Events and Meetings

DURANGO CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
COMMUNITY MEETING
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2004
DURANGO RECREATION CENTER
Meeting Minutes

Welcome – Shawn Osthoff
• Key Issues
• History of Downtown Development
• Current Organization Structure
• The Next Steps – Input/Action Plan
• Enhance CBD Vitality
• Respond to Outlying Competition
• Unified Effort
• Capitalize on Unique Qualities
• Partnerships
• Ultimate Goal – Area Plan

Identify Problem – Bob Ledger
• Sales tax has diminished over 2 to 3 years due to changes in the CBD. Not a direct result of Walmart, Home Depot or South Durango. CBD is smaller than it use to be. It use to be 50/55% of tax collections, now 37%. CBD collections have continued to rise.
• Target interested in Home Depot area, no guarantee, city would have to zone.
• CBD has a concentration of tourism businesses. Is this where we want to go?
• CBD has seen a decline in general merchandise stores.
• Turnover amongst restaurants – not a good direction.
• Land/property owners not participating.
• The success of the CBD is participation!
• 80’s saw an upgrade of the downtown area. This was accomplished through a block grant from the federal govements./ Currently looking at sidewalks, lighting, parking, etc.
• Need a uniform vision for different groups to begin working together.
• The city recognizes the importance of the CBD. The CBD defines the city.

CBD – Greg Hoch
• The history of the CBD goes back to the 70’s when groups began forming to accomplish different tasks. This has evolved with many groups coming and going.
• There needs to be a re-organization and unification to be successful.
• Main Street program is a tried and true program.
• Organization is key
• End goal would be the creation of a CBD Comprehensive Area Plan including a vision for land use, traffic, parking, pedestrians, urban form, design. Strategies, services, and implementation.
• City is already working on CBD improvements to include the recently announced downtown shuttle.

Who Does What – Bob Kunkel
• Do not have a downtown merchants association. It is a critical component.
• La Plata County, City of Durango, DATO, BID are all organizations with tax based fundings.
• LEAD, the Chamber. CBDC, and RCC are private organizations that need support.
• All groups must work together to build a common vision and plan for the CBD.
• Currently have a 2004 action plan in place for Special Events Coordinator position. There is no money, so events/ideas will require sponsors and equipment

Next Steps - Phil Bryson
• Urgency
• Groups come together & then disappear over the decades
• Do people want to be involved?
• Where do we go
• Who wants to be involved in what?
• We need organizational clarity
• What is the optimum organizational structure?
• We need to look at the future and where do we want the CBD to be 20 years from now

GROUP DISCUSSION INPUT

-6 months – org’s functioning maintain existence.
-Aspen Institute – Mountain town emphasis.
-Non-profit assistance w/community, facilitation.
-Regional draw important … Farmington shopping
-What draw does Durango Provide?
-Comp plan process critical.
-Consensus planning – good
-Not just Strater Hotel – others.
-With is our mission?
-Bob Kunkel role is important.
-Short range, vacancies, sidewalks important.
-Long term, regional, riverfront.
-Not homogenize into one single group: Umbrella organization – independent of rest, but represents goals of all groups.
-Focus: implementation
-Board of Directors model, board to represent business owners, river groups/managers.
-Question? Is Board of Directors advisory or decision making. City must be involved.
-Who is the chair?
-All about implementation, how to move forward.
-Merchants Association – good.
-Funding?
-Low level decision making, good decisions @ lower level.
-Good revenue stream.
-Branding, logo.
-Accountability.
-Board of Director format, inclusive of an elected chair, city and county.
-Opinion leaders.
-Geographic boundaries (merchants assoc)
-BID – with funding (create a source)
-Oversight Committee.
-Groups move in and out, recommendations, then remove themselves.
-Fluid process, current issues, look 10 years out.
-BID Funding.
-State recognition.
-More modeling to study alternatives.
-2 people stakeholders, city, county. committee to refine recommendations by March.
-Come back with ideas for March meeting.
-City/County must be open to process.
-Long term – BID most logical framework, expanded role, membership from 5 to 7 or 9 with city having a seat.
-BID should have staff support.
-Advisory committee to BID.
-Merchants Task Force, promotion, special projects, funding.
-If BID cannot do this soon then LEAD would step up in the interim.
-Primarily private association, study the Scottsdale Program – 3 year plan.
-Maintain grassroots control.
-Bond issue funding.
-Organization not representation of special interest.
-Input makes it to the top.
-Ensure feedback is received.
-Perception, better PR, represent what is conveyed.
-Common thread, better representation, no homogenization, but get individual input under one group. Need an umbrella org that represents the need of the groups.

INDIVIDUAL INPUT

OTHER/MISC
-We need to be aware of our youth in the community. There are many potential problems brewing. There is a need for ongoing programs to give youth opportunities for leadership development and involvement in positive community activities.
-More residential units above businesses on Main Ave. will create a neighborhood atmosphere.
-Residents are stakeholders for trash, noise, vandalism, and safety.
-As an instructional designer and process manager I would like to help my business improve profits through training and retention strategies. High profits may mean higher wages……live and work in town.
-If we can’t raise wages, let’s make it easier to work in Farmington. A bus service would work.
-I live in an apartment over one of the businesses on Main Ave. I work in Farmington for a living wage. This costs me two hours a day in time and $130.00 a month to commute. In addition, the insurance is higher for the 500-mile per week commute. My vision is to be able to live and work in town. Being able to walk to the stores, the bank and the post office is why I live in Durango and not Farmington. I would like to be able to spend more discretionary income with Main Avenue Merchants.

CULTURAL DISTRICT, LIBRARY, ARTS, DISCOVERY MUSEUM
-Arts Center along the riverfront ties to Main Avenue.
-CDOT – overpasses
-Shared infrastructure (parking) & services (restaurants) stay downtown with library.
-Should look at Smelter property.
-Library vital to downtown’s future.
-Library location needed soon – but within context of greater needs of downtown and city.
-Amphitheater (outdoor) near or on river if possible.
-Can’t lose library’s ability to draw 400,000 folks downtown.

CBD INFILL/MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT
-Be more accommodating.
-High density – mixed use
-Reduce impediments
-No in-lieu parking fee
-Reduce parking standards.
-Encourage residential w/co-parking
-Reflects unique character of successful CBD business vs. south corridor.

MAIN AVENUE SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS
-Wider, remove one lane each direction.
-Clean up and fix cracks, re-implement steam cleaning.
-Transit shelters and benches.

MAIN AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS
-Part mall.
-Traffic keeps it looking active.
-Have disabled people water, clear, etc. Give them importance and interaction and helps be a “major” part of our community.
-Pedestrian Mall – traffic makes walking difficult.
-Consistent theme and characteristics, emphasis on Durango character.

RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT
-Tie to Main Ave.
-CDOT to look at traffic design (over passes, traffic lights, etc.)
-Use base of Smelter Mountain w/attractive gateway development.
-Smelter improvements and River City Hall areas should be priority.
-Must overcome Camino del Rio barrier.
-Capture visual beauty of river (people/function emphasis vs. retail) outdoor, open area emphasis.
-River City Hall & Fire Station is a poor use of riverfront.
-Riverfront promenade.
-Need an underpass for pedestrians, bikes to cross 550.

SPECIAL EVENTS/CONFERENCE CENTER
-On riverfront.
-Tie into cultural complex shared infrastructure.
-Tie multi-function center into one facility (convention ctr, library. etc.)
-We need larger rooms/convention area to draw large functions.
-Attract air service.
-Too much money spend so far on “talking about it”, no action, move on to something tangible.
-Could help create regional and national draw.
-Meetings are changing-everyone can go to Chicago, we do have a niche market.

SPECIAL EVENTS
-High season – keep limited can hurt business, add events on in slower seasons.
-Music, arts, renewed emphasis on corporate retreats.
-How about and April 15 tax day event with post office.

PROMOTION
-Advertising & marketing program for areas logical to visit Durango.
-Loud and often! Emphasis on local/regional with strategic national promotion.
-Doesn’t do any good to promote until there is a way to invite people downtown without charging them to come (meters).

MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION
-We need it now!
-Don’t call it Main Street.

CENTRALIZED RETAIL MANAGEMENT & MERCHANDISING

DOWNTOWN SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
-Extend shopping & restaurants to improved riverfront.
-Pedestrian mall.
-Summer evening events - extend shopping hours.
-Excellent experience.
-Be what we are/want to be vs. impulse to compete in outlying areas.
-Allow more access to locals – more “local” businesses will survive & attract non t-shirt oriented businesses.

DOWNTOWN BUSINESS RETENTION & ATTRACTION
-They will only stay if they will come. Allow easier way for people to spend more time downtown.
-Municipal incentives to retain businesses consistent with long term goals for mix (attraction as well)
-Force an upgrade of space.
-Condemn road house bar and other unsightly buildings.

DOWNTOWN ACCESS/TRANSPORTATION
-Traffic flow needs to be a priority.
-New sidewalks and shopping shuttle sounds wonderful/
-Pedestrian overpass or underpass to connect river trail to downtown, not Main Ave. underpass. Crossing Camino del Rio between 6th and 12th.

PARKING
-Expandable, upward.
-Structures, not “surface” lots.
-Train to look at their land to install parking throughout CBD.
-Several parking structures on each end of CBD.
-City Council to re-evaluate the change of use and parking fees.
-Remove the meters now!
-Longer metered time please, less cost.

FAIRGROUNDS
-Should compete with Mercy Campus for attraction – use it to pull people back through downtown.
-Get rid of ballfields, poor locations, poor land use.
-Get a more comprehensive plan , not a good location for a library.
-Family focus, rec center, ball fields, large exhibition hall, large park.

MERCY MEDICAL CAMPUS – NEW USE
-Low income housing, near pedestrian path, near river, train, parking.
-Community focused mixed used, government offices.

CITY GOVERNMENT LOCATIONS
-Second Ave. is great.
-River location could be sold for re-development.
-Keep downtown – gives access to local input – need their presence, but move off of river.
-City and county must stay downtown, find parcel (Vectra Bank, lot next to Durango Office Suites, 2nd & College).
-Build parking structure.
-Create civic center, take 1-3 city blocks and create a center where city hall and county courthouse and library can all exist.
-City needs to plan for its own staffing and building requirements.
-City Council chambers too small.
-Need more community meeting rooms.
-Keep offices downtown, consolidate services.
-Keep offices downtown, library essential.

COUNTY GOVERNMENT LOCATIONS
-2nd Ave/Bodo.
-County must be compassionate about nucleus of La Plata County and I feel strong that the county must stay downtown.
-Keep offices downtown – including Mercy campus as an option, not Bodo.
-Hate to see them leave downtown, keeps a “community” feeling.