Downtown Development Authority

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES Monday, July 08, 2024 Council Chambers 5:00 PM 70 S. Clayton St, GA 30046 Call to Order Chairman Merritt called the meeting to order at 5:04 pm after confirming a quorum. PRESENT Board Member Victoria Jones Board Member Jen Young Board Member Joanie Perry Ward Board Member Katrina Fellows Board Member Chris Adams Board Member Jeremy Higginbotham Board Member Lee Merritt Approval of Agenda Motion to approve the agenda made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Adams. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt Chairman Merritt said the discussion of Item 3 and Item 4 would be delayed until after Executive Session. Downtown Development Business 1. July 2024 Downtown Development Authority Treasurer’s Report Board Member Perry Ward, Treasurer gave the July 2024 Downtown Development Authority Treasurer's Report to the Board. As she was reviewing the report she found an error on the total for the Hotel Escrow Account. It should read $1,334.93.  Motion to approve the July 2024 Downtown Development Authority Treasurer's Report with the correction to the total for the Hotel Escrow Account made by Board Member Fellows, Seconded by Board Member Young. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt 2. Update 2024 Budget Chairman Merritt mentioned that we need to amend the Downtown Development Authority 2024 Budget. We added two subscriptions for CoStar and LoopNet. We need to change the total revenue in the 2024 Downtown Development Authority Budget to $165,297.00 to match expenses, and revenue from the mixed-drink tax will support this change. Motion to increase the Total Revenue in the 2024 Downtown Development Authority Budget to $165,297.00 made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Adams. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt 3. Luxury Landscape Lease Termination Intergovernmental Agreement Chairman Merritt updated the Board on the Luxury Landscape Lease Termination. We are hoping to close on this transaction by the end of July. Discussion and vote occurred after Executive Session regarding the Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Lawrenceville for the City to provide the Downtown Development Authority with $1,589,500.00 and potential $160,500 for the Lease Termination Agreement with Luxury Landscape. Motion to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Lawrenceville regarding the Luxury Landscape Termination Agreement made by Board Member Higginbotham, Seconded by Board Member Adams. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt  4. 185 Park Access Intergovernmental Agreement Discussion and vote occurred after Executive Session regarding the Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Lawrenceville regarding the purchase of 185 Park Access Drive property and for the City to provide for $2,788,483.00. Motion to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Lawrenceville regarding the purchase of the 185 Park Access Drive property made by Board Member Young, Seconded by Board Member Perry Ward. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt 5. Repairs at the Train Depot Chairman Merritt reviewed an estimate they have received from SCA Construction Services to complete the repairs at the Train Depot. The estimate for the repairs is $210,740.00. The maximum that was approved is $275,000.00. Other estimates received were from Carter for $589,221.00 and Retail Tenant Finish Construction Co. for $499,000.00. Motion to move forward with the renovation estimate up to $275,000.00 and we will abide by state law made by Board Member Fellows, Seconded by Board Member Adams. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt Mainstreet Business Jasmine Billings, Mainstreet Director gave the Mainstreet update to the Board. Prelude to the 4th went great. We had over 20,000 visitors and the bands did very well. Facade grant - we have had eight submissions.  First Baptist Church has two requests. One is for lighting on the steeple and the other is for signage at the corner of Luckie Street and Jackson Street. They are requesting the maximum amount of $2,500 for each project.  Soje Emporium is wanting to add an awning.  La Casuela is wanting signage in the back area of the restaurant. They are requesting the maximum amount of $2,500.  McCrays Tavern is planning on repainting their facade and updating their look and their logo.   Perry Chophouse is planning on repainting their facade.  Paint Party is wanting to add lighting to their awning and change the decals on their windows. They are asking $982.50. Jasmine will be requesting a rendering of the new design.  Scrum-didly-umptious is wanting to do some work on the back side of their restaurant. Motion to give up to $2,500 to the First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville for the sign at the corner of Luckie Street and Jackson Street made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Higginbotham. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt Motion to give up to $2,500 to La Cazuela for backlighting signage made by Board Member Higginbotham, Seconded by Board Member Young. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt The Board agreed that they need more details regarding the McCray request, Perry Street Chophouse request, and the Paint Party request (this needs to include renderings of the lights and the vinyls). Other Business Discussion and votes occurred after Executive Session. Chairman Merritt gave the update that the approval for the general contractor for the hotel went through the City of Lawrenceville bidding process. Several RFPs were submitted and they were scored by a team of evaluators. Pinkerton & Laws received the highest score. Motion to approve the high point firm of Pinkerton & Laws for the general contract for the Lawrence Hotel made by Board Member Adams, Seconded by Board Member Perry Ward Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt Chairman Merritt asked for the Board’s approval for she and Board Member Perry Ward to be able to attend the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Peer Redevelopment Tour to Huntsville, Alabama at a cost of $925 per person. Motion to approve that Chairman Merritt and Board Member Perry Ward be able to attend the Peer Redevelopment tour in Huntsville, Alabama at the cost of $925.00 per person Board Member Higginbotham, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt Citizen Comments No Citizen Comments Executive Session - Real Estate Motion to enter into Executive Session made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Adams. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt Motion to exit Executive Session made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Perry Ward. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt 3 Real Estate Items Discussed: 3 Votes Taken Final Adjournment Motion to adjourn made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Young. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Adams, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt Minutes Signature _________________________ Lee Merritt, Chairman _________________________ Barry Mock, Secretary