Downtown Development Commission

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Committee Room - Hartley Dodge Memorial Building Date: November 19th, 2015 Time: 7:15pm MEETING MINUTES 1) CALL TO ORDER a) This meeting was called to order at 7:19pm by Chairman Russell Stern 2) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3) ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT: R. Stern B. Cramer J. Hollenbach R. Conley L. Jasen, E. Range A. Baillie M. Kopas, D. Starker J. Burnet L. Lajewski S. Whitehorn, C. Brady M. Fabyanski M. Zimmerman M. Byrne P. Flemming MEMBERS ABSENT: C. Erezuma, G. Herzog, B. Short Also Present: Lisa Ellis, DDC Program Director, John Hoover, Bob Rocco of Provident Bank 4) OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT: In compliance with the open public meetings act, adequate notice of this meeting of the Downtown Development Commission was provided by distributing the Annual Meeting schedule to the Madison Eagle and Morris County Daily Record, posting a copy on the bulletin board at the main entrance to the Hartley Dodge Memorial Building, posting a copy on the Borough website, and filing a copy with the Borough Clerk, all on or about the first week of January 2015. Copies of said notice were made available to members of the general public. 5) APPROVAL OF OCTOBER 2015 MINUTES Motion to approve October 2015 Minutes as presented Moved by: E. Range and Seconded by: P. Flemming Voice Vote: Unanimous 6) CHAIRMAN/EXECUTIVE BOARD REPORT: Chairman Stern gave a brief report expressing sadness at the closing of Blue Ridge Mountain Sports and Bow Tie Cinemas. He mentioned that he heard all good things about Madison while at the NJLM meeting this fall. 7) TREASURER’S REPORT: Brad Cramer presented the Treasurer’s report, highlighting the current balance and Bottle Hill Day income. 8) MAYOR’S REPORT: The Mayor mentioned that the Council will be exploring how best to address the responsibilities that have been a part of the Assistant Borough Administrator job description now that the structure of the position is being changed. 9) COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT: There was no report. 1 Page 10) PLANNING BOARD REPORT: Astri Baillie and Peter Flemming spoke about the subdivision oat 173 Ridgedale Avenue and discussion on how to address the preservation of historic homes located outside of the historic district. It was suggested that a grassroots effort would be the most effective way to address this. 11) FOUNDATION REPORT: The Foundation held a meeting immediately preceding the DDC meeting. The meeting involved discussion of the tax filings. 12) ASSISTANT BOROUGH ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT: See below. 13) PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION: How can the DDC, borough, individual property owners and other stakeholders more effectively support the downtown? Discussion points will include:  Current challenges  Marketing the downtown to shoppers  Marketing the downtown to new businesses  Ways to improve parking  Other thoughts and ideas Jim Burnet moderated the discussion which was very far ranging and productive. These are the notes on this discussion: SHORT TERM ACTIONS - Hire commercial consultant to help identify the types of businesses that would open in Madison. Perform demographics to justify recommendations. - Identify and attract possible theatre operators to take over Lincoln place facility - BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN SPACE: Research low impact restaurants and discuss with John Solu. Quickly identify possible tenants. - Planning Board and DDC meet and discuss possibilities. - Get feedback from new businesses to understand their perspective on the process of opening a business in town. - Short shop Madison video. Longer video promoting Madison. - Valet parking? - Caroling and programming downtown? - Facebook and constant contact - 2 hour parking downtown. Put the signs up!!! - Cards that residents and DDC members can have in their pocket to give to viable businesses CHALLENGES AND QUESTIONS - Define who we are and what we want to be. Does Madison want to attract corporate stores? - Encourage businesses to stay open later - Help landlords understand the possibilities and encourage them to be creative with their lease terms - Deal with specific landlords (corner of Waverly/Lincoln and Waverly Place). - Is parking a problem, if so, how can it be improved? - Spaces are dark downtown. How do we brighten up the town? - How does Summit make downtown sidewalk dining successful? - Staffing and support for downtown? COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES 2 - Community. You see friends when you come downtown. Page  - Service. You know the merchant and you get a real person (unlike the mall or internet) OPPORTUNITIES & POSSIBILITIES - Develop more residential downtown - Redevelopment Opportunities downtown? - Expand liquor licenses downtown - Tri-college bookstore downtown (pop up with free rent in GVR community space)? - Install poles on a Borough street so banners can be hung 14) COMMITTEE REPORTS: a) PIC (Public Improvement): The new white Christmas lights for Waverly were purchased and installed by Ray Massaro of Honor Tree. The purchase price for the lights was under $2,000.00 and no invoice for the labor was received for the labor. A sign will be mounted on the Waverly pole thanking Ray and Honor Tree. b) University Relations: There was no report. c) Sign & Façade: There was no report. d) Marketing/Branding: It was reported that Mayor Conley, Eric Range, Jim Burnet, Lisa Ellis , Chamber President John Morris, Chamber Executive Director Karen Giambra met with local videographer Paul Morgan to discuss the creation of local video. The concept is to create two videos. The first would be a 3-4 minute corporate level video that would be used for business recruitment. The second would be a shorter, Love Madison Shop Madison piece that would be used to attract shoppers downtown. The thought is that it would be a light, fun, feel good piece. This would be a joint project with the Chamber. In the interim Lisa Ellis will work with the Borough IT department on creating a short slideshow for this holiday season that will be shared on Facebook, etc. 15) AD HOC COMMITTEE AND PROJECT UPDATES a) Scavenger Hunt: Lisa Ellis will follow-up with the YMCA regarding this event. b) Taste of Madison (Monday, March 7, 2016): Maureen Byrne noted that the Committee has their first full group meeting scheduled for Friday, December 4th at 7:45am for those who would like to help with the event. c) May Day (Saturday, May 7, 2016) d) DDC/MACA Sidewalk Art Gallery & Gala: There was discussion surrounding the Gala and returning the event to a standalone event as the incorporation into the Bottle Hill Day Beer Garden was not successful. It was noted that the canvasses will be ordered earlier for next year. e) Farmers’ Market: Lisa Ellis gave a brief overview of the year end financials. f) Drew University Town Tour: There was no report. g) Bottle Hill Day : Lisa Ellis gave an overview of the event financials. The event was very successful in all aspects. The vendor and sponsor participation was the higher than in previous years in spite of the fact that it had to be rescheduled from October 3rd until October 24th. An informal survey of the downtown merchants expressing a desire to move the even from a Saturday to a Sunday. It was decided that a draft of a formal response would be created and shared at the December meeting. h) Sidewalk Sounds: There was no report. i) Historic Town Tour: There was no report. j) Friday Night Concert Series w/METC: There was no report. k) Wayfinding: It was noted that the fabrication of the signs was almost complete but that the installation 3 of the poles still had to happen. Page 1) NEW BUSINESS: There was discussion on a potential holiday party. Carla Brady, Jim Hollenbach and Lisa Ellis will meet to discuss the planning of this event. The budget for the event was discussed and the following motion. Motion to allocate funds not to exceed $2,000.00 for this event. Moved by: E. Range and Seconded by: P. Flemming Voice Vote: Unanimous Abstention: Russell Stern 2) INVITATION FOR DISCUSSION FROM THE PUBLIC: There was no discussion. 3) ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn at 9:15 pm Moved by: M. Byrne and Seconded by: M. Kopas Voice Vote: Unanimous NEXT MEETING: Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 7:15pm, Committee Room - Hartley Dodge Memorial Building. Executive Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 8:15am. 4 Page