Downtown Improvement Committee

Downtown Improvement Committee Meeting Minutes August 8, 2014 1. Call to Order and Welcome A regular meeting of the Nashua Downtown Improvement Committee was called to order at 8:35 a.m. on August 8, 2014 in Nashua City Hall Room 208 by Chairman Marylou Blaisdell. Present: Marylou Blaisdell, Tia Phillips, Rich Lannan, Alderman Brian McCarthy, Tom Galligani, Ron LaFleur, Ben Clemens, John Koutsos, Sy Mahfuz Others Attending: Mayor Donnalee Lozeau, Sarah Marchant, Lisa Fauteax 2. Approval of Meeting Minutes from April 25, 2014 MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 13, 2014 MEETING MADE BY S MAHFUZ. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY T PHILLIPS AND APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY 3. Welcome Sarah Marchant, Community Development Director R Lannan invited S Marchant to the meeting. She introduced herself and provided the Committee with her background. She has been here for two months and lives locally. She has worked in Milford and Amherst, prior to taking this job. She’s very excited to be here. She has a background in form-based-code. She’s reviewed a number of studies that have been developed over the course of years and sees her job of implementing the community's needs and wants. 4. Downtown Circulation Study T Galligani spoke briefly about the Downtown Circulation Study. He explained that the consultant team, VHB, are finishing up the report and have been invited to speak present their findings to the Board of Aldermen Committee on Infrastructure. Among their expected recommendations include a gradual conversion of the one-way streets to two way traffic. This may include Spring Street and East Pearl Street. Reconstruction of the Walnut Street Oval is also recommended. There was a discussion about the timing of the traffic lights in Downtown, especially near Library Hill. T Galligani indicated that the City is implementing the CMAQ-funded City-wide traffic light upgrade project. Some of the intial kinks in the new timing system are being worked out. 5. Status of the Downtown Parking Funds – Surplus M Blaisdell thanked B McCarthy about supporting the sidewalk project as it was recently discussed during the Board of Aldermen budget review. B McCarthy explained that we (downtown interests) managed to get though the budget. He pointed out that when the surplus funds escrows are reviewed later in the year, additional support will be required. He indicated that here 1  isn't a reason to target the surplus parking funds for sidewalks. However, the parking surplus funds for Downtown need to be defended upon the merits on what it will be spent on. It will get a first reading and then head to the budget committee. M Blaisdell commented that our budget was outlined in a letter to the Mayor earlier this year. T Galligani talked about the expected schedule for submitting escrow requests to the Board of Aldermen. B McCarthy indicated that the storefront facade program did not pass the budget this year. B Clemons commented that this decision was short sighted as this was a small investment and yielded big results. It is a shame that this went away. J Koutsos mentioned that this program is a philosophical issue that comes down to your political point of view on such things. B McCarthy indicated that there are members of the Board of Aldermen think that City shouldn't invest in Downtown Nashua. M Blaisdell said that the Committee needs to be in tune with this. Downtown is the nucleus of the community. It was mentioned that Giant of Siam has relocated the restaurant to Main Street 6. Downtown Sidewalk Project S Mafuz asked about how Downtown merchants have dealt with the Downtown construction project involving the sidewalks. J Koutsos indicated that it hasn’t been too bad. However, it is tough for customers when the parking in front of his store is gone. B McCarthy indicated that we studied adding parking to Main Street by converting space to diagonal parking. He explained that it would generate 5 to 8 more spaces, but would eliminate much of the sidewalk. We also looked a eliminating one lane of traffic. This would create too many traffic backups. J Koutsos expressed that the City did nothing to change the economics of storefronts on Main Street. It remains the same as it was prior to the project and that the economic prospects for businesses remain the same as prior to the start of the project. It is a lost opportunity to increase economic vitality. B McCarthy indicated that we need to make it easier to use the parking away from Main Street. S Mafuz indicated that this is the goal. M Blaisdell asked why people don’t use the garages in Downtown. T Phillips said that the parking is complicated in the garages and that parking signs need to change. 2 Mayor Lozeau explained that we have an opportunity to make changes in lighting and security. We have not put back signs on Main Street - we're doing a plan. J Koutsos criticized the design elements introduced as part of the new improvements. He expressed that we have altered the character in downtown. We have put in a lot of concrete--this is a concern of a lot of people. He asked if we can we revisit this across the street. Can we brick from Temple Street down on the other side of the street. Mayor Lozeau indicated that this is not possible as the design would conflict with what is already done. She indicated that in strategic locations, more brick was introduced to highlight important corners. B McCarthy expressed that he was concerned, but we will be fine once we change this. We can soften it with street furniture. J Koutsos indicated that there is a problem with those that want to loiter and sit on the street furniture. He reiterated that the concrete sidewalks are too harsh. Mayor Lozeau responded by saying that we need to let the trees grow. She asked to know who these people who hate the concrete are. The Mayor has heard positive comments about how much safer the sidewalks are for walking. J Koutsos indicated that nobody has said that they love the concrete. S Mafuz explained that we shall disagree on this. Everywhere else, we have concrete sidewalks. The most important thing is down the road in time. I walk down and absolutely like it. We want to make it safe--the beauty of the City is in the facade of the building. B Clemons indicated that the bricks we had before were there for 35 years—they didn’t last, while these sidewalks should be resilient. R Lannan expressed his agreement with S Mafuz. L Fauteux explained that the brick will stay in front of City Hall. J Koutsos expressed his concern about how the design process has taken place for Downtown. He feels as though there hasn't been enough consensus building for the final design of downtown. He prefers the historical look that we’ve had for the past 35 years. He appreciates how effective the Mayor is in getting things done, but would like more inclusion in the decision making. Mayor Lozeau described additional improvements that are taking place, including the new cross-street banner supports, new planting beds and continued improvements to the street furniture. There was a discussion about revisions that the City is making to some of the planting beds as some are getting trampled by the ‘bar crowd.’ R LaFleur mentioned that he’s lived in Downtown for the last 15 years and sees more people there now. He’s noticed how the Bank of American block is, however, dead space in Downtown Nashua. He is impressed with the work that folks have done to improve things. 3  It was mentioned that the Downtown Farmer’s Dinner is taking place next month. 7. Next Meeting Date/ Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9:19 a.m. The next general meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. September 12th, 2014 in City Hall Room 208. Motion to adjourn made by S Mahfuz Minutes submitted by: T Galligani 4