Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Development Authority - Minutes - 04/07/2005DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORrY REQULAR DERECTORSI MEETING kISJM JOIR15#N, CHAIR FA1LL 1410MYSCHY, COUNCIL LIAISON L 140A OQLA, STAPP LlA1SON MINUTES OF APRIL 7, 2005 iffi 1 ` 1 I 4"*�t REGULAR MEETING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY NET IN REGULAR SESSION AT 7:30 A.M. ON APRIL 7, 2005 IN THE MEETING ROOM AT HOME STATE BANK LOCATED AT 303 EAST MOUNTAIN AVENUE, FORT COLLINS, CO 80524. PRESENT KINI JORDAN, CHAIR STEVE TAYLOR, VICE CHAIR JASON MEADORS, SECRETARY/rREASURER MARY BRAYTON BILL SEARS JACK WOLFE LARRY STROUD CAREY HEWITT ABSENT BILL BERTSCHY STAFF ROBERT STEINER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LINDA GULA LUCIA LILEY, COUNSEL GUESTS DARIN ATiEBERRY, DAVID SHORT, CHUCK SEEST, BUD FRICK, JUDY SCHERPEL , MICKEY WILUS, DICK AND DIANNE RULE CALL TO MS. JORDAN CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 7:35 A,M. ROLL CALL WAS TAKEN, ORDER APPROVAL OF MR. MEADORS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 3, 2005. SECONOED EY MINUTES MR. STROUD AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, ALPERT BLDG MR. STEINER STATED AT ITS JANUARY MEETING THE BOARD APPROVED $37,000 FOR A FACADE EASEMENT REAR ELEVATION ON THE ALPERT BUILDING. THE MOTION INDICATED THAT THE BOARD WOULD CONSIDER ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE REAR FACADE FACING THE ALLEY. HE STATED THAT BUD FRICK, THE TRUSTEE OF THE ALPERT BUILDING, HAS SUBMITTED DESIGNS AND COST ESTIMATES FOR THE REAR FACADE, THE PACKET INCLUDES COLOR RENDERINGS AND A BUDGET OF $345,32 1. STAFF IS RECOMMENDING $1 5,000. MR, FRICK STATED COSTS WERE AN ISSUE BECAUSE THEY HAD NEVER INTENDED TO ANYTHING OTHER THAN RESTORE THE EAST ELEVATION, ADDING BALCONIES AND MAKINO THIS AREA MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY HAVE ADDED SIGNIFICANT COSTS. HE STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO GET $3 1 ,000 FROM THE DDA. MB. JORDAN STATED THAT WHEN THE BOARD LAST SAW THIS PROJECT THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT WHO OWNS THE BUILDING, MR. FRICK STATED THE TRUST OWNS THE BUILDING. MS. BRAYTON ASKED IF THIS CHANGE WOULD ADD TO THE INCREMENT VALUE OF THE BUILDING. MR, STEINER STATED HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF VALUE THE COUNTY WILL ASSIGN. A DISCUSSION ENSUED AMONG BOAROMEMBERS ABOUT ALLEY IMPROVEMENTS IN GENERAL IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. MR. STROUD STATED HE THOUGHT THAT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR FUNDING SEEMED LIKE A PAIR COMPROMISE AND SUGGESTED TO MR. FRICK THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY LOOK AT SOME WAYS TO SAVE SOME MONEY. MR, HEWITT AOREED AND STATED HE DID NOT THINK M WAS FAIR FOR THE DDA TO PAY FOR 85% OF THIS PROJECT. HE WENT ON TO NOTE THAT THE BACK SIDE OF THE BUILDING IS VERY UNATTRACTIVE AND THE BALCONIES WOULD ADD A NICE DIMENSION TO THAT AREA. MR. HEWITT MOVED TO SUPPORT UP TO $ 1 5,000 FOR THIS PROJECT. SECONDED BY MR, STROUD AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. DDA MINUTES PAGE 2 APRIL 7, 2005 SCIENCE S, MR. STEIN" REFERRED TO THE PROPOSAL FROM ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAPTOR PROGRAM (RMRP) ASKING THE HERITAGE DDA TO PURCHASE 33 ACRES OF LAND ON THE NORTH SIDE OF VINE DRIVE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CENTER BUILDING A LIVING SCIENCE AND CULTURAL CAMPUS. IN ADDITION TO RMRP, OTHER PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY, FORT COLLINS AUDUBON. AND POSSIBLY THE DISCOVERY SCIENCE CENTER, 111E NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR INTERPRETATION, WHICH HAS EXPERIENCE WITH SIMILAR FACILITIES WILL OVERSEE THE CONCEPTUAL PLANNING PROCESS, HE NOTED ONE OF THE KEY PROPOSAL POINTS IS THAT THE SELLING PRICE IS $ 1,2 MILLION GROSS WITH SELLER DONATION OF $270,000, MAKING THE NET $030,000. $ 1 50,000 AT CLOSING INCLUDES THE $5,000 EARNEST MONEY. THE OWNER IS WILLING TO FINANCE THE BALANCE AT SEVEN PERCENT FOR 20 YEARS WITH A 1 0- YEAR BALLOON - NO PREPAYMENT PENALTY. MR. STEINER STATED STAFF RECOMMENDS BOARD APPROVAL BASED ON THE FOLLOWING: I , PROPERTY IS ANNEXED PRIOR TO CLOSING. IF THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE, A CONTRACT EXTENSION WILL BE NECESSARY. 2, CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCIAL PUN BROUGHT TO THE BOARD AT ITS JULY, 2005 MEETING, IF THE BOARD'S DECISION IS TO CONTINUE, STAFF WILL WORK OUT A REFINED SCHEDULE, 3. WHILE THE AUTHORITY HAS FUNDS AVAILABLE TO MAKE THE PURCHASE OUTRIGHT BY REALLOCATING THE MONIES CURRENTLY DESIGNATED FOR THE MUSEUM EXPANSION, IT ALSO HAS CASH AVAILABLE TO BUY ON THE BASIS OF OWNER -CARRY. EITHER APPROACH WILL REQUIRE CITY COUNCIL ACTION AND THEREFORE, THE PROPOSAL IS SUBJECT TO COUNCIL APPROVAL. SUCH APPROVAL MAY ALSO MAKE NECESSARY A CONTRACT EXTENSION. MS. JUDY SCHERPELZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAPTOR PROGRAM, WALKED THROUGH A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION ON THE PROJECT. SHE OUTLINED STEPS AHEAD AS: SECURING THE PROPERTY AND ANNEXING IT INTO THE DDA DISTRICT; IDENTIFYING PARTNERS, VISITING OTHER SITES AROUND THE COUNTRY (SUCH AS THE TTCSON SONORAN DESERT MUSEUM), AND FINALLY DOING A STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP WITH THE PLAYERS TO DEVELOP A BUSINESS PLAN. SHE NOTED THAT THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THE SITE AS BEING: 1) THE REASONABLE PRICE OF THE LAND; 2) THE PROXIMITY OF THE SITE TO DOWNTOWN; 3) THE FACT THAT AFTER THE SITE IS ZONED OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN THAT THE LAND VALUE WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. THERE WAS GENERAL DISCUSSION AMONG BOARDMEMSERS CONCERNING THE ANNEXATION ISSUE, THE FLOODPLAIN ISSUE, DRAINAGE, ROADS, AND THE TIGHT TIMELINE FOR THE PROJECT. MR. STROUD STATED THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS WITHIN OUR MISSION AND SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER SUPPORTING FINANCIALLY, BUT HE BELIEVES THE BOARD SHOULD HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT STEP SHOULD BE IN TERMS OF THE. INCREASED VALUE OR THE LAND. HE WENT ON TO NOTE THAT HE REALLY SUPPORTS ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY AND HE WOULD NEVER WANT TO SEE THE DDA PUT IN A SUBORDINATED POSITION ON THE LAND, HE USED THE EXAMPLE OF THE AQUARIUM IN DENVER THAT DIDN'T' MAKE R. MR. WOLFE STATED HE HAD SOME SIMILAR CONCERNS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE DDA'S POSITION LONG TERM AS IT RELATES TO THE PROPERTY. HE STATED HE WAB SUPPORTIVE OF THE CONCEPT BUT HE THOUGHT THERE WAS ENOUGH UNCERTAINTY AROUND IT THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO MAKE A DECISION TODAY. MR, HEWITT ASKED IF THE DDA COULD OR WOULD BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THIS LAND THEMSELVES. MR, $TEINER STATED THAT THEORETICALLY WE CAN BUT PHILOSOPHICALLY HE WAS NOT SURE WHAT THE BOARD WOULD WANT TO DO. MS. BRAYTON MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO CRY COUNCIL THAT THE PROPERTY FOR THE LIVING SCIENCE AND CULTURAL CAMPUS AND CITY TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PROPERTY ON VINE BE ANNEXED INTO THE DDA DISTRICT, SECONDED BY MR. SEARS AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. MR, MEADORS MOVED TO IDENTIFY $5000 FROM SOURCES OTHER THAN DDA FUNDS AS EARNEST MONEY FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE LIVING SCIENCE AND CULTURAL CAMPUS PROPERTY, SECONDED BY MS. BRAYTON AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. DOA MINUTES PAGE 3 APRIL 7, 2005 DICK/DIANNE MR. STEINER STATED THAT DICK AND DIANNE RULE OWN SOME HISTORIC PROPERTY LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF RULE HARMONY ROAD ON LEMAY AVENUE. THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAPTOR PROGRAM <RMRP1 HAD CONSIDERED HISTORIC USING THE BARN AND HOUSE AS PART OF THE SCIENCE AND CULTURE DISTRICT BEING PROPOSED FOR VINE PROPERTY DRIVE. COST TO MOVE THE BUILDINGS IS ESTIMATED AT $25,000. Tim CITY HAS SUGGESTED A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS WHERE THE BUILDINGS MIGHT BE STORED, THE MOST CONVENIENT BEING AT THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PROPERTY ON VINE, BECAUSE THE DESIGN PROCESS FOR THE SCIENCE AND CULTURE CENTER HAS NOT EVEN BEGUN, THE RMRP HAS RECENTLY EXPRESSED SOME RESERVATION ABOUT USING THE BUILDINGS. STAFF ENCOURAGED THE BOARD TO CONSIDER TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THESE BUILDINGS. OTHER THAN MOVING EXPENSES. THERE IS NO COST TO THE AUTHORITY, MR. STEINER WENT ON TO NOTE THAT ME HAD RECEIVED A CALL FROM CROSSROADS SAFE HOUSE WHICH HAD BEEN TRYING TO ACQUIRE THIS PROPERTY IN THE PAST AND HAD ASKED WHERE THE DDA WAS IN THE PROCESS. THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED A DONOR THAT WILL PAY FOR THE MOVE. MR. STEINER SUGGESTED TO THE BOARD THAT WE LET CROSSROADS HAVE FIRST SHOT AT THIS PROPERTY, BUT THERE MAY BE COMPLICATIONS. DICK AND DIANNE RULE WILL ADDRESS SOME OF THE TININO ISSUES. MR. STEINER STATED IF CROSSROADS DOES NOT TAKE THESE PROPERTIES HE THOUGHT THE DDA COULD MAKE USE OF THESE PROPERTIES. MR. RULE STATED THEY NEED TO HAVE THE BUILDINGS RELOCATED BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST 1, 2005. HE STATED THEIR BIGGEST CONCERN IS IDENTIFYING WHO THE BUILDINGS ARE GOING TO. HE NOTED THEY REALLY DON'T WANT TO KEEP WORKING WITH POTENTIAL RECIPIENTS AND THEN COME UP AGAINST THEIR DEADLINE AND BE FACED WITH NO OTHER OPTION BUT TO DEMOLISH THE BUILDINGS. MR. HEWITT QUESTIONED IF THE BUILDINGS ARE ACTUALLY MOVEABLE, MR, RULE SAID THEY ARE, BUT DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY GO THERE MAY BE SOME SPECIAL ISSUES. MS. JORDAN ASKED IF THE MOVHNO COST IS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $25,000. MR. RULE STATED $25,000 WOULD BE A MINIMUM BUT IT COULD GO UPWARDS OF $50,000. MS. JORDAN STATED IF CROSSROADS IS REALLY A VIABLE PLAN THAT WE WOULD NOT WANT TO STEP IN FRONT OF THEIR EFFORTS. MS, BRAYPON MOVED TO WORK WITH CROSSROADS SAFEHOUSE TO FIND A LOCATION FOR THE RULE PROPERTY IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT FOR USE BY CROSSROADS SAFEHOUSE AND IF THAT FAILS, DDA WOULD TAKE THE PROPERTY AND MOVE IT INTO THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT FOR USES AS YET TO BE DETERMINED. SECONDED BY MR, HEWITT AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. DOWMOWN MR. STEINER STATED THE BOARD NEEDED TO IDENTIFY A DATE AND TIME FOR A SPECIAL MEETING TO CULTURAL REVIEW THE ACTION PLAN DRAFT FOR STARTING UP AND IMPLEMENTING THE DOWNTOWN CULTURAL DISTRICT UPDATE DISTRICT. IT WAS AGREED THAT LINDA GULA WOULD EMAIL BOARDMEMSERS WITH POTENTIAL DATES AND WOULD THEN COORDINATE THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE FOR THE MEETING. OM AND ALLEY MR. STEINER STATED CONSTRUCTION BIDDING CLOSES APRIL 14 FOR BOTH OLD TOWN SQUARE AND THE RENOVATION ALLEY RENOVATION. THE DESIGN CONSULTANT'S ESTIMATES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION ARE STILL WITHIN THE I ,5 MILLION APPROVED BY THE BOARD. HOWEVER, STAFF IS ASKING THAT THIS AMOUNT BE INCREASED TO $2,4 MILLION SO THAT IF THE BIDS COME IN OVER THE BUDGETED AMOUNT, CONSTRUCTION STARTUP WILL NOT BE DELAYED. THERE WAS GENERAL BOARD DISCUSSION ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PHASING THE SQUARE RENOVATION, A SUGGESTION PRESENTED WAS THE POSSISILTY OF DOING THE ALLEY PROJECTS THIS SUMMER AND THEN WAIT UNTIL FALL TO DO THE SQUARE RENOVATION, MR, STEINER NOTED THAT ONCE A CONTRACTOR IS ON BOARD WE CAN ASK WHAT CAN BE DONE BY MAY 31 . MR, TAYLOR EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE WORK AFFECTING BUSINESSES THIS SUMMER. HE 3UGOESTED JUST DOING SOME KIND OF LANDSCAPING TO GET THROUGH THE SUMMER. THERE WERE COMMENTS FROM BOAROMEMBERS ABOUT LANDSCAPING IN OLD TOWN SQUARE AND HOW THAT MIGHT BE ACCOMPLISHED. MR. WOLFS, MOVED TO APPROVE INCREASING THE BID AMOUNT UP TO $2.4 MILLION, SECONDED BY MR, TAYLOR AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. IGA AND DBA MR. STEINER STATED THAT TO PERFORM THE CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE ALLEYS, THE CITY AND DDA AGREEMENTS NEED TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT GRANTING PERMISSION TO EACH TO ACCESS AND CONSTRUCT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ALLEYS AND OLD TOWN SQUARE. THE DRAFT AGREEMENT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET. BOARD ACTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO SIGN THE DOCUMENT IS NEEDED. MR. WOLFE MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO SIGN THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT SUBJECT TO MINOR CHANGES. SECONDED BY MR, MEADOR$ AND PA58MO UNANIMOUSLY. ODA MINUTES PAGE 4 APRIL 7, 2005 OTHER CITY MANAGER, DARIN ATTESERRY• STATED ON BEHALF OF THE CITY HE WANTED TO THANK ANY BUSINESS OF THE BOAROMENBERS WHO HAD INDIVIDUALLY WORKED ON THE ELECTION ISSUES. HE THANKED THE BOARD FOR THE RESOLUTIONS PASSED ON THE GROCERY TAX APPEAL AND THE PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT ISSUE. FINANCIAL CONSULTANT - MR. STEINER STATED HE WOULD LIKE PERMISSION FROM THE BOARD TO HIRE A FINANCIAL CONSULTANT TO DEVELOP A FINANCIAL BUSINESS PLAN FOR THE DDA. MR. HEWITT MOVED TO APPROVE MONEY NOT TO EXCEED $5000 TO HIRE A FINANCIAL CONSULTANT TO DEVELOP A FINANCIAL BUSINESS PLAN. SECONDED BY MR. STROUD AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. BRAYTON INSURANCE - MS. BRAYTON ANNOUNCED THAT SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAD SOLD THEIR INTEREST IN BRAYTON INSURANCE AS OF APRIL 1. 2005. BECAUSE SHE NO LONGER OWNS A BUSINESS IN THE DDA DISTRICT, SHE WILL NO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE TO BE ON THE DDA BOARD. SHE STATED HER TIME ON THE BOARD HAD BEEN A HIGHLIGHT OF HER WORKING LIFE. MR., STEINER STATED SHE. WOULD SIT ON THE BOARD UNTIL A REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN CHOSEN. BILL BERTSCHY WILL ALSO BE GOING OFF THE BOARD AS OF APRIL 19, 2005. CRY COUNCIL WILL BE CHOOSING REPLACEMENTS FOR BOTH BOARD POSITIONS. FARMER'S MARKET - MR. STEINER STATED THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY CSU ExTENBION (ROBERTA TOLAN) TO MOVE THE FARMER'S MARKET TO MOUNTAIN AVENUE BETWEEN COLLEGE AND MASON HAD BEEN DENIED. IT HAD BEEN DENIED BECAUSE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT STATED CLOSING THAT STREET FOR 1 5 SATURDAYS IN THE SUMMER WOULD BE AN ISSUE, HE WENT ON TO NOTE THAT MS. TOLAN AND CSU EXTENSION ARE APPEALING THE DECISION. HE STATED THE APPEAL WOULD BE HEARD ON MONDAY APRIL I AT 1 1 :30 A.M. HE ENCOURAGED THE BOARD TO ATTEND IN SUPPORT OF THE APPEAL. ADJOURN THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:25 A.M.