's the Yoga studio. Core core powers in there. Yeah. you don't know the address, do you? Yeah, it's one, no. 1, 1, 2, 9 13.th Is that right? I don't know if that's right. I only know that because I did some things at the Fox a long time ago, and it was next door. I think it's 1. Yeah. Yeah, that's that is correct. Okay. That's an example of sort of losing that losing an opportunity to know. Yeah, it really is, especially that segment.

[61:00] Yeah, I was trying to do something there for 2 years, my brother and I, and it just couldn't. Nobody wanted to invest in the hill, so we didn't do it. There's no permits on it right now. 20. There's no permits. There is slow down. Maybe they'll do what they did at like 8 o's above. Maybe there's an you know how they build apartments above that. So maybe that's what's happening. but also concerned because I I believe to auggies, is a historic building. I think the sign and everything. I I don't want that to go away because it's just part of I mean, it was even in the last presentation, right? It's it's really cool. Hill nostalgia, which I hope is protected. We can do some digging on the city side as well. It is in the the restriction on any new housing still exists. Unless it's a hundred percent affordable. So

[62:06] unless this is a hundred percent affordable housing project. it's not going to make it very far, you know, given current land use restrictions. That's what it seemed like to me. I just couldn't figure out how they were doing it, but maybe they just put up a sign, saying they were 1st exactly another just one other quick note for anybody who hasn't been up there lately. Aviano. Coffee opened at the Moxie. which is good, and then Mr. Oso is almost ready, so. You been into yet. I I have not. My brother was in there yesterday, said it was great. I just I haven't had a chance to go. I'm not. I'm feeling under the weather, which is why I'm not there with you guys right now. So. What's the restaurant that. Mr. Oso.

[63:01] Is that a or is it? It's a Denver based kind of really, really good taco spot. not like a chipotle something like that. It's like pretty high end. It's really good. They did some during the tailgates that we kind of helped put together. They they did some catering there. But they they're Denver based. So they're local local enough and the the space is beautiful. I don't know if anybody's seen it. But they it's furnished now the wallpapers up. It's really, really cool. It's gonna make a big difference in. you know, the the world up there. Which will be, which will be great. You know, if this is just, this is just their second location, right? It's not like. Yeah, I think so. That's so. That's why it's, you know, when a chain is a very loose term. I saw him in the airport. Oh, do they have one in the airport. No, but it's it's like route down like it's like that level. I mean, it's a it's there. It's a not just a chain. It's a good Denver.

[64:01] That's a good, really nice. Yeah. We stay in business, you know, has a following. Yeah, I had their time. It was at the grand opening. It was very good. Yeah, they, agreed Tacos. But between that the Sync and Ion, you know it, it's and 8 o's. But it's there's some places for other people in Boulder to go now, which is, which is pretty cool. Wife and I were at a on for the record here. So for Valentine's day, and it was outstanding, and they were sold out for the night, which. I couldn't get a reservation. I I slept too long. There was actually a couple that came with us, and they didn't know it was a fixed menu, and they couldn't eat something that was on the menu, so they left. I wish I would have known Travis. Hello! You gotta get over here. I was forced to go downtown. It's okay. Alright! Any other matters from Commissioners? Alright reminder that our bi-monthly check in meeting is hell. And I coming up this next month. So we're doing that. And then, followed by the other one. Right, we are. On the same day we got the check in, and then we have the Huma update 4 pm. That day.

[65:15] and then our next commission meeting will be on May 6th at 4 pm. In this room. If there's nothing else. One sorry 1 1 quick thing, and then I'll I'll stop talking. Yeah. The those invites. I still get all the invites for all of those by monthly, or whatever they are. Is there a way that we could just get it when it's our turn. I'll check. I thought I had it set up that way, but I'll double check. Okay, yeah, mine. I I seem to receive them for for all of them. Or if you just put in the meeting notes, who is when doubt in, unless it's already there. I didn't see that, so that'd be great. Take care. Yeah. And then real quick. April 8, th we should probably find a larger location

[66:01] unless you feel like we can right now it's scheduled for here. But if we have all depending on how many other commissioners show up versus virtually, we might run so stay tuned on location that we could. I mean, this space can be rearranged all 4 people but so we might have to change. How many people might have. I might have to say this by building that 15th university parking might be a challenge. Well, and it needs to be. You know, we'll need to advertise this in public meetings. We typically try to. Probably if we move it, it won't be. But so stay tuned. That might be here by the end of the year, depending on how we do it.

[67:02] Alright! Anything else. Get a lot of anything else since today. That was that was fun. Thank you, Trent, for your virtual presentation. Appreciate that. Yeah, sure. Thank you, Staff, for your work, and we are adjourned. Guys. Hey, Trent? It says that it was boss, Lady Pizza. There. No, there's another slice place that.