03.12.24 DMC MinutesCITY OF BOULDER
BOULDER, COLORADO
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES
Name of Board/Commission: Downtown Management Commission
Date of Meeting: March 12, 2024
Contact Information Preparing Summary: Lisa Wuycheck, 303-441-3254
Board Members Present: Justin Kalvin, Susan Nuzum, Don Poe (V-Chair), Stephanie Trees (Chair)
Board Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Cris Jones, Director of Community Vitality (CV)
Matt Chasansky, CV Interim Senior Manager of Cultural Vibrancy & District Vitality
Elliott LaBonte, CV Business Services Senior Manager
Reegan Brown, CV Senior Project Manager
Lane Landrith, CV District Vitality Specialist
Interim Deputy Police Chief Barry Hartkopp
Guests Present: Bettina Swigger, Downtown Boulder Partnership CEO
Type of Meeting: Regular
The DMC meeting was called to order at 4:01 p.m. A quorum was present for the conduct of business.
Agenda Item 1: Roll Call
Agenda Item 2: Procedural Items
A. Approval of the January 16, 2024, Meeting Minutes
• Kalvin motioned to approve the meeting minutes as presented in the packet. Second by
Nuzum. There was no discussion.The motion passed unanimously.
Agenda Item 3: Public Participation
There were no members of the public present.
Agenda Item 4: Consent Agenda
Consent Agenda – Topics will not be discussed unless there are questions posed by the Commission.
Please reference the consent agenda memo.
Senior Transportation Planner Allison (Crump) Moore-Farrell discussed the Shared Micromobility
Program Update. She said staff will present the update to the Transportation Advisory Board in April
and to City Council in May. She said updates can be made to the language.
DMC Responses:
• Poe said the update stated there was broad support from stakeholders, boards, and commissions.
He said DMC’s voice had not been represented in the past, and he believes, if asked, there
would not have been broad support from DMC.
• Trees asked what was being done to enforce the Lime E-Scooter parking rules. Moore-Farrell
said a rider must park in a designated parking grove. She said when a rider parks in an
undesignated area, their account continues to be charged.
• Nuzum asked if there have been any discussions regarding expanding the mandatory parking
zones downtown. Moore-Farrell said, currently, the discussions are only focused on The
University Hill district.
• Poe suggested the slow parking zone be extended from 15th & Canyon Streets to 16th and
Canyon Streets due to new construction and the proximity to Boulder High School.
• CV District Vitality Specialist Lane Landrith gave an update on new and existing mobile
vendor carts in the Downtown district.
Agenda Item 5: Fund Financials
Fund Financials – The fund will not be discussed unless there are questions posed by the Commission.
Please reference the packet attachment.
DMC Responses:
• Poe commented that parking revenue is $2 million lower, year to date. Jones explained that
since moving to gateless garages, invoicing for 2024 permits changed from quarterly to
monthly. He added that parking rates were reduced by $0.49 for the first hour of parking.
Agenda Item 6: Public Safety Update
Interim Deputy Police Chief Barry Hartkopp announced the downtown police teams are fully staffed.
Hartkopp’s update included the following.
• Pedestrian contacts increased by 400% last month as compared to 2023 statistics.
• There has been an increase in traffic stops and an increase in shoplifting.
• Calls for service around the Pearl Street Mall area are at a lower rate over the last 2 months as
compared to calls over the last 3 years.
• There is an average of 8 assaults downtown a month.
• Expect an increase in the number of unhoused individuals as the weather gets warmer.
Agenda Item 7: Downtown Boulder Partnership (DBP) Update
Downtown Boulder Partnership CEO Bettina Swigger updated the commissioner on current DBP
topics.
Swigger said a priority of the DBP is to get vacant office spaces downtown reactivated. She announced
that visitation downtown was up 20% in December 2023. Swigger said statistics show visitors are not
spending 20% more money in the district.
Swigger announced the following upcoming downtown events. She added that ‘Band on the Bricks’ is
being planned, and the Boulder County Farmers Market will again be held on Wednesdays and
Saturdays.
• March 17: World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade
• March 19: Student Banner Program Reception
• April 14: Taste of Pearl
• April 28: Tulip Fairy and Elf Festival
• May 2: DBP Town Hall at eTown
Agenda Item 8: Matters from Staff
A. 2023 Final Budget Report
The commissioners had no questions regarding the 2023 Final Budget Report.
B. District Alternatives Analysis and Capital Planning Project
CV Interim Senior Manager of Cultural Vibrancy & District Vitality Matt Chasansky is leading the
Alternatives Analysis and Capital Planning Project. Chasansky said the project researches the current
funding mechanisms and the current state of Boulder’s general improvement districts.
Chasansky said the purpose of the project is to develop a set of recommendations for financial
decisions for each of Boulder’s general improvement districts. He said staff is evaluating revenue and
taxation in each district vs services, programs, and capital expenses in order to create a functional
balance.
Chasansky said data collection is needed to understand the current conditions and needs of each district
while considering its visions. He said new circumstances arose after the pandemic in addition to the
retirement of debt, new public safety challenges, new opportunities, and the evolution of transportation
options that weren’t originally envisioned.
He said staff is analyzing how the public moves physically between the districts and what draws them
between the districts. Staff is also researching the governance of how the districts are run. Chasansky
emphasized the importance of efficient and effective governance to achieve the desired outcomes for
the districts.
Chasansky said the project will also evaluate how district funds can be leveraged to help realize future
visions. He said there must be a vision for each district to identify new services and programs over the
next set of decades. The vision will include capital planning.
Chasansky said CV staff and other city departments will work on this project. He added that staff will
assemble a stakeholder group to ensure people who are paying taxes and are affected by the
programming are in the room to help with visioning. He said members of various commissions will
be asked to serve on a committee.
Staff’s goal is to have recommendations finalized by the third quarter of 2025. At that time, the
recommendations will be presented to the commissions and to City Council.
Chasansky asked for one or two UHCAMC commissioners to volunteer to serve on the committee.
Trees asked about the time commitment. Chasansky said there will not be more than one meeting per
month. Kalvin volunteered to serve on the committee.
C. Connecting Downtown to University Hill
Community Vitality Senior Project Manager Reegan Brown presented a project to connect University
Hill to the Downtown district.
Brown said connectivity can be improved through better wayfinding and exploring physical
improvements between The Hill and Downtown. She said the result will be that visitors will feel a
sense of safety and welcoming and will be able to easily navigate the area. Brown added the project
will enhance vitality and generate positive economic growth.
Brown said new temporary wayfinding signs will be installed in and around The Hill and in the central
corridors that connect The Hill to Downtown. The wayfinding signs will match the design of the
existing Downtown signs.
She said pavement may be painted in certain areas, new murals may be painted, and staff is working
closely with the Forestry Department to assess tree canopy improvements.
Brown discussed the Civic Area Phase 2 Project led by the Planning Department with support from
other city departments. This project explores connectivity improvements between The Hill and
Downtown.
Brown described her longer-term workplan which includes research on developing a cultural corridor
along Thirteenth Street with a connection to Pearl Street. She will also strategize on a longer term,
more engaging, wayfinding plan to connect The Hill and Downtown.
Chasansky discussed an update on the Spruce Garage Project. He said they're in design now, but work
was slowed due to research related to the structure of the wall involved with the installation. He said
work should still be on track for installation later this year.
Agenda Item 9: Matters from Commissioners
A. Recap DBP BID Board Meeting
Swigger said the topic of safety downtown continues to arise.
B. City Council Request – DMC Top Priorities
City Council requested a letter from each commission listing their top priorities. Prior to the meeting,
Wuycheck collected feedback from each commissioner, and staff drafted a letter based on the
feedback.
The commissioners reviewed and edited the draft letter and determined the following top 3 DMC
priorities.
1. Enhancing Downtown Safety: Ensuring the safety and perception of safety of residents,
visitors, and businesses in our downtown area is paramount. We urge the City Council to
address safety concerns, particularly during low-traffic times and after dark, by allocating
resources to fund additional police officers and increasing the presence of Downtown
Ambassadors. Furthermore, we recommend establishing a day shelter away from Pearl Street to
provide support for vulnerable individuals while preserving the safety and vibrancy of our
district.
2. Promoting Economic Vitality: Economic vitality is essential for the sustainability and
prosperity of our downtown district. To address commercial vacancies and preserve property
tax revenues, we recommend developing strategies to attract new tenants and support existing
businesses. The implementation of the Affordable Commercial Program will play a crucial role
in fostering a diverse and thriving business community.
3. Enhancing District Vibrancy and Access: Maintaining and enhancing the vibrancy of our
downtown district is key to attracting visitors and residents alike. We propose initiatives to
increase district vibrancy, such as providing safe and accessible public bathrooms for tourists,
improved connections to the University Hill commercial district and conference center all in the
goal of enforcing rules to maintain order. These efforts will contribute to a positive experience
for all who visit our district and support the economic vitality of local businesses.
Nuzum made a motion to approve the letter to Council. Second by Kalvin. All were in favor, and the
motion passed unanimously.
C. Pearl Street Mall Public Bathroom Discussion
Trees discussed her viewpoint regarding a lack of safe, clean bathrooms available to tourists and
community members visiting Downtown. Swigger said a cleaning company was hired to do regular
cleanings of the public bathrooms on the mall. Trees and Swigger discussed whether the Downtown
Ambassadors should monitor the bathrooms.
Trees said she wishes for this discussion to continue to address ways to provide more bathroom options
for visitors.
Agenda Item 10: Next Commission Meeting
Next Commission Meeting: 4 p.m., Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
Agenda Item 11: Adjourn DMC Meeting
There being no further business to come before the commission at this time, Nuzum moved to adjourn
the meeting. Second by Kalvin. The meeting was adjourned at 6:02 p.m.
Approved on: May 14, 2024
Attested: Approved by:
___________________ _____________________
Lauren Kennedy Stephanie Trees
Board Secretary DMC Chair
Date: ______________ Date: _________________ April 16, 2025
Stephanie Trees (May 12, 2025 09:34 MDT)
Stephanie Trees
May 12, 2025
03.12.24 DMC Meeting Minutes - APPROVED
Final Audit Report 2025-05-12
Created:2025-04-16
By:Ellie Kennedy (kennedyl@bouldercolorado.gov)
Status:Signed
Transaction ID:CBJCHBCAABAA7saNE2nCdCeaxxSl9yyUD-NZQU2ghRLr
"03.12.24 DMC Meeting Minutes - APPROVED" History
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