Downtown Development Authority Meeting

Downtown Development Authority Meeting Monday, September 29, 2025 at 6:30 PM City Hall, 875 Main Street, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083 Minutes I. Call to Order • Robert Witherspoon called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. • Members Present: Robert Witherspoon, Denise Phillips, Michelle Dunbar, and Councilmember Anita Bass. • Members Absent: Carl Wright, Sarah Hage, and Thom DeLoach. • The DDA Legal Counsel was also in attendance. II. Approval of the Agenda • Denise Phillips made a motion to approve the agenda with the following amendments: to postpone the TAP discussion to a future meeting and to add a discussion and possible approval of a DDA subcommittee responsible for overseeing the commercial grant applications. The motion was seconded by Michelle Dunbar and unanimously approved. III. Approval of Minutes 1. DDA Regular Meeting Minutes - August 25, 2025: Motion by Councilmember Bass to approve the minutes, seconded by Michelle Dunbar. Unanimously approved. IV. Citizen Comments: No comments. V. Director’s Report: The monthly DCA report was presented. VI. Council Report: Councilmember Anita Bass provided a brief report on the last Council meeting. VII. Old Business 1. Discussion Item - Mural Project: Motion by Denise Phillips to pause the mural project, seconded by Michelle Dunbar. Unanimously approved. 2. Action Item - DDA Grant Subcommittee: Michelle Dunbar made a motion to appoint the following members to serve on the subcommittee: Maggie Dimov, Tamaya Huff, Elisabeth Richmond, Robert Witherspoon, and Denise Phillips. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bass and unanimously approved. 3. Discussion Item - TAP Application: Discussion postponed to a future meeting. VIII. New Business 1. Discussion Item - Strategic Planning Session / Goals for 2025: The DDA’s goals for 2025 include the creation of a commercial grant program, obtaining an mTAP study with an emphasis on downtown revitalization, and implementing a mural project. Motion by Councilmember Bass to approve the proposed goals, seconded by Michelle Dunbar. Unanimously approved. 2. Discussion/Action Item - DDA Budget, FY2026: Motion by Councilmember Bass to approve the proposed DDA budget for FY2026 in the total amount of $433,500.00, seconded by Michelle Dunbar. Unanimously approved. 3. DDA RLF (Downtown Revolving Loan Fund) - 947 Main Street: Denise Phillips made a motion to approve the DDA initiative supporting Jonathan Hartnett and his new business, Live Oak Restaurant, in applying for a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bass and unanimously approved.  4. Discussion Item - Stone Mountain Crit: Brief discussion held. 5. Discussion Item - Speed Week: Brief discussion held. 6. Discussion Item - Trip to Carrollton: Brief discussion held. IX. Executive Session: No Executive Session was held. X. Adjournment: Motion by Denise Phillips to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Michelle Dunbar. Unanimously approved.