Downtown Board

FINAL - MINUTES OF THE NEW BRAUNFELS DOWNTOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023 AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Pat Butler called the meeting to order at 8:41 AM. 2. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Pat Butler, David Kneuper, Matt Gandrud, Angie Martinez, Chris Snider, and Paul Schaefer Absent: Michael Agnese, Dani Hensley, Jon Dalton, Jenny Wilson, and Robin Jeffers 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A) Approval of the minutes of the November 15, 2022 and January 17, 2023 board meetings. Mr. Gandrud moved to approve the November 15, 2022 regular meeting minutes. Mr. Schaefer seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously. Mr. Gandrud moved to approve the January 17, 2023 regular meeting minutes. Mr. Snider seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously. 4. CITIZEN'S COMMUNICATIONS This time is for citizens to address the Board on issues and items of concerns not on this agenda. There will be no Board action at this time. None 5. DISCUSSION AND ACTION A) Presentation and update on wayfinding within the City of New Braunfels Chair Butler introduced this item. Carly Farmer, Transportation & Capital Improvements Engineer, presented a PowerPoint summarizing the City's Wayfinding efforts. Ms. Farmer provided a brief summary of existing Wayfinding Tuesday, February 21, 2023 New Braunfels Downtown Board Regular Meeting  strategies, goals, and necessary upgrades. She also provided justifications for wayfinding updates, reviewed design sizes and standards, and shared the active implementation plan. Wayfinding updates for Downtown signs are included in Phase 3 and should be installed late summer 2023. Ms. Farmer also shared that funding has been secured for all five phases of the Wayfinding project, with project completion estimated for the end of 2023. Staff will work to obtain a map of the proposed Downtown wayfinding plans for the next regular scheduled meeting. Ms. Farmer answered questions from the board. B) General update on Downtown New Braunfels initiatives Chair Butler introduced this item. Mandi Scott, Economic and Community Development Coordinator, provided an update on the new Downtown garbage cans, which are scheduled for an end-of-March installation. Ms. Scott also shared that additional work will be done to remove the remaining 2-HR Parking pavement markings on Seguin Ave Downtown. All pavement markings will be removed and upright 2-HR Parking signs will be installed. Ms. Scott is also in the process of obtaining feedback from Downtown business owners regarding modifying the footprint for the upcoming Wein & Saengerfest. Ms. Scott answered questions from the board. C) Downtown Association update Chair Butler introduced this item. Ms. Scott shared an updated from the last Downtown Association (DTA) board meeting that included: NBU modifying their Castell construction to a 10pm start time, City Council's first reading of ADU (accessory dwelling unit) modifications, NBU rate advisory updates, First Friday scheduled for March 3rd, and that the new Special Events Coordinator will attend the next DTA meeting. D) Discuss and prioritize projects and initiatives included in the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Project and Financing Plan Jeff Jewell, Economic and Community Development Director, introduced this item and presented a PowerPoint summarizing the Tuesday, February 21, 2023 New Braunfels Downtown Board Regular Meeting  New Braunfels Downtown Implementation Plan and highlighted the strategic categories: Market Opportunities, Wayfinding, Circulation & Walkability, Parking Reform, and Aesthetics & Pedestrian Infrastructure. Mr. Jewell presented additional information on Downtown parking challenges, prior studies, financing options, and alternative solutions. Mandi Scott, Economic and Community Development Coordinator, presented a PowerPoint and summarized information from the New Braunfels Downtown Action Plan and the Walkable Communities Report. Members of the board were asked to complete half of a SWOT Analysis identifying the weaknesses and opportunities for Downtown and then shared their thoughts aloud initiating board-wide discussion. Both Mr. Jewell and Ms. Scott answered questions from the board. Staff will compile the board's worksheets in order to prepare for the Downtown Board & TIRZ 3 shared workshop scheduled for February 28. 2023. 6. ADJOURNMENT Chair Butler adjourned the meeting at 10:00 AM. By: ______________________________ PAT BUTLER, CHAIR Tuesday, February 21, 2023 New Braunfels Downtown Board Regular Meeting