2023-02-21 · City Council · Transcript · Downtown Development Authority

--- title: Downtown Development Authority date: 2023-02-21 source: 2023-02-21_Downtown_Development_Authority.wav --- [0:00:02, 0:00:12]: Uh good evening. This is the uh February regular meeting for the uh Downtown Development Authority for the City of Stockbridge. Um we'll go ahead and get started with the roll call. [0:00:15, 0:00:18]: Okay, uh Councilman Alexander. [0:00:21, 0:00:22]: Uh Roger Custon. [0:00:22, 0:00:23]: Present. [0:00:24, 0:00:25]: Brian Merritt. [0:00:25, 0:00:26]: Present. [0:00:26, 0:00:28]: Barber Richardson. [0:00:30, 0:00:31]: Next will Sears [0:00:34, 0:00:36]: Bob Swigert is here and [0:00:36, 0:00:38]: Uh, do you go by Robert or Bob Anderson? [0:00:39, 0:00:41]: Uh good by Bob. [0:00:41, 0:00:43]: Okay, well that's why Bob Anderson. [0:00:43, 0:00:45]: You see her, obviously. Welcome aboard. [0:00:45, 0:00:46]: Well, thank you. [0:00:48, 0:00:49]: Um [0:00:50, 0:00:51]: Did I leave anybody out? No. [0:00:52, 0:01:08]: I don't think so, but thank you. And also for the record, we also have joining us uh Vanessa Holliday, City Clerk, and uh Kira uh Harris Braggs. Um and with um four members present, we do have a quorum. [0:01:08, 0:01:10]: And I see that Houseman Alexander's just joined. [0:01:13, 0:01:15]: Councilman, thank you for joining. [0:01:15, 0:01:16]: We just did roll call. [0:01:17, 0:01:18]: Mm-hmm. [0:01:19, 0:01:39]: And uh with that, we'll start off with um approving today's agenda. We have um a rather full agenda this evening, I will say, um, but we also would like to uh request that we um amend the agenda to include uh guest speaker uh Reggie Sylvain. He is uh [0:01:39, 0:01:59]: He's actually a local businessman and has purchased several properties in the downtown district. And I'd like to ask the board's consideration for allowing him to speak to us so we can have kind of a Q<unk>A and hear of his plans. I'm proposing that we do that. [0:01:58, 0:02:12]: uh following the uh guest speaker ariel shaw who is the uh citywide uh development authority so that would be after the um chairman's comments so that would be a new item uh four [0:02:13, 0:02:13]: Um [0:02:14, 0:02:34]: Other than that, I would like to also amend the or or or clarify on the agenda uh at the end of the meeting to have a uh closed session to discuss real estate. It's regarding the uh TSW master plan, which includes some um real estate considerations for the DDA to [0:02:34, 0:02:43]: Uh review. We have a draft version of the plan that I've shared with the DEA, and I'd like to use that time to review the details of that. [0:02:43, 0:02:56]: Um so just to uh summarize, I'd like to make a motion to amend the agenda to add guest speaker Reggie Sylvain, and secondly to enter closed session for um [0:02:56, 0:02:58]: Real estate matters. [0:02:58, 0:02:59]: Second. [0:03:00, 0:03:02]: Thank you, Councilman. Any discussion? [0:03:05, 0:03:07]: All right. All those in favor, please raise your hand. [0:03:09, 0:03:25]: All right, thank you. That's emailist. We'll move on to the next item, which is to approve the uh November 15th and January 10th meeting minutes. Um those have been sent out via email. So I'll go ahead and make a motion to approve uh both of those meeting minutes. [0:03:26, 0:03:27]: Okay. [0:03:29, 0:03:31]: Thank you, Mr. Swiger. Any discussion? [0:03:34, 0:03:54]: All right, all those in favor, raise your hand to approve the minutes. And so um Mr. Mr. Anderson, you you may want to um I don't know that I've shared them with you, um, so you may want to abstain from this particular vote, um, just because you haven't had the chance to see the minutes and and you're you may have seen the meeting. [0:03:53, 0:04:02]: meeting. Um, so because it was uh both were public sessions. So um I just wanted to, you know, point that out to make sure you're you're clear on on your vote. [0:04:03, 0:04:04]: Okay, don't you? [0:04:05, 0:04:07]: Yeah, I I read the minutes on online there, but [0:04:08, 0:04:26]: Very good. I assume that's what you all did. We yeah, we we we brought we published the uh we published but the meetings online. It's all public information. So uh we'll go ahead and um um uh accept your vote in favor of of the of the minutes. So thank you. Uh so that that motion passes as well. [0:04:27, 0:04:30]: And Roger, I note that uh Barber Richardson has now joined us as well. [0:04:31, 0:04:33]: Thank you and welcome Barber. Nice to see ya. [0:04:35, 0:04:36]: Hello everyone. [0:04:37, 0:04:39]: All right. Um [0:04:41, 0:04:51]: See, I'm keeping an eye on the attendees and uh Vanessa, if you will also have uh if you're able to see the attendees, keep a watch for our guest speakers. [0:04:55, 0:04:57]: I'm sorry, Chuck, I didn't hear that. [0:04:58, 0:05:01]: We'll do. I certainly will. Thank you. [0:05:01, 0:05:21]: All right, so we'll start off with uh the uh uh just opening remarks. Um very pleased to join uh to to uh welcome Mr. Robert Anderson to the uh DDA. Uh he was just sworn in last week uh by the city council. So thank you to the council for uh filling that position. And uh Mr. Anderson. [0:05:21, 0:05:27]: If I'll I'll turn it over to you for a moment, just tell us a little bit about your background and what made you interested in joining the D D A. [0:05:28, 0:05:40]: Uh I moved to the into the area back in nineteen sixty eight and uh was uh extremely evolved during the seventies and early eighties with the local athletic programs and [0:05:41, 0:05:48]: working with the county and whatnot to develop the local parks, Cocktonfield and uh Maysfield and [0:05:51, 0:05:53]: Then after that I took a bit of a break and now that um [0:05:55, 0:06:00]: back in the city limits. Uh I had lived right there on highway forty two and then we moved out of it. [0:06:00, 0:06:04]: to uh Adrian Driving while we're the states right on the edge of the [0:06:09, 0:06:14]: city limits. So once we decide might as well get back involved. [0:06:16, 0:06:20]: Well, we're glad you did and and again welcome to welcome to the board. [0:06:21, 0:06:22]: Um thank you. [0:06:23, 0:06:43]: All right. Um so uh I do want to mention that we've got a lot to cover tonight. So um I'd like to ask that uh you know during our regular reports out that we could uh if we could limit that to five minutes or less, that'll help us get through the agenda so that this doesn't become, you know, as a longer meeting than we than it than it needs to be. [0:06:43, 0:06:51]: Next on the agenda was going to be for our guest speakers. I don't see that they have joined yet. [0:06:54, 0:06:55]: I'm sorry. [0:06:58, 0:07:05]: I think that's just feedback. Okay, great. And uh so I'll um we'll go ahead and um [0:07:05, 0:07:18]: Move past that into our uh officers and city staff reports. And then once the guest speakers join, if we could uh, you know, between each of those staff reports, then we'll we'll bring those speakers in. [0:07:19, 0:07:21]: All right, if that's okay with everyone. [0:07:22, 0:07:28]: All right, so that would bring us to the uh treasurer update. So Barber, did you want to uh share with group? [0:07:35, 0:07:41]: Yeah, sure. Um basically short and sweet. We had very few expenses in the [0:07:43, 0:07:46]: Month of January, sorry, my computer. Can I share? I don't know. [0:07:46, 0:07:48]: Oh yeah, I can. Okay. [0:07:49, 0:08:05]: All right, so for the month of January, the only expenses we had were our normal recurring forty dollar Zoom as well as two hundred dollars for the Georgia Downtown Association membership that was reimbursed to me that I prepaid uh before we paid. [0:08:05, 0:08:13]: Um as a board. So total expenses for the month$240. No income at this moment. [0:08:13, 0:08:14]: Our [0:08:14, 0:08:29]: Cash position as of January thirty first, the facade grant$114,669 and sixty-five cents. Our operating account forty six thousand four hundred sixty dollars and fifty-eight cents. [0:08:31, 0:08:40]: Um these are the expenses I just spoke about on the panel. We have a few upcoming expenses that we'll see on February's report that I know of to date. [0:08:41, 0:08:58]: Again, monthly recurring for Zoom, as well as a DDA training and travel reimbursement for Councilman Alexander in April. And then the Georgia Tech Market Study. So these checks should clear by the time we have the December report. I'm sorry, the February report. [0:08:58, 0:09:05]: Um total expected expenses for the month of February is six thousand five dollars and seventy cents. [0:09:06, 0:09:07]: Any questions? [0:09:10, 0:09:13]: Okay. Chair Custin, one moment. Chair Custin. [0:09:13, 0:09:19]: Yes, go ahead. On the on the reimbursements to the city, those invoices that were sent over. [0:09:20, 0:09:26]: uh hospitality, different things, training. Where are we with that with reimbursing the city? [0:09:28, 0:09:29]: Barber, do you want to speak to that? [0:09:30, 0:09:32]: Oh, did I overlook some invoices? [0:09:33, 0:09:33]: Let me see. [0:09:34, 0:09:35]: Vanessa, did you send those to me? [0:09:36, 0:09:39]: Yeah, I did. I emailed them. I can resend them. [0:09:40, 0:09:44]: Okay, let me see. I need to go back through my email. [0:09:45, 0:09:46]: Uh [0:09:54, 0:09:57]: Okay, I think I found it, right? Let's see. [0:09:59, 0:10:06]: I see a hospitality invoice for okay, I found them. Okay, I'll update this and and include that and get the city reimbursed. [0:10:07, 0:10:12]: Um, for these expenses. I don't know how I missed these. All right, thank you. [0:10:12, 0:10:12]: Okay. [0:10:13, 0:10:15]: Thank you. [0:10:17, 0:10:19]: Quite a quite a few invoices. [0:10:20, 0:10:20]: Well. [0:10:20, 0:10:21]: Okay. [0:10:21, 0:10:23]: Let me start sharing. [0:10:23, 0:10:24]: But that's all I have. [0:10:25, 0:10:27]: Yes. [0:10:27, 0:10:32]: Well, and Barber, there's one more item I do want to make you aware of. Um [0:10:33, 0:10:53]: As mentioned in this meeting, the DDA had commissioned the uh master plan with TSW. That had been um sort of idle and suspended for a number of years. Um, but it was a partial, you know, it was partially completed. Um, we had uh you might recall we had paid up to a certain point uh a couple of years ago. [0:10:53, 0:11:03]: But then now we are looking at completing that plan. And so we can expect the remaining portion of that expense. [0:11:04, 0:11:06]: In probably in the next uh month or so. [0:11:07, 0:11:14]: Um I I believe the absolute total was 29,000, but the remaining portion I'll need to calculate and I can send that over to you. [0:11:15, 0:11:28]: Um we've actually gotten a couple of invoices from TSW already, but I needed uh I I was following up just to see where we were with the plan and what the next steps were. And we can go into that when we talk about the master plan, but I I just want to let you know there's an [0:11:29, 0:11:32]: A r a remaining portion of that that will be a liability. [0:11:33, 0:11:33]: Okay. [0:11:38, 0:11:41]: Any other questions for uh tre for the treasurer's report? [0:11:44, 0:11:47]: All right. Um [0:11:48, 0:11:55]: All right, then we will move on to uh secretary updates. Bob, do you um Bob Schweiger, do you have anything for the group? [0:11:55, 0:11:56]: Uh I do not. [0:11:57, 0:11:58]: All right. Then uh [0:11:59, 0:12:00]: Uh [0:12:01, 0:12:07]: Barber, I'll check with you first on the uh Main Street Advisory Board updates and then we can turn it over to Gira if you don't have anything. [0:12:07, 0:12:09]: Please, Kira, I missed the last meeting. [0:12:09, 0:12:10]: All right. [0:12:11, 0:12:12]: Mm-hmm. [0:12:13, 0:12:15]: And Kira, you're you're selling me. [0:12:16, 0:12:17]: But we see you. [0:12:21, 0:12:25]: Little by little we're making it happen here. Okay. There you go. [0:12:25, 0:12:38]: Um the Main Street program has um two new board members, um, and we have also elected new officers. Our new board members are Camille Reynoso Mason. [0:12:38, 0:12:42]: Who will be occupying a citizen position? [0:12:42, 0:12:45]: And then um Andrea Burnett. [0:12:45, 0:12:53]: Is a downtown business owner. She's um the co-owner of um powerhouse pest control. She will be um [0:12:53, 0:13:07]: occupying the downtown one of the downtown business owner positions. Our new chair is Mr. Willie Hopkins. Our vice chair is Mr. Shamari Firch. And then our new secretary is Prayer Finley. [0:13:10, 0:13:30]: We are working on bringing back our entrepreneur training program. You might remember it as being called the ETP program. This was a 12-session certificate program for entrepreneurs and new business owners. It was set up for people. [0:13:30, 0:13:42]: People who were interested in getting additional technical assistance with regard to educational classes and workshops for new businesses and opening a new business. We're going to be bringing that. [0:13:42, 0:13:46]: particular segment back, it has been um revised and revamped. [0:13:47, 0:14:00]: Um, it has gone from 12 sessions to eight sessions. They've condensed the program and it is still a certification program. So we're um happy about that. And that is a partnership with Operation Hope and Truest Bank. [0:14:01, 0:14:21]: Um, the last time we hosted this particular session, um, we had 30 participants and 28 people completed the program. So it was very successful, and we're hoping that it will be just as successful this time around. Uh, we are still solidifying the dates with the um consultants that work with us, and I'll have [0:14:21, 0:14:23]: have some um more information for that. [0:14:24, 0:14:37]: um particular class um session at our next meeting. We have several board members that will be attending the upcoming Essentials and Downtown Economic Development class. [0:14:37, 0:14:43]: on March the fifteenth, that's gonna be in LaGrange, Georgia. So we're looking forward to them. [0:14:43, 0:14:46]: attending that and I also wanted to let you all know that [0:14:46, 0:14:55]: Main Street 101 has been revised and is now available on the Georgia Downtown website. It is online. There is a [0:14:55, 0:15:04]: fee to take this particular course, but I do um recommend that all new DDA members um [0:15:04, 0:15:08]: try to commit to taking this particular class because it [0:15:08, 0:15:10]: gives you a wealth of information about [0:15:11, 0:15:15]: The Main Street program, the Main Street downtown Development Concepts. [0:15:15, 0:15:16]: And um [0:15:17, 0:15:37]: Also talks a little bit about DDA as well. So it kind of gives you an overview of all of the downtown advocacy programs that are in place. So I would recommend it. And you take it at your own pace. So it's a way for you to get acclimated to downtown development and downtown programming. [0:15:37, 0:15:39]: your leisure. So I would um [0:15:39, 0:15:41]: encourage you all to look at that. [0:15:42, 0:15:55]: Uh we have met with the owners of um two of our future downtown businesses and welcomed them to the downtown district, Miss Um Lori Isidore with Ruby's Florist, and then also um [0:15:55, 0:16:01]: Jeff Carr with carbecues. If you all are familiar with the uh it used to be a little Chinese restaurant. [0:16:01, 0:16:16]: And um fun fact, it actually used to be the old Stockbridge jail. So um that is an interesting little building in our downtown and they are planning to um have those have the jail cell that's still in there open. [0:16:17, 0:16:23]: Um, so I'm thinking that that's gonna be um a nice little tourism attraction that we'll have in the downtown area. [0:16:24, 0:16:28]: So I'm really excited about that. And I did mention the um [0:16:29, 0:16:37]: um facade grant to both of those business owners. And I know um definitely Mr. Carr is interested in [0:16:38, 0:16:41]: Um possibly applying for that. He has some. [0:16:41, 0:16:45]: work to be done with regard to his windows and the door on his um building. [0:16:45, 0:16:49]: So he told me that he would definitely want to circle back. [0:16:49, 0:16:52]: Um, to get more information about that. [0:16:53, 0:17:06]: Um, I'll be convening the downtown beautification committee next month. Um, those of you who serve on that committee will be receiving an email from me. We uh our budget has been um cut pretty [0:17:06, 0:17:15]: drastically this year. So we've got to um prioritize some of our projects that we put on our list to see where we're going to be able to um [0:17:16, 0:17:17]: Bring those particular um [0:17:18, 0:17:23]: proposed item proposed projects online. Um I know one thing is we need to [0:17:23, 0:17:30]: Replace our banners in the downtown district. They are starting to become faded. I'd like to get those replaced. [0:17:30, 0:17:32]: Um, we've also um [0:17:32, 0:17:37]: wanted to do some planters and things like that in the downtown that were proposed by the committee. [0:17:38, 0:17:43]: So um we'll be talking about that and have um more to report to you all. [0:17:43, 0:17:45]: Um at our next meeting. [0:17:45, 0:17:52]: And um that's all I'm going to report right now. I know you all need to move on. So um I'll have more at our next meeting. [0:17:55, 0:17:57]: Thank you, Kira. Any questions for Kira? [0:17:57, 0:17:58]: Yes. [0:17:59, 0:18:04]: No, I I do understand that uh we we we are finished with the [0:18:05, 0:18:06]: Uh welcome center. [0:18:06, 0:18:08]: Could you give us an update on that? [0:18:08, 0:18:11]: Uh that'll be shared space that the DDA will share. [0:18:12, 0:18:15]: So talk about that and uh understand you've moved in. [0:18:16, 0:18:25]: Yes, we have moved in. Um we were waiting, we were using borrowed um furniture for a while, but um our furniture has been delivered. [0:18:25, 0:18:28]: And uh we're still unpacking, but [0:18:28, 0:18:40]: We have moved into the space and have hosted um several meetings there and we're looking forward to um in the very near future um trying to host a um [0:18:40, 0:18:47]: I guess a a grand opening um for the community to come and see what we have there and uh [0:18:47, 0:18:51]: see the conference room and um just get an idea of [0:18:52, 0:18:56]: We are down on the downtown strip now, so we're really excited about that. [0:18:57, 0:19:00]: Okay, excellent. Excellent. That would be great. [0:19:00, 0:19:16]: I know we had some discussion about the name and all of that. So certainly we should be coming to some resolution uh on that pretty soon. But um that's exciting to see. Uh this is uh come to a close and uh we uh have another building to be very proud of in downtown. [0:19:17, 0:19:18]: Yes, definitely. [0:19:21, 0:19:22]: Any other questions for Kira? [0:19:26, 0:19:45]: Uh regarding the new space, is the conference room equipped with um for a hybrid type of meeting? In other words, does it have camera and audio equipment? It does not have a camera, but we do have um a smart TV. So we would be able to do presentations um on that particular monitor in that. [0:19:45, 0:19:46]: When [0:19:46, 0:19:47]: Um [0:19:48, 0:19:53]: We do not have a camera set up in there. Um, that was not something that we um [0:19:54, 0:19:59]: put in our original uh wish list, but it is something that we might consider in the near future. [0:20:00, 0:20:01]: All right, thank you. [0:20:01, 0:20:12]: Um, I also have an um a note from Kim. If you um when you get to the point where you would like for him to report, he did leave me a a bit of a report for you all. [0:20:13, 0:20:20]: That would be uh the next item on the agenda. So um go ahead, please. Okay. [0:20:20, 0:20:21]: Um [0:20:22, 0:20:42]: Kim left me the note that the Economic Development Department will be releasing an RFP to bring on a qualified project team to conduct a citywide economic development strategic strategic plan, which will also include marketing strategies. More updates will be provided as the process. [0:20:42, 0:20:55]: unfolds. He also asked me to mention the connectivity study. They are going to be holding one of their first um meetings. I think that's on February the 28th. [0:20:55, 0:21:01]: And um this is gonna be one of their um initial um committee meetings. [0:21:02, 0:21:03]: And um [0:21:04, 0:21:07]: That's all that I have with regard to his report. [0:21:10, 0:21:12]: Certainly, I'll probably ask a question. [0:21:12, 0:21:13]: Go ahead, councilman. [0:21:14, 0:21:33]: Certainly, uh Cura. So you had assumed the role of the direct staff support uh in absence of that position being filled. Have you now transitioned that back over to uh Mr. Alons to be the professional that would be in charge of supporting the DDA or y'all still working on that? [0:21:34, 0:21:39]: Um no, he would be you um the D DA's um support and liaison. [0:21:40, 0:21:46]: Okay, so he's he's up to speed on what's going on and that he will be able to take a step in at this point. [0:21:46, 0:21:51]: I know you were in that role. So that's our it's been officially transitioned back at this point. [0:21:51, 0:21:52]: Yes. [0:21:53, 0:21:54]: Okay. All right. Thank you. [0:21:55, 0:21:55]: Mm-hmm. [0:21:56, 0:22:16]: And and I'll add to that point that uh we I've actually met with Mr. Alan several times, uh, one-on-one meetings to brief him on the DDA activities. And then we also had a standing uh meeting which included uh Kira and Lisa and the economic development director to follow. [0:22:16, 0:22:28]: up on the work list items that came from the strategic planning session in June of 2021. So and we've we've we've reestablished that cadence. [0:22:28, 0:22:43]: Also, I would like to so you mentioned camera equipment for the room. It's our shared space. So certainly if you wanted to add that and you wanted to add a camera, certainly we could look at entertaining that in our budget uh if it wasn't in the original budget, correct? [0:22:45, 0:22:46]: All right. Thank you. [0:22:48, 0:22:53]: All right, any other items or questions for the uh city staff updates? [0:22:54, 0:22:59]: All right, that moves us to the city council of updates. Councilman Alexander. [0:22:59, 0:23:09]: Well, let me just tell you, I am so excited. You know, we've been jumping up and down to try to get economic development attention to the city as a whole. [0:23:09, 0:23:29]: And man, we've got it. Uh to you know, there's not just inside the downtown uh area, we have seen economic development uh surge throughout the city uh as a whole. It has really been amazing, you know, just outside the downtown area. I stopped at a new business a couple times, went back [0:23:29, 0:23:40]: It was so good. I stopped at Angie's Cafe, which is at 31 uh highway 138. It is the type of business that we've been looking for, a sit-down restaurant. [0:23:40, 0:23:45]: Let you enjoy. I had an omelet there. It was so good. I went back today for lunch. [0:23:46, 0:23:48]: Because it was just that impressive. [0:23:48, 0:23:51]: And they and one thing that I love [0:23:52, 0:23:53]: When I go into a business [0:23:54, 0:23:56]: The owners are there. [0:23:56, 0:24:16]: their own site, they're working the business, and they are committed to having a successful operation. So if you haven't checked them out, uh check please do and support quality uh in the community. In terms of overall economic development, as Kira mentioned, we have the new floors open, uh Ruby's at 100 [0:24:16, 0:24:25]: uh East Atlanta Road, they did a a because the city got involved and all of us turned around and helped promote them and we should do that as well. [0:24:25, 0:24:31]: They had a amazing Valentine's Day that exceeded their ex patient expectations. [0:24:31, 0:24:34]: In terms of their overall sales. They are delighted to be [0:24:35, 0:24:36]: Uh in that space. So [0:24:37, 0:24:38]: We appreciate them. [0:24:38, 0:24:44]: Uh as well, um we had a uh ribbon cutting for serene [0:24:44, 0:24:46]: uh organic. [0:24:46, 0:24:52]: uh spa salon and spa uh which is at one twenty three uh east atlanta road [0:24:52, 0:24:57]: Uh that business has been there uh since October. So we had a ribbon cutting for them. [0:24:58, 0:24:59]: Uh, they're committed to [0:24:59, 0:25:03]: Uh downtown they're very excited about being a part. [0:25:03, 0:25:09]: uh of the amphitheater and the whole surrounding area and the uh uptick in growth. [0:25:09, 0:25:14]: We also had a ribbon cutting for the Peach Cobbler factory. [0:25:14, 0:25:16]: Which is down um [0:25:16, 0:25:28]: at think it's two fifty East Atlanta Road uh in the Publix Plaza, a business that is uh a national chain. Uh this is the first national chain that we've actually had invest. [0:25:28, 0:25:30]: in the extended downtown area. [0:25:31, 0:25:33]: And they are doing and else they're doing [0:25:33, 0:25:36]: Really good business wise, as a matter of fact. [0:25:37, 0:25:45]: uh consumer base was uh over excited to see them opening. They had some delays, but now their business has really gone [0:25:48, 0:25:54]: And is doing extremely well. That's class. [0:25:57, 0:25:58]: Okay. [0:26:00, 0:26:01]: Is available [0:26:03, 0:26:03]: Yeah, it's [0:26:09, 0:26:29]: Make sure that we do everything that we can. And Mr. Sil Sylvan will tell you about a project he has going on. And I'll let him do that as in bringing a new restaurant to that location as well. So but available space in uh the extended downtown area, our downtown development authority area. [0:26:29, 0:26:42]: includes uh East Atlanta Road in the Publix. There's class A space, which is premium space that is available in the publix right now for occupancy. I have people ask all the time [0:26:42, 0:26:47]: Where's facing downtown Stockbridge? This is literally a half mile down the road. [0:26:47, 0:26:49]: Uh, from the amphitheater and downtowns. [0:26:50, 0:26:51]: In uh the main [0:26:51, 0:26:56]: Historic downtown area uh there uh for Stock Bridge as well. [0:26:56, 0:26:58]: Uh in addition to that we've had [0:26:59, 0:27:02]: Uh, several uh investors to inquire. [0:27:02, 0:27:03]: About um [0:27:03, 0:27:09]: uh bringing some development into the area. Uh as before we were having struggles with [0:27:10, 0:27:26]: uh br bringing attention to uh this particular area, but there are several interested parties in partnering with the city. We just have to be able to filter through and select the individuals uh who are worthy of or will bring the best product. [0:27:26, 0:27:30]: out of all of the above in particular multiple spaces. [0:27:30, 0:27:32]: uh that are available. [0:27:32, 0:27:41]: Uh downtown has done extremely well as far as we're concerned. Uh in downtown, the amphitheater concert series is being worked on. [0:27:41, 0:27:55]: by uh Harold Young. Harold Young now is a consultant with the city. Previously he worked uh for a a c the contractor. Now he works uh in partnership with the city as a consultant. [0:27:55, 0:27:57]: He's booking concerts right now. [0:27:57, 0:28:07]: And the lineup is absolutely going to be amazing. There's several concerts that are already been released already, including the Isley Brothers and After Seven to kick it off. [0:28:07, 0:28:08]: On April fourteenth. [0:28:09, 0:28:10]: Uh Monica and Tank. [0:28:10, 0:28:12]: On six three. [0:28:12, 0:28:29]: which is really um everybody's waiting on those tickets to go on sale and they should go on the sale uh this week uh moving through. Uh if you've been to downtown and you've seen uh the extensive work that is going on on the multi-use trails uh along East Atlanta Road. [0:28:30, 0:28:33]: Uh, those trails have gone in to extend now from [0:28:33, 0:28:36]: Uh North Henry Boulevard all the way down to Bryant Street. [0:28:37, 0:28:40]: Uh the crew is actually working on the um [0:28:41, 0:28:50]: South Lee Street trails, and they're actually working on a reconfiguration of North Lee Street. North and South Lee Street will [0:28:50, 0:28:56]: North Lee Street will actually be moved over about 500 feet so it will line up. [0:28:57, 0:29:01]: directly across from Southley Street, forming a new [0:29:01, 0:29:21]: Four-way intersection. That intersection right now is really disjointed, where you have uh North Lee Street over here and South Lee Street over here. They don't face each other. So their North Lee Street will be moved over so they form a four-way intersection. Uh there will be trails connecting that across the way. [0:29:21, 0:29:37]: Uh I spoke to the superintendent uh at the Henry County Chamber Banquet and she said that they're on schedule for the Henry County STEM School. Uh it's a forty five million dollar project that's coming uh for uh where the um [0:29:37, 0:29:52]: Oh, Patrick Henry, Stockbridge High School is. They concluded all of their field trips to different uh STEM schools all over the state. And they're trying to put together the best of the best of all of those projects that they just saw. [0:29:52, 0:30:12]: And uh Superintendent Davis indicated that what they were waiting on is for the Stranger Things series to finish uh their filming. And as soon as they finished their filming for the season, they would go into demolition and they would uh start the demolition portion uh hopefully before the end of the year uh in uh [0:30:12, 0:30:25]: starting that project with a projected opening date of the 2026-2027 uh school year for the Henry County STEM school. These are very exciting. [0:30:25, 0:30:28]: uh developments for us uh in downtown scene [0:30:28, 0:30:30]: Um you know, the things that are coming. [0:30:31, 0:30:33]: uh in the area. It is very exciting time. [0:30:33, 0:30:44]: And there's so much more that we could go over, but I'll leave that uh for Mr. Sylvan to come in and talk about his particular projects and uh actually other projects that are coming to the area. [0:30:49, 0:30:53]: Thank you, Councilman. Any um any questions or comments for the councilman? [0:30:58, 0:31:18]: All right, hearing none, we'll move on to new business. Um, the first item on the new business uh section is uh action for the uh absent board member. Um I made this group aware that um uh one of our board members has um you know been absent from from these meetings and is not uh [0:31:18, 0:31:38]: Um, I've been unable to reach this individual. Um the suggestion was made to send a certified letter to this uh person's business that that has been done by our attorney. The attorney drafted the letter and that was sent. Um I don't have the exact date, um, but uh we do have the trace of it in [0:31:38, 0:31:58]: in our email um and uh there's been no the the the the certified letter asked for the apps uh for the board member to contact me to indicate his intention to continue serving on the board and i've received no response via email or or phone neither has our attorney's office um [0:31:58, 0:32:04]: I'd like to ask this board to uh but we're if I could if if I could sorry [0:32:04, 0:32:24]: If I could before we go in there, since this is a personnel matter, there shouldn't it really be in the closed session? We have a closed session schedule today. I don't think this is not a personnel matter. This is this is a this is a board member who has uh who is serving on the DDA and has been absent well [0:32:24, 0:32:35]: But still I think six of the last seven meetings. We don't do things this way. We discuss an individual. You discussed the five years. We've already dis all right. And you're interrupting me. [0:32:35, 0:32:42]: I know that. I'll ask in the board. This is this is improper to be discussing this. You're you should be addressing to the chair. [0:32:43, 0:32:47]: It's improper to be doing this in public. That's my point. [0:32:52, 0:33:05]: I ask that we do this in closed session when we can talk about it and we can talk about individual and their performances. That's what I request. All right. So the board has already approved the agenda for today, and that's not what we discussed to have in the closed session. [0:33:06, 0:33:10]: And we already discussed this matter in our January meeting. [0:33:10, 0:33:24]: And it's public record as far as who attended these meetings in the last seven meetings. I'm asking this board to make a recommendation to the city council to refill that position that's been abandoned. [0:33:27, 0:33:29]: So I'll open it up for discussion. [0:33:32, 0:33:33]: Councilman, would you like to make a comment? [0:33:34, 0:33:37]: First of all, i is the attorney on this call [0:33:38, 0:33:47]: No, the the the engagement we have with our attorney is to be on the call when and if we need it. But when we're discussing items like this, a personnel matter. [0:33:48, 0:34:01]: This the attorney needs to be present. That's the precedent for the city council in what we do. We do not discuss items like this. What we do is we discuss these behind closed doors and we make an announcement to the public. [0:34:02, 0:34:03]: We do not discuss. [0:34:03, 0:34:08]: or no anybody's attendance or anything like that in public. We do that in the closed session. [0:34:08, 0:34:12]: And if we were gonna make a decision, we were bringing that out to the public. [0:34:12, 0:34:17]: We would make the decision and then we would move on. The details would not be discussed in public. [0:34:17, 0:34:36]: That is my portion. That is what uh my contention is, is that if we want to discuss this any further, we should defer it to uh its closed session and then come out and then make the official request uh to the city council. That's my suggestion, but the board can do whatever the board wants to do. [0:34:39, 0:34:41]: All right, any other comments? [0:34:45, 0:34:47]: What would be the harm in [0:34:47, 0:34:47]: Yeah. [0:34:49, 0:34:53]: In in in in adding this to our closed session, adding this item. [0:34:53, 0:34:54]: For a closed session. [0:34:56, 0:35:03]: If um uh if the board approved if if the board is willing to do that then then there's I don't see any harm in that. [0:35:05, 0:35:10]: Uh I I I move that we that we add this item to our closed session today. [0:35:11, 0:35:11]: Second [0:35:13, 0:35:20]: All right. So we have a motion to uh move this item to our closed session and it's been seconded. Does anybody have any further comments or discussion? [0:35:23, 0:35:28]: All right. All those in favor of discussing this as a personnel matter in our closed session, please. [0:35:28, 0:35:29]: Raise your hand. [0:35:31, 0:35:51]: All right, that's unanimous. We'll move on. This is related to the officer elections, which were due is uh per our bylaws. We're supposed to have officer elections in the first meeting of the uh of each year. Um this board agreed to postpone those elections pending the uh filling of the vacant position. [0:35:51, 0:35:52]: Um [0:35:53, 0:36:13]: I um am uh at this point I'm kind of neutral, I'll say, as far as holding the officer elections now. Um well let me let me go let me go a step further. I've I've made uh I've made my uh intentions known to this group that I need to step back from chair. Um and [0:36:13, 0:36:33]: um but i would like to for us to have the elections in um you know when when we have uh the board positions fully filled and um and we have someone who's willing to take the uh chair position i don't want to leave it abandoned and uh so um i i guess i'd like [0:36:33, 0:36:46]: to suggest that we um we we we postpone the officer elections and this is for the chair vice chair treasurer secretary uh until we have this fake until what i perceive to be a vacancy is filled [0:36:51, 0:36:52]: Was that a motion, Roger? [0:36:53, 0:37:02]: Um I'll go ahead and state that as a motion that we postpone the officer elections until we have um a full um a full seated board. [0:37:03, 0:37:04]: Okay. [0:37:06, 0:37:09]: Thank you, Bob. Any uh any discussion or further comments on that? [0:37:14, 0:37:34]: All right, seeing none hearing none. All those in favor of postponing the elections until uh the board positions are filled. Thank you. That's unanimous. All right. Uh we have old business, which is the uh I'll start with the uh MLK Senior Memorial Public Art Update. Um we did I mentioned in our last meeting that that [0:37:34, 0:37:44]: um that w that draft has been completed. Uh we're now uh planning the uh uh what I'll call it is a socialization of that um [0:37:44, 0:38:04]: uh proposal to the members of the council and ultimately to present to the council in a in a public forum. We just want to be very sensitive to the uh uh to the fact that this is a very um um you know public figure and uh we want to make sure that it's done in the right way with respect to uh [0:38:04, 0:38:11]: uh MLK seniors uh um uh heritage and of course the uh MLK family. [0:38:11, 0:38:20]: Um so um I will keep, you know, Kira and I are actually uh are planning um uh presentations to um [0:38:20, 0:38:40]: Uh socialize this with the individual members of the um of the council just to make sure that we get their feedback and incorporate that into the proposal so we can move forward. Our our intent is to have consideration for um uh uh uh funding this particular endeavor in the 2024. [0:38:40, 0:38:42]: or um uh budget. [0:38:43, 0:38:46]: Um any any questions or comments on that? [0:38:49, 0:38:49]: Um [0:38:50, 0:38:50]: Yeah. [0:38:50, 0:38:59]: Chair Custon. Yes, I just wanted to make note that there won't be a March work session meeting, so as far as your calendar was concerned. [0:39:00, 0:39:01]: And trying to get it before the council. [0:39:02, 0:39:10]: The next meeting will be um February twenty-eighth and then we have the March thirteenth, but we will not have a March work session. [0:39:11, 0:39:29]: Thank you for that, Vanessa. I think our intent is to have uh individual meetings with uh the council members just to uh make sure we hear any uh thoughts they have on the um subject and then uh before we um uh formally present it to the council. [0:39:31, 0:39:32]: All right, thank you. [0:39:32, 0:39:41]: Ki Kira, did you did you have anything to add to that? I was just saying it was gonna we were gonna try to set up the three and three meetings. Right. Yeah. [0:39:41, 0:39:42]: All right. [0:39:44, 0:40:04]: All right, um next item on the agenda is the DD new DDA logo. So uh I I would like to you know ask each of you to use the uh new logo in your email signatures. Um I will s I will follow up with um uh the actual logo and the instruction on how to use that in your in your [0:40:04, 0:40:24]: your when you're sending email addresses uh or excuse me when you're sending emails um next up would be to uh plan and design the uh business cards using our new logo i think it'd be important for each of us to have our business cards uh as well as uh the facade grant uh marketing and uh so just [0:40:24, 0:40:43]: just keep tuned into that. And if there is anything that you think should have our logo on it, please check the usage guide that came with the logo package. And if you have any questions, you can check with me or Kira or Kim Alons on the appropriate use for the logos and colors. [0:40:44, 0:41:04]: Um all right, I still don't see that we have uh our guest speakers have joined, so we will um uh I'll make one more announcement and then we'll um we'll ask to move into the closed session. So um so looking at the old business, I'm actually skipping to item D, which is the committee to draft the intergovernmental. [0:41:04, 0:41:24]: agreement uh with the city. That is in its final stage. Our attorney is um uh try has been trying uh has been unsuccessful but been trying well both both the attorneys have been busy and uh this is I think spring week or whatever and so um but they they they [0:41:23, 0:41:43]: they are scheduled to meet at some they're not scheduled but they will they will meet to review the remaining points that were raised as concerns from the city's perspective on the IGA. Once that's done we will have kind of a final draft. I expect to have that in front of this board by our next meeting um barring any other uh delays and then we can [0:41:43, 0:42:03]: uh get that to a signature. And um uh Mr. Anderson, that's uh this is really just to I think I mentioned it to you when we met this is just to have a standing um uh basis for how we conduct how the DDA conducts business with the city. We know as far as you know we get our funding from the city and what [0:42:03, 0:42:10]: would be the expectation of any shared resources that are used. That's really the main objective of this IGA. [0:42:11, 0:42:12]: Any questions or comments on that? [0:42:15, 0:42:34]: All right, so uh the only other item we have on the agenda is to talk about the uh master plan and the uh personnel matters. So uh I'd like to make a motion that we um adjourn into the uh closed session to discuss real estate matters and personnel. [0:42:35, 0:42:36]: My second. [0:42:36, 0:42:39]: Thank you, Fran. Any uh discussion? [0:42:41, 0:42:47]: All right. Um all those in favor, please raise your hand to move into closed session. [0:42:47, 0:43:07]: All right, thank you. And oh I I should have made clear and I'll I'll actually let me restate my motion. I'd like to include since this involves um since this involves uh a master plan for the city, Kira is um is with us here for representing um Kim Alons, who had a uh prior commitment this evening. [0:43:07, 0:43:27]: could not be with so I would like to include Kira in the closed session as well as uh uh City Clerk Vanessa Holliday so I want to make that clear that I'd like to include those two individuals in the closed session. So let me restate that motion with uh with that caveat that we include the uh uh city staff. [0:43:27, 0:43:30]: in the closed session so um [0:43:31, 0:43:33]: I'll make that as a a restated motion. [0:43:34, 0:43:38]: I second. Miss Holliday. [0:43:41, 0:43:52]: Mr. Custin I'm here. Go ahead. Okay. Does the same principles apply that real we need to indicate personnel, real estate, and litigation going into closed session? [0:43:53, 0:43:58]: What do you mean this same you know as we do when we make the motion at the council? [0:43:59, 0:44:03]: to indicating that what we're going to discuss real estate personnel litigation. [0:44:05, 0:44:13]: Yes, he stated that. He said really personally. Okay, he did okay, okay. My my internet must have went out then. Okay, I'm sorry. He did. Thank you. [0:44:13, 0:44:16]: Thank you. All right. Any other discussion? [0:44:18, 0:44:24]: All right, now all those in favor to uh go into closed session for real estate and personal matters. [0:44:24, 0:44:36]: Thank you. All right. Um, I will need about 10 minutes to set up the meeting invitation to the closed session. It will come as a Zoom invitation. [0:44:36, 0:44:48]: And uh if you have any trouble, please uh text or call me in about 10 minutes. So let's let's just make it for the top of the hour at 7 p.m. And I should have it set up in the next few minutes for you to join. [0:44:49, 0:44:51]: No, thank you. Great, thank you. Thank you all. [0:44:53, 0:44:54]: Thank you. [0:44:59, 0:45:10]: All right, so we have uh um motion to I'd like to make a motion to adjourn the um closed session that was for personnel and real estate. [0:45:12, 0:45:12]: Second [0:45:13, 0:45:13]: Okay. [0:45:14, 0:45:17]: Thank you. And all those in favor, please raise your hand. [0:45:18, 0:45:21]: Uh Fran, I think you're off camera so you can say yes or no. [0:45:22, 0:45:24]: Gotcha. All right. [0:45:24, 0:45:31]: And uh with that, uh are there any uh closing remarks before we motion to adjourn? [0:45:34, 0:45:37]: All right. Uh so I'd like to go ahead and make a motion to adjourn. [0:45:39, 0:45:40]: Perfect. [0:45:40, 0:45:43]: Thank you, Councilman. Any discussion? [0:45:44, 0:45:47]: All right, none all in favor of adjourning, please raise your hand. [0:45:47, 0:45:58]: Thank you so much. I know it was an extra long session tonight, but I really appreciate your work and effort on the DDA. Have a great rest of the evening. Thank you. Bye-bye. The news was great. Mr. Edison, welcome aboard again. [0:45:59, 0:46:08]: Welcome, Bob. Yeah, like it. Thank you all. Very impressive. Thank you. Thank you all so much for everything you do. Absolutely. Take care. Thank you.