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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES April 16, 2013 PRESENT: David Sparr, Michael Russell, Joshua Marquardt, Chanda Anderson, Sandy Prunty, Todd Cummings, Kris Larson, Kay Bahr, Andy Ratchman EXCUSED: Kurt Koeppler, Megan Lang, Jim Stapel STAFF: Cassie Cook - BID Manager, Jeffrey Nau – Associate Planner OTHERS: Sergeant Matt Kroening – Oshkosh Police Department, Karlene Leatherman – Leadership Oshkosh I - CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Sparr called the meeting to order at 8:00am and a quorum was declared present. II – APPROVE MINUTES OF MARCH 19, 2013 MEETING There was no discussion on this item. Michael Russell moved to approve the minutes of the March 19, 2013 meeting as presented. Chanda Anderson seconded the motion which passed unanimously. III – POLICING/TRAFFIC/PARKING/ENFORCEMENT ISSUES Sergeant Kroening reported that the last month was very active. There were four graffiti complaints at 438, 407, 411 and 413 N. Main Street and vandalism should be already taken care of. Sergeant Kroening also reported two burglaries took place at 511 and 463 N. Main Street. Three arrests were made in relation to the burglaries and were found to be drug addicts. Sergeant Kroening reported that the Spring Pub Crawl resulted in minor damage to the downtown. Damage included two flower pots knocked over and three terrace trees ripped down. Ms. Prunty inquired if the organizers had a permit for the event. Sergeant Kroening responded that they did get a Special Event Permit. The Pub Crawl organizers sold 2,400 t-shirts to fund the event. Mr. Kroening added three other groups piggy- backed on the event by selling their own unofficial Pub Crawl t-shirts. Overall, arrests were down compared to last spring’s Pub Crawl. The Oshkosh Police Department staffed 11 officers and 20 auxiliary officers to increase presence. Lastly, Sergeant Kroening stated that they are preparing for the Oshkosh Half Marathon which was taking place the upcoming weekend. Mr. Kroening inquired to BID Manager Cook the status of the hotel opening. Ms. Cook responded that the target opening date is April 26. IV - DISCUSS COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF OSHKOSH TO PROCEED WITH DOWNTOWN PARKING STUDY Community Development Director Allen Davis and Transportation Director Chris Strong were unavailable to st attend the meeting and this item was laid over until the May 21 BID Board meeting. Ms. Anderson reported that the BID was the only organization that committed funding for the proposed study. Ms. Anderson added that she asked Transportation Director Strong the feasibility of acquiring the Anchor Bank building to address parking needs instead of investing in a parking study. Ms. Prunty commented on the recent Oshkosh Northwestern article that generally stated that the problem is not the lack of available parking, but that people 1 DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES April 16, 2013 are not willing to walk from underutilized lots. Mr. Cummings stated the problem is business owners and employees utilizing prime parking which takes away customer parking. V – MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT There was no discussion on this item. Joshua Marquardt moved for approval of the monthly financial report as presented. Mike Russell seconded the motion which passed unanimously. VI – BID MANAGER AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS BID Manager Cook presented a summary of her activities over the past month as outlined in her report included in the BID packet. Highlights include: -Distribution of the 2013 Downtown Directory to BID businesses. -Added hours of operation for downtown businesses on the Downtown website -Hotel write-up on the Downtown website -Convention and Visitors Bureau write-up on the Downtown website -Distributed brochures and daily parking permit information to the block captains -Sent out a mass email to BID businesses informing them of upcoming Special Events and road closures and advertising opportunities -Prepared April’s Gift Card Program promotional materials -Promoting Destination Downtown -Reviewed and sent letter from Chair Sparr to the Oshkosh Common Council in regard to the BID’s financial commitment to a parking study, and to have better communication and participation with the BID -The Marketing Consortium continues to prepare for Destination Downtown -Beautification Committee – members will be meeting with City staff tomorrow to find appropriate locations for bike racks, additional trash cans and wayfinding signs -Boughs from the planters have been removed for preparation of the flower plantings -Met with two prospective clients for possible Recruitment Fund Grants -Attended the State of the City Address -Appeared on Taking Care of Business on WOSH -Appeared on WOSH, Fox 11 and WBAY to discuss the downtown parking issues and promote the daily parking passes -The Ground Round will be participating with the Gift Card Program and will be getting set up next week -Attended Special Events meeting -Attended OAEDC Advisory Council -Met with GUS Macker event organizers – More teams have been already registered than last year. -Researching the creation of a retention fund grant program to assist existing BID businesses with façade/building improvements VII – DISCUSS DAILY DOWNTOWN PARKING PASSES UPDATE Ms. Cook informed the Board that she only has 75 daily parking passes left and wanted input from the Board to either purchase additional passes or use the remaining funds in the Parking Permit Budget for promotional materials. Mr. Russell stated he would like Ms. Cook to purchase more permits. Ms. Bahr agreed with Mr. 2 DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES April 16, 2013 Russell that it is early in the year and more permits are needed. Mr. Marquardt suggested that the permit program should be promoted as a goodwill gesture for customers to visit the downtown. Based on the Board’s conversation, Ms. Cook stated she would utilize the remaining funds to purchase additional permits. VIII – RECRUITMENT PACKAGE/TRAVEL TIME Ms. Cook reported that she met with Board Member Lang to discuss that now is the time to recruit new businesses to the downtown. Ms. Cook added that there has been a recent increase in tenant spaces available and that she now has the material available to actively pursue businesses. She added that she has prepared a list of several cities within two hours drive of Oshkosh that she would like to visit to promote Downtown Oshkosh. Ms. Prunty suggested that it may be a good idea to have a list of businesses Downtown Oshkosh would like to see. Ms. Anderson concurred that the BID should have a wish list for types of businesses to pursue. Ms. Anderson added that she has been approached by several downtowns with lucrative offers to expand and that the BID should try to mimic those solicitations. Mr. Larson stated that the biggest obstacle for recruiting restaurants is the inability and/or expense to install hoods. Mr. Russell asked Mr. Nau what hood requirements are. Mr. Nau responded that he would invite Chief Building Inspector John Zarate to the May meeting to discuss further. Mr. Sparr asked the Board to get a wish list of businesses they would like to see downtown to Cassie before next month’s meeting for further discussion. IX – DISCUSS FORMAL PROCEDURES FOR UTILIZATION/BUILDING/MAINTAINING RESERVE FUND Mr. Russell stated that the BID has accumulated a large reserve fund that the BID has no plans for and that it is time to come up with a plan to use it. Mr. Sparr responded that due to the reduction of the BID assessment to properties and based on current spending levels, the reserve fund would be depleted within a few years unless the Board approves an increase to assessments next year. Mr. Larson stated he was a strong supporter for the assessment reduction to make the budget be in line with other BIDs their size and that they need to focus on spending within their means. Ms. Anderson reiterated Mr. Koeppler’s comments several months ago that the reserve fund should be treated as a capital improvement fund to focus on large-scale projects and expenditures. Mr. Russell responded that any large scale projects are probably unrealistic as most of the ideas he has heard are way out of the BID’s means. Mr. Russell added the BID should focus on more smaller-scale projects/expenses like new holiday decorations or getting electricity to the trees along Main Street at Opera House Square. Mr. Sparr asked what impact the hotel renovations would have on the BID assessments. Mr. Nau responded that the hotel improvements would give some relief to all of the BID properties he believed starting next year. Mr. Nau added that he will prepare some hypothetical models based on the improvements. Mr. Marquardt stated that he still believes that the BID should strive to become self-sustaining. X – SELECT MEETING LOCATION FOR MAY 21, 2013 BID BOARD MEETING Mr. Russell offered to continue to host the Board meetings at Great Estates. The Board accepted Mr. Russell’s offer and there was no further discussion. XI – IDENTIFICATION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE MAY 21, 2013 MEETING 3 DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES April 16, 2013 -Downtown Parking Study XII – ADJOURNMENT Mr. Marquardt stated he would be resigning from the BID Board effective immediately due to his business being relocated outside of the BID in the near future. With there being no further business, Kris Larson moved for the meeting to be adjourned at 9:24am. Sandy Prunty seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Respectfully Submitted, Jeffrey Nau Associate Planner 4