Community Development Authority (CDA)

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES VILLAGE OF EAST TROY March 20, 2019 Page 1 of 3 Call Meeting to Order Roll Call Jim Holm called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Present: Alan Boyes, Jim Holm, Mary Nicoson, Erin Seaverson, Benny Stichmann, Scott Seager (arrived at 4:02 p.m.) Excused: Tony LaShay Others: Eileen Suhm, Tanya Fonseca (Graef) Public Comment None. Approval of Minutes Minutes dated February 27, 2019 Motion by Alan Boyes, second by Benny Stichmann to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried. Old Business New Business 1. Continue Discussion of Goals and Priorities a. Identify properties for development/redevelopment Tanya Fonseca shared the map they had drafted with input from the last meeting. Scott Seager joined the meeting. As the map was reviewed discussion included: • Whether there are other ways to help businesses in this area. Benny Stichmann gave the example of the new sidewalk dining allowed on the Square and questioned if we could reach out to some of the restaurants within the corridor who do not have outside seating and assist them with an approval processes if this was something they desired. • Could the CDA be the coordinating body in securing funds from businesses that would donate funds and whether the Village would purchase trees, or find a supplier, and put names of donors on the trees. This could be something donated in memory of somebody or donated by a company. o Along with the discussion of obtaining funding, there was also discussion regarding renaming a road or signs for larger donors. • Getting in front of county and state executives to get the roads on the agenda. Highway ES and Highway 20.  COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES VILLAGE OF EAST TROY March 20, 2019 Page 2 of 3 o Eileen Suhm advised the last update was Highway ES is tentatively slated for reconstruction in 2021. o Inviting Senator Nass and Representative Tyler August to attend a future meeting • Contacting realtors with property for sale on Main Street and determining whether there are ways the CDA can assist • Contacting the owners of the mobile home park • Concerns regarding the railroad not being visible or leveraged. Discussion included: o Directional signage in the municipal parking lot used by the railroad identifying other attractions o Similar directional signage and attraction information on the Square o Signage outside of Alpine (This may not be allowed any longer. It was discussed that existing signage may be grandfathered) o Creating brochures regarding attractions for the airport o It was discussed that the Chamber has been identified as the tourism entity for the Village’s room tax. Discussed possibly inviting Vanessa Lenz to a meeting regarding these topics. After discussion of the above topics, the CDA decided to send a letter to businesses, residents and tenants along the Main Street Corridor, east of the Square to Highway 20 accompanied by a survey. • Letters will include a survey with a self-addressed, stamped envelope • An e-mail account will be established to receive responses as well • The purpose of the letter will be to communicate that the new CDA has been established and is available to reach out to, to notify individuals the main street corridor east of the Square to Highway 20 has been identified as a priority for the CDA and seek feedback through a survey. o The survey will ask what improvements they would like to see in the corridor, what type of businesses uses are desired, and inquire whether the responder would like to attend a CDA meeting or meet individually with a representative of the CDA. • Letters will be sent out next week, with responses due prior to the next meeting so they can be reviewed at the next meeting. The CDA further discussed public outreach and putting something in a future Village newsletter asking the whole community what they would like addressed. 2. Update and discussion regarding CDBG revolving loan funds Eileen Suhm reviewed a memo to the CDA regarding the CDBG funds. Currently, cash on hand is $61,670.18 with loans receivable of $233,840.56. Discussed one loan will be paid in full fall of 2019 and another will not be paid in full until July 2025. She advised that the  COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES VILLAGE OF EAST TROY March 20, 2019 Page 3 of 3 Village can retain the funds due to the State closure of the program and the fact that the grant funds were received by the Village prior to 1992. There are no restrictions on how the funds can be spent. CDA members discussed the amount of funds currently available and concerns that it is not a lot funding. They also discussed the benefits of retaining the funds for some sort of loan program. Eileen Suhm advised there are also some funds that were set aside for façade grants or something of that nature and she would provide a report on that amount at a future meeting. In addition, she noted the CDA can make recommendations for funding to the Village Board during budget time. This could also include recommendations for capital projects. The next meeting is scheduled for April 24 at 4:00 p.m. Adjourn Motion by Benny Stichmann, second by Alan Boyes to adjourn at 5:35 p.m. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, Eileen Suhm Village Administrator CDA Executive Director