Old Orchard Business District Advisory Commission

Old Orchard Special Business District Advisory Commission MEETING MINUTES APPROVED MEETING DATE: Tuesday, October 12, 2021 LOCATION: City Hall & Zoom CALLED TO ORDER 8:02 AM MEETING ADJOURNED: 8:44 AM NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, November 9, 2021 NAME PRESENT ABSENT Bob Weber, Chair X Holland Saltsman, Vice Chair X Angel Venegoni X John Barr X Steve Zielinski Abby Culleton X Rick Gerger X Vacancy Vacancy Emerson Smith, Council Liaison X Eric Peterson, City Liaison X Also in attendance: Jenny Donaldson, Executive Director, Webster Arts Larry Chapman – SG Collaborative Liz Austin – SG Collaborative Joel Oliver – SG Collaborative Fran Sudekum – Administrative Support APPRVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve the September minutes was made by Steve Zielinski, seconded by Rick Gerger, and was unanimously approved. VISITOR COMMENTS Jenny Donaldson, Executive Director of Webster Arts has submitted a Special Activities Permit for the use of Gazebo Park for a Gazebo Artists Market on December 5, 2021 from Noon to 5:00PM; same format as was held in August of this year. They will not close E. Lockwood this time but will use all the parking spaces next to the park. They are hoping to engage businesses in the District to piggyback onto the event. Commission Members did not see any issues with the Gazebo Artist Market permit request and gave Webster Arts the go ahead to reach out directly to District businesses to potentially engage them. STREETSCAPE UPDATE Construction is slated to be completed by the end of October. GAZEBO MUSIC SERIES FEEDBACK Bob Weber stated it was the best Gazebo Series so far. We got great sponsor support from businesses. Great job on fundraising to Fran Sudekum. The organizers will have a post- Gazebo Series meeting to talk about next season and hopefully be able to put more funds into hiring bands. TRICK OR TREATING UPDATE Page 1 of 3 So far 11 businesses have committed to participate in the Trick or Treating event which takes place on Saturday, October 30, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. The deadline to be included on the map is October 13th. Mara Perry has agreed to update the map of participating businesses. Once the maps and participation posters are printed, Fran will deliver them. HOLIDAY PLANS Santa’s Mailbox – The Parks & Rec Department will make sure Santa’s Mailbox is in good working order and will deliver it to the Gazebo the Monday after Thanksgiving. In addition, the Old Webster Trade Association has requested to borrow it and use it at their Holiday Open House on November 14th; Commission Members agreed to let them borrow it. The Parks & Rec Department will take care of transportation. Tree Lighting – The Tree Lighting will be held on Sunday, December 5th at dusk as Webster Arts’ Artists Market is closing; no formal plan was outlined. NEW BUSINESS Proposed Douglass Hill Redevelopment Project – City Council has asked all City Boards and Commission for their input, if they have any, on the proposed Douglass Hill Redevelopment Project to be submitted by November 12th. To that end, representatives from SG Collaborative (Larry Chapman, Liz Austin, and Joel Oliver) were available to answer Commission Member questions about the project. Commission Members did not make a decision as to whether they would submit input on the project or not; they will have an opportunity to do so if they wish at their November 9th meeting. Murdoch/Big Bend Intersection – The intersection is very dangerous and with continued growth in the District, we should put addressing this issue on the table to start the process. Eric Peterson suggested starting the conversation with St. Louis County. Angel Venegoni shared they are looking to change their entrancing/exiting at their location which is a good opportunity to start the process. BDC UPDATE The BDC will host a Business Roundtable on November 4th from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM. The goal is to get information from businesses and contractors; a listening session. It will take place at the East Academic Building on the campus of Webster University. In addition to the in-person meeting there will also be an online survey. CITY UPDATE • Union Studio has moved a couple of doors west on Big Bend in Old Orchard. • Fourth & Home, a vintage home furnishings and housewares business is opening in Old Orchard. • Euro Trash in Old Webster is open. • Book Book Go, a not-for-profit has moved back to Old Webster. • Field Theory, and outdoor clothing and equipment business has opened. • Betty’s Books is coming to Old Orchard. • Amy’s Cake Pop Shop is expanding their space. • SMR Auto on Watson was approved to add repairs. • Wingstop is open in Yorkshire Plaza. Page 2 of 3 • Work continues on the following business: o Sushi Zushi in Yorkshire Plaza. o Union Bagel in Crossroads. o Total Access Urgent Care at Big Bend and Laclede Station. • City Council opened it’s hearing on the Douglass Hill Project on October 4 and will take public comments at their October 19 meeting. • An ordinance and rezoning request for Planned Commercial with multi-family was received for 55 W. Moody in Old Webster. • Next month Planning Commission will start work on text amendments to the Tree and Landscaping ordinance. Next Meeting – November 9, 2021. Adjournment – Meeting adjourned at 8:44 AM. Page 3 of 3