Board flags low survey response on event impacts; one business reported $5,000 gain

Staff member presented preliminary survey data from businesses about event-day foot traffic and sales. The sample was small — eight returned responses as of the meeting — and staff emphasized the need for more responses before drawing firm conclusions.

"It was $5,000 more this year than it was last year on this day," staff member said, quoting a business that tracked sales for an event day and reported a measurable increase. The staff member and board members said that while a few businesses reported specific gains, low overall response rates limit the sample's representativeness.

Board members proposed targeted follow-ups — phone calls or small-sample interviews — to gather more reliable comparative data and suggested highlighting business promotions during events (sales, special menus) and mapping participating businesses so visitors can more easily find deals. Staff said they will continue to collect responses, consider sampling a subset with phone interviews, and present a more robust dataset at a future meeting.

The group noted trade-offs: some park-based events draw large crowds into the park but do not necessarily translate into downtown spending; staff said pairing map-driven activations with larger events may encourage visitors to linger and shop.