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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Development Authority - Minutes - 09/11/2008DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Regular Directors' Meeting MINUTES of September 11, 2008 REGULAR MEETING The Board of Directors of the Downtown Development Authority met in Regular Session at 7:30 a.m. on September 11, 2008 at Home State Bank located at 303 East Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524. PRESENT George Brelig; McCabe Callahan; Ryan Keiffer; Kelly Ohlson; Kathay Rennels; William Sears; Patty Spencer; Steve Taylor; Jack Wolfe, Ellen Zibell ABSENT Kim Jordan STAFF Matt Robenalt, Project Manager; Joanna Stone, Administrative Assistant; Carol Bennis, Beet Street, Executive Director; Kathy Cardona, Financial Coordinator; Lucia Liley, Legal Counsel GUESTS INCLUDED Diane Jones, Deputy City Manager; Blue Hovatter: Chuck Seest, City Finance Director; Jean Lamm, Beet Street; Cari Merrill, Coloradoan; Doug Johnson, UCC; Ben Manvel, City Council; Mike Jensen, FCRE; Craig Russell & Paul Mills, Russell+Mills Studios; Kevin Wolfe & John Sailer, Mountain View Community Church; Rich Shannon, Pinnacle Consulting; Jeremy Reese, City of Fort Collins, Steve Riggs, Sipes Concrete; Joshua Liley, Liley, Rogers & Martell CALL TO ORDER Mr. Wolfe called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. Roll call was taken. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Kelly Ohlson moved to approve the minutes of August 14, 2008 as amended. Seconded by Ellen Zibell , and passed unanimously. BIG IDEAS No Big Ideas were presented BEET STREET Ms Bennis reported that Beet Street's comprehensive strategic plan is underway. Planning for the next season is nearly completed and a full schedule will be presented at the next Board meeting. There was discussion of what has been learned from this season's events. Two contract staff positions have been added and require Board approval. Kari Munson, who has been working through a temp agency, begins a one year contract as Office Manager; intern Elesha Mercier will be working as entry level Marketing/Media Coordinator. Moved by Mr. Tayor, seconded by Mr. Ohlson: To approve the Beet Street staffing request. The motion passed unanimously. PRIORITY PROJECTS UPDATE Hotel: There is no news on the hotel project. Coporex is still negotiating financing, which is difficult in the current market. Community Market: Members of the project team travelled to Portland to visit the Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center as a possible model for the Fort Collins marketplace. A full proposal will be presented to the Board at the retreat. Amphitheater: Mr. Steiner addressed misconceptions surrounding the amphitheater proposal. He noted that it is not the Beet Street amphitheater; rather it is a community facility while providing a home base for Beet Street. It is not a duplicate of or competition for the planned Bohemian Foundation facility which is purely a private music venue. It is not designed to replace a new performing arts center; rather it is to be built in addition to and sooner than a new City performance hall. It will be a multi -purpose facility seating up to 4,000 with informal spaces promoting interaction with the general public and flexibility to provide an intimate environment for smaller audiences. It is intentionally modeled on the Chautauqua, New York concept. It has been supported by a feasibility study (and a second independent feasibility study will be ordered) and will contain state of the art amenities, adding a dramatic addition to the downtown streetscape. A proposed development schedule was distributed. It will be a very expensive project which the current estimate at $32 million. Moved by Mr. Brelig, seconded by Mr. Keiffer: To allow the Executive Director to bring to the Executive Committee of the Board for approval of a contract for a second consultant for an independent feasibility study for the amphitheater project. The motion passed unanimously. MOUNTAIN VIEW COMMUNITY CHURCH Mountain View Church is selling its downtown location and will be building a new church at 1025 Buckingham. They are requesting two items for Board consideration: first, they have petitioned for inclusion in the DDA district and, second, if that request is approved, they have requested funding for public improvements. The Executive Committee reviewed the annexation request and believes that the inclusion of this property in the district at this time does not benefit the DDA. Rather, the Committee believes the entire area bounded by Odell Brewery on the west, north of Lincoln Avenue, east of 9 "/Lemay Avenue, should be considered as one annexation and encourages Mountain View Community Church to pursue a joint petition with other landowners in this area. Kevin Wolfe spoke for Mountain View Community Church and presented design drawings of the new structure. Board discussion noted favorably that a church serves as a community anchor; however felt it would be better to follow the Executive Committee recommendation to pursue annexation of the whole area and consider the Church's request for funding of public improvements at that time. It was further noted that there would be no TIF generated from the Church alone because of its non-profit status, but if commercial neighbors were also in the district there would be TIF. ELKS ESCROW FUND COMMITTEE As part of the DDA's acquisition of the Elks property, $100,000 of the purchase price was placed into escrow for the purpose of funding projects to be identified by a four -person committee composed of two Elks members and two DDA Board members. Jack Wolfe and Bill Sears were appointed to serve on this committee. DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION McCabe Callahan will replace Steve Taylor as DDA representative to the Board of the Downtown Business Association. DOWNTOWN ALLEYS AND INTEGRATED WALKWAY MASTER PLAN UPDATE Craig Russell and Paul Mills of Russell+Mills Studios presented a project update and conceptual design sketches of key downtown alleys. These alleys, unlike the Tenney and Trimble Court, will not be pedestrianonly. Rather they use a "shared street" concept in which vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles share the same enhanced space. Selection of priority alleys, design, the public process and trash/recycling were discussed. Board members were very favorable to the concept designs. 2009 BUDGET ITEMS Chip Steiner and Kathy Cardona presented three items for Board action and the 2009 Budget for approval. 1. Resolution 2008-11: Bond Authorization This agenda items is a request to City Council for issuance of 2008 City of Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority Subordinate Tax Increment Revenue Bonds. The request identifies $7.4 million in recommended tax increment projects. Board members approved the resolution, requesting that an additional $3.million be added to the alley project. Ms. Cardona noted that that would also increase the issuance and administrative costs. Moved by Ms. Spencer, seconded by Mr. Callahan: To approve Resolution 2008-11 with an increase of $3 million for the alley project plus associated cost increases. The motion passed unanimously. . 2. Resolution 2008-09 This resolution is the recommendation to City Council for the mill levy rate of (5) mills for 2009. 3. Resolution 2008-10 This resolution is the recommendation to City Council of the 2009 debt service payments on the 2004A and the 2007A City of Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority Subordinate Tax Increment Revenue Bonds and the 2009 DDA's obligation for the Civic Center Parking Structure. Moved by Mr. Keiffer, seconded by Ms. Zibell: To approve Resolution 2008-09 and Resolution 2008-10. The motion passed unanimously. 4. 2009 Budget The Board discussed the 2009 budget presented by Ms. Cardona and Mr. Steiner. Moved by Mr. Sears, seconded by Ms. Zibell: To approve the 2009 Budget as presented. The motion passed unanimously. UPDATES Sales Tax: Diane Jones handed out the latest sales tax report, with a breakout of the Mulberry/Lemay retail area. The DDA area showed a 1.3% drop in sales tax revenue. ADJOURN There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m.