HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.20.2024 Business Improvement District Full Meeting Packet
TO: Downtown Oshkosh Business Improvement District Board
FROM: Megan Lang, Chair
DATE: February 13, 2024
PLEASE BE ADVISED the Downtown Oshkosh Business Improvement District Board will hold
a regular meeting at 8:00 A.M., Tuesday, February 20, 2024 in City Hall Room 404, 215 Church
Avenue, Oshkosh, WI to consider the following agenda:
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
II. Approve Minutes of the January 16, 2024 Meeting
III. Approve February Monthly Financial Report
IV. Status of new employee
V. ARPA Funds Update
VI. Update on truck route study
VII. Discuss electrical, data and other type utilities to be installed underground instead of
overhead within the BID.
VIII. Discuss and approve updates to BID bylaws
IX. BID Manager and BID Committee Reports
a. Events
b. Member Co
c. Beautification
d. Marketing & Communications
X. Board Member comments
XI. Identification of Agenda Items for the March 19, 2024 Meeting
XII. Adjournment
Downtown Oshkosh BID Board Minutes
January 16, 2024
Present: Kris Larson, Marlo Ambas, James Evans, Autumn Urban , Carrie Olson, Jim
Stapel, Chanda Anderson, Barb Nelson, Derek Mulloy
Excused: Megan Lang , Sandra Prunty, , Aaron Armstrong, Jill Anderson, Andy
Ratchman,
Staff: Jessica Meidl – BID Manager, John Zarate – Economic Development Specialist,
Jim Collins – Transportation Director
Others: Colan Treml Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, Amy Albright - CVB
I. Call to Order
- Vice Chairperson Larson called the meeting to order at 8:04 a.m. A quorum was
declared present.
II. Approve Minutes of the December 19, 2023 Meeting
- The minutes of the December 19, 2023 were approved unanimously as written.
(Stapel, Olson)
III. Approve January 16, 2024 Monthly Financial Report
- The January 16, 2024 financial report was approved unanimously as presented.
(Olson, Stapel)
IV. Parking Committee Update
Jim Collins gave an update that the Traffic Advisory Board approved the
proposed revision of parking stalls as presented. This recommendation will go
to council for ordinance amendment approval. Additional 2-hour parking and
leased spaces will be available March 1. Jessie will send information to all BID
members to explain the changes that will be going before council for approval.
Concern was brought up regarding what happens if more demand for leased
spaces than are made available. Collins explained that the new maps will show
that spaces are leased or permitted so it would be easier to sell more leased
spaces.
V. ARPA Funds Application Update
Zarate reported that ARPA funds applications will open again soon and that the
process is currently being working on with City Manager and City Staff. C.
Anderson commented she was informed that the process was starting now. Key
point for next application should be continuing struggles after Covid-19.
VI. Discuss amending budget to include additional staff person
- Larson stated that Meidl, Lang and him met to go over the events currently done by
the BID. It was determined with another staff person there could be more events
and also make the current events larger with help of additional staff person. These
larger and additional events could lead to more sponsorships and also more time to
reach out to more sponsors. The new position would be an event organizer and
marketing specialist. Position would pay $40,000 plus benefits. The new employee
would probably take half of the events and Jessie the other half. Jessie will look at
increasing ticket sales for ticketed events and possibly add more events. C.
Anderson noted it is important to have a variety of events that are both free and
ticketed. Larson stated they would be looking to get a vote today for new position if
the board agrees. Council would have to approved the amended BID budget. Jessie
will be meeting with Sean Fitzgerald from SBDC to go over the new plan. Sean will
look at if these new and larger events will be enough to cover the cost of an
additional staff person. Question was asked who will be doing interviews and was
stated that interview would be done by Meidl and Albright. Additional person will
share office space with Meidl. Concern was brought up if hiring the additional staff
prior to submitting ARPA funds application would have a negative effect on
approval of the application.
- Motion was made to amend BID budget by $50,000 to cover a new staff person.
(Evans, Olson) Motion carried.
VII. BID Manager and BID Committee Reports
- Holiday décor is being taken down.
- Working on lighting for the alley for the Vibrant Spaces Grant.
- Bylaw committee met to go over bylaws and will bring a draft of the updates to the
February meeting. New committees would be formed to help with events.
- Memberco had no new events to report. Committee is looking to make meetings less
formal but still meet once per month and visit a different business each month.
- Social media outputs were reviewed and are included in the BID Managers report.
Stapel asked if there was a way to make a post for business closures during weather
related events. Meidl stated there was a post made that stated many businesses
were closed or closing early and to call ahead.
- Calendar of 2024 events was included in the report. Chocolate Stroll will be
February 10 and in 3 days 85/ 250 tickets had been sold.
VIII. Board Member Comments
- Nelson commented that she was 15 likes away from 5,000 on her Facebook page.
- Zarate said that Public Works Director Rabe and Collins met with him to discuss
eliminating the truck route on N Main St in the downtown area. Zarate said staff will
need to take a closer look at this as it would lead to creating an alternative route.
IX. Identification of Agenda Items for the February 20, 2024 Meeting
-Update on status of new employee
- Update on ARPA funds application
-Update on Truck Routes
XI. Adjournment
-Adjourned 8:56 am. (Stapel, Olson)
Respectfully Submitted,
John Zarate
Economic Development Specialist
Economic Services Division
2024 Assessment 140,610.00
2024 Reserves 0.00
2024 Carry over 0.00
2023 Encumberance 0.00
TOTAL AVAILABLE 140,610.00
Funds Allocated 235,455.00
2024 Encumbered
Allocation Expenditures Receipt Transferred Balance Balance
Leadership
Oshkosh Convention and Visitor's Bureau 72,000.00$ 5,856.94 0.00 0.00 0.00 66,143.06
Website Maintenance/Office Supplies 6,000.00$ 868.03 0.00 0.00 0.00 5,131.97
Recruitment/Retention/Beautification Grants 20,000.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 20,000.00
Events
Waterfest 2,500.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,500.00
Music in the Square/Lunch Events 15,000.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 15,000.00
Wine/Beer Walks 10,000.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 10,000.00
Holiday Parade 15,000.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 15,000.00
Chalk Walk 4,000.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,000.00
Farmers Market 5,000.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5,000.00
Downtown Events 2,500.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,500.00
Advertising 15,000.00$ 161.15 0.00 0.00 0.00 14,838.85
Gift Card Program 1,000.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,000.00
Vibrant Spaces Grant 30,845.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 30,845.00
Member CO
Chocolate Stroll 500.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 500.00
Holiday 500.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 500.00
Spring 1,000.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,000.00
Arts & Beautification
Maintenance 10,000.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 10,000.00
Holiday/Seasonal Plantings 20,000.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 20,000.00
Seagull Mitigation Project 3,000.00$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3,000.00
Storage Unit 1,610.00$ 240.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,370.00
Reserves / Capital Improvements -$ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET 235,455.00$ 7,126.12$ -$ -$ -$ 228,328.88
Postings through February 12th
Downtown Oshkosh Business Improvement District - 2024 Operating Plan
Description Expenditure
Leadership Oshkosh Convention and Visitor's Bureau
Reimbursements:OCVB Reimbursement 5,856.94$
Website Maintenance/Office Supplies Stack Credit Card Reimbursement 19.98$
Mailchimp Credit Card Reimbursement 63.00$
USPS Credit Card Reimbursement 66.00$
Kitz & Pfeil Credit Card Reimbursement 50.00$
Ruby Owl Tap Room Credit Card Reimbursement 100.00$
Amazon Credit Card Reimbursement 137.05$
Reimbursements:Timios Invoice 3347 432.00$
Recruitment/Retention/Video Grants Recruitment & Beautification Grant Program
Reimbursements:
Events Waterfest
Music in the Square/Lunch Events
Wine/Beer Walks
Reimbursements:
Farmers Market
Reimbursements:
Holiday Parade
Reimbursements:
Downtown Events
Advertising Advertising
Facebook Credit Card Reimbursement 25.00$
New Moon Café Credit Card Reimbursement 15.00$
Canva Credit Card Reimbursement 12.95$
Facebook Credit Card Reimbursement 45.20$
Reimbursements:Park N' Print 76010 63.00$
Gift Card Program
Member CO
Beautification Monthly Maintenance
Holiday/Seasonal Plantings
Reimbursements:
Seagull Mitigation Project
Storage Unit Storage Unit January Rent 120.00$
Reserves / Capital Improvements
2024 Business Improvement District
January
Reimbursements:
Total 7,006.12$
BID Manager Report
February 2024
Priorities for the Month:
• Post on social media 5+ times per week
• Continue email template to be sent out to property/business owners
• Change message on interchangeable sign
• Continuous website updates
• Attend monthly Chamber EDAC meetings and give monthly BID update
• Meet with City, Chamber and GOEDC once per month for downtown opportunity
update
• Reconcile gift card account and BID invoices every Friday
Committee Reports:
MemberCO/BID Member Meetups
o Attend monthly meeting and give BID update
o Coordinate meetings and guest speaker/topic
Beautification/Retention Grant/Mural Grant
o Beautification
o Algoma Alley update
▪ Electrical permit pending
▪ Light installation scheduled
o Winter banners
o Beautification Grant
o No pending applications
o Recruitment Grant
o No pending applications
o Mural Grant
o No pending applications
o New proposed BID Committees: Beautification, Finance & Budget, Events & Holiday
Parade, Marketing & Business Relations
Marketing & Communications
• Instagram
o Followers: 3,907 to 3,959
o Reach: 5,900 to 7,465
• Facebook
o Followers: 10,905 to 11,067
o Reach 24,300 to 68.6K
Events
o Chocolate Stroll – February 10th 1-4pm
▪ Sold out at 250 tickets
▪ Ticket sales: $4,975
o BID Annual Event – moved to spring to include new staff member
o 2024 Events & Marketing Plan
Other Highlights/Projects
• Plaza Concept and Downtown Planning/Imagine Oshkosh Plan (CVB, City,
Chamber, GOEDC, Community Foundation)
• BID Strategic Direction and additional staffing
o Applications open until February 15th
o Creating Downtown ‘Business Plan’
o Goal to hire in March
• ARPA Grant – Resubmit by March
• BID By-Law committee met 1/23 to finalize new BID By-Laws
• New businesses: Yetti Yums, Turquoise Door (new location), Can Can, Fremorah
o Saw each new space, met with owners, discussed BID opportunities