HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-12-2018 Minutes � ,�
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��li���V -"� February 12, 2018— 1:00 PM
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MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 1:06 pm by Chairman DiQuaftro.
Committee Members present: Chair Giovanni DiQuattro, Vice Chair William Cowart,
Kelly Gordon, Darren Jones, Bob Klontz, Laura Theimer
Excused Absence:Josef Forsberg, Ronnie Roberts, Megan White
Unexcused absence: Kirk Lantier and Ruth Neil-Stover
Staff present: Doug Lein, Economic Deyelopment Manager; Lorraine Chachere,
Tourism Coordinator; and Holly Ferry, Committee Secretary
II. APPROVAL OF MIIVUTES
Committee Member Gordon moved and Member Cowart second to approve the
January 8, 2018 minutes.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6-0
III. FINANCIAL REPORT
Manager Lein shared the budget update and informed the Committee that he will be
working with Finance to develop a one-page financial report that will be provided at
each meeting of the Committee; showing the current year's budget, what is
approved for expenditures, and year-to-date expenses.
IV. OLD BUSINE55
A. Ordinance#6658 Update
1. 90-Day Update at February 26 City Council Study Session
Chairman DiQuattro reviewed the topics that the Committee had decided
they would like to present to Council. Manager Lein reminded the
Committee that this list of long-term ideas would be presented to Council to
discuss what could be budgeted for and worked on as funding would come
available. Speaking points will be made available to those who will be
speaking at the February 26 meeting.
There was discussion regarding additional Iighting down the side streets on
each side of Main Street. Manager Lein reported that the Police will
complete their detailed lighting report in about a week.
B. Main Street Design
1. 2018 Fa�ade 6rant Program
Manager Lein informed the Committee about the Fa�ade Grant Program,
explaining that there is$100,000 available in 2018. The City will pay 100% up.
to the first$5,000; anything above that, up to $10,000, is a 70/30 match; and
the maximum per business is $30,500. The money that is awarded must be
' spent within 24 months, and if it is not, it will go back into the fund and
rolled back out to another business. An audit will be done this month to see
what will be pulled from 2016 and put back into this year's balance. He also
reported that possibly, within the next 30 days,the City will do a workshop
on the fa�ade program, and if businesses are interested in participating and
applying for the grant,they can come to the workshop where the Planning
Department will talk about;their requirements and the design help that can
be given that would come out of the grant.The focus area is downtown.
C. Disbursement of BIA Funds
Discussion on this topic will take place after meeting with Smarthouse Creative.
D. Marketing and Branding
Smarthouse Creative is in a 90-day period of doing research. Sometime within
the next 30 days,they will have a workshop with the BIA Committee. By April 1
they will give their report on what they recommend from a regional City
branding campaign. They will also meet with the Committee and present a wb-
proposal with recommendations that the BIA can do to raise its awareness as '
they co-op with the ADA.The Committee agreed to allot one hour of the next
meeting to Smarthouse.
E. Heritage Fire Update
The insurance company has not settled with the building owner so there has �,
been no determination as to whether it is a total loss or not.The SBA was here '
for two weeks to meet with businesses who had direct damage, indirect damage �
or economic loss. Businesses have up to two years to file for that application.
F. BIA Newsletter
The template for the new BIA newsletter was presented. The first couple months �
it will be mailed out. After email addresses are known to be accurate, it will be
sent electronically. There was discussion about having a section showcasing the
new businesses within the BIA each month. It was then stated that businesses
other than new businesses should also be included. Manager Lein said for right
now, new licenses that have been issued can be listed by name of the business,
the kind of business it is, and their address, welcoming them to the BIA. Member
Theimer expressed her concern about including the ADA in the newsletter and
requested that it not be included in order to prevent confusion about the
different roles of the BIA and ADA. It was suggested that the first issue include a
section describing the difference between the ADA and the BIA. It was agreed
that that should be included. Manager Lein explained the features of the new
Buy Local Program database.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. BIA Rules of Procedure
Chair DiQuattro addressed the issue of Committee members who are no longer
eligible to be on the Committee and the need for their replacement.There was
discussion about non-BIA members being eligible for membership in the ADA.
Manager Lein suggested that the change to the ADA by-law could read that, if
you are not within the boundary of the BIA but would like to be a participant of
the non-profit of the ADA, their cost would be equal to the same amount as if
they were a BIA rate payer. It was also suggested that the members of the
Committee who haye resigned should be taken to the City Council with the
request to remove them from the Committee. Manager Lein said that he would
find out from Legal within the next couple days whether the alternates could be
elevated to Committee members and would let the Chair and Vice Chair know.
Vice Chair Cowart motioned and Member Jones second to request that Josef
Forsberg and Kirk Lantier be removed as members from the BIA Commiftee.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6-0
Manager Lein reminded the Committee to look over the Rules of Procedure draft
before the next meeting, when the Committee will be asked to vote to put it into
effect for the March meeting.
Member Jones motioned and Member Cowart second to move the item of Rules
and Procedure to Old Business and to vote on it next meeting.
MOTION CARRIED UNANiMOUSLY. 6-0
VI. BIA PARKING SUB-COMMITTEE UPDATE
Manager Lein presented the City of Auburn's Comprehensive Downtown Parking.
Management Plan. A memo with up-to-date suggestions from the City's department
directors to alleviate some of the current parking problems will be made available to�
the sub-committee after it is approved by Mayor. Manager Lein informed the sub-
committee that Acting Community Development and Public Works Director 1eff Tate
said that he would be willing to talk more in-depth to the sub-committee anytime
they would like.
Discussion followed regarding how employees of downtown bwsinesses would be
affected once the new equipment is installed on the two parking enforcement
officers' vehicles. The idea of employee parking permits and fees was addressed and
the suggestion made that a proposal could be made to City Council to designate a
cerfain number of parking spaces for employees. It was requested that "permit
parking for downtown employees" be added to the list of items to take to City
Council at the Study Se"ssion meeting on February 26. Manager Lein reported that,
for the last couple years, a test Program has been run on street parking. Opening all
the side streets is being looked at by Planning for on-street parking permits.
VII. AUBURN DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION UPDATE
Committee Nlember Theimer gave the update, reporting that a membership
meeting was held. Nominations for the ADA Board are due either today or
tomorrow. The by-laws will be rewritten so that businesses can pay a fee to be a
member. The Mardi Gras event was a success. Another event will happen on July 14.
It was suggested that tables, chairs, and tent:s for events be put on the list to present
to Council.
VIII. TOURISM BOARD UPDATE
Coordinator Chachere reported on the Meet & Greet.The advertising that was done
on the Tourism website for the Mardi Gras event was presented. She encouraged
the Committee to designate about an hour of their March meeting to a workshop
with Smarthouse Creative. She will provide some questions prior to the meetingto
consider. She informed the Committee about her findings on signage along the
freeway and within the city. More research will be done. Efforts to obtain tourism
development grants will be made, which would allow for signage at the airport,
digital marketing campaigns, and commercials to get the word about Auburn out. '
The video that was made to inform the publie that businesses downtown were open
after the Heritage fire was shown and statistics were shared. The
exploreauburn.com and Buy Local websites were viewed. Coordinator Chachere
encouraged the Committee to share things with her that they would like featured
about their business, which would be promoted at no cost to the business. �
IX. ADJOURNMENT I
There being no further business to come before the Committee,the meeting
adjourned at 2:39 pm.
APPROVED this 12th day of March, 2018.
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Giovanni Di4uattro, Chair Holly err , Committee ecretary