Old Webster Business District Advisory Commission

Old Webster Special Business District Advisory Commission MEETING MINUTES APPROVED MEETING DATE: Tuesday September 22, 2020 LOCATION: City Hall CALLED TO ORDER: 8:01 AM MEETING ADJOURNED: 9:10 AM NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 NAME PRESENT ABSENT Ron Clipp, Chair X Joe Rath X Mark Hinkle X Tim Delanty X Micki Hansel X Gary Schoenberger X Margaret Stevens X Bill Newhouse X Stacie Swederska X David Franklin, Council Liaison X Mara Perry, City Liaison X Also, in attendance: Fran Sudekum – Administrative Support APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve the July minutes was made by Joe Rath, seconded by Gary Schoenberger, and unanimously approved. OLD BUSINESS • Old Webster Trade Association – The Trade Association will hold their Autumn themed event the weekend October 17 and 18. They changed the name from Walktober Fest to Walktober Weekend to downplay the “festival” aspect so as not to garner pooling of large crowds and encourage spreading out activity over an entire weekend. The Trade Association will decide whether to proceed with the Winter Market which is slated to take place in November after they see how things go with the Walktober Weekend. The December Window Walk idea has not yet been firmed up; Stacie Swederska and Ron Clipp support the idea. Stacie inquired about promoting a Window Walk with a map; Mara Perry confirmed advertising dollars are available. 1 of 2 • Voices of Businesses Diversity Dialogue – Discussion continued on ways business leaders could come together with City Council and the Police Department and have open conversations on how they can help make the community more inclusive. Both reality and the City’s image need to be addressed. It’s possible to support both the police and social justice. Mark Hinkle suggested a couple of Commission Members could have coffee with the Police Chief as a place to start the conversation and offered to reach out to him and set it up; Ron Clipp and Gary offered to participate with Mark. NEW BUSINESS • Webster-Kirkwood Times – The Times is back in print effective with the September 25th edition. Commission Members reaffirmed the previously budgeted funds to subsidize District ads in the gang-page style fall ads and the holiday gift guide as in the past. The “reborn” Times does not include the South County Times or the West End Word. • Parking – Possible sight distance issues with several parking spots on S. Gore near Lockwood should be looked at for safety. • Trash Cans – As a result of increased time and business conducted outside on District sidewalks, the number and placement of trash cans and how often they are emptied needs to be evaluated. Commission Members were asked to walk the District and give input at the next meeting. CITY UPDATE • An amendment change to the ordinance for the second building on the Regions Bank site in Old Webster to add a small coffee shop which was not in their original uses will go before the City Council. • Pacific Place in Old Orchard is cleaning up their ordinance and going to Planned Commercial. • A couple of methods to receive public comments for council meetings held on Zoom will be tried at the October 6th City Council meeting. • The 20-minute parking signs are being removed; however, the City will work with individual businesses still doing curbside pickup if they still need one. • Fall lamppost banners are being printed and as soon as they are delivered, they will be put up. • Union Studio will be opening soon in Old Orchard. • A new business that focuses on refilling (i.e. lotion, shampoo, etc.) is opening in Old Orchard. • Paperwork for La Macaron in Old Webster has not come in yet. • Firenza Pizza in Old Webster may have someone interested in taking over the business. NEXT MEETING Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at 8:00 AM via Zoom. 2 of 2