IF Downtown Development Corporation (IFDDC)

Idaho Falls Downtown Development board meeting was held July 2, 2024, at 9:00am in the Willard Arts Center. Those in attendance: Kevin Cutler, Brandi Newton, Jill Hansen, Cindy Napier, Greg Crockett, Jesse & Tara Mendoza, Chip Langerak, visitor: Matt Jacobson staff: Bryan Chaffin – Executive Director, Courtney Hernandez, Juan Hernandez & Mala Lyon. Minutes from June 4, 2024 board meeting - Tara motioned to approve, seconded by Brandi– approved by the board. Financial report – Brandi – have the funds set aside to pay for the parking lot re-surfacing; received funds from the city for the curb & gutter on N Capital; Brandi motioned to approve, seconded by Greg – approved by the board. Kevin – upcoming needed changes to our board. Tasha, Cindy and Antonio have completed their second 3-year term and will need to be released as board of directors. Property owners can delegate representatives to be on the board or business owners can be board members. Kevin nominated Shanon Taylor as a representative of the Bank of Idaho to be on the board of directors and Chip seconded; Brandi nominated Matt Jacobson as a representative of 100 Proof to be on the board of directors and Chip seconded – board approved. Kevin nominated Chip to be the next President, Brandi to stay as the Treasurer, Jill to stay as the secretary leaving the Vice President position to be filled. Cindy was asked to consider filling that position and she will think about it - Greg seconded – board approved. Elections will be held in August. Brandi said we can talk to some other people and ask if they are interested at some point being on the board. Chip requested a meeting to review the by-laws with Greg to see if there are needed updates. A list of current board members will be emailed to the board and a copy of the by-laws. Director report – Bryan – July 19th the A Street/Yellowstone parking lot will be resurfaced so the lot will be closed Friday, July 19 at 5:00pm, 20 & 21. The B Street lot will also be done – we are not sure if it will be that same time or the next weekend. The curb, gutter and sidewalk work on N Capital is finished and we received the reimbursement from the city. We need to install a parking instruction sign at the entrance of the A Street/Yellowstone lot. Brandi recommended not doing a sign with windows as it is very difficult to maintain. Tara recommended AK Signs to get a bid from; Matt said Sager did their sign and their bid came in at almost half the cost of others. Attended the city Council meeting about the CDBG funding and put in our request to be included. Greg said we need to get the word out and encourage people to use these funds. It is a process and not easy, but people should be lined up to use it. Some businesses have done it in stages over a couple of years, like Page Insurance. You also have to pay the costs up front and then get the money reimbursed. On-Street parking meters – Jake and Bryan met with Wade Sanner with the city, and he will request for us to go before the city council. Brandi reminded everyone that it is very important that we show up in support of this project at a city work Session, so that if there are questions from the council we can answer with the correct information. Courtney – our free exercise workouts every Saturday morning are going well – we got 2 sponsors to cover the cost of yoga mats that people can borrow when they come. SummerBrew had a good crowd, it was very hot. We think some people were using leftover tokens from other events as our profit was only about $600 this time. Pre-sales were $1,000, which is up from previous events. The second band we had is very popular. Had a few complaints about the $6 cost of the drinks. We are not purchasing more supplies to run the events, but those costs have increased. There will be a new mural painted on Kevin’s building (402 Shoup Ave) on the A Street facing side. We were contacted by a teacher that said she wanted to give her student the gift of being able to paint a mural downtown, so all the costs will be covered. Upcoming events: our ‘Downtown Disco’ party for high school aged kids – August 24th; We will have a booth at the Farmer’s Market to promote the Pet Mural; Youth Jam Aug 8, 9 & 10; we will be helping at the Arts Council Street Party Sept 21st; Oktoberfest will be Sept 28th; we are having a Christmas Market with the vendors from the Farmer’s Market the same day as out Tree Lighting Nov. 23rd. The ‘Little Art Gallery’ that was by the Museum of Idaho has been taken down and will be re-installed on the corner of Shoup and A Street. Good News Concrete is going to help install it and do some decorative concrete that has been proved by the city. Matt asked if there are plans to bring the Farmer’s Market down A & B Streets? Courtney said the city did not approve that for this year. They are access streets, and you have to have the space to move 125 vendors with trailers out off Memorial in one hour. Sometimes it takes those impacted to go to the city and say we are ok with this plan. Jill said coming down A Street would impact the parking garage, so maybe just coming down B Street is the best option. Greg mentioned that we have a few trees that have died and the weeds in the brick pavers are out of control. Bryan said he had just sprayed weeds in the parking lots. Kevin said we need to remind property owners that they are responsible to keep weeds under control by their sidewalks. Meeting was adjourned 10:10am Our next board meeting will be held August 6, 2024 Respectfully submitted - Jill Hansen, secretary, and Mala Lyon