HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Development Authority - Minutes - 05/01/1997DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Regular Directors' Meeting
MINUTES OF MAY 1, 1997
REGULAR MEETING
The Board of Directors of the Downtown Development Authority
met in regular session at 7:30 a.m., May 1, 1997 in the
Third Floor Conference Room at 201 South College Avenue, One
West Art Center.
PRESENT There were present:
Stephen Slezak, Chair presiding
Bonnie Bixler Szidon, Vice Chair
Mary Brayton, Secretary
Carey Hewitt, Treasurer
Jason Meadors
Chuck Wanner
Kermit Allard
Greg Belcher
Absent:
Bill Attwooll
Lucia Liley, Counsel
Staffs
Chip Steiner, Consultant
Anne Garrison
Guests:
Bud Frick, Rick Goodale, Jay Hardy, Andy Miscio
CALL TO ORDER Mr. Slezak called the meeting to order, and entertained a
motion to approve the minutes of April 3, 1997. Mr. Meadors
moved to approve the minutes as written, this was seconded
by Mr. Belcher and approved unanimously.
DDA MINUTES
PAGE 2
EAST SIDE In his overview, Mr. Steiner recalled that the Board's
ANNEXATION introduction to this project was when it first proposed a
name, which included the words, "Town Center."
The proposal comprises 360,000 sq ft which includes a Wal
Mart, Supermarket and Home Depot, together with other retail
stores and restaurants. In addition, Scott MacFadden is
slated to build 165 units of affordable housing. The total
investment should reach eighteen million dollars.
Analyses indicate that while such a project can have a short
term negative impact on small businesses, in the long run
there is usually a rebound. While the residential portion
meets some of the long time goals of the DDA, the impact of
the rest of the project is unknown. The options are to
fight it, remain neutral or capitalize on it to benefit the
downtown. It may be possible to resurrect the rubber
wheeled trolley, or leverage some form of linking shuttle
between this point and hotels or the downtown.
Mr. Steiner advised annexation thus deriving $200,000 to
$400,000 annually and possibly more from tax increment, to
be used for the core area of the district and the Poudre
River.
In the discussion which followed concerning the pros and
cons of annexation, Mr. Slezak inquired if annexation should
occur prior to approval, and would it be more difficult
later on? Mr. Allard cautioned that no tax increment would
be derived if the site were annexed after the improvements
were built.
Ms. Brayton then made a motion to pursue annexation of the
Wal Mart project into the DDA district, together with
adjoining property owners, and any connecting areas
surrounding the property. This was seconded by Ms. Szidon.
Prior to the vote it was clarified that while DDA would not
oppose this project, it would not support it financially.
Ms. Szidon also urged that DDA pursue the idea of the
trolley as a shuttle, so that the Wal Mart parking
facilities could be more fully utilized. The Board then
voted unanimously to adopt the motion.
223 HOWES In introducing Mr. Miscio, Ms. Garrison recapped the
decision made by the Board in April 1996, to provide $1,000
for a curb cut at the captioned property, known as Peg's
Internet Cafe. Since the business no longer exists, Mr.
Miscio, of Miscio and Stroud requested funding for work
already completed, at what is now offices leased to the
Larimer County Sheriff. He confirmed that while the use had
changed, the owner remained the same. Mr. Meadors made a
motion to approve the request in the amount of $1,000, this
was seconded by Mr. Hewitt and carried unanimously.
JUSTICE CENTER/ Mr. Goodale reported that the Intergovernmental Agreement
PARICING GARAGE is in the hands of Lucia Liley, who has committed to have
the first draft ready within the next ten days, which will
give Me. Liley, Mr. Roy, City Attorney, and the County
Attorney some time to negotiate through it, as well as the
staff of both City and County. It should be in the hands of
the City Council, County Commissioners and DDA Board by the
second week of June.
DDA MINUTES
PAGE 3
Since agreement between the three entities will not be
complete by the time the ballot language is written, the
County has written the ballot to present a smaller garage
which will be located on Block #31. The strategy being
that if the City delays the agreement, the County will have
a proposal in place which, for them, is financially
feasible.
September 10 or 11, is the last day the ballot can be
registered. As it stands now, there are three issues=
• Jail • Justice Center • Loveland Remodel
The Justice Center will include a remodel of the existing
Courthouse and a new Sheriff's building.
There is concern about unifying Fort Collins and Loveland
and Mr. Goodale affirmed that the committee is lobbying the
Commissioners regarding these concerns. It is thought we
may be looking at a quarter of a cent sales tax for this
issue, which will be more palatable to the voters than .43
cents. The bonds would be issued for a 20 year term at
approximately 6 1/2i. Any excess tax monies collected will
be paid against the principal, and the debt retired as soon
as possible.
There was a brief discourse on whether or not retail would
be part of the parking structure. It appears most
discussion about office and retail has focused on Block #31
of Mountain Street, not on Mason Street.
Mr. Steiner addressed the issue of the number of parking
spaces now being planned, and the height of the parking
structure needed to sustain this increase. He recalled for
the Board the primary objective of the DDA and City in this
project was to leverage the Court House facility, and to
replace displaced parking. The ability to provide
additional parking is a real benefit to the City and the
central business district, but keeping a major employer in
the downtown is still the most vital task at hand.
CAMPAIGN UPDATE The campaign is on schedule. A central committee is in
place with Steve Tool and Susan Kirkpatrick as co-chairs,
and the need to draw Loveland into the campaign is being
addressed. Estes Park was unsupportive last year and
although they represent a small percentage of the vote, help
is needed to educate them as to the importance of this
project. Two attorneys, Todd Rogers and Craig Ecton have
agreed to work with the legal community, and it is planned
to ask four key groups of people, City, County, merchants
and attorneys, as well as many other organizations, to
volunteer their time. In addition, Judge Sullivan has agreed
to talk anywhere he can have an impact, and the
Commissioners too will be very visible.
Mr. Goodale reported that meeting hours logged for the month
of April were about 40, with an additional 40 hours for time
spent in other areas of the campaign. Mr. Goodale asked the
Board to provide ten names of people willing to volunteer
and fax them to him at 221-5058.
DDA MINUTES
PAGE 4
Responding to a question of what happens if the issue is
defeated again this year. Mr. Goodale provided the
following answer:
Since it is mandated that adequate facilities be provided,
the Judicial System can and probably would sue the County.
Since the County lacks funds to build them without shutting
down many of the governmental agencies and services, it
would then go to court. The judge would uphold the mandate
and require them to be built, and the mill levy would be
raised accordingly to pay for the new facilities.
OTHER BUSINESS • Bill Attwooll's letter to the Chair was discussed.
Concern was expressed regarding his absenteeism, but Mr.
Attwooll was also lauded for his valuable input and
expertise. The Board trusts that if the decision is made to
step down, that Mr. Attwooll will consider serving again at
a later date.
• Aller•Lingle Architects have been retained by the City to
conduct a site and financial feasibility analysis to develop
a multi -modal transit center in the central business
district. Their letter requested DDA Board input for their
study, the results of which are to be presented to City
Council in late summer.
ADJOURN There being no further business the meeting adjourned at
9:15 a.m.
Mary Brayton, Secretary