04-F Main St Adv Min 02-22-05
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
MAIN STREET ADVISORY BOARD
AIKIN BUILDING
23 EAST PLAZA
PARIS, TEXAS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2005
3:00 0'CLOCK P.M.
1.The Main Street Advisory Board Meeting was called to order by Chairman
Zach Saffle at 3:00 P.M.
A.The following members were present:
Suzy Harper
David House
Bill Kirby
Barbara Wilson
Jennifer Long
Alternate:Pike Burkhart
B.The following members were absent:
Linda Su Suarez
Alternates:Renee Harvey
Bailey Gant
Dienna Roberts
C.Also present were Lisa Wright, Director of Community Development;
Bethany Golden, Main Street Manager; and Tony Williams, City Manager
2. Lisa Wright introduced Bethany
Introduction of new Main Street Manager.
Golden to the Board members.
3. Motion to approve the minutes
Approval of minutes from previous meetings.
from the October 21, 2004, and November 18, 2004, meetings was made by
Barbara Wilson, seconded by Bill Kirby. Motion carried 6-0.
4.
Review goals and objectives for 2004-2005 and provide direction to the new
Chairman Saffle went through the list
Main Street Manager regarding same.
of items:
“Organization
?
-Code Enforcement - develop subcommittee
•Define pro-active approach/clear direction
•Research possible grants for additional code enforcement
February 22, 2005
Page 2
officers”
Barbara Wilson told the Board that a great deal has changed since this list
was first put together, and Pike Burkhart stated that there has been a
tremendous effort to divert code enforcement resources to where they are
most needed. Lisa Wright reported to the Board that Community
Development has been working on a volunteer initiative called Paris Area
Code Enforcers (PACE) that enlists neighborhood volunteers to help locate
code violations throughout the city. She stated this initiative should begin
taking steps forward within a month.
“-Sign Ordinance
•Review for possible updating”
Lisa Wright reported to the Board that she has been looking into ordinances
from other cities to assist with revisions to the current ordinance. She stated
she was hoping to have something to the Council in enough time to affect
sign replacement along Lamar Avenue.
“-Way-finding Signs
•Establish subcommittee to research costs and educate
local entities for buy-in
•Keep Paris Beautiful, Visionaries in Preservation, etc.
•Gateways
•Historic Downtown Area signs at loop entries
•Downtown/ Directional signs for parking areas
•No thru traffic signs”
The Commission stated that there was a problem with large trucks driving
through the downtown area. They felt the “No Thru Trucks” signs were
located too close to downtown, leaving trucks without the ability to turn
around once the signs are seen. They asked that the City write a courtesy
letter to trucking companies asking that they not use the downtown unless it’s
their destination. Pike Burkhart and Zach Saffle volunteered to get with
Bethany Golden to look at sign placement. Lisa Wright reported to the Board
that the City had submitted a Heritage Tourism grant specifically to place way-
finding signs into the downtown and historic areas.
“-Market Square
•Review ordinance for rules and restrictions of specific
goods sold
•New signage
February 22, 2005
Page 3
•Host events in conjunction with various local
organizations to promote awareness and growth of
facility”
The Board asked that they be sent copies of the ordinance related to the
market square for review and asked that a brainstorming session to come up
with more events to be held at the market square be placed on the next
agenda.
David House arrived.
“-Zoning
•Identify board member to develop rapport with Planning &
Zoning to initiate requests”
Lisa Wright advised the Board that the Planning and Zoning Commission was
currently in the process of revising the comprehensive plan for future land
use. She stated that she had already advised P&Z that the Historic
Preservation Commission and the Main Street Advisory Board would be
interested in be involved, specifically when working on the downtown area.
She asked if anyone would like to receive information to attend the meetings,
and Barbara Wilson volunteered.
“Promotion
?
-Marketing/Informational Pieces
•Monthly Newsletter/ E-mail
•Monthly column in Paris News
•Develop Main Street Website”
Lisa Wright reported to the Board that the City had purchased a new website
program and would be converting to a different format. She stated she is
working with the software vendor to get the administrative page set up so that
conversion could begin as soon as possible.
“-Host Seasonal Events
•Historic Churches Christmas Tour, etc.”
The Commission agreed that Main Street should focus primarily on the
Festival of Pumpkins if it wanted to continue this event.
“Design
?
February 22, 2005
Page 4
-Photo Renderings
•Obtain rendering assistance from THC for multiple city
buildings and property owners interested in restoring
facades”
Barbara Wilson stated the Board should pick out four or so buildings at a time
and focus on them. Suzy Harper recommended that the City chronicle the
progress on the old McKay’s Music building.
“-Decorations
•Order Christmas stock banners and additional plaza
decorations”
Pike Burkhart recommended that the City look into a permanent lighting
situation for the downtown, such as upward facing spotlights by trees. The
Commission also agreed that there should be banners for all seasons.
Barbara Wilson recommended a subcommittee, and Suzy Harper and Jennifer
Long volunteered. Tony Williams told the Board the City would work with
them on this issue.
“Economic Restructuring
?
-Low interest loans
•Re-negotiate loan rate to assist potential property owners”
David House stated that there was a program in place several years ago where
several banks agreed to assist with low finance loans, but no one took
advantage of it. He stated that Ronnie Abbott and Dick Amis would probably
have something on file. Barbara Wilson recommended reapproaching the
banks.
“-Privately owned buildings
•Board to target one or two per year with assistance”
The Commission asked that this item be placed on a future agenda.
5.
Discussion of need for certain public amenities on the Plaza and determining
Suzy Harper advised the Board that she had asked
methods to provide same.
for this item to be placed on the agenda after meeting with “the hotdog man.”
She stated that an out-of-towner told him he had gotten turned away from
business when asking to use their restroom. Tony Williams told the Board he
would do some homework on the options available and get back with them.
February 22, 2005
Page 5
Barbara Wilson asked the Main Street Manager to look into when the benches
and trash cans would be put in.
6.
Discussion and possible action on request by downtown merchants for
Zach Saffle told the Board that, at the
assistance with sale at Farmers Market.
time he requested this item be placed on the agenda, he didn’t realize there
was going to be a city-wide sale sponsored by the Chamber. Suzy Harper
recommended that the merchants coordinate with the Chamber on future
events. Zach Saffle asked about the possibility of putting banner signs at the
entryways advertising the sale and volunteered to get pricing.
7. Other than the items
Request items from Board for future agendas.
mentioned during the meeting, there were none.
8.The meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m.
APPROVED THIS 16TH DAY OF MARCH, 2005.
________________________________
Zach Saffle, Chairman