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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutesDOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES February 21, 2017 PRESENT: Kris Larson, Jim Stapel, Sandy Prunty, Kay Bahr, David Sparr, David Krumplitsch, Marlo Ambas, Andy Ratchman, Chanda Anderson, James Evans and Benjamin Rennert EXCUSED: Megan Lang STAFF: Cassie Daniels – BID Manager, Jeffrey Nau - Associate Planner OTHERS: Sergeant Chris Gorte – Oshkosh Police Department, John Casper – Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, Rob Kleman – Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, Corey Mikkelson -Leadership Oshkosh/Choice Bank I - CALL TO ORDER Vice-Chair Larson called the meeting to order at 8:04 a.m. and a quorum was declared present. II – APPROVE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 20, 2016 MEETING There was no discussion on this item. Jim Stapel moved to approve the minutes of the December 20, 2016 meeting as presented. James Evans seconded the motion which passed unanimously. III – POLICING/TRAFFIC/PARKING ENFORCEMENT ISSUES Sergeant Gorte introduced himself to the Board as the new Oshkosh Police Department BID Liaison. Sergeant Gorte informed the Board that activity has been quiet in the downtown and had nothing to report. Chanda Anderson asked when the spring Pub Crawl was scheduled. Sergeant Gorte responded sometime in April but did not have the exact date. Marlo Ambas arrives at 8:07. IV – MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT There was no discussion on this item. Jim Stapel moved to approve the monthly financial report as presented. Chanda Anderson seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES February 21, 2017 VII – DISCUSS POSSIBLE BID TAKEOVER OF MANAGEMENT OF HOLIDAY PARADE Vice-Chair Larson asked the Board if they would mind moving up the Holiday Parade agenda item for discussion. The Board concurred. John Casper introduced himself and provided background on the Chamber’s role in organizing and managing the annual Holiday Parade over the past several decades. Mr. Casper felt that a downtown organization like the BID was better suited to manage the parade since the parade is held in the downtown. He added that managing the parade has become too burdensome for Chamber staff which takes away from other job duties. Kris Larson commented that he, Chair Lang, and BID Manager Daniels have been in discussion about this since last September and he was generally in favor of the BID taking the event over. Mr. Evans asked Mr. Casper how much staff was used to manage the parade. Mr. Casper responded one staff person which spends a lot of time throughout the year working on the parade. Mr. Evans inquired as to how many people are needed the day of the parade. Mr. Casper responded a lot of people; most of the Chamber staff and a lot of volunteers – it is a lot of work. Mr. Larson stated this may be a potential revenue generator for the BID. Mr. Casper added they make around $6,000 to $8,000 each year in sponsorships. Mr. Evans asked how much the Special Events permit costs. Mr. Casper responded not much as they pretty much only need barricades. He added that since the BID is quasi-city, there may be no fee at all. Mr. Rennert asked how many people are needed on parade day. Mr. Casper responded between 20 and 30 volunteers, some are high school students, from Leadership Oshkosh, etc. Mr. Sparr said he thought the Chamber was doing a great job with the parade and should continue to manage it. Mr. Larson said the Chamber would be willing to assist the first transition year. Mr. Casper concurred. Ms. Anderson said this was a great opportunity to build the BID, get bigger and do more. She added there may be a need to get Ms. Daniels an assistant. Mr. Sparr disagreed; maybe the BID could take over in the future. He feared this would be too much work for Ms. Daniels plus getting volunteers is always a problem. Ms. Anderson replied there is already a volunteer base. Ms. Prunty felt there was not enough income to be worth it. She suggested the BID could assist the Chamber. DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES February 21, 2017 Mr. Evans also feared Ms. Daniels would be taking on too much. He also was opposed to closing his store to volunteer on one of the busiest nights of the year. Jim Stapel stated from past experience, managing the parade is a lot of work, even more so when you cannot get enough volunteers. He still felt the BID’s main purpose is to provide free parking. Also he felt this would not be worth creating another full or part time employee. Mr. Larson asked BID Manager Daniels what her thoughts were. Ms. Daniels said she talked to last year’s organizer and said they were short about ten volunteers on parade day and five people on the parade committee. She added her biggest fear was not having enough volunteers and that she already has a lot going on that time of year. She added that Appleton has five full- time employees, one part-time employee and a great volunteer base. Ms. Anderson asked Mr. Casper what was the most time consuming tasks managing the parade. Mr. Casper responded fundraising, coordination, hiring bands and working with the media. Ms. Prunty asked Mr. Casper if there could be a partnership. Mr. Casper responded it would be cleaner if they cut ties completely. Mr. Evans suggested looking into other partnerships like the Foundation. Mr. Kleman stated that if the parade went away it could tarnish the BID’s reputation. Mr. Larson asked the Board, in addition to himself, who would be willing to volunteer on the parade committee. Ms. Anderson responded she would. Mr. Stapel said he would not want the parade to go away and would expect the Chamber to assist in a transition year if the BID takes over. Mr. Evans still felt this would be too much work for their one employee. He added the Board may have to reevaluate Ms. Daniel’s other duties. James Evans motioned for the BID to take over management of the Holiday Parade on a one year trial with BID supplied volunteers and collaboration with the Chamber. There was no second. Chanda Anderson motioned for the BID to take over management of the Holiday Parade with assistance from the Chamber for the first year. Kris Larson seconded the motion. Mr. Stapel said he was fine with the motion but would not be able to volunteer. DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES February 21, 2017 Ms. Anderson stated she would not let the parade go away. The motion passed 6-4 (Nays – Sparr, Evans, Krumplitsch, Prunty) V – BID MANAGER AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS BID Manager Daniels presented a summary of her activities over the past month as outlined in the BID Manager’s report included in the BID packet. Highlights include:  The Downtown Directory is complete. This year it was updated in-house to save money and is currently out to print.  The Downtown Website directory has been updated.  The information kiosk at Opera House Square will be updated in March  Working with Mr. Ambas on a 1-1 ½ minute video on what the BID is.  Organizing a Wine Walk in April or May  Working on a summer punch card program. About 20 businesses are interested.  Working on finding a welcome sign location at Manske Law Office.  Flowers will be planted before Memorial Day.  Had a booth at the Chamber Expo.  Went on tours of the Beach and Washington Avenue Apartments. VIII – DOWNTOWN WELCOME BAGS (PRUNTY) Ms. Prunty informed the Board that she was working on preparing welcome bags that would be distributed to new residents to the downtown area. The bags will contain coupons and offers from various businesses to encourage them to frequent the downtown. IX – IDENTIFICATION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE MARCH 21, 2017 MEETING Appoint Board Members to Committees X – ADJOURNMENT With there being no further business, Jim Stapel moved for the meeting to be adjourned at 9:17 a.m. Chanda Anderson seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Respectfully Submitted, Jeffrey Nau Associate Planner