2018-10-22 Edmonds Downtown Alliance (BID) MinutesEd! Alliance Meeting 10.22.15
Called to order 8:03
In attendance: Clayton Moss, Kim Wahl, Pam Stuller, Patrick Doherty, Robert Boehlke, Juliana
VanBuskirk, Cadence Clyborne, Kimberly Koenig, Cindi Cruz- City of Edmonds and Sally Merck — Merck
Consulting.
Jordana Turner, Jacob Comstock, John Rankin unable to attend.
Kimberly moved to approve minutes as amended. Pam seconds. All approved.
President's Report - Have not moved forward on Ted X talks for November Friday 11/6. 9-5:30. 45
minute breaks and 1.5 for lunch. Check In, Breaks, Lunch, End. Juliana, Kimberly, Cadence to staff. Pam
to provide Cadence with small foam core ads. Pam to reach out to Writers on the Sound to ask about
using their map. Cadence to see if Branding Iron can put something together.
Comments from Pam — thanks for the City Council presentation.
Work Plan Update — Feel like it was a successful presentation to council. Did get questions, but all were
respectful. Cadence and Pam met with Joan Bloom prior to address some of her concerns/questions.
Concerns re: by appointment businesses that do not have physical customers. How do these businesses
benefit from Ed!? Committee has researched providing workshops, although it did not rank highly on
the survey results from members. Patrick points out that indirect benefits to these companies are
difficult to quantify: employees enjoying an amenity rich environment, attracting and retaining
employees and clients, research shows service businesses locate in places like Edmonds because of
these factors. Some business members do not agree that there is a benefit, and think the categories
appear to exclude businesses that don't have "appointments". The ordinance does stipulate all
businesses within the boundaries will be assessed within one of two classifications. Only exclusions are
government entities and nonprofit. The cost per year is negligible. It is important that Ed! continues to
seek member input and communicate how workplan impacts the direct AND indirect benefits to
living/having business here. Similar to being taxed for local schools — it isn't necessarily a tangible result
but influences the environment. Open to hearing ideas and suggestions on how to benefit all members.
What is a reasonable time frame before revisiting the assessment criteria? Feel track record is building
and can have an educated dialogue late spring/summer? Suggestions include breaking down the square
footage into smaller ranges, considering a third assessment category.
When to do the 2015 member survey? Prior to annual meeting or after? End of April for slated for
annual meeting. Annual member meeting date set for April 271", Wednesday, confirming availability.
The ordinance language needs to be cleaned up, looking to amend the ordinance next year regardless of
whether or not assessment criteria changes.
Parking was another concern voiced at council meeting. Ed! to continue to include that in our work plan
and work towards parking solutions. Concern by many business owners on how parking affects business.
Patrick to bring up to the city again as well. How can Ed! help facilitate a parking revision/update. Look
into parking signage used in other communities. Put a reference to all public parking options on the Ed!
page. Weather impacts the decision to be open to walking versus inclement weather days. Jordana,
Robert to reform the parking committee. Included on the agenda for next meeting. Parking can tie in to
a master plan for street -right-of-way and wayfinding signs. Ed! to help design, discuss and guide an RFP
process.
Set a board meeting specifically to address street scape and design discussion. Invite Shane Hope,
Bertrand Haus, Frances Chapin, Carrie Hite and Rich Lindsay any other interested parties to November
meeting.
24x20 bathroom plan, 3 spaces + to be taken for the project. Task force will be put together. Clayton
expressed interest in being included in this committee.
Mural on the Sound Styles business is to be updated. Pam to reach out to property manager to discuss
their plan and how Ed! can be involved.
Committee Updates:
Holiday planning — moving along. First round of design next week with final design by first of November.
Patrick City Holiday update — City has a Top 5 favorites list. Food writer Nancy Leson will be the
personality. Working to have high school jazz band on site during first holiday market.
Grant —Awarded to the museum and payment information has been submitted. Will have opportunity
to see the design soon. Recommendations for ideas for the map. Include walking time or distance for
the highlighted area, plaque at the destinations. Cindi to forward existing maps to Clayton for reference
when creating the map. Pam offed to help gather information as well.
Holiday Ed! Says will include the new creative. Need help with ideas for our website, can highlight all of
the holiday content. Call to businesses to include Scarecrow photos. Art walk, Holiday market, tree
lighting, small biz Sat, trolley, Santa sightings, downtown Halloween party
City Updates — Patrick Spoke with Theresa from Seattle BIA. They are potentially doing a legislative
agenda and are seeking changes to the state law. None of the issues seem to directly affect us, but once
its put together will provide it to us and ask if we will support it. One issue that came up was the city
financial set up and how vendors are paid. City of Seattle is similar, they do a monthly invoice from the
BIA. City always pays after the fact. As an example, one city had to get line of credit and pay. None of
them get payment upfront. Concerns over how 501C3 interacts with the BIA. `Gang' invoice with all
items on it. Look to Yakima, Poulsbo etc. for examples of how it financials are handled.
Holiday market poster - please put one up.
Collections to be sent. 22 businesses on the list. Delinquent in assessment — pulled from the website. Is
it being enforced? On the agenda for next time.
No public comments.
Meeting Adjourned — 9:39