[0:00] Call this meeting to order. Uh the uh downtown development authority

[0:05] Wednesday, August 26 meeting. >> Can we have a roll call?

[0:12] » Yeah, please. >> Baback

[0:13] » here. >> Crow here.

[0:15] » Dawson >> here. Laxo. Martineic here. Miller

[0:19] » Norris >> and Walker.

[0:22] » Okay. >> Here.

[0:24] » Thank you. >> Okay. Okay. Can we get a motion to

[0:26] approve the agenda of 2020 August 26, 2026?

[0:31] » I want to make an addition to the agenda.

[0:34] » Let's make the motion in a second and then we can make the changes. Motion to

[0:38] approve the agenda for August 20 26 26 20 minutes.

[0:45] Seconded somewhere second. >> Okay. Now uh changes, additions,

[0:51] deletions. I wanted Can I just talk?

[0:55] » Sure. >> I wanted to see if we could add an item

[0:59] to discuss the July 20th application submitted by Ardan Douglas for funding

[1:06] for July, August, and September. It was not discussed at our meeting last

[1:11] month, nor was it discussed or put on the agenda for this month's meeting.

[1:18] Uh, we can add that to

[1:25] » um, may I jump in on that? Sure. Yes, it came in late, Dave.

[1:29] » No, it didn't. >> Yes, it did.

[1:30] » It came in on the 20th of July. >> Yes. And the agenda went out on

[1:34] » the Well, we have a meeting on the 22nd. Yes.

[1:37] » We add items to the agenda all the time. >> The agenda goes out the Friday prior to

[1:40] that. >> Yes. But we add items to the agenda all

[1:43] the time. All I'm doing, all I'm doing is make a motion to add this to the

[1:46] agenda. >> But then be truthful about what you're

[1:49] saying that >> that's what I said. It was submitted on

[1:52] the 20th of July and it was not discussed at July's meeting or this

[1:56] meeting. It's not on the agenda here either.

[1:58] » It wasn't on the agenda because it wasn't

[2:03] » it was submitted on July 20. Are we just picking and choosing which applications

[2:07] we're going to discuss or what? That's you know

[2:11] that's my question. I I just wanted to have a discussion.

[2:13] » We can add it to >> H because we're going to have a G.

[2:17] » Yes. >> Uh so

[2:31] discussion. Okay.

[2:36] Can I also um make an amendment to add to new business um letter G discussion

[2:42] of um distinctly Douglas video production

[2:47] costs increase.

[2:55] » Okay. Any

[2:59] » I want to make sure we get to our other stuff first.

[3:04] Uh any other uh changes for additions, deletions?

[3:11] » Anybody want to get rid of anything? >> Okay.

[3:17] All right, then. Can we take a roll call vote, please?

[3:21] » Oh, we can do a voice vote, right? >> Yeah.

[3:23] » All right. All in favor? >> I.

[3:25] » Those opposed? Okay. Fabulous. So, approval of minutes.

[3:31] Can I get a motion to approve the minutes from our last meeting?

[3:36] Motion to approve the meetings uh the mo motion to approve the minutes of the

[3:41] July 22nd, 2026 meeting.

[3:47] » Second.

[3:50] » Okay. Any discussion on that? >> Okay, then we'll take a voice vote. All

[3:57] in favor? I. Any opposed? Thank you. Officer reports. Madam

[4:04] Secretary, >> no report. Okay. Uh, treasurer.

[4:09] » Uh, nothing other than what's in the packet.

[4:12] » Vice chair. Uh, we'll have marketing meeting notes later.

[4:20] » Or just a tad late at the same. >> Yes. Okay.

[4:25] I have no comments. Uh [clears throat] any we don't have any public written

[4:32] communication other than we did I did receive some of us I don't know who got

[4:38] it an email from um Marsha from Lean Art Gallery and she was very complimentary

[4:46] about your videos that you've been doing Jim. So, the rest of it um I addressed

[4:53] was about errors and concerns about how it should be done, but um it's great.

[5:02] » Thank you for Thank you for volunteering your time to do it.

[5:07] Okay. Uh public communication, we have uh three minutes for anybody who

[5:14] wishes to entertain us.

[5:19] No tap juice. >> This is chair.

[5:25] » I Hey, Mike Burmeister button gallery. Um I Yeah, I don't Um let's see. I was

[5:33] really prepared to should have stood up if I was prepared to talk. Um all right.

[5:38] So I guess the thing that I'm here for is just sort of clarification on

[5:44] reimbursement of music for Art and Douglas. Um,

[5:49] [sighs]

[5:51] uh, in no way, shape, or form am I trying to submit an application at an

[5:57] incorrect time or, um, to have music in front of a certain

[6:03] business? I'll ask other businesses, do you want to have the music in front of

[6:08] your space? So, I'll try to shift people around.

[6:12] I'll say, do you want different types of music? So, do you want it to be jazz? Do

[6:18] you want to have be big band or the nerves get going and the voice cracks or

[6:24] life cross? Um, so it's not that there's any

[6:32] thing that I'm trying to do. It's mostly just providing music for these events

[6:37] and then I'm the point person for that. Um, that is literally it. So, I

[6:43] apologize if I've gotten applications in at the wrong time or said the wrong

[6:48] thing. I I know that my paperwork is a little off. There's been a lot going on.

[6:53] I just got my kiddo off to Western Michigan for last semester. So, if

[6:58] you're a parent, you know that there's a lot that happens at the end of August or

[7:02] not. Just a lot in life. Um, but I'm loosely again. So, I know that there's

[7:08] like a check for me somewhere that needs to be found. It's roughly $1,000 or

[7:13] maybe $1,500, but right now I'm loosely at $2,700 that I'm in the red. So, I'm

[7:21] not going to die. Uh getting reimbured would be fantastic. That's about it.

[7:26] Again, I'm not pissed at anybody. I'm good. Um you know, it's just end of

[7:32] summer and be nice to kind of like, you know, button it up.

[7:40] » Yep. That was intended. >> Thanks, Michael.

[7:44] » No. >> Anybody else?

[7:48] Okay. >> But we are going to address this at G or

[7:52] H. >> Yep.

[7:53] » Yes. >> Uh we are moving on to unfinished

[7:58] business which we have none of. And so we will move to new business. Did I say

[8:04] new business? We didn't have any. I meant old business. He said

[8:08] » he said >> did I say okay thank you. Okay so new

[8:11] business. Uh first things first approval of the October Fest banner sign request

[8:17] from community pride for the center and blueest star highway gateway sides.

[8:27] Oh, >> I make a motion that we approve the

[8:29] request for the October Fest banner at main. No, main center.

[8:36] [clears throat]

[8:39] » Seconded. Any discussions?

[8:43] It looks good. I like it. >> Nice.

[8:51] » All right, then.

[8:54] Uh, can we continue voice votes if we're not voting on things? Okay, then all

[9:01] those in favor? >> I I

[9:06] » those opposed. >> Okay,

[9:12] that'll be $5,000. >> Let me run a check. [laughter]

[9:18] » City of village municipality of county of Douglas.

[9:26] » [laughter] >> paid a cash

[9:29] was close. [laughter]

[9:31] Okay. Third coast paddling update and the request for proposal process.

[9:39] Um

[9:43] Jenny or who whomever? >> Yeah, I I think you guys had an updated

[9:48] briefing that you wanted to give. Yeah,

[9:52] » some of these numbers have been updated about how they did.

[9:57] » This is just the past year, right? >> They have copies.

[10:00] » Oh, okay. >> Yep.

[10:05] » Do you want to um >> these are the ones that

[10:10] » you know last night? >> Oh, that

[10:13] that's pretty sim. Okay. >> Updated through yesterday.

[10:16] » Oh, all right. Great. It's up to you. Yeah, of course. Yeah, sure.

[10:20] » Did you want to say something quick before?

[10:22] » Is that okay? >> Yeah. Introduce yourselves to those who

[10:24] may not have met you yet. >> Yeah. Um Ryan and Aaron Gerard. We own

[10:29] Third Coast Paddling. We um we've been in business for over 20 years. Um we

[10:36] have eight um hold

[10:44] can hear the speakers. >> Okay, sounds good.

[10:47] We um we have eight locations in southwest Michigan. So we um we

[10:54] specialize in outdoor recreation, getting people outside to have fun

[10:58] basically. Um the other part of our business is kids summer beach camps

[11:03] where we um take kids surfing and paddle boarding and building sand castles and

[11:10] playing beach soccer and things like that. Um, so we we we we have a a pretty

[11:16] um fun business and our whole goal is to to um show people a good time basically,

[11:23] you know, to get people outside, get kids off screens

[11:26] um and then with the mun municipalities that we work with the state as well um

[11:32] to drive traffic [snorts] to drive uh you know people into the the

[11:38] areas that we um we work within. We we were in retail for 20 years. So I know

[11:44] uh we live in St. Joe. Our retail store was in St. Joe. We had one in New

[11:49] Buffalo as well. Um we know what it's like to live in a you know seasonal um

[11:55] you know Michigan beach town um like you guys have here in Douglas. So um we kind

[12:01] of put this little brief together. Uh we're coming to the end of our

[12:06] um 5-year uh contract. It was a three-year contract with two additional

[12:11] one years um with the city. Um and we're essentially here because we want to be

[12:18] here long term. Um the the the previous contract, like I said, it was a

[12:25] three-year with the opt for two additional one-year options.

[12:30] You know, we have we have seven-year um contracts with the state of Michigan.

[12:35] Um, I know that's not what the city of Douglas has has done um, up until this

[12:41] point and um, you know, obviously the city will do what it needs to do, but

[12:47] we're here to just say we've really enjoyed the 5 years that we've been

[12:49] here. You know, that the numbers that we put together here we're pretty proud of.

[12:53] Um, over 9,000 guests, you know, that are coming to downtown Douglas. Um, and

[13:00] I can tell you that the majority of those people are booking online in

[13:06] advance. Um, we have a pretty robust online presence, uh, website. Um, over

[13:12] $19,000 a year in in digital, um, marketing. Um, so we work with a

[13:19] marketing company that that does does that does that stuff for us.

[13:23] Um, we're really proud to to to, you know,

[13:28] to have these numbers, frankly. Um, you know, so we're getting people to town.

[13:33] Uh, we're getting people that are, you know, maybe staying in Saget to downtown

[13:38] Douglas who may not have, um, come otherwise potentially. Um, and then

[13:45] we're also, you know, driving some, um, you know, some revenue to the city. I

[13:50] hope some of that's going to the DDA. um because I know that's what you guys

[13:54] are here for [clears throat] to get people downtown. We met with the

[13:58] building uh committee a couple weeks ago. Um and you know, we're we're

[14:04] essentially just here to to state our intention that we would like to partner

[14:09] with the city for as as long as the city is willing to partner with us. And I I

[14:13] know there are going going to be limitations in terms of the contracts,

[14:17] but um you know, the vibe we're looking for is a long-term relationship with

[14:23] with the city because we we've really enjoyed our time here.

[14:28] » Any questions for Ryan? >> Yeah. Um what is it that the city can do

[14:34] more for you or better you've done in the past? Do you have any suggestions?

[14:41] » That's a good question. you know, we met with the building committee, like I just

[14:44] said, we we there were a couple ideas there. Um, better signage.

[14:50] Um, something as simple as as getting a new

[14:53] chair for our our staff member to sit up a little higher in inside the shed

[14:57] [laughter] >> that you were gonna do. I think Dave's

[14:59] asking, is there anything that we >> Okay, sure.

[15:03] » Um, well, >> if there isn't anything, that's great.

[15:08] » Yeah. No, I I honestly I can't think of any off the top of my head. Um, can you,

[15:13] Erin? I I to be honest, it's it's usually the

[15:17] opposite. It's more kind of like what we feel like we can do for the municipality

[15:21] that we're working with. Um, and you know, we

[15:27] support, you know, [snorts] is obviously something that we're looking for. Um,

[15:32] and you know, the support that that we've gotten from the city has been

[15:35] really good so far. you know, it's a bit of a challenge being at the end of the

[15:40] street right below the hill. Um, so, you know, if if we can find ways to

[15:49] get people that are up in town down two ways by you, you know, I we'd have to

[15:55] think about that a little bit more. Um, but I think the long answer, Dave, is

[16:00] that I can't think of any that are like obvious off the top of my head.

[16:05] » Yeah. Thanks.

[16:14] » Yes. >> Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. And we um we we

[16:20] we do try to get involved with um you know the the the partners that we have.

[16:27] Um I know we have Jim lined up for a a a video shoot uh early next summer. Um,

[16:34] and I know we've been involved in other DDA events. Erin handles most of that

[16:38] stuff. So, I um, but yeah, thank you. That's essentially it. At least I I

[16:45] don't know if if it goes uh much further than that here at least because I know

[16:49] it has to go in front of the council that it's out for bid. Yeah.

[16:58] » So, this contract is up. I have to issue another request for proposal. that um

[17:04] feedback from them was that the three year with the two additional one years

[17:09] was kind of hard because they just get going and then it's like okay

[17:16] » it is our typical term though for the root barrel for other so I'm just

[17:22] seeking guidance on we keep it three years with two one year extension or do

[17:26] you want to go to five years with two one year extensions or

[17:30] » if I if I can just speak to that point real real quickly. Um,

[17:35] as we uh mentioned here in in the brief, our total investment so far is $40 plus

[17:42] thousand. Um,

[17:46] and you know, it's hard. I I I I committed to that coming in

[17:52] because I I was confident that we would be here for the five years that we've

[17:55] been here. Um but you know the truth is that when you

[18:01] don't have a commitment um it become it it becomes harder to to make that

[18:08] investment you know um if we were you know guaranteed another

[18:13] five years then as you know we also mentioned it here you know we're looking

[18:18] at another you know probably 25 to 30 grand because we do refresh our

[18:22] equipment um it's and it's all you know top of the line uh stuff that we use. So

[18:29] that that's essentially um you know what we're looking for is is a a as much of a

[18:35] commitment as as the city is is willing to to give essentially.

[18:44] » Yeah.

[18:48] » Yeah.

[18:53] by the building committee which was Cassie and I and Lisa and Jenny met with

[19:00] them a couple of weeks ago at a month >> something like that [laughter]

[19:11] little way to go. Um and we talked about all these things. We talked about a

[19:15] couple of suggestions if they could um perhaps with the signage, just kind of

[19:20] being a little bit more aware, elevating their chair for the workers so we can

[19:24] see that there's bodies there. Sometimes it's you don't necessarily know that

[19:28] there are people there and so they're obviously very committed to um doing all

[19:32] of that. I think the one thing that I I mentioned was that as a business owner

[19:39] in town, I can't imagine like investing in the business that I have invested in

[19:44] with five with like it's it's a threeyear um currently it's a three-year

[19:51] uh contract with the option to renew for two giving them five. So, they've done

[19:55] the five. That's great. Can you imagine do own businesses investing all the

[20:01] money and the time and the energy and with no um guarantees that that's going

[20:07] to continue and I I feel like and I'm in year seven in my business. I'm just

[20:11] starting I'm just starting now to think about a lot of things that you know it

[20:16] takes a while. So especially if you come from a different profession, right? Um,

[20:21] so I think what Jenny is asking is how how does this board feel about

[20:29] the process of the five years versus like we're not making decision but

[20:37] perhaps we're making a recommendation or >> should we say if you want to keep the

[20:44] others in the three and the one and the one once a company has completed that

[20:50] piece then the next renewal would be five years or seven years.

[20:54] » Well, that's not it's not a renewal. This is a request for proposal. So, I

[20:58] could get five minutes. It could be one. Okay.

[21:00] » It could go to somebody else. >> But you said though, if you were a

[21:04] business that successfully had your three years and your one year and your

[21:09] one year, if you are granted another opportunity, it will be five

[21:14] » because then you can base it on what their three years and their one and the

[21:18] one was like. You know what I'm saying? If you're a new vendor coming, you go

[21:22] back to the three and one because it always gives you how and out.

[21:27] » But if you feel confident in what they've done in the three and the one

[21:30] and the one, then you say as a returning vendor, you if you're given this

[21:35] contract, you're going to have a fiveyear commitment on your second.

[21:39] » I think as long as the city has an out, no matter what,

[21:46] » anything is doable. um not necessarily for these guys, but it could be, you

[21:50] know, you never know who's coming in on any of these things. So, as long as we

[21:56] have a the city and or the vendor has an opportunity

[22:01] » to say, "Okay, yeah, you got your five, you're great, but the amount of

[22:06] explorer, you know, pickle,

[22:09] » right?" Yeah. >> Um, you know, like we may have like our,

[22:15] you know, our master plan could change and the scope of W's value could change

[22:20] or whatever. We still need to happen. And so I'm sorry, in my experience, it's

[22:25] typical in these contracts for that to be standard process for both parties,

[22:30] like you said, because frankly, if it's not working for one or the other, then

[22:34] it's not working for either, and what's the point,

[22:37] » right? >> Other thoughts? Um,

[22:41] do you agree with this?

[22:45] » I agree with

[22:53] Jenny, what else do you need from us? I mean, it sounds like

[22:56] » what we want to do if it's a returning one years.

[22:59] » That would be It sounds like this. >> But that go

[23:11] » the award will go to council like if I have five vendors, you will have awarded

[23:16] at council. But I'm putting the terms in the RFP as if they're returning, they

[23:22] have that option, should I say? >> Yes.

[23:26] » Right. This is this is no guarantee with we're clear that this is no guarantee

[23:30] for third coast paddling to be the the the winning bidder in this process. We

[23:36] hope to be

[23:41] » maybe not. But is there an assumption then

[23:45] that the rupe barrel is this going to be in the same this this impacts us because

[23:52] it's in the downtown but will we'll then consider the RFP changing that process

[23:57] for the RF otherwise >> returning

[24:05] a quick clarification on that let's say they get outbid by somebody else one

[24:09] year do they have to start that three year one year oneear process all over

[24:13] again or are they going to be grandfathered in at five years moving

[24:16] forward if they win the bid the next time?

[24:19] » Good question.

[24:26] » As long as they're good standing and you know previous

[24:37] they've worked at one point in time. It's the same leadership same we have to

[24:43] open up because we did extend that year and need the additional two years.

[24:48] I think it makes total sense and I think Brand has a great point like if they

[24:52] want to continue to reinvest they should have some

[24:56] I won't say guarantee but >> some

[25:05] it's also worth noting that um our contracts with the state of Michigan and

[25:08] this is standard um with all of their concession areas across the state are

[25:13] seven-year contracts and and they can essentially just extend

[25:18] it another seven years. They they don't put it out for bid. And I'm not

[25:22] suggesting at all that that's what the city of Douglas should do, but it's

[25:27] interesting. I would say that um it does vary quite a bit.

[25:34] » The current contract time frame there's either one of

[25:42] the 90day. >> That's right. Yeah. Yeah.

[25:52] Thanks and thanks for coming. >> Okay,

[26:00] » turn this off. >> You guys,

[26:05] » thank you. Thanks so much. >> Thanks for coming again.

[26:09] » Thanks. Appreciate it. Yes. >> All right, we're moving along to

[26:15] Michigan Downtown Association info packet that we included. Um, just a two

[26:22] quick things. One is the annual conference is in Kalamazoo, you guys.

[26:27] It's usually like in the middle of the state up north or on the east side. So,

[26:31] if anybody can go, um, we'd love to have representation

[26:36] there. again. Um I it says on here that the deadline is September 8th. I think

[26:42] that deadline is for the next thing that we're going to talk about, the award

[26:47] submission, but I I feel like we might have a little bit longer.

[26:52] Um but probably by the next meeting in September, we want to have

[27:00] uh have uh narrow down if anybody wants to

[27:05] go. And

[27:07] » is there a limit to how many ranges? >> No, we have a training budget. So, this

[27:12] would be included in that and that includes uh hotel stay and um the actual

[27:21] conference cost because we're members, we pay a pretty low rate. So,

[27:26] » I'm not suggesting you get a hotel to stay in.

[27:29] » I don't know. I know it's November. If it's snowing,

[27:33] » you know, you might want to stay. It depends if you stay.

[27:35] » We all kind of did this >> for the two days. Um, you know, if you

[27:40] have to be there at 8 a.m. I'm not driving anywhere, but so it's, you know,

[27:44] No, you don't have to. >> Is there an option for one day? I would

[27:48] fly home on this. >> I'm sure usually uh I can't remember. I

[27:54] don't want to lie to you, but I feel like in the past day one is sometimes

[27:59] like a legislative update kind of similar to the one

[28:03] » Yes. that we went to. >> I'd have to read it. It's all here. And

[28:08] you can also go on the MDA's website for um they don't have a flyer out for this

[28:13] yet. This is all that they have. >> Um

[28:17] but you can also call Dana Walker at the MDA. She actually picks up the phone and

[28:22] can answer your questions. She very helpful, very nice. So, think about it

[28:26] if anybody can go. um especially if we win an award which um Lisa did you

[28:33] get the stuff I dropped off? >> Yep I did too. Yeah. So,

[28:37] » we were looking at this and we thought, hey,

[28:43] there's a call for award, a call for nominations and at our officers meeting,

[28:49] we talked about it a little bit and Lisa's gonna submit a

[28:56] » nomination >> nomination for us on our placemaking

[29:00] of wayfinding signage suite. uh has to have concluded in 2025, which it

[29:06] basically did, but we started this in 202

[29:12] or three. Um we got our last gateway sign in

[29:18] 2025. So, um they might throw us a nice little bone just to kind of keep us

[29:24] engaged. They were, you know, they as the those of us that went to the last uh

[29:30] meeting, they were very pleased to have so many of our members there. We're

[29:34] getting our face out there. Next year, I think we should consider a sponsorship

[29:39] table at um this event. five or $800 or something. But then you've got people

[29:45] who are invested in their downtowns who are attending this event who can come

[29:50] visit our downtown and maybe someday we'll be on the list to host a a you

[29:55] know what I mean uh one of these conventions or conferences or whatever.

[30:00] So um thank you Lisa for the award. If we win I'll go. I'm excited to hear

[30:07] that, but [clears throat] I don't need to go. Uh, so if anyone has

[30:12] any questions, um, you know, take a look at the either the

[30:17] packet or the website and, uh, let us know what to think.

[30:24] Hopefully, somebody can go. Wednesday. >> Exactly.

[30:30] » Uh I think one of those days is not the I wouldn't go to all of those days per

[30:36] person. >> I'll send everybody the link

[30:40] » right now in an email with all the information.

[30:44] » Okay. So, I try to send out the stuff as it comes. And um again, it's likely that

[30:52] next season both of the two conventions that they have are not going to be

[30:57] anywhere near us, which makes traveling a lot harder for us. And we still have

[31:01] the training dollars, I'm sure, but it just for ease. Um

[31:07] it might be it's I just think it's a cool opportunity to have it in South.

[31:13] So, okay, moving on to the wrap-up of the DDA downtown survey at the end of

[31:19] August. >> Let me ask, did

[31:24] everybody here fill out the survey?

[31:32] » I thought it did. >> I did it for you, dude.

[31:35] » Bruce did 12 of them. Um, okay. So, my thought was that we need to

[31:42] wrap this up. It's been out there for a while. We have 199 responses, which is

[31:49] way more than what people told me we were going to get, but I still would

[31:52] like more. So, I'm hoping I'll um try to share it today on our DA page and then

[31:58] if everybody can share it again, you know, if there's people who don't do

[32:02] social media, but you know, have things to say and you have an email address for

[32:07] them, feel free to send it to them. Um, you know, it can be you know, if

[32:12] everybody in the family in the household can fill one out, let's get as close as

[32:17] possible to that 300 as possible. Um, >> is there a deadline?

[32:22] » I think we're going to go through the 30th of this month, which is um

[32:27] » Yeah, there's urgency. Maybe we'll get >> Yeah. I mean, we probably won't make

[32:32] this 300. That's fine. But if we can make a push, it's very It's very short.

[32:38] It's, you know, it's easy. So, um, if you could just help with the sharing of

[32:43] it, that would be we'll get what we'll get and then we'll add it to our

[32:47] September meeting for, uh, review and discussion.

[32:52] What I can read of it on computer cuts off is there's a lot of consistency it

[32:58] seems like in some of the things that people are requesting. So, I think it'll

[33:03] be really good information to give back to the business owners in the downtown

[33:06] because it's directly addressing,

[33:10] you know, what's open, how often year round kinds of businesses they want.

[33:17] Remember, that was the total reason that we started to do this was because we

[33:21] have potentially, I think, four, eight, nine, 10, 11, maybe 12 potential new re

[33:27] retail shops available coming to being developed in the next year or two. So,

[33:35] it would be nice to uh work with those developers and

[33:41] tell them this is what our community is looking for in these spaces. So,

[33:48] thank any questions on the survey. Any more questions?

[33:54] And similarly, the bucket list, I have not forgotten about that. just trying

[33:58] not to put out too many reminders and emails at once. So, if we can do this, I

[34:03] do a big push the next couple of days getting through the 30th for the survey,

[34:08] then September one or right around there, uh we can start a big push for

[34:15] the bucket list. Um

[34:21] uh you're looking at me like I have 10

[34:24] heads. You know what I'm talking about? The one that Lauren made. bucket list

[34:27] thing. Okay, that goes through September 30th.

[34:31] » Got it. >> Um

[34:32] » I thought I thought that's why I was >> Yeah, there it is. There. Yes. I only

[34:38] have received one completed one. Two total. [clears throat]

[34:42] » Got two. >> Jim gave me one and you gave me one.

[34:45] Okay. Now, I don't know if there's any at the businesses. I know that they're

[34:48] taking them. >> It's not yet. That's why I have some

[34:50] here because I ran out. >> Well, next week at market that could be.

[34:55] So, I'm happy to do that if we can also get another second Saturday.

[35:02] » Whoever >> I have a bunch my store that people

[35:06] aren't taking that one from my store as well.

[35:08] » Saturday. >> Yeah,

[35:10] » but just specific for um for a few

[35:17] years. >> Said second Saturdays.

[35:20] » Well, that's a great one. >> No, not that one. There's a one that's

[35:24] just second Saturday by itself. If we can get one that is just for September,

[35:28] that would be great. So, next week at farmers market, I can do year list.

[35:33] Second Saturday to September bucket up. >> We got music for second Saturday.

[35:41] Can't do a flyer unless we know what's actually going to be flying on that day.

[35:47] » Well, there will still be music should be Like there's not. Is

[35:53] there still being spilled? >> Like what?

[35:58] » Chopped rope. >> Maybe.

[36:02] » Jim, did you like that one >> or not?

[36:04] » That's the one I had that I was talking. >> Yeah,

[36:07] » that's the one we That's the one I had quickly put together for you and

[36:10] » Yeah. I was just wondering if we could just get it with the date on it for se

[36:13] purchase. >> You want to do one each? Yeah, we can do

[36:15] that. >> Yeah, I mean, as long as it's

[36:17] » Yeah, sure. >> It's It's um valid.

[36:21] I don't want to see. >> Can I see it?

[36:23] » Yeah, you sure can. That's when we just kind of put together such a sit at the

[36:27] market. Well, live music that is a question mark. Um,

[36:37] as long as you're not listing anything specific because we had maybe 60%

[36:43] businesses open. So, it wasn't 100%. Everyone's open.

[36:51] It won't be. >> Oh, can I Does this have a time rather?

[36:53] » 12 to 9. >> Yeah.

[36:56] » Deceiving. >> It's kind of late.

[36:59] » Deceiving if we don't have people actually staying open.

[37:02] » Yeah, I'm not saying >> Well, we should probably talk about

[37:05] that. >> Yeah, we'll talk about that in the

[37:07] marketing piece. >> Do you want to just let me know and I

[37:11] can Whatever you need from me, I can >> some shopping. How about if we say that

[37:14] some shopping >> starts at maybe

[37:20] At least I'll take a look at it.

[37:23] » That's fine. >> I don't need it until Tuesday. So,

[37:25] » yeah, >> that's a good idea, too.

[37:28] » And thanks, Jim, for all your work at the farmers market.

[37:32] » I'm sorry. >> No, it's okay. There was it's it's se

[37:36] September is going to be um there's the young students are going back to

[37:42] college. Sue is already finding that some like of those of the vendors can't

[37:48] commit to every yeah >> thing that they originally could and to

[37:51] because they don't have the staff to replace them both in their location. The

[37:55] thing that we're getting a lot of I think it's level three is the other like

[37:59] the monthly few states like >> Oh yeah thing we're getting a lot of

[38:03] people >> that's in our

[38:06] » between that and the um passports I've got over I think it's only like over 300

[38:11] emails now yeah >> to start promoting

[38:14] » events every time I get a stack I add them just keep adding them into

[38:18] » that'll be the fourth thing and if anybody wants to come hang

[38:21] with me so >> nice fun. Get to hear it.

[38:28] » The recorder. >> Yes.

[38:32] » The um although I'm sure everybody knows this,

[38:36] but I had to be reminded that the social media is great. It works really well for

[38:42] all of us and the businesses and the events and stuff, but as the groups that

[38:48] I belong to remind us that social media we do not own. And so um building these

[38:56] email lists just not only for the DDA but for our own businesses is really

[39:00] important. If you recall couple years ago Facebook and Instagram went out for

[39:07] a day and I mean people had event not necessarily here but in the bigger

[39:12] » we have a backup >> thing like there was no backup. People

[39:15] didn't have a way to communicate. So, it's really really important that we

[39:18] keep developing those. >> Um,

[39:24] okay. Thanks. Uh, strategic planning update

[39:30] dates for fall session. So, we were supposed to do this back in June, I

[39:34] believe, and then we threw it by the wayside because we had we didn't throw

[39:38] it because we had a lot going on. We still do. And so this uh we're talking

[39:43] about just kind of a recap of the the strategic plan that

[39:52] Christine did for us. Uh and the the you know associated dates and a kind of

[39:57] moving forward and I think we've already done quite a few of those things on

[40:00] there. I don't we we didn't necessarily put in the budget to

[40:05] um

[40:08] re-engage her to do a followup with us, but I feel like it's something that we

[40:13] could do on our own. It might have to be a special meeting. Um but maybe if we

[40:18] could toss out some possible time well a time frame. I don't know that needs to

[40:23] be in the fall. The winter is kind of more boring. So maybe even

[40:29] January is organizational meeting, but we might I think it should be a special

[40:32] meeting, not in this meeting because, >> right,

[40:36] » you know, we probably need two hours, I would say, dedicated to just reviewing

[40:40] and making sure that we're staying on we're we're entering the end of year one

[40:45] of our threeyear strategic plan. So, I'm just wondering

[40:51] how people feel about January, February.

[40:57] I don't really like those ones, but I'm willing to be.

[41:01] » You don't like the weather. You don't need it to me.

[41:05] » We'll provide.

[41:10] » So, I mean, it's early January, Feb or like the early

[41:15] » late January. >> Januaryish.

[41:17] » January to February. >> Okay, perfect. Okay, we nail it down.

[41:22] » Yes. Great. [laughter]

[41:27] May 2017.

[41:32] » So we're going to do it January, February. Is that

[41:34] » like Yeah, like mid to mid either mid January to midFebruary or late January

[41:40] to late February or January. >> Late February missed the GDA meeting in

[41:45] February. >> Okay. So it probably be mid Feb. We

[41:48] don't want to do it right at our meeting time anyway. So probably February is

[41:54] stupid boring month. Yes. >> But happy birthday to all.

[41:59] » It'd be nice to do that around that time because you're going to start working on

[42:02] the budget >> and Yeah. And we're we don't want to

[42:05] talk about one year in at the >> we have some things that we can

[42:09] accomplish maybe before that year. >> Yeah. So we can start pushing those.

[42:15] » So let's shoot for February. >> Mid Februaryish.

[42:18] » Mid early to mid. >> Right.

[42:21] » Yeah. >> All right.

[42:23] » Okay. Great. Okay. The G G distinctly Douglas

[42:34] » G. What is a G? >> G is discussion of uh the distinctly

[42:40] Douglas video >> series.

[42:44] » I can't even read my own writing. I don't know what that was.

[42:48] » Uh Jim, do you want to kick that off? >> Yeah. So, um, we've completed three so

[42:54] far. Um, the last one got more than 20,000 years somewhere around

[43:00] » our first the first one that you did for Angela.

[43:04] Um, let's see.

[43:08] 2,29 views. No, I'm sorry. First video you did at all starting to work with EDA

[43:16] got 2,29 views. Angela's got 15,000 views and then

[43:23] » happy

[43:27] 20,000 >> up to yes over 20,000 um 21,197

[43:34] with 521 interactions. Um

[43:38] we are our audience is um 18,890 nonf followers of our DBA page. um to

[43:48] almost that are. So, every time anybody interacts with or likes it or comments,

[43:53] I invite them to like or follow our page. Um we've increased our page

[43:59] followers um by probably about 120 since that one.

[44:06] Trying to see where we are. Anyway, so we're we're doing

[44:11] very well in that area. We currently have 1,598 followers. When we first

[44:15] started doing this, we had under 1,400ish.

[44:19] » This is these are Facebook. >> This is Facebook. Yeah. I don't have

[44:23] Insta stats. So the the thing the gist of the reason it's on the agenda today

[44:28] is that so Antonio's been doing a fantastic beautiful job of capturing the

[44:33] footage for these videos and because

[44:39] we are trying to make them um kind of art pieces in terms of really some

[44:45] beautiful B-roll and showing shots and all this. It requires a lot of edit and

[44:49] probably underestimated the amount of editing that need to be done. So Antonio

[44:54] approached me to see if we could get additional funding for each video

[44:59] because it's taking him longer. Period. >> Can you remind us please?

[45:04] » Um DDA is paying $125 per video, $250 per month because we've

[45:13] commissioned two videos. >> And the as the business we're also

[45:19] giving 1.500. >> So it's He's split like if he does the

[45:24] L1 he that's the next one coming out >> Antonio will get $250125

[45:30] from business125 from DBA so I kind of threw threw this information

[45:37] out to the marketing team just to make them aware and we immediately thought

[45:40] this discussion here you know there's a lot of different things that we can do

[45:44] there's different scenarios um

[45:48] we can pass the additional cost on to the TDA

[45:52] and to the business. We can pass the pass the additional cost on to DDA if

[45:56] that is something that we do budget or we can also shorten the videos to a

[46:02] minute and require Antonio to do less uh editing. That's another option. Um so we

[46:10] wanted to throw it out today just to see what people were thinking in terms of um

[46:16] either addressing that increase or determining a way to cut the cost. Am I

[46:22] how much during that? >> How much is he looking for per video?

[46:24] » He Well, what the additional I think he would like is $100 per video. And so

[46:30] that's $200 a month. So it would either be a $200 increase for DDA. If we split

[46:36] it, it's a hundred. If we shorten it, we could probably keep it as is. I think if

[46:42] we're keeping it to a minute or so, we shave about 45 seconds off the video.

[46:48] Um, >> so there's all sorts of different

[46:51] per video cost would be >> the per video cost going forward would

[46:56] be >> 3 350 total.

[47:01] Excuse me. >> One second before we because we'll go

[47:07] around and let people talk, but can you tell us how much we've we didn't I don't

[47:12] think allocate specifically for the videos

[47:15] » marketing. Can you tell us some things we didn't have that we wanted

[47:25] » marketing?

[47:30] I remember 4.2 million. It's

[47:33] » close, >> but I mean I could be off.

[47:34] » You might be a couple zeros.

[47:39] » We have 22,155 budgeted marketing.

[47:45] » 22,000 >> um for that specific area. We kind of

[47:50] have social media boosts, publication ads. We have about a thousand in each of

[47:54] those. So >> and then the other so that 2000

[48:02] » was >> that includes the rebranding.

[48:05] Well, that's wonder for that. >> I don't have the breakdown by specific

[48:11] items, >> Christmas decorations, social media uh

[48:15] boosts and ads, publication ads, seasonal decorations, website

[48:19] investments, dedicated website for the DVA, logo design and brand redefinement,

[48:23] social social district decals, which we've we've got, um Canva membership,

[48:28] MDA renewal, directional signage for events,

[48:32] » and that that's the 22,150. Yeah.

[48:36] » So, I feel like we need to break that down.

[48:39] » And then what about um most of that is the chips decorations and the um logo

[48:45] design marketing.

[48:48] » What's that? >> It's community. It's we we just have it

[48:53] under there. I mean, that's where we've had it for a while. And then didn't we

[48:56] have where was the $8,000 for the wasn't there marketing person or

[49:03] » that is that is under

[49:08] um staff training and support for the DBA and that's $8,000.

[49:13] » Can we use that? >> No.

[49:20] We do want to think of eventually hiring somebody to manage our social media and

[49:27] do this kind of coordinating for us, but we weren't ready quite yet to pull the

[49:33] trigger on them. Um, but this is something he's Antonio is doing peace

[49:38] meal for us. And really the average cost for someone doing these videos is

[49:44] anywhere between 500 to 3,000 or $5,000 each video, right? Which we wouldn't do.

[49:51] » So we're but we're getting we're getting really something

[49:57] awesome for not a lot of money is my point.

[50:00] » I mean we're getting high quality. >> We're getting high quality.

[50:04] » Let's go back. We're do a go around. We'll start with Kathy since she

[50:09] » My my question is and Cindy we don't know yet but from adorn and from happy

[50:15] stance have we got any feedback about um possible uptake or uptick there

[50:22] » I think qualitative feedback from both Katie and Angela are people are walking

[50:26] in mention however I don't have quantitative data

[50:30] on that like this has lifted their business or this has increased their

[50:34] sales >> I can add that um before we roll mine

[50:39] out, I can add that on my one of my forms and the intake form if it's your

[50:42] first time here and I can put that as the Douglas DK video and see if anybody

[50:47] clicks on that. So, we can get some actual

[50:51] » I would expect that there is something because I think they're very good and

[50:56] very >> well I think with 20,000 20,000 views

[51:02] that's a lot for a video. >> Yeah. So,

[51:05] » I think it's a good Oh, absolutely. 20,000 views is a lot. I

[51:09] mean, and I think it's just going to continue to grow as it has been growing

[51:13] with each each one. >> And we're trying to design them

[51:18] so that they're timeless. Like like if you think of Kate, you know, we're not

[51:23] talking about sitting on the patio having social, you know, district drinks

[51:27] and all that. We filmed it so that it's kind of a timeless look at her business.

[51:32] So when January and she's she doesn't have the

[51:36] attendance that she or doesn't have the the business that she typically does. We

[51:40] can throw it back out there because it's already a done. So, some of these are

[51:44] not one done. Most of these are not designed and done. They're they're

[51:48] designed to be kind of more timeless. So, I think that's something else to

[51:52] throw out there that it's an investment and it's not just

[51:57] » Could you consider the community sponsorship

[52:01] because I mean even though it's community promotions, community

[52:03] sponsorships, you probably could take some of that 25,000 and allocate a

[52:07] little bit of that towards promotions, sponsorships because you are promoting

[52:10] your business. >> Sure, why not?

[52:13] » Yeah, because I don't think anybody is is um questioning the quality of the

[52:18] video. uh the the feedback of the videos and the cost of what what it's costing

[52:29] for uh the videos to be done. So let's be clear. I think we all agree that

[52:35] Antonio's skill set is locally unmatched

[52:40] » and we can make do with Jim I think. So that's

[52:44] » he does share our video editor. It is a very timely process of huge quality

[52:51] » and he's very particular and I tell you they came into our business and um it

[52:56] was a whirlwind of the morning and they're so easy to work with and such a

[53:01] pleasure to have and it was it was enjoyable to have them there and to be

[53:05] doing this video was fun and it was it's a good collaboration and I do want to

[53:10] point out Anton is a dream to work with and he's he's got amazing talents but on

[53:16] the other side of that it is also working with the business, finding out

[53:19] what their objectives are, writing a script, editing the script with Antonio.

[53:24] So, it is truly two things that come together and I think the fact that we're

[53:28] both >> Yes.

[53:31] » Yeah. I don't get any but that's okay. I mean, I I wanted I

[53:36] thought this would be a great thing >> and it is.

[53:40] » It is. I don't think we need to go over how great it is. We all know that. We

[53:43] all agree on that. >> I think we just need to decide. question

[53:45] is how how do we want to financially support it? Where is it coming from and

[53:51] what is the cut off? >> I would say that I would make the video

[53:55] shorter because Antonio has suggested that they are too long for social media.

[54:01] 90 seconds is a really long chunk of time to ask somebody to sit at their

[54:06] Instagram. Um, I would ask that the videos get shorter and this $100 extra

[54:12] is seems like nothing. We're still only asking if we split it evenly, which Jim

[54:18] doesn't want to do. He wants to absorb all the costs. But I think that we

[54:21] should still split it evenly with the businesses. $175

[54:25] for a business still seems like a bargain. 175 for the business and DDA

[54:31] pays 175 for the video. So, he's getting 350 that way. videos $700 a month and uh

[54:39] I feel still think it's it's really doable.

[54:44] » Anybody else want >> $8500? Well, we're already

[54:49] » I think that would keep the video the same length. Jim said one of the options

[54:53] was just shorten the video and reduce the cost.

[54:56] » But that was a suggestion from Antonio because of the length of the video

[54:59] » for social media, right? They could be a little shorter. Wasn't just the money.

[55:03] was maybe we could cut these down a little bit.

[55:06] » Fine. Yeah, I have no problem with it either.

[55:07] » Yeah. What do you think about that, Jim? >> Um I don't necessarily Well, it it

[55:12] depends. We're trying to get a lot of information out there. We would just lob

[55:16] me off with Jan and just use use me as that would probably

[55:23] » because it's about the >> I think that's a great conversation for

[55:28] you and Antonio want to touch that but that's my

[55:33] » what that vision >> because my concern is that yes we're

[55:36] going to lose something in those videos. I think I think it's really great how

[55:41] the capture um like an introduction of what what it is, who they are, see the

[55:47] place, you talk about services, and you kind of get that connection with with

[55:51] the owner. And I would hate to lose some of that if it happened.

[55:56] » Yeah. The the the thing that's on each end of the video is about Douglas. So,

[56:01] the idea is, hi, we're here in Douglas. Here's another thing we get to do. And

[56:05] at the end, this is what makes Douglas unique. Everything in between is about

[56:09] the business. So, We would have to figure that out to to

[56:14] make to to short them >> peanut gallery. No,

[56:19] » you can click a video. >> Sorry, Michael. We have to We'll have to

[56:24] wait till the end. Can't we got to stay here? Um,

[56:29] anybody else? >> My only concern is if we match it, what

[56:34] else will businesses expect us to match moving forward? Is this a special thing

[56:39] because it's a video? are they gonna expect us to pay for all their other

[56:43] marketing? And that's where I kind of have always had an issue is everybody

[56:47] wants help with marketing support and now we're offering this service for you.

[56:52] We're not a production company. We don't make commercials. This is a kind of like

[56:56] a courtesy. And I think that we're already paying for half of what it is

[57:00] for these businesses, which a lot of them don't even invest in their own

[57:04] marketing is just a little like we're here to help you, not do it for you. And

[57:12] that's just where my concern is. And like Jim said, I know they're timeless,

[57:15] but how many times are we going to post it? Who's going to post it? Are the

[57:19] business owners going to post it every single month? Are we going to Grand

[57:22] Haven informed? How informed? like we're giving you this thing, but are the

[57:26] business owners going to do that or is that our responsibility to keep posting

[57:31] every single time? There's just a lot of layers to this. I just feel like we're

[57:34] going to do a video, we post it, it gets 20,000 and then it disappears.

[57:39] » And it's like I know it's not a lot of money, but it would be nice to see the

[57:43] businesses >> continue to spend their own money to

[57:47] promote their >> Yeah. Like when when the art galleries

[57:51] had Antonio do videos of all the galleries. We paid for it ourselves.

[57:55] » We paid $200 a video for per gallery. >> So, we didn't have any funding from the

[58:00] EDA. >> We didn't ask for any money. We just did

[58:02] it, >> right?

[58:03] » Because we felt like it was important. So, but I

[58:05] » then that brought Antonio to the to the city.

[58:08] » But I I think also that there is a there's a disconnect with some

[58:13] businesses in downtown Douglas with the DDA.

[58:17] That's a fact. And I think they're starting to warm up a little bit. And I

[58:23] think this is a kind of us putting a good step forward

[58:29] in in engaging with them that potentially these passport programs and

[58:34] these other things where we don't have them in it, they they might start

[58:39] joining some of those things. No guarantee, but maybe um there's been

[58:44] some warming of few businesses. I think there's been some warming in the and I

[58:48] think the way that I've looked at it is it's been a collaboration with them. So

[58:52] we're not coming in saying this is what we're going to say about your business,

[58:55] right? >> We're asking them

[58:58] » what is it like, you know, I mean Cindy can attest to this. You know, it's like

[59:02] what is it that we are showcasing about it and and they're driving that? We're

[59:07] packaging. So I'm just throwing that out there.

[59:11] » I agree with Kabri. I said this last night when this came

[59:16] Um, I again absolutely 100% believe that we

[59:22] are blessed to have both Jim and um, Antonio do this for with us. Um,

[59:31] first and foremost, I feel like going forward, we need a contract agreement so

[59:35] that we're not in this pickle again. We should have done that before. We're

[59:38] gonna, as we grow and we learn, we need to be more professional in what we do.

[59:44] And so I I to me I don't like the idea that I don't think that the DD I think

[59:49] it should be an even split. I don't because for many reasons but um I think

[59:56] that Cabri nailed it in saying like where

[1:00:02] does the line stop? Up until recently we've only had like $34,000 to spend

[1:00:08] annually. This is a luxury year for us to be able to do these things. And I

[1:00:13] don't think that the DD I think we're here to support um the businesses and

[1:00:19] we're here to support the downtown general. We're not here to pay for

[1:00:23] everybody's, you know, thing. I think it's very

[1:00:27] generous to offer to pay half. I think a lot of DDAS would probably say, "Okay,

[1:00:31] we're offering uh this person with knowledge and we'll help write the

[1:00:34] script and we'll help shoot it, but you got to pay for it." So, I think that um

[1:00:39] I think and and to what Ruth said, there is buy in by us doing some of this stuff

[1:00:45] and I don't know that we're ever going to get 100% of the businesses, but I

[1:00:48] think even before the videos, we had uh gone from almost nobody participating

[1:00:55] to anything in the downtown to 13 businesses fairly regularly

[1:01:00] participating. Now, we got the video, we're still at 13 people. So, I don't

[1:01:04] know. I hope that it grows. I think that it has the potential to grow and get

[1:01:08] those other people involved, but I don't I don't think that just

[1:01:13] foraging a majority of the cost is a good idea. And I think that we want to

[1:01:18] be mindful of the fact that that while it looks like we have a lot of money, we

[1:01:24] don't and there going to be other things that are going to come up that we are

[1:01:27] going to want to support. And um I just think it's a pretty easy ask. It's kind

[1:01:32] of like Sue was telling the farmers market. Some of the people that can't

[1:01:36] participate, they signed a contract to be at farmers market and uh we're told

[1:01:41] if they don't come, they don't get their money back and now people are having

[1:01:45] staffing issues and some people want their money back for September. And

[1:01:50] we're looking at like less than $19 a week to be a vendor. So if you can't $19

[1:01:57] a week to be a vendor, you got problems. >> Are they from Poland? So no,

[1:02:02] » for the sake of time, do we need to make a motion? Do we need to put this on the

[1:02:06] agenda to make a motion next meeting? What are we what's the goal with this

[1:02:12] today? We're just talking about it and putting this on the agenda next month.

[1:02:16] » We have I saw it as we had two choices. We can I mean I think it's uh I think

[1:02:22] it's worth some more discussion even if we said yeah we I think there needs to

[1:02:27] be a conversation about what that dollar amount is. Um this is my opinion you

[1:02:32] guys go with it too but we need to talk about where the money is coming from how

[1:02:36] we want to allocate it and I do think we need to discuss some sort of an

[1:02:41] agreement before we >> just blanketly say

[1:02:46] yes let's increase it. That said, I don't want to hold up the process. Um,

[1:02:52] so we could also call a special meeting for, you know, one hour to come back to

[1:02:57] the table as long as we have forum and hammer out some details in the mix.

[1:03:02] » So, DDA would be responsible for $200 more a month pending. We have a written

[1:03:08] agreement signed by both parties. >> I'm not supporting that, but is that a

[1:03:13] motion? No, I'm just Yeah,

[1:03:16] » but I mean if they are cutting then there's no there's no increase because

[1:03:21] the the cost even though it's beneficial social media cost

[1:03:25] » I mean do you think that's valid? Do you mean like sounds like to us we're saying

[1:03:29] oh if you cut the video down you know 30 seconds it's less

[1:03:33] » well that's what Jim said cut it down so >> increase cost. So would that be a

[1:03:40] discussion with Antonio then before we even talk about increasing it? Is he

[1:03:45] okay with it? >> I mean yeah I mean I I think Antonio

[1:03:50] wants to shorten it and if we shorten it that that then saves paying more. So I

[1:03:57] have a feeling if he was sitting right here but I could check he would probably

[1:04:02] » okay >> I think if we are charging more money

[1:04:05] and we make it a minute because it's right for social media I think people

[1:04:09] will be like so I'm paying more money >> and my video is now you know 30 to 45

[1:04:16] seconds less than happy whatever I think that will be of course like you know

[1:04:25] I think that's interesting And then I think in addition to what

[1:04:30] Karu is saying, if we do have another conversation about this, we need to talk

[1:04:33] about how often are we putting these things out, where is it going to be

[1:04:37] used, what's the expectation of the business if the DBA is

[1:04:42] you know um you know supporting it financially. We

[1:04:49] you know like do we want to say yes you should expect

[1:04:56] that once a month for three months or whatever. I don't know what this I don't

[1:04:58] know I don't maybe there's a standard somewhere out there but can do we I

[1:05:04] think that should be part of the conversation.

[1:05:08] Uh do we think this is something that we need to call a special meeting for? Do

[1:05:12] you want to have a minute to talk to >> Well, I can talk to Antonio

[1:05:17] » and then do you want to let me know and then we can maybe schedule a quick

[1:05:22] » so that we don't have to wait another month.

[1:05:24] » Yeah. Is that fair? >> And I think just so you guys know, I

[1:05:27] think two videos per month is a sweet spot for us. And I think and I also

[1:05:33] think it's a sweet spot for how often it goes out. So I would prefer to keep it.

[1:05:38] » Okay. Who is talented enough to write up a contract first?

[1:05:41] » Annie AI. Okay.

[1:05:50] » Okay. All right. Cool. Thank you. Uh thanks for bringing that up and we are

[1:05:57] we are Tony is very gifted his skills there. Um

[1:06:05] okay thank you. We'll move on to H Art and Douglas submission discussion.

[1:06:12] Dave >> want me to start?

[1:06:16] » You brought it up. >> You brought it up. Okay. So my

[1:06:20] understanding is that on July 20th, Michael Burmeister sitting here

[1:06:26] submitted an application community promotions request for funding

[1:06:31] for art for July, August, and September in the amount I think $2,000

[1:06:37] cover cost of music those three months. Now, typically July is an interesting

[1:06:43] month because it's the beginning of our fiscal year. We don't approve any

[1:06:47] expenditures for July until our meeting which is the fourth week of July. So

[1:06:53] usually during that meeting we approve any of the requests that you know may

[1:06:57] have already taken place in July because we can't approve them in June

[1:07:01] because we don't have any funding yet. So typically and it's been this way ever

[1:07:07] since I've been on the PDA that July funding request includes

[1:07:12] events that have already taken place in July. Okay. So, Michael submitted this

[1:07:17] application, I believe, on July 20th. We had a meeting on July 22nd. Lisa pointed

[1:07:22] out that, you know, he missed the deadline,

[1:07:24] » which we don't have any deadlines for the community promotions request.

[1:07:28] Nothing. We just revoked the policy. >> The agenda has a deadline. It says

[1:07:32] » the agenda has a deadline, right? >> It says the agenda's information should

[1:07:35] be submitted to the city clerk by noon on the Wednesday before the schedule.

[1:07:40] » Right. I understand. >> That would have been the Wednesday

[1:07:42] before, >> right? I understand that. But we

[1:07:47] historically have added items to the agenda for things that we want to

[1:07:51] discuss. Okay. So, okay, let's say the deadline it was too late to get on the

[1:07:57] agenda. Okay. But it certainly wasn't too late to be included on the August

[1:08:02] agenda. You submitted it in July 20th, which is today and it's not in the

[1:08:09] agenda here. And I know there were some I know there were some you know there

[1:08:13] was an officer meeting last week. >> Yes.

[1:08:15] » I wasn't at the officer meeting. So um my my thought is you know we we

[1:08:23] have had this situation come up in the past where certain expenditures have not

[1:08:28] even been discussed in advance but they've been approved at meetings after

[1:08:33] the fact to reimburse people for expenses that have been incurred and

[1:08:37] rightfully so. So my thought in bringing this up is we had music in June, we had

[1:08:44] music in July, we had music in August, we did music in September hopefully. I'm

[1:08:49] just asking the DDA to approve or discuss

[1:08:54] that request that was submitted in July for July, August, and September music.

[1:08:59] It's all that the we're asking the DDA to approve,

[1:09:03] you know, and it's it's music that >> that benefits the entire for the second

[1:09:10] Saturdayus because Michael's saying that he's owed $1,000 or $1,500.

[1:09:15] » Forget about that. That's that was for May and June. That was for May and June.

[1:09:19] » That was for May and June. And Dawn sent out information indicating a check was

[1:09:24] submitted to Michael on July 19th. >> So, we need to figure out where that

[1:09:28] check is. That's all. It was sent to his post office.

[1:09:31] » Those are two different >> Set that aside. That's completely

[1:09:33] different. I'm just talking about the application that Michael submitted July

[1:09:37] 20th. for uh funding requests for July,

[1:09:41] August, and September music. We've already had the July music. We've

[1:09:44] already had the August music. We're kind of on hold for September's music to see

[1:09:49] if there's going to be any funding approved, but whether the the seven six

[1:09:54] galleries that participate in funding music, you know, if we're on the hook

[1:09:58] for for $2,000 and you know, so that was my my fun in bringing something. I

[1:10:05] think, you know, that we should approve the the original funding request that

[1:10:10] was submitted for July, August, and September's music or at least discuss

[1:10:13] that >> and why wouldn't we?

[1:10:17] » I mean, I don't think that's the issue. It's just was it forgotten to be added

[1:10:20] to this or does they need to resubmit for August?

[1:10:24] » It was a period of time when we didn't have a city clerk,

[1:10:28] » right? I don't know where the applications go when they come.

[1:10:31] » They go right to me >> to you directly.

[1:10:32] » Directly. >> Okay.

[1:10:34] » Yeah. >> So,

[1:10:35] » I don't think we're going to deny your funding. It's just we needed it in time.

[1:10:40] So, >> well, that's, you know, I don't I'm not

[1:10:43] the one that's submitting it. You know, it's a kind of a conflict of interest

[1:10:48] for people on the board to submit. >> Well, the other thing is one of the

[1:10:52] things we talked about was the DDA was going to start sponsoring Second

[1:10:57] Saturdays. Why don't we just remove it from the hands of Art and Douglas having

[1:11:02] to submit something? Why doesn't DDA take it upon themselves? We take it on

[1:11:08] and just say from here on forward, Second Saturdays, we're trying to

[1:11:12] promote Second Saturdays, which Art and Douglas is a big part of that. It's the

[1:11:18] it's the stars. So, if we are going to sponsor Second Saturdays,

[1:11:23] then it shouldn't be um Art and Douglas responsibility to get this music. It

[1:11:30] should be Now, we can help organize it. We can help organize it. we have the

[1:11:34] context in order to be able to do it and we don't mind doing that at all. We're

[1:11:38] not saying DDA you you're gonna find the musicians and schedule them. We'll do

[1:11:43] it. We will do it. >> I don't think I recall hearing that the

[1:11:47] DDA was going to sponsor a second Saturday.

[1:11:50] » Well, you actually brought it up.

[1:11:54] » We talked about sponsoring music. >> No, we talked about sponsoring RB

[1:11:58] Douglas. Am I right? Yes. There's some nods over there that the DDA was going

[1:12:02] to start sponsoring second sav. >> Would it just be easy if we allocated a

[1:12:07] certain amount for those so they don't have to submit reimbursement requests

[1:12:11] knowing if for the music specific? >> Absolutely. Well, I think we should make

[1:12:14] it as easy as possible so that deadlines aren't being missed and there's not

[1:12:18] miscommunication. It's like it it's a given that our second Saturdays that

[1:12:24] this is what's going to be taking place. I mean, Dave, what do you think about

[1:12:27] » Well, we've we've been trying for years to get more of the businesses involved

[1:12:31] in Second Saturdays, right? A couple years ago, there were 13 businesses that

[1:12:36] participated, at least financially. >> How many know

[1:12:40] » six? I think we're done. I think we only have the galleries.

[1:12:43] » Well, no, that's not true. Second Saturdays we promoted as less the

[1:12:48] » No, as far as funding. >> Oh, for funding

[1:12:50] » for for all the advertising. >> But second Saturday we had brackets

[1:12:54] staying open later. Oh yeah. Yeah. >> Um we had other businesses.

[1:12:57] » I'm just I'm talking about supporting financially the expenses that the DDA

[1:13:02] » Oh wait. Okay. Let's the So the question for this thing is

[1:13:09] » Art and Douglas submission discussion, >> right?

[1:13:12] » What I hear you saying is that you all think that the DBA should should

[1:13:19] support should sponsor a second Saturday.

[1:13:24] So, this is directly in conflict with what Marsha sent me in the email, which

[1:13:29] is that Douglas, Art and Douglas, basically owns Second Saturday.

[1:13:35] » Marsha's not on. >> They started it.

[1:13:36] » No, that's not true. >> And why didn't we give them credit?

[1:13:42] » And they do. And we have talked about it, but they they I I'm in Art and

[1:13:47] Douglas. This isn't She's just some person out there randomly. Art and

[1:13:51] Douglas. I'm in Art and Douglas. And we talked about Second Saturdays and the

[1:13:55] importance of making it a downtown event with the thrust of the event centered

[1:14:02] upon art in Douglas, >> which is how the video was built,

[1:14:05] » which is how the video was made, which is how we move forward in our marketing

[1:14:10] um as as galleries. So, she said what she said because she had problems with

[1:14:16] errors that were in the video that went out publicly that were incorrect. That

[1:14:21] was her gist when she emailed me also. You

[1:14:25] » were talking >> Marsha.

[1:14:29] » Oh, >> and so that was the gist of her

[1:14:32] conversation. And yes, as long as we don't water down art in Douglas, which

[1:14:37] no one is trying to do with pushing second Saturdays as a one day event per

[1:14:45] month in downtown Douglas. No one is trying to water down Art and Douglas. I

[1:14:50] think she gets that. >> Yeah,

[1:14:52] » 100%. >> I think we want second Saturdays to be

[1:14:54] what fourth Fridays are in communities where everybody participates.

[1:14:59] » I'll tell you the the wellness day was extra b like it did that well because of

[1:15:04] the fact that it was a second opinion. >> People were there for the art and

[1:15:08] there's all this going on. >> It was it was great.

[1:15:12] » Yeah. The more we can get >> more things going on the better. One

[1:15:17] thing is not ever going to be the draw. It's how can we supplement, collaborate,

[1:15:23] and have things going on. >> A few years ago, Michael came up with,

[1:15:26] you know, how do we use Art and Douglas for all the other businesses like the

[1:15:29] art of the cocktail, the art of the massage, the art of whatever.

[1:15:32] » That's what I'm saying. You know, so we we encou we've been trying to do this

[1:15:37] for nine years. >> Well, just because the art galleries are

[1:15:40] the only ones that stay open and benefit from it, I mean, that's not the other

[1:15:45] business's fault, >> but that's not true. I mean, lost found.

[1:15:48] » No, I know. Some people are like they're, you know, they're the only ones

[1:15:52] benefiting. Well, if they're the only ones putting in time and paying people

[1:15:55] to stay open, then I feel like they should be benefiting from these things

[1:15:58] if they're the ones that are putting in the effort and showing up to be open for

[1:16:02] people. Everybody's I mean a lot of businesses are staying nice.

[1:16:06] » Yeah, it's great. >> I think what you're saying Bri is like

[1:16:08] we've created a platform. You either jump on it or not.

[1:16:11] » Exactly. >> Right. That's what we're trying to do.

[1:16:13] And I think the more we can show them >> that we have DEDA,

[1:16:18] you know, not only blessings but financial support. And these are the

[1:16:22] things we're all trying to do to benefit everybody. Um, I think, you know, we've

[1:16:27] already the marketing committee is already planning on going around and

[1:16:31] talking to the businesses one- on- one, encouraging them. I'm going to encourage

[1:16:35] bracket threaten bracket stay open until 900 p.m. We'll get lost and found. I

[1:16:40] know they'll do it. >> I think it goes both ways though and I

[1:16:43] don't think that the galleries have necessarily blown on to the things that

[1:16:48] the DDA has been initiating. So if you want the businesses, the other the

[1:16:54] non-galleries to support Second Saturday and other things, I would request that

[1:17:00] the galleries get on board with some of our events

[1:17:03] » such as >> everything, the soup stroll,

[1:17:07] » the galleries, >> the bucket list. You're told that you

[1:17:11] have bucket list gallery owners right here who have participated in 100% of

[1:17:16] everything. >> The tailgate. No, no, no, no. Excuse me.

[1:17:20] I've known this for eight years. I know exactly what I'm talking about. The the

[1:17:25] the you know it too, David. We've had this conversation.

[1:17:28] » I go on the radio and talk about soup. >> I know, but we there is a divide between

[1:17:34] the galleries and the businesses and I appreciate that we're trying to bring

[1:17:38] that together and we need to bring it together. I'm asking that the galleries

[1:17:42] then hop on board with some of the items that we're doing that the DDA is

[1:17:49] initiating. What? Give me an example. >> Give us an example.

[1:17:53] » The the bucket list. >> I got the bucket list.

[1:17:57] » Dave, you do everything. You Everything is in here. So, I'm asking you, does

[1:18:00] Dave >> the other Ruth participates?

[1:18:03] » See, he's not doing the bucket list. There's a list of things,

[1:18:06] » but there's a bunch of business. >> We're getting off track.

[1:18:12] » No, we're not. And I think the other thing is is that why I mean I'm I'm not

[1:18:17] against supporting the music but

[1:18:22] they have to this the love needs to be spread on the music. They're in front of

[1:18:27] the gallery. So this is a second >> I've not had any music in front of

[1:18:32] » none zero. >> A lot of times the music is placed so

[1:18:36] that it's centrally located. It's usually in in your

[1:18:40] » I think it would be something it would be something that all the galleries

[1:18:45] would be in favor of putting it. It's been down at Oxbow, which there are

[1:18:50] businesses down there, too. We would be more than happy to put it down where

[1:18:54] Cindy's spotted. We don't really care. We just want live music. We want live

[1:18:58] music downtown. >> We don't care if it's in

[1:19:02] » Live music does not bring people into my gallery. I don't want live music in

[1:19:06] front of my gallery. It drives me crazy, but I know people like live music

[1:19:10] downtown. So, I always tell Michael, do not put them in front of my gallery. So,

[1:19:17] it will they will go wherever we strategically want to place them. I

[1:19:21] don't think that's a stumbling block. >> Whatsoever whatsoever. So,

[1:19:26] » that's a whole point. >> So, all this was is you're looking for

[1:19:31] funding to be inserted somewhere. We're not talking about how awesome music is.

[1:19:36] We are completely off topic. You wanted it known. You requested reimbursement.

[1:19:41] That is what we're discussing. Are we going to put it in next agenda

[1:19:45] for September or are we going to honor this now? That's it.

[1:19:49] » I'm not the >> I'm sorry. This is like it's way off the

[1:19:52] rails. Are we going is there any way to get his request in before September

[1:19:58] meeting? >> You want me to make a motion? I'll make

[1:20:00] a motion. We can vote on. >> I'm not going to wait till September.

[1:20:03] » But you're talking about two different things. There's something about a motion

[1:20:05] for art in >> We don't have your submission on file.

[1:20:10] We had it in July, but you have to resubmit it for August and we don't have

[1:20:14] it in the packet because we don't have it for August.

[1:20:18] » Well, if it was too late for July, then it should be

[1:20:20] » Is there any way around that, Lisa? >> I can make a motion.

[1:20:25] » So, >> we can talk about it.

[1:20:26] » Do you have it with you? The original request on your computer somewhere?

[1:20:30] » I think somebody's got No, I didn't. Okay.

[1:20:35] I brought this Cabri. I guess I may do to the chair. I

[1:20:40] guess here's here's where the the or I get frustrated.

[1:20:43] » I just want a solution. >> I know. Here's where I get frustrated.

[1:20:46] It says on the thing that it says exactly what you read. If it comes in

[1:20:50] late for the agenda, we don't put it on. However, as the officers know, I bring

[1:20:55] everything that I received to you that comes to me on time and and to those

[1:21:00] meetings, right? I did bring this item to the meeting and I just and I did

[1:21:05] email and say, "Hey, we did get and Dave prop it up and said we did get this

[1:21:10] request that these two events had passed. What do you want to do?" Because

[1:21:15] they had already passed. So what it was determined at the officer's meeting,

[1:21:20] correct, was to email cycle and say, "Please, July has passed and August has

[1:21:25] passed. Can you please submit for September?" And that is exactly what I

[1:21:29] was directed to do. So, and then I asked to please have an application by Friday.

[1:21:35] I extended the deadline to Friday for the officers to extend the deadline to

[1:21:40] Friday. I did not receive anything. And Michael's probably busy and I understand

[1:21:44] that, but I did not receive anything. I let them know that I did not receive

[1:21:48] anything, so nothing went on the on the agenda. I take I don't make these things

[1:21:53] up. I don't sit and determine winners and losers, pick winners and losers. I

[1:21:57] really don't care. It is up to this board, these officers. It's a premeating

[1:22:02] with these officers to help me determine what goes on that agenda. I take

[1:22:06] directives from the officers. I put on what the officers tell me to put on. I

[1:22:11] don't It's not up to me. So, my frustration lies in the fact that I do

[1:22:16] feel like I myself get thrown under the bus as the villain that is against their

[1:22:22] galleries or get caught in the middle. I don't care what the DA funds. All I care

[1:22:26] about is making sure that this agenda is set, that this board has all the

[1:22:31] information you need and I took the directive and I get frustrated because

[1:22:35] it is not something that I determined. So what did I what so what I followed

[1:22:39] Cabri to answer your question was that an application was to be in an extension

[1:22:44] was given to to Friday to add this to the agenda. We did not receive anything

[1:22:47] through Friday. So therefore nothing is on the agenda for Martin Douglas today.

[1:22:51] Got it. >> That's the explanation.

[1:22:53] » Thank you. >> And that's appreciate it. Nobody's

[1:22:55] complaining. >> I get complaints all the time and I go

[1:22:58] at it all the time. But I just want you to know I just want to show the I take

[1:23:02] the directives from the officers as they know

[1:23:05] » because that's how it should be. >> I I work for the board.

[1:23:09] » Is there a solution to this? >> Yes. Today.

[1:23:11] » Sounds like there should be a new submission for September.

[1:23:17] » No. >> No. No.

[1:23:18] » I would like to make a proposal that we approve this

[1:23:22] » submission that was made in July.

[1:23:26] There's no reason we can't do that. >> Well, can we amend the agenda and put in

[1:23:31] a motion at this point? >> Yes,

[1:23:32] » you can. >> Okay.

[1:23:34] » Thank you. >> I just want to say then show up to the

[1:23:37] meetings because Alexi and I sat through the officer's meeting

[1:23:41] » and whoever you know we sat through the meeting and made the decision and extend

[1:23:48] I was in Bangkok.

[1:23:52] Come on. Alexi and I made the decision and we

[1:23:56] asked Lisa to follow through. Yes. So now we're coming back to the table and

[1:23:59] you want to do something else. So >> yes.

[1:24:02] » Yes. >> You would like an exception?

[1:24:05] » I we make good motion. would like to make a motion to approve Michael

[1:24:11] Burmeister's submission from July 20th covering cost of Ardan Douglas music

[1:24:17] downtown Douglas second Saturdays in the amount of $2,000 for July, August, and

[1:24:23] September. >> Second

[1:24:26] roll call, >> yes.

[1:24:30] » Crow, >> yes. Dawson.

[1:24:34] » Um,

[1:24:42] » I think we need a new application, so I'm going to say no.

[1:24:47] » Okay. >> Um, Laxo,

[1:24:50] » yes. >> Martinez, yes. Miller,

[1:24:53] » yes. >> North,

[1:24:55] » yes. >> Walker,

[1:24:56] » no. >> Thank you. passes.

[1:25:01] Yes. Thank you. >> You did the right thing.

[1:25:05] » Let's not do it again. >> You're welcome.

[1:25:08] » Thank you. >> I think we also will have to have an

[1:25:11] item about um how how these applications roll out and when

[1:25:19] we approve them. This is why we put into place quarterly approvals. So that we

[1:25:24] just got another request for somebody who wanted

[1:25:26] » We don't have quarterly approvals. >> Well, that's what I'm saying. we need to

[1:25:30] rethink our process for doing this because we have people now saying, "Oh,

[1:25:34] I had an event a month or two ago. Now I want to be reimbured reimburseed for

[1:25:38] it." I don't think that's a good practice either. So, it needs we need to

[1:25:42] have a we need to have a discussion about how that should go.

[1:25:47] » Um, sorry about this. I do need um the I only have the invoice for July 11th. I

[1:25:52] do need it for August and I will need it for September reimbursement. All I have

[1:25:55] is for $700 right now. I was sure Michael's

[1:25:58] » Yeah, we will follow through with that. So with the $700, but but we'll wait for

[1:26:02] the more for the ones that I would >> Michael's responsibility.

[1:26:06] » No, I speak to the board. >> And we did just approve 2,000.

[1:26:10] » Yes. >> So it Yeah.

[1:26:12] » Yeah. >> And then that should be it for the year,

[1:26:14] right? >> No.

[1:26:17] » October. >> You guys, we can talk about

[1:26:22] that. There was no more. >> That's not H. That's not letter H. Let's

[1:26:26] move on right now. >> Yep, we're moving on.

[1:26:29] » Oh, all right. Well, when you vice chair the meeting, then you can make the you

[1:26:33] can move it on. >> This was just funding for July.

[1:26:36] » Go back up. >> It's okay. Everything's okay.

[1:26:41] Michigan uh committee reports Michigan downtown day event in Douglas probably

[1:26:46] should have been an agenda item. We did receive approval for the road to be

[1:26:51] closed for Spring to Main Street. Clo center closed between Spring and Main

[1:26:56] Street. Uh from 3:00 to 5, we have the ban. Uh from like I'm thinking 1 to 3ish

[1:27:05] or 12:30 to 3ish, we are going to have a um

[1:27:11] cornhole competition. It feels like something is missing. Um, I think that

[1:27:17] the event sounds great, but I think we need still missing a little

[1:27:22] oomph in whatever it is that we're going to do on that day. We're going to push

[1:27:28] the social district drinks. We're going to

[1:27:32] um, you know, encourage people to be uh, having some sort of event in their

[1:27:38] store. Uh, but it's we're going to need a little bit of help. We um have the

[1:27:44] ability to have uh tents out into the street, but what I

[1:27:50] don't want to do is be the only tent out in the street. So, I kind of need to we

[1:27:55] need to get a commitment from any of the businesses all up and down whether or

[1:28:00] not their business is in that street if they want to come and have a tent in uh

[1:28:05] that downtown. So, I just I'm running out of time um with some other things I

[1:28:11] have going on. So, I need a little bit of help in trying to just nail down some

[1:28:18] of these specific uh details and mostly it's just getting

[1:28:23] out. We did um Alexia to talk to up.

[1:28:28] » Yes. And invited them to come and have a booth, but they cannot because they

[1:28:34] can't shove all their stuff up there. They don't have the means to run their

[1:28:37] credit card system. It's just too complicated. But they appreciated being

[1:28:41] invited. So again, I just don't want to have like one tent of dog stuff and

[1:28:45] everybody else has a tent. So if we can't kind of have a few tents on each

[1:28:50] side of the street, there's no sense of doing that and then what are we doing?

[1:28:54] So you know, >> well, even though the galleries don't

[1:28:56] participate in anything, Blue Crow are will be having a tent and I've already

[1:29:02] talked to >> Yes. I'd like to see

[1:29:08] » and we're gonna have to be in Bruce in a year.

[1:29:12] That >> is that where the street's going to be

[1:29:14] closed? It'll be Yeah, it's going to be right at spring and May.

[1:29:19] » Is that between Happy Hands and >> Yes. Okay.

[1:29:24] » Yes. >> And so the music is supposed to be down

[1:29:28] at >> No music. Well, the Where's the band?

[1:29:33] » The Yeah, the band is going to be at >> Maine.

[1:29:38] » Yeah. And then cornhole and everything could happen on the other end. And then

[1:29:43] did you talk to um >> They're not gonna be in town.

[1:29:46] » Okay. So, are you gonna do it? >> Well, I don't know.

[1:29:49] » Ruth, don't give me crap. >> Why shouldn't I?

[1:29:54] » Because because I've got two people from the art gallery sitting here that do

[1:29:58] participate. Does not make a whole uh gallery extravaganza downtown.

[1:30:04] » I don't want to get I don't want to get into that with you, but I always

[1:30:07] participate. So, of course, I'll >> You do. Thank you. Do you want to do the

[1:30:11] music? >> I'll probably have like um tailgate

[1:30:13] food, soup, and music at my >> Dave, will you put

[1:30:20] » All right. I will have a tent out, Randy.

[1:30:22] » Thank you. >> I have I have Plinko. I can bring

[1:30:29] » that would be great. Do you have a tent for the band? It's

[1:30:34] » They have tents. Do they will they break? I forget what they do.

[1:30:37] » What band is it? >> Uh F funky Brewster.

[1:30:40] » Nice. >> They're so good.

[1:30:44] » Um if I can get a tent from somebody, I'd be happy to do something.

[1:30:48] » I'll see if they have one. I'm sure between the three families, they have a

[1:30:52] pen. [laughter] >> Okay. But yeah,

[1:30:57] » you remind me the streets that are blocked off

[1:31:01] » between spring and Maine. >> So I have states to I still if anybody

[1:31:06] has any great ideas, I still feel like we could use one more little oomphy

[1:31:09] thing like a a thing we um have done last year and we're gonna do this year

[1:31:15] giveaways. Um like my if the hopefully the weather is nice, we'll do some

[1:31:19] little doggy. It'll be a dog friendly event. We can have some enrichment

[1:31:22] things outside. If it's hot, I'll bring dog pool out.

[1:31:25] » Where where are the tents going to be? >> In the street. So in the park,

[1:31:33] » thank you for giving me

[1:31:42] shots.

[1:31:47] » Yeah, I don't know how much I don't know what

[1:31:52] I mean. Can I ask one more question? Retro Bakery reached out and asked if

[1:31:57] they could sell stuff there. Is anybody opposed to

[1:32:01] that? >> No, not

[1:32:03] » I was worried that >> more the marrier.

[1:32:06] » We want to make sure our own businesses on the street get space. I'm just

[1:32:11] worried that there's literally going to be two tents.

[1:32:16] » No, we should have them. We should have as many places as we can.

[1:32:20] » And if if um >> What about the root bear barrel?

[1:32:25] Let's get some hot dogs down there. That would be great.

[1:32:28] » We could have asked that. I also didn't want to take away from because we're

[1:32:31] kind of gonna push the um pizza from back alley and

[1:32:35] » people won't care. I don't think I don't think they'll care.

[1:32:39] » You can ask them, but >> you also you also can talk to Dave's

[1:32:42] dogs >> at the farmers market every Tuesday.

[1:32:47] » Yeah, >> I'm sure he'll do another event.

[1:32:50] » Kind of like to start with um >> I'd start with root beer barrel. Yeah,

[1:32:54] but I >> don't know. They have an offsite

[1:32:57] ability, >> right?

[1:32:59] » Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. Is anyone going into back alley at

[1:33:05] the next day? >> This from 125.

[1:33:07] » Yeah. >> I will.

[1:33:10] » Since I've already been volunteered for >> Well, you're right.

[1:33:15] » Thanks, Dave. Uh, so yeah, we kind of want to and I was at least somebody had

[1:33:19] the idea of maybe if they even brought a table out to sell pizza. I don't know

[1:33:23] what their sanitation requires. You sell spices that are pre-cooked. I think

[1:33:28] you're okay. >> They might have

[1:33:32] a little better. >> Yeah.

[1:33:33] » Yeah. >> So, they're welcome to have a tent if

[1:33:35] they want to sell out >> if you if you get them somewhere like

[1:33:39] maybe up towards the um restrooms a little bit. They will actually bring

[1:33:45] like their warmer their warmers with them

[1:33:47] » and therefore actually have >> Yeah.

[1:33:49] » warm pizza there rather than >> pizza sitting reading.

[1:33:54] » Yeah. Thank you, Dave. >> See if he's interested.

[1:33:57] » Randy, definitely palm reading. Make sure you have

[1:33:59] » palm reading. Yes, I need my palm read. >> I'll take care of that. So, palm reading

[1:34:03] and she does um astrological readings as well. You have to have your ticket. You

[1:34:08] don't have to. You have to know what time you were born, what day, what time

[1:34:11] to get you through. >> Oh, that'd be fun.

[1:34:15] » Yeah, that's an oxmoron, I believe. >> More appropriate.

[1:34:22] » Okay. Oh, and then I was gonna say um like for it's also national in national

[1:34:27] pet store day, neighborhood pet store day. So we do giveaways and which is

[1:34:32] last year it was really popular. We had a whole gift bag of free things I got

[1:34:36] from the >> food food

[1:34:39] » samples of food maybe >> large large

[1:34:42] » not not your not fancy food um but anything that any you know I keep

[1:34:47] telling people it doesn't have to be a sale at your store but anything that

[1:34:50] people can do to you know just share can anybody in the marketing group create a

[1:34:58] um a social media post about the event? Yeah, we've already been discussing as

[1:35:04] far as September, October. So, >> okay,

[1:35:06] » that's I wonder if we should invite I mean

[1:35:09] Britney's on the CDB to have a tent and maybe there may even

[1:35:14] » I mean it's nice to have some of those, you know, those are great outreach

[1:35:18] options and it brings some Rotarians down. Maybe it brings some of the CD,

[1:35:21] you know, people from CDZ, too. >> We have a ton. Yeah. I mean, it might

[1:35:26] not hurt to fill it in a little bit and have some of our organizations that are

[1:35:29] supportive, you know, had it as well, right?

[1:35:32] » Yeah. Sure. >> Maybe the church. I don't know.

[1:35:36] » Pretty too. We reach out and see. >> That's why I'd love to get something out

[1:35:41] on social media soon so that if people have questions like we put something out

[1:35:47] because >> I just made a joke just to save the day.

[1:35:50] That's what the um retro gentleman responded to that and asked if they

[1:35:55] could have a tattoo. I want to get back to you. So

[1:35:59] » woman, I talked to her yesterday. She's going to repost that on all of her

[1:36:03] things, but if we get updated artwork or anything else, she's she's happy to

[1:36:08] repost that. >> Okay, that's great. Then did you see

[1:36:11] that post the um can you pass that on to Jamina so she has the information?

[1:36:17] » Yeah. Um, don't forget next month, if maybe

[1:36:22] you knew this, I don't know, but next month we are I'll I'll save that notes.

[1:36:26] Okay. Uh, that was all I had about Michigan downtown day. Thank you.

[1:36:30] Marketing committee update. Um, Jim has put put together meeting

[1:36:36] notes that you all shall have in front of you. Um, I just want to bring

[1:36:39] attention real quick to the uh Distinctly Douglas video series. The

[1:36:44] second one uh for Happy Stance got 20K views. Um, that was a real collaboration

[1:36:50] from the team and um Jim making the video and Cindy doing her blast on

[1:36:58] social media to get it to all these different channels. So, I want to thank

[1:37:02] them for doing all that heavy lifting and um let's do it again.

[1:37:07] » They will next week, this week. >> Fabulous.

[1:37:13] Um okay. Uh, regarding Q4 events, we talked about Michigan downtown day, the

[1:37:21] busker fest September >> live performer,

[1:37:25] » live performer, street performer thing, September 18th. It's

[1:37:31] » I think the banners have already been printed. I had a meeting with Ashley.

[1:37:34] Um, >> I talked to Jim and Cindy and Alexia

[1:37:39] about the outcome of that meeting. Um, things have already been printed, so

[1:37:44] going to remain the way that it is and then um we will promote the event and go

[1:37:51] from there. They're still looking for two sponsors from local businesses and I

[1:37:56] have not um asked any other businesses to contribute to that. They want $300

[1:38:02] per business for a sponsorship. Who does >> the CDB

[1:38:10] they're paying for the or they're collecting the funds to pay the street

[1:38:15] performers. So they have given 1,200. We've given 1,200 and there's a few

[1:38:20] moreund that needs to be raised to pay for the

[1:38:25] » um performers >> performers

[1:38:28] which is why we want to talk about this like going forward for next year because

[1:38:32] as Alexia pointed out buskers usually bust for money on the streets. So I

[1:38:38] think >> I thought that was the intent. How did

[1:38:41] we end up paying this money for this? There's some miscommunication

[1:38:45] » to fix it. Well, you know, >> yeah, this is you guys, these are good

[1:38:50] growing grow uh growing pains for us because we have we are as these kinds of

[1:38:56] things happen and as the DDA grows and as our pot of money grows and as we get

[1:39:01] more sophisticated, this is all new territory for us like having contracts

[1:39:05] for vendors and those kinds of things. we will get better. And you know, it's

[1:39:10] the same thing when we had the mural situation last year, the year before. It

[1:39:14] was uncomfortable. We had a little egg on our face, but we're only human. We're

[1:39:18] doing our best. We're not trying to hurt anybody or take advantage of anybody. We

[1:39:22] just we are we're volunteer, you know, we're volunteer uh volunteers

[1:39:29] and um we're gonna we're going to miss the mark on some things and um we will

[1:39:35] fix them going forward. most importantly am I right?

[1:39:39] So good. Uh >> what is the time for the street reform?

[1:39:44] » I believe it's 4:30 to 7. >> So are we I mean have we rallied the

[1:39:49] businesses around this? there's the act that we do round

[1:39:54] businesses around it and I was waiting to talk to you all about how we go about

[1:39:58] doing that and if we go about >> well I saw I saw the I saw the thing the

[1:40:04] email that came through and I was not in favor of supporting paying for that kind

[1:40:10] of advertising me personally >> why not just curious

[1:40:15] » I don't know I kind of felt like the same thing I felt like we were already

[1:40:17] putting money in the CBB was putting money in I didn't feel like it was going

[1:40:22] to be something that I wanted to put my money towards. That's all.

[1:40:28] » So, what happens if nobody does? >> The CVB will pick up the rest of the

[1:40:33] cost. And I think, you know, I think that that's something again that we'll

[1:40:37] need to talk about. >> I thought $300 was a lot, too. Honestly,

[1:40:40] I mean, it is and it isn't. Depends on what it is, but it's like two and a half

[1:40:43] hours. I just >> what kind of

[1:40:46] » exactly which what kind of performing are we going to

[1:40:49] » exactly? >> We don't even have any information. We

[1:40:52] don't know. >> We don't know what

[1:40:54] » they do. They do. >> Yeah, they gave them

[1:40:57] » Ashley gave us a good list of >> Oh, that last female. You're right. We

[1:41:01] have fire breathers. We have like circus type performers. We have

[1:41:06] » juggler. fire fire.

[1:41:13] » It's not what we thought that of a buser. It's kind of turned into what

[1:41:18] they were calling it a street performer. >> Who decided to make the change?

[1:41:23] » They did. >> Who? Who's they?

[1:41:27] » April gun. >> Why?

[1:41:29] » We don't know. >> We don't know. But

[1:41:32] » when I met let's just I'll say this. When I met with Ashley last week, we had

[1:41:38] a great conversation and I took a little bit of ownership for kind of maybe

[1:41:42] dropping the ball in terms of not having these conversations ahead of

[1:41:48] time and just kind of saying, "Yay, you want to run this thing and uh great, we

[1:41:52] don't have to do it." And then it kind of but because it's a DDA sponsored

[1:41:56] event, she recognizes that we want to have some ownership in it and some

[1:42:00] conversation in it. And um so I think there's a lot that can be fixed going

[1:42:05] forward, but it's not going to be >> I'm just confused.

[1:42:10] » If it's a DA's sponsored defense, why is the CBD able to change whatever

[1:42:19] it is that we had intended to do? >> They volunteered to take it and run with

[1:42:24] it. >> And we were okay with that initially.

[1:42:28] And so um it turned up that we weren't getting any

[1:42:34] information and that that's why Randy had a meeting with Ashley because we

[1:42:38] weren't getting we weren't hearing about it and we wanted to promote it. So, we

[1:42:42] went to Ashley and said, "What's going on? We're not getting any communication

[1:42:45] from April." And that's when we learned that it's street performers and it's

[1:42:50] this type of people and they're paying for it. So, it would kind of we lost it.

[1:42:57] We lost control of it. um and they thought we didn't want control of it. So

[1:43:03] going forward in the future, we will be more collaborative on it, but this event

[1:43:09] is too late to modify. >> Well said.

[1:43:14] » Nicely done around those words. That was well crafted.

[1:43:20] Uh, >> but I think our big concern really

[1:43:23] should be, are we throwing a party in a neighborhood with locked doors?

[1:43:30] » Could analogy. >> I mean, and and I'm not trying to be

[1:43:33] facitious or anything. It's just like great. I mean, I think street performers

[1:43:36] are fun and all, but if you're bringing people downtown, which is our purpose,

[1:43:40] is anybody going to be open? Are we just doing is the backdrop closed businesses?

[1:43:46] I mean, I'm sure EPC will be open. Is it a Friday night?

[1:43:49] » Yeah. >> But it's in September. So, I have a

[1:43:53] feeling that >> I'll stay open. I'm not going to be

[1:43:55] here, but I'll hire someone. I'll hire Susan.

[1:43:58] » But, I mean, I >> It goes until 7, right?

[1:43:59] » 4:30 to 7. >> Is it possible to use some of our DDA

[1:44:05] funds in Antonio to make videos before these events come out that we can post

[1:44:10] and get people excited about it? plan is to do a video around second

[1:44:15] Saturdays and those three performances

[1:44:34] within two weeks. So

[1:44:38] that's already on our plan. But like I said, I'm just worried about is that

[1:44:43] this this Friday night event I mean nights are not our friend

[1:44:52] » not on Friday. >> Yeah.

[1:44:55] » Well, I just don't know what the answer to that is if it's us going around

[1:44:58] because I bet if we ask everybody on the street, they might not even know that

[1:45:02] there's an event that night at this point.

[1:45:04] » That's why I want to start talking about it now. the I mean the the I feel like

[1:45:09] the at a minimum what we can do is market the event right now but to the

[1:45:14] best of our ability so that it's maybe pulling in some people.

[1:45:20] » So can you send us information? I mean I don't know how to market it if I don't

[1:45:23] know who's going to be there like what going to be there a little bit more than

[1:45:28] » Yeah. You send me everything that you >> what Ashley sent to us. I can get I can

[1:45:33] get a video out there, but I was thinking I didn't want to do it.

[1:45:38] » Well, we must do it now.

[1:45:42] » Must. >> We're committed.

[1:45:44] » Yes. >> Um

[1:45:45] » I just I'm always worried about confusing people because if you go out

[1:45:48] the door, you do second Saturday >> live per I mean street performer and

[1:45:54] » don't tell >> downtown people like that's three events

[1:45:57] in downtown two weeks. It's just a just a lot. I

[1:46:02] sound like I'm crazy. >> Well, I'm

[1:46:06] » Are they soliciting, too? Are they going to have little jars out and things like

[1:46:11] that for money? Because that kind of makes people uncomfortable.

[1:46:14] » Okay. That makes people uncomfortable sometimes, right?

[1:46:18] » Well, >> I don't I love it.

[1:46:21] » Something weird. [laughter]

[1:46:24] » That's how I That's true. That's fair. >> Yes. I You know, I know some people

[1:46:33] people get a little >> so they have one good performer and it's

[1:46:36] a Michael Jackson um

[1:46:41] » he does very very good

[1:46:44] » and we have times for >> Yeah. No, that's right.

[1:46:48] » I It sounds like um >> at this point, can I just say this? I

[1:46:54] think at this point our goal has to be to get bodies to the downtown because

[1:46:58] regardless of how we feel about like how this is how this is shaking out it's

[1:47:04] still our event. It's got our name partially on it and we want to

[1:47:08] » give it up. >> Is the CB going to promote it and their

[1:47:12] website and that type of thing also? >> They have started too but

[1:47:17] » it's on their website. Okay. >> Yeah. Um that said, my sense and I don't

[1:47:21] want to speak to the marketing committee, but my sense in conversation

[1:47:24] with them is that we want to talk about um next going forward for next year, you

[1:47:30] know, how do we want to proceed with um this partnership? And that's kind of

[1:47:34] Ashley Ashley and I kind of started having that conversation and um in

[1:47:40] fairness to them uh I don't think they were necessarily as

[1:47:45] they I don't think they thought that the DDA was wanting as much for lack of a

[1:47:50] better word ownership in the process. And I kind of in thinking about it when

[1:47:55] we started this process two years ago with them um you know offering to run

[1:48:00] two events for us and two events for Saga talk we were a different board and

[1:48:06] so and we didn't have the the movers and the shakers and the doers to and the

[1:48:12] idea makers to do all these things and so things are going to change as this

[1:48:15] board changes and so I think that did change the dynamic a little bit of um

[1:48:20] what our expectations have become because we are more sophisticated now.

[1:48:24] So, and I think that after this event, we will talk about, you know, how to

[1:48:30] proceed. >> Yeah. And one thing I think there be

[1:48:34] that we are it's already in motion is that we will do a a social media post

[1:48:39] for each of those three events. We will do a video for each of those three

[1:48:42] events and they'll all look different. >> Great. You're the man.

[1:48:48] » Yes. >> Thank you.

[1:48:51] » Yeah. Anything else on Britney jumped on? She's I don't know if you want to

[1:48:56] ask question. >> Oh, I don't know. Britney, did you show

[1:48:58] us your lovely face? Do you want to just talk to us?

[1:49:07] » I think you're still muted. >> Hold on.

[1:49:12] » Can you hear me now? >> Yes.

[1:49:14] » Okay. I was just going to say that we do plan to promote the event on our website

[1:49:19] and um April has already also made a um Facebook event for the street

[1:49:26] performers. >> Yeah.

[1:49:28] » Um and it says there's 12 going 146 interested.

[1:49:33] So that's good stats. I think some that means at least 146 people have seen that

[1:49:39] the event is happening and Facebook will remind them when it's coming up. Um, so

[1:49:45] that's good start to marketing. Um, we also made a flyer very early on because

[1:49:52] we didn't have a lot of the details, but we had the date and the time. Um, so we

[1:49:57] have a flyer that we've been handing out here and it's posted at the kiosk and on

[1:50:02] our bulletin board for the street performers night. Um, and then yeah, the

[1:50:08] banner obviously we wanted to get that ordered um, and get our application in

[1:50:13] for having the banner up and everything. So, we've been trying to get the ball

[1:50:17] rolling on different marketing type stuff for that. So, we're definitely

[1:50:21] wanting to support you guys. We're just waiting to hear the details. Um, and

[1:50:28] that list of performers, it's that's also the first time I saw

[1:50:32] who was actually doing it. So, um, we can definitely start adding that into

[1:50:37] our marketing efforts so people know exactly what they're coming for.

[1:50:44] » So, I'll reach out to April, Britney, and I'll let I mean, I think April needs

[1:50:48] to know that we're going to do a video in some some social media posting on our

[1:50:52] own as well, and I don't want to >> Yeah.

[1:50:55] » Yeah. >> Cool.

[1:50:57] » Thanks. >> Definitely.

[1:51:01] » Okay. Uh, real quickly, we can skip some of this other stuff. I would just say

[1:51:06] that Bri, you're the you're the champion of the tree lighting ceremony this year.

[1:51:12] I would say by for starting around next month, we should probably have start to

[1:51:17] have regular I don't know, whatever you need from us or whatever conversations.

[1:51:23] » Bri, I'll co-sponsor that with you if you want tree lighting.

[1:51:26] » That'd be great. Thanks, Ruth. You have the gingerbread houses

[1:51:31] » other than other than the gingerbread houses. I love

[1:51:34] » Are they moldy? >> No, they're not that you could probably

[1:51:39] eat off of them. >> So the the tree lighting is the day

[1:51:43] after is the Saturday after Thanksgiving, right?

[1:51:46] » Yes. >> Yeah. 6 p.m.

[1:51:48] » I think I'm That's the Saturday after

[1:51:56] Florida. >> You have to I'm I'm on orb bound to meet

[1:52:00] my new niece when the baby's born. >> My god, that said peace.

[1:52:07] » My niece had a baby. Um so next meeting, let's uh kind of

[1:52:14] touch base about uh Small Business Saturday.

[1:52:20] » Uh hopefully we have something on the website. We can talk about that in a

[1:52:23] second. Uh uh and the holiday preview. I think we're not going to make Pink

[1:52:27] Friday unless someone's dying. Uh, okay. So, let's move on to staff and

[1:52:33] manager for I will make it really long because I know Ruth gets hungry and

[1:52:37] ready to roll. >> All right.

[1:52:39] » Um, just just Don Don's kind of manning things right now. We're really short,

[1:52:42] but um, if you have Don wanted me to just remind everybody, if you have a new

[1:52:46] vendor, they have to submit a vendor form and a W9 to the city to get paid.

[1:52:51] That is a requirement of our auditors. like like you're going through growing

[1:52:55] pains with the DDA. We are too. Don is very very thorough, most thorough

[1:52:59] treasurer we probably have had. She's working on a lot of these trainings.

[1:53:02] She's been taking a lot of courses to make sure we are following all the

[1:53:04] guidelines. So, she just wants to make sure she's not trying to be difficult.

[1:53:07] She just said make sure that W9 comes through because we want to get these

[1:53:10] checks processed as quickly as possible. Um, also when somebody provides a

[1:53:15] reimbursement request, they have to have the form. They also have to have the

[1:53:19] receipts and we also need correct addresses because sometimes when we or

[1:53:24] we've mailed them to the address that they provide PO box it comes back to us

[1:53:28] so it's been happening quite a bit. Um I know we haven't gotten Michael's back so

[1:53:32] I don't know where his went to but we don't hand deliver. I do get Randy

[1:53:36] sometimes if she can you know something comes back I do try to you know ask

[1:53:39] Randy to help me out with that. But these are just things we're trying to

[1:53:42] fix our processes too and make it easy on everybody. Just a couple of other

[1:53:46] quick things. Um, on September 7th, Labor Day, 8 am Labor Day bridgewalk

[1:53:51] starts at 8 am at Berry Field. That was like over 200 people last year. It was a

[1:53:55] lot of fun. It goes from Berryfield down Washington underneath across down the

[1:53:59] bridge and then it comes back. It was a really nice walk. I think it's it's

[1:54:02] really the date of that again. >> Jim, you were a dancing queen on that.

[1:54:06] Was wonderful. >> Loved it.

[1:54:09] » He just went right by my video just coming right through. So, it's

[1:54:14] » it's at 8 a.m. starts at 8. >> Yep. On Labor Day at 7.

[1:54:20] » Yep. On Labor Day morning. Yep. >> So, um and then we have a 911 event at

[1:54:25] Wade Biden this year. We're moving it uh down to

[1:54:30] walking streets off on a Friday because of happy stance and everybody's

[1:54:33] businesses. So, we're moving it down to Wes. I think it's going to look really

[1:54:36] pretty down on the water and the council agreed to that. That starts at 9:00 a.m.

[1:54:40] on Friday night. September. So, we are going to keep

[1:54:44] doing that. I know we don't get a ton of attendance people really up in this town

[1:54:48] before 11, but it is important to continue to me to remember this will be

[1:54:53] our third one. So, I really it's it's a very moving ceremony. It's only about

[1:54:58] half an hour, 45 minutes, but it's very it's it's a very nice event. So, I think

[1:55:03] I've given enough to I think we we've figured out a lot of things. So, thanks

[1:55:07] for your guidance and understanding. >> Thanks, Lisa. You're welcome.

[1:55:11] » I'm gonna assume we have no public comment

[1:55:14] and board comments. Mr. Babcock,

[1:55:20] » no. >> Mrs. No,

[1:55:26] » last name.

[1:55:29] » Um, first I want to thank you all for your reaching out, your hard support

[1:55:34] after my dad's death. Um, meant a lot to me. appreciate you all very much. Um,

[1:55:41] second, I'm just going to throw it out there because I was going to bring it to

[1:55:43] this meeting and I saw the agenda and not um I think it's really important

[1:55:47] that we try to mend and or or create relationships with business owners where

[1:55:54] there is none or there is a um a difficult one or a one, whatever that

[1:56:00] looks like. We are a different board of members maybe than what they experienced

[1:56:04] and where that frustration for whatever reason they have came from. Um, and I'm

[1:56:09] proposing that at some time we discuss taking each business and each one of us

[1:56:14] gets assigned businesses and we either do it as two of us go in and we are your

[1:56:19] TDA members and we are who you're going to go to and be checking on them monthly

[1:56:22] and it's not my email. You get my I've got 1500 unopen emails right now because

[1:56:28] as a business owner you get all the spam, you get all the things. You know

[1:56:31] this. Um, I think it's really important that we start creating a relationship

[1:56:35] with business owners so that we can better the downtown area.

[1:56:40] » I'll take Mr. Miller. >> Okay, you got it. [snorts]

[1:56:45] » We have a lot to work on. >> Yeah.

[1:56:52] » Um, I told Sue I would mention it. I think for next meeting she'll email us

[1:56:56] about her updates for town crier and a couple other things. I think the most

[1:57:00] recent art in the park situation. She said she sat there with a clicker and I

[1:57:05] don't want to misspe but she said like nine

[1:57:09] » thank you. Yes. And she was really excited about that and same with town

[1:57:13] choir. We had the biggest turnout this year raised the most money. So just to

[1:57:18] see how energetic and happy she is and she is more than happy to utilize. So

[1:57:22] I'm like will you please post downtown day on all of your things? She's got

[1:57:26] like five social medias she posts to and so I think she's, you know, I just love

[1:57:31] her and she's awesome and she's really excited to see Douglas beat six and I

[1:57:36] think it's it's fun and I'm glad and I love her so much.

[1:57:39] » Is this Sue from the farmers? >> Sue Pullman. Yeah,

[1:57:44] » I wish you could be here and do all stuff.

[1:57:47] » Just Mr.

[1:57:51] I've missed I may have missed this but where do we stand on chips and renewal?

[1:57:57] » Oh, we had a meeting with them on last Wednesday in our officers meeting

[1:58:03] » and um of course I couldn't remember many of

[1:58:07] the concerns that I had >> when we said we were gonna have but

[1:58:11] anyway they're going to um revisit making sure the trees stand up and then

[1:58:18] they sent us a a bunch of things to look at, especially for like the gateway sign

[1:58:24] near the gateway sign. Like there's a cute cool

[1:58:28] » topsy turvy present kind of lighted situation that we could

[1:58:32] » have we entered into a contract with them.

[1:58:34] » You have >> Yeah, we're in

[1:58:37] » What year are we in? >> I don't know.

[1:58:40] » Oh, I thought this was >> Yeah, we were coming. We wanted them to

[1:58:43] come and talk about things that went wrong last year.

[1:58:46] » Yeah. like we didn't ever last two years. We haven't talked about your

[1:58:49] lights. We talked about the lights by us.

[1:58:52] » So, >> yeah.

[1:58:52] » Okay. So, I thought the contract was up for you because I know there are other

[1:58:55] businesses that are interested in getting

[1:59:01] » after next year. Yeah. >> Okay. And then I hate to I hate to bring

[1:59:04] this up because I love the farmer. People are stopping in and complaining.

[1:59:10] Why is so and so not here this week? Why is so and so not here? really wanted to,

[1:59:14] you know, get this from this vendor. They're not there. So, I don't know who

[1:59:17] has any >> What's her biggest problem?

[1:59:19] » Which vendors show up? >> Feel like I don't know, but this

[1:59:21] painting should go home with you right now.

[1:59:25] » Just a tad. >> Here's a wine glass for the wine that's

[1:59:28] not for sale today. >> Thank you for

[1:59:33] » I mean, so last week I went for a grilled cheese sandwich and

[1:59:38] » that's the biggest complaint I got from two different people. I know.

[1:59:40] » Where the hell's the grilled cheese? She's really damn good.

[1:59:43] » She was sick last week. >> She was sick last week and this week she

[1:59:46] didn't have supplies. >> I know. [laughter]

[1:59:49] » So that's that's a good thing. People are really interested.

[1:59:56] » Okay. >> The only feedback I've got regarding

[1:59:58] that is that counties would like it to be opened earlier because they have to

[2:00:02] be at work by 10 and it opens at 10. >> They're getting served. People are

[2:00:06] literally showing. I go there at 8:00 and people have already made purchases

[2:00:10] as the vendors are setting up. >> Not a grilled cheese.

[2:00:14] » We're not able.

[2:00:18] » Um, you know, that's feedback we can give to Sue. Um, potentially it's also

[2:00:22] depends on their vendor. She does a survey after every market and just like

[2:00:26] she did for Art and Park, we'll get results from that soon. Um but she does

[2:00:30] do a survey after every ye every season and then um we can throw that out as an

[2:00:36] option. We are talking about next year being able to offer um SNAP benefits in

[2:00:43] particular, but also um there's some uh programs that you know people

[2:00:52] who may be in more need can um benefit from the market and we're going to

[2:00:58] hopefully implement that next year. >> So super excited about that.

[2:01:04] Um, >> nothing.

[2:01:07] » Nothing. >> Okay. And then all I was going to

[2:01:10] mention Art and Park and the turnout, we will get a survey. And then I just

[2:01:15] wanted everybody to know that next month,

[2:01:18] September's meeting. Our last market is the 20 whatever date. And the next day,

[2:01:25] the Sue Pullman is going to come here for an acknowledgement. Um, we'll be

[2:01:30] presenting her with a plaque. I just told

[2:01:32] » him

[2:01:39] just give someone >> Oh, shoot.

[2:01:42] » I'm sure it was a >> Jenny. Go ahead. Oh, just kidding. She

[2:01:45] was giving the best. >> I wanted an update on construction of

[2:01:49] the four businesses that are going to be taking place. Do we have any updates on

[2:01:55] what's happening with those four businesses for future planning for the

[2:02:00] downtown businesses? >> What do we know? Nothing yet.

[2:02:03] » Well, Matt gave an update at our last council meeting.

[2:02:09] » It's in the works, but it's going to still be like a year.

[2:02:13] » Sean is Sean is really staying on top and I don't think it's

[2:02:16] » No, I don't mean when they're opening. I mean when they're starting construction.

[2:02:19] We want to try to plan >> later in this season.

[2:02:22] » The only one that's had their site plan approved is is

[2:02:26] » city hall >> and city hall

[2:02:28] » police station. >> Police station. I know that affects me

[2:02:31] because it's and Dave is right across the street.

[2:02:33] » It's going to affect all of downtown. >> Well, I understand that but so we don't

[2:02:36] know anything is what you're saying. >> No schedules.

[2:02:39] » No schedules just that. But Sean is is is very very he's staying on top and

[2:02:44] saying please we need to make sure that you

[2:02:46] » That's exciting. There's going to be police station. Oh, I know. We know.

[2:02:50] » Building across from the post office >> possibly the two empty lots down

[2:02:56] » by bowling alley. Right. >> Borrow time is doing some work too

[2:03:00] » and time. So vibrancy is >> the lot. The lot that is directly behind

[2:03:07] the spa will be coming to you potentially for we wanted to buy it. We

[2:03:12] couldn't afford it right now. Um they're talking about constructing a building

[2:03:16] there and doing Would

[2:03:22] that be in the PTA? >> No.

[2:03:26] » Street. >> But the pizza place isn't on the EDA

[2:03:29] either. >> Yeah, they are.

[2:03:30] » They are. >> They're not on center street.

[2:03:33] » No, but when we were districted it does include them. We didn't know

[2:03:38] that until about three years ago. Three years ago, we excluded them from

[2:03:43] everything. And then they brought to our attention that if you look at our map,

[2:03:46] they are actually It was who where the businesses were when this tip financing

[2:03:52] and um DDA was created who but it it impacts the downtown tremendously

[2:04:02] obviously having but to Ruth's point I think um and I

[2:04:07] think we talked about this it's going to be really important we have the

[2:04:10] potential for a lot of construction on center street all happening at one time

[2:04:14] or at least over several months and we want to bring some creative ideas to

[2:04:20] think about the roundabout when the roundabout was closing. Uh blueest star,

[2:04:25] you know, they had some support from the CBB and some others about making sure

[2:04:29] that people knew that our businesses were open. So, we want to start thinking

[2:04:32] about that ASAP um so that we have a plan of what we want how we want to

[2:04:38] combat that as gets ready to roll. And I can have Sean at each, you know, Sean

[2:04:45] mention we can have Sean at each meeting as he has updates.

[2:04:47] » Perfect. And in between we can have him send an email to the BDA keep.

[2:04:52] » And yes, >> we have the ability to do any kind of

[2:04:55] signage during construction to give people who are not familiar with the

[2:04:58] area the idea that there's good things to come.

[2:05:02] » Just discussed the other night. Okay. >> Like a future

[2:05:06] » Yeah. something >> like when they close down Blue Star, but

[2:05:08] they say like retro street.

[2:05:12] » Yeah. >> Yes.

[2:05:15] » Yeah. >> Sean thinks they'll do it outside of the

[2:05:18] the busy busy season as much as they can some of it, but some of it's going to

[2:05:23] fall to the season. So I mean my point to that is just the winter months are

[2:05:29] even more important in some ways to make sure that the what little traffic we do

[2:05:33] get knows that we are still open because >> businesses are still during

[2:05:38] construction. >> Yeah.

[2:05:40] » That's right. We will very administration we be very mindful of

[2:05:44] that. >> Yes. Uh okay. How about uh motion to

[2:05:52] adjurnn? Motion to adjurnn.

8 26 2026 DDA Meeting

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