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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-04-11 ACE MINUTES'· • • • ALLIANCE FOR COMMERCE IN ENGLEWOOD COMMITTEE April 11, 2013 Minutes and audio are available at: http://www.englewoodgov.org /index.aspx?page= 1103 I. CALL TO ORDER ~ The regular meeting of the Alliance for Commerce in Englewood Committee (ACE) was called to order at 11 :36 a.m. in the City Council Conference Room of the Englewood Civic Center, Chair Knoth presiding. Present: Vasilas, Schalk, Sarconi, Calonder, Knoth, Miller Whyte (alternate) (entered 11:39) Absent: Champion, Weinberger Also present: Joe Jefferson, City Council Liaison Colleen Mello, Englewood Chamber of Commerce Staff present: Alan White, Community Development Director Darren Hollingsworth, Economic Development Coordinator APPROVAL OF MINUTES December 13, 2012 Chair Knoth stated that the Minutes of December 13 , 2012 were to be considered for approval. It was determined there was a quorum . Chair Knoth asked if there were any changes or adjustments to the Minutes. There were none. Mr. Vasilas moved : Mr. Calonder seconded: The motion carried. II. ACE BUSINESS ~ THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 13, 2012 BE APPROVED AS WRITTEN ELECTION OF OFFICERS Mr. Vasilas moved: Mr. Schalk seconded: TO TABLE ELECTION OF OFFICERS UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING The motion carried . • SOUTH BROADWAY PLAN IMPROVEMENTS SOUTH OF U.S. 285 • • Mr. Jefferson stated City Council has tasked ACE to develop a plan for improvements to South Broadway south of US 285. The three parts of the task will be: 1. Does ACE want to work on the project? 2. What will be the process? 3. Budget Mr. Jefferson stated this project will probably encompass more than one year to complete. Ms. Mello said as a citizen she believes the City should spend what money there is to clean up and beautify the medians down Broadway both north and south first. The majority of the members stated they would be in favor of working on the project. Capital improvements in the City are going to help the businesses. The project will benefit the community. Chair Knoth asked what the members want to work on . Mr. Calonder stated he is in favor of a bigger picture. Chair Knoth asked if ACE wanted to follow the process in the South Broadway Plan included in today 's meeting packet. Mr. Jefferson noted the City did a retail study about 18 months ago that might be used as a launching point. Mr. Knoth pointed out this project is not a one meeting job and we 're done. Mr. Miller said he felt all members were in agreement that Broadway south of Hwy. 285 is aesthetically not ideal and there is a lot of vacant and /or underdeveloped land. What are the capital improvements that need to be made from a City perspective and how can ACE , as business leaders, try to encourage growth and business development along that corridor? That's what ACE can work on. Chair Knoth agreed, let's start with the issues and plan how to deal with them . Mr. Vasilas asked if ACE works on this is City Council willing to hire professionals and provide a budget to accomplish the work. Mr. Jefferson said there seemed to be a majority of City Council that supported it, but will probably not be budgeted until 2014. Chair Knoth asked the members is they want to come up with a plan on how to tackle this issue. It was suggested the group focus on a specific area of the corridor, such as Broadway and Belleview, rather than the whole thing. Mr. Jefferson said he would encourage ACE to expand the scope of that. He noted the City now has an incentive policy that some may be able to take advantage of. It was suggested ACE work on capital improvements, the NWC of Broadway and Belleview and incentives. Chair Knoth said if that is what we are going to work on this we still need a plan . 2 ' , ~ • • • Mr. Miller said a plan would be ACE looking at the whole corridor and prioritizing, in our opinion, where areas of focus should be for an aesthetic improvement and then make a recommendation to the professionals who can put the plan into action. It was suggested the members drive the corridor to see what is there . Ms. Sarconi offered to meet with the businesses to see what they would like to see happen and report back at the May meeting. Several thought that was an awesome idea. ACE requested a copy of the Retail Study, examples of past incentives that have been offered, the Incentive Policy, a zoning map, aerial of the area, and the finance report for that district to be included in the next meeting packet. Chair Knoth asked the members to drive North Broadway (close to downtown) and the Colfax corridor where things have changed; you may get some ideas. An elevation of how the Flood Middle School redevelopment is going to look will also be provided to the members at the next meeting. It was determined identification of issues will be the topic for the May meeting. 111. PUBLIC COMMENT ~ There was no public present. IV. COMMENTS ~ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Ms. Mello stated KOSI radio station contacted the Chamber regarding holding the World's Largest Garage Sale on June 22 nd on the north RTD parking lot. The Chamber is awaiting RTD approval of use of the lot. The annual golf tournament is on June 7th . The next Business after Hours is next week at Active Rx . A car show is being planned for August 1 o th from 8 to 3 on Windermere St. BID COMMENTS Mr. Vasilas stated there is a petition out to abolish the BID. There is a meeting on May 15 th at CityCenter to discuss. The BID needs everyone's support. The BID talked to City Council about providing matching funds to install solar light bulbs from Floyd Avenue to Yale Avenue . If the BID continues, City Council has agreed to provide the funds for the capital improvements. STAFF COMMENTS Mr. Hollingsworth stated Staff has encountered problems with knowing whether or not there will be a quorum for the meeting. He asked for suggestions as to how better to do that in the future and what to do if we do not have a quorum a few hours before the meeting; cancel the meeting or hope enough members show up to have a quorum . 3 .. ~ • • • CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS Mr. Jefferson asked if the people who have been meeting on the side want to be officially a sub-committee; he felt it was important to get ACE informed of what has been happening. Chair Knoth stated he would update the members under ACE Comments. ACE COMMENTS Mr. Vasilas noted he will be out of town for the May 9 th meeting. Mr. Knoth stated several ACE members have been meeting on the side to discuss ideas to bring forth to City Council. He asked if the members had any opposition to this . They did not. When ready they will bring the results forward to ACE. V. UPCOMING ACE BUSINESS a. The next meeting is scheduled for May 9, 2013. No further business was brought forth for consideration. The meeting was adjourned at 12 :50 p.m . Barbara Krecklow, Recording Secretary 4