Business Retention and Development Committee Agenda and Packet 2016 12 05

Home Browse Search

Business Retention & Development Committee Meeting Minutes November 7, 2016 Page 2 of 6 PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA: City Manager Malcolm Fleming gave an update on holiday lights. The City received two bids. This year we will have more lights, more locations, less cost. Lights will be turned on November 18th Commissioner Shelley Angell said the year the Parade of Lights and Art Walk are combined. All of downtown will be lit up on December 2nd Pints in the park went really well. Separation of events was helpful. Back to 2014 levels. BRaD COMMITTEE RESTRUCTURING DISCUSSION: In August 2016, Council had a discussion on boards and commissions. Council asked for feedback on challenges of BRaD Committee. Economic Development Director Aaron DeJong discussed the memo. More formalized input from the business community would be helpful. Chair Loo asked if BRaD functions were separate from the City how would it be funded. DeJong said it would be a mix of public revenues and money from individual memberships. Commissioner Menaker is not troubled by the structure of BRaD. There seems to be better communication between Chamber and DBA which may be a result of this board. Missing component is a representative from McCaslin area. Would hate to see relationships lost that have been built up as a result of this committee. BRaD has hosted a number of roundtables. The issue is that the information is never heeded. We don't incorporate information into plans. Council needs to heed input. Nothing will change until then. Find a couple of issues or a single issue and work on that.ie: Parking. He discussed issues that could be tackled. Broader, long term initiatives do not get traction. Commissioner Angell said it is hard to give a recommendation to Council but when developers come to BRaD, they are already getting response from Council on committee. Perhaps restructure to where we look at business needs. Council member Maloney said the goals and responsibilities need to be defined. Once we understand those, we will know how to structure. What are we asking this group to do? Commissioner Angell said she thought BRaD is supposed to give recommendations to Council. We talk but we do not move forward to Council. Regarding the downtown parking issue, Council member Maloney said we have added parking at DELO, Blue Parrot parking 107 spaces have been added. Council has not ignored it. There is progress. Council acknowledges it is still a problem.