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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-12-13 ACE MINUTES• • • ALLIANCE FOR COMMERCE IN ENGLEWOOD December 13, 2001 I. CALL TO ORDER The Alliance for Commerce in Englewood meeting was called to order at 11 :35 a.m. in the City Council Conference Room of Englewood Civic Center, Chairman Van Der Zwaag presiding. Members Present: Members Absent: Alternate Members Present: Liaison Members Present: Staff: Guests: II. Approval OF Minutes Ashenfelter, Panetta, Schalk, Taylor, Van Der Zwaag, and Young Guinther Rees Brenengen, Yurchick Jan Johnson, Business and Redevelopment Coordinator Darren Hollingsworth, Business Development Specialist Councilperson Olga Wolosyn Mike Flaherty, Assistant City Manager Pauletta Puncerelli, Public Information Officer Ann Ricker, Leland Consultants James Cromar, BRW Chair Van Der Zwaag asked that the Minutes of October 17, 2001 and November 8, 2001 be considered for approval. Mr. Taylor moved; Chair Van Der Zwaag seconded: THAT THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 17, 2001 AND NOVEMBER 8, 2001 BE APPROVED. Motion carried. Ill. Business Survey Ms. Johnson directed the members' attention to a draft business survey included in their packet. It is proposed that the survey be mailed to all Englewood businesses. Ms. Johnson briefly reviewed the survey and asked for the members' input. The survey contains three • sections: demographics, how businesses feel about the quality of the current business climate, and their thoughts on the future of the business community. It also provides for additional comments in each of the t hree sections. • • Mr. Panetta recommended that the cover letter be very clear as to the purpose of the survey. Mr. Van Der Zwaag asked if the survey would be available electronically on a web site . Ms. Puncerelli stated the National Research Center (NRC) will conduct the survey and collect the data so it is independen t of the City of Englewood. As an experiment for the residential survey, NCR did a random sample of Englewood residents by mail, as well as the internet. The business survey has been planned as a mail survey only. Ms . Johnson reiterated that the survey would be mailed to all business addresses, and it would be publicized in the Englewood Herald and the Chamber newsletter. Mr. Yurchick suggested adding a list of services offered by the City for businesses, such as the catalyst program, facade improvement, etc. Mr. Taylor suggested offering an incentive for completing and returning the survey, such as a year's membership to the Englewood Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Young suggested a certificate to the Englewood Recreation Center. Discussion ensued regarding providing businesses the option of completing the survey electronically. Mr. Flaherty stated he would talk to NCR and ask them to look into how to accommodate the option of completing the survey electronically while still maintaining the integrity of the data . Ms. Johnson thanked everyone for their efforts on the survey. Ill. Admissions Tax City Council reviewed a compromise on the Admissions Tax issue at the December 3 study session. The compromise, put together by CD staff, the Finance Director and the City Attorney, calls for a two-year temporary reduction from 3% to 0% admissions tax. After two years, City Council will review the issue and reinstate or eliminate the tax. The compromise came after the ACE meeting that suggested elimination of the tax. The first draft of the ordinance is scheduled for January 7, 2002, but City Council is anxious to have input from the group on the compromise. The business survey will be discussed at the study session on January 7. Ms. Wolosyn urged members to be present at both meetings. Discussion ensued . Ms. Johnson stated that the Admissions Tax directly affects the Gothic Theatre, owned by Steve Schalk, who has refrained from voting on the issue . She commended Mr. Schalk for his ethics. Chair Van Der Zwaag moved; • Mr. Panetta seconded: • TO SUPPORT THE COMPROMISE ON ADMISSIONS TAX. Motion carr i ed. Mr. Schalk abstained. IV. Business Forums Ms . Ricker stated she and Mr. Croma r would be conducting business forums as a follow-up to the South Broadway Action Plan , and encouraged the members' participation . These forums will identify barriers for businesses in Englewood and develop strategies to fix those barriers . Ms. Ricker suggested four forums : market, physical, regulatory, and financial. Each group would meet three times . The first meeting would establish and discuss parameters; the second meeting for education; and the third meeting to discuss possible actions for the All iance to recommend to City Council. Mr. Cromar suggested breaking the four forums out as follows : Market -general business owners and brokers Physical -property owners Regulatory -developers and regulatory people Finance -lenders, Chamber of Commerce, economic developers Mr. Cromar stated they wished to look at the big picture, but they had also developed four scenarios for the forums to consider : 1. Opportunities to diversify economic base 2. Opportunities to encourage new industrial parks and research and development parks 3. Broadway and Hampden Corridors -opportunities for reinvestment for retail or other commercial activity 4. Large scale redevelopment, such as the General Iron Works' site Mr. Young stated the scenarios cover new businesses, but asked about supporting existing businesses. Ms . Ricker responded that both diversifying the economic base and the reinvestment for the Broadway and Hampden Corridors covers existing businesses . Chair Van Der Zwaag stated that the survey information would be very useful for the business forums. Ms. Ricker agreed ; however, the survey does not provide a means of action for issues to be resolved. The bus i ness forums are designed to be action oriented. Ms . Ricker stated the forums will gather information and report back to the Alliance. The first workshop will be held in January 2002. The meetings will be 2 hours in length, and will • be held over the lunch hour. Ms . Johnson interjected that lunch would be provided. • • • Ms. Brenengen asked how large the groups would be. Mr. Cremar responded that the size of each group would be 10-15 people. He suggested that Jan Johnson be the contact person, and asked the members to submit the names of people interested in participating in the forums to her within the next couple of weeks. Ms. Ricker reviewed the goals of the forums: act as a liaison between the public and private sector, educate participants, solicit input, and provide recommendations to ACE. Ms . Johnson stated she would e-mail the members with an overview of the presentation. IV. Other Business Ms. Johnson distributed the November and December activity reports. V. Adjournment There being no further business, Chair Van Der Zwaag adjourned the meting at 1 :05 PM .