2022-05-17 · City Council · Transcript · Downtown Development Authority

--- title: Downtown Development Authority date: 2022-05-17 source: 2022-05-17_Downtown_Development_Authority.wav --- [0:00:02, 0:00:09]: Uh good evening. This is Roger Custon and this is our May uh Downtown Development Authority meeting and um [0:00:10, 0:00:15]: Welcome. And we will go ahead and start with roll call. Um Bob, will you go ahead and call roll police? [0:00:16, 0:00:17]: Okay. Uh Roger Custon. [0:00:18, 0:00:18]: Here? Here. [0:00:19, 0:00:21]: Uh Councilman Alexander. [0:00:21, 0:00:22]: President. [0:00:22, 0:00:22]: Yeah. [0:00:24, 0:00:26]: Uh uh Maxwell Sears. [0:00:27, 0:00:28]: Yeah, yeah, right, yeah. [0:00:29, 0:00:30]: Uh Bob Swagert is here. [0:00:31, 0:00:33]: Um Samiqua King. [0:00:35, 0:00:36]: Uh and [0:00:37, 0:00:38]: The Barber Richardson. [0:00:39, 0:00:40]: And [0:00:40, 0:00:41]: Frangelo. [0:00:45, 0:01:05]: Yeah, and I'll go ahead and note that um it's Frangela Merritt. I believe she was given the uh the credentials. Um we haven't heard from Barber Richardson, but we do have four members present, so that does constitute a quorum. So we'll go ahead and open up the meeting officially at 6.03. Thank you, everybody. Um [0:01:05, 0:01:25]: So uh first thing on the agenda is to approve today's agenda and I'd like to motion to add the social media campaign proposal uh to the agenda under new business. So we'll put it as item D, David, under new business. And thank you. And with that, uh [0:01:25, 0:01:30]: Um, are there any other discussion on the agenda? Changes? [0:01:31, 0:01:32]: Right. Um [0:01:34, 0:01:38]: And Barber's about to join. So give her a second. Hi Barber. [0:01:39, 0:01:40]: Hello. [0:01:41, 0:01:51]: Um, I just made a motion and councilman seconded to add to the agenda the um social media campaign proposal. Um, so is there any discussion? [0:01:54, 0:02:01]: And all those in favor, please say yes or raise your hand. All right, that seems to be unanimous. Thank you. [0:02:02, 0:02:13]: And uh next item on the agenda is to approve the April nineteenth meeting minutes, which I sent to everyone uh today. So um if we could have a motion to approve the April meeting minutes, please. [0:02:14, 0:02:14]: Тому [0:02:15, 0:02:16]: Thank you, Councilman. [0:02:18, 0:02:18]: Second. [0:02:19, 0:02:20]: Thank you, Bob. [0:02:20, 0:02:21]: Any discussion? [0:02:26, 0:02:32]: All right. All those in favor to approve the April meeting minutes, please raise your hand or say yes. [0:02:33, 0:02:35]: Uh Mr. Sears. [0:02:37, 0:02:37]: Yes. [0:02:38, 0:02:44]: All right, thank you. And Barber, do I take that as your abstaining? All right, thank you. [0:02:45, 0:03:05]: So we'll go ahead and move on. So um the first uh first I wanted to mention that uh Frangela uh Merritt has joined as the newest downtown development authority member. I don't see that she is on the call, uh, but I did send her the link. Um so [0:03:05, 0:03:21]: And I did speak to her a little while ago to join the meeting. So I'll um in any case, I want if she does join, I'll give her a few minutes to uh say hello. But uh that was the main thing I wanted to. Excuse me, but she's in the chat saying she's here. Oh, very good. Let me let me bring her in. Hold on. Thank you for that, Vanessa. [0:03:23, 0:03:24]: All right. [0:03:26, 0:03:27]: List. [0:03:29, 0:03:32]: All right, Miss Merritt, you should be able to speak. [0:03:33, 0:03:36]: Hello, I'm turning my camera on right now. [0:03:36, 0:03:46]: Excellent. All right. Great timing. Thanks for joining. And uh we see you and hear you. Excellent. Thank you. Hello. Hi everyone. [0:03:46, 0:03:48]: Yeah, welcome above. [0:03:48, 0:04:06]: Good. It is so uh uh such a privilege and honor to be here and it's so great to meet each and every one of you on the panel. And and I did Roger, I did remember you did send me a panelist link and I chose the wrong link, right? So I'll get better the next time we meet. [0:04:07, 0:04:27]: That's fine. Um, you want to go ahead and uh tell us a little bit about yourself and your background and why you chose to join the DDA? Absolutely, absolutely. A little bit about myself. Um, it's been a Stockbridge um residence since 2004. So it will be 18 years in July of this year. And um listen, I have a [0:04:27, 0:04:44]: political science background or degree. And of course, um, you know, we don't do anything with those, but I'm mentioning that to say that I've always been particularly interested into um politics, civics, government. Um, and so I would definitely stay abreast of things. I just never was as [0:04:44, 0:04:53]: Uh active as I think I should have been. So I always would say I should have done done this a lot sooner than now, right? In a much younger age. But [0:04:54, 0:05:11]: 18 years here. Um occupation. I work full-time as a global supply chain manager at ATT, which is actually a promotion. I just um started this month. Um so it's been super hectic, you know, um for me. Um what else? I [0:05:11, 0:05:12]: Just [0:05:13, 0:05:33]: I just registered an LLC called Catil Enterprises as of last year, but that will definitely be mediation services. I don't mind sharing that with you. I have not started that yet, but it's but you know, I'm definitely my LLC is definitely registered there. So um a future business owner, if you will. [0:05:33, 0:05:34]: What else? Um [0:05:35, 0:05:37]: Also very active in the community. [0:05:38, 0:05:39]: Starting with [0:05:40, 0:06:00]: My role as president over the Network Metro Atlanta chapter, which is an ATT employee resource group, which is a thing now. It's about diversity and inclusion. But we actually run our operations or our business is a non-for-profit, 501c3. So we do a lot of [0:06:00, 0:06:06]: community service work um and have a lot of community partners in the metro atlanta area. [0:06:07, 0:06:13]: I'm trying to bring it south of Atlanta for sure. Um, some of our services. And then last but definitely not least, um [0:06:13, 0:06:28]: I am a member of the Motherless Daughters Foundation, which is a uh headquartered here in College Park. But of course, it's an organization that the beneficiary or the benefactors or uh those who are benefiting from that would be young girls between the ages of [0:06:28, 0:06:30]: Nine years old. [0:06:30, 0:06:35]: And even through college now, of course, um their mothers are not in their lives either through [0:06:36, 0:06:39]: They're passing away or through drug use or mental health. [0:06:39, 0:06:45]: And of course us old ladies like to you know lend a helping hand whenever we can and [0:06:45, 0:06:51]: And I guess in my role, because I work for ATT and I do a lot of STEM related things. [0:06:51, 0:06:53]: You know, I particularly [0:06:53, 0:06:59]: mentor those girls on STEM related fields and topics and expose them to those type of things. So [0:06:59, 0:07:01]: I think that's a that's [0:07:02, 0:07:05]: You know, uh well, single, no children. [0:07:05, 0:07:18]: Um, so of course I'm always free, right? Um, and again, it's definitely a pleasure and an honor to be a part of this board and I am so ready to serve. So thank you for having me. [0:07:19, 0:07:25]: Thank you for being here. Um, does anyone have any questions or anything for uh Frangela? [0:07:26, 0:07:27]: Thank you for sharing. [0:07:28, 0:07:30]: Yes, welcome, welcome. Thank you so much. [0:07:31, 0:07:43]: And and I'll second the same to welcome, welcome you to the uh the DDA and uh thank you for um stepping up and volunteering your service to the DDA and the good people of Stockbridge. Absolutely. [0:07:45, 0:07:56]: All right. Um, so that uh we'll go ahead and move to the next item on the agenda. Barber, um I I didn't see the financial report in advance of the meeting. Do you wanna give us any update? [0:07:59, 0:08:00]: And you're on mute. [0:08:00, 0:08:08]: Okay, yes. And I I did send those over to you a bit late. My apologies. I can share my space. Can I share? Yeah. Yeah, please, please do. [0:08:08, 0:08:12]: Um sorry about that. Well no, that's that's totally on me. It's been a day. [0:08:12, 0:08:13]: Um [0:08:13, 0:08:17]: Let me hold on, let me make sure you can share. You should be able to do it now. [0:08:20, 0:08:21]: Okay. [0:08:24, 0:08:26]: And everyone confirm that they can see my screen. [0:08:27, 0:08:32]: I can see your screen. Okay, so I um missed March meeting, uh, but [0:08:33, 0:08:38]: So we'll talk about March and April combined. Very uneventful. We did have a twenty-five dollar [0:08:38, 0:08:42]: Source of revenue. I think this was the option fee that um [0:08:43, 0:08:52]: we received from the surveying transaction that took place last year. So for the month of March, uh that was the only source of income, the twenty-five dollar option fee. [0:08:53, 0:09:01]: And we did not have um any uh unusual expenses, just the monthly forty dollar Zoom expense. So [0:09:02, 0:09:14]: For net income on the month of March of 15 net loss rather than$15. Um, April, uh no income, and then again the same$40 uh monthly. [0:09:14, 0:09:15]: Expanse per zone. [0:09:16, 0:09:36]: So year to date so far from January through April, we do have total revenues of$45,025, which consists of our intergovernmental uh grant from the city, as well as a$25 option fee or the sources of revenue and then expenses. So far, we've only incurred uh bank fee as well as the month fee. [0:09:36, 0:09:38]: monthly zone charge. [0:09:40, 0:09:46]: Net income year to date so far,$44,860. Any questions before I move on? [0:09:48, 0:09:49]: Okay. [0:09:50, 0:09:55]: Talk about our balance sheet here. Um, as it stands, as of April 30th, we do have. [0:09:56, 0:10:02]: And the facade grant checking account,$119,827.5. [0:10:03, 0:10:23]: In the operating accounts, we have$59,039 and eight cents. Um, this is for total cash balance of$178,866.13. I do want to make a note here that um these dollar amounts between the accounts. [0:10:23, 0:10:24]: Are gonna change. [0:10:25, 0:10:28]: Just a little, and that's because for whatever reason. [0:10:29, 0:10:40]: Um, we have a debit card by which we're paying multiple fees on, and that debit card is linked to the facade grant account instead of the operating account. [0:10:40, 0:10:47]: I initiated a request with the bank for another debit card, which we did receive. [0:10:47, 0:11:07]: And lo and behold, that card also is linked to the facade grant, although I specifically ask for a debit card for the operating account. So I just gonna go in and make the transfer each time the$40 comes out of the facade grant account, I just transfer it back into it out of the operating account. [0:11:07, 0:11:20]: So I won't let you know, let you know that if you see these numbers change, the facade grant, particularly right now, is just because there's$40 coming in and out as Zoom takes it out and then I put it back. [0:11:22, 0:11:25]: So that's our cash balance there. [0:11:25, 0:11:26]: Uh [0:11:26, 0:11:40]: Prior month was$178,906 and 13 cents, which is a$40 change from current month,$40 reduction. And again, that represents the monthly Zoom fee. [0:11:40, 0:11:48]: As far as upcoming expenses, I didn't put in, well, we have the monthly Zoom fee, but I have noticed that there is a$589 fee. [0:11:49, 0:11:50]: That [0:11:50, 0:11:53]: It's pending for Zoom. It won't happen until May. [0:11:53, 0:11:56]: Um and I think that's just out an annual fee. [0:11:56, 0:12:10]: Roger Matt correct, is that an annual fee that we pay for Zoom? That's that's right. The forty dollar monthly is the um the add-on for our data storage. Yeah. And the uh annual fee will will come in in May. That's right. [0:12:11, 0:12:17]: Um one other thing that's not here and I don't even know if we needed to vote to have this on the agenda, so we did please. [0:12:18, 0:12:25]: Tell me I'm out of order and we can address it there. Is um there's a couple of up couple upcoming DDA trainings. Um [0:12:26, 0:12:33]: I don't know if anyone else is interested. I did send out a correspondence. Uh it's been a while now, but I um got a confirmation. [0:12:33, 0:12:53]: Oh well yesterday that the fee is$275 and it's gonna be making August 24th or 25th. Um there is one that's happening in June, June 24th, unfortunately, that sold out very fast. So not even time to discuss or register, but for August 24th or [0:12:53, 0:12:54]: If I'll confirm. [0:12:54, 0:13:02]: That is$275 per attendee and the offering is a beginning beginning DDA training or advanced DDA training. [0:13:02, 0:13:05]: I know I am personally interested in in going. [0:13:05, 0:13:08]: So whatever the protocol is for that to [0:13:09, 0:13:27]: Maybe we need to add that to, I don't know, meeting next month or I don't know how if we need to vote on it, but I'm raising my hand that I do want to attend that. And so that could be a future upcoming expense for myself as well as anyone else who may want to attend. Um and that training is in August and Macon and it's a one-day training. [0:13:29, 0:13:30]: But if there are no other questions. [0:13:31, 0:13:35]: Um well are there any questions about the cash or the balance sheet? [0:13:36, 0:13:56]: Um let me, if I may, I'll go ahead and address the part about the training. What we've done in past years when we've had um especially offsite or significant expense, we come up with a not to exceed budget. And just for, you know, just for clarity and we put it on record in in in in advance that we'll say, you know, we'll approve a certain amount of budget for [0:13:56, 0:14:05]: Not to exceed a certain amount, and which of course uh stay within that. Um, the other thing, and and I would encourage [0:14:05, 0:14:25]: everyone to attend um you know and to keep the retraining of the of the DDA uh even if you know most all of us except for uh Ms. Merritt um has taken the DDA training. Most of us, I believe, has also taken the advanced training. But it's good to stay current with that because there's a lot of inf [0:14:25, 0:14:45]: Those courses are packed with information. It's important to remember all of the details so that we can do the best we can in developing the downtown. The other thing I'll add is we do need to allow for a certain amount of money for training for Ms. Merritt's training. [0:14:45, 0:15:00]: So she'll be required to take the training. And uh Vanessa, we normally um you and your team usually um you know check out what the next available training is and and the city staff helps to coordinate that. Is that is that right? [0:15:01, 0:15:10]: That's correct. I did hear Ms. Richardson say that you do want to attend a training in August. Miss Mary, will you be attending that training in August of 12? [0:15:10, 0:15:15]: And I believe Mr. Swiger said that he was attending, but I think he got in for June. Is that correct? [0:15:18, 0:15:20]: I'm assuming in June, yeah. [0:15:20, 0:15:25]: So have you already processed all of your paperwork or do we need to do that for you? [0:15:31, 0:15:34]: This was I think was the Dan McCrae training, which I believe is free. [0:15:35, 0:15:35]: Okay. [0:15:36, 0:15:36]: Yeah. [0:15:37, 0:15:41]: Yeah, I attended the Dan McCray training last month and it is free. [0:15:41, 0:15:44]: Okay, that's a different one, but correct. [0:15:44, 0:15:48]: The one that is required, especially for you, um [0:15:49, 0:15:50]: Miss Mary. [0:15:50, 0:15:51]: In order to be [0:15:52, 0:15:53]: Uh, current with the DCA. [0:15:54, 0:15:57]: guidelines is the training offered in making. [0:15:58, 0:15:58]: Okay. [0:15:59, 0:16:02]: Or either sometimes they do it in in um Athens. [0:16:03, 0:16:08]: Okay. But we'll get it we'll get it squared away for you and and get those kind of functions out to you. [0:16:09, 0:16:11]: Sounds good. I I should be available, August for sure. [0:16:24, 0:16:26]: All right, Barber, anything else? Go ahead. [0:16:26, 0:16:30]: I that if there are no questions, that concludes my report. [0:16:30, 0:16:35]: Very good, thank you. And uh we'll make sure to include that with the uh meeting notes. [0:16:36, 0:16:53]: All right, next on the agenda. Um I'm sorry. Oh yes, please go ahead. Yeah, the training for August, you sign up when for do we have the sign up when for August the training? You need to let me know as soon as possible because those seats do fill up quickly. [0:16:54, 0:16:55]: All right, so I'll [0:16:56, 0:16:57]: Okay, Ms. Holliday, I will get in touch with you. [0:16:58, 0:16:59]: Okay. [0:17:00, 0:17:06]: Van um Vanessa, may I may I do I need to send an email or me verbally saying I'm available is good enough. [0:17:07, 0:17:12]: Um, I've I've got a capture here in this vent in this meeting. Awesome. Yeah, me too. [0:17:13, 0:17:13]: All right, meetree. [0:17:14, 0:17:15]: Yeah, very good. [0:17:17, 0:17:20]: Thank you all. Anything else for uh the financial update? [0:17:23, 0:17:28]: All right. Uh we'll move on. Bob, uh you're next on the agenda with any secretary updates. [0:17:28, 0:17:30]: Uh don't have any at this time. [0:17:30, 0:17:44]: All right, very good. And um Main Street Advisory Boards, I believe Kira is out. So is Mr. Peterson. Um, so um Barber, do you have anything to share from the uh Main Street Advisory Board? [0:17:44, 0:18:00]: I do actually. Yeah, Kieran staff there currently attending the national conference that's taking place right now in uh I want to say Richmond, Virginia. But anyway, um a little bit of some bragging rights here, you know, we do the shop small business uh every year. [0:18:00, 0:18:06]: And um apparently there was a competition among the various shops called the cities and [0:18:07, 0:18:11]: We came in second, Stock Ridge Main Street came in second in the nation. [0:18:12, 0:18:18]: second in the nation. Um and so they won twenty five hundred dollars toward the current year campaign. [0:18:19, 0:18:33]: And they are currently having the opportunity to sit on a panel at the national conference to kind of share um some of their gems regarding how we run such a how they run a really great program here in Stockbridge. I mean so that that's huge. I don't know if anyone else. [0:18:33, 0:18:40]: as proud of them as I am, but I thought that was very, very big. Um in that same vein, uh the Ted Strickland. [0:18:41, 0:18:50]: uh build out. I think the interior demo has started. And so the expectation is it's probably going to be about 150-day completion. [0:18:50, 0:18:57]: 150 calendar day completion for that. Um, and so when that's done, you know, uh Main Street, I have an office and CDA, I have a home. [0:18:58, 0:19:01]: Um, and so that'll be you know a nice, nice little change there. [0:19:02, 0:19:03]: Um [0:19:03, 0:19:05]: June twenty first. [0:19:05, 0:19:07]: From four to seven. [0:19:07, 0:19:17]: There's going to be a stippency at the amphitheater, I believe, um, which is gonna be free for the community um for community members to come out, you know, if they wanna. [0:19:18, 0:19:24]: Come out, review the amphitheater, ask questions, you know, all the things that will take place June 21st. [0:19:25, 0:19:28]: And am I missing something else? [0:19:29, 0:19:30]: Um [0:19:30, 0:19:36]: kind of far in advance notice and I'm pretty sure we'll talk about it more as the date gets closer, but uh [0:19:36, 0:19:49]: Small business blitz will be taking place again. You know, the national award-winning program will be taking place again, but that starts November 1st through Small Business Saturday, which is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. [0:19:50, 0:19:53]: Um, so that's the updates that I have for now. [0:19:59, 0:20:01]: Thank you. Any questions for um for Barber? [0:20:04, 0:20:24]: All right. Um we'll move on to the next item. So with the uh facade grant update, um, so Bob and I, as well as uh Mr. Peterson, has been working on revising the uh facade grant program uh literature. So there's a couple I I shared this with you via email. Um so we have a new or or re [0:20:24, 0:20:42]: uh you know an updated um facade grant overview document. Well we cleaned out some redundant documents and then we've taken the overview document and up and and developed a new uh application. Before we post it out on the website, I wanted to just you know make sure this board [0:20:42, 0:20:47]: um has the opportunity to review and provide any comments on the revisions that were made. [0:20:48, 0:20:49]: Um the main [0:20:50, 0:21:10]: Changes that were made, I outlined in an email, they were to uh update the DDA name, which uh you might recall from our last meeting, we have um we we had to formalize the legal name uh of this DDA as the um downtown development authority of the city of Stockbridge. So that got clarified in the documentation. [0:21:10, 0:21:30]: We updated the um the planning commission also had a name can change, so we we made sure that was um fixed, um, fixed some broken hyperlinks. Um we included the updated DDA boundary map. Um we as far as the uh program changes. [0:21:29, 0:21:49]: There was only um two main points that were clarified, which is that the um the uh a DDA or excuse me a facade grant application um will expire in 12 months. So um uh you know that's just so that we don't have these open applications where we don't get [0:21:49, 0:22:09]: uh what's required from the business to get their uh reimbursement um open in perpetuity. Um and uh and and the other item was that reimbursements will be made once the receipts are provided and a site inspection is made. Um there was verbiage around that, but it wasn't a clear [0:22:09, 0:22:29]: Point. So we clarified that point. I'm hoping everyone has had a chance to review, or if not, do we want to go through? I'm happy to bring up the document and go to it in more detail, but I'd like to uh make a motion that we adopt the updated um that the DDA adopt the updated overview document as well as [0:22:29, 0:22:32]: the uh facade grant application. [0:22:33, 0:22:34]: Second. [0:22:35, 0:22:38]: Thank you, Bob. Any discussion or questions? [0:22:42, 0:22:50]: All right, seeing none, hearing none, let's uh go ahead and vote on that to adopt the changes uh with a raise of hand or please say yes. [0:22:51, 0:23:10]: And um all right, that looks to be unanimous. Thank you, everyone. I appreciate your support on that. So uh the next item I think well related to that, um Vanessa, if please let me know what you need from me or us as far as um making sure that the updated air review and application gets posted up on our website. [0:23:11, 0:23:31]: Okay, we we are ready to go. We just needed you all to vote on it on the very good. Thank you. Um great. The next item on the we'll move on to the next item, which is uh city staff updates. Uh Mr. Peterson is not here, so we'll move on to uh city council updates. Uh Councilman Alexander, uh you have the floor. [0:23:32, 0:23:36]: Hello everyone. Uh it's uh glad that everybody could join. [0:23:36, 0:23:42]: And I always like to start off by saying that I I value this meeting, your participation. [0:23:42, 0:23:45]: And I take them very seriously. And we're [0:23:46, 0:23:47]: Here to make sure that [0:23:47, 0:23:50]: We advance the needle and do everything possible to [0:23:51, 0:23:53]: uh in in enhance our downtown area [0:23:54, 0:23:58]: And I look at each one of us on this board as equal partners. [0:23:59, 0:24:01]: Uh in this year when we first started. [0:24:02, 0:24:04]: Uh I'll send out an email. [0:24:04, 0:24:06]: To challenge the council. [0:24:06, 0:24:10]: That each person here should be responsible for bringing [0:24:10, 0:24:20]: a business or multi or or multiple businesses to the city. That's what our goal is to for economic development. Economic development does not happen [0:24:20, 0:24:22]: Uh in a vacuum. [0:24:22, 0:24:24]: It happens in an intentional way. [0:24:24, 0:24:28]: For us all to be involved. Each and every one of us has. [0:24:28, 0:24:33]: people in our network that own businesses that should that could [0:24:33, 0:24:35]: And it should be in our downtown. [0:24:35, 0:24:37]: So when you're having a conversation. [0:24:38, 0:24:43]: And you're talking to your friend and your friend says, Man, I really like like to open up a restaurant. [0:24:43, 0:24:48]: And I've been thinking about that. Well, gee, have you ever thought about opening up a restaurant? [0:24:48, 0:24:58]: Uh in downtown Stockbridge. Did you know we were looking for restaurants and we have a dearth of restaurants in this area? There's so much opportunity. Uh maybe we should get together a [0:24:59, 0:25:09]: some sort of a promotional package or that we should entertain to make sure that folks understand what's uh available in the downtown area and what we have. [0:25:10, 0:25:21]: uh to offer because my my my measuring stick for our success is economic development. See, I had a great time at the Mars Day concert. [0:25:22, 0:25:27]: I had a really great time at the Patty LaBelle concert, but it's not about that. Okay. [0:25:27, 0:25:30]: We built and spent twenty three milyen dollars. [0:25:30, 0:25:46]: The everybody gets distracted by the fact that we're having a good time and we're partying. That's not what we're doing. That's not what the goal was. The goal is to is have to enhance economic development through social activities. So in in my mind, [0:25:47, 0:25:50]: If we close this year without significant [0:25:50, 0:25:54]: uh economic development in town in downtown after we spent [0:25:54, 0:25:57]: twenty three million dollars, we would not have succeeded. [0:25:58, 0:26:04]: So every day I'm looking at opportunities and see what we can do to bring additional businesses. [0:26:04, 0:26:06]: Uh to downtown. [0:26:06, 0:26:10]: You know, Mr. Peterson now is working on the opportunities on tax credit. [0:26:10, 0:26:14]: Which certainly would be an option, uh, a great tool. [0:26:14, 0:26:21]: to put in our mailbox in order to in our toolbox in order for us to attract new businesses. Because businesses [0:26:22, 0:26:24]: certainly could benefit from [0:26:24, 0:26:28]: uh the tax credit. We certainly had and think that we are on the inside track. [0:26:29, 0:26:32]: And that's going to happen for us. So we should be able to [0:26:32, 0:26:34]: Анонсте сам понят. [0:26:34, 0:26:37]: In the upcoming months. [0:26:37, 0:26:40]: In terms of overall c city [0:26:40, 0:27:00]: uh economic development activities. We the the bridges at Jodoko, I mean we've had a lot of talk about that. Uh our uh mixtures development at 975 and Jodoko Road. Uh for many years, I I I could write a book on all the things that have happened uh to keep Jotoko from moving forward. But [0:27:00, 0:27:00]: True. [0:27:01, 0:27:06]: Uh through our persistence excuse me and our determination to not [0:27:06, 0:27:08]: Литвис Прода проєкт. [0:27:09, 0:27:09]: Uh [0:27:10, 0:27:23]: falter. We have persisted and it is moving forward now. I was just over there today and they're laying a foundation for the 306 uh multifamily units of the apartments. These are [0:27:23, 0:27:30]: luxury apartment units which are best in class. They're what's called class A development. [0:27:30, 0:27:35]: Class A development means is best in class materials, technology. [0:27:35, 0:27:38]: uh and infrastructure being used in the project. [0:27:39, 0:27:43]: Uh you the amphitheater itself is a class A project. [0:27:43, 0:27:56]: Those projects, we like we, you know, we have a lot of times we have a discussion where folks say we like to see Whole Foods, we like to see top golf, we like to see these upscale restaurants there. Those upscale restaurants that you see. [0:27:57, 0:28:09]: Top Golf at Whole Foods, they build class A buildings. They want to be next to Class A development. So when you're creating a mixed use environment with Class A uh development. [0:28:09, 0:28:24]: then that help attract helps to attract those businesses. And again, you know, some people get hung up on, oh, those are apartments over there. Trust me, Whole Foods likes apartments. Okay. They certainly do. [0:28:24, 0:28:33]: Uh these upscale restaurants, they love they like apartments because and they like multi-use and they like density because they want people on the ground. [0:28:33, 0:28:35]: Who can walk? [0:28:35, 0:28:46]: shop and uh and and and use their business on a daily basis, not just have to travel to it. So that is the concept that's being set aside and put together at Johtaco. [0:28:46, 0:28:54]: They just started the ground clearing today, which is, you know, they're scraping, scraping the ground to make sure that they can put in the infrastructure necessary. [0:28:54, 0:28:58]: uh for the townhomes. Another class A project. [0:28:58, 0:29:01]: These will be brownstone town homes. [0:29:01, 0:29:05]: Uh that they're building over there. There will be the two and even three story. [0:29:05, 0:29:07]: Brownstone town homes, which will be [0:29:08, 0:29:09]: Uh you know. [0:29:09, 0:29:12]: units that are that's kind of it missing from the community. [0:29:12, 0:29:15]: We have a lot of single family homes. [0:29:15, 0:29:18]: We have mostly single family homes. [0:29:18, 0:29:20]: And then we don't have a lot of [0:29:20, 0:29:22]: A class A development. [0:29:22, 0:29:27]: uh such as these uh round stone because I I as a realtor I get this request of why don't we have [0:29:28, 0:29:31]: Uh nice town, brownstone town homes here. [0:29:31, 0:29:34]: Or or or larger scale town homes where [0:29:34, 0:29:38]: We can live on a property. Well, that's coming right there at Jodeco Road. [0:29:38, 0:29:42]: And I seventy five. And because uh the [0:29:42, 0:29:44]: The request has been from [0:29:45, 0:29:51]: the retailers that they were discussing this projects with, they wanted to see uh those um [0:29:51, 0:29:58]: They wanted to see those uh residents there on site before the uh the commercial component would move forward. [0:29:59, 0:30:00]: We are this close. [0:30:01, 0:30:02]: Let me repeat. [0:30:03, 0:30:07]: We're this close to lay landing a huge retailer. [0:30:08, 0:30:11]: That everybody wants to see in this community. [0:30:12, 0:30:21]: Hopefully within the next 30 days, I will be able to come back to this meeting and tell you who it is. But today I can't tell you it is. But because we built [0:30:21, 0:30:24]: The apartments and because we built the town homes and they seem [0:30:25, 0:30:31]: Uh this those two projects, the apartments represent a fifty million dollar investment in the city. [0:30:31, 0:30:38]: And then the townhomes recommend re uh represent another uh twenty to twenty-five million dollar investment. [0:30:38, 0:30:42]: uh on that same property so they've seen seventy five million dollars [0:30:42, 0:30:44]: an investment. So [0:30:44, 0:30:50]: Uh, the the uh uh the commercial retailers understand and see that they're very serious about building. [0:30:51, 0:30:56]: A high quality project, and the city has mandated that they build a high quality project. [0:30:56, 0:30:59]: through the development agreement that we established. [0:30:59, 0:31:00]: Uh with them. [0:31:01, 0:31:03]: But uh look out for that to be happening. [0:31:03, 0:31:11]: Uh very, very soon. Uh in our downtown area, if you watch and you follow the Stockbridge Police Department, um [0:31:12, 0:31:18]: page you'll see that they have started redevelopment uh on the North Henry uh police depart um [0:31:18, 0:31:19]: Precinct. [0:31:19, 0:31:22]: at forty five forty five North Henry Boulevard. [0:31:22, 0:31:32]: The council has uh endeavored to move forward that project. We allocated the funding out of the American Rescue Plan Funds. So you'll see a real a updated [0:31:33, 0:31:45]: state-of-the-art facility that this that will be approximately$3.9 million to$4 million an investment creating a modern um [0:31:45, 0:31:51]: police department where our officers will have the best technologically advanced equipment. [0:31:51, 0:31:54]: And out in uh that they deserve in order to be able to [0:31:55, 0:31:56]: move forward with standing up. [0:31:57, 0:32:07]: uh our police department downtown. So uh those are the latest uh course you know about the STEM school that represents a forty-five million dollar investment. [0:32:07, 0:32:20]: uh in downtown and the school board has, you know, they've always they've already started their design work in order to do, in order to put the project together and to make sure that uh it is delivered, invest in quite uh class. [0:32:21, 0:32:34]: form. If you go to uh downtown Stockbridge and you look at uh North Lee Street, South Lee Street, and East Atlanta Road, you see a lot of development, a lot of uh you know [0:32:35, 0:32:35]: Uh [0:32:35, 0:32:39]: grub work going on there. That's what we call it, which is they're doing a lot of uh [0:32:40, 0:32:42]: They're what they're adding a turn lane. [0:32:42, 0:32:49]: on East Atlanta Road. So if you used to coming down East Atlanta Road and getting to North Henry Boulevard and then everything is stacked up. [0:32:50, 0:32:57]: There's gonna be a full turn lane that will extend from North Henry Boulevard all the way back to the railroad line. [0:32:57, 0:33:00]: And that'll be uh able to assist in moving the traffic. [0:33:01, 0:33:04]: Along there, there will be a ten foot multi-use path. [0:33:04, 0:33:06]: along that side of the road. [0:33:06, 0:33:10]: On the other side of the road, there will also be a ten foot multi-use path. [0:33:10, 0:33:14]: Uh, there will be a in a uh deceleration lane for [0:33:14, 0:33:16]: You don't block traffic in order to turn. [0:33:17, 0:33:19]: uh into the amphitheater area. So that will be added. [0:33:20, 0:33:26]: uh as well on north lee street if you go down there now they're adding additional lane down there [0:33:26, 0:33:34]: And there everybody's always talking about parking for the amphitheater. There's gonna be new parking down there. There'll be two new lots. [0:33:34, 0:33:36]: Uh on North Um Lee Street. [0:33:36, 0:33:45]: to for for additional parking uh on the amphitheater campus. And again, uh we'll be having 10-foot multi-use paths. [0:33:45, 0:33:47]: uh for connectivity and walkability. [0:33:47, 0:33:54]: There will be street lights that will be added there at that intersection, as well as at [0:33:54, 0:34:05]: Uh if you go up to where Lee Street, which is right by First Baptist Church, meets North Henry Boulevard, you see the construction going on on both sides of the road. [0:34:05, 0:34:09]: The road is kind of off center right now. [0:34:09, 0:34:25]: What's going to happen is you see that we moved over, you see they're kind of cut out a new road. They're gonna line that intersection up. So it's a four-way uh intersection at that point. So there'll be four ways and there'll be a traffic signal that is placed there to help traffic be able to move through. [0:34:26, 0:34:27]: And then connect. [0:34:27, 0:34:36]: It's so fortunate that we had planned that project specifically for the amphitheater, but on the other side on South Lee Street, we got the uh [0:34:37, 0:34:43]: The new STEM school coming there, so it actually works out perfectly and falls in line with everything. [0:34:43, 0:34:45]: Uh that we're trying to do [0:34:45, 0:34:51]: uh at this particular uh intersection. And again, I will close by just simply saying is that [0:34:51, 0:34:57]: The council, the DDA, the Main Street, all of us are in this together. [0:34:57, 0:35:02]: And the way that I'm looking at it to grade us is to say it's if if if [0:35:03, 0:35:13]: We got empty storefronts downtown. So whatever we can do to fill those empty storefronts, that's our number one charge. That's how we should be grading ourselves on. [0:35:13, 0:35:17]: What we're doing in order to feel those storefronts with quality retail. [0:35:18, 0:35:20]: And I and I will close by simply saying is that [0:35:21, 0:35:23]: Interest in downtown. [0:35:23, 0:35:24]: Is that all? [0:35:25, 0:35:25]: Time [0:35:26, 0:35:26]: Hi. [0:35:26, 0:35:42]: Why? Because we invested in ourselves. We spent$20 million on the amphitheater. We're spending$18 million on the New Cultural Arts Center. And we have multiple offers on the table in order to do different things that you'll be hearing. [0:35:42, 0:35:43]: More about [0:35:44, 0:35:47]: You know, we we got offers that people coming to the table. [0:35:48, 0:35:51]: That've been watching Stock Bridge for months on end. [0:35:51, 0:35:55]: To see what they could do. All the things that we've been planning on doing. [0:35:55, 0:35:59]: These individuals want to come to the table, have made proposals. [0:35:59, 0:36:03]: In order to do that, to have the restaurants, to have the shops. [0:36:03, 0:36:06]: To have entertainment and everything downtown. [0:36:06, 0:36:10]: So at this point we're weighing multiple offers in order to do [0:36:10, 0:36:14]: Exactly what we've been planning on doing with the Liberal Centers Initiative. [0:36:14, 0:36:18]: And it's exciting when folks are sitting down and they're talking to you. [0:36:18, 0:36:19]: About [0:36:19, 0:36:24]: Uh potentially investing seventy five miljun to a hundred milyen dollars in downtown. [0:36:25, 0:36:26]: And those let those [0:36:27, 0:36:37]: numbers were quoted to us in the meeting that we had. So the interest is is high right now. So you when you're talking to people about getting in the downtown Stockbridge. [0:36:37, 0:36:43]: They need to get in now because getting in later is gonna be a lot more expensive later on down the road. [0:36:43, 0:36:44]: 'Cause it's like [0:36:45, 0:36:54]: You see everything coming, all uh you know once their interest starts, everybody will start coming in, buying up the land, making it more expensive, buying up the buildings. [0:36:54, 0:36:57]: was right now is relatively inexpensive. [0:36:57, 0:37:00]: But once the major players start coming. [0:37:00, 0:37:02]: It's gonna be hard to get in, and so [0:37:02, 0:37:06]: And we certainly want to make sure that we encourage mom and pop businesses. [0:37:06, 0:37:07]: uh to occur. [0:37:07, 0:37:08]: Uh on this wall. [0:37:09, 0:37:13]: And I think I'm I'm I'm thinking that we finally gonna be able to turn over [0:37:13, 0:37:15]: A a full deed to Mr. Sauvain. [0:37:16, 0:37:18]: And get him uh going on his project. [0:37:19, 0:37:19]: Um [0:37:20, 0:37:24]: Uh at the fire station'cause I think we finally executed everything that we needed to do. [0:37:25, 0:37:31]: Uh on our side. And now I think we're just waiting to be able to turn that over to them because it's very important that. [0:37:31, 0:37:33]: When business is brought to us. [0:37:34, 0:37:35]: That we handle it efficiently. [0:37:36, 0:37:40]: And that we do what's necessary to get that business because you know we as a business person. [0:37:41, 0:37:43]: When you're trying to open your doors every day. [0:37:43, 0:37:49]: that it takes to open your door is a day you lost revenue or the day that you lost opportunity. [0:37:50, 0:37:50]: So [0:37:51, 0:37:54]: That's uh my update for right now, but trust me, things are [0:37:54, 0:38:06]: really, really vacant right now. And the reason that they are is because everybody here on the council, the DDA, and the Main Street have been working toward one goal, economic development and jobs. [0:38:11, 0:38:19]: Thank you, Councilman, and uh appreciate the encouraging news. Um, anybody have any questions or comments for Councilman Alexander? [0:38:20, 0:38:39]: I do, I do. This is Frangela. I have a question for you, Councilman Alexander. Um just one very simple one. I just want to make sure I was clear. You definitely uh we definitely want to welcome small mom and pop businesses for downtown, but also um the question is also in the JohtoCo development as well. [0:38:41, 0:38:50]: Sure, there will be uh boutique space. First of all, what will happen uh in the uh multi unit apartments that they're building, they're looking for [0:38:51, 0:38:53]: Small businesses that will be located. [0:38:53, 0:38:58]: You know,'cause on the top they're gonna have the residential and then on the bottom on the corners. [0:38:58, 0:39:00]: on of the project they will have. [0:39:01, 0:39:21]: uh boo boutique root retail space. So they're looking for somebody who wants to open up a bakery, somebody who'll open up a laundry cleaners, uh, somebody who wants to open up specialty shop, those type of retail uh that that that residents can use right there on the property. They're looking for that right now. They'll be looking [0:39:21, 0:39:22]: for that right now and [0:39:22, 0:39:26]: They are on an aggressive timetable. They're telling us that they plan on being open. [0:39:27, 0:39:41]: by the end of the year or the first of uh first quarter of next year, which would be very ambitious, but but that's what that that's what they're quoting us. So they're looking for that now. So if anybody's trying to get in there looking for those uh again, laundry m laundry. [0:39:42, 0:39:44]: Cleaners, not a laundry matter, cleaners. [0:39:44, 0:39:50]: but a or a bakery or a unique type of uh retail business, they certainly are looking for you. [0:39:51, 0:39:52]: Okay, thank you. [0:39:55, 0:39:57]: Any other questions or comments for the councilman? [0:40:00, 0:40:12]: All right. Um before we move on to new business, I neglected to cover a couple of items and I in my opening comments that I do want to put on record. Um uh Councilman Alexander mentioned one of them, the Sylvain. [0:40:12, 0:40:13]: Um [0:40:14, 0:40:19]: uh transaction you remember in our last meeting we uh voted to adopt the um uh [0:40:19, 0:40:22]: Um intergovernmental agreement. [0:40:22, 0:40:42]: Uh that has been uh signed by all parties. It is back with the uh, I believe our attorney, and we're waiting for the final executed documents to be um distributed. So uh just wanna note that that's that was taken care of since our last meeting. Uh the other thing I'd like to mention is that the um [0:40:42, 0:41:01]: And I'd mentioned this a couple of meetings ago, the annual uh required reporting from the Department of Community Affairs. We had learned a few months ago that um the prior year's reports were not done by the DDA. So I I do want to mention I have submitted. [0:41:02, 0:41:06]: All of the required reports from year two thousand and eighteen. [0:41:07, 0:41:08]: All the way through [0:41:08, 0:41:23]: fiscal 2021. Um so that's four years of reports. They're all uploaded to the Department of Community Affairs with the with the valid figure. So that's up to date as well. You might recall the relationship there. You might remember the um [0:41:25, 0:41:45]: Presentation from the DCA representative who spoke to us about the uh revolving loan funds. And this was a predecessor activity that had to happen before we could be eligible for the revolving loan form. So that is now taken care of. And I just want to make sure everyone is aware of that and that that's on record. [0:41:45, 0:41:49]: So it's it's called the AARF, the annual authority. [0:41:51, 0:41:57]: Registration and financial report, AARF. [0:41:57, 0:41:58]: Any questions on that? [0:42:01, 0:42:21]: All right, we'll move on to new business. Um, I regret to inform everybody, I've mentioned this to most of you, that uh Samikwa King, who's a DDA uh member, has um had to resign. She has moved out of the area, so she is no longer eligible to serve on the DDA, um, as you all might recall from. [0:42:21, 0:42:22]: [2542.4, 2562.4]: Uh there's two main requirements to serve on the one of either requirement to serve on the DDA, you either need to own a business in the downtown district or you need to be a resident in the city of in the greater city of Stockbridge. Um, not including the councilman. Uh that's that's a special exception if you're part of the authority, part of the uh [0:42:42, 0:43:02]: uh sponsoring um government entity. Um so I'd like to formalize that. So she sent me a text and I asked her to send an email. I don't believe she was able to do that. So I'd like to just put on record that um and uh that I've received notice of her resignation. [0:43:02, 0:43:12]: And I want to acknowledge that on record here with uh in in the public meeting. Is is there any questions or comments about uh some equal kings resignation? [0:43:14, 0:43:18]: Uh but also just just to we thank her for her uh service to the D DA. [0:43:18, 0:43:38]: Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you for uh thank you for saying that. Um Bob, you're right. And she she served on a couple of different committees and uh gave uh you know an above and beyond time and uh effort on uh serving on this on this board. So we do appreciate that. Thank you. All right. Um [0:43:38, 0:43:58]: We've covered that, covered that. We'll move on to the uh DDA legal name. So I sent some documents. Uh this is just really a cleanup from the last um meeting where you might recall with the Sylvain uh boundary clarification, it was found that there was various legal names used for this DDA. [0:43:58, 0:44:18]: In past legal records. Our attorneys has clarified that through the intergovernmental agreement. I believe there was a certifying document, Vanessa, that you were asked to sign to clarify the DDA's name as Downtown Development Authority of the City of Stockbridge. [0:44:18, 0:44:38]: Um yeah, so that's all taken care of. The only remaining item on that is to adopt a what's called a trade name. Um so that's that's what the last document I sent to this board um last Saturday. Uh that's a long phrase, Downtown Development Authority of the City of Stockholm. [0:44:38, 0:44:58]: Stock bridge. So we wanted something a little bit more uh marketable to put on our letterhead and so forth. So um I'd like to propose, make a motion that we adopt the trade name of Developing Downtown Stockbridge as our trade name. Our legal name is still the, you know, the eight words, but uh [0:44:58, 0:45:13]: And uh we can use that allows us to use a trade name in our literature and our marketing and so forth. And it still refers to this uh legal entity. So let me um let me pause for any questions or comments uh on on that um before we make a motion. [0:45:13, 0:45:15]: Yeah, can you put excuse me? [0:45:16, 0:45:28]: Uh can you put the document uh put the put the the illustration up so everybody can see it absolutely so that um be helpful just one moment so resolution [0:45:36, 0:45:40]: All right, let me clear this. Uh share screen. [0:45:44, 0:45:47]: All right, if someone can confirm you can see the screen. [0:45:48, 0:45:49]: Yes. Yes. [0:45:51, 0:45:53]: To operate under a trade name. [0:45:55, 0:46:00]: So this I believe had to be accepted by both. [0:46:01, 0:46:11]: the city council as well as the DDA in order for it to be valid. And since it was a material change from what we presented to you in our last meeting. [0:46:11, 0:46:26]: Um, I was advised that we needed to bring it up as a motion and recorded in the meeting minutes to not use it. And the council did pass it, certainly. Yeah. Very good. And here's the trade name, developing downtown Stockbridge. [0:46:26, 0:46:40]: And um and this is really it's not a very long one. It just says that uh I'm I'm not gonna attempt to read it to you, but um, you know, it basically gives the gives the notice an authority to to to operate under this name. [0:46:47, 0:46:48]: Sounds good. [0:46:49, 0:46:53]: All right. Any other questions or comments? [0:46:55, 0:47:00]: Yeah. Go ahead, Barber. Sorry. Will we have to change anything um at the bank? [0:47:02, 0:47:17]: Oh, that's a great question. Um, we need to check the the the the bank should align with the formal name of downtown development authority of the city of Stockbridge. Right. [0:47:17, 0:47:26]: And Barber, you bring up a great point. I think that is a follow-up activity. We're probably gonna need to go down there and make sure that this [0:47:27, 0:47:31]: The the long legal name is what's reflected in our bank records. [0:47:31, 0:47:37]: Yeah,'cause right now our checks um have Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority. That's right. [0:47:38, 0:47:39]: Yeah. [0:47:40, 0:47:55]: So um great point. Um that is a follow-up activity. We will note as an action item to uh change the legal name at the bank. And Barber, maybe you and I can um do that together and we'll take care of that before our next meeting if that's uh if all right with all right with you. [0:47:59, 0:48:08]: We can maybe straighten out the debit card for uh moving to the facade grant while we're there. All right, any other points or questions? [0:48:10, 0:48:17]: All right. Well, not hearing any, I would like to make the motion that we adopt the trade name of Developing Downtown Stockbridge. [0:48:21, 0:48:25]: I think I heard it from Bob first. Uh so Bob second of the motion. Any other further discussion? [0:48:27, 0:48:34]: All those in favor, please raise your hand or say yes. All right. It looks to be unanimous. Thank you so much. Appreciate that. [0:48:35, 0:48:55]: Yeah, clear that. And uh the next item is um well, we did the facade grant changes. I think that's here. We did that already. Um, and then we did I did we did modify the agenda to talk about the social media campaign. [0:48:55, 0:49:15]: Campaign proposal. So let me bring that up and let's talk about that for a few minutes. As for those of you who attended the last meeting, you may recall that we had a proposal from a firm who responded to our request for proposal for a social media campaign firm. [0:49:15, 0:49:26]: And uh this was the um this was the pricing that we we had not received pricing, so we couldn't vote on it. This is the pricing that we received. It um [0:49:27, 0:49:37]: As you can see, there's different tier levels. 3250 a month was the lowest level. That amounts to what really is the entire. [0:49:38, 0:49:58]: funding that we receive for the city. So I'm not in a position to even make a motion to adopt this because we don't have the budget for it. Um, but I do want to at least open it up for discussion as far as what we might be able to do and you know what our our next steps might be. So um I welcome any comments or thoughts on [0:49:58, 0:49:58]: On this? [0:50:01, 0:50:09]: Chairman, I do have a question about this. When you mentioned we don't have the budget for, do we have a any budget for? [0:50:10, 0:50:11]: Anything? [0:50:11, 0:50:15]: But you know that we can uh I guess a la carte maybe taking advantage of that. [0:50:16, 0:50:36]: Right. Um, so we have not earmarked specific budget for for marketing. Um, you know, that we do prepare a budget around, you know, towards the end of the summer for each fiscal year. Um, but we do have an operating account. And as you saw in the financials early in this meeting, you know, we do have uh [0:50:36, 0:50:37]: Substantial. [0:50:37, 0:50:56]: um reserve if you will on in in our financials but from this being you know like in a subscription uh perspective uh or you know a service oriented perspective it wouldn't you know it would you know obviously would deplete that and would not be sustainable unless we have unless we change our funding mechanisms. [0:50:59, 0:51:05]: add a little context to the reserve uh just um for especially for a new member [0:51:05, 0:51:10]: Um the our operating budget annually is$20,000. [0:51:11, 0:51:24]: Um and the reason why we have an observer is because we're just coming out of two years of, you know, we've all been in the the COVID situation. So um the benefit of that is that we just haven't really spent any money. Um [0:51:25, 0:51:33]: But that's kind of, you know, not kind of, but that's where the reserve comes from. But just so you know, um, twenty thousand dollars is what we [0:51:34, 0:51:36]: Um half an operating funds a year. [0:51:38, 0:51:38]: Yeah. [0:51:39, 0:51:41]: It's good information. Thank you. [0:51:42, 0:51:50]: Yeah, um what I'm gonna say that this is generally this this is this would be like if she was running the social media for the whole city. [0:51:50, 0:52:02]: Not not not what we're doing. This is certainly not in l not what I was expecting. I was I was certainly wasn't expecting anything nearly to this. Maybe we just ni need to form a committee. [0:52:02, 0:52:11]: Uh maybe Mr. Peterson and then a couple of the members on the board to just try to'cause we don't really have that much going on in order for us to [0:52:11, 0:52:13]: Um do this, I think. [0:52:13, 0:52:18]: Uh generally what we'll need to do is just kind of post updates on what we're doing. [0:52:18, 0:52:32]: uh as a unit, uh our meetings, that kind of thing, uh the basics, and then uh some updates on general uh things like if we have an event or something like that. So uh I'm not sure what the [0:52:32, 0:52:47]: what this was all um entailing, but it's certainly m way overkill than what we we're looking for. So certainly I think we need to shove this and look at maybe forming a committee of our members in order to do something with this. [0:52:48, 0:52:57]: Council Councilman Alexander, I actually agree with you. I I'm just doing the math just very quickly and I'm thinking uh aligned with uh a salary, right? If we would actually [0:52:57, 0:53:04]: You know, paid someone to do this for a year, the most expensive package is like 54,000. My math is a little bit off, you know. [0:53:05, 0:53:08]: Um at least 39,000. It's that's excessive. [0:53:08, 0:53:17]: You know, but I I do have another question about that. Is there a way we can we definitely can build a committee for it, but is there a way we can actually have maybe interns? [0:53:18, 0:53:19]: Certainly. Yeah. [0:53:21, 0:53:22]: Okay. [0:53:25, 0:53:26]: Other thoughts? Go ahead. [0:53:27, 0:53:32]: I really um because I was thinking along the same when Councilman Alexander mentioned earlier in the meeting about. [0:53:33, 0:53:53]: putting together some sort of promotional materials. I really, um, I really like that idea. Um, because to his point, if we're out and we're networking or just even in our own warm circles and these types of opp conversations come up, opportunities for these conversations come up, it would be really nice to not only have the discussion, but have something we can leave [0:53:53, 0:54:13]: With someone, you know, for more consideration about coming into our downtown area. I'm not the most creative on the CPA by trade, but however, I would be more than willing to serve on, you know, a committee that we can whatever we need to do to start spearheading, getting more of the communication out there about our downtown area. [0:54:13, 0:54:17]: So I'll be willing to serve, but I'm not creative. [0:54:18, 0:54:18]: Okay. [0:54:21, 0:54:29]: All right, that's great. Thank you. Um, is there anyone else who might be interested to uh participate in a committee as councilman has suggested? [0:54:30, 0:54:31]: Yes. [0:54:32, 0:54:37]: Thank you, Bob. I would yeah. And and and like like Barber, I'm not creative either. So uh [0:54:38, 0:54:58]: Well, I think that's why we would uh look to uh some outside help for this. But I liked your idea, Ms. Merritt, about the um, you know, interns or other other possible um, you know, options that are out there. I think if you get creative in the sense of how you source something like this, then you know you there might be other ways of moving forward. Um [0:54:58, 0:55:18]: Let me offer one more thought related to this. Well, a couple more thoughts. First of all, I really did like the presentation that was done by this firm. She seemed very much engaged with working with the, you know, with her work with the city of Stone Mountain. [0:55:18, 0:55:32]: Mountain, um, and as far as you know, providing engaging content, that all seemed very much in line with what I think would be beneficial for us. Um, obviously, we don't have the budget for the scale of a of a proposal, but [0:55:32, 0:55:38]: I'm thinking if we were to maybe go back to her with the idea of a um [0:55:39, 0:55:56]: uh some form of an a la carte support um and specifically targeting the facade grant program. Now that we've revised the facade grant application and the program, we've got a sizable fund. Councilman, as you said, [0:55:56, 0:55:59]: Um in a prior meeting. Um [0:55:59, 0:56:19]: We don't want that budget to be just sitting there. We want we want that budget to go to the business owners in our downtown district so that they can improve the facades and really step up the uh uh the look and the experience of uh of the downtown district. So I'm I'm I'm thinking if maybe we consider utilizing this firm on in an all-cost. [0:56:19, 0:56:31]: part basis, but targeted specifically for the um uh facade grant. Um that's an idea I thought I would uh just share with you all and and see what you see what your reaction is. [0:56:33, 0:56:34]: I agree. [0:56:35, 0:56:35]: Mm. [0:56:40, 0:56:42]: Yeah, I I agree. I I think that's a good idea. [0:56:43, 0:56:44]: Very good. [0:56:45, 0:56:48]: Um so uh we have um [0:56:48, 0:56:55]: Barber and Bob as um potential committee members for the media um campaign. Um [0:56:56, 0:56:58]: Fran might you be interested as well. [0:56:59, 0:57:06]: You know, I'd I'd I have a problem with saying no, but I mean I would love to. I'm just thinking I'm just thinking about my bandwidth right now. Um [0:57:07, 0:57:12]: I I think I I think I will definitely love to to help out. I'm not a creative as well. I actually [0:57:13, 0:57:17]: have to depend on somebody to help me out with social media for my own organization. So [0:57:17, 0:57:18]: But I I have some. [0:57:18, 0:57:21]: I have some tips, maybe. All right. [0:57:21, 0:57:36]: Well, um if it's all right with everyone, let me reach out to um this um this uh this firm, um a very nice lady and and ask her if she, you know, what that might look like and maybe describe what [0:57:37, 0:57:44]: a marketing campaign targeted specifically the facade grant. And I'm thinking, you know, it might be something like, you know. [0:57:45, 0:57:46]: Some type of [0:57:46, 0:57:50]: hand flyer brochure type of thing so that you know if we went door to door and [0:57:51, 0:58:11]: know handed them and spoke to the business owner saying, you know, if you improve the facade, you can you can get 50%, you know, grant from this, you know, from the DDA. Um that that would help sort of you know promote the program. So if it's all right, I'll you know see if maybe that's uh in line with what she's interested in doing and maybe provide uh [0:58:11, 0:58:18]: uh cost proposal on that. And then that can be a basing a launching board from which we can proceed. [0:58:19, 0:58:25]: Yeah. Yeah, I see this little small print that says a la carte twenty five hundred minimum. [0:58:25, 0:58:26]: Yeah. [0:58:28, 0:58:35]: It's kind of Yeah. Yeah, I mean for me that would seem reasonable. I mean just to print up brochures and things like that, that's [0:58:35, 0:58:46]: You know, I mean that's not, you know, to do the design and do the print and so forth, that's that's not that's not out that's not from my experience, that doesn't seem to be out of line. [0:58:47, 0:58:50]: But yeah, good point. [0:58:50, 0:58:51]: Any other discussion on this? [0:58:52, 0:58:53]: Um [0:58:54, 0:58:58]: Not on this, but on this. I don't know if this is a good place. [0:58:58, 0:58:59]: Um [0:59:00, 0:59:20]: In in line with this, I kind of want to put Councilman Alexander on the spot if he may. Um, would you be would you I I would like to because again, when I came on the board, we were in the middle of of a pandemic. So um I know what downtown is, I know where it's at, my office is down there. But um I would like if if you're open to it, councilman. [0:59:20, 0:59:25]: to do a walkthrough if we can just kind of meet up one day and walk through downtown. [0:59:26, 0:59:31]: Um and kind of just kind of talk idea, vision in terms of, you know. [0:59:31, 0:59:44]: what that looks like when the when the DDA actually starts bringing in more businesses to economic development. And I'd invite anybody else on the board, you know, we can do it as a board, but I would really like a tangible hands-on walkthrough. [0:59:45, 0:59:53]: our downtown. And I know that I think the boundaries would will recently change. So I I don't even know physically, visually, if I even really [0:59:54, 1:00:01]: know what those new boundaries are. So I would love that if you have the capacity to do that with me and others. [1:00:01, 1:00:12]: Well, certainly we could all do that as a group, but there is a video that actually exists where we did a presentation um with a group of business owners before we did a tour. [1:00:13, 1:00:15]: Of the amphitheater talking about [1:00:15, 1:00:21]: Uh those very things, the vision and all of that. As far as physically walking down there, we didn't do that. We just [1:00:21, 1:00:24]: Talked about we we have a city presentation that [1:00:24, 1:00:42]: talks about downtown, what the vision is and those kind of things. So certainly, but we could certainly get together as a group and uh actually do a walkthrough. That's one of the things I was gonna suggest that we do too, is that at at least once or twice a year we you we come we we we invite [1:00:42, 1:00:44]: businesses into downtown. [1:00:44, 1:00:50]: Uh we have them uh have a meeting or function at the amphitheater. [1:00:51, 1:00:57]: Like we did. That's how we got the STEM school here because we had a meeting, we invited the school board, we invited some business owners. [1:00:57, 1:01:00]: They came in, everybody got all excited. [1:01:00, 1:01:01]: That's our carrot right there. [1:01:02, 1:01:06]: So what we would do under the D D under the downtown development authority. [1:01:07, 1:01:08]: Umbrella is that we would have [1:01:09, 1:01:13]: A economic development meeting or summit or [1:01:13, 1:01:16]: or a get together where we invite business owners in. [1:01:16, 1:01:34]: And we would make we would have Mr. Peterson and the staff and our member our members uh talk to them about the vision of what downtown is and what we want to uh actually do. Uh before that, of course, we would get together as a group in order to review what the presentation was going to be. [1:01:34, 1:01:44]: and and what have you, but certainly uh there is a video that talks about uh all of these uh various items. I had to get with uh our um [1:01:44, 1:01:57]: administrative assistant to make sure that they pull it up because the video is kind of long, but in it is a tour of the amphitheater. And if I can find a link of it, I'll send it to Mr. Custon so he can send it out because it's posted on YouTube. Yeah. [1:01:58, 1:02:02]: We did get to tour the amphitheater and it's it it's a beauty. We we didn't have it. [1:02:03, 1:02:06]: Yeah. Absolutely absolutely. In the presentation we talked about, I think. [1:02:07, 1:02:14]: Say again. I think that was you. You set that up for us, didn't you last year the BDA when we got a chance to view the amphitheater? [1:02:14, 1:02:21]: we had several different tours that could go along and I think we just got together with the city manager in order to [1:02:21, 1:02:31]: to get it done. But certainly we want to be able to do that and then talk about we talk about all of the components in in in the in the downtown area. So certainly when [1:02:32, 1:02:34]: When the group wants to do that, we can kind of do that. [1:02:35, 1:02:38]: Uh y'all just need to let me know when that is. So [1:02:38, 1:02:43]: Uh we can get together and do that with Mr. Peterson and uh uh make it happen. [1:02:43, 1:02:44]: Mm-hmm. [1:02:44, 1:02:50]: One uh one quick question to go along with this. I know uh Councilman Alex Alexander had recommended t-shirts. [1:02:51, 1:02:57]: Do we have a budget for those things so that we can get T shirts, so that we can be, you know, we're gonna be doing that. [1:02:57, 1:03:01]: Uh, especially when you say they have an event at the amphitheater or other events. [1:03:01, 1:03:06]: And we can wear a T shirt just as a way of unity and showing that we separate from the crowd. [1:03:06, 1:03:08]: I say a polos, but we'll [1:03:09, 1:03:29]: Well we're gonna have both of them like when we're doing like a field outing or something like that where we're walking downtown or something like that, we might might have a t-shirt, but for like a fish. Yeah, polo shirt. No, I mean I just call everything t-shirt, but polo shirts are good. Right, right, right. I don't say we do we have a budget for [1:03:29, 1:03:33]: That's what I'm asking. I'm asking the uh president, Mr. Cush. [1:03:34, 1:03:54]: Well, I I don't think it's specifically earmarked, but um, you know, with the approval of the board, um that could be um, you know, we could we would come up with the budget of what we think it would cost and then with everyone's approval, then as long as we have the funds, we can we could proceed with something like that for sure. I would add I would add to that idea uh business cards, but also [1:03:54, 1:03:56]: So um [1:03:56, 1:04:00]: With the new name that we just adopted. [1:04:00, 1:04:11]: Um I am I I should mention that I am working to see if we can get permission from the city of Stockbridge to leverage some form, maybe the branding. [1:04:12, 1:04:32]: uh package, if you will, of the where community connects and be able to adopt a version of that specifically for developing downtown Stockbridge for the DDA specifically. And so I would I would ask that maybe we time that such that we get a new logo, we get a new tagline or whatever. And then then we [1:04:32, 1:04:38]: And we can apply that to the polo shirts and or business cards. Right, right, right. [1:04:39, 1:04:41]: Sound like a plan. [1:04:41, 1:04:42]: Very good. [1:04:43, 1:04:44]: Other thoughts? [1:04:45, 1:05:05]: All right. That brings us to old business. And um I I really don't have um much to cover here, but I'll I'll share with you what I know. The uh Georgia Tech market study that is in progress. Um Mr. Peterson did give me an update that he and uh Emily with Georgia Tech has provided all of the data needed for the analysis. [1:05:05, 1:05:25]: Analysis. They will also be looking into more detailed data on the companies in the area, community assets and facilities, and specific developments such as the bridges of Jodico that Councilman mentioned, and begin to make recommendations to write the final report. And that's due by the [1:05:25, 1:05:38]: end of June. So we I don't know if we'll have anything preliminary by our June meeting, but we should have that certainly by our July meeting. So that's all I have on the Georgia Tech market study. [1:05:39, 1:05:59]: I don't have any further updates on well, I will mention that the downtown strategic work plan, there was a the beautification meeting did um did meet last week, which I attended. Um and they were uh we're looking at um ideas on how to um add vibrancy to the downtown. Um and [1:05:59, 1:06:19]: And Kira did um go through some of the detail of the um build-out on the uh um Ted Strickland uh building. And the last item under all business I have is uh the committee to draft the intergovernmental agreement. Um that has been submitted over to the city. I'm awaiting response. [1:06:19, 1:06:33]: from the uh city, city council and uh the attorneys as to whether they have any edits to that uh and or whether or not that would be adopted. Uh councilman, do you know anything uh about the uh uh standing IGA that we've uh drafted? [1:06:33, 1:06:38]: Uh no, and I had to get an update from the attorneys. They're they're in their hands. [1:06:39, 1:06:50]: Very good. And that's all that we have on our agenda today. We'll uh we'll go ahead and open up the floor for any any other um comments or discussion before before we close the meeting. [1:06:57, 1:07:06]: All right. Then with that, um we could hear a motion to uh close the meeting. [1:07:07, 1:07:08]: Removed. [1:07:08, 1:07:09]: All right. Thank you, Bob. [1:07:10, 1:07:10]: Second. [1:07:11, 1:07:15]: Thank you, Maxwell. And uh any discussion? [1:07:17, 1:07:20]: All right, all those in favor to adjourn, please raise your hand. [1:07:21, 1:07:25]: Very good. That looks unanimous. Thank you, everyone. I appreciate your support. Have a great evening. [1:07:26, 1:07:33]: Welcome again. Welcome. Welcome, Mass. Great to be. Absolutely. Welcome. [1:07:33, 1:07:35]: Thank you. I'll see y'all soon. [1:07:35, 1:07:36]: But