Old Orchard Business District Advisory Commission

Old Orchard Special Business District Advisory Commission MEETING MINUTES MEETING DATE: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 LOCATION: City Hall CALLED TO ORDER: 8:06AM MEETING ADJOURNED: 8:56 AM NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, April 13 2021 NAME PRESENT ABSENT Joe Fichter, Chair X Angel Venegoni X Holland Saltsman X Bob Weber X John Barr X Steve Zielinski X Abby Culleton X Ken Creehan X Vacancy Emerson Smith, Council Liaison X Mara Perry, City Liaison X Approval of Minutes  Motion to approve the January minutes was made by Angel Venegoni, seconded by Bob Weber and was unanimously approved.  Motion to approve the February minutes was made by Angel Venegoni, seconded by Bob Weber and was unanimously approved. New Commission Members The Commission welcomed two new Commissions Members – Abby Culleton with Boulevard Hair and Ken Creehan with Webster University. With the addition of two new members, the Commission is left with one vacancy; however, Joe Fichter will be leaving which will net out to two vacancies that need to be filled. With Joe exiting and Claire’s exit at the end of last year, the Commission will need to vote on a new chair and vice chair at the next meeting. Budget Mara Perry shared the current 2021 Budget for review and gave an overview for the benefit of the two new Commission Members (See Appendix A). Mara then shared a draft 2022 Budget (See Appendix B) which was reviewed and discussed. Each budget category was discussed and some of the items each covers. The District needs three additional trash cans, so $3,900 was added to budget category #851 Area Maintenance bringing up the budgeted number to $9,900. Possibly adding additional options for recycling in the District was discussed which will be pursued and could be added to the following year’s budget. MOTION: Angel Venegoni made a motion to approve the budget as posted. Steve Zielinski seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved. Streetscape Update The City Council is set to approve the contractor for the Streetscape Project at the March 16 Council meeting. Construction will start very soon, possibly starting at Dale and working its way west to Murdoch. Gazebo Series Page 1of 3 Joe Fichter will set up a meeting next month of the Gazebo Series Organizing Committee to discuss hopefully being able to put on the Gazebo Concert Series in some format this year. It was discussed that possibly moving the series to late summer/early fall would have a better chance of operating in some sort of “normal” fashion as the vast majority of people should have received their COVID-19 vaccine shots by then. All Commission Members are invited to join the Gazebo Organizing Committee, along with other Old Orchard business folk. Dale Ashauer on board again to handle the music; stage, sound, and the bands. Fran Sudekum is on board to do social media and promotion/sponsors. John Barr suggested we have come back with the “biggest & best ever” and have bigger headliners, bigger draws. BDC Update John Barr has been appointed by the City Council to the Business Development Commission. He is also now a member of the BDC Working Group Sub-Committee. John shared some of the items the BDC and its sub-committee is working on, such as revamping the Explore Webster Groves website, getting additional information on the business license, pursuing ways to get businesses more engaged in events, improve communication and coordination between districts and events and working together, bring awareness of all the businesses in Webster Groves, City Update  Wingstop will be opening in Yorkshire Plaza.  DD Mao will be opening in Old Webster.  Union Bagels in Crossroads has started construction.  Lona’s Lil Eats is postponing to April on how they want to pursue in that location; they’ve extended their contract on the property.  Amy’s Cake Pop Shop and Boozy Bites will be opening in Old Orchard.  Construction drawings are in for Total Access Urgent Care at Big Bend and Laclede Station and construction should be starting soon.  The City has started construction work on the new #2 Fire Station.  Missouri American Water has been working on a new water line on Big Bend in the Old Orchard trying to get it finished prior to the work on the Streetscape Project starts. They will be starting work on a new water line Elm from Lockwood to Big Bend, and they are still finishing up their work on Glendale between Elm and Edgar.  Construction work continues at Hixson Middle School.  Work on the residential code amendments is moving forward to the City Council meeting in April.  Starting work on some new code amendments for D Commercial and C Commercial to address multi-family to a permitted use with a specific set of regulations.  Prop #1 Use Tax informational cards are available, and information is available on the City website.  An additional new restaurant will be opening in Yorkshire Plaza. Adjourned Meeting adjourned at 8:56 AM. APPENDIX A Page 2of 3 APPENDIX B Page 3of 3