Broadway Business Improvement Area

2150 N. 107^th Street, Suite 205  Seattle, WA 98133-9009

(206) 367-8704    Fax (206) 367-8777    Email: info@broadwaybia.org

www.broadwaybia.org

BIA ADVISORY BOARD MEETING

Thursday, September 21, 2006

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

Paul Dwoskin (Broadway Video), Michael Wells (Bailey-Coy Books), Greg Serum (Your Man Friday), Ken Bauer (Charlie’s)

ALSO PRESENT

Kay Knapton (BIA Consultant), Molly Burke & Chris Curtis (Farmers Market), Spencer Fairbanks (Broadway Grill), Shannon Thomas (LGBT Center) and Mary Klein (Staff)

Michael Wells, BIA Chair, called the meeting to order at 8:10 am

1. FARMER’S MARKET

Molly and Chris reported that between 1000 to 1200 shoppers visited the market per weekend.  They have seen no drop off this fall.  Farmers are very happy as sales are up.  This may mean that more farmers will join.

Molly stated that after Labor Day she noticed more new people especially young families.  She will focus more on children events next year.

Molly will email the latest survey once all the data has been compiled.

There will be pumpkin decorating the late October.  She would like the merchants to advertise this event and remind the shoppers that the market is open until November 19^th.

2. BUSINESSES ON BROADWAY

Kay has compiled a list of Businesses by category and by block.  She will forward these lists to the office.  Kay also inventoried parking within the BIA boundaries; 675 spots in parking lots or garages and 215 street spaces.

Biggest complaint by store owners/managers is safety.  Homeless hanging around store fronts and sleeping in doorways and drug dealers are still a huge problem on Broadway.

BIA members are also concerned about the new stores coming in with the new development.  They do not want any big chains to open stores in the new buildings.

3. PRIDE 2007

Shannon Thomas, ED of the LGBT Center reported the feedback from the events on Broadway in June of 2006 was very positive.  She will be holding meetings with businesses & participants from 2006 to plan events for 2007.  Shannon also has a meeting scheduled with Seattle Out and Proud to see if they will partner and have events on the hill.  She is asking the LGBT Center members to get involved as well.  She will have surveys mailed out in the next two weeks.

Comments were made that the events felt very community/neighborhood based and very much the celebrating its own.  The restaurants however suffered a 30% decrease in sales from 2005.

4. CLEANSCAPES

Mary handed out the Cleanscapes audit for Broadway.  Anyone that has any additions to the list are to contact Mary at the BIA office.

5. BVAAT

Mayor and City Council approved the $125,000 for Broadway improvement.  The first stage is to establish a Chamber for all of Capitol Hill.  Greg Serum is heading the committee to finish membership details including defining the area involved, membership and incorporating the CHID.  The committee hopes to be finished by the end of 2007.

The Mayor will make an appearance on October 14^th.  All the city departments will be represented as well.  The BIA needs 50 to 70 volunteers to work with the city representatives to plant trees, do tree pit maintenance and graffiti paint out.

6.  GRANT

Paul Dwoskin asked Mary to contact DON to see if the Brush up Broadway grant the BIA received could be delayed until spring.  Since the Mayor and a work party are scheduled in October it’s seem sensible to have a spring cleaning rather than another fall cleanup event.

7. Bs

Spencer and Debbie will work on selling the Bs this fall.

The next meeting of the BIA Board will be on Thursday, October 19th.

Meeting adjourned 9:10 am