Center city study recommends organizational changes

Urban Districts Alliance board members will have more to consider than naming a new executive director when they meet this week.

UDA's role and how that relates to center city's other five civic groups will be discussed in light of a new study that shows UDA may be stretching itself thin.

With Executive Director Bill Compere stepping down Sept. 30, board members say this is a good time to seek a new direction.

UDA is the umbrella organization for Downtown Springfield Association, Community Improvement District, Downtown Dining & Entertainment Commission, Springfield Finance and Development Corporation and Springfield Regional Arts Council.

Progressive Urban Management Associ-ation Inc. performed a downtown organizational assessment, released in June, which recommends structural realignment among the six civic groups.

Board members from the six groups and Denver-based consultant Brad Segal, who prepared the study, will hold a conference call July 30 to discuss strategic planning for the organizations.

Shifting role

The study found that UDA has shifted from its original visionary and leadership role to become a hands-on management organization.

When UDA was established in 1997, it oversaw three organizations: Downtown Springfield Association, Commercial Club and Walnut Street Merchants Association.

Its responsibilities have grown to include CID management, areas of SFDC operations, and event management for the Arts Council's ArtsFest, Cider Days and First Night Springfield.

The study suggests that UDA revert to its original leadership role and join the Springfield Partner-ship for Economic Development so center city has a direct voice in recruiting and retaining business for the area.

The partnership is managed by the Springfield Business and Development Corporation and sponsored by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, City Utilities, Greene County and the city of Springfield.

UDA board member Brian Fogle thinks that would be beneficial.

"One of the gaps that is existing right now in center city is a focus on business attraction and retention, and economic development," he said.

Joining the Springfield Partnership could help center-city investors understand the market, rules and regulations, and tools for redevelopment, such as tax credits, Fogle added.

The plan is to change UDA's approach upon analyzing its strengths and weaknesses.

New partnership

The study also proposes a new downtown partnership to provide overall leadership, central administration and staffing for all of the groups. It would comprise an executive director, a full-time CID manager and a full-time marketing manager. UDA funding would be redirected to sponsor the partnership.

Other suggestions include broadening the Downtown Dining & Entertainment Commission's scope to marketing all downtown businesses and attractions, and making Downtown Springfield Association more of an advocacy group, answering vital issue and policy questions.

Also to be addressed is UDA's relationship with the CID. The report cites tension between the two organizations' boards, which is an issue because UDA manages the self-taxing district's $200,000 annual budget.

The funds pay for maintenance, parking and marketing improvements downtown.

"There's been a disconnect between the CID and the UDA," said Greg Burris, CID board chairman.

The boards have worked independently of each other and Burris hopes to improve communications.

Issues are being resolved, and Burris points to a lunch brainstorming session he and UDA Board President Rusty Worley had earlier this month. Their meeting and the study may bring favorable changes downtown, he said.

"It's already started dialogue between the various organizations," Burris said. "And I think the result of that dialogue will be that we'll be doing things downtown in a much more coordinated fashion."

If nothing else, Burris hopes the Segal report will result in a revised marketing plan. He expects the public can take notice within two months.

Any changes will be discussed among all parties involved, Worley said. "We're all processing it, and we're interested in getting feedback from the other organizations."

Segal declined to comment on recommendations until after the conference call.