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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.19.2023 Business Improvement District Minutes Downtown Oshkosh BID Board Minutes December 19, 2023 Present: Megan Lang, Kris Larson, Marlo Ambas, James Evans, Sandra Prunty, Carrie Olson, Jim Stapel, Chanda Anderson, Barb Nelson, Excused: Autumn Urban, Aaron Armstrong, Jill Anderson, Andy Ratchman, Derek Mulloy Staff: Jessica Meidl – BID Manager, John Zarate – Economic Development Specialist, Jim Collins, Jessie Balcom Transit Dept. Others: Colan Treml Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, Amy Albright - CVB I. Call to Order - Chairperson Lang called the meeting to order at 8:02 a.m. A quorum was declared present. II. Approve Minutes of the November 21, 2023 Meeting - The minutes of the November 21, 2023 were approved unanimously as written. (Larson, Stapel) III. Approve December 19, 2023 Monthly Financial Report - The December 19, 2023 financial report was approved unanimously as presented. Jessie added that the year-end balance should be able to be reported in January. (Larson, Stapel) IV. Parking Committee Update Zarate reported that the sub-committee met with Transit director Collins and Jessie Balcom to go over proposed new parking. The key points for the new parking arrangement will be to increase 2-hour parking spots by 100 spots throughout the downtown BID district. Second change would be to sell additional leased spaces within existing permitted parking areas. To start 30 additional spaces will be made available. These spaces will be assigned to a specific person or business (you will always have the dedicated parking stall). The leases would be a 3-month minimum and will be offered at a discount on an annual basis. Price would be $50 per month or $500 annually. Signs will be made and will be standard text lettering like existing parking signs with no logos used. Discussion followed that if there was a lot of interest in these leased stalls the number of stalls could be expanded in the future. Chairperson Lang asked if there could be longer free parking. C. Anderson commented that 3- or 4-hour spaces can never be an option as that wouldn’t work. Concern is that employees would use these spaces instead of purchasing permits or using the lots that are designated as unlimited free parking. It was thought that the longer free parking option could be added in a future phase of downtown parking changes. It was thought it would be best to try this new approach and see if that and enforcement helps with current parking concerns. B. Anderson stated that she thought the leased spaces should be the same price as the current permit spaces because $500 was too much money. It was explained that permitted parking will still be an option at the $30 per month. An item that still needs to be worked out is the cost of the signs for the new leased spaces and how those will be paid for. It was suggested that the additional funds this new program will make could offset those costs to produce the new signs. Board voted to send this recommendation to Traffic Advisory Board to discuss January 9. Motion carried (Olson, Larson) V. ARPA Funds Application Update Zarate reported that ARPA funds applications will open again after the 1st of the year. City Manager has requested to meet with Zarate and Chairperson Lang to go over the application for next round. It was decided that Chairperson not meet with City Manager as it would look like the BID was getting special treatment. If all applicants meet with City Manager then willing to accept invitation to meet to discuss application in the future. BID will follow same guidelines as any other applicant that was denied. C. Anderson asked if the non-profit for the BID should be done before the application is turned in again. It was agreed this would be too soon for this to happen and wouldn’t be necessary to apply. C. Anderson thought that is what City Council was looking for from applicants. It was explained that City Attorney cleared up requirements of ARPA applicants at last City Council meeting and it is not necessary to be a non-profit to receive funds. It was brought up that the BID would like to have a workshop with City Council to explain what the purpose of the BID is and what they do for the downtown. Key points for next application should be continuing struggles after Covid-19. VI. City Truck Route – North Main Street - Chairperson Lang asked for the Truck Route on North Main St to be put on the agenda. Lang stated there seemed to be an increase in truck traffic and concerns of gravel or rocks falling out of trucks. She expressed concerns over people getting out of their vehicles with the narrowness and speed through that area. Also concerns of debris from trucks causing vehicle damage. Collins reported that DPW has a project going on Parkway Ave and the route for these trucks to take is right through downtown on Main St. Main St is currently designated as a truck route. DPW staff has reached out to the contractor to make sure they are being mindful of speeds and loads through this area. Outside of this project there is overall concerns from other larger trucks using this narrow portion of N Main St. Request made by Board to have city look into what can be done to remove the narrow portion of N Main St from the truck route. VII. Discuss BID Applying to form a Non-Profit This was not discussed further as it was brought up in Item V. VIII. BID Manager and BID Committee Reports - Parade went well. There were some concerns brought up such as spacing between the participants. Also concern over it was hard to know who was with what entry due to unmatching costumes/ clothing. Question was asked if there is anything on the application that lists requirements of entries to describe their entry. Concern that entries should be more festive and not so many trucks. Jessie suggested to form a Parade Committee to address issues of what entries would be allowed in the parade. Lang reported that she received many comments on how great the parade was. - Other events over the last couple weeks also were well received. Countdown for Holidays had over 500 in attendance. Comment from B. Nelson that the parade and events are not being put on the same time the stores are open downtown. Larson clarified that the events are at all times throughout the day. Store hours vary and not all store hours will overlap with events. C. Anderson thought Countdown for Holidays was a great event. She added that concerns of declining sales are probably due to the economy and not less people because events are at the wrong times. Events are not made to be the only way to attract people to downtown. IX. Board Member Comments - Lights and decorations on the square look great. Board congratulated Jessie on a great job coordinating all of the great holiday things in downtown. Next year CVB plans to have a photo op prop in the square to attract people downtown to have their pictures taken. X. Identification of Agenda Items for the December 19, 2023 Meeting -Update on ARPA funds application - Discuss Memberco becoming a non-profit -Update from Parking committee XI. Adjournment -Adjourned 9:30 am. ( Stapel, Larson) Respectfully Submitted, John Zarate Economic Development Specialist Economic Services Division