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City recommends dissolving formal Main Street advisory board, shifting to informal downtown committee
Summary
After a leave of absence from the Texas Main Street program, staff described a stakeholder‑driven downtown strategic plan and recommended dissolving the formal Main Street advisory board in favor of a more flexible downtown committee to oversee events, placemaking, business recruitment and marketing.
City staff presented an update on Temple’s downtown Main Street program at the March 6 workshop and recommended formally dissolving the existing Main Street advisory board and transitioning its work to a less formal downtown committee.
Teresa Anderson, the destination marketing division director, and other staff described steps taken during a leave of absence from the Texas Main Street program: a stakeholder survey, an assessment and on‑site visit by the Texas Downtown Association, stakeholder engagement sessions, and the creation of a downtown strategic plan. Staff said the leave of absence was requested after the Main Street contract and long‑time program manager left in late 2023; staff described the pause as an opportunity to tailor downtown programming to Temple’s needs and boost stakeholder engagement.
Staff described a new set of four pillars—organizational effectiveness, downtown district placemaking, business retention and recruitment, and communications/marketing—that mirror Main Street principles but are adapted to local priorities. Staff listed several actions taken since the leave of absence: establishing a monthly downtown committee, a quarterly evening “downtown lowdown” meeting to increase participation by business owners who cannot attend daytime meetings, a new annual events calendar emphasizing music and free events tied to the city’s Texas Music Friendly City designation, and faster social‑media promotion of new businesses.
Reason for the recommendation
Staff said advisory board members had become disengaged under the formal Main Street advisory model and that some meetings repeatedly failed to reach quorum. The recommendation on the table is to dissolve the formal advisory board and continue downtown work through the informal downtown committee, which staff says has produced more regular stakeholder engagement. Staff also said board members were given the first opportunity to join the downtown committee and several have transitioned to the new structure.
Next steps
Staff requested council input on whether to proceed with amending the city’s boards and commissions policy to remove the formal Main Street advisory board or to retain the formal board and recruit members. Staff said they will bring a proposed amendment to the policy back to council if the direction is to dissolve the board. No formal action was taken at the workshop.
