Business Improvement District

Minutes Gallup Business Improvement District Meeting of Board of Directors, October 17, 2019, 3 PM Rico Motors Call to order – 3:04 PM Attendance – Roll call. Present: L.Bonaguidi, S. Gurley, A. Biava, A. Baca, M. Menapace, M. Ustick. Excused absence: J. Rich. Absent: JM DeYoung Motion to approve Agenda: S. Gurley; 2nd: M. Menapace. Unanimous Approval Motion to approve Minutes of August 15, 2019 meeting: S. Gurley; 2nd: M. Menapace. Unanimously approved September 19 meeting - no Minutes. Meeting was not held for lack of a quorum. Motion to approve amended Minutes of July 18, 2019 meeting: S. Gurley; 2nd: M. Menapace. Unanimously approved. Motion to approve two Monthly Financial Reports: August 2019 and September 2019: A. Biava; 2nd: S. Gurley. Unanimously approved. Guests: 1. Rose Eason, Executive Director gallupARTS – discussion of sign for gallupARTS, ART 123. Sign will be executed after surface has been prepped. Cost for preparing surface = $2166. Cost for actual sign (lettering) = $595.72. Voting items: Motion to approve Healing Hands sign grant application. Sign has been installed. Cost of sign - $1025.00. BID reimbursement (75%) = $768.75. Motion to approve: S. Gurley; 2nd: M. Menapace. Unanimously approved. Motion to vote on personnel matter, related to the BID Executive Director, Pursuant to Section 10-15-1-H (2) of the New Mexico Open Meetings Act, following up on closed session discussion during August BID regular Board meeting. L. Bonaguidi reported that the only item discussed during the closed meeting was the BID Executive Director. S. Gurley stated that Executive Director shall send out a quarterly newsletter to property owners and meet more frequently with BID property owners. Motion to retain Francis Bee as Executive Director, provide a $1500. bonus and a 3% salary increase, effective July 1, 2019 (beginning of fiscal year): S. Gurley; 2nd: M. Menapace. Unanimously approved. Motion to participate with GGEDC, City of Gallup, Gallup McKinley Chamber, Gallup MainStreet and gallupARTS on Gallup Retail Attraction Initiative. GGEDC wants BID to participate in most aspects of the current Retail Attraction Initiative. That includes working with Place Dynamics, which City of Gallup has hired to do a thorough retail analysis of the Gallup area; and participating with the committee members to represent Gallup during the 2020 RECON trade show in Las Vegas NV in an effort to meet best potential prospects to open retail locations in Gallup. Motion to approve working with GGEDC and Retail Attraction Committee and to attend the 2020 RECON: A. Biava; 2nd: S. Gurley, with comment that this effort is a good way to inform the public in Gallup that the local organizations do work together toward the same common goal, which is to attract business and retail back into the Gallup area and into the downtown business area. Unanimously approved. Discussion items: Discuss plans to fund, for existing buildings within the BID District, improvements to: 1. façade and interior, 2. sidewalks, 3. vacant second floor space, 4. provide guidance on how to bring a space up to code. Goal is creation of a fund that will be larger than the fund currently used for improvements that will increase the rate of progress within Gallup’s downtown commercial district. Overview of sample (for example only) application forms a property owner would have to fill out in order to apply for funds under a BID program Executive Director asked Board for guidance: permission to continue the dialogue with local banks, BID CPA and attorney to refine the program parameters. Board wishes to go ahead with this research and planning phase, to be reported on monthly. L. Bonaguidi reminded the Board that Downtown Gallup Commercial District has been declared a federal Historic District, which opens up access to tax credit programs. Coal Avenue Commons project status update: City of Gallup: M. Ustick reported that the Coal Avenue Commons project has been modified to fit financial challenges. The project will be “phased”. The first phase will be the walkway and Coal from 2nd to 3rd Street. That is necessary because the water drainage and electrical aspects of the project are concentrated there. Completing the first phase will provide proof (pictures) to use in further fund seeking efforts. It will be necessary to work hard to secure funds during the upcoming 2020 NM Legislative Session. Comprehensive Housing Study update: City of Gallup: M. Ustick reported that the Housing study RFP is out. Study is designed to match housing with future jobs (residents) that will be living in Gallup once the Logistics Park and other projects are completed – match income levels with types of housing. Discuss sponsorship for Gallup Main Street Arts and Cultural District for FY 20. Tabled to November meeting after GMSACD have presented to BID Board. Other discussion. None. Alley Improvement project update: M. Ustick reported that the underground fiber communication lines work has begun. Work by the electrical cable contractors will depend on how many blocks are worked on at one time. It is hard to get contractors interested if the work only encompasses one block. Underground water, sewer and electric will be done first. Then, in Spring of 2020, work on the alley surface/pavers/drainage. Reports – August 19 – Meeting with Tony Gonzales, CPA to review Gallup BID’s potential BID Façade Improvement program August 20 – Meeting with Robyne Beaubien, NM Main Street, Kara Smith, GMSACD and Rose Eason to discuss development of a unique “brand” for downtown Gallup August 21 – Meeting with Rose Eason to discuss BID sign grant opportunity of a new sign on front of Gallery 123/gallupARTS August 26 – Meeting with Sherman McCorkle in Albuquerque to discuss potential investment opportunities in Gallup August 26 – Meeting with Jacqueline Martinez, Senior Analyst, NM LFC, to discuss funding ideas for downtown Gallup sidewalk replacement program. September 4 - GGEDC meeting to launch the Industrial Workforce Training Program September 5 – BID Executive Committee meeting September 11 – Meeting with Bruce Armstrong, Economic Development Director, GGEDC September 19 – BID Board regular monthly meeting cancelled – lack of quorum September 23 – telephone meeting with owner of 105 W. Coal September 24 – Meeting with Suzanne Hammons, Gallup Theater Company September 24 – GGEDC hosted meeting on Retail recruitment and 2020 RECON conference September 25 – Meeting with Jeff Kiely October 2 – Meeting with Kara Smith, GMSACD and Rose Eason, gallupARTS October 8 – Meeting - BID Executive Committee October 9 – Meeting with Bruce Armstrong, GGEDC October 10 – Meeting with Robyne Beaubien, NM Main Street consultant, Kara Smith, Tiffany Benson, Rhonda Quintana, Rose Eason for downtown branding ideas Date of next BID Board meeting – November 21, 2019, 3 pm, at Rico Motors Motion to adjourn