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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.16.2024 Business Improvement District Minutes 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