Downtown Development Authority Minutes

Director Ward presented each Board member with a resource handbook containing material relevant to the mission of the DDA.

Items reviewed and discussed included:

• The current DDA boundary, the Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District boundary, and the proposed DDA expansion boundary.

- Financial documents will be provided at a later date regarding the tax implications of the boundaries being expanded.

- The boundary question will be explored after the Gibbs report is presented.

• The general powers of the DDA including financial authority.

• The need for a mission statement.

- A mission statement will formalize and help to focus on priorities.

• The need for formal by-laws.

• The composition of the DDA board.

- The need to adhere to statute requirements balanced with additional members of the downtown business community.

• The election of officers and terms of office.

- A subcommittee was formed to investigate possible board composition and formulate tentative by-laws. The three members who volunteered for the subcommittee were Dave Larsen, Margene Buckhave, and Rick Shaffner.

• Standing committees.

- A Design Committee (current Downtown Steering Committee)

- Finance Committee was deemed unwanted in lieu of the entire board receiving financial statements every month and receiving a five-minute update on highlighted financial matters at the board meetings.

- The need for a Promotions and Marketing Committee will be researched by the By-Laws Subcommittee.

• DDA Board Meetings.

- It was confirmed that the third Tuesday of every month be set as the regularly scheduled meeting date. The time was set at 8 a.m. with the intent of completing the meeting within an hour. It was suggested that an evening meeting be scheduled at least once a year.

• Content of Meeting Agenda and Packets

- The packet will contain the minutes of the previous meeting, financial statements, the Director’s Update, and reading and support material.

- The agenda will list the major item as the first item for discussion.

- It is understood that members will be attending a forthcoming meeting unless a phone call to the contrary is received.

• Conflict of Interest Disclosure

- The City’s ethics policy will be distributed to all DDA board members.

- It was reiterated that any board member, having a direct financial interest in a decision to be made, will refrain from discussion or vote on that matter. Any matter which involves a board member and is the subject of a closed session (e.g. land acquisition), will preclude the board member from being in the closed session.

• City staff will be available to the DDA for matters in the field of responsibility.

Ward reported on the number and type of focus groups with which Gibbs had met and his offer to meet with business owners on an individual basis.

Business owner Bob Buckhave addressed the DDA and urged them to quickly remedy the customer parking shortage being experienced in the parking lot at the corner of Wing and Main Streets. Discussion ensued regarding enforcement of the parking restrictions in the parking lots, the need to resume work on building a parking deck, and the need to alleviate the customer parking shortage prior to the onset of the holiday shopping season. It was suggested that the residents who live south of Main Street be directed to park in the deck off Cady Street.

Motion Shaffner, seconded by Presley to direct all residents who live on the south side of Main Street to park in the deck off Cady Street, and remove all orange dots from Parking Lot #2. Motion withdrawn.

Motion Shaffner, seconded by DeHaan to recommend

(1) residents be restricted to parking in the block of their residences,

(2) the removal of all orange dots in Parking Lot #2 and Parking Lot #3,

(3) the enforcement of three-hour per day limit in the specific parking lot, and

(4) to direct the City Manager to send a letter to all downtown businesses of these changes and enclose a map indicating where parking is available.

Ward stated that conversations with the major donor are taking place and progress is being made toward resolution.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol T. Kasprowicz, Recording Secretary