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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcclc.min.03162005COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF MARCH 16~ 2005 Chairperson Bill Dinsmoor called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Commissioners in attendance: Don Sheeley, Stan Hajenga, Mare Breslin and Mark Goodman. Excused were Terry Butler, John Starr and Shea Singer. Betsy Furth, Damaur Group. The Damaur group is requesting support for a kiosk somewhere in downtown Aspen. We have come to the conclusion that we cannot focus on evening events. We want to bring attention to the highlands. We have talked about doing some joint venturing with Aspen and ACRA. Merchants are suffering and the Highlands is a ghost town. Andrew Kole said there needs to be a reason why people should go to the Highlands. The Highlands never developed a reason to go there. You also need to get the concierges in Aspen to hand out information on the Highlands. Betsy said there are good businesses in the Highlands. One of her suggestions is to have a good playground at the Highlands. We need to get more awareness for the Highlands. Don said the place is designed very poorly. Are you talking about winter or summer? Betsy said summer. We want a manned kiosk. Don suggested having a rotational kiosk. He also suggested that Highlands have a bus at the Paradise bakery site available to take people back and forth to the Highlands. MOTION: Don made the motion to allow another kiosk on the mall for the Highlands; second by Stan. Bill said a fountain is not the reason to go to the Highlands. You need a more compelling reason. Bill said the nonprofits just handed out brochures at the market and they were not doing anything exciting. Handing out a brochure and discount tickets doesn't work at the market. If you are represented in the non-profit booth you need to come up with something cleaver. Betsy said they are doing a parents day working with Tim Anderson and the ARC. Mark Breslin said he supports the idea of the highlands telling their story somewhere in town. Hana Pevny said there is barely room for one person in the existing ACRA kiosk. There is a plan for a larger kiosk that the dwell architect is presenting to council at a worksession. COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF MARCH 16~ 2005 / Andrew said you aren't going to get enough people to go to the Highlands through a kiosk. As a suggestion you need to have businesses use the open space at the Highlands and do advertisement etc. Betsy said climbing the uphill battle with Heinz is difficult. Our merchants have asked us to get a presence in Aspen. MOTION: Don made the motion to allow the Highlands to try a kiosk for June and July and then evaluate to see if the traJfic flow to the Highlands has increased; second by Stan. Motion carried 4-0 Bill said he feels having a presence at the Saturday market is the best shot for getting information out. Andrew suggested having semi-annual event to invite concierges to a meeting to discuss what is happening at the Highlands. Sustainable settings - Appeal to be in the market by Brook Le Van. Peter Forte new chairman for the farmer group. Peter said Sustainable setting applied as a nonprofit to the farmer's group and Jack presented it. Peter said all new applicants were rejected. Peter said he was rejected because there was nothing new that could change the market dramatically and that is why they have been rejected. Don said Sustainable setting is right here in the valley. He feels they should be accepted in the market. Bill said he was at the meeting and it was voted on that the needs were already met in the market. Peter said we think we should look at it next year. Brook Le Van, owner of Sustainable Settings said this is the second year in a row that the farmer's group has denied his application. Peter said the products were redundant such as eggs meat and produce. Andrew said there were comments made at the market that everything runs out at the market early. He would like to see the farmers bend over backward and let a local non- profit in. Peter said we don't accept new members very often. Don said this sounds like the good old boys club. Andrew said the crafts have increased the farmers business enormously. 2 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION MINUTES OF MARCH 16, 2005 Mark asked what the goals of Sustainable settings are? Embrace integrated solutions for sustainable living. Mark said Sustainable settings brings awareness for sustainable living in the valley. Brook said there is no evaluation process. Bill said at the end of the contract we will discuss the evaluations. Bill said Maggie handles the non-profits and Brook should contact them. Peter said the farmers are a remarkable stable group. When you have a free fall group it falls apart. Andrew and Don suggested that Brook meet with Peter at his site. Dwell Architect Hanna Pevny said there is a worksession the 21st March on the downtown improvements. Hanna feels the new Kiosk should be constructed immediately and requested support from the CCLC. Hanna said the kiosk would be open 12 months, all year round. MOTION: Don made the motion that the kiosk should be discussed as the #1 concern. Way fairing and bike racks would be second. Motion second by Stan. All in favor, motion carried. Mark said he supports the items but the kiosk should go ahead first. Mark addressed the lighting. He feels Stardoj from Rising Sun has trouble getting started with projects. Mark went ahead and did his own lighting. There are no lumens on the mall. It is all talk and nothing is happening. He feels the mall lighting should go forward for 2005. Meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m. Kathleen J. Strickland, Chief Deputy Clerk 3