Downtown Development Authority Minutes

Absent: Rick Shaffner, Lynda Heaton

Approval of Minutes: There being no corrections or additions, the minutes of the March 12, 2002 meeting were approved.

Ward and Bateson reviewed the FY 02-03 DDA budget for the board members. Points of interest were:

- Revenue was projected at $1,409,242, with $460,000 coming from the purchase of City property by Cambridge Development.

- Expenditure items of note included the purchase of a larger computer monitor to accommodate website input, the maintenance of the website, increased auditing expenses due to GSB 34,and increased insurance expenses.

- The Street, Drainage, Sidewalk Improvement Fund is allotted $100,000 for the Cady Street lighting.

- New line item, Beautification Commission, was created to cover expenses of material that Beautification Commission volunteers plant in the downtown area.

- The creation of an expanded Downtown Operation & Maintenance and Capital Improvement Program category. A major expenditure of $50,000 is budgeted for major painting of the parking decks.

- The FY02-03 Capital Improvement Program budgeted items include planning and design studies, street furnishings, and a possible sculpture or fountain at Main and Hutton.

It was requested that an investigation be made into the possibility of irrigating the trees on Center Street bordering MainCentre and the proposed trees on Cady Street.

A discussion ensued regarding the original purpose of the 2-mill levy and its possible elimination, the impact of the retirement of the 1994 general obligation parking deck bonds in 2008, the revenue implications of projects currently underway and possible projects in the future, and the projected date of the sale of Lots 171-175 (Cambridge project).

Motion Larsen, seconded by DeHaan to move the revenue amount of $460,000 (which is the projected amount of the sale of Lots 171-175) from FY 02-03 budget and place it into the FY 03-04 budget, and subsequently reduce the Fund Balance Reserved for Future Parking Expansion of FY 02-03 by $460,000 and increase the FY 03-04 by $460,000. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion DeHaan, seconded by LaChance to approve the budget as amended and recommend approval by the City Council. Voice vote: YES: Johnson, Buckhave, DeHaan, LaChance, Larsen, Long. NO: Presley.

At the previous DDA meeting, approval was given for the aerial surveying and subsequent analysis of the downtown area including the possible additions to the DDA area. The decision of what fiscal year budget would be responsible was deferred until the review of the FY 02-03 budget.

Motion Larsen, seconded by DeHaan to amend the FY 01-02 budget to include the expenditure of the total cost of the aerial surveying of the downtown and subsequent analysis. Motion unanimously carried.

The NCBA and the Parks and Recreation Department has requested a contribution to help fund a series of children’s concerts during the summer of 2002. An $1800 contribution has been equally divided between the FY01-02 budget and the FY02-03 budget.

Motion Presley, seconded by LaChance to amend FY01-02 budget to include a $900 contribution to the NCBA to help fund a number of children’s concert in the summer of 2002. Motion carried unanimously.

Ward proposed the purchase of 200 3x5 American flags with supporting brackets to be placed on approximately 200 poles throughout the downtown area during civic celebrations. An estimated cost for the flags and brackets is $7300. An amendment of $5000 is required to cover the estimated cost.

Motion Buckhave, seconded by Larsen to amend the FY 01-02 budget by $5000 to allow the purchase of approximately 200 3x5 American flags with supporting brackets. Motion carried unanimously.

LaChance gave a brief summary on the discussions and work of the Downtown Parking Committee meetings. A survey was sent to all downtown businesses and the response was overwhelming. Short term and long term solutions are being explored. A proposal is forthcoming and will be presented to the DDA. It was suggested a special meeting be convened to accommodate the presentation of the committee.

Motion LaChance, seconded by DeHaan to schedule a special meeting of the Downtown Development Authority on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 at 8:00 a.m. Motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol T. Kasprowicz

Recording Secretary