20230413 - CBDAC Minutes

Central Business District Advisory Committee  (CBDAC)

Meeting Minutes – April 13, 2023

In person at Village Hall   8:30 – 10:00 am    

Members Present: Jacqueline Luthcke (Chief of Police), Glenn Carlough, Pam Perron (VC liaison), Steve Aspero; Jordan Kaufman (CBDAC Chair), Trish Manzo (Ridgewood Guild); Rebecca Tatlock; Phil Davis(Chamber liaison)

Guests present: Paula Gavin, Paul Vagianos, Ramon Hache, Karen Stires, Joan Groome, Sara Parra, Michael Pickholz, David Rosen, Seth Akar, Laurie Jordan, Randy Carson, Gary Kolisaire, and David Rosen.

Administration:  CBDAC approved the March 9, 2023 meeting minutes. 

Updates: Village Council -- Pam Perron discussed Pedestrian Tunnel Project.  Six artists compose the jury to select an artist to design the mural. Rossi Paints is donating the paint and supplies. Thirty artists have applied.  The State Historic Preservation Office still needs to approve the plan. There will be a fundraiser established where donors’ names will be incorporated into the mural.

Chamber of Commerce’s New Strategic Plan

            Glenn Carlough discussed the Strategic Plan, which was researched and crafted by consultant Paula Gavin through surveys and interviews.  The Plan’s goals include increasing the number of Board members and the membership generally.  Each Board member will have to do more.  The Chamber may add employees.  We are approaching the 100th Anniversary of the Chamber of Commerce and needs to market itself.

            Paula Gavin recommended creation of an annual calendar including all organizations in town to bring people together.  Chief Luthcke suggested the calendar be limited to only CBD events.  CBDAC could coordinate that initiative.  Do it in the fall and invite all organizations to a community meeting so that the town has a unified vision.  Trish, Joan and Kathryn will meet and collaborate on a calendar. 

Special Improvement District (SID) vs. a § 501(c)(3)  

            The group discussed a SID.  Phil suggested the committee should look at the train wreck SIDs as well as the success stories in other communities.   Pam said that DCA Director Jeff Buehler advised that when SIDs fail, it happened because of the DMC Executive Director’s or the Board of Directors’ poor relationships.  We talked about whether establishing a § 501(c)(3) better serve Ridgewood’s needs. Ms. Gavin pointed out that SIDs have about a 60% success rate.  A § 501 (c)(6) is a membership organization, whereas a 501(c)(3) charitable organization can accept donations.  It was suggested that the goal should be to get additional funding for events.  What is the responsibility of the municipality?

 Ramon Hache, Michael Pickholz and Jordan will follow up Set up and/or follow up about community foundation 501(c)(3).

Upcoming Meetings:   

            The SID subcommittee will meet April 19th 8:30 a.m. at Steel Wheel Tavern to follow up discussion on opportunities for a SID or § 501(c)(3).  The Business Owners’ Forum will convene April 24 at 8:30 a.m. in the Village Hall courtroom.

            The next CBDAC meeting will be Thursday, May 11 at 8:30 to 10:00 a.m.

Submitted by

Phil Davis