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Downtown Association and FEDC urge clearer implementation plan for downtown plan; Winter Solstice festival draws thousands
Summary
Representatives of the Downtown Association and the Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation told the borough Assembly on Jan. 9 that the downtown plan needs a clear implementation structure, and they reported strong participation in the Winter Solstice Festival and Moose on the Loose events.
Speakers representing the Downtown Association and Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation told the Assembly on Jan. 9 that the borough's downtown plan needs a clearer implementation structure and consistent resourcing so ideas in the plan do not stall.
David Vandenberg of the Downtown Association told the Assembly the 7-year planning effort produced many ideas but lacked a durable implementing entity: "The plan is a list of related and unrelated good ideas and initiatives. There is no implementation strategy...the pool of implementing parties is large." He cited recent examples of city-led actions (changes to parking requirements and abatement of a dangerous building) that moved without needing the plan's working group but urged some standing coordination to secure resources and alignment among actors.
Jomo (Joe Moore) Stewart of the Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation described the Winter Solstice Festival, a weeklong event hosted by multiple partners including FEDC, Parks and Rec, Downtown Association and the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. Stewart provided detailed attendance and participation figures: the Morris Thompson Center recorded 951 visits on Dec. 14 and nearly 1,000 on Dec. 21; the Winter lights walk had 234 votes across 11 participating businesses; Moose on the Loose spanned three days with 28 participating businesses and generated more than 1,300 discrete visits and over 200 passports distributed (up from about 150 the prior year). The Downtown Association reported 850 hot drinks given away during the festival and more than 179 photo downloads from family reindeer photos.
Assembly members encouraged informal partnerships as well as some formalized coordination. Vandenberg said some implementation is already happening, but without a single accountable body "it scatters and obscures the accountability for implementing the things that need doing." He said the Downtown Association is willing to help but asked for a "nod" from government on a coordinating structure and periodic staff time to steward the plan.
Ending: Organizers said they will continue partnering with the city and borough and urged the Assembly and city council to consider a standing coordination structure and modest staff resources to carry forward the downtown plan's projects and incentives.
