HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_MSTAB_09.13.2013L:\Global\Boards and Commissions\Minutes\MSTAB\2013\13-9-13 M.doc
MAIN STREET ADVISORY BOARD MTG. MINUTES
8:30 A.M. – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013
WILLIAMSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 710 S. MAIN ST.
2ND FLOOR NORTH CONFERENCE ROOM, GEORGETOWN, TEXAS
Board Members Present: Cindy Harrington, Julie Laderach, Linda McCalla,
Marcy Urban, David Kellerman, Amanda Parr and
Jim Wilson
Guests Present: Kay Briggs, Pink Poppy Artisans Boutique - 114 W
8th St.
City Staff Present: Shelly Hargrove, Main Street Manager; Matt
Synatschk, Historic Planner; Jack Daly, Executive
Assistant
1. The meeting was called to order at 8:31 a.m. by Board Chair David Kellerman.
2. Jim moved to approve the August 9th board meeting minutes, Amanda
seconded. All board members present approved (7-0).
3. Guest Kay Briggs with Pink Poppy ARTisans Boutique (114 W 8th St.) is
applying for a façade ($1,175) and sign ($351) grant totaling $1,526 to install pink
fabric awnings and new logo signage on awnings, windows and have one
hanging sign and one sidewalk sign. The hanging sign will be white metal and
hung from wrought iron and the windows signage will be white and pink vinyl
lettering. Opening is scheduled for the First Friday in October. Linda moved to
approve the $1,526 façade and sign grants, Julie seconded. All board members
present approved (7-0).
4. Jack and Linda presented on the selected vendor for the holiday lighting. The
total cost will be $46,791. Preferred Lighting was the vendor selected to do the
work. $800 will come from the library, $3,000 from Texas Crushed Stone, and
$1,000 from The Sun. The Main Street Advisory Board discussed the option of
doing another $500 sponsorship. Linda reminded the board to continue to
fundraising who they contacted last year and on their blocks. David asked if the
board raised $30,000 as opposed to $23,000, could they use the additional $7,000
for next year’s campaign. Cindy asked that everyone be sure to hand deliver their
fundraising letters to their blocks. Amanda mentioned that they should collect
email addresses from the merchants turning in pledge forms and add them to the
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database. The board decided to add a check box to allow the City to use the data.
The ER Committee is currently working to get the database working in Excel.
Julie moved to approve the $46,791 contract to work with Preferred Lighting.
Cindy seconded. All board members present approved (7-0).
5. Matt gave HARC update. Two HARC downtown projects scheduled for
September 26 - 124 E 8th Street (former Nonna's building) for final approval and
114 W 8th St. (Pink Poppy ARTisans Boutique). Downtown Master Plan Update -
next public meeting is scheduled for Sept 17th at 5:30 p.m. The Dimmitt Building
is developing plans to screen their mechanical equipment on the roof. They will
need to go to HARC for approval. Matt mentioned that HARC has been receiving
lots of negative comments at HARC and said he would appreciate if the board
would come speak in favor of projects they like. The complaints have generally
been from projects on the east side of the Square.
6. Committee Reports:
a. Economic Restructuring: Marcy reported that Breakfast Bites was a great
success and Jane Estes wrote a great article in The Sun on the session. The
next Breakfast Bites is in November and the proposed topic is social media.
Potential speakers include the SU Social Media Director, the Williamson
County Association of Realtors Social Media person, or a former LCRA and
State Tourism board employee. Marcy said they hope to have three panelists
to discuss. Cindy wants to make sure they cover how to promote your
business using free resources. Another topic for Breakfast Bites that was
proposed was to be tailored for entrepreneurs. This would include a CPA,
an expert on small business loans, and a City employee to talk about what
steps need to be taken to open a business downtown.
The Granbury trip is scheduled for Friday, October 18th. It will be a day trip.
Shelly asked that the board send their availability.
Jim reported that the Coach Joe show is still going every Wednesday night
at 8 p.m. President Berger spoke last Wednesday and was a “stand-up
comedian”. They also highlighted the player who scored two touch downs
is from Georgetown.
The first downtown pep rally was a success. 5,300 people showed up at the
game and 7,000 listened on the radio. Season tickets sold exceeded more
than any other team of that size. The next home game will be September 21
at 7 p.m.
One concern is that not many downtown restaurants stayed open after the
game, so it may behoove the Main Street Advisory Board to encourage
merchants to stay open later.
Jim also updated on Pirate Buc$. Looks like SU will continue to use the same
machines next year and will not be upgrading at this time. Amanda
mentioned that the SU bookstore was closed on Saturday and Wal-mart sold
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out of SU merchandise so there are opportunities available for merchants to
sell SU gear as long as they are licensed.
b. Promotion: Cindy reported Chet Garner received the Main Street Star
Award, an award for people who have promoted and done something
above and beyond for downtown. Please be on the lookout for future
recipients.
Ladies Nite Out will be on November 21st. The logo will be finalized
Wednesday. The 3rd Wednesday in October (Oct. 16th) will be a Mixology
fundraiser at El Monumento starting at 5 p.m. Funds will go towards the
holiday lighting campaign. Jeremy (of El Monumento) is hoping many
people will donate. The board is encouraged to invite people. Checks need
to be made out to Chisholm Trail Communities Foundation (CTCF) with
Light Up the Square in the memo line. The containers where the donations
will go need to have the logo on them at El Monumento and a letter needs to
be put together to invite people.
The calendar party went well. Patio at El Mon worked well with weather.
Swirl planning is going well. Ruby K’s in interested. The retail spaces are
sold for $75/unit for just a restaurant or a winery, and $150 for both. This
year they are trying to limit one unit to each building in an effort to reduce
lines. The hope is that 20-24 units will be sold. There is already a list of
committed retailers and Grace Heritage Church. A title sponsor has
tentatively been selected.
c. Organization: David reported that the new website will be up next month.
Calendar sales were mentioned in the Austin American-Statesman.
Calendars will be sold at All Things Kids and the Museum. There will also
be a tent at Market Days and Stroll selling calendars in November and
December.
d. Design: Amanda updated that the ornaments this year will be a herd of
longhorns with the Wilco Museum to pay tribute to the Chisholm Trail. The
mural project is pending approval from the potential property owner. If a
decision is not made by the next meeting, the board will change direction
and choose a new mural location.
The holiday window contest guidelines need to be updated and also find
judges. The board would like to remove the People’s Choice award and find
a ‘celebrity’ and media judges and possibly host a judges event that involves
a showmanship category. It would be possible to light up the windows at
Ladies Nite Out and having participants vote that night. Board members
will need to hand deliver entry forms and pick them back up
Julie mentioned that we need to clarify who is visiting merchants along the
Square to ensure not too many people stop by. The ER committee should not
be fund raising if the Advisory Board is fundraising.
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6. Shelly gave an update on the Kerrville Main Street Program visit. She wasn’t
surprised to hear that Kerrville faces many of the same issues: property owners
not utilizing properties, short hours, and a large retirement community. She also
mentioned the city visiting the Ant Street Inn and feels that downtown definitely
needs downtown lodging to get to the next level. The Art Center Sneak Peek
event is going to be on Saturday night. 115 invitations were sent out. Laurie
Brewer will be speaking at the Tuesday morning Breakfast Links and Shelly is
speaking at the Rotary on September 24th. The TDA Conference will be held on
November 5-8 and the City can pay for day registrations for boards to go to
meetings.
7. David moved to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 10:01 a.m.
Respectfully submitted:
____________________________ ____________________
Marcy Urban, Board Secretary Date
____________________________ ____________________
David Kellerman, Board Chair Date