HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutesDOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES October 15, 2013 1 PRESENT: David Sparr, Michael Russell, Sandy Prunty, Jim Sta pel, Kay Bahr, Chanda Anderson, Kurt Koeppler, Andy Ratchman EXCUSED: Megan Lang, Kris Larson, Todd Cummings, Vicky Sc hroeder STAFF: Cassie Cook - BID Manager, Jeffrey Nau – Associate Planner OTHERS: Matt Kroening – Oshkosh Police Department, Rob Kle men – Oshkosh Area Economic Development Corporation, David Krumplitsch – Leader ship Oshkosh/Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel I - CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Sparr called the meeting to order at 8:04am and a quorum was declared present. II – APPROVE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2013 MEETING There was no discussion on this item. Jim Stapel moved to approve the minutes of the Sept ember 17, 2013 meeting as presented. Sandy Prunty seconded the motion which passed unanimously. III – POLICING/TRAFFIC/PARKING/ENFORCEMENT ISSUES No representative from the Oshkosh Police Departmen t was initially present. Sandy Prunty commented that there is a bad percepti on to the apparent increase in crime downtown. Dav id Sparr responded the behavior is mostly drinking-rel ated. IV – TOUR OF AMERICA’S DAIRYLAND BICYCLE RACE DISCU SSION Christopher Yaggie and Mickey Noone, representing t he Oshkosh Cycling Club and the Tour of America’s Dairyland bike races presented information for the planned Downtown Oshkosh event on Thursday, June 26 , 2014. Mr. Yaggie stated he wanted to speak direct ly to the BID Board to address any potential issues and concerns and seek support from the BID. Mr. Yaggie added he understood a similar event held in 2012 h ad negative impacts on several downtown establishments and assured the Board that the group he represents would be more sensitive to business concerns, work with t he Downtown and have better communication. Mr. Yag gie estimates that 700-1,000 cyclists will participate, each bringing an average of 1.8 additional spectat ors downtown. Mr. Russell stated he was skeptical based on the ra ce held in 2012 which completely cutoff access to h is business for an entire day. Mr. Yaggie responded t hat the proposed race course would not cutoff acces s to businesses and that one of their goals is to draw p eople to downtowns. Chair Sparr asked if the race course has been deter mined. Mr. Yaggie responded that the 0.6 mile cour se starts at High Ave. and Main St., south on Main to Otter A ve., east on Otter to Court St., north on Court to Washington Ave., west on Washington/Algoma to Divis ion St., south on Division to High Ave. Mr. Yaggie added that the course will still allow access aroun d the course perimeter. Mr. Yaggie also stated tha t the race will be held on the same day as Waterfest and the e vent attendees will spill into each other.
DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES October 15, 2013 2 Mr. Russell commented that this course is better th an the race held in 2012. Kay Bahr asked what the hours of the event are. Mr . Yaggie responded that the races begin at 10:00am until usually 7:30pm, depending on the number of particip ants and racers. Mr. Koeppler asked if this was a rain or shine even t. Mr. Yaggie responded the event will be held rai n or shine. V – MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT There was no discussion on this item. Jim Stapel m oved for approval of the monthly financial report a s presented. Chanda Anderson seconded the motion whi ch passed unanimously. VI – TRANSFER OF $150.00 FROM THE ADVERTISING BUDGE T TO THE GIFT CARD BUDGET Ms. Cook requested the Board to approve a transfer of $150.00 from the Advertising Budget to the Gift Card budget to cover the cost of promotional cards. There was no further discussion on this item. Sand y Prunty motioned for approval for the transfer of $150.00 from the Advertising Budget to the Gift Card Budget . Michael Russell seconded the motion which passed unanimously. VII – BID MANAGER AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS Ms. Cook presented a summary of her activities over the past month as outlined in her report included in the BID packet. Highlights include: • The Retention Fund Grant application is ready and w as reviewed by the Budget Committee. Mr. Stapel stated he would prefer to see the grants used for e xterior improvements to have a more visual impact. Mr. Sparr responded that was the same thought the B udget Committee had. Mr. Koeppler asked if the grant would have to be matched by the applicant. M r. Sparr responded the grants do need to be matched, but by what percentage, has not been deter mined yet. • Working with the Holiday Committee – preparing for holiday events, beautification elements and Christmas tree. • Updates to the Downtown website. • Prepared block captain brochures. • Prepared monthly gift card promotion – Manila is th e featured business for October. • Sent out monthly newsletter. • Emailed upcoming events and related road closures. • Marketing Consortium: o Trick-or-treating event will be held on Wednesday, October 30 th from 4:30pm to 7:00pm. o Met with Erica from Satori Imports to go over holid ay events and promotions for 2013. • Beautification: o Met with City Manager Mark Rohloff to discuss the t rash receptacle issue. Will be following up at a later date. • Salon La Rouse submitted receipts qualifying them f or their approved Recruitment Fund Grant. Still waiting for Backlot Comedy Club to submit their rec eipts – they have until November to enable them to receive their grant.
DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES October 15, 2013 3 • Met with Blue Door Consulting to go over advertisin g opportunities in the 2014 Downtown Directory. • Attended the WEDC and WEDA conference in Racine • Working on the Downtown Directory update. Jim Stap el questioned if producing the Downtown Directory was necessary in our current age of smart phones. Ms. Cook responded that people staying at the hotel and visiting the CVB go through a lot of them – helps people from out of town. Chanda Anderson and Kay Bahr also stated they distribute a lot of them from their businesses. • The recruitment pamphlets will be completed this we ek. Chair Sparr requested reopening up discussion on th e Financial Report to give an update on the Budget Committee. He informed the Board that they have no t looked at funding events or Marketing Consortium as of yet. Mr. Sparr added that to fund events, money fr om the reserve fund would have to be utilized, in a ddition to an increase in the assessment. He added that Ms. C ook’s advertising plan is set up with money spent b y the BID comes back to the BID from participating busine sses and questioned if more money should be budgete d towards advertising, knowing money would be coming back. Mr. Sparr asked for feedback to see how the Budget Committee should proceed. Mr. Russell felt that money is better spent on adve rtising where events often only benefit selected bu sinesses. Mr. Stapel stated that he has concerns that service -type businesses do not receive any benefit from do wntown events and the BID needs to focus spending that hel ps everyone. Ms. Anderson reported that where the proposed budge t stands now, no money is available for events unle ss the assessments are raised or reserves are used. Mr. Koeppler stated that he would rather see the as sessment remain the same and use the reserves since it cannot be increased for a large scale project due t o budget constraints. Mr. Koeppler also stated he would like to see a parking ramp built that has first floor co mmercial spaces but realistically, that type of pro ject could only be undertaken by the city. Mr. Russell stated that service businesses do have the same opportunities to take advantage of the BID ’s advertising program. He also stated that any finan cial contribution the BID could make for a large-sc ale project would be only be a drop in the bucket. Ms. Prunty responded that may be true but they could still be a player. Chair Sparr asked for input in regard to what perce ntage property owners would have to match to be eli gible for the proposed Retention Grant program. Kurt Koepple r and Mike Russell suggested going to the Oshkosh Community Foundation to see if they would be willin g to assist in funding this type of program again. Mr. Koeppler stated that the prior façade improvement p rogram required owners to match 25% of the grant am ount. He added that the money would be depleted faster an d helps fewer businesses, however that is what they are use to. Mr. Russell commented even if the grant requir ed a 50% match; it is still free money to the busin ess. After further Board discussion, they felt that a 50% matc h would be appropriate. III – POLICING/TRAFFIC/PARKING/ENFORCEMENT ISSUES (CONTINUED) Sergeant Kroening reported that the Fall Pub Crawl happened last Saturday night. He added that this w as the smallest turnout in at least three years. Sergeant Kroening said that a large portion of the particip ants were staying at the campus area bars and not migrating t o the downtown. Overall, arrests were significantl y lower than previous events.
DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES October 15, 2013 4 As far as other concerns, Sergeant Kroening reporte d that the Tuesday night gatherings at Opera House Square have died down, most likely due to school being bac k in session. Sandy Prunty informed Sergeant Kroening that there have been gatherings of older kids and young adults at the Town Motel. Sergeant Kroening responded he would l ook into the situation. VIII – IDENTIFICATION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NOVEM BER 19, 2013 MEETING - Approve BID Budget and Operating Plan IX – ADJOURNMENT With there being no further business, Jim Stapel mo ved for the meeting to be adjourned at 9:12am. San dy Prunty seconded the motion which passed unanimously . Respectfully Submitted, Jeffrey Nau Associate Planner