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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-16-08 BID Minutes• Downtown Business Improvement District Board Meeting Minutes 1 /16/2008 Present: Chris Naumann, Eric Bowman, Dan Himsworth, Buck Taylor, Chris Pope Absent: Travis Collins, Dan Harding, Ileana Indreland Chris called the meeting to order. No comments from the public received. ACTION: Chris Pope moved to approve the minutes from December 19, 2007. Dan Himsworth provided the second. No discussion All in favor Financial Report: Chris indicated that there were no expenses other than scheduled/budgeted items. He noted that we should come in under budget on maintenance payroll expenses. He calculated that the BID would have $33,725 in expense over the second half of the year which would require STIP money to . cover. Executive Director's Report Downtown Alley Update I confirmed with John Vandelinder that the City has purchased a small loader-mounted milling machine and used paver with the intent to resurface the alleys downtown. John acknowledged that it will be a slow process due to the amount of hand work around the utilities and buildings plus the possibility of encountering storm drains in need of repair. He identified the alley behind Ace Owenhouse as the "worst" and therefore the likely to be worked on first. They plan to start this summer. Parking Sign Plan Open Forum 12 people attended January 11ths Parking Sign Plan Open Forum. Intrinsik and Massive presented the shortcomings of our current parking signage, exemplified effective signage in other communities and presented some potential design elements. The group provided excellent feedback and insight to the designers. Thank you to Chris Pope for representing the BID board. The next step is to solidify the budget and timeline. Christmas Wreaths The Christmas Wreaths that the BID installed at Rouse, Church and Wallace were very well received. The manufacturer e-mailed me a $100 off • coupon and informed me that there will be a significant savings in the future for orders placed prior to manufacturing. If we place an order before March 1, 2008 the wreath price will be $255. Any wreaths ordered later m the summer or fall will cost $425 each. The BID might want to consider ordering 8 wreaths to decorate • the Grand and 3rd intersections. The total of an 8 wreath order prior to 3-1-08 would equal $1940, at a later date the same order would cost $3400 (a difference of $1460). We would take delivery of this early order later in the summer. Website The Downtown Bozeman Partnership will launch a new website in early February at www.dowtownbozeman.org. The new site will contain a much greater volume of content including an online version of the Downtown Directory, an interactive calendar of events, and a special media component to feature the Music on Main performers. The website will also contain an "About Us" page that will explain all of our acronyms: DBP, DBA, BID and TIF. Discussion and Decision Items: STIP Funds Available and Potential Projects Early Christmas Wreath Order (February action deadline) Objective: Install Christmas wreaths at Grand and 3rd next holiday season. If we place an order before March 1, 2008 the wreath price will be $255. Any wreaths ordered later in the summer or fall will cost $425 each. The BID might want to consider ordering 8 wreaths to decorate the Grand and 3rd intersections. The total of an 8 wreath order prior to 3-1-08 would equal $1940, at a later date the same order would cost $3400 (a difference of $1460). We would take delivery of this early order later in the summer. • Cost: $2250 ($1940 plus shipping) Graffiti Removal Project (February action deadline) Objective: Conduct a downtown wide graffiti clean-up event this Spring. A primary objective with this project will be to make it a community involvement event. All attempts will be made to secure the products and services as donations, but monies should be earmarked to buy paint, graffiti removal chemicals, brushes, rollers, rubber gloves, protective eyewear, and for the rental of power washers. Cost: $3000 "No Bikes or Skateboards on Sidewalks" Signs (February action deadline) Objective: Fund the purchase of signs for entire downtown district for installation this Spring. The City BPD and Streets Department would otherwise budget for this expense as part of the next budget cycle which would delay installation 6-12 months. Cost: $5000 Control Box Art Project (March action deadline) Objective: Fund a juried art contest to select artists to paint the 7 new traffic signal control boxes located on Main Street. The selected artists would be awarded $500 and all of the painting supplies would be provided by the BID. • Studies have shown that graffiti prone surfaces that are covered with legitimate artwork are no longer the targets of vandalism. See images for examples. • Cost: $5000 Downtown Directory Kiosks (March action deadline) Objective: To provide 2 or 3 outdoor kiosks that would on display the basic contents of the Downtown Directory on a large, public scale. For example, one panel would display an annual events calendar, one panel would include a map locating restaurants, one panel would include a map locating shopping, and one panel would include a map locating the arts, entertainment and culture. Possible locations include Soroptomist Park, the public setback in front of the Baxter, and the plaza area along Tracy adjacent to the Parking Garage. Cost: $9000 Downtown Parking Signage Plan (March action deadline) Objective: To provide matching funds with the TIF for the manufacturing of new public parking signs for the downtown district. In large part the effectiveness of the parking sign plan currently being developed depends on the available budget. More funds will result in a better built and more effectively implemented sign system to direct downtown patron to and from the available public parking options. Cost: $20,000 The Willson/Armory Project: Chris outlined the proposed demolition of the historic Armory and the subsequent construction of "The Willson" building. The materials provided by the Planning Department included a letter from Bechtel- Slade detailing the deteriorating condition of the existing structure rendering the building beyond use in their opinion. Chris indicated the proposed use of the 88,000+ square foot mixed use building to include residential, office, retail and parking components. The board viewed images of the Armory and architectural renderings of the proposed structure. Chris informed the board that the Planning Department has requested that he submit comments, on behalf of the Downtown Bozeman Partnership, regarding the proposal by February 6, 2008. Several members commented that the Armory, in their opinion, did not represent an important historical building in the downtown area, pointing out that not every historical structure can be saved. No one voiced that the Armory should be saved for historic reasons. The group discussed the advantages of the proposed building use versus that of the currently vacant building. The members also agreed that the real issue is the potential tax revenues generated by the new building versus the current tax revenues being contributed by the Armory. Chris offered to draft comments reflecting these points while avoiding any discussion on the actual architectural attributes of the proposed structure. Bozeman Wetland Park Project: Chris informed the board that he has received • a request from the local chapter of the Audubon Society for endorsement as part of a Land and Water Conservation Fund funding application. The LWCF monies would go toward the purchase of the wetlands to subsequently dedicated as a park complete with public access. Chris provided a written summary of the • project. Chris noted that in no way would the endorsement serve as an endorsement for or against the future bypass connecting Oak Street and Highland Blvd. ACTION: Eric Bowman moved that the BID board endorse the Audubon Society application for LWCF monies to purchase and preserve the 33-acre parcel of wetlands located east of the Village Downtown. Buck Taylor seconded the motion All in Favor The group informally discussed the following issues in closing: Having the Annual Meeting, as required by by-laws, in March. Potential Annual Meeting agenda items would include BID renewal, changing the way the BID assessment is calculated, and long-term strategic planning. Chris Naumann declared the meeting adjourned. Minutes respectfully submitted by Chris Naumann. Corrections made 2-22-08 by Chris Naumann • •