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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-10-17 ACE MINUTES. . . • • • ALLIANCE FOR COMMERCE IN ENGLEWOOD October 17, 2001 I. CALL TO ORDER The Alliance for Commerce in Englewood meeting was called to order at 11 :45 a.m. in the City Council Conference Room of Englewood Civic Center, Business & Redevelopment Coordinator Jan Johnson presiding due tO absence of Chair and Vice Chair. Members Present: Schalk, Taylor, Panetta, Guinther Members Absent: Young, Ashenfelter, Van Der Zwaag Alternate Member Present: Rees Liaison Members Present: Also present: II. BUSINESS SURVEY Yurchick, Brenengen Councilperson Olga Wolosyn Public Information Officer Pauletta Puncerelli Dr. Tom Miller, Research Center Ms. Johnson welcomed Ms. Puncerelli and Dr. Miller to the meeting. Ms. Johnson stated that Ms. Puncerelli and Dr. Miller are present to discuss conducting a business survey. Ms . Johnson stated that the City Manager's Office has agreed to fund up to $15,000 for such a survey . Dr. Miller stated the Research Center will compile all data returned by business owners and business managers. Dr. Miller's discussion covered the following points: • Why are you doing the survey? • What results is ACE looking for? • What do you plan to do with the information once you have the results? • It is important to understand what is working well in a community. • It is important to know what business owners/managers feel the business climate of a community is. • How current is Englewood's business data? How many of these businesses are home-based? How many are corporate headquarters? • It is important to "take the pulse of the business community" on a periodic basis to determine what is working, and what needs to be improved. • Mail surveys are most efficient. • Inform business community of the importance of their response to the survey. • Open-ended questionnaires are more costly; multi-choice provides more informa- tion. • The most useful/beneficial surveys are those for which time has been taken up front to determine what will be done with the results. • Determining what action should be taken may not be until after a second or third survey. H:IGROUPIBOARDS\ACE\Minutes l I 0-1 7-0 I .doc 'J• • If problems are revealed in results of survey, figure out what can be done to solve them. • The goal is to word the survey to elicit responses from a cross-section of the busi- ness community -those that are disgruntled, and those that are pleased. • Home-based business should be included in business survey. • Should notification letter/survey have single or dual-signature -ACE Chairperson and Mayor? Dr. Miller discussed methodology used in several surveys that he has done, and noted a recent survey done in Westminster had a 34% return; he advised that the City also had a "raffle" after the survey was done, with the raffle prize offered to survey respondents. The Commission discussed signatures on the letter of notification and survey. Ms. Guinther and Ms. Wolosyn are supportive of dual signatures by the Chair of the ACE, and by the Mayor. Mr. Taylor noted .that the business survey is a great idea, but to resolve some problems that may be pinpointed could require financial commitments from the City. Is the City prepared to do this? Dr. Miller stated that financial commitments are not made up front, but if prob- lems are identified, the City can incorporate those funding needs in upcoming budgets. Mr. Panetta asked who would have access to the results of the survey. Ms. Puncerelli stated that the results would be a public document; anyone that wants to see the results can do so. Dr. Miller stated results could also be posted on the City's web site. Questions that might be included in the survey were: • How have things changed for the business community since light rail began? • How do you get to work? • How can we encourage new businesses to locate in Englewood? • What impediments to you see to location of new businesses in Englewood? • What services do you not now receive that you would like? Mr. Panetta noted there is an industrial business community as well as a retail business community in Englewood. Can the survey be worded to address issues for both segments of the "business" community. Mr. Panetta asked what the opinion was if a member of the commission, such as himself, who knew business owners/managers encouraged them to respond to the survey. Dr. Miller stated that this could bias the results. Ms. Guinther suggested that efforts be made to raise the level of awareness of the business community on the importance of responding to the survey. Mr. Yurchick stated that the Englewood Citizen goes to every mailing address in Englewood; the up-coming business survey could be cited in the Citizen. Information about the survey can also be included in the Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce newslet- ter. H:IGROUPIBOARDS\ACE\Minutcs\1().17--01 .doc • • • •' . • Follow-up steps to the initial survey were discussed. E-mail contact and telephone calls were suggested as follow-up possibilities. Mr. Taylor pointed out that the "packaging" of the survey may determine whether or not it is even opened -the presentation of the sur- vey is the key to response. Mr. Schalk stated that there are some core items that are of concern to every businessman in Englewood, those being: • Personal property tax • Sales Tax • Cost of Building Permits • Tax rebates or incentives Mr. Yurchick pointed out that personal property tax is a state issue. Use of the ACE Logo on the letter was discussed. Dr. Miller cautioned against using an un- familiar logo versus the familiar City of Englewood logo. Ms. Johnson and Ms. Puncerelli summarized that a contract developed and signed, and questions need to be formulated. M r. Schalk asked if samples of the questions will be available at the next meeting. • Mr. Yurchick asked about the timeframe for the survey once the questionnaire has been developed . Dr. Miller stated that the survey will be mailed early January, with responses due back no later than the middle of February . Results can be expected by mid-March 2002 . • Mr. Taylor asked if the $15,000 is budgeted to ACE to do whatever project they may choose, or is it earmarked specifically for the survey. Ms. Puncerelli stated that this $15,000 is from the City Manager's budget, and is specifically for conduct of a business survey. Brief discussion ensued . Ms. Johnson asked for a motion to authorize proceeding with the business survey. Guinther moved: Panetta seconded: The ACE and staff proceed with development of a business survey to be conducted i n early 2002. Guinther, Panetta, and Schalk voted in favor; Taylor voted no . Ill. IMAGE ENHANCEMENT Ms. Johnson asked that this issue be delayed in the absence of Chairman Van Der Zwaag . Board members agreed. H:IGROUP\BOARDS\ACE\Minutesl 1(}.17-0 I .doc IV. DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Ms. Johnson stated that the Comprehensive Plan is being redone. A statement of Goals and Objectives for the Business and Employment element of the Plan was included in the packet sent to ACE members. Ms. Brenengen questioned what attracting and retaining and quality workforce means. Ms. Johnson said examples could include tr~ining programs and educational opportunities. Mr. Panetta noted that all the goals and objectives are linked by priority, and are all "warm, fuzzy" things; how do we get from a global view down to the local level. Ms. Wolosyn pointed out that many of the goals and objectives of the 1979 Comprehensive Plan are still applicable, and that these are broad statements. Mr. Rees asked if this is "carved in stone"; if something isn't included in the Comprehensive Plan, does this mean that it cannot be done. Ms. Wolosyn stated that the Comprehensive Plan is a guide -it doesn't address such things as building code issues. Mr. Rees asked how willing City Council would be to making changes in the Comprehensive Plan if those changes were recommended by ACE. Discussion ensued. • Ms. Wolosyn advised members of ACE that if they want changes in any regulations, they must present City Council with information and documentation that supports the requested changes. • Mr . Schalk stated that he is working on an "occupancy" issue at the Gothic Theater now, and discussed the length of time it has taken, and the changes in information he has re- ceived. Ms. Guinther stated that everyone wants to eliminate all liability responsibilities; no one wants to take any risk so therefore nothing can be done. She stated that she has wanted to put a coffee shop in her bookstore, and discussed the frustration she has experienced in trying to get information and approval. Ms. Wolosyn cited the Pearl Street development, and asked how this was accomplished. She noted that when she moved to the Denver area 10 years ago, many of the buildings in the Pearl Street development were vacant; there are now thriving shops along this area. She asked that staff investigate to determine how this reuse of older structures was accom- plished in Denver, and why it cannot be done in Englewood. Ms. Brenengen asked if ACE was getting into issues that it possibly should not explore. Mr. Yurchick stated that possibly some departments may feel uncomfortable, but this may not be bad; if ACE is representative of the business community maybe there are issues that need to be reviewed. Ms. Brenengen stated that she really wants to see what other com- munities are doing that are working for their business population, and what doesn't work, • and why not. H:\GROUPIBOARDS\ACE\Minut£sll 0-17-0 I .doc 4 ••• t • v. APPROVAL OF MINUTES September 13, 2001 Ms. Johnson asked for a motion on approval of the Minutes. Ms. Brenengen suggested an amendment on Page 3, 41h paragraph: " .. .if a challenge is given". Guinther moved: Schalk seconded: The Minutes of September 13, 2001, be approved as amended. The motion carried. VI. COMMENTS AND EVENTS Mr. Schalk asked if anything is being done to market and publicize businesses in Engle- wood. Ms. Brenengen stated that the Chamber Intergovernmental Affairs Committee wants to be- gin a South Broadway Merchants Committee. • Ms. Brenengen asked if ACE wanted to expand the time of the meetings to 2 hours be- cause there always seems to be something that isn't covered. Mr. Panetta and Mr. Yur- chick both stated that 1.5 hours is sufficient. • VII. ACE LOGO Examples of a logo for ACE incorporating the City Logo were displayed. No choice of style was made. Nothing further was brought up for discussion. The meeting adjourned at 1 :25 p.m . H:IGROUPIBOARDS\ACE\Minutcsll (}-17-0 I .doc