December 2023 BID Meeting Minutes

MONTHLY BID MEETING

(December 19^th, 2023)

WYNDHAM GARDEN KENOSHA HARBORSIDE

5125 6th Ave, Kenosha WI 53140

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

Executive Committee: Chairperson Brit Windel, Vice Chairperson Alex Kudrna,  Treasurer Rajiv Sigh, Secretary Jeanette Kelly
Board Members Present: Brett Bjorn, Kevin Ervin, Rob Gresoviak,  Maria Caravati, Gus Harris, Mark Wistar, Sharon Rossow
Non-Voting Members: Dennis DuChene, Laura Gregorski, Donny Stancato,  Alderman Bill Siel, Dave Strash

1. Minutes­­ Approval from November 21^th, 2023

• Motion Alex to approve – Mark Second

2. Citizens’ Comments

3. Director Comments

• Updates from the Chairman
  • Downtown Kenosha Magazine Update
  • Camera Update –Waiting on City Attorney- check getting cut?
  • Readdress the committees – reminder who is on the each committee
  • Year long events application – friendship park – Create events throughout the year and event planning – having the events sooner and we can build the events out larger and larger role – Tree Lighting in Downtown Kenosha perhaps not by the museums
  • Candidate Panel Roundtable – Election for the mayor – K-Town Connects Jason Hedman, Pete Serzant – 1^st week in February at Rhode Theater – BID to help Sponsor – Goodie Bag/ Swag –
  • Survey Monkey – Candidate Questions – List top questions – coming from the board
  • Motion to Approve to Mark – Rob Second – $1000 for Charcuterie Boxes for guests
  • Matt Monroe facade program – Guest Speaker –
  • Process – Methodology
  • Marketing Component – communicate to the BID –
  • Visit Kenosha handles marketing – application process- deadlines -review applications – metrics and then announce the awards and cut the checks –
  • Ask Letter for Banks – create a draft to request funding from banks and approved for next meeting
  • How much for the pool of $ –
  • Matching Grant Project – Exterior Lighting – Windows
  • What can we do to practically improve our community

• Treasurer Report

4. Marketing Updates

• Lightin’ Up a success. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped.
  Vintage Underground (Peoples)
  Summer’s Garden(1^stJudge)
  Century Pub (2^nd Judge)
  Em’s Dance (3^rd Judge)
  Teaching Kitchen (Creativity)
  Lemon Street (Creativity)
• Website Updates:
  Will be adding an icon on business profiles to show who accepts Downtown Universal Gift Cards
• Content Creator Team established at Visit Kenosha, Will also serve Go Downtown to create blog content.
• Will be updating the site with new board members, need terms list please.

Currently top performing page is related to holiday hours downtown, traffic suggests the site is becoming a resource for visitors to downtown. Events are most popular consistently.

• Gift card promotion, buy one get a bonus card of 50% value to encourage shopping and dining downtown this holiday. FREE MONEY FOR VISITORS AND BUSINESSES. Gift card sign up in progress – Donny going to businesses to register them.
• Downtown Swag store live, please feel free to place an order. $1 from each order goes to façade grant. We can change this amount.
• Mayoral meeting, goody bags with downtown info and some snack boxes to welcome people downtown.
• Update Downtown Map – HOLDING to 2024
• Go Downtown QR Code Sandwich Boards – HOLDING to 2024
• Lattes with Law – Working on plan for quarterly events in 2024
• Newsletter going out after new year – any items?

Snow Daze 1/27, Third Thursdays continuing, State of the Downtown Annual Meeting 3/14

5. Committees Comments

• Outreach and Retention
• Streets and Beautification
• Events & Promotions

6. New Items of Business

• Breaking ground in 2024 across from trolley dogs
• Retail Space and condos breaking ground

7. Next Meeting/Agenda

8. ADJOURNMENT

Kevin Moved to Adjourn – Alex Second

Dates to Know

January 16^th– BID Meeting

January 27^th – Snow Days

February 20^th – BID Meeting

March 14^th – State of Downtown