Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency Commission

AGENDA Thursday, November 3, 2022 - 4:00 P.M. The special meeting of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Commission will be held in the Executive Conference Room, 800 Municipal Dr., Farmington, NM 1. Meeting Called To Order 2. Approval of the September 20, 2022 Meeting Minutes 3. Animas Area / Healthcare District Plan Update 4. Main Street Christmas Lighting Update 5. Consideration of the USEPA 2022 Brownfields Grant Application 6. Presentation and Possible Recommendation for MRA Incentives for Citizens Bank 7. Approval of the 2022 MainStreet Annual Workplan 8. Main Street Advisory Board Business a. Staff Update – Karen Lupton i. Upcoming Events and Trainings 9. City Staff Updates – (Warren Unsicker) 10. Business From: a. Floor b. Chair c. Members d. Staff 11. Next Meeting – November 15, 2022 12. Adjournment ATTENTION PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: If you plan to attend the virtual meeting and will need an auxiliary aid or service, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 599-1101 prior to the meeting so that arrangements can be made.  MINUTES Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency Board of Commissioners – September 20, 2022 Held in the Executive Conference Room at 800 Municipal Dr., Farmington NM Members Present: Jill Tanis – Chair Doug Dykeman – Vice Chair Elizabeth McNally – Commissioner John McNeill, D.D.S. – Commissioner, Telephonically Members Absent: None Staff Present: Warren Unsicker Karen Lupton Shaña Reeves Staff Absent: Julie Baird Tami Spencer Others Present: Monica Schultz Paul Martin 1. Call to Order Chair Tanis called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m., Chair Tanis, Vice Chair Dykeman, and Commissioners McNally and McNeill (telephonically) in attendance. There being a quorum the following proceedings were duly had and taken. 2. Approval of the August 16, 2022 Minutes A motion was made by Commissioner McNeill and seconded by Commissioner McNally to approve the minutes of August 16, 2022, and upon voice vote, the motion carried unanimously 4-0. 3. Presentation and possible recommendation for MRA incentives for the Chile Pod expansion Warren Unsicker presented to the Commission the Chile Pod’s MRA incentives application. The application is for incentives is to renovate an already acquired facility at 1  119 W. Main St. This is an old building with unique issues that need to meet city codes to be used as a restaurant. This expansion will facilitate the larger numbers of patrons who would like to eat at this establishment; it would add space for storage and additional kitchen space. The benefit to the City would be:  Additional 3,106 sq. ft. of restaurant space downtown  Upwards of $286k in total proposed renovations  An additional $176k in equipment/expenses (between $460k-500k depending on final expenses)  7-10 additional staff to accommodate the additional facility  $544,703 in wages annually ($182,040 for new hires)  $125,000 in GRT to be remitted annually ($16,857 of which will be new GRT) Monica Schultz, Chile Pod owner, is requesting $205k to go toward the facility fixtures that will be renovated and installed, which would stay with the building. This would be used for plumbing, electrical, vent hood and fire suppression, full HVAC, leveling of the floors to meet ADA standards, and fire doors. This was estimated at $286k plus. Chair Tanis asked if they would be expanding their outside seating area. Ms. Schultz does not think they would be expanding their outdoor seating; she is planning to use that space as the exit door for the restaurant. Chair Tanis also wanted to know if the Chile Pod had a liquor license. Ms. Schultz replied she does have a license allowing her to serve spirits (beer and wine). Commissioner McNeill asked how many additional tables this would add. Ms. Schultz could not give a table number, but it would add 99 more seats. Commissioner McNeill also wanted to know if they would be expanding the kitchen. Ms. Schultz replied it would have its own freestanding full kitchen. Commissioner McNeill asked Mr. Unsicker where the incentive funds would be coming from. Mr. Unsicker replied the funds come from the revenue of the sale of the property. The property was donated to the City, so the income from the purchase and was held by the City for future investment in downtown. Chair Tanis asked when they thought the expansion would be completed. Ms. Schultz was hoping for completion in spring 2023. Staff Recommendation: It is staff’s recommendation that the MRA Commission recommend to council the award of the $205,000 in incentive due to the significant barriers presented to renovate the facility, the additional jobs it will create and the additional draw of customers to the Downtown core that is in accordance with the mission of the MRA. Commissioner McNeill made a motion that the MRA Commission whole heartedly endorses and supports the approval of incentive funds and recommends the City Council provide a minimum of $205K in funds to improve the downtown corridor with the improvement of this facility. Commissioner Dykeman seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously 4-0. 4. Animas Area/Healthcare District Plan Update 2  Mr. Unsicker reported the City is in the process of formulating a committee with representatives from staff, the Commission and members of the Animas District area. He stated as soon as they have conformation from those invited to sit on the committee, they would be setting up dates for meetings and public input sessions. 5. Main Street Advisory Board Business – Karen Lupton Ms. Lupton presented the new Main Street America New Accreditation Standards Overview. Ms. Lupton explained they streamlined the 10 standards down to six standards. These are the new standards used to evaluate the Main St. Program overall. This is what we will be basing our annual accreditation report on. 3  Ms. Lupton added, the City would be having their First Annual Southwest Apple & Chile Fest, along with the Art Walk that will be September 30, 2022 through October 1, 2022 The Chile Cook-off will on Saturday, October 1, 2022. Makers Market will be on Thursday as usual, an additional Makers Market on Friday. Boo Palooza will be on Monday, October 31, 2022. Thanksgiving weekend at the end of November will be Small Business Saturday and an Art Walk. Parks and Rec will host the Turkey Trot mid-November, and then the Christmas Parade and the Downtown Christmas Tree lighting will be held the end of December. The 4 x 4 event was held September 19, 2022, it was very well attended. The Cars and Canvas event was also this last week. 6. City Staff Updates – Warren Unsicker Downtown has had a lot of activity, people are interested in using downtown as a venue. Totah Theater is nearing completion; we are just waiting for a few final pieces. A new skate shop has opened; Locke Street Eats continues to hold events that are well attended. Chair Tanis asked about Art in the Alley. Ms. Lupton replied that is run by the New Mexico Arts Council. 7. Business From Floor – There was no business from the Floor. Chair – Chair Tanis thanked Shaña Reeves, PRCA Director for the explanation on the parade situation at the last meeting. Members – Update on the Three Rivers Estates project, by Commissioner McNally. Commission McNally met with the administrator, they are looking to open in mid November. They anticipate opening with a 50% occupancy, and feel in a few months the will be up to 80% occupancy. They will also have 50 – 60 new employees. They will be moving to the next phase to build and independent living facility here in Farmington and will be building another facility in Durango Colorado. Commissioner McNeill asked Mr. Unsicker if he had an amount that is in the TIF funds with the County. Mr. Unsicker replied there was about $15k or so. Commissioner McNeill also asked if Mr. Unsicker had an update on the downtown Christmas decorations and the funding for that project. Mr. Unsicker replied that he did not, but he would find out for the next MRA meeting. Commissioner McNeill informed Mr. Unsicker he would like to find out who the new CEO for San Juan Regional Medial Center is and get in contact with them as a Stakeholder to attend the Animas Area/Healthcare District Plan public input meeting Staff – None. 4 8. Adjournment A motion was made by Vice Chair Dykeman and seconded by Commissioner McNally to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously 4-0. The Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency meeting was adjourned at 5:08 p.m. ____________________________ ____________________________ Jill Tanis Tami Spencer Chair Administrative Assistant 5 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK 6