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11.09.21 DMC Packet
DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT COMMISSION November 9, 2021 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Via Video Conference AGENDA 4:00 p.m. Roll Call Staff 4:00-4:05 Approval of the September 14, 2021 Meeting Minutes Board 4:05-4:15 Boulder Police Department (BPD) Update (Commander Walker) BPD Crime Offenses Dashboard 4:15-4:20 Downtown Boulder Partnership (DBP) Update (Chip) Consent Agenda – Topics will not be discussed unless there are questions posed by the Commission. Please reference the consent agenda memo. 4:20-4:30 Public Comment 4:30-5:15 Matters from Staff Staff • AMPS Ordinance feedback from Council and IP Framing (30 minutes) • Community Vitality Strategic Plan Update and 2022 Work Plan priorities (10 minutes) • Xcel Downtown Boulder natural gas project (5 minutes) 5:15-6:00 Matters from Commissioners Board • DMC 2022 Priorities • Suggested Council’s 2022-2023 Work Plan Items (limit of 3 prioritized) 6:00 p.m. Adjourn Attachments: - Draft September 14, 2021 DMC Minutes - Special District Boards and Commissions Consent Agenda – September 2021 - Xcel Energy Downtown Boulder Natural Gas Project Overview - DMC Letters to Council for 2020 and 2021 Council Retreats Commissioner Term Exp DMC 2021 Priorities Andrew Niemeyer Sara Preinitz Susan Nuzum (Chair) Don Poe (Vice Chair) Stephanie Trees Citizen-at-Large Property Owner/Rep Property Owner/Rep Property Owner/Rep Citizen-at-Large 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 • Participate in meaningful processes and dialogue exploring future downtown transformations that strengthen the economy, diversify the user base, and engage a broader public to “reclaim” portions of the downtown • Participate in implementation of the Access Management and Parking Strategy (AMPS) and Neighborhood Parking Permit Program and Parking Pricing (NPP) to strengthen multimodal downtown access experiences and infrastructure • Consider repurposed portions of parking infrastructure to meet broader city goals regarding diversity, art and neighborhoods • Explore staff capacity to facilitate more creative board engagements o Encourage cross-district collaboration of board/commission work, including a more active collaboration and discourse with Downtown Boulder Partnership (DBP) and the business improvement district (BID) o Participate in structured engagement with City Council 11.09.21 DMC Packet Page 1 CITY OF BOULDER, COLORADO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MEMBERS, STAFF, AND INVITED GUESTS PRESENT: BOARD MEMBERS: Nuzum, Poe, Niemeyer, and Trees STAFF: Jones, Woulf, Bray, Landrith, Sgt. LeFebre (BPD), Bridges PERSON PREPARING SUMMARY: Heather Hayward, (303) 441-4191 TYPE OF MEETING: Regular September 14, 2021 Meeting called to order at 4:01 p.m. Approval of July 13, 2021 DMC Minutes Poe moved to approve July 13, 2021 meeting minutes. Niemeyer seconded. All in favor. Boulder Police Department (BPD) Update (Cmdr. Greg LeFebre) Nuzum asked about status of arrest standards. Cmdr. LeFebre said the jail has loosened arrest standards somewhat and he would send arrest standards for review. Most of the calls they receive have to do with transient-related behavior. They’ve increased size and scope of camp cleanups and are moving cleanups to two days a week. The city has hired an internal cleanup crew and are still using ServPro for other parts of the city. As a result, they’ve seen reduction in the size and number of camps. Trees discussed safety issues around the Arboretum area and asked about patrols in that area. LeFebre said they’ve cleaned that area 4-5 times this year and are concentrating on that area. They’ve also cleared the area behind the high school. Chip discussed the recent increase in shoplifting on the east end of the mall. Katie Bridges from IT reviewed the new BPD Crime Data Dashboard with the CAGID filter. Downtown Boulder Partnership (DBP) Update (Chip) Chip said they had a successful Fall Fest event. He discussed the upcoming DBP annual downtown awards ceremony on October 8 and welcomed the commissioners to attend. Consent agenda: Nuzum asked for detail about the projects for which recovery funding has been committed. Woulf reported that they went to Council on August 24 to discuss proposed initial uses for ARPA local relief funds. Some of the service restorations recommended were to restore recreation services, including increasing staff and hours of operation. Also included is restoring additional beds and hours at the severe weather shelter and providing hotel rooms when social distancing requirements limit capacity. They are also proposing fund use for immediate needs, including Boulder Housing Partners to help provide infrastructure for free high-speed internet access to residents. Woulf also discussed use of these funds for small business and local recovery activities, including expansion of the microloan program, Affordable Commercial and opportunities for shared space. Additional dollars would be for support of safe visitation marketing and outreach through the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Public Participation: None. Matters from Staff: Post Pandemic Outdoor Dining in CAGID (Bowden & Chip) (See 09.14.21 Meeting Packet Memo) 11.09.21 DMC Packet Page 2 Bowden discussed the BBRP Program that was effectuated under Emergency Orders and the current options available for Outdoor Dining moving forward. Trees and Nuzum talked about more stringent guidelines around aesthetics for the pilot. Niemeyer discussed the costs to the city for this space and the benefits for the businesses that participate. He discussed potential cost-sharing moving forward rather than city fully subsidizing. Bowden posed the questions below to the commission. 1. Does DMC support the city’s continued exploration of a post-pandemic Outdoor Dining Program in Boulder’s downtown core/CAGID district? Yes. All commissioners agreed. 2. What suggestions does DMC have concerning community engagement contributing to the development of agreement terms for any 3-year pilot licensure agreement with DBP which might accommodate a Downtown Boulder Outdoor Dining Program beginning in 2022? • Property owners input process • Design/appearance standards • Measure of businesses benefiting from program/share in the costs • Availability of seasonal aspect to the program (as compared to year-round) • East end-West end trade-offs of parking revenue loss 3. Given DMC’s advisory role related to CAGID access and vibrancy, what suggestions does DMC have regarding metrics which might be tracked during any post-pandemic Downtown Outdoor Dining program pilot? • Sales tax revenue • Parking revenue • Consumer surveys • Neighborhood surveys (impacts) • Required metrics provided by business while outdoor space currently free to businesses Ambassador Program Update (Chip/DBP) (See 09.14.21 DMC Presentation) Meeting adjourned at 6:01 p.m. Next Meeting: November 9, 2021 APPROVED BY: DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT COMMISSION Attest: ________________________ Heather Hayward, Secretary Susan Nuzum, Chair 11.09.21 DMC Packet Page 3 City of Boulder Special District Board Consent Agenda University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission (UHCAMC) – November 2, 2021 Downtown Management Commission (DMC) – November 9, 2021 Boulder Junction Access District (BJAD) Commissions – November 17, 2021 Updates on Community Vitality work plan programs and projects for city special district boards. These updates are for informational purposes only and require no discussion or votes. Special District Updates •UHGID - University Hill Hotel Project Site Construction Updates – Nichols has initiated construction on University Hill to complete the Hill Hotel project. Retail tenants have closed and in varied stages of relocation utilizing the developer-provided assistance funding. The construction schedule is estimated at 19 months and will be weather, labor and materials contingent. The most recent graphic is attached to this meeting’s packet. •CAGID/UHGID – Downtown and University Hill Ambassador Pilot – The ambassador program, operating in the downtown, Civic Area, and on University Hill, has named Brandon Lowe as Operations Manager who may be reached via phone or text at 720-467-9236. Pedestrian Counter statistics are found at: https://sites.google.com/downtownboulder.org/pedestrianimpressions/home •CAGID – 4 Fast EV Chargers Installed at 1500 Pearl Parking Garage - Colorado CarShare offers an all-electric vehicle on the first level of the 1500 Pearl Garage. Located in the northeast corner of the garage is a green-painted mural which features 4 next-generation fast EV charging stations, funded by a grant from the State of Colorado and the Climate Initiatives Department. Details are found at: https://bouldercolorado.gov/services/electric-vehicle-charging-stations •BJAD – Pocket Park – Commissioners are reminded that the pocket park planned for the 30Pearl redevelopment effort will be the last amenity constructed and is currently being utilized as a staging area for ongoing development. There have been prior questions concerning the location and size of the parcel. Commissioners should be aware that the location and size (less than .6 acres) was determined in consultation with Boulder’s Parks & Recreation, Housing, and Planning & Development Services Departments as well as Planning Board and PRAB. More on the parcel which was situated to maximize housing alternatives desired by the community can be found here – Boulder Transit Village Planning Board Memorandum. Community members who ultimately reside at 30Pearl also benefit from close proximity of Mapleton Park/Ballfields and the recently refreshed Scott Carpenter Park including Scott Carpenter Aquatic Center. •BJAD – Public Wayfinding and Branding Design RFP – The City of Boulder received proposals for consulting services from 6 qualified firms. An internal review team comprised of infrastructure and design experts from Transportation, Traffic Engineering, Planning & Development and Access & Parking determined 2 finalists for a virtual presentation and 11.09.21 DMC Packet Page 4 interview held on October 29th. The final award for services will be selected in early November for contract terms on scope, deliverables, and timelines. City of Boulder Updates • AMPS Implementation: Revitalizing Access in Boulder - At their council meeting on Oct. 12, council heard on first reading the ordinance changes being considered as part of the AMPS and NPP Program changes. While the item passed unanimously on the consent agenda, staff presented responses to questions from council for consideration at the second reading on Oct. 26. Staff have begun programming and testing new parking rates, drafting ordinance changes and guidelines for the new permit types, and are creating a marketing strategy to help communicate these many changes to the community prior to the Jan. 2, 2022, AMPS implementation. Questions or comments: Cris Jones (jonesc@bouldercolorado.gov) or go to: www.access4boulder.com. • RTD Transit Center Update - The City of Boulder held a virtual public information session on Oct. 27 to share information about the Downtown Boulder Station Expansion Project, which will increase bus service capacity at the station. Downtown Boulder Station is a key part of the region’s transit network, serving Regional Transportation District (RTD) bus lines including the Flatiron Flyer, DASH, JUMP and BOLT, as well as the AB1 bus shuttle from Denver International Airport. The project is currently in the design phase and is anticipated to begin construction in 2023. Learn more about the Downtown Boulder Station Expansion Project at https://bouldercolorado.gov/projects/downtown-boulder-station-improvements-project. Due to lower ridership and staffing shortages, RTD has no plans to reopen the Boulder Junction transit terminal for the foreseeable future. • Boulder Business Recovery Program - In response to the pandemic, the city created the Boulder Business Recovery Program, enabling businesses to expand outside to help offset capacity limits. The latest version of this citywide program runs through April 30, 2022. The exploration of a permanent permit process for outdoor dining will be included in the CV work plan for 2022. Further details may be found at https://bouldercolorado.gov/news/city-boulder- will-extend-emergency-order-permitting-citywide-boulder-business-recovery-program 11.09.21 DMC Packet Page 5 This map is a graphic and may not show exact locations. 7 13th St13th StBroadway StBroadway St11th St11th St10th St10th St Pearl Street M all Pearl Street M all Pearl StPearl St Walnut StWalnut St 14th St14th St Spruce StSpruce St Pine StPine St 9th S t9th S t 8th St8th St Project Route NN Lawry LnLawry Ln Overview Xcel Energy will replace natural gas infrastructure in the City of Boulder along 11th Street, between Pine and Walnut streets, and along Lawry Lane, between 11th Street and Broadway, for the Downtown Boulder Natural Gas Project. This project is being constructed as part of our commitment to system revitalization and will allow us to continue to provide the safe, reliable natural gas service you expect. Schedule Construction started in October 2021 and is anticipated to be completed in January 2022. Please note that schedules are subject to change. Construction We will install the natural gas line in two ways. Open trenching involves digging a trench and placing the line in the trench. Boring uses a bore machine to create an underground pathway through which the line is pulled or drilled. During construction, you may notice: • Marking of utility lines and utility survey holes. • Road and sidewalk closures. • Traffic control. • Parking restrictions. • Potential access changes. • Construction noise. We work to reduce construction-related inconveniences and will temporarily restore work areas following natural gas line installation. Final restoration will occur when conditions allow. DOWNTOWN BOULDER NATURAL GAS PROJECT xcelenergy.com | © 2021 Xcel Energy Inc. | Xcel Energy is a registered trademark of Xcel Energy Inc. INFORMATION SHEET NOVEMBER 2021 COLORADO 11.09.21 DMC Packet Page 6 Safety overview Public safety is at the foundation of all we do. The safety of the public around Xcel Energy’s natural gas system influences every decision we make. We take a proactive approach to public safety by implementing safety measures before, during and after construction. The project has been designed to meet federal and state standards and safety requirements for installing, maintaining and operating natural gas infrastructure. Learn to recognize a natural gas leak If you ever suspect a natural gas leak, leave your home or business immediately. Once you are safely away, call 911, then Xcel Energy at 800-895-2999. It is important to know how to recognize potentially dangerous natural gas leaks, so use your senses. Signs of a natural gas leak include: • A “rotten egg” or sulfur-like odor, although it may smell differently to you. • Hissing, whistling or roaring sounds outside near the natural gas line or inside near an appliance. • Dirt spraying into the air or continuous bubbling in a pond or creek. • Unexplained dead or dying vegetation. Natural gas construction safety Once the natural gas line has been installed and prior to putting it into service, the following steps are taken: • Internal inspection of the natural gas line with state-of-the-art equipment. • Performance of internal pressure tests using water or air to verify the line’s integrity. During the lifetime of the natural gas line, the following occurs: • Internal inspection of natural gas lines at least every seven years with “in-line” inspection technology. • Conduct annual hazard patrols and leak surveys. • Continuous remote monitoring (24/7) of the natural gas line and facility operations by Xcel Energy’s staffed gas control center. Call before you dig A common cause of natural gas incidents results from improper or unauthorized digging near underground utilities. Prior to digging, call 811 or visit colorado811.org to have buried utility lines located and marked. Locating buried lines before digging prevents potentially dangerous natural gas conditions that result from digging into or nicking a buried gas line. xcelenergy.com | © 2021 Xcel Energy Inc. | Xcel Energy is a registered trademark of Xcel Energy Inc. Contact Us Call: 720-931-9303 Visit: XcelEnergyNaturalGasProjects.com/DowntownBoulder Email: Info@XcelEnergyNaturalGasProjects.com DOWNTOWN BOULDER NATURAL GAS PROJECT INFORMATION SHEET NOVEMBER 2021 COLORADO 11.09.21 DMC Packet Page 7 Dear Boulder City Council, The Downtown Management Commission is appreciative of the opportunity to offer input to Council for their 2020 priorities. We, the Downtown Management Commission, and city staff and our downtown partners have worked closely to develop a department-wide vision in support of Council and community goals, and as an extension, are recommending that the City Council over the next year respond to and achieve results by focusing on a variety of unique priority challenges and opportunities. By focusing on these priorities in Downtown Boulder, the physical and symbolic heart of Boulder, all citizens, visitors, as well as the community of business people who own, operate and maintain the retail engine of Downtown Boulder will reap remarkable benefits. In the next year, we hope that you will continue our work and accomplishments from 2019. We expect that you will sustain the vibrancy in Downtown Boulder by efficiently supporting funding for downtown capital improvements, enhancing access and mobility for all modes to and in the downtown area, support new and evolving retail strategies and the strengthening of support for small businesses and more affordable retail development and uses for all populations. To continue and build upon these needs and initiatives, we believe that the following challenges and opportunities should be Council priorities for 2020-2021. These ideas represent the broad intentions of the Downtown Management Commission and the dominant challenges facing the City: •the climate crisis; •the needs to strengthen and sustain downtown as a vibrant employment, tourist and retail center while trends dramatically change; •the needs to develop more places for disadvantaged populations to enjoy and use downtown Boulder and to become part of this thriving economic engine. PRIORITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES A.REDUCING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT 1.Reduce single car occupancy and access to Downtown Boulder by improving infrastructure and experiences for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and ride hailing 2.Strengthen bicycle access and infrastructure in and to Downtown 3.Strengthen the availability and use of transit with more buses and infrastructure. 4.Improve transit experiences walking to bus stops, at bus stops and on the buses. 5.Improve downtown wayfinding for all mode access 6.Enable micromobility access in Downtown 7.Strengthen pedestrian access in Downtown and linking to bus stops and neighborhoods 8.Strengthen linkages between the Civic Area and the Downtown Mall 9.Diversify uses of the parking infrastructure. Consider non profit uses, pop ups, art, other uses that can strengthen the downtown experience 10.Consider revised pricing and TDM strategies to reduce demand for employee and resident parking downtown 11.Install solar panels on existing infrastructure 12.Continue partnership with Energy Future on electric vehicle charging stations and other related initiatives 11.09.21 DMC Packet Page 8 13.Reinforce housing and jobs to be close to each other B.AFFORDABLE RETAILING 1.Complete ASAP the City wide retail strategy 2.Consider ways to strengthen retailing that meets needs for both tourists and locals 3.Relax regulatory costs and hurdles to enable more affordable retail and development in downtown 4.Develop more flexible ground floor retailing and uses that are able to change uses more easily to meet evolving user needs and pop up opportunities 5.Develop pilots for affordable commercial 6.Set a positive example through thoughtful and intentional leasing of City-owned retail space. These spaces represent an opportunity to accommodate the pop-ups, non-profits, and locally owned small businesses. C.AFFORDABLE HOUSING 1.Develop new housing close to the jobs in Downtown such as in Alpine Balsam, on University Hill, and in mixed use projects 2.Consider incentives to reduce land costs for new housing 3.Consider zoning changes to enable more affordable housing development near downtown 4.Work closely with developers to incentivize affordable housing projects. Subsidies would help, but equally important is to fast-track these projects through the entitlement process. Time is money for developers. Projects become cost-prohibitive, or tax incentives expire, while developers wait for approvals. D.WHOLISTIC PLANNING/URBAN DESIGN 1.Encourage city departments to work together with the community to develop a plan for the future of Downtown Boulder and its local context that adapts existing plans to emerging needs and trends for the future. Develop a plan that combines the goals of transportation, land use, and parks for future Boulder in the form of an urban design plan that addresses the urban form and experience of a vital downtown. 2.Address existing needs through CIP 3.Complete fragmented and drawn out planning, outreach and development related to the East Bookend, Hill Hotel, and Alpine Balsam to further opportunities for community vitality, local housing, walkable neighborhoods, and sustainability of Central Boulder Thank you so much for considering these opportunities and challenges. We look forward to future discussions with you. Respectfully submitted, Eli Feldman, Chair of the Downtown Management Commission 11.09.21 DMC Packet Page 9 Dear Mayor and Members of Council: On behalf of the Downtown Management Commission, thank you for your continued leadership and for the opportunity to provide feedback concerning Council’s posed questions. We provide the following responses: What has made your board or commission happy in the past year? DMC has achieved and noted many community successes in 2020 despite the challenges presented by the pandemic. •Commission’s smooth transition to on-line platform, awareness, and responsiveness to community needs o Great presentations and updates by staff regarding COVID adaptations by City, the local economy, and others to inform DMC; appreciate the reviews/summaries of Downtown conditions by DBP o Prioritized work planning as informed by Council priorities and resource availability o The transition to Zoom meetings has been seamless. Excellent work by all involved as we adapt to our new reality •The Commission was pleased to contribute to the development of, and receive regular updates regarding, the Community Vitality Strategic Plan and to appreciate how it evolves under the current health emergency impacting downtown residents, businesses, workers, and visitors. o City staff demonstrated an admirable sense of urgency establishing guidance and granting approvals to allow downtown restaurants and others to expand operations into the public right of way. This was a lifesaver for these businesses. o The spirit of community and cooperation between the DMC, DBP, BID, and City Staff have been encouraging during these trying times. It has been refreshing to see so many different members of the community working together to come up with ideas and solutions as we navigate 2020. o Rapid changes and short-term interventions by City in Downtown intended to provide enhanced experiences via pedestrian access, curbside access, art, and space for outdoor activities. Loved the jersey barriers and more on West Pearl! (Will be interested and supportive of considerations to add to the vibrancy of the East Pearl corridor) What has made your board or commission sad in the past year? We recognize that these are trying times and that everyone is doing what they can to navigate the current situation. Despite the successes above, the Commission remains concerned by or would seek: •Ongoing City response to and/or ability to address encampment and crime-related safety concerns as they relate to perceived district safety •Limited or no discussion regarding future of Downtown; limited involvement Downtown Retail Strategy implementation; DMC desires greater involvement in actionable transformations of Downtown o Limited staff and community vision to connect Downtown experiences to other city neighborhoods and downtown attributes o Limited creativity or risk-taking re strengthening Downtown creative experiences for all populations 11.09.21 DMC Packet Page 10 o Fragmented and/or politicized structure of downtown stakeholders o Encouraged by the intent of the Downtown Boulder Foundation’s doorway alley art initiative (would have preferred more inspiring locations, content and accessibility of doorway alley art and inclusion) •Lack of City Council demonstrated interest in the work of DMC o Lack of integration of DMC into decision-making frame. •Budget cuts and reduced resources that might aid in addressing longer-term impacts of the pandemic What is your board looking forward to in 2021? The Commission looks forward to having the community return to some degree of “normalcy” (of course changed through the pandemic learnings) and to enhance our contribution and connection to the community through: •Participation in meaningful processes and dialogue exploring future Downtown transformations that strengthen the economy, diversifies the user base, and engages a broader diverse public to “reclaim” portions of the Downtown •Participation in and implementation of AMPS projects (NPP and Parking Pricing) and strengthened multimodal downtown access experiences and infrastructure •Consider repurposed portions of parking infrastructure to meet broader city goals re diversity, art, neighborhoods •Exploring staff capacity to facilitate more creative board engagements o Encourage cross-district of board/commission work including a more active collaboration and discourse with DBP and BID o Structured engagement with City Council Once again, the members of the Downtown Management Commission are grateful for your service and this opportunity to provide input. Best regards, Jerry Shapins, Chair – Downtown Management Commission Jerry Shapins (Dec 9, 2020 21:42 MST) 11.09.21 DMC Packet Page 11