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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_MSTAB_06.20.2002City of Georgetown Main Street Program Advisory Board Meeting on June 20, 2002 MINUTES Members Present: Bryant Boyd Patty Eason Judith Manriquez Joshua McClure Glenda Overfelt Ellie Skross Members Absent: Virginia Stubbs Staff present: Verna Browning Charlie Walker Others present: Jim Dillard Karen Frost Renee Hanson Eugenia Harrell Chair Patty Eason called the meeting to order at approximately 8:35 AM. Because the May 16, 2002 minutes were not available, Glenda Overfelt moved and Judith Manriquez seconded that approval of the minutes be postponed. The motion was approved. Joshua McClure reported that he has been playing “telephone tag” with County Commissioner Hayes, so has no report at this time on member representation. Renee Hanson reported that on the 27th at 7:00 PM, the Planning & Zoning Commission will consider the Unified Development Code and their recommendations for policy issues to give to the City Council. She provided as a handout, a copy of the draft Use Table from Chapter 5 of the UDC, and suggested that members of the Board review it and discuss the provisions then determine if they want to make recommendations to the P&Z, either in writing or at the meeting. The UDC is scheduled to go to the City Council on August 8th. There was discussion of making a recommendation as a group, or of making written recommendations in the second phase. Renee also noted that the Master Plan for Downtown is back in the budget thanks to help from the Board, she is reviewing the draft, and will return to a later meeting to discuss the formation of a Main Street Committee to work with the consultant. Glenda Overfelt informed the Board that the Promotions Committee met on the Red Poppy Festival, reviewed the budget and found the Festival made $4200 for the Façade Fund. There was a discussion of the fees charged by the City for services, and the effect upon not only the Red Poppy Festival but also other community events such as the Rodeo Parade. The Board discussed pros and cons of going to the City Council to discuss these fees and other requirements, such as that for insurance. There was discussion of the functions and value of the Red Poppy Festival as a fundraiser and as a part of the character of the community , as well as the possibility of using event planners to put on the Festival. Bryant Boyd made a motion which Joshua McClure seconded, to recommend to the City Council that the Poppy Festival be continued for 2003 as a City-sponsored event, and that the date be set for April 19th. The motion was approved. Joshua McClure reported that he talked to Matthew Trubb about business recruitment assistance information, and that the Economic Development Commission is putting together a brochure. Charlie Walker reviewed the plans of the EDC for the website and promotional brochure, and explained that local advertising agencies were being invited to submit proposals. The EDC is scheduled to make a decision on an agency in August. Judith Manriquez reported on a May 24th meeting of the Organization Committee. She explained that meetings need to be held with building owners and businesses to determine their interest in a development corporation, and how they believe it should be funded. She said she talked to Judy Lester and John Montgomery about their previous effort to get support regarding plans for a development corporation to provide downtown parking facilities, and that they ran into problems getting signatures on a petition to support the effort. She did some strategy planning with Judy, and they recommended that an open meeting be held with building owners, with no options presented, to get ideas. From City staff, financial and legal support will be needed, and a facilitator will be needed to help with some of the meetings. Judith noted that she is considering some additional members for the Committee but wanted to talk to them before acting upon adding them. Judith moved and Joshua seconded, that a meeting be planned for business owners and merchants during the first week of August. This meeting would be facilitated and include information about the growth of merchants, use of land, historic preservation, promotion of downtown, economic development; it would be a brainstorming meeting about how to further the development of downtown. The original concept, that this board would cease to exist and a development corporation would replace it, would be presented for ideas. If the owners like and support Main Street, then they have to help it move to the next phase of private support. The motion was approved. Eugenia Harrell presented information for a draft Main Street newsletter, to bring everyone in the overlay district up to date. There was discussion about letting each member hand deliver it to their assigned blocks. Members were urged to provide information about their blocks to Eugenia or Verna, to be used to complete the Main Street reports to the Texas Historical Commission. Jim Dillard presented information about the Heritage Society’s goal to preserve architectural and historic buildings in Georgetown and the plaques they developed to promote this goal. He explained that these plaques were designed for homes, but that they could be modified for business buildings. They can be mounted to the building, gates, or on stakes, and the price will probably be $125. He also reported that the Heritage Society is updating or redoing the historic resources survey, to include Downtown. The requirements for a plaque are that the house be on the survey or eligible for the survey, and must have been built no later than the 1940s. Jim noted that the best type of plaque for downtown businesses might be like those used by Galveston, which have an etching of the building as it used to be. There was discussion about using Galveston’s model in a second phase, but starting with one for business buildings like the one the Heritage Society has for homes. It was suggested that Board members make the plaques available to buildings on their assigned blocks and Main Street Program offer a coupon to pay for them. Members agreed that they liked the idea of a cohesive program with the Heritage Society. Glenda Overfelt moved and Joshua McClure seconded, that the Main Street Board establish a formal, coordinated relationship with the Heritage Society to work together to get plaques for private and business buildings Downtown. The motion was approved. Promotion Committee report: Glenda Overfelt reported that the next meeting of the Red Poppy Festival Planning Group will be July 11th at 8:30 AM. Economic Restructuring Committee: no report. Design Committee: Bryant Boyd noted that the Board needs to get publicity about the award of the Façade Fund grant to the Escape. Organization Committee: information presented under previous item. There was discussion about the Board Retreat, and the date was rescheduled for August 6, 2002, from 5 until 9 PM. Staff reported on plans for a Labor Day celebration. The group agreed that this one should be coordinated by the Convention and Visitors Bureau rather than the Main Street Program. Agenda items for the next meeting are to include: 1) election of a new secretary, at Virginia Stubb’s request 2) discussion and action on a meeting of building and business owners. Motion to adjourn was made at approximately 10:30 AM by Joshua McClure.