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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutesDOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES July 21, 2015 1 PRESENT: David Sparr, Megan Lang, Kay Bahr, Chanda Anderson, David Krumplitsch, Sandy Prunty, Kris Larson, James Evans, Marlo Ambas, Jim Stapel, Vicky Schroeder EXCUSED: Andy Ratchman STAFF: Cassie Daniels – BID Manager, David Buck – Principal Planner I - CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Sparr called the meeting to order at 8:00am and a quorum was declared present. II – APPROVE MINUTES OF JUNE 16, 2015 MEETING There were no other comments on this item. Ms. Prunty moved to approve the minutes of the June 16, 2015 meeting as presented. Ms. Anderson seconded the motion which passed unanimously. III – POLICING/TRAFFIC/PARKING/ENFORCEMENT ISSUES No one from the Oshkosh Police Department was present. There was no discussion on this item. IV – MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT There were no questions or comments on this item. Mr. Stapel motioned for approval of the monthly financial report as presented. Ms. Prunty seconded the motion which passed unanimously. V – BID MANAGER AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS Ms. Daniels stated that she had not received her packet this month and Mr. Buck said he would inform Mr. Nau. Ms. Daniels stated she visited downtown Stevens Point and commented that Oshkosh’s downtown compares very favorably to it and passed around photos of some of the amenities that they have. She added that they do not have a comparable beautification aspect, which does not include any banners, the flower pots are dated, and their city garbage cans are kind of hidden in a corral set-up. She added that they do not have a BID so she was unsure how they finance the beautification programs. The mural was very nice but was in a poor location near a dumpster enclosure. Ms. Daniels said there was a small farmers market taking place in their town square/park but that she did not get any new ideas with the exception of the mural and she mentioned their fountain was nice. The Board discussed the recruitment of a pet shop but she was not able to have a meaningful conversation. Ms. Daniels stated that she will be visiting Wausau on Thursday. Ms. Daniels said she has been setting up at Live at Lunch and providing a $10 gift card to those who sign up for the E-Newsletter and the same for the Farmers Market. She stated the gift card program is going well with 39 businesses on-board and 2 yet to be programmed. She will spend more time in the future getting the word out on it. Banner sponsorships are coming along and the website is being updated on a weekly basis. The Chalk Walk is September 12th on sidewalks on the square with a rain date of September 26th. The information sign for the square is scheduled to be installed today by Jones Sign. Ms. Daniels stated that there have been no recruitment grant or retention grant submissions. Ms. Prunty asked how many open storefronts there are in the district and Ms. Daniels stated there are 4-5 openings the Klein building, two at City Center, one at 579 N. Main and future one at 419 N. Main, when the lease is up. The board discussed several businesses that they believed could have DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES July 21, 2015 2 done much better in the downtown environment and what conditions with prior commitments and leases they have. Ms. Daniels stated that the sidewalk sales application has been filled out for the 3rd Thursday of every month. She stated that Trick-or-Treat is anticipated to be on October 22nd from 4-6 p.m. and that she spoke with Matt Harris who has stated the 400-500 blocks of Main Street will need to be closed for the event. Mr. Larson asked if the business owners will be contacted to see if they have any comments or concerns regarding the street closure and Ms. Daniels stated that if the road remains open that the event cannot take place. It was the consensus of the board that Trick-or-Treat is a great program that provides wonderful downtown business visibility and advertising but that it may impact businesses as it is the busiest time of day for retail activity. Ms. Daniels said she will send out e-mails to inform them and to get input and if comments are received the board can discuss them at their August meeting. She added that notices typically will go out approximately 30 days before any road closure. Ms. Prunty mentioned that the Christmas theme this year will be the Grinch and titled “Grinchmas” and will include charity tie-ins including the Ground Round doing a breakfast with the Grinch on November 21st and window displays will be themed. Ms. Daniels inquired if the board was in favor of continued participation in the Downtown Action Council. She stated that they used to hold an annual conference which she attended but that has been discontinued. It costs $100 to be part of the Council but she was unsure what benefit it provides if any. Ms. Lang asked if the BID promotes that we are part of it and Ms. Daniels replied that we do not as they are not doing much other than assisting small cities or towns with their downtown identities and expansions through seminars. Board census was to allow Ms. Daniels the flexibility to determine if she wants to continue. VI – CITY OF OSHKOSH DOWNTOWN PARKING STUDY UPDATE Mr. Buck mentioned that a consultant was selected and a stakeholder meeting will take place near the second week of August. David Sparr will be invited to participate on the board’s behalf. Mr. Stapel asked if anything regarding acquiring Anchor Bank was determined and Mr. Buck responded that the parking study will have a broader scope but was confident it would be a component. Ms. Anderson stated that she felt that Anchor Bank acquisition is an important component and must be considered at a minimum. Discussion took place at whether the use of funds for the study would be better spent on acquisition/development and the need to have the study to reinforce decision making. Ms. Lang stated that she would like to see other BID members participate and be sure that the hotel and/or City Center are included on the stakeholder group as representatives of bigger downtown entities who need to be represented. Kurt Koeppler or Jim Larson was suggested, if they are not already involved. VII – W.E.D.C. WORKSHOP ON MAIN STREET AND CONNECT COMMUNITIES Mr. Buck informed the board that WEDC will be conducting an information workshop on the Main Street Program at the Convention Center on August 11 from 3-6 pm. Darrin Wasniewski from WEDC is organizing and conducting the workshop but Mr. Buck was unsure how it is being promoted. Ms. Daniels said she has checked their website and has not seen anything about it. DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES July 21, 2015 3 VIII – IDENTIFICATION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE AUGUST 18, 2015 MEETING Discussion took place regarding the changes to the BID law changes. Mr. Stapel is hoping to get clarification if the exemption is for multiple-family, who probably chose to locate downtown to take advantage of the lively environment created by the BID, or owner occupied single-family, who may have been preexisting. He added that either way it will have a big impact on the BID budget so we may want to take a position and communicate that position to the legislature. Mr. Sparr added that the changes take into account exclusion of the residential portion of mixed-use developments as well and agreed that is will cause difficulty with assessments for the city and the BID. Mr. Larson expressed his thought that it will have a big impact and that the BID should have a position. Ms. Prunty agreed that she felt that the board should take a position. Mr. Larson suggested that Mr. Nau could perform theoretical calculations on the affect as he believed the top cap and bottom cap properties would not be affected but that the 30% in the middle will have a drastic impact and the board discussed what impacts would take place to what areas of the BID. Mr. Sparr asked if the board felt that any changes to the policies need to take place at all, regardless of the impacts. Ms. Lang mentioned that she did not feel the calculations are required and the board could take a stance on the policy without them as the residential components downtown are getting much of their value and having higher levels of success in part because of the programs and activities that are planned and in place. Mr. Larson stated that he felt we should write a position as the Oshkosh BID Board and made the motion for staff to write a position letter to the state legislature stating that the BID Board is not in favor of changes to the current BID assessment policy and local control should be retained with individual entities continuing to decide what makes the best sense for their particular situation as well as stating that residential development downtown has heightened values and reap great benefit from being in a BID area because of programs and activities that go along with it. Mr. Stapel seconded the motion which passed unanimously. The board stated that the next agenda should include the street closure for Trick-or-Treat, updates on the parking study and the WEDC workshop/Main Street Program, and the letter distribution regarding the BID assessment changes. IX – ADJOURNMENT With there being no further business, Sandy Prunty moved for the meeting to be adjourned at 8:37 am. Mr. Larson seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Respectfully Submitted, David Buck Principal Planner