May 2024 Minutes

MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING OF THE

PANAMA CITY DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT BOARD

Wednesday, May 1st, 2024 @ 8:30 AM

Panama City Center for the Arts

19 East 4th Street

1.      Call to Order at 8:33 AM. Present:  Chairman, Catherine Shores, Catherine McCloy, Allan Branch, Jake Sostheim, Jennifer Burg.  Absent: Kevin Mitchell

2.      Additions or Deletions – Remove 9 f.

3.      Chairman’s Report – Nate Taylor is no longer on the DIB. There is a board position open that will be advertised on the next Commission agenda.

4.      Approval of Minutes – April 3, 2024.  Allan made a motion to approve.  Jennifer 2nd.  All approved.

5.      Public Participation – Questions were asked about work being done by McKenzie Park on Park Ave.  It was explained that the city was sandblasting and restriping.  A question was asked about the clock chimes in the plaza.  Allan said he has heard them, and they are working. Grey Dodge, with CRA, shared that Michelle Zirkle, from QOL will now be working in CRA.  Downtown Art Walk will be held on May 9th.  This month is Tourism Appreciation month with many events being held throughout the month. 

6.      Financial Update. 

7.      Arts Update – Jayson Kretzer has confirmed that there will be a Christmas light display on the lawn in front of the Center for the Arts.  It is a 20 min. show that will run every 30 minutes and be in sync to music.  It will run Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas.  He is still waiting on sketches for the approved mural project.  The 61st Bay Annual opening is this Friday.  He is also in need of a building with a sprinkler system for Fright Nights. 

8.      Old Business

9.      New Business

a.       FY 25 Budget – The first draft of the budget was presented.  Jennifer asked that the events portion of the budget be increased to $75,000. 

b.      Marketing ideas from DPC- Jennifer Vigil, from Destination Panama City is going to put together a marketing plan for both Downtown Panama City and St. Andrews and offer as a co-op.  Going to ask for assets to be provided. She also asked those hiring companies to provide marketing, to include in the contracts that those hiring own all the assets and cannot be shared.  

c.       MOU with the City to maintain McKenzie House – Allan made a motion to use up to $6000 from reserves to maintain McKenzie House yard.  Jennifer 2nd.  All approved.

d.      Paid Parking – Jenna gave an update.  She said the ordinance being created is written so that changes will not need to go back to the commission each time.  Trying to work through allowing some free parking in the on-street metered parking spots but is proving to be difficult.  Right now, the city is only looking to implement on – street paid parking.  Lots would continue to be free.  Jenna is going to attempt to get a copy of the ordinance to the DIB to get merchant input. 

e.       Funds for Columbia, MO Mainstreet conference – or other conference – Allan made a motion to approve $1000 to send Maria Williams and Catherine Shores to the POM conference in Tallahassee in July.  Catherine McCloy 2nd.  All approved. 

f.         Budget for Professional Services – removed.

g.       Add Executive Director as signer on accounts – With Nate no longer on the board, another signer needs to be added to the DIB accounts.  Jennifer made a motion to add Executive Director, Maria Williams as the 3rd signer.  Jake 2nd.  All approved.  Allan asked that a list of checks written be provided to the board each month. 

10. Administrative Update

a.      EV Charging Stations – The DIB has received a contract back from the chosen vendor.  Will have an attorney look at it and hope to move forward soon. 

b.     Historic Walking Trail - The information has been updated and provided to Destination Panama City

c.      McKenzie Park – The irrigation has been repaired and the DIB has started maintaining the park with chemicals and mowing.

d.     Office for Executive Director at City Hall- the city has provided the DIB Executive Director with an office at City Hall.  It will be in the QOL suite.

e.      Board Position Open – The DIB has an open board position.  If interested please complete the application on the city website and submit it to Jan Smith, City Clerk.

11. Reminders/Calls to action

a.       Next meeting will be Wednesday, June 5th, 2024.

b.      Next Workshop meeting will be on May 15th at 8:30 AM at 100 Harrison Ave.  Discussion will be the DIB mission statement.  What do we need downtown?  What businesses are needed downtown?  How to recruit different businesses downtown?

12. Adjournment at 9:43 AM