Board reviews new pedestrian‑tracking data and discusses parade, grants and downtown events

The Downtown Management Board heard a presentation on pedestrian‑tracking metrics from a Place for AI subscription and discussed event strategies and grant opportunities for downtown businesses.

Staff presented December and January visit metrics, focusing on "visits over 10 minutes" to capture visitors who stay downtown rather than pass through. December's open‑house day was reported at roughly 9,000 visits over 10 minutes and the parade day at about 4,000; staff noted January 2026 visits over 10 minutes were up roughly 1.9% from January 2025. Staff cautioned that the software translates device counts through proprietary formulas, reports approximately 93% accuracy, and that small geographic or hourly breakdowns may be suppressed when sample sizes are low.

Board members discussed how the data can inform event planning and marketing. Marketing & Promotions committee members reported quorum problems and reviewed the holiday parade, noting sponsorship shortfalls and band availability that prompted discussion of moving the parade back to Thanksgiving weekend or changing timing and format. Survey responses also suggested reworking 'Men's Night' into a family‑focused shopping night to broaden participation.

Staff also reported on grant activity: a state 'Match on Main' program (up to $25,000 grants with a 10% business match) was launching, and the city received a $100,000 community energy management grant for the Carnegie Building (assessment and some window replacement). Staff will ask City Council to reallocate communication‑plan funds to increase the number of windows replaced under that grant.

Board members asked for standardized reporting going forward and requested staff accept data requests from board members for district‑specific or event‑specific analyses where data availability permits.