Downtown Development Authority Special Call

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SPECIAL CALL MINUTES Tuesday, May 16, 2023 Council Assembly Room 5:00 PM 70 S. Clayton St, GA 30046 Call to Order Chairman Merritt called the meeting to order after recognizing a quorum. PRESENT Board Member Victoria Jones Board Member Bruce Johnson Board Member Joanie Perry Ward Board Member Katrina Fellows Board Member Jeremy Higginbotham Board Member Lee Merritt ABSENT Board Member Chris Adams Approval of Agenda Motion to approve the agenda made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Johnson. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Johnson, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes 1. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes for April 10, 2023 Motion to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes for April 10, 2023 made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Higginbotham.  Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Johnson, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt 2. Approval of Executive Session Minutes for April 10, 2023 Motion to approve the Executive Session Minutes for April 10, 2023 made by Board Member Jones, Seconded by Board Member Higginbotham. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Johnson, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt Downtown Development Business 3. May 2023 Treasurer’s Report Board Member Fellows, Treasurer presented the May Treasurer's Report to the Board. Motion to approve the May Treasurer's Report made by Board Member Perry Ward, Seconded by Board Member Johnson. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Johnson, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt 4. $1M IGA Account Reports 2020, 2021, 2022 Chairman Merritt presented reports showing the real estate transaction flowing through the Million Dollar Fund, in accordance with the Million Dollar Fund Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Lawrenceville. Motion to omit items 5, 6, 7, and 8 made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Johnson. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Johnson, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt 5. Ratify Purchase of 131 Eaton Street This item was presented in the Million Dollar Fund Account Report in Item 4 as directed by the Downtown Development Attorney - Jeff Mahaffey and was approved to be omitted from the agenda.  6. Ratify Sale of 131 Eaton Street and 452 Eaton Street This item was presented in the Million Dollar Fund Account Report in Item 4 as directed by the Downtown Development Attorney - Jeff Mahaffey and was approved to be omitted from the agenda. 7. Ratify Sale of 190 Oak Street This item was presented in the Million Dollar Fund Account Report in Item 4 as directed by the Downtown Development Attorney - Jeff Mahaffey and was approved to be omitted from the agenda. 8. Ratify Purchase and Sale of 255 Pike Street This item was presented in the Million Dollar Fund Account Report in Item 4 as directed by the Downtown Development Attorney - Jeff Mahaffey and was approved to be omitted from the agenda. 9. Approve Purchase of 436 and 451 Huff Street Chairman Merritt presented Resolution (RES-2023-9) which has been approved by the City of Lawrenceville City Council authorizing the use of Taxable Economic Development Revenue Bonds, Series 2020B, to purchase the two parcels and apartment buildings on the properties which are currently owned by the City for $5,013,900. This purchase will use the remainder of the bond funds. Motion to approve Resolution -RES-2023-9 regarding 436 Huff Street and 451 Huff Street to purchase through regular account and purchased with bonds 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 Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt Mainstreet Business Jasmine Billings, Mainstreet Manager gave the Mainstreet Business update to the Board. Jasmine requested on the behalf of the Lawrenceville Arts Commission that the building located at 130 South Clayton Street be made available for art displays in the windows and the Train Depot be made available for an art exhibit, both being part of the Free Public Art Event. The event will conclude a 13-week Art & DJ series hosted on July 27th. Motion to approve the windows at 130 South Clayton Street be used for art displays and the Train Depot to be used for an art exhibit during the Free Public Art Event made by Board Member Higginbotham, Seconded by Board Member Fellows. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Johnson, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt Georgia Downtown Conference is hosting its annual conference on August 21-24 in Canton, Georgia. Kinetic Art Sculpture – in April, Lawrenceville City Council approved a kinetic art structure that was recommended by the Lawrenceville Arts Commission. The structure will be placed in Gateway Park, directly across from City Hall at the intersection of North Clayton and Nash Streets. The art structure was created by artist, Anthony Howe, a world renowned artist that has a passion for kinetic art. Anthony Howe’s sculptures may be found in public spaces across the United States and around the world, most notably in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil when he created his piece “In Cloud Light III” for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Howe’s sculptures are unlike any other and Lawrenceville is lucky to be home to Georgia’s first Anthony Howe kinetic sculpture. It should be delivered on May 19th. Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) 2023 LCI Study Grant Announcement. The City of Lawrenceville was recently awarded a grant by the ARC to determine the feasibility and benefits of improving Honest Alley in Lawrenceville to be pedestrian friendly and include placemaking features. By making the area more welcoming to residents and visitors, the project will spur economic development for properties in the alleyway while also increasing community connectivity within Lawrenceville’s downtown. It is 1 of 10 projects selected and will share a pot of $1.6 M for LCA projects announced. Façade Update – currently we have six outstanding façade enhancements that have not shared invoices, receipts, or updates. Jasmine has reached out throughout the year periodically to check-in and she sent an email last week as the businesses have until June 30th to turn in all items if they would like to be reimbursed. One business emailed back stating that they no longer would be able to move forward with the façade upgrade due to personal reasons. Scrum-did-dly-ump-tious sent their updated invoice with actual items paid which was sent to the board ahead of the meeting. The Board determined that Scrum-did-dly-ump-tious may receive full funding up to $2,500 for their project. Other Business No Other Business Citizen Comments Aura-Leigh Sanders, Chairman of the Lawrenceville Arts Commission thanked the Board members for their support of the Free Public Art event and other Arts Commission initiatives. Executive Session - Real Estate Motion to enter into Executive Session 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 Higginbotham, 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 Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt 5 Real Estate Items were discussed: 1 vote taken Final Adjournment Motion to adjourn made by Board Member Merritt, Seconded by Board Member Higginbotham. Voting Yea: Board Member Jones, Board Member Johnson, Board Member Perry Ward, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt Minutes Signature _________________________ Lee Merritt, Chairman _________________________ Barry Mock, Secretary