Downtown Development Authority Minutes

Present: Christopher Johnson, Kim Behmer, Margene Buckhave, David Cole, Jim DeHaan, Lynda Heaton, Lou LaChance, Dave Larsen, Jim Long, Greg Presley, Rick Shaffner

Absent: None

Also Present: City Manager Gary Word, DDA Director Lori Ward, School Board Representative Joan Wadsworth, and Recording Secretary Carol Kasprowicz

1. Citizen Comments: - None

The minutes of the July 19, 2005 meeting were corrected to include a request for an election of officers at the August 16^th meeting. The minutes were approved as corrected.

Director Ward formulated a list, "Downtown Action Items," by combining the recommendations of the recently composed Gibbs Report, the suggestions as listed in the Downtown Steering Committee Final Report, and several ideas brought forth in recent discussions at DDA meetings. The list was created to aid in the effort to separate possible items that could be pursued expeditiously without interfering or preempting the Beckett & Raeder strategic plan.

Several projects were identified as being presently "underway" in addressing specific issues, including:

· Improve enforcement of existing parking regulations.

· Improve the parking way-finding signage system.

· Improve the maintenance of parking deck stairwells, including significant refinishing of interiors.

· Make parking available in the lower level of the MainCentre parking deck for downtown employees, and advertise the program.

· Restore, replace, and/or add to existing street furniture.

· Maintain and restore existing streetscape lighting.

· Replace trees that are in poor condition.

· Paint and repair bandshell area.

· Pursue grant opportunities for downtown improvements, arts, and marketing.

· Improve the lighting of all parking decks.

· Remove existing business locater signs.

· Establish low-interest loan program to encourage façade improvements, replace signs and awnings.

· Consider establishing a façade grant program.

· Enforce existing ordinances that contribute to a vital downtown, i.e. signage, window coverage, and parking.

· Develop historic markers and self-guided walking tours of downtown and surrounding residential areas.

· Develop an RFP for the development of a marketing plan for the downtown.

· Enclose or relocate the trash containers located in the surface parking lots and alleys.

· Remove and replace trees on a larger scale.

· Replace existing business locater signage with "You are here" signage that includes a map with business locater.

· Improve signage to public restrooms.

· Consider increasing maximum building heights in the CBD zoning district.

· Remove GCD zoning adjacent to downtown.

· Allow retail uses in the PBO zoning district by right. Consider removing the maximum floor area ratio.

· Reduce required retail parking from 1 car / 200 sq. ft. to 1 car / 300 sq. ft.

· Adopt a 70% minimum clear-glass frontage for all new construction. Implement a sunset policy on existing buildings located at Center and Main Streets.

· Allow for widened or relocated store front door openings.

· Review Historic District Commission guidelines with regards to building height and mass.

· Review Historic District guidelines with regards to awnings, storefront materials, and facades.

· Pursue grant opportunities for individual businesses.

· Pursue the enactment of an ordinance that prohibits anything but retail on the first floor of property in the downtown.

Discussion ensued on possible assistance to business owners to support them in their efforts to succeed. Additional discussion centered on the need for expertise in retail mix in addition to a marketing plan for the downtown. Beckett & Raeder will be questioned as to what they will be contributing with regards to marketing in their strategic plan.

Director Ward was directed to incorporate the designations/suggestions of the DDA into the "Downtown Action Items" document for submittal to the City Council at its special meeting of August 29^th.

City Manager Word reviewed the memo of Chief Petres regarding the preparation of bid documents for the handheld computer parking ticket system, enforcement scheduling, and fiscal year 2005 expenses. DDA members expressed frustration at the delay in obtaining the computer parking ticket system.

No discussion or questions.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:21 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol T. Kasprowicz
Recording Secretary