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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-10-12 ACE MINUTES• • • I . ALLIANCE FOR COMMERCE IN ENGLEWOOD October 12, 2006 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Alliance for Commerce in Englewood {ACE) was ca ll ed to order at 11 :45 a.m . in the City Council Conference Room of the Englewood Civic Center, Chair McDermott presiding. Present: McDermott, Lonborg Absent: Sch alk, V as ilas , Pane tta, Verbeck, Guinther Also present: Katie Mendel, Chamber Representative Olga Wolosyn, City Counc il Liaison Jim Woodward, Councilman Staff present: Darren Hollingsworth, Economic Development Coordinator John Voboril, Planner Mark Graham, Senior Planner It was noted at the time the meeting convened {11 :45 a.m.), that a voting quorum was not present; therefore, official action could not be taken . APPROVAL OF MINUTES September 28, 2006 Chair McDermott noted that the Minutes of September 28, 2006 could not be formally approved because of lack of quorum. 11. ACE BUSINESS SMALL AREA PLAN UPDATE Mr. Voboril gave an update on the Small Area Plan meetings that were he ld the first two weeks in October. Approximately 170 people attended. He distributed a map of the Downtown and Medical District boundaries. Downtown District Comments: • Needs an anchor (i.e., movie theatre, book store, etc) • Higher quality retail needed • New restaurants needed • Area between Floyd and Eastman bette r su ited for new businesses • Strip suburban centers are areas for c hange • • • Medical District Comments: • Sub area 1 -Hospital expansion upward o.k. • Sub area 2 -Do not want radical change in this area • Sub area 3 -Citizens fairly happy with the way things are now • Sub area 4 -Needs change, particularly along Old Hampden • Sub areas 5 and 6 -Would like to see pedestrian oriented retail. No big box or chains. In terms of housing, the citizens do not want to see more rentals. They did acknowledge the area is lacking in condos, preferably they should be closer to the commercial areas. There is also a lack of move-up housing in the City. Deteriorating housing could be torn down. There have been some pop-tops in Sub area 2 and the neighbors were pleased with the outcome. Chair McDermott asked if there were any further comments or questions. Mayor Wolosyn stated she attended one of the meetings and John did a very good job. The meeting was well attended and the people were engaged. Ms. Lonborg asked if there were any helicopter complaints. Mr. Voboril said there was some discussion regarding the flight paths. They felt the helicopters were not always adhering to them. It was also brought up that sometimes the ambulances cut through the neighborhoods to get to the emergency room. Parking, especially north of the hospital, is an issue with the residents. The residents feel the parking garages are not fully utilized. Ms. Lonborg agreed. Mr. Woodward wondered if people were not utilizing the garages because of security issues. Mr. Voboril stated security issues had been mentioned at the meetings. Ms. Lonborg stated there was an incident within the last six months where a patient that was not mentally balanced escaped from the emergency room and encountered some employees in the parking garage. The employees were in no danger, but were scared. Ms. Lonborg stated the hospital has people patrolling the grounds on foot and on bikes. Also, Englewood police are in the emergency room. Ms. Lonborg stated she will discuss parking with the hospital employees. She said security is always available and waiting if patients, employees or visitors need an escort to their car. Mr. Woodward stated he lives by the high school and one of the reasons he has heard as to why the students do not park in the school lot is the security of the vehicles. The citizens feel the Art Shuttle is one of the best things to happen to Englewood in the past twenty years and would be very upset to see it go away. Mayor Wolosyn asked the Commissioners to write the Englewood RTD Directors stating the $1.50 fee will not work . 2 • • • ACTIVITY REPORT -ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY UPDATE Mr. Hollingsworth gave an update on: • Art Shuttle Bus Award and the Commercial Catalyst Program Award • Centennial Park expansion made international news • City Center continues to gain interest. There have been many site tours. • Primary Employment Study • Business Education Work Series in conjunction with the Chamber • Excellence in Retail Workshop Series. Mr. Vasilas and Ms. Guinther were instrumental in getting these workshops set up. • BID • Hotel Study • Business retention and attraction • Mason's Square redevelopment Mr. Graham discussed: • The old Baily's building • The old Jim Paris Tire building • Englewood Marketplace • William's Jewelers • COOT surplus property along 285 north of Hampden • Flood Middle School • Proposed Brew Pub along Broadway north of 285 • Chili's is looking for two Englewood locations • Panera Bread is looking for a location along Broadway • Wahoo Fish Tacos at Broadway and Old Hampden • Funtastic Fun contract fell through • 14-story Crown Jewel Hotel proposal • Primary Employer Study Update • Retail Market Analysis Update • Acoma Project Update • Bates Station Update Chair McDermott said there is a lot going on and it's very exciting. Ill. COMMENTS & EVENTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Ms. Mendel stated the mailing campaign to businesses should be completed by year end. The Women in Business program is being rejuvenated. Ms. Lonborg stated she thought the web site seminar might be something the physicians would be interested in. She asked that information be sent to her. Ms. Mendel said the seminar will be held on November 16 and 17. Mr. Hollingsworth said attendance is limited to 40 people for each seminar. 3 • • • ACE MEMBERS Ms. Lonborg said Swedish Hospital's founder's great grand niece and husband came to visit from Sweden. They were amazed to see what he had started and what it had grown into. She stated Swedish's CEO was interviewed by the new Denver Women magazine_and she talked at length in the article about how much she appreciated having the chance to participate in the Focus Groups and how important the City of Englewood is to the hospital. STAFF CO MMENTS Mr. Hollingsworth distributed several articles regarding the upcoming election and an article titled the Citizen's Poll on Economic Development. The articles will be sent to all ACE members not in attendance today. Also, staff has ordered An Elected Official's Guide on Economic Development for all ACE and City Council members. No further business was brought forth for consideration. The meeting was adjourned at 1 :00 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for November 9, 2006 . 4 • UPCOM ING ITEMS • Small Area Plan Update • Cluster Analysis/Employer Study Update • Retail Workshops Update • Retail Web Training Update • -No liEMtlflt -OECS~t. • 5