HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.13.25 DMC MinutesCITY OF BOULDER
BOULDER, COLORADO
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES
Name of Board/Commission: Downtown Management Commission (DMC)
Date of Meeting: May 13, 2025
Contact Information Preparing Summary: Ellie Kennedy, 303-441-4032
Board Members Present: Justin Kalvin, Don Poe (Chair), Erica Dahl, Stephanie Trees (Vice Chair)
Board Members Absent: Andy Nathan
Staff Present:
Cris Jones, Director of Community Vitality (CV)
Matt Chasansky, CV Senior Manager of Cultural Vibrancy & District Vitality
Kristine Edwards, CV Senior Manager of Operations and Maintenance
Elliott LaBonte, CV Senior Manager of Business Services
Reegan Brown, CV Senior Project Manager
Ellie Kennedy, CV Operations Specialist
Sam Bromberg, CV Senior Project Manager
Melissa Mazany, CV Operations Associate
Ali Rhodes, Director of Parks and Recreation
Guests Present:
Bettina Swigger, Downtown Boulder Partnership CEO
Jeff Aerni, Managing Partner, Landrock Capital
Type of Meeting: Hybrid
The DMC meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. A quorum was present for the conduct of business.
Agenda Item 1: Roll Call
Ellie Kennedy, CV Operations Specialist, took roll call; all commissioners were present except Andy
Nathan.
Agenda Item 2: Procedural Items
A. Approval of the March 2025 Meeting Minutes
Justin Kalvin motioned to approve the meeting minutes as presented in the packet. Second by Erica
Dahl. There was no discussion. The motion passed unanimously.
B. Approval of April 2025 Special Meeting Minutes
Kalvin motioned to approve the meeting minutes as presented in the packet. Second by Dahl. There
was no discussion. The motion passed unanimously.
C. Elections for Chair and Vice-Chair
The commission agreed to not hold an election and keep the current assignments.
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.
• DMC had no questions or comments regarding the consent agenda.
Agenda Item 5: CAGID YTD Financial and Sales Tax Reports
The reports will not be discussed unless there are questions posed by the Commission. Please
reference the packet attachment.
• Poe had questions about a specific line item and Elliott LaBonte, CV Senior Manager of
Business Services, answered that it was a one-time approval.
• Poe asked if the Pearl Street Refresh or Downtown Vision Plan will be funded through CAGID,
and Cris Jones, Director of Community Vitality, answered that it will be funded in part by the
Downtown Boulder Partnership (DBP) and plans will be made during the Commercial Areas
Blueprint project to source other funding.
• Trees asked which locations are included in the Downtown Area when calculating sales tax,
and LaBonte clarified with a map.
• The commission discussed the possibilities of tracking the data to determine broad economic
trends and making decisions for the area based on those trends.
Agenda Item 6: CAGID Visitation Report (Placer.ai)
The report will not be discussed unless there are questions posed by the Commission. Please reference
the packet attachment.
• DMC had no questions or comments regarding the visitation report.
Agenda Item 7: Quarterly Parks & Recreation Update
Ali Rhodes, Director of Parks and Recreation, updated the commission on:
• Operations on the mall to transition the flower beds from spring to summer.
• The project schedule and background for the Civic Area update. She will reach out to the
commission for input this summer, during the third engagement window.
• Trees shared concerns about funding for the project, especially a playground area, and Rhodes
answered that they will be exploring funding opportunities.
• Rhodes shared design ideas from community feedback, next steps, and activation opportunities
happening this summer.
• Trees shared concerns about safety in the area, and Rhodes answered that her team is working
with the Boulder Police Department and Urban Rangers to keep the area both feeling and being
safe.
• Rhodes shared brief updates about the Pearl Street Mall and Barker Park projects.
Agenda Item 8: Downtown Boulder Partnership (DBP) Update
Downtown Boulder Partnership CEO Bettina Swigger updated the commissioner on current DBP
topics, including:
• Pedestrian counts were affected by the fire at SALT because the camera was moved during the
cleanup and couldn’t capture accurate data.
• She attended a conference held by Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI). They discussed keeping
downtown areas in Colorado vibrant.
• The new marketing campaign, Welcome to the Heart of Boulder, is live. The commission
discussed the different avenues for advertisements.
• The Ambassador Program statistics, including an increase in graffiti and the new data from the
ATLV street cleaning machine. Trees shared that she appreciates the banners in the vacant
spaces.
• Kristine Edwards, CV Senior Manager of Operations and Maintenance, shared that the Forestry
department has been working closely with CV and DBP to maintain the trees in the Civic Area.
Agenda Item 9: Matters from Staff
A. Broadway & Spruce Proposal Update
Jones introduced Jeff Aerni, Managing Partner at Landrock Capital and reminded the commission of
the proposal to develop the parking lot at Broadway & Spruce into a hotel. Jones went over the key
considerations and next steps for the project.
Trees asked about getting revenue from valet parking, and Jones answered that it will be considered.
Poe suggested splitting ownership of the parking spaces in an underground lot.
Trees shared concerns about needing an underground lot, pointing to other unused space that could be
used instead.
Trees shared she wants to make sure the cost to locals stay accessible.
Dahl would like more information about the plans for the space and how the developers will take into
account supporting local businesses before voting on moving this project forward.
B. Improvement District Analysis Update
Reegan Brown, CV Senior Project Manager, gave a brief overview of the project for Anderson. She
updated the commission that the Study Session with City Council went well, and they are moving
forward with the creation of a Downtown Development Authority (DDA). She included the steps that
will go into realizing that goal. She added that her team will continue to work on the Commercial
Areas Blueprint that aligns with the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP) work.
Trees and Poe discussed City Council being supportive of the DDA.
C. Commission Summit
Jones updated the commission about a possible November Summit meeting in addition to the annual
commission retreats.
Trees shared concern that the BJAD – Travel Demand Management (TDM) and Parking joint
commissions may not benefit from the meeting since their district is not directly tied to the Central
Area General Improvement District (CAGID) and the University Hill General Improvement District
(UHGID), and there may not be a large overlap in topics due to different management methods in the
districts. Poe asked about getting visitors from BJAD to the downtown area. Kalvin wondered if BJAD
will host a film during Sundance.
Trees wants to make sure the scope of the agenda items is only inclusive of things that the
commissions can affect.
D. 2026 Budget
Elliott LaBonte, CV Senior Manager of Business Services shared the timeline and upcoming deadlines
for determining the 2026 budget. He shared the current funding sources and uses, alongside the
positive takeaways and areas for improvement. There will be revenue opportunities and expense
challenges moving forward.
Trees asked for clarification on the process from the previous year, and Jones reminded the
commission of the budget presentation at the July 2024 DMC meeting, and the subsequent check-in
and commission approval at the September 2024 meeting.
Poe asked if unspent funds can be directed to another department, such as Parks and Recreation, to
support the downtown area, and LaBonte answered that CAGID can direct funds towards investments
in the area.
Trees asked if there will be exploration into selling off CAGID properties in the future, and Jones
answered that it will be considered, but the commission must ensure they follow the forming
ordinances and provide enough parking for the district.
Poe shared concerns over the price of the Spruce lot not covering the lost revenue, and Jones and
LaBonte answered that there is wiggle room.
Poe asked about how the lots were purchased, and Jones answered that they were purchased when
CAGID was formed in 1970.
Agenda Item 10: Matters from Commissioners
A. Business Improvement District (BID) Meetings Update
Trees shared that she visited the DBP town hall event and that the update on Sundance was good.
B. Trees Absent July Meeting
Trees updated the commission that she will not be attending the July DMC meeting and shared that she
needs coverage for her BID duties during her parental leave. Dahl offered to take over Trees’ duties at
BID events and meetings. Poe moved to approve Dahl taking over Trees’ non-voting seat, Kalvin
seconded, and the motion unanimously passed.
C. Process for Adding Items to the Meeting Agendas
Poe brought up the process for submitting items to staff for meeting agendas. Staff will change the
process to solicit items from all commissioners, not only Chairs and Vice Chairs, moving forward.
D. Encouraging Filling 2nd Floor Vacancies
Dahl shared that she has been seeing many buildings with retail on the first floor, and vacancies on the
second floor. She would like to know how the commission can support filling these vacancies. Poe and
Trees clarified that the commission would not have influence over this topic. Jones added that there are
ways that commissioners can participate in community building individually.
Agenda Item 10: Next Commission Meeting
Next Commission Meeting: 4 p.m., Tuesday, July 15, 2025. The public will be remote.
Agenda Item 11: Adjourn
There being no further business to come before the commission at this time, Poe moved to adjourn the
meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 6:05 p.m.
Approved on: July 15, 2025
Attested: Approved by:
___________________ _____________________
Ellie Kennedy Don Poe
Board Secretary DMC Chair
Date: ______________ Date: _________________ July 15, 2025
Don Poe (Jul 16, 2025 08:43 MDT)
Don Poe
07/16/2025
05.13.25 DMC Meeting Minutes APPROVED
Final Audit Report 2025-07-16
Created:2025-07-15
By:Ellie Kennedy (kennedyl@bouldercolorado.gov)
Status:Signed
Transaction ID:CBJCHBCAABAAiCaA1cdvAAGw6FBaILkLDHmhG5fUwHsC
"05.13.25 DMC Meeting Minutes APPROVED" History
Document created by Ellie Kennedy (kennedyl@bouldercolorado.gov)
2025-07-15 - 10:13:58 PM GMT- IP address: 161.98.4.6
Document emailed to don.poe@peopleproductions.com for signature
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Email viewed by don.poe@peopleproductions.com
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Signer don.poe@peopleproductions.com entered name at signing as Don Poe
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Document e-signed by Don Poe (don.poe@peopleproductions.com)
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Agreement completed.
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