HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/22/2015 Study Session 269
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION
September 22, 2015
City Hall — Council Chambers
2 p.m.
1. Roll Call
Council: Assistant Mayor Kathy Coffey, presiding, Council Members Maureen Adkison, Rick
Ensey, Dave Ettl and Bill Lover
Staff: City Manager O'Rourke and City Clerk Claar Tee
Absent: Mayor Micah Cawley (excused) and Council Member Tom Dittmar (excused)
2. Downtown Plaza Case Study Session
City Manager O'Rourke introduced Dan Senftner, President and CEO of Destination Rapid
City, Rapid City, SD (population 68,000) who stated he was born and raised in Rapid City with
a history in downtown retail, and he shared the story of Main Street Square. Main Street
Square opened in 2011 and in its third year received 700,000 visitors and hosted 200 events.
He stated he is a business owner and property owner in downtown Rapid City and
described how their community took the steps to build Main Street Square and the
economic results since it opened. He noted they don't have a parking problem, they have a
walking problem. He presented a four minute video of their plaza/square and emphasized the
majority of visitors are local families. He stated their plaza has been a huge economic
generator for their community.
Linda McCarthy, Director of the Downtown Missoula Partnership, and Ellen Buchanon,
Director of the Missoula Redevelopment Agency, from Missoula, MT (population 69,000) via
Skype Conference, spoke on the success of Caras Park. Caras Park hosts numerous events
throughout the year and in 2013 nearly 1,000,000 people visited the park.
Dana Dwinell, City resident, asked Ms. McCarthy to elaborate on the benefits of their
investment and $200 million return.
Ms. McCarthy responded with a list of projects they have handled and about tax increment
matching and leveraging public dollars for private investment.
Patricia Byers, City resident, asked how many acres the Caras Park covers and if the parking
was free prior to the development of the plaza. Ms. McCarthy noted it is approximately two
acres and parking is not free.
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Assistant Mayor Coffey noted Mr. Senftner will also speak to the community at a public
session tonight at the Seasons Performance Hall at 6:30 p.m.
3. Adjournment
MOTION: Ensey moved and Adkison seconded to adjourn to a Council Study
Session on September 29, 2015 at 10 a.m. at City Hall. The motion carried by unanimous
vote, Cawley and Dittmar absent. The meeting adjourned at 3:09 p.m.
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