Economic Development Advisory Board Meeting

Economic Development Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Thursday, February 8, 2024 – 5:00 p.m. Members Present: Otto Mills, Heather Mahaley, Brian Guerriero, Matt Reece, Jason Wood, Rick Brown, Patrick DiBiasse, Marjan Shirzad of Fonthill Castle, Pat Woodick for the Doylestown Historical Society, Recreation Director, and Special Events Coordinator Caitlin Hernandez. The meeting was called to order at 5:00 pm. Approval of Minutes – Approved as submitted. Reorganization – Otto added to the agenda that Lois Opdyke has stepped down from the Board. As such, the vice-chair position will need to be filled. Otto suggested to the Board that two slots be opened for this position. It was agreed that it would help to divide the work, especially since it could be overwhelming for one person. Otto nominated Brian and John as vice-chairs. The Board voted unanimously in agreement. Comprehensive Plan Update – Provided by Heather Mahaley. The Planning Commission has not met, so there is no update currently. The Planning Commission will meet again at the end of February at their regularly scheduled meeting. Discover Doylestown Project - None Doylestown Cultural District Report – The Cultural District has been booming. The museums are registered to participate in Doylestown Pride and the Arts Fest. Films have been selected for the outdoor movies on the Mercer Green. Attendance broke records last year for the Mercer and for Fonthill Castle. The Doan Outlaws Exhibition is set to begin in May of 2024. This exhibit will lead up to the semi-quincentennial of the founding of the United States in 2026. The Michener Museum has selected the placement of a permanent CEO and director. The Michener will host free admission on the 2nd Sunday of every month. There will be free evening programs on the first Thursday of each month. Doylestown Historical Society Report -Donna has stepped down from the Historical Society. A new director should be announced by the end of February. The park renovation is moving along. There are a few new exhibits at the DHS. One is on generations of Doylestown. Social Media Report – Caitlin updated the number of followers across all the Borough social media channels. Merchant Monday and Foodie Friday have been well received among the merchants in town and our followers. Economic Development Report – Caitlin provided the vacancy report. She also reported on new businesses and restaurants scheduled to open in the Borough. DART Report – The DART provided a report to the Board. There was a conversation about DART usage and ridership. It was noted that it isn’t well-known how to use the service, where it runs, etc. Otto suggested the comments be passed along to the DART and invited them to a future meeting to share a brief presentation. Mayor’s Report – None  Economic Development Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Thursday, February 8, 2024 – 5:00 p.m. Old/New Business – Otto suggested the present members introduce themselves, as several new faces are on the Board. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:37 pm. Respectfully Submitted by: Erika Fellman Economic Development Advisory Board Minutes Secretary