PBIA Advisory Board

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia WA 98501 PBIA Advisory Board Contact: Brian Wilson 360.570.3798 Thursday, November 13, 2014 6:00 PM Studio 721, 721 4th Ave E 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. 1.A ROLL CALL Present: 10 - Chair Mary Corso, Vice Chair Sarah Adams, Boardmember Cynthia Collins, Boardmember Ken Adney, Boardmember Janis Dean, Boardmember Bobbi Kerr, Boardmember Connie Phegley, Boardmember David Rauh, Boardmember Jeffrey Trinin, and Boardmember Sunday Williams Excused: 3 - Boardmember Melissa Hammond, Boardmember Jeannine Kempees, and Boardmember Phil Rollins Absent: 1 - Boardmember Ruthann Goularte 1.B OTHERS PRESENT Olympia Downtown Association Executive Director Vida Farler Program Manager Rob Richards Downtown Liaison Brian Wilson 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.A 14-1093 Approval of the October 9, 2014 PBIA Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT - NONE 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Farler gave an update on Downtown for the Holidays. The lobby of the Washington Center will host the gingerbread village voting process Saturday and Sunday. City of Olympia Page 1 PBIA Advisory Board Meeting Minutes November 13, 2014 6. AMBASSADOR UPDATE Mr. Richards mentioned the interviewing process continues for the ambassador opening. He is also creating a plan and layout of the budget next week for the downtown pub concept. 7. BUSINESS ITEMS 7.A 14-1094 2015 PBIA Budget Discussion and Decision Allocation of the 2015 budget was discussed. The Board voted against postponing discussion since the Downtown Ambassador Program depends on the $30,000 from the Board’s budget. Discussion - Rollover funds total $55,000. - Mr. Wilson gave a report on the PBIA 2014 budget survey. - Mostly retail and professional businesses were surveyed. - Seventy percent of the surveyors voted to see funding for clean team in 2015. - The importance of staffed restrooms to combat vandalism and unsanitary conditions. - Want to set aside money for 24-hour staffing of downtown restrooms. - What’s the difference between $30,000 and $40,000 budget allotted to Ambassador Program? - Decrease employment turnover by increasing wage to $11 - Concern translation services aren’t adequate in explaining PBIA to non-native English speaking business owners. - Relationships between partners and businesses need improvement. - The need to layout plan and steps in welcoming packets. - Concern outreach and recruitment is a large task unmet. - Clarify the difference between the City, PBIA, and Olympia Downtown Associaiton (ODA) as they are different organizations. - Concern we’re spending a large majority on a small number of people. Chair Corso moved, seconded by Boardmember Adney, to approve the proposed budget. The motion passed. 8. COMMITTEE REPORTS Boardmember Collins gave an update regarding success of meeting with partners. Vice Chair Adams gave an overview on the bar owners meeting which was well attended. She expressed the need for extended walking patrol. Since funding is an issue she inquired about discretionary funds. She also mentioned concern regarding City staff attending meetings since they are intended for business owners. City of Olympia Page 2 PBIA Advisory Board Meeting Minutes November 13, 2014 Boardmember Rauh mentioned the success of the Halloween event. With many people from Lacey, they benefited from 3,000 entries. 9. OTHER TOPICS Many Boardmembers expressed concern regarding The Olympian's negative portrayal of downtown. A recent headline on crime was misleading. Due to the recurring mentions, the Board wants to meet with the newspaper's staff to help increase positive mentions. Vice Chair Adams expressed concern that the retreat is held too late to expect accountability from Boardmembers. She recommended organizing goals and intentions for 2016 early in the year -- such as January or February. Mr. Wilson announced the start of painting the Artesian Commons wall mural. 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:36 p.m. City of Olympia Page 3