Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAD-Hoc committee to study closure of downtown f g .. . . . Council/A ency Meeting Held: 6 ; :'� :�n10.:2� Deferred/Continued to:- 'g Approved' ❑ Conditionally Approved 0`Den end • €3 i : , ity er 's ` nat ` Council,Meeting-Date: June 5, 2006 Department umber: .; ED.0&22' CITY-OF HUNTINGTON BEACH REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION SUBMITTED TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SUBMITTED BY: PEN ELOPE:CULBRETH-GRAFT;.DPA, CITY ApMINISTRATOR PREPARED BY: STANLEY SMALEWITZ, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT `SUBJECT: FORM AN AD-HOC COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE CLOSURE'OF ;DOWNTOWN MAIN STREET`TO.VEHICULAR.TRAFFIC Statement'of Issue, Funding Source, Recommended Action,Alternative Action(s),.Analysis,Environmental Status,Attachment(s) Statement of Issue: The formation. of, an ad-hoc committee is necessary to study the issues and stmtegize the next steps to potentially closing downtown Main Street to vehicular, traffic., The,-future developments of Pacific City and The Strand will heavily impact the downtown'foot traffic and revisiting the possibility of a Main Street.Pedestrian Mall is critical for its future'vitality. : , Funding Source: Not Applicable Recommended Action: Motion',.to t -Form an ad-hoc:committee comprised of the City Council Downtown Economic Development Committee. (EDC), key staff.members from required city departments and 'the .Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) Board of Directors to•study and strategize for a potential= Main Street Pedestrian Mall Pilot,Project. . , ,Alternative Actions) 'Oo-.- not "approve' the proposed ad-hoc committee -thereby. terminating- the research necessary to:conduct-the Main Street Pedestrian Mall.Pilot Project. Analysis:. On May 3, 2006 City Council Officials and the;Downtown'BID participated -in ajoint study session at Santa Monica to learn about the'successful closure to vehicular traffic on the Third Street Promenade: At the Downtown EDC meeting on,'May 11, staff ,presented :their analysis on this study session and the next steps that need to be taken to RE EST FOR CITY COUNCIL AC AN, . .MEETING DATE: June 5, 2006 DEPARTMENT IDNUMBER:', ED 06722 . potentially close downtown Main Street to vehicular traffic. On.May�24, 2006ataff received,a I from the Downtown Business _fmprovement District reviewing '-tlie ,'issues to ,be , , addr'essed,in the committee study and work plann-(Attachment A._draft framework (Attachment 2) presents,some'of the ;key issues that need:to be further' researched by various departments. A-proposed ad-hoc committee to study Main Street would be-,comprised of the City Council Downtown EDC,- key city Staff, from required departments, and the - Downtown BID ' Board 'of.- Directors. This project requires the participation of multiple city departments.* to' •,compile and prepare information needed, including but not limited-to: . Research'.various street closure projects"nationwide •`' Parking feasibility and alternatives Street cleaning and maintenance Identify resources and in-kind services •" . Identify potential blocks +. .Required permits Signage and store directory Activities and organized street performers Pukilic°art '.Homeless Investigate the'potential,for a pilot street project • Prepare a budget of costs associated with any possible should.the pilot project be:implemented.. J- The` proposed committe'e will'be comprised of.the e Downtown B[D Board of Directors, staff. - from Economic. Development' Planning,. Public-Works, 'Fire,_ Police, Community Services, , ankd.the City Council Downtown EDC:. Shouid.the City Council approve,the-formation of an ad--hoc committee,,'the City Administrator at her discretion, shall prioritize;this.project and direct required city,departments contribute staffAime to compile and prepare information .`I necessary to study, and strategize a potential pilot project. It is anticipated..that the ad-hoc committee shall meet on a weekly basis :for one to_two hours and report monthly progress to the. Downtown EDC. Environmental Status: Not Applicable Attachment(s): Number-City Clerk's Page . Description 1: Letter from the Downtown Business Improvement District 2` Staff Analysis: Draft Framework for Potential Downtown Main Street ; ,.•, Pedestrian Mall _ M .. . , -2- • 30/2006 5 ATTACHMENT # 1 DOWNTOWN BUSINESS. IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA May 23, 2006 RECEIVED Honorable Mayor, City-Council and Staff MAY L ZiO " Huntington.Beach, CA J CITY,OF HUNTINGTON BEACH RE: "Main Street Proposed Closure and Related Matters ADMINISTRATION OFFICE Dear Mayor, Council Members and Staff: A majority of Main Street merchants are reporting a modest increase in business over the same period of 2005. 2006 has been hampered a bit by inclement weather, but early signs of spring have brought increased traffic to Main Street. If there were one question that remains unanswered in all of the BID area it would ...be: What are the City's goals and objectives in its proposal to close Main Street? It is the general consensus of the Merchants within the BID that they would hope the answer would be (1) Increase the,sales activities within the BID, (2) Provide a cleaner and safer retail, commercial and entertainment environment within the BID area that would lead. to-' increased business activity, and (3) Provide sufficient parking which is visitor friendly,within the BID area to help accomplish items 1 and 2. It-is our desire to work with you to develop and refine those goals and to establish a series of action-oriented plans to accomplish them. We know you agree that closing Main Street in and of itself will not cause any of the above to happen. Main Street has been closed periodically over the last twenty years making it a one-way street, farmers':market, art fair, etc., with none of these venues being successful. Bandaids indicate bleeding. 'We , are not sure where the cut is,, except the streets and sidewalks remain dirty and current parking policies are penal in nature, enforcement and availability. We support leadership that-provides a working Plan developed in concert with the members of the BID. This Plan should result in a comprehensive set of circumstances helping to accomplish the three general consensus issues listed above. Independent of that forum, I have been instructed by the Executive Committee of the BID to state that the current Proposal falls short of the issues discussed above. If I can be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me. Mos s ly phen C.Daniel, President HB Downtown BID Attachment: List of Issues presented by BID Members - 'Downtown Huntington Beach Main Street Closure ' Goals & Priorities - = Goals of-the_Street Closure Proiect: • Establish measurable goals that will incrementally determine the success or failure of the project: Evaluate progress monthly 1. Restaurants y 2. Retail 3. Services m ; Establish an"Escape Clause", should defined goals fail to materialize. ' Minimize the "Downside" effect that would impact local merchants • -Increase Sales Tax Revenue (Overall increase of sales of downtown merchants/improve the downtown business prospects) E • Create a more popular Destination Area for Local Residents Off Season w support Increase Visitor & Tourist traffic * Beautify the,Downtown Business Area: ; • Art • Plantings • Cleanliness/Daily maintenance •' Obtain additional parking: Affordability, • Accessibility • Adequate quantity Minimize impact of any redevelopment of the Downtown area Create more"Events"that will draw people to the Main Street "Promenade" Challenges Facing the City and the BID Parking: more, convenient and affordable • Loss of 57 Main St parking places (3 blocks) ' • "Impact on public parking entrances on Olive and Walnut • Employee parking Undesirable clements: • Adverse impact of the Homeless, Transients, Street Entertainers and Paii Handlers on local business ° • Cleanliness x • Daily maintenance, trash collection, street cleaning Toilet Facilities ' Traffic flow: • Loss of our Main Arterial access and egress • Redirecting the traffic from the Main Street through adjacent residential side streets, residential'impact • Impact on Post Office access t i 1 ------------ M 57 �� .It - Downtown Huntington Beach Business Improvement District' AGENDA At Large Members Meeting Open to all Bid Members and The General Public Thursday January 26, 2006 - 5:30 pm BYS Pizza & Grill • 200 Main St. • 714-374-2224 Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Welcome Presidents Report: - Christmas Wrap Up z; Financial Update: Naida Online: Specific Events Director, City Of Huntington Beach - Calendai Of Events for 2006 Pacific Shoreline Marathon Update: - Sunday February 5, 2006 Committee Assignments: Proposed Main Street Closure: • Primary Goal Of City Council in Closure of Main Street? • Obtain facts from"Main St". Company in'Mihnesota = v Closure Of blocks 1, 2, 3 • Homeless, Transients, Street Entertainers, Pan Handlers • Affordable Parking 4 Replacement Parking for existing/lost parking spots • Cost Of Re-Development „ Temporary Closure (Weekends & Special Events)/-Permanent Closure' Measurable Goals: What determines the success or failure of the project • Escape Clause . . , what i#? • Lost.Business during re-development. How will businesses survive?. • What happens to traffic flow when segments of Main Stare closed? What effect will it have on other streets and neighborhoods? •. What lessons were learned in Huntington Beach from the previous failed attempt at Main Street closure? Downtown Marketing Plan Priority Projects List for 2006 New Business -. Adjourn Concerns on Closin2-Main Street 1. Who Wants It Closed? The number one!concern is:°who really wants Main Street closed? Most of the Merchants I have`spoken°to do'not want'it closed.'. •Is it just the, `oliticians? 2. PARKING The City of Huntington Beach continually approves projects which are sadly ' lacking in parking and continues to remove surface parking with no plan to t replace them. We do not have enough parking in the downtown area to support the proposed 750,000 square feet of commercial, retail, office that is now and/or soon will., , be located in Downtown Huntington Beach to make it a viable and successful commercial Districts Where will our.customers park in-the summer time? - 3. TRAFFIC FLOW If Main Street is closed, where will the intense summer traff e go? Down our already inefficient alleys and residential side streets. How,will our visitors & residents get to the Post Office? The Parking Structure? Pacific Coast Hwy and shops? Etc. How will the Post Office operate? 4. HOMELESS -t - What will the City do'about-our growing homeless problem? i 1 f 5. FIRE & SAFETY What is'the`fire anti gafety'plan? '. r ;5. f TEMPORARY'CLOSURE .The-proposal,thus far, is,for a temporary closure beginning on the weekends after Labor Day holiday. This lends questions in itself. A. What method of closure will be used in order to mnake'the closure . temporary? B. What will closing Main Street after summer really show us? C. Should we close Main Street in the summer to really see what.the impact will be? 6. 'COST How much will it cost and who will Pay? A. Increased Street Cleaning B. Loss of Parking Revenue C. Increased Law Enforcement D. Possible loss of Retail Income E. Possible loss of Sales Tax Revenue • " F. The cost.of the closure ' G. Will the City of H.B. reimburse the merchants for any loss of revenue? " N H. The cost of changing it back s CONCLUSION We are a-Main'Street and not a third street. We are a Main Street and not a promenade. There is no.real benefit in closing'Main Street. The majority of the merchants are not in favor of closing Main Street. The City Council voted it down in 2004? Why is it back? By Ron McLin Proposed Temporary Closure of Main Street in Huntington Beach concerns! 1. I am concerned that there is no reason to close Main Street. It is-a viable business area as it is built. People like the ambiance, the bustle, the cars, and the ease of purchase in the off season. This is the best beach city to go to we are "the Place to be". Why mess with a success. They love that they can check out what the street has to offer pull in purchase and leave. We have no reason to believe that closure will increase use!, ,--- J- 2. Downtown and retail areas have been changing from closed malls to convent drive directly to the store malls like Bella Terra.from Huntington•and Westminster malls. - 3. If we are trying to improve the downtown area, let's start with needed beatification, art work, flowers in•.planters;banners; have railings painted with no stickers. Let's start with cleaning planters;benches, trash cans, gutters, streets, side streets to Surf Museum & Baskin Robbins, newsstands, and the side walks need,to be,always clean! 4. If we are trying to improve the walk'and feel of main street lets enforce the licensing agreement of keeping 8 feet clear on walkways. People will continue to walk down sidewalks even after the street is closed. Let's fix the truce problem. , 5. When we have closed the street the people that used the street were large groups.of kids,.problem groups•from the pier area, skateboarders, and bikers . not the pedestrian traffic. _ b. If we have money to keep the street clean daily from Sept to New Years why not-use it now when the bulk of our visitors come to HB so that they take back to friend a great impression of Downtown. 7. Key strategy for all downtowns and any retail areas is affordable parking. Why not offer 2 hours free validation with ANY purchase to improve economic development. Let's try and get involved in keeping the theatre helping landlords find Quality tenants recommended by Santa Monica. Let's stop charging $12.00 on holidays or events. 8. Main Street was designed with access at Pacific Coast Highway. The access & signage for Parking is from Main. Sixth Street is a residential street after Walnut and not designed to take traffic through to Orange for the Parking structure if Main is closed. Access is not easy off 1 s: 9. The 57 spaces on Main Street are always in use. People use them at a high cost in meters. They are much needed since we are without 155 spaces lost during the Strand Construction. If we close those people and staff will impact residential unmetered streets even more than now. 10. If we don't close the cross streets we will need to put in lights to increase the ease for cars and pedestrians. We have a problem now that the city can't afford to address due to budgets. If we don't close cross street it a long way down residential streets to structure. 11. Do we want Street performers it will take full time control and management of program. Many are the homeless problem that we are still looking for program to help control. We have a small very well controlled problem by our police department. Let's keep it that way. /�2 12: We need>to look at whole downtown area to keep it improving as The Strand, Pacific City and increased businesses come on line. We need to have a game plan for iinprovement over the next few years. 1-3-5 year plan for parking, traffic, cleaning, seeurity, police and basic infrastructure. We have not had time to accomplish a plan. Let's try and accomplish a plan and future before .spending time and money to close Main Street that is not:broken just needs a little care and cleaning. - o We are spending staff and our.time and money to study the impacts of*Closing Main ." Street. The Iast time we did this study it was voted down.Jt was felt that some improvements had to be made for a true test. It was also a problem deciding what . was best the Second block was to only block that could be truly closed feasible for "test closure". Cost in 2004 was $41,200.00 basic closure plus lost revenues for y .parking (not including tickets) $27396.00 Total cost three months $68596.00. This could be used for 2 hour free parking and maintence better tool to increase sales and ambiance of Main Street. . . - , G f2- 0 Subject: ideas for meeting , Date: Monday, May 15;­200b 04:'15 'PM ' From; Joe Shaw, <joeesha@:yahoo.com> } To; Brett <brettdukes@aol..com>, "chrisbyrne@att.net <chrisbyrne@att.net>, "'danielcapital@aol.com" <,danielcapital@aol.com>, Steve :Grabowski <store44821@theupsstore.com>, ."pub long boa@aol.com" <pu.blo.ngboa@aol.com> Just this past weekend, thousands of families flooded downtown to celebrate Mother,s Day, restaurants were full, the pier was packed and cash registers were ringing.'My business,.had 'the best Mothers -Day weekend' ever:' All without a pedestrian mall. If-it ain't broke don't fix-it!!!!' A downtown mall"would be',supported if Huntington Beach official's,were to propose one with even one-tenth of� the scope of Santa Monica,s. Urban planners and countless studies have shown that for pedestrian malls to work, the following things are needed: 1. Abundant affordable parking. Huntington Beach,s downtown parking spaces gouge tourists and locals alike with exorbitant rates. We need more spaces and free parking period! 2. Attractive landscaped walkways, streetlights, fountains and outdoor seating. Do our city officials plan to spend the money necessary to make this happen? 3. Private and public investment in the infrastructure. City leaders have not stepped up to the plate to provide adequate funding for maintaining the infrastructure or sought out funding sources to develop a truly workable pedestrian mall. It will take vision and forward thinking to create a workable pedestrian mall. Hundreds of cities across the country have tried them and only a small handful have been successful. Downtown needs a comprehensive plan for the beautification and upkeep of Main Street. Slapping up some barriers is not a plan. With two major developments coming online soon, we will need to come up with a definitive plan ASAP. City staff do not have the expertise or talent to deliver a decent plan. We need a first rate urban planning consultant to study the downtown area and make Page 1 of 2 If recent newspaper headlitics are to-be believed,Huntington Beach's downtown will soon be receiving a Santa Monica Promenade facelift. Unfortunately, that's'not the case. Santa Monica has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to revitalize their downtown area which features six parking garages with free parking, extensive landscaping and streetscaping, public art, entertainment and umpteen movie screens that draws millions of people each year. Huntington Beach's proposal: Stick up some concrete barriers at each end of the street and presto! we have a downtown pedestrian mall. The problem is that city officials have long neglected to'provide adequate resources to maintain the downtown infrastructure. Downtown merchants have been asking the city for the last decade to provide more parking choices for residents, but city bureaucrats don't have the political"will,to create affordable downtown parking. Downtown merchants have also asked the city to provide more frequent trash removal and street cleaning, along with more security and police presence, only to be told there's no money to do it with. How can the city ask the downtown merchants to sign onto any plan when the city doesn't,maintain the current infrastructure? Members of the Downtown Huntington Beach Business Improvement District would like nothing more than to see the city plan and deliver a downtown pedestrian mall that locals can be proud of and that provides a place for families to gather and enjoy a peaceful stroll along a beautifully landscaped walkway. That would be a fitting welcome for the millions of people who visit downtown Huntington Beach each year. But temporary cement barriers at each end of Main Street?That is not the solution: If you take a walk downtown these days, you'll notice that new, vibrant businesses are on the increase. You'll see couples walking to the beach, families shopping and dining together and a general vitality up and down Main Street all the way up to the fourth, fifth and.sixth block. But you'll also see the highest parking rates in Orange County, streets and sidewalks that ` - need to be cleaned, a growing homeless population and a need for more traffic enforcement. . 1 Despite these problems, downtown businesses are thriving. recommendations. We need a' first rate urban design team to come up with a proper plan.. City "staff are not'qualified for this task We are not ready,for a test of anything until the city steps up and starts cleaning the streets ,and sidewalks, and empting the .trash .on ,a daily basis. We are not ready for a test until the city' comes up;.with-a.plan to- create more parking. If we are going to make Main Street better;'it'is' becoming increasingly apparent that the downtown merchants are going to have to do it ourselves. The city has 'no-'lnterest or'-will to 'make downtown better. 4 L- -:1 [r�•.- Sri 1. .. Joer ' . kit ] , r California Greetings The HB -Store .." joeesha@yahoo.com Huntington: Beach,s CA , lr �"4• r . .f k..-f ! .1., 4, s- .L" ^. r.j •I Z, - -rk ' .°; ✓ J c.,i ._ a _ . -� f.{a ice: r .I . !' :�,..« Page 2 of 2 Subject: Street Closure concern list Date: Saturday, May 13, 2006 1.1:51 AM From:. BRETTDUKES@aol.com To; <s'tore4482@theupsstore.com> Hi Steve, ' Here's mine in ho-particular order: All infrastructure issues; includingc. Developing a comprehensive parking plan, with a funding plan as well. Develop a restroom plan, with"a maintenance plan, with funding. Develop a-beautification and maintenance plan, with funding. . Ensure use of bollards. Develop a shuttle program, with funding. Do-we have the ability to attract a..productive tenant mix with our lack of adequate parking? Put.off any implementation until at least 2009, to ensure it is done correctly the first time. Who manages it? " I'm sure 111 think of more...... Thanks, Brett :Barnes Managing Partner " Duke's Huntington Beach a k Page, I of 1 If the city was able to offer affordable parking, increased security,and could perform the ; a necessary maintenance to keep downtown clean all year long, many of the reasons proponents cite for a pedestrian mall would be moot. .ray., ,n: .,- . ;*�.:., :�, ',�. •.:.:. . zgz Vol. 1 21, Issue 1 Dowhtown Dispatch ,,. The Newsletter of the Downtown HuntingtonBeach Business ImprovementDistrict .-Downtown Merchants .Say More Time . and. - ' .,Study ',.`Needed..Stud Needed for Main Street Closuire ' ' Clty Wants Labor Day. Monica's downtown area, with plans'. What are your opinions for 2000 more in the near future.. Closure; Downtown on closing Main Street? 2. Millions of dollars were spent on Merchants Urge Caution The Downtown BID wants to relandscaping Third Street. Sidewalks and streets were reconstructed to make know what you think.Please fill You've probably heard by now that them pedestrian friendly.The former the City Council has again brought up out the attached survey to let your asphalt of old Third Street was over- opinion be known. Also be sure to attend the next the issue of closing Main Street to laid with hexagon-shaped tile,with � traffic to allow pedestrian access on both ends of the.avenue secured by general Downtwon BID meeting, the streets from Orange to PCH. large fountains. In.2004 the idea was defeated after June 1,at 5:30PM at Coach's 3. Vital to the pedestrian mall's Restaurant. :opposition by Downtown business, success is the presence of three movie owners.At'that time, there was no General Meeting, theater multiplexes,which attract. Downtown Business Improvement thousands of people to the mall. Other. District (BID), only a Loose coalition Downtown B ❑ entertainment attractions include a ' of downtown merchants who opposed June 1 variety of street performers. the measure beforethe City Council. r<J 30 PM 4. More than $300 million was Wheh,CouncilmemberDave invested in the Third Street Prom' Sullivan became mayor this past year, Coach's Restaurant enade project which began nearly 20 he statedthat closing Main Street was years ago.Extensive planning and one of his priorities for the coming studies were undertaken by city staff, year.It's not a:coincidence that this is director of the Bayside District of local businesspeople and an,array of an election year and the idea of clos- Santa Monica, and Santa Monica-real urban planners and architects. Jng Main Street is widely popular =estate developers and urban planners The meeting left Downtown BID among city residents,fueled by a on May 3. members with the feeling that there cheerleading local press. Of course• At the meeting in Santa Monica, were many obstacles in the way of a the idea is a crowd-pleaser. Most Downtown BID members Bob Bolen, successful pedestrian mall on Main people imagine a landscaped, Steve Grabowski , Steve Daniel, Brett Street. streetscaped walkway such as Santa Barnes and Ron McLin heard about Nevertheless,Huntington Beach Monica's Third Street Promenade and the Third Street Promenade's success press reports of the-study sessions left neither the Independent nor the Wave and how it's become of the few the unrealistic impression that Down-. have looked at_the-issue in serious thriving pedestrian malls in the United town Huntington Beach may be trans- de-pth. States. formed into something like the Third The city j umpstarted the proposal to The are several keys to Santa Street Promenade,even though Hun close Main Street-,when incoming Monica's success: tington Beach doesn't have the vast Economic Development Director 1.Affordable abundant parking. resources that were invested by the Stanley Smalewitz and his staff pro- Santa Monica has six public parking City of Santa Monica. posed a"study session" with members garages, all of which offer 2-hour free On.May 1 l,city economic develop-- of the City of Santa Monica Economic parking. There are nearly 8500 public meet staff,Councilmen Gil Coerper, Development staff,the executive and private parking spots in Santa See Main Street on page 3 Your Downtown BID Dorars At Work A Year of Accomplishment In the past year,the Downtown BID For Downtown BID published a Downtown Shop and The Downtown B I❑ Dine Guide to downtown businesses. This past year,the Downtown Is setting up infofma- The guide includes a map of down- Business Improvement District(BID) town and a directory of downtown tion tables at down- began several,projects to promote • businesses.The BID is planning a Downtown Huntington Beach as a town events in' an new improved and updated guide to destination. be distributed in the next 30 days. effort tO encourage In April,the Downtown BID began The Downtown BID recentlyapeople to shop and airing a series of television ads on: proved a$5000 donation to the Fourth p dine downtown. local cable:The$10Kcampaign of July Committee in an effort to help features three commercials extolling' 'the'commiitee raise enough funds t.o the Uenefits of shopping and dining ' keep the Fourth of July fireworks at 'bers persuaded the City Council to . downtown.The ads featured a 2-hour' the pier. pick up the costs of cleaning the , free parkirig offer available'on the BID In'a sign ofhow-the BID can get downtown sidewalks once'a week. website.- ' • ' ' '' things done,lobbying by BID mem- ; The Downtown BID has begun' _ promoting downtown businesses with Tampa s . Ro' ' a d To ,',N ow V h e re information fables at downtown events in an effort to encourage TAMPA—Almost 30 years after, much as $400,000 in the fiscal 2001 people to shop and dine downtown. the city turned downtown Franklin budget for street lights,landscaping During events,the Downtown Shop Street into a pedestrian mall,it may and new sidewalks. and Dine Guide and literature, cards be aboutto bring back the cars. "This is happening all over the or coupons provided by downtown'.' In 1973, Tampa leaders closed a country because downtown pedestrian businesses are provided at the infor' five-black stretch of Franklin Street malls just aren't working," said Jim mation table. to traffic,hoping a pedestrian mall : Cloar,president of the.downtown The BID information table was.up With brick-street ambience would - . partnership. Similar moves are in the and running for the Pacific Shoreline keep shoppers from fleeing to.subur- works in Chicago; Philadelphia; Marathon and the National Profes- ban malls, , Eugene,Ore.; Kalamazoo,Mich.,and sional Paintball League Super 7 ;13ythe 4980s, the move had proven,; other cities, he said. Tournament. to be a disaster. As Tampa's down "People are•going back to having. Contact Steve Grabowski at the,UPS town decayed, retailers left in downtowns do.what they do best," • Store for more information on distrib- droves.Now,even though the south Cloar said,"and that means having uting your business literature at the end,of downtown is filled with,, streets with auto access." BID information table. gleaming office towers crammed with ;Excerpted from the St. Petersburg Fimes: workers,Franklin Street Mall could : s be described as sleepy at best. . l`n d e p e n d e n t Businesses , G i v e•- - • Most stores on the north end of the , s mall are boarded up,;while the south �/� - to.' end is a ghost town after the Iunch More Back to' the Local Economy hour. A retail study of a Chicago into the local economy. To try to turn-it around,the Tampa neighborhood found that for every The study also found that indepen Downtown Partnership and devel- $100 spent at an independent' dents bought more than twice as ' apes Jack Wilson;are leading a drive business,$73 goes back into the much of their goods and services to open Franklin Street to traffic, at local community:• = locally,kept more profits locally,and least after lunch hour.Though their .: In contrast,for every$100 spent spent-more on local charities,, effort is still in the planning stages,_ 'on chaip•businesses;•only$43 goes Source:cool townstudios:coni they•hope the city will.include as What's .On Your ind? M . _ It's our job to be a voice for What issues are confronting your business at this time? downtown businesses and-we take that job seriously. ; Help us to know what issues we .should focus on:As we enter a new year for the BID,your feed- back will help us to shape the downtown agenda. • " Please bring this form with you when you come to the next General Meeting June 1 or you may e-mail your concerns to the Downtown' . BID atdhbbid@socal.rr.com. What issues do you think the Downtown BID should focus on? Main Street proposal was flawed for the following continued from page 1 reasons: Help Keep the.. Dave Sullivan and members of the 1.There is not enough time between Fireworks Downtown! Board of the Downtown BID met at a now and Labor Day to do the amount regularly scheduled economic devel- of planning necessary for even a trial The Downtown BID has joined with s, opment meeting,to discuss what was closure, especially when downtown the Huntington Beach Fourth of July learned in Santa Monica. merchants are approaching the busiest Committee in an effort to keep the Downtown BID members were season of the year. annual fireworks display at the pier. surprised by the presentation of a 2.City staff are rushing a closure .The Fourth of July Committee has proposal to close Main Street begin- without studying the traffic impact,the provided attractive donation boxes for ping Labor Day,since the proposal parking impact and the economic downtown merchants to place on was not on the agenda. impact on downtown businesses. counters to encourage our customers to BID members were dismayed that a The Downtown BID board are donate to this popular cause. proposal had been made so quickly, adamant in requesting that proper Each year,the Fourth of July Com- •with no consultation from downtown economic impact studies,parking mittee,a volunteer organization,is merchants.As a part of the closure studies and traffic studies are con- . charged with raising up to$400,000 plan,city staff asked that the board of ducted before any further plans for a for the costs of the Fourth of July the Downtown BID participate in a closure go forward. Parade and Fireworks. Please help us series of meetings this summer to iron The Downtown BID board also believe with keeping this important downtown out the details of a trial closing. that closing Main Street by Labor Day is event downtown! The Downtown BID board then met too ambitious,because a closure requires Visit,us on the web at: on May 16th-to discuss all the devel- more planning and more time to properly www.hbdowntown.com opments.All agreed that the city's study.