Board Meeting – November 20th, 2024

Animas River Surfers

Meeting Minutes

11/20/2024

Call to Order

Amanda Kiesel called a meeting for Animas River Surfers at 5:15 p.m. on 11/20/2024 at 2275 W 3rd Ave. 

 

Roll Call

Kory, Darren, Stephanie, Dom, Davis, Seth, Amanda, Paul G, (Andy via speakerphone) 

 

Open Issues and Discussion Points

1. Amanda applied for the Visit Durango Destination Enhancement Grant and did not get it.
2. Let’s figure out what could have improved our application and try again in the spring. 
3. Amanda did the 1023-EZ 501 c3 application with the IRS and it is showing as awaiting approval
4. We would like to get a newsletter out in time for CO Gives Day
5. Darren can make the newsletter by black Friday and include merchandise sales 
6. More grants
7. How do we do the GoCo grants?  They must come through a municipality. Seth and Andy can help with ideas.  We should get together with city councilors.  Possibly Jessica Buel at the next Library meeting on December 3. Owen Talmadge, the Natural Lands Manager, could be a good resource as well.
8. Other grants or fundraising ideas
9. REI 
10. grants.gov community development block grant could be a state grant for feasibility studies
11. How did Farmington get funding?
12. The Hive
13. Dan C contacted them and they are too busy at this time
14. Who has Dom talked to? 

Dave at rivertrippers – wants to know more as this progresses

John Brennan park advocate – supportive but wont do a lot of work 

Andy Kora at 4 corners – very engaged

Alex Mikel at mild to wild – interested in where the wave would be does not want it in the whitewater park

1. Discussion about the POST funding
2. POST (Parks open space and trails) POST plan developed by city in 2020. Funding expires in 2025? 2 parts to this. City wants to reestablish the tax to rebuild/remodel city hall infrastructure and police station. Big capital improvement project about 75 mil. .05 cent sales tax would be going for 30 years. There’s an opportunity to write in Animas River as an investment priority. We need to actively try to influence that language: 3mil per year for about 30 years. That language is likely to be finalized in the next 60 days. This would go on ballot in April.  The people ARS needs to talk to are: Kathy Metz as a citizen→Seth will provide email introduction. And Christina Rinderle→Davis will reach out to her

 

New Business and Call to Action

1. Paul will finish the mailing list and Darren will do the newsletter
2. Seth will connect us with Natural Lands Manager, Owen Talmadge, at city to pursue GoCO grant.  Seth will also connect with Kathy Metz.
3. Dom can go to December 3rd event noon-1:30 at the library
4. Stephanie call Salida for any info on economic benefit studies and also BV and will get economic benefit study of Durango from Seth
5. Amanda will do LPEA grant
6. Davis will reach out to Christina Rinderle
7. Write letters to the editor etc. improve quality of life 
8. Amanda to reach out to the AWP regarding the Animas River Management Plan 2013. Amanda to email Sara Burch re her email to Cathy Metz via Seth’s email
9. We need to legitimize ourselves with the city and get in touch with FLC recreation people, outdoor pursuits, and the float program.  

 

Adjournment

Amanda Kiesel adjourned the meeting at 6:25 p.m.  

Minutes submitted by: Stephanie Fleming

Minutes approved by: Amanda Kiessel