Downtown Development Authority Meeting - 2023-02-08

Detailed briefing

Downtown Development Authority Meeting — February 8, 2023 • The DDA approved the January 16 meeting minutes. City Council had decided not to leave the camera up, according to a report to the board. The State of the Community event was announced for March 9. • Ice Fest planning dominated the meeting. The event is scheduled for Saturday, with a Friday live carving demonstration and trivia night. Saturday activities include live carvings, the Topo Nexus Adventure, horse-drawn wagon rides, snowshoe demonstrations, dueling chainsaws, s’mores from 2 to 4:30, and a St. Michael’s School hot-chocolate and baked-goods fundraiser. • Staff said the Topo Nexus Adventure will be self-directed and available throughout the day. Participants should begin at a tent in Zorn Park; the activity includes stations mainly in the park area and a small prize for participating children. • The Ice Fest budget update listed $28,075 in income and $26,318 in expenses. The DDA is covering the dueling-chainsaw expense because a specific sponsor was not found. Staff said the event remains in positive territory, though it will net less than usual. Board members also discussed correcting sponsor and organization names on the event schedule. • Volunteers are still needed to prepare s’mores kits, attach event signs, move firewood, load and unload horse-wagon riders, and staff the s’mores pit. Staff also asked for volunteers to update the business-directory information used on downtown kiosks. The target is to send material for printing by April at the latest so kiosks can return by May. • On longer-term work, Downtown Enhancement plans to continue the Merchants Walkway plan with OHM after Ice Fest, with hoped-for spring construction. The county commission was reported as not open to participating in the DDA TIF; staff is waiting for city-attorney guidance on other possible actions. Staff also said Third Street lighting repairs are planned this month. Worth watching: • Whether city-attorney guidance identifies another path for the DDA TIF after the county declined participation. • Completion of Third Street lighting repairs this month. • Whether kiosk business information is verified in time for April printing and May installation. Upcoming: Ice Fest activities begin Friday and continue Saturday; State of the Community is March 9; One Bay, One Book events are March 9 and 10 at 7 p.m. Why it matters: The DDA is using Ice Fest and planned downtown improvements to support visitor activity while managing funding, infrastructure, and business-directory follow-through.

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.