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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Development Authority - Minutes - 01/10/2008DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Regular Directors' Meeting MINUTES of January 10, 2008 REGULAR MEETING The Board of Directors of the Downtown Development Authority met in Regular Session at 7:30 a.m. on January 10, 2008 at Home State Bank located at 303 East Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524. PRESENT George Brelig; Ryan Keiffer; William Sears; Patty Spencer; Steve Taylor; Jack Wolfe STAFF Chip Steiner, DDA Executive Director; Matt Robenalt, DDA Project Manager; Joanna Stone, DDA Staff; Carol Bennis, Beet Street, Executive Director; Kathy Cardona, DDA Staff; Jean Lamm & Maggie Hirko, Beet Street; Lucia Liley, Legal Counsel GUESTS INCLUDED Darin Atteberry, City Manager; Mike Jensen, Fort Collins Real Estate; Blue Hovatter, Interested Citizen; David Short, DBA; Earen Russell, LPC; Ben Manvel; Ty Smith; Brad March; Josh Guernsey, Brinkman Partners; Cari Merrill, Coloradoan; Ian Menzies, RC Special Events CALL TO ORDER Mr. Wolfe called the meeting to order at 7:35 a.m. Roll call was taken. Mr. Wolfe took a moment to summarize the accomplishments of 2007 and congratulated staff for providing the direction and drive going forward into 2008. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Keiffer moved to approve the minutes of December 13, 2007. Seconded by Mr. Taylor, and passed unanimously. BIG IDEAS No big ideas were presented. BEETSTREET Ms. Bennis summarized progress at Beet Street. The first of the monthly Science Cafe series kicked off last night. Programming efforts are progressing very well. All the events for "Life on a Shoestring" are locked in. The programming for the discussions of social media is well underway. The contract with Wynton Marsalis for the summer jazz festival has been signed. Staff is working on details of the Peace Corps reunion. Discussions around the topics of centralized ticketing and a centralized calendar continue. The server issues affecting the distribution of the web newsletter "Re: Beet" have finally solved. The newsletter now contains audio files and an audio calendar of the top five things to do in town. The First Night partnership with the DBA was exceptional, filling the Lincoln Center and getting a lot of positive press. This month the Beet Street board will discuss policy and philosophy issues that are important to the life of the organization going forward. The issues have been explored by a subcommittee and will now be reviewed by the entire Board. Ms. Bennis's contract is also up for renewal. DDA Minutes January 10, 2008 Page 2 ICE RINK FUNDING Board approval is needed to reimburse the City of Fort Collins up to $40,000 for the cost of installation and dismantling the Old Town Square Ice Rink. The board discussed advantages and disadvantages of having a permanent ice rink. There was consensus that a decision on the matter needs to wait pending the outcome of the DDA legislation. Moved by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Ms. Spencer: To approve reimbursement to the City of Fort Collins of up to $40,000 for the cost of dismantling the Old Town Square Ice Rink. The motion passed unanimously. BOND SAVING APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION 2008-01 This resolution approves the appropriation of interest earnings from unspent TIF revenue and from projects that have come in under budget. The total amounts to $1,468,041. Some of the appropriated funds will be used for the Mason Corridor, the installation and removal of the Old Town Square Ice Rink, the insert in the Economic Profile Magazine, and the balance of the Christmas lights for the 2007-2008 season. Moved by Mr. Sears, seconded by Mr. Keiffer: To adopt Resolution 2008-01 recommending to Fort Collins City Council the appropriation for expenditure from the interest earnings and project savings in the amount of $1,468,041. The motion passed unanimously. ALLEY MASTER PLAN CONTRACT Matt Robenalt spoke to the staff request for the Board to authorize the DDA to enter into a professional services agreement with Russell+Mills Studios in the amount of $46,000. Russell+Mills Studios has been selected as consultants for the DDA's Master Plan for Downtown Alleys and Integrated Walkways. The principals were heavily involved in the Trimble and Tenney Courts alley enhancement project. Darin Atteberry expressed appreciation that the project addressed issues such as trash hauling, addressing the functional nature of alleys. Moved by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Keiffer: To authorize staff to enter into a professional services agreement with Russell+Mills Studios for consulting services on the Master Plan for Downtown Alleys and Integrated Walkways in the amount of $46,000. The motion passed unanimously. RAILROAD STUDY GROUP REPORT For informational purposes, Mr. Steiner presented the report of the railroad study group of which he was a member. The report has not yet been reviewed by City Council. It is currently scheduled for a City Council work session in March. Mr. Steiner stated that the study group found that there were not many options available and most are cost prohibitive. He no longer supports the idea of a Quiet Zone study, which would require relocating the tracks to one side of Mason Street, installing four crossing arms at each intersection, and building a barrier down the middle of the street which would severely impede pedestrian and road traffic. There are some relocation possibilities that should be pursued but they are long term solutions, very expensive and that cost would have to be home by the local community. The one recommendation that may improve the impact of trains in the downtown area is the use of directional horns and he would recommend the DDA fund a study of this idea. SALES TAX REPORT November sales tax showed a 6.6% increase downtown and 5.1% citywide. DDA Minutes January 10, 2008 Page 3 UPDATES TIF Legislation: Mr. Steiner attended a meeting yesterday in which changes to the proposed amendment of existing DDA legislation were presented. He has not yet had time to study the new proposal which has been presented by the Grand Junction DDA, who will not support the legislative changes as currently proposed because they feel it should be a local, not state, issue. The new proposal requires the tax increment be split 50150 with overlapping taxing entities within each Authority, preserving the ability of each DDA to negotiate a more favorable split. The initial extension would be for twenty years, but that period can be extended in 10 year increments and the splits could be renegotiated each time. This change will move the bill to "late status" instead of going to committee next week. At best there will be no result until March or April. So far CML has not weighed in on the new proposal. The recommendation is that each DDA take the new proposal for their county. Chip will talk to Senator Bob Bacon and Mark Radke. Lobbyist: On a related topic, Mr. Steiner reported that the lobbying firm of Brandenberry McKenna came back with a bid of $20,000. This is the fum he hoped to use for lobbying the TIF legislation and feels this is a terrific bid. Ambassador Program: Ben Marvel updated the Board on efforts to launch a downtown Ambassador Program. He and Matt Robenalt have met with Poudre Wilderness Volunteers to discuss their model and see how it could be applied downtown. Mr. Manvel envisions volunteers, trained in the rules downtown, wearing an identifying vest or jacket and helping educate the public. They could distribute information for visitors. Board members felt it was a terrific idea and a good supplement to the Downtown security coop. Matt Robenalt is drafting a white paper on the concept. Wayfindin2: The transit and mobility team of UniverCity Connections is still information gathering on this issue and hope to hold a charette in June. Jefferson Street Roundabout: Mr. Sears requested an update on the status of the Jefferson Street roundabout. Mr. Robenalt responded that he felt that Region IV of the Colorado Department of Transportation is not in favor of roundabouts, though this is not a CDOT-wide policy. In February City staff will take forward a revised proposal and title change in order to keep the grant award. News Racks: Mr. Steiner urged the Board to get people to the Council meeting to support condominium style news racks when it is on the agenda. Both the condo -style and corral proposals are going forward for Council consideration. A suggestion was made to do photo simulations of condo style news racks with art on downtown streetscapes. EXECUTIVE SESSION Moved by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Sears: To move to Executive Session to discuss staff contracts and evaluations. This Executive Session for the purpose stated is authorized pursuant to CRS 24-6-402 (4) (1) (1). The motion passed unanimously. Coming out of Executive Session, Mr. Wolfe summarized the discussion and extended Board appreciation to Kathy Cardona and Joanna Stone for the work they have done the past year. Moved by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Sears: To renew employment contracts and approve a 5% a salary increase for Kathy Cardona and Joanna Stone for the period of one year. The motion passed unanimously. DDA Minutes January 10, 2008 Page 4 NEW BUSINESS Elks Building: Ms. Liley stated that a letter was needed to clarify the option for the Elks to be a tenant in the proposed redevelopment of their current building. She would like the Board to authorize Mr. Steiner to write such letter. Moved by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Ms. Spencer: To authorize the Executive Director to send a letter to the Elks clarifying the basis of cost to the Elks if they moved into the new building. The motion passed unanimously. Carol Bennis Contract Renewal: Ms. Bennis's contract as Executive Director of Beet Street is due for renewal on February 8, 2008. Mr. Wolfe would like to extend her contract until the Beet Street Board has the opportunity to act on it. Moved by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Keiffer: To extend Carol Bennis's contract until the Board receives a formal recommendation from the Beet Street Board of Directos. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURN There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 10:05 a.m. George Brelig, 5ecretary