09/11/2018 MinuresPresent:
Glee Emmite, Chair
Shelley McDowell
Laurie Redus
Carolyn Patterson
John Brazile
Jane Helberg
City Staff
Cheri Bedford, Main Street Manager
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MAIN STREET ADVISORY BOARD
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
4:30 PM
Absent:
Kevin Ashmore
Becky Semple
Clayton Pilgrim — Council Liaison
1. Glee Emmite called the meeting to order at 4:31 PM.
2. Citizens Forum — No one present for the forum
3. August minutes — Minutes had been emailed earlier to all board members and were available on the monitors for
viewing. The secretary was asked to include a signature line at the end of the minutes for the Board Chair to sign
and date. A motion to approve the August 14, 2018 meeting minutes was made by John Brazile, second by Jane
Helberg, motion carried.
4. Discussion on Work Plan — Glee Emmite reported that Cheri Bedford was required to turn in the Work Plan for
October 1, 2017 — September 30, 2018 by the end of November. For new board members, the Chair read the vision
and mission statements of Main Street and explained the layout of the Work Plan. Comments on various sections of
the Work Plan follow:
A. Downtown image is appealing
• Laurie Redus reported that the Organization Committee decided to delay action on this goal until after the
downtown utility construction is completed. Spring 2019 will be an excellent time to focus on things such as plants
to enhance the appeal of downtown.
• Market Square is successful this season, and the mural has been restored. The Toole Design Firm included
some major renovations to Market Square which fits with this goal. Activities are planned at Market Square to bring
attention to the space. John Brazile reported that the Pumpkin Patch will be relocated to Market Square this fall.
The board discussed the effectiveness of coupons given out at Market Square from the Paris Downtown Association
with ideas suggested for next year to track the effectiveness of the coupons for downtown merchants.
B. Improve the business environment
• Laurie Redus has researched American Independent Business Alliance (amiba.net), a nonprofit resource which
has a focus on "Shop Local" with posters, strategies etc. This would be a good match for Kevin Ashmore and his
committee. It is broader than PDA but does include downtown merchants. Materials are available for starting an
Independent Business Alliance (IBA). Only three cities in Texas have an IBA.
• John Brazile suggested an incentive to encourage building owners and perspective business partners to work
together. Cheri Bedford shared that Red Wing, MN created a successful incentive retail package to attract new
businesses for downtown. Cheri has shared this info with Kevin Ashmore because there is a huge interest in
downtown after the Toole Design Firm report.
• All awards for local businesses have been submitted. Finalists for the Texas Downtown Association President's
Award should be announced very soon.
• All awards for local businesses have been submitted. Finalists for the Texas Downtown Association President's
Award should be announced very soon.
• John Brazile suggested partnering with PDA to create additional activities to bring more people downtown so
they realize what downtown has to offer. In addition to Main Street and PDA events, Cheri Bedford suggested that
we encourage businesses to create and fund their own events to entice people to come into their stores such as Texas
Furniture has done with music inside the store.
• Laurie Redus has created a data base of volunteers in Sign Up Genius that could be used by the committees for
events.
• Laurie Redus suggested that the Main Street website should be revamped. The Chair Glee Emmite stated that
the Main Street website could be on the agenda for October.
5. Committee discussions
• Design - Glee Emmite is the liaison to HPC. Janet Green brought her plans to the last HPC meeting to share.
She has already received the monetary award for the building renovation.
• Promotions — Chair John Brazile reported on a productive meeting in August. Market Square Affair event was
finalized. Chad Lindsey reported on the possibility of a music festival downtown during the summer. More
information will be presented as it becomes available.
• Economic Vitality — Chair Kevin Ashmore was not present.
• Organization — Chair Laurie Redus reported that all committee topics had been discussed earlier in the meeting.
• Chamber & VCC — Becky Semple was not present.
• PDA — Glee Emmite reported that the PDA meets Wednesday morning, August 12''. Plans for Mannequin
Night will be finalized. This year, prizes will be given to Best Mannequin and Best Store Decorations.
6. Main Street Manager's Report — Cheri Bedford
• Speed boats for the races on September 15-16d' at Lake Crook will be downtown Friday night, September 14`h
for Show & Shine.
• Cheri Bedford has been asked to speak to a group of teachers at Aikin Elementary School in November. Since
the request is the same time as the Main Street Meeting, Cheri Bedford proposed that we use the November Main
Street regular meeting time to host a downtown tour for these teachers. The Main Street board members all agreed
that this was an excellent opportunity to share with the community everything that downtown has to offer. Cheri
Bedford will arrange the specific details.
7. Laurie Redus made a motion to adjourn, second by Jane Helberg, motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at
5:14 PM.
Approved this day of _ C.�� 2018.
Glee Emmite, Board Chair