Astoria Downtown Historic District Associaton

Meeting Notes from 10/2/09

Discussion about emailing all ADHDA members with meeting notice.  Mike does not have the capability.  Dulcye will take this on.  A new email distribution list will need to be created.

Meeting Minutes from September were not available to review/approve.

Treasurer report:  $50 was spent to purchase a post office box for the association. 

is the ADHDA address.  Pat will check it.  Current balance is $980.22

Cruise ships last week and coming up through mid-October.  Lots of shoppers – be prepared!

Iron Chef event was great – good job to all involved.  They reported to have made 50% more than last with about $20,000 net.  Planning for event in 2010 to be on October 21 – can’t confirm date until later this month.

Downtown trick or treat will be on Saturday, 3-5pm.  Judy reports that they go through 5lbs more candy when Halloween is on a Saturday.

Halloween décor – witches repair party will be Sat Oct 10 at 8:30 behind EMLS.  Seeking more shoes, clothing for the witches.

Board looked over the work sheets from the break out groups at last month’s meeting.  The Dues structure was decided against.  Contributions will be accepted from members on a volunteer basis.  Through looking over those sheets the board really stresses that a staff person is needed for this organization to expand.  The heavy reliance on volunteers will not help with association grow.

Program – Paulette and Brett attended the meeting last month in

. 

should get involved again.  The program did not lose state funding as originally thought – it has been moved into a different organizing department.

EID/BID (Econ or Business Improvement District) is a defined geographic area that elects to impose a tax on itself and the funds would have a designated purpose – like funding ADHDA.

Seaside Downtown District has a staff that is paid through the room tax.  They also get funds from dues collected from members, events and fundraisers

In order for ADHDA to go to the City to request funding (through any of the possible sources) the organization needs to outline a sustainable plan to come up with some match to the funds.  They operate on $100,000 budget.  Shared that their event promoter was great investment.

Mike Morgan at the City worked on a proposal that has been tabled waiting for more info from ADHDA.  The Sunday Market is willing to fund a campaign about an EID to go along with Morgan’s work.  The ADHDA needs to answer some questions before it can go further.  ASM would be ready to talk with ADHDA once we are ready.

What does ADHDA need to do?

Draw people into downtown

!  Can be done through fundraisers, community events.  Be welcoming! 

4 areas of work: Clean up/ Beautify, Business attraction/retention, events, education

Possibility is there to share an office space with the ASM as goals are in line with one another. 

EID would need to have majority stakeholder support before the City would consider creating it. 

Need to show to other contributors that the ADHDA is willing to support itself with budget structure and plan.  (Why would others donate to the association if those that benefit from the association aren’t putting up funds themselves?) 

ADHDA’s commitment to their goals can be shown through projects with good records in addition to funding stability

MOTION:

ADHDA will send a representative (Tiffany) to the Astoria Sunday Market board to discuss their help in funding the EID campaign project with intent to get a clear idea of what they need from ADHDA to continue the effort.

Tiffany made motion, Jennifer seconded, approved.

Tiffany will create a document to collect a record of community support for ADHDA members to distribute and collect.

Business Development workgroup had a session with a facilitator from Shorebank to help focus their efforts.  They identified 10-12 areas of interest and prioritzed them to 3 goals for the group to work on.

1: Safeway block – represent the downtown interest in the formation of this City property

2: Business Communication Strategy – create a method for downtown property owners, business managers, etc. to easily community with each other – alerts for meetings, council agendas of interest, counterfeit money, etc.

3: Recruitment and Retention – Looking to shore up existing businesses and to bring in complimentary businesses to fill vacant storefronts

It was a very useful and efficient session – recommend other groups and even the Board to do something similar

Garlands/wreaths will be available to purchase through the ADHDA as a fundraiser for the association.  They will be sending out orderforms in advance and provide delivery to downtown businesses.  The consistent look of the décor will be a nice touch.

Letters will be sent out to the downtown about the program once all the details are worked out.

Art walk next Saturday – October 10!

Sharon Matsen attended the meeting to share that she would like to help with the clean up efforts in downtown.  She picked up garbage on

after the last few Sunday Markets as she noticed the street is left in pretty bad shape.  She’d like to make herself available to help if the ADHDA does any clean up or beautification efforts.

Col-Pac Preservation is being organized – a craftspersons guild for historic preservation with modern conveniences.

Astoria Downtown Historic District Association

October 2nd  2009 General Meeting

Agenda

8:30   Welcome introductions.

8:35    Moment of wellness

8:36   September 2009 ADHDA minutes approval

8:39   Treasury report - $1049.94

 8:40  Old Business       

• Iron Chef  -
• Columbia Crossing – Oct. 11
• Monster Dance – Oct. 24
• ADHDA mailing list and website – Please fill out “contact info” on line www.astoriadowntown.com
• Trick or Treat Downtown – Halloween
• Halloween Witches repair party. Saturday, Oct. 11 8:30 am next to Essential Mortgage. 503 338-9977 Mike
• Committees for upcoming Fall events, Christmas

9:15 Open to new business and announcements

• Garland and Holiday wreaths for sale. – Julie Bay
• Main Street Program – We are the Poster City. – Paulette McCoy
• Making the ADHDA great. EID & BID – Tiffany Estes

9:30 Meeting adjourn.

ADHDA General Meeting Minutes

08/07/09 8:30 am Baked Alaska Restaurant

8:30am the meeting was called to order by President

Michael Weissenfluh

A moment of Wellness was observed and all were encouraged to step up and participate.  “We need pro active participation.” Michael Weissenfluh

Approval of the minutes of the July General Meeting and the treasurer’s Report

(Treasurer, Pat Saunders, reported that we have $1049.94 in the ADHDA account.)

Introduction of new board members:

• Dulcye Taylor
• Darryl Moore
• Tiffany Estes

Charlene Larson spoke about this year’s Regatta events including the Grand Lektro Parade at noon on Saturday August 15th.

Oliver Yackley spoke about the Regatta car show and Poker Walk.

Jim Tongue spoke about the Ducky Derby.

Old Business

Chris Holen spoke about PDXposed. He has contacted 10 local businesses asking for help financing an episode to promote Astoria on the ADHDA website.

ADHDA has endorsed his efforts.  There is a grant available and the deadline for application is August 18^th.  Information is available on our website at www.astoriadowntown.com.

The Business Outreach committee met on Wednesday, Rick Gardner from CEDER was present.  They discussed doing a GAP analysis.  Rick has asked for a Vision for downtown.  The committee may use a Zoom prospector to help brokers know what properties are available.

The committee is working on looking for parking in downtown Astoria.  Rosemary from the city planning department spoke about why the parking spots are configured the way that they are.

The Business Outreach committee will have its own page of the ADHDA website.

The state of Oregon has lost funding for the Main Street Program.  There will be a workshop in Salem in September.  There was discussion about having a representative or representatives from our board attend.

There was some discussion about the ADHDA Bylaws. 

New Business

The ADHDA board has decided that the organization should be run like a business. We need some type of funding.  We have decided that the best way to do this is to have annual dues. Pat Saunders will send out bills to members.  Dues will be $35 a year initially.

Hood to Coast August 28-29th

Sept 17^th @6pm Iron Chef benefit for the

United Way of Clatsop County at the Seaside Convention Center

Haunted Astoria-happening the weekend prior to Halloween

October 24^th Saturday Downtown Trick-or-Treating

October 25^th, Sunday- Talking Tombstones

9:40 Meeting adjourned!

ADHDA Meeting July

 8:30 am meeting called to order by President

Michael Weissenfluh

Introductions

2009 Regatta Princesses were introduced

Theme "Maritime Magic" 

115th Regatta August 12th-16th

Old Business Minutes were read

Paulette McCoy made a motion to approve minutes - minutes approved.

4th of Juy Parade -

Volunteer forma and parade applications were passed out

Pier 11 Boutique offered prizes.

New Business

PDXposed - $10,000 needed for TV show for Astoria.

a matching grant is possible and will be spoken about at a possible meeting on June 21st or 22nd w/ Jon Olsen from PDXposed.

Historical Review Process

discussion on assigning someone to the City Council Meetings.

Jennifer Holan volunteered to be the contact for the ADHDA.

Scott Docherty has web domains and discussion on purchasing them from him.

mailng manager $275 and domain name $9.95...Ducey Taylor will speak to Scott.

Discussion about just having one made and not waiting around. Someone could vounteer their time and money to get one up and running with access for Board Members.

Discussion about having a website with emails and websites to link everyone together.

Announcements

Bret Estes- parking -$$ would go to the City.

possible leased parking sites for reserved in the old Safeway parking lot.

Tiffany Estes - Business Outreach

Discussion about untapped opportunities, defining boundaries, gap anylysis, funding, city/county wide analysis, accountability with groups city wide,

Paulette McCoy Small Town USA funding ideas- MANISTREET

Meeting next Wed 9:15am in the Clatsop Community Bank

Meeting wasadjourned at 9:15 the next meeting will be on August 7th at 8:30am

at the baked Alaska

ADHDA Meeting June 5^th, 2009

8:30am the meeting was called to order by President

.

A moment of Wellness was observed.

April 2009 minutes were read by,

and were approved.

Treasurer, Pat Saunders, reported that we have $1750 in the ADHDA account.

Michael announced that Scott Daugherty has resigned from handling the ADHDA website.  He owns the web domains.  Dulcye Taylor will talk to Scott to see if he is willing to give ADHDA their domain or to sell it to us.

Old Business

4^th of July was discussed. 

Western Oregon Waste (WOW) is providing dumpsters at no cost to be used during the event.

There was a press release in Coast Weekend.  At this point there has been no response and there have been no volunteers.

Cyndi Mudge and Michael are going to go on the Michael Desmond show to promote the 4^th of July activities.

At this point there are 10 Sunday Market Vendors who will have booths at the event.  Cyndi and Michael will decide where to place booths.  The Maritime museum parking lot will not be available until after 5 pm.  If you would like to help decide where to place the booths call Cyndi (325-1010) or Michael (338-9977).

For the River Walk Parade, volunteers are needed to lead each section of the parade and hold signs to identify the categories.  There will be awards for best in each category. Judy Nyland and the Shanghaied cast have agreed to select the winners and to present the awards. 

Creative souls are needed to make some kind of “prizes”, hopefully adornments that the winners can wear to identify them.  If you are feeling creative or have some ideas, please contact Michael or Cyndi.

The group discussed the possibility of sending flyers to the schools to send home with the students before school was released for the summer.

There are plans to have a booth at Sunday Market during June to promote the 4^th of July activities and the parade.

Regina Wilkie from the Chamber distributed posters & flyers for advertising.

Business Outreach Committee

The committee decided that there were 12 items initially that ADHDA members thought were important to focus on, these 12 items were divided into three focus areas: the Main Street Program, Real Estate Inventory/Business Recruitment, and Advocacy.

The Business Outreach Committee set some goals to:

• Have a representative at every Riverfront Development meeting
• Have a representative at every Chamber of Commerce meeting
• Have a representative at every Astoria city Council meeting
• Have a representative at every Neighborhood meeting
• Have a representative at every Heritage Area meeting
• Have a representative at every gallery/art association meeting
•  And to communicate.

Tiffany Estes’ group is looking at an online real estate inventory.  Looking in to if there is a current gap analysis, if not to get one.  To develop a snapshot of what we have and don’t have and how we can fill in what we don’t have and what we need.

They are looking into city codes to see if it is feasible to put living space above existing shop space.

Wednesday June 3^rd at 9:15am at Clatsop Community Bank is the next development meeting.

New Business/Announcements

“Arts Night Out” is Saturday, June 13^th 5-9pm.  There will be 13 shops participating this month.  Don’t forget the “2^nd Saturday Art Walks” monthly.

Astoria Music Festival-June 19^th is opening night.  Concerts run through June 28^th.

“The World” cruise ship will be here on June 19^th-20^th.  Galleries/Shops may stay open late on the evening of the 19^th to greet the people from the cruise ship.

The Scandinavian Festival is the weekend of June 19^th-21^st.  There is up to date information on their website.

Leslie Palmeri distributed a current cruise ship calendar.

A sidewalk sale is planned for the weekend after the 4^th of July.

2nd Annual Coast Guard Hangar Dance:

Not to miss!  Be sure to bring your friends for a fun night out on Friday, August 21st, from 6-9 PM inside the Coast Guard Hangar.   Live dance band, yummy food, door prizes and lots of fun - enjoy a night out on a great summer evening! 

Brewery will be there too. Tickets will be available at the Chamber - watch for future details!  Proceeds benefit our wonderful Coast Guard Spouses Association.  Entertainment will be by

’s own Salty Dogs.

25th

Guard Open House and

Air Fair

Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 22nd when the Coast Guard Group/Air Station Astoria and

host their annual Open House and Air Fair.  Displays include several aircraft and multiple interactive exhibits as well as other activities and demonstrations. More details to come but plan to come out and show our great Coast Guard how important they are to our communities!

discussed the local/regional travel program PDXposed.  The program is moving to the FOX network out of

.  It was previously on KGW.  The cost to produce an episode is about $15,000 for the half hour program.  It has been a few years since

has been featured.  It would be good if a few businesses could pool together to sponsor a new episode!

Dulcye Taylor of Old Town Framing spoke about a magician from

that she had hired to work for 4 hours on the 4^th of July.  She was willing to share him if anyone else wanted to share the expense. 

A motion was made by

for ADHDA to pay the $300 for the magician to be on the River Walk during the 4^th of July Festivities.  The motion was seconded by Paulette McCoy and approved by all present.

The Regatta Parade will be on the 3^rd Saturday in August. Signs will be put up in advance as in the past but barricades will not be used this year.  If you have any concerns or suggestions, please contact the Astoria Police Department at 325-4411. 

9:30 Meeting was adjourned.  Next meeting will be on July 3^rd at 8:30 am at the Baked Alaska

This area is where the Meeting Minutes from the General Meetings will be posted.

The ADHDA General Meetings take place every month on the first Friday at the Baked Alaska Restaurant at 8:30 am.

Cindy Johnston

Secretary

Bank of Astoria