HomeMy WebLinkAboutcoa.cclc.min.11012006
COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 1. 2006
Meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. by Chairman Bill Dinsmoor.
Commissioners in attendance: Mark Goodman, Don Sheeley. Excused
were Shae Singer, John Starr, Stan Hajenga, Terry Butler
Staff present:
Steve Barwick, City Manager
Kathleen 1. Strickland, Chief Deputy Clerk
Helen Klanderud, Mayor
Locally serving businesses:
Helen said locally serving and locally owned businesses have been an issue
that has been brought up for the last eight years. Helen said maybe the
ACRA should discuss it and see if they feel it is something that should be
addressed. The question: is it an issue that the City should be taking steps in
taking more diversity in commercial retail and restaurants?
Services would include shoe repair and cleaners.
Now is the time to be getting input on this because council might be getting
to the point that they might want to make some decisions
Steve addressed moderate, affordable.
The questions to be asked or answered are:
Why are we doing this and what is the opportunity that you want?
Does the business community feel this is important?
What do you want to accomplish as a business community?
Helen said affordability of retail in Aspen is clearly a business commercial
core issue. CCLC members are experts in this area.
Don said it is basically supply and demand. Government should not be
involved and if they are, they should be buying the building.
Helen said it is not just Aspen that is trying to keep the mom and pop stores.
When you have big box stores people are not shopping here.
Don addressed why we are not getting the mom and pop stores here. They
can't make it. It is the highway and the rent and employees are tired of
working here. Don would rather see rentals instead of mom and pop stores.
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COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 1, 2006
Steve said we need to determine what we are trying to accomplish. SCI and
neighborhood commercial are areas that work. The area by Clark's market
is a workable model.
Mark said it would be nice to have a place to get shoes repaired.
Are you going to limit the amount of profit they are making in order for it to
be affordable?
Steve said one idea would be if you had a store change a certain percentage
should be for commercial.
Mark said you could have X amount of square footage and pick out lO
locally serving businesses and have the space serving cost affective
businesses.
Steve said we need to find out what is the problem or opportunity and if so
what and why.
Bill said there is a reason we don't have shoe repairs. It is all supply and
demand.
Don asked why council wants to do this?
Steve said it ties in with the midrange lodging. It is the perception that we
are loosing the middle retail and lodging and it will all go to high end.
Steve asked the CCLC to talk to their customers.
Steve said part of Aspen was for shopping in the past. Now you can find the
same stores here that are everywhere else. One issue is should we focus on
locally funky stores.
Helen said we are now in a whole different marketing retail world.
Bill said Torre and Jack are tracing against something that is not real.
Steve asked the question: What should retail shopping look like in Aspen
should it be all high end?
Bill said council in their personal lives feels something has passed them by.
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COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 1, 2006
Steve said big box is taking over.
Bill said locals can't afford dentist, doctors etc.
Helen said if you don't get involved you won't like the outcome.
Helen said Carmel California has a cap on galleries. An idea would be to
cap certain types of businesses.
Bill said he and Charles Kennedy talked about an approach with the Grand
Aspen. Converting the ice rink into something different. Small boutiques
and putting the bus depot under the ice rink.
Steve pointed out that City Council has been talking to different planners,
limiting a certain number of businesses and also limiting the spaces. If a
restaurant went out of business only a restaurant could go into that space.
Steve said CCLC and through ABIL Aspen Business Improvement League
has to energize the business community and engage them.
Steve pointed out that keeping the general mix is important.
Helen said her concern here is I do not want this community to be contrived.
Aspen is what it is because it is organic.
Helen said she feels council would listen to CCLC. We need a reality check.
Helen and Don said we need rentals for our young people.
We got to involve the business community. What kind of business mix do
we need and what kind of housing do the businesses need. CCLC needs to
get involved with the businesses.
Helen said she is concerned community development is getting information
instead oftalking to people in this community.
Steve said CCLC should talk to ABIL. Find out what ABIL's goals are.
Meeting adjourned at lO:30 a.m.
Kathleen J. Strickland. Chief Deputv Clerk
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