Downtown Development Authority Board - Regular Meeting

Okay, whenever you're ready. Okay, roll call. Bill Palmer, Parks Thompson, Nick Crab, Nick Crab. Anybody online? Abby. Um, we should have a quorum with Abby. Yeah. Roll call. Tiffany. Run. Just in time. Tiffany Gatesman. Perfect. Okay. Can we make a motion to approve the agenda?

Second. All in favor? I. Are there any additions to our Anybody want to make an addition to the agenda today? No. Uh I feel like I did. I don't know how to word it though. Um I don't think there's anything to attach uh community engagement. Just a couple of snippets on community engagement. It's my request if we have time. If not, I can wait. Oh, thank you.

Yeah, it is a pretty full agenda, so we can see if we can get to that during updates. And otherwise, there's a few things we can on our agenda that I think we're really going to keep diving into. Sounds good.

We want him to say his name and tap in. I got him on the minutes. We're fine. Got him. Okay. Hey guys. Hey. Hey Greg. Um then we should probably just move straight into open forum. Do we have anybody for open forum? Okay. Um someone want to make a motion to discussion and possible action? Huh? Oh. Oh, we have to approve the amendments. That's right. Someone want to make a motion for that? Make a motion to approve the minutes. Second.

All in favor? I I Okay, so discussion and possible action grand resources incubator project. Ryan Peterson and Tarot Group.

That'll be you. Excellent. Thank you everyone. Uh my name is Ryan Peterson, senior project manager with Entarot Group. Uh thank you all for having me here today. Um as uh the chair mentioned, I'm here to talk about the Grand Resources Incubator Project. We've taken to calling it RIP uh just for the sake of simplicity. Um so I'll be talking through that today. I believe we have some slides up here uh that I'll I'll run through. Um I'm going to try to keep it to 30 minutes. I know you do have the full agenda. Um, at any point if you have any questions after the presentation, I'm happy to uh have a conversation with you uh via Zoom um or a call uh to discuss other ideas that you might have and brainstorm uh in that direction. So um just a little bit about that, we are working with Diane Butler from Grand County on this project. She is our client and we are now in the data collection and uh feasibility stage of the project. So right now we are currently looking at uh what industries make the most sense for a business incubator and where they make the most sense um in the towns or unincorporated areas of Grand County. Um if you're not familiar with the business incubator, it is basically a place where small businesses, homebased businesses can have a brickandmortar um place to go to or to share resources, to learn more, to network. Um we are focusing most mostly on outdoor recreation. uh we want to keep some of those uh from leaking out to the front range and other places within the state and keep those within Grand County as our main goal for this incubator project. Uh our data is also showing us where we can um create more opportunities for different industries based on where the county is deficient. Uh some of those industries include uh RNA, CNAs, uh people in the medical fields, uh and then HVAC, contractors, things like that where we've seen there is a deficiency um for those industries. Perfect. And then I'm going to be going through somewhat fast, but feel free to stop me at any time. Uh, I will just keep going if you don't. So, um, feel free to do that at any point. Happy to discuss as well.

No problem. Uh, a little bit about the agenda today. We'll go over some of the meetings we've had so far with some of our other business owners, our engagement plan so far, and some of the data we've collected. While we're trying to get the presentation to cooperate, I'll just chime in. I um met with Diane Butler from Grand County Economic and Ryan last week and they kind of filled me in on the project. I've talked with Diane a little bit about it in the past. Um, but I Ryan was going to be up there this week working on this and I suggested that this might be a good group just to throw around some ideas and get some insights um and see what you guys might think about the project and any thoughts you might be able to contribute. So

yeah, excellent. Um, I don't know if the clicker is working, but if we can just go to the next slide here. Can you point over here? Sure. One more time.

Oh, there we go. Cool. Um, so a little bit of overview. uh four main goals of this like I said to uh provide work tools, work spaces and a centralized resource uh hub for new businesses, smaller businesses, homebased businesses to have that brickandmortar place. Uh those businesses that already exist in Grand County, maybe they're really good at woodworking or another industry or another trade. Maybe they don't aren't so good at marketing or accounting. We can centralize those in one place, have classes, have education, have ways to access those resources uh for businesses currently here. And then supporting industries like trade, construction, outdoor recreation, keeping them in Grand County is our main goal here. And then um even some of the things that help contribute to the end product. It might not be the snowboard that you see on the shelves, but it could be some of those materials pieces part of those uh products that are created here hopefully and stay here in Grand County. And then um you know, just like we met with Sarah, we want to build collaboration with local governments, organizations like yourself. The data can only tell us so much. you are the experts on Frasier and we want to use that expertise to build out this plan and make it as successful as possible. So, uh the project phases so far, we've done our due diligence. We've had some kickoff meetings, monthly check-ins with Diane. Uh we're currently ending our uh second phase, which is our data collection. So, we're looking at candidate sites. Uh looking at the infrastructure types that things that we know we need will go into and that we need to access in order for this to be successful. And we're now going into phase three, which is our feasibility study. So, how much would a incubator cost? Uh where is it? What is the market kind of assessment of that? And how much money could this bring in for local u communities like yourself? And then finally, um we'll actually start implementing this hopefully uh towards next summer uh possibly acquiring a site, designing that facility, and then marketing and how to fund it as well. And so, we've had two meetings so far uh with our what we're calling our think tank. These are local businesses, other um elected officials and staff at local

governments. Um the first one really outlined what we want the incubator to be. We want it to be affordable. We wanted there to be mentoring, networking, and capital access as well. Uh the target sectors that we've identified, outdoor manufacturing, outdoor recreation manufacturing I should say, welding, trades, tech, healthcare, repair services. And this again that last bullet point a second to last bullet point uh this should be very much collaborative between local business leaders real estate um development commissions and educational groups as well to the uh exact locations that came up uh where the former Grandby Elementary site um there's probably too much asus in there as we've started to learn but that was something that came up uh during those conversations as well. That's behind the

uh Silver Creek. Yep. of the uh that's like a condo complex. Yes, sir. It has common areas. Yes, there is actually a very large unused common area um that they are trying to sell or trying to decide what to retrofit that for. Um that was an idea that did pop up. What's great about vocal codes is they work. Exactly. Yep. And they're currently unused. So, it would be a very easy not easy retrofit, but it would be it would be an easy kind of sell to make to those communities. Definitely. Um and then stakeholder meeting number two. Uh this we really want to reflect the community value. So we want this to be for Grand Lake. Uh we want to focus on keeping Grand Lake businesses here and not uh attracting other business. Yes. Yes.

Grand County. Yes. Did I say Grand Lake? You did. I apologize. Um and then a centralized business hub. Uh as the committee member said, uh somewhere that is centralized, specialized, and can be accessed by the entirety of the county. Oh, try again. Did I lose it? No. Try again.

There we go. Cool. Uh then our engagement plan. How are we going to go tell people about this? We've started this. So, we have a business survey currently out. We've provided uh Sarah with that survey. Um if you would like to access that survey, fill it out yourself or tell other business owners about it. We'd be very much happy to provide you with uh social media copy, uh links, anything you need to spread the word on that. Uh but we what we really want to do is get people understanding what an incubator is, what it could mean for this county and then uh start collaborating with some of the business owners currently here and then weave that uh input into our final plan as well and then hopefully start to identify some of the people that could occupy this incubator when we do finally work towards implementation as well. And so uh some milestones uh project launch survey open uh we have formed our stakeholder group uh and then the next milestone will be our draft recommendations. So we're going to um take some um qualitative input and then put it against our quantitative input and then create draft recommendations towards the springtime probably March April of 2026. And then we'll do our final engagement summary and then the public results of that survey will be released. And then finally, we're hoping to identify some partnerships for implementation and then final study approved hopefully next summer. And then uh some of the methods of outreach. Uh we've started that first uh column there. Um targeted meetings, small business owners, economic development partners, chamber of commerce, community and civic leaders like yourself. And then we want some discussion topics to include what are the challenges for starting up businesses? How can we overcome those barriers? and really what is the long-term sustainability of an incubator in Grant County and then data collection and evaluation. Uh this just goes over really the market analysis. This was our purpose. So we want to target uh in certain industries excuse me uh find the identify or find the strengths and weaknesses and then the guiding questions those three there which industries show the strongest

potential for growth what services facilities and resources are needed to support them and what or how should an incubator be designed to maximize community and economic impact and then here's our findings I won't go through all of these I'll just touch on a few of them I'll make sure this presentation is available to all of you if you'd like to go through it later on. Um there is a real um dominance of service sectors here in Gran County which is not unsurprising but that is part of the thing we want to get at with the incubator is kind of diversifying um because 70% of the jobs here are in tourism, recreation or hospitality which is great because that is a very strong industry for you all but there needs to be other more diverse industries here as well. Um there's also a very strong concentration in construction and manufacturing um which is smaller but it is very concentrated in wood products, fabricated metals and things like that. And then we'll get into uh there are currently about 8,100 jobs in 2024 in Grand County. Uh like I said 70% of them being service providing industries or sectors, 12% being good providing sectors. Um so there is a very very heavy reliance on this and uh so when we look at strengths and weaknesses strengths obviously being construction recreation related industries but then as we look at the weaknesses uh manufacturing has some really strong subclusters like I mentioned wood products and fabricated metal but they are absent those sporting goods outdoor equipment manufacturing and we believe that is a missed opportunity for being such a beautiful and outdoor recreationbased uh space for tourism. We want those products to be made here in Grant County. And then wage gaps. Uh you know, those sectors are not exactly supporting a um a like a wage that can really support a a household or a family. Uh so we're looking at about $24,000 per year in some of the arts and entertainment

industries. Accommodation being about 31,000 per year. And then seasonality of it. So people are leaving Grand County based on the seasons or coming in based on the tourism flows and abs that we see here just based on tourism as well. And so these are the geographic clusters of Grand County. Um so the employee the circles are where there are more employees. Um and the larger circle is above 250. And so we can see definitely a strong business cluster along the US 40, Winter Park, Frasier, Grandby, not unsurprising. Uh and then Kremling with that stronger western hub. Um and then Frasier here we have seen a specialized brewing distilling cluster. Um but very much so countywide. Absent is a larger manufacturing cluster anywhere. Um so some of our peer comparisons we're looking at uh to compare would be Eagle and Summit County. Um they are very strong in healthcare and advancing manufacturing and professional services which unfortunately Grand County is not. Um and that makes those seasonal downturns far more severe and are not seen as much in Eagle and Summit County.

Do you know what kind of manufacturers they have? Um I don't offh hand but I can definitely get you that data.

Excellent. Um and then so some of the lessons we've learned uh you know outdoor focused but still supporting very uh diverse uh Tellide actually has a really good venture accelerator which is certainly a model that we want to uh um look at for this type of thing. But we want to keep Grand County Grand County. We don't want to make this tellide. We don't want to make this Aspen. want to keep it very identity specific to this county um and not kind of lose that identity as we bring in new businesses or help foster businesses currently existing in Grand County. Um I'm going to skip this one and then get to the site selection memo. So we are look looking at how to best select sites objectively um and what are the valuation criteria that we've put forward. We know that it has to have broadband. It has to have uh probably most likely um investment tax credits. There is Colorado does support some vacant building rehab credits as well. And then it has to uh be zoned properly and then accessible to highways, workforce and services as well around it. Um and so these are some of the emerging themes that we've seen. Community values, economic diversification, space strategy, site options, business services, all of these need to be in place in order to have a successful incubator. And then our next steps, uh, data analysis, site work, engagement and outreach, del deliverables and timelines, uh, draft recommendations, uh, late winter, early spring of 2025, uh, final products, spring or summer of 2026. So, uh, I know that was very quick, a lot of information to get through, but I'm happy to take any questions, uh, or kind of brainstorm as we go. And thank you for your time again. I have an off thought that it might be the baby step. First of all, this sounds

very tough. Um, obviously in things like trades like electrical fin. Yes. And um it's probably an opportunity for a younger individual to get um Let me know what y'all think with this. So, a fan would purchase the old facility and they're going to use it for working. Are you familiar? Yeah. So, that's the dam,

but I wonder if that might be a date to get something happening. I'll just Yeah. And I have some bad news there. We have approached uh the owner, his name is Dan Merchant. We've had several conversations with him. He decided to go a different direction. Um although that was the like the prime location we're looking at. That is perfect. No, no. Yeah. No, but that's that kind of building is exactly what we're looking for. Um because it is it is right on the highway. It is a great looking building. It has plenty of space, but um you know, he he has other tenants that he's looking at there. Are you working with the schools as well? Is there going to be a tiein? because I know they've started to do some stuff, but I know that can always always help grow, too.

Yeah, I don't think this would be successful without the school districts being involved. Certainly, um just knowing that there are trade opportunities post uh your high school education that you don't have to go to college, have a really successful career here in Grand County. We definitely want to start that and then work and then tie in those opportunities to get some of that educational curriculum built into the schools, especially uh 9th grade through 12th grade for, you know, welding, HVAC, things like that. Perfect. So you said that manufacturing of recreational products. Yes. Correct. Yes sir. What did you have in mind with that?

Um yeah. So I would say any um you know apparel that can be produced here uh at a decent cost. Uh any of the things that the fiberglass some of those base product materials that um could be done inexpensively that isn't already outsourced or done overseas as well.

Okay. I know that we have Aby's pretty well verssed in apparel and um some of the stuff that I was thinking of was there was a company that tried to start up here called seven mile skis turn to crisp skis turned to Adamant skis. They tried three separate times with over probably 3 400 grand investments over the years and they got kicked out of Winter Park pretty much because they wanted more money for space and they couldn't do it. And so this this it's really a high cost to produce things like skis

um where it costs about $300 to produce a pair here inhouse. And that's like taking a major pay cut. So then it needs to be sold for $750 to $900 per pair of skis. And I know that everybody here probably buys Atomic or Rosnol or whatever and you can get those for 250 to 400. So, it's a it's um I think there's been a lot of manufacturing um tries here or trial runs and they've all had to move to Denver and I can I can think of three separate ones that have done that besides that one ski company, but um Sure.

And then apparel, I know that Aby's super wellversed in that, so she has her hand up. Yeah. Yeah. And uh just to follow up on that point, I'd love to hear more about those companies that unfortunately weren't able to stay here and get use those as case studies as well. Okay. I could set you up with those people. Perfect. Thank you so much, sir.

Yeah. And I kind of wanted to I mean my my take well, you know, I have a very personal story which is, you know, twofold. I'm very grateful with where I am, but I would definitely like to be involved in your case study. I think you could learn a lot with what I did witness. Um, I think without the resources that I had going to Denver and being involved with Denver Startup Weeks, getting into the apparel industries there, like um I think one of the biggest guys, Topo Designs, um, I was able to meet with him, kind of learn from what Colorado State was trying to do, like on a statewide level in terms of bringing industry to the state all the way to the textile industry and the science of um, of the just the US trying to to bring fabrications to the to state side. Um so that I can get geeked out on. Um and really excited to hear about all of this. My biggest question would be um as a DDA member um what would be the assistance that you provide there in point with what Parks was saying um in terms of the holistic vision of that that business. So that comes into legal assistance um accounting assistance and those are two really big things. And then my question would be no matter how much leadership is on the front end of a of a small business. Um there's a lot of like emotional struggle that comes with business management in a rural location and it takes a lot of creative thinking and a lot of resources and more frequently than what I have seen and witnessed firsthand more frequently than just like the quarterly check-in. So even after those first two years like what would be that mentorship? What would it look like? Um, and typically

mentorship is not always um, ideal when personalities don't match. And so kind of going through a matching period too of does this person see eye to eye with this creative person because like us creative people, we're kind of we're kind of funny. Um,

you know, and I feel like matching those personality types could be really beautiful. Um, and then also, you know, I really tried to push in in getting some le like financial legal assistance for small businesses because that is something I witnessed firsthand that was really hard to get even through the state. Uh, and so if the if if you if Grip could provide that legal guidance as well and and knowing that if something did happen with a tenants commercial contract situation um that they could have some guidance um there and I think I had one more thing. Um Mike one your in your data uh research is our population something that could support and sustain um some of these manufacturing models because when you do break down the dollars you have to have an outreach and whether you have you know great algorithms on Instagram or you have great you know uh priced uh labor materials if you have that like cost of item to to selling point like perfect great you can probably sell it but I mean I've made apparel here I still plan to do that and you the price of my item is pretty like you know even San utel with um with backpacks like the price of his backpack is is costly so I just don't want anybody to do what I did um ever and I'm really excited for what you're doing so hopefully all that made sense

it does yeah and and please uh let me know if forget to answer any of your questions, but um we envision this more as kind of a what I'm calling a Netflix model of memberships so that uh if you wanted to just buy in and get that assistance in uh legal spaces, accounting, startups, uh you could go and attend classes uh you know enjoy networking events, things like that and you wouldn't necessarily need to rent or lease space uh in some of these more industry specific uh sites that we're putting together. So um there would be kind of two functions. you would have a um you would have access to the resources let's say uh for welding um you know that is a very very high startup cost but it's something I know um a lot of rural communities like yourselves need and HVAC and um others being the same so but let's say you don't need that and you just want to get access to those uh learning opportunities uh that could certainly be done and that might be the first thing that we implement is those learning opportunities before and so we create that base of membership and then they kind of tell us what we need to do and what industries we should start looking into. So, we kind of build that trust with the communities before we come in and say, "Hey, we want you to spend all this money, lease this space." And we really don't have that trust and that proof of concept quite yet. So, I hopefully that answers your first question about uh those resource access. Um and then, um getting to uh the Could you repeat that last question? I apologize. I'm getting a little muddled in my head. like a mentorship pairing because some just you don't have that many people in that job that can provide that service that there's, you know, a matching.

Yes. Um, you know, at first there might not be a onetoone match and we might have to look outside of Grant County for that. Um, but I I do think we're hoping to kind of have people come out of the woodworks and we're trying to un overturn those those rocks and find those hidden uh gems and those resources to start matching people um like you were saying uh for that mentorship. And then uh back to your population feasibility. Um that's what we're getting into right now and I think that's going to really lead us in the direction of what can this county population um support right now? What does it most need right now? uh before we start diving into hey you know outdoor recreation is great we want to keep it here in Grand County but if the population or we have to assume population increases in order to support that that's not something we want to prioritize and lead with right away

and then I did have one more question is the you looking at to accommodate the the participants or is it just your your uh the grips office or like flagship space is it um all of the above yeah so uh they're really wouldn't be um it would really be led by the county. So, it wouldn't I it would probably be an LLC or a standalone nonprofit that is has a heavy tiein with the county um if not kind of, you know, being held by the county as as their own asset and resource initially. Okay, cool. What do you think the startup cost is of a building like that and all of the machinery that you need and personnel to run it?

It would be quite a lot. Um we haven't gotten those projections quite yet on that. Um there would need to be capital investment from uh probably some Denver based businesses that want to have an outpost out here. Um some capital investment from the state or um some tieins with community colleges that have a satellite campus or would consider having a satellite campus out here. So it wouldn't just be you know on the members that want to populate this. There would have to be outside investment. I know we're out of time but one of the things you want to ponder is food production catering thought about that. If you go to almost any event of any size like fundraiser almost always by someone else. Yeah.

So it's a huge opportunity school would have been ideal for that and we can talk about that another time. And actually the the Merchant Ranch site uh his wife is actually um doing a commercial kitchen in that site as well. She has a bakery in Granby, I think. Um and she's using some of that space for that exact purpose. Yeah, she's actually opening her bakery here. Okay. Excellent. Yeah. by the birdie lounge. Correct. Um yeah, kind of behind the birdie lounge. Just just as example, yeah, I have a wild guess of what that facility is going to cost. It's an enormous amount of money. So not only people can do that. Sure. So if there was something like you're talking about um I've got incredible news about food production. Perfect. Would love to hear.

Ryan, what's your email if we wanted to just reach out to provide any extra Yeah. So it is R. Peterson perso n atterog n t ero group.com and certainly Sarah will pass that along as well. Yeah, I can send that to everybody and yeah, I'm happy to have one-on-one conversations. Uh if you think we're going down the wrong path or you know you know something that would be really grateful for this conversation, we'd be happy to do that.

Perfect. And it sounds like Ryan that you guys were kind of initially looking at one large space, but may also be open to multiple smaller spaces. Yes. So if if folks do have ideas on on properties or spaces they might want to look at, feel free to pass that along as well. Yes. Um and so yeah, we're doing a very objective just like based on zoning, based on access to broadband highways, but obviously there will be some that kind of slip through the cracks or are able to be reszoned in order to facilitate this. Um eventually we want to have a network of incubators and uh spaces to sell some of these products as well. So it might not be the place where the people are doing some of this production. It might be a uh space to sell them later on as well.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you all so much. Appreciate it. Appreciate it. Thank you so much. So I think we're appointing some board members, correct? Officers. Yes, officers.

Yeah. Let me go ahead and I will share my screen here real quick. So per our bylaws um we do have board officers appointed um every two years um of odd years in October. Um so again based on when we started this first round um is a little bit different but we do need a board chair, a vice chair, a treasurer and a secretary. Currently we have Parks Thompson serving as our board chair, Tiffany Gatesman serving as our vice chair, Nick Crab as our treasurer and Katie Souls as our secretary. Um, so if anyone is interested in being considered for those positions, if people currently in those positions would like to continue in those positions, um, we can have that discussion and then go from there. I know Katie Souls couldn't be here today. She said she's happy to continue as secretary. She's also happy to step aside if somebody else would like to step into that role. Um, as secretary, she is kind of responsible for the minutes and documentation and things like that. Currently, the way it's been working, um, which I think has worked pretty well, um, Antennette puts together the minutes with a little AI help and then emails them to Katie and I and we review them, suggest any edits, and then they're put in front of the board the next meeting to to be approved. Um, so again, she's happy to continue in that role. If somebody else wants to take over, she's happy to step aside.

Has the three two of the three of you been in the role for a period of time? Are you all up for willing? I'm fine with it. It doesn't Yeah, I'm fine. I'm good. Think it's working, right? I mean, yeah. It's not broken. Yeah. It's not broken. Don't fix it. Right. Yeah. And I can't do anything more than I'm already doing. I've already dropped the ball in the marketing. No, you haven't. There's not much. You made a beautiful plan, Abby. Uh, and I'm actually hoping in November we can revisit social media. Um, we've got some

ideas there for some help. Yay. Yeah. Um, anybody else want to put their cat in the ring? Yep.

Yeah. Agreed. I'd like to move that all publishers remain in place as they are willing. Second. I can second that. Any other person that All in favor? I I I Yeah. Cool. That makes it easy. My job has been very easy so far. So, yeah. I'm sure it'll only get harder, but like honestly, that's totally fine. Um, yes, y'all are doing great. Thank Yes. Thank you all for your efforts. Um,

thank you Sarah. I mean, I think you do a lot. So, you really help us with our job and I just want to recognize that that it would be pretty it'd be a whole lot harder if you weren't around. Well, thank you. Yeah. So, um, if we could move on to the Frasier comprehensive plan, downtown vision and economic development draft.

All right, we've got Garrett with us here. Garrett's Scott, our town planner. I can let him give you a little update on um where the process is at and kind of next steps. Um, what was included in the packet was the word version of the downtown vision and the economic development sections. Um, I was conflicted. I wanted to present an opportunity for you all to provide feedback. I didn't think we had time to go through the whole comprehensive plan or that necessarily would be appropriate or make sense. But that said, there is a lot of overlap in intersections amongst the different sections. So, I did send out a draft version of the whole plan. Um, just please note that staff is still reviewing and working with Cushing Terrell on revising and polishing that. So, that is not yet a public document. Sections of it have been made publicly. Um, but again, just wanted for those of you who really wanted to dive in to be able to see the overlaps and whatnot. Um, though we'll focus on downtown vision and economic development.

Yeah, thanks Sarah. So, I have the um

draft uh you know text and language that was provided in the packet. Really the focus of of what's in here is the um the downtown vision section which I believe has been shared with you all on the DDA board previously um as well as scrolling down the uh economic development section uh of the comprehensive plan. And uh our our downtown vision section is really quite robust. I would say it's I think our our longest section in terms of our goals, strategies, and actions. And the comprehensive plan, uh the economic development section is a little bit light, but to Sarah's point, there's a lot of items that kind of cross reference or, you know, um really could live in in multiple different sections. So, you know, I think the intention of this was not to go through this line by line. Uh, if you all had an opportunity to review this and have any further thoughts or suggestions or edits or additions to this, uh, staff is certainly open to hearing them. Uh the intent behind this is just to get an additional set of eyes on this document uh these these uh you know strategies and actions uh before this is made available for public comment here soon uh by the end of the month. So with that I'll just open it up for any thoughts or feedback or suggestions.

Garrett, can you comment real quick on um in terms of it going to like the planning commission and the public and the board the kind of dates outlined for that? Yeah. So, we're targeting bringing this plan forward to our planning commission in November. I think that date is November 12th. Uh yes, the second Wednesday um for their review and their recommendation of approval and then it will advance to the board in December for final approval and adoption. And those, you know, that timeline can be pushed back, stretched out for additional public comment, public feedback, and things like that. But we're targeting to try to get this plan adopted before the end of the year. So that's the the schedule we're tracking a little bit. I read the whole thing. It's more like overwhelming.

Sure. Yes. So what I try to do is focus on the things that I think should be focused on for my old thought process, right?

Sounds great. So maybe it would be interesting to see what your group's thought is what kind of input you need for each part of it and therefore and know that not being around maybe we voice it even though that's not our think I'll let them be the office of the group. I'm going to be the official group for for I remember early 7 years. I made a comment that I'm a perennial warrior who says you're a warrior. That's the last thing we not as I read through the economic parts of it which are very well laid out. Um the implementation that is going to be rather my worry or mentality is we're phasing into a period of economic slowdown. Anecdotally I read a week ago that um so you got Alter and Bale Bale is not just Bale Bale has to release uh numbers because Republic indicated that sales are the epic

heal So reimplementation of some of the ideas in there which are very I think will be very important. So just interested in for that part because it's where I can read the most input. Um you know there are one board member that has local business. I think getting input from the community as to what we're seeing and what we think would be what we'd like to see out of that positive. So, um, I was looking at this and it says, "Enhance the physical environment of downtown through targeted improvements to streets, sidewalks, facades, and public spaces." I think that that's pretty DDA oriented, right? Yeah. I I would say that line is pretty consistent with our current um business enhancement grant program.

Uhhuh. But but yes, I know there's been discussions about should that be um part of the DDA's focus. It's um economic development 1.1. If you want to scroll down on the creating a downtown marketing and branding strategy, that's probably under Sarah W, right? W ED which one? ED um 1.3 and then 1.3 1.3.

Okay. Then um ED2.3 consider dedicated incentives for business that contribute to yearround activity, employment and revenue generation. Um that might be something that DDA could look into, right? Yeah, I mean that one specifically. And just to clarify real quick, um, you guys were sent the word version and there is an accompanying matrix and this does actually have priority numbers and partners and other things that I left off. So that is what is printed in front of you and up on the screen. So I just wanted to clarify if you're looking at what was in the packet, this

these items match that. But back to your question though, 1.3 and 2.3 I feel like are pretty close to the same. Like they're almost that falls under 1.3. Just might be something to consider because it's marketing based. Uh so marketing and branding I think is a little bit different than dedicated incentives for businesses. Those are the two that you're putting together. Yeah. because I think the idea but it's contributing to yearround activity

and I think that's where it falls underneath right because that's incentives for that's marketing for year- round activity correct yes so there's definitely overlap and revenue generation also falls under that which one sorry revenue generation and incentives for the business to to create year-round activity so Yes, I kind of felt like those two would be hand in hand, but um you know, I guess they could be separate. And then your development, just moving on. These are just ideas I had. It doesn't mean we have to answer them or anything. Just things I'm thinking about. Okay.

Develop and promote signature offseason events that draw visitors and support local business. So off season is what you were just talking about that we're going into somewhat of an economic fall and really those the problem but it's going to make the next few weeks you know annually the worst. Okay. Events like Winter Park Film Festival are filling gaps like that events. So, we need more events that are being spaced into the off seasons. Correct. Correct.

And so, maybe the DDA can help focus on some of that because there's not a lot of activity in town during those times. And we have more time as the DDA that way. If we have more time, then we can push as a board harder because I know that because we are business owners in the in the busy season, it's really difficult for people like Nick and Barry and myself to everybody here to to do anything,

you know. So, it it becomes hard. So, maybe 2.4 is really good for us to be involved in just as business owners. It's just my input on this front page here.

Yeah. Picking off Biggy backing off you two. I think it's it's definitely um I'm thinking about sitting in on the the meeting the the last town meeting right with economic uh development group. Greg and I were here. I think anything that uh would help right the town that we could do more of right it might be easier to get some more direction this way versus trying to take take things um that sounds a little harsh but um anything that I think we could help with right be would be good guidance for us

and I think it could be a worthwhile activity we've been kind of I mean the DDA has contributed thoughts That's around the kind of the downtown vision for this plan. Obviously, we have the DDA plan of development. But once this plan is kind of finalized, polished, published to sit down and look at it in comparison to our plan of development and um our DDA work plan and kind of not merge them, but see where it makes the most sense for the DDA to focus their energy if the DDA feels that it's appropriate and makes sense to really kind of complement what's in the comprehensive plan where there's overlap with the DDA plan of development.

Right. 100% agree. And I think I would also, sorry to cut you off. What I'm saying is that for 2.4 during this time of year, we could be more active with meetings. So instead of once every month, maybe we meet twice a month in the offseason to really get some flow and some movement for this specific subject here. Yeah, I think role find providing um our thoughts or gathering information from the community and helping um you know whoever is in charge specifically of these things. Um I think like I said just some more more direction of where we could help um and focus our energy you know and it could be things like hey this is a great idea and everyone agrees to it but there's no one that can head it up. Okay, great. That would be something that we could take on.

Um versus, you know, comparing it to the economic development, it seemed like the town board was um interested in keeping that in-house for a lack of a better term, right? My take is the board, if the DDA has money to fund it, they would be happy to hand it over to the DDA, but if it is town funds that are funding it, they want to have a say in

which totally made totally makes sense. It's also like okay supports. Yep. Having some of that direction would be helpful. Yep. Feel like I have a lot to say but I don't know like what line item it is. You know what I mean? Um, I think you answered my question, Sarah, where you said the where everything is crossing over. I just wonder, um, like, you know, how if if we're responsible for creating a cohesive feel with our money, but at the same time, would it be like a 50/50 where like the town, you know, has a say and so they put in money and then we put in money versus us just fronting a full concept. Does that make sense?

Yeah, it could be. Are you speaking about the business enhancement grants or just generally? Just generally. I think there was a line item if um if Greg was able to scroll up. I think it was 2.1 um develop coordinate calendar downtown. Nope. Developer signature. No. uh the 1.3 marketing and branding strategy. I feel like that's something you just said that like you guys are already doing that in a sense.

Yeah. And I would actually recommend we reward that because I think I think Sarah Wick has done a really nice job with this and and working with communications and so I think there's always room for enhancements and you know things to tailor but um continuing yeah I think it would be confusing if we like you know put our two cents in. I think us just supporting your already developed concept for Yep. the Frasier website and then the explore Frasier website. We just want to support that. Um [Music] yeah, and just to clarify again, this is the town's comprehensive plan, right, that the DDA is being asked to weigh in on. This is not

Yeah. being handed to the DDA to implement this.

But I think it does make sense to look at that DDA plan of development and where is their overlap and that it would be appropriate to say, okay, we want to work handinhand with the town. There is a lot of overlap here. So, this is where we're going to kind of prioritize based on those intersections between the DDA plan of development and the town's comprehensive plan. So, depending on what it is, Abby, to go back to your question, something like wayfinding, you know, I know the town is looking to put a certain amount of money in their budget for wayfinding um as the result of that wayfinding study that was done between Winter Park uh Winter Park Resort and Frasier. Um, but it could be appropriate for the DDA to say, "Okay, the town's funding this. We think this is important. It's also in the plan, so we'll fund this piece, right? Or we'll chip in 50% or whatever it may be." So, um, but just want to make sure that this isn't being muddled in terms of the purpose of of this document and and the DDA's involvement. Right.

Right. Yeah, that makes sense. And I think it's also we've talked about it's going to be a couple years of just supporting wherever we can, even if it's just with some some leg work, right? and time for us um until there is yeah some substantial budget to offer things financially.

Yeah. And I do think the Frasier DDA is unique in some ways in the DDA world in that Frasier is small, right? And it's pretty much almost our whole town with a couple little things cut out for better for worse that are encompassed by the DDA. So there is a lot of overlap. Um, I was just down in Denver, you know, and they just redid the 16th Street Mall pedestrian walk. Um, and there was a lot of cool kind of interactive art features and music features and they had a little plaques um that I assume they were funded by the that um downtown business improvement district, right? That is this portion of Denver, right? And so there's overlap with their Denver business improvement district in this downtown area with the larger city of Denver. Um, and they have little business improvement districts all over the place. Their downtown development authority was Union Station, right? So, it was this small piece, whereas in Frraasier, there's just there's a whole lot of overlap. So it makes sense that there be synergy and an integration and you know

so one of my questions I guess is is this aiming at like more of weekend traffic or is this aiming at like making people more likely to be full-time residents here or because this is like we just had a whole presentation on 70% of our economic you know our wealth comes from tourism. And so with that being said, there's things in here saying that businesses should collaborate. And so like, are we trying to get our own residents to spend more money with each other or are we trying to get more people to come live here full-time and want to be here, want to live here, right? like Grand Park has a lot of second homes, rendevous has second homes, whatever. Are these people are we trying to attract these people to want to live here full-time? Because I would see that that's how you gain more wealth year round, right?

And I think it's both. And again, recognizing that this is an economic development section of a larger plan that talks about things like housing and child care and quality of life for residents. Um, so recognizing that tourism is front and center, the economic driver here, right? How do we build that? How do we fill in the shoulder seasons? Um, but then this last economic development area for make Frasier a place where people can both live and work affordably talks more about regional economic development, supporting creation of year-round higher wage jobs, creating things like co-spaces, business incubators. Does that answer your question? Yeah, I I would to add on that. I think the way this economic development section is currently written, it identifies goals that are, you know, trying to tackle that on all fronts, both enhance and expand the tourism and recreation economy, but also expand and diversify in other areas where it's lacking. Kind of um uh the gentleman before was speaking to, right, with the the business incubator program. So, I think it's uh trying to speak to both of those elements of of economic development.

If you guys are good with it, for the sake of time, why don't we look at downtown vision? And I'll just say you guys can continue if you want to take more time with this after this discussion, like feel free to email me your comments or

um like I said, once it's polished, it'll be made public and open for public feedback. But, so don't feel like you have to like I know it's a lot. If ideas come to you later, you can still send them on to us. I would encourage that you also look at towns like Breen Ridge, Telly Ride, Silverthorn, things like that. And you probably have, but adding their economic growth and their from a 10ear span or a 20 year span might be something to look at and how they've kind of got to where they're at because that's kind of where we're headed.

Got so in terms of downtown Oh, go ahead. I I was I just had one question. Um is the housing needs assessment from I think it was 2021 what's being relied on for the kind of housing goals Garrett or is there a new housing needs assessment um being conducted. So, Greg, real quick, and then I can let Gre uh Greg Garrett speak more to this specific plan, but the housing needs assessment that was done um with the Frasier Housing Partnership has been updated since 2021, but they are looking at a more full comprehensive update. Um I believe the goal is to have that done in 2026. They've been searching for figuring out the executive director role. So I don't know if that's been delayed but that is planned to be update. There was like a mini update that was done last year the year before.

Yeah. June of last year. Yeah. So yes we are using that uh housing needs assessment uh that was finalized 2022 and then updated 2024 as well as other data sources census etc. um in the comp comprehensive plan just broadly speaking. But yes, to Sarah's point, the housing partnership uh will be completing a updated housing needs assessment in the near future. Okay, cool. Yeah, because I just there's a lot of new deliveries coming on with the resort at NH and St. Louis. Yeah,

for Frasier specifically, I don't know, you know, for Frasier, how many more affordable units or are are are truly needed for Frraasier. Um, so I think that's important to get that update and at least make the policy malleable enough to kind of account for what changes once they do that reanalysis.

For sure. Sure. And the housing recommendations in this plan, I will say, are much more general than what you find in like the needs assessments kind of recommendations. Um, so looking at downtown vision, um, I'll go through this quickly of just kind of the overarching visions, goals, and then we can come back to anything that people would like to discuss. Create an environment where walking, biking, and rolling feels fun, easy, and accessible. Within that is improving signage and wayfinding, improving pedestrian and vehicular safety, expanding and improving mobility options, allocating and designing space that is friendly to walk, bike and roll. Um, next the vision two, build a lively and sustainable business environment that supports small local shops and businesses reflecting the town's unique and fun spirit. So promoting business diversity um amongst local businesses and entrepreneurs, increasing foot traffic and visitation, providing inclusive housing that prioritizes the workforce, creating a full day Frasier visitor experience. So giving people kind of a reason to come and actually spend their time in Frraasier versus just pass through. make the Frasier River and Frasier River Trail the heart of downtown, shaping the area's identity, and offering a vibrant scenic space for residents and visitors to enjoy. Um, that includes enhancing the Frasier River Trail amenities and gathering spaces near downtown, encouraging active uses and programming along the Frasier River while respecting ecologically sensitive areas, improving non-motorized access and visibility from Highway 40 and Clayton Court to the river. Uh, vision four, enhance downtown to be the go-to destination, buzzing with excitement and events every month of the year where there's always something fun for everyone. Enhance event and programming efforts. Ensure high quality

architectural and public realm design that is memorable and unique. And so yeah, that is a lot and then with kind of some goals um under each of those. So, if there's anything you think is missing or anything you want to address or comment on. And again, there is um there's a community section. Um it does actually call out the PDA helping to support the arts um in that section. Um that kind of gets more to that quality of life for residents. Um there's an infrastructure section that kind of talks more about things like sidewalks and roads. Um, and then there's a natural resources and sustainability section that does talk more about like the Frasier River and kind of making sure we're being good environmental stewards along alongside the economic development um, and just development piece and they did have access to the DDA plan of development. So I think there are um, definitely some overlaps here. All right. Well, if there's no other thoughts now, um, like I said, feel free if you want to go back and look at this, if you have any other thoughts, you can send them to Garrett or I. Um, can make sure you have Garrett's contact information as well. Um, otherwise this will be cleaned up hopefully in time for the planning commission next month and then it goes to the public before or after the planning commission.

Uh, before the planning commission. So yeah, we are racing towards that. Um, I really appreciate the feedback and discussion. I got some good notes here. Um, so yeah, thank you all for your time. Thanks. It is open to the public. I would encourage you to encourage the public um to to look at it and provide feedback and be engaged in that process. Okay, so moving on to the DDA budget revision. Thanks, Garrett.

All right, so um this is a small revision. um share my screen here. And this is included in the packet as well. I'm not locating the Yeah. would you like?

So much like last year, it's about $1,400 less than what we had um been prognosticating um because of a tax discrepancy. I don't know the specific, but um I do know that's exactly what we're looking at again, but it's only like 1386 or something like that. 1396. So, it's not a huge difference, but um it is uh mostly impacting our um our revenues over expenditures, which isn't really affecting much at all. So, um hopefully you can speak to more specifics on how that happened, but

yeah, looking that over earlier and um I don't know exactly which parcel it was, but

yeah. So, there was there was some wonky stuff that went on with the way the town had divided up joined parcels um around by where the art center is and the Stum town homes. Um, so they've said this is a one-time occurrence, but basically we had some land that went from tax exempt to non-exempt. So we lose that money um once it's non-exempt. It goes against our our increment. Um because it's a negative in taxes compared to what it used to be. But she had calculated it wrong. Um and in looking at this with um Troy and Nick, Troy had actually identified that and it was an issue just with her calculation spreadsheet. So she circled back, she being the county assessor um that that works with us or works for the county um to do the tax increment. So she went back and redid the calculation, changed the formula to make it a negative versus a positive number like we were getting extra increment when it should have been a negative increment. Um, so it shows the previous tier we we're getting 43,731. And again, this estimate could still change before the end of the year. Um, but that's down to $42,336. So about 1,400 give or take. Um, it didn't make any other changes to the budget at this point other than just reducing those revenues over expenditures like Nick was talking about. So, I'm sure that is clear as mud, but our previous revenues over expenditures were 10,174. We don't change anything in the budget. That would be 8,779. Now,

I don't think we need to really make any changes at all because it doesn't really affect anything in like specifically. Um, but it just gives us a little bit less flexibility for if we want to spend anything over the budget. Um, but we already have a pretty good amount of money for like district enhancements and all that stuff that we really didn't spend it all this year because we didn't really have much. But hopefully next year if we have a project that we actually want to spend it on, we have enough money to kind of act on it. So, agreed. And again, this budget is wrapped into the town budget that the board of trustees um will be approving. Um I mean, they will likely make some modifications, but they will ultimately be approving probably their first board meeting in December. Um so at that point, our the DDA budget becomes kind of finalized.

Cool. So, um, if everybody is okay with just making that change in the revenues over expenditures, and as you may recall, we talked about kind of setting aside a larger amount to kind of grow a pot of money for larger projects. Um, our next item does have to do with the Frasier Railroad Station signage, um, and whether or not the DDA would like to sponsor those. So, we'll talk about that in a second, but I just wanted to point out while we're looking at this that right now this budget has the district enhancement amount from this year of 20,000 kind of rolling over to next year. Um, so 20,000 new plus 20,000 from last year. If we did decide to do the signage, that number would go down significantly because then we'd actually be spending that district enhancement money or some of it this year. So, we'll talk about that in a second, but just wanted to point that out while we have this up. Um, but if everybody is good with how this stands, then maybe we can just do a motion to approve the revised budget that reflects the slightly um less revenues coming in.

Second. All in favor? Hi. Hi. Hi. Greg's on record. All right. So, Frasier Railroad Station signage possible DDA sponsorship. Yeah. So, let me heard there was kind of some exciting stuff about being able where to put it.

Yeah. So, Anthony, would you mind pulling this up from the agenda? For some reason, mine has gone blank. So, it's the town of Frasier Depot sign. So, we have um we looked at these signs I think a couple months back. I can't remember if it was the last DDA board meeting or the meeting before that. Um Sarah continued to work with I believe Slate on them. Um and we have gotten permission from Amtrak as well as Union Pacific Railroad to hang the signs um on the Amtrak platform. And the idea is that there would be one on either side of it. So one if the train is coming in going north, you'd see it on the southern end. And then if you're coming in the other way, you'd see it on that side as well. Um, so they have been approved. I do have Do the sign first.

Thank you. So this be two of them or just this one on one side?

So there would be two. There would be one on the north side, one on the south side. So you see it from either direction the train was going. Um, this is what the sign looks like. Um, so it's got some different icons there kind of representing some of the different things to do in Frraasier with the Frasier logo in the middle there. Um, and then the other document that was in the packet does provide different price points depending on the materials. Um, so the question is if this is something that the DDA would like to sponsor. Um, it is not currently in the town budget to do the signs. Um, I know we were we've been talking about an enhancement, something kind of welcoming you to Frasier down around the station and some of the different ideas have either been put on hold or fallen through for different reasons in terms of like the kinetic sculpture or doing a mural. Um, so I wanted to see if if the DDA did want to take this on. Um, if you want to share the other screen. So, there's a ca three different price points. Um, the flat aluminum composite is supposed to have an 8 to 12 year life depending on UV exposure. Um, here I would expect that UV exposure to be high. So, would expect that it'd be on the lower end. Um, but that for the two signs, it's a little over 4,000 for each sign. So, it' be $8,286 for the two signs. Um the next option is supposed to have a 25 plus year life. Uh these signs would be constructed from thick solid aluminum plate. The graphics will have a painted finish and acrylic polyurethane with an automotive clear coat for maximum durability. So that brings it up to um about 7,000 per sign

for a total of 14,376. Um, or if you want to go fully three-dimensional carved wood, that is also meant to have a 25 plus year life. Um, but for two signs, that would be 18,734. And these do include materials, labor, and installation. They're also meant to be designed such that because Amtrak is doing um they're redoing that platform that these are something that we would be able to take down and then hang back up.

So just my two cents if we could scroll to the top of that. Is is that the top there? Oh yeah, 8,000. Um that all seems pretty high for that type of signage. Um, just because I've bought a lot of signs and used to actually make signs myself, so this seems pretty like taxed to me. Um, especially for what you're getting. I think if you're gonna get flat aluminum composite signs like that, it makes more sense because you could replace those twice for and you would have, you know, almost 30 years for 25 years of life for 20 grand. Um, but that's just my opinion on that. Also, I'd say that you should probably shop that out to uh Mountain Signs as well or the Mountain Sign Corp. I can put you in touch with them. They sponsored the film festival for like a number of years and like for free.

Munsford. They're not, you know, they're a great company. It's just extremely taxed for what it is. Yeah. And I think that if the DDA is going to sponsor that and spend that type of money, I would much rather get give some incentive or some sort of trade to um to this to the to the guys I know up there at the ski resort and they would probably do it for half of that price. So, okay,

would be my guess. I don't want to speak for them, but I do know I've dealt with them for a lot of stuff. And they are extremely community- based and anything that is community. They do a lot of donating. They donated like $20,000 worth of signs to the Winter Park Film Festival and helped us every year. Okay. So, I think if we're going to give money to somebody, you know, we should ask them just because I think 8,000's a lot and 14 and 18,000 is a ton of money for a sign that's only so big and sits

on just the train station. If that's on the highway maybe where there's way more traffic and we're people are stopping in town, this is like we're trying to pull some people off the train. So, I don't think, you know, $20,000 is worth spending for what you're going to get off of the train. Like Nick's business and your business isn't going to see 20 grand in from the train in the next four years, you know, just from my opinion. Tell me.

I No, no, no. Um, it is pricey. Um I when I f like I first looked at this and I thought this was like a total like you had to like add all these up and I was just like no way.

Um but like even that that top price point for an aluminum sign with no lights or anything at all like I he does amazing work. He did my I believe he did your sign as well. Um he did the ice box um one two. He does great work, but um for what we're looking for, probably not needed to go with him. Um and um then we can possibly use more of that money towards like lighting um to kind of light that up when that train comes in in the winter. You can't see that if it's not lit up. So um because after four o'clock we're it's night. So

that's a good point. Yeah, I did that same thing. Yeah, I also think keeping the cheaper, right, with I know there's a lot of discussion of what's going to happen with that in that whole Yeah. area, right? I I don't know if we could look out past 8 years. Yeah. Right. So, I think hey, if it's something a digitally printed, right, aluminum backed sign that looks good, right? And then see how things go. I would vote towards Yeah. getting something quicker and cheaper now that still looks good and then know that it will have to be replaced or changed as that area grows. Yeah. Then using um potentially your company that you mentioned or McConnell printing could also quote us as well because they do aluminum printing as well.

Yeah, McConnell's going to outsource that I think probably. But so they're pretty pretty hefty, too. I work with them a lot. Oh, really? Um it would be worth looking into, but chances are they're going to go ask the guys that I'm talking about. Really? Yeah. So, and they're they're great. They really do donate a lot to the community and if you tell them it's this and yep for this and it's for the community they probably are going to give you an insanely good deal like I both sides might even be 2500 in total. Okay. Yeah. Know you can definitely get other prices. Is this something that the DDA would like to pursue then if we can get the right price point?

Absolutely. only issue. I just wonder if it would be best to wait to understand how the waist finding signage is going to evolve and so this isn't really much wayinding.

No. And so the wayinding study was completed and they presented I don't know if you were at that meeting. Yeah. Wait to see what the panel of art decides to do as a result of the way and that might lead us have a sign sign edge that's more wayind or directing people than just saying here we go. It's a thought for you all. I think that that's a valid point, but I think that this is more so just adding some beauty up there and saying that you're here and it's like a welcoming thing versus like cuz even if they got let's say that those signs weren't there and then the way finding was already up that's down closer to the road pointing down the road, you know, we saw some of that. This is more so just let's make it a little prettier when they show up and say, "Hey, I'm in Frraasier. People are taking pictures in front of it."

If that's the consensus of the group, then I would strongly second trying to find something that's more cost effective. Yeah. I mean, I think once we have a full understanding of how the rate finding science will evolve, we might find gaps in that that we think we would want to fill. that would direct people from the train to the downtown. We could always add more to the bottom. Sure. That is more waybinding. Um or even on those posts. Yeah.

That basically is more eye level. Um as long as this design is not considerably opposing graphically to to that wayfinding graphic. um that or the visuals that we're going to be using. Um I think this is separate but related. Um and we can always add more to it to basically make it more of a way finding thing. But yeah, actually Oh, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Is does that Amtrak sign block the vision of that sign in the image you you have on

I think I am on Zoom right now. Uh, that's a good question, Abby. I don't believe so, but I can go put eyes on it. Um, and I don't know with the work they're going to be doing if that sign's location will change at all. Um, I'm I feel like it's not something that needs to be pushed right now for some reason with all the changes that they're going to do with the structure. if they could send in what they're going to do and then we could make a decision or the town can make a decision based on that. Don't you think

we have those plans and we can look at those um we could bring those to the next meeting along with if we get quotes from other folks. Um my understanding is the platform renovations are going to be done over a series of years. I asked how long. I was expecting stupidly um weeks, maybe months. And um in part because they have to keep the platform open while they're doing the work. So, right. Yeah, I would agree with Abby because the aesthetics could completely change once it's done. Um

and like Parks was saying, you know, we could get a cheaper sign that only lasts eight years, so that might be okay. But I don't know if it would be worth it for us to spend all that money on something that is not going to be aesthetically pleasing on the new building and last. Um, but I really like the idea of having this sign with the uniqueness and I do from what I vaguely remember from the wayfinding, I feel like it does match kind of the aesthetics of the wayinding, but it also adds the little quirkiness and the recreation of Frraasier. So, I really do like it. I do like the idea. I just don't I'm just concerned with the construction as well and the cost.

What if we could get So maybe if the costs come down to like four or five grand total, maybe then it's worth it for that amount of years. So then if it's gone, it's like we didn't, you know, we spent $500 per year to have it or couple hundred a year versus like 10 grand, you know? Yeah. My understanding is that structure piece kind of above the platform will stay quite similar and again the sign is designed such that it could be moved to the new structure. Um trying to see if I have the plans handy.

If it is more temporary we could always auction it off for a charity donation later on too after we get a new one. Oh totally. make some money back on it. Well, hopefully for charity, but like DDA could be a charity, I guess.

I have very um engineering documents. Let me see. Well, why don't we work um on getting some other quotes or at least one other quote um and then I I do have a meeting with Amtrak later this week to talk about a real estate agreement so I can get more details and confirm um what it would look like in terms of the new the renovations are doing to the platform and we can bring it back to our November meeting if that makes sense. Sounds good. Okay.

Might it make sense if they would let us at the platform or something nearby to have one of those scan code my age. Um that would bring up half of downtown with all the places to go. when someone gets off the train, they just stand, oh, I can go grab a beer. It's only one minute walk, right? I believe we talked about that um before, but it would be cool to have like a little like table like almost with a QR code, like maybe a little map

um like all the businesses around town and like distances and all that too. um walking around and achieve all of our many of our and if it's covered like UV is not an issue and that can also be moved once the new station comes in and put on that new station as well. I think it's like a scientist. Yeah.

Yeah. And that was part of the discussion with the kinetic sculpture versus kiosk and what that looked like that we decided to hold off on for now. Sarah Wick last year had a big tall, it's actually in our office now. Um kind of I don't even know what to call it. It's like a cloth sign. It had a QR code that you could scan um for information. it took you to explore Frraasier. Um, and she got a bunch of scans like when she first put it up there, but then there wasn't that much traffic um on the platform. That said, I think it makes sense as part of wayfinding in terms of giving people information kind of once they are stepping down into Frasier.

What happened with the big the big map? You said that she was working on was that like too expensive? Yeah, I think she ultimately decided like I wasn't being super responsive and that it was just a lot of money for a match. I want to don't quote me on this. I want to say it was like 30,000 or something like that. I thought it was a lot. Yeah. So, he said that they don't have the CNC router, but my buddy Chris does for Adamant skis. Okay. And he's saying that if we got it cut that it wouldn't be more than like 500 to a,000 aside. Okay. And that's a lot cheaper. Yeah, that's like I'm down to do that.

A lot. See, cuz well, and that's what I'm saying. I think that, you know, being taxed that heavily is just not worth it. But if it's a,000 aside or 1,500 aside, then we're really not blowing much money at all. And if it does get taken down, if it does get beat up in the wind or something crazy happens, then it's like whatever. We got some years out of it. And that would be for the aluminum. So, there's aluminum composite material that they use up at the resort and that's what that would be. But they would have to have it cut and then they would print it. Okay. But Chris has a CNC and I could get him to do that. We would just have to give him a couple hundred or something. It'd be cheap to do it that way. Okay. That's what I'm saying.

Well, Parks, why don't you and I talk offline and we'll figure that out and then we can bring it back to the next. I just wanted to make sure it was possible. I'm not speaking for them, but they said that's possible. So, Okay, cool. Great. Okay. Sounds good. I had a random question about that. Did you see Have you seen the Kfax um digital signs like the It looks like an It looks like a iPhone, but it shows you stuff. You can update it. I think it's on Colax. Yeah, it was on the walkthrough thing I went to for the DDA. Okay. Anyway, newer or ones that have been on CFAX for a while.

I don't know. Maybe they I it was the first time I've seen them. Yep. But they're they look expensive and I doubt our weather would would um allow that. But is the building that is owned by Rob Anderson? Is that Are we looking at having like an Amtrak station that you can walk into during the elements? Is there any expanded thought there? Sorry to go down. Yeah. No, it's okay. Um, so currently the Amtrak station is in Ron Anderson's building. Um,

there have been issues. Amtrak has in addition to the platform modifications that they're looking to do to do basically their ADA upgrades. They have wanted to do ADA upgrades to Ron Anderson's building. My understanding is Mr. Anderson is happy to have them do the interior improvements, which they'd basically be completely redoing the bathrooms. Um, and I think would be enhancing the waiting areas as well, but they also need to do ADA improvements to enter the building and he doesn't want them to do those improvements um because it messes with his current snow removal system. So, he is posed that they can just make modifications to what they want to do. they have said no, this is what they want to do, they need to do, or they're mandated to do. So, they're kind of in a standoff there. That said, different options are being explored for a more comprehensive transit station.

So, he's like, "Sweet, model on my building and make it worth more money for me, but you can't touch the outside." I think he's basically kind of said, "Don't do the ramp or don't do the rail or whatever it is." And they're like, "No, this is required to be in compliance." and it hasn't progressed past that. So, it's been going on for a while. They're moving forward with the platform modifications, not the building modifications. Less standard. Um, the town and some others in conjunction with Amtrak have been looking at a couple different possibilities um or a station that would be nicer than the current station because it's in pretty pretty bad shape at the moment, like modular status right now, right? Yeah. Um,

because that would be my thought of where that digital experience could be and be of value because people would be forced into there for warmth and then they would look at those maps and it could be edited and changed and Right. And that's part of the reason I think we ended up holding off on doing something was waiting for the wayfinding to be completed, seeing what was going to be prioritized, and then also just knowing that station status and some of the properties right there. There may be some modifications in the near future happening. So I as much as I love it, I think we do need to move on. We have like 30 minutes left and a number of items.

Is there anything else that has to be said about this subject now? Nope. No. Okay. Awesome. Um, Frasier business enhancement grant updates.

Yeah. All right. Let me try again to share. Here we go. Okay. So, I just wanted to provide you all an update. Um, and thank you to Bill and Greg for attending the workshop um that was done with the board on the Frasier business enhancement grants. At the following meeting after um the workshop, they did adopt some updates to the grant program. So, just wanted to make sure you were all aware of those. Um the goals of the program, just super quick, are to provide support to local businesses or just businesses. Um generally they tend to be local. Um to incentivize improvements to commercial buildings, uh provide enhanced curb appeal and beautifification of downtown and attract more visitors and enhance their experience. In turn, increasing sales and commercial tax revenues. Um, also just providing community and quality of life benefits by enhancing the downtown space and really kind of creating this this center to the community. Um, and then trying to encourage kind of strategic alignment and partnerships between the town and businesses um, for the town's kind of long-term vision for downtown. Um, and again, not just focusing on new development, but focusing on how we can improve and enhance developments that are already there. um and some of our current businesses um particularly with some older buildings there. So the proposed updates um included a budget um of 125,000. So this actually was in line with what half what we had this past year. A maximum award of 25,000. Um it was clarified per

business space. So, if you do have a building that has or a shopping center that has multiple businesses in in it, technically you could get up to $25,000 per each of those those business units or spaces. Um, it's not to say the board would necessarily give them $200,000, you know, or 125, but but that would be possible. Um, the board did want to move up that priority consideration to February 1st. Um, this past year it was March 1st, we were trying to balance giving people enough time for summer construction with having kind of your ducks in a row and a busy time of the year after the holiday season. Um, we but February 1st because I think in part we had a number of projects that didn't get done this past summer. Um, trying to push that up a bit and give people more time recognizing the difficulty in lining up contractors and and everything else up here. Um, we will continue to accept applications for priority consideration if funding remains after that priority consideration deadline. Um, this past year we did continue to accept applications. We really didn't run out of funding. We pretty much maximized used it all or it was all awarded if not utilized. Um, but we didn't actually have to turn anybody away because the funding had run out. Um, and then the board wanted to see that if there was funds left over, um, so say we budgeted 125,000, we get to August and we've used up 85,000 of that, that those remaining funds would be rolled into our donor advised funds, which are managed through the Grand Foundation, and that's the avenue by which generally nonprofits um, and different entities offering social services, arts and cultures, there's a number of categories that they can apply for um, in the past two years,

I think it's been 75,000 that's been budgeted for that. Um, and it is quite competitive. We get a number of applications. They tend to be awarded smaller amounts than what we've awarded through the business enhancement grant. So, the board thought that was an appropriate use of those funds. Agreed.

Yeah. So, makes a nice a little bit larger of a pool. Um, so what we really focused in on and what I think the board really wanted some clarity around um, that kind of came up as they were reviewing applications this past year. Previously, you know, it was a business enhancement grant. We focused on what sort of projects were eligible, but wanting more definition around who was eligible to apply. And so that's what a lot of the discussion focused on. Um, what was determined? You must own or lease commercial property that is slated for improvements. Properties must be within the Frasier Riverwalk or business districts or in another commercial mixeduse kind of planned development space. So, this really was the piece that was new um was just kind of focusing the ideas that this is on enhancing our commercial district. Um home occupations and standalone residents are not eligible. Applicant must be in good standing with the town. So, like if they're required to have a business license, they need to have a current business license. Um tenants, um if they don't own the property, must have written consent from the property owners.

Oh, no. Oops. Um and a single application may be submitted for multiple spaces or properties for a particular scope of work. Um, so for example, if Camber and the winery wanted to improve the sidewalks, you know, they could submit that application together kind of thing and technically would be eligible for up to 50,000 based on it being two businesses. Okay, I would like to

um so this is just the town of Frasier zoning map. So basically the areas in red and pink here um are what would be eligible um or the areas that would be eligible to apply. Um um so again residential buildings continue to be excluded but that's further clarified. Um, and this I won't get too much into. I was just asking the board to kind of consider these are all the different types of spaces that we have. Um, and again, we hadn't previously kind of called out who would be eligible. It was just a business enhancement grant. Um, so really it was kind of determined that most entities would be eligible. It comes down to the building space that's being focused on. Uh, eligible projects remains the same as in the past. Um again just further clarifying that residential properties are not eligible but otherwise this is largely the same as it has been. Um I do want to highlight that completed project or cost incurred before grant approval are not eligible. Um so if you guys are talking to folks please encourage them if they're interested they need to apply and get approved before they do their project. Um we got a couple smaller requests. So, the board was the board board of trustees was on board with allowing staff after the that priority deadline to just kind of do administrative approvals for smaller amounts up to 2,000. Um, Frasier Hair Company wanted $400 to replace their sign and we had administratively approved that. But just and then if there's minor scope or budget changes, so generally less than 20% of the awarded amount or up to 2,000 um allowing staff to make those calls as well. Project extension staff can also

approve for up to one year. Um, our goal really is though that projects are done the year that the money is asked for because otherwise that money could be going towards another project. Um, but understanding that life things happen, it can be difficult to line up contractors, you know, again, various reasons um that somebody can request with a good justification a one-year extension on that award amount. So, we would hold that award amount for them for the next year.

So, a question on that. um if like 80% of a of a project that was approved was able to be completed this year but certain aspects of it were not because of contractors or whatnot. Um would that business be be able to be awarded um for the projects that they have completed and then roll over that that one into next year? Um,

so they, and I'm going to be following up again with current businesses that are still outstanding. Um, we do say that the scope has to be completed to get reimbursed. Um, so I think that would show that there's been good progress, but this wasn't able to be completed, so they could request an extension to complete the project in the following year. Sure. Does that answer your question? Kind of. We'll talk.

Okay. Yeah. Um, and these are just the different awards that were granted this year. I realize it's a little hard to read. Holiday in withdrew their application. Again, I need to follow up with um some of these businesses because a number of these projects haven't been completed or have been partially completed. Um, but you can see that the total award amount if you included the holiday in was $122,630. So it was just under that 125,000. Um and if you take out the Holiday Inn who withdrew their application, um it was $114,521 that was awarded. So any questions about any of this? We are going to be updating the website with this information hopefully in the next couple weeks and then applications will be open for next year. So would love to have you helping to kind of promote them. I think we'll follow a similar process as last year in terms of forming a subcommittee to review them. Um so we can talk about that next year when people have a more clear sense of their responsibilities and time commitments at the time in terms of if um a couple of you would like to serve on that because last year we had Bill and Lori. So we give the money out in advance, right?

Or is it have to be invoiced for the money? The work has to be completed and they have to submit receipts and it's a brief report. So then some of this just didn't even go out then basically. Correct. Got it. Yeah. Okay. So I think the only one that I've actually like gotten all the paperwork from um Black Tai. No. Uh Colorado Cord Company. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. And that looks great, too. That's cool. Yeah. I'm glad they did that. Yeah. Where is Moose and Merchant? I was thinking this. That's the new bakery that's going in behind the Birdie Lounge building back there. So, that's the merchants. That makes sense. The merchants. Yes.

Yes. And they were hoping to be in their building by now. They are not in their building under It was one of the things that was quote cleaned up. um under current eligibility, they would not be eligible to apply next year because they didn't yet own or have an active lease on the property. Is there one of those things that's been out of their control, but in the future they'd have to wait to apply,

right? And is there a way to create less um work for uh the town? Um cuz I feel like some people to pay out of pocket for just say grandkids. Grandkids would pay because you have to do a match, right? So it' be six $16,000. So they have to pay upfront 16 and then get the $8,000 reimbured. They do. Um and Grandid was the one organization that got approved for a lesser match. Um everybody else was required to do the 50%. So it is an out-of- pocket expense until they get re submit their stuff for reimbursement.

And then then you also deal with like a situations not to like treat rewrite the grant process right now. But my thought of you know even the merchants with as many resources they have you're delayed if the project's delayed right you're out it's out of your control. I wonder if there's a way to better the application process to help that in terms of to help like make sure projects are happening

or like is that just if there's not enough money that you can't guarantee it? It could be could it stretch into a 18month grant thing? Does that make sense? I mean, ideally, somebody would apply for what they're looking to do that year and then they could apply the following year, you know, for a different a different scope. They could break it into different scopes. Um, because I and the conversation has continued to come up of can businesses keep coming back.

Um, and I think we'd all love to see some of the businesses that have not applied and used it um use it. um in my humble opinion which I think some of our board at least agrees with um you know recognizing that it's expensive to do stuff and so if you want to continuously improve your building you know and do a little bit this year a little bit next year I don't think that's a bad thing right if that's what the business is able to accomplish in a given year right it's amazing I don't know if I'm answering your question though no you are I was just seeing like the the same problem keeps coming up you know like if a project's delayed or they don't have the upfront money and then kind of what I witnessed in my firsthand experience. So,

I was just wondering if there was an element in the structure to assist with like backend administrative work, administrative work to where just like a an understanding um and I don't know if I get what I'm trying to say anymore. Well, just as like someone that's applied for grants for the last three years straight, it does become like a priority at an exact time of year. And you kind of once you do get a grant filled out, it's easy then to replicate, but it is really hard to initially

fill out like a full grant, especially the ones that are more extensive with the Grand Foundation. But once you do have it, Abby, I think it is easy. And it's just about people being educated in doing it, right? And so maybe, you know, that could fall under another subject that we have coming up because I think that people just in the community aren't educated that they can do it, how to do it, and how quickly it can be done in the future once you're once you kind of know how to do it, right? you know, and and maybe that's just what I I don't know if that was your question, but it kind of felt like

I think it's all-encompassing. I just and I feel for, you know, just the admin administrative mental bandwidth to to deal with, you know, that many businesses because I feel like this will only become more popular, right? Um, and you know, you don't want to like burn bridges or whatever. So,

yeah. And I will say to your point, Abby, and we talked about whether or not we were going to continue to like accept applications on a rolling deadline. Some people thought like either they have their ducks in a row or they don't. Um because it is a decent amount of administrative work. Um Antinat is going to take on more of the administrative work and I think she's honestly more efficient about it than I am. Um cuz I will say I sent out grant contracts and expect people to sign them and get back to me and I did not do a great job of following up two weeks later and being like I don't have your grant contract and I still do not have all the grant contracts, right? Um and we could be like okay either you get it to us by this date or you don't get your grant money. um which would be a lot less work on our part, right, versus following up because we're trying to balance, I think, formalizing it a bit more with not making it overly burdensome on the business or on staff. And also that balance of, you know, do you have to have all your permits and everything lined up and all your formal estimates when you apply? Um or do we allow you to apply with a pretty good idea and then kind of do that afterwards? and kind of that front end versus more backend work and what sets people up for the most success, but not wanting to require too much if they're doing the project is contingent on getting the grant funds and now they've applied for all these permits and they don't get funded for whatever reason and they've spent money on permits kind of thing. So, I think it's definitely a dance there in terms of how formal you make things and what you require on the front end.

Yeah, it's just part of the equation. Yeah. But I think there are some things we could streamline to just make it more efficient on the staff side of things. Yeah. Yeah. And to try to hopefully have more people completing the projects um that they apply for the years that they apply for him. Yeah. Like maybe a list I get. Never mind. I'm going to go keep going on that. I'll take a mental note. And we do need to move to the next subject. I think we've got like maybe 10 minutes. Yep. So, ski ride and save promotion.

Yeah. So, we can do this one quickly. Um, as you know, last year we ran a little ski ride save promotion. Um, didn't really spend any money on it. We started it kind of late. I don't know that it got a ton of traction, but I think the work has largely been done. And I'm happy to reach out to businesses and see if they want to offer those promotions again if we want to give it another go and hopefully have it kind of ready by December when people start rolling in on the train to ski. Um, if we wanted to throw a little money at advertising it, we can do that. Um, and we do have that kind of budget for community outreach. Um that kind of falls into a number of things including kind of branding and marketing. Um but just wanted to see if you guys did think it was worth trying that again and if so I'll start kind of following up with businesses. Um and then you are also would be welcome and encouraged any businesses that didn't participate um helping to spread the word and see if more people want to do it. We had we did a couple social media posts and printed some flyers and had it on our web page. We tried to look into kind of more formal marketing. Um but we're a little late in the game for some things and then the town's Facebook account also got hacked about this time and also our advertising account. So we were not able to do any timely kind of digital advertising. So,

I believe it would be advantageous to do it again um with proper marketing and like timing on it because I know it was late last year and we didn't really have the opportunity to, but um if it's possible to do any kind of advertising on the uh customer's like ticket or email or their ticket with the train. Um I think that would make a a lot of headway. Um I don't know if Amtrak does that but um that would be probably the best like mode. Yes. So Amtrak we do

to do it like Amtrakwide um is another story. We have been trying to to get to the ski train people to advertise which my understanding is through the resort. Sarah's reached out a couple times for me and we just have not gotten any response. So, um I will ask her to try to follow up again because I agree. I think that would be the prime place to do it, right? Um but if anybody has any contacts or ideas there, feel free to share them. Do we have any idea of what like the average Amtrak rider spends in our town over like a number of years versus like people that come up in their cars or

we had the number and the percentage of overall ski train riders that got off in Frasier. Um, and I don't remember that offhand. It was over I think it was over a thousand. It was a small percentage of the overall wrership. It was maybe a higher number than I expected. So, a thousand people get off the train and hang out or they like get off the train and then get back on. No, these are people that are like their stop train versus Yes. Got it. Like they are deboarding here versus at the resort. Is that annually per month per week?

That was kind of over last winter ski season to the ski train. Yeah, I would Yeah. Um I can find that number again and share it. The company that had my promotion in there, I think we had uh one. Yeah. Um so um yeah, I'm just like definitely want to try it again because I do think it's a good idea. Um the good people downtown, but we just need to advertise. Maybe. Yeah. And I think try a couple for a couple years. Yeah. Feel like we should quit yet.

And I feel looking at it more holistically would make sense, too. So, the Mustang and the Amtrak and I being in the wedding industry, I deal with a lot of the Amtrak questions, people trying to coordinate with their guests on getting here, what is it like when you get off the train, blah blah blah. There's a lot more to it than the advertisement, but when I look at my parents doing it, um I think there's another element that we're missing where you could work with short-term rentals, Airbnbs, and having their care packages include the same type of information. So, when you show up to your Airbnb, you have a bottle of wine, you have a welcome letter typically for like the the top of the line experience. And I don't even know if Doc Susie Apartments is considered top of the line, but if someone's staying for a week to a month, my parents usually stay for a month, they pay that full month, you know, like 3 weeks of a of a rate. Um, and so they are greeted with a welcome package. I think it'd be really cool for Frraasier for, you know, whatever it could look like, whether it's the same marketing materials for MTRA, but they could could put the same type of map concept and like make it a game, like get a sticker and like go to all these places, whatever it is that we were doing last year. Um, I think you could make it more interactive if you got to the roots of it and then do the same concept for the Amtrak. Is that going too big?

Not necessarily. Um, we would need somebody to do all of that. I know Sarah and I talked about she had ideas about, you know, you get like a token at each business or having a passport. Um, so there are some different things we could explore to add to it. I would say just whatever we do, making sure we have the ability to like execute it, right? Wow. digital passport would be the best option where they like scan a QR code at each business that they visit and then it's like kind of a stamp on their like passport. Um, and that way they don't need a physical passport. They just use their phone. So that would be an option.

Is there probably knows how to do that. Is there report? Do we have access to the full report that the Amtrak um for the intrak headcounts and um age? I have not seen that. Um I know our mayor was the one that had given me that number so I can see what he actually has access to. Um because I do feel like a lot of pe a lot more people take the bus than I thought because Yeah. And that's that's worth thinking about too cuz I it was meant to be for train passengers even if it wasn't the ski train even though that's what we were targeting but I think it would totally make sense to do it for bus staying as well

because then that would be like a cohesiveness and then you know less mental work to just execute. Yep. All at once. I like it. I don't know how you would get into short-term stays, but you could incentivize like a tax discount if they include the Fraser packaging to their welcome pamphlets or online, you know, if they put their information on um put Frasier's information onto their their listing. I don't know.

Yeah, why don't we why don't we revisit that one? That might be a a larger discussion, but I mean that's where most of our people in Frraasier are staying and why a lot of people are in Frraasier, right? Is because that is where they have found their uh accommodations. Correct. Yeah. So capitalizing on that crowd. All righty.

Okay. So last we have come up conference idea initial discussion. We don't really have much time, but we can just throw it out there real quick. We brought it up last time. This was a idea that we had that was just basically aimed towards the people working 9 to5s that feel like they have no way of coming up or getting out of their current situation or being more a part of this community. And then just kind of leading that conference with business owners such as yourself. once a month there's there's a new kind of talker there's a new um there's yeah so there's someone else leading the conference that has made their way up through the community from resident lifty worker whatever to owning their own business owning property you know it could be a number of things real estate agent um being more involved in the community and just kind of making a way for yourself that's the overall idea of that conference. Um, something that the DDA could support and I don't think it would cost a lot. I went ahead and put together an outline. It's not a full outline, but it is a start of just kind of what that would include. I sent it to Sarah. Um, I'm happy to share it with the rest of you, but I think that it could be added on to for sure.

Well, Parks, I did print it out. Um, you did. So, I can save these for the next meeting and email everybody um if you want to have more full discussion and that way you can look at through some of the ideas and add to them in your mind. Um but I'm also happy to hand these out if people would like a paper copy. Now, can we put that up a little bit higher on the minutes because we talked a lot about it last time and I was really looking forward to it. Um so, yeah, we should put it Yeah, definitely. And I had talked with perks. the incubator thing kind of came up at the last minute and seemed like a good fit. Um, and the comp plan stuff was timesensitive. So, um, knew that we probably wouldn't get into this really this time around. Awesome.

Yeah. And I think I think the incubator conversation was just good to have anyways. And I think that that is something that the comeup conference would use in the future as a resource to kind of push people towards. So, I do think they go hand in hand. Um but anyways, is there any other business that we need to talk about or updates?

Well, one thing I will throw out um was an idea knowing that this was probably largely getting pushed. Um we have had a couple businesses reach out to the town about town business kind of community engagement relations. Um, in some ways that may be separate from the DDA, but I did tell them that or told the person they reached out to that they reached out to Cali, our event coordinator, that they were welcome to come to DDA meetings and that the DDA might be a good platform for them. Um, we could more formally though just kind of invite the community. They're obviously always welcome to be here to our November meeting. And if we're discussing things like this, I that might be a good thing to get kind of community engagement on and maybe just offer coffee and pastries or something. Sure.

Um that seemed like it would make sense. They did not. Yeah. No, they just were. It wasn't specific to the DBA. I didn't actually see the email. um they were reaching out about just better kind of connections with the town. Um so again, that may be a separate piece, but the DDA seems like a great place for those businesses to right

have their voices heard and be involved and see if there might be a good fit for DDA to do something that would make sense there. And like in the comeup conference, it it does it's supposed to cover a part where you are getting more involved in the community in the town and how you do that because a lot of people want to and they don't know how. And it's really not that difficult, but it is something that sometimes takes a little bit of a push and because you are putting yourself out there as we know right here. We are now spending our time here. But, you know, it is super helpful and I think that we do need to educate people on that.

Yeah. And I will mention um and I was planning to bring this forward in November as well. But, um, so they had emailed Calie who's been hired part-time by the town to help out specifically with events. Um, and she works with Sarah. So, I talked to Sarah and then with Calie about if she'd be interested in helping with DDA social media and then if the DDA does want to do these conferences or any other sort of kind of events um helping out with coordinating those um because just in terms of like staff manpower um I only have so much capacity for those sorts of things. Um

so she was excited and willing and you know there's some hours that we could use there. Um, so she was going to come to our November meeting, but if the board is on board with that, um, I think that'd be a great way to kind of get that social media stuff off the ground and have a little more support if we want to do some more community engagement next year. Sounds good to me.

We do. It'd be under the professional services budget to pay her then for her time, all this. So right now she has it's only like 20 hours a month with the town, but she's only using those in the leadup to like Mural Fest and Frasier and Ice. So if we stay within those hours, um it would just for the time being at least fall within the town budget and what the town is signed on to pay. Okay, we are two minutes over time here. Um does anybody want to move to ajourn? Move to a journ. All in favor? I I Thanks, guys. Thank you. Thanks, guys.