We got to start again. We're muted. I'm calling this meeting of the economic development committee uh to an order and the first thing on our agenda is a roll call of members which always has to be a roll call vote. >> So uh councelor Bottomley, you have the sheet. Would you call votes? >> Councelor Garrett,
>> I am here. >> I'm councelor Bottomley, I'm here. Councelor Gordon >> here. >> And councelor Dilmos >> here remotely. Uh >> councelor Minhos informed me he would not be present tonight, so he will not be attending. Okay. >> Okay. Uh the first item on our agenda is
a is the approval of minutes from April 14th. Uh can I get a motion to approve the minutes? >> So moved. >> Can I get excellent? Any discussion on the approval of the minutes from April? >> Um I'll just say I'm going to abstain because I wasn't here.
>> Okay. Just looking through them. Uh Amy Kalin gave us a great presentation. So it's lovely to walk back through those moments in the past. Any further discussion? >> Use my life for good in spite of data
centers being on our agenda. Um, any further discussion about the minutes? >> Wait, I was here. I was thinking May. Never mind. And I take back my plan to stay. >> Great. >> All right. So, um, that being said, because we have a remote member, we'd have to do another roll call vote. Uh,
councelor Bonley, would you mind calling that vote? >> Uh, uh, sorry, let me write this in here. minutes. Councelor Garrett, >> I say yes. >> I vote yes. Councelor Gordon, >> yes. >> Councelor Dil, >> I will abstain because I was not here
for that meeting. >> That's true. >> Not a counselor for that meeting. >> Great. >> So, uh, minutes are approved and now we are to public comments. If you are a member of the public and you'd like to speak at public comment, please put your name and address in the chat. any
members of the public who are here uh feel free to do the same. Okay. Again, uh anybody that wants to make comment, this is your chance. So, please let me know and put your name in the chat if you wish to do so.
Okay, going once, going twice. That is the end of our public comment here period. We are now at the public hearing. There is no public hearing this evening. Now, we're at our motions. There are no motions. But now we are to the meat of our agenda today. Yeah, we're very efficient. Um we're talk
having some discussions. So the first item on our list of discussions is a possible zoning amendment to ban the development of data centers in green fields. Um and we have councelor uh Bulldock who is here who and I would like to recognize you if you'd like to come speak to us. So >> uh actually if you don't mind if you're
on a time crunch. >> Oh yeah. >> I mean I feel like yeah you they should go first. I >> we sort of meandered through things. >> My lecture. >> I feel like >> um the universe has gifted you a
priority position on the agenda. >> So, all right. Well, welcome councelor Bulock. And so, um you have and just so the public knows and everybody in the audience, we've been given two kind of draft ordinances that >> Oh, yeah.
uh for discussion. These will be added into the packet. So members of the public will be interested to see it. >> I brought five copies because there was five in um and if folks are interested in seeing it soon and it's published in the packet, they can go to the city clerk's office which will have a copy as well. And I'm sure councelor Bulick will
be happy to email these if people >> Oh god. Yeah. I finished these at work this afternoon and so I just printed them out and I was like they'll be on the packet. >> All right. So let's uh let's hear that lecture. So it depend depends on what you want to call a lecture, but essentially um because this was really
inspired by um Hull Street Energy actually buying out the rights for First Light. Um so I I wrote a bunch of notes here. I'm just going to kind of go through it verbatim here. But so there are actually nearly 5,500 data centers currently online in the United States. Um and that represents 5% of the
national energy consumption and actually 50% of the world's total AI infrastructure. um of the natural gas plants that were constructed just last year, 39% were built exclusively to house data center technology and like power that um in 2024 these data center
facilities used as much energy as the entire country of Pakistan. Um so Hol Street Energy, a power focused US investment firm has signed an agreement to acquire First Light. Uh, the transaction includes a portfolio of nearly 1,400 megawws of clean, reliable
generation in the Northeast. I took this from their website. Um, including Northfield Mountain, a 1,168 megawatt pump storage hydro facility. Um, 1 megawatt is a unit of power equal to 1 million watts. It's commonly used to measure power. For wind turbines and
solar farms to produce 1 megawatt of power, approximately 4,000 solar panels are needed. uh it consumes approximately 5 acres of land to do that. Um based on data from US energy information administration uh one megawatt hour can supply
electricity to up to a,000 houses for an hour or 300 houses for a day and Greenfield has 8,000 houses. So you can imagine how much power that is. Um, a report released in April 2025 estimated that just training a large AI model like
Claude or Chad GBT required a total power draw of 25 megawws. Uh, and that power to the power required to train these models could double annually. Um, in addition to just the energy draw on our really geriatric infrastructure, um,
they actually cause a lot of health issues. Um, AI data centers can use up to 5 million gallons of water in a single day, which is the equivalent consumption of a 50,000 person town. Uh, an analysis by Harvard Public Health researchers showed that a Virginia data center abiding by state air quality
regulations will was still projected to contribute up to $99 million in health damages to local residents and that was complying with the state regulations. So, Massachusetts has approximately 58 data centers, three of which are in Springfield. The state is actively encouraging new data centers and they
passed the mass leads act and includes tax exemptions to bolster new construction and as of 2025 there were proposals as nearby in Shbury. Um so now Massachusetts is also preparing for its first hypers scale data center with a massive
multi-building campus proposed in our neighboring Westfield. Um, according to industry analysts, to be considered a hypers scale data center, a facility should contain at least 5,000 computer servers and a large scale network equipment uh to and occupy at least 10,000 square feet of physical space
with a power draw exceeding 100 megawws, >> which is just ex exorbitant. Um, so roughly 100 megawatts of power for comparison uh is sufficient to support the electrical needs of 80,000 houses. Um, and so all that is to say that data
centers, you know, rah, data centers are scary. And I know that's the kind of hype that people are getting at, but basically what I've gone ahead and done is produce a couple of pieces of legislation that I'm really hoping will give us a working framework for the discussion about data centers in the future because I think Greenfield really should come out and be proactive about
this, especially now that those water rights are are in debate. Like we could actually see potentially the development of some kind of, you know, energy data center coming into our into our vicinity. And so basically this is just like a soft mechanism to look at it. This one here, the version one, um they
both start the same. So I was, you know, I was like maybe able to do both because I don't really know zoning code, but um basically it just defines what a data center is. Um and it's basically just data centers exist. We should study them. And this basically would give us the zoning regulations to study them. Basically, we'd put a pause on any kind
of construction and allow the city to take time up to 360 days to basically have the planning board go over what the data centers would require, whether we have the power and sewer and water infrastructure to support a data center. Um, and basically give us, you know, if
we're not done at 360 days, we have up to 180 days by a vote of twothirds of vote of city council to bring that to, you know, for further debate. Basically get our get our ducks in a row before we are caught off guard by any kind of new
information or new corporate um entity that wants to crop up. Um, and it's basically kind of I wouldn't want to call it it's basically a mortorium, but it's not. It's just basically saying, "Hey, data centers are here. we we want time to study them before we make a decision and let them into our community. Um because there's actually
um what's being called micro data centers being developed now in like California. They're actually attaching small data centers to people's homes >> and they're using the home energy grid uh as part of the way to kind of mitigate the damage. And so I really think that we really need, you know, to
get ahead of this curve before it comes into our neighborhood. Um, and so this version two is a lot more thorough and this is what I would actually propose, you know, to basically give us a template for what we would have as a zoning law. You know, if we're going to study the data centers, what are we
regulating? You know, what information is going to be necessary for applications for data centers? Who do we, you know, how do we classify them? How do we monitor their compliance with our regulation? And who bears the costs on our infrastructure basically? And I think most importantly is like what happens after it's here. There's a
section in here that, you know, has a list of reviewing like, you know, one to three months, 3 to 12 months, you know, I think it was 24 to 48 months and then five years. Every 5 years there'd be a new review because a 2031 data center is not going to be the same as a 2026 data
center. They're just going to be vastly different as the technology continues on. Um, and I think, you know, it's not this this language that I have. It it doesn't matter the size of the building. I've basically categorized data centers by how much power and how many resources
they use. And there's a three tier system. Um, and you'll notice that tier one, tier two, and tier three. Uh, tier 2, and tier three are basically functionally the same, but I think it's easier to modify legislation later as it fits our needs
rather than to create a whole new wheel. So I've included that uh in the future basically to try and hope you know someday tier one special permit tier two goes from no to special permit with enhanced review something like that. Um,
and you know, one of the things that I'm a little leerary about and I would like some feedback, you know, as you guys go through this, which by all means, like it's going to be a month, at least take your time. But, um, there was I I debated on whether or not to include things like the building inspector here
on the the section, the second version, page two, underneath the hypers scale, enterprise, and edge micro centers, like things like the building center, the or the building inspector. It's a it's a lot resting on administration judgment and I know that like city lawyers kind
of get agitated about you know things like appeal and litigation based on just administrative opinion alone. Um you know and it's really just designed to like what if somebody you know starts a business call totally not a data center LLC and they just try to like sneak in the back door right but um those are the
kinds of things that I wanted to bring up that these are things that I think might be weak in the legislation that I definitely think could go over with a second set of of eyes. Um um basically all this zoning I was able to take inspirations from like communities like Lel and Mansfield. Um
and it's basically just the purpose and intent is to basically have them show compatibility with the community before we outright say no because we can't ban data centers if the state is is all hurrah. But I think if we're going to have that legislation, I don't think we can. And I think that if we try, I think
the backlash will be more than I think we want to chew. But I also think it's worth having enough red tape that it's not worth it. >> We're not in a position that what's that chapter 40 that the section of law that affects like battery storage plants doesn't have data centers on it.
>> I don't appreciate it. >> Um and so this one here, you know, I've also included things like the planning department should work with Department of Public Works. um talk about things like disposal of potable water and all that kind of stuff. Um there was really there's there was not a lot of research
online, but what I found was able to really push out some strong legislation I think that I think asks the right questions of a small town because really it's not about what businesses we have here in the town. It's really about we we don't kind of want to become a farm for energy
for some other consumption. >> You know, we don't want to become the producer of someone else's success. who want our community to produce our success and I think that that's the riskiest thing when it comes to these data centers and so if we cannot take on the state and like ban them outright then we need to make sure that if we
have to have any even the micro data centers you know things like that um as the legislation changes we may be hit with something so fast that we have no opportunity to fight it. Um, we should be asking these questions well ahead of time. Things like, you know, the site design and the physical impacts, things
like setbacks and th those kinds of milder things that I think won't be necessarily as important as things like, you know, their exterior lighting. Um, because those massive data centers, you're going to have a huge security network, right? You're going to have security lights pretty much everywhere to stop people from going in and like hacking the well, you know, whatever it
is. Um, what kind of, you know, things like backup power and emissions. uh applicant shall identify this the number, size, field type, and location of all backup generators. Basically, make them do the work that they want to build it here and make them prove that they're in it for Greenfield and not
just in it for having a data center because it's the hot thing right now. Um, and so I know there's a lot of language here and so I'm really not expecting a lot of feedback today, but I just was like, here you go. I'm going to present myself and we'll go from there. >> Fantastic. I I'll try
>> genuinely like I'm >> Garrett. May I ask a couple questions? >> No, you may not because we're not >> Well, I just wanted to I just wanted to say that that Carol Collins should probably sit in on that. She's our sustainable energy stuff. So maybe she
has some insight and um the zoning is do amendment. So you're we have home rule. I'm just letting you know. >> Thank you. And I I'm gonna I appreciate that. That was very constructive, but I'm going to mute you quickly on the next one. All right. So, um, genuinely
very very impressed. Um, anybody on the committee have any thing they want to say to that very thorough impressive presentation? >> It was easier for you guys to have as little work through as possible. Right. So, >> well, I do wonder about process. I mean, do you think it's better for something
like this to go through planning board first or us? >> It's can be either way. So wait, it has to go through the public hearing for both the planning board and us eventually anyway. This is a discussion. We can have simultaneous discussions, you know, bringing planning in. It's going to have to happen. Um, have you
spoken to the planning board at all yet? >> Honestly, I figured this wasn't the first stop because I figured anywhere any suggestions you guys had, I would then follow with. >> Sure. Yeah. And so that actually probably is a good next step. So if you I was my thought. Yeah. >> You know, so we'll have our discussion. Yeah. you let planning board know what
we were thinking and then eventually once it's ready then this can become >> yeah my like my first thought too was like with economic development as long if it's affecting business like it's got to start there then we can work out the nitty-gritty with the you know planning board and all that make sure it's something that Greenfield doesn't want
like if greenfield was like pro data center like we'd be we'd be having an entirely different conversation so but like start here and then branch you know absolutely something like this I think needs to have as much public opinion info as possible. >> I really appreciate you. I really,
really, really, really appreciate you bringing this forward. I've been thinking about the need for something like this. There's actually a city in California that just last week voted to become the first city in the country to ban data centers. Uh, which I would personally love to do. If there's a way for us to do that under state law and
with public support, I would thousand% want to do it. I think these things are rapacious and terrible for every community they are in. And there's like pretty widespread agreement on that. Like the only people who really want them are the billionaires who want to take all the resources out of communities for their own.
>> My concern was definitely like the we're on the Connecticut River like >> right >> the industrial park isn't that far. You could definitely justify getting some kind of you know deal on local energy. >> Yeah. >> Or across from stop and shop. >> Give them ideas. >> But yeah, no for for real this is this
is super important. So yeah, I think as tight as we can make it. Yeah. Go forward as humanly possible for anyone to ever build a data center, >> you know, anywhere near their welcome for like the >> grizzly bears. >> I love it. I love it. Yeah. And I I have
been tracking some legislation somewhere in other communities that aren't in Massachusetts. So, I don't know how it would jive with state law, but I'd love to talk about similar stuff. >> Yeah, that'd be cool. And like the more teeth we have, I think the better. Especially if the state is very pro data center, >> which I mean also, you know, that's the
thing. It's like I I will go on record and I'll be like, I think it's misguided that the state is pro data center. I really do because number one, >> diplomatic is it doesn't create jobs. It doesn't create economic value. It really does not do anything good for the state. It doesn't put us on the lead of any kind
of technology wave if we're just having servers in a room and we're not advancing any technology. >> Yeah. And I mean what we are what is being advanced is technology that will decimate people's livelihoods. >> Yeah. I mean >> like that is the deny is to do away with jobs.
>> Water should be investing in that. you highlighting that the company that thought first light is one of these companies is really gives me a sense of urgency for this like I was already you know on board and then hearing that is is like a alarm bell going off in my
>> and I will say to their point um I looked on their website briefly and I'm not really sure how to follow the money of private equity so I don't know I don't want to paint I don't want to paint this company on paper with a reporter in the back as this evil entity right but um I definitely think that
those are the kinds of right those are the kinds of companies that are the first knock on the door and I think that that's enough for a small town like us it's it's that's enough >> that's the warning shot across the bow right >> yeah 100% >> councelor Damoth is there anything you
wanted to add or counselor Bottomly anything on your minds >> yeah um I will also echo everyone and saying thank you councelor Bick for bringing this up um I also agree this is a really um important issue and yes kind of connecting those dots with the first
light sale also is setting off alarm bells for me. So, um yeah, I think sending this around to the other departments who should weigh in as soon as possible would be a great next step. Uh my organization has also produced
some guidance on uh regulating data centers and I can collect that and send that to you um and also to the rest of the council via Tammy um if that would be interest. But yes, thank you again
for bringing this up. >> Oh, poor thing. You sound sick. >> Yeah. And >> I also think the connection's not great. Yeah, your connection is a little bit choppy, but it sounded like you were going to gather some information and that sounds like a great idea to send. >> Yes, >> I think it'll be really cool. >> Yeah,
>> I'm looking forward to it because like you'd be surprised at how little legislation there was because the state actually I think I think Lel actually has had their battles and I think Lemonster also wanted to ban they wanted to ban it but then the mayor vetoed it. There was a whole there was some kind of
whole battle that Lemonster like literally tried to just boldface turn around and say absolutely not. And the state actually was like >> no no you kind of have to I'm pretty sure that we cannot just outright ban them. >> If we can >> if we can yeah
>> that would be cool that would save us time but I also think having the strong zoning is just not going to hurt. >> Yeah. >> No, I agree. And also places where it's gone in the electric rates have >> skyrocketed. >> The water the water quality has no dive.
>> Yeah. >> Massive increases in Eversource already that are >> I think we the highest in the country. >> It's crazy. And >> in my mind not a really great understanding of why those increases are going up and they're affecting business and residents. So this is just on
multiple levels and plus you know compared to Boston where cheap lands rivers. We're, you know, >> I think Boston has, I want to say, like 40 out of the 55 data centers in mass. >> So, yeah, they're they're easy to put.
They could just put in any skyscraper could look like a data center. You know, you could put one in like a like the back of a U-Haul. They're not they're not very big. A lot of them are, but they the power that they draw, the energy that they consume is just off the charts. We also have GET which is fiber optic and it's a you know with the
ability of G set to kind of have the data transmit at the same upload and download speeds that makes it also super attractive. Yeah. So we have the right kind of internet infrastructure for these people to come in just like they do down in Hoyok. They have a MIT built a data center there years ago which was
for research not AI. And so everyone was like hooray look at us we can bring data centers to western Massachusetts. This is fantastic. And now this is a very different sort of animal. I I teach in a public school and AI >> oh my gosh the bane of your existence
>> it is the bane of my existence the I constantly making metaphors to the students about hey do you go to the gym and lift weight and watch somebody else lift weights is that what you're doing you know and like but because you I oh my god like the students it's so
pernitious to the point where there are extensions on the on the browsers that make it look like they're typing it in. So like the laundering of cheating is horrendous you know and Massachusetts has also recently fallen some measures of educational kind of like uh
achievement in the country and this is not helping you again it's really a problem uh I I think it's pernicious I would call these corporations if light than something rder like it is really it's not I don't see any benefits of
these um so yeah if we are allowed to ban You know, I noticed um you asked a question earlier about the building inspector's role. >> Yeah. >> I thought that the language you put the categories are descriptive only and shall not limit the building inspector's authority to classify a facility is
good. Like it gives that ability something that is, you know, hidden to kind of come in and actually be scrutinized for what it is. So, >> like I said, totally not a data center LLC. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I think I think you managed to in your language catch that loophole. Um the low impact data centers
I can imagine you know I think you had a megawatt 2 megawatt kind of threshold on them. >> You'd be surprised because you know that was just that was the lowest one that I could find. >> I almost wonder you know like if there could be a micro data center category for some sort of you know e-commerce business. You know we have game
developers in the city and maybe they need to have you know a server bank that maybe could accidentally be classified as a data center under the ordinance we're not careful. I don't have an >> that's worth thinking about. Yeah. So something along those lines for like small businesses locally to be able to use our computing power and our again G
said and our ability to do kind of high speed processing. >> Yeah, that's definitely like like I said this language is yours to chop up if you want it. So >> but other than that I again I just reiterate how impressed I am and grateful for you bringing this to us. >> That's easier for you guys to look at something and then sip and snap than it
is to just generate it from nothing. So, one other thing that I would add is um obviously not having read through any of this in detail yet is I would want to make sure that whatever language we have again in the interest of making it as hard as humanly possible for these things to be built in Greenfield
>> um isn't something that like you know a company particularly with the resources that some of these have could find a way like could dot every eye and cross every tea and therefore we would not actually have a way because they would have met all of the zoning requirements because there is a level on which you know that
the zoning board will tell you >> there is also extra >> if it's not written in such a way that we can deny it then we can't deny it and so I want to make sure that you know we have that ability >> yeah this so the language here has like conditions and safeguards like uh the planning board may impose conditions
necessary to ensure compliance with this section including but not limited to limits on electrical load caps on water usage noise monitoring restrictions on generator testing phasing ties to demonstrated infrastructure for capacity. I think that's a big one, too. Um, sorry.
>> Um, number these. I didn't even think about it. Huh? >> Oh, yeah. The second packet. >> Yeah. >> Um, page section. >> One, two. Oh, I got three, four, five, seven.
Um, what about on page seven? I might be on page six. Now I'm all I lost my place. Oh, Lord. But there is in addition to all the zoning requirements, um there is like there's actual extra language in here that they would have to comply with basically to ensure that they have compatibility with the
community. Um where the heck did I put it? >> Limits on maximum electrical load, caps on water usage, no noise monitoring requirements, restrictions on generator testing schedules, and phasing type demonstrated infrastructure capacity. >> I guess my question about that is just like who would get to decide those
limits? the well I would I would like I think that the planning board would but I suppose the DPW should be involved as well. >> Well I think it's worth us thinking about upfront like >> um just to make sure that again that's just as strong as possible. >> Absolutely.
>> Yeah. Um and like I think also if we have this done by special permit only like at a minimum they might have to you know report things like their maximum electrical demand, their average daily and maximum. So like the average daily and maximum daily water usage things
like that and basically keep an ongoing conversation with the city because then at any point a city could be like actually this is becoming much too much of a problem >> especially with like the climate change if we keep getting into these like we're at a level two drought. >> Right. >> Right. And so even if even if we like Northfield Mount Herman may have all
that water but we don't. And so you know if if climate change keeps getting exacerbated conditions may change. And so that's why I also put like subject to like regular review. I think I think that's going to be super critical. >> I'm just thinking like the
sorry I'm having a sort of half form thoughts here but >> Oh yeah. the under like water use and cooling systems, you know, the um wait, where did it say this? Somewhere. I just noticed that it said, you know, the like the company would have to show that sufficient water is available. And to
your point about the company buying first light, like >> they could show that they could if you control the flow of water. >> Yeah. >> Then you would potentially be in a position to say, "Oh, the water's available." Right. So I want to make sure that then we're not stuck in a place where like
>> but that also depends on if the contract is not with directly let's let's you know >> pin the name first light wherever the company's going to be if they're not the ones running the data center they're using municipal water >> right >> so then we have the control of that path basically
>> and that's that's a different conversation y I remember writing in here a section on in in addition to this I blew through this today on the printer. I was like print I was like shipping packages at work and I'm like printing this out and
I'm like how many copies do I need? >> Thank you for that and I definitely need >> Yeah, I think it might take a while but I but certainly think it would be worth maybe considering the first one they have something quickly >> like the moratorium type thing. I don't know unless we feel we could I mean
usually by the time you set hearings and you go through planning board just that's >> a while like that legislation is literally it's just a it's basically like a temporary amendment to the zoning code of section 7. I actually haven't thought about it, but I don't think that's a bad idea, John. You know, just getting something in quickly
>> because that gives us time, >> right? >> So something could slip in, but >> I mean, even that would have to go through >> that same process, right? >> Two months is better than >> two months a year, right? I mean, I don't know how much like our doors are being knocked down by folks data centers, but I think you're, you know,
you never know when it's going to happen. I also don't know enough about like if any kind of business wants to come in I would think electric and water use and would somehow be involved in our zoning >> I would hope
>> well >> this is wild it also gives >> is a whole other thing >> the 360day moratorium on data centers it defines what a data center is and it also gives instructions about what happens during that moratorum >> um effective immediately a 360day
moratorium on any new construction and development within the city of Greenfield as defined above. Uh during the term of this moratorium, city staff shall in conjunction with the relevant boards and committees review current zoning codes and regulations, seek regul or recommendations and input from industry experts and professionals with specific knowledge of data centers and
any impacts these facilities have on the community and the proposed revisions to the zoning code. um department of planning and development shall consult with any with other city departments to ensure any recommendations address the impact on power, water, sewer. Uh
emphasis should also be given to enforce regulations following construction and development including operational limitations like it, you know, I wanted to make sure that there was as little work to do as possible. Sorry. >> The other thing I'm wondering regarding passing version one as a you know
moratorium zoning or what lack of better phrase is does that impact our ability to pass the second version? Is this substantially related to it? >> These are two separate so these are two separate things >> but they're both related to data centers and there are some funky things that if you touch the same area twice you can't
>> Oh interesting. >> So that might be worth talking to um title is director director wise. >> Yeah. Yeah, director Wise. >> And so she would know the answer to that immediately. And so if you sent uh Director Wise both of these and just asked, "Hey, if we've had one impact
two%, >> then we'd have that answer really quick." >> Yeah. >> And that can kind of drive some of our thinking and, you know, your discussion with the planning board. >> Yeah, I can absolutely do that. Yeah, because like I said, this was the first stopping point. I figured we'd have the discussion and then I would follow up with whoever we needed to and then, you know, we'd keep having this conversation
as we needed to. >> Um, >> thank you. >> Yeah. Any other feedback you think would be helpful for us? Is it >> um don't be mean when you give me when you write all over this. >> Sounds good.
>> No, but I'm honestly if you guys want to just rip it apart or not. Like I'm I'd be very curious because you know I like I said I'm I'm what am I here six months now as a city councelor and I'm >> doing >> my head is so big I can't get through through the door. No, I'm just kidding. But like again, I'm looking for feedback
from like senior people and I just want to make sure that this is what's this is a good fit legislatively for Greenfield and I feel like people with experience have a lot more to offer than something a little green like me. So >> um I think it's very much about protecting the people of the city from you know >> one you know even if it's all just
higher electricity rates alone that makes a huge difference when folks are not doing anything but struggle you know many cases. Yeah, politically I mean AI and related things is actually like probably the most unifying
>> issue in the country. Well, but but it's there's actually like very very broad agreement across the political spectrum on it from everyone who isn't a billionaire, right? Because the rest of us lose >> on all of this stuff and we know it. >> So, I think I'm going to put these in
the packet. I was going to email them so they didn't have the little red markers for my work, but this is this will be fine. That's great. Yeah. So, they can put that in the packet and they can put that in the notes. >> Thank you, Tammy. >> Thank you, Sarah. Counselor, little dogs, right?
>> All right. I'm gonna go walk my dog now. >> My dog is ending up on your Well, listen. He's a senior citizen and he's starting to show his age, so he'll have some opinions for me. >> Thanks. >> Thank you again. >> Thanks. Thanks. >> We will talk.
>> Yes. I know you folks are having a discussion on who would go next. Did you Were we able to resolve? >> Yeah. >> I feel like what I have is quick. >> Okay. >> But I'm like this last one. So that is very exciting to go in order.
So come on up. >> Okay. Longer than 30 minutes. I'm going to bliter five minutes. I'm um my update is that I went to the planning board and we discussed it and it was great but unfortunately a lot of
planning board members were absent um because of you know it's summer people are hopefully traveling and vacationing and yeah so I feel like I didn't get um enough input from folks I got input from folks who were there but you know it was
only a handful of folks um generally supportive but wanting to fine-tune details um with dimensional requirements and also I talked to Mark Snow and he also had um he also wanted those same
kinds of questions like around setback and um and max size and whatnot. So, I feel like basically here to say I'll come back again
right now. >> Yeah. I mean, unless there's like anything really, but like I essentially I'm going to have a call with Ella incorporating like Sher Saucers comments and Mark Snow's comments and and so then I will have something like concrete, but
in the meanwhile I'm it's basically pretty similar to what you looked at last time. Very cool. >> Less than five minutes. >> Councelor Bolick, thank you for all the work you put into this and for showing up to give us that update.
>> Yeah. And I there might be a sad update, but I will find out. But apparently the I learned about like right of the public right ofways. So if you're on a corner lot, then it's like there's a triangle line of sight where it's 25 ft down each road and then that triangle you can only
have three feet high and whatever. So, I think that the spot I was looking at, I'm asking DBW for the public right ofway boundaries, but I'm hoping it still works, but I'm not just it's an iffy thing right now. >> Case variances are possible
that that ZBA can, you know, make an adjustment or allow you to do something that's outside of the the zoning ordinance if you need to. >> Okay. Well, well, something to consider. >> But yeah, thank you. >> Thank you. Right. All right. And three
minutes. And now we have an update on the Hoke Street RFP and then regular appearance from community economic department and Greenfield Business Association. So Amy, if you want to get us warmed up for the tag, you know,
>> happy to. Hello. >> Um, I have an update on Hope Street and then I have a hit list of like five or six things. >> Excellent. >> And happy to field questions on anything. So, Hope Street RFP um that draft has been finalized. The next I
know exciting. Um the next steps are for me to share that draft with the mayor and I'm circulating it to the relevant department heads especially DPW and planning to make sure that um I haven't misstated anything and that all of the information that they feel needs to be
included in the plan is included. Um uh once I have that finalized then I will as promised come back and share that with the public. Um, and then it will be disseminated. So, I'm hoping for dissemination later this summer. It's moving a little slower than I thought,
but because it is such an important project, um, I just want to make sure we get it right. So, I'm airing on the side of making sure that I'm um, crossing my tees and dotting my eyes before I disseminate. >> Disseminate means issue it to developers. >> Issue it. Yes. Yeah.
>> So when we issue it to the public, the the city has a website where we list all active bids gets posted on there. It gets posted in combis. It gets sent around and then um I have a list of developers that either the city has worked with or we've admired their work
or they're, you know, in the area um and we think might be interested and I send it to that list as well. >> Awesome. >> That's really exciting. >> It is exciting. exciting or when it's released, but um yeah, >> it's just gonna get more and more
exciting. >> Who would have thought it could get any more exciting? Um so that's that. Any questions on Hope Street? >> Cool. And then I can give you some some highlights from community and economic development. Uh First National Bank, I
think we talked about this last time, but just another exciting reminder that we have an active RFP right now with a deadline for response June 26th. Um, we have one local developer that I am advised is going to be submitting a response which will be very exciting.
Um, so stay tuned after June 26th for updates on that. Um, onetop grants. The state offers a bunch of um, grants in community and economic development and other areas that were just due last week. Our department submitted four of them, so I figured I might have mentioned these last time, but I would
let you know. a community planning grant which would update the economic development chapter of the master plan which if we get that I will um be all up in your business uh a mass works grant which would allow us to support country estates which is
um up in the industrial park um it's a mobile home development on some um sewer construction funding a MDI which is the Massachusetts downtown initiative capital grant which would be focused on wayfinding implementation and in
particular so we just did a wayfinding study that is being finalized now. We should have um later this month the final version of it. It looked at wayfinding throughout the downtown um and now the state has a grant to implement some of this wayinding. We are
focused on parking wayinding with this um grant application uh notably challenging to find parking signage to the parking garage. We have some parking signs which are um questionable in their accuracy. Some are differently whatever. So, this would be some funding to help
us um streamline and clean up the parking signage and add parking signage where we really don't have sufficient signage. Um and then lastly, a Massachusetts vacant storefront tax credit grant. It's a program the state runs. We have it now where um
municipalities are awarded the right to apply with a business for tax credits that would go to that business um if they are filling a qualifying vacant storefront. So the storefront has to be in certain locations and it has to have been vacant for 6 months or more.
>> Is it the flight and the flight area? Uh it so when this program first started we were required to define a vacant storefront area which um when Greenfield applied they defined it as the uh downtown commercial core. >> Okay. >> This is aimed at uh commercial
properties. And so that's that's essentially the um the area and it honestly encompasses 95% of the storefronts that would be qualified for this. This might sound like a very uh daft question, but how do we define vacant?
>> Um, it actually is not adapted. Uh, so it a vacant storefront is one that does not that has not had a tenant for 6 months, but they don't include as a tenant things like pop-ups >> um or temporary
temporary things. So, it it doesn't have to have been completely dormant for 6 months. It could have had a little bit of activity in there. Um, and I and I think the state I haven't tested this, but the the what I hear from the state is that they are relatively flexible, they're looking to support getting
tenants into these properties. So, I think so long as somebody didn't have some sort of signed lease for more than just a popup that was seasonal in nature. >> Um, if someone had a signed lease but wasn't using the space, would that come in hard-hitting questions? I do not
know, but I certainly would advocate for that. I mean, if they had a sign lease, they never moved into the storefront, the storefront remained vacant. >> I would hope that that Yeah, >> I would think that would pass muster. >> Great. Um, so those are the grants we submitted. We also, I may have talked
about this last time, just completed a bike plan with the Conway School. Um, we have the finalized plan. It's wonderful. And, um, Ella and I are working to present the plan to a variety of folks. We presented it to the mayor today. We're presenting it to the planning board and department heads um and the
Greenfields bike group and trying to um get some consensus around next steps of things that we would like to focus on implementing in the plan. So, more to come on that. One area that we are hoping to prioritize and we've applied for a grant from Mass for is to look at
alternatives for biking between Greenfield and Turners that are not Turner Falls Road. >> That's would be awesome. Um I it is probably the thing that I hear most about for biking. Um and there is also consensus that biking on Turner Falls Road is deathdeying at best. So um a
grant that would look at um some alternatives. We have a couple that the Conway school recommended and we'll work with other we'll see what the state um can help us with. Uh small business support. We're working with the GBA and FRCOG on a grant, a DTA grant, district
local technical assistance grant, which is allowing FIRCO to help us on small business support specifically. Um doing some infographics and uh instructions on how to open a small business in Greenfield or expand an existing small business. So things like what licenses
do you have to get, what departments do you have to go to, what order should you go to those departments in, why would you want to go to those departments? um more convoluted than you would think. Uh so we're hoping to have a sort of thorough PDF and then some easy to understand, easy to follow infographics
that we put on the website and direct folks to as to help navigate business. >> But there going to be like a checklist >> something like that. We're going to So uh the way the grant works is that um for COG is doing the work. The grant pays for their time. And so what um I
think Hannah and I had both wanted was a visual something or other. BCOG suggested a more detailed also PDF which I agree with. Um and checklists came up. I'm going to see what they how they present it. Not my forte, but um
>> we can leave it to them >> exactly. We'll see. I will let you know. Uh then in arts and culture news, you may have seen around town, we are doing a series of um sidewalk art murals to celebrate the 250th anniversary. Um there is a tour of six of them, six
downtown locations. It's happening on June 26th at 5:00 p.m. in front of City Hall. It's an opportunity to see six of the locations and talk to some of the artists who did the work. Um they're beautiful. They're around town. They're still being completed now. And then June 26th.
>> June 26th. >> Yeah. >> And then soon to be announced will be awards um awarded by the Crossroads Cultural District. >> Stay tuned for that. And then finally uh we are hosting a World Cup watch party which I owe Madison a response to an
email. Um it is a small it is not a massive municipal watch party. Allah Boston. This is at the Garden Cinema. that's limited to their 200 person capacity. There is >> Amy is saying this because she knows I want to go
>> there Facebook page and there's a link to a sign up where you can um submit and sign up. It is first come first serve. We did send out specific emails to local um soccer clubs and teams because we are targeting in particular youth but anyone
is welcome to join. We will have fun World Cup swag and some giveaways and we'll show um whatever the game is that is happening on Friday, June 19th at 3:30 which is I think Australia versus US memory serves.
Those are my updates. >> Great updates. >> Copy the field questions. >> I just was remembering the parking benefit district. >> Yes. >> What is I know that there's a trying to establish projects for that maybe this fall too. Has that occurred? Has there been
>> We have a list of projects that we are very excited about. They require DPW um sign off. So, I haven't I didn't bring those lists today because I want to make sure DPW has an opportunity um just because some of them um create uh could
create work for DPW at least, you know, installing things or cleaning or whatever. So, once I have their sign off um then the projects will be official official. But yes, there is a list and they are exciting. So, next time I come here, perhaps I'll bring them with me. >> That'd be fantastic.
>> Bet. Any questions from the committee for director Kalin? >> I already asked all my questions. >> One question. I don't know if this is previewed up because several people have asked me this. The uh Wilson's project. >> Yes. >> The sidewalk is blocked. Yes. And is
there a way to I forget what it's called, but you know, because they they're probably going to have to put up scaffing if they're doing roof work, but a covered >> way so that that pedestrian open like they do in New York City, but I can't remember what the >> New York City is like.
>> Yeah, exactly. agree with his >> understanding from the original press release that Jonathan put out about the sidewalk being closed did say that that was temporary in favor of something being constructed that would be there throughout construction. I don't know
what it looks like but his press release did say it >> just because it's going to be such a long period of time. I would imagine even if it's just the cosmetic work, it's could be two years. >> Yes. No, it's exciting to see the work going forward.
>> Show people so many pictures like look like >> like it's important to us. >> It was great to see um even though I am one of the few people that loved the Wilson's actual silver covering, it was very cool to see the um original window
>> window things on the facade wall. >> Yeah, that's right. Um, I had another question about I just remembering about the uh what was it called? The wayfinding study. >> Yes. >> I have always thought it'd be awesome to have like in they do Northampton a
ticker showing how many people or parking spots are available in the garage. >> Yes. >> If that could happen in any way. I know that's probably a bigger project to retrofit the garage with sensors and imagine you know cabling on top. But just as an advertisement like look
>> there is parking we promise on our list hundreds of spots >> you know think about it like with gas prices right everybody knows the price of gas is so they constantly care about it if people know how many parking spots are in the garage it's visual thing every single day it can't be refuted and
that would have saved us a lot of brief least >> or so as you like to think >> I yeah I know I know it's hope we have some >> um yeah we reached out and got the information from Northampton um to look into that. I don't that was not part of
this um this wayfinding implementation grant uh because I think that's probably a project that will happen um more in tandem with things like updating the kiosks in the parking garage, that sort of thing. But we have the information and it is very much on our radar. >> Awesome.
>> That's all I can think of folks. Uh counselor, anything? I don't want to force you to speak. I also don't want to forget you're there. Yeah. Uh, thank you, Councelor Garrett. No, uh, thank you for the update, Director K. Helen. This is very exciting information. Much appreciated.
>> Sure. >> Great. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> That to be repetitive. All right. Um, let's see. I was looking back at kind of what I presented on last time. So, I will try and move forward though. I think some things are
definitely ongoing. Um we have a few things coming up that I think are particularly focused on our businesses. One is that our monthly open office hours are this Friday and we're going to have a speaker um Megan Morren who has a
consultancy called Fresh Crayons. Um and she in particular does a lot of marketing training, social media training. She's just an absolute master um of fundraising, marketing events. Um and she's going to be coming to speak
particularly um about the workforce training fund um which is a whole fleet includes a whole fleet of trainings that businesses can access if they have less than 100 employees and if they pay into the
Massachusetts unemployment insurance. um thousands of trainings that they can be fully reimbursed for for owners to take, managers, um leaders, employees, anyone. And so she will be on hand starting at 9:00 a.m. in the GBA office. Um and we're hoping that businesses will
join us and hear the presentation and get some free training. Who doesn't like that? Um we also are hosting our second uh business mixer this month. Uh we keep kind of kicking names around. Right now, I'm referring to it as the downtown
business folks meet up um on June 18th at Freedom Cafe at 6 PM. Um it will again, like our event at the Vic, be really just for business people to get to know each other, build stronger community, share ideas. Um but it will
have an added perk of Chrissy Weaver, who is the co-owner of Freedom Cafe, offering some social media tips and tricks or social media is the popular, so come talk to her about it. Um, we the GBA is also going to be starting up a
more dedicated downtown business owners group that will meet um and sort of dive a little bit deeper on things that are impacting downtown business owners um share ideas again, share information, um, and try and just keep sort of
building that community. We've seen a lot of really renewed energy downtown. Um I think it's very visible on the surface and that is very much due to the fact that we have uh some new business owners who have injected a lot of energy um and existing business owners who I
think are just picking that up. So it's been very exciting. Um and that will be a group by invitation. Um we are focusing a lot on vacant storefront activation. The pollinator mural was the first thing. Um, we were
very excited on the cultural district committee to see more requests for public art come through. Um, Monica Aguilar, who painted the pollinator mural and also did our holiday window painting, um, has gotten more and more requests from business owners and
property owners for public art on um, at their businesses and at their properties. So much so, uh, that she was like, "Why don't you just connect me directly with the city and I can save you some time?" Which love that. Um, so I did. So I am very excited that I think
there is just this resurgence and people are wanting to get involved in their own way. Monica is certainly not the only artist who is already involved in public art. Amy mentioned the MA250 murals. Um we see a lot of our local artists working and I have gotten some outreach
um from multiple business owners who have seen the murals on the ground and they want to know how they get their own sidewalk mural which >> you know it's a process. um and also from business owners who said they saw a particular artist's work and would that artist come do something on their property. And so we've just been doing a
lot of connecting which is very exciting. Um we are the GBA is in conversation with one group uh in particular who's looking to do a vacant storefront activation which has led to a lot of messages for Amy from me about who owns what properties. Um,
and also, and I'm going to say this loud and proud, it has also led me to realize that we actually don't have that many vacant storefronts downtown that are actually vacant. You heard me say it, and I will say it again, and it it's exciting. That
doesn't mean that we don't have storefronts that aren't sort of lying, which is not necessarily the same. So, one of the things we're doing at the GBA is kind of figuring out if there's a middle ground for some of those properties because it might not be vacant in the sense that it is looking
for a business to move in, but that doesn't mean that while it's waiting for something to happen, it can't have some sort of beautifification or artistic uh intervention. So, we're trying to just sort of sus out what is a true vacancy for this, what is sort of activatable
space for that. Um, and that's been a a really good thing to dig into a little bit more. Uh, >> phrase artistic intervention. >> Yes. >> Excellent. >> That's very popular. >> Um, uh, Amy mentioned the the cultural
district grants, which I don't think all are public yet. Is that right? Yeah. Um, so I'll just leave it that, um, it was really wonderful to see so many grant requests come through. Um, I'm very excited for all of that to be shared and I'm very excited to see how much activation is going to be happening as a
result. Um, what else said that said that? Okay. Um we are the GBA is also working um with FRCOG and the and Amy's office um to
potentially do some research around some larger grants, federal grants that might be applicable to some work that we're trying to do. And so it's been really wonderful to partner with these two other offices and kind of look a little bit bigger and see if we can be sort of
expanding our idea of what business development and support could look like um out of the GBA. Um and just to share uh one of can I share a cultural disrant that GBA got even if it's not public? Am
I not supposed to do that? gray area doesn't matter. I was supposed to say I will just say um summer late nights are continuing that has been very much spurred by Sparkle Cave um and is kind of catching on like wildfire which
is wonderful. Um and DJ Snacky Fresh uh who also happens to own Greenfield Records will be out uh playing music on the street uh coming up on June 13th after Pride. Um and then also in July and now
also August and September and October and that is really exciting. Um yeah, so it will the dates are not set yet for um those last three months, but I'm pretty sure that July is Saturday the 18th,
if that Saturday is an 18th. Um, but yep, >> big awesome big shout out um to uh Elizabeth at Sparkle Cathed because she really pounded the pavement to go to other businesses and just invite them to be open later. There's an effort to stay
open till 9 or 10. A lot of businesses are are taking that up and and giving it a shot. So, come downtown, support them, make it worth their while. Um, and there'll be music and bubbles and ice cream. Um,
and I think the last thing is the GBA have been working on uh a project down on uh the Rotary that hit a little bit of a stall. So, we are looking for a new location, but we're trying to put down there some sort of welcome to Greenfield sign that makes it a little bit clearer
where downtown is, where you are, sense of place. Um, that can have a huge huge impact on how people decide to pop off the Rotary um and take a little detour. So, uh, we are hoping to be able to find a new location and keep that project
moving forward. Um, yeah, I think that's everything. Oh, the last thing I'll say, I'll just give a little teaser about this because our board just approved it and I'm excited about it. But the GBA is looking forward to
organizing our first ever, I'm not allowed to call it annual. This is would be the first year um buzz awards in September that would celebrate our local businesses in some way. So we are very excited to be shaping that and that's all I'll say about it. >> We are really going hard on bees and I'm
here for it. >> And I didn't even that wasn't even me. That was Amy put that forward and I was like you know we will. And there were people on the board that questioned it but >> yeah she got stung by the bug. You know >> you reached for them.
>> I love it. I know. you know, we are we are going hard for the bees and I really I >> such a good reason though. >> It's such a good reason and the more people that I get to tell about the history of it and the more that I see the sort of energy of it and to be
honest, the more I see how hiveminded Green Field is naturally. I know it's not me. I'm just observing. You know what I mean? That's my husband and I's joke all the time. just deserving. But it's true.
So, but yes. No, we're all in on the bees. I'm all in on the bees. >> I love it. And the dinos, too. Shout out to the Dino Fest. >> Great dinosaurs >> in July coming up. >> Go to visit greenfieldmade.com. >> I can't remember. Did you Were you guys involved with the planters around town?
>> Yes. >> Because those are wonderful. And someone I think it might be snows, but someone did the median. That is snow. >> It's silver and uh high >> and it looks so much better. >> Yes, I will.
>> These are huge improvements. >> Yes. So that the our Blooming Greenfield group um which I'm going to give an extra shout out to if people don't know Kathleen Kenny um who heads up Blooming Greenfield uh with the GBA. also reached
out to we we have been getting we're starting to get more outreach about different spaces around town that need some flowers and beautifification and we are doing our best to meet that but the common was something that was coming up over and over and we did not have the people power and and Kathleen reached
out to the sheriff's department amazing folks came out weeded everything cleaned it all up on Monday and it just looks absolutely amazing so the flower barrels are out Um, I am delinquent in getting the signage up on the flower barrels to
shout out all of the businesses that made those happen. Um, and our amazing Blooming Greenfield volunteers. Um, and then we'll also have more to share about some ways that the parking benefit district is going to be helping us expand that as well when DPW signs off
on it. >> Amazing. >> I have a couple questions, please. Um, one has to do with vacant storefronts that also have beautiful art on them. >> Um, so there's that space near stop and shop in the next to the shed business
>> that is in my precinct. I get questions about it. Like it's going to be a thing. It is like there's a thing. Yes, >> rumors of a cafe. That's the rumor. Yes, there is a cafe that will be going in there. Um it my understanding is that
the it's uh it used to be shoplorals. Um it's a crop from Stop and Shop where there's a lot of sheds for sale and right next to it there's a thing that just looks like a really big shed but is actually a permanent commercial space. >> Yes. That is currently being rehabbed
into a cafe. Um, it also has shown up a lot on our Instagram series, Local for Local, uh, because we see them using local contractors on everything. So, shout out to that. Every time I drive by and see like a, you know, plumbing and everything, it's wonderful. Um, I don't
know when it's going to open. I can find out, but my understanding is that they were hoping to open by this month, and I don't think that that is going to happen, but they are hard at work on it. and Monica Aguilar who um we included that space in our holiday painting um
because we were excited for a new business coming and then the owner took it upon herself to hire Monica for the full year. So that's why the seasonal window painting is just exceptional. >> Yeah. And it's drawn a lot of interest which just to like underscore
>> that is why art interventions are so important is because they really do call attention to things. And so for me, I think the property owner choosing to do that has generated more interest in that space and curiosity about what's going on. She hasn't had to market yet. She
hasn't had to do anything. All she did was pay an artist to change it out every season and it just is wonderful. >> Yeah. Well, it's actually a hightraic spot. It really is. >> It should be very vis. But it's been I think people are very used to driving by it. So smart
>> to do something that really sort of like is eye-catching in a really positive way instead of just like, oh, I guess maybe something's happening there, but like >> it's being invested in. >> Yes, it is. It It's really wonderful. And I will say in particular um one of
the sort of food desert areas that we struggle with a little bit is the industrial park because a lot of employees up there um only get a 30 minute lunch break and it is not enough time actually to get anywhere. Um so it's something that we've sort of been we were exploring for a little while
trying to get some food trucks up there. Uh we sort of lost the contacts that we were working with and so we're starting that conversation over. that cafe. I know um we've already had conversations with uh the business owner about that particular challenge. So, I don't know
what their food plan is overarchingly yet, but I know that they're aware of that particular audience that might be interested in some >> lunch. That's a that's really interesting. Thank you foring that issue, finding out about it. >> Yes, it's actually a very big challenge.
Comes up a lot. I've got actually a lot of people that work up there. I know it's kind of hidden back there. >> I know. Yeah. >> And it also I mean the the in this is me just speaking out of opinion, not trying to tie anyone into it, but um I think the industrial park is a space where
there could be a a lot of food truck incubation. So, you know, food trucks that are kind of getting rolling, getting tested out, there is a builtin thousand people a day that could sort of help a food truck test the menu, get
going. Um, and so depending a little bit on all the intricacies of food trucks and like supplying your own power and water versus needing them from a business that's hosting you, different things like that, the GBA would be very happy to help facilitate that a little bit. And I know we've had some conversations
with the CDC about that. um because they get a lot of um new food truck owners or potential food truck owners coming through their accelerator program. So, we're trying to figure out some solutions that are maybe a little more creative. >> So, that's awesome. But if anyone wants
to open a restaurant up there, >> do it. >> Um second question, the uh for things particularly like the downtown being open late. >> Yeah. >> Uh which sounds really cool. Excited that's happening. >> Yes. How is that being um
>> amplified? Yeah. Like especially I'm I'm quite conscious now of how much I just heard some crazy statistic about how much like social media isn't social anymore. It's algorithmic like so a very small major or minority of or percentage there are many words to say the same
thing um of what you see on Instagram is actually like accounts you follow. >> Yeah. >> It's like 25% or something is accounts that you have chosen to follow. and that right I'm sure you know this better than I do and then like 75% is stuff that >> Instagram has decided it wants you to
see so like even if I follow Yep you know everything that's had like all the green field accounts that doesn't mean I'm necessarily seeing them anymore and so I wonder like are you thinking sort of in that for that particular example and bigger picture about getting the word out about stuff like this >> that is a great question um yes social
media is definitely not we can't depend on it the way we were um so for something like that you know We are going to put it on visit greenfieldmma.com. Visit greenfieldmma.com. Please use the website. So there's so much on there. Um
and then you know it it's a good question because I think one of the most consistent marketing tools um I remember being like learning about it in grad school which feels like a million years ago and it's still true are direct to home mailers. And they're also really
expensive. So, um it's one of those things I think as we continue to sort of try and build and get ourselves out of the catch 22 that is like if you're open people will come but people don't come because they don't know things are open
that um >> I think it's a good question about you know maybe the GBA could could look for some marketing dollars or find other ways. I know uh with the cultural district um we did set aside a portion
of our budget to just market the downtown. Um and so some of that will be helpful, but it's a little more broad as opposed to just one thing. Um and I think the other piece of it, you know, and I'm not trying to pass a buck, we will keep lo looking for dollars and we
will keep doing our best to put it everywhere. um is we need people to start putting some effort in again. You know, I hear so much from people. They say, you know, oh, nothing's going on. I miss going out. It's time for me to
get out again. And those things are true with the exception of there being nothing going on. There's a ton going on. And you know, I think at a certain point, we have to be more participatory again. And so when
something does come across your algorithm, share it with people. Put it on your story. One of the best best social media things that you can do is share something to your story. It takes 2 seconds. You hit the little paper airplane and it says share to story.
because what we're seeing in usage especially among uh younger millennials and Gen Z and older millennials who know um >> which does not include me >> literally just learn how to find a story on >> I don't social media I'm out
>> oh my god >> so what we're seeing is that is that the step that people are taking um that I hope is a precursor to like you know going to a website or going and looking for events um is rather than just
scrolling, they will just go to the stories of the people that they know. And once you open one, then you're then the scroll is just your people. So if you reshare something to the story. So one of the things that I do most mornings for the GBA is I'll go through
my scroll because I still see a lot of the businesses in my algorithm and I'll share it to a story because I'll assume that people are not right >> going to see it on the scroll but they'll go to the GBA story and then they're just flipping through only local things and an ad there. Yeah. >> For the time being.
>> Yeah. That's great. >> That's a very helpful thing. And then tagging each other is another great thing that businesses could do or friends can do. And like I have definitely in my own friend group, we've really brought back the group chat of like this is what's going on because
it's it is increasingly hard to see what's actually in your community. >> Y >> that's a great question. Thank you. >> Yeah. No, thank you. >> Right into the data center conversation we started this week. You know, like it does, right? Well, and to not end there, I will say speaking of events that that
clearly the word did get out >> because I don't think that we have talked to you since this beef fest was amazing. >> It was so popular. It was clear like it was a beautiful day. I saw so many families and little kids downtown like tons of people that I was like you live
in this city cuz I love and like it was so good. It was seemed super well managed. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. So, thank you. Thank you to everyone who made that happen. >> Oh my god, it was such a group effort. It is like a real labor of love. We have
a debriefs meeting next Monday. I'm very excited for everyone to get together like postevent. But um it did feel really wonderful and I especially want to shout out, you know, it's been interesting to see how the business involvement has developed over the last few years. Um, I think my first year in
this role, you know, I wasn't 100% sure what BFest was and so we were present for it, but you know, we didn't do a ton. Um, the year after that, we sort of put it out to businesses like, hey, just know this is going on.
>> And then la this year we really really pushed um and a lot of businesses hosted their own >> piece of it. Hens and especially I think is a great example. Um they hired a good mix which is a local um
like lemonade bar. Yeah. >> I mean basic like it's like a whole thing. So um they had a tent out in front of Pens and Chicks. They're going to be out there again for Pride. >> Oh, great. >> Um so I think you know again the energy with the downtown businesses and truly
businesses all over. I mean, like, if you haven't driven by uh green the farmers co-op and seen the whole extension they put on their parking lot because they literally could not fit all the cars of people coming to shop there, like this is what I'm talking >> went there from Beef Fest and literally could like had drove around twice and
had to just go home and try again. >> Now they parking wild. >> Never seen it so crowded. >> It's so exciting. And you know, I really I think businesses are feeling the buzz. I did think about not saying
it. I >> are feeling a little bit more I think that their efforts are being rewarded by people showing up. And the more that that happens to your question about, you know, how we find out about things, the more that that symbiotic relationship moves forward, you know, it's like I
just I'm I I I can't talk enough about the businesses in Greenfield. They're just amazing. So, anyone who's like there's nothing downtown. Visit greenfieldmma ma.com. >> I love it. >> It's happening. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. >> Um, one thing I thought of to ask both you and Amy, if there's a version of these notes that you guys put together that you would be willing to send the clerk's office so people can see them. >> Oh. >> Um, one that does not include, for example, grants that we can't talk about publicly.
>> I think that would be great. You know, I last month that he uh full counsel like we learned all this amazing stuff and I don't have the notes. >> Oh, I'm dead. >> Like and I wanted to list out some of that stuff, but I think if it's in our packet, >> then people can see it, you know, and
even if it's just us referencing back like what was that cool stuff they talked about? I think it would be a useful thing. So, >> absolutely. >> That'd be great. >> Yeah, >> particularly upcoming events. I think people do read these agendas. Yes. Yeah. and like
>> definitely >> great information and we want to make sure as many people as possible here. >> Yes. Wonderful thing. >> Yeah. Thanks. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you guys. >> All right. So, I think that is uh what
we call a meeting. Our next meeting is going to be Tuesday, July 14th, >> 2026 at 6:30 p.m. uh city hall meeting room, second floor Zoom pirate unless otherwise posted. Can I entertain a motion to adjurnn? >> So move. >> Second. >> All right. Councelor Bottomley, would
you mind roll calling us out? Yes. Councelor Garrett, I am here and ready to go. >> Yes. Councelor Gordon. >> Yes. >> Uh councelor Dilman. >> Yes. >> We are ajourers of the public and we'll see you next
time.