HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Development Authority - Minutes - 08/14/2008DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Regular Directors' Meeting
Jack Wolfe, Chair 495-1298 (W)
Kelly Ohlson, Council Liaison 219-9814 (W)
Kathay Renuels, County Liaison 498-7010 (W) '
MINUTES of August 14, 2009 REGULAR MEETING
The Board of Directors of the Downtown Development Authority met in Regular Session at 7:30 a.m. on
August 14, 2008 at Home State Bank located at 303 East Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524.
PRESENT
George Brelig; McCabe Callahan; Kim Jordan; Ryan Keiffer; Kelly Ohlson; Kathay Rennels; William
Sears; Patty Spencer; Steve Taylor; Jack Wolfe
ABSENT
Ellen Zibell
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
Darin Atteberry, City Manager; Blue Hovatter: Chuck Seest, City Finance Director; Jean Lamm, Beet
Street; Rich Shannon, Pinnacle Consulting; Cari Merrill, Coloradoan; Doug Johnson, UCC; John Prouty,
Lagunitas; Brad March; Steve Levinger, Armstrong Hotel; Ben Manvel, City Council; David Short, DBA;
Julie Keith; Barb Wilkins, City Drug; Dave Edwards & Ray Caraway, Community Foundation; Mike
Jensen, FCRE; Ian Menzies, RC Special Events
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Wolfe called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. Roll call was taken. A revised agenda was distributed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Taylor moved to approve the minutes of July 10, 2008 as amended. Seconded by Ms. Rennels, and
passed unanimously.
BIG IDEAS
Brad March and Chip Steiner presented an idea regarding the purchase of the unique burled maple grand
piano, one of two built for the 1904 World's Fair, that is owned by the Elks.
Steve Levinger of the Armstrong Hotel read a letter to the Board, asking questions about the hotel,
amphitheater and conference center. Mr. Wolfe said the Board would take his comments under
advisement.
BEET STREET
Carol Bennis handed out the completed schedule for the Peace Corps Reunion planned for August 22-24.
She noted that the event had been getting a lot of media attention. This week City Council presented
Proclamation recognizing the event and Governor Ritter declared August 22-29ffi Peace Corps Week in
Colorado. Beet Street is working on the next season's calendar which should be ready to present at the next
Board meeting, along with the financials and a 6-month audience development snapshot.
DDA Minutes
August 14, 2009
Page 2
CONSENT AGENDA
1. DBA Holiday Enhancements: For the past two years the DDA has provided the Downtown Business
Association funding to enhance the downtown holiday environment. The request is for $29,600 which is
the same amount as previously funded.
2. Organizational Structure: To conform to Colorado Statutes, legal counsel is advising the DDA to
adopt a revised organization structure reflecting the addition of Beet Street. Board approval is requested.
3. IGA — Civic Center Parking Structure: The City, the County and the DDA had previously agreed to
certain shared responsibilities regarding the construction, operation and maintenance of the Civic Center
Parking Structure. Originally the DDA was anticipated to cease operations after September 2006 and the
City and County were to share equally in the remaining DDA one-third share. With the passage of
legislation extending the period of time that a DDA may use tax increment financing, the DDA is now able
to make its annual contribution toward the Parking Structure debt service. The IGA needs to be amended
to carry out the original intention of the parties which was to share the cost to build and operate the Parking
Structure.
Moved by Ms. Rennels; seconded by Mr. Sears: To approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The
motion carried unanimously.
WILLOW STREET LOFTS
(Ryan Keiffer recused himself from this discussion.)
Willow Street Lofts is a mixed use project that includes 24 residential units and some retail and office
space. Staff strongly supports the project and urged the Board to fund the requested amount, with the
exception of a small park on the Willow Street side which would bring the recommended funding to
$260,442.
John Prouty of Lagunitas Companies presented the project to the Board, pointing out the green building
features and unique design elements.
Moved by Mr. Sears; seconded by Ms. Spencer: To fund the Willow Street Lofts up to the amount of
$260,442. The motion carried unanimously.
RAILROAD QUIET ZONE STUDY
Staff recommended the DDA fund a railroad quiet zone study, with costs estimated at between $50,000 and
$100,000. A quiet zone would have significant positive impact on the downtown environment and adjacent
residential neighborhood, as well as the Beet Street amphitheater. The DDA will collaborate with the City,
as the study will start downtown, then expand to the rest of the City if budgeted.
Ben Manvel suggested another option would be to try and change the federal standards. Darin Atteberry
commented that he felt it was a good investment. Kathay Rennels added that to effect legislative change,
there must be data to back it up and the study could provide that.
Moved by Mr. Taylor; seconded by Mr. Brelig: To approve funds up to $100,000 for a railroad quiet
zone study. The motion passed unanimously.
UNIVERCITY CONNECTION REPORT
Doug Johnson, Director of UniverCity Connection described UCC as an initiative, rather than an
organization. Since the kickoff in fall 2006, UCC has benefited from great support from a broad cross
section of the community. Mr. Johnson gave an overview of the activities of several UCC projects: Fort
ZED; the work of the transit and mobility group; the homeless initiative; and, the arts and culture task
force.
DDA Minutes
August 14, 2008
Page 3
MULBERRYILEMAY CROSSING
This information was included in the board packet for informational purposes only, in response to questions
from the Board. It contained details of how the DDA has committed, appropriated, spent (or plans on
spending) the tax increment funds received from the annexation of the project.
UPDATES
Sales Tax: Chuck Seest reported that the July sales tax was up .7%. Year-to-date the DDA district is up
4.5% and the City as a whole 0.8%.
Alley Plan Open House: Scheduled for September 3, 2008 from 5:30-8:00 pm at Home State Bank.
OTHER BUSINESS
Special Counsel: The City is drafting a Land Use Code amendment, containing new noise standards,
enforcement and monitoring of certain qualifying cultural events downtown. At the request of DDA
counsel Lucia Liley, the Board approved the appointment of John Frey as special counsel to the DDA in
connection with the City's proposed Land Use Code amendment regarding noise requirements in the
Downtown Cultural District.
Moved by Ms. Jordan, seconded by Mr. Keiffer: To hire John Fry as counsel on the issue of the land
use code amendment within the DDA boundary. The motion passed unanimously.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Moved by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Keiffer: To move to Executive Session to discuss a real
estate issue and Executive Director contract renewal. This Executive Session for the purpose stated
is authorized pursuant to CRS 24-6-402 (4) (1) (1). The motion passed unanimously.
Moved by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Ms. Jordan: To move from Executive Session back to Regular
Session. The motion passed unanimously.
Moved by Mr. Sears, seconded by Mr. Keiffer. To approve an amendment to the Elk's building
purchase contract to allocate $100,000 of the purchase price to place in a safe haven fund for
downtown projects approved by the DDA, with the caveat that any unspent funds revert to the DDA.
Moved by Ms. Jordan; seconded by Mr. Brelig: To approve Executive Director's contract be
renewed for one year with a 5% increase in salary, noting that the DDA will cast an appropriate net
to survey the marketplace to look at salaries for comparable positions.
ADJOURN
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at10:45 a.m.
GeorgeBjelig,Secretary 1