OCTOBER 8, 2009 ISSUE
What’s Up in Downtown Boone
I would like to share some highlights from the Downtown Boone Development Association’s Annual Meeting on September 21. We were pleased with the representation of our members.
Currently, the Downtown Boone Development Association (DBDA) has 225 members; we received 31 proxy-voting ballots and had 26 members present at the meeting, representing 57 voting members. This number is double the necessary amount to represent a quorum, per the DBDA bylaws. Once the quorum was established we were able to move forward with the election of the 2009-10 Officers. Dempsey Wilcox presented the slate of nominees for the DBDA Executive Board and Executive Officers. The motion to accept the nominations as presented by acclamation was unanimously passed by the voting members. The 2009-10 DBDA slate of officers are: Dempsey Wilcox, president; Sheri Moretz, vice president; Jason Berry, treasurer; Steven Phillips, secretary; Morgan Murray; Omer Tomlinson; Carrie Phillips; Linda Smith; Bob Meier; Greg Lovins; Richie Jacobs; and Jean Borham.
Next, Liz Parham, director of the N.C. Office of Urban Development, gave a PowerPoint presentation about the Main Street Program, called Main Street 101. We also discussed the DBDA Work Plan for 2009-2010. This plan is separated into the four Main Street points: promotions, design, economic restructuring and organization, and within each of these categories we have created a goal, objective and necessary strategies to accomplish the goal.
Let’s start with promotions—the goal is to attract more traffic to downtown. Our objective is to improve perception of downtown and the strategies to take us there are: continue the popular cultural events/programs and promotions that attract people downtown through facilitating 16 public events and sponsoring two public events annually; create Monthly Stakeholder Newsletters; and contribute a monthly column to the local papers on the activities in downtown Boone.
In design, the goal is to assist the businesses downtown to do more business. Our objective is to expand the range of activities downtown and the strategies are: improve current pedestrian signage, light pole banners and central kiosk in collaboration with the Boone Community Appearance Committee’s Downtown Boone Streetscape Design; implement new initiatives in the Public Art Program; and advocate efforts to keep downtown safe.
For economic restructuring, our goal is to better serve our stakeholders. The objective is to implement long-term program improvements to better position stakeholder needs and our strategies to make this happen are: create a board of directors’ involvement plan, update and improve DBDA bylaws, streamline the reporting process and collaborate with the town to develop a downtown parking strategy.
We have our work cut out for us and we’re looking forward to the challenge. If you are interested in becoming involved with the DBDA, call 828-262-4532.
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