Events and Meetings

Central Business District Community Organizational Meeting

Organizational Structure
Roundtable Discussion & Questions
May 5, 2004

1. What are you ideas, reactions and input regarding the formation of the Downtown Durango Partnership?

• The city needs to continue its role with downtown tax base and infrastructure
• Special events are key and need to find a specific role with BID (grant processes)
• Create an umbrella steering committee to coordinate all interested parties
• Create a balance of stakeholders to contribute to the voice
• Stakeholders need to let the DDP lead (emphasize human interaction and work on website/ input)
• Create a steering committee under LEAD to keep it directed; “morph” stakeholder involvement; work on direct contact with the city
• There’s a gap between BID and CRM; Bob Kunkel is assisting with this, but the gap still exists
• Need coordination between city and private sector
• A clear vision is needed; DDP needs to maintain a leadership role to “keep up the heat.”
• Let DDP be the lead organization, and get support from the community
• The mission statement may evolve over time; organization should have direct communication with the city

2. Should the DDP be an umbrella organization with a Board with some level of dedicated staff or more of a Steering Committee/ Council?

A Board would be most effective in:
• dealing with the government
• helping to identify short-term and long-term issues
• funding (need power/ clout to deal with issues)
• recognition by local government – fundamental assistance is critical

The Board should be about 8-12 people, and include small retailers.
LEAD/ COC/ BID/ CIM must be represented
A steering committee can be formed under this board

3. Who should be seated on the Board or Steering Committee/ Council? What criteria or rationale should be used to determine who is on the DDP?

Property owners
People with funding skills
Avoid conflicts of interests
Diverse group of stakeholders (fundraising, real estate, marketing, property owners, conflict resolution, restaurants, retail)
Smaller group of leadership with high participation, dedication, and commitment
Resident participation is important
Needs to be action-oriented
Everyone who attends the meetings should be allowed to be members
Need for active participants – establish steering committees

4. What should the basic mission and focus of the DDP?

To be a steering committee that partners with the city to develop a business plan to set the framework that will determine what organizational structure is needed.

A coordinating group for implementation of specific downtown action items and ideas; to have continuous outreach to other active groups (i.e., LEAD) for the improvement, “financial, visual, quality of life” directly connected to the downtown with the focus on education and communication for downtown stakeholders.