Last night I attended the quarterly membership meeting of the ODA. The theme was Olympia Goes Green in celebration of Earth Day. It was yet another zero waste event (something we're getting pretty good at downtown) and had quite a decent turnout. Several businesses were highlighted, including 510 Interiors, Eco-Lux, Radiance, Creative Office Supply and Casual Tee. 510 has made quite a name for themselves already, being honored at the Economic Development Coucil's annual business awards luncheon. Eco-Lux is on Washington St. had sells not only amazing organic body care products but also fantastic chocolate. Creative Office is a long-time downtown business and Casual Tee provides a highly needed service in a town like ours that prints more shirts per capita than we really need--environmentally (and economically!) friendly screen printing.

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The PBIA will be holding a regular business meeting tomorrow, Thursday April 10th from 6-8pm in the MIXX 96 conference room (located on Washington St. betwen 4th and State). There is time made for public comment at the beginning of the meeting. Ratepayers as well as other interested parties are encouraged to attend. Download the agenda here (doc). (Inconsequential note: I won't be there to chair because I'm going to see CHRIS ROCK. I won't tell you where my seats are cause ya'll will be jealous. The multi-talented Terry Z. from Espresso Parts will be filling in.)

From the press release:

Artists Sought to Spruce Up Downtown Benches

A downtown Olympia group is inviting area artists to submit designs to artistically enhance existing benches in downtown Olympia. The PBIA (Parking & Business Improvement Area) will be selecting up to five artists for the project, which is designed to add artistic interest to the streetscape of downtown Olympia, engage the local arts community in a downtown project, and create a more inviting, welcoming atmosphere to downtown. Each artist will receive an honorarium of $1000 plus up to $500 for materials.

I'm starting a separate thread because a discussion about the actual proposed PBIA budget, I believe, is important. However, the title of Emmett's post is misleading and a mistake made by many.

Almost every week this is the "What's on the city council's plate this week" review. I don't cover everything, so if you want the full rundown, read the packet and agenda yourself.

The city council will also consider the budget for the Parking and Business Improvement Area downtown. From the staff report:

Total PBIA Assessments available $174,324 (This includes a unspent balance from prior year appropriations totaling $62,474 and new 2008 assessments totaling $111,852). The Advisory Board is recommending continuing existing programs and services and new programs and services that total $163,500, leaving a balance of $10,824 for future programs.

The PBIA (Parking and Business Improvement Area) Advisory Board will be holding a regular meeting this Thursday at 6 pm in the MIXX 96 conference room. The meeting is open to the public and there is time set aside for public comment/communications at the beginning of the agenda. Any and all are welcome. The bulk of the meeting will be focusing on advertising and marketing.

Alright,

as a downtown business owner and ODA member and someone in love with the city I started First Friday in Downtown this December with a few other businesses.

Every month we've grown. More stores have been participating and more people have been out and about, enjoying this regular event and the possibilities to meet people, walk around a city "alive", and shop and dine till late into the evening.

Now, so far I've been managing the event from my computer in the store and keeping everything electronic and simple, but now we're at the brink of growing this into a "funded" event as the PBIA and the ODA both have been approaching me, asking me to present the idea and let them help support it.

I've got some ideas of what this event could turn into, and am presenting those next week to both committees to see what they think, where they stand and if it makes sense for them and me to work together.

Here is my challenge for all of you:

Creative visionaries of Olympia - here is your chance!

Tell me what you would like to turn this event into!!

Give me ideas, dreams - help me color the rough draft and be a part of something that can and will be a huge hit for Olympia.

Even some testamonies or letters of recommodation if you will would be great, so I don't sound like a lonley voice, but "represent the people"!!!

Now, obvioulsy I sound way to excited for this blog and will receive alot of comments and responses about why this event will suck, fizzle and die. Why Olympia is a lost cause and why the ODA and PBIA are the devil. Save your breath, I know where you stand and don't care - because I still believe in this city and in the power of people to make a change for the better.

'Nuff said - now it's your turn!

mathias

einmaleins