Downtown Development Authority

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES Monday, December 09, 2024 Council Chambers 5:00 PM 70 S. Clayton St, GA 30046 Call to Order Chairman Merritt called the meeting to order at 5:07 pm after recognizing a quorum. PRESENT Board Member Victoria Jones Board Member Jen Young Board Member Joanie Perry Ward Board Member Chris Adams Board Member Lee Merritt ABSENT Board Member Jeremy Higginbotham Approval of Agenda Motion to approve the agenda made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Young. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes 1. Approval of Special Call Meeting Minutes for November 4, 2024 Motion to approve the Special Call Meeting Minutes for November 4, 2024 made by Board Member Young, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt  2. Approval of Executive Session Minutes for November 4, 2024 Motion to approve the Executive Session Minutes for November 4, 2024 made by Board Member Young, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt Downtown Development Business 3. December 2024 Downtown Development Authority Treasurer’s Report Board Member Perry Ward, Treasurer, presented the December 2024 Downtown Development Authority Treasurer's Report to the Board. Motion to approve the December 2024 Downtown Development Authority Treasurer's Report made by Board Member Adams, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt 4. 2025 Downtown Development Authority Budget Motion to approve the 2025 Downtown Development Authority Budget as presented made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Adams. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt 5. 2025 IGA Account Motion to table the 2025 IGA Account agenda item until January 2025 made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Young. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt 6. Lawrenceville Futures Initiative Board Member Young gave a presentation to the Board regarding the Lawrenceville Futures Initiative. 7. Downtown Development Authority Hotel Purchasing Policy Chairman Merritt said that part of the Downtown Development Authority Hotel Purchasing Policy would be if an invoice, etc. is over $100,000 it will need to come before the Downtown Development Authority Board for approval. Mainstreet Business Jasmine Billings, Mainstreet Director gave the Mainstreet update. As of November there have been over 50 events in Downtown Lawrenceville with 88,000 visitors. The City of Lawrenceville hosted 40 of the events. Mainstreet data has been sent to the Mainstreet Program. On February 20th in Acworth, Georgia we will be giving a presentation. This presentation is a 2.5 hour presentation and we are required to make these presentations every three years. Art Initiatives through the Lawrenceville Arts Commission: Angela Bartone will be creating a mural on the wall near Georgia Gwinnett College. Students and community members will be able to paint along with the muralist. We are applying for a grant through Explore Gwinnett and their creativity fund. Congratulations to Board Member Jones. She will be awarded the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Public Service Award at their upcoming annual dinner. Board Member Jones announced that Jasmine has been chosen to serve as the Partnership Gwinnett Goal 3 Chair, which highlights economic development and redevelopment initiatives for the County/Cities. Other Business Chairman Merritt updated the Board on some items they will be voting on at our next meeting on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Approve the pricing for the bonds and all the various contracts that go along with the bonds. It has been a year-long project getting these together. The Board will also need to approve the hotel project budget and the pre-opening budget at the Special Call Meeting as well. The Hotel budget – entire budget is a little over $36M. Construction is the bulk of the cost at over $24M. The bonds will be covering the budget items, but we are splitting them between two sets of bonds tax exempt at $28M and taxable at $7M. The Pre-Opening Budget will cover various items for the steps leading up to the opening of the hotel. Citizen Comments No Citizen Comments Executive Session - Real Estate Motion to enter into Executive Session 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 Adams, Board Member Merritt Motion to exit Executive Session made by Board Member Perry Ward, Seconded by Board Member Perry Adams. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt 5 Real Estate Items Discussed: 2 Votes Taken Final Adjournment Motion to adjourn 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 Adams, Board Member Merritt Minutes Signature _________________________ Lee Merritt, Chairman _________________________ Barry Mock, Secretary