Specifications include, but are not limited to: A. Increased Safety and Security Safety and security has been identified as one of the higher priority services that could be provided through an MSD. The provision of a “Downtown Ambassadors” program is one method that has been identified to serve as additional eyes and ears of downtown and report unusual activities to the Wilmington Police Department. These ambassadors would be identifiable through uniforms and equipment and would be field monitored with electronic devices that require check-ins at periodic times of the day. They would not carry firearms, have arresting authority, or be sworn law enforcement officers. Additionally, funds could be used to promote public safety awareness campaigns. Services provided by MSD Ambassadors would include: • Serve as a deterrent to unwanted activity; contact appropriate authorities when criminal activity and/or behavior is identified; • Identify and interact with individuals within the district to provide street service outreach, assist people to find appropriate social services, and help with downtown coordination of these services; • Provide specific knowledge about restaurants, hotels, special events, parking, etc.; • Conduct public relations checks with businesses and downtown homeowners to provide information and services; B. Cleaner Environment: Ambassadors would be cross-trained to provide supplemental cleaning services such as pan and broom service, graffiti removal, and pressure washing. More specifically, these services would include: Pan and Broom: • Remove litter and debris from sidewalks, storefronts, curbs, and gutters; • Damp wipe vertical surfaces to remove dust and grime (includes: street fixtures and furniture, newspaper boxes, trash cans, benches, utility and electrical boxes); • Clean trash cans and areas around receptacles; • Remove handbills, flyers, and stickers from vertical surfaces; Graffiti Removal: • Report graffiti on private property to property owner and Wilmington Police Department; document all incidents; • Remove graffiti from private property with written permission from the property owner; • Remove graffiti from public infrastructure using chemical applications, power washing, or painting; Pressure Washing: • Pressure wash/deep clean sidewalks as needed; • Pressure wash or steam clean public benches, trash cans, and other street furniture and fixtures; • Use spinner nozzle to remove isolated gum spots; Other Duties: • Set up safety barriers and signs as needed in cooperation with the Wilmington Police Department, City Traffic Engineering, Streets Division, or the Department of Community Services.; • Hand pull isolated weeds or suckers and spray and mechanically remove larger concentrations of weeds; C. Physical Appearance: This service would direct funds to expand and provide new amenities to enhance the physical environment of downtown. These services would include: • Install, expand, and manage the street banner program; • Propose, install, and maintain new landscaping and beautification projects; • Manage façade improvement grant program; • Provide services for winter (snow/ice) and summer (hurricane) clean-up; D. Marketing and Branding: This service would be provided to draw more patronage and investment downtown through the development of materials to promote and educate consumers on the benefits of visiting downtown Wilmington, bringing visitors to support entertainment, retail, food, and art venues. These services would include: • Create and direct co-operative marketing campaigns to attract commercial and residential consumers; • Increase marketing messages to include quality of life amenities for residents and customers; • Direct sustained advertising in print, electronic, social media, radio, and TV ads; • Publish annual downtown guides and maps to identify shops, attractions, hotels and major residential areas; • Promote donations to charitable agencies as an alternative to giving money directly to panhandlers
