Old Webster Business District Advisory Commission

Old Webster Special Business District Advisory Commission MEETING MINUTES APPROVED MEETING DATE: Tuesday, September 27, 2016 LOCATION: City Hall CALLED TO ORDER: 8:03 AM MEETING ADJOURNED: 9:15 AM NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 NAME PRESENT ABSENT Ron Clipp, Chair X Amanda Payne, Vice Chair X Chris Hite X Joe Rath X Keli Richards X Stacie Swederska X Morry Cole X Mark Hinkle X Tim Delanty X Matt Armstrong, Council Liaison X Mara Perry, City Liaison X Also in attendance: Pui Nammakhot and an associate – The Sushi Station Council Member Bud Bellomo – City of Webster Groves Fran Sudekum – Administrative Support APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve August minutes with one change was made by Joe Rath, seconded by Tim Delanty, unanimously approved. OLD BUSINESS  Bike Rack Locations – Ron Clipp passed out a map of the District with potential bike rack locations marked. Bike racks need to be visible, but not in the way. First choice would be to have them visually, except for a potential larger sized one in the employee parking lot. Commission members prioritized the top 4 locations as: the bike shop, the Reliable Life building, the fountain at the Novus building, and Schnarr’s Hardware. In addition to the top four locations, potential additional locations included: the north side of Lockwood between Gore and Gray and the employee parking lot on Gore. The Sustainability Commission will take these recommended locations and move to the next step in the project. They are pursuing bike racks for all three business districts.  Jazz Fest Update – The Jazz Fest was a huge success. The turn out this year was possibly one of the largest yet. A round of applause was given to Joe Rath for all his hard work in putting on the event. Joe showed the Commission a photo of a recognition plaque given to the event by the Air Force band. Joe would like to secure the stages for next year’s Jazz Fest. Amanda Payne made a motion to use up to $2,800 to secure the stages for the 2017 Jazz Fest, Tim Delanty seconded the motion, the motion was unanimously approved. Mara will confirm the amount available in two purchase orders to use for the expense and report back at the October meeting. NEW BUSINESS  Old Webster Trade Association’s Summer Night Street Dance Event – Joe Rath wanted to know if Commission members wanted to support the 2017 Summer Night Street Dance put on by the Old Webster Trade Association. All Commission members stated it is a great summer family event and will continue to support it. Stacie Swederska inquired about vendor tents at the Street Dance. Joe stated there’s no fee for pop-up vendor tents of businesses in the District at the Street Dance. COUNCIL UPDATE  The Council recently had a retreat. The Council is developing a “wish list” and is looking for input from Commission members for “big picture” items. If Commission members have any ideas for the wish list, please get them to Matt Armstrong. One of the items discussed at the retreat and on the wish list is parking. A big picture parking item would be a parking garage. Bud Bellomo suggested a review of the parking studies done in the past could have some viable options. Ron asked Matt if he brought up the sidewalk project for discussion at the retreat. Unfortunately, he did not. For the benefit of all, a review of the sidewalk project was discussed and the need for a long- term solution; Matt promised to bring the subject up in a Council work session.  The Council recently met with Webster University administration with the goal of integrating the two communities. To that end, they would like to engage businesses on the campus grounds. Perhaps a sidewalk sale or sell and repair bikes in the spring, etc.  Matt Armstrong shared with Commission members an idea being discussed to move the annual 4th of July Celebration from Memorial Field to the streets in the Old Webster Business District stating the damage done to the fields every year was expensive. He is looking for a central and flat location. Commission members shared with Matt the roadblocks they’ve run into trying to shut down Lockwood for other events; access for fire trucks, detours, access to businesses in the District, and eliminated parking have all negated closing down Lockwood as a viable option for any event. Commission members inquired if those involved in putting on the event had been brought into this conversation of potentially moving the location of the event; the Lions for example as they are one of the main stakeholders and organizers of the event. CITY UPDATE  Naturally Pure Salon is moving from Old Orchard to Crossroads.  A hair salon and a second tenant are processing paperwork for the “Quonset Hut” location in Old Orchard.  Dance Project St. Louis is moving into the building next to The Novel neighbor on Big Bend in Old Orchard.  Auto Beauty has moved to their new location; they have not had any discussions with the City on their plans for the building.  AT&T has many of their “box” locations that are not up to code; no new permits will be issued until they are fixed.  Staff is still moving forward with the work on changes to the residential sections of the City Zoning Code.  The Planning and Development Department has numerous upcoming public hearings: 1. The vacant church at Bompart and Tuxedo wants to convert to a Bed and Breakfast. 2. The Baptist church on Brentwood is making zoning changes and consolidating their lots. 3. Missouri American Water is putting in poles with wireless meter readers around Webster; six locations, some on live poles, some on new. OCTOBER AGENDA ITEMS Purchas Order amounts available for Jazz Fest Stages ADJOURNED Meeting adjourned at 8:53 AM. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at 8:00 AM – City Hall.