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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Development Authority - Minutes - 02/14/2008DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Regular Directors' Meeting } Jack Wolfe, Chair 495-1298 (W) Kelly Ohlson, Council Liaison 219-9814 (W) Kathay Rennels, County Liaison 498-7010(W) MINUTES of February 14, 2008 REGULAR MEETING The Board of Directors of the Downtown Development Authority met in Regular Session at 7:30 a.m. on February 14, 2008 at Home State Bank located at 303 East Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524. PRESENT George Brelig; McCabe Callahan; Kim Jordan; Ryan Keiffer; Kelly Ohlson; Kathay Rennels; William Sears; Patty Spencer; Steve Taylor; Jack Wolfe; Ellen Zibell STAFF Chip Steiner, DDA Executive Director; Matt Robenalt, DDA Project Manager; Joanna Stone, DDA Staff, Carol Bennis, Beet Street, Executive Director; Kathy Cardona, DDA Staff, Jean Lamm, Beet Street; Lucia Liley, Legal Counsel GUESTS INCLUDED Darin Atteberry, City Manager; Scott Allen, Matt Evans, Ty Smith, JJ Hannah, Fort Collins Real Estate; Blue Hovatter, Interested Citizen; David Short, DBA; Ben Manvel, City Council; Josh Guernsey, Brinkman Partners; Cari Merrill, Coloradoan; Judy Dorsey & David Wortman, The Brendle Group; Tamara Todres, FRCC; Matthew Campbell, Wolverine Publishing; Chris Murray, Assessors Office; Gary Schroeder, Fort Collins Utilities; Brianna, Neil & S. Callahan; Julie Keith; David Linder; Alex Platt & Mark Kovomy, Solar Village CALL TO ORDER Mr. Wolfe called the meeting to order at 7:35 a.m. Roll call was taken. Mr. Wolfe introduced and welcomed new board member Ellen Zibell APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Sears moved to approve the minutes of January 10, 2007. Seconded by Mr. Keiffer, and passed unanimously. BIG IDEAS Board member McCabe Callahan suggested that the DDA figure out a way to showcase green practices that are being used downtown. It would serve three purposes — inform the community; educate as to what is possible; give tools for implementation. It would tie in with a lot of programs such as Fort ZED, Beet Street and even Gallery Walk. Ms. Jordan added that it would be consistent with the desired educational component of Fort ZED. Mr. Wolfe commented that it could also tie in to a wayfmding kiosk or find a home in future expanded offices of DDA/Beet Street. BEET STREET Ms. Bennis stated that they have made a lot of headway on infrastructure projects, such as centralized calendaring and centralized ticketing. Many matters of governance have also been addressed. DDA Board Minutes February 14, 2008 Page 2 The Statement of Operation was adopted by the Beet Street Board of Directors on January 24f' and has been posted on the website. At the same meeting they also adopted a Non -Discrimination Policy. She attached the updated programming schedule for Board review and noted several upcoming events. A formal Memorandum of Understanding formalizing the DDA contract for services agreement with Beet Street is being drafted by legal counsel and will be presented at the next Board meeting. CONSENT AGENDA There were two items on the Consent Agenda: 1. Staff sought Board approval to enter into a contract for services and establish a project budget of $105,000 to rehabilitate the Old Town Square irrigation system. The funds for this project were approved in the 2004 bond for miscellaneous maintenance in the Square: 2. The Library Board of Directors voted to ask City Council to have the block that includes the Library and Museum to be annexed into the DDA district. This would allow Beet Street to conduct events in Library Park. The block is adjacent to the DDA district and there is no downside to such annexation for either the DDA or the Library. Upon approval, DDA staff will carry forward the paperwork to affect it. Moved by Ms. Jordan, seconded by Ms. Spencer: To approve the Consent Agenda. The motion passed unanimously. GREEN BUILDING CRITERIA Matt Robenalt, DDA staff, and Judy Dorsey of the Brendle Group presented a proposal to encourage and provide incentives for "green" building practices downtown. Mr. Robenalt stated that there were many challenges to this project. First of all, green building is not as main stream as we would like to think it is. There are a variety of opinions on how best to approach the matter. Then there is the philosophical question for the DDA, which traditionally invests in the exterior of buildings and a lot of green building elements are interior to the structure. He further pointed out that developing green building criteria was in may ways in keeping with DDA principles of differentiation; investing for public benefit, longevity and durability; and, visibility. The market demand for green will shift and how does the DDA want to be positioned when it does. Project rationale was presented, which included several concepts, including the idea that making green incentives would attract more green building to the area which in turn would relate to the DDA as an economic development agency. A second question related to Board support of afocused grant program, taking into account that the DDA is dependent on TIF. So far there is no hard data on increased TIF with green building and in many cases the cost of green building is higher than traditional buildings. Ms. Spencer stated that will happen in the near future and in this case the social movement is ahead of the economic movement. She also noted that it is in the DDA project criteria to consider environmental and green implications of a project. Mr. Brelig noted that studies of human performance in the work place can produce hard data with greater productivity in healthier buildings that include more daylight. Mr. Taylor stated that a grant program could help bridge the gap between what people want and what can be paid for. Mr. Wolfe cautioned that we must look at the broader picture and cannot deny a grant if there are not green design elements. For example, the Armstrong Hotel was not allowed to change to more efficient windows because of its historic designation. The third question for Board consideration was whether there was agreement with the project approach of having a green building grant as a stand alone grant, and used in conjunction with the TIF and fagade grant program. There was concern about having a simple grant program, which is a gift and does not come back Re TIF. It was also noted that it would be important to have a post project check to make sure proposals were built as funded and it would be hard to track. Also DDA has always funded exteriors and there may DDA Board Minutes February 14, 2008 Page 3 be legal issues with changing that. Another question raised was if people who had already received a facade grant could come back to the Board for more funding for added green building practices. The question of including mandatory educational signage was well received by the Board. Finally the Board discussion of the amount of a pilot grant program was tabled pending exploration of the legal issues raised by the proposal. Board discussion concluded with the realization that the next step in the process is for staff to explore the legalities of the incentive program. Mr. Steiner suggested that the value of a fagade easement could be increased as a reward for green building components. This suggestion will require further investigation by legal counsel. Gary Shroeder from Utilities noted that with the City IDAP program, the potential DDA green building criteria and Fort ZED enhancing each other, the sum could be greater than the parts. SOLAR VILLAGE Solar Village was considered by the Board in 2007 and at the time the Board agreed to a $350,000 investment and suggested if would reconsider the project if certain design improvements were made. The project has been resubmitted with a request for an additional $150,000. The additional funds are requested because of the increased green building components. There have also been changes made to the foundation and faoade, replacing some brick with CMU. The increased TIF is approximately $21,900. Mr. Steiner stated that he feels the design components have gone in the wrong direction and, though he applauded the increased energy efficiency, he recommended leaving the funding as previously allocated. Alex Platt and Mark Kovomy of Solar Village explained the design changes and added energy efficiencies. Matt Evans of Fort Collins Real Estate added that there is a lot of interest in this type of construction and people are willing to pay more for the green components. Most Board members expressed approval of the design, even with the change of materials. Board consensus was to leave the commitment as it stands, leaving open the option of the developers coming back to the Board if the DDA incentive program for green building is implemented. CORPOREX REIMBURSABLES Mr. Steiner requested the Board consider increasing the amount approved to reimburse Corporex for design and engineering work to $325,000. Under the terms of the Hotel Exclusive Negotiating Agreement the Board is currently obligated to reimburse Corporex up to $75,000, which Corporex has already spent on these services. Mr Steiner felt that amount should be increased for several reasons: they have twice renegotiated the design fee downward with Oz Architecture twice; the work so far is very thorough and exciting; the preliminary Development Review with City staff went very well. Mr. Steiner added that he felt that the original number was not realistic and too low. Last year the Board approved $500,000 for hotel pre -construction expenses. Moved by Mr. Keiffer, seconded by Mr. Sears: To increase the amount from $75,000 to $325,000 in reimbursables to Corporex. The motion passed unanimously. EXECUTIVE SESSION Moved by Ms. Jordan, seconded by Mr. Sears: To move to Executive Session to discuss staff contracts and evaluations. This Executive Session for the purpose stated is authorized pursuant to CRS 24-6-402 (4) (1) (1). The motion passed unanimously. Coming out of Executive Session, Mr. Wolfe summarized the discussion and extended Board appreciation to Matt Robenalt and Carol Bennis for the work they have done the past year. DDA Board Minutes February 14, 2008 Page 4 Moved by Mr. Keiffer, seconded by Mr. Sears: To renew employment contracts and approve a 5% salary increase for Matt Robenalt for the period of one year. The motion passed unanimously. Moved by Mr. Keiffer, seconded by Mr. Sears: To renew employment contracts and approve a 10% salary increase for Carol Bennis effective February 8, 2008 for the period of one year. The motion passed unanimously. SALES TAX UPDATE Mr. Steiner passed out the latest sales tax collection which was up 3.9% in January for December sales. ADJOURN There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m.