Westside Association Meeting Minutes - June 4-09

Meeting called to order by President Connie Drexler @12:00

Treasurer’s Report

• Paid liability insurance of $250.00
• Paid Live at Lunch $200.00
• Received dues of $325.00
• Ending balance $6100.00
• Send out 2^nd notices for  dues
• 45 paid members

Chamber Report:

• Oct 2- Best Buy scheduled to open
• Ruff House opened on Algoma Blvd
• Water City Grill location to reopen with new owners
• Rob attended the International Shopping Center Conference- was in the Forward Wisconsin booth
• DOT meeting
  • 2010-Witzel overpass closed April to Nov
  • 2010- 20^th overpass Feb- June
  • 2011- 9^th and 45- one construction season
  • 2012- highway 21 April to Nov
• Ran ads on radio stations addressing the spending and non budget items in the state budget
• Business mission to China next spring
  • 10 day trip
  • cost should be under $2000.00
  • explore business opportunities in China
  • informational meeting in September

Director’s Meeting:

• Survey project
  • Summary sent to Community partnership
  • Project is moving forward
• Possible program ideas:
  • Hintz/Hopper
  • DARE
  • New North

Donations:

• Live at Lunch –donation approved
• Chamco request- decided against since it is not for a specific project- just general operating expenses

Guest Speaker:  Maureen Strauss- Downtown BID Manager

• 1^st year
• partnership between Chamber/City/OEADC
• salary from BID
• $150,000 property owners self accessed
• property values in BID has doubled in the last couple of years
• BID area created in 1987
• In charge of five committees
  • Marketing:
    • $6000.00 for their own events and annual events (Destination Downtown)
    • $10,000.00 for community events ( Live at Lunch, Public Enemies)
  • Beautification:
    • $20,000.00 on maintenance (such as  flower pots)
    • $5000.00 for special projects ( State Street)
  • 2010 committee formed to address the closure of Main Street
  • Parking Committee
    • Meets monthly
    • Plan where they are going with parking
    • Meters will be removed
    • Make recommendations
  • Recruitment
    • $25,000.00 promoting new business to the downtown and help existing business
• 14 projects with the Façade Program
• Rear Façade program
  • Signage
  • Improvements during construction
    • $5000.00 from BID
    • $5000.00 from OAEDC
• Took over Farmers Market on Wednesday mornings
• Did a TV show for OCAT- Downtown Dish- discuss activities

Meeting adjourned at1PM