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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBID Minutes 8-15 Downtown Business Improvement District Board Meeting Minutes August 19, 2015 Attending: Mike Basile, Dan Himsworth, Ileana Indreland, Erik Nelson, Eric Sutherland, Chris Naumann Guests: Mitch WerBell, COB and Luke Howard, SWIMBIA Absent: Eric Bowman, Dylan Clarkson Public Comments: None Disclosures: None Minutes Ileana Indreland requested that her quote regarding the NCOD also include her statement about the possibility that the district might need to be eliminated. ACTION: Erik Nelson moved to approve the July minutes as presented with the requested edit. Mike Basile seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Finance Report Chris presented the Finance report reviewing the year-end revenues and expenditures as of June 30, 2015. He noted that the flower sponsorship revenues of $8400 far exceeded the budget of $7000. He also pointed out that the total program expenses came in about $4000 less than budgeted. Due to the contract revenues and less than expected expenses, the year-end balance was $9,715. The board had no questions regarding the finances. Executive Director’s Report Maintenance Program Update We currently fully staffed for the busy summer season. We have one “full”-time downtown maintenance staff person working Wednesday through Sunday. For flower watering, we have one part-time person working Monday through Friday and a second PTE working Saturday and Sunday. Plus, we also have one part-time garage maintenance staff. Below are the maintenance statistics comparing year-to-date figures from this year (FY16) to the statistics from the same period last year (FY15). FY2016 FY2016 Total Average Total Average Difference Trash Emptied 357 357 410 410 +53 Recycling Emptied 53 53 72 72 +19 Graffiti Removed 11 11 49 49 +38 Downtown Truck Traffic Study The Downtown Bozeman Partnership has released a truck traffic study “Understanding Commercial Truck Traffic through Downtown Bozeman”. The study quantifies and qualifies through-truck traffic along Main Street and identifies alternative truck routes. The study counted a total of 133 trucks passing through downtown per day. Of those, 99 per day were trucks making local deliveries and the remaining 34 per day were through-trucks. The recommended alternate route would include I-90 and Jackrabbit Lane. The study can be found at: http://www.downtownbozeman.org/pdf/WTI%20Truck%20Traffic%20Study-Final%20Report%20June%202015.pdf Building Project Updates—no changes 5 West Building (northwest corner of Mendenhall and Tracy) is planning to begin site preparation at the end August with demolition and construction beginning after Labor Day. Etha Hotel (old Armory building) is planning to begin construction this month. The encroachment permit for the site is pending proper insurance. Dutton Building (131 West Main--corner of Grand and Main) is mostly complete. Shirtworks, the anchor tenant, opened two weeks ago. The other two ground floor commercial spaces are leased. The second floor office space is in negotiations. Block M Residences (on Lamme between Black & Tracy) Construction of Phase 2 has begun and should be completed early Fall of 2015 which includes 8 additional units. Element Hotel (at old Kenyon Noble site): Projecting to open in early September 2015. Downtown Parking Update After receiving 5 responses to the Downtown Bozeman Comprehensive Parking Plan RFP and interviewing 4 firms, Rick Williams Consultants of Portland was selected. We are currently finalizing the scope of services and contract. RWC should begin in August and deliver a final plan in February 2016. Discussion and Decision Item General Discussion RE: new BID Garage Cleaning Employee Mike Basile and Ileana Indreland asked that Chris make sure the new employee focus on keeping the elevators and stairwell doors particularly clean at the garage. RE: Recycling Receptacles Erik Nelson said he would like to see the number of receptacles increased so that there would be more than one per block face along Main Street. He feels like there are several side street locations where recycling would be well used. He asked if there were smaller receptacles that could be “attached to the trash cans. RE: Downtown Comprehensive Parking Plan Ileana requested that every BID property owner be engaged and informed of the opportunities to participate in the development of this plan. RE: Tenant Mix Issue Several board members expressed concern about the recent number of retail spaces being converted to restaurants. All agreed that once such a conversion took place it most likely would not be reversed. The question was raised “what is the ‘right’ mixture of retail and restaurant businesses?” Chris said he recently found an 80-page report about how district practitioners can impact tenant mix. He agreed to review the report and provide the board with summary and a link to the report. RE: Increased BPD Foot Patrols Mike Basile said he noticed an increase in the number and frequency of transients ‘hanging out’ downtown. He asked if it would be possible to have a more prominent police presence on the sidewalks, not in patrol cars. Ileana added that especially since the MSU students are returning to Bozeman and the Element Hotel will be opening that she agrees that a more visible police presence would be beneficial. The board requested that Chris draft a letter to the police chief making a formal request. The board also indicated they would appreciate if the chief would attend the October meeting to have a general discussion about downtown safety. Appointment of Board Officers ACTION: Ileana Indreland moved to appoint Eric Bowman as board chairperson. Eric Sutherland seconded the motion. All voted in favor. ACTION: Erik Nelson moved to appoint Eric Sutherland as board vice-chairperson. Ileana Indreland seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Food Truck Regulation Framework Chris presented the draft food truck regulatory framework (see below) that has been developed by the Community Development Department staff. Mike Basile asked that language be included that would prohibit food trucks from operating in residential areas except if in conjunction with a private event. Erik Nelson said it would be extremely helpful if a map could be created that would show where food trucks would be allowed if regulated as proposed. Chris said he would provide a map at the next meeting. Ileana Indreland said she does not think food trucks should be allowed on any downtown streets but rather be restricted to private lots. Dan Himsworth said he tends to agree. Mike Basile agreed as well. Erik Nelson said he sees the value of having food trucks downtown but it is difficult to determine that value at the loss of public parking and direct brick and mortar competition. Chris informed the board that the same presentation was given and discussion had with the DBA and TIF boards. He said the DBA board thought the framework was reasonable acknowledging that revisions may need to be made after a year or two. The TIF board thought the framework might be too restrictive. Ileana said that property owners and the BID board best understand this issue. Chris said he would be meeting with the Community Development staff to report on the discussions with all three boards. **Meeting was adjourned at 1:10pm** Food Truck Regulation Framework Drafted by: Chris Naumann, Downtown Bozeman Partnership and Mitch WerBell, Department of Community Development (8/3/15) Mobile food truck is defined as a self-contained motorized unit from which a Mobile Food Vendor offers for sale or sells edible goods to the public. Concession trailer is defined as a vending unit that is pulled by a motorized unit and has no power to move on its own from which a Mobile Food Vendor offers for sale or sells edible goods to the public. Permitting: $150 annual mobile food vendor public area use fee, valid for 1 year from date of issuance, permit must be displayed along with license from health dept., business license, and proof of public liability insurance. Mobile Food Vendor permits available at the Department of Community Development. Location: Mobile Food Vendors are only allowed on designated “local” streets. Food trucks are prohibited on streets designated as: Collector, Minor Arterial, or Principal Arterial. May not conduct business within any Residential zone, unless on private property with permission from owner. In the downtown B-3 district, may not operate on the same ½ block of any customer entrance for any permanent food service facility (restaurant as defined in UDC) during the posted business hours. In all other zones, may not operate within 25 feet of any customer entrance of a restaurant. Parking Regulations: Mobile food vendors are subject to all applicable parking regulations within the City (e.g. 2 hour time limits, loading zones, ADA parking, site vision triangles, etc.). Signage: Signage must be permanently affixed to the mobile food vehicle, or concession trailer. Signs can’t block pedestrian facilities or the right of way and must be flush with the vehicle. Vehicles must provide one fixed area for menu display. Sign plan must be submitted with mobile food vendor permit. No banners or flags or signs can block right-of-way or extend above vehicle. No awnings are permitted in the right-of-way. No distribution of handbills, ads, or the like onto cars or public property. Noise and Smells: Regulations should prohibit external generators and/or limit wattage size and provide dimensional and performance standards for an enclosure for generators that would be attached to the vehicle. The regulations should establish requirements and specific standards for “whisper quiet generators.” *The guidelines/rules for local farmer’s markets might be appropriate.* No amplified music is permitted in conjunction with the vehicle. Idling of the vehicle is prohibited during service of food. Must display a no smoking sign next to food service window on truck. Exhaust: Idling of the vehicle is prohibited during service of food. Food preparation equipment shall not exhaust directly on to the sidewalk. Generator exhaust shall not be directed towards the sidewalk. Seating: Vendor tables and chairs are prohibited. No other encroachments into the right-of-way, including the sidewalk, are permitted. Garbage: Vendor is prohibited from depositing garbage in public receptacles. Vendors are required to leave sidewalk and immediate area free of any trash and food waste. Each unit should be equipped with a portable trash receptacle, affixed to truck or out of the public right of way. Vendor is responsible for off-site disposal. Lighting: All lighting associated with vehicles should be subject to full cut off requirements and glare and nuisance provisions. Safety: Must keep a tagged fire extinguisher readily accessible. Must register a commissary location on the application. Hours of Operation: No restrictions other than underlying parking regulations. Length/Type of Vehicles: Allow both “mobile food trucks” and “concession trailers” but with maximum use of two adjacent public parking stalls or no more than 36 linear feet.