HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Development Authority - Minutes - 06/11/2020DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Regular Directors' Meeting
MINUTES of June 11, 2020
The Board of Directors of the Downtown Development Authority met in an Online Session at 7:30 a.m.
on Thursday, June 11, 2020
PRESENT
Chris Aronson; Jenny Bramhall (arrived 7:35am); Susan Gutowsky; Dwight Hall; Rebecca Hill; John
Kefalas; Bevin Parker; Jenny Schultz; Mark Williams; Cheryl Zimlich; Angel Kwiatkowski (arrived 7:35am)
ABSENT
N/A
STAFF
Matt Robenalt, Executive Director; Todd Dangerfield, Project Manager; Tom Dent, Technology &
Maintenance Manager; Derek Getto, Project Manager for Policy & Programs; Kristy Klenk, Financial
Coordinator; Bonnie Ward, Administrative Manager; Josh Liley, Legal Counsel
GUESTS
Darin Atteberry, City Manager; Cody Johnson, DBA; Diane Jones, Formation Group; SeonAh Kendell,
Economic Health; Vanessa Kroger, DBA; Jennifer Poznanovic, City of Fort Collins and James Yearling,
DBA.
CALL TO ORDER
Jenny Schultz called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Cheryl Zimlich moved to approve the minutes of May 14, 2020; seconded by Chris Aronson, the minutes
were approved unanimously.
ALL IDEAS: BIG AND SMALL
N/A
UPDATES
Sales Tax Report: Travis Storin, Interim Chief Financial Officer for the City of Fort Collins, presented an
overall City Update on the Sale Tax Report. Jennifer Poznanovic, Senior Manager Sales Tax/Revenue, and
SeonAh Kendall, Economic Health, presented a summary for April and May 2020 sales tax collections
that were distributed in the Board packet. May 2020 collections were down 24% year over year for the
month of May in taxable sales. DDA College corridor is down 18.7%. Mr. Storin provided detailed
information regarding the possible recovery plan for the city and an overview of the current financial
Susan Gutowsky, Council Liaison 970-416-2447
John Kefalas, County Commission Liaison 970-498-7001
Jenny Schultz, Board Chair 970-660-9028
status of the City. He described there will be about a $25-43 million overall shortfall for 2020 revenue.
Matt Robenalt thanked Mr. Storin for his detailed attention and continued seamless coordination
between the DDA and the Finance department.
DDA UPDATES
RESOLUTION 2020-03 OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FORT COLLINS, COLORADO DOWNTOWN
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY DETERMINING FAIR VALUE, WITHIN THE MEANING OF
C.R.S 31-25-808(2), FOR THE LEASE AND/OR SALE OF DDA PROPERTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE 140
EAST OAK STREET AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT
Mr. Robenalt and Josh Liley, legal counsel, provided a summary of the resolution. The DDA Act 31-25-
808(2) C.R.S. as amended, requires the Board of Directors and Governing Body (i.e. City Council) to make
a determination that such lease or sale transaction is for fair value, with fair value being weighed in light
of the uses and objectives identified in the DDA’s Plan of Development.
Legal Counsel, Josh Liley, provided clarification on the sale or lease for fair value The attached resolution
documents the DDA Board’s findings that the lease and/or sale of a portion of 140 E. Oak to Housing
Catalyst or a Housing Catalyst-controlled entity for a nominal sum constitutes fair value for purposes of
the DDA Act.
Upon execution of an approved Resolution 2020-03, staff and legal counsel will coordinate with City
staff in the Sustainability Department to advance the determination of fair value to City Council. This is
expected to occur on July 21st.
Moved by Resolution 2020-03 of the Board of Directors of the Fort Collins, Colorado Downtown
Development Authority Determining Fair Value, Within the Meaning of C.R.S. 31-25-808(2), for the
Lease and/or Sale of DDA Property in Connection with the 140 East Oak Street Affordable Housing
Project, and requests that the City Council adopt the identical findings of fair value.
DDA BUSINESS MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM
Mr. Robenalt expressed the critical function of the program and provided information regarding the
establishment of a DDA Business Marketing & Communications Program and staff has developed a
budget for purposes of establishing the program. This program is intended to ensure continuity of a
business marketing and communications function for the downtown business community that includes
funding for personnel services, overhead, and marketing projects for the remainder of 2020 and the
entirety of 2021.
Additionally, job descriptions for 3 positions have been created, which include the Program
Administrative Supervisor, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, and Business Support
Coordinator.
Mr. Robenalt added a request that the motion allow staff to make modifications of minor language
changes to the job descriptions to support the intent that these new positions are exempt status.
Darin Atteberry expressed his support and the effectiveness this will provide for the community. He also
expressed his gratitude to the effectiveness of the Executive Director, Matt Robenalt.
Jenny Bramhall requested staff and the Board consider reviewing the overall structure of the DDA and
that the DDA have key supervisory capacity if we continue long term with this program.
Moved by Bevin Parker, seconded by Mark Williams: To approve the budget, adoption of the job
descriptions, and permission to fill the positions by end of June 2020 as recommended by our
Executive Director and staff.
SHORT TERM PATIO LICENSE AGREEMENT
Dwight Hall has recused himself from this conversation.
Derek Getto provided a background on patio licenses for Old Town Square in the past. Due to COVID-19
and the re-opening of restaurants, legal counsel was asked to create a Short-Term Patio lease to expand
their patios to a larger footprint. Mr. Getto gave detailed information on the location of the patios to be
expanded. Susan Gutowsky inquired about parking in the downtown area since patios are now in place
of parking spaces around town. Mr. Getto and Mr. Robenalt expressed the parking structures are still
empty. In the past, communication has been sent out to downtown businesses to have employees use
the parking structures and leave spaces open for customers.
Staff is asking for approval for Mr. Robenalt to extend these licenses if they are needed d during COVID-
19 recovery efforts.
Moved by Jenny Bramhall, seconded by John Kefalas: To ratify executed short term patio license
agreements and authorize the Executive Director to issue additional short term patio expansion
licenses for any other restaurants that can participate in the expanded outdoor seating program in
2020 or 2021 if COVID-19 restaurant guidelines remain in place for next spring outdoor dining season
using a form substantially similar to the attached form agreement.
OTHER BUSINESS
a. July 9, 2020 Board Meeting Ms. Schultz informed everyone there will be a Board Meeting held
on July 9, 2020. An Executive Meeting will be held on July 1, 2020.
b. Enhanced Alley Design Committee
Todd Dangerfield provided an update on the Alley Design and explained the importance of having two
members of the Board be on the Design Sub Committee for the project. Chris Aronson and Jenny
Bramhall volunteered to be on that committee. Mr. Dangerfield will reach out to them in the next week
to schedule a time to go over the two concepts that will be shared by Norris Design.
Mr. Robenalt expressed his appreciation to the Board and thanked them for their extra time to prepare
for this meeting.
ADJOURN
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 10:19 a.m.
______________________________________
Cheryl Zimlich, Secretary