Loading...
Memo - Central Business District Improvement Program ., PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Memorandum To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Copy: Rick Davidson, Chief Building Inspector Jim Hartshom, Economic Development Coordinator ~.~. June 6, 2001 From: Date: Subject: Central Business District Improvement Program At a previous work session the Council gave staff approval to investigate the possiblility of a Central Business District (CBD) Improvement Program. The initial request came from the commercial property owners committee as a result of a walking tour of the alleyways in the CBD. The purpose of the program is to clean up the Central Business District (CBD) by enforcing code violations. Staff would work with HBCA volunteers to distribute information pamphlets that detail the program along with free decorative brooms as friendly reminders to the commercial business owners that it is th ir responsibility to clean up their property. The program was delayed, as the process and details of the program needed clarification along with the start-up of the new City Court. According to Rick Davidson, chief building inspector, there needs to be a concensus regarding how often the CBD should be inspected and whether the CBO should be inspected more often than other areas of the community. Mr. Davidson also mentioned that maintenance codes already exist that pertain to the CaD and that the regulations/codes would probably not change as a result of a new program. Elizabeth Page, housing inspector, currently is schedul d to inspect all commercial properties within the CBO approximately once a year and on a complaint basis. If a new CaD inspections program would not change the process or the details of the current program, does the Council wish to continue with the broom program? If the Council wishes to pursue the broom program, they need to provide direction to staff how often they desire inspections to occur in theCBD. The cost for ninety-five 12-inch plastic brooms is approximately $600.00, they would be distributed to businesses located on the Mainstreet level only. The City of Hopkins andHBCAlogo stickers would be attached to the brooms along with the names of individual businesse$. Attached is an article from "Downtown Idea Exchange"pamphlet that details how Brighton neighborhood, Boston, M.A., has successfully established a similar program where brooms were distributed to downtown business leaders. Attachment ... '~"'1 Clean & Safe Public Awareness Is Key To An Effective Litter-Management Program Despite the efforts of their downtown associations, trash and litter continue to plague many central business districts. What can be done about' it is still a mat- ter of debate, but Inany down- towns have developed their own solutions to the problem. Below, we feature a few that have worked for two communities in Boston, MA. Consider these when designing your own pro- gram for fighting trash. A Few Reminders Never Hurt Trash and litter were one of the most pressing problems fac- ing Boston's Brighton neighbor- hood (pop. 40,000) when its Main Streets program was started three years ago. Although merchants were aware of the prob- lem, they didn't seem particularly troubled by it, explains Brighton Main Streets' program director Ann Griffin. It seemed to bother shop- pers more. In fact, a sur- vey of downtown shop- pers revealed that trash and litter on downtown streets were among the factors most likely to keep shoppers away from stores. Rather than cracking down on offenders as some communities have done - and risk creating animosity between their organizations and mem- bers of the community - ~' ~ Brighton Main Streets decided that the best way to tackle the problem would be through public awareness. Brighton's anti-litter campaign takes a multifaceted merchants and residents to keep their community clean," Griffin explains. "This was a lot better than trying to enforce disciplinary action, which few people would have paid attention to anyway." Although she notes that litter prevention is an ongoing effort, the organization has dedicated two times. during the year when the problem is tackled more aggres- sively than usual. Brighton Main Streets partici- pates in a local college's Com- munity Service Day by encourag- ing students to help clean down- town streets, and holds its own "Anti-Litter Week" promotion in April. ", .-....,. ,..,.~........"'..._"'...'~"'-<>.......'OU'U'r..,....,..'<.<......~-v...".".""",O..".,,,~,,<~,..,...,..............~.Vt...~,_.""".o=o<...,"'.'<",...."""'"......,.u,."..,.".."..........,,~.~... --_.-.__.__._------~-.~-------------~._. A survey of shoppers shows that trash and litter on downtown streets are most likely to keep shoppers away from stores. -'-'-- ------..---.---.------.....-...-..--.-..-....----.------.....--.----.... -". "_.",-. .....,.,,,.....,,.~"."",..'"',....,.,..J..'.""'.I~....""- ",:_",.".,...".,.."..;".,_,,,,,,.,>;,,.'\, 'A' ""'P,"',-., ",~,'''''.'.' ~ ~'''_ ,,..,,;-.,, _,. """,~',V"" '~'""",:"".~ "',', ".,. approach to the problem with activities geared toward educa- tion and public awareness, and targeted to merchants as well as to customers. "We wanted to remind both These decorative brooms from Boston's (MA) Brighton neighborhood told merchants "in a nice way" to clean up their streets. June 1, 2000 · Downtown Idea Exchang · 5 " Merchants Make A Clean Sweep Of Downtown When "Anti-Litter Week" kicked off three years ago, Griffin saw the event as an opportunity to encourage merchants to be more proactive in keeping their streets clean. Each merchant was given a broom bearing downtown's "Keep Brighton Beautiful" logo. As an introduction to the Main Streets organization, the brooms were also decorated with a ribbon with infor- mation about the program attached. Approximately 160 brooms have been distributed free to lner- chants over the last three years, each costing the organization between $3 to $4 to produce. Although the brooms will not be distributed this year - downtown construction has resulted in a lot of the streets being torn up - the organization is continuing its litter awareness campaign by producing decorative decals and bookmarks bearing the "Keep Brighton Beautiful" logo. These will be distributed free of charge in downtown stores and the public library. Education Is An Important Tool In The Fught Against litter Other strategies used to encourage litter-free sidewalks during "Anti-Litter Week" include holding street cleanup events (these are held throughout the year too), sponsoring a drawing contest for children that focuses on litter prevention and the benefits of recycling, and educating children about litter prevention. "Last year we hired a Conservation Clown" to visit local schools to teach children the importance of recycling and not littering," Griffin explains. "It was really a fun way to spread our message." Downtown Trash Cans Remind Residents Not To litter In a newer anti-litter promo- tion, the "Keep Brighton Beautiful" logo is becoming a per- manent fixture on downtown's trash barrels. The downtown asso- ciation recently purchased 38 metal signs that will bear the logo for a total cost of about $1,500. "What better spot to remind resi- dents not to litter?" Griffin says. Homeless men and women can earn a pay- check and work toward self-reliance by cleaning downtown's streets. The signs are in the process of being installed and will appear on trash barrels throughout the central business district. "The Depm1luent of Public Works has been very cooperative in allowing us to put up the signs," Griffin says. "However, we would like them to come by and sweep more often." Trash Collection Becomes Employment For Some Boston's Washington Gateway Main Street organization has implemented a program that can only be defined as a "win-win" situation for all those involved. Through a partnership with Project Place (a local social ser- vices agency that serves the homeless), homeless men and women can earn a paycheck and work toward self-reliance by cleaning downtown's streets. Employees of the program, called "Clean Corners...Bright Hopes," clean downtown streets for a peri- od of six months before moving on to other employment, explains 6 · Downtown Idea Exchange .. June :l, 2000 Sheila Grove, project director for Washington Gateway Main Street. Project Place pays participants for their work through a grant provid- ed by a sponsor corporation. Inmates Help Clean Downtown Streets In a separate program, the main street organization also par- ticipates in the Rouse t' bouts (Restitution thru Restoration) pro- gram sponsored by the local sher- iffs department. Under the pro- gram, inmates are assigned to clean city streets. The main street organization also works with the city to arrange occasional street clean- ups. A major one was held two years ago to coincide with the city's "Broom To Bloom" pro- gram. In this program, run through the city's Parks Depart- ment, flower bulbs are distributed for planting in neighborhoods throughout the city. "We got 2,000 bulbs that year," Grove says. "The two activities really complemented each other." "1 i ) Contact: Ann Gr(fJin, Brighton Main Streets, (6/7) 779-985/; Sheila Grove, (617) 542-1234. . I I How does your down- town handle its trash and litter problems? If you've got a unique way of dealing with trash and litter we'd like to know about it. Please email us: hfeingold@ downtowndevelopment.com. Your innovative ideas will be shared with other DIX readers in upcoming issues. Thank you and keep those good ideas coming. Merchants Make A Clean Sweep Of Downtown When "Anti-Litter Week" kicked off three years ago, Griffin saw the event as an opportunity to encourage merchants to be more proactive in keeping their streets clean. Each merchant was given a broom bearing downtown's "Keep Brighton Beautiful" logo. As an introduction to the Main Streets organization, the brooms were also decorated with a ribbon with infor- mation about the program attached. Approximately 160 brooms have been distributed free to mer- chants over the last three years, each costing the organization between $3 to $4 to produce. Although the brooms will not be distributed this year - downtown construction has resulted in a lot of the streets being torn up - the organization is continuing its litter awareness campaign by producing decorative decals and bookmarks bearing the "Keep Brighton Beautiful;' logo. These will be distributed free of charge in downtown stores and the public library. Education Is An Important Tool In The Fight Against Litter Other strategies used to encourage litter-free sidewalks during "Anti-Litter Week" include holding street cleanup events (these are held throughout the year too), sponsoring a drawing contest for children that focuses on litter prevention and the benefits of recycling, and educating children about litter prevention. "Last year we hired a Conservation Clown" to visit local schools to teach children the importance of recycling and not littering," Griffin explains. "It was really a fun way to spread our message." Downtown Trash Cans Remind Residents Not To litter In a newer anti-litter promo- tion, the "Keep Brighton Beautiful" logo is becoming a per- manent fixture on downtown's trash barrels. The downtown asso- ciation recently purchased 38 metal signs that will bear the logo for a total cost of about $1,500. "What better spot to remind resi- dents not to litter?" Griffin says. Homeless men and women can earn a pay- check and work toward self-reliance by cleaning downtown's streets. The signs are in the process of being installed and will appear on trash barrels throughout the central business district. "The Depmtment of Public Works has been very cooperative in allowing us to put up the signs," Griffin says. "However, we would like them to come by and sweep more often." Trash Collection Becomes Employment for Some Boston's Washington Gateway Main Street organization has implemented a program that can only be defined as a "win-win" situation for all those involved. Through a partnership with Project Place (a local social ser- vices agency that serves the homeless), homeless men and women can earn a paycheck and work toward self-reliance by cleaning downtown's streets. Employees of the program, called "Clean Corners...Bright Hopes," clean downtown streets for a peri- od of six months before moving on to other employment, explains 6 .. Downtown Idea Exchange .. June 1, 2000 ... " Sheila Grove, project director for Washington Gateway Main Street. Project Place pays participants for their work through a grant provid- ed by a sponsor corporation. Inmates Help Clean Downtown Streets In a separate program, the main street organization also par- ticipates in the Rouse t'bouts (Restitution thru Restoration) pro- gram sponsored by the local sher- iffs department. Under the pro- gram, inmates are assigned to clean city streets. The main street organization also works with the city to arrange occasional street clean- ups. A major one was held two years ago to coincide with the city's "Broom To Bloom" pro- gram. In this program, run through the city's Parks Depart- ment, flower bulbs are distributed for planting in neighborhoods throughout the city. "We got 2,000 bulbs that year," Grove says. "The two activities really complemented each other." Contact: Ann Griffin, Brighton Main Streets, (6/7) 779-985/; Sheila Grove, (617) 542-/234. . How does your down- town handle its trash and litter problems? If you've got a unique way of dealing with trash and litter we'd like to know about it. Please email us: hfeingold@ downtowndevelopment.com. Your innovative ideas will be shared with other DIX readers in upcoming issues. Thank you and keep those good ideas coming. ~.