04-C Main St. Adv Bd Min 02-01-06
MINUTES OF THE BOARD RETREAT
MEETING OF THE
MAIN STREET ADVISORY BOARD
February 1, 2006
Aikin Building
23 East Plaza
3:00 p.m.
A meeting of the members of the Paris Main Street Advisory Board was held Wed. February I, 2006 at
3:00 p.m., at the Aikin Building. Zach Saffle, Main Street Chairman, presided.
PRESENT: Barbara Wilson ABSENT:
Pike Burkhart (Alt.)
Zach Saffle (Chairman)
Jennifer Long (Vice Chairman)
Bailey Cant (Alt.)
Renee Harvey (Alt.)
Suzy Harper
Walt Brown
Drew Crawford (Alt.)
Linda Knox
Zach Saffle called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
January 18, 2006 minutes were reviewed by advisory board members and a motion was made by Pike
Burkhart to approve the minutes as prepared. Jennifer Long seconded and minutes were
unanimously approved.
Committee Reports
) Organization Committee - A meeting was not held therefore a report as not provided.
) Promotions Committee - A meeting was not held therefore a report was not provided.
) Design Committee - A meeting was not held therefore a report was not provided.
>> Economic Restructuring Committee - A meeting was not held therefore a
report was not provided.
Goal Setting Exercise
Each board member was given note cards and asked to write down goals they wished to see Main
Street accomplish in 2006. Beth Golden, Main Street Coordinator collected the cards and posted them
for all board members to view. Board members then prioritized their goals and classified each in the
appropriate committee. The outcomes are summarized below.
Organization Committee
Chairman: Zach Saffle
1/ Goals: To develop a plan of action for actively seeking and writing grants.
First, the organization committee chair needs to find at least 3 other volunteers to work on this
project. Second, the committee needs to narrow down the kinds of projects they wish to seek funding
for this year. The main street advisory board has expressed interest in obtaining funds for Market
Square renovations, sidewalk enhancements, landscaping & marketing to name a few. This group
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will need to work closely with the Main Street Coordinator and the Director of Community
Development to establish funds availability to match these grants. Currently, the Main Street
Coordinator and a few other board members receive regular grant opportunities updates through the
Texas Historical Commission; Barbara Wilson, Suzy Harper and Linda Knox primarily. Main Street
Coordinator can forward any of these resources to the chairman of this committee.
Design Committee
Co Chairmen: Barbara Wilson & Suzy Harper
1/ Goals: To re-evaluate & address the current design of Market Square - signage, publicity,
landscape & visibility are of primary concern.
The group will be charged with designing on site additional signage such as flags or banners as well
as directional signage leading to the market. Developing a publicity plan to attract farmers and
shoppers to the market. A new landscaping plan for the market should be researched. A plan for
painting the exterior should also be considered. The chairman of the design committee should be
coordinating with the organization committee to obtain any available grant funding.
2/ Goals: Obtain new Christmas Decorations
The design committee will assess our current decorations for the plaza and develop a plan for future
decorating. The main street coordinator has some research on lighting the buildings as well as the
trees established and will provide that information to the committee chairs. The downtown
merchants specifically - Center Stage Antiques & Side Street Antiques representatives requested to
serve on this particular committee project. They expressed they wanted to have some input in the
matter.
3/ Goals: To establish way-finding signs for downtown.
This project is already underway with the co-chairs of this committee already in progress with
TXDOT and the City of Paris on seeing this project through. Continued support and design ideas are
needs.
Promotion Committee
Chairman: Beth Golden
V Goals: Website.
As part of the website we will be able to produce an electronic newsletter, re-vamp our logo, market
downtown properties, recognize our many successes and provide maps and informational material
for tourists. As stated at our last meeting - this is of utmost importance and therefore is the soul goal
of this group.
Economic Restructuring Committee
1/ Goals: Survey the district and implement low interest loan pool.
I have access to maps and existing survey information in my office this group can use to get started
on this project. I can provide some assistance on the best way to accomplish this task through
resource materials provided by the Texas Main Street office. Once the survey is complete - the
economic restructuring committee can begin to contact property owners about listing their properties
on the new website, address parking issues, etc. The survey needs to happen so that we can assess
our current situation and develop our needs.
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Some other suggestions presented by the group during discussion but not actually set as goals are as
follows.
Hosting workshops for downtown merchants, such as fire code information and parking solutions for
owners of residential and commercial property downtown. (Organization)
Request for items for next month's agenda:
Discussion of profits made from the 2005 Festival of Pumpkins.
Future changes to the structure of the advisory board.
A motion was made by Jennifer Long to adjourn and seconded by Pike Burkhart. The meeting was
adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
Approved this 15th day of March 2006.
Zach Saffle, Chairman Signature
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