Old Orchard Business District Advisory Commission

Old Orchard Special Business District Advisory Commission MEETING MINUTES DRAFT MEETING DATE: Tuesday, September 14, 2021 LOCATION: City Hall & Zoom CALLED TO ORDER 8:01 AM MEETING ADJOURNED: 8:305 AM NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, October 12, 2021 NAME PRESENT ABSENT Bob Weber, Chair X Holland Saltsman, Vice Chair X Angel Venegoni X John Barr X Steve Zielinski X Abby Culleton X X Vacancy Vacancy Emerson Smith, Council Liaison X Eric Peterson, City Liaison X Also in attendance: Fran Sudekum – Administrative Support Approval of Minutes Motion to approve the August minutes was made by Angel Venegoni, seconded by Holland Saltsman, and was unanimously approved. New Commission Member The Commission welcomed new Commissions Member – Rick Gerger, Sr. Director of Public Safety and Facilities with Webster University. The Commission has two vacancies left to fill. Visitor Comments Ceci Bartels of the Business Development Commission is working on a possible scavenger hunt designed to expose people to the businesses in the three business districts. She is looking to gauge the interest level of the District Commissions for such an event. Commission Members liked the idea and are interested in hearing more when more details are worked out. Streetscape Update Construction has started; businesses remain open during the construction. Completion is projected to be by mid to late October. Once complete, City staff would like input from Old Orchard businesses on both the positive and negatives aspects of the construction to help in the coordination and communication of future projects. Gazebo Music Series Update Four of the six Gazebo Series performances have taken place. The remaining two are The People’s Key and Jake’s Leg. When all sponsor payments are collected the total will be about three times the amount compared to the recent past. Throughout the Series, during performances and on social media supporting the sponsors by patronizing their establishments Page 1 of 2 is emphasized and encouraged; every week more and more carry-out dinners from multiple Old Orchard restaurants can be seen in the audience. So far, the weather has been very good. A post-Series discussion will take place to determine whether to keep next year’s performances in late August/early fall or move it back to early summer. Trick or Treating Old Orchard businesses will be solicited for their participation in the Trick or Treating event which takes place on Saturday, October 30th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. Holland Saltsman will have a member of her staff update this year’s map once a list of participating businesses is compiled. BDC Update Within the next 30 days, the City will be receiving their first tranche (payment) from the Federal Government of the $4.6 million the City is slated to receive from the American Rescue Plan. One of the eligible uses for the funds is to address economic impacts from COVID-19 to businesses and as such, the Council wants to hear from the business community on potential uses to help support those have been affected by COVID-19. In addition, the Council wants to hear about issues the business community sees that impact potential growth; what hindrances do businesses face. The City is looking to gather information to identify process improvements items that could help Webster Groves businesses. To help facilitate all this, the BDC will be hosting a Business Roundtable; a “listening” event. City Update • Union Studio is moving to a bigger location a couple of doors west from their current location in Old Orchard. Fourth & Home, a vintage home furnishings business, will be opening in the location vacated by Union Studio. • Book Book Go, a not-for-profit will be moving to Old Webster • Betty’s Books will open soon in Old Orchard. • Construction work continues on the following business: o EURO TRASH in Old Webster. o Wingstop and Sushi Zushi in Yorkshire Plaza. o Union Bagel in Crossroads. o Total Access Urgent Care at Big Bend and Laclede Station. • The CUP for SMR Auto on Watson to add repairs was approved. • The Plan Commission voted 4 to 4 and thus “no recommendation” on the Douglass Hill Redevelopment Project; it now moves forward to City Council. • The TIF Commission will hold its public hearing on October 27th. • The website redesign process has started. The Explore Webster Groves piece will get its own “skin” and look like a separate website. Next Meeting Holiday Plans will be discussed; Santa’s Mailbox and Tree Lighting. Adjournment – Meeting adjourned at 8:30 AM. Page 2 of 2