Downtown Development Authority

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES Monday, February 13, 2023 Council Assembly Room 5:00 PM 70 S. Clayton St, GA 30046 Call to Order Chairman Merritt called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm after recognizing a quorum. Board Member Adams arrived at 5:06 am. PRESENT Board Member Victoria Jones Board Member Bruce Johnson Board Member Joanie Perry Ward Board Member Katrina Fellows Board Member Chris Adams Board Member Lee Merritt ABSENT Board Member Jeremy Higginbotham Approval of Agenda Motion to approve agenda made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Perry Ward. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Johnson, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes 1. Approval of Prior Meeting Regular Meeting Minutes for January 9, 2023 Motion to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes for January 9, 2023, made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Fellows.  Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Johnson, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt 2. Approval of Executive Session Minutes for January 9, 2023 Motion to approve the Executive Session Minutes for January 9, 2023, made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Fellows. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Johnson, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt Downtown Development Business 3. February 2023 Treasurer’s Report Board Member Fellows, Treasurer reviewed the February 2023 Treasurer's Report with the Board. Motion to approve the February 2023 Treasurer's Report made by Board Member Perry Ward, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Johnson, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt 4. Chairman Training – 2023 Strategic Leadership Visit Motion to approve Chairman Merritt's registration and accommodation fees, including airfare in the amount of up to $4,600 to attend the Strategic Leadership Visit in Boston, Massachusetts in the Fall of 2023 made by Board Member Fellows, Seconded by Board Member Johnson. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Johnson, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt Mainstreet Business Jasmine Billings gave the Board the Mainstreet Update. The 2023 Events Calendar has been released. Some events will be returning, except for the St. Paddy’s and Oktoberfest. Due to weather restrictions in the past it’s best to have events that are not constricted to specific dates. There will be businesses having Third Party Events such as a 5k, Flag Day and Juneteenth. Board Member Johnson provided feedback to the Board about Cornerstone residents’ disappointment with the cancellation of events including Oktoberfest. Barry Mock informed the Board of the possibility of McCray’s or Local Republic hosting a version of St. Patty’s Day and/or Oktoberfest. Jasmine Billings provided an update of the new businesses opening in the Downtown area, Depot District or along that corridor:  Scrum-did-dly-ump-tious soft opening was Friday, February 10th  Pivot to Wellness – A Wellness Center utilizing crystals and meditation.  Play Parlor in the Depot District open, 12p-10p. Activity based; card games, board games and game night.  Possibility of a Juice Company moving into the former ice cream shop at Honest Alley  Mindplay Studios, a Home-School Group on Perry Street  Whitestone Motion Pictures, a film company on Culver Street New information with the Arts Commission:  A mural will be located along the low wall near the post office and will have community involvement. A segment will be solely painted by 200 people from the community and the artist will beautify and finalize the piece.  The Arts Commission received a grant from Go Georgia Arts for a mural alongside McCray’s. The Crogan Street Mural will be located next to McCray’s logo. However, they were prompted to look for another artist since the initial Muralist passed away during the holidays. They’re reviewing the artists that submitted work for the low wall. Other Business Board Member Fellows informed the Board about SPLOST distributions to District 3. SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) is an optional one percent county sales tax used to fund capital outlay projects proposed by the county government and participating qualified municipal governments. There has been approval to begin the planning steps for a multi-use path. Approximately $8 million was calculated (from Sugarloaf to Rhodes Jordan), $1.5 million was approved and will be allocated for planning, engineering and possibly some right of ways. Citizen Comments No Citizen Comments Executive Session - Real Estate Motion to enter Executive Session made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Johnson, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt Motion to exit Executive Session made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Johnson, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt Voted on 2 Real Estate Items. Final Adjournment Prior to final adjournment, Board Member Perry Ward wanted an update about the raised intersections planned for the city. Barry Mock confirmed that the plans for a raised intersection at the intersection of Seminary and Clayton with a push-button stop light is out for a bid. Other designated intersections that are being evaluated are located by Foggy Bottom and at Pike & Clayton Streets. Motion to adjourn made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Adams. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Johnson, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt Minutes Signature _________________________ Lee Merritt, Chairman _________________________ Barry Mock, Secretary