Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
University Hill Neighborhood Association
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
The Castle House, October 24, 2019, 5:30 pm—7:00 pm
ATTENDING: Nancy Blackwood, Stacy Silverstein Apple, Lori Schuyler, Lisa Spalding, Linda Sparn, Scott Thomas
ABSENT: Andrea Clark, Stephen Clark, Jyotsna Raj
HRWG REPS: Lisa Nelson in attendance; Callie Weiant and Andrew Shoemaker not in attendance
INVITED GUEST: Jeremy Moore of CU’s Office of Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations
NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS UPDATE (Scott Thomas)
Open enrollment meetings for Flatirons Elementary are scheduled in November and December. Scott will send the notice to the Listserv
CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM (Stacy Silverstein Apple, Linda Sparn, Lisa Spalding, Scott
Thomas)
The Hill Boulder and UHNA co-sponsored a City Council Candidate Forum September 30 at Café Aion
The Forum was well attended by Hill merchants and neighborhood residents
All council members except for one attended or sent someone to speak in their place
Most candidates expressed support for the Hill Hotel. Few had knowledge of the issues faced by the neighborhood and none proposed any concrete solutions other than increased enforcement
After the election, the EC will pursue meetings with the elected officials
CITY 2019 BALLOT MEASURE 2I: MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING PROGRAM (Stacy Silverstein Apple,
Nancy Blackwood)
The EC is supportive of the ballot measure in its intent for the City to help middle income workers afford to buy a home in Boulder by creating a pool of funds that would fill the financing gap between Boulder home prices and what middle-income buyers can afford. There is concern however that the program would not cover the cost of housing on the Hill so it may not be of much use to the neighborhood
If the measure passes, the EC will provide input to the program development to hopefully ensure some benefit to the Hill neighborhood
HILL REINVESTMENT WORKING GROUP (HRWG) AND ADDRESSING UNIVERSITY HILL HOUSING
& NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUES (Lisa Nelson, Stacy Silverstein Apple)
Lisa updated the EC on several HRWG items
HRWG is scheduled to meet in November and a meeting is being scheduled for December with all stakeholders involved in the life of CU students
The City is evaluating which staff will continue to be involved with HRWG and there may be upcoming changes to the group
The EC and HRWG UHNA representatives believe it is critical for City staff and council to remain involved on an ongoing basis
Over the past month, Hill neighbors have expressed heightened concern and frustration with student behavior on the Hill. Many complaints have been registered through the UHNA Listserv and with the City. The top issues are related to noise, amplified music, large parties, unkept properties, trash not being secured from bears, and parking.
A neighborhood meeting is scheduled for October 29 at Innisfree Poetry Bookstore & Café to discuss the concerns and plan strategies for action to address the complaints. Lisa Nelson will facilitate the meeting
The EC supports and will work to increase City code enforcement on student-related behavioral issues as well as landlord issues including over-occupancy, expired rental licenses and unkept properties. Nuisance abatement proceedings can also serve to put pressure on landlords and should be explored further
Regarding addressing housing issues and the loss of families on the Hill, Callie and Stacy have contacted Veronica Precella, the CEO of the Boulder Area Realtor Association, and have a meeting scheduled
Ideas for landlords include encouraging leasing provisions that forbid chalking, beer pong/dice tables, large parties, and requiring more upkeep of the properties
The EC is supportive also of looking at other housing initiatives to encourage families to move to the Hill including non-profit options, land trust approach, rent-to-own options and for-profit middle-income housing
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONS OFFICE
(Jeremy Moore)
Jeremy reported that CU is aware of the need for ongoing and increased education of students living off campus
Programs have been instituted this Fall to address safety and bear/trash concerns:
CU partnered with Western Disposal to educate students on the danger to bears when trash is not contained and the City’s trash-related ordinances
CU hosted Valerie Matheson, Boulder’s urban wildlife conservation coordinator, to educate students on bears and wildlife
CU has begun holding fire safety classes and overall residential safety programs, collaborating with the Boulder Police and Fire Departments
The ambassador program (students who live in the neighborhood and work with students on education and mediating issues) is active. Jeremy will provide a further update next EC meeting
Over 150 welcome bags were distributed to student residents and the feedback has been positive
MARPA HOUSE (Nancy Blackwood)
The EC and next-door neighbors are continuing to monitor Marpa House, which was sold earlier this year to a developer who has plans for luxury student housing
Separately, the City of Boulder Landmarks Board public hearing to review the landmark application for the building is scheduled for Wednesday, December 4
HILL HOTEL UPDATE (Nancy Blackwood)
The UHNA EC continues to follow this development
After the elections, communication to the new council will be a priority
UHNA COMMUNICATIONS (Scott Thomas, Linda Sparn, Stacy Silverstein Apple)
The Fall newsletter and Tips Sheet were widely distributed in print and through the Listserv
Thank you to Callie and Andrea for their work on the Fall newsletter, and to Sarah Wiebensen and the City of Boulder for printing the Tips Sheet
Reports continue of issues related to the Yahoo-hosted UHNA Listserv. Options, including using Google, are being explored
HARBECK-BERGHEIM HOUSE (Lisa Spalding, Linda Sparn, Nancy Blackwood)
Proposals to the City to lease the house are due by November 1
The UHNA EC wrote a letter to the Parks & Recreation department supporting Historic Boulder’s proposal to lease the Harbeck-Bergheim House
The EC believes Historic Boulder would be a good steward for the house
The EC will continue to monitor the situation
More information is available at https://bouldercolorado.gov/parks-rec/harbeckbergheim-house
UHNA FINANCES, DONATIONS, OTHER BUSINESS (Linda Sparn)
Linda provided a report via email prior to the meeting
UHNA has a balance of $2,185 in its business checking account
The required periodic reporting to the Colorado Secretary of State for UHNA has been filed and the $10 filing fee paid
Recent donations include:
Callie Weiant donated the cost of printing the Fall newsletter ($118)
The City of Boulder through Sarah Wiebensen donated the cost of printing the Tips Sheet that accompanied the Fall newsletter ($400+)
Donation by James Greer ($25)
The next UHNA EC meeting is tentatively scheduled for November 21
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By:
Linda Sparn
Member, Executive Committee
University Hill Neighborhood Association