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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-12-08 ACE MINUTES',. ALLIANCE FOR COMMERCE IN ENGLEWOOD December 8, 2005 I. CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Alliance for Commerce in Englewood (ACE) was called to order at 11 :45 a.m. in the City Council Conference Room of the Englewood Ci vic Center, Chair McDer- mott presiding. Present: Guinther, Lonborg, Schalk, Vasilas , McDermott Verbek, Alternate member Mayor W olosyn, Council Liaison Absent: Panetta (excused absence) Also present: Katie Mendel , Chamber of Commerce Liaison Kimberly Langston Staff present: Darren Hollingsworth, Economic Development Coordinator Bob Simpson, Director of Community Development II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES October 13 , 2005 Chair McDermott stated that the Minutes of October 13 , 2005 were to be considered for ap- proval. Vasilas moved: Guinther seconded: The Minutes of October 13 , 2005 be approved as written. The motion carried unanimously. III. GECC ANNUAL GALA Business Awards Nominations Chair McDermott and Katie Mendel introduced Ms. Kimberly Langston. Ms . Langston is work- ing on organization and promotion of the Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce annual "Gala" celebration. Ms. Langston stated that the Gala is scheduled for the evening of January 26 , 2006 at the Gothic Theater. The theme for the Gala celebration is "Destination Englewood". Ms . Langston distrib- uted forms for nominations , along with criteria for the four award categories . The categories are : ~ Employer of the Year ~ Entrepreneur of the Year ~ Greater Englewood Chamber Leader of the Year ~ Community Caring Award Ms . Langston noted that one of the goals of the Chamber is to encourage increased attendance and participation in the Gala celebration. Ms. Langston discussed the four award categories in H:\G ro up\B OARDS\ACE\Minutes\2005\ACE l 2-8-0 5 .doc 1 greater depth, and noted that only the third category, Greater Englewood Chamber Leader of the Year, is predicated on membership in the Chamber of Commerce. She stated that members of ACE were welcome to make nominations at this meeting, or to fax nominations to her at the Chamber offices ; all nominations must be received no later than December 23, 2005. Mr. Hollingsworth stated that the Gala is a way to recognize outstanding businesses in Engle- wood, promote the business community, and promote the City as a whole. Ms. Langston stated that she would like to recognize all businesses that are nominated in each category, and to make the award to the one outstanding business chosen from each category. The goal of increased attendance and participation was further discussed. Ms . Mendel asked how many nomination petitions were proposed to be mailed. Data bases that might be used for mailing purposes were cited . Mr. Vasilas suggested that Kaufman's Big & Tall Store should be recognized ; they are a long- time Englewood business, do a high volume of business, and attract a specific clientele. Another business suggested by Mr. Vasilas is Anderson 's Vacuum Store. Mr. Hollingsworth noted that information regarding the Gala can be included in the next busi- ness fax that the City sends out; it is scheduled for release next week. Mr. Simpson commented that revenues from individual businesses are highly confidential. Revenues are categorized, and while a "category" could be cited as producing a high rate of revenue, an individual business cannot be. Mr. Vasilas commented that some businessmen are quite negative and feel that the "City never does anything for them", and suggested that recognition at the Gala might allev iate some nega- tivity. Ms. Lonborg asked Ms. Langston if she had a cost for the mailings; if not, to please figure what those costs might be and send the information to her at Swedish Medical Center. Brief discussion ensued. Chair McDermott thanked Ms . Langston for attending the meeting and discussing the Gala. IV. BIDNEWS Chair McDermott asked Mr. Hollingsworth to provide an up-date on the Business Improvement District (BID) proposal. Mr. Hollingsworth cited a copy of the Business Improvem ent Distric t N ews prepared by the De- partment of Community Development. This publication is distributed to members of City Coun- cil , City Manager, Department Directors, ACE, the BID Steering Committee, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Old Town Englewood Merchants Association. Mr. Hollingsworth stated that the newsletter will provide an informational link on progress regarding the BID , and it is the in- tent to provide updates on a bi-weekly basis . Mr. Hollingsworth stated that a meeting of the BID Steering Committee is scheduled for December 15th. Discussions at that meeting will address H :\Gro up\B OARDS \ACE\M inut es\200 5\AC E 12-8-05 .doc 2 ·. issues such as data bases , and more clearly defining the boundary of the BID. Mr. Hollingsworth stated that there is strong interest in forming a BID; he estimated that 70 to 75 properties were represented in the public forums that were recently held. Mr. Verbek commented that a majority of the response and interest is from the downtown area and along Broadway; very little interest in the BID was expressed by merchants in the CityCen- ter. Mr. Vasilas agreed that the participation along South Broadway from Hampden north to Floyd is very good. He cited an issue that arose of voting rights between property owners and renters, which has now been resolved. Some businesses are not included on Arapahoe County tax rolls , and were not contacted regarding the BID formation. It has been determined that if a business pays rent to a property owner, they contribute to the property tax payment and therefore have the right to vote in the election to form the BID. Mr. Hollingsworth discussed up-dating the data base to include property owners and renters in the BID area. He noted that some properties may have to be added manually. Mr. Vasilas sug- gested using the data base the Fire Department has -the Department visits all businesses each year and the data base should be up-to-date. Ms. Lonborg asked for clarification on voter eligi- bility. Mr. Hollingsworth stated that property owners and tenants may vote; 51 % of the property owners must be accounted for to form a BID. Mr. Vasilas commented that there are a few property owners who have expressed opposition to a BID, and he has spoken to PUMA regarding getting copies of the surveys to see if the opposing property owners concerns can be addressed by follow-up visits. Mr. Vasilas emphasized to ACE that if the BID is to "fly", it will require the concentrated effort of everyone talking to their busi- ness neighbors regarding what a BID can accomplish to assist the business community. Mr. Va- silas agreed that there is not great interest in the BID from the CityCenter merchants , and that in fact when speaking with Mr. Loss of Miller-Weingarten, he was advised that "if you can con- vince the tenants , [he] will not oppose it." Ms. Guinther asked if a cost/benefit analysis on the development of a BID has been done; would this be of assistance when speaking to neighboring property owners. Discussion ensued . Mr. Vasilas noted that an "Englewood Councilwoman is visiting businesses and talking nega- tively about development of the BID". Chair McDermott asked what this individual is saying. Mr. Verbeck stated that "the Councilwoman is saying that the BID is another layer of taxation, and that the City can accomplish everything the BID can do without enacting the additional tax. Everything she is saying she is 'taking out of context'." Mr. Vasil as stated that Councilwoman talks about the BID negatively, but has had no answers to concerns that have been voiced to her. Mr. Verbeck stated that this Councilwoman has also talked about a Littleton improvement pro- gram, and how well it seems to work, but the Littleton program and the proposed BID in Engle- wood are two different programs. Mr. Simpson stated that a goal of the Department of Community Development, and of the BID newsletter, is to improve communication with the business community, and all recipients of the newsletter. The newsletter will provide good, factual information on what a BID is, what it can do, and what participants in a BID can expect. It is an education process . Mr. Simpson ac- H:\Gro up\BOARDS \A CE\Minutes\200 5\AC E 12-8-05 .doc 3 .. knowledged that politics will always be brought into any issue, but staff is committed to dispen- sation of factual information. He stated that other tools available to assist the business commu- nity will also be explored, and this information will also be dispensed. Mr. Vasilas discussed his understanding o f the funding of the Littleton program - a sales tax is collected to fund their improvement program. Mr. Simpson stated that staff will investigate the funding of the Littleton program and report back to ACE. Chair McDermott thanked staff for their report, and noted that ACE members do have a respon- sibility to work for the betterment of the business community. V. ACE "SUNSET" PROVISION Mr. Hollingsworth noted that when ACE legislation was enacted in 2001 , there was a 5-year "sunset" provision included in the ordinance. Mr. Hollingsworth suggested that ACE needs to make a recommendation to City Council that ACE be authorized or "renewed" for another period of time. Mr. Simpson noted that when ACE was created, the clarity of purpose was not firmly established. ACE has proven to be a valuable liaison with the business community, and channels of communication between the City and the business community have been opened that were previously lacking. Mayor Wolosyn suggested that rather than request a "renewal" of ACE , to simply recommend that the "sunset" provision be "retired" -that way ACE will not have to be renewed every five years or so, but can function as an on-going Commission. Lonborg moved: Vasilas seconded: The ACE membership recommends to City Council that the "sunset provi- sion" contained in Or dinance #5, Series of 2001, Section 2, be retired . AYES: NAYS: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Guinther, Lonborg, Schalk, Vasilas, McDermott None None Panetta The motion carried. Mr. Hollingsworth stated that ACE members will be notified when the recommendation is on the City Council agenda. VI. MEMBERSHIP Chair McDermott noted a copy of a memo to Mayor Wolosyn from Vice Chair Vasilas regarding the resignation of Hal Cook from ACE. Mr. Vasilas's memo also requests the appointment of Alternate Member Verbeck to full voting membership. Mr. Hollingsworth stated that the appointment of Mr. Verbeck to full-voting status will be on the December 19th agenda of City Council. The City Council will interview applicants for board and commission appointments in January, 2006, and a new alternate member will be appointed at H:\Group\BOARDS\ACE\M inutes\2005\ACE 12-8-05.doc 4 that time. Ms. Lonborg asked if ACE should suggest names of individuals to serve on the Com- mission. It was noted that applications for Board and Commission service is available on-line, or may be obtained from the City Manager's Office. VII. COMMENTS AND EVENTS Mr. Vasilas noted that "Playnix", a long-time business on South Logan Street, will be going out of business. The volume of business has decreased substantially, and the business is no longer viable. Ms. Mendel reminded members of the Chamber of Commerce Holiday party this evening, De- cember gth. She also commented on the "Gala" coming up in January, 2006 . Mr. Vasilas congratulated Mayor W olosyn on her election by Council members to serve as Mayor. He noted that Ms. W olosyn is a "business person" and that it is nice to have her input and service on ACE. Members of ACE presented Recording Secretary Welty with a card and remembrance for her retirement from the City of Englewood. Secretary Welty thanked members of ACE for their thoughtfulness and good wishes. Mayor Wolosyn noted that some business property owners have recently appeared before City Council expressing concerns regarding policies and procedures pertaining to redevelopment of land that they feel are excessively restrictive. Mayor Wolosyn advised that she has suggested to these business property owners that they should bring their concerns to the ACE membership - attend the ACE meetings and discuss their concerns to see if ACE and the City together can ad - dress the concerns and problems for the business community. Mayor Wolosyn stated that some of the issues cited include parking restrictions/requirements , construction constraints , etc. Mr. Simpson stated that he anticipated the January 12, 2006 ACE meeting will be a "roll-up- your-sleeves-be-prepared-to -work" session. He stated that he wants ACE to review the Eco- nomic Development Strategies that have been adopted at the January meeting. What are the pri- orities that the ACE needs to focus on. City Council does have an economic development focus and improvement of the potential for businesses is important. Mr. Simpson stated that the City has received input that the City isn 't "business -friendly" and this needs to be corrected. Reform s are needed, and staff is aware of this ; howev er , the reforms cannot be made overnight. We need to study issues such as parking requirements , the sign code restrictions , landscaping requirements -issues that do impact whether or not a property can develop/redevelop and bring in a viable business. The building codes also need to be considered and possibly revised to allow a degree of flexibility. Mr. Schalk stated that he has worked on redevelopment of old theater properties in Englewood and Denver, and contrasted his experience in working with both entities. He is now involved in improvement of the Ogden Theater in Denv er, and is working with the Denver Planning De- partment. Denver uses the Unified Building Code as a "reference" and not as a "guideline". Mr. Schalk stated that he "would never do another project in Englewood-Englewood doesn't work" H:\Gro up\B OARDS\AC E\M inutes\2 005\ACE 12-8 -0 5 .doc 5 . ' ' .. Mr. Verbeck suggested that the City should provide information to property owners/developers wanting to do something with property-provide a check list of what is expected, what is al- lowed, what is not allowed-education of the property owner/developer is a big factor that needs to be considered. Brief discussion ensued. Mr. Schalk stated that "Englewood employees have the wrong atti- tude". No further business was brought forth for consideration . The meeting was adjourned at 1 p.m. /s/ Gertrude G. Welty Recording Secretary Action Items: Assist Chamber with data base for Gala mailing. Obtain Fire Department data base for BID mailing. Investigate funding of Littleton improvement program. Prepare Council Communication on retirement of ACE "Sunset provision" Agenda Items: Littleton improvement program funding -report E . D . Strategy discussion H :\Group\BOARDS \AC E\Minutes\2 00 5\AC E 12 -8-0 5 .doc 6