Town Administrator July 22, 2019

Continuing Summary of CML Workshops
Another Colorado Municipal League (CML) session I attended in June that stimulated ideas potentially applicable in Eire was one on Placemaking. That session included information on four different entities in Colorado Springs that coordinate to make Downtown Colorado Springs vibrant: the Downtown Partnership, a Business Improvement District (BID), a Downtown Development Authority (DDA), and Downtown Ventures. The slide to the right illustrates the area on which each entity focuses.

The DDA and BID both are funded by 5 mill property tax levies. The DDA can also provide Tax Increment Financing (TIF). See slide on the DDA below. DDAs can do more things than an Urban Renewal Authority (including providing job incentives, facade improvements, planning). The DDA publishes an annual report on real estate metrics that helps encourage investment. They also partner with two other entities, the Chamber and the Economic Development Corporation (EDC), which focus more on promoting and preserving primary employment. The DDA also assists small businesses through the development and business expansion process.

One of the DDA’s very successful projects is the Cottonwood Center for the Arts (CCA), a local non-profit that has galleries, performance space, classes and 80 artist studios (which are 100% rented and have a wait list) in a building financed by the DDA. The DDA holds the mortgage note on the CCA’s building and the nonprofit rent pays off the note. The DDA also used TIF helps reduce the cost of mortgage. Now that’s “creative financing”!

Erie Rotary
Last week I gave a presentation to the Erie Rotary Club on the Town’s 2019 Work Plan and development activity around Town. I really appreciate the Rotary Club members’ commitment to service, high ethical standards, and the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace. I think we can all benefit from applying the Rotary’s “Four-Way Test” to the things we think, say or do…
1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

I was delighted to be invited to attend the Erie Rotary Club meeting on Wednesday. This was a great opportunity to share a brief state of the Town, and, in particular, the progress of the Work Plan initiatives.

Parks and Recreation

Have you always wanted to be part of painting a mural? Artists are busy prepping the canvas for a community mural project at Erie’s first art festival. Join us and other amazing local artists Sunday the 28th from 2-5 p.m. at the Erie Art Picnic located at the Erie Community Center. Also, check out the booth for Erie Creative Collective and learn about this local creative professionals group.

The RadRover is back! Join us this Saturday, July 27 from 9-noon. This great family experience features custom finisher medals, and a rad t-shirt, refreshments and more than a dozen awesome and safe obstacles!

JUMP!

Give the JUMP service a try this summer for your next trip along Arapahoe! The route connects Erie, Lafayette and Boulder with ease. It's an ideal route for commuters and East Boulder County residents looking for easier reliable access to Boulder. For a limited time, sign up for receive three, free one-day RTD passes! Learn more at ridethejump.org!

Police

The Erie PD hosted its first-ever Youth Academy on July 13-14. 24 youth, mostly middle school aged, signed up for the two days of action-packed excitement. Presentations and demonstrations were provided on the following topics:

Less Lethal shotgun
K9
Handcuffing
Defensive Tactics
Firearms (safety/handling)
Physical Agility Testing (some were really fast)
Crime Scene Processing
Traffic stops
Building Searches

At the end of Sunday, the group graduated and received certificates for their participation. Of the attendees, eight reported they wanted to be a police officer in the future and some reported they wanted to avoid police officers ;)

Mural Unveiling

Join us Tuesday, July 23 at 5:30 p.m. for an unveiling of Erie’s latest public art. The mural, created by Dave and Liz Gage, takes us on a journey through the past and into the present. The mural is situated on the east end of 515 Briggs Street, an unlikely location, that property Bob Swenson says is aligned with his vision of the eventual upgrade of the alley as part of the Historic Old Town experience. He aims to change the conversation about quality public art while repurposing alleyways to encourage pedestrian and bike traffic.

Mayor Pro-tem Geoff Deakin said, “We’ve been fortunate to work with businesses and developers who appreciate the history and character of our town and who have worked to preserve and embrace some of that legacy. This piece will help us reinforce that while Erie’s growth may seem recent, our roots run deep.” Read more in the full press release on the Town of Erie’s news webpage.