Golden Urban Renewal Authority Business Meeting – June 8, 2026

The Golden Urban Renewal Authority (GURA) held a business meeting on Monday, June 8, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at 911 10th Street, Golden, CO. The board welcomed new member Matthew Barry, administered the oath of office, and conducted full roll call with all seven commissioners present (Marissa Trout, Adam Schiche, Don Cameron, Nicole Yu, Daniel Brisson, Matthew Barry, and Jason Mittman). The meeting covered subcommittee elections, the formal transition of the Executive Director role, updates on the Nazarene Plan Area and HB 1348 compliance, a staff report on the 2026 budget and new potential plan areas, and a power resilience event recap. Board members also raised concerns about bike path safety and community garden fencing.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Agenda – Moved by Trout, seconded by Cameron. Approved unanimously by voice vote. (Motion carried without objection.)
• Approval of Minutes – Minutes of the May 11, 2026 business meeting were approved as presented. Moved by Trout, seconded by Yu. All present agreed. (No corrections or objections.)

Public Comments & Testimony

• Timothy Paul (citizen) – Spoke during the Nazarene Plan Area discussion and later at the close of the meeting. He suggested leveraging a building authority to fund urban renewal projects and expressed interest in a youth-build nonprofit. He also voiced frustration with the meeting process, stating that he felt his input was not being heard. The chair reminded him of the public comment format and encouraged him to apply for a board seat when the board expands.

Discussion Items

• Subcommittee Elections – The board discussed the purpose and activity level of three historical subcommittees: Finance, Communications, and Development & Operations. After debate, the board decided to appoint members to all three committees now, rather than waiting for board expansion, because of upcoming projects and the need for public outreach. Appointments were made by consensus:

  • Development & Operations Committee: Adam Schiche (continuing), Matthew Barry (member), Jason Mittman (alternate).
  • Communications Committee: Nicole Yu (member, with the understanding the assignment may change when new members join).
  • Finance Committee: Jason Mittman (member).
  • EDComm Representative: Marissa Trout (continuing). The board agreed to revisit committee assignments once the board is expanded to 13 members (anticipated late July/August).

• Executive Director Transition Resolution – Staff introduced Resolution 171 to appoint Tim Dwyer (Economic Development Manager) as GURA Executive Director, replacing Interim Director Rick Muriby, consistent with the Intergovernmental Agreement with the City. The board discussed performance metrics and agreed to an annual review in the fall (September/October). Motion to adopt Resolution 171 was moved by Schiche, seconded by Trout. All commissioners present voted aye. The resolution passed unanimously, appointing Tim Dwyer effective June 8, 2026.

• Nazarene Plan Area and HB 1348 Compliance – Staff reported that the Planning Commission had approved the Nazarene Plan Area as consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Tax increment agreements with Jefferson County and Mile High Flood District are finalized; agreements with Jefferson County Schools and the Jefferson County Library are pending. Next steps:

  • June 30, 2026: City Council public hearing on ordinance to expand the GURA board from 7 to 13 members.
  • July 13, 2026: GURA board vote on TIF agreements with taxing entities.
  • July 14, 2026: City Council adoption of the Nazarene Plan Area. Staff noted that the board will need a quorum for the July 13 vote and that City Council is working on changing the quorum definition to a majority of seated members.

• PSPS Power Resilience Event – Staff recapped a business-focused power resilience event held June 3 at Narley’s, featuring vendors and a panel. Attendance was low (seven people), but the event was recorded and will be posted on the city’s YouTube channel. Staff reported ongoing engagement with Xcel Energy and a national lab on grid resilience, requiring NDAs for information sharing. Board members discussed the need for annual events, simple QR‑code resources, and leveraging existing business meetings (e.g., chamber, EDComm) for watch parties. No formal action was taken.

• Staff Report

  • 2026 Budget: Revenues are on track, with about two-thirds of collections received. A county correction of $66,000 (net negative) was addressed. The Coal TIF agreement shows only $3,000 in expenditures for 2026 due to timing of eligible expenses.
  • New Potential Plan Areas: The Junction – Pioneer Development Co. has been hired for the conditions survey, kicking off later in June. Nazarene – as above.
  • Infrastructure & Development Projects: No new updates on Lena Gulch and West Colfax Complete Streets projects.
  • Pending Land Use Cases: 17200 West Colfax Avenue – staff is meeting again with Elevation Community Land Trust next week; a TIF agreement may be brought forward this summer.

• Commissioners’ Concerns and Updates

  • Jason Mittman: Raised three safety issues: (1) a head‑on bicycle collision on the Clear Creek bike path near Intermountain Health, highlighting the need for better trail education; (2) dangerous use of e‑bikes and e‑motos (electric motorcycles) on paths, especially by youth; (3) engine braking noise from trucks on Washington Avenue (CDOT jurisdiction). The board discussed education campaigns and jurisdictional challenges.
  • Don Cameron: Followed up on removing the razor wire fence near the community garden at Parfet‑Briarwood. A community garden representative is preparing a proposal for GURA support.
  • Adam Schiche: Noted a recent water main break in his neighborhood, resulting in loss of a million gallons of water.
  • Marissa Trout: Provided an update on the new city hall construction: on time and under budget, using mass timber and a ground source heat pump. Move‑in expected in about one year. A live construction cam is available.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution 171 adopted unanimously: Tim Dwyer appointed GURA Executive Director effective June 8, 2026.
• Subcommittee members appointed (Development & Operations, Finance, Communications, EDComm representative) by consensus.
• Nazarene Plan Area timeline set: Board expansion vote June 30, TIF agreements vote July 13, plan area adoption July 14.
• Public comment: Received and acknowledged; board encouraged citizen to apply for upcoming board vacancies.
• Next steps: Staff to continue work on the Junction conditions survey, finalize Nazarene agreements, and pursue grid resilience conversations with Xcel and national lab. Board to revisit subcommittee assignments after expansion. Annual Executive Director performance review scheduled for fall 2026.