Downtown Improvement Committee

Downtown Improvement Committee Meeting Minutes March 6, 2015 1. Call to Order and Welcome A regular meeting of the Nashua Downtown Improvement Committee was called to order at 7:33 a.m. on March 6, 2015 in Nashua City Hall Room 208 by Chairman Marylou Blaisdell. Present: Marylou Blaisdell, Rich Lannan (by telephone), Alderman Brian McCarthy, Tom Galligani, John Koutsos, Ron LaFleur, Sy Mafuz, and Tia Philips Others Attending: Beth Hamilton 2. Approval of November 2014 Meeting Minutes MOTION MADE BY S MAFUZ TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM JANUARY, ACCEPTED UNANIMOUSLY. 3. Downtown Improvement Budget Update T Galligani explained that the budget submitted to the Board of Alderman, approved at the last Downtown Improvement Committee Meeting, will be voted on Monday, March 9, 2015. The budget and what the funds would be used for including the Downtown Art and Horticulture Program, Hanging Flowers, Decorative Pole Banners, Holiday Banners and Light Enhancers, and a Downtown Sign Package. T Galligani encouraged members of the Downtown Improvement Committee to attend in support of the budget. 4. Downtown Business Survey Presentation B Hamilton presented a draft presentation and draft results from the Downtown Business Survey, found at the end of this document. Members of the Downtown Improvement Committee suggested including information on the Façade Program, statistics of how many people responded to the survey, and to not focus too much on parking. Members were unanimous in keeping the Downtown Forum scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, 2015 an open discussion about improving Downtown Nashua, rather than a place to air complaints. 5. Downtown Forum T Galligani explained the agenda of the forum starting with an introduction and information about the Downtown Improvement Committee, the presentation on the results of the survey by B Hamilton, and an open forum to discuss solutions for issues that can be helped with the budget of ~$99,000. 6. Valet Parking T Galligani explained that a draft for an ordinance was created for the ability to have valet parking in Downtown Nashua. The ordinance is drafted based on the ordinance in Portsmouth, NH. T Galligani explained that several groups had approached the Office of Economic Development and Community Development to create such an ordinance and the two offices co-wrote. The draft was researched by city staff and created in a way that will best serve those involved. Several members showed concern over the program, as it may favor restaurants over retail establishments. The fear is, by doing that, it becomes a slippery slope. It was also agreed that the price for the rental of parking spaces was 1  not enough to ask for. The overall feeling from the Downtown Improvement Committee was that a pilot program should be developed, to work out small issues. Several suggestions were made regarding where stations should be located or if it would be best to have valet parking at the garage entrances. 7. Other Business S Mafuz brought to the attention to the Downtown Improvement Committee that some of the bricks in the new sidewalks were heaving, but minimally. Alderman McCarthy assured S Mafuz that it would be looked at, but that the movement they have was designed intentionally and will be taken care of as part of seasonal maintenance once temperature remains above freezing. Motion to adjourn made by M Blaisdell at 8:50am. Minutes submitted by: B Hamilton 2 Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 Providing contact information is optional. However, providing this information will enable us to better understand the needs of specific types of businesses and to respond to Response Response Answer Options Percent Count Contact Name 98.2% 54 Business Name 100.0% 55 Business Address 96.4% 53 Email 96.4% 53 Phone 96.4% 53 Website 80.0% 44 answered question 55 skipped question 13 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 Which of the following categories best describes your business? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count Retail 45.2% 28 Restaurant 12.9% 8 Medical/Doctor's Office 3.2% 2 Law Office 6.5% 4 Office 24.2% 15 Research & Development 4.8% 3 Industrial/Manufacturing 4.8% 3 Arts and Culture 8.1% 5 Salon/Spa 3.2% 2 Health/Fitness 4.8% 3 answered question 62 skipped question 6 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 Please rate the degree to which you are experiencing the following business challenges Major Minor Answer Options Don't Know Challenge Challenge Conflict with building owner or tenant 0 8 0 Difficulty recruiting or retaining employees 3 13 2 Expensive or unavailable utilities 8 26 3 Expensive employee wages or benefits 1 25 5 Expensive rent 7 18 4 Expensive shipping or transportation 2 13 5 Insufficient financing 5 10 5 Insufficient parking 27 23 1 In town competition 1 26 1 Out of town competition 5 31 0 Online Competition 9 20 3 Poor building condition 3 16 0 Restrictive business regulations Shoplifting or theft Unskilled workers Vandalism T 7 1 1 5 17 18 8 31 5 4 4 4 Panhandlers Other AF 22 7 29 2 2 7 ans s R D  Response No Challenge Count 55 63 45 63 25 62 32 63 35 63 40 60 42 62 13 62 34 61 27 62 31 62 42 61 32 39 49 25 61 62 62 63 T 10 12 swered question skipped question 61 28 63 5 AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 Could you or your employees use information on or assistance with the following topics? Response Answer Options Definitely Probably Unsure Probably Not No Count Business planning 3 14 3 19 22 59 Financial management 3 13 4 12 28 59 Inventory management 4 4 2 19 30 59 Advertising or marketing 7 21 5 10 18 60 Employee hiring or training 3 10 4 15 26 58 Customer service or training Building improvements Window displays or interior store design 1 8 6 10 12 11 T 2 3 2 16 5 10 30 29 30 58 56 59 Business market analysis Internet or E-Commerce Social Media Transfer of ownership or selling a business Other 8 9 6 4 1 AF 18 17 23 6 0 4 3 3 2 3 7 12 9 10 3 23 19 18 35 19 answered question skipped question 59 60 59 57 26 60 8 R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 How useful to your business are these existing Main Street Program products and services? Response Answer Options Very useful Useful Don't Know Useless Count Free business counseling from SCORE or Southern NH 8 10 34 8 60 Free business assistance 5 6 40 9 60 Networking events 9 30 18 4 61 Cooperative advertising coordination 8 19 23 7 57 Advertising or marketing of Main Street district as 17 18 14 9 58 Facade grant Information sharing (i.e. newsletters, flyers, business fact Downtown public improvement projects 21 12 26 T 12 28 27 10 15 4 17 5 3 59 60 60 Downtown business directories, brochures, maps Web site or internet resources Business visitation program Analysis and reporting of the downtown market/economy Retail event coordination Special event coordination AF 19 16 9 14 12 14 25 22 9 20 17 29 12 21 33 19 17 7 5 3 8 5 13 11 answered question skipped question 60 61 59 58 59 60 62 R 6 D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly Response Answer Options Neutral Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Count Local police protection is outstanding 15 32 10 4 0 61 I feel safe downtown, even at night 14 30 3 11 5 61 Local fire protection is outstanding 28 19 14 1 0 61 Local waste management service is outstanding 7 15 29 8 2 61 Local municipal services are well worth the level of local 4 10 27 12 6 59 I always try to buy products and services locally I always direct customers to other downtown businesses I seek ways to cooperate with complementary downtown 31 48 36 T 24 8 15 6 6 9 1 0 0 1 0 0 61 61 60 The existing downtown business mix helps my business The look and feel of downtown helps my business My building facade draws customers into my business My window and store displays help my business My advertising helps my business My business is open when customers want to shop Employees of my business show great customer service AF 10 10 9 15 18 15 40 18 20 18 20 22 20 9 16 13 23 21 15 22 9 16 12 9 2 5 0 0 1 5 1 3 0 2 0 60 60 60 60 59 59 58 Housing for employees is readily available Childcare for employees and customers is readily Downtown Nashua is an excellent place to have a R 7 3 8 14 9 27 29 36 15 5 8 9 2 2 1 answered question skipped question 57 58 60 62 D 6 Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 Do you have plans to expand, move, or reduce operations for your business in the foreseeable future? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count I plan to expand products/services or square footage in 25.0% 15 I plan to expand products/services or square footage at a 8.3% 5 I plan to reduce products/services or square footage 6.7% 4 I plan to move to a new location in downtown Nashua 3.3% 2 I don't have any plans for changes 66.7% 40 answered question 60 skipped question 8 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 Are you or the building owner considering any building improvement projects? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count Yes 43.3% 26 No 33.3% 20 Don't Know 23.3% 14 answered question 60 skipped question 8 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 How long has your business been in operation? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count under 1 year 3.3% 2 1-5 years 19.7% 12 6-10 years 11.5% 7 11-20 years 27.9% 17 over 20 years 37.7% 23 If you know the date your business was established, please list it here 34 answered question 61 skipped question 7 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 How long have you been the owner of your business? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count under 1 year 5.3% 3 1-5 years 22.8% 13 6-10 years 12.3% 7 11-20 years 28.1% 16 over 20 years 31.6% 18 answered question 57 skipped question 11 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 Does your business own or lease the space in which it is located? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count Own 31.7% 19 Lease 61.7% 37 Lease, want to purchase 6.7% 4 answered question 60 skipped question 8 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 Where do your customers typically park? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count On the street 73.3% 44 In a private parking lot 30.0% 18 In a public lot 43.3% 26 Other 3.3% 2 answered question 60 skipped question 8 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 How far do customers typically have to park from your business? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count Near entry 36.2% 21 1/2 block away 46.6% 27 1 block away 44.8% 26 2 blocks away 20.7% 12 3 blocks away 1.7% 1 4 blocks or more 0.0% 0 If you own a parking lot, how many spaces are available for customers 16 answered question 58 skipped question 10 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 Where do you and your employees typically park? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count On the street 13.8% 8 In a public parking lot 44.8% 26 In a private parking lot 44.8% 26 Other 15.5% 9 answered question 58 skipped question 10 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 How far do you and your employees typically have to park from your business? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count Near entry 40.7% 24 1/2 block away 23.7% 14 1 block away 30.5% 18 2 blocks away 18.6% 11 3 blocks away 1.7% 1 4 blocks or more 1.7% 1 If you own a parking lot, how many spaces are available for employees 17 answered question 59 skipped question 9 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 What are your thoughts on store hours? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count I am open all the hours I need to be 68.1% 32 I can't be open more hours for personal reasons 8.5% 4 I should be open more hours, but can't afford the staff 6.4% 3 I should be open more hours, but can't find good staff 2.1% 1 I would be open more hours if I were sure of sales 27.7% 13 I would be open more hours if everyone else were 8.5% 4 answered question 47 skipped question 21 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 During a typical week, what are the seven busiest times for your business? Before 11:00 11:00 a.m.-2:00 2:00 p.m.- 5:00 Response Answer Options After 5:00 p.m. a.m. p.m. p.m. Count Monday 6 8 7 6 23 Tuesday 6 17 15 8 37 Wednesday 6 15 15 9 36 Thursday 4 12 18 12 36 Friday 4 17 17 6 37 Saturday Sunday 9 4 T 18 4 14 3 9 4 answered question 31 14 40 AF skipped question 28 R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 What are the three busiest months of the year for this business? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count January 18.6% 8 February 9.3% 4 March 14.0% 6 April 30.2% 13 May 32.6% 14 June 25.6% 11 July 23.3% 10 August 25.6% 11 September 32.6% 14 October 30.2% 13 November 44.2% 19 December 51.2% 22 T answered question skipped question 43 25 AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 How many customers/clients visit your business per week during the summer months of May to October? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count less than 50 43.5% 20 50-250 34.8% 16 250-500 17.4% 8 Over 500 4.3% 2 answered question 46 skipped question 22 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 How many customers/clients visit your business per week during the winter months of November to April? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count None, all business via phone, internet etc 4.3% 2 Less than 50 39.1% 18 50-250 32.6% 15 250-500 17.4% 8 Over 500 6.5% 3 answered question 46 skipped question 22 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 Which of the following events increased foot traffic or sales volume for your business, either during the event or during the next few days or weeks? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count Taste of Downtown Nashua (June) 61.8% 21 Farmer's Market (June - October) 11.8% 4 Small Business Saturday (November) 20.6% 7 Holiday Stroll (November) 85.3% 29 Farmers Dinner and Restaurant Week (September) 29.4% 10 Nashua Downtown Dinner and Movie Series (June - 17.6% 6 ArtWalk Weekend (October) 38.2% 13 Downtown Music Festival (July - September) 17.6% 6 Gate City Fall Festival and Parade (October) 5.9% 2 Nashua Silver Knights baseball games (June - August) 0.0% 0 answered question 34 skipped question 34 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 Please describe the target market of your business Response Response Answer Options Percent Count Male 41.9% 18 Female 62.8% 27 Under 18 2.3% 1 18-24 25.6% 11 25-44 72.1% 31 45-54 69.8% 30 55-64 53.5% 23 Over 64 27.9% 12 Annual household income of under $15,000 7.0% 3 $15,000-$24,999 7.0% 3 $25,000-$34,999 11.6% 5 $35,000-$49,999 16.3% 7 $50,000-$74,999 $75,000-$99,999 $100,000-$149,999 over $150,000 T 32.6% 48.8% 46.5% 41.9% 14 21 20 18 AF answered question skipped question 43 25 R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 To what degree do the following traits help make your business more competetive versus the competitors liste Answer Options A lot A little Not at all Location 11 18 12 Parking 4 12 25 Hours 4 25 13 Service 37 4 2 Name Brands 21 5 15 Quality 40 1 2 Selection 24 10 7 Price 21 15 4 answered question skipped question T AF R D ed above? Response Count 41 41 42 43 39 43 41 40 43 25 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 Relative to other businesses in your trade, what price point do you target? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count Low-end 8.9% 4 Average 71.1% 32 High end 46.7% 21 answered question 45 skipped question 23 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 With your business in mind, what four businesses from the following list would you most like to see available downtown? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count Movie theater 50.0% 23 High end restaurant 39.1% 18 Nightclub 15.2% 7 Bookstore 63.0% 29 Music Store 21.7% 10 Chain Restaurant 19.6% 9 Outdoor lifestyle store 37.0% 17 Wine/beer store 19.6% 9 Electronics 19.6% 9 Women's accesories 39.1% 18 Clothing 37.0% 17 answered question 46 T skipped question 22 AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 In the past few years, several improvements to downtown Nashua have been made. Please select how helpful those improvements have been to your business. Somewhat Unaware of Response Answer Options Very Helpful Indifferent Not Helpful Helpful Improvement Count Mainstreet Sidewalk Improvements 18 15 10 4 0 47 Cotton Mill Square Development 7 8 19 3 10 47 Expanded Riverwalk trails 8 12 19 2 5 46 Parking Garage Renovations 6 20 8 6 7 47 New parking meters (multiple space, credit card 8 11 10 15 2 46 Commercial Facade Improvement Program 13 T 16 9 5 4 answered question skipped question 47 47 21 AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 With your business in mind, what four community assets would you most like to see developed? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count Riverwalk trail 35.4% 17 Bicycle Facilities (racks, bike lanes, etc.) 27.1% 13 Boat docks or landings on Nashua River 27.1% 13 Downtown "Tot Lot" or playground 8.3% 4 Public Plaza 25.0% 12 Expanded green space 33.3% 16 Additional public parking 72.9% 35 Train station 68.8% 33 Performing arts center 50.0% 24 answered question 48 skipped question 20 T AF R D Downtown Nashua Business Survey 2015 How often does your business complete the following tasks to maintain and beautify its downtown s Answer Options Daily Weekly Monthly Surrounding sidewalks and greenery maintenance 13 10 3 Business storefront appearance maintenance 10 12 5 How often does your business complete the following tasks to maintain and beautify i downtown storefront? 50 45 40 T 35 30 25 20 15 10 AF 5 0 R Surrounding sidewalks and greenery maintenance Business storefront appearance maintenance D storefront? Response When Needed Never Not Applicable Count 10 2 5 43 12 1 5 45 answered question 45 skipped question 23 its T Daily Weekly Monthly When Needed Never Not Applicable AF R D