Old Webster Business District Advisory Commission

Old Webster Special Business District Advisory Commission MEETING MINUTES APPROVED MEETING DATE: Tuesday, August 22, 2017 LOCATION: City Hall CALLED TO ORDER: 8:03 AM MEETING ADJOURNED: 9:10 AM NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 NAME PRESENT ABSENT Ron Clipp, Chair X Chris Hite X Joe Rath X Stacie Swederska X Morry Cole X Mark Hinkle X Tim Delanty X Micki Hansel X Scott Kemper X Matt Armstrong, Council Liaison X Mara Perry, City Liaison X Also in attendance: Fran Sudekum – Administrative Support APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve July minutes was made by Mark Hinkle, seconded by Joe Rath, and unanimously approved. NEW COMMISSION MEMBER A new member has been appointed to the commission – Scott Kemper, Llywelyn’s Pub. OLD BUSINESS Winter/Holiday Decorations • Budget – Mara Perry provided a copy of the District budget to review where potential dollars may be available to update the holiday lamp post decorations and/or get new winter lamp post banners. It was decided at a previous Commission meeting to put off the new District Kiosk so the $4,500 previously budgeted for that could be used toward the decorations or banners. There is also a $5,500 purchase order available as well as dollars allocated to advertising, lighting, and benches or trash cans. Commission members determined the rooftop lighting project shall continue and its budget will remain. • Lamp Post Holiday Decorations – Lamp post decorations will be put off until next year in order to order new winter banners. • Winter Lamp Post Banners – Mara brought sample materials for possible new banners for the lamp posts. Bids from Zane Williams and Fast Signs were very close in price. The District would need to order 80 Banners. Tim Delanty offered to help with the design of a new winter banner; he has numerous designers working for him. The design should be focused on Winter not the Holidays so the banners can be left up for the entire Winter season. The three types of banners are as follows:  1. Standard Vinyl – $6,300 to $6,800; these will fade and don’t hold up well. 2. Marine Acrylic – This is the type that is currently in place and has been in use for 17 years, has held up well, and are not faded. The number of colors that can be used is limited however and would need to be determined before a bid can be provided; but likely to be on par with the cost of the polly canvas. It was determined Mara would get a bid using three to four colors. 3. Polly canvas – $6,640; shinny material, also fades. • MOTION: Joe Rath made a motion to use up to $7,000 for Marine Acrylic banners using three or four colors. Motion was seconded by Chris Hite and unanimously approved. District Parking Parking continues to be a concern to Commission members. Commission members feel a lack of available employee parking during the day is a major issue and creates a domino effect that negatively affects customer parking. • Short-Term Parking – One immediate potential fix is strategically placed short-term “customer pick up” type spots located throughout the District. Mara had a meeting with the Paul Verheyen, Director of Public Works, to get his input on 15-minute spots strategically located throughout the District. It was determined Commission members would 1. Drive the District with parking maps in hand and determine possible locations for 15-minute parking spots. 2. Bring that information to the September meeting. 3. Come to a consensus on where the short-term spots should be located. 4. Create a sub-committee to follow thru the process of the Commission’s submission to the Traffic Advisory Commission and then on to City Council as short-term spots would require an ordinance change. • Overall Parking Picture – Commission members felt overall parking for the entire District needs to be looked at with City Council engagement. There are many factors to consider: 1. Should the 2009 parking study be updated as the makeup of businesses now in the District and how they impact parking has changed dramatically since the study was done? 2. Since there are no “open/unused” areas in the District, where could additional parking be added? 3. Could the District work out additional leasing arrangements for parking with private property owners? 4. Could we acquire information from businesses on their plans to increase their employee headcounts and/or expand their business? 5. Could we acquire information from businesses on the manner in which they use the parking permit system. 6. Can we take a look at the number of business licenses in the District compared to last year for an idea of increased volume? 7. What is the best way to convey to businesses the need to make customer parking a priority? NEW BUSINESS No new business. CITY UPDATE • A total of 17 businesses in Webster Groves renewal or joined the St. Louis CVC. The Block and CJ Muggs did not renew this year. • My Shabby Cottage in Old Webster is open next to Zoey’s Attic. • Webster Garden Café in Old Webster has a new owner. • A new nail saloon is going in on Allen Avenue in Old Webster. • A new dance studio is open in Old Orchard. • The new dermatology office is open on Watson. • Half and Half in Old Webster is still finishing up items before they can open. • The public hearing before the Planning Commission on the former YMCA property will be held on August 24th. All the staff reports on the City’s website. The developer is not asking for any public money. • In September, the Planning Commission will hear CUP requests for the former Auto Beauty location in Old Webster. The developer is looking to put a microbrewery, a brewpub, retail/event/office space, and a restaurant in that location. • There are 24 new residential houses under construction. • The Planning and Development Department is now fully staffed. • Jazz Fest is in three weeks. Joe Rath shared they have a good list of bands and they are good with all their sponsors. The one remaining item they need is volunteer help. Joe will send a volunteer sign up link to Fran so she can send it out to everyone. They also need help with the command center if any business owners or managers are able to help. ADJOURNED Meeting adjourned at 9:10 AM. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at 8:00 AM – City Hall.