Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
University Hill Neighborhood Association
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes - Final
The Castle House, January 15, 2020, 5:30 pm—7:00 pm
ATTENDING: Nancy Blackwood, Stacy Silverstein Apple, Andrea Clark, Stephen Clark, Jyotsna Raj, Lori Schuyler, Lisa Spalding, Linda Sparn, Scott Thomas
HRWG REPS: Lisa Nelson in attendance, Callie Weiant absent
INVITED GUESTS: Jeremy Moore, Assistant Director, and Tara Korst, Coordinator of Neighborhood Life, of CU’s Office of Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS (Nancy Blackwood)
Congratulations to Lisa Nelson who is being honored with the University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission (UHCAMC) 2019 Hillanthropist of the Year award along with Mark Heinritz of The Sink Restaurant. The awards will be presented at an event on The Hill Wednesday, January 29 at 5:30 pm at The Fox
2020 PRIORITIES AND CITY COUNCIL (Nancy Blackwood)
Nancy emailed the UHNA 2020 Priorities letter to city council members (attached)
Two city council members responded
The EC will pursue meetings with the newly elected officials once the EC has set the upcoming dates for meetings
EC also will invite council members to the UHNA Spring General Meeting
For reference of city council members: https://bouldercolorado.gov/city-council
NEIGHOBORHOOD SCHOOLS UPDATE (Scott Thomas)
Enrollment is up at Flatirons Elementary School
Scott will communicate to the neighborhood re: Flatirons upcoming Spring Festival
Students at Flatirons are enjoying cross-country skiing at recess when there is snow due to a generous donation of equipment to the school
UHNA MEMBER – OTHER COMMUNICATIONS – Website, Listserv (Scott Thomas, Stacy Silverstein Apple, Andrea Clark)
EC plans to investigate alternatives to Yahoo Groups for the Listserv based on recent changes Yahoo has made and continued issues with the Listserv by users
A concern discussed is how to best migrate existing users to a new system and educate on the system (as all will have user challenges)
Discussion will be continued as more information is needed
HILL REINVESTMENT WORKING GROUP (HRWG) AND ADDRESSING UNIVERSITY HILL HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUES (Lisa Nelson, Stacy Silverstein Apple, Callie Weiant)
Lisa reported on today’s HRWG meeting, the minutes of which are attached as a separate document. The two key issues of concern which the group is addressing are:
Rapid pace of conversion of single-family homes to undergraduate student rentals
Lack of effectiveness of existing accountability mechanisms for students and landlords/investors – related to noise, trash, student behavior, land use/zoning
For a list of all participating organizations in the HRWG, refer to: https://bouldercolorado.gov/commercial-districts/hill-reinvestment-working-group
Stacy reported that she and Callie have been in contact with the Boulder Area Realtors Association (BARA) and plan to attend their meeting February 7
UHNA’s focus is to stress the desirability of living on The Hill for potential families and couples and to ensure realtors understand the neighborhood when presenting to potential buyers
BARHA, which represents residential rental property owners and managers, has invited UHNA to participate in a Lunch & Learn. This is another group that UHNA will stay in contact with, to continue to work on:
Stricter leases, especially related to parties, noise and chalking
Better, timely communication from the city and courts to landlords about enforcement actions taken and tickets issued to rental residents
Safety and maintenance concerns
Landlords notifying student renter parents (who typically are on the leases) which can be a helpful avenue to address bad behaviors
On a related issue, when houses are purchased for student rentals, UHNA EC will work to ensure the owners are aware of issues and their responsibilities for renting to students in a residential neighborhood. Any problems will be documented and reported
Boulder Planning Department is reviewing the medium density overlay zone (East of 17th Street)
EC members have expressed concerned about the impact and will gather more information
A public hearing and consideration of a recommendation to city council regarding amendments to the medium density overlay zone is on the agenda for Planning Board’s meeting January 23 at 6 pm
CU Office of Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations noted that they have held a landlord summit for the past three years, however attendance has been low
CU also has been working with city code enforcement in dealing with property managers, many who are challenged by unresponsive property owners
Recent years have seen a change from “Mom & Pop” owners to larger property managers with larger, often absentee, owners
Mom & Pop owners also vary greatly from one property to another
Having so many different types of managers is challenging to institute effective strategies
On the issue of neighborhood block captains, Callie was not in attendance to report
Stephen Clark has volunteered to work with Callie
One idea expressed is for the block captains to meet with the CU neighborhood ambassadors
CU OFFICE OF OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONS (Jeremy Moore, Tara Korst)
Tara gave an update on the neighborhood ambassador program. Currently there are four neighborhood ambassadors having lost a couple to graduation. More are needed and there is a proposal to grow the program next semester. The ambassadors have interacted with their neighbors and will be providing a packet that informs student residents of resources of CU, the Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations Office and the ambassador program
Their office is focusing on St. Patrick’s Day which traditionally has been one of the more impactful times on The Hill. Measures are being taken to ensure parties are registered (which provides an opportunity to review rules and the party plan) and to educate on what it means to be a responsible party host
Neighbors are encouraged to report any incidents related to Hill parties and holiday “celebrations”
Jeremy reported that he is one of the representatives (on a committee under Boulder County) for the 2020 U.S. Census which for the first time will be conducted online. There will be many activities aimed at getting the word out to the community
The International Town & Gown Association (ITGA) 2020 meeting to be held in Boulder June 1 – 3, 2020. Program proposals are due February 3
HILL HOTEL / CU DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (Nancy Blackwood)
By January 27, the project will be submitted to the Planning Department for Concept Review
On January 28, at a study session in council chambers, city council will receive an update on the current project concept and anticipated next steps
Updated link to Hill Hotel project: https://bouldercolorado.gov/commercial-districts/hill-hotel-project
EC will schedule an update on the Hill Hotel for the Spring General Meeting
HARBECK-BERGHEIM HOUSE UPDATE (Lisa Spalding, Linda Sparn)
The City of Boulder Parks & Recreation Department currently is in confidential lease negotiations with the group selected from the RFP process to lease the house. Further information is not available
The stained-glass window restoration began in December. Watkins Stained Glass Studio, internationally recognized as a foremost expert in the field of antique stained-glass window restoration, conservation and preservation, was hired to restore the window. Lisa and Linda attended a workshop on the restoration and were very impressed with the work. The glazing on the exterior (box window on the exterior protecting the window) will be completed in the spring of 2020 due to weather concerns
The EC will continue to follow this situation and ensure the successful tenant understands the concerns and interests of Hill residents
UHNA OTHER BUSINESS (Linda Sparn, Nancy Blackwood)
Treasury Report: UHNA has a balance of $2,184.55 in business checking; no recent expenses or donations
Spring General Meeting: UHNA EC will schedule the annual general membership meeting in April. Topics of interest include the Hill Hotel and Harbeck-Bergheim House
Chili Bowl: EC will explore ways to be involved with Studio Arts Boulder’s (Pottery Lab) annual event, typically held in September
February EC Meeting: will be scheduled once a week/day that works on a regular basis has been determined
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By:
Linda Sparn
Member, Executive Committee
University Hill Neighborhood Association