PBIA Advisory Board

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia WA 98501 PBIA Advisory Board Contact: Brian Wilson 360.570.3798 Thursday, January 8, 2015 6:00 PM Council Chambers 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Corso called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 1.A ROLL CALL Present: 14 - Chair Mary Corso, Vice Chair Sarah Adams, Boardmember Cynthia Collins, Boardmember Ken Adney, Boardmember Janis Dean, Boardmember Ruthann Goularte, Boardmember Melissa Hammond, Boardmember Jeannine Kempees, Boardmember Bobbi Kerr, Boardmember Connie Phegley, Boardmember David Rauh, Boardmember Phil Rollins, Boardmember Jeffrey Trinin, and Boardmember Sunday Williams OTHERS PRESENT Community Planning & Development Downtown Liaison Brian Wilson 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.A 15-0041 Approval of November 13, 2014 PBIA Board Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT - NONE 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS The Board agreed to seek out space at the January 28 Evergreen College Community Opportunities and Internship Fair. 6. AMBASSADOR PROGRAM UPDATE Mr. Wilson gave an update about staffing volunteer tourism ambassadors. Discussion will be continued later in the meeting. He mentioned the concern of loitering. City of Olympia Page 1 PBIA Advisory Board Meeting Minutes January 8, 2015 7. BUSINESS ITEMS Mr. Wilson announced the printing of the 2015 budget for everyone. Ballots for election will be distributed next week. The Board agreed that food truck owners, boat residents, or anyone with an interest in Downtown may serve on the Board. Expenditures come back to the Board for approval and will be decided at the February retreat. Boardmember Collins is collecting articles for the newsletter and will distribute it January 15. Mr. Wilson also asked each Boardmember to submit a written piece explaining their desire to serve to Boardmember Collins. The retreat is February 12 at 5:30 p.m. Boardmembers will brainstorm meeting items for the retreat at committee meetings. 8. REPORTS Boardmember Phegley gave an update on the Clean and Safe Committee: - Sign-up for cigarette butt cleanup. - A community-wide discussion about Downtown restrooms will happen March 20. Port Commissioner Sue Gunn is interested in discussing building a restroom at the Market. - Meg Martin at Interfaith Works approached Boardmember Phegley about sharing numbers regarding the Downtown Shelter for the purpose of informing the business community. - Boardmembers met with an angry business owner who asked for day services at the Shelter. Since the Shelter is affiliated with a church, funding is not likely. - The importance of informing the public about distinctions between PBIA, Olympia Downtown Association (ODA), City Staff, and Council. - Anyone outside of Clean and Safe Committee is welcome to attend the outline murals discussion on January 23 at 9:00 a.m. - Can the Board help fund insurance deductibles of broken windows? - Walking Patrol is necessary for Downtown. - The Board was under the impression that Council was going to have a designated Walking Patrol. - Ask for Police Patrol because even though the safety statistics do not show the need for patrol, the public's perception improves with police presence. - Concern about transparency of the Olympia Police Department. - Seattle Police Department is one of three police departments in the nation with a Citizen Advisory Committee checking in with police departments regarding profiling and excessive force. - The Clean and Safe Committee meeting is January 23 at 9:00 a.m. Boardmember Dean gave an update on the Marketing Committee: City of Olympia Page 2 PBIA Advisory Board Meeting Minutes January 8, 2015 - Businesses experienced a robust holiday season. - Chair Corso led the Holiday Lighting Contest unexpectedly due to miscommunication with The Olympian. - The Marketing Committee is now happy to own this contest in the future and will plan well in advance. - The contest highlighted the uniqueness of Downtown. Boardmembers Rollins and Williams conveyed the character of Olympia well. - 236 entries cast 665 votes. - Winners included Traditions, The Painted Plate, and Childhood End Gallery. - Winners get advertising in The Olympian. - Is advertising enough incentive? - The prize is a better Downtown. - Thank contestants on behalf of the Marketing Committee in the newsletter. - Advertised "Shop Local" in late November Edition of The Strangers. - Committed to advertising in the volcano for 13 weeks. - "Olympia is independent!" is the desired message. - The Sears Building Remodel and Percival Landing will receive hanging baskets. - Unsure whether 12 days of free parking is necessary. - Ask business owners in the next survey. - Foster partnership with Visitor & Convention Bureau. - Converse with The Olympian regarding the tone of Downtown reporting. - The difficulty of marketing Downtown with so many negative perceptions conveyed in news reporting. - Sponsor campaign of letters to the editor of things we love about downtown. Chair Corso asked to postpone further discussion to February retreat. Boardmember Collins gave an update on the Partnership Committee: - Newsletter and Welcome Packet are coming together. - Goal of January distribution. - Connect with ODA Executive Director Vida Zvirzdys-Farler. - Chair Corso asked the ODA Leadership team to meet with the Board's Partnership Committee. - Boardmember Collins will arrange the meeting. - Boardmember Phegley expressed concern about the $450 rate. - The importance of clarifying what the rate funds in the Welcome Packet. 9. OTHER TOPICS Boardmember Phegley emphasized that a year ago, the Board agreed to maintain and improve Olympia as a place for creative, expression-based pursuits. She expressed concern with the development and developer terminology and gave the example of a charming town similar to Olympia that she fell in love with 20 years ago which has now become commercialized. Unfortunately, the bohemian, creative, expression-minded renters moved to the next town because of high rent when commercialization occurred. Boardmember Phegley emphasized she hears of many business owners who wish to buy the buildings they operate from. Mr. Wilson commented this important message needs to be conveyed by the Board City of Olympia Page 3 PBIA Advisory Board Meeting Minutes January 8, 2015 this summer when an action-oriented five-year strategy discussion begins. Discussion - Out of state and out of Downtown developers are not a good idea necessarily. - Small business owners need the help of community banks for feasible loan rates. Chair Corso invited the Board to continue this important discussion at the retreat. The Board wishes to have a dinner with ODA in addition to a meeting during business hours. Mr. Wilson alerted the Board on the rollover funds totaling $41,281. A final balance will be known by the end of January. Some funds are allocated for ongoing projects such as the cigarette butt bins. Further allocation discussion will take place at the retreat. 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m. City of Olympia Page 4