20230309 - CBDAC Minutes
Central Business District Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes-March 9, 2023, 8:30-10:00 am via Zoom
In Attendance: Members:, Tom Hillmann, Jordan Kaufman, Trish Manzo, Pam Perron, Philip Davis, Stephen Del Percio, Glenn Carlough, Anastasia Bamberg, Stacey Tsapatsaris, Steve Aspero.
Guests: Michael Pickholz, Kathryn Schmidt, Paul Vagianos, Jeanne Johnson,
Administration: The CBDAC approved the February 9th minutes
Updates:
Village Council-Pam Perron
-Chestnut lot/street kiosk pilot program with matching $1.25 rate
-Train station pedestrian tunnel beautification project update
-Removal of “dead” meter polls
-A move toward exclusive ordinances rather than the current inclusive ordinances
-Paula Gavin presented the 5-year Strategic Plan to the Chamber of Commerce yesterday-There is an important Village Council Budget Meeting on 3/15
Chamber of Commerce-Phil Davis
-The Chamber is approaching its 100th Anniversary
-The Chamber Strategic Plan is dedicated to modernizing the Chamber while maintaining a link to the past
-Glenn Carlough will provide a “Cliff’s Notes” version of the Strategic Plan at the April 13 CBDAC meeting. Paula Gavin will join us.
Ridgewood Guild-Trish Manzo
-The Guild’s first fundraiser of the season, the Oscar Party to be held at the loft a PWT, is sold out.
-PWT and SWT were thanked for their respective sponsorships
-Paving Oak Street before the onset of the Pedestrian Plaza/Dining Corrals was suggested
CSAC-Anastasia Bamberg
-Safe Routes to School grant
-Subcommittee for downtown safety
-Side streets to be paved shortly
-Bump outs are being built on Prospect and Hudson streets
-Possible Build Back Better funding
-Chris Rutishauser has not been attending meetings, but Jovan Mehandzic has been in attendance
-Traffic calming measures continue to be researched and discussed
-The dangerous nature of Franklin Ave and the complications that come from being a County road was lamented
-Jeanne Johnson mentions a State grant that had been awarded for Franklin Ave, but those funds have been diverted
-5 pedestrians have been killed on Bergen County roads this year
Pedestrian Tunnel-Jeanne Johnson
-Jeanne’s power point presentation was extensive, so the following is intended to represent highlights, or that which was discussed but was not included in the presentation
-Ridgewood was voted best downtown in 201 Magazine’s Best of Bergen
-Jeanne mentioned a $500 grant from the Ridgewood Arts Foundation to pay a muralist
-Seeking muralists from AP art students and local professional artists
-12 proposals have been submitted to date
-Commemorative “leaves” can be purchased and personalized as a way to raise revenue
-Benjamin Moore CEO and RossiPaints to donate paint for the tunnel as they did for the dining corrals
-The tunnels have not received attention since 2012
-Floors are to be power washed, not painted
-There are 30 advertising billboards in the tunnel, but most revenue comes from only 8 of them on the ramps
-The tunnel is under the jurisdiction of the State Historic Preservation Office (“SHPO”)
-SHPO declassification was discussed
Pedestrian Plaza (PP)-Paul Vagianos
-The PP will run from 5/20 until 9/17 which may be extended
-Dining Corrals will run concurrently
-Beautifying the corrals was discussed
-Retractable bollards are the long-term goal
-Cement blocks will be employed in 2023
-RPD created renderings for the PP
-Increased number of 15-minute parking spots during PP season
-PP participants to pay for involvement
-SID/BID could become the source of funding for the PP
-3/24 Westfield SID field trip
-4/1 SID subcommittee meeting
-Village sponsorship was suggested and discussed
-There is a need for signage to advertise the PP
-“Arc” signs/banners on specific intersections to signify entrance to the PP
-Inclusivity is a goal of the PP
-PP is now via resolution as opposed to ordinance
New or Old Business
-The Village of Ridgewood filed a condemnation complaint to acquire the Town Garage property on Franklin Avenue
-Russo construction on N Broad is imminent and will be researched and confirmed
-Curiosity as to the state of “Finca” as the PP approaches
-The next CBDAC meeting will be in person at the Senior Lounge at Village Hall on April 13.
Respectfully submitted by Glenn Carlough
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