Minutes - Downtown Management Commission - 06/12/2009
CITY OF BOULDER, COLORADO
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES FORM
NAME OF BOARD/COMMISSION: DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
NAME/TELEPHONE OF PERSON PREPARING SUMMARY: Ruth Weiss--303-413-7318
NAMES OF MEMBERS, STAFF, AND INVITED GUESTS PRESENT:
BOARD MEMBERS: ERICA DAHL (absent), JOHN KOVAL, MATT MCMULLEN, VIRGINIA
PATTERSON, ERIC RUTHERFORD, DBI and BID BOARD
MEMBERS: CINDY WARD, NOLAN ROSALL, PHIL SHULL, RICHARD PENDLETON, BONNIE
DAHL, PETER HEINZ, JOHN MEHAFFY, LEONARD THOMAS, SAM SUSSMAN,
GEORGE KARAKEHIAN, RICHARD POLK, REGGUPTON, STEPHEN SPARN,
MARY NAGLE STREET, ANN GETCHES, ANDY JAMES, AMY MOYNIHAN,
WENDY REYNOLDS, JAKE. PUZIO, MICAH MCKEE, FERN O'BRIEN
STAFF: MOLLY WINTER, ELLEN CUNNINGHAM, DONNA JOBERT, RUTH WEISS, LANE
LANDRITII, KURT MATTHEWS, JANE BRAUTIGAM
GUEST: DAVE ADAMS, LIB ILDERTON, TERRY TAKATA-SMITH, ELI MADRONE, SUE
HEMPSTEAD
TYPE OF MEETING: MINUTES OFF SITE: June 12, 2009
AGENDA ITEM I- Welcoming Comments: Molly Winter, Sean Maher and Cindy Ward welcomed all attendees.
AGENDA ITEM 2- Introduction of Participants: Participants were asked to introduce themselves, provide business
affiliation, length of time downtown, and their priority for Downtown Boulder.
AGENDA ITEM 3 - Organization Chart for Three Organizations: Sean Maher and Molly Winter gave an overall view
of the organizations, their focus, budget parameters and concerns.
AGENDA ITEM 4 -Chair Reports Identifying Current Top Priorities for Their Organization: Sean Maher and
Molly Winter opened the discussion to the audience.
AGENDA ITEM 5 - Discussion of Key Issues and Opportunities for Downtown Boulder: The following is a summary
of breakout discussions.
ECONOMIC:
Communication
• Positive impact of density (j trans, T rev, T jobs, etc)
• Advocacy
• Council (email, one on one, site visits)
Collaboration
• SBDC
• BHP
• Dan Powers
• Responsible Hospitality
• Neighborhood association
• Landlord mix (tenant)
• Outlying Downtown areas
• Faith based
• Historic Boulder
Business Assistance / Retention
• Establish mentor groups
• SBDC events
• Business testimonials
Politics
• Public Affairs
• Candidate recruitment/support
• Endorsement
• Impact tax base (commercial/residential mix)
• Convention Center
Action Items
• Public Affairs (see Politics)
• Establish mentor groups - "New Business Ilelp Desk"
• Study tipping pt. (residential/commercial tax base)
• Continue/restart council one on one, site visit
• Formulate ongoing, broad-based communication strategy
- Density benefits
- Positive impact of Downtown organizations ("community benefit")
- Affordable housing
- Business testimonials
- Candidate endorsement
- Collaborative efforts / benefits - foster ongoing/increased collaborations
SOCIAL:
• Reach out to CU
- Arts and Drama events downtown
- Ethnic / International
- Conference on World Affairs - Boulder Theater
• Family and Kids
- More free events
- Pumpkin Fest
- Valentine Art contest
- Engage schools
• Senior Outreach
- Senior Days
- Discounts
• Ethnic - More Events
- Reach out to Latino population
- Fiesta / Intercambio
- More proactive / schools
ENVIRONNIENTAL:
• Outreach to Property Owners
Focus: PAYBACK - keeping green in green, lower triple net
- Who: Green Committee
1. BRANDING - location, location, foot print
- Who: BID
ECONOMIC:
• TOURISM:
- Touch screen / Web
- Concierge outreach
- Central ticketing
• Civic Pad Opportunity
• Land use - density - foundation of CU - shades both worlds
• Housing - work force housing downtown?
- Ground costs - COB land
• Visitors - 50 % of downtown people - make more purchase / bisit - maximize competitive
• Tenant mix - national chains versus local and tourist focused merchandise/ family / affordable "Aspen / Estes
Park"
• What is lacking downtown - movie theatre, conference center
• "What do we want to be downtown'?" Work force housing?
• Actions:
- Advocacy statement re. Density and housing
- DMC, DBI - louder voice
Clarity of terms of "work force", rental housing and numbers
Survey - feedback on organizations and their goals / mission
- Tourism - do a good job info kiosk, keep supporting
1. Touch screen / Web attractions, improve customer experience
2. Concierge staff in Boulder and BOLO -training outreach
3. Central ticketing for Boulder athletics and events
- Skip / Hop - SHOP
- Business incubation good at ; space to grow - city space
- Carrots to get off mall - signage / banners
- Conference center - jump start by business community
- Civic pad - meeting space
- Camera site - uses
- Visitor experience
1. Inconsistencies
2. Performers rude
3. Pan handlers
4. Customer service
5. Stores
ENVIRONMENTAL:
• Tools / Green Conunittee
• Payback and marketing - BID
• "Low triple net"
• Location / location / sustainability "foot print"
• Focus:
- Property owners
- Partnership - BGBG
- Task force - BGBC - city, Xcel
- One on one meeting with property owners
- Another focus - churches / temple - "green prayer"
• Action:
- Green
- Task force
- Property
- Measurable
• Other:
- Transportation access
- Alternative modes
- Land use mix
• Keeping doors shut _ saving money
1. Behavioral
Structural - property owner vs tenant
BGBC - education
2. Physical
Role - make connection with Downtown
3. Recycling / Zero Waste
Idea - blog, web based with relevant info for businesses
Service - energy audits and info
Focus on one area and do it; i.e. glazing insulation
Idea - matching $ for improvements
Why - $ savings and marketing of downtown, payback
"Keep green in green"
Meeting adjourned at Noon
ACTION ITEMS: None
FUTURE MEETINGS:
July 6, 2009 Council Chambers Regular Meeting
5:30 p.m.
APPROVED BY: DOWTOWN M AGEMENT COMMISSION
~441
Attest:
Ruth Weiss, Secretary 4MtcMullen, Chair