City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Economic Development Commission, 3 Feb 2023

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2.3.2023 Economic Development Commission

A

You can't get sick he's invincible, he stays in the booth at the same okay good morning. Everybody.

B

uh Thank you for joining us for february evening, I'd like to call to order the economic development.

B

Commission at the meeting of february 3rd. um Thank you for again all your time at.

B

Our retreat a couple weeks back, uh it hasn't been too much time since we had a really good. I think.

B

Strategic conversation, I'm looking forward to what follows for the rest of the year.

B

Well, let's kick off today's meeting with an approval for the draft minutes from our.

B

January meeting so move second, [music] thank you all in favor aye any opposed. Thank you very.

B

Much council, lombardi uh and next on our agenda. We've got our annual chair vice chair elections,.

B

uh That circulated note yesterday, just informing that we'd be doing this. It's generally something.

B

That we're intended to do in january, so I didn't want to get too much further in the year. I know.

B

Last year we adopted a change to our policies and procedures to institute a three-year maximum, but.

B

We do still have the annual requirements, so alan and I have talked- and uh should the commission so.

B

Choose, I think both of us are willing to continue in our current roles about our as part of today's.

B

Procedures- I'd like to codify that, so I would entertain any discussion or should anyone have.

B

A motion sure I'd like I'd, move to renominate phil cohen, for a chair of the edc. The second pair.

B

Together to allen to yes and I'll entertain a motion to um myself.

B

Kevin excised that from the uh thank you uh all in favor.

C

Aye opposed motion carries congratulations, appreciate everyone's support this year, so.

B

um Looking forward to another fruitful year, uh so yeah.

B

You don't have to so nominate someone else.

D

The second great thanks, everybody uh all those in favor aye aye, any opposed break. The motion passes.

B

Thank you allen. It's a 2023 ., so the next item we've got on today's agenda on this. This is meant.

B

To refer to an email that had been circulated by um executive director of the portsmouth housing.

B

Authority I know craig welch had circulated uh email or a request for support to the business.

B

Community and alan had shared that as a recipient of that, so I thought given what conversation we.

B

Had uh at this meeting last month, along with the conversation at the retreat about supporting.

B

Projects I just wanted to bring that to this group. I know since we had circulated this agenda there.

B

Has been a neighborhood meeting so clearly want to recognize the ongoing discussion and that that has.

B

Just begun, but wanted to come back to this group to um see if it was an opportunity for us to begin.

B

To contemplate where we might be able to lend our support or give our counselors some feedback.

B

On the matter, as they are likely to take up some something in consideration in the near future, so.

B

I guess I would open it up to the floor to see if we feel like now is an appropriate.

B

Time to start that conversation tom, I guess I start with a question which is.

E

um Are you interested in having us vote on or endorse the concept of developing.

E

The sherburne school property for housing or for a specific proposal.

B

My response to that would be, I feel, like we don't have a specific proposal, so we certainly.

B

Can't vote on anything to indicate our support yet so I guess I look at this as us deciding to.

B

Do exactly what you just outlined as a first step now or if we want a way to understand.

B

Timing and how the actual formal requests of the project might move forward. But I don't know that.

B

Will know that, so I guess I would defer to our counselors to see if it would be helpful to have.

B

A general endorsement of that this moment um for the housing concept, or it might be better to pause.

D

um I think we could definitely um potentially broaden it to our support of affordable housing.

D

On any city-owned property that is left for redevelopment as this project pertains, it.

D

Will be referred to the land use committee and the land use committee will be taking uh undertaking the tasks that we've we've been doing for the last year of looking at city-owned.

D

Plots and their potential redevelopment. So if you, if we as a commission, want to kind of tie.

D

Into that that we, you know, support, I think, a very broad brush of redevelopment of city and.

D

Property into affordable and workforce housing. I think that would be a even toned. Thank you tom. I.

E

I have a little concern about a complete broad uh position of supporting the use of any city-owned.

E

Property for housing, because I think each property ought to be looked at on a case-by-case basis.

E

We've talked before about the fact that there is land within industrially zone.

E

Areas that could be converted for housing, and I think you I think we need to look at that.

E

On a case-by-case basis, weighing the needs for certain segments of the business community for.

E

Growth versus the need for for having adequate housing for all the employees, so I I'm a little.

E

Concerned about making that broad vote, but I I'm prepared- and I I would make a motion that we.

E

Endorse the use of the sherburne school property for housing again without endorsing a specific.

E

Proposal that hasn't been presented yet I mean we've seen the drawing that was in the.

E

The paper, but it's not clear that that's going to be the final outcome, jacob just out of interest.

F

Just I've seen a few articles, but what was the kind of community feedback? Maybe the counselors.

F

Know a little bit better was it positive generally negative. I saw a lot of different articles flowing.

F

Around so I just want to get more yeah, so I think it's um you know the way it was veronica.

D

Obviously, I think a little bit um there's definitely some concern from pan away neighbor.

D

Just some people in the pan away neighborhood there's definitely some support from people.

D

In panaway neighborhood, I think um it's, like my honest opinion, is again. We don't have any formal.

D

Proposals, we don't have any formal renderings so for a first step of the of the discussion, you know.

D

I think there is general neighborhood concern as there would be with any type of development.

D

um The same that has gone in the gone on in the you know: private development sector that.

D

There's always been concern when we're looking at kind of what potentially could be larger scale.

D

um But again I would like to press that there's been, you know, no formal application to the city.

D

To any of the land use boards to anything like that, okay, so it's really just like.

F

Kind of a concept right now: it's not even there's not much felts, really really the first step. Okay,.

D

Correct early concept, early concept- and I think that that is concerned some people.

D

That, based on uh pha's statement that if they were looking to get this project done uh in a.

D

In a very in a hasty timeline that they would need to have everything approved for their.

D

Application of federal tax credits by august- and I think that that um you know the overall.

D

um Takeaway that I took is that people wanted to make sure that it wasn't a rushed process.

F

Okay, thank you good question. I think council member um some other uses of.

G

That property two were brought up um and not to the exclusion of housing, but.

G

um Maybe limiting the housing and retaining some other uses there as well, so.

G

uh It's a, I think, it's a complex question right now and the.

G

The biggest takeaway is slow down. You know. I think that that was really the.

G

Biggest takeaway from that meeting slow down, let's think about this more carefully.

G

I agree, I talked to the guy who was uh circulating a petition against the.

H

Project, you know, listen to the concerns and a lot of it was yeah. This is kind of being.

H

You know shoved down our throats and we don't have a say, and that was the biggest the biggest.

H

Takeaway of that- and I think frankly, some distrust of the city in general. um So and you know some of.

H

That probably ties into mcintyre and what's going on there and is it transparent and that kind of.

H

Kind of thing so yeah, I think when you, when you go to some of the neighborhoods that are really.

D

Find out that feel somewhat forgotten by the city I mean I live in one in maple haven that.

D

Feels like we don't get sidewalks, we we don't get attention, and now you want to. You know.

D

Now you're, looking at taking potentially this plot of land that we feel like, is it defined in.

D

um Asset to our neighborhood, anyone forgot about that neighborhood. I think they were reminded the.

H

Other night, because the gym was full yeah yeah and uh you know parking cards, 100 yards down the road.

H

On either side so they're it's a big neighborhood. Oh absolutely, uh there are a lot of people there.

G

That that neighborhood reminds me of other places, I've lived.

G

um In boston, where the nate there's our there are neighborhoods that are geographically separated.

G

From the rest of the city, south boston, for example- and I worked in south boston for a long time and.

G

um It's insular but tight and that and that's how I would uh and then it has the added.

G

Problem of one way in and out it's I mean it's makes it even tighter and more insular right.

G

So, um but still at a very, very important neighborhood of the city and.

G

I I just really respect the the input that was given in the emotion that was there yeah.

B

Thank you, sir. Are you good sorry, the only the only question I had is it sounds like it may be.

I

um Premature at this point to issue any sort of a statement, because we don't have a plan in place.

I

And uh blanket statements around endorsement of use of property for a particular purpose, because.

I

It's an ecosystem may have an adverse impact on other uses, so um I do think this is a topic.

I

That we talked about in our retreat and is part of sort of forming those position papers that we have.

I

Around what we want to endorse and not endorse, so my recommendation would be if we can get together.

I

As the charter vision review subcommittee is to come back and present a proposal on the.

I

Sherburne school project that's tied to what we talked about at our retreat. That's great.

B

Thank you, alan yeah, just a quick question. I guess this is for um uh karen. Is there a standard city.

J

Process for these kinds of assessments, above and beyond the use, the pieces of it all if you've got.

J

A piece of city property and someone like a you know like a pha, said I'd like to do something with.

J

Housing is there a standard set of activities that goes on to determine use? That's a that's a great.

A

Question it was not clear to me what the answer was to that, and so, if, when I check with the legal.

A

Folks, the city does have prerogative if it has an idea in mind an opportunity to pursue, they can.

A

They can also take the procurement, the standard, more expected or anticipated procurement process.

A

And solicit uh rfp submissions or rfq ideas, uh so I think perhaps the angst of the neighborhood was.

A

That there had already been a pre-selected um use and potential user for the site.

A

So, but to short answer long is that the city does have options, but I think it's.

A

Good for the city to air and talk about and share with the public all of its options.

B

Okay, I appreciate tom's willingness for motion, but it feels like this is one we I'll draw out.

B

Emotion well, the point, however, is that I mm-hmm, if I didn't, want to endorse any specific project.

E

Because I not only neighborhood concerns, but you know, there's there's a lot of other compatible.

E

Users that could be incorporated into that right, but you know on a sort of a separate note.

E

um Just reading the description of the conversation at that meeting, uh I again heard what.

E

I hear in virtually every project that happens in the city of portsmouth, which is why can't we put.

E

It at the community campus- and I just wonder, uh is: is the city going to do some type of a.

E

Plan for that community campus, that would let people know what direction it's going.

E

In so it I mean, it seems, like you know, yeah, it's a good sized plot, but it's not as big as.

E

Necessary to accommodate every use, including, let's put the old state house there so yeah can. I can I.

A

Take the non-political answer to that question then I will not field the political question.

A

We just closed on the property 10 months ago. Our intent was to understand what we had under.

A

Our roof, figurative roof so to speak, figure out the best way to accommodate the tenants that are.

A

There in the building figure out, what's left to use in the building. What we also need to do is.

A

Delineate, what's buildable and what's um should be clearly earmarked for never buildable with.

A

Regard to the rest of the property, so that's one part of the answer. Great thank you and I.

K

Can speak to it a little bit. The jsa was the build, the architect for community campus and.

K

We've sort of stayed with it the whole. I think it's 22 years of of doing regular evaluations.

K

And doing some additions there when they added the tennis courts, I'm fuzzy as to when that was.

K

Maybe eight ten years ago it was very difficult to find a parcel of land, a buildable parcel big.

K

Enough to hold tennis courts and I'm not sure how many courts there are four, maybe two.

A

But I think there's two tennis courts there: okay, that that piece of tennis courts was really tough.

K

To find so, I do hear people talking about all this buildable land at community campus in in my office.

K

That's just eye rolling about it, so we pulled the site plan to look at the wetlands and the and the.

K

Setbacks and the site plan is from 1998 and water moves and it doesn't tend to move down. It tends.

K

To move up in our era, so we don't even think that what what was built, what we thought was.

K

Buildable back in you know, 2000, we think that's probably shrunk. So the first step is to have a new.

K

Site plan- and I mean you, know, altus or whoever, whatever engineering, firm, walking the site and.

K

Mapping out where those wetlands are today before you can begin to understand, what's buildable but.

K

I don't think there's a large, affordable housing, complex buildable there, unless it's up on stilts.

K

But it's it's not got contiguous spaces that are desirable, and that was my understanding of the.

E

Time that was built out so I, but I don't think the population understands that so literally.

E

Every conversation has to do with land use seems to come around to I know, let's put the police.

K

Station down there with everything everything dust hasn't quite settled on the building itself, yeah.

K

You know until lister moves in people are going to get rearranged, possibly depending on best use.

K

Of of spaces- and I don't think you can start that planning of what's going to come around it until.

K

You've finished the interior of the building, so it's it's coming, I'm sure there'll be some sort.

K

Of master plan and delineation of what's usable there, but it's not going to be a large housing.

K

Complex go ahead. Go ahead! No, I wasn't saying it again um what the land, one of the things.

D

The land use uh committee will be undertaking is an assessment like this of city-owned property.

D

And so I think once that is done, that will come forward and kind of show for me personally and I.

D

um I feel the same, I feel I speak for some counselors too. We've really been in the mindset.

D

If we need to let that that place settle, we need to, you know, get the get the building.

D

um Like anna said, where it's going to be and the tenants in there and really let our facilities.

D

People too, on the city staff side get you know all of that under under control and under their.

D

Helm before we we look at what we potentially have to build. Then please correct me: if I'm.

D

Wrong sherburne, I mean lister academy. Doesn't we're looking at our 24 relocation there correct.

D

Correct yes, so really, in my opinion, is really not not touching that until 25 letting the school get.

D

In there letting them get settled and then seeing you know what possibilities, but I would agree with.

D

You that it seems to be that whenever there's you know and that, and that was discussed a lot.

D

Why aren't we doing at this at community campus? We, the city, bought community campus, there's all.

D

This land out there, but again I think you know, there's there's a lot of the city-owned property.

D

That we own is a lot of wetlands, um so it so yeah. So I agree with you and once that's done I'll make.

D

Sure I bring that back to the edc so that we can discuss that amongst this commission too,.

C

Just uh quick question: I should know the answer. I don't the the land use committee.

C

Is that a permanent committee that's been added to the city structure or is that a short-term do.

C

This work and dissolve that's a great question structurally. So so we've discussed um several.

D

Options of of once uh the over the goals are kind of done of what that looks like if that turns into.

D

A potential housing committee into a you know, city land committee, but at this point there's.

D

There's no end date to that committee, but I also think it's not in the ordinance either. There's no.

A

Permanency to the committee correct, but I think the idea is it works and then it evolves. Yes,.

D

And our this will be our first meeting today with the new community housing navigator, which.

D

I think could not be a better time for them to come on board as we're really, you know kind of.

D

um To some aggressively looking at what we could do to get some workforce housing, whether that.

D

Is through a partnership with a pha or through another non-profit developer, and that comes in.

E

Sorry, I guess I guess the reason I ask and- and um I may not make friends with.

C

This statement, but um the land use committee- I don't want them to get distracted from what.

C

They originally intended to do- and I know part of that was to look at some city parcels, but.

C

um There's a lot of great work for them to do. It's like a lot of things seems to be moving.

C

Painfully slow, but you know I, but if that's the direction of council, that's the direction.

C

Of counsel, but it just seems like they have a lot on their plate and I'd hate to see the sherburne.

C

School project move slower than it has to be, and I'd hate to see their other work. I just don't.

C

Want to bog them down with you know, extra work when they're already have a pretty full docket.

C

Is I guess where I was kind of going with that, but good comment jacob did you have something.

B

So I think we'll continue to stay close to development there, our sarah's suggestions, a.

B

Perfect segue into our next item on, but we'll continue to keep this top.

B

Of mind, I think we should be ready to respond in some form once something.

B

Has been more fully formed and there's some better direction, so next is our working group updates.

B

So the charter admission review we haven't met yet after our retreat, but my goal would be to.

B

Get that group together before our next meeting with the intent to, um if not have a fully drafted.

B

Suggestion if there might be any changes to our um what's captured in the ordinances, at least.

B

Bring something back to this group for first discussion, but I would say you know the goal.

B

Would be to have some output there and an opportunity to re-codify any changes within.

B

The next two meetings, so I just wanted to go ahead. John sir, can you remind me who's on that committee.

L

That's exactly I was just looking group excuse me. I had sarah um alan tom and was it joe or.

B

Council, lombardier, okay. I think it was me okay, all right, I knew it. I knew it was a counselor.

B

Thank you. Did I get everybody? Is there anyone not okay, didn't you want to be on it yeah I I can.

D

Be on it too, okay! Well only I my notes from our retreat is: I had your initials down there. I think.

D

Vince and I both flagged it so two counselors is better than one there. You go you're great.

I

Great, thank you, and maybe we researched this, but do we know what it would take to adopt any changes.

I

To the charter, if, if we identify them not yet, but I my goal would be to maybe have what that would.

B

Be for when we sit down unless I can get you that information and we would make sure to tie in legal.

D

With you know, I mean any proposed changes and how they want that and how that should be presented.

B

And I did just find um this morning and and what must have been uh the onboarding that we had when.

B

Our most recent members joined us, um which is a funding recommendation policy that will also kind.

B

Of take a look at and I'll circulate that to this, the broader group as well, but um just to kind of.

B

Take full inventory of what we have so everyone's familiar with it and water policies are to frame.

B

Everything as we move forward so great um it's working group update, is the business retention.

B

And expansion, I don't believe, there's been any meetings since our last meeting or the retreat, but.

B

You guys can correct me if I'm wrong, otherwise, I think.

H

Nothing um so that's a fast one and um not on this agenda for today, but jacob. I do want to.

B

Circle back with you and and for you and I to get together for our next meeting as well. Cool.

B

I feel like we've got enough work we'll get ourselves on a standing report out as well as.

B

We start to get back together. um So next is a new item on our agenda. We've we've added this.

B

And expect we'll have it going forward, but any update that sean might have from his office for.

B

Us so sure, just a couple things I've mentioned and what I'll what I'll commit to is providing.

L

Information before our next meeting in writing for you to digest, and then we can talk about it.

L

On the third, but in the essence of time today I am still moving forward on acquiring and creating.

L

A database for the office of economic development and that'll just help us with our brna results and.

L

Our ability to have two-way communication with the business community. The second thing is there is a.

L

Regional effort underway to reach out to employers and to um provide them with best practices around.

L

Attracting and retaining employees talent, that's something we've been doing with our seacoast.

L

Economic development stakeholders group the state, gave it our seacoast region, some money and we've.

L

We are engaging a portsmouth marketing company to help us put together. Some videos do some.

L

Interviews with employers what's working, what's not and then be able to share that so I'll have.

L

More on that, in writing. Before our next meeting great and the last thing that came across the.

L

Wire yesterday was the federal small business administration reached out to us. There was a.

L

Conversation a couple of months ago with mike gladys- some of you might know that name. He he's.

L

Our regional sba contact in new england, he talked to the mayor about potentially hosting a summit.

L

For small businesses, with the with the theme of encouraging entrepreneurialism and how portraits.

L

Is a great place to do that, or I say new england is a great place to do that, but certainly thought.

L

About hosting it in portsmouth, so that's something ben and I are going to work with the sba on and.

L

I'll have more on that, I'm sure that might be late spring summer, I'll, not recalling the email. It came.

L

In last night, so that's my update from the office I'll commit to more next month. Awesome thanks, sean.

B

So next we've got our council update for counselors yeah. um It's been kind of busy.

G

Obviously the sherman school business, but um also the outdoor dining was was most of the.

G

The policy was approved, we are still looking at the use of sidewalks and how that will.

G

Fit into the to the policy, and then the next thing I I think of is the uh we want. We are.

G

Look voted to look at the cost of expanding the market square design. Studies to include.

G

A much larger portion of the downtown extending to the streets coming in and out congress, and so.

G

We're looking to see what the implications of that would be to the cip to include that in the studies.

G

We did, I have some notes here. Sorry.

G

We did codify the taxi stand on the single taxi stand. We also, we also.

G

Brought other uh blocks of employees up to the same standard of giving an increase of four.

G

Percent increase just so, we can retain employees as well. So I think I think that covers all the.

G

Employees at this point now, I think we have one more collective bargaining unit left. Okay, we we.

A

Had 10 to settle in this fiscal year and they're trickling in. But the idea is to make sure that all.

A

Employees at the appropriate time of approvement of agreements get treated the same way. I I think I.

G

Think that's been a really positive thing for working for the city. It's it's helped a lot.

G

um Also, uh I think you might know this, but uh the my city manager has has been appointed to the peas.

G

Redevelopment authority and uh we're all excited about that- I think that it'll bring a lot more.

G

Coordination between peas and the cities that that was good too.

G

um Then I guess the other thing I had to note was the community power.

G

uh Work session is scheduled, and that is coming up on february 13th.

G

So it's a discussion of basically an aggregate of communities, negotiating power.

G

You got anything else, I think you've covered it smoothly. Thanks thanks.

G

I guess the only thing I would ask is a city manager. If there's any kind of update, she would.

G

Like to give on the mcintyre, because people always ask that you know what's happening with mcintyre.

G

I will leave that to you. There really is no update other than the the group that's trying to navigate.

A

The waters of um moving a project forward to hit the stage of application for the national park.

A

Service is still moving along. We are working in a deadline that now has an end date of march 31st.

F

Confident that we're gonna hit that that deadline.

F

I think everyone would be happy that everyone just get the deadline do well.

F

And get it out for sure, because it's always a topic that comes up around the city. It is.

B

Foreign thanks counselors, um so next up, we've got ben with updates from the chamber collaborative.

C

Yeah, just a few updates this morning earlier this week. I believe it was monday. I love the week's a.

C

Bit of a blur, uh we hosted a elected officials, reception at the press, room and, and many of you.

C

Were there thank you for for participating in that and and being there at that um at that time we we.

C

Shared our chambers legislative priorities for the years, the first time in um ever um that we have.

C

Put that formal document together um so that that was uh took a fair amount of internal work and.

C

A lot of conversation from our public policy uh committee and our board, so that was a big.

C

Accomplishment for us- um and it is the season we are constantly monitoring uh bills that are um you.

C

Know taking place in the legislature and looking really closely at some great housing legislation.

C

That's been put forward that I think, could really be beneficial to the portsmouth community and.

C

Trying to be supportive of that there's some other things that are that we're just monitoring just to.

C

Keep our eye on things, things move quick there and sometimes ideas come and go really fast. So.

C

um I think we're all kind of waiting to see the governor's budget address, which is the.

C

14Th, I believe, that's planned for valentine's day seems like a strange day to release the.

C

Budget but anyways, uh that's what we're doing. uh That's how we're doing it so. um Similarly,.

C

The the seacoast chamber alliance, the six seacoast chambers, um that's everything from hampton to.

C

The falls which is somersworth um we we have collaborated and found a set of legislative.

C

Priorities that we all agree upon- that's the sixth seacoast chamber, so you'll hopefully see a press.

C

Release announcement about that it'll look very similar to portsmouth, uh because that was where.

C

We started and uh kind of brought in and out for the seacoast, so we're excited about that.

C

um uh One event coming up, I will highlight, um is our economic outlook event on the 28th of february.

C

The last day of this month will be convening at the seacoast rep theater uh that morning, uh 8 30.

C

I believe that's a tuesday if I'm not wrong and we will have a federal national economist kind.

C

Of share their perspective, um it's wild every day you listen to the radio. It's like recession boom.

C

You know it's like I don't know it's like a very yo-yo kind of thing going on there, so we'll get.

C

A national perspective uh from from a federal economist, then we'll have jeff feingold from.

C

The new hampshire business, this review talk about what he's seeing in the state and where our state.

C

Economy is going and then I believe we have sean and navy phil, not sure. Yet that are going to share.

C

The results of the bre survey and what's happening on a local level, so um so we're excited to get.

C

That information out there a bit more um and hear that local perspective and that's that's sort of.

C

The trend we've always done to start federally and get down to the local level. So that's the 28th 8.

C

30 in the morning at the rep, so hopefully you can join us for that. The last thing, I'll just mention.

C

Is um the chamber I think I mentioned this before we are undergoing a strategic planning process.

C

We're at the stage now, where we're identifying a consultant to walk us through that process. So.

C

We're I imagine by the next time we meet that that will have taken place and we'll have a bit more.

C

Understanding of the plan- and I do think there's opportunity for at least some members of the edc.

C

To to contribute to that thoughts, and there seems to be a lot of alignment between our mission work.

C

So I think, there's an appropriate step in there, where um some members of this group can be engaged.

C

In helping us put together our plan for the next few years, so uh that's all I have membership seems.

C

To be good, um business community seems to be doing well. I think things are good right now, so.

I

Are there similar initiatives in neighboring communities around repurposing, city-owned or.

I

Town owned land for public, good or public housing or sportsmith are we sort of in the lead trying to.

I

Identify that it's a great question the similarly to how the ed directors and the chambers meet up.

A

The the town and city managers have met up, we haven't done it recently. I think some are.

A

Stuck in town budget session, but that would be a good question for me to bring to that group funny.

A

Anecdote when I first got here, I reached out to the city and town managers around and I said, can.

A

We meet, can we share uh ideas, I'm new to this and I'm new to this area. So we met and I brought a.

A

Notebook- and they all made fun of me for bringing a notebook to a session where you have beer and.

A

Talk about, you know how to work together, but then we met up subsequently and they said where's. The.

A

Notebook so they like the notebook so it's time for me to do another notebook session with them.

A

I do think all politics is local and people have their own different, unique ways of doing.

A

It, but to your point: there must be good best practice. What have you, what have you done? That.

A

Historically time after time seems to work and what's the practice you go back to so it if I can.

L

Certainly ask my colleagues just to kind of get a primer on that. If there's things going on they'll.

L

Know about it because we talk about housing every every other week yeah. I can tag team on that ben.

A

Looks like he might have yeah. I know there are examples- and this is not um quite similar to the.

C

Sherburne school, but if you look at the courthouse project in dover, that is now a chimberg property.

C

That has a lot of affordable units as part of that project. So it's it's not uncommon to take.

C

A a government-owned building or or property to to repurpose for housing, or something like that.

C

My hometown in massachusetts, my middle school is now housing for seniors. That just happened like a.

C

Week ago, so I feel really bad with the old high school enforcements. I'm just wondering if there.

I

Are like public outreach strategies or things that are working in other communities that we.

I

Might be able to leverage or adopt um if we identify needs with enforcement as well yeah.

C

It's a great idea, andy! I was just going to be it's kind of related to this, but kind of going back to.

M

um uh Ben's report, the elected officials uh event that ben and his team put together was one of.

M

The best events I've been to in I don't know 10 years, and it just had a lot of great ingredients.

M

um And a great lists of them did a fantastic job on that, but one of the things that came out of.

M

It for me is, I thought it was a great way for council council alumni, active politicians that.

M

Are serving to interact and and meet folks in a way that um may not, otherwise, they may not.

M

Otherwise be accessible, and that benefits when items come up when projects like the sherburne.

M

Campus come up because now now you can, you know directly, have those one-on-ones instead.

M

Of sitting in the audience you know and the hall during council meetings, so it was fantastic.

M

Event that all of us should figure out ways to have more opportunities like that. It was great.

G

Yeah, I would second, that was a really good meeting. Do that again: ben [laughter] you're on.

B

I think uh dovetailing on your that chamber's efforts on the legislative priorities, skills.

B

Great feels like it might be appropriate to have. Was it.

B

um City attorney came and presented uh the city's legislative priorities and what james yeah.

A

I could bring jane back sure that would be great, we'll work on that.

C

Yeah she's a pro I've been emailing her a lot lately she is on it. It is. It is remarkable.

D

Cool okay, good, perfect timing: we've got our today's guest adventure. We've got ed miles.

B

Here today from the sbdc, I think we last heard from ed probably around this time last year, so.

B

Good morning and welcome and thank you for joining us for another early session and.

B

um Look forward to hearing what you guys are seeing and experiencing out as you're in the.

B

Field talking with small businesses yeah good morning, uh so I just I I zoomed in exactly the.

N

Right moment, I guess so uh I'll just do a quick, uh a quick introduction to those who.

N

Maybe don't know me or aren't really familiar with the organization and then I'll move into.

N

For the new hampshire, small business development center, um the quick overview is where we're a.

N

Non-Profit extension, service of the university of new hampshire, funded by the state of new hampshire.

N

Through the office of business economic affairs, uh sarah caswell's office and also our major.

N

Funding source is the sbs was called federal. Federal dollars come from the small business.

N

Administration and the seacoast region is, is the region that I cover myself uh warren.

N

Daniel and amy sterndale are business advisors within the region. Along with me, and I was asked.

N

To kind of share what we're seeing and and uh with small businesses, I personally worked with.

N

250 or so small businesses in the region, as do warren and amy, so we're close to maybe a thousand.

N

Small businesses that are coming to us for assistance at any given time I might have 20 or.

N

30 active of those 250 that have something going on and really, I think, the biggest thing I'll just.

N

Talk about challenges first and and not hearing the other part of the agenda. You might have.

N

Already talked about some of this, I think staffing is probably the number one challenge that we're.

N

Seeing so workforce staffing uh you know, workforce housing is obviously an element of staffing and.

N

Then it's real lesser extent, employee retention. I think uh what we're really seeing is that we're.

N

Getting past um sort of uh survival, business advisory advising so we're well beyond the.

N

The whatever the environment was this past 24 months or so, which is sort of.

N

Very uncharacteristic, I think for all of us, um but the for the businesses who survived and the ones.

N

Who, who started up uh in the last 12 months or so something I would say, is the number one challenge.

N

um Opportunities, uh I think we're seeing just uh for again for those who survive we're really.

N

Seeing uh that uh for the existing businesses that survive, you know stay in their balance sheets.

N

Never looked better uh if they weathered the storm, they either did some hard decisions about uh about.

N

About adjustments to their to their staff, um it got them to run meaner. um They made me uh were the.

N

Benefactors of some disaster relief funding- that's really helped a lot of these businesses survive.

N

And uh and really a common theme that we've heard is my balance sheet has never looked better so.

N

That's offered domestically um these businesses saying: how do I, how how can I be responsible with.

N

This with the situation that I'm in now and uh and they are then challenged with now that we are in.

N

This situation financially, we do need to maybe uh strategically stock back up, which is which is a.

N

Problem uh but uh they're we're really hearing some of those common theme, um I'm not going to.

N

Say it's every business, but a lot of said. You know I've never been in a better state because possible with this. This current situation we're in uh so that's some of the advising we've been doing.

N

And then the other trend that we saw uh was that a lot of people were employed that I'm going to.

N

Do this thing I always wanted to do so fill in the blank. Maybe some of your friends or family members.

N

If you've seen that uh they're trying to pull up pull up alongside their current full-time position,.

N

uh That idea or that business that they always wanted to start. So I think, through the pandemic,.

N

A lot of people were were sort of motivated to say um I can maybe start my own business and actually.

N

In 2020 this is 283. Now in 2021 we saw a huge increase in business starts, so I think it was 71.

N

New business starts in the state of new hampshire in 21 2022. I want to say we had. uh These are just.

N

The ones that we advise- it's not statewide, all of new business, starts on the sbdc client. We had 71.

N

New business starts um I'm going from memory in 21 and I think it was 56 new business starts in.

N

22., so it's down a little bit, but there's still a lot of people saying you know I really want to do.

N

That thing I've always wanted to do, and that's a lot of the advising that we've been doing um some.

N

Are more or less prepared to make that move? So the next thing that I was asked to talk about was need.

N

And the ones who are not so prepared to make the move and, and I kind of say, keep.

N

Your full-time job uh there's a financial need, so there's commercial lending. We have a great.

N

Relationship with a number of banks in the seacoast region, um because I'm the seacoast.

N

Regional director part of my role is stakeholder relationship as with this group here, but it also.

N

Includes the commercial lending community the the spdc, the new hampshire spdc did a.

N

uh A bankers and brews event at the portsmouth brewery a couple months back now. I think we had.

N

A dozen different commercial lenders represented, they all want to help these small businesses. The.

N

Ones who are asking for for capital to like get a start um as long as they meet the.

N

What the underwriters determine, ultimately as the algorithm for lending uh and they.

N

Seem like they have a great plan uh where we've been doing a lot of, is business plan creation.

N

uh Financial projections: we see two main things that the lender requires and just.

N

Helping these people kind of find their way to navy uh starting their greens, so uh I would say.

N

Just in general, it's kind of a big uh opening statement about challenges, opportunities and.

N

Needs, but I guess I can you know, leave it to any questions or clarification. Just um on that.

B

Sure I think it's uh it's heartening to hear about all of the the new business.

I

Starts is there, are there any common themes or different characteristics of those new.

I

Businesses and the kinds of needs that they have as far as like physical office, space.

I

Virtual infrastructure, staffing, etc. I'd love to hear a little bit more about those trends.

N

Okay, so uh uh yes, there is, um of course every you know, new business that would require brick.

N

And mortars because I want to be in portsmouth uh and then and then they really see sean clancy's.

N

Time and then they quickly realized that maybe um two things, maybe they should uh walk before they.

N

Run if there's, uh if they're a solo, produce, probably a solo from newark single entity,.

N

um Business starting, they might be uh starting it in their home and then maybe someday opening up.

N

From portsmouth but oftentimes, we are introducing them and trying to attest to this, and we've been.

N

Making camp I make introductions to them uh to the people who desire to be part of the portsmouth.

N

Economic community I'll make introductions in other communities as well. It's not exclusive.

N

To portsmouth uh you know they do represent the seacoast region, so we have great relationships.

N

um Of all the evc's and chambers in the in the region, and uh often making introductions there.

N

um So to answer your question: there is definitely a desire for brick and mortar. It's not always.

N

Viable for those ideas, companies, but sometimes it is, and um as far as the trends that you asked.

N

About we really have seen a trend in I'd, say: healthcare professionals, um I'm a nurse.

N

Practitioner and I want to open my own practice, I work at the fill in the blank uh hospital I'd like.

N

To open my own practice, how do I do that mental health professionals, uh physical therapists, either.

N

Fully full-time employees that want to go out on their own, so we've identified specifically and.

N

Are piloting a program at that vertical market which I'll just kind of generally categorizes.

N

Healthcare professionals to say um we realize that everybody's kind of zoomed out, even though.

N

I'm zooming in today you know: webinars are going on we're more likely attended when we say you know.

N

Sb in new hampshire sbdc is going to do a webinar on uh cash flow protections or something like that.

N

What nobody wants to go to that anymore? So, when we said, is we're what we're gonna do is uh recognize.

N

That there's vertical markets that have common needs and try to create a cohort environment.

N

Where we can and the first one we're piloting with, is businesses who would like to or identify in.

N

That healthcare, professional vertical market and we're creating a cohort where they can all come.

N

Together and share ideas, they're either currently in business and have experience or they want to.

N

Start their new business within healthcare and the the one we're piloting is going to be in the.

N

Seacoast region, bringing together a group and just maybe bringing in a subject matter, expert to speak.

N

To them and giving them the opportunity to have an environment and where they can share ideas, things.

N

That work things that haven't worked: when do you go brick and mortar right? How long can you run it.

N

Out of your home, where the hipaa requirements, what are the whatever requirements in my home.

N

Is the running? uh How are you dealing with online? uh You have uh clients when it's uh when you're a.

N

Mental health counselor, so we um we're just now piloting that program to get more participation.

N

um Rather than just kind of broadcasting that we're doing a webinar on healthcare, we're we're.

N

Really taking a concerted effort and it's kind of listening to what our clients are saying and just.

N

Trying to pilot a little bit of a different environment to make it more enriching, so we.

N

We have seen some vertical markets and I'd say the number one really that we just across, not just the.

N

Seacoast but all across new hampshire we've seen a lot in healthcare businesses starting out and I'm.

N

Trying to think of this other, it's always there's always food service and- and those are some of the.

N

Dreams we have to dash most quickly. um We've got a really really prepared if they've never.

N

Had experience before to go into food service, we really challenge the idea and, where that, what.

N

That idea is rooted in we never skilled greens, but we try to just you know, shine a light on.

N

What we're trying to really accomplish so as food services, obviously another one. I guess there's.

N

Those are the two biggest three that we uh are sitting most recently are health care and food.

N

So it's kind of a long answer to your question to answer it, yeah! No, that's a great answer! Thank you.

K

Other questions so I'll just I'll just make a comment. Ed thanks. This is great information and.

L

And uh some kudos um so amy sterndale, who is is here in city hall, every thursday there's an office.

L

Downstairs that the city provides for her uh and she's great I've known warren a long time from my.

L

Durham days and as I said, we they're all part of the um uh the seacoast economic development.

L

Stakeholders group we meet every other tuesday, so there's a lot of good information and and.

L

The sbdc really does a great job and a lot of what we're I think, we're talking about in terms of our.

L

Engagement with with our city, businesses and this database and the two-way two-way communication.

L

These guys know what they're doing they really do. It well, and I think amy mentioned that when.

L

Once when you, when a client signs up with the sbdc they're, also committing to, is it taking a.

L

Quarterly or two or three surveys of a year to let you all survey annual survey yeah and we I.

N

Mean we're manager, especially our fun, our major funding prior. The sba has four main metrics: that.

N

They measure us on so statistically, we keep track of new business, starts assistance with access to.

N

Capital jobs created and jobs retained so that employment and that retention, so we we require.

N

That's all we really require of our clients is to answer the surveys. It's uh it's funded by taxpayer.

N

Dollars never in charge to our clients. I have some that want weekly phone calls every wednesday at 11.

N

A.M and it's you know as much as they do or don't use our services. It's not just startups. It's not.

N

Just how do I start a coffee shop, because full life cycle of the business.

N

There's uh I just was in the fosters yesterday. um I can't sponsor about it.

N

And we have confidentiality it's kind of expanded to a new community um with a business uh we assist.

N

With that you know, I currently am enforcement. I want to expand into dover. You know we do that.

N

um We I'm at a 10, 000 square foot manufacturing facility. I want to move into a 28 000, perfect.

N

Manufacturing facility, how do I, how do I make this decision? You know quantitatively and and.

N

Then, just by the process of commercial lending and then I have uh and another recent trend is.

N

um How do I responsibly either wind my business down, prepare for sale or do.

N

A generational transfer for the next few weeks for an equity ownership transcripts.

N

My employees so there's a little another thing. We've seen in the pandemic is, I think,.

N

I'm done doing this thing. I've been doing so long. I want to be responsible on how I.

N

Nice thanks ed thanks ed. I have a question just on what you're hearing from your.

B

um From your clients, in terms of probability of capital,.

B

um Maybe the rising interest rate environment and how that has impacted them or not sounds like.

B

There's a lot of strength there, but is there more data or or what are you hearing.

N

So I've not seen the client shying away from the interest rate to to fund the either the growth or.

N

The it's or the side of the business, uh the banks will loan the money at the higher interest rates.

F

So they're not afraid to loan it at the higher interest rates um I haven't had I personally.

N

Can't say that I have a large enough sample set to give you a direct answer on that, except to say.

N

That I haven't seen interest rates on either side of the equation. Make a client either stop for a.

N

Bank obviously want to lend at higher rates they make more money, but the thing that I will say is.

N

That commercial lenders, especially in the seacoast region, that's my area that I have information on.

N

uh Are willing to work with cars? That's kind of you know post pandemic in every category, even.

N

If the service startup, if you have experience, you have a good business plan, you have cash.

N

Flow projections and you're credit worthy they, it's uh they're willing to banks, are willing to.

N

Take a look- and you know the when it gets to the to the underwriters. That's when it really comes.

N

Down to the algorithm they use for lending, like I said before, but uh they're at least willing to.

N

Listen and and take a look and uh anything I'm just going to throw out a number, because there's.

N

A couple banks that are being aggressive at less than fifty thousand dollars lent loans, which is.

N

A lot of the the solopreneurs that we deal with are looking for less than fifty thousand they're.

N

They're, I'm not going to say they're more lenient in those metrics that they use, but they definitely.

N

Take a harder look and um and again there's uh if there's credit worthiness and a good.

N

Plan and some experience within the industry, then I've been successful within the seacoast region.

N

um Statistically, you know, I think, my uh my myself and and my business advisors in 22 uh land. I had.

N

Commercial hard participation in helping out with about 15 million dollars in commercial lending. I.

N

Personally me, I'm kind of newer to it. I helped maybe three and a half million of that. So it's.

N

There's uh there's definitely I'm not going to say the money is loose, but there's definitely.

N

Lending going on in some of those regions, and especially and including startups, that's great.

B

I kind of have a second half to that question and that's just in in the inflationary environment.

B

um Are you hearing much in terms of rising costs for doing business and how that's impacted them.

N

Yeah I mean I made a statement earlier about brown she's, looking better than ever for some.

N

Businesses, but I have seen the pressure of both um of wage, uh the wage increase pressure and you.

N

Know I didn't want to throw out the buzzword, you know what he's using, but it's obviously supply.

N

Chain uh just call it cost of goods. You know say you know, supply is there, but cost of supplies.

N

um I'm thinking in my mind, uh specifically about a is a restaurant that I deal with, who.

N

The uh the wages that are commanded by the staff, alongside of the um cost of goods, to make a pizza.

N

For example, in one very specific example, really have made the margins extremely thin, and it's I.

N

Don't know the last time anybody in this room ordered a pizza, but if you want the pizza's.

N

Delivered it's going to cost you 50 bucks, I mean. When did that happen, and that's I mean it's true.

N

It's going to cost 50 bucks and that's so uh I don't think that I think, as a consumer, I know.

N

That on a friday night, I'm just going to swipe my cars and do it. But I mean I think that there.

N

Is there has been some uh recognition, and that's very one very specific example that I think that.

N

uh Cost of goods I'm going to think of another example, I'm giving you a long answer. I hope you.

N

Appreciate it, I have a distribution company, um uh call it a pickpack ship company that.

N

Has a very unique uh product, a very unleashed industry, but he orders raw materials from china.

N

um And and he so he gets a raw material without a container load from from china and then has.

N

This uh a business where he employs eight or ten employees and they have a warehouse environment.

N

See because of the uh specific to the supply chain, issue found himself having to buy more.

N

Stock more than we would have so now he's in a very I don't say, a cash crunch situation, but he's.

N

Holding more inventory than he wanted to at this time of the year. This is in new hampshire in the.

N

Sequester, new, hampshire and and uh and maybe has I don't know what the surplus is, but he.

N

Had to he had to fight to get production time in china quite premium to get his containers shipped.

N

Over the water, all these shipping companies were literally adding ten thousand dollars of premium.

N

Payments to get your container through la to get it to come across the country. That sounds.

N

Helpful with the raw material inside it was costing him, so he was in the situation where.

N

He had to buy a bunch of stuff now he's in a surplus situation. Where he's saying I have.

N

To discount my pricing in order to push through the inventory that I was kind of forced to buy so.

N

um Once again carry on a bit, but those are two very you know kind of uh polarizing examples of.

N

What's happening in that, uh hopefully I answered the question yeah. No, that was fantastic. Thank you.

N

And you need this uh this moment this whole distribution company, I mean he has enough of a.

N

um A sense to say that, yes, I am a uh a micro example within new hampshire, but he actually.

N

Hypothesized that nationwide uh there's going to be good deals to be had throughout 2023, because.

N

Many durable good manufacturers or many many manufacturers in the same situation where they.

N

Are going to just have to give deals to move inventory, so he was just kind of saying that.

N

If you have money in 2023 it's a year where you might, as a consumer start to see some good deals.

G

Very interesting I like to have mine, that's cool. Thank you very much.

B

um I don't think we've got anything further, but we appreciate all the work and the data and we'll be.

B

Sure to stay in close touch over the course of the years here, surveying folks, those two times.

N

And and we're going to be issuing our uh annual report, which we'll have all the uh not off the.

N

Top of my head data points for 2022 yeah. So uh we get that out to all the abcs into andrews and.

N

They'll be printing copies of it and pdf version, so we'll have that issue here shortly: fantastic.

N

All right, thank you thanks, ed thanks, ed awesome. Thank you for having me thanks. Thank you. Bye.

M

It was great candy, I said uh one comment is reminded by ed's presentation, so they.

M

Have an annual report: redc has an annual report. We have our uh rapport andy. Oh sorry,.

M

uh With all that is, is that something we can kind of like put in the hopper for the data committee.

M

um As a starting point, it's just so hard. You know through that survey process with br and.

M

He takes a lot of effort to generate your own data right and there's so much data. Oh and.

M

Craig welch brought his housing report um in two and there's all these wonderful groups doing you.

M

Know economic development in new hampshire already and then the second kind of question.

M

I had is like: how do you, how would how would the data committee kind of choose you know.

M

um Did you just offer it up as a beginning point? Could we just offer it up as a library.

M

You know that folks can maybe access for the city website or that kind of thing I mean a.

M

Lot of us uh because of our position, you know because of our occupations, it just comes across.

M

Our desk, but I think a lot of folks in the in our communities. It doesn't come across their desk yeah.

L

So there's a lot of that. I I like the the library I do and I think that's what we're trying to.

L

Build but at the end of the day it's it's, it can be a lot of data right and, as we saw with.

L

The survey it's a lot of information, so my what keeps me up at night is how to get it.

L

Distilled into information that we can actually use right to inform decisions to inform the edc.

L

um And and so that's that that's a challenge and what I've been thinking I'll just say what.

L

I've been thinking about is, is interns and how to how to find other resources. Other arms and.

L

Legs that can pull this together and and with with some with some guidance, but not not a lot.

L

Of guidance but some guidance to say: here's what we're trying to to understand so that we.

L

Can then communicate it out right whether it's to the business community to the to the overall.

L

Community importance, because to your point most people: don't don't spend the time to understand.

L

It so that that's the opportunity here for sure I mean these reports, like the sed's report from our.

M

Unbelievable super high quality, a lot of time and money has been spent on them, um be great.

M

To at least just give it a platform, you know for this from the city of portsmouth and edc.

M

Counselor um yeah well sounds like a data mining problem and uh there certainly are.

G

Amazing tools to do data mining- I don't know if we have access to some of that stuff, certainly.

G

Google and microsoft- and you know facebook, they I mean they.

G

They have incredible tools, I don't know if some of that is available to.

G

Yeah and on our an organization like this, I could check with rit department now that we have one.

I

um Sarah, I can dust off my notes, but before the pandemic I had engaged with somebody. I.

I

Think at uh unh school of public policy around the uh data modeling for what percentage of tax.

I

Dollar goes to what remember we had talked about this, but there might be an opportunity.

I

um Probably not for this year, but to partner with the school and work with um graduating.

I

Students as a capstone project, like how do you aggregate this data and make it useful for public.

I

Consumption, so you could potentially partner with the school, get folks that work on this.

I

For a capstone and then have a sustainable model that you could use going forward there you go. I.

L

Had a conversation with you, when I yesterday unh cooperative extension, and they mentioned the same.

L

Thing and you get this graduate level student as opposed to an undergrad and um it's their purpose.

I

Is to build you something that you can sustain and use going forward instead of like here's. What.

I

I have now, what can I get from it, but right and that's what's in it, for that student is to really.

L

Get into the real world if you will and and move something forward, not just yeah.

L

Great idea, so maybe we talked to the same people but I'll look in my email and see who I had worked.

L

With yeah that'd be great, if you oh, oh brown with it. Thank you definitely pick some potential and.

B

If we can find a way even just to get some of the key information out there, I mean, as part.

B

Of our brd report out to the council, just I mean this: all of this information is out there and and.

B

You know we're capturing a good group with the brony and then I'm sure, they're hearing either.

B

From the same, or maybe a broadened group locally and statewide that just helps inform what's going.

B

On from a housing perspective, I mean so many other issues we touch upon. So when we come to.

B

The place where we want to advocate for something we have some data sure the challenge isn't in.

I

Getting the data it's a normal extraction and making sure that you can actually gain insights.

L

Yeah I'll just share with the group, since we do have a few minutes with this, with the with.

L

The regional group there's an amazing amount of information out there. This is why we're we're.

L

Going to put together a marketing campaign, if you will to employers to to be able to distill down.

L

What are the best practices for attracting and retaining talent, because that's what they need and.

L

There's so much information out there that comes down to how do we distill it? How do we package it.

L

How do we present it so it's accessible to to the small business owner who's, trying who, who has all.

L

This money and wants to grow and and expand uh they don't have time to to pour through these.

L

Amazing reports so that that's an opportunity for for us in economic development and maybe for the.

L

Edc in terms of on behalf of portsmouth businesses, but we certainly can do it across the region.

L

um But yeah, I think that's that's. What I'm seeing is is our opportunity moving forward.

L

And so that's that's really. What I've been talking to my colleagues about great ben on a different.

C

Note I know it's come up a number of times in discussion here at this group, the the the changing.

C

Of the office environment and what that means to, and I just thought I'd share yesterday I had the.

C

Opportunity, um along with the mayor, to attend the ribbon cutting for baker, newman noise, um the cpa.

C

Firm that about 300 employees from portland down to the boston, woburn area and they just moved into.

C

New office space, they moved from peas to the new cane property and uh there's there's about.

C

50 people that are going to call that office home there's four permanent deaths in that space.

C

Every so it was just staggering to me the the the the leap they took into this hotel model of you.

C

Can book a desk and there's partners working next to juniors, it's a very interesting model and they.

C

Have a wonderful um good thing for portsmouth is uh that we are essentially located in their.

C

Footprints, they built the wonderful training room there for about 50 people and they'll, be bringing.

C

In like all their teammates to to basically have portsmouth be this place, they come for their.

C

Education and continuing it, but very high tech, very well done it would be perhaps worthwhile to.

C

Take a walk through as a group or individually, and I think they would be open to that. But it's it's.

C

Definitely um eye-opening the the transformation in their model and I'm curious to see if other.

C

Professional service firms particularly follow that suit the downsizing of liberty, mutual. I think.

I

Everybody saw they're, consolidating fort smith and putting over west on the market, so I think.

I

It's not just the small firms that are looking at that footprint, but the larger ones as well.

B

Yeah, then, do you know what the square footage they left was and, oh, I don't know what they.

C

Left, I did not ask that I believe I asked their square footage. I want to say, is about.

C

7 500 square feet: yeah. um Maybe that's wrong. No, I think that's right. That sounds yeah foreign.

E

Downtown or out on commerce way out on commerce way. Yeah is this: the building that we toured.

E

Someone was sheehan finney and the irs is upstairs now. I think we were at novacare.

B

Which was just next door yeah yeah neighbors to that was that the we went, the one which was.

E

All little pods where employees would reserve it for a number of hours, one of the many liberties.

I

The old newmarket software that was my first job out of college right.

B

Thank you for sharing that.

B

I think we we breeze through everything this morning, not that we breeze through.

B

But I think we covered a lot of ground so maybe give everyone some time back, but we've got time.

B

For public comments, so um things there's no one from the public here. I guess, if there's anything.

B

Not on the agenda that anyone wants to cover joe um as we covered in our retreat, um I'm now.

D

Going to be putting edc updates on the council agenda, so I have that just as a verbal update.

D

um So I'll just kind of highlight this meeting at my retreat and if there's anything else, that.

D

Anyone would like, please feel free to email me, but we will be. I will now be doing that at least.

D

Monthly and then, whenever the vre committee gets together and decides that they are ready to kind.

D

Of present to the council, just you know: 10 10, 15 minute 20, minute presentation with some of.

D

The highlights just please let me know and we'll get that on the agenda, for you perfect, fantastic.

B

Thank you if I could just bring one chocolate cup we talked about uh when you're update, we.

J

Talked about the outdoor dining and one of the things that I've noted and I've been I've been.

J

Tapped on the shoulder a number of times, and, of course, a lot of people have seen the letters that.

J

Have been circulating on you know that that font of of legitimate journalism, the facebook.

J

um There there seems to be a real problem with um a certain number of retailers in feeling like.

J

Their voices were not heard and I'm just simply asking the question. I have no direct knowledge of.

J

Any of that I'm just are we comfortable because obviously they contribute a great deal to the.

J

Economic vitality of downtown: do we feel that there's a vulnerability there or do we feel that.

J

They've been taken into account appropriately during all this, so this is just the usual.

G

I think that the our discussion was that they could have access to the sidewalk space as well.

G

In the same way, so um beyond that, I'm not sure that we do more. I I think to expand upon that.

D

um We definitely are looking at our sidewalk obstacle obstacle permit, which would allow.

D

Clothing, racks and certain things part of the discussion of expanding the market square redesign.

D

Project which is supposed to happen but then delayed because of the 400th anniversary, is again.

D

Looking at potentially expanding sidewalks, making more walkability downtown, granted more access to.

D

um You know retailers also when we talk about some of the letters that are circulating some.

D

Of those letters uh you know were from last year and were not resubmitted this year, I think.

D

The big part that we look at as a council when we talk about outdoor dining was again. We had.

D

Roughly, over almost two over I'd, say over 200 emails, majority of them from residents.

D

Supporting outdoor dining, so I'd like to make it very clear: it's not one industry versus another.

D

uh You know part of our job is to really weigh the the desires of residents and the desires.

D

Of residents were to continue outdoor dining and to to look at long-haul policy of that.

A

Like I just said, one more thought for we, we've heard both sides of the story that there are.

A

Businesses that want to make sure they're treated equitably relative to the dining establishments.

A

But we also heard from several retailers that seem to have benefited from outdoor dining, so.

A

We there there are two sides to that coin as well, and then indy. I I just want to add to this that.

C

um uh The mayor and I and a couple other city councilors have had some conversations about is.

C

There something special we can do for the retail community to to sort of express our our love for.

C

Them and give them an opportunity to shine um and, and what that looks like and how that comes to.

C

Be is, is you know, pretty much in its early early stages of discussion, but um you know it may be an.

C

Event to maybe you know a a week or something like that where we we do something special for them, so.

C

um So there's some conversations going on right now, we'll see where they head, but I do think.

C

um Showing our gratitude and the support for such a vibrant part of our downtown.

C

Community is very important and I think those retailers certainly need a little bit of love. So.

M

Indy, in addition to the two sides of the coin, I think there's a third and fourth side of.

M

The coin too, we have a lot of uh first floor and second floor office. Tenants downtown that.

M

I both hear complaints about the loss of parking spaces due to outdoor dining and then we also have.

M

You know, folks that are living in second third and fourth floors of buildings too, and I think.

M

Where it affects the office, tenant is for uh one hour meetings that clients are coming in and then.

M

Clients are saying we can't find parking and of course you hear those complaints in july and.

M

You know where there's an obvious when there's obvious crunch in the the parking you know the.

M

High hanover garage that this has a full sign in front of it, um but that that's that's the other.

M

Organisms in the ecosystem, this is uh trying to figure that out and I'd also just put forward.

M

Other other cities have figured this out. I would encourage you, know the council and all of us to.

M

You know, look look at other examples. There's a lot of you know european examples of outdoor dining.

M

Canada, you know other other places that have somehow figured this out, but.

M

I and and then having said all that, uh I'm I I've benefited and love, you know being.

M

Able to have a beer have a appetizer outside um downtown. It's been great.

B

I think that's like everything so taking all that sean just a reminder, there's a a.

L

Vote monday night on the edc alternate position great, I think it hopefully it'll go well good.

A

Okay: okay! Well! Thank you! Everybody appreciate it uh yeah. If nothing further, we'll confirm.

B

Our next meeting date is march 3rd um it'll, be shortly after the business or economic forum.

B

The chambers hosting earlier that week, but nothing further entertain a motion to adjourn.

A

So moved exactly thanks. Everybody.