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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-15-2019 Minutes DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES c'tof? DOwnTOwn October 15, 2019 Oshkosh OSHKOSH 6LFPmA9 Pow PRESENT: Megan Lang, Kris Larson, Marlo Ambas, Kay Bahr, Sandy Prunty, Chanda Anderson, David Krumplitsch,James Evans,Aaron Armstrong, Benjamin Rennert, Carrie Olson,Jill Anderson EXCUSED: Jim Stapel, David Sparr,Andy Ratchman STAFF: Cassie Daniels -BID Manager,Jeffrey Nau—Associate Planner OTHERS: Sergeant Todd Wrage—Oshkosh Police Department, Michael Cooney—Oshkosh Farmers Markets, Michelle Schmid-Schultz—Oshkosh Farmers Markets, Amy Albright—Oshkosh Convention&Visitors Bureau, Brian Bender—Leadership Oshkosh/4imprint I - CALL TO ORDER Chair Lang called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m. and a quorum was declared present. II—APPROVE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 17,2019 MEETING There was no discussion on this item. Sandy Prunty motioned to approve the minutes of the September 17, 2019 meeting as presented. Kris Larson seconded the motion which passed unanimously. III—POLICING/TRAFFIC/PARKING ENFORCEMENT ISSUES Sergeant Todd Wrage reported the Police Department has implemented a new selective parking enforcement which includes the BID and downtown. Ms. Lang commented parking issues have been quiet lately. Ms. Anderson added the Police Department has scaled down enforcement and is usually complaint-based. Sergeant Wrage stated that the department cannot chalk tires anymore due to a recent federal court determination that chalking violates 4th Amendment rights making enforcement very difficult. Ms. Lang said she has not heard of any recent complaints regarding abuse of prime parking spots by employees. Ms.Anderson agreed but fears that renters will become complacent and will no longer purchase permits. Sergeant Wrage informed the Board that the Police Department is utilizing the Relay app. The app allows users to report non-emergency situations which gets relayed directly to patrol officers. The app allows the user to send pictures of violations with a smart phone. Sergeant Wrage reported the fall pub crawl was very quiet in the downtown area as it has mostly migrated to the campus area. DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES cito� oou wOwn October 15, 2019 Oshkosh OSHKOSH}up�etin9 Now IV—FARMERS MARKET UPDATE AND FUNDING DISCUSSION Michael Cooney reported that the Market has been doing very well this year. He added the Market receives no civic financial support unlike other communities. The primary source of income is generated by vendor fees and with that, projects a$13,000 shortfall for 2019. Mr. Cooney distributed the proposed 2019-2020 budget to the Board indicating a projected shortfall of$14,758. He said he is seeking funding from additional sources; $7,500 from the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau, $2,500 from the BID and$4,000 from other sponsorships. Ms. Schmid-Schultz stated the Market is planning to raise vendor fees from the current$13.65 (average rate) to $18.00 per week. The$18.00 per week fee is for vendors who pay prior to January 1,2020. After that, the fee increases to$20.00 per week. She added as a comparison, the Appleton's Market charges$18.50 per week. Ms. Prunty asked if they have sought corporate sponsors. Ms. Schmid-Schultz responded they have but potential sponsors are also being approached by more needy organizations. She added that the shortfall for the summer's market is being made up with revenue from the upcoming winter market. Ms. Anderson asked what the occupancy rate is for the summer market and how it compares to Appleton's market. Ms. Schmid-Schultz replied there are 274 spaces available and all are not filled every week. She added Oshkosh fills more spaces than Appleton and that they offer "day sponsors' for$250.00 per day to fill vacant spaces. She also noted that the market has to be careful in that they need to have at least fifty percent agricultural vendors to maintain the Electronic Benefits Transfer Program status. Ms. Lang said she could possibly support the idea of the BID sponsoring the market if the funds could be used to pay for the Main Street merchants' spaces adjacent to their storefronts. That would also eliminate the vendor vehicles parked on Main Street during the market. Ms. Schmid-Schultz responded that would take parking away from customers, and also to maintain good relationships with vendors, the market tries to let vendors keep their same location week to week. Ms. Prunty asked what the expense for barricades consisted of as she recalled the BID paid for a trailer to store and transport the barricades. Ms. Schmid-Schultz responded that they have a contract to distribute and pick up the barricades every week. They did try using volunteers, however, that did not work well. Ms. Lang said the BID paid for the trailer last year but did not establish a set contribution for future years and the Market is now asking for$2,500. Mr. Cooney added he hoped this would be a yearly contribution they could count on. Ms. Anderson said she supports the Market and feels the BID should do whatever it can to support it. Ms. Prunty added she supports the Market as well but wished the Market was financially vigilant and that the Market would have made this request prior to the BID finishing 2020's budget. DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES c'tof? DOwnTOwn October 15, 2019 Oshkosh OSHKOSH {kappe�[�g Naw Ms. Lang said she would support$2,500 this year but could not commit to annual support. She added that the BID goes out asking for sponsors,the Market should do the same. Ms. Schmid- Schultz responded she has applied for grants but they are not a 501C3 which makes them ineligible. Chanda Anderson motioned to revise the proposed 2020 BID Budget to add$2,500.00 for the Oshkosh Farmers Market to the Events section. Mr. Larson stated he would like a clearer picture of the Market's financial situation before committing funding to it. He added that it appears the Market will survive 2019 and this discussion can wait a month. Ms. Schmid-Schultz concurred. Mr. Nau suggested that instead of creating a separate line item in the BID's budget, the BID could use funds from Reserves to use for the Market. There was no second on Ms. Anderson's motion. Ms. Lang said the Board will await to receive additional information from the Market and asked Mr. Nau to add this item on November's agenda. V—APPROVE 2020 BID OPERATING PLAN AND BUDGET Ms. Daniels gave a brief overview of the plan and said the assessment is the same amount as 2019 at$150,610.00. Mr. Nau added there are very minor increases to most properties mainly due to the loss of assessed value at 145 High Avenue resulting from a fire. There was no further discussion on this item. Kris Larson motioned for approval of the 2020 BID Operating Plan and Budget as presented. Sandy Prunty seconded the motion which passed unanimously. VI—APPROVE OCTOBER,2019 MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT There was no discussion on this item. Sandy Prunty motioned for approval of the October,2019 Financial Report as presented. Kris Larson seconded the motion which passed unanimously. VII—DOWNTOWN SEAGULL MITIGATION Mr. Nau reported that he looked into the BID using a city lift truck to access rooftops for mitigation efforts and was told the city could not assist. DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES clto� oou wOwn October 15, 2019 Oshkosh OSHKOSH I+appe��[�g Now Ms. Prunty said she is working with Chip Lovell with the USDA to have a mitigation proposal prepared for implementation in 2020. Ms. Lang added that funding for the project will come out of Reserves if the BID chooses to proceed. VIII—BEAUTIFICATION UPDATE AND DISCUSSION Ms. Daniels reported that the permanent Christmas tree should be installed soon. The Forestry Division is waiting for Opera House Square to dry out from the recent rains. Ms. Daniels reminded the Board that revenue from the Holiday Parade will go towards 2020 holiday decor. Ms. Daniels said plantings from the flower pots and bump outs will be removed soon. Holiday boughs will be installed in the flower pots right after Halloween. IX—BIKE SHARING (REQUESTED ITEM FROM SEPTEMBER MEETING) Mr. Sparr reported that he reached out to Trek and has not heard back regarding sharing programs. Mr. Rennert said communities are switching to electric bikes. He has heard that people are having too much fun with electric bikes in a bad way. Mr. Krumplitsch said Best Western will probably include in next year's budget funding for a few bikes to be available for guests. X—BID MANAGER AND BID COMMITTEE REPORTS BID Manager Daniels presented a summary of her activities over the past month as outlined in the BID Manager's report, included in the BID packet. Highlights include: • The Holiday Parade is less than a month away. Volunteers are needed at least college-aged. Ms. Schmid-Schultz offered to assist. Mr. Larson said he would try to recruit some people. • Promotional material is ready for the Parade. Oshkosh Corporation is happy with the products. Park'n Print is donating the printing costs. Ms. Prunty asked how the sponsorships were going. Ms. Daniels responded that amount generated is similar to last year. • Continuing to make changes to the Downtown Website. Ms. Daniels informed the Board that Candeo Creative will be closing permanently. Jill Anderson left at 9:19 a.m. DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES c'tof? DOwnTOwn October 15, 2019 Oshkosh OSHKOSH 6LFPmAq Pow XI—OTHER BUSINESS No items were discussed. XII—IDENTIFICATION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NOVEMBER 19,2019 MEETING 0 Seagull Mitigation • Bike Sharing Program • Farmers Market XIII—ADJOURNMENT With there being no further business, Chanda Anderson moved for the meeting to be adjourned at 9:20 a.m. James Evans seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Respectfully Submitted, Jeffrey Nau Associate Planner Planning Services Division