Business Retention and Development Committee Agenda and Packet 2016 10 03

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Business Retention & Development Committee Meeting Minutes September 6, 2016 Page 3 of 5 construction projects cause disruption, there is not an agreed upon vision for downtown, parking remains an issue, rents are rising and retailers have varying hours. The downtown retailer group will meet again and focus on standard hours of operation, a retailer focused special event and a marketing campaign. DeJong reviewed components of a successful downtown on the slides in the packet. Chair Loo said developing a shared vision for the future will be tough because there are many shared visions. Louisville does not have the residential density other communities have. Her opinion is there is not political or citizen will for higher density. Commissioner Menaker said the urban renewal area will help downtown once it is fully developed. He said downtown should be restaurants and specialty stores. Jim Tienken said people from outside the area need to be brought in to support that. Commissioner Staufer said he does not see retail being a part of the vision for downtown. He said retailers need to stay open later. He said we are content with status quo whereas other communities are thinking of the future. He said that once Louisville is not "the place" to be maybe people will start talking about things such as a parking structure. Randy Caranci agrees with Commissioner Staufer. DeJong said we are approaching downtown as a reactive rather than a proactive place. There was a discussion of vision of downtown. Commissioner Pritchard said conditions in downtown Louisville are the best they have been. Jim Tienken thinks downtown is the crown jewel of Louisville and we need to market it as special. Parking is a huge part of the equation and action needs to be taken. City Manager Fleming said there has been action taken: Council spent $700,000 on a property for parking. He asked where the Chamber and DBA are in an effort to remedy this issue. Tienken said there is no money for DBA to invest. Fleming suggested a Business Improvement District. Pritchard agrees with Fleming that the City is making strides. Commissioner Menaker said government has been overly responsive to the vocal minority. Discussions are fear -driven and never acknowledge change. Would like to see a change in the discussion. Commissioner Reichenberg said we need to define what makes downtown special now and keep refreshing it. Commissioner Lathrop said there needs to be a major change. Pine to Short St. needs to be closed off to traffic to create a new atmosphere. Mike Kranzdorf agrees with the discussion.