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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Development Authority - Minutes - 03/12/2009DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Regular Directors' Meeting Jack Wolfe, Chairperson' 495-1298 Kelly Ohlson, Council Liaison 219-9814 Steve Johnson, County Liaison 498-7010 MINUTES of March 12, 2009 The Board of Directors of the Downtown Development Authority met in Regular Session at 7:30 a.m. on March 12, 2009 at Home State Bank, 303 East Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524. . PRESENT George Brelig; McCabe Callahan; Ryan Keiffer; Wynne Odell; Bill Sears; Patty Spencer; Jack Wolfe; David Zamzow; Ellen Zibell ABSENT Steve Johnson; Kelly Ohlson STAFF Matt Robenalt, Executive Director; Anne Aspen, Project Manager; Jean Lamm, Beet Street, Interim Executive Director; Kathy Cardona, Financial Coordinator; Joanna Stone, Administrative Manager; Lucia Liley, Legal Counsel GUESTS INCLUDED Darin Atteberry, City Manager; Blue Hovatter; Joshua Liley, Liley, Rogers & Martell; David Short, Peggy Lyle, DBA; Vivian Armendariz; Bruce Hendee & Jerod Huwa, BHA Design; Annette Geiselman, Discovery Science Center; Stuart MacMillan, Everitt -MacMillan; Al Dunton, Centennial Galleries; Cheryl Donaldson, Meagan Callahan, Fort Collins Museum; Marty Heffernan, Kathleen Bracke, Mike Freeman, Pam Opiela, City; Melissa Chalona, CTL Thompson; Doug Johnson, UCC; Jan Shuff, Aller-Lingle- Massey; Jonathan Sweet, Jim Sell Design; Brendan McGivney, Odell Brewing; Ashley Haas, Kevin Brinkman, David Miller, Josh Guernsey, Brinkman Partners; Kevin Jones, DBA; Julie Keith; Bob Hosanna, Neenan; Rebecca Sears, RB+B; Tye Tagwell, First Class Security; Francis Gonzales, FCPD; Brad March, March, Olive & Pharris; Victor Holthorf, CSU Real Estate CALL TO ORDER . Mr. Wolfe called the meeting to order at 7:35 a.m. Roll call was taken. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ryan Keiffer was added to the list of attendees at the February 19, 2009 meeting. David Zamzow moved to approve the minutes of February 12, 2009 and February 19, 2009. Seconded by McCabe Callahan, and passed unanimously BIG IDEAS Peggy Lyle of the Downtown Business Association proposed a botanical garden as a draw for visitors to downtown Fort Collins. She noted many benefits and the potential of a year round attraction and public facility. BEETSTREET Patty Spencer reported that the Beet Street Executive Committee has been working hard and meeting at least weekly to determine Beet Street's current status and future direction. Ms. Spencer noted that they have been looking at the big picture, at the program's successes and failures, in an effort to determine DDA Minutes March 12, 2009 pg. 2 where to go from this point. Ideas for future direction will be.brought to the Board for approval. She thanked staff for all the time and hard work. Jean Lamm spoke about current programming, noting two programs this week. Frank Abagnale will speak at the Thought Leaders series and Science Cafe will be held at the Elks Club on Wednesday. Beet Street has an entry in the St. Patrick's Day Parade and will pass out water bottles and program schedules. PRIORITY PROJECTS UPDATE Hotel: Mr. Robenalt noted that while Corporex has not yet signed a new letter offering reimbursement for work product, he feels that they will do so soon. Community Marketplace: The February forum was well received by participants. A revised concept report will be presented for Board approval in April Master Plan for Downtown Alleys & Integrated Walkways: City staff has determined that no formal action is required by any boards and commissions or of City Council. Project Manager Anne Aspen continues courtesy presentations to City boards and commissions. A courtesy presentation of the plan will be made to Council after the April election. Meetings with affected owners and tenants of the three initial alley projects are scheduled for March 31-April 2°d REGULAR UPDATES The sales tax report was distributed. Most categories were down in sales tax collection, with the exception the hotel and food industries. There was no discussion of updates. CONSENT AGENDA Further Amendment to Cortina Fagade Agreement and Easement: Legal Counsel Lucia Liley presented recent changes in tenancy at the Cortina Building. Since the County absorbed the law firm of Harden, Hass, Haag & Hallberg as a County department and the County is now the lessee of the unit, which makes the unit exempt from real and personal property taxes. That in turn results in an annual TIF shortfall resulting from the loss of property tax revenue. Ms. Liley recommends extending the period of time in which the TIF from the project must be recouped to the DDA for an additional two years or until December 31, 2017. Moved by Mr. Sears, seconded by Mr. Keiffer: To approve the Consent.Agenda as presented: the motion passed unanimously. REGULAR AGENDA ' Fort Collins Museum/Discovery Science Center Update: Cheryl Donaldson, Director of the Fort Collins Museum, and Annette Geiselman, Executive Director of the Discovery Science Center, provided a status report on the joint museum project: They reported that the project had evolved significantly since DDA committed funding in 2004. The vision for the new museum is that it will be a gathering place that will inspire curiosity and life long learning, providing connections for the past and a deeper understanding of science and technology. The estimated cost is over $20 million and the project has secured approximately $16.4 of that total cost. Costs will become firmer when an architect is hired, which will also open up some grant opportunities. They expect to break ground during the second half of 2010. North I25 Environmental Impact Statement Update: Kathleen Bracke, Transportation Planning and Special Projects Director for the City, presented a summary of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and requested Board feedback to present to CDOT. The purpose of the study is to find a long term transportation solution connecting Denver and Northern Colorado. There are three basic alternatives on the table: a passenger line along Burlington Northern lines from Fort Collins through Loveland to Longmont (approximate capital cost of $2.43 billion); improvements along 125 with bus rapid transit from Fort Collins (approximate capital cost of $2 billion); or take no action other than what is currently funded. Further input and a final report will be completed in 2009. Board members noted that having commuter DDA Minutes March 12, 2009 pg. 3 rail in the middle of town would drastically change the character of downtown. Ryan Keiffer noted that the second plan gives Fort Collins a better link to DIA. Old Town Square Security Enhancement: Officer Matt Johnson of the Fort Collins Police Department has proposed placing video surveillance cameras in Old Town Square. The purpose is not only to deter vandalism and criminal behavior, but also for use as a promotional tool for the Square. The footage would be hosted by the Downtown Business Association website. Staff feels that other purposes could be served by the cameras: a webcam could become a landmark for visitors; community members could see what is happening in the area before leaving home; footage could be used as exculpatory evidence for someone erroneously suspected of criminal activity. Legal staff will explore any legal issues and a refined proposal will be brought to the Executive Committee. . Petitions for Inclusion — South Howes Street Area: The DDA has received petitions for inclusion from seven property owners in the South Howes area of downtown. Mr. Robenalt explained that the approval of these requests is important because it would extend the DDA boundary to Colorado State University at the prominent north end of the Oval which would allow the DDA to provide tax increment funds to the area which could help ensure a higher level of design and help the economic viability of future development. It is also consistent with objectives and purposes outlined in the DDA Plan of Development. Moved by Mr. Keiffer, seconded by Ms. Zibell: To.approve Resolution 2009-03 recommending to the Fort Collins City Council that the boundaries of the DDA be amended to include the seven properties in listed in the petition for inclusion, contingent of approval of the final documents from CSURF and. the CSU Board of Governors: the motion passed unanimously. Flats at the Oval: This project has been through the design review process with the Board and suggested changes have been incorporated into the final design. Board members appreciated the way the process worked and that concerns were addressed. It was agreed that the design is very pleasing and appropriate to an important gateway to CSU. The owners are requesting $1,148,781 in tax increment financing for both facade and public right-of-way improvements. While the funding request is above what can be supported by the tax increment generated, staff recommends a commitment to a higher level of funding in order to achieve important goals for downtown and the community that may not be achieved without DDA support. Moved by Mr. Keiffer, seconded by Mr. Callahan: To approve up to $212,572 for public improvements in the right-of-way and up to $936,209 for fapile improvements on Howes Street and Laurel Avenue for a total of $1,148,781, pending the approval of the boundary amendment by City Council: the motion passed unanimously. Elks Lease Amendment: The DDA and Elks legal counsels have completed a draft amendment to the lease agreement which allows the Elks will occupy the building until June 1, 2009, or earlier if they provide the DDA with 10 days written notice of their desire to vacate the building. The amendment also adds additional detail.regarding the removal of property from the building. It includes a mechanism for the DDA to provide 180 days advance notice of building deconstruction and establishes a salvage period that allows the Elks to make arrangements for removal of items for charitable donation. Moved by Mr. Zamzow, seconded by Mr. Sears: To approve an amendment to the Elks lease agreement and authorize the Board chairperson to sign the amendment: the motion passed unanimously. Odell Brewing Expansion: (Board members George Brelig and Wynne Odell recused themselves for this discussion) Odell Brewing Company plans to double its physical plant, improve traffic access, expand off street parking, enlarge the tap room, and upgrade site landscaping. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2009. An early issue regarding driveway alignment has been resolved. Staff has determined that eligible expenses total $697,233. The estimated TIF generated is $1,253,000. In addition the owners have requested an additional $460,060 for costs associated with the City's wastewater plan investment fee, which is not an expense covered by DDA investment. With the encouragement of the Board at their design review, they have also applied for a Green Building Grant in the amount of $50,000 which will be used to install a photovoltaic system. DDA Minutes March 12,'2009 pg. 4 Moved by Mr. Keiffer, seconded by Mr. Callahan: To approve a commitment to fund up to $336,043 for public right-of-way improvements; up to $93,000 for street and right-of-way improvement escrow; up to $268,190 for fagade improvements on Lincoln Avenue; and, up to $50,000 for purchase of a roof mounted photovoltaic system: the motion passed unanimously. Mitchell Block — Design Review: The Bohemian Companies is constructing a 35,754 square foot office building, known as the Mitchell Block, on the corner of E. Mountain Avenue and Walnut Street. Bruce Hendee and Stuart MacMillan provided a presentation on the proposed plan for enhanced improvements in the public right of way for the purposes of design review. The proposed enhancements would contribute to the DDA design goal to create enhanced alleys, quality streetscapes using locally sourced materials, and provide unique public plazas. The owner is collaborating with CSU and the City on a pilot demonstration project that will improve storm water runoff quality by utilizing a unique paver system in the parking spaces in conjunction with rain gardens and tree filter box technology. Discussion included safety and lighting in the alley between buildings. There was approval for design of the public spaces surrounding the building and on the corner of Walnut and Mountain. Old Town Square Needs Assessment: Continued to April 9, 2009 because of time constraints. OTHER BUSINESS No other business was discussed. . ADJOURN There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m. George T lig, cr t