Downtown Management Commission narrows 2025 priorities: safety, economic vitality, Hill connections

The Downtown Management Commission on Jan. 14 consolidated a shorter list of annual priorities for 2025 after a commission-led discussion and staff facilitation.

Erica Dahl, commissioner, and other commissioners described a set of overlapping concerns they wanted the commission to emphasize to City Council and staff this year. Commissioners said they would (1) prioritize downtown safety and support for ambassadors and other intervention teams, (2) pursue economic-vitality measures that encourage more daytime and regular activity in downtown — including activation of underused office or public spaces — and (3) strengthen connections between downtown and The Hill and Civic Center Park.

Why it matters: the commission’s priorities guide its communications with Council and staff and establish the topics commissioners will follow through 2025. Staff told commissioners that Council had not requested formal letters from commissions for its midterm retreat and that staff would not be preparing letters on the commission’s behalf; commissioners may prepare their own letter if they choose.

Commissioner discussion and near-term process

- Safety and ambassadors: commissioners said maintaining and funding ambassadors and visible public-safety partnerships remain a top priority. - Economic vitality and underused space: commissioners proposed pursuing grants and pilot programs to activate vacant or underused commercial spaces and to experiment with return-to-work strategies and other programming that produce consistent daytime foot traffic. - Hill and Civic Center connections: commissioners urged closer coordination and a joint approach to improve wayfinding, events and the visitor experience between Pearl Street, the Hill and Civic Center Park. - Summit/joint commission idea: several commissioners supported holding a joint commission summit or similar cross-agency meeting to coordinate on the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan and other citywide initiatives; staff and the city clerk’s office would need to schedule such events.

Next steps: commissioners asked staff to consolidate the discussion into a draft priorities statement and circulate it for final review and possible endorsement at a future meeting. The commission did not vote on an official, final priorities statement on Jan. 14.

Clarifying details: staff said City Council is not requesting letters from commissions ahead of its midterm retreat; commissioners may submit letters independently if they wish. Several commissioners offered to assist staff in refining the draft priorities statement for a future meeting.