[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.