Redevelopment Agency Special

CITY OF HENDERSON REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES August 18, 2021 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Debra March called the Redevelopment Agency Meeting to order at 3:31 p.m., in the Mayor and Council Boardroom, 240 South Water Street, Henderson, Nevada 89015. Chairman March announced due to the termination of the State of Nevada Executive Department Declaration of Emergency Directive 006 as of May 31, 2021, in-person attendance will be allowed consistent with CDC guidelines and to please check www.cdc.gov for additional information. To make it easier for residents to voice their comments, there will be two public comment periods. There will be one at the beginning of the meeting, designated for comments related to items on the agenda, and one at the end of the meeting, for general public comment. Chairman March said residents may use the WebEx link to speak live to the Agency or comment in person and the meeting is being video recorded and streamed live to the Internet. II. CONFIRMATION OF POSTING The Secretary confirmed the Redevelopment Agency Meeting had been noticed in compliance with the Nevada Open Meeting Law. III. ROLL CALL Present and responding to roll call were the following: Debra March, Chair John F. Marz, Member Michelle Romero, Member Dan K. Shaw, Member Dan H. Stewart, Member Absent: None Staff Present: Jose Luis Valdez, Secretary Richard Derrick, Executive Director/CEO Nicholas Vaskov, General Counsel Bethany Sanchez, Assistant City Attorney III Anthony Molloy, Redevelopment Manager Redevelopment Agency Special Meeting Page 2 of 7 Wednesday, August 18, 2021 – Draft Minutes Jonathon Nunes, Manager of Council and Commission Services April Parra, Admin. Deputy City Clerk Daniel Croy, Deputy City Clerk Tiffany Reardon, Redevelopment Communications Specialist MaryAnne Cruzado, Redevelopment Program Specialist IV. PUBLIC COMMENT (Minutes/Discussion) Samantha Bonneville, 89015, representing Gold Mine Tavern, said the assistance provided by the Redevelopment Agency has helped make her business viable, and suggested small businesses remain eligible for grants or loans from the Agency. Windom Kinsey, 89015, representing TSK Architects, suggested the process for the Redevelopment Grant Program incorporate an up-front vetting process, requesting qualifications before any funding has been obtained by a potential grant recipient. Samantha Parker Burns, 89015, representing Emerald Island Casino, said the City should not consider projects on Water Street complete as there are still empty storefronts and vacant development sites. V. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA (For Possible Action) (Motion) Member Dan H. Stewart moved to accept the agenda, as presented. The roll call vote favoring passage was: Those voting aye: Chairman Debra March, Member John Marz, Member Michelle Romero, Member Dan Shaw, Member Dan Stewart. Those voting nay: (None). Those absent: (None). Those abstaining: (None). Result: Pass. Redevelopment Agency Special Meeting Page 3 of 7 Wednesday, August 18, 2021 – Draft Minutes VI. ITEMS OF BUSINESS 1 WELCOME AND OVERVIEW OF AGENDA CMTS NUMBER(S): N/A REDEVELOPMENT Redevelopment Manager, Anthony Molloy, to welcome Redevelopment Agency Board members and provide an overview of the agenda. (Minutes/Discussion) Anthony Molloy, Redevelopment Manager, welcomed those in attendance and provided an overview of the items on the agenda. 2 BIANNUAL UPDATES CMTS NUMBER(S): N/A REDEVELOPMENT Redevelopment Manager, Anthony Molloy, will provide updates to the Agency regarding actions that have been taken by the Agency to address the priorities that were established in the 2019 workshop. (Minutes/Discussion) Anthony Molloy, Redevelopment Manager, presented a summary of this item providing samples of marketing material used to promote the Water Street District; listing notable businesses and people associated with the District; completed and on-going projects the Agency has invested in; and upcoming food, beverage, and housing projects. 3 REVIEW OF CURRENT PROGRAMS AND IMPACT CMTS NUMBER(S): N/A REDEVELOPMENT Redevelopment Manager, Anthony Molloy, will provide an overview of the current programs that are offered by the Redevelopment Agency, eligibility criteria, and the community impact that has been made leveraging Agency funds. (Minutes/Discussion) Anthony Molloy, Redevelopment Manager, presented a summary of this item listing current incentive programs offered by the Agency and the associated qualifying criteria. Redevelopment Agency Special Meeting Page 4 of 7 Wednesday, August 18, 2021 – Draft Minutes 4 REVIEW OF BEST PRACTICES IN REDEVELOPMENT CMTS NUMBER(S): N/A REDEVELOPMENT Redevelopment Manager Anthony Molloy will provide information to the Agency Board on best practices in the area of Redevelopment. (Minutes/Discussion) Anthony Molloy, Redevelopment Manager, presented a summary of this item, listing American Planning Association best practices, Redevelopment priorities, and a comparison between the City of Henderson Redevelopment Agency and sixty communities across the United States. Mr. Molloy confirmed comments made by Mayor March regarding an increase in both public and private investment on Water Street since the completion of the Lifeguard Arena project. In response to a question from Member Shaw regarding the number of businesses that have recently closed, Mr. Molloy said of the 37 businesses the City invested in, only one business in the Water Street Redevelopment area has closed. Member Romero stated the City has invested significant resources into the Water Street Redevelopment area, but the Eastside area along Boulder Highway has continued to decline. Mr. Molloy stated developers have expressed no significant interest in Boulder Highway to the Agency, but said outreach has been attempted as part of the Eastside Investment Strategy. Responding to questions from Member Shaw regarding job types and housing costs in the Downtown Redevelopment District, Mr. Molloy stated the majority of the jobs in the redevelopment area are in the service industry, and no grants have been awarded to residential properties in the Downtown Redevelopment District. Redevelopment Agency Special Meeting Page 5 of 7 Wednesday, August 18, 2021 – Draft Minutes 5 OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES FOR FY22-FY24 CMTS NUMBER(S): N/A REDEVELOPMENT Redevelopment Manager, Anthony Molloy, will provide an overview of potential changes that could be made to the existing Redevelopment Agency Grant Programs and then lead a discussion with members of the Agency to determine potential changes and/or additions to the existing grant programs, the addition of any new grant programs, and establish operation priorities for FY22-FY24 using Redevelopment Agency funds. (Minutes/Discussion) Anthony Molloy, Redevelopment Manager, presented a summary of this item explaining the Reimagined Boulder Highway Project will transform Boulder Highway into a transit corridor, and the Eastside Investment strategy is determining how to best stimulate investment into areas along Boulder Highway. In response to a question from Member Stewart regarding the timeline for the Boulder Highway Reimagined project, Robert Herr, Chief Infrastructure Officer/Assistant City Manager, stated project design is expected to take 18 months and construction will take an additional 12 to 18 months. He said that project funding will be supplemented by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada and the Nevada Department of Transportation. Responding to questions from Members Marz, Shaw, and Stewart regarding holding Redevelopment grants until changes to right-of-way, property size and positioning, and property improvements brought about by the Boulder Highway project are confirmed, Mr. Herr stated it may be advisable to review the final plans for the project. Members Marz and Shaw discussed modifying qualifications and justifications for City-issued funding for specific businesses to encourage development and investment rather than focusing solely on redevelopment in the Water Street and Eastside Districts, focusing on professional service businesses to bring workers who can afford the residences being built in the Redevelopment Area. Member Romero discussed developing new programs to supplement the Redevelopment Program as the Boulder Highway and Eastside projects take shape to ensure the City is proactive rather than reactive in investing in development. Member Marz stated the priorities for the Agency should be improving the entirety of Water Street and Lake Mead Parkway. Redevelopment Agency Special Meeting Page 6 of 7 Wednesday, August 18, 2021 – Draft Minutes Member Shaw concurred with the comments made by Member Marz and suggested Sunset and Green Valley Parkway be established as a new Redevelopment District. Richard Derrick, Executive Director/CEO, suggested the Agency look at providing assistance to ensure the continued viability of the Galleria Mall area and The District at Green Valley Ranch. Chair Debra March stated all projects of the Agency should focus on ensuring access by public transit commuters. Member Romero stated the direction being given by the Membership is for the Agency to update the Downtown Investment Strategy, to update the Eastside Investment Strategy, to review the Sunset Way area to determine if being classified as a Redevelopment Area is appropriate, to research how to best attract significant investment and projects in the listed areas, and to work with City Management and Leadership to determine partnership opportunities for the City with developers and investors. In her closing remarks, Chair March summarized the direction being provided as giving a focus on the entrance to Water Street; arts and culture projects to bring visitors; finding ways to use redevelopment tools to address blight; increasing private sector investment in the Eastside area, Boulder Highway, and Lake Mead Parkway; looking at areas for investment in the Eastside; cleaning-up the aesthetics of the corridor; helping businesses reinvest in their properties; attracting catalyst projects; exploring, expanding or adding redevelopment areas; and attracting higher paying jobs through a potential technology corridor. VII. CHAIRMAN\MEMBER COMMENTS Member Romero thanked staff of the Redevelopment Agency for their work in contributing to the success and revitalization of Water Street. Redevelopment Agency Special Meeting Page 7 of 7 Wednesday, August 18, 2021 – Draft Minutes VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT (Minutes/Discussion) Samantha Bonneville, 89015, representing Gold Mine Tavern, said additional parking options should be explored for the existing businesses on Water Street and asked the Agency not to forget about small businesses. Windom Kinsey, 89015, representing TSK Architects, concurred with the comments made by Ms. Bonneville regarding parking. He suggested the Agency not think of Water Street as a finished project, and recommended the Agency seek out professional businesses to supplement the existing service industry businesses on Water Street. IX. ADJOURNMENT (Minutes/Discussion) There being no further business to come before the Redevelopment Agency, Chairman March, in concurrence with the Redevelopment Agency, adjourned the Redevelopment Agency Meeting at 4:55 p.m. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 21st DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2021. ______________________ Debra March Chairman ATTEST: _____________________ Jose Luis Valdez, CMC Secretary