Thread by @shayshinecastle

OK, I'm back. Managed to use that time to outline my e-scooter story and write 1.5 paragraphs of it. *sigh*

Let's talk citywide retail. Some interesting things in this mid-point update.

For instance, did you know Boulder has 6.6 MILLION square feet of retail space? That's 60.3 sq ft per capita!

Good to have this data: I used a different source for my October story questioning the city's strategy of requiring first-floor retail. dailycamera.com/2018/10/19/in-…

The recent data is even higher than the numbers I had.

And higher *by far* than any surrounding community or the U.S. as a whole (and don't even get me started on the rest of the world).

Boulder's retail operations generate $2.957 BILLION in annual sales; $27,024 per capita

Here's how other local cities compare:
Broomfield: 5.1M sq ft of retail space; 71.6 sq ft per cap; $1.041B in annual sales; $14,627 per cap
Longmont: 5.9M total sq ft; 61 per cap; $1.341B annual sales; $13,858 per cap
Lafayette: 1.8M sq ft; 58.2 per cap; $239M; $7,736 per cap...

...Louisville: 1.5M total sq ft; 70.7 sq ft per cap; $349M annual sales; $16,458 per cap
Superior: .8M sq ft; 55.8 per cap; $389M annual sales; $29,942 per cap

However, even with that abundance, shoppers still want for a ton of stuff: Too many speciality stores. They often go outside Boulder for gas, affordable clothes, furniture and groceries. Especially to Costco and Walmart (less traffic, more parking, and cheaper)

There was a huge list of "wants" when it comes to types of retail/restaurants:
More family-owned, minority-owned, locally-owned; family restaurants, not fast food and high end; options for clothes for men, children and seniors, big & tall
Quality butcher/fishmonger...

... doughnut shops, tortilla shops, Chick-Fil-A
More diverse cuisine: Greek, Ethiopian and Jewish requested
More access to fruits & veggies for Asian and Latino population
Fewer banks
More shoe repair, vacuum repair
Independent/foreign movie theater
Coffee drive-thrus

Q from Yates: Is the end of the study (coming in July) going to have some "actionable" items, not just wishlist stuff?
Maybe, says Sarah Wiebenson

Morzel: This report showed how well we're doing. Things aren't as gloomy as predicted.
Yates: Retail sales per capita is $27K. If you do the math on that, our budget is about $3K per capita. 1/3 of our overall budget comes from retail sales. We could really screw that up.

"While $$ is not the be-all, end-all of city gov't, our paths, our parks, our open space, a big, big portion of that is funded by retail sales. If we reduce it, intentionally, or unintentionally, that has an impact on our budget."

Boulder also did "exit interviews" with businesses who left in the last two years. While they love Boulder, they were "fed up," staff said, and felt Boulder had changed too much.

The biggest reason cited for leaving was high rents and taxes.
But equally blamed were landlord issues: floods, leaks, pass-through of costs.

We're done with this item, but I still have data to share! Look for my story.

I'm just gonna stick with the same thread for this: Council is going to consider adding a 13th member to the police oversight task force, bc there is no Latinx representation.

"We thought we had that, we made some assumptions, and as it turned out, we didn't," Young says.

Applications would be reopened for a week.

Q from Yates: Did you already interview someone that meets the criteria?
Young: I was pushing for someone, but the committee did not support, so we felt it was better to reopen the applications.

Carr: That meeting of the subcommittee to seat the task force has to be open to the public.

Brautigam: The first group meeting is Thursday, May 30. So when do you want me to figure this out?

Young: A lot of the ppl that previously applied were not Latino. We would be requiring that. What does the rest of council suggest?

Yates: Was Brockett favorable of the person you wanted?
Young: I don't think he weighed in. The objection from the NAACP was that there was not a close enough tie to Boulder. My argument was sometimes it's good to have somebody outside the community.

Yates: I would be happy to delegate that to you and Brockett, if you're happy with the gentleman who applied already. I trust your judgement, and his.

Weaver: I'm OK with that, but the other three members of the committee should know what you're up to and what council has said.

Young: So Brockett and I would make the appointment?
Weaver: Are you comfortable with that?
Young: If you all concur
Council OK with that.

Moving on: Asylum seekers.

There are individuals being bused from El Paso to Colorado, waiting to be reunited with their families. They need 72 hours of housing.

20 ppl.

Young wants to put out a call to community members to house these individuals. Wants feedback.

Yates: Why is it only 72 hrs?
Young: Idk. They're getting bused, they need 72 hours; just enough time to get some food, take a shower, and regroup.

Yates: So where they're going long-term has already been identified?
Young: Yes.

Asks the Daily Camera to put this front and center. What am I, chopped liver?

They'll be a call to action in the Boulder Beat this week for this.

That's it for tonight, folks. A pre-10 p.m. adjournment. There IS a god.

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