IF Downtown Development Corporation (IFDDC)

Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corp board meeting held at 8:30am Oct 2, 2018 in the Syringa Networks board room. Those in attendance: Antonio Meza, Brandi Newton, Lisa Farris, Jill Hansen, Shanon Taylor, Mark Munoz, Derek Christiansen, Kevin Cutler, Brent McLane, Kevin Josephson, Catherine Smith and Mala Lyon. Minutes from our Sept 4, 2018 board meeting were reviewed – motion by Mark to be approved; Derek seconded; board approved Financials – Shanon said we ended the fiscal year with a $7,000 profit. There were some expenses for Oktoberfest that will show on last year and the profit will show on this year. Catherine explained that she sent out BID letters to property owners that are delinquent and some have sent their checks. We were able to go back to 2012 and have about $24,000 to collect - $4,900 has come in so far. They have until Dec. 31st to pay it or interest charges will be applied and it will be turned over to the county to collect. Brent said people are seeing stuff getting done and so they are more willing to pay. Motion was made by Shanon to approve the financials; Brandi seconded; board approved. Catherine – The Redevelopment Agency awarded IFDDC $945,000 for downtown improvements. $25,000 was included for a designer to do the new Broadway streetscape. Kent Fugel from the city will be doing this design work so it will all be in house/local. We will work closely with the city and they will send out bids this fall and work will begin next spring. It will be a 2 ½ to 3 month project. They are looking at adding paver islands like what are on Yellowstone at Park and Broadway and possibly Shoup and Broadway to make crossing for pedestrians easier. We are going to ask for ‘Hawk’ lights to be put in at Shoup and Broadway and possibly A Street and Yellowstone. Brandi said one is really needed at Shoup and Broadway. They had an event at the ARTitorium that brought 1,400 people downtown Saturday and it was like watching ‘frogger’ with people wanting to cross there with children. Next we have $325,000 to finish all the intersection corners – removing the old planter boxes and trees. Park and B Street is next because the Taylors are tearing up the sidewalk already so it makes sense to do it now and not re-do it next summer. We will plan carefully around Alive After 5 to do the B Street and Park intersection so as not to interrupt their events. We will also work carefully around the ‘Art You Can Sit On’ benches to make sure they are not damaged. The money earmarked for parking will go to improvements in the parking lots with meters for people to be able to pay with credit cards. $15,000 was included for an enforcement vehicle which we are looking at to also be a watering truck. None of the parking money will be for on-street parking, just the lots. Oktoberfest brought in $13,521. Thanks to the Exchange Club for setting up a food tent. The ‘Dog Father’ cart came in too and he sold out. Using the beer trailers worked really well and we are going to figure out how we can use them at the Brewfests at the Civitan Plaza. Facebook and posters are a great way to get the word out about events, so we will be cutting back on some of our other marketing expenses. We are looking at hiring different bands for Fallbrew as the expenses are going up for some of the bands we have been using. Brandi asked if we require food vendor fees? No we have not required that. Lots of people stayed downtown and had dinner and you can’t put a marketing value on bringing that many people downtown to an event. Even if you break even on costs the marketing value is huge and worth it unless it becomes too much for your staff. Catherine said we are looking at adding a VIP tent experience area for the Fallbrew. There is an inflatable bar tent that we could purchase that would fit 50 people. It could be paid for with 2 brewfests or rent a large tent for $800 to see how it goes first before we invest. If we purchase one it becomes a problem of where to store it, how to dry it out, how to do repairs. Kevin J. suggested that we rent a tent and have a customized graphic wall created to hang on it. Do we have to keep the brewfests at the Civitan? Yes because we have it during the day and we do not have a liquor license we have to have it in a park. Tony asked if we could use his license – no the city doesn’t allow that. For a business that has a liquor license and they want to serve outside they have to create a “beer garden” so the drinks stay on their property. This new city ordinance made it harder. The Zoo requested this change from the city so they could have more drinking events, but they didn’t realize everyone else that would be affected. Intersections – Capital and A Street is finished and looks wonderful. Thanks to Kevin C. for being the project manager for that. We learned a lot and can work better on the time line. Bigger trees can only be dug up in the spring and the fall to be replanted and the city is very fast at demolition. The Taylor’s are requesting that Park and A Street be next as they are digging up their sidewalk now. Trees will be replace with locus and gingko trees. Leymasters sidewalk will also be replaced. Holidays – Parks and Rec has agreed to hang the garland on the lamp posts and replace all the LED lights. They will also not be doing the Freeman Park light festival this year, so they are bring the lights to downtown and looking at doing a light show on the falls ono the west side. Our tree lighting will be at 5:30 on Nov. 24th and all the lights will be turned on then. We got permission from Brad to string lights across the street and now we just need property owners to help with power. Lisa – We still have $3,600 from 2017 and the 2018 money is here - $55,000 MarCellar’s, Vogue, Idaho Escape Rooms and Cardamom have all expressed interest but have not completed the paper work. MCS Advertising is going to paint and repair their building. Catherine said she would follow up with Idaho Escape Rooms. Happenings - Brent – the Bonneville all residents have been moved out and it is being cleaned out. Jill – Smokin’ Fins hope to be up and running before the holidays. The Idahoan offices is moving out to Snake River Landing. Upcoming events – Ladies Shopping Days Oct 12 & 13; Zombie Pub Crawl Oct 27th, Fallbrew Nov 3rd; Boo at the Zoo Oct 25, 26, & 27 – we need volunteers to help. Brandi said they have some decorations we can have for Boo at the Zoo. Financial Review Audit - end of year 2017 was completed by Chuck March at O’Brien Tomchak. Our last one was done 2014. We plan to do it again in 2020. Meeting was adjourned at 9:26 am. Our next meeting will be held Nov 6, 2018. Respectfully submitted by Kevin Josephson, IFDDC secretary and Mala Lyon