Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutcoa.cclc.min.070109COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JULY 1, 2009 Chairperson, Terry Butler called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Commissioner in attendance: Bill Dinsmoor, Andrew Kole, Fred Ayarza, Mark Goodman and Roger Haneman. Excused were Don Sheeley and John Starr. Staff: Kathy Strickland, Chief Deputy City Clerk Mall Lease: Mustang Greg Jurgenson, owner of Mustang. Greg said Mustang was previously called Club Chelsea. We are phasing out of the DJ setup and we are becoming more diversified, more restaurant bar than a night club. Morris Frywald didn't want us to go out in front of our business because of their windows. Greg said the state said you had to be contiguous but now it doesn't have to be that way. Greg said he has a letter from Frywald in favor of his expansion into the city mall. As long as we are out there we will have a pared down menu after 9:00. We will be open from 11:00 am to 11:00 at night. Greg said with the economy we had loan issues. We will have a few menu items done very well. The menu is in the process of developing. It will be a Rocky Mountain fair type menu. It will be a cheaper Woody Creek type of menu. The kitchen development and permits are in place. We will operate the taqueria menu and add blackened Maui Maui. Terry asked about umbrellas. Greg said they are ordered and will be needed occasionally. We will take them up and down as need be. Greg said they are setting up the tables right now. Terry also asked about the bar. Greg said it will be easier if we run the bar up and down from the existing restaurant. Andrew asked about controlling the area. Greg said we talked about a rope and planters on each end. The grass and stream on the sides are ok with the Parks Department. Greg said during the evening hours we will have security watching both ends so that no one takes alcohol out. 60 chairs were purchased. The dimensions are 11 x 50. COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JULY 1, 2009 Andrew asked about the community table idea. Greg said it will be a social outdoor center. Andrew pointed out that the seating will generate more traffic on the mall. The CCLC recommended that the area be larger than what staff proposed. Mark suggested a site visit. Roger said the value of the benches will be diminished if the tables are in front of the benches. Andrew suggested putting low tables in front of the benches like a cocktail area. Bill agreed. Fred said if doesn't block the isles off it is a plus. We need to see that area filled up. MOTION: Andrew made the motion to accept what was recommended by staff and do a site visit for additional space; motion second by Fred. All in favor, motion carried. Dish restaurant Terry pointed out that every year Dish has problems following the rules. Kathy said a letter was sent to all mall lease holders advising them of the meeting date. Fred said the concern is that you don't bother to call or come down for the meeting. Mitchell Sheer, owner said he was trying to sell the property so he didn't come to the meeting. Mitchell said he didn't think it would be an issue. I wasn't trying to get over on anyone. Fred said you could have called and made arrangements. We had to get in touch with you. Terry asked how the mall seating area is identified. Mitchell said planters and the city's planters. 2 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JULY 1.2009 Mark said last year we had complicated issues. Mitch said there are no concerns from the neighbors. Motion: Andrew moved to approve the mall lease subject to the check coming in and the insurance by 5:00 tomorrow; second by Roger. Fred said he is opposed because he doesn't like how this is handled. If it happens again I will lobby against the license. You need to be concerned enough to contact the city. Motion carried 4-2. Fred and Bill opposed. Terry also said if it happens again she will vote no on the mall lease. Parking Terry remarked that the CCLC desires to make downtown parking more user friendly. The gripe is how to pay the meter and where can we park. The one way street works. How can we keep the worker bees from parking in front of the stores and how can we come up with more parking. Tim pointed out that the garage parking is down 40% and a person had to be laid off. 200 out of 340 spaces are used. Typically it would be full and we would close it. Fred said we need to figure out how we make more people aware of the parking garage. Maybe increase the Galena shuttle. Tim said it costs $125 an hour to run the shuttle which stops at 6:00 p.m. It costs $1.50 an hour and there are several different rate structures. We have converted 27 spaces to NEV vehicles. Andrew said there are three issues. The existing signage doesn't work. Going from the garage back to town doesn't seem very popular. Could you use a golf cart to get people back and forth? Possibly a valet system at the Wheeler. Tim said we are not full downtown either. Andrew said you are around $2,000 in lost revenue a day. Bill said we need to have a longer vision. COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JULY 1.2009 Andrew suggested parking rent 100 spaces as revenue. Tim said he doesn't think the demand is there for the garage parking. Tim said the bond ends in September so at that time we could rent out spaces. Fred said parking is definitely difficult to find at night. Tim said employees come in at 4:30 and plug the meter and then stay there because the meters end at 6:00 p.m. Bill said there are at least 70 to 100 restaurant employee cars parked in front of restaurants. Andrew said we need to figure out how we can get the 100 employee cars to park in the garage. Tim said we have the ability to photograph worker bee cars. Fred suggested increasing valet parking. Tim said if you did that you would take away from our inventory of meters. Terry said we talked about another valet station in front of the Elks. Fred suggested using the loading zone in front of Amen Warde and then use it as valet parking at night. Fred also suggested working with businesses. Bill said you can electric cars or golf carts that hold 6 passengers. You can pick up from the Wheeler and go down to the garage. Tim said we can look at cameras, valet and reverse valet and loading zones. Andrew and Terry suggested using a banner over Main St. downtown parking turn left etc. Andrew suggested if we use the NEV's neighborhood electric vehicle we sell advertising on them. Andrew said we need to move 100 people on the streets to the garage. Tim said we could sell the restaurant owner a pass for his employees. Bill suggested extended paid parking until 8:00 p.m. 4 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JULY 1. 2009 Andrew suggested having a meeting with the restaurant owners. There are only 20 restaurants to contact. Tim said we always struggle with the night time parking. We might be able to extend paid parking flat rate after 8:00 p.m. in the parking garage. Motion: Andrew moved to extend paid parking and have a flat rate at the garage after 8:00 in order to have parking spaces on the street for visitors and in order to free up 100 spaces; motion second by Roger. The first part of August could be the test run. Motion carried 5-l . Mark opposed. Mark said having to go back to the car and plug the meter might cause people to leave town. Roger asked if Jay's valet should come into play as they will lose business. Roger said Mark needs a Phone account where he can call in for patrons and pay their meters. Mark said he loses people who have to plug their meters. Commissioner comments: Mark said it is going to be a rough winter. We need to pull the ACRA, Ski Co. restaurants, lodges and come up with a promotional package. We need partnering with airlines etc. In Vail if you buy two weeks you get a free pass. Andrew said Ski Co., Stay Aspen Snowmass and the ACRA are your point persons. Bill said he had friend here for Ride the Rockies and it would have been good promotion if special events handed out swag bags for those riding in order to get people to come back. Services on the mall: Kathy asked the CCLC their opinion on having services on the mall. Currently there is no vending etc. allowed. Entertainers are in a different category. COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JULY 1, 2009 The board unanimously said no to services on the streets and malls. The malls are crowed as is. The board said they didn't want Aspen to look like the Pearl Street mall. MOTION: Andrew moved to adjourn; second by Bill. All in favor, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m. 6 Kathleen J. Strickland, Chief Deputy Clerk