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Downtown WadsworthEconomic Development Committee Meeting
3/29/06
Present: Jack Ollom, Dr. Susan Arpad, Dr. Joe Arpad, Dwight Weaver, Bob Thurber, & Rob Peters
The meeting began at 8:30 a.m.
The first item of discussion was the public transportation issue. After the meeting, Rob spoke with Commissioner Hambley in regard to Wadsworth and the County Transit Authority. Mr. Hambley explained they were in the process of hiring a new director whom would be assigned reviewing public transportation in Wadsworth.
Dwight shared with the group his experience in working on the strategic plan. He, like many of the members, stated that creation the strategy or action steps was the most difficult portion of the plan development. He also thought that instead of relying on a new anchor tenant to provide a draw for the downtown, each business should strive to improve its own service and possibly add new products or services that do not currently exist in the downtown.
Bob said it seemed like many of the small businesses could use some assistance understanding finances. Rob brought up Akron SCORE and SBA as possible organizations that can provide this type of training and assistance. After the meeting, Rob spoke with Ron Stallings of SCORE who agreed to provide a representative to speak at the May 3rd HDW open meeting.
Joe had attended the AIM meeting on 3/28/06. He asked what high school age people would like to see in the downtown. He said the response was for a book store with an eatery and a hobby store. The group discussed the importance of having students working at the youth oriented businesses. There was additional discussion about the need for a bike shop, the school program in Knapp’s and a historical display.
Joe also stated the Design Committee had discussed the possibility of multiple bronze statues in the downtown and parking in the center of the streets where islands currently exist.
There was general discussion in regard to events being a catalyst for bringing people to the downtown but there is no benefit if businesses are closed.
Susan had written a letter to Ashland University to see what their interest was in a Wadsworth facility. There had been meetings with AU during the Kroc application process.
The next meeting was scheduled for 4/13/06 at 8:30 a.m. in the administrative conference room of City Hall.
Downtown Wadsworth Economic Development Committee Meeting
3/15/06
Present: Jack Ollom, Dr. Susan Arpad, Dwight Weaver, Bob Thurber, Nancy Likens & Rob Peters
Press: Sue Bielawski arrived at approx. 9:00 a.m.
The meeting began at 8:30 a.m.
The meeting started with discussion in regard to public transit being made available to Wadsworth residents. Susan stated that the staff from Medina County would not be able to attend today’s meeting due to covering for employees off sick within the transit department. Nancy Likens gave an overview of current Medina County Transit activity in Wadsworth. Nancy is a member of the Transit Board. The consensus of the committee was that a route that connected the downtown, the North end and Wadsworth Crossings with residential areas would be desirable. Rob said he would call Commissioner Hambley to discuss options for creating such a route and the current transit district funding and the distribution of State dollars.
Rob updated the committee on the progress of the former Conval building.
There was a discussion on the status of the strategic plan and how this may change or add to the committee goals.
Nancy talked about the senior population enjoying having there center located in the downtown. They seem to like being able to shop before or after a program at the CFOA.
The next meeting was scheduled for 3/29/06 at 8:30 a.m. in the administrative conference room of City Hall.
Downtown Wadsworth
Economic Development Committee Meeting
2/22/06
Present: Jack Ollom, Dr. Joe Arpad, Dr. Susan Arpad, Dwight Weaver & Rob Peters
The meeting began at 8:30 a.m.
Jack opened the meeting with a summary of the Willy Wonka event. There were over 2000 candy bars sold and more than 450 attended the movie showing. All 10 of the winners were from homes located on streets that were only in existence for 5 -7 years or less. Jack felt that working with the schools was a good way to let newer residents know about the downtown. He received positive feedback from the schools and the events committee was working on a similar program with the Wizard of Oz in the fall. He also reported that the first shipment of match sticks for the construction contest during Blue Tip had arrived.
Jack and Rob attended the Good Works meeting at the Wadsworth Target store. They discussed briefly the grants available and the Target Card program with 1% from all purchases going to a school of your choosing. Joe mentioned he was familiar with a similar program in California using a Habitat Card.
Rob and Jack had attended the Medina County Port Authority informational meeting. Jack, Joe and Susan had attended a similar type of meeting in Wooster, Ohio on January 27th. There was a brief discussion on project financing with the Port Authority Bond Fund Program from Summit County and the possibility of creating a TIF area to pay for future projects. There was also discussion on the existing need for a multi use community facility such as the one that was presented in the Kroc grant application. The strategic plan may revisit this issue with a possible location and services to be provided. (ex. Salvation Army, arts, recreation, social services, etc.)
Joe provided maps of Wadsworth before the Match and Injector factories were constructed. He also provided plats of the downtown from 1874 and 1897. There was discussion in regard to the layout of the downtown prior to the industrial buildings coming to the south end of the downtown area.
There was discussion of increasing public transportations role in Wadsworth. Susan said she was told that Wadsworth had more riders than any other community in the county.
Joe and Susan had visited Cuyahoga Falls downtown and emailed pictures to committee members. They commented on the parking lots being full but no people were visible on the sidewalks.
The next meeting was scheduled for 3/15/06 at 8:30 a.m. in the administrative conference room of City Hall.
Downtown Wadsworth
Economic Development Committee Meeting
2/8/06
Present: Jack Ollom, Dr. Joe Arpad, Dr. Susan Arpad, Rob Peters
The meeting began at 6:40 p.m. with discussion of the low attendance of the requested evening meeting. It was decided to hold future meetings in the morning due to better attendance.The meeting focused on discussing the Economic Development Committees goals to serve as a guide for committee activities.
The Goals are as follow:
1) Achieve and maintain 100% occupancy for downtown retail space.
a. Market available downtown space
b. Serve as a conduit for businesses with changing needs to find more appropriate space for their business
2) Improve over all parking for the downtown.
a. Provide multiple small parking structures above existing buildings
b. Provide large structure where space is available (possible north end of Conval)
c. Improve condition of existing parking lots
d. Incorporate public transportation to have a route connecting Wadsworth’s retail areas
3) Seek grants to achieve goals 1 and 2. ( This could be listed as an action step for the above listed goals)
These goals will be evaluated and possibly changed and expanded once the organizations strategic plan is completed.
The downtown ordinances that have been proposed to City Council in the past were discussed. Rob stated that he did not feel there was an issue with the content or requested steps but creating a micro government within the City outside of the City Councils control may be a problem. Rob mentioned the change in the zoning code making second story residential a permitted use instead of a conditional use like in the past.
Susan asked if there was a local realtors association that we could partner with for assisting with marketing the downtown properties. Rob said he would check with Kathy Stugmyer and get contact information if there was such an organization.
There was discussion of using Welcome Wagon or Newcomers to assist with letting new residents to Wadsworth and the surrounding area know about our downtown.
Joe and Susan discussed conducting asset meeting with High School students to see what they would like the downtown to have or be to make it more appealing to this age group.
Jack reported that over 1,500 of the Willy Wonka candy bars had been sold and that the movie would most likely be a sell out. There was discussion to possibly have a second showing to accommodate all those interested in attending. This lead to discussion on the difficulty scheduling OJ Works with so many school programs using one facility.
There was discussion in regard to the Johnson House being part of the downtown and how to get the Historic Society involved. Rob stated that he felt this is an asset to the community that is greatly underutilized. Jack suggested having a class or program with the schools become involved with this facility.