Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.26.2009• • COUNCIL WORK SESSION May 26, 2009 4:30 p.m. Council Chambers Members present: Getty, Hart, Steve Schmitt, Welper, Reggie Schmitt. Members absent: Cole, Greenwood. Moved by Reggie Schmitt, seconded by Steve Schmitt that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Five. Absent: Cole, Greenwood. Motion carried. Sindee Kleckner, Executive Director of Main Street Waterloo, explained their mission statement is dedicated to the revitalization of the downcenter. As part of the mission statement, they take a four point approach: organization, promotion, design and business improvement. Main Street Waterloo has been a Main Street Iowa Community since 1996. On April 17, 2009, Main Street Waterloo was recognized as reaching $50 million investment benchmark. Ms. Kleckner reviewed Main Street Waterloo's 2009 budget. The City of Waterloo contributes 10.82 percent, parking lot rent contributes 34.18 percent and promotions contribute 49.92 percent of income revenue. The organization council works on partnerships. Main Street Waterloo has over 400 volunteer hours a month. The promotion council encourages a community to focus on downtown as a source of community pride, social activity and economic development potential. Special Events include Tour de'Loo, BBQ'Loo and Blues Too, Taste of Loo and Friday'Loo. The estimated attendance at the Friday'Loo event is 3,000 to 5,000 per evening. Over 10,000 attendees, judges, and competitors from throughout the United States attend the BBQ'Loo and Blues Too event. The design council reviews building improvements, historic preservation, streetscape improvements, signs, outdoor seating, litter and clean-up. The business improvement council is involved in information gathering, business education, simulate adaptive re -use of underutilized space, and business retention, expansion and recruitment. Main Street Waterloo has received a Main Street Challenge Grant in the amount of $50,000.00 for facade improvements to the former Newton Building. Main Street Waterloo received a Main Street HUD Challenge Grant in the amount of $40,000.00 for the Black's Building and $40,000.00 for the Fowler Building. Councilperson Welper stated that he feels Main Street Waterloo has proved the naysayers wrong with all that is going on downtown. In answer to a question from Councilperson Welper, Ms. Kleckner stated that the grant for the Newton Building can only be used for the facade, but it is her understanding a party is interested in putting a restaurant in that building. Jim Walsh stated that his company acquired the Newton building after the business closed. The general plan is to turn it into a modern version of a national chain cafe. Councilperson Steve Schmitt asked if the trolley would be available for use by Main Street. Mayor Hurley explained that Des Moines is using a trolley that is provided for free and is very successful. MET Transit has a trolley that is used for the kids program, and the city used it for a Vision Iowa tour. At one point the trolley was used to attract people to park under the viaduct and use the trolley to get to their point of destination. Ms. Kleckner stated that there was discussion of using the public market area for the farmers market this season, but it wasn't far enough along. The biggest concern is that it would be cost prohibitive for many of the vendors. The vendors will have to make that decision based on costs, but she is not sure how many will be able to afford to move to the Expo area. Mr. Walsh stated the public market is not intended to push someone already downtown to move to the Expo area. The farmer's market vendors do not have to move if they don't want to. Council Work Session May 26, 2009 Page 2 Councilperson Hart noted he is a member of the Great Places Board, and that the work on Waterloo's downtown is second to none. Councilperson Hart complimented Ms. Kleckner and the Main Street Waterloo Board for all their efforts. Councilperson Hart noted that the city's contribution to Main Street for FY10 is about a 32 percent increase and he asked if Main Street will be asking for more. Ms. Kleckner responded success breeds success. Main Street is doing some aggressive marketing and providing information on the downtown. They want people to feel they are part of the family. Many of them are small businesses, and they need Main Street to help them through the process. Mayor Hurley stated that he proposed the increase for the FYE10 budget because we want and need a healthy main street through achievement in brick and mortar and because there is a stronger partnership between the city and Main Street Waterloo. Beautification of the downtown is enhanced by the flower baskets but they require a lot of care. Mayor Hurley asked Ms. Kleckner if she sees an opportunity for a SSMID for the downtown in the future. Ms. Kleckner responded she thinks Main Street could do a lot with a SSMID as she looks at other cities and all that is accomplished through the SSMID. Friday'Loo is a big funding source for Main Street Waterloo but is requires a lot of their time which could be put to better use. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Welper, seconded by Reggie Schmitt that the meeting be adjourned at 5:05 p.m. Ayes: Five. Absent: Cole, Greenwood. Motion carried. Nancy Eckert City Clerk • •