Business Improvement District

Minutes March 21, 2023 Downtown Business Improvement District Board Minutes Noon, Thursday March 21, 2023 Location: Former Fremont National Bank Building 6th and Main Streets, 2nd Floor Meeting Room, Fremont NE Present were Vince O’Connor, Sam Heineman, Brenden Murray, Richard Register, Daniel Cech, JJ Bixby, Kevin Main, Roxie Kracl, Berta Quintero Absent: Tom Coday, Howard Krasne Guests: Jody Sanders 1. Meeting was called to order by Acting Chair JJ Bixby 12:04 pm. Roll Call was taken, those present are identified above, a quorum was determined present. The Chair announced that a copy of the Open Public Meeting Act was available in the room for inspection. 2. Motion was made to correct the minutes of the February 21, 2023 meeting to indicate Vince O’Connor not in attendance at the February 21 2023 meeting. The motion was made by Murray, seconded by Cech, motion passed 8/0, with O’Connor abstaining. 3. Motion was made to approve the minutes of the February 21, 2023, meeting as amended, by Main, seconded by Bixby, motion passed 9/0. 4. Discussion was had on agenda item #3. A motion was made by Cech, seconded by Heineman to reimburse the City of Fremont for the installation of flags and banners for the fiscal year, in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00, approved 9/0. 5. Discussion of the item #4, the sponsorship program. A listing of the proposed sponsorship awards was presented by Heinemann along with copies of the organization’s applications. It was noted that as of the time of the meeting, there was no application for the Christmas Market. Removing the amount on the listing for that event (until application is made), lowered the 2023 amount currently seeking approval to $12,750.00. That change was made to the listing, and such was marked as exhibit A, attached to and incorporated herein by reference. A motion was made by Register, seconded by O’Connor to approve all the applications for the sponsorship program for 2023 as more fully set forth on the attached Exhibit A. The motion was approved 9/0. 6. A Discussion item #5 was had about the City of Fremont’s one- and six-year Street Improvement Plan, and how such may impact projects to be considered by the BID. No action was taking. 7. Item # 6 was discussed about which future projects may be the focus of the Board’s choice to present to the City Counsel of the April 25, 2023 planned study session. Register had polled the members of the BID on their preference for  projects that were included in the packet of materials presented by Heineman at prior meetings. The results were presented in two formats, average rank voting and rank choice voting. The full results are attached hereto and labeled exhibit B. Using the average method, hanging baskets scored first (3.1), with sponsorship program second (4.2) and Holiday decorations third (4.5). The rank choice voting that looks at the enthusiasm of members for projects (rejecting negative lower votes), revealed strong support of the Arch, and consistent support (with the most 2nd and 3rd votes) for support of Mainstreet and the holiday decorations. Several projects receive NO 1rst, 2nd or 3rd place votes. The survey showed an even split on the issue of limiting the tax to the current level. There was overwhelming support for looking to other funding methods (other than the current tax) including contributions and possible sales tax. The Board will meet one more time before the scheduled City Planning session in April, at which time the plan is to consolidate the projects to present for feedback from the City Counsel. No action was taken. 8. Committee reports: a. Financial Report was attached to the packet of information available at the meeting. No action taken. b. Projects Committee Report. See above c. Equalization Committee Report. NONE d. Multi-Cultural Committee Report. NONE e. Marketing Committee Report. NONE f. Maintenance Committee Report. NONE g. Future Project Committee Report. See above h. Design Committee Report. NONE i. MainStreet Report. MainStreet Director Melissa Powell informed the Board that she had submitted her resignation to take effect shortly. MainStreet had hired a replacement, Lainey Paquette, who was not present. Ms. Paquette works and lives in the downtown. 9. Comments from the Public – Heineman reported that he received questions from Ginger Rosenthal about numerous issues. He had worked to find answer to those questions. 10. Next meeting set for April 18th, 2023, at the same time and location, notice to be published. 11. Motion to adjourn was made by Murray and seconded by Main. The motion passed 9/0.