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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-01-08-TOUR2-minLexington Tourism Committee Minutes of the meeting of Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. G -15 Members present: Kerry Brandin, Bebe Fallick, Trisha Kennealy, Dawn McKenna, Denise Ricketts, Lou Sideris Staff: Mash Traber Center Committee Liason: Fred Johnson Guest: Dave Cannon -town engineer, Melisa Tintacolis Absent: Mary Jo Bohart, Jim Shaw 1. Updates a. A Christmas Carol was successful. Christopher Bing would like us to reserve December 20 and 21 for 2013. An extremely successful rendition of Fezziwg's Ball was held the first evening. Fred Johnson recommended one night only. Dawn indicated that with the right advanced publicity, the two nights makes a night package. We will reserve Cary Hall for those two nights. b. The Selectmen approved the proposed design of Antony Park at their meeting on January 7 The HDC indicated support via straw vote but we will return to their February 7 th meeting to seek formal approval. c. A French A Faire will be held on February 10 Help selling tickets is needed. d. Visitor Center request has been submitted to the CPA for design funding through Pat Goddard. e. 300 Anniversary community meetings f. Carl Valente will attend our next meeting regarding staffing for the Liberty Ride g. Miscellaneous — Melisa provided an update on the Center Streetscape and Center Parking issue. Center Street Scape -Town is selecting consultant for project that is will be collecting data about pedestrians, bikes and buses. Also working on center parking initiative working with Center Committee, first steps will be working on signage and augmenting space to do private /public management. Also working through zoning solutions that will facilitate public /private partnerships for parking. We reminded Melisa that the Selectmen had not accepted the report regarding parking because the Tourism component was not included. We still have not been asked to participate or provide data regarding tourism parking. Information meeting on January 22 about meeting about semi - permanent bike corral in 2 % spaces; As a committee we are in support of it being up between April and October. 2. Massachusetts Avenue Intersection Project — Dave Cannon, Town Engineer presented the project. The Town would have to pay for the Design and the State would pay for the project if accept. a. There does not seem to be much sentiment to drastically change the intersection at Pleasant Street. The rotary may be relocated slightly. Concerns were raised as to the impact of the striping in that busy area. 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 b. At this time there does not seem to be much of a need to improve the intersection at Marrett Road as it works currently. c. The significant work in the corridor would be at Maple Street. The signal concept well received at Maple. Roundabouts were dismissed as they make it harder for pedestrians. There is room to stripe pedestrian lanes in the area. d. Signals give pedestrian more control. e. Signals would be similar to town center which is based on video control; all are being upgraded. f. Concern was expressed about striping esp. in historic corridor might be too urban in appearance g. Public Workshop will be scheduled. Then it will go to the Selectmen for further action. 3. Minutes Review and Approval —the minutes of October 30, 2012 were presented in draft form. Given the length of the minutes, we will defer minute approval till next meeting so members have a chance to review them. 4. Signage - An application was filed with HDC for three different sign projects below as well as Antony Park. a. Calendar sign - The HDC approved the calendar sign. The estimates for calendar are $5900 which is comparably priced. Poles will be painted black. b. Parking signs —Fred and Masha are proponents for going as large as we can; FJ advocated for using the Helvetica P that is standard. He also advocated for the blue background with a square or round sign. There is agreement that the parking signs need improvement. It was also agreed that the sign next to Brookline Bank should simply be for Parking and that there should be a separate site specific sign consistent with the others for the Depot building. We will reach out to the Historical Society to talk to them about having a site specific sign for Depot. The Tourism Committee, upon motion duly made and seconded, decided that the parking signs should be consistent with the signage program, same coloring and Helvetica P. 20 % by 26 inches. This will be presented to the Center Committee for their input. c. Battle Green sign - The HDC hearing on this was deferred until February 7th d. HDC approved the three signs as part of our signage program for The Belfry, the Bikeway behind the Visitors Center, and at Mass Ave between the benches in front of the Visitors Center. The estimate for these three signs $2750 and will be paid for out of the existing CPA appropriation, per the vote of the Community Preservation Committee. 5. A request has been received by the Historical Society to increase the admissions fees the Liberty Ride pays to the Historical Society. It will be placed on a future agenda. 6. Due to time constraints, the following items were deferred: a. Visitors Guide b. Tourism Strategic Review c. Visitor Center Programmatic Review d. Strategies and Funding Based on Vision and Mission Statement e. AAA Travel Markeplace f. Policy on Trip Advisor ad and charges g. Photographs to add h. People Counter i. Liberty Ride Operations and Marketing j. Sunday service to Alewife k. Advertising Next Meeting: Tuesday, January 22nd 11:30 —1:30 pm. Adjourned at approximately 1:50 pm Respectfully submitted, Trisha Kennealy Documents available at the meeting: Antony Park Design Concept approved by Selectmen Copies of BSC Group designs for Massachusetts Avenue corridor project 12/19/2012 draft of the minutes of the October 30, 2012 meeting of the Tourism Committee 4. Parking sign samples