April Meeting Minutes

April 16, 2008 Minutes

Present:

Stephanie Dodge, Brian Faltinson, Warren Groff, Ed Haydin, Scott Koranda, Meg Miller, Linda Nikcevich (Alderman, 1st District), Dan Romfoe, Jerry Stepaniak (Alderman, 5th District), Julie Terwelp, Mary Van Derven, David Wacholz, Michael Walsh (Alderman, 5th District)

Thank you to the Lutheran Home for the meeting space.

I. Work group activities.

Group divided into three work groups to determine:

• Key issues
• People who should be involved in addressing said issues
• Recommended actionable steps to address said issues

1. Safety

• Enforce laws on the books to slow traffic and stop for pedestrians in crosswalks
• Aldermen working with police and traffic and safety committee. Michael Walsh took this on
• Signage (yield for Pedestrians in crosswalks signs in center of road)
• Aldermen working with traffic and safety committee. Michael Walsh took this on
• Perception of crime and lack of safety
• City (police) and newspapers need to address this to communicate clearly the realities of crime versus perceptions. Perceptions are enough to lower property value and promote “flight” from this area

2. Current Businesses
Best – businesses investing own capital. Larger footprint (Als, Il Mito, Venturis, Movie Theater)
Worst – Shop options and appearance, businesses aren’t targeting this area.
Issues – parking and security
Action

• Increase knowledge of demographics to current and potential businesses – North Avenue Neighborhood Alliance – during regular meetings
• More info and communication on parking options
• More pedestrian traffic will help security (Aldermen to address)
• Help with marketing and promotion – get endorsements (can they create a bid?)
• Need to have ongoing, up-to-date communications (website listing in area?)
• Create quality of life for people that are here – not necessarily the traffic passing through

Who

• Alderman – help address security issues, building owners
• Businesses – encourage a BID or something similar to boost their businesses
• The Alliance to put pressure on city attorney’s office to address situations of blight
• Work with the city and police to address citizens’ perceptions of crime in this area.

3. New Business Solicitation

• Disconnect between property / business owners.
• Could there be code enforcement to help aid business owners wanting to purchase their buildings OR update them?
• Aldermen to review this and report back to group. If there are options – needs to be communicated to business owners.
• Grants are available for aesthetic improvements. Are all businesses aware of these grants?
• Need to help communicate options to business owners. Can there be a “packet” put together to help support business owners on North Avenue that has this information included?
• How can we work with Wauwatosa Economic Development Corporation?
• Needs to be the resource for recruiting and solicitation
• Generate a short list of potential businesses
• Respond to inquiries generated by direct solicitation of the North Avenue Neighborhood Alliance
• “Anchoring” versus “Clustering” needs to be encouraged
• How can we encourage this as part of long-range planning with city and WEDC?
• Communicate survey findings to help generate interest in this area.
• commercial realtors
• Wisconsin Restaurant Association
• existing business owners
• entrepreneurs
• Solicit businesses / development.
• Repackage the survey into a 2-pager “sales” piece for the area – with WEDC as the go-to organization
• Share results with current businesses to get them to take action
• More research into Brady Street, KK, Downer, etc.
• Business Improvement District

II. Next Steps

• Create Summary of Findings to succinctly reflect the findings from this survey (Meg Miller)
• North Avenue Neighborhood Alliance members will report to businesses at ETBMA meeting on April 22 at 6:30
• Post Summary & Summary of Findings online (Julie Terwelp)
• Submit articles for newsletters regarding the findings (Meg Miller)
• Set up meeting with Nancy Welch’s office to review Summary of Findings and action items
• Group to meet to create 2-pager sales piece to include some brand definition for the area and demographic information

Ongoing updates to be communicated/ posted for everyone to share.

Respectfully submitted by Meg Miller.