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Business Retention & Development Committee <br />Meeting Minutes <br />September 6, 2016 <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />APPROVAL OF AUGUST 1, 2016 MINUTES <br />Approved <br />PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA: <br />none <br />Q2 2016 REVENUE REPORT — PENNEY BOLTE: <br />Tax Manager Penney Bolte said overall sales tax is up for 2016. Graphs by area and <br />industry were reviewed. <br />Bolte said there is greater voluntary payment of consumer use tax. <br />Bolte answered questions from the Commission. Audits are meant to educate <br />people/businesses then get them in compliance moving forward. <br />Amazon has facilities and distribution centers in Colorado. They have voluntarily begun <br />collecting state and local taxes in some areas where they have or plan to have a <br />physical presence. Bolte sent an email saying the City is interested in entering into a <br />voluntary agreement. Amazon does not have a physical presence in Louisville thus <br />they are protected from having to collect and pay sales tax. <br />Restaurant sales tax is up but, anecdotally, businesses are saying it is spread over <br />more locations. There is more competition in Louisville and in neighboring <br />communities. <br />DOWNTOWN RETAIL DISCUSSION <br />DeJong reviewed the slides in the packet. Rents are going up downtown and sales tax <br />from retailers is flat. However, sales tax in downtown as a whole is up the first half of <br />2016. Retailers are stating there is a lack of retailers downtown, rents are increasing, <br />construction projects were an interruption, and there is a lack of assistance to promote <br />downtown. <br />Commissioner Staufer reported businesses sometimes expect the DBA to provide <br />assistance the DBA does not have the resources to provide (marketing, business <br />plans.) <br />Downtown may be reaching maturity — no significant new construction to create new <br />space. <br />DeJong reviewed a slide that was a result of a meeting with downtown retailers which <br />includes retailers saying there is a lack of consistent marketing, there is no leveraging of <br />special events, locals don't shop downtown, there is tension among organizations, <br />