06-11-09 Main Street Advisory Board Meeting

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Member Debra Gallington moved to approve the history portion with amendments, and Mr. Larson seconded. The fmal discussion was about the map that was to accompany the survey. Ms. Anderson moved to approve the map with amendments, and Board Member Mark Follis seconded the motion. A. DETERMINE A DATE TO MAIL DESIGN SURVEY PACKETS - a date was not determined for fmal distribution of the survey, although several Board members expressed a desire to distribute it as soon as possible. B. DISCUSSION OF TOWN HALL MEETING - The Board discussed the need for a town hall meeting to discuss the results of the survey once they had been submitted, although no date or time were determined. 6. STAFF REPORTS AND UPDATES A. ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS WHOSE TERMS ARE ENDING IN AUGUST - Main Street Coordinator Stacey Osborne showed the Board Members the list of Board members and their term limits, pointing out that the terms of three members will expire this August: Mark Follis, Shar Lynch, and Jerry Carpenter. B. ADVERTISING/PR CAMPAIGN - Ms. Osborne told the Board that she is planning an extensive advertising and public relations campaign beginning in July that will include frequent press releases, ads in the Bayshore Sun, and a monthly newsletter to Main Street property owners. C. NEW WEBSITE - Ms. Osborne told the Board that the new website would be launched the following weekend, and she encouraged them to review the site and to pay special attention to the Main Street section. D. UPDATE ON VISITS WITH BUSINESS OWNERS - Ms. Osborne told the Board Members that she had met with 27 business owners and tenants on Main Street and that she intended to continue meeting with them and the owners she had not yet met on a regular basis. She said that she intends to write up a summary report of what she has learned about the business owners' concerns, and she will share that report at the next meeting. E. DETERMINATION OF WHEN TO USE CLUTCH - there was a brief discussion of when to use the Rocket's mascot Clutch, and the Board members agreed that Ms. Osborne can determine a date for the Christmas on Main Street event and reserve Clutch for that date. F. TOWN PLAZA UPDATE - Ms. Osborne told the Board that construction has begun on the Town Plaza, and that the expected completion date will be in December of this year. G. VIDEO PROJECT - Ms. Osborne told the Board about the Tell Us Your Story video project that she is planning. With this project she will solicit stories about the history of La Porte, with an emphasis on Main Street, and document those stories in a video series that she will then broadcast on Y ouTube beginning in October, after a kick-off presentation at the Fall Back Festival. She said that she will solicit stories using advertising and press releases, as well as resources from the La Porte-Bay Area Heritage Society. H. FALL BACK FESTIVAL - Ms. Osborne said that she will be using a festival coordinator once again this year to help plan the Fall Back Festival. When questioned, she said that the festival coordinator costs $8,500, but that the festival coordinator will take care of the festival details, such as lighting, port-a-jons, etc., so that she (Ms. Osborne) and the organizing committee can concentrate on the important details of the festival itself. She said that the festival is tentatively set for October 10, and that there will be a poster art contest for artwork for the Festival poster beginning in July. Several Board members expressed concern that there may be a football game on October 10, and Ms. Osborne said that she will check the calendar to ensure that there is no conflict with the athletic schedule. 7. PUBLIC COMMENTS - no public comments were given 8. BOARD COMMENTS