Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Woodland Park council appoints two to Downtown Development Authority; appointees sworn in
Summary
The City Council appointed Sarah Salazar and John Hughes to three‑year terms on the Downtown Development Authority and administered oaths of office. Council discussed eligibility and candidates' plans for increasing downtown foot traffic.
The Woodland Park City Council on June 18 appointed Sarah Salazar and John Hughes to three‑year terms on the city's Downtown Development Authority and administered their oaths of office.
The appointments fill two seats whose terms expire June 30 and a separate vacancy left when a former member resigned earlier this year. Suzanne (city staff) told council she received two applications and had vetted both candidates for the DDA residency and business‑ownership requirements.
Sarah Salazar, an applicant who identified herself as an intern architect and a former city planner for the state Department of Local Affairs, told the council she has followed DDA meetings and wants to help increase downtown economic activity. “I would love to see that happen where we spend our money in businesses and then see the money come back to the people directly, not being filtered out by big businesses,” Salazar said.
John Hughes, who said he and his family purchased Joanie’s last year and has worked in the restaurant industry for decades, told council he has been talking informally with local business owners and plans to bring practical, design‑oriented tools to the DDA. “Something I’m going to bring to Woodland Park and the DDA different from anyone else is I use and am very good at…Revit, SketchUp, and I would love to show the town 3‑D models of ideas rather than just discussing,” Hughes said.
Council members asked each candidate about local ties and outreach to downtown businesses. Salazar said her husband owns a business in the district and she has watched two years of DDA meetings; Hughes said he speaks regularly with customers and some proprietors at his restaurant but had not formally visited all downtown businesses.
Council made separate motions to appoint Salazar and Hughes. Both motions carried. After the votes the mayor administered the oath of office to both appointees and asked them to sign appointment paperwork; the terms are three years and expire June 30, 2028.
Why it matters: The DDA advises and implements programs intended to spur economic activity in Woodland Park’s downtown district. With two new members, the DDA will have increased capacity to consider microgrant programs, promotional events and design ideas the candidates discussed.
Details and next steps: Suzanne told council there are currently four other DDA members and the board may expand membership further. Council indicated any incumbents who wish to return must reapply and be reappointed; staff said notices and application instructions were posted.
Speakers quoted in this article are on the public record from the June 18 meeting and were present at the podium when quoted. The council's action to appoint each candidate was a formal vote recorded during the meeting.
Ending: Salazar and Hughes were sworn in at the meeting and will begin their terms July 1. The DDA will continue meeting on its regular schedule and may consider the appointees' ideas at upcoming meetings.
