Downtown Development Authority

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES Monday, August 11, 2025 Council Chambers 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. PRESENT Board Member Victoria Jones Board Member Jen Young Board Member Joanie Perry Ward Board Member Jim Nash 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 Adams, Seconded by Board Member Young. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Nash, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes 1. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes for June 9, 2025 Motion to approve the Downtown Development Authority Regular Meeting minutes for June 9, 2025 made by Board Member Perry Ward, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Nash, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt  2. Approval of Executive Session Minutes for June 9, 2025 Motion to approve the Downtown Development Authority Executive Session minutes for June 9, 2025 made by Board Member Perry Ward, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Nash, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt 3. Approval of Special Call Meeting Minutes for June 30, 2025 Motion to approve the Downtown Development Authority Special Call Meeting minutes for June 30, 2025 made by Board Member Perry Ward, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Nash, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt 4. Approval of Executive Session Minutes for June 30, 2025 Motion to approve the Downtown Development Authority Executive Session minutes for June 30, 2025 made by Board Member Perry Ward, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Nash, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt Downtown Development Business 5. July 2025 Downtown Development Authority Treasurer’s Report Motion to approve the July 2025 Downtown Development Authority Treasurer's Report made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Adams. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Nash, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt 6. August 2025 Downtown Development Authority Treasurer’s Report Motion to approve the August 2025 Downtown Development Authority Treasurer's Report made by Board Member Young, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Nash, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt 7. Hotel Amendment to Adopt Competitive Set Motion to table the Hotel Amendment to Adopt Competitive Set to September 2025 made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Jones. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Nash, Board Member Adams, 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 Nash. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Nash, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt Motion to exit 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 Nash, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt Motion to re-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 Nash, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt Motion to exit the second 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 Nash, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt 8 Real Estate Items Discussed: 7 Votes Taken Mainstreet Business Mrs. Jasmine Jackson, Mainstreet Director, gave the Mainstreet Business report to the Board. We are excited that the Christkindle Market will be held on the Lawrenceville Lawn beginning on Black Friday and going through Christmas Eve. There will be food and retail - 85-90 booths on the parking lot and the lawn. Vendors will be participating the entire month. This market is a German market. The City of Lawrenceville will have a booth. There will be a 50-foot Christmas Tree and a Ferris wheel. Upcoming concerts - at the Heartbreaker concert we will be collecting canned goods. There is filming next week and in September and October. Vice Chairman Victoria Jones has been nominated for the Moxie Awards. The Lawrenceville Arts Center is now officially being operated by the City. Facade Grant Update: Paint & Party’s final design is for exterior lighting and decals. The approximate request for the grant is $1,965. Motion to approve the Facade Grant for Paint and Party for $1,965.00 made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Adams. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Nash, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt Other Business Motion to approve the invoice with Living Stone Properties in the amount of $10,488.00 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 Nash, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt 8. Retail Curating Board Member Young updated the Board on the Retail Curating project. Board Member Young met with Edie Weintraub, owner. We will be removing phase 1 and 2 of the proposal. A new proposal is pending. The hope is these changes will adjust the cost for their assistance from $90,000 to $60,000. Final Adjournment Motion to adjourn made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Adams. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Young, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Nash, Board Member Adams, Board Member Merritt Minutes Signature _________________________ Lee Merritt, Chairman _________________________ Barry Mock, Secretary