The recently formed business association now formally called The Admiral District got its organizational matters under better control at its meeting at the Benbow Room on Jan. 9.
While committees were formed in the organization's previous meetings, new members joined those for events, marketing, and others.
At the upcoming Feb 13 meeting, officers will be elected by those in attendance. This meeting had approximately 30 people.
Yet to be worked out are organization bylaws How dues will be charged and paid.
Coming out an assignment from the last meeting Dave Whiting of the Admiral Neighborhood Association met with the people at the Columbia City Business Improvement Association (BIA).
He met with representatives from the group who shared what they knew about forming an organization like this. Whiting learned their budget is approximately $50,000 annually with much of it spent on two primary areas: Promoting it as a safe place to shop and dine and on the physical clean up of public spaces. The Columbia City merchant group has been around for 14 years but the BIA is only two years old. To fund that organization assessments are made on property owners.
Whiting was told that Columbia City's BIA is the smallest in the city. The next largest is that of the University District with a budget of $150,000.
They advised the that the Admiral group should set both long and short term goals.
The logo for the organization is still under development by Blue at Royal Blue Tattoos who will submit it for review by the group before it is put into general use.
Kirk Mead of Umpqua Bank set up a website domain for the group but it is not yet ready for release. The email address however is working. It is Info@theadmiraldistrict.com. Also previously set up was the Facebook page for the group.
Coming up for The Admiral District is a business owners only "Meet and Greet " on Jan. 22 at the Shipwreck Tavern beginning at 6 pm. Wine and beer will be served
Stu Hennessey of Alki Bike and Board offered a report regarding the Holidays and Stu who was the Santa at the showing of the free holiday movie at the Admiral Theater.
"We had a good holiday presence," Hennessy said, "The movie went well but we needed more participation. He noted that the pole decoration could use an upgrade next year and the idea of a district tree lighting should be part of next year's plan.
Katy Walum, President of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, who led this business meeting reminded those in attendance about that group's meeting Tuesday night at the Admiral UCC Church from 7pm to 9pm.
Walum also reminded the group about the "Admiral adopt a street" event Saturday Jan. 14. This effort is staged quarterly and runs from 9 to 11 am.
Interested parties should meet at Metropolitan Market on Admiral Way before 9 am. The market will supply a "very nice" lunch according to Walum.
Dave Weitzel, of Weitzel Construction spoke briefly about the Hiawatha Park summer concert series which runs for 6 weeks in the summer. The first one is set for July 26 . The 90 minute shows will happen July through August and last year featured such notable performers as Star Anna (who later toured with Pearl Jam) and Leroy Bell who appeared this fall on Fox Television's The X-Factor. Weitzel said that various sponsor levels are available for the events which can see up to 1500 people in attendance.
Near the close of the meeting, new business owner Krystal Kelley introduced herself and spoke about her new creative art studio space called "Mind Unwind" opening in Admiral next to Caffe Fiore on California Avenue sometime in the next few weeks depending on the installation of a unique art piece. The business will feature classes on everything from cooking to meditation and a lot more.
