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Home My WebLink About12-15-2020 MinutesDOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES December 15, 2020 PRESENT: Megan Lang, Jim Stapel, Sandy Prunty, Marlo Ambas, James Evans, David Krumplitsch, Kris Larson, Dr. Jill Anderson and Carrie Olson EXCUSED: Andy Ratchman, Chanda Anderson, and Aaron Armstrong STAFF: Jessica Meidl – BID Manager, Jeffrey Nau – Associate Planner, Kelly Nieforth – Economic Development Services Manager, Brian Wustmann –Economic Development Analyst, Alexa Naudziunas – Associate Planner OTHERS: Amy Albright – Executive Director, Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau, Michael Cooney – Oshkosh Farmers Market, Rob Kleman- Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce I - CALL TO ORDER Roll was called and Chair Lang called the meeting to order at 8:01 a.m. and a quorum was declared present. II – APPROVE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 17, 2020 MEETING There was no discussion on this item. Jim Stapel motioned to approve the minutes of the November 17, 2020 meeting as presented. Kris Larson seconded the motion which passed unanimously. III – POLICING/TRAFFIC/PARKING ENFORCEMENT ISSUES No one from the Police Dept. was present. Sargent Pettit sent an email to let the BID know she wouldn’t be here. BID members would like to more information on graffiti. BID manager Meidl will update the board once she hears back or put information in the newsletter. IV – Approve Retention Grant for the amount of $611.13 for The Artful Gift, 9 Waugoo Avenue BID Manager Meidl explained that The Artful Gift applied for a Retention Grant for an exterior sign. The Beautification Committee approved the grant for signage for The Artful Gift with no recommendation for changes. Kris Larson asked how many quotes were received for the sign installation. Meidel replied that there were two bids for the sign. Kal’s Sign Art and Appleton Sign Co. Kal’s Sign was significantly cheaper than Appleton Sign at $1,222.26 and was awarded the project. Carrie Olson motioned to approve the Retention Grant. Kris Larson seconded which passed unanimously. DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES December 15, 2020 V – Approve December, 2020 Monthly Financial Report BID Manager Meidl is waiting for the Retention Grant that was approved last month to be dispersed. Kelly Nieforth stated that there was no new updates. The Community Foundation donated $1,000 which was shown on the report. Jeff Nau asked Meidl if her credit card question was resolved and Meidl responded yes. Chair Lang explained that they inquired about returning some extra ornaments but decided to hold on to the extra ornaments. The decision was made to keep the extra ornaments for future years. Sandy Prunty motioned to approve December, 2020 Monthly Financial Report. Carrie Olson seconded which passed unanimously. VI - BID MANAGER MOVE TO THE OSHKOSH CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU OFFICE UPDATE BID Manager Meidl stated that she is settling in nicely and everything is going really well and is happy to be collaborating with the Oshkosh CVB staff. The BID Manager will be under the Oshkosh CVB’s insurance and benefits as of January 1, 2021. Sandy Prunty mentioned that the Downtown Oshkosh signage on their CVB doors and windows looked good and that there will be great visibility with the lettering on the doors. VII – Lights in Opera House Square Park The BID Board expressed interest in leaving the lights up in Opera House Square Park year around. Kelly Nieforth stated that conversation with City Staff, the City electrician, and the Forestry Dept. were positive and had no issues with allowing the lights year around. The Forestry Dept. will need to prune the trees in the Opera House Square Park in 2023 which, at that time, the lights will need to be removed so that pruning can be done. The lights can be put back up afterwards. Several BID Board members stated that the lights have been well received. Chair Lang stated that, while it may take some extra conversations and time, lights along the terrace trees would be explored. There are no outlets near terrace trees so lighting the trees would take extra coordination to connect them to the outlets on the light poles or would need to be installed. DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES December 15, 2020 VIII – Envision Jackson Street Plan Update City Planner Alexis Naudziunas was present to talk about the Envision Jackson Street Plan update. Council approved both sections of the Envision Jackson Street Plan and staff will be discussing next steps. Concrete bump outs were not an option, instead, Alexis said that any bollard would be replaceable incase a plow or something would hit it. Jim Stapel express concern over the flow of traffic on Jackson Street with it being shrunk to only a single lane each direction. The City has only seen conceptual plans for the new school and will work with the school district to coordinate plans as it relates to the traffic impact on Jackson for the project when they formally submit. IX – BID Board Appointments Kelly Nieforth stated that on Nov. 24th Council meeting, Dr. Jill Anderson was appointed by Mayor Palmeri from Alternate to permanent seat on the BID Board. Nieforth said that the City Manager’s office received four applications for the remaining three board seats (two seats which are Alternates). Mayor Palmeri may ask Chair Lang for recommendations. The open positions will be filled during the January or February meeting. X – BID Contract Renewals BID Manager Meidl went over the Beautification contracts for 2021 and the Contracted Services contract will remain the same. The Christmas décor contract with Grounds Guys may change as Meidl has a meeting with them to discuss. Meidl went on to talk about her conversation with Jack’s Maintenance and the banner switches for the 2021 year. There will be only four banner switches in 2021 as opposed to five in 2020 due to the banner sponsorship agreement between the BID and the Wisconsin Herd ending. Meidl then went on to discuss the Advertising contracts for 2021. She stated that the BID will be exploring additional options for advertising and is looking for feedback from BID board members. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, many of the business owners that had agreed to have bus advertising backed out due to the cost. Meidl stated that there are several options in regards to advertising on transit busses. A general discussion took place on whether or not the BID should continue advertising on buses. Meidl showed the BID Board a mock up of what the advertising could look like on a bus. Several BID Board members liked how the advertising looked on the bus. DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES December 15, 2020 BID Manger Meidl also talked about the billboard advertising for 2021 and how the locations weren’t the best. She will reach out with Lamar to see the options for advertising on a billboard with a better location. XI – BID Manager and BID Committee Reports BID Manager Meidl recapped the holiday events and stated that there was good turnout for the events. Over 800 letters were collected for nursing homes. Chair Lang stated that the investments the BID made for holiday events this year will be beneficial for the following years. Michael Cooney stated that the Oshkosh Farmer’s Market applied for and received $4,000 COVID-19 grant to offset direct expenses this year. Challenges this year included volunteers for the Market, as most volunteers were older and therefore unable to help out due to the COVID- 19 risks. The Farmer’s Market hired a security firm to help remind people about the COVID rules during this year’s markets. Cooney also stated that the Indoor Winter Markets at the Convention Center had great turnouts with 600 – 900 visitors. He also mentioned that the Farmers Market has applied for a grant that supports SNAP Benefits for local residents. Chair Lang asked if there was any other reports. Sandy Prunty asked if all the committee members have been set up in Teams yet. BID Manager Meidl expects Teams to be set up by February’s meetings. XII – Other Business (Must address items not listed on the BID Board meeting agenda) Carrie Olsen asked if the BID Board could repeat the discussion of line item IX – BID Board Appointments. Chair Lang talked about Dr. Anderson being appointed to the Board and that there are several applicants that applied for the three open positions. XIII – Identification of Agenda Items for the January 19, 2021 Meeting BID Manager Meidl asked if the Cocoa Crawl needs to be an agenda item for the next meeting since it is a line item in the budget. Sandy Prunty suggested that the Cocoa Crawl could be under MemberCo as it is just a line item to buy cups and other things. DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES December 15, 2020 Chair Lang asked the BID Board if the Cocoa Crawl should be cancelled due to COVID-19. Sandy Prunty, Dr. Jill Anderson and Jim Stapel all stated that they think the Coco Crawl should be cancelled due to COVID. Meidl stated that the MemberCo members had the same thought. Chair Lang went on to discuss items for the next agenda saying that item VI and VIII could be taken off while item VII and X should remain on the agenda. BID Manager Meidl asked to talk about the BID’s storage unit status. She said that there was a larger, additional storage unit next to the BID’s current unit that was available for $55/month. She will be organizing the two units with the intention to clean out the current one and consolidate into one unit. With there being no further business, Sandy Prunty moved for the meeting to be adjourned at 9:02 a.m. Jim Stapel seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Respectfully Submitted, Brian Wustmann Economic Development Analyst Economic Development Division