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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Development Authority - Minutes - 08/09/2007DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Regular Directors' Meeting The Board of Directors of the Downtown Development Authority met in Regular Session at 7:30 a.m, on August 9, 2007 in the Meeting Room at Home State Bank located at 303 East Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524. PRESENT George Brelig; Carey Hewitt; Kim Jordan; Kelly Ohlson; Kathay Rennels; William Sears; Patty Spencer; Steve Taylor; Jack Wolfe ABSENT McCabe Callahan STAFF Chip Steiner, DDA Executive Director; Maggie Hirko, Beet Street Staff; Carol Bennis, Beet Street, Executive Director; Kathy Cardona, DDA Staff GUESTS INCLUDED Darin Atteberry, City Manager; Mike Jensen, Fort Collins Real Estate; Blue Hovatter, citizen at large; Jean Lamm, Beet Street; Paul Mills, Russell & Mills Studios; Joshua Liley, Liley, Rogers, & Martell; Sally Lee, The Group; Chuck Seest, City Finance Director; Ty Smith; Carroll Alsbur, 151 S. College — Rental Property; Alyson McGee; Pete Casham CALL TO ORDER Mr. Taylor called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. He welcomed new County representative Kathay Rennels to the DDA Board. Roll call was taken. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Sears moved to approve the minutes of July 12, 2007. Seconded by Mr. Wolfe, and passed unanimously. BIG IDEAS Blue Hovatter emailed Carol Bennis a number of ideas and presented the Board with an idea that came about as part of UniverCity in the transit and mobility group along with a few others in regards to way finding in the downtown area. He would like to see small information kiosks around town that are connected to Front Range Internet's wireless network where people could find directions, purchase tickets, or just search the internet. He called it Google Fort Collins and suggested that they might be interested working with the "best place to live in America". He sees the kiosks placed at parking garages, the Transit Center, Armstrong Hotel and expanding with the Mason Corridor. The City is working on way finding from I-25 into Old Town and this would mesh with that. Darin Atteberry and Carol Bennis have copies of the information. Board members agreed this was a great idea. DDA Minutes August 9, 2007 Page12 BEETSTREET Carol Bennis, Executive Director of Beet Street, provided updates on Beet Street. Jack Wolfe and George Brelig spoke about their trip to Chautauqua with Board and staff. Chip Steiner will send out the 2008 Chautauqua agenda when it is available in order to plan for a trip next year. Interviews continue for a programming Director, but they are working with an independent contractor from Boulder in the interim. The Beet Street launch event is scheduled for Wednesday, September 19, 2007. The plan is to erect an enormous tent in Civic Center Park. After meeting with Marty Merkley, the VP of Programming at Chautauqua, Beet Street will focus on hosting events predominantly on Wednesday evenings. Ms. Bennis is still taking recommendations for advisory councils and hopes those will start meeting by the end of September. BRENDLE GROUP PROPOSAL Matt Robenalt, DDA Project Manager, contacted The Brendle Group regarding a green building program far the DDA. It is a proposal to do research in other green building programs across the country. It would be tied to the City's "integrated design assistance program" that provides $100K in funds for buildings that meet energy thresholds. DDA could match City funding up to that $100K to encourage green building principles downtown. Kelly Ohlson pointed out that the City's program is focused on energy, but green building should also include the materials, landscaping, water use, old growth products, etc. Mr. Steiner agreed that all of that should be included. The Brendle Group talks about setting up a subcommittee. Bill Sears, Kim Jordan, and George Brelig are willing to sit on that committee. Kathay Rennels mentioned that The Brendle Group sits on the Clean Energy Cluster and there is a lot of expertise on that group that the DDA could work with. Moved by Mr. Sears, seconded by Ms. Spencer: To accept The Brendle Group proposal for $5,000. The motion passed unanimously. JANITORIAL IGA WITH CITY The DDA wants to execute an intergovernmental contract for janitorial services for the kiosk. This will save $4K a year with better results. There are some technical amendments to the contract because the City doesn't want the contract to run from August to August Moved by Ms. Jordan, seconded by Mr. Hewitt: To move into an IGA with the City for janitorial services for the Old Town Square kiosk with the following amendments. 1.) The 6`s "WHEREAS" will be amended to read "the amount of Fourteen Thousand Seven Hundred and Two Dollars ($14,702)" to reflect the increased sum of money that will be given to the City by the DDA. 2.) Section I "Contribution" will be amended to reflect two separate payments from the DDA to the City. The first payment will be in the sum of $4,010 and will be delivered to the City on or before August 15, 2007. The second payment will be in the sum of $10,692 and will be delivered to the City on or before January 1, 2008. 3.) Section 3 "Termination" will be amended to reflect the two separate payments and Service Periods. 4.) A new Section will be added, titled "Term", to define the two separate Service Periods. The first Service Period will run from August 2007 through December 31, 2008. 5) A new Section will be added, titled "Subject to Appropriation", to establish that payment for the 2008 Service Period will be subject to annual appropriations. The motion passed unanimously. BUDGET PREVIEW The 2008 budget was included this month to give the board the opportunity to raise any questions. The DDA budget goes with the City budget in November. It will come back in September for approval in order to meet the city's deadlines. Kathy Cardona will make note of any changes to the budget in the September packet. Jack Wolfe would like to talk more thoroughly about the numbers and expectations for the future. Board members discussed retirement contributions for DDA and Beet Street employees. Mr. Steiner recommended not opting into Social Security, but raising contribution into ICMA to at least 7.5% for employees, There was agreement from the board and Kathy Cardona will make those changes for the September budget. If board members have further questions, they should be directed to Mr. Steiner before the September meeting. The bonding/TIF piece of the budget will be a topic of discussion at the upcoming board retreat. DDA Minutes August 9, 2007 Page13 OTHER BUSINESS Julv Sales Tax: Darin Atteberry reported that year to date sales tax figures for the DDA footprint are up 2.1 %. The Citywide sales tax figures were up 7.5% in July and 5.8% year to date. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CONTRACT Moved by Mr. Wolfe, seconded by Mr. Sears: To move to Executive Session to discuss the Executive ----- Director's Contract. This Executive Session for the purpose stated is authorized pursuant to CRS 24-6-402 (4) (1) (1). The motion passed unanimously. Moved by Mr. Wolfe, seconded by Mr. Sears: To move from Executive Session back to Regular Session. The motion passed unanimously. The board had a lengthy conversation in regards to Mr. Steiner's performance this past year. Mr. Wolfe and Mr. Taylor would like to meet with Mr. Steiner to discuss goals for next year. The board is very happy with Mr. Steiner's performance, can do attitude, excellent working relationship with staff, and his participation in UniverCity Connections, Beet Street, and TIF status efforts. Kim Jordan stated that there was discussion about conducting another market survey on salaries, but it was agreed that since one was completed last year, there would not be significant changes to require one. Moved by Mr. Wolfe, seconded by Ms, Jordan: To renew Mr. Steiner's contract for another year, revision for a 5% increase in salary and ensure the language in the agreement is consistent with the City in regards to vacation roll over. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:00 a.m. Carey Hewitt ecre