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Business Retention & Development Committee <br />Meeting Minutes <br />September 6, 2016 <br />Page 4 of 5 <br />Council member Maloney agrees with Randy Caranci that things go through cycles. <br />There is no easy solution, ie: for parking. It is expensive but must be weighed with <br />other needs in the city. The City is not anti -business. Investments must be solid. He <br />agrees with DeJong's lead that trying to set a vision is a good place to start. <br />Commissioner Menaker said Council needs to think about funding a visitors program. <br />Commissioner Staufer said we need to be change leaders and not running to catch up. <br />DeJong asked members, in short words/phrases, what does downtown want to be <br />perceived as? Responses included; <br />• Exciting. <br />• Business by Day/Entertainment by Night <br />• Ease of access — parking and traffic congestion <br />Council gets conflicting desires of residents: we want retailers but we don't want more <br />people. There is not desire for transit oriented development. No desire for vertical <br />development. <br />Maloney said Council gets feedback from Boards and Commissions. <br />DeJong asked the Commission to not start the discussion about downtown as coming <br />up with solutions. He asked the group to think about what downtown needs to be for <br />the people that use it. Solutions can then be derived to achieve the desired downtown. <br />Mike Kranzdorf asked what residents thought of Street Faire. Chair Loo said comments <br />she heard were that residents were very happy that there were less people while <br />businesses complained there were not enough people. <br />RETENTION VISITS <br />740 Front <br />Has felt the effects of construction. Disheartened to see less people at Street Faire. <br />Thought the market here was larger after having been open a year. Wants to see <br />changes to make business downtown better. Wants a downtown brochure created to <br />leave at hotels. <br />Eleanor <br />The building is for sale. Having challenge with rent. Has the same concerns as other <br />retailers. <br />Encore Decor <br />Resale furniture and home goods off McCaslin. The business is for sale. Rents are <br />going up. Signage is an issue. <br />Superior Art Imaging <br />