Chairman Ken Jaeger called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. with the following in attendance: Mr. Ken Jaeger, Mayor Claude Lois, Ms. Carol Anderson, Mr. Jim Peterson and Mr. Bil Scherrer. Also in attendance were City Administrator David Torgler, Ms. Francesca Bumpurs of RCEDC, Mr. Mark Dudzik, Ms. Esther Letven and Mr. Matt Wagner. Excused: Alderman Robert Miller and Mr. Jim Spiegelhoff.

Public Hearing
None

Minutes
A motion was made by Mayor Claude Lois and seconded by Mr. Jim Peterson to accept the minutes from the February 7, 2006 CDA meeting. With all in favor, the motion carried.

Old Business
None

New Business
A discussion was facilitated by Ms. Esther Letven regarding an item identified as "Challenge Three, Item Six of the Burlington Economic Plan". This item was defined as to "clarify issues that are preventing downtown Burlington from realizing its full potential". This portion of the development plan has been assigned to the Community Development Authority. Ms. Letven led the questioning on what the perceived barriers are as well as what the positives are for the downtown area.

Mr. Matt Wagner stated that competition is growing for the consumer dollar with malls having difficulty generating income and the "big box" concept being more successful at this time. He also stated that with a downtown area it is a necessity for it to be a destination and that doesn't always have to be a retail entity. He also mentioned that trade areas have grown from a distance of fifteen miles to sixty.

Ms. Anderson felt one of the problems of downtown was an inconsistency and uniformity of hours. She also questioned whether downtown merchants are doing their part in referring business to another retailer.

Mr. Petersen stated how difficult it was for a retailer to pull income out of a small building and perhaps professional office space might be a better fit.

City Administrator Torgler stated that the city has put in place the needed improved infrastructure to help the downtown businesses become more accessible. Mayor Lois felt that an advocate is needed for the downtown area.

Ms. Letven suggested that perhaps the city could contact an economic professor at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside to take on as a student project a survey to identify some of the problems that are faced by the downtown area. It was agreed that there are a lot of strengths in the downtown and that the momentum needs to be kept going.

Being no further business, Mr. Scherrer made a motion to adjourn. AZr. Jim Spiegelhoff seconded the motion and with all in favor the meeting adjourned at 6:18 p. m.

Respectfully submitted,

Beverly Gill,
City Clerk