HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_MSTAB_04.26.2006Minutes of the Meeting of the
Main Street Advisory Board
City of Georgetown, Texas
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
The Main Street Advisory Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Wednesday , April 26, 2006.
Board Members Present:
Gordon Baker, chair; Cindy Locke, vice-chair, Dana Wood, Beverly Adam, Kirk Kriegel, Teri Brisse,
Sarah Jane Blankenship and Larry McCormick
Board Members Absent:
Laura Eliel
Staff Present:
Shelly Hargrove, Main Street Manager, Rebecca Rowe, HARC
Minutes
Regular Meeting
1)Meeting called to order by Chairman Baker at 9:10 A.M.
2)Rebecca Rowe representing HARC was introduced to the assembled group. She
discussed several items pertaining to the downtown overlay district. These included district
boundaries, desire to update survey of historic buildings, regulation relating to demolition of
historic buildings, HARC jurisdictional issues, enforcement of regulations and the Austin
Avenue retail project.
3)At 9:40 the assembled group took a brief tour of the downtown overlay district with
commentary by Mrs. Rowe.
4)After returning (10:15) to the meeting room in the Williamson County Historic Museum
Mrs. Hargrove gave a brief overview of the Main Street Program, including the four points that
guide the actions of the Main Street Board. In addition, she reviewed a list Main Street
accomplishments for the 2005/06 year and potential strategies for the coming year.
5)At 10:50 Chairman Baker introduced Steven Fearing, who acted as discussion facilitator
for the balance of the meeting. Mr. Fearing asked each member to express his or her passion for
the downtown.
6)Baker expressed a desire to attract specific (anchor) businesses to the downtown.
7)Cindy Locke would like to see greater coordination between various City units and would
like to see greater promotion of the downtown.
8)Kirk Kriegel and Dana Wood felt it was important preserve the historic aspects of the
downtown while promoting future development.
9)Cindy Locke expressed concern with financial issues related to the Poppy Festival.
10)Kirk Kriegel would like to see a closer affiliation between downtown businesses and
Southwestern University students.
11)Teri Brisse expressed a desire to preserve quaint nature of downtown while promoting it
on a countywide basis.
12)Larry McCormick expressed concern over retention of downtown retail outlets in the face
raising tax burdens and suggested that Hill Country Art Space might be a solution to the issue of
maintaining the vitality of downtown.
13)Beverly Adams pointed out that much of her business came from outside the local
community and seconded McCormick’s concern about the long-term viability of retail outlets in
the downtown.
14)Dana Wood expressed concern about retail businesses projecting a welcoming attitude.
Adams supported her in this concern. In addition, she expressed concern about retention of retail
outlets in the face of a rising tax burden.
15)Sarah Jane Blankenship is most deeply concerned with maintaining and improving the
aesthetic appeal of the downtown.
16)A list of concerns and desires was created based on this discussion and matched with
particular members interests. The intention is that these match-ups will result in actions that will
move the Board toward possible solutions for the problems identified. The issues and match-ups
are listed below:
·Hill Country Art Space – McCormick
·Poppy Festival and Marketing - Locke & Blankenship
·Southwestern collaboration with downtown – Kriegel
·Anchor Store Recruitment – Baker
·Collaboration of City Units – Locke
·Retail store attitude issue – Wood & Adams
·Tax relief options – Brisse & Baker
17)McCormick gave brief summary of the Hill County Art Park initiative. This initiative
will provide low cost housing and work space to area artisans if it can be demonstrated to be a
viable entity.
18)Kirk Kriegel moved that the Board endorse the Hill Country Art Space Initiative.
19)Motion seconded by Dana Wood. Motion carried unanimously.
20)Meeting adjourned by Chairman Baker at 1:30 P. M.