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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcoa.cclc.min.030211 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF MARCH 2, 2011 Chairperson, Andrew Kole called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Commissioners in attendance were Bill Dinsmoor, Fred Ayarza, Don Sheeley, Mark Zitelli, Terry Butler, Siam Castillo and Jim Pomeroy. X- officio John Starr. Staff: Kathy Strickland, Chief Deputy Clerk Cycling Programs Mike Maple, public said he reviewed the We cycle (bicycling) program. I whole heartily support bikes for transportation. I am concerned that the plan is not likely to succeed. Spending $200,000 the first year to operate it is a lot. There was an initiative several years ago to offer free bikes which should be explored. Many lodges have bikes which Bill said is a requirement. I don't know how effective the program is or how it could be improved. We need to encourage use of bikes in down town. Andrew said he spent 2 hours with Mirte and Philip who are proposing the We cycle program. The goal is to start in 2012 and it is more in an infancy stage. Bill was concerned so we asked Mike Maple to offer how other programs work. Mike said there is a program in Denver called B- cycle. We should start with an analysis of that program. I don't feel spending a lot of public funds for a program is appropriate. Don said Mirte and Philip have to apply for a grant. The county gave them $160,000 and $30,000 from the city. It is their business and if they can get the grant go ahead and try it and I wish them well. Mike said we need to do a better job of how we spend our dollars. An example is the Main Street traffic calming which cost 3 or 4 hundred thousand dollars in which that plan was shot down in an hour. Andrew said they are at a stage and they will figure out how or how not to make it work. Jim asked Mike if he had another plan. Mike said we can provide 100 free bikes in downtown for less money. It didn't go forward due to push back 1 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF MARCH 2, 2011 from our government. Jim said we need to know how the lodging program providing bikes is working. Jim said the problem is maintenance, management and security. Those problems have been handled with WE- cycle. Fred said there are no bikes for kids and that needs to be overcome. Don suggested Mike talk with Mirte and Philip. Bill said the issue is public funds and they are requesting them and we should be involved. We need to think about this program and help decide if it would work. I talked to city council members and county commissioners and they both want our comments shared with them. If this program were not to work what would happen to the system? The notion is that it would be given to the county and what would they do with it. If it doesn't work is there a buy back. Jim asked about the grant. Mirte said the federal funds are a one time; the city gets it one time and then the county. The county is working on paving the Woody Creek Bridge. It is for air quality and help to reduce pollution. The program is called Climate mitigation and air quality. Jim said it is federal funds funneled to the city and you use it or lose it. Mirte said in 2009 the city purchased Pries cars and the left over fund is from that federal funding. There is also a RFP process with the federal bidding. Andrew said it is new idea. Starting the program at the beginning is to identify specific uses such as getting over to the hiking trails. Visitors would look at a certain activity and then figure out how to get there. The other idea is looking at sponsorship. Look at it nationally such as Visa etc. You aren't going to find someone to sell sponsorship. Philip said the starting cost is $200,000 to 250,000. 2 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF MARCH 2, 2011 Andrew suggested getting buy -in from businesses who start their budget in the summer. If they get pushback from everyone they will have to restructure. Possibly the bikes could go to another city when they aren't going to be used here in the winter. Bill said his concern is the demographics of the user group and why they would use the WE bike. There are limitations on the time and the guest would have to have knowledge on how long it would take them to get to their destination to find it pleasurable. Users are the hiking audience and music audience. Jim said at the last CCLC meeting it would have been great to see other companies programs. Can we get statistics from the use programs of the hotel/bike share programs in town? Bill said this has not been tested in a small community. Bill also said it would be a good idea to get the demographics from the bike shops. Jim said any data would be helpful to us. Mike said we need to encourage the alternative uses for parking spaces. Preserve our parking spaces and where possible expand them to allow visitors and guests to utilize parking spaces. Over the past few months there have been parking spaces taking out of use at Wagner and Chart house. Apparently it has been eliminated due to busses. John Starr that decision was made. Coming up Aspen street the buses use more gas. Jim said what really caused it was construction of the Limelight and when the parking was put back they got rid of the HOV. Every time there is a construction project we lose parking spaces. Don suggested the city manager come to the next meeting. Mike Maple said private parking spaces are incredibly unutilized. Durant mall by city market is half empty. 3 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF MARCH 2, 2011 Andrew asked if there is a way to utilizes unused spaces. Mike said you don't sell reserved spaces. They should be sold on a utilization. Jim said they can scan the license plates to determine how long you have been parking. Fred also mentioned the empty newspaper boxes throughout town. Fred also said aesthetically old phone boxes on the side of building should be removed. Terry said the city should keep murals in good shape and fund it. Don said he went to the meeting on mining for ideas. Council approved the Ecofest, junior golf and the Big BBQ. The city might give Torre funding to eliminate bottled water. Mark Kole requested $5,000 for ski club. Council suggested they apply for a grant. Don mentioned Adopt a tourist and asked if this board is interested in doing it. MOTION: Fred moved to adjourn; second by Terry. All in favor, motion carried. Meeting, adjourned ourned at 1 .00 a.m. )t� l iLL� - 15 k..z /Z e% Kathleen J. Strickland, Chief Deputy Clerk 4