Downtown Development Authority

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, September 14, 2020 Council Assembly Room 6:30 PM 70 S. Clayton St, GA 30046 Call to Order Chairman Merritt called the meeting to order at 6:33 pm after recognizing a quorum. PRESENT Board Member Victoria Jones Board Member Linda Nash Board Member Jeremy Higginbotham Board Member Lee Merritt ABSENT Board Member Katrina Fellows Approval of Agenda Motion to approve the agenda made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Nash. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Nash, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes 1. Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes  Motion to approve minutes from June 8, 2020 Downtown Development Regular Meeting made by Board Member Higginbotham, Seconded by Board Member Nash. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Nash, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Motion to approve minutes from July 13, 2020 Downtown Development Regular Meeting and July 13, 2020 Downtown Development Executive Session Minutes made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Higginbotham. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Nash, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Motion to approve minutes from August 10, 2020 Downtown Development Regular Meeting and August 10, 2020 Downtown Development Executive Session Minutes made by Board Member Nash, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Nash, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Downtown Development Business 2. Approval of September 2020 Treasurer’s Report Motion to accept the September 2020 Treasurer's Report made by Board Member Higginbotham, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Nash, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. 3. Adjustment in Budget for Training Chairman Merritt reminded the Board that they had added $3,500 to the budget for training. In 2019 this was used so Chairman Merritt could participate in a economic development trip. Since that particular trip was cancelled due to Covid-19 Chairman Merritt suggested that the money be used for the Georgia Tech Basic Economic Development Course. Cost of the Georgia Tech course is $705 per person.  Motion to approve training money in the budget for the Georgia Tech Basic Economic Development Course for Board Member Fellows, Board Member Jones, and Chairman Merritt made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Nash. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Nash, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Motion to approve training money in the budget for the MARS Summit for $1,500 made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Nash. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Nash, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. 4. Training Report Board Members gave updates on the Georgia Tech Basic Economic Development Course. Board Member Jones said it was a great course. Chairman Merritt mentioned that Ryan Gravel, Georgia Tech graduate student that invented the Atlanta BeltLine spoke during the course. Specific details for Ponce City Market and the BMW plant were used as case studies. Mainstreet Business No Mainstreet Business Other Business No Other Business Citizen Comments No Citizen Comments Executive Session - Real Estate Motion to enter into Executive Session made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Higginbotham. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Nash, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Motion to adjourn Executive Session made by Board Member Nash, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Nash, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Report of items discussed in Executive Session: 7 real estate items discussed; 3 votes taken. Final Adjournment Motion to adjourn made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Higginbotham. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Nash, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Minutes Signature ___________________ Lee Merritt, Chairman ___________________ Barry Mock, Secretary