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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.cclc.101624 1 REGULAR MEETING COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION OCTOBER 16, 2024 Co-Chairperson Tanaka called the meeting to order at 8:54 a.m. Commissioners present: Jeb Ball, Amanda Tanaka, Noemi Kiss-Baldwin, and Terry Butler. Absent were Charles Cunniffe, Kiki Raj, Angi Wang, Stephanie Davis, Bill Dinsmoor. Staff present: Nicole Henning, City Clerk Other attendees: Kathy Strickland, Aspen Saturday Market Manager & Councilman Hauenstein PUBLIC COMMENT: None. Mr. Ball joined via Zoom and presented first on the survey he completed at the last Saturday Market and the results. The survey was handed out to all vendors, and they received 41 responses out of 43 vendors. All vendors said they will be reapplying this next year. All vendors except for five felt there are enough aggie vendors. Five people said not enough. All vendors except for two didn’t feel that there are too many vendors in the same category. Some suggestions were to extend the due date of the application to mid January. 23 vendors said they have no suggestions, and it was “easy”. Four people said they would like an online application, and many others said they do not want an online application and they like the way it is. Someone suggested that after 20 years, they be “grandfathered in”. Other suggested improvements were to improve the bathroom situation, having the barricades stay up longer, have a social media initiative, have the hours be from 9-2 for the whole season, non-profits need more rules (leaving early), better parking for vendors. As for frustrations, 19 vendors said they had no frustrations, many others said the bathrooms, the wind, Louis Swiss line too long, holes in vendor booths, electricity in the food court, less big money spenders, the commitment of every Saturday. As for what went well, all vendors said Kathy, the weather, everything, an increase in regular customers, good sub vendors, and connecting with the community. Mr. Ball wrapped up his presentation and handed things over to Ms. Strickland. Ms. Strickland spoke about having a few aggies join the CCLC meeting when they do the choosing for this next year instead of having a separate meeting in Redstone. She spoke about raising the fees for 2025. She said this has been her most challenging year so far. She was having to chase down vendors who did not pay their taxes or obtain their business licenses on time. Ms. Henning noted that she helped chase people down to get all of that taken care of. Ms. Strickland suggested changing the application to include, “if you have not paid your taxes before you apply, you will not be considered” and “if you do not obtain a business license by May 1st, there will be a $500.00 late fee”. She said they lost electricity in Conner Park one day. She said the bathrooms were absolutely disgusting and one of the locks was broken. She had to personally clean out one of the bathrooms and she will not be doing that again. The music students were awesome as usual, but next year they will not have horns as they were too loud. 2 REGULAR MEETING COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION OCTOBER 16, 2024 She said the Dems and the City booth had an argument one day. Ms. Strickland spoke with Jenn Ooton about it because the COA tent was set up too close to the Dem tent. She said Sam Harvey missed three markets and she let him know that it would affect his application for next year. The Louis Swiss drivers hit Viola’s weights and had to replace them and later, they hit her tent and bent it, so they had to also replace that. They also threw electric cords everywhere and had them scattered on the sidewalks which were a huge hazard with people tripping over them. At the beginning of the season, they were still adding automatic gratuity until Ms. Henning reached out and stopped it. Mr. Ball suggested an end of season in person meeting with Louis Swiss to have these conversations and he volunteered himself for that. The City of Aspen missed their booth three times and the Chamber once. A lady who had applied and did not get in, set up a booth in the grass next to Sugar. Ms. Strickland asked her to leave and almost got the police involved. She said the good things this summer were the vendors working with each other and helping each other out magnificently. She said the reserves worked out well and got plenty of exposure. She said the raclette and pasta people asked to sell meats and cheeses in addition. The board agreed that if it is Colorado products, that would probably be ok. She said the whole board should discuss that item as well as fees and the aggies joining at the next meeting. She said Vail is charging $1400 currently for their market. Ms. Strickland spoke about having a handbook written up. Mr. Ball said he has someone who could ghost write for her. Ms. Tanaka motioned to adjourn; Ms. Kiss-Baldwin seconded at 9:55 a.m. ______________________ City Clerk, Nicole Henning