Old Orchard Business District Advisory Commission

Old Orchard Special Business District Advisory Commission MEETING MINUTES APPROVED MEETING DATE: Tuesday, December 12, 2017 LOCATION: City Hall CALLED TO ORDER: 8:01 AM MEETING ADJOURNED: 8:52 AM NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, January 9, 2018 NAME PRESENT ABSENT Joe Fichter, Chair X Angel Venegoni X Claire Winkler X X Mary Jane Armstrong X Steve Scheipeter X Holland Saltsman X Robert Weber X John Barr X Steve Zielinski Frank Janoski, Council Liaison X X Mara Perry, City Liaison X Also in attendance: Fran Sudekum – Administrative Support APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve the November minutes as was made by Angel Venegoni, seconded by Holland Saltsman, motion was unanimously approved. BDC UPDATE A special meeting was held in November with the Chairs and Commission Members from all three business districts (Old Orchard, Old Webster, and Crossroads), the BDC, and City Attorney Helmut Starr. Those in attendance from the Old Orchard Business District shared feedback from that meeting with Commission members. The BDC is trying to improve inter-district cooperation and collaboration, as well as promote business in Webster Groves. In January, our annual District budget discussions will start and it’s expected the BDC will ask Old Orchard to continue putting money into the shared pool used for social media and holiday promotions as they have done in the past, but also will ask for money to support hiring a PR/Marketing person. At this point, the job description and salary for that person is in the process of being developed and researched. Commission members discussed many aspects of geography, organizational and funding structures, and legal options which impact the District and the City overall. The Old Orchard Commission would like the BDC and City Council to know the following: In reference to establishing a new job position working for the BDC to promote business in Webster Groves, Commission members felt that person should not be involved in economic development, recruiting businesses, or working with building owners, but should be someone who would do city-wide marketing and promotions at a high level promoting everything that is going on throughout Webster Groves year-round. This person would be involved in marketing, promotion, and social media; all the things that the Districts’ Commission members as volunteers do not have time to do to draw more people in to frequent our businesses. Each District should continue to fund their individual promotional activities, but they should also help fund a city-wide marketing person. The job is promoting not recruiting. Those are two different jobs with two different salaries. HOLIDAY SEASON UPDATE • Holiday Festival – The event was cancelled due to inclement weather. • Gazebo Park Vandalism – Santa’s mailbox has been broken into at least three times; it has been repaired as best it could. Mara Perry has the remaining letters; some have been passed on to the Webster-Kirkwood Times for publication in a possible “Santa” article. In addition, holiday lights within arms-reach on the gazebo have been removed, broken, and strewn on the ground in the park. • Cookie Walk – The event saw a different number of patrons based on a business’s location within the District. It’s hard to have a successful “walk” when participating businesses are not next to each other and not many participate (only six Old Orchard businesses participated). • Holiday Advertising – Holiday events have been on social media and in the Webster-Kirkwood Times. Final WK-Times ad will focus on “shop Old Orchard.” • District Decorations – New banners are up and look nice. • District Rooftop Lighting Maintenance – Lights for repair and maintenance have been purchased. Angel Venegoni may have someone that can do the work and will get with John Barr to work it out. • 2018 Holiday Season – Angel shared the possibility to have a photographer at a holiday event next year to do Santa pet pictures incorporated into the plans. Could possibly have businesses in the District sponsor it to help cover any expense involved. Commission members also discussed possibly tying in the Holiday Festival with a day which has other things going on, such as the day of the Cookie Walk or Small Business Saturday. NEW BUSINESS Barriers to Entry Several Commission Members shared feedback they have received from contractors and building owners on barriers to opening a business in Webster Groves: erroneous permits, inspection lag-time, the long completion time for the plan review process, personal humiliation endured in the process, and the constant addition of little requirements - “nickel and diming.” It’s not always what you spend but it’s what you have to go thru in the process that has a huge impact. The treatment of individuals needs to be improved. A lack of courtesy and respect combined with the previous items make it easier, nicer, friendlier to go to a neighboring community for their next project. 2018 District Events • Gazebo Series will continue in the Summer. • Steve Zielinski put forth a question for Commission members to consider – Could we have something in spring or early summer; perhaps something like a May Cookie Walk? • Holland Saltsman is looking at pulling together some type of city-wide Summer Scavenger Hunt instead of doing the Where’s Waldo event. CITY UPDATE • The Clover and the Bee in Old Webster is open. • The Ridge House Apartments development for the former YMCA location rezoning has been approved by City Council. NEXT MEETING Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at 8:00 AM – City Hall. ADJOURNED Meeting adjourned at 8:58 AM