Executive Director Keating and we have a roll call that Director Barnes, Chair Kagan.

Here, Director Harty.

Director Hubbard.

Director LaCoe.

Director Munding?

Here.

Okay.

Um, first on the agenda is public input.

If any of the member of the public wishes to speak.

Okay, state your name, you have five minutes to speak.

No, thank you.

I'll uh close public input.

Uh we'll now move on to approval of the November tenth, twenty twenty-five meeting minutes.

Are there any corrections?

Okay.

I'll make a motion to approve the November 10th, 2025 meeting minutes as written.

Is there a second?

A second.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

All right, that passes.

Moving on to regular business, the first agenda item is approval of the 2026 lobby at farmers market funding agreement.

So I'll turn it over to Executive Director Key Day.

Great.

Hi everyone.

Um I'm joined here with Peter as well.

I'm gonna be doing a presentation about the agreement, but Peter's here also to answer any questions.

And so um we uh last heard from Peter back in September about how the farmers market went, and um you all had a commitment to um wanting to see a partnership for funding, and so tonight you'll be considering that funding agreement.

And so I'll give a brief reminder about the farmers market, the proposed funding agreement, some next steps and post-motion language.

And as always, feel free to jump in at any time with questions, either for me or for Peter.

Um maybe you should do this one.

Happy to this is your farmers market.

Um yeah, so in our uh first year launched in the farmers market in 2025.

Um we had 65 post-weekly vendors, um, total of about 75 vendors that some of them are now, and some are seasonal as agriculture is.

Um, but we had over 150 applicants in the first year, which was great.

And um, we're actually in the application process now, and it's it's going well, it's growing, so it's going in a positive trajectory.

Um 16 farmers rangers dairies, it's kind of the core constituents that we're looking for to be really grocery focused, 100% growers focused, 100% local.

Um, and then this is just kind of what I guess, but 100 to 1500 weekly attendance.

We have nice full streets, so that's what we're gonna say.

Um, and then uh a million and a half plus in total sales.

So if you just kind of account for all of the small business sales, all the vendor sales continue.

That's basically what we would estimate.

Um, probably between a million and a half and two from Sundays 9 a.m.

to one p.m.

public season.

Great.

Um, so because it's on public road, um, through the uh city's community event permit process, um, it requires that a certified traffic control company actually comes in to close down the road.

Um, and that that is a lot of work because that not only do they need to um keep uh traffic moving on baseline and also direct people in public, um, but we also have some pedestrian um barricades that are there to um protect participants from um vehicles.

Um and so that is a big undertaking to have that certified um traffic control company um do this every single week, and overall the seasonal cost is over 32,000.

And so, in thinking about um how we can best support the Lafayette Farmers Market.

Um, last year the Urban Renewal Authority provided 25,000 to help offset the traffic control, and so um that is great because it's a known cost.

Um it's what's required to close it every single Sunday from May through October.

And so this funding agreement would continue that by um reimbursing the Lafayette Farmers Market up to 25,000 for costs related to the traffic control.

Um the term of the agreement for would be for just this year, um, and we can see how it goes and reevaluate for next year.

Um, and so that'd be from May 3rd to October 25th, and then um how we did it this past year, which is what we're also proposing is that it's a one-lump sum reimbursement at the end of the year with receipts, proof of payment, and what would be new is an annual report.

So um wanting to make sure that this is something that is Peter already has all the data for um and easy to put together, and so uh a market overview of the number of venue vendors, including a breakdown of Lafayette vendors, um, a brief description of how the market supported local businesses, farmers, or community access, um, SNAP, um, special programs, um, having having a section about downtown and community alignment.

We're already seeing a lot of the businesses there partnering with different ventures, and so just kind of highlighting any partnerships with the downtown businesses, nonprofits or the city, um the use of grant funds.

This is really showing the uh receipts, um, but also short narrative and simple summary of how the grant was used, confirmation that it was just eligible expenses, and then promotion and visibility, just examples of marketing or outreach efforts, including bilingual efforts.

So, pretty straightforward, and I know that we had a really robust conversation last time about um the market, and um I also sent over the presentation from last time for you all in preparation.

So you have a copy of the um agreement in your packet and happy to turn it over to Chair Kagan for any um questions or discussion.

I had a oh go ahead.

I noticed there was an end of seasonal reimbursement.

Is that work for you as opposed to kind of an incremental reimbursement?

Yeah.

Um I had a question.

The agreement seems very logical to me.

Um and as we all discussed last time we were here, I think it's I think it's a terrific opportunity for Lafayette overall.

So I think it's very exciting.

Um, in discussing the requirements that would be in the report, um, I was curious about um other um directors' feelings.

I I wondered considering how robust our conversation was in particular about the um farmers market's efforts or uh on access.

Yeah, um SNAP EBT is is what's listed there, but it's listed as an either or the just an in um in Bridget's notes, right?

Brief description of how the market supported local businesses, farmers, or community access.

Um I I thought we had a really good conversation about community access being real um priority as we make commitments to the accessibility of our downtown spaces, and so I wondered if that could be firmed up in the in the reporting requirement as a way of us understanding better um how you're planning on um on enhancing access or or continuing your commitment to um underserved um patrons in particular.

Yeah, then this is a great example this year.

We're piloting a WIC program with Boulder County Health.

We're actually getting some funding to pilot a work program for women and children.

So we're growing SNAP double food bucks, which is already utilized, um, and we had a good strong launch for first season, and our hope is to continue growing that.

We don't have any metrics behind like what we wanted to see that growth because it's hard to project like the outcome of those sort of metrics, but we do plan on increasing our spend that's directly targeted to seeing those programs grow.

Um, so I can say our marketing spend is going to increase um in those ways, and that's what some of this like some of the reimbursement dollars for the traffic control allows us to increase things like marketing dollars towards programming that we want to see grow.

Um so yeah, I mean covering SNAP, double food bucks and wick for a secondary market is um good.

We're excited that those programs are gonna be kind of firmed up and uh if there's additional language, we can certainly put additional language there in that agreement.

In the same regard with the access on the other side as far as vendors are concerned.

Um, has there been any consideration or like how that would be taken care of?

I guess it's not uh this is end of year reporting, I'm assuming.

So it you know, uh, we're not gonna find out the results of it until the end of next year's farmers market, but I know part of our conversation was around um how folks that went or would consider being vendors, you know, the outreach to them and what that would look like, as well as um the uh I think you said that the farmers at the end of the market have to find something to do with the food, right?

And so making some kind of connection there.

I mean, yeah, I I like the snap ED situation, but I also don't know how far we want to lean into programs that are funded by government stuff right now because we don't know how sustainable making finding a way to make a connection with food that's already there and people that need it, um, you know, from a funding perspective, you know, if we're cutting funds somewhere else and we could put funds towards something of that regard or figure it out that process, I think that's something that's really community focused that would make sense for you know the whole thing.

Yeah, I yeah, I mean, that'd be great to continue.

We had I had some I've had some productive um connections actually with uh Boulder Valley School District this year.

Um they just have a really kind of like progressive food distribution model that's made possible by their efficiency in their production facility.

I don't know if you know anything about it, but it's very cool.

And there's some good opportunity potentially there for some of the food waste with actually reimbursing farmers, but that doesn't hit until the school year starts.

Right.

Um, but there's tons of opportunity to connect the dots with uh yeah, with trying to um find some funding for get you know getting food waste distributed within our community because if the fun if the if there is no funding for that food, then a very small portion of it actually ends up going into donations, you know what I mean?

You know what I mean?

So there's definitely like work, there's definitely like some some links to connect there.

So uh all ears about that always.

I'm definitely actively trying to work to connect the dots there.

Um as far as thinking about um expanding access for vendor applications.

Can you tell me more about like there's I mean, I think there's a segment of our community that don't believe that that's something that's affordable or attainable for them, you know, based on the different obstacles that are in place outside of the fact that there's the fee to use there's the cost to you know get licensed properly and all that kind of stuff, and so just wondering if there's any plans or uh any ability to have some outreach or a way to kind of give access to the people who normally are just priced out of this type of thing or don't really have the general access.

That's all I'm talking about.

Yeah, the biggest barrier to entry, like our application fees like ten dollars, it's super expensive.

The biggest barrier to uh city stuff.

Yeah, mostly it's well and like to get a for uh you see a lot of diversity, you see a lot of economic diversity in um uh food tents, like prepared food tents and trucks and stuff like that.

But those like the biggest barrier to entry is equipment costs, as you know, Bill Nan kitchen right now, but also the uh the cost to actually just get a um food handling permit is pretty expensive in Boulder, it's cost four times what it is in Denver.

Um so that actually has been discouraging for vendors that have wanted to come into Lafayette.

Uh so yeah, I mean, maybe putting together some like uh kind of grant or scholarship within our organization.

Um that could be yeah, definitely some opportunity there.

So it sounds like um you all are interested in just building out some of the um uh report requirements, and so I'm hearing about community access, um, just the vendor process, and then um just documenting the progress that Peter makes with food waste.

I think that would be great.

I in my experience, even you know, recognizing that we're looking at a end of the year, end of the season report, still for you as the um operator, that helps with your goals, right?

Is knowing what what uh partner and a funder is going to be looking for, and so it's so spelling it out on paper, even though it's in summary, not in advance.

I still think yeah, and I you know, even in the um beginning part of this, you know, it it the recitals we can even have a recital that says, you know, we are interested in funding the traffic control and have some language as we are we we're hopeful that the team is investing in other places including community access, food waste, and so it just kind of spells out this conversation and memorializes it.

That's great.

Okay.

Were you starting to say something?

Uh I was yes, how'd you know that?

Director Barnes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

In the I was just gonna say in the reporting process because this is a downtown development authority, it includes community by definition.

And in the reporting process, I know there's incredible footage already of the connections between food and community.

And I'm I would I would like if possible in the report, not to spend a huge amount of money on a production, but uh it could even be an area of like a written narrative.

Um in addition to the numbers, a it it's hard to talk about the impact to disenfranchised communities without singling just disenfranchised communities out, but there is a way to um talk about the timber, the the culture, the impression of the market, the accessibility of it.

Um if that can be implied in the report in a way to say um there's even more of a holistic view feel to the market, and I'm being very obtuse about this because I think that's part of what we can do as well, is say that maybe it wasn't as comfortable for the entire community as initially, but we're working on that, and these are some of the images or some of the stories that uh allude to how we're reaching beyond um the usual suspects or the usual market.

And these are some of the images or some of the stories that uh allude to how we're reaching beyond um the usual suspects or the usual market.

And the aim of that video would be to bring it here.

Um well the video is already included in a report.

Um and I don't want you to do more.

Uh a written, maybe a s a script, a descriptive uh piece uh to describe that is what I'm thinking about.

I don't I'm not asking for an in a video production evaluating.

Because your connections, but uh something that we could include that's uh in addition to the numbers and the typical things you'd see in a business report.

Is that awful?

So to make sure that I'm understanding this correctly.

Right now we have it that would be an annual like written report that's submitted, and you're asking for also a in addition to the written report, a written piece that's in addition to what you typically would put in a business written report.

Okay.

Um a descriptive narrative, maybe of how this is impacting the community um in ways that it hasn't before.

Is this making any sense?

I'm just saying about I mean a narrative behind the numbers that makes sense.

Like what's the intent by not making it just numbers, but explaining how the impact what the I guess intrinsic impact on the overall community was people's lives.

Yeah.

Yeah, and I do think I mean the biggest like the biggest way that we can show like an increase in impact is through um through those programs that we're building out.

Those that's a bit best, like the numerical sense is the best way that we can show impact.

Like we can talk about intent and we can write intent and we can talk about it um after the fact of like how we think wins certain like we can do any of that.

But I will say like the numbers don't lie in that, you know what I mean?

Like if we're like oh snap doubled, like that's a huge win for us.

Yeah, um I'm not saying exclude those numbers.

Yeah.

Yeah, we can certainly addive to that.

So knowing that you're gonna make those changes, um where does that leave us in terms of approval of the funding agreement?

So um we have two motion languages.

We um you know, honestly, I feel like this is uh very substantially similar to the presentation that the agreement has written, and so I have the direction that I can make it, right?

Or we can list out the specific changes, but if I have the direction, so I'm I'm happy in summary, you know, adding language about in the recitals about um food waste community access and um act uh and engaging our uh vendors and our lock it businesses, um having those be built out um in a more robust way in the actual market overview um sections, um and then also just a a more descriptive narrative about these different programs and um reaching um different members of our community.

Does that summarize a reading?

Yes.

Okay.

So that would be the second motion.

You could make the first one, and I'm just documenting that this was the direction because the agreement essentially is substantially similar to what was presented.

So does someone want to make a motion?

Sure.

I'll move to approve 2026 funding agreement with the Lafayette Farmers Market in the form of sustain in a form substantially similar, not presented and authentic executive director Keating to finalize the and execute the agreement.

Is there a second?

I'll second.

Uh all in favor of say I.

I need post.

Okay, the passes.

Great.

Thanks, Peter.

Awesome.

We're really excited for another market.

Me too.

I hope you get some more downtime before it starts.

Yes.

You should leave, I think I do.

That's totally wild.

Sorry.

Yeah, I hope you feel better.

Thank you.

Something change about the lights in 2023.

No, we're the same.

We'll just have to smudge.

You gotta let that out.

All right, well better for that.

Yeah, be careful.

No, you're not breaking anything.

It would be way louder.

We'll get over pushing up microphone out.

Okay.

The next agenda item is the approval of the 2025 Lafayette Downtown Development Authority annual report.

Let me tell you the different years in this agenda, 2025, 246.

I have to double check all from multiple times.

So yeah.

Beginning of the year stuff.

Yes, I'm living in the past and the future.

Right.

Alright, so this is a fun one.

I'm just gonna present the uh annual report um and then uh you'll consider a motion for approval.

Um so as you know, our annual report is something that we're um governed to do through state statute.

Um, but it it's exciting because it represents our inaugural year and serves as both a record of accomplishments and really a communication tool for our community and just our different partners about who we are and what we've done and what we're excited about looking forward.

Um so I'm gonna um pull up the report just because it looks so great.

Um does look great, though.

Nice.

Um, so this is uh the same uh content that you guys looked at um last year, but in a design form.

Um so we have a table of contents.

Um we have a message from the executive director just kind of summarizing our inaugural year and the foundation that we laid.

I didn't do a word search about how many times I said foundation or inaugural or I'm sure it was more than one.

Um we have our mission and our key priority areas, which I think is important if you know people are picking this up and really learning about the DDA for the first time.

Um our 2025 highlights and accomplishments.

Um a lot of organizational work in the very beginning of um the year, and so we finalized two intergovernmental agreements, um, one with Laura, one with the city.

We received uh two million dollars in startup funding with Laura, which is um gonna be really helpful these first couple years.

Adopted bylaws, um, Cora.

We had a held our first election of a chair and vice chair, and they're doing great.

Um, we did a lot of work uh in workshops with um learning about Laura, pure communities, our work plan, and put together our first annual budget, which was approved by um the DDA and council.

Um we already have hit the ground running with two grant programs, which we're seeing a lot of great interest in.

Um, and then also uh had a new uh logo, which we're really excited about.

And so I think some spotlight projects which we should all be proud of is our um our dig program, our downtown improvement grant, our creativity and culture microgrant, and then our farmers market partnership, which we committed to, and then we actually formulated tonight.

And then we have a lot of really fun uh meet the board uh photos because headshots can be boring sometimes, and so wanted to highlight um you all and your favorite thing in old town, but also what you do outside of old town.

Um, Tim Barnes has a pretty cool photo on the bike.

Dang.

We didn't say professional photographs.

I thought it was a day.

You know, yes, very dangerous.

A lot of hikers, some red rocks, hanging on the beach, I'm cruising on a bike.

Still representing Denver though.

Yeah, um, and then a financial overview.

You know, we're not projected to get any TIFF revenue for um the first year, but I have some good news that we didn't budget for any that we might actually see some sales tax tip.

And so we're still closing the books, but we might see um some dollars, which is really exciting.

Means that our district is healthy and doing well and growing.

Um, but we have the Laura funding, and so that will get us um to keep moving in the meantime while we build up that fund balance.

And then looking ahead, um, we have a lot of really exciting things, especially since now we have an organization, we have a budget, we have a work plan, and so just a couple things to highlight.

Um, we're we're gonna get a consultant on board later this year to look at a new weight binding system.

Um, we're gonna finalize the public parking lot program.

We have grant programs, we're committed to multimodal investments, looking at vacant sites, so a lot of interesting things coming up.

Um, and we'll definitely have a lot of work to do.

And then um just closing that you only start a DDA once in a lifetime, hopefully.

Um, and so this was a it was great to create something with you all, and um, I think the annual report is just a great um way to document that.

So, switching back to the presentation.

Our next steps is we're gonna translate this into Spanish as well.

We're gonna formally share it with city council and then publish it on Old Town Lafayette.com slash DDA, which we have a draft of it, which we'll see later tonight.

Um and then really start to get the the word out.

Um we have it scheduled to go into the um city's newsletter, which goes into every single water bill later in January and February, and so we'll share with the community if you get a newsletter water bill about the work that we've done and just continue to get the word out.

Um so I have um some proposed uh motion language, and um happy to turn it back to Chair Kagan.

Would anyone like to make a motion?

Sure.

I move to approve the 2025 Lafayette Downtown Venom Authority annual report in the form substantially similar similar to that presented.

Do we have a second?

Second.

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion passes.

Congratulations.

Yeah, likewise.

That's it efficiency.

I like the little arrows when there's two of us in a photo.

I know.

That's nice little artistic touch.

And I want to give a big shout-out to um Isabella Nunez, who's on my team, who is a Canva expert, and so she had a lot of fun putting this together.

Um, so now we'll move on to staff updates and upcoming meetings.

Um I'll turn it over to executive director meetings.

Great.

Um, so I have a bunch of updates tonight.

Um, they weren't regular agenda items because there wasn't necessarily you know, direction or motion that you all needed to take, but I wanted to at least report out of some of the great things that have been happening, especially with our month off.

Um, so for the agenda meeting look ahead.

Um, you know, we'll be working to finalize the transfer of the parking lot leases.

Um, and now that we have an annual report of brand, um, we're gonna be talking about how we want to really get the word out to introduce the DDA.

So we'll be doing a postcard.

Um, but I want to also just talk to the board about do we want to think about how do we really introduce ourselves?

Do we want to have block um champions, block captains, which we've other DDAs have done, and so just take some time about like what my plan is to really boots on the ground and then kind of get some ideas from you all.

And then um we'll uh we have a subcommittee for the marketing RFP, but in the upcoming meetings um later this spring, we'll also be thinking about um actually selecting a marketing contractor.

So then moving over to um some updates with our grants.

Um, as you know, Dig, our downtown improvement grant, um, provides uh matching grant uh for capital improvements, both interior and exterior, up to 25,000.

And this is really meant to support commercial um property owners and businesses and making those um improvements and really helping with economic vitality and just placemaking and look and feel of our downtown.

And so I'm um excited to share that we have uh already awarded three um DIG awards, um which is fantastic.

And so um both Ian and Tom are on that subcommittee, and so what we'll do typically is you know, we meet outside to approve these and get the um keep the ball rolling, but then we'll report out and just staff updates about who we award it to.

Um, and also wanna we'll be creating a GIS story map about just all of our investments moving forward, and so it'll be a very clear way to show how we've worked throughout the district over time.

Um, so we have three.

Um, the first one is uh 11 North Public Road.

Um, this is where Catherine Brown law office is they are actually gonna convert that front part into a brew pub.

And so they needed to um put in a new HVAC system just to accommodate the new um the new group up.

And so we were able to award 25,000 um because the project uh was 58, and so excited to see that move forward.

Um they're expected to um hopefully uh get their building permit um in next month and um then actually um start moving on construction.

So I know that they're they they have to do another round of comments, and so hopefully in the next couple months we'll see them actually move forward.

Um the next one is Fox Glove.

Um the business and property owner, um, which is one end today applied, and so they um winterized their patio by putting up paneling around it, and so it can be uh an all-year-round patio, the one with the porch.

Um did they install that already?

Yeah, yeah, it looks really good.

And uh I popped in there the other day and it was very warm and cozy.

Um, and so uh the next one is uh 129 North Harrison.

And so the next one is 129 North Harrison.

This was part of the lumber yard site.

And so since Ian is has an interest in that, he recused himself and Faith sat in as the subcommittee for that.

And so Kurt and Mary Pat Munding applied to replace the HVAC at the Red Queen because it died.

So it was kind of an emergency one that we had to do.

And I'm very thankful for Tom and Faith to who approved it over a weekend.

And so they were able to get work started pretty quickly thereafter and completed it.

And it works.

So when they went to do this, have the information they need to do it in a good way.

So that was really positive.

Yeah.

And Tom and I are gonna be meeting, we have to set a date, but just to think about how we want to engage businesses earlier about case and their programs, especially when it comes to dig.

So trying to just be proactive about when someone's looking to make these improvements because I think sometimes they get too far down the line with design that it it's cost prohibitive to kind of go back and redesign it.

So how do we get the word out on about pace?

Yeah.

Um could that can we get that over to Srab that just a story about this?

Yeah, just so they know because they don't they're not gonna get this any other.

I mean, any other way.

Totally.

Um sorry, uh the sustainability resilience advisory board, um, which they're interested in how energy efficient are you know, the structures in the city, and this is one of the things that would really help them understand like what is done without you know um them knowing about it and how well it was done.

So this would be a good story for them.

I know the old town obstacle that I've run into in both of my situations and trying to work with pace, especially with ready's I wanted to try to do as much as I could um with pace, but we don't have a lot of electricity, like we weren't able to do a lot of things just because of the amount of electricity that we have available, and so it just it ended up you know, like cancel it out everything that we planned because of it, you know.

It's gonna be cost prohibitive if you're the electric service.

You're not running like a three-phase type situation, it automatically like kind of cuts you out of the conversation, you know.

And it'll take a while to get excel down there to do that right now.

Yeah, and yeah, and there's that cost about it.

Great.

So overall, we in 2025 we awarded 41,000, which is pretty awesome.

Um, and we have two applications um right now, um, both for REMEs, um, one from the business owner and one from the property owner, and so um we'll be working through those in the subcommittee in the next um week or so.

So then um CCM, the creativity and culture microgrant.

Um, as you know, this is not on a rolling basis, we have a deadline, and so um this is uh a microgrant to just help activate downtown spaces through art, culture, and community experiences.

And so um we launched that at December 2nd and it closes February 14th.

Um Valentine's Day.

Um, and we've done a lot of work to promote it, and so um we've been promoting it on the City of Lafayette's social media accounts, also through the um our newsletter.

We're gonna be putting a blurb through that also later this month.

Um, the arts and cultural resources is also promoting it through their own channels, which is great, and their mailing list.

And the word is definitely getting out because artists have reached out to me just to learn more about the program and sit down and just talk about what they're thinking of, and so um that's been really positive, and um, it's definitely spreading.

So that's been that's been cool to see.

Um, and we'll also be um continuing to advertise it on our social media account through Old Town.

Um, and so you know, this is very similar to what Arts and Cultural Resources does, but downtown specific, and so they'll they're definitely a partner in this and trying to gear people towards look at this one first.

Um, and so I'm excited um to look at those, and um we'll be meeting as a subcommittee for that later in February to go through those.

So the other update is the second Friday's concept, and so we met with um Suzanne from Particulars last year about um being a marketing partner for this concept of promotions on second Fridays in old down old town downtown Lafayette from October through April, which is the off season of our night out.

And I've had a couple of really good meetings with them.

One of the directions that you all gave me was we're interested in working with this, you have authorization to get a marketing partner, but try to bring the cost down.

So the first update that I have is that in looking at the timeline, we were trying to think like, should we try to get it in this year?

Should we go through this exercise and launch it, you know, in February, March.

And then we really started to think, why rush this when we can spend a longer time building this out and building the momentum and launching it next year?

Because I kind of felt like start stop.

And so we have decided that we're gonna take a breath and still move forward, but really spend this winter and early spring thinking about the brand strategy development, late spring, actually put together that visual brand and program and toolkit, um, really having that kit of parts where a business can understand all right.

This is the social media look and feel, these are the posters I can edit, um, and then actually start thinking about doing teasers at Art Night Out, um, July, August, and September, and that could be really fun to be like something's coming, um, and then do some business onboarding um later in the year.

You have to find the right sweet spot because businesses are so busy that you need to get them when it's close enough to it, but enough in advance, and so we're thinking August or September for actually doing business onboarding info session and a soft promotion.

So first one would be in October 2026.

Would it be possible for the teaser for that to also happen at um farmers market?

Yeah, just for sure.

Yeah, yeah, that's a great point.

I think that that delay is a great call for getting and this is one of those moments where I think, like, oh, why didn't I think of that?

You know, because we I think there's a natural energy and momentum that sometimes that's the hardest thing to do is say something's a good idea, and also it's okay to not rush, yeah.

And and this looks really thought out, and yeah, it's great.

Um, the other update that I have is I um was I'm engaged with another um local marketing consultant that um is actually out of Kaleidoscope and um shared with her the cost of cone, and they said that actually seems really reasonable for a professional marketing consultant to do this scope of work, like that's how much it would cost.

Um, and so I'm gonna continue to just look at who is the right partner to do this, and maybe even work with someone other than Cone because it might be a good opportunity just to see what else is out there.

Um, and so uh there's no direction that I need or you know, authorization that I need from you all.

You've already given that to me, and this is with my spending authority, so I'll be making sure that we try to be as efficient as we can in this process and see what stuff we can do internally or through volunteer work and um be just uh smart about how we're spending funds with that.

Can also make a suggestion about the business engagement.

Yeah, I mean, and this is all just yeah, yeah.

These are just bullet points, this is as far as we've gotten.

So I'm all just I'm thinking like you're right, it can be hard.

We need time, but because if I'm to recall the way this is done, the business is gonna come up with kind of their piece, their their marketing, their event for this thing.

Yeah, um, and considering we're gonna need time to build that out, probably be smarter to be like July, August.

Um, if we're trying to launch in October.

Yeah, that sounds great.

Exactly by September, you're your planning.

Yeah, you can plan out your your times and that.

Um, and then the other idea that I had um, which we'll be um looking at in our sub-committee, is um we are planning to do four networking events like DDA happy hours and uh Tom and Ty are both on that, and so thinking that maybe the second one that we do this year is focused on on this also.

So um a lot to think about how we want to just roll this out.

Okay, cool.

Um the other one is uh the MERC capstone.

So I sent uh you all a message about this.

Um the University of Colorado Denver Masters of Urban and Regional Planning Program does a capstone at the end of your program there, and it's a real world client-based planning project, and essentially you're kind of taking everything that you've learned and actually um uh completing a project, it's almost like a thesis.

And so they've already completed all their core classes, and they normally select a capstone in a in a field that they're interested in.

And so our capstone, I I've done it twice.

I've been a client.

I've also done a capstone.

I've did this program.

And I find it really beneficial just to engage with our you know, our neighboring universities, especially because they have just such a fresh set of eyes of Lafayette.

Sometimes these students have never been to Lafayette, but they've learned about all these practices.

And so I'm gonna be serving as a capstone client where we're looking at old town parking and mobility.

Um and um so our our student is named uh Kirsten Hoffman.

Um she grew up in Broomfield, and so she's very actually familiar with Lafayette, and so I think some of the issues that we have that you all know is sometimes difficult to navigate our parking lots.

Everyone will I know a lot of people who don't even realize that these are our parking signs, it's kind of just like noise, right?

Um, and we also are thinking about how do people come to Old Town Lafayette.

So there's no EV chargers, the only ones are in our um City Hall, and I think Boston, yeah, and then Confluence has some too.

Um, and so there's very limited EV chargers throughout the district, the library and limited bike parking to just with our um our narrow sidewalks, and so thinking about how do we actually um look at our parking lot agreements, encourage sustainability and mobility with EV chargers and bike infrastructure, think about wayfinding, and then create an implementation roadmap.

And so um Kirsten will be coming to one of our meetings uh later this spring to introduce herself and talk about the work she's doing, and there's um it would be great for her to present her um capstone at the end of the semester, but really this is just something that's gonna be happening behind the scenes and just a great opportunity to get a different perspective.

Cool, great.

Yeah, okay, and um now I'm gonna show you the DDA webpage that we're working on, um, which I'm really excited about.

Um just give me a moment to pull it up.

Um, one of the things that um we talked about was where should our um core downtown page be?

Should it be on the city's website, should it be on the old town um web page, and we all kind of agreed pretty early on that we wanted it to be on the old town page.

Um, and so I'm gonna show you uh a preview of the work that um we've done so far, and it's still in draft form, but um I'm pretty excited about the direction that it's going because it's very easy to navigate.

Um, and so our um it's not live yet, but it will be uh old townlafayate.com slash DDA, and this is our old town website that we have already, and so we already have things to do, directory events, but we're gonna be adding this button over here called DDA Hub.

And so that brings you into a waterfall page where everything that you need to know about the DDA programs will be on one page.

Um I have found that in looking at just like other downtown pages and also just like navigating the city page.

Once you like click one page to go to another page to go to another page, you kind of get lost about like what are like the top five things I need to know.

And so the intent of this is to keep it really clean and easy to navigate.

And so um these buttons up here will be static, and so as you scroll down, they'll come down with you.

And if you click one of them, it will jump you down into the page.

So everything will be on one um page.

And so we have um about the DDA talking about how we were created, our mission, and how we're funded through tax increment financing.

We have our priorities, which is just a brief overview of our different um categories within the old time tomorrow action plan, and then grants and resources, which I think a lot of people will be coming to this page to access these, and so having them be friends center, and when you click these, it goes into the PDF, and so it doesn't go into another page where you have to go back, it's all there and gives you the links for the guidelines both in English and in Spanish, and to apply, and the apply also you can change the language for it.

So the grants and resources button goes to this.

So if I were to click um, it doesn't work right now because it's uh a draft page, but if I were to click to grants and resources, it would drop down to here.

Okay, and then if I clicked this, it would take me to the actual guidelines.

Yeah, and then um meeting agenda and minutes, and so this will take you to the city's website where we publicly we um notice our meetings publicly and have the agenda packets, and so that will still be on the city's website, but that's the only thing that will keep there, so everything else will be here, and so um we'll make it clear that if you're on that page to go to this page to get all the information.

Um that's how the Netherland DDA does it.

Um they have their own downtown page, and anytime they have to publicly know something or stream the videos, they do it on the city page.

And so I think that that's a clean way to get both things done.

We'll have the annual report here.

Um the DDA district, you'll click this and it'll show all the properties.

Is that an interactive map by chance, or is it just the map?

It's just the map, but um, I would like to be able to do an interactive GIS map.

So if you were just to put your address, it would zoom into that so it would be clear.

Yeah, yeah.

Since you started, I would I I talk to people and they have no idea what the DA is.

Yeah, or they might be able to do that.

We haven't told you.

We haven't told them yet.

I I know that, but um visual for people who when they're in when this is when we roll it out and it's introduced.

Um I'm thinking of what is it not?

Uh it's not old town, just old town.

It includes the old town, but um like that map, that's great.

Um, but I'm gonna nitpick a little bit.

No, yeah, this is just a placeholder.

So but I mean, and isn't it right out of the gate?

If they're when they hit the page, they see something that includes uh both baseline, down baseline, and how far down it goes because it does it, it goes past falding.

Um just something to indicate that the it's not just old town.

Yeah, and um, you know, old town, I think Tom has brought this up many times that like everyone has a different perception of what old town is.

And the reason why we say old town for this area is because it follows the commercial zoning of the old town area.

Um, and so that includes the baseline, public, and Simpson.

But you're right that even though like we're using it in this way, everyone like perceives it differently.

And so that's a great point of feedback as far as like being clear about where our downtown DDA district is and how to articulate that early on.

So I appreciate that feedback.

Yeah.

Good.

Yeah.

Then you all get to show off who you all are with the crazy the board of directors, which I do think is really helpful because if you're on if you're a business or even a resident and you're like, oh, I know Tom or I know Ty, like, and I want to learn more.

It not everyone's gonna come to me, they're also gonna come to you also.

It's good to have this on here.

Is that mountain in Lafayette that you're on Ian?

No, it's in Ecuador.

Okay, close.

I was like, I haven't been to that part in a while.

Yeah, you're not gonna make it.

Not gonna make it, no.

Uh this is in Lafayette.

Although the beach M1 is in Lafayette, though.

I gotta get out one.

Uh and then at the very bottom, it's just um how to get in touch with me and have a button to just put you into an email, and then um, we have an old town newsletter.

Um, and so I'm not a robot.

Really excited about this.

Um, I think it's really clear, clean and simple.

And so who built this?

Cone did.

It was code.

Yep.

They manage our website.

Okay.

Um, and so we'll be um if you guys have any other feedback.

Um, I'm happy to send you this link.

And if you want to give me any feedback by the end of the week, that'd be great.

Um, and then we'll be making the final um changes, and um, it will be live by our next meeting.

It's a great shot, but yeah, I know where you are.

Thank you.

Yeah, it is a steam hill.

Yeah, you don't even look tired.

Y'all don't even know that's a hard hill we go up.

You're right, I don't have no clue.

I'm hearing it here.

Um those are yeah, the only the only other update that I wanted to share, that which I shared earlier is that um uh we'll be closing up the the books, right?

Our finance team about how the sales tax did for the district, and so um I'll be sure to be giving regular updates about how our sales tax predictions are um in upcoming meetings, and um, it looks like we will be getting a tip.

So that's really exciting.

And then I'll turn it back over to Sheriff Eagan.

Um we move on to new business um and directors reports.

Do any directors have any updates that you wish to share director Barnes?

Are you starting to say something?

I see it for me.

Uh I'm I'm happy to be back.

There's you probably know this new council.

We do have a we are we're fully what do you call it?

We're full.

Stacked seated seated, we're fully seated because we were uh we were fully seated now.

We do have seven counselors.

Um Kyle Bowley is the newest person.

He's incredibly qualified for uh this council seat.

So I think we have an a a very talented group, and uh there will be a our retreat where they will set priorities for the next two years, and I'll do my best to represent the DDA in that process and where uh falls.

So uh yeah, I think you can count on your city council.

And um I'm happy to be back.

I asked to be here in the yeah, you can do the CDA again.

I hope you're all okay with that.

Of course.

I think if you um wear the city jacket and then carry your DDA bag, like you are representing.

Oh yeah.

I can definitely I got my firefighter hat and everything.

Any other directors have any updates or reports?

Okay.

Well, thank you everyone.

Time's 652, and we're adjourned.

Happy New Year.

Yeah.

Happy New Year.

Thanks, everyone.