Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
University Hill Neighborhood Association
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
The Castle House, November 27, 2018, 5:30 pm-7:00 pm
ATTENDING: Nancy Blackwood, Scott Thomas, Beanne Rothenberg, Lori Schuyler, Lisa Spalding, Linda Sparn
ABSENT: Andrea Clark, Stephen Clark, Jyostna Raj
INVITED GUESTS: Susan Stafford and Sara Kaner, CU Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO HILL RESIDENTS / HOUSING UPDATE: Susan Stafford, Director, CU Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations
Susan introduced her new Coordinator for Neighborhood Relations Sara Kaner who recently joined her office from Arizona State University
Susan and Sara updated the EC on the activities of their office:
two new Hill Ambassadors (students who live on The Hill) have been hired who conduct educational outreach to students on neighborhood issues and provide peer-to-peer contact when appropriate to resolve issues
community living classes for students are being conducted; plans to conduct sessions in the residence halls may be considered in the future
continued work with the police and with students involved in court procedures, as well as mapping/tracking tickets issued to students living off campus
Susan’s team takes a very pro-active approach to working with students who live on The Hill which the EC commends
EC and UHNA members will continue to liaison with Susan regarding issues with CU student Hill residents
Susan provided information on CU’s plan to create a master housing plan which will involve creating a vision for the culture of housing services, identifying the type of housing and complimentary amenities needed for students in the future, aligning remodeling of older housing units with the future vision and identifying the impact on surrounding neighborhoods
CU’s housing capacity in recent years has ranged from 28% to 31% of the student population which is higher than many similar large universities in other states (e.g., University of Texas is 16%, University of California Berkeley is 19%.) Capacity will increase with the opening of new housing next year at Williams Village East Residence Hall
UHCAMC / HILL HOTEL AND PARKING GARAGE UPDATE: Nancy Blackwood
Discussion by the City Council regarding The Hill Hotel and Parking Garage will resume on January 22, 2019
City staff has responded to questions about parking demand by commissioning an update to UHGID parking utilization data and conducting surveys of Pleasant Street UHGID lot users
UHCAMC has proposed to sell the UHGID Pleasant Street lot rather than lease it to the hotel developer to be able to put those funds toward the construction of an above-grade garage on the UHGID 14th Street lot. This may help the feasibility of the project
Neighbors are encouraged to continue to send letters to City Council
The EC will continue to monitor the project and engage with UHCAMC and CUSG
HRWG:
The City of Boulder is inviting the public to the quarterly meeting of the HRWG on December 20 regarding the Hill Hotel; EC will communicate specifics once the details are known
HRWG reps from UHNA recommend that the City hire a consultant to put together data and prepare a report on the Hill neighborhood which the EC supports
Ideas are being generated on ways to continue the residential services program
EC will seek more information from the HRWG reps
NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS UPDATE: Scott Thomas
Flatirons Elementary School’s enrollment continues to decline which is a concern to the neighborhood, given the quality of the school and its asset to the neighborhood
The school PTO is getting information out about the school and conducting open houses
More information on Flatirons Elementary is available on its website at: https://fle.bvsd.org/Pages/default.aspx
ADU REGULATIONS UPDATE: Lisa Spalding
Lisa provided an overview of the status of the proposed changes that are being made to the regulations by the City of Boulder
A sixth reading by City Council is scheduled for their December 4 meeting
More information is available on the City of Boulder website at: https://bouldercolorado.gov/housing/adu-update
HARBECK-BERGHEIM HOUSE UPDATE: Lisa Spalding and Linda Sparn
Linda and Lisa continue to follow the City’s process on the disposition of the house
City staff provided an update to PRAB and hosted City Council members at the house
A stakeholders meeting is being scheduled as well as another public information meeting
More information on these items is available on the City of Boulder website page: https://bouldercolorado.gov/parks-rec/harbeck-bergheim-house
UNIVERSITY HILL PUBLIC ART PROJECT (CU): Nancy Blackwood
The Boulder Office of Arts & Culture has partnered with CU’s Community Engagement Design & Research Program on a community co-creation process for a public art installation. An event was held November 10 on The Hill to gather input on the project
The team members of University of Colorado environmental design students who attended the last EC meeting were unable to attend the meeting. They plan to provide future updates on the project via email to those on their email mailing list
Nancy will reach out to the project leaders to ensure we are kept updated on the project
OTHER BUSINESS:
Lori Schuyler, who is on the CU Art Museum Advisory Board, reminded members of this fantastic asset to the neighborhood. Information on the museum is available at: https://www.colorado.edu/cuartmuseum/
No meeting is scheduled for December. The January EC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 17, 2019
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By:
Linda Sparn
Member, Executive Committee
UNIVERSITY HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION