Old Orchard Business District Advisory Commission

Old Orchard Special Business District Advisory Commission MEETING MINUTES APPROVED MEETING DATE: Tuesday, October 11, 2016 LOCATION: City Hall CALLED TO ORDER: 8:03 AM MEETING ADJOURNED: 9:18 AM NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, November 8, 2016 NAME PRESENT ABSENT Joe Fichter, Chair X Angel Venegoni X Claire Winkler X Mary Jane Armstrong X Steve Scheipeter X Holland Saltsman X Robert Weber X John Barr X Vacancy Frank Janoski, Council Liaison X Mara Perry, City Liaison X Also in attendance: David Christensen – Cochran Engineering Angela Foley – Farmers’ Market Manager Fran Sudekum – Administrative Support APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve the September minutes as was made by Angel Venegoni, seconded by Holland Saltsman, motion was unanimously approved. OLD BUSINESS  Streetscape Phase II Mara Perry shared handouts with Commission members: o January 2013 Meeting Notes on District Vision, Goals, and Actions o Old Orchard Phase II Streetscape Improvements Budgeting Figures, March 2015 o Two maps from previous District Streetscape Planning: 1. Proposed Public Improvements 2. Old Orchard Streetscape Study Areas Mara gave a review of the history of the Old Orchard Streetscape Project. Phase I was completed, but Phase II remains uncompleted. Discussion of funding for Phase II followed. Phase II covers the area of the District on Big Bend from Murdoch to Dale. David Christensen will put together the STP funding application for the March 2017 funding cycle. If funding is received, construction would take place in 2020. STP funding is very competitive; the less you ask for, the better chance you have of winning a grant. The District could potentially ask for funding in two separate requests; one side of the street and then the other. The District is paying David’s fee and the funding request deposit. Federal funding will not cover moving utilities, so that cost would be 100% on the City. Potential streetscape items include: o New ADA compliant sidewalks o Remove overhead wires o Move utilities to the back of the street o Decorative street lights o Safety lighting o Changes in traffic lanes and parking It was decided to break Phase II into two funding requests. This first one would be for the north side of Big Bend, will keep four lanes, include new ADA compliant sidewalks, and decorative street lights. That will give time to develop a plan with Ameren to move the utilities in conjunction with a second request for the south side of Big Bend. The District could potentially dip into their reserves to fund moving the utilities David will take the decisions from today and put together a package with estimated budget figures, and present to the Commission at the November meeting. He will also present to City Council.  Trick-Or-Treating Trick-Or-Treating will take place in Old Webster and Old Orchard on Saturday, October 29th. The Old Webster Trade Association has created graphics for both districts to use; a poster, counter cards, and a Facebook Event Banner. They have also produced a supply of the posters and counter cards at their expense for Old Orchard to use. Holland Saltsman was given a supply of the posters and counter cards. Fran Sudekum will email District businesses to determine who plans to participate. Mara will create a map of participants.  Holiday Planning Angela Foley gave an update on the District Holiday Plans. A discussion was held on changing the name of the Holiday Open House to Holiday Festival since the businesses and merchants in the District don’t actively have an “open house” in their places of business and all activity takes place in Gazebo Park. It was also decided to change the name from Old Orchard to Webster Groves. o The Webster Groves Holiday Festival takes place on Saturday, November 19th; keeping it on a weekend separate from the Old Webster Open House held the weekend prior. Activities include:  Santa’s mailbox; newly painted by the Parks & Rec Department   Santa and Mrs. Claus; available for photos  A kid’s barrel train; and possibly other items brought by Santa similar to last year  Holiday Tree Lighting at dusk with music from Webster Groves High School o The Cookie Walk takes place in Old Webster & Old Orchard on Saturday, December 10th. Graphics will be created by the Old Webster Trade Association and shared with the Old Orchard District. Fran will email Old Orchard businesses to inquire who will participate. Mara will create a map of the participating businesses. Promoting the holiday events include a new banner put on the gazebo, an ad in the Webster-Kirkwood Times, and an event on the Old Orchard Facebook page. In addition, a sandwich board with a list of activities will be used at Gazebo Park during the Holiday Festival. NEW BUSINESS  Bike Rack Locations – Commission members were asked to identify possible locations for new bike racks and bring them to the November meeting. New bike racks would be provided by the Sustainability Commission. CITY UPDATE  New salon will move into the former Naturally Pure location until the interior construction on the Quonset Hut location is completed. NOVEMBER MEETINGS  Streetscape Phase II Funding Request #1 Details and Cost Estimates  Possible Bike Rack Locations ADJOURNED Meeting adjourned at 9:18 AM. NEXT MEETING The next regular monthly meeting will be held on November 8, 2016 at 8:00 AM – City Hall.