11.06.17 DMC Minutes
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CITY OF BOULDER, COLORADO
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES
NAME OF BOARD/COMMISSION: DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
NAME/TELEPHONE OF PERSON PREPARING SUMMARY: Ruth Weiss – 303-413-7318
NAMES OF MEMBERS, STAFF, AND INVITED GUESTS PRESENT:
BOARD MEMBERS: DEANS, FELDMAN, KNOFF, NIEMEYER, SHAPINS
STAFF: WINTER, LANDRITH, CONNELLY, WEISS, JOBERT,
DEBOUGH, AUSTIN
GUESTS: Sean Maher
TYPE OF MEETING: Regular November 6, 2017
AGENDA ITEM 1 – Roll Call: Called to order at 5:33 p.m.
AGENDA ITEM 2 - Approval of the October 2, 2017 Meeting Minutes: Shapins mentioned a
correction to the minutes. Feldman motioned to approve the minutes as corrected and Knoff
seconded. All commissioners approved.
AGENDA ITEM 3 – Public Participation: None
AGENDA ITEM 4 – Police Update: Austin and DeBough, Pearl Street mall officers,
mentioned the newer, larger signs posted for no dogs on the mall. It is hoped to make a
difference. The number of transients is reduced lately and with the colder weather, increased
patrols will occur. Hours of operation for officers was mentioned. Wells Fargo doing a new
renovation project. Crime stats are lower than last year. Homeless population is lower due to
construction and the colder weather. There is a new website to get in touch with officers directly
and will be activated shortly. Feldman asked about new officers. New officers are currently in
training and anticipating being fully staffed by summer. Paddock and Ramos continue to get
people off the street and into good resource programs.
AGENDA ITEM 5 – Parks Update: Hayden said the Civic Area will have fences removed
after completion of punch list items. Nature Play may not open with the larger areas. There are
other items that will wait for spring. Hayden continued that the soft opening should be soon.
Snow Much Fun prep will take place in the next several weeks along with the ice rink. Mall
planting is done for the winter.
AGENDA ITEM 6 – Downtown Boulder Partnership Update: Maher mentioned the Retail
Strategy kicked off last week with property owners, restaurant and business owners. There should
be a final presentation in January or February of the results.
AGENDA ITEM 7 - Matters from Commissioners:
• December Meeting Agenda:
i. 2018 DMC Priorities: Feldman would like the priorities to be less broad; should
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be access; improving the user experience in the garages and on street; focus on the retail
environment. Deans said other agencies are working on the homeless and it is not a DMC
necessary focus. Deans is fine with Feldman’s recommendations. Knoff asked if there is a
specific charge to the DMC. Winter said it is to serve as an advisory board to city council, act as
a steward for the mall; CAGID awareness of the economic vitality of downtown; are the CAGID
issues areas of the ordinance. Feldman would like to align the commission priorities to those of
Community Vitality. Shapins continues to wonder on the district management, what needs does it
meet or not meet; and, broader places and spaces. Winter said the garages are embarking on a
major renovation; access area with satellite parking; and with a priority to operate and maintain
the current systems. Winter mentioned the user experience helps and feedback is important.
Shapins asked what could be strategic, investments by the city through culture and art and what
are the values that will be expressed? There are projects that will require more in depth thinking.
Priorities with commissioner focus includes:
Implement or advance the parking user experience; Promote economic vitality downtown; Get
past parking and have innovative restaurants and retail; Overarching phrase for this group is how
does the public feel about downtown; and, to achieve vibrancy and economic vitality, how to
enhance and provide the best possible user experience.
ii. DMC Meeting/Agenda Format
Feldman asked if parks and police should attend every meeting or a 60 or 90-day report.
Niemeyer said that safety is part of the customer experience. Winter said there is value in the
communication, BPD does not have an advisory board, it is an opportunity for communication.
Knoff said it needs to get more specific than the user experience, is it parking or is it retail and
then have the police come and talk about shoplifting.
Landrith said he meets with Parks and Police and voices are heard. Deans mentioned scheduling
a business meeting. Winter offered to think ahead to a February meeting with a consultant giving
a presentation. As topics come up, use it as a study type session meeting.
AGENDA ITEM 8 - Matters from Staff:
• Downtown Retail Strategy: What does success look like?
Molly mentioned the 11/14 in morning and 11/16 in afternoon Downtown Retail Strategy Round
Table. Knoff, Deans and Niemeyer would like to go. Winter said Maher could ask the BID
Board.
Winter continued with is there anything else to define, what success would look like. Knoff
asked about the scope is that is coming out of it. Winter said there could be some zoning related
changes such as subdividing space, limits on national chains, and storefronts in alleys. Could
there be incentives for small affordable space? Winter is expecting a whole range of suggestions.
Maher said that the city is looking for public policy, should there be a retail incubator, should
there be a database of tenants, what partnerships could do, and are there things in the public
realm that could support retail. Shapins said that the downtown Mall could be more than family
oriented, an opportunity to have a broader brand that looks toward the future. Winter mentioned
considering other recommendations beside eating and buying. Maher said that the mall has
turned into the where the visitors go and the east and west ends are where the locals go. Knoff
offered to send out a pitch to PUMA and to get ideas that might not be feasible tomorrow. Winter
likes the aspirational. Maher said if the consultants have ideas that might not be liked; however,