Church Street Marketplace Commission Meeting Wednesday ...
Church Street Marketplace Commission Meeting Wednesday, November 17, 2010 APPROVED MINUTES Church Street Marketplace Office ATTENDING COMMISSIONERS: Celia Daly, Eli Lesser-Goldsmith, Dan Latcheran, Jeff Nick, Buddy Singh, Lorre Tucker, Robert Fuller Absent: Lara Allen, Dan Smith VISITORS: None STAFF: Mimi Gutchell, Eamon Penney, and Ron Redmond I. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER 8:15 a.m. II. AGENDA Agenda was distributed. III. MINUTES Meeting minutes for October 20, 2010 will be approved at the next meeting IV. PUBLIC FORUM No one present V. CHAIR’S REPORT A. Safety and Security for 2011: Commission discussed possibility of building a downtown public/private/non-profit/citizen stakeholder coalition focused on downtown safety and security. Ron to report back at the next Commission meeting. Celia to attend next Street Outreach Advisory Committee meeting. B. Update: 2010 Community Challenge Planning Grant for Downtown Waterfront Plan: How to mobilize business community to participate in planning process was discussed. David White to be invited to BBA and Marketplace meetings. Steve Allen to be invited to future Commission meeting. C. Marketplace Parking Garage and Downtown Improvement District Parking Assessment: Condition of Marketplace Garage discussed – maintenance level is very poor. Suggestion made to provide photos to DPW and ask for a plan moving forward. Commission to ask DPW to attend February, 2011 Commission meeting to be part of annual review of municipal garage financials in advance of renewal of 2-hour Free Parking subsidy. VI. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT A. Presentation - Update on Pilot Valet Parking Program: Eamon Penney presented an analysis for a possible valet parking program in the downtown. Discussion included staging areas, use of Green Mountain Concert Services. DAN-L considering using the BTC turn-around on Cherry Street as pick up/drop off area for valet parking. JEFF mentioned checking with Nicky Ducharme about availability of Jeff Davis’ property at the Court House Plaza for parking. Perrywinkles also a possible lot for after hours parking. Test of valet program could occur on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during high season. VII. COMMITTEES A. Finance: Commission discussed FY10 and 46K deficit. Large percentage of deficit connected with charge against operating budget for 20% capital cost of Big Joe Burrell statue. Commission discussed alternatives for top block fountain, including a possible children’s playground.
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Fountain maintenance costs are $10K/year. RON discussed possibility of leasing a train (like one a few years ago) for the top block only (about $50K to lease/purchase) – would allow ads on the train cars to help with the fees. JEFF said we need to follow up on the costs that were presented to Jonathan Leopold. RON mentioned a Landworks expense with the Marketplace needs to be reversed and paid by the Church Street Marketplace Foundation. Ron to send Celia contacts in Treasurer’s office (covering for Jonathan while he is out) for follow up to FY12 budget. Capital Improvements: Cherry Street intersection planned for April 2011; will be put in the street for the new bollards. Funds to purchase the bollards will have to be raised privately. The new bollards will help (no chains). Pedestrians will be able to walk through gaps, but not wide enough for cars to drive through. Staff and Commission to analyze maintenance practices. PAT discussed the need for a long term plan for the Street’s larger trees (planted in 1981). Merchant & Marketing: i. 2011 Fashion Show: Eda LaPlaca reviewed fashion show survey. ii. Social Media: Staff considering a position in the office for a Social Media intern. iii. Interval Center: Eamon discussed plans for an alliance with the Intervale; representatives to be invited to a future meeting. DAN-L suggested having a restaurant association within the Merchant/Marketing Committee. Municipal Relations / Futures: Organized Chaos: i. Alley Mural: Update on Pierre Hardy’s visa was provided. ii. Play Structures, Charity Boxes: Opportunity exists to partner with both City Councilor David Berezniak and Councilor Joan Shannon who have proposed strategies to encourage people to donate directly to a “charity box” or “donation meter” in lieu of giving change to panhandlers. Cost will have to be privately funded. Marketplace staff to move forward with this idea. ROBERT suggested using artwork signage to explain the boxes and the receiving charity. RON said charity boxes and donation meters must be privately funded. Celia recommended Ron finish a preliminary analysis & recommendation document and send it on for next City Council meeting. iii. Update on social event: Postponed until the January/February timeframe.
Next Commission meeting will be Wednesday, December 15th at 8:00am Meeting adjourned: 10:15am
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B.
C.
D. E.
Fountain maintenance costs are $10K/year. RON discussed possibility of leasing a train (like one a few years ago) for the top block only (about $50K to lease/purchase) – would allow ads on the train cars to help with the fees. JEFF said we need to follow up on the costs that were presented to Jonathan Leopold. RON mentioned a Landworks expense with the Marketplace needs to be reversed and paid by the Church Street Marketplace Foundation. Ron to send Celia contacts in Treasurer’s office (covering for Jonathan while he is out) for follow up to FY12 budget. Capital Improvements: Cherry Street intersection planned for April 2011; will be put in the street for the new bollards. Funds to purchase the bollards will have to be raised privately. The new bollards will help (no chains). Pedestrians will be able to walk through gaps, but not wide enough for cars to drive through. Staff and Commission to analyze maintenance practices. PAT discussed the need for a long term plan for the Street’s larger trees (planted in 1981). Merchant & Marketing: i. 2011 Fashion Show: Eda LaPlaca reviewed fashion show survey. ii. Social Media: Staff considering a position in the office for a Social Media intern. iii. Interval Center: Eamon discussed plans for an alliance with the Intervale; representatives to be invited to a future meeting. DAN-L suggested having a restaurant association within the Merchant/Marketing Committee. Municipal Relations / Futures: Organized Chaos: i. Alley Mural: Update on Pierre Hardy’s visa was provided. ii. Play Structures, Charity Boxes: Opportunity exists to partner with both City Councilor David Berezniak and Councilor Joan Shannon who have proposed strategies to encourage people to donate directly to a “charity box” or “donation meter” in lieu of giving change to panhandlers. Cost will have to be privately funded. Marketplace staff to move forward with this idea. ROBERT suggested using artwork signage to explain the boxes and the receiving charity. RON said charity boxes and donation meters must be privately funded. Celia recommended Ron finish a preliminary analysis & recommendation document and send it on for next City Council meeting. iii. Update on social event: Postponed until the January/February timeframe.
Next Commission meeting will be Wednesday, December 15th at 8:00am Meeting adjourned: 10:15am
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