Loading...
06/13/1989 - Joint Meeting CRA & DDB WORK SESSION JOINT MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD June 13, 1989 Members present: Community Redevelopment Agency Rita Garvey, Chairman Richard Fitzgerald Lee Regulski William Nunamaker Don Winner Downtown Development Board Tyler Grady, Chairman Tom Thompson Chuck Finegan Mary Vaughn C. David Carley John W. Homer Terry Flowers Also present: Ron H. Rabun, Executive Director Michael Wright, Assistant City Manager/Community Services Cyndie Goudeau, Secretary The Chairman of the Community Redevelopment Agency called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. at the main library. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss whether or not to allow the "sunsetting" of the Downtown Development Board to take effect September 30, 1989. Michael Wright, Assistant City Manager, stated there has been an evolutionary process over the past 12 months regarding the DDB. There needs to be a decision whether or not to extend the DDB and if extended, what the roles of the DDB and the CRA should be. He stated the Focus Study recently done states there needs to be improvement in the image of downtown. He reported that the Economic Development Director will be reporting to work soon. Discussion ensued regarding whether or not the Board should continue to exist. The history of the Board was reviewed and it was stated while, historically, there has been little cooperation between the CRA and the DDB, in the past few months attitudes have changed. Concerns were expressed that some of the members were elected on a platform of discontinuing the Board. Concerns were expressed that if the Board was "sunsetted" it would be difficult to reinstitute it. In response to a question regarding if the Board continued whether or not the DDB would be charged for City staff, it was indicated the City would provide these services to the DDB at no charge for at least one year. It was also stated that this was an opportunity to clarify the role of the DDB and the CRA. It was also stated that the DDB should do things that are beyond the authority of the CRA. Three downtown property owners spoke, one indicating they felt the Board should continue and that they should assess at least 1/2 a mill if not the full mill. Two of them stated concerns about the ineffectiveness of the Board over the past few years and whether or not there was much to promote in the downtown area. The Assistant City Manager indicated that while the specifics have not yet been determined, the emphasis will be on public relations to improve the image of downtown and to target groups to try to bring them back to the downtown. Discussion returned to the need to continue the Board and the fact that attitudes have changed and there is better cooperation between the City and the Downtown Development Board at this time. Questions were raised regarding should the Board continue, what millage rate should be set. Two downtown property owners expressed concern regarding the change in retailing and whether or not there was a type of retailing that could be done in the downtown. One downtown property owner recommended that a millage rate of 1/2 mill be set and it was stated that it was felt that specialty shops would bring people to the downtown area. A question was raised regarding whether or not the DDB was to take action today, and it was indicated this is a work session and only a general indication was needed at this time. The general feeling of the DDB was that they request that the Board continue for at least one more year. Some concerns were expressed regarding the property owners and their ability to have input. It was indicated that all the property owners are sent notices regarding the DDB meetings. It was the consensus of the DDB to send out a special mailing to the property owners indicating that the future of the DDB would be discussed at its June 26th meeting. A question was raised regarding what would be included in the proposed promotional program. The Assistant City Manager stated that we are in the process of choosing the ad agency, and the decision regarding whether or not to extend the DDB would have an impact on the agency's proposal. The meeting adjourned at 10:37 A.M.