Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutBID Minutes 4-09 Downtown Business Improvement District Board Meeting Minutes 4/22/2009 Present : Mike Basile, Eric Bowman, Ileana Indreland, Dan Himsworth, Buck Taylor Chris Naumann Guests: Mike Grant Absent : Dan Harding Eric Bowman calls the meeting to order. Public comments Minutes ACTION: Mike Basile motioned to accept the minutes from March 2009. Buck Taylor seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Financial Report th Chris presented the monthly financial report. Chris indicated that the 4 quarter Partnership management fee was paid ($15,375) and the balance of the marketing line item was transferred th to the Partnership to pay for the general marketing campaign following the March 5 disaster. Other expenses included the monthly costs associated with the maintenance program. Executive Director’s Report Business Improvement District Board nd April 22 2009 Downtown Improvement Plan th The LMN Consulting Team spent the week of April 13 in Bozeman working on the Downtown Improvement Plan. They held a series of stakeholders meeting which consisted of interviewing 40 individuals representing the following groups: Non-Downtown (MSU, Deaconess, Tech), Property Owners, Business Owners, Arts and Culture, Downtown Neighborhoods, Architectural Professionals, th Financial Professionals, and City Officials. On April 14, approximately 40 people attended a Public Forum regarding downtown and the Plan. From all of the input gathered, incorporated with extensive background research, the Team formulated some initial concepts and major themes to develop further: ? Identify Downtown sub-areas based on their unique existing conditions and future needs for preservation and/or improvement. ? Improve Bozeman Creek as the centerpiece of downtown open/green space system that will include pocket parks and alley enhancements. ? Promote residential infill and development primarily north of Main Street along the Mendenhall corridor. A significant increase in residential density will support the commercial core and drive further economic development. ? Recommend specific zoning and code modifications to that provide incentives for a variety of economic development. Modifications would include parking requirements and parkland provisions. ? Transform Babcock and Mendenhall into walkable, liveable, complete streets. The Team made a preliminary presentation at the Downtown Annual Breakfast to an audience of about 80 downtown community members. The Team will complete a draft of the Plan by early June, at which time they will return to Bozeman to review with stakeholders and City officials. The draft will then be release for public review and comments. A final version of the Plan will be presented to the City Commission for adoption in July of 2009. Parking Garage Update th The Downtown Parking Garage opened on Monday, April 13. Ellie and I have been serving as Parking Ambassadors along with members of the Parking Commission and City staff. The Ambassadors have been assisting first time visitors with the logistics of parking (and paying) at the garage. The overall impression from the public has been very positive. The spring snowstorm inspired many people to try sheltered parking. All but one of the commercials spaces surrounding the facility have been leased or purchased. Streamline will begin to use the facility as their downtown transfer station before the end of April. A grand opening ceremony is being planned for the coming weeks. No date has been set. Discussion and Decision Items Maintenance Program Chris informed the board that while the unexpected events of March delayed moving forward with the full-time maintenance program, he was confident that tasks could be completed in May. He indicated that in hopes of attracting applicants without attracting too many he planned to announce the full-time maintenance position to a select group of the downtown community. First, he proposed contacting the business owners impacted by the blast and offer the position to any of their displaced employees and second he would advertise the available position to the downtown e-mail list serve group. The board agreed that placing a classified ad would solicit a potentially unmanageable number of applicants. The group felt confident that the strategic announcement proposed by Chris would yield plenty of interest. Chris indicated that he was still planning to contact the Bozeman car dealerships about used trucks and inquire about program vehicles. Mike Basile provided Chris with several names at the dealers to contact. Parking Sign Project Update The board asked about the downtown parking sign project. Chris relayed that regulations pertaining to federally funded roadways (Main Street-Hwy 191) prescribe parking directional signage to a uniformly designed green “P” and arrow. This requirement compromises the blue “P” branding that will be implemented elsewhere in the downtown parking district. Chris indicated that the project was proceeding and the additional directional street signs would be manufactured and installed according to federal specifications, while the surface lot signage and garage signage would be implemented according to plan. Flower Baskets on Willson Chris related that several business owners along South Willson Avenue had inquired about extending the flower basket program down the west side of the street from Main to Babcock. Chris added that there are 5 lamps along this stretch, which would require 10 flower baskets, and therefore the cost would be $1500 to add these baskets. Chris reminded the board that since the BID maintenance employee would be doing the watering there would be on increased costs associated beyond the purchase of the baskets. The group concluded that this would be a great expansion of the flower basket program. Mike Grant suggested that securing a few flower sponsorships from the businesses along South Willson could offset a portion of the increased costs. Chris agreed that he would personally inform the businesses that the baskets would be added and ask that they sponsor the program. The board acknowledged that the residual program expense increase could be covered by STIP dollars. ACTION: Dan Himsworth motioned to invest STIP funds not to exceed $1000 to support the addition of flower baskets along the west side of South Willson Avenue between Main Street and Babcock Street. Buck Taylor seconded the motion. All voted in favor. With no new or old business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.