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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-15-21 Meeting Minutes Downtown Oshkosh BID Board Minutes June 15, 2021 Present: Marlo Ambas, James Evans, Sandra Prunty, James Stapel, Jill Anderson, Chanda Anderson, David Krumplitsch, Barb Nelson, Megan Lang, Carrie Olson, Autumn Urban and Derek Mulloy Excused: Aaron Armstrong, David Krumplitsch, Kris Larson Staff: Jessica Meidl – BID Manager, Kelly Nieforth – Economic Development Services Manager, Sean Fitzgerald – Economic Development Specialist Others: Amy Albright – Executive Director, Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau, Michael Cooney – Oshkosh Farmers Market, Rob Kleman – Senior Vice President, Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, Sgt. Kari Pettit, Andy Ratchman I. Call to Order Chairperson Lang called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m. A quorum was declared present. II. Approve Minutes of the May 18, 2021 Meeting Evans moved to approve the minutes of the May 18, 2021 meeting, second by Prunty. Motion passed unanimously. III. Policing/Traffic/Parking/Enforcement Issues Sgt. Pettit discussed policing and traffic issues and noted six of the pedestrian crosswalk signs have been struck and damaged by vehicles this year. Lang inquired about the possibility of obtaining a grant to acquire several replacement crosswalk signs for the downtown area. IV. Approve June 2021 Monthly Financial Report BID Manager Meidl discussed the financial report as presented in the packet. Stapel moved to approve accepting the financial report, second by Prunty. Motion passed unanimously. V. CVB Roger Brooks Update Kelly Nieforth gave a report of the Roger Brooks presentation to the Oshkosh Area Convention & Visitors Bureau on June 1. CVB Executive Director Amy Albright provided an expanded summary of the presentation. Committee members had a conversation about blade signs and how they might be implemented for storefronts downtown. Lang set a goal of having blade signs up by the winter holiday season. Chanda Anderson asked about variances for the 8-foot clearance for awnings over storefronts. VI. American Rescue Plan Act Funding Nieforth gave a report on American Rescue Plan Act funds the city will appropriate, which are expected to be about $20 million. Lang suggested ideas for possibly using these funds for the creation of a downtown plaza. She suggested the BID submit an application to the city requesting funds for general expenses in the downtown area. VII. Holiday Parade Meidl indicated planning efforts for the holiday parade on November 18 are underway. VIII. Seagull Update as of 5/5/21 Prunty reported on the efforts of the seagull consultant retained by the BID and his efforts to mitigate the population of the birds in the downtown. The most substantial concern has been on the roof of the former Kline’s building on the 200 Block of North Main Street. IX. Traffic Calming Signage Nieforth reported new pedestrian crosswalk signs cost between $300 to $500 each, depending upon the particular signs. She indicated city staff could evaluate other traffic calming measures along Main Street through the downtown. Lang recommended purchasing some signs to use yet this summer. Anderson asked about installing pedestrian crosswalks with flashing lights in the downtown. Nieforth said she would ask the traffic department to conduct painting and striping in the downtown. X. BID Manager and BID Committee Reports  Events  MemberCO  Beautification  Marketing & Communications Meidl provided her management and committee report and offered an update of her activities in the office during the past month. She noted concerns about the ability for some of the annual events slated for later this year to be successful without getting more volunteers to plan and staff these events. She applied for two grants to help fund the mural project in the BID, and she is also working on designing banners for use in 2022. Meidl indicated she hasn’t had time to focus on the marketing and communications committee, and asked members of the committee for assistance keeping tabs on its program of work. She said she’s also working on the design for the downtown directory, and is also working to submit an application for the WEDC’s Main Street program later this coming fall. XI. Other Business (Items not listed on the BID Board meeting agenda) Nieforth noted two items of other business. She introduced Sean Fitzgerald as new city staff who may be working with the bid. She also noted the city planning department received a request from a business owner in the downtown area looking to raise chickens at their property. She wanted the BID board to be able to provide feedback on the request and its potential impact downtown. Carrie Olson indicated she was the business owner who made the request. She explained she owns a mixed-use commercial property on the 500 Block of North Main Street and lives in the upper residential unit. The building has a unique green space at its rear which could support a chicken coop. She’s looking for similar consideration as other city residents living in residential zoned areas. BID members were advised they could share any concerns with Nieforth outside of the meeting. XII. Identification of Agenda Items for the July 20, 2021 Meeting No specific items of note were identified as agenda items for the July 20, 2021 meeting. XIII. Adjournment Motion to adjourn by Evans at 9:29 a.m., second by Olson. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully Submitted, Kelly Nieforth Economic Development Division Economic Development Services Manager