HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-09-2017 Minutes _ -
����� � P� BIA Ratepayer Board IV�eeting
�� � October 9, 2017— 1:00 PM
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�y ° r� ��,����..N���;�-,�� Auburn City Hall Council Chambers
MINUTES
I. CALI TO ORDER
Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 1:18 pm by Vice Chair, Giovanni DiQuattro.
Board Members present:Vice Chair Giovanni DiQuattro, Board Members Josef'
Forsberg, Kelly Gordon, Darren Jones, Bob Klontz, Ronnie Roberts, and Laura
Theimer. Board Members absent: Chair Megan White, Lynda Krill, Kirk Lantier, Ruth
Neil-Stover,and William Cowart (alternate voting member).
Staff present: Doug Lein, Economic Development Manager; Tourism Coordinator
Chachere; Officer Darrell lones; and Holly Ferry, Board Secretary.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Board Member Gordon moved and Member Theimer second to approve the
September 11, 2017 minutes.
' MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 7-0
III. FINANCIAL REPORT
Economic Development Manager poug Lein reported that there had been no change
to the financial report since last month.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
A. Update on Draft to Ordinance G658
Manager Lein reported that the first hearing and briefing of the draft ordinance
with Council will take place at the Council Study Session on October 9 at 5:30 pm
in City Hall Council Chambers. There was an error on the date for public hearing
that will be taken care of at the next Council meeting,and the publie hearing will
be November 6 at 7:00 pm in Cify Hall Council Chambers. Several Board
members agreed to attend the Study Session.
B. Brandin�and Marketin�for the Fourth Quarter
Tourism Coordinator Lorraine Chachere presented some ideas that could be
coordinated and promoted to bring people to downtown and through the doors
of downtown businesses:Trick or Treating;Small Business Saturday; a Christmas
Tree Festival launch where shoppers could vote for their favorite tree. This
would also highlight the three Christmas tree farms in Auburn. She also
presented the current plan for a Mardi Gras parade in conjunction with Geaux
Brewing and The Quarters restaurant and the possibility of a spring fling wine
walk or craft beer event.
The Board was informed of the Tourism goals:to make viewers see Auburn in a
new way; to change their perception of Auburn;to share something that might
be new to them;to generate enthusiasm and participation of the current
residents;to cultivate civic pride, to promote Auburn's attractions—both retail
and restaurants; and to keep resident and visitor spending in Auburn.The Board
viewed the Tourism video clips.
12-Week Di�ital Campai�n Collaboration
Coordinator Chachere presented the draft form of the Tourism video clips,which
are targeted more toward locals and have more of a downtown focus. She
informed the Board that the Tourism Board would like to conduct a
comprehensive 12-week digital campaign featuring the video with a modified
portion of Mayor Backus,tying it together with the messaging on multiple
platforms—YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. It would allow targeting of
people geographically and accumulating data to know precisely the demographic
that is watching the ads to completion, which would give a better understanding
of the ROI and how to target rnarketing efforts. It would have an anticipated
start date of October 13 and run through January 4. She requested the Board
collaborate with the Tourism Board and Economic Development on this project,
as a small start in an ongoing relationship with the BIA, by allocating$2,500 to
have a profound impact on this campaign.
Board Member Theimer moved and Member Roberts second to budget and
partner with the Tourism Board $2,500.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 7-0
Downtown Aesthetic_Improvements
The question was raised about the status of the prior work that had been done
on making aesthetic improvements to downtown. Manager Lein informed the
Board that the Planning Department still has it in the works, but he was unsure
about the status. Staff from the Planning Department will give a briefing at the
next meeting.
Explore Auburn Website
The new Explore Auburn Tourism website was discussed. Because the Tourism
Board has been looking for a new agency that would maintain the site, Member
Jones agreed to supply the contact information for some local agencies he has
used. Coordinator Chachere presented the Explore Auburn Tourism website to
the Board and explained its features. She also informed the Board that another
fourth quarter project the Tourism Board is working on is a user-friendly,two-
sided tear-off map of Auburn that is not to scale but would featu�e major icons
showing what there is to do in Auburn and would highlight the downtown core
shopping and dining.The other side would tie-in to the website and include a QR
code that would connect people to the website,which would give more detail.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Report on Police's Approach to Parking
Manager Lein introduced Officer Darrell Jones, and reminded the Board that
Auburn Police Department does not make the rules for downtown parking. They
only enforce the current rules that were set forth by City Council. OfficerJones
informed the Board that there are fwo parking enforcement officers who are
assigned to the police department who handle parking issues. Much of the long-
standing problem with semi-trucks has been alleviated, and permits are now
required. The question was raised about where to report abandoned vehicles.
Officer Jones suggested that it is easiest and most effective to file a report on the
City website where it will be handled in an extremely timely manner. There was
discussion about the lack of parking for business owners, customers, and
employees and the need for a city parking garage.There was also discussion
about the possibility of bringing parking meters into downtown, which would
increase revenue. Manager Lein informed the Board that he would have staff
from Community Development come to the next meeting to give an update on
structured parking options.
B. Decide on Three Ad Woc Nominees
Members Bob Klontz, Kelly Gordon, and Ronnie Roberts volunteered to
participate on the ad hoc committee. An ad hoc update will be included on the.
monthly BIA agenda, and the ad hoc committee will be given the opportunify to
update the Board if needed.
C. Parkin�Survev Discussion
Manager Lein requested the previous survey report be sent to the Board for
their review and offered some guidelines for what to include on the next survey.
VI. AUBURN DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION UPDATE
Board Member Theimer reported on the budget.They would like to have a quarterly
event where they would hire an event coordinator with some up-front money, and
the coordinator would also get a percentage of the profits from the e�ent.A few
events that are set and can be supported are the Chocolate Walk;the Art, Wine, and
Music Walk; and the Mardi Gras Parade. Manager Lein commented that, once they
get their calendar together, Economic De�elopment has budget money available to
help promote ADA activities. He also suggested that there are many businesses
, outside the BIA that would like to be a part of the BIA, and participation in the ADA
could help to fill a void of embracing a membership of someone that is outside the
BIA. The importance of having a collective voice was discussed.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Board,the meeting adjourned
at 2:50 pm.
APPROVED this 13th day of November, 2017.
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Giovanni DiQuattro, Vice Chair Holly Ferry, Board Secr tary