Old Webster Business District Advisory Commission

Old Webster Special Business District Advisory Commission MEETING MINUTES APPROVED MEETING DATE: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 LOCATION: City Hall CALLED TO ORDER: 8:03 AM MEETING ADJOURNED: 9:25 AM NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, March 27, 2018 NAME PRESENT ABSENT Ron Clipp, Chair X Joe Rath X Stacie Swederska X Mark Hinkle X Tim Delanty X Micki Hansel X Scott Kemper X vacancy Vacancy Matt Armstrong, Council Liaison X Mara Perry, City Liaison X Also in attendance: Ellie Wharton – General Manager, KWRH-LP “63119” Radio 92.9 FM Fran Sudekum – Administrative Support APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve November minutes was made by Joe Rath, seconded by Scott Kemper, and unanimously approved. Motion to approve January minutes was made by Joe Rath, seconded by Mark Hinkle, and unanimously approved. VISITOR COMMENTS Ellie Wharton, General Manager of KWRH-LP 63119Radio Station, 92.9 FM shared information about her new community radio station broadcasting to the 63119 municipalities (See Appendix A). Districts could use the station’s snippet option to promote the District as a whole as well as individual businesses. BUDGET DISCUSSION Commission Members reviewed an updated budget history for fiscal year 2018 and projections and possibilities for fiscal year 2019 for the Old Webster Business District (see Appendix B). Changes to the draft spreadsheet: • Actual expenses for 2017 was added to the budget history. • Category #823 Street Lights – The figure was bumped down slightly from last month’s draft budget spreadsheet. • Category #810 Disposal Services – The figure was up slightly from last month’s draft budget spreadsheet to cover the potential increase in recycling costs. • Category 971 Operating Transfer Out – Figure reflects a portion of the Parks Department salary increase; the City will cover the rest (Parks Department handles landscaping streetscape work for the District). Items to consider for 2019 include: • Funding support of pooled BDC social media and holiday promotions. • Funding support for the Webster-Kirkwood Times Adverting; Fall, Spring, and Holiday packages (See Appendix C). • Funding support for the Open House. • Funding support for the Street Dance. • Funding support for the Jazz Festival Stage • New Summer lamp post banners (Old Orchard will be doing new Summer banners; Crossroads will not be doing new Summer banners). • Funding of the 50/50 Rooftop Lighting Program. • Funds for potential lease arrangement with Webster Groves Presbyterian Church for the use of some of the parking spots in the Moody lot. Commission Members favored the following for 2019: • Increase Category #810 Disposal – 1,380 • Lower Category #823 Street Lights – 1,500 • Increase Category #971 Operating Transfer Out – $25,380 • Lower Category #701 Miscellaneous – $500 • Add a line item to Category #814 Parking Lot Rental (Moody) or a new category # for the Moody lot – $4,000 • Category #730 Operational Equipment (50/50 Rooftop Lighting Matching Program) – $1,500 • Category #830 Advertising – $24,000; Breakdown: o BDC Holiday Package – $4,500 o BDC Social Media – $3,500 o WK Times Adverting – $3,300 o Open House – $5,000 o Street Dance – $3,400 o Jazz Festival Stage – $1,800 (along with using a Purchase Order from previous year for $1,000) o Other Adverting – $2,500 (Paint Webster, 63119Radio) Commission Members favored the following for remaining 2018 funds: • Category #830 Advertising and #701 Miscellaneous – 80-90 Summer Lamp Post Banners and Design Set Up – $4,390 MOTION: Joe Rath made a motion to approve the changes to the Miscellaneous and Parking as discussed and leave the rest of the 2019 budget as it is with the hope that income increases and nothing new pops up. Tim Delanty seconded the motion. Motion was discussed. The motion was unanimously approved. EVENTS Members discussed whether events paid for and/or subsidized by the District could be self- sustaining. Could they be totally paid for with sponsorships and/or could they generate their own revenue to pay for their costs or even turn a profit? For example, the Street Dance is totally funded by the District. Its expense could be offset with paid sponsorships; however, an individual would need to step up and take on the job of getting sponsors for the event. Ideas to explore included: • As an example, a “Taste of Webster” or a “beer fest” type event could be added to the Street Dance event; this addition would carry a cost to the public. • Adding paid event sponsorships for significant advertising. • Adding a cost to the public component to events. • Pay an event company to put on events; the event would no longer be free to the public however. • Have full-time staff employee that organizes and puts on special events; funded and paid for by the City. • The BDC is currently putting together a job description for a staff person to take on some activities that could help support Districts. It’s still being formulated, it’s not necessarily for events or business development. Matt Armstrong encouraged Members to support this idea to City Council; they need to know how the businesses feel. PARKING • Parking concerns are a high priority for the District. • No movement in the negotiations with WG Pres on using their parking lot on Moody. The lot is in need of repair and will require a total fix in order to carry insurance on the lot. • Still working with Police Department on the location of the short-term 15-minute parking spots in the District. • Parking lot across from the “Reliable Life” building is underutilized; would need to contact the property owner about potential leasing of some of the spots. Attempts will be made to contact them again; they have not been responsive in the past. • The District could also ask for additional funding support from the City to contribute to parking resolutions. • The District’s Fund Balance could also be used to address parking resolutions. • Revenue from the parking permits go into the City’s general fund to help pay for the maintenance of the City garage; it is not enough however to cover that maintenance cost. Structural repairs and lighting will need to occur this year. • Potential areas for a parking in Old Webster; Bank of America lot whose lease is ending in the near future, the large grassy area in front of the Masons, Ozark Theater parking lot. CITY UPDATE • The changes to the sign code to allow blade signs on two-story buildings in the commercial business districts have received a first and second reading and should be approved next Tuesday. • Owl and Arrow hair salon in Old Webster is open. • The new Frisco Bar Room in Old Orchard will be opening soon. • Changes in the commercial use language of the are at the Planning Commission and will be held open until April. • A new business, MayPop, will be opening at Marshall and Summit, 803 Marshall, a coffee shop in the front and a garden shop in the back. • The B&B at Tuxedo and Bompart will have garage parking under the structure; has restored the stain glass windows, and many more details; it will be beautiful once its open. • A short update of the tennis courts vs. a new parking lot at Memorial Field was provided by Matt Armstrong. • Hoping to have a project turned in soon for the former Gerber Chapel location. • ARB is working on the site plans for the apartments at the former YMCA location. COMMISION VACANCIES There are now two vacancies on this commission. ADJOURNED NEXT MEETING Meeting adjourned at 9:49 AM. Tuesday, March 27, 2018 from 8:00 AM at City Hall . APPENDIX A A community radio station broadcasting the good news of and to the 63119 municipalities Presented to: The Old Webster Business District of Webster Groves KWRH-LP Radio, 92.9FM, is the 100-watt, low-power communications arm of the Webster- Rock Hill Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving people in need within the community. KWRH-LP produces and broadcasts programming designed to meet the educational, cultural, economic, civic, organizational, health, spiritual, entertainment and informational concerns associated with the uniquely diverse 63119 and neighboring communities. This is an opportunity for residents to claim their slice of the local airwaves and voice their unique vision for a better future. Supportive content can be found on the station’s website at www.radio63119.org, Facebook (Radio 63119), Twitter, Snap Chat and Instagram pages.  Primary coverage map of the 63119 area 8.39 square miles of prosperous communities Median house/condo 33,969 value: $200,000+ Home Ownership: 89% 40.7 years Education: 95.9% high school graduate or higher While desiring to provide open airwaves to the community, KWRH-LP is dedicated to upholding the standards set forth by the FCC regarding on-air decency. It is our pledge to provide enriching, community-friendly programming and reliable lifestyle information. □ Christian religious expression Civic pride and values APPENDIX B APPENDIX C