HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-11-2018 Minutes
BIA Committee of Rate Payers Meeting
June 11, 2018 – 1:00 PM
Auburn City Hall Council Chambers
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 1:04 pm by Chairman DiQuattro.
Roll Call:
Committee Members present: Chair Giovanni DiQuattro, Vice Chair William Cowart,
Kelly Gordon, Ronnie Roberts
Excused Absence: Bob Klontz, Megan White; Ruth Neil-Stover, Darren Jones
Guests: Jeremy Hubbell, ADA President and Brittany Carlson, ADA Secretary
Staff present: Doug Lein, Economic Development Manager; Lorraine Chachere,
Tourism Coordinator; and Holly Ferry, Committee Secretary
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Committee Member Gordon moved and Vice Chair Cowart second to approve the
May 14, 2018 minutes.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4-0
III. FINANCIAL REPORT
Manager Lein provided the update on the BIA budget. The only financial
commitments that the Committee has made is for the banners and the Tourism
map.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
A. Disbursement of BIA Funds
Jeremy Hubbell, ADA President and owner of Geaux Brewing and Brittiany
Karlson, ADA Secretary and owner of Vinifera explained that the ADA initially
plans to have events every two to three months and eventually every month or
month and a half. They reported that, after a long process, they just finally got
the board going so they have yet to put together a formal budget. There are
currently three board members – Jeremy, Brittiany and Board Treasurer Kristina
Driessen, who are all BIA rate payers. They will hopefully be voting on three
more board members the following day.
So far, they have borrowed most of the things they have needed for their events
from Parks but thought it would be necessary to own their own equipment in
case there were two events occurring at the same time and the equipment from
Parks was not available. It was suggested that Parks contribute to part of the
cost of a stage, bring it to events when needed, and provide storage for it. The
purchase of tents would also be a necessary purchase and would also need a
place to be stored.
Ideas for various events were discussed. An event planner has been acquired.
They will come back to the next meeting with some things they need.
Manager Lein provided a Parking Lot Use Application with a map of available
parking lots. (attached)
B. Marketing and Branding
Tourism Coordinator Chachere presented a draft of the map (attached) with the
downtown area included. Hotel owners requested that hotels be included on the
map as a point of reference. The request was made to include services, but to do
that, the graphics on the map would need to be modified, and Smarthouse
Creative will work on that.
Manager Lein reported on the meeting with Smarthouse Creative. Currently,
they are coming up with the final messaging presentation and some sample
digital and print artwork. He thought that within the next 30 days the campaign
could begin to be launched. He mentioned the hope that Smarthouse would be
prepared to provide a media buy plan for downtown for the 4th quarter, which
would be a shared campaign by the City, Tourism, and the BIA Committee.
C. Heritage Fire Update
Manager Lein reported that they have pulled permits for demolition . A map from
the Planning Department that was approved by the Building Department of wh at
they are planning on shutting down next to Safeway is expected today. Their
plan minimizes impact on Main Street during business hours. All the trucks that
are coming and going from the demolition will be going out from the south side
of the building. They will begin with asbestos removal during the first ten days.
D. BIA Newsletter
There was discussion about the ADA having a section in the BIA Newsletter.
Because the BIA Committee is a committee of the City and the ADA is a non -
profit, Manager Lein will consult with Legal as to whether than can be done. The
BIA Committee could, however, feature things in the newsletter that the ADA is
doing.
E. Update on Priority Projects Presented to City Council
1. Additional security lighting
Manager Lein reported that Auburn Police are about two-thirds of the way
through the BIA, and the count is at 52 lights so far. These are security lights
that could go on a pole that the City owns that would be around alleys,
dumpsters, and dark corners. They figure there will be around 60. If the light
is attached to a City pole and already has power on it, the cost would be
around $400 a pole.
2. Hanging plants and planters around the BIA
Manager Lein reported that he has communicated with Puget Sound Energy
(PSE), who owns about half of the poles that are off Main Street, to see if it
would be possible for the City to hang plants from their poles.
3. Lights in trees
Manager Lein stated that nothing can be done on tree lighting until after the
Heritage demolition is complete. There would have to be more research
done on the infrastructure that is needed to make that happen.
4. Added police patrols
Manager Lein informed the Committee that there was no response yet from
Auburn Police.
5. Christmas decorations
It was suggested that some of the schools be contacted to see if students
could build a Santa’s house. Manager Lein will provide a contact from a high
school and one from Green River College. There was discussion about where
it could be stored.
6. Banners
Planning will have the final proof for the artwork on the banners within
about a week. They can probably be made and ready to go up by the end of
July. Many of the poles on the side streets are owned by PSE, and they will
try to get a map made that will show each pole, who owns it, and who we
have to get permission from to put the banners up.
F. Update on 2018 Façade Grant Program
The 2018 Façade Grant Program is up and going. Evie Anderson is the
coordinator.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Committee Representative for Chamber Meetings
It was recommended that the request for a volunteer from the BIA be included
in the BIA Newsletter.
B. Member Attendance Discussion
There was discussion about changing the day and/or time of the meeting to
accommodate some of the members who have not been able to attend.
Secretary Ferry will communicate with Committee Member Jones to find out
when he would be available to attend.
VI. BIA PARKING SUB-COMMITTEE UPDATE
Planning sent out letters to parking lot owners inquiring if they would be interested
in renting out any parking spaces, and there was no interest so far.
VII. AUBURN DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION UPDATE
Most of this update was covered earlier in the meeting during the discussion on
disbursement of BIA funds.
They are still waiting on a representative from the City to join the Board. Manager
Lein reported that Tanya Carter, the new Economic Development employee, will
most likely be the one who will represent the City on the ADA.
VIII. TOURISM BOARD UPDATE
Tourism Coordinator Lorraine Chachere informed the Committee that, because
consumers rely heavily on what they read online, she was considering having a
workshop involving some of the Tourism Board members that have expertise in
marketing. This workshop would be geared toward small business owners to help
them to create a more robust online presence and to be able to man age what is
being said about their business and their service and how to respond to that.
Manager Lein reported that a contract with Green River College was approved last
week, and they will be giving one class every three weeks at the City’s Business
Incubator, with a rotation of four classes per quarter on topics such as how to start a
business, how to write a business plan, how to do a marketing plan, and how to do a
financial plan. The classes will be hands-on where the business owners can bring
their laptop and work with the instructor. Social media marketing will be part of that
training.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting
adjourned at 2:32 pm.
APPROVED this 9th day of July, 2018.
________________________________ ________________________________
Giovanni DiQuattro, Chair Holly Ferry, Committee Secretary