PBIA Advisory Board

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia WA 98501 PBIA Advisory Board Contact: Mark Rentfrow 360.570.3798 Thursday, August 13, 2015 6:00 PM Council Chambers 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Corso called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. 1.A ROLL CALL Present: 12 - Chair Mary Corso, Vice Chair Connie Phegley, Boardmember Ken Adney, Boardmember Janis Dean, Boardmember Sheila Irish, Boardmember Jeannine Kempees, Boardmember Bobbi Kerr, Boardmember Kim Murillo, Boardmember David Rauh, Boardmember Phil Rollins, Boardmember Jeffrey Trinin, and Boardmember Sunday Williams Excused: 3 - Boardmember Sarah Adams, Boardmember Nancy Grace Campbell, and Boardmember Alana Carr OTHERS PRESENT Councilmember Jeannine Roe Downtown Liaison Brian Wilson Intern Ray Payne 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 15-0786 Approval of the July 9, 2015 PBIA Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT - None 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Wilson introduced his intern, Ray Payne, who has been researching food trucks as potential PBIA ratepayers. He has spoken with Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, and Poulsbo about their policies and success. Success has been found through various policies, customized to meet the city's needs. A successful policy in Olympia would City of Olympia Page 1 PBIA Advisory Board Meeting Minutes August 13, 2015 take into account our City's specific needs. The safety campaign for the LGBT community has begun. Stickers for business windows will help identify which businesses are safe places for someone to seek refuge and call for help. "Service dogs only" stickers have been received and will be distributed to businesses by the Downtown Ambassadors. The winners of the box wrap design contest have been chosen and will hopefully be implemented by Arts Walk. The City has contracted the Thurston County Economic Development Council to survey businesses downtown about opinions on conducting business downtown, barriers on expansion, and ways the City could move forward. The PBIA has been talking with the City to find ways they can work to help business owners and land owners be successful as they start and maintain businesses. A suggestion was made for the PBIA to write a letter to thank the City for their efforts and for meeting with them with the interest of meeting again after the City has implemented the processing changes they are working on. On the August 25 the Timberland Library will be hosting a breakfast meeting on resources for small businesses. 6. BUSINESS ITEMS 15-0787 Upcoming General Meeting Discussion The September general meeting will invite all ratepayers to attend. The PBIA subcommittees will present and Renee Sunde will give a brief presentation and invite questions. Ramblin Jack's is being looked into as a venue. The discussion was completed. 15-0788 Discussion of 2015 Spring Ratepayer Survey The survey received 58 responses with general perceptions of cleanliness and safety showing improvement since the last survey, but a number of complaints about parking. There were responses given in this survey that should be addressed in-person by members of the PBIA. The PBIA voted on providing $50 to hire a graphic designer to make the newsletter look nice. The provision was approved. The newsletter and September general meeting invitations will be sent out as soon as City of Olympia Page 2 PBIA Advisory Board Meeting Minutes August 13, 2015 possible. The discussion was completed. 7. REPORTS Vice Chair Phegley provided the Clean and Safe report. -Lots of money set aside for murals this year, but little has been accomplished. -The Artesian Well is moving forward, but still feels unsafe and needs a park ranger. -City staff has requested a park ranger for 2016. -Businesses around the well are not very involved. -The next steps for a public bathroom are unclear. -A letter will be sent to Health Department commissioners. -Some bathroom ideas will be implemented as pilots, with the City onboard. -The PBIA will be receiving a master schedule of public cleaning. The "Who to Call" list was reviewed by the PBIA. Updates will be sent to Mr. Wilson and the final will be released. Kudos were expressed to Alana Carr and Connie Phegley for their extensive work on the call list, ensuring completeness and usefulness. Boardmember Dean provided the Marketing report. -The committee has not met, but work is being done independently. -Advertising has been frequent on Mixx 96.1. -New banners are being planned. -The committee will be meeting with the Olympia Downtown Association (ODA). -They will meet with the ODA again regarding holiday expectations. -The Clean and Safe Committee has more members than needed. -Considerations are being made to move some members to the Marketing Committee. -Response to the walking patrol has been very positive. -Additional funding for the walking patrol is a priority. -Clean and Safe may form a subcommittee to focus on the walking patrol or another large project. 8. OTHER TOPICS The PBIA will not be involved in the information release for the recent police shooting. Mr. Wilson will ensure businesses are updated when information becomes available. It was requested that the abbreviated PBIA report be given to the ODA in the newsletter. The ODA and surrounding businesses will be hosting a block party on September 11. They would like to know if the PBIA would be interested in purchasing 200 parking tokens to hand out. The token purchase was approved. City of Olympia Page 3 PBIA Advisory Board Meeting Minutes August 13, 2015 The Downtown Ambassadors have a new ambassador, named Teal, and are looking for more volunteers to work the Welcome Center. Volunteers could announce they have been sponsored by a specific business if owners want to participate. The cigarette program is about to collect its 10,000th butt and the goal is 30,000 by the end of the year. The discussion was completed. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m. City of Olympia Page 4