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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Development Authority - Minutes - 08/03/1995ddo D04INTOWN � DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ONE WEST CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER Telephone (303) 484-2020 201 SOUTH COLLEGE AVENUE, FORT COLLINS, CO 80524 Telefax (303) 484-2069 DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Regular Directors' Meeting MINUTES OF AUGUST 3,1995 REGULAR MEETING The Board of Directors of the Downtown Development Authority met in regular session at 7:30 a.m., August 3, 1995 in the conference room at 201 South College Avenue, One West Contemporary Art Center. PRESENT There were present: Bonnie Bixler-Szidon, Vice Chair Mary Brayton, Secretary Carey Hewitt, Treasurer Rick Goodale Chuck Wanner Greg Belcher Jason Meadors Staff: Chip Steiner, Consultant Anne Garrison Absent: Kermit Allard Stephen Slezak Others present: Rheba Massey, Library Historian Debra Passariello, City Facilities Manager & two associates. CALL TO ORDER Bonnie Bixler-Szidon called the meeting to order. A motion was made by Carey Hewitt to approve the minutes of July 13, 1995 this was seconded by Chuck Wanner and carried unanimously. PROPOSED BUDGET Copies of the proposed budget for the 1996 fiscal year were reviewed. Questions from the Board were fielded by Mr. Steiner, who advised that the DDA will retire the debt incurred by the Linden Hotel renovation, using unanticipated revenue received from the Colorado State Historical grant shared by the City and DDA. SLIDE A slide presentation by Rheba Massey, Library Historian, who PRESENTATION demonstrated the economic and historical advantages of using farm out -buildings, or even distressed or ruined buildings to meet today's need for business and recreational facilities, particularly where a close -in location is a factor. CIVIC ACTIVITY The Board welcomed Debra Passariello, City Facilities DER Manager and her two associates. The project at hand is a DDA MINUTES Civic Activity Center. The City plans to coordinate this PADS 2 endeavor with Larimer County and the private sector, to prepare a revenue measure for funding elements of the Downtown Civic Activity Center Plan. Written information was distributed and a request made for two Board members to become part of a task team, both for their valuable input and as representatives of the DDA. NORTH COLLEGE A very comprehensive memo was contained in members' packets, CORRIDOR and following a short discussion, Ms. Szidon requested a letter be sent to the City Council with a copy to Ron Phillips, urging that the project not be shelved. COZZOLA'S PIZZA There appear to be some changes taking place at this location and Ms. Brayton asked if the Board was aware of them. Mr. Steiner will look into the matter and report to the Board next month. OTHER BUSINESS Mr. Wanner explained that the main library which was constructed for 30,000 residents is inadequate to house the books and technical equipment it has acquired, or to meet the demands of an ever increasing populace. Old Fort Collins High School, structurally, is not a viable consideration, but it is felt that the main library should be kept downtown. After some discussion, it was decided to request a representative of the library to address the Board at the September meeting. ADJOURN There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. Mary Brayton, Secretary ddoDOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY • ONE WEST CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER Telephone (303) 484-2020 201 SOUTH COLLEGE AVENUE, FORT COLLINS, CO 80524 Telefox (303) 484-2069 TO: Board of Directors FROM: Chip Steiner DATE: September 4, 1995 RE: old Town Square Planters Attached to this memorandum is a letter from Progressive old Town Square (POTS) requesting DDA support for its submittal to the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to paint the bases of the concrete planters in Old Town plaza. LPC has refused to consider this issue until the DDA, which owns the plaza, has .agreed to permit the painting. POTS contends that painting the bases will reduce maintenance expenses and make the planters more attractive. Maintenance and care for the plaza has been a concern since the project was built. The Board must evaluate whether painting the planters will reduce maintenance since periodic re -painting becomes inevitable. The attractiveness of the change is a judgement call but since the color is compatible with the project as a whole it will probably have a nominal impact. In addition to the painting of the planter bases, the Board may wish to discuss the overall appearance and maintenance of the plaza. I have received three calls in the past couple weeks from people objecting to the plaza's condition. in every instance, the callers have pointed out that Old Town Square is the focal point of community pride in Fort Collins but that its current appearance fails to reflect -that pride. The care of the plaza has been an ongoing issue ever since Foxfire became involved with this project. It was central to the renegotiated agreement between POTS, the DDA, and the City two years ago. The relevant pages of that agreement are included with this memorandum. Note on page 9 the clause regarding the establishment of a maintenance district which could include Old Town Square and surrounding areas such as the 200 block of Linden Street. FoAre 0 0 Managing and Leasing Property for Management 1knc. Residential, Commercial, Shopping Centers and Homeowners Associations August 18, 1995 Mr. Chip Steiner Downtown Development Authority 201 South College Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80524 Re: Painting of Planter Bases Old Town Square Dear Chip: Per your request, I would like to have the DDA's approval to submit our plans to the LPC to have the planter bases in Old Town Square painted in "Old Town" green. The reason for this is two fold; aesthetically they look much better, and ease of maintenance and upkeep. The planters are approximately eleven years old. Throughout those years moisture has left its mark, and more in recent years, graffiti has made its way on to the planters regularly. We have had the planters power washed several times and that seems to help temporarily. Within months the planters are back looking drab and dirty. Cement is typically very porous in nature and is difficult to keep clean, as many products penetrate the cement pours, and it makes it difficult to get debris out of those pours. Our idea was to treat the cement with a sealer, but we felt that a colored sealer or paint product would look much more attractive than the cement color. We wanted to make sure the color we chose was compatible with the Old Town area. Therefore, we are recommending that "Old Town" green be used. It is the same color that many of the railings, benches, trash receptacles, and several trim colors of buildings. The light poles and trash receptacles of the Linden Street project also have this same color. We have painted two of the planters in the center of the plaza for your review. We would like to finish the rest of the planters with this color as well. We hope that you would support us in this effort and submit a letter to the LPC on our behalf authorizing this work. We have already submitted this proposal to the LPC, but they pulled the proposal out since we do not own the plaza. We thank you for your time and effort to review this information. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact me. Sincerelyy dd L Commercial Division Manager Foxfire Property Management Progressive Old Town Square, L.L.C. cc: Ed Stoner Brian Soukup File 706 South College Fort Collins, Colorado 80524 (970) 224-9204®a, year in which such a shortfall exists and, upon patent, shall be deposited into the DDA Tax Increment Fund of the City. 2.4 For the five (5)-year tax period specified herein, the Owner shall not seek any reduction in assessed valuation of the Private Parcel, either by way of appeal or abatement, which would generate less than $115,667.00 in annual actual tax increment. The Owner, for itself, its successors and assigns, further agrees not to seek state or local property tax exemption status for the Private Parcel during such period. 2.5 The Owner shall not file any request for abatement of property taxes assessed against the Private Parcel for any tax year prior to 1992. 2.6 The Owner expressly agrees that it and its successors and assigns shall be estopped from asserting that any provision of this paragraph 2.0 is void, voidable or in any way legally unenforceable. 3.0 MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS 3.1 Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph 3.0, the Owner, its successors and assigns, shall be obligated to provide for the maintenance, repair and replacement of all improvements located in the Old Town Plaza. The Owner shall further be obligated to provide for the routine maintenance of those portions of the Mountain Avenue, Walnut Street and Linden Street rights -of - way adjacent to the Old Town Plaza (the "Rights -of -Way") and the permanent fixtures thereon, provided that in the event the City issues a vending permit or a concessionaire's license for a use in the Rights -of -Way, then the City shall require as a condition of such permit or license that such user shall keep the area covered by the permit or license in a clean and neat condition, free of litter, food spills and rubbish. The owner's maintenance and repair obligation shall be limited to physical premises maintenance and repair and shall not cover police, fire or other normal municipal services provided by the City. 3.2 As a part of its normal maintenance program for public areas and subject to annual appropriation, the City shall provide all snow removal services for the Old Town Plaza and the Rights -of - Way. The City shall further annually provide all flowers and other ornamental plants for the planters and planting areas now located on the Old Town Plaza and in the Rights -of -Way. The obligation of the City to supply plants shall specifically not include any obligation to perform any labor associated with planting such flowers and other ornamental plants. The level of snow removal services and the quantity, quality and type of plants shall be that normally and customarily provided by the City in its maintenance program. T�. 1 3.3 The City shall be responsible for necessary repair and replacement (as opposed to routine maintenance) of the surfaced areas of the Rights -of -Way and those permanent fixtures within the Rights -of -Way as depicted on Exhibit C. This obligation shall specifically not include an obligation to repair or replace any planters, benches or similar improvements which may be located in such areas but do not have a permanent foundation. The determination of whether repair or replacement to the surfaced areas of the Rights -of -Way and any permanent fixtures thereon is needed and the type and manner of such repair or replacement shall be in the sole determination of the City, subject to the requirement that any repairs or replacements be generally consistent with the design of similar improvements in such Rights - of -Way and on the Old Town Plaza. Nothing in this subparagraph 3.3 shall be construed to relieve the Owner of its continuing obligation to provide for such maintenance, repair and replacement on the Old Town Plaza and the Rights -of -Way as required by subparagraph 3.1 hereof (other than the snow removal and plantings to be provided by the City as described above). 3.4 In the event that the City fails in any given year to appropriate monies for the above -described services, the Owner shall have no obligation in that year to make a payment in lieu of taxes if one is required pursuant to paragraph 2.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, once an annual appropriation for such items has been made, the Owner shall be obligated to fully perform in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Specifically, Owner's disagreement with the level of service provided by the City shall not relieve it from its obligation to so perform. 3.5 Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the parties intend to execute a Memorandum of Understanding defining various public and private uses of old Town Plaza and the maintenance obligations of the parties flowing from such uses. Upon the execution of such memorandum, the provisions therein pertaining to maintenance obligations arising from the specified uses shall be controlling. 4.0 4.1 Insurance. Through December 31, 2006, the Owner, its successors and assigns, shall, during their ownership of the Private Parcel, purchase, at their sole cost and expense, and continuously maintain in effect, insurance against such risk, both generally and specifically, with respect to improvements on the Private Parcel (the "Private Improvements") as are customarily insured against in developments of like size and character, including, but not limited to: (a) Casualty Insurance. Casualty insurance insuring the Private Improvements to their full 5 claims, demands, losses, costs, damages and expenses of every kind and description for claims of any character, including liability and expenses in connection with the loss of life, personal injury or damage to property, or any of them, brought because of any injuries or damages received or sustained by any person, persons or property on account of or arising out of the operation of the Private Parcel occasioned wholly or in part by any act or omission on the Owner's part or on the part of its tenants, agents, contractors, invitees or employees or at any time occurring on, at or in that portion of the Project comprising the Private Parcel. This requirement shall apply with equal force to work performed by the Owner, an architect, contractors or any subcontractors or any other party directly or indirectly employed by or retained by the Owner. Nothing herein shall be deemed to indemnify the DDA and the City, their officers, agents or employees against their own acts or failure to act. 6.0 OLD TOWN PLAZA MAINTENANCE DISTRICT The Owner shall have the right to petition for the creation of a special maintenance district to include the Old Town Plaza and additional public improvements and such other extended boundaries as may reasonably be included in such special maintenance district. The DDA agrees to assist in the formation of such special maintenance district and agrees to an assignment to and assumption by said district of the maintenance and repair obligation provided herein and in the Declaration. 7.0 TERM/EXTENSIONS The term of this Agreement shall be for a period of twenty- five (25) years, commencing upon execution hereof. This Agreement shall be automatically renewed without notice for two (2) successive ten (10)-year periods unless any party hereto shall give written notice of non -renewal to the other parties at least. six (6) months prior to the expiration of the then -current term. 8.0 COLORADO LAW This Agreement shall be governed by, and its terms construed under, the laws of the State of Colorado. 9.0 NOTICES All notices which may be given to parties hereunder shall be in writing and shall be sent by registered or certified mail to the addresses specified below: S HO I SIA3tl wn-nr�cxi ww. n'a.nm awa ua.0 wwau. s cw tnCa+mS pue Sna>!fL3 &nXnuvJ suvlDOSSd21>jvm 1S a c 0 N N � t L y rn rn v C — C > > t U 0 0 � rn `od = E D C D N N m NU YI ; Q� YQ C.` Q Q Q Q TiVU � N N N Y r r 6L6 d C.LyQCCy NNNO1� i V �tNd O V U O` m m 0 0 0-- - N N O.N'Y m N-X O_O.Y �� 1 aya rna�eccceol olcmm � y��j ti� �N6a ay1%u. fANN i __ E 6 O U � IV w QG w z�ow N s U U z a aJ'( z P� fi M .10+ wN0 :� O ST2 a .z+ o a -- w a a U m a yy j WzW U O 3 I F Z�vNi A377C as o a o m t ° _ U C N m O M o O W U Ll� U >> Od.�. 0O N ........_._ ... . xrls 3Ls x.ai wm ddoDOWNTOWN 9 DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ONE WEST CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER Telephone (303) 484-2020 201 SOUTH COLLEGE AVENUE, FORT COLLINS, CO 80524 Telefax (303) 484-2069 TO: DDA Board of Directors Q FROM: Chip Steiner DATE: September 4, 1995 RE: Project Updates J Children's Mercantile. Restoration of the Welch (children's Mercantile) building between the Stone Lion and Opera Galleria should be completed in four to six weeks. A completely rebuilt facade has been added to the building. Inside, the original oak floor and board and bead ceiling are being restored. Harmony Mill. The old Harmony Mill building should be completed by the end of October. NRCE, the owner, intends to move into the top two floors in November. Tenants are being sought for the first two floors. This project is approaching $1 million. It represents a significant step in the expansion of downtown into the blocks between Jefferson Street and the Poudre River. Paramount Building (Cozzola's). This project does not yet have construction loan approval. The owners are working with First National Bank and the Small Business Administration. Construction plans have been completed and are out to subcontractors. Project completion is not anticipated until 1996. I have advised the owners that if loan approval is not given within the next month they should attend the October Board meeting to ask for DDA reconsideration of its participation in the project. Funds for this project must also be rebudgeted for 1996. DANTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ONE WEST CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER Telephone (303) 484-2020 201 SOUTH COLLEGE AVENUE, FORT COLLINS, CO 80524 Telefax (303) 484-2069 TO: DDA Board of Directors FROM: Chip Steiner DATE: September 4, 1995 RE: Thank You to City Council The recent improvements to the 200 block of Linden Street have made a significant contribution to the appearance of Old Town and downtown. Although the majority of the cost of this project was borne by the downtown through General Improvement District 11, the City contributed the necessary funds to allow the project to be completed this summer. Further, through good management and hard work, the project was completed on schedule and under budget. Attached to this memorandum is a thank you resolution to the Fort Collins City Council and to City staff. RESOLUTION 95-4 OF THE FORT COLLINS, COLORADO DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY E%PRESSING ITS THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO THE FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF FOR THE DESIGN AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THE 200 BLOCK OF LINDEN STREET WHEREAS, the Fort Collins, Colorado Downtown Development Authority has been duly organized in accordance with the Colorado Revised Statutes 31-25-804, 1973 as amended; and, WHEREAS, At its January, 1991 regular meeting, the Board of Directors of the Downtown Development Authority endorsed the reintegration of the Cache La Poudre River into the fabric of the central business district as the highest priority for downtown Fort Collins and that the first step in that process was the redevelopment of the 200 block of Linden Street; and, WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins together with General Improvement District 01 provided the funding and staffing to design and rebuild the 200 block of Linden Street during the summer of 1995; and, WHEREAS, said improvements have strengthened the pedestrian atmosphere in the central business district, beautified the streetscape, and brought the Poudre River one block closer to being a part of downtown Fort Collins. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED; by the Board of Directors of the Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority, that it hereby expresses its sincere thanks and appreciation to the Council of the City of Fort Collins for its support of the redevelopment of the 200 block of Linden Street and to the continued improvement of downtown in general. Be it further resolved by the Board of Directors of the Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority that it expresses its sincere thanks to the Staff of the City of Fort Collins for its leadership in making the successful redevelopment of the 200 block of Linden Street occur on time, under budget, and with minimal impact on the surrounding businesses. Passed and adopted at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Fort collins Downtown Development Authority this 7th day of Seotember, 1995. Stephen Slezak, Chair ATTEST: Mary Brayton, Secretary ♦♦♦ice Fort Collins CITY PL k THE VISUAL PREFERENCE SURVEY' ♦ 1 'Zi. ee_,ti. The VPS is a way for people to choose what we like and don't like about the shape and direction of our city. The survey is geared for everyone -all City Plan is ... neighborhoods ... shopping and ages, all incomes, all colors, all types. business activity centers ... am and parks and It's easy. It's fun. And it's important that you open spaces .. City Plan is how we want all these choose too. Bring your friends and family! All pieces work together, and how results will be presented to you on October 26, to look tomorrow...and in 10 or 50 years. want them at the Lincoln Center. CHANGES HERE'S WHERE TO TAKE THE VPS Since 1977, Fort Collins' ]and area has nearly - tripled. Our population has grown to September 19 .......... 6:30 PM 100,000... half the people living here today were New Senior Center not here in 1977. Yet that's when we last wrote down our goals for the shape of our city. It's time. September 20 .......... 6:30 PM Poudre Valley REA CHOICES September 25 .......... 6:30 PM Changes are pushing and pulling us in every CSU, Room 228 possible direction. Yet every time we make a Lory Student Center choice to move one direction, it's also a choice not to do something else. The tradeoffs are September 26 .......... To be announced unavoidable. Northside Aztlan Center CITY PLAN September 27 .......... To be announced City Plan is an 18-month process for malting wise Lincoln Center choices for ourselves and as a legacy for those who live here after us. It will result in a compre- OR — TAKE IT AT HOME hensive plan that will become our selected map BY WATCHING CHANNEL 27 to the furure-a framework for planning policies, guidelines, and ordinances. September 8 .................. 2 PM BE PART OF IT! September 10, 14, 17 .... 7 PM The first step is a communiry-wide Visual Prefer. ence Survey''" (see other side). To get on the City Plan mailing list, or for more information, September 11, 18 ..........10 2M and 8 PM call Susan at Advance Planning, 221.6376, September 12 ................12 NOON And watch for more information! i You choose ... it's important! i � CiMof fon Coilicu A Never -Ending Task E D W A S D J. L O G U E A checklist to use in evaluating a cWs chances of improving itself owever long they have been at it, in some cases since the end of World War 11, most U.S. cities have much more revitalization work to do. The task of city building and rebuilding never ends. Cities cannot rely on private enterprise to do the job for them. In ex- plaining success or failure, academia and journalists usually focus on the personal equadon—a charismatic mayor, a powerful business laden But it is more than person- alities that makes the difference. During more than 30 years in the "city - building" trade, I have come up with a de- velopment delivery system checklist that helps me determine why one dry is doing well and another poorly in its efforts to re- vitaliu. The checklist poses seven questions • Is there a comprehensive plan in place for the City as a whole? • Is there a financial program pulling to- gether the public and private resources re- quired to carry out the plan? • Is the planning and development staff up to the job? • How will the program be administered? • Is anvbody in charge? • Is there community participation' • What is the level of political support. These questions can be arranged in any order, as long as all are asked. Anvone with a working knowledge of Platming'and devel- opment can conduct the survey and grade the responses. A ranking of cities based on these questions would present a more reli- able indicator of their relative near -term strengths and weaknesses than do most pop- ular "livable cities" rankings. A whole -city comprehensive plan cov- ering, among other elements, tausporm- don, neighborhoods, growth targets, growth controls, and urban design is needed to pre- vent "Projectivitis," an ailment in which projects are developed in isolation and thus fail to have an impact beyond their bound- aries. Similarly, a comprehensive financial program covering both the sources and uses of funds is necessary for any citywide revi- talization effort. The presence or absence of such a program is a good measure of how seriously a city takes its future. From the staffs perspective, the job of dry planning and redevelopment has grown exceedingly complicated. It is essential to provide the leadership and work opportum- des for staff members that will enable them to do their best. They need to be well paid. One key question is how much of the work should be done by consultants. In my judg- ment, the product is far more likely to be used if it is done by qualified in-house staff. A proposal becomes reality by means of a development delivery system that is effec- tive in obtaining funds, arancting invesm enr, and recruiting talent. Most cities, develop- ment deliverysystems diffuse responsibility and accountability among a variety of com- missions, agenda, boards, and departments. This Prevailing systern does not work very well. In many Cities, a helpful improvement has come about recently in the form of a single consolidated community develop. ment department under one director, who serves all the separate boards and agenda. Whatever the development deliver, sys- tem, who, if anyone, is in charge is another important due to its effectiveness. Often. the mayor is the manager of internal dh, Puts, generally not a very good use of his or her time and prestige. A preferable ar- rangement is for the mavor to appoint a development administrator accountable to and removable by the mayor. The loaf arrangements for community Participation vary widely and often the gmund rules are quite uncertain. But dearly com- munity Participation is an essential step in the planning and development process. It is also appropriate to ask whether the estab- lishment —business leaders, labor organiza- dons, media, and so forth —is a partner in the enterprise. I tend to put the following question last Are the poGdcal leaders, most particularly the mayor, strong supporters of the program or merely lukewarm endorsers? "Those mavors who hesitate to take the lead because they view the whole process of plan- ning and development as a worthy but un- certain and risky venture would benefit the most from thorough, ongoing oversight of their development delivery system. There you have the key questions. Any- one can do the emrvse. Or one an try to invent a totally new approach to the always interesting question: Why do some cities get their programs moving and others en- dure frustration? e Edward J. Logue it preidrm of L4gue Derdopmou Com- panv in Barron. Urban Land • Aagresr 1995