HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Downtown Management Commission - 06/06/2005CITY OF BOULDER, COLORADO
NAME OF BOARD/COMM1~J1uN • uv wi.. v.~ ~. iviru~r~vr.nar.... ..v,..,.~.~.......
NAME/'TELEPHONE OF PERSON PREPARING SUMMARY: Laurie Chestnut--303-413-7318
NAMES OF MEMBERS, STAFF, AND INVITED GUESTS PRESENT:
BOARD MEMBERS: POLI{, HI.ERMAN, ROSALL, McMULLEN, McKEE
STAFF: WINTER, CUNNINGHAM, CHESTNUT, WARD, MOORE, HEWAT, PLASS, HESTER
GUEST: Jenkins
AGENDA ITEM 1- Roll Call: Meeting called to order and roll taken at 5:40 p.m.
AGENDA ITEM 2- Approval of May 2, 2005 Minutes: (See Action Item Below)
AGENDA IT'EM 3- Public Participation: None
AGENDA ITEM 4- Police Update: Moore reported May being an active month with a number of velucle trespasses, a
couple of assaults, criminal miscluet's, burglaries and two arsons one in a dumpster and one in a laosk. The police
department has a suspect but no arrests have been made. Vehicle trespasses were due to people leaving their cars unlocked.
Karakehian commented he feels the downtown azea has improved greatly in ihe last few weeks and thanked the police for
their efforts. Winter remazked the "shoulder season" (time before and after and summer) seems to be ihe problem time for
the mall.
AGENDA I1'EM 5- Parks Update: Hester said ffie shade structures are up in front of the courthouse and stated Uris is a
heavy planting season. Rosall asked if there were any issues with budget and Hester responded no. Rosall complimented
Hester on the appearance of the mall. Karakeluan asked about the plan for the "bulb giveaway." Hester said it will be
similaz to last yeaz, but better organized. Kazakehian asked if DBI needs to be involved. W inter replied Pazks and
Recreation will coordinate the acrivity with the assistance of DBI and DLJHMD/PS so there is ample help. Cunningl~am will
be the contact for the City. Hester said there will be approximately 13,000 bulbs to give away.
AGENDA TTEM 6- BID Update: Jeiilcins said the Bolder Boulder expo was extremely successful for downtown
businesses over Memorial Day weekend. T'here are some barriers that need to be crossed to get them back next year
including problems with booth placement, costs (i.e., four police officers at beer tent were required), etc. Winter said she
spoke with Matthews who recommended cutting down on police coverage next yeaz. All indications were it was a very
positive event. Karakehian suggested that DBI pay for the police expenses next yeaz to bring the expo back stating the cost
would be worthwhile. Jenkins mentioned DBI has hired an extra police officer to patrol the mall during the late aftemoon
and evening hours and said officers aze filing reporfs so DBI can track activity. DBI will be discussing a proposal wluch is
a positive spin educating enablers about panhandling. Jenkins mentioned the press has been negative towards the homeless
and DBI wants to take steps to coumer act ttris perception. She stated the 17'" Street bike lane petition is cuculating and
neither DBI nor BID have been asked to endorse it. Winter remarked if they get enough signahves the 17'" Street Bike
Lane will go to a vote. Karakehian stated the reason this petition is circulating is because of the way city council handled
it. He commented approximately 98°/a of the downtown businesses were against the bike lane and petitioners feel they
weren't heazd. They need 3,700 signatures and have suggested to Frank Bruno the project be delayed until the conclusion
of the petirion drive. Jeiildns reminded everyone of the Community Exchange on Thursday night at the Chophouse along
with ffie fust "Band on the Briclcs." "Band on the Bricks" was changed from Wednesday to Thursday night because of
feedback they received from the communiry. Rosall asked if there was anyd~ing to update on Economic Vitality. Jenldns
gave an update including the Marketing Plan. She stated the event committee will reconvene and mentioned there will be a
meeting with 29'~ Street people to work on a partnership with Frontier Airlines.
AGENDA ITEM 7- Landmarks Design Review Process: Hewatt and Plass spoke about how they will communicate
with DMC on landmazks issues. Plass said downtown gives a"sense of place" with its historic buildings. T'hese buildings
influence their surroundings. Hewat spoke about the city's historic district and handed out a map showing boundaries
designating contributing and non-contributing buildings. Projects in ttus azea will be reviewed by Landmarks. Different
levels of projects require different processes to get a landmaz•k alteration certificate. Hewat presented a flowchart to explain
the approval process. Rosall said the key is to make sure the review process is implemented and that DMC gets advanced
notice stating DMC would like to be notitied on azeas adjacent to CAGID as well. Kazakehian commented that most of the
problems seem to come from non-contributing buildings and it appeared that steps to notify DMC have been overlooked.
Winter commented Cunningham is the DMC contact person and suggested the landmarks review informaGon be added to
DMC orientadon packeu. Karakehian expressed &ustration over the fact this has been a problem for a number of yeazs and
asked how it can be addressed proposing some sort of legal document be written. Winter suggested amending the
guidelines and redoing the flowchart. Karakehian asked Hewat to move forward and revise the documents so that everyone
lmows the notification procedures. Rosali suggested recovening the Downtown Alliance and asked if Hewat and Plass
might want to be involved. Winter suggested Hewat retum in October and present an updated flowchart and memo. Rosall
requested Landmarks and DMC communicate about patio extensions as well.
AGENDA TTEM 8- Real Estate Presentation: McKee reviewed the real estate handout. He stated there is a 20%
vacancy for office and retail including vacant sublet space. Ttris number has improved in the last six months. T'he number
one complaint is price. The mall needs to evolve and change to keep up with the competition. A discussion ensued
regazding density increase and pazking requirements. McKee stated the mall is an entertainment retail district. By the end
of next yeaz a plan should be in place with changes to energize downtown. Issues to be discussed are FAR, first floor retail
vs. office, diversity, residential pazking, a pazking lot where people can own pazking - public vs. private, and zoning.
Klerman suggested this subject be added as an item on each agenda. Kazakehian requested one person take charge to keep
it organized and suggested a mini-retreat to discuss tlus topic. Winter requested a one or two page posiuon paper be written
by the DMC to identify the issues and be the basis for further action.
AGENDA ITEM 7-Matters from the Commissioners: McMullen mentioned Bolder Boulder being downtown for tLe
expo was very successful and DMC should do wLatever they can to have them return in the future. Cuuuingham said they
are committed to being downtown next yeaz. McMullen suggested a group of people talk with Bolder Boulder to show their
appreciation and let them know how important is it they be downtown next year. He stated DBIBID should be included.
McMullen said CU's development of the research campus will have some ripple effect for downtown. Rosall asked
Cuuningham about requirements of how much time vending carts should be on the mall. Clmninghem said they are required
to be out four hours a day, five days a week. Rosall reviewed the sales tax report. Kazakeluan feels family activities need W
be promoted on the mall.
AGENDA TTEM 8- Matters from the Director: Winter repoRed the Task Force on Behaviors Associated with
PanUandling will hold their first meeting on Wednesday, June 8`". This is an opportunity for the task force to heaz from a
diverse group of people. She stated Uus is not a task force on homelessness. The committee will consider and propose
recommendations. Rosall asked how communicauon gets back to council. Winter responded when there is a clear sense of
what will be recommended and after DMC and UHGID use the public hearing process it will go to council. Winter stated
the budget subcommittee will reconvene. The City has been going through a business plan approach. She said increasing
long-term pazldag rates is a possibiliry. W inter repoRed on the IPI conference she attended in May and said technology is
beginning to hit the parking world but no one vendor has put it all together. She said this is a good time to observe other
cities to see what they are doing. W inter gave an update on the Strategic Plan and Best Pracuces review. She couunented
meetings have occurred on the proposed Conference Center to get input with focus groups of potenfial users, meeting
planners, fund raisers, etc. Mahoney repoRed it was all very positive. Winter will get back to DMC with more details at a
later date. Cuuningham reported on a problem with one of the business owners receiving a Ucket for a sign he had in front
of his business.
Meefing adjoumed at 8:30 p.m.
ACTION ITEMS:
MOT'ION: Klerman modoned to approve the May 2, 2005 minutes. McKee Seconded. Approved Unanimously.
FUTURE MEETINGS:
July 11, 2005 1777 Conference Room Regular Meeting
5:30 o.m.
APPROVED BY:
Attest:
Laurie Chestnut, Secretary
DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Nola R all, Cha'
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