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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_MSTAB_03.14.2014L:\Global\Boards and Commissions\Minutes\MSTAB\2014\Minutes_MSTAB_03.14.2014.doc MAIN STREET ADVISORY BOARD MTG. MINUTES 8:30 A.M. – FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014 WILLIAMSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 710 S. MAIN ST. 2ND FLOOR NORTH CONFERENCE ROOM, GEORGETOWN, TEXAS Board Members Present: Cindy Harrington, Julie Laderach, Vicki Jackimiec, Amanda Parr, Jim Wilson, Marcy Urban and David Kellerman Guest Present: Jennifer Cox, Hillsboro Main Street Manager City Staff Present: Shelly Hargrove, Main Street Manager; Jack Daly, Exec. Assistant; Matt Synatschk, Historic Planner 1. The meeting was called to order at 8:32 a.m. by Board Chair David Kellerman. 2. Jim moved to approve the February 14th board meeting minutes, Vicki seconded. All board members present approved (6-0, Cindy Harrington absent). 3. David led a review and discussion of the Main Street Advisory Board By-laws. Jim noted the 75% attendance rule and asked about the low-interest loan application. David clarified that everyone has to vote unless there is conflict of interest. Meetings are open to the public and must be posted 72-hours in advance. Special meetings, though rare, do occur and are typically for façade and sign grants. A quorum of the board is four members. 4. David reiterated the City Council Attendance Policy for Board Members. This includes subcommittee meetings. Board members can have a total of nine absences including committee meetings. They are allowed two excused medical absences. 5. David led a discussion regarding setting the time and date of for 2014 Main Street Advisory Board meetings. The meetings will continue to be on the 2nd Friday of the month at 8:30 in Courthouse. No changes to meeting procedures were discussed. 6. David explained that the vice-chair acts as the chair in the chair’s absence. The secretary signs the minutes. Marcy moved to nominate Jim as Vice-Chair, Amanda seconded. All board members present approved (7-0). Jim moved to nominate Marcy as Secretary, Amanda seconded. All board members present approved (7-0). 7. The board set their primary and secondary committee as follows: Amanda – Design (co-chair) and Organization Cindy –Promotions (chair) and Design Vicki – Design and Economic Restructuring L:\Global\Boards and Commissions\Minutes\MSTAB\2014\Minutes_MSTAB_03.14.2014.doc Jim – Economic Restructuring (co-chair) and Promotions Julie - Design (co-chair) and Economic Restructuring Marcy – Economic Restructuring (co-chair) and Promotions David – Organization (chair) and Design 8. Matt Synatschk gave the monthly HARC report. The Downtown Master Plan update is wrapping up. The first reading of the ordinance to adopt the plan will be on March 25th. The second reading will be on April 8th. The March HARC meeting will be on the 27th at 6 p.m. Several sign cases for downtown will be reviewed. Several projects are nearing completing downtown. 600 Degrees will soon begin work on their retaining wall and Silva Cell installation. 9th Street and Tin Barn Alley will both have streetscape improvements and utilities buried starting after Red Poppy Fest. Amanda asked about the Friendly Will Church demolition request. Matt explained that the request was denied by HARC and the applicants are appealing to city council. He also let the board know that the Leander Street demolition was approved. 9. Committee Reports: a. Promotion: Cindy reported that over 600 people attended Swirl and that the Promotions Committee has already had a review of the event. Concerns that came up during the event were the separation of the wineries from the restaurants and the size of the wine pours. Several restaurant locations also had their food run out. However, the promotion of “off-square” sites went well and The Screen Door had over 400 people through their door. Attendees also enjoyed the Chupa Rosa building as the hospitality location. Shelly noticed that this was a lot of attendees first Swirl and explained that it great for new people to come experience the Square and makes returns trips much more likely. Next year’s Swirl promotions will clarify that the event is a “pick-and-choose” event, and not an opportunity to try each participant’s sample. Next year’s tickets will also go up $5 in price and there is the potential for more chartered buses to attend. The wine auction went well and many tickets were sold the night of the event. The “Toast of the Town” people’s choice awards only had 34 ballots turned in, so that will need to have increased promotion in 2015. The winners this year were Grape Creek, El Monumento and the Screen Door. Jim asked about the event’s financials. Shelly said the city’s accounting department was still paying some invoices and she will have a report next month. Shelly said there were not enough volunteers and she noticed the need for more lighting on the square. Marissa and Joe did a great job as honorary chairs and Brian and Amanda were great as key sponsors. Next year the sponsorships may need to be restructured and the Promotions Committee needs to begin soliciting sponsorships in the summer. The committee may also consider coordinating volunteers through Starbucks but need to give six-month’s notice. b. Economic Restructuring: Jim reported that Breakfast Bites will be next Wednesday, March 19th. Chet Garner will emcee and the topic will be the X Games Austin. Jim also reported on the downtown database and is looking at Downtown Diva filemaker pro as a product that may fit the needs of the board. He also reported on IntroVisuals who is working on developing Google Street Views of businesses around the Square. Kid Mayor is also planning on interviewing mayoral candidates and a cash mob is being planned for downtown. Façade photos are being planned for Camille’s, ThunderCloud and Sweet Lemon. Sweet Lemon Inn has already opened and added to the lodging list. L:\Global\Boards and Commissions\Minutes\MSTAB\2014\Minutes_MSTAB_03.14.2014.doc Dr. Burger’s inauguration will be on March 25th. There will be food trucks on the lawn and the Shilling Lecture. Pirate Bike day is on March 19th to repair, replace, and maintain the Pirate Bikes. Donations can be made online. New Pirate Buc$ machines are being unveiled and more information will be available next month. The Granbury trip is still scheduled for March 21st. The van will be leaving from the Art Center at 7:30 am. c. Design: Amanda reported that the Main Street Mural call for artists has already received five entrees. There are still three weeks left to enter. Judging will be held on April 10th and the unveiling will be on May 29th. The ornament for 2014 will be the old county jail. The plan is to have increase to 400 and begin selling them in October during haunted house. The façade and sign grant application is being updated to allow for more accountability. There will be several opportunities for businesses to highlight their commitment to downtown and store hours and the form will give the Main Street Advisory Board the chance to clarify how to participate in each event. This is also an opportunity to consolidate all the fundraising forms for the year. David clarified that the board is allowed to limit and deny façade funding requests and is allowed to ask questions of the applicant. Amanda also reported that David will be speaking to city council on April 22 about fully funding the holiday lighting so the Main Street Advisory Board can focus on other projects. Amanda also asked about the 8th Street Courtyard and staff is waiting to hear if the current egress will meet ADA requirements. d. Organization: David reported that website updates can be passed along to him. A project that he has considered proposing is developing a fire suppression grant for downtown buildings. It would be an expensive proposition, but would go a long way in developing preventative safety measures for the square. 6. Staff Report: Shelly reported that there was an article with good coverage of the occupancy of downtown in Community Impact newspaper. She also passed out updated paperwork for everyone’s board binders and a copy of the board roster for everyone to double check. Finally, she asked that everyone have their boards come up with new potential projects for next year before the board retreat next month. The board retreat will be on Friday, April 11th. Lunch will come from the Monument Market. 7. David adjourned the meeting at 10:13 a.m. Respectfully submitted: ____________________________ ____________________ Marcy Urban, Board Secretary Date ____________________________ ____________________ David Kellerman, Board Chair Date