Downtown Development Authority

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY REGULAR SESSION MINUTES Monday, April 13, 2020 Virtual Meeting 6:30 PM Call to Order Chairman Merritt called the Zoom meeting to order at 6:35 pm after recognizing a quorum. PRESENT Board Member Victoria Jones Board Member Donald Thrower Board Member Linda Nash Board Member Katrina Fellows Board Member Brad Cox Board Member Jeremy Higginbotham Board Member Lee Merritt Approval of Agenda Motion to approve agenda made by Board Member Cox, Seconded by Board Member Fellows. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Cox, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes 1. Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes Motion to approve the December 16, 2019 Regular Meeting Minutes made by Board Member Cox, Seconded by Board Member Fellows. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Cox, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Motion to approve the December 16, 2019 Executive Session Minutes made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Cox. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Cox, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Motion to approve the February 10, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes made by Board Member Cox, Seconded by Board Member Fellows. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Cox, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Motion to approve the February 10, 2020 Executive Session Minutes made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Cox. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Cox, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Motion to approve the March 9, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes made by Board Member Cox, Seconded by Board Member Fellows. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Cox, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt Motion to approve the March 9, 2020 Executive Session Minutes made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Cox.  Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Cox, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Motion to approve the March 31, 2020 Special Call Meeting Minutes made by Board Member Cox, Seconded by Board Member Higginbotham. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Cox, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Downtown Development Business 2. Approval of April 2020 Treasurer’s Report Board Member Nash reviewed the April 2020 Treasurer's Report with the Board. Motion to approve the April 2020 Treasurer's Report made by Board Member Cox, Seconded by Board Member Thrower. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Cox, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. 3. Review of City Efforts Regarding COVID-19 Barry Mock, Executive Director/Secretary of the Downtown Development Authority (Assistant City Manager) gave an update on the City's efforts regarding COVID-19. Alcohol collection taxes will be spread out over the next six months, but the entire bill must be paid by the end of 2020. This will affect the DDA finances for the short term. The restaurants in town that have chosen to remain open may sell alcohol in closed containers. Several have dedicated pick up lanes. The City introduced a stabilization plan to assist citizens with hardships regarding their utility accounts and the City has credited utility deposits to utility accounts. 4. Update on Downtown Businesses Jasmine Billings, Events & Programs Manager for the City of Lawrenceville updated the Board on the status of businesses downtown. Universal Joint, Chili's, Cosmos, and Blue Rooster are assisting Northside Hospital (Lawrenceville campus) with a meal bridge for the hospital staff. McCrays and Local Republic are currently closed. Local Republic has set up a GoFundMe account for their workers. The Fishery Fitness Studio are recording workouts that can be done at home. Calvary Glass Blowing are scheduling meetings by appointment  only. Aurora Theatre are doing a YouTube series, FaceBook sessions, and the Dollar Makes Sense program which assists with their fundraising. Cotton Lace was vandalized a few weeks ago. They are using this time to repair the window and renovate. 5. Rio Lawrenceville Document Ratification Motion to ratify Rio Lawrenceville documents made by Board Member Cox, Seconded by Board Member Thrower. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Cox, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Mainstreet Business Barry Mock introduced Jasmine Billings. Jasmine works in the Community Relations Department and serves the City as the Events & Programs Manager. Jasmine is our Mainstreet Manager. She handles summer concerts, festivals, volunteer programs and internship programs. Other Business There was no other business items. Citizen Comments There were no citizen comments. Executive Session - Real Estate Motion to move into Executive Session made by Board Member Cox, Seconded by Board Member Fellows. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Cox, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Motion to adjourn Executive Session made by Board Member Cox, Seconded by Board Member Nash. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Cox, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Final Adjournment Motion to adjourn made by Board Member Higginbotham, Seconded by Board Member Cox. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Cox, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Minutes Signature ___________________ Lee Merritt, Chairman ___________________ Barry Mock, Secretary