2022-04-19 · City Council · Transcript · Downtown Development Authority

--- title: Downtown Development Authority date: 2022-04-19 source: 2022-04-19_Downtown_Development_Authority.wav --- [0:00:02, 0:00:11]: Good evening, everyone. This is Roger Custon, and this is our April regular meeting for the Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority. [0:00:12, 0:00:18]: And uh we'll go ahead and get started. So um Bob, if you would be kind enough to call out role, please. [0:00:18, 0:00:20]: Certainly. Uh Councilman Alexander. [0:00:21, 0:00:21]: President. [0:00:22, 0:00:23]: Roger Custon. [0:00:23, 0:00:24]: Present. [0:00:25, 0:00:26]: The Miquel King. [0:00:27, 0:00:32]: Barber Richardson, I think you said she was not gonna be here. Uh Maxwell Sears. [0:00:33, 0:00:34]: Rather than [0:00:34, 0:00:36]: And Bob Swagert. [0:00:40, 0:01:00]: All right, very good. I think that uh that's four, so that makes a quorum. We'll go ahead and uh begin the meeting. Uh first uh on the agenda is to prep approve today's agenda. And I'd like to actually make a motion to make a couple of uh edits to the agenda. [0:01:00, 0:01:20]: First of all, to move the Henry County presentation from Mr. Henning as the first item under guest speakers. He has a prior commitment at 6:30 and needs to leave early. The second edit would be to add to the guest speakers Ms. Ebony Thompson. [0:01:20, 0:01:31]: who's the uh social media manager for a social media manager presentation, she responded to the DDH bid for a social media manager. So I'd like to make a motion for those two changes. [0:01:33, 0:01:34]: So [0:01:35, 0:01:36]: Second. [0:01:37, 0:01:38]: Thank you. [0:01:38, 0:01:40]: Any discussion? [0:01:42, 0:01:45]: All right, all those in favor, raise your hand. [0:01:48, 0:02:08]: All right. And I I think that makes uh that that approves it. Thank you. So we'll proceed with the uh edited agenda. Uh next item under uh call to order is to approve uh last month's meeting minutes was March 15th. Those were shared with the uh board uh this afternoon, along with the uh supporting documents. Uh so I'll go ahead and make a motion. [0:02:08, 0:02:13]: to uh or ask for a motion to approve last month's uh march 15th meeting minutes. [0:02:14, 0:02:16]: I I move that we approve the minutes. [0:02:17, 0:02:19]: Thank you, Bob. Second. [0:02:20, 0:02:23]: And that's Maxwell. Second. All right. Any other discussion? [0:02:25, 0:02:28]: All those in favor, please raise your hand. [0:02:30, 0:02:31]: All right, very good. [0:02:31, 0:02:47]: I think that passes as well. Thank you, everyone. So that brings us to the uh next section of the agenda, which is our guest speakers. And uh Mr. Henning is here with the uh Henry Chamber. So thank you for joining us today. And I understand you have a presentation, so um we'll give you the floor. Thank you. [0:02:48, 0:02:51]: Thank you, sir. Thank you all for the opportunity. It's uh [0:02:51, 0:03:09]: It's a it's a great opportunity for me to share a little bit about what we're working on, where we are, and and how we get to where we are. So I appreciate your time uh as as I uh share some information with you tonight. Um I do have just about six slides. Is it uh can I share those? [0:03:12, 0:03:16]: Yes, we should be able to. Okay. Share screen. There we go. [0:03:18, 0:03:18]: Okay. [0:03:22, 0:03:23]: All right. [0:03:24, 0:03:44]: And we see your screen. All right. Wonderful. So I just want to share a little bit. There's often a common misconception about the Chamber of Commerce. We are not any government entity or affiliated or an affiliate of. We are strictly a not-for-profit voluntary organization that's made up of business members that choose. [0:03:44, 0:04:02]: To join us and work together with us in a collaborative nature. We seek to be a champion of our economic prosperity for both our members as well as our community as a whole. And that we're a convener of our companies, professionals, organizations, as well as our government partners in order to make the community better. [0:04:03, 0:04:06]: And then finally, we serve as a catalyst for business growth. [0:04:07, 0:04:19]: By making businesses stronger, they are able to employ more and uh our communities thrive then because those employees have the opportunity to spend their money, their resources within our community. [0:04:20, 0:04:23]: Um when we look at our annual program of work. [0:04:24, 0:04:44]: Uh we talked to our members and we do that through various surveys. We do an annual survey, but we also do surveys throughout the year with um key constituent groups. And so what we found this last year coming out of uh well, it was the end of 2021. So we were hoping that we were coming out of COVID. Um, but what they were really looking for from a business community was [0:04:44, 0:05:04]: Number one, a new normal. How do we function in that new normal? What does that look like? What resources are there? And we've all heard about the quality of workforce issues, the ability to hire individuals for uh whether frontline employees or key employees for organizations. And so that was their second concern. And then finally, what the economy was going to be. [0:05:03, 0:05:14]: going to do and that was their third concern. And then you'll see some of the other areas that we asked them about and they weighed in on from engagement employee engagement to technology and infrastructure taxes and fees. [0:05:15, 0:05:20]: And so what we do with that is we made those top three priorities of our of our membership of the business community. [0:05:21, 0:05:25]: the top three priorities of what we were going to address throughout the year. [0:05:25, 0:05:45]: And so as I mentioned earlier, uh, we see ourselves as a convener. Uh, number one, our board of directors represents the diverse nature of our membership as well as the diversity of Henry County. Uh, each of the elected chief elected officials of the uh four municipalities as well as the county serves at our board. We also have representation from the board of [0:05:45, 0:06:05]: Of education and the hospital authority. And then we have the majority of our membership is from diversity, diverse throughout Henry County. Um, and I and when I say that, I mean diverse by uh race and ethnicity, ethnicity, uh, gender, age, as well as the industry or business sector that they represent. And so when we look [0:06:05, 0:06:25]: At our key areas of membership, we make sure that we have representation from those within our board of directors. Uh just before the pandemic, we did hire a partner relations manager with our uh convention and visitors bureau, the tourism department. And I know that you've seen several of the great accomplishments they've done, but we're going to look at a few of those. [0:06:25, 0:06:26]: Uh including the um [0:06:27, 0:06:47]: hospitality mixers and our diversity series. Annually we do cover an intergovernmental retreat in partnership with the development authority and some of our key members. And we pull together our elected officials from the within the Henry County as well as our state representation at the General Assembly and have conversations around what are [0:06:47, 0:07:03]: the priorities within Henry County, what do we need to address collaboratively? And so then we work uh together to try to solve some of those problems that we see internally. Uh the biggest uh issue that we saw uh in the fall of 2021 was the um [0:07:03, 0:07:23]: small business resources available to our business community as they were coming out of the pandemic and how they were going to strive to be successful and to make Henry County successful. And then some of the things that we're working on, we're working together with our four municipalities as well as the county to streamline the business licensing program and make that a little [0:07:23, 0:07:43]: bit easier as a one-stop shop for many of our businesses within the county. Those were some of the things that we heard from them was we don't know where to go. We don't know how to do this. And so we're trying to work together to make that, not to cheat anything, but just to make it simple for them that they've got maybe a checklist and some steps that they know how to follow. And then with the business community, we provide legislative updates. [0:07:43, 0:07:53]: from specifically from Atlanta with our elected officials there at the General Assembly on what they're working on and how that may impact the business community. [0:07:53, 0:08:13]: Um and then finally the help for hospitality. You may recall that during the pandemic with the uh furloughing of many of the hospitality employees as nobody was traveling, um, we created a help for hospitality uh fundraiser that we collected two tons of food and worked with several of our community agencies to help deliver that food. [0:08:13, 0:08:18]: food to the uh members of the Henry County um hospitality world. [0:08:19, 0:08:24]: Second, uh serving as a catalyst. I think one of the um [0:08:24, 0:08:44]: Biggest things that we're most proud of is just as we were starting the pandemic in uh May and June of 2020, um, there was a a rising um, there were several other factors that were going on within the world that was creating some angst within uh the population, specifically within Henry County. And so we [0:08:44, 0:08:56]: We have started offering monthly dialogues online where we would address uh several of the books and that we recommended um and and and delved a little bit deeper into um [0:08:57, 0:09:17]: racial concerns, uh other minority concerns, looked at um uh we had some conversations around uh uh Asian representation within the the county and tried to have conversations to make people more aware of how we could still have conversations amongst ourselves respectfully and and try to move forward with [0:09:16, 0:09:36]: That. We do so we did support the East PLOS and the T S PLOS referenda this past year. We saw that as an opportunity to further promote what the great things that were happening and the need in order to improve education and transportation within Henry County in order to make that community stronger. [0:09:36, 0:09:56]: Uh we did at the start of the pandemic, we created TogetherforHenry.com. It was a website where we offered resources around COVID and things that businesses could do to better prepare themselves. We offered uh insight on where they could go to look at um acquiring some of the PPE that they needed. Um we had a [0:09:56, 0:10:00]: piece in there where many of our hotels and that would. [0:10:00, 0:10:01]: Um [0:10:02, 0:10:21]: Click a link and look at what the minimum requirements were from the CDC for hospitality and then some of the other things that we recommended. And then as they uh said that they were doing that, then we made sure that they had seals on their doors so that people stopping at those hotels felt more comfortable staying there and knew that we were taking precautions in order to keep them safe. [0:10:22, 0:10:39]: Uh I want to thank you all. We did have a great partnership with the City of Stockbridge for their Stockbridge CARES grants. We had over a hundred uh grants that we were able to give out to small businesses that were impacted by COVID in 2019 and 2020 that were able to keep many of their doors open. [0:10:40, 0:11:00]: And then the next thing coming up in uh May for Small Business Month, we are offering a three-part series for specifically for minority women and veteran-owned businesses, but anybody can participate. And it's be ready, it's a procurement and certification opportunity uh series where if they take the three-part series, this will better enable them. [0:11:00, 0:11:20]: To be certified. And even if they don't go through the certification, they can be aware of the procurement opportunities from local and state entities that are looking at small businesses where they have a set aside some money that they want to make sure that a certain percentage of smaller minority women-owned businesses. [0:11:20, 0:11:27]: Are participating. And so that's what we're doing in May. That's available on our website, or people can email us and we'll be sure that they get the information. [0:11:28, 0:11:48]: And then finally, we see ourselves as a champion of our community. I think the biggest way that we do that is through our tourism marketing through the tourism department within the chamber. Um, another one, and I know that we've got a ribbon cutting coming up in on Friday at the amphitheater. Um, but the artist consortium, and Roger, I know you're aware of this. Uh, we've [0:11:48, 0:12:08]: The, and I'm gonna say this real slow, the Bushy Tail Art Trail, where we have about two dozen squirrel tables uh throughout Henry County. And we encourage people to visit them. They could uh scan a QR code and see some of the places that they are, and then travel throughout Henry County and see these uh beautifully wonderful. [0:12:08, 0:12:12]: full uh scroll tables and you'll see those. Those are the second uh [0:12:13, 0:12:25]: photo in the slide uh uh to the left there. And um we've also created a culture of customer service and we touched on this last week with with city council. Um but we're looking at making sure that [0:12:25, 0:12:45]: Those members within our hospitality community are aware of the culture of customer service that we need to have in order to embrace, in order to welcome uh visitors to Henry County. And so we're working with a number of our employers. Um, I believe we've had about a hundred people that have participated in the program so far, and we have great interest in the next couple. [0:12:45, 0:12:54]: Cohort of that. We just had a successful emerging leaders where we're looking at the future leaders for Henry County generally. [0:12:54, 0:13:09]: If you're gonna put an age on it, probably 21 to 40, but everybody's welcome. And really looking at what their needs are as they are creating these businesses, managing these businesses. How do we support them to keep those businesses strong but keep them in Henry County? [0:13:10, 0:13:11]: And then um [0:13:11, 0:13:31]: I kind of talked about this and Alan, you're very well aware of it, but we have some space that we're looking at creating an incubator or some type of small business support center on our campus. And so today we were just down at Statesboro touring their incubator. And so I think you'll be seeing a lot of information coming out from the chamber next month again as part of. [0:13:31, 0:13:48]: Small business month on what our plans are and where we want to work in order to create these resources to support small businesses in Henry County because we know they're the backbone of business, of employment. And so we want to make sure that they're strong and that they have the resources available to them in order to succeed. [0:13:49, 0:14:07]: Um and then and finally uh we do have a uh for about 30 some years we've had a leadership program and almost as long we've had a youth leadership program with sophomores in high school that we take them around the county, introduce them to key leaders, but also give them leadership. Um [0:14:07, 0:14:23]: uh curriculum in order to make them stronger leaders within the community because we figure that that is what that's one of our our core tenants within our mission. It's the fourth tenant, but it's also one of the things that keeps Henry County so strong is by keeping that leadership focused and making sure that we're looking forward. [0:14:24, 0:14:40]: So that that's my my brief presentation. I hope it wasn't too long, too dry, too boring. Um, but I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. I'm sure you've got some around the chamber as well as within the convention and visitors visitors bureau, but I do want to thank you again for the opportunity to share that with you. [0:14:41, 0:14:45]: Well, we appreciate you being here. Thank you. Um Thank you. [0:14:45, 0:14:48]: Any any questions or comments on uh Mr. Hending's presentation? [0:14:49, 0:14:51]: Alan, I see your hand up. Go ahead. [0:14:54, 0:14:58]: Thank you very much, Mr. Henning. And you know, we we look forward to hearing about [0:14:59, 0:15:00]: Um that incubator. [0:15:00, 0:15:04]: Uh, it would be great if we could have some stock bridge businesses participate. [0:15:05, 0:15:09]: And um get involved with that. Um thank you again for presenting. [0:15:09, 0:15:12]: Uh during our meeting. I had one question. [0:15:12, 0:15:15]: Uh is leadership Henry associated with the chamber? [0:15:15, 0:15:18]: It is it is a program within the Chamber of Commerce, yes. [0:15:18, 0:15:21]: Oh okay, wonderful, wonderful. Okay. [0:15:23, 0:15:30]: It is open to anybody within the community. They do not have to be a member of the chamber in order to participate, but it is a uh a program within the chamber. [0:15:31, 0:15:32]: Yes, sir. [0:15:32, 0:15:34]: Thank you, Mr. Henning. Mm-hmm. Thank you. [0:15:37, 0:15:39]: I'm very impressed with the the the the [0:15:40, 0:15:44]: range and the depth of the your your your projects. I mean that's uh [0:15:44, 0:15:45]: It's impressive. [0:15:45, 0:15:48]: Thank you, sir. It does cause a few sleepless nights. [0:15:51, 0:15:59]: Now, m Mr. Henning, for one of our businesses to join the chamber, is it as simple as going online and filling out an application? [0:15:59, 0:16:19]: It is absolutely sir. Um, there's an online application. I encourage, you know, if if people have questions, please reach out to one of us within the chamber. Um, one of the things that I did not mention in the in the presentation, but one thing that we did implement during the pandemic was we set up an ACH payment program that they can take out monthly or quarterly. [0:16:19, 0:16:33]: payments instead of the one lump sum annually for their dues. And so that kind of spreads it out for their budgeting purposes and makes it a little bit easier for their cash flow. So we are very much willing to work with anybody as they as they are interested in joining us as we march down this road. [0:16:35, 0:16:36]: Wonderful. Thank you. [0:16:36, 0:16:37]: Thank you. [0:16:39, 0:16:52]: Um, I had a question about the uh Be Ready program and earlier slides. Is that did I I wasn't sure if I captured all what you were presenting there. Is that training for minority business enterprise certification? [0:16:52, 0:17:12]: It is it is working to make them aware of it. There's not a there's not so much as the training as the benefits to that. And so the very first one on May 3rd is uh Dana Lemon, who is with uh represents our our congressional district with the Department of Transportation explaining why people should be interested in this and then we'll go through. [0:17:12, 0:17:32]: Some of the different advantages. The next step is the advantages at the city and state level, county and state level. And then the final one is a panel discussion from many of them that have gone through the process of certification and why they did it and what how that benefited their business within it, you know, spreading out the [0:17:32, 0:17:42]: diversity of where their work is. And so we will offer going forward, we're going to offer the training, but we figured we needed to get people aware of what the benefits were before we just jumped in. [0:17:43, 0:17:45]: Good, thank you. All right. [0:17:46, 0:17:48]: But other questions for Mr. Henning or comments? [0:17:51, 0:18:02]: All right. Um, I guess I'll add one more. Uh would you mind sharing your presentation with me and we can Absolutely, I'll be happy to. All right, very good. Absolutely. Either send it to me or Alan and we'll uh we'll include it with our minutes. [0:18:03, 0:18:03]: Thank you. [0:18:04, 0:18:08]: Appreciate you being here. Thank you. Thank you. My pleasure. I'm gonna jump over to the board of commissioners now. [0:18:09, 0:18:10]: You all have a great evening. [0:18:11, 0:18:12]: You as well. You do. [0:18:13, 0:18:27]: All right, next up on the agenda is um I uh we we had uh reverted uh item A under guest speakers to MIDC manager um Mr. Gardner, but Alan I don't I don't see that Mr. Gardner is with us. [0:18:28, 0:18:39]: Oh, very good, sir. Welcome. The floor is yours. All right. Um good evening, everybody, and thank you guys for [0:18:40, 0:18:43]: invite me uh to be a part of your meeting this afternoon and [0:18:43, 0:18:52]: I'm actually gonna be transitioning over to uh I guess a town hall meeting with the mayor in a few minutes. So I apologize for having to jump in and jump out. [0:18:52, 0:18:53]: But [0:18:53, 0:18:57]: Um just wanna say I'm I'm you know super excited about [0:18:57, 0:19:08]: what our future and our near future is gonna hold for us. Um, as the DDA is gonna be one of the catalyst organizations to make things happen in in the downtown area, city of Stalkwood. So [0:19:08, 0:19:09]: Um [0:19:09, 0:19:13]: And Allen knows that there's some things on the horizon that we're gonna be working on. [0:19:14, 0:19:20]: to make a lot of this stuff come to fruition um with some private investment in the downtown. So [0:19:21, 0:19:25]: Uh, hopefully, you know, my years of experience working in this area. [0:19:25, 0:19:27]: We'll ass help assist you guys in Allen. [0:19:28, 0:19:31]: Um, with catalyzing some of these wonderful projects. [0:19:31, 0:19:41]: Um and over the next few years and hopefully starting in the next couple of months. Um, but definitely excited about about the opportunity to see [0:19:42, 0:19:45]: Um, see this organization take take it to the next level. [0:19:45, 0:19:49]: Um so I appreciate you guys allowing me to speak briefly. [0:19:49, 0:19:54]: Um, kind of give you a little bit about about my background, I guess. Um [0:19:55, 0:19:57]: Let's see of [0:19:57, 0:20:05]: Started my career, I guess, as a graduate student years ago um in urban and regional planning um at Abama AM. [0:20:06, 0:20:19]: Um did did my first work with grant work, um doing grants administration with community development block grant and home grants um for the city of Decatur, Illinois and neighborhood revitalization and neighborhood planning. [0:20:19, 0:20:21]: Um came to Henry County. [0:20:22, 0:20:28]: Um actual fact go back, um spend some time with the United States Fishing Wildlife Service. My actual specialty. [0:20:28, 0:20:31]: Um in planning is environmental planning. [0:20:31, 0:20:39]: So I did a lot of refuge planning for some of the refuges and um specifically ten thousand islands or um [0:20:40, 0:20:51]: Uh Florida Panther Wildlife Refuge, uh Bayoga Kodre Refuge in um Louisiana works specifically on how do we how do we open those um sensitive areas. [0:20:51, 0:21:01]: for public use and working around environmental assessments and in one case uh a straight big um environmental impact statement. [0:21:01, 0:21:04]: Um, for one of the wildlife refugees down in Florida. [0:21:05, 0:21:09]: Um and then obviously transition over to growth management with Palm Beach County. [0:21:10, 0:21:11]: Then Decatur, Illinois. [0:21:12, 0:21:16]: Then to Henry County is uh chief planning and assistant director and then interim director. [0:21:17, 0:21:20]: With she with uh Henry County and City of Griffin. [0:21:20, 0:21:21]: Um where you know. [0:21:22, 0:21:25]: Really, I got involved in the economic development side of. [0:21:25, 0:21:27]: Of the house working with that. [0:21:27, 0:21:28]: Yeah. [0:21:28, 0:21:30]: Main Street and Downtown Development Authority. [0:21:31, 0:21:36]: Um an actual fact to bring those two a we actually split those two organizations, they were one. [0:21:36, 0:21:44]: Um and we made uh the DDA as we as I call it the muscle of downtown in terms of being able to bring the bear. [0:21:44, 0:21:46]: the the resources, the money. [0:21:47, 0:21:50]: And um catalyzing private public private part [0:21:50, 0:21:52]: Um projects in downtown. [0:21:53, 0:21:56]: And um so you knew East Point. [0:21:56, 0:21:57]: mean uh city of uh [0:21:58, 0:22:01]: Griffin's downtown post two thousand and four compared to where it is now. [0:22:02, 0:22:05]: I t'all folks, there will burglar buzz on down there, every storefront. [0:22:06, 0:22:08]: When I got there in about seven churches. [0:22:09, 0:22:11]: Just two churches. [0:22:11, 0:22:12]: No burglar bars. [0:22:13, 0:22:17]: Um, vibrant businesses, and we took advantage of a lot of opportunity to do a tad. [0:22:18, 0:22:20]: In the downtown area. [0:22:20, 0:22:22]: Opportunity zone in our downtown area. [0:22:23, 0:22:25]: Enterprise Zoom in the downtown area. [0:22:26, 0:22:31]: Um, along with the downtown revolving fund and redevelopment fund loans to make a lot of projects happen. [0:22:31, 0:22:33]: Um we did on top of that. [0:22:34, 0:22:36]: Some city incentives with uh [0:22:37, 0:22:40]: Because we were a full service city, we reduced um [0:22:40, 0:22:41]: Their power utility costs. [0:22:42, 0:22:47]: where they literally paid zero the first year and then it came back at five percent over the next five years. [0:22:48, 0:22:49]: On on city utilities. [0:22:50, 0:22:57]: Um, because we know for any new business, small business, um, that one to five year window is a period of time where you know they either gonna stay or they're gonna go. [0:22:57, 0:23:02]: Um so the best we could use that time for them, we recognize there's an opportunity. So [0:23:03, 0:23:06]: Um when I left Griffin um in twenty twelve. [0:23:06, 0:23:10]: I remember telling my boss, man, you could actually bar hop in downtown. [0:23:11, 0:23:12]: Downtown Griffin. [0:23:12, 0:23:17]: Um when I got there, the only place you could eat after five o'clock was Kentucky Fried Chicken on the corner. [0:23:17, 0:23:19]: Of highway sixteen and hill street. [0:23:19, 0:23:21]: That was it. There was nowhere else to go eat downtime. [0:23:22, 0:23:28]: Um go there now, it's wonderful restaurants. And I know a lot of them got impacted by COVID, so I hope they're still there. [0:23:28, 0:23:29]: Um [0:23:30, 0:23:32]: But definitely came to city of McDonough. [0:23:33, 0:23:39]: And work with the city of McDonough. We revitalized the DDA in McDonough. That was a defunct entity. [0:23:39, 0:23:40]: Um brought it back and [0:23:41, 0:23:46]: Came very close before I left to London Jailhouse Brewery in the in the downtown area. [0:23:47, 0:23:53]: Um if anybody familiar with with um wonderful Mayor Copeland, he's [0:23:53, 0:23:58]: He's not one for alcoholists and and uh he really didn't like that project at all. [0:23:58, 0:24:02]: But you know, we try to explain to him the vo the economic value of that project. [0:24:03, 0:24:06]: And so um we almost landed him, but [0:24:06, 0:24:10]: It didn't happen, but we were able to do a lot of things and put some things in place. [0:24:10, 0:24:12]: With the D D A in the main street and um [0:24:13, 0:24:17]: Even though downtown was lively, I think you'll see that it's even more lively now than it was. [0:24:18, 0:24:18]: Ten years ago. [0:24:19, 0:24:20]: Um [0:24:20, 0:24:22]: Went to city of East Point and [0:24:22, 0:24:25]: Oh man, uh talk about a dead downtown. [0:24:25, 0:24:26]: Um [0:24:26, 0:24:29]: I I think that was worse than the city of East, especially a Griffin. [0:24:30, 0:24:34]: Um, but you know, their downtown was bifurcated by Mata. [0:24:34, 0:24:40]: And Norfolk Southern, some of the same challenges. Um, hollowed out downtown, full of parking. [0:24:41, 0:24:46]: Um, we did a master plan a few years ago before I got there, but we started working the plan. [0:24:46, 0:24:52]: Um, and one of the biggest catalyst projects we did was moving City Hall from an old office building. [0:24:52, 0:24:55]: into the downtown area with a brand new city hall. [0:24:56, 0:25:01]: We purchased the adjacent eight acres for the uh commons development. [0:25:01, 0:25:06]: And before I left, and after fact, I hate to say it, but [0:25:06, 0:25:09]: We started up the downtown development authority in [0:25:09, 0:25:12]: Um East Point as well, that was another defunct entity. [0:25:12, 0:25:18]: And in actual fact, the industrial development authority was the Catholic organization in the downtown. [0:25:18, 0:25:19]: We politely kick them out. [0:25:21, 0:25:22]: And took the project away from them. [0:25:23, 0:25:27]: Um and then with a space of three to six months, we were able to purchase. [0:25:28, 0:25:32]: the properties for the commons, which they weren't able to do over about a ten, twelve year period. [0:25:33, 0:25:37]: And now we're about to turn those pretty about to turn those project that property over to [0:25:37, 0:25:40]: The DDA as they've got a new master developer. [0:25:40, 0:25:44]: Um going through all of the planning sessions. [0:25:44, 0:25:45]: For a noob. [0:25:45, 0:25:47]: Four story mixed use development. [0:25:48, 0:25:50]: That's gonna be anchored by [0:25:50, 0:25:52]: Um, would you believe it? Grady Hell Clinic. [0:25:53, 0:25:59]: because we're actually relocating them from a spot they are on um highway 29, swapping spots with them. [0:25:59, 0:26:13]: Um, but giving them a bigger location as well as a bigger presence as part of a redevelopment project. So that's that's gonna be huge. Unfortunate, I wouldn't be I I'm not gonna be there to see see them come out of ground, but was there to make sure we got the contract signed with the developer. [0:26:14, 0:26:15]: Um [0:26:15, 0:26:19]: But bring we also look to bring a lot of some of the same programs to bear. [0:26:19, 0:26:20]: Um [0:26:20, 0:26:21]: In the city of East Point, but [0:26:22, 0:26:25]: I'm stoked to be home. This has been my home for 22 years. [0:26:26, 0:26:30]: Um moved here from Decatur, Illinois back in ninety nine. Yeah. [0:26:31, 0:26:32]: Um, so I've been [0:26:32, 0:26:35]: been here for a number of years and raised my family here. So [0:26:36, 0:26:41]: It's an opportunity to really come back and bring the level of experience that I've had over the last twenty five plus years. [0:26:42, 0:26:45]: Um, to bear and I've got a good man council and I think we've got a good group. [0:26:46, 0:26:48]: Um, for our DDA and the staff. [0:26:48, 0:26:52]: And um I'm gonna be challenging Alan and he'll be challenging me, which is cool. [0:26:52, 0:26:58]: um about how we move and get this thing to the next level. So thank you guys for inviting me. Appreciate being here. [0:26:58, 0:27:01]: And uh I'll be in attendance to many more meetings as we [0:27:02, 0:27:05]: Discuss some of the projects that we want to see come out of the ground in the downtown. [0:27:07, 0:27:11]: Thank thank you, Mr. Gardner. And any questions or comments for Mr. Gardner? [0:27:12, 0:27:12]: Yes. [0:27:14, 0:27:15]: Go ahead, Miss Councilman. [0:27:15, 0:27:20]: And there's one the coun the council member can't answer question because he's he's a member of the council. [0:27:21, 0:27:33]: Yeah, we're gonna we're gonna we're gonna tell him, listen, uh we we hire Mr. Gardner, we have the utmost confidence in him to execute on the highest level possible. We expect to achieve [0:27:34, 0:27:39]: Uh all of our goals and the best thing about Mr. Gardner, he lives right here. [0:27:39, 0:27:45]: in our community. So he travels these same streets and he will be frequenting the downtown just like [0:27:46, 0:27:58]: uh we've been doing and he understands uh where we're going in terms of the overall goals and the overall investment uh that we want to make in downtown. Thank you. [0:28:00, 0:28:03]: Thank you, Councilman. Any any other comments or questions? [0:28:06, 0:28:26]: Well, I first of all thank you, uh Mr. Gardner, for for uh for uh for for giving us a little bit about your background. Uh it's an impressive um uh range of experience. And I think it's uh the fact that you live here and you're bringing all that experience back to our city um is is a great benefit to us. I mean, I'll say as far [0:28:26, 0:28:46]: You know, I've been serving on the DDA now for uh this is my fifth year. And um we, I can say that you have a motivated group of uh individuals who want to partner with the city and we want to be developers. We may not know how and we may need the guidance. And even though we've been through [0:28:46, 0:29:04]: training it's one thing going to a class for a day or two doing at a conference another thing another it's an it's a whole other thing when you're actually implementing you know revolving loan funds you know incentive deals and actual development so uh we're here to partner with you and to really see our downtown thrive [0:29:05, 0:29:08]: Yeah, so I want to point out that [0:29:08, 0:29:10]: Mr. Gardner and I've had a lot of people. [0:29:10, 0:29:15]: Uh, plenty conversations about um the development. [0:29:15, 0:29:23]: Of of our downtown, and we're going to continue having those conversations. Um, like he mentioned, you know, he he's done it before. [0:29:24, 0:29:24]: And [0:29:25, 0:29:29]: He's progressive just like our council. I tell people all the time that. [0:29:29, 0:29:30]: You know [0:29:30, 0:29:32]: Uh we all share that that one [0:29:33, 0:29:35]: Vision of being the number one city. [0:29:35, 0:29:36]: And Henry County. [0:29:37, 0:29:44]: And um, you know, ms Mr. Gardner shares that vision as well. So it's it's been a pleasure working with him so far. And I I'm looking forward to what we're going to do this year. [0:29:48, 0:29:53]: Roger I'll just add that I'm very excited that Mr. Gardner and Mr. [0:29:53, 0:29:54]: Um [0:29:54, 0:29:59]: Peterson are working on the opportunity zone and I think that's gonna be a game changer. [0:29:59, 0:30:17]: Uh once we secure that and uh understand that's been put together and uh we should see something on that uh in the community. Oh yeah. And I I'll I'll I'll even I'll go a step further in one of the conversations that Alabama uh Alan and I have had was um even looking at trying to do turn uh [0:30:17, 0:30:23]: either the LCI document or we could find the the urban redevelopment plan that was done. [0:30:23, 0:30:26]: Um into a child plan. [0:30:27, 0:30:27]: Mm-hmm. [0:30:27, 0:30:33]: Right. So imagine if we're able to to get a TAD document because I think the city [0:30:34, 0:30:38]: might already have the authority to and not have to go to a referendum anymore. [0:30:39, 0:30:45]: We have I just have to research it, but I think we already have the authority to do a tax allocation district. [0:30:45, 0:30:47]: Um and if we do [0:30:47, 0:30:51]: That's a that's gonna be a a really big game changer because now [0:30:51, 0:30:57]: We can leverage future taxes to make the infrastructure improvements so the private developers don't have to do it. [0:30:57, 0:30:59]: Right, that's a huge incentive. [0:30:59, 0:31:08]: Um, when you're talking about bringing these guys to the table and you take that underground cost away from them or the potential parking deck, because as you know, I mean [0:31:09, 0:31:12]: You you know, when we talk about additional parking downtown for residential. [0:31:13, 0:31:14]: Mixed use development. [0:31:14, 0:31:21]: You're talking fifteen to twenty thousand, but probably now twenty-five to three twenty to twenty-five thousand per space. [0:31:21, 0:31:24]: Um and for a structured parking deck. So [0:31:25, 0:31:28]: Definitely being able to take that seven or eight million dollars. [0:31:29, 0:31:33]: um uh uh expense off a developer is gonna be huge. [0:31:34, 0:31:37]: Um, so we're looking at that as also as an option. [0:31:37, 0:31:41]: And if we're able to make make that happen, I'ma tell you it won't be difficult. [0:31:42, 0:31:50]: Um, especially if we already got the authority to be able to do it. Cause the hardest part is taking it to the voters. But I think Henry County might have done that and they hope. [0:31:50, 0:32:00]: hope sincerely they actually included the cities. Um, I remember it was on the ballot a few years ago. I don't know if anybody remember voting on that the use of the redevelopment powers. [0:32:00, 0:32:04]: And I think it might have been the development authority that did it, but I don't know if they use [0:32:05, 0:32:08]: included the cities, but we'll look at that and we're to as an option as well. [0:32:11, 0:32:13]: Very good. Any other questions or comments from Mr. Wagner? [0:32:16, 0:32:36]: All right, thank you again for being here. And you're welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting. Um, but uh it sounds like you have you have something else to do. So um thanks again. Next up on the agenda is Ms. uh Ebony Thompson, and uh she is the respond one of the uh the respondent for the uh our request for proposal for a social media manager and [0:32:35, 0:32:38]: And uh Emily, we'll turn the floor over to you. Thank you. [0:32:39, 0:32:53]: Sure. Hi everybody. Thank y'all for allowing me to be here. Excited to talk a little bit about social media, which I do 24-7. So this is just, you know, this is a regular day for me, but I'm excited to see your faces. Um [0:32:53, 0:32:57]: I'm gonna go ahead and share my screen. A lot of this is from [0:32:57, 0:33:01]: The proposal submitted, um, but it is highlighting. [0:33:02, 0:33:03]: Can you all see my screen? [0:33:04, 0:33:24]: Yes, I can. Okay. Awesome. Awesome. Um, so I'm gonna go um through a couple of these points just to make sure that number one, you all know who we are, um, who I am, what my passion is, the purpose, and then some of the things that we do. Um, so I am the CEO and founder of the Persona Agency, where digital marketing. [0:33:24, 0:33:28]: agency we focus on social media, digital marketing. [0:33:29, 0:33:42]: Experiential marketing. Any way that you can go ahead and touch somebody, whether that is through social media, it's through communications, it's through the ways that people are connected right now. [0:33:42, 0:33:47]: Um and so I always like to leave by letting people know, you know, when I talk about social media. [0:33:47, 0:34:07]: It's so much more than just like posting a funny meme, right? We all know the impact. We've all visited places because of something we've seen on social. We've all been our minds have been changed because of something we've read on social media. So it's a way to reach customers and readers and really to see what the people you're serving, what they want. Um and never before [0:34:07, 0:34:18]: Has there been a time when brands and businesses have had so much insight to what their target audience wants and needs? And it right now, with the power of social media, it's just it's unmatched. [0:34:18, 0:34:35]: Uh so a little bit about TPA, um, the Persona Agency. I'll just refer to it as TPA because it's it's pretty long to say. Um we are a so uh Stone Mountain based um agency. We opened our doors in 2017, however, before then. [0:34:35, 0:34:42]: Um, I had more than 15 years of advertising, marketing, and social media. I was working with [0:34:42, 0:34:59]: Some some pretty big names. Um I was working with um internet, I was working with IHG, I was working with tech startups, I was working with um Chamber of Commerces starting their tourism and marketing up, and um I was the head of a tech startup. [0:35:00, 0:35:20]: Head of social media. It was the dream job. But if anybody knows anything about startups, um funding is what determines what happens. And so funding fell through, and that led me to what do I do? Do I take all of the expertise, the 15, 20 years of my experience, and try to find another job? Or do I try to use what I know to impact and get into the [0:35:20, 0:35:25]: those nooks and crannies where I know that I can use my experience for good. And so I did the latter. [0:35:25, 0:35:45]: Started my agency and within 30 days, we had our first national client. Within the next next 30 days, we had our second national client. And we have been very selective. We've been blessed to be selective in the type of clients that we work with. Um, we are not looking to work with people just to make money. This is not just a paycheck. This [0:35:45, 0:35:55]: is for impact. And so myself and everyone on my team, we try to make sure that anything that we touch is has a purpose behind it. And so. [0:35:56, 0:36:09]: A little bit about us, of course, the social media management. We do copywriting, graphic design, digital marketing, event activations, social media ads, content strategy, video production, photography, and experiential marketing. [0:36:10, 0:36:30]: Um our team is growing. We actually just hired a new team member that I didn't have a chance to add her photo on here. She started on last week. But this is our team. We have everyone from the associate social media manager to our videographer to Fatima, who handles our graphic design, to our photographer. [0:36:30, 0:36:38]: Our visual person, because one thing we know is that everybody has an expertise, right? And we need to hone in on the people who have those expertises. [0:36:38, 0:36:55]: Uh, a little bit about our experience and the things that we have done. Um, we have worked with um cities like the City of Stone Mountain um DDA, and we um focus on really building the community and businesses and visitor traffic and awareness and visibility. And it was really [0:36:55, 0:37:15]: Starting it, I would I would say from the ground up, uh starting especially from the social media portion of um trying to tap into an untapped resource. So leaning into Instagram, leaning into Facebook, creating really engaging visuals, video, and um really showcasing because the unfortunate. [0:37:15, 0:37:34]: Fortunate part is that a lot of times if you don't know, you just don't know. And if you're not seeing it, there's no way to. So we um we leaned into the strategy, we lead, we leaned into social media paid ads, a little bit of photography and videography, and then lead generation, um, making sure that the people who are visiting. [0:37:34, 0:37:54]: actually know that hey we have newsletters you can join, we have events that you can follow the calendar because again if you don't know, you don't know. And so we have had um really tremendous um response from just being on social and being active and being engaging and really showcasing the businesses because that's that's really the [0:37:54, 0:38:03]: the the the lifeblood of making sure that the businesses feel heard, seen, and that they feel like they're not just out there alone. Um [0:38:04, 0:38:05]: Oh to [0:38:06, 0:38:11]: Um this is another um case study that we did um with prosper care. They lean. [0:38:11, 0:38:28]: They lean a little bit more into um trying to match people who are interested in working with the elderly, but from a purpose, a sense of purpose. So it might be somebody who worked at McDonald's, but they they have this bone within them that is all about care. And so. [0:38:29, 0:38:46]: Our job was to find those people who may have never even considered working, you know, with the elderly, but have that touch. And so this was a lot of lead generation. This was a lot of um reaching people in places where they probably weren't even looking for jobs and looking for a career change and really that letting them know that. [0:38:46, 0:39:06]: We have a choice in what we do. We're not trees. We don't have to stay planted somewhere if we're not being fulfilled. Um, so this was a really, this was a really fun one. And you know, I I love my grandparents and I love my parents. So um it was it was a really um a heartfelt one for me. Um we have worked with some amazing people. [0:39:06, 0:39:16]: Um Omar Johnson, who used to be the former CMO of Beats and Apple Music, he was my direct supervisor when I worked at that tech startup. And I [0:39:17, 0:39:34]: I didn't even know that this was still left in here. So my I don't like to be like, hey, he said this about me, but um Omar said if I searched for 10 other social media managers to do what Ebony does, I wouldn't be able to find them. She and her team are one of a kind. So always nice to hear great things from um great people. [0:39:34, 0:39:37]: Um, I'm just gonna run through a couple of other case studies. Um [0:39:38, 0:39:56]: Handle the social media for Pharrell Williams um podcast called Other Tone. Um this was um also a from the ground um project. This wasn't something we came on and they had all these followers. We literally had to build it. And of course you probably think, oh, Pharrell Williams, you just mentioned his name and people come. [0:39:57, 0:40:16]: But it takes work to build the community. And that's really the part that we were focused on is making sure that the people who listen to the podcast actually feel like they know one of the guests and that they feel heard and that they are are communicating back and forth. So this one was a very um unexpected, but very fun project as well. [0:40:17, 0:40:25]: Um this was the tech startup I told you about. Um we were a Wi-Fi router, which was uh we're based in Atlanta. Um very [0:40:25, 0:40:30]: Um, very well funded. It was a fun project. Um, and I really had [0:40:30, 0:40:35]: free reign to kind of do everything I wanted to do, which was an amazing thing. [0:40:36, 0:40:43]: But we yeah, we worked on the strategy, we worked on the management and then optimization and then the photography and videography. And [0:40:43, 0:40:54]: Design Essentials is another national brand that we work with as well that's more e-commerce focused. But it does it comes in handy, especially when working with retailers, because a lot of the retailers are trying to figure out. [0:40:55, 0:41:15]: How do I get how do I get that e-commerce traffic? How do I get, if I'm not able to get people, you know, physically into my store on a day when I'm closed, how do I utilize social media to draw people so that when I am open, they're coming and they're flooding my door? So this was a project as well. And I will just show one of the videos. Let me see. Um [0:41:16, 0:41:18]: I will show this one. [0:41:19, 0:41:21]: Of course it's gonna be muted. [0:41:22, 0:41:28]: Oh the city of Stone Mountain. Historic, charming, diverse, future focused. [0:41:29, 0:41:49]: The heart of who we are isn't in one person or place. Who we are lies in all 1.7 miles that our beautiful city, also known as Stone Mountain Village, holds. Who we are is painted on the faces of all 7,000 residents that call it home and is planted in each visitor who views our rich city as their favorite escape. It even lies in our [0:41:49, 0:41:57]: future, which we're proud to be writing page by page. Each piece of who we are as the city of Stoke. [0:41:57, 0:42:06]: Like from our private schools to our vibrant businesses, we see the possibilities from every child who sees our baseball fields. [0:42:06, 0:42:10]: We don't know. Oh you oh you can't oh you can only hear it. Okay, that's [0:42:11, 0:42:18]: That's not that separate window. Yeah, it is. Hold on just one second. Let me every I I know you you have um [0:42:19, 0:42:31]: Those are on the YouTube page. So it's well so this this one here isn't um only yeah, only because it was it was a special project that we were doing. Um and we so I don't even [0:42:35, 0:42:36]: And then [0:42:37, 0:42:40]: Oh, there it is right there. Sorry you guys. All right. [0:42:41, 0:42:45]: Um what you yeah. The city of Stone Mountain. [0:42:45, 0:42:49]: Хистори, чами, дирекс, футюче фокус. [0:42:49, 0:43:09]: The heart of who we are isn't in one person or place. Who we are lies in all 1.7 miles that our beautiful city, also known as Stone Mountain Village, holds. Who we are is painted on the faces of all 7,000 residents that call it home and is planted in each visitor who views our rich city as their favorite escape. It even lies in our [0:43:09, 0:43:29]: Future, which we're proud to be writing page by page. Each piece of who we are as the city of Stone Mountain is weaved into what we value. From our thriving schools to our vibrant businesses, we see the possibilities. From every child who sees our baseball fields as their personal theme part, or every elder who will be empowered by [0:43:29, 0:43:42]: access to technology through our Deco project, we believe in the possibilities. To us, Village Forward means seeing, believing, and embracing the beauty of our future. Welcome to the Snake Stone Mountain. [0:43:44, 0:43:44]: All right. [0:43:49, 0:43:54]: Oh, okay. I was making sure that the camera was back on me. You know technology is always funny. Um [0:43:54, 0:44:05]: So that I'm really not, I don't a lot of the other ones are already in the proposal and we also did some um features on a lot of our businesses, um really. [0:44:05, 0:44:25]: trying to get to the background. We do business with people that we we feel comfortable with, right? People that travel the same roads as us, like you just said, people that travel the same roads, people that have the same interests. And so we really wanted to get to the nitty-gritty and be able to showcase who the business owners are and what their passions are for why they why they open their business. [0:44:25, 0:44:35]: business in that city. And it did amazing for the businesses because a lot of them, especially at this quality videography, were not able to just splurge out. [0:44:35, 0:44:55]: A couple thousand dollars, even a couple hundred dollars for a video like that that you can then repurpose. And then we ran ads with them to be able to drive um additional traffic to their business, but then also to um my dog is going crazy downstairs and it's driving me crazy. Um, I'm sorry. Um, but then also trying to make sure that that they know that the [0:44:55, 0:44:59]: the city and the DDA supported them. And so um [0:45:00, 0:45:20]: Yeah, I think that that was everything. I mean, we have a lot more portfolio, but I don't want to bore you with the portfolio when really the the interest I think is the work, making sure um that we we are on the same page in terms of what you're looking for and that we can align to to deliver that. So are there any specific questions? [0:45:20, 0:45:21]: Because I can talk all day about social. [0:45:23, 0:45:24]: Ebony, thank you. Um [0:45:24, 0:45:25]: One thing. [0:45:26, 0:45:27]: That I I really [0:45:27, 0:45:29]: Um enjoy that you all do. [0:45:29, 0:45:39]: And you you touched on it was um those commercials that you did for the businesses, those one to two minute commercials, uh free advertisement, high quality videos. [0:45:40, 0:46:00]: Uh where you highlighted the individual businesses. Is it possible for you to show one of those? Yes, yes, it sure is. Um you all have your pick. Do you want the brewery or gilly's, which is a coffee shop? Uh sweet potato cafe. Oh, sweet potato. Let me do. And you know, they've recently just got their entire [0:46:00, 0:46:07]: Space redone. So this is um a bit outdated, but we can wait. Let me pull it. [0:46:15, 0:46:16]: Well it's green. [0:46:19, 0:46:22]: Okay, can you all see Chef on there? [0:46:23, 0:46:23]: Yes. [0:46:30, 0:46:42]: Sweet Potato Cafe is a farm to table restaurant that's letting you know that everything we do is either locally grown, um, it's freshly made. [0:46:43, 0:47:03]: And we're pretty much telling you where your food is coming from. We have our own on-site garden, which is here at the restaurant, but we also work very closely with one of our other local farmers. And I'm at the market probably every other day, making sure that the food that I'm giving. [0:47:03, 0:47:23]: My customers is totally fresh. Well, if this is your first visit to Sweet Potato Cafe, I would definitely recommend our fried green tomatoes. This is a dish that has been very popular amongst our customers. I have had customers come in and ask: is this the restaurant that sells the fried green tomato? [0:47:23, 0:47:43]: And tomatoes. Plus, we were awarded for those also. Some of the precautions that we have had to deal with uh since COVID started is the fact that we are still not doing dynamic. They are able to eat outside. We have a great patio out there. They can take it to go, which [0:47:43, 0:48:03]: Right now, that's all we're doing anyway. It's carry-out, take out, curbside, which has worked. The thing I love the most about the village are the people. When I started looking for a location for my business, I knew where I wanted to come initially. And that's what I did. And thank God I did because the [0:48:03, 0:48:23]: This house was available. And so my husband and I came in and we renovated it. But the people have been so welcoming here. I've met so many nice people and I've developed so many friendships. You can always find us on Facebook or on Instagram. We're at 5377. [0:48:22, 0:48:24]: Manor drive. [0:48:24, 0:48:38]: You can find us online at thsweetpotatocafe.net and please come down and visit us. We're here and we're here to serve you. And thank you so much. [0:48:40, 0:48:48]: Okay. Yeah, I love, I always love that. It always makes me hungry, but it yeah, it's it's an amazing spot. Um so yeah, we we did. [0:48:48, 0:48:53]: We did about six of those videos where we um did one to two minute videos um and [0:48:53, 0:49:07]: We gave it to the retailers for them to do whatever they wanted to do, but then on our end, we ran ad campaigns to drive traffic to their pages, but then drive awareness to the fact that there was a DDA and we are supporting our downtown and we have businesses here. [0:49:08, 0:49:13]: that are open and thriving and trying to do things. And we really targeted people who [0:49:14, 0:49:34]: Visited, lived in the area and a little bit outside, but then also people who have a tendency to travel. Um, and because if they again, I just continue to say this: if you don't know, you don't know. And so we really targeted people who um liked to go outdoors, who liked to bike, who liked fresh food, who liked um downtown smoke. [0:49:34, 0:49:46]: small towns, main streets. And of course with Facebook, you have the opportunity to be able to target people based on particular standards of what you're looking for. And that really helps to be able to [0:49:46, 0:49:49]: Make sure you're getting good responses on those ads. [0:49:51, 0:49:59]: Any um any thank you, Ebony? Any questions or comments for uh Ebony? Yes, I do. Uh so [0:50:00, 0:50:07]: Uh the focus of this, we're the downtown development authority. So economic development is the push. So [0:50:07, 0:50:11]: Were any of the any new businesses that were actually [0:50:12, 0:50:22]: attracted to downtown during the social media campaign or that you have experience with the successes of attracting new businesses. [0:50:22, 0:50:42]: Yes. So I would say since we've started the social media campaign, there have been that I can think of between five between five new businesses that have started. Um and so that really had to do with some people who grew up in the area, but then some people who had no idea. For for instance, outrun um [0:50:42, 0:50:58]: Outrun brewery opened up a little bit before. No, they they opened up right after we right after we started, but they had been working on this for a couple of years. But their audience had no idea that the city of Stone Mountain and downtown Stone Mountain was even [0:50:59, 0:51:01]: A thing like a this is these are things that I heard. [0:51:01, 0:51:06]: And so knowing and I went to to the guys and I was like, how did you all even hear about [0:51:06, 0:51:10]: opening this and he was like you know we were looking for places and our realtor [0:51:11, 0:51:31]: Our realtor mentioned it to us. So then that was the ding ding ding to me of, okay, we need to be targeting commercial realtors too in all of these ads because this is the way that we are attracting the businesses and attracting those business owners. We've had um a vibrary bookstore that is opened. We have had um a couple of crystal shops that [0:51:31, 0:51:51]: have opened. We have had um a couple a new restaurant that also opened as well, the mayor's house, um, which exists inside of a coffee shop. But these, it's the word of mouth and it's hitting people exactly where they are. So yes, there has been a great response. I I shudder to think what would think what would happen if there was no representation before [0:51:51, 0:51:55]: beforehand because there just wouldn't be any way to touch someone. [0:51:55, 0:51:55]: Um [0:51:56, 0:51:57]: Except meeting them where they are. [0:51:58, 0:52:04]: Okay, let's talk about the numbers. So for your organization, you have a social media page. [0:52:04, 0:52:12]: Does my organization, my company? Yes. Yes. Okay. So what is the what is the how many followers do you have on your page? [0:52:12, 0:52:13]: Um [0:52:13, 0:52:17]: I am not sure exactly how many followers. Um [0:52:18, 0:52:25]: I wanna say it is probably somewhere between seven to seven to eight hundred, maybe. [0:52:25, 0:52:31]: Okay. And so what is the um how many followers does the stone Stone Mountain page have now? [0:52:32, 0:52:35]: uh let me look right now [0:52:38, 0:52:41]: Stone Mountain DA has uh 611. [0:52:42, 0:52:43]: That's what I'm doing. [0:52:44, 0:52:46]: So in terms of [0:52:46, 0:52:48]: The овора річ. [0:52:49, 0:52:53]: How many people are you reaching uh up on these pages? [0:52:53, 0:53:04]: Um, hold on. I can pull up our last report. We send um monthly reports out to everyone. So that would be my best way of if you can just give me two seconds, I can pull it up. [0:53:05, 0:53:05]: Um [0:53:06, 0:53:11]: Last month I know we had an amazing month on Reach. [0:53:22, 0:53:30]: Uh actually yeah just look at this one. So we are doing about [0:53:30, 0:53:35]: 10 to 12,000 um impressions. We're doing um [0:53:36, 0:53:36]: Okay. [0:53:37, 0:53:40]: Ten if ten to twelve thousand impressions. So we're doing probably about [0:53:41, 0:53:53]: 8,000 on reach on average every month, depending on if there are ad campaigns, depending on if you have targeted um videos that are going out to people. It all depends on that. [0:53:54, 0:53:56]: Oh, so you see. [0:53:56, 0:54:00]: Our catalyst now is we have small businesses. [0:54:00, 0:54:09]: But we have a lack of restaurant and a variety. We have like Barn Beautiful down there, which is Mr. Custin is involved with a truly unique business that [0:54:09, 0:54:10]: Um [0:54:10, 0:54:12]: You know, can certainly be [0:54:12, 0:54:16]: Uh the chambers working with them and several other organizations, but we lack [0:54:16, 0:54:18]: The the coffee shop. [0:54:18, 0:54:19]: The bookstore. [0:54:20, 0:54:22]: the complimentary businesses to go with it. [0:54:22, 0:54:25]: But the council threw out this carrot. [0:54:25, 0:54:28]: So are you familiar with the Stockbridge Amphitheater? [0:54:29, 0:54:45]: Yes, I I my team and I were looking at it this morning on our team call and our jaws dropped. Um my family lives in Stockbridge and I didn't realize the first off, the website is beautiful um and it really draws attention to that. So yes, very familiar with it. [0:54:46, 0:54:48]: Okay, well in essence, you know, we [0:54:48, 0:55:03]: You know that we spent 23 million dollars on this facility and it takes a second seat to nobody in the region. So we're gonna tr make your job easier by focusing on the economic development. [0:55:03, 0:55:09]: And then splashes on social media, you know they're celebrity driven. So when you can put [0:55:10, 0:55:19]: May the 7th, uh, Morris Day in the Time is coming. You can put Rick Springfield is coming, all of that in corporation with [0:55:19, 0:55:35]: uh the businesses that are currently there promoting them in order to do that. I have a large social media page myself. My page is called Because We Care Henry, Atlanta South. Our average reach is about a hundred thousand every month. [0:55:35, 0:55:37]: And we do extremely well in terms of [0:55:38, 0:55:41]: catering, you know, getting information out there to the South Metro. [0:55:41, 0:55:42]: Your focus will be [0:55:42, 0:55:45]: narrow narrow in terms of [0:55:45, 0:55:48]: Highlighting the current businesses and their successes. [0:55:49, 0:55:50]: In order to draw in [0:55:51, 0:55:54]: The new businesses downtown and opportunities. [0:55:54, 0:55:56]: uh that would be available. [0:55:56, 0:56:00]: uh to them. You see the family actually lives in Sidebridge, which is interesting. [0:56:01, 0:56:01]: Yeah. [0:56:02, 0:56:08]: My uncle does, yeah. So what part of South Ridges live? Um he lives he on um Henry. [0:56:09, 0:56:11]: He lives on Henry, I'm saying Henry Road. [0:56:12, 0:56:19]: Hold on. Hold on. I was just saying it because I knew that I knew I was going to get asked the street that he lived on. Um [0:56:20, 0:56:21]: Joe Eddings. [0:56:21, 0:56:28]: lives on i'm gonna come back to you with it because i'm i know i can picture it in my head um yeah [0:56:28, 0:56:38]: I know we often go to it. We can drive to it, but if you tell somebody how to get there, you will like, oh, okay, I know how to get there. Yep. So honestly, the city there's been a lot of growth. [0:56:39, 0:56:42]: We have a hundred million dollars in in new investment coming. [0:56:42, 0:56:51]: Uh we just had a$45 million STEM school announcement. So there's a lot of splash things that can draw attention. We just need to focus. [0:56:51, 0:56:54]: In my opinion, on economic development. [0:56:54, 0:56:57]: And business recruitment and retention. [0:56:57, 0:56:58]: Is [0:56:58, 0:57:00]: It again, this is [0:57:00, 0:57:02]: DDA focused is not. [0:57:02, 0:57:06]: W well, it would be the city of course, but at the same time this is [0:57:06, 0:57:15]: The Downtown Development Authority, which is economic development. So your involvement with social media, what about website, web website development? [0:57:15, 0:57:35]: Um, we we we have people on our team who build um build our websites as well. Um, because it it does go it goes hand in hand. Um, because it makes it a lot harder for us on social when we don't have somebody to somewhere to draw people to and send them to and to be able to collect it. Because very much like you, I'm a numbers person. And if I can't quantify. [0:57:36, 0:57:45]: A post, it has to make sense for me. Like it has to make sense for why I'm posting this out here. So yes, we do have people on our team who can build our websites or as well. [0:57:46, 0:57:48]: So Roger, we don't have a website currently, is that correct? [0:57:53, 0:57:54]: Sorry, you muted. [0:57:55, 0:57:59]: Sorry about that. Um we the DDA has a page on the City of Stockbridges website. [0:58:00, 0:58:03]: Okay, right. The D D A those ones say we need our own [0:58:03, 0:58:05]: Uh independent as a separate entity. [0:58:06, 0:58:12]: uh have our own website. So certainly that should be included in the scope of work with anybody that we would choose. [0:58:12, 0:58:14]: That they will be able to work on the social media. [0:58:15, 0:58:17]: Са а злом аз до вебсайт. [0:58:17, 0:58:19]: А звел формат презент. [0:58:20, 0:58:21]: Uh uh there. So [0:58:22, 0:58:25]: Um the presentation was impressive and uh [0:58:25, 0:58:27]: You know, uh the fact that [0:58:27, 0:58:30]: Yeah, you have people here in Stockbridge, certainly. [0:58:30, 0:58:40]: They understand you you will be here, you will come here because certain certainly you will visit the family and then they will tell you what's going on here. [0:58:40, 0:58:52]: uh as well. So that's that's uh certainly good news. And um and it's Harper Drive. Sorry, it's Harper Drive. Okay, Harper Drive. I'm trying to figure that. Okay. Um [0:58:52, 0:58:54]: Okay, well let's um [0:58:54, 0:58:55]: Um [0:58:55, 0:59:03]: Let's see what we can do about uh so those this was the own this was the response to the solicitation. It was the only one we received pretty much. [0:59:05, 0:59:07]: Okay. And Alan, you're familiar with Ms. Thompson? [0:59:09, 0:59:11]: Uh yes, sir. When I when I was [0:59:11, 0:59:12]: The [0:59:13, 0:59:16]: Downtown Development Authority Director for Stone Mountain. Uh [0:59:17, 0:59:23]: did this, did this program again. I started this, this um social media campaign and Ebony is who we went with. [0:59:24, 0:59:39]: Okay, and and where are your offices located at, Thomas? Uh in the in the city of Snow Mountain. So downtown Snow Mountain. We have um I actually own a co-working space down in um downtown Snow Mountain and our offices are based out of there. [0:59:39, 0:59:41]: You need a south side location too. [0:59:42, 0:59:54]: You know what? One of my team members actually lives very close. And so when I told her about this, she got super excited and actually started looking for places. I was like, wait a minute, slow down. [0:59:54, 1:00:00]: Okay, okay. Well thank you. I'm very impressed with uh the work and um certainly it's uh [1:00:00, 1:00:05]: You know, the exactly what uh I would think that uh isn't fitting with what we're trying to [1:00:06, 1:00:07]: Thank you. [1:00:07, 1:00:08]: Thank you. [1:00:09, 1:00:11]: Any other questions or comments for everything? [1:00:13, 1:00:18]: We I agree. Very, very impressive presentation. Um it it looks good. [1:00:19, 1:00:28]: Thank you. Thank you. And I want to just thank you all. Um, I think that you all have done a remarkable job. We um, of course. [1:00:28, 1:00:48]: I told you all earlier we are very particular with making sure that the type of clients that we would work with um that it aligns with who we are and what we do. And my passion and my background is tourism and marketing. I started with Visit Florida, um, down in Florida and worked there for about seven years, moved up to Alabama to care for my grandmother and started. [1:00:48, 1:01:07]: the tourism brand at Calhoun County from the ground up, working with the Chamber of Commerce, working with the economic development team to really build in and highlight the area, but then also to make the community feel like they were a part of what we were doing. So I'm extremely excited about the opportunity and I just want to thank you all. [1:01:09, 1:01:12]: Thank you. Appreciate you being with us tonight. Thank you. [1:01:15, 1:01:35]: All right. Um we will move on to the next item on the agenda. So we'll just go through our uh regular staff reports. Uh and and ebony, you're welcome to stay or you're welcome to go either way. Um I know this is maybe the maybe the uh less exciting part of the meeting for you. [1:01:37, 1:01:57]: Um all right, and as far as uh chairman's content uh comments, uh I do want to uh share with you all I did attend, I registered for and attended the uh DDA training that was offered by our attorney, um Mr. McCray. Free training. There's actually three or four separate sessions. So if you [1:01:57, 1:02:17]: If you did not get a chance to register for the training that's occurring today and tomorrow, there are two half day sessions. Um, there's another opportunity later on in the month. Uh, if you're interested in that, I do recommend it with information. There was a guest speaker from um actually the gentleman we're working with at uh Georgia Tech who helped us with. [1:02:16, 1:02:36]: The uh uh master planning as well as um a representative from the Department of Community Affairs on the different um funding options that are available to DDA. So it's very informative and I highly recommend it. Let me know if you need some more information on that. Um I wanted to bring up the point because we touched [1:02:36, 1:02:56]: Touched on this uh item um about four months ago, actually towards the end of last year, about an in-person meeting. I understand that the the city council, if I understand it correctly, is going to start having uh in-person meetings. Um and I wanted to just uh open up the floor briefly to get your opinions on whether or not we [1:02:56, 1:03:16]: should move to an in-person meeting. I will say out of the just before we open it up for discussion, from my understanding as far as how the meeting facilities at City Hall are equipped, it is not equipped for a hybrid meeting. That means that you could have some people attending in the meeting [1:03:16, 1:03:36]: Room and have cameras and audio enough to be able to also share the meeting with those who are attending via Zoom. It's really one or the other, and the way I understand it, unless the meeting, unless the equipment is set up in the room for a hybrid meeting. So um I think it's an either or option, but I wanted to. [1:03:36, 1:03:45]: hear the uh board's thoughts on um you know whether we should consider moving toward it towards an in-person meeting. So I'm up on the floor for discussion. [1:03:46, 1:03:47]: Chair Custom. [1:03:47, 1:03:54]: Yes, Vanessa. Um, if you don't mind, the um council chamber has always been set up to [1:03:54, 1:03:55]: Meat. [1:03:55, 1:03:58]: In person and also stream online. [1:03:58, 1:03:59]: So that [1:03:59, 1:04:00]: Is [1:04:01, 1:04:02]: Um available. [1:04:03, 1:04:08]: So if someone wanted to come to the meeting in person, they could. And if someone wanted to watch it. [1:04:09, 1:04:12]: Stream it online live, they could do that as well. [1:04:12, 1:04:25]: All right, but it would be in the council chamber, not the medium that we were using. All right, good to know. And we obviously would need to uh manage the schedule around the city council's. [1:04:26, 1:04:27]: Use of it, of course. [1:04:27, 1:04:28]: All right. [1:04:28, 1:04:30]: Good to know. Thank you. You're welcome. [1:04:34, 1:04:40]: Bob, I know you've had some thoughts on this in the past, but um what what's your current feeling? [1:04:40, 1:04:45]: Um I I'm like I say I'm old school. I always always prefer in person meetings. [1:04:46, 1:04:47]: However [1:04:48, 1:04:51]: You know, I'm just thinking I I guess I guess Zoom is growing on me, maybe. [1:04:52, 1:04:57]: Uh I I'm wondering if it's more convenient to get everybody together via Zoom. [1:04:57, 1:05:04]: And that's that's that's easier for everyone to get together as opposed to everyone coming down to City Hall. [1:05:04, 1:05:05]: Um [1:05:06, 1:05:09]: Like I said, I'll I'll I'll do either way, but um [1:05:11, 1:05:14]: I'm just wondering w what'd be what would be the easiest for for all of us? [1:05:15, 1:05:15]: Right. [1:05:16, 1:05:36]: Um so um I I I you know I have my own opinion about that. I'm I'm somewhat neutral, but I do find that it is easier for myself as well as it's probably easier to get guest speakers and and presenters to join when it doesn't involve uh travel. So I think that is a that is an important factor to consider. [1:05:38, 1:05:42]: All right. Um councilman or Mr. Sears? Any council? [1:05:43, 1:05:51]: Well, I'm gonna leave it up to you all what to do. As the liaison, that's what I do. Whatever y'all decide, that's what we'll do. [1:05:52, 1:05:53]: Very good. [1:05:54, 1:05:55]: Mr. Sears, any thoughts? [1:05:57, 1:05:59]: No, I um you know, like I said, like [1:06:00, 1:06:02]: Uh I agree what is convenient. [1:06:02, 1:06:17]: Um, you know, we're still getting out of this. Uh so I don't know what date what dateline you have, you know, what are you looking for? I know last time we had said March and March has left us. So because we were just getting of the pandemic. [1:06:17, 1:06:37]: So uh, you know, so I guess unlike um Ms. Holliday said, if you couldn't do both, you know, for those with gas price and all of those other things until certain things to stabilize. Uh, you know, so um leaning on what's convenient for most everybody too. Uh I'll be looking at the [1:06:37, 1:06:52]: perspective and what is best, like you say, and as Bob said, you know, Zoom has good on us, you know, because we can, you know, be at an office and do our thing instead of leaving. It's time by the travel time or other time, but people might be fall. [1:06:52, 1:07:04]: And they just could hook up zone. So or we do a a little pout some zone or some office, you know, so we can put it up in there and see what what falls. [1:07:05, 1:07:25]: All right. Thank you. So it sounds like we don't have a strong opinion one way or the other, but it I I guess I'm getting a sense that there's maybe a little bit of a lean towards um just the convenience of of doing it through Zoom, especially with um in my opinion, is um that's more of a factor with um having the benefit of the guest speakers that [1:07:25, 1:07:45]: join us and um making that a little bit easier. Um councilman, I guess it will we well we might leave it as do you if you could check to see if the city council would have any objection if we were if the DDA were to consider to use the um the council chamber for its meetings, would would there be any objection from the council perspective? [1:07:44, 1:07:45]: You know. [1:07:46, 1:07:55]: The youth council uses the chamber now, so I couldn't imagine there being any objections as long as we're not using it, but I certainly will circ I'll circle back. [1:07:56, 1:07:57]: Very good. Thank you. That's good to know. [1:07:58, 1:08:14]: All right, and uh so that's the that's really the two items I wanted to touch on as far as the chairman's reports. Um we'll move past the uh treasurer update. Uh Barber's not able to join us, uh so we'll move to item uh three C, Secretary updates. Bob, do you have anything for the group? [1:08:14, 1:08:22]: Uh I'm I'm scheduled for the uh the uh D D A training in June, so I'm I'm glad that you went through it and it's a good uh I look forward to that in June. [1:08:23, 1:08:25]: Um, other than I don't have anything. [1:08:27, 1:08:28]: Thank you. [1:08:29, 1:08:41]: And that brings us to the uh Main Street Advisory Board update. So Kira, I hope if you're still with us, there you are. You've been very patient. I hope you uh appreciated some of the earlier content. [1:08:41, 1:08:48]: Yes, I did, definitely. Um, I just have a few items that I would like to touch on. Um [1:08:48, 1:08:54]: Good evening, everyone. Um, we are moving forward with the repurposing of the Ted Strickland building. [1:08:55, 1:08:56]: Um council did make [1:08:57, 1:09:03]: The decision mayor and council did make the decision to move forward with that and our funding has been approved. [1:09:03, 1:09:06]: And a contract has been [1:09:06, 1:09:07]: Um, proffer to [1:09:08, 1:09:12]: The selected contractor, so we're just in the process of getting all of that. [1:09:12, 1:09:13]: Um [1:09:14, 1:09:20]: Complete it and then we'll be looking for our contractor to give us a provide us with a calendar. [1:09:20, 1:09:21]: for the construction period. [1:09:22, 1:09:27]: Um small business Saturday preparations have started actually. [1:09:27, 1:09:32]: Um, we want to come out of this pandemic situation um with [1:09:32, 1:09:38]: All um wheels turning and getting as many businesses, small businesses. [1:09:38, 1:09:46]: Involved in this year's recognition of Small Business Saturday as possible. We're working earlier on this project and [1:09:46, 1:09:49]: Trying to work smarter as opposed to harder. [1:09:50, 1:09:52]: With regard to this because it does take. [1:09:52, 1:09:54]: A lot of effort and um [1:09:55, 1:09:58]: Community building around this particular initiative. [1:09:58, 1:10:08]: Again, as we did last year, we are going to be doing a November small business blitz here in the city of Stockbridge. So we'll be um [1:10:08, 1:10:16]: Recognizing and promoting and really pushing the community to support small businesses throughout the entire month of November. [1:10:16, 1:10:36]: with everything culminating on Small Business Saturday. So we're looking forward to pushing that forward. And we have a committee that has been established to work on this project or this initiative. So if there's anyone who is interested in serving on that committee, please [1:10:36, 1:10:46]: Please let me know. You can just shoot me an email and we'll make sure that you receive our meeting calendar because we have started meeting and we're meeting pretty frequently. [1:10:46, 1:11:03]: Uh, we also have um a public art piece unveiling. Um, Mr. Hemming alluded to it a little bit in his um presentation, but that is going to be on Friday, the 22nd at 230 p.m. We have um created a partnership. [1:11:03, 1:11:04]: With the um [1:11:04, 1:11:15]: CVB Arts Consortium. And as you all know, we have um initiated a public arts program here in the city of Stockbridge and the Main Street program. [1:11:15, 1:11:22]: is um trying to collaborate with local artists and this is one of our first steps toward doing that. [1:11:23, 1:11:33]: Um we have several um locations um that were identified in our RSVP um downtown planning, as well as some other um [1:11:34, 1:11:35]: Areas that have um [1:11:35, 1:11:37]: become available to us as well. [1:11:38, 1:11:41]: So we are really, really moving forward with. [1:11:41, 1:11:44]: Um this public arts initiative and [1:11:44, 1:12:00]: This is one of our second, well actually this is our third installation with this particular group, and we're looking forward to working with them on bigger projects. But everyone is invited to our unveiling, and we look forward to seeing you all on Friday. [1:12:02, 1:12:04]: And that concludes my report for now. [1:12:07, 1:12:26]: But Kira, what exactly what is a squirrel table? A squirrel table is um a small um picnic table. Um it looks like um it's made out of wood and uh we have been placing well the arts consortium has been placing them. [1:12:26, 1:12:30]: Um all over Henry County, if you are familiar with [1:12:30, 1:12:50]: Geocaching, it's a similar trail that has been developed around these particular artworks. And people, they're very popular. People are traveling all over the county looking for them. They take selfies with them. There are incentive programs that are built around this particular trail. So it's really a [1:12:50, 1:12:53]: A tourism tool that has um really um [1:12:54, 1:13:14]: Gotten received some legs and people are really enjoying it. But it's just a small wooden table, and they have selected different artists from the community to paint them. Um, they're very vibrant. Some of them have um kind of cheeky themes, um, but they're all works of art and they are um in [1:13:13, 1:13:19]: installed in outdoor locations. So um during the pandemic, the um [1:13:19, 1:13:31]: trail was launched and we got a lot of buzz. So if you're able to visit the um Henry County um visit Henry County website, there is an entire um [1:13:31, 1:13:34]: section of the website devoted to [1:13:34, 1:13:39]: The squirrel table project and they have the artists listed, there's a map. [1:13:40, 1:13:52]: There's a lot of information about the project, but we're very happy to be a participant and we're looking forward to being a part of the Arts Consortium partner. [1:13:52, 1:13:54]: partnership in the future. [1:13:56, 1:13:56]: Thank you. [1:13:56, 1:13:57]: Mm-hmm. [1:14:00, 1:14:08]: Thank you, Kira. And pardon me, I've turned my camera off. I'm having um internet slow. So hopefully you can at least hear me. Um [1:14:08, 1:14:11]: Yes, I can hear you. All right. Uh the um [1:14:12, 1:14:15]: Do you have any up any any updates on the alleyway project? [1:14:17, 1:14:23]: Um, we have met with um the engineers. Um, we've had several meetings with them. [1:14:24, 1:14:32]: Um we also had a meeting re most recently with the attorneys that are working with us on the project. [1:14:32, 1:14:34]: There are some um property. [1:14:35, 1:14:40]: um issues that we need to iron out with regard to easements and that sort of thing in order to [1:14:40, 1:14:41]: Um [1:14:41, 1:14:43]: Get the project started. [1:14:43, 1:14:48]: But we are working on that behind the scenes. So as soon as that part of the project [1:14:48, 1:14:58]: uh part of the I guess pre-planning for the project is done. We'll be able to start moving forward with that. Uh oh, I did um not mention the um [1:14:59, 1:15:05]: The sewer um renovations that are going on, they are redoing all of the sewer lines in that. [1:15:06, 1:15:07]: Downtown area. [1:15:07, 1:15:12]: I sent out um information to all of the downtown business owners to [1:15:12, 1:15:17]: Let them know about the project and t to kind of give them a [1:15:17, 1:15:26]: Um an idea of how long the project is going to last. Burke Street and sections of Jim Clark were closed. [1:15:26, 1:15:34]: And um Birch Street is closed now for through traffic, but there are detours with signage. [1:15:34, 1:15:38]: Um that kind of direct people to the businesses that are downtown. [1:15:38, 1:15:43]: And to other um, I guess necessary places that they would need to go. [1:15:44, 1:15:53]: And um we've been getting regular updates from the contractor that is working on that project. And when I get those updates, I do send them out to [1:15:53, 1:15:57]: Our downtown business owners, so we're trying to keep them a well aware of. [1:15:58, 1:16:05]: what's happening with the project and how it's moving, but it is going to um progress down Burke Street. [1:16:06, 1:16:15]: and over toward um where the Clark Park is located. So it's a big project and it's gonna take um some time, but [1:16:15, 1:16:20]: In the long run, it's gonna be better for our downtown um [1:16:20, 1:16:23]: area because it will help with some of the [1:16:23, 1:16:38]: drainage problems that we've been experiencing and the antiquated system that was underground was just in need of an overhaul. So we're really excited that it's going on and we're looking forward to it to be completed. [1:16:39, 1:16:42]: Thank you. Appreciate that. Any other questions or comments for Kira? [1:16:43, 1:16:44]: Yes. [1:16:45, 1:17:05]: Uh Mr. Peterson, I think we've done a lot of talking and we're excited to council about the moving forward with the Main Street. I think we're calling it the Main Street uh office, but there's DDA space and there's shared space. Talk to tell the DDA members about the shared space and between Main Street [1:17:05, 1:17:12]: street and the DDA where there there will be space in the building uh for the DDA office as well. [1:17:12, 1:17:15]: Uh yes, they're in the Ted Strickland. [1:17:15, 1:17:24]: Um, Main Street will be there, DDA will be there, and economic development will be there. I have an office, Kira and Lisa, our wonderful Main Street staff. [1:17:25, 1:17:27]: They have offices as well, and there's also [1:17:27, 1:17:36]: And an extra office. We also have a large conference room. So if the DDA ever need to use that office, uh it it is available. [1:17:37, 1:17:40]: Um it it's a it's a wonderful facility. [1:17:41, 1:17:48]: Uh let's see. Kira pictures of it, Kira, to share with the group. Yeah, I was gonna ask if we can pull up. Let me see. [1:17:51, 1:17:52]: Uh [1:17:55, 1:17:57]: Carrie are mute. [1:17:59, 1:18:00]: Let me see. [1:18:19, 1:18:21]: I can I can share my screen. [1:18:22, 1:18:23]: Okay. And [1:18:24, 1:18:25]: Probably not. [1:18:29, 1:18:30]: Can everyone see? [1:18:30, 1:18:40]: Yes. Yes. Okay. This is the the presentation from the council meeting. This is the outside of the of the Ted Strickland. [1:18:43, 1:18:47]: All right, this is the current floor plan as you can see. [1:18:47, 1:18:51]: It's uh somewhat bare, a lot of open space. [1:18:53, 1:19:11]: This is the proposed floor plan. On the well, when you first walk in, you see that that reception area. On the left, you'll see that that uh that large conference room with the uh the folding glass doors. That's going to be really nice. And on the right side. [1:19:11, 1:19:15]: You will see uh the four office spaces. [1:19:15, 1:19:20]: And we do have an extra office for the DDA if they ever need to use it. [1:19:21, 1:19:26]: You see the kitchen and the storage, the the work area. [1:19:26, 1:19:32]: uh the coat closet. So this is going to be a a great building in our downtown. We can use it um [1:19:33, 1:19:35]: To entertain prospects. [1:19:36, 1:19:37]: And it's good for [1:19:37, 1:19:38]: D D A [1:19:39, 1:19:41]: Uh, Main Street and Economic Development. [1:19:41, 1:19:46]: to be right there in the heart of heart of the downtown. So we're we're very excited about this project. [1:19:46, 1:19:51]: and very excited about the work that we can do with the community being here. [1:19:52, 1:19:52]: See [1:19:53, 1:19:56]: That's this right here is the proposed design. [1:19:58, 1:20:02]: You can see it's very, very nice. And Kira, if you have anything to add. [1:20:02, 1:20:04]: Go ahead. Feel free to come in. [1:20:07, 1:20:08]: You're doing fine. [1:20:10, 1:20:16]: All right. Um more details on on what that inside will look like as far as furniture is concerned. [1:20:19, 1:20:22]: And here we have some numbers, the [1:20:22, 1:20:25]: projected cost uh the capital funding. [1:20:26, 1:20:26]: Um [1:20:27, 1:20:33]: That is backed by the SPLOST is where that funding will come from. And on the right, you'll have that detailed. [1:20:33, 1:20:35]: Item description and that total cost. [1:20:39, 1:20:40]: And [1:20:40, 1:20:42]: That's it, but I want to go back to this. [1:20:42, 1:20:45]: This floor plan, the proposed floor plan, where [1:20:45, 1:20:47]: We're very excited. [1:20:47, 1:20:49]: To move in into this. [1:20:49, 1:20:51]: into this uh into this space and [1:20:52, 1:20:53]: Does the board have any questions? [1:20:54, 1:21:05]: Yeah, one other qu I didn't see a rendering of what the outside would look like. So what is is there a rendering of the changes to the outside? Obviously, go back to the first picture. [1:21:06, 1:21:08]: There aren't gonna be any changes to the outside. [1:21:09, 1:21:16]: So there's no indication that this is the Main Street building. It's still gonna leave the Ted Strickland sign up there. [1:21:17, 1:21:26]: Well, what we're gonna propose to council is a name change from the Ted Strickland Community Center to the Ted Strickland Building and then um have Welcome Center. [1:21:27, 1:21:34]: Um, I guess where you see the community center, it would probably say downtown welcome center or welcome center. [1:21:36, 1:21:43]: Okay. It's gonna still is the Ted Strick the t the name Ted Strickland is still gonna be there and then it'll be I'm sorry. [1:21:44, 1:21:46]: Say that I'm sorry, I I got [1:21:46, 1:21:47]: We were confused. [1:21:48, 1:21:53]: We were going to be proposing a name change from the community center. [1:21:53, 1:21:59]: Um I am not co um I guess sure of the [1:21:59, 1:22:06]: um history behind the the actual naming of the building, if there are any caveats with regard to [1:22:06, 1:22:07]: How [1:22:07, 1:22:10]: long the building has to be stay it has to [1:22:11, 1:22:13]: Keep that particular name. [1:22:13, 1:22:17]: Um, I don't know. I would have to research if there are any um [1:22:17, 1:22:20]: Restrictions on changing the name of the building. [1:22:20, 1:22:21]: From to strip them. [1:22:22, 1:22:30]: Okay, so it the proposal would be the Ted Strickland Welcome Center. So it's not going to be the No, the Ted Strickland Building. [1:22:30, 1:22:32]: And then and welcome center. [1:22:33, 1:22:36]: It because right now it says community center and that's a misnomer. [1:22:37, 1:22:40]: It would not be the community center anymore. [1:22:42, 1:22:44]: Okay, I mean it's it seemed like [1:22:44, 1:22:51]: I mean the building would be uh insignificant if it was just left his name up there and then you just put welcome center. [1:22:52, 1:23:08]: It but is is uh or you looking at the caveat that it must be named community center because if you just simply said it was the Ted Strickland Welcome Center, his name is still there and you basically just change a Ted Strickland Building and Welcome Center. [1:23:08, 1:23:19]: Um, I don't know if there are any restrictions um for removing the name community center, but that would be our recommendation because it's no longer a community center. That is what has [1:23:19, 1:23:22]: essentially changed with regard to the building, but [1:23:23, 1:23:23]: Um [1:23:25, 1:23:26]: I would have to research that. [1:23:27, 1:23:30]: Okay. And then it would be good to have a rendering from [1:23:31, 1:23:34]: uh the architect on what the actual sign [1:23:34, 1:23:39]: would look like on on the building. So that would be, you know, certainly [1:23:40, 1:23:49]: uh in keeping with where we're trying to go. So there's no aesthetics on the outside of the building, the landscaping, nothing is changing on the outside at all. [1:23:51, 1:23:57]: Um, as far as the physical structure of the building, no, that will not be changed. [1:23:57, 1:24:04]: Um, we were trying to keep costs down and stay within our budget, and we've come in under budget. [1:24:04, 1:24:14]: Um s but we will be doing some um landscaping. We have had an initial meeting with our um landscape company. [1:24:14, 1:24:20]: And we will be um they have submitted a landscaping proposal. [1:24:20, 1:24:25]: Um we have already moved forward. I've worked with um [1:24:25, 1:24:27]: Арпублікс директор а [1:24:27, 1:24:32]: And he has approved for us to remove all of that pine straw that you see. [1:24:33, 1:24:38]: In front of the building and around the building. Um, and we're going to be replacing that with a type of mulch. [1:24:39, 1:24:45]: The pine straw tends to blow and is all over the place. And I'm sure um Mr. Custon. [1:24:45, 1:24:46]: Can attest to that. [1:24:46, 1:24:51]: So we want to get rid of that pine straw look and have a more um solid. [1:24:52, 1:24:52]: Um [1:24:53, 1:24:54]: Bedding there. [1:24:54, 1:24:58]: We also have some um floral recommendations that have been made. [1:24:59, 1:25:05]: and um revamping of the flower beds. So as far as that front entrance. [1:25:05, 1:25:10]: With regard to landscape, that will look different, but the physical um structure. [1:25:14, 1:25:15]: You're muted, Kira. [1:25:18, 1:25:19]: Okay. [1:25:20, 1:25:21]: Can you hear me now? [1:25:22, 1:25:24]: Okay, but the the physical structure of the building. [1:25:25, 1:25:29]: um will not be changed, just the landscaping around it will be changed. [1:25:30, 1:25:38]: Okay, and uh so just for the benefit of the group, what's your what's your optimum timetable for completion? [1:25:40, 1:25:41]: If everything went right. [1:25:42, 1:25:50]: Everything went right when we spoke with the contractor. They said it would be 90 to 120 days. [1:25:50, 1:26:10]: Okay. So that's that's real. I mean, certainly that's uh, you know, if everything goes right, of course, the caveat. So that would certainly get us in there before the end of the year, even at the worst case scenario, I would think. If it that if that's an every uh if everything goes right scenario, 120 days would put us maybe the end of summer. So optimistically, certainly by the end [1:26:10, 1:26:17]: of the year uh the space would be available. Yeah. That is true. And that was one of the things that we discussed. [1:26:17, 1:26:23]: with the contractor that was selected that we really wanted to be in the building before the end of the year. [1:26:24, 1:26:28]: And so they are going to work as diligently as possible to make that happen. [1:26:30, 1:26:36]: Okay. Now one of the other things, don't ask this because I don't know whether you know we've often talked about [1:26:36, 1:26:46]: uh Wi Fi for downtown. Let's say visitors come to the welcome center. W would we be able to use the Wi Fi there to to actually [1:26:46, 1:26:48]: Um інkoporate [1:26:49, 1:26:52]: downtown Wi Fi from this center. Is that possible? [1:26:53, 1:27:00]: Well, that is one of the things that we do want to have in place because we're going to be developing that courtyard area. [1:27:00, 1:27:04]: The courtyard is phase two of the alleyway project. [1:27:04, 1:27:12]: And um we want to kind of make that an extension of the welcome center where we would have seating, um, free Wi-Fi. [1:27:12, 1:27:21]: um different outdoor game offerings like you know how you have chess and th those types of things that are a part of the furniture. Those are the [1:27:22, 1:27:25]: What we're looking into being able to create. [1:27:25, 1:27:28]: Um an extension of that particular center. [1:27:29, 1:27:32]: Okay, well I'm certainly in support of that. Thank you. [1:27:32, 1:27:33]: Mm-hmm. [1:27:36, 1:27:39]: Thank you, Kieran. I do agree with uh councilman's [1:27:39, 1:27:59]: uh points about the name to simplify because from the outside I don't think that anyone would know that it's any different from what it was before. Um so I think the word welcome center and if if uh you know with all due respect to Mr. Strickland if there's the opportunity to simplify that to just be the welcome center is uh I think would be beneficial [1:27:59, 1:28:02]: [5287.2, 5289.0]: Roger, you froze if you can hear us. [1:28:18, 1:28:38]: Um uh so any other comment, if I may, you know, we we've uh Bob and myself and Alan, we've done some work in revise revising and consolidating some of the application and the overview documents. Um the only thing that remains right now is to get um um uh access to the actual online form, which [1:28:38, 1:28:58]: which is where the folks would submit an application and get that revised to align with the new overview document that we've revised. Once that done, then the updates will have been completed. The other part of that would is the is marketing the facade grant. And I would uh expect that that to be in line [1:28:57, 1:29:15]: with um the decision on the social media uh manager so um that's where we are in that any questions on the facade grant updates we lost before about 30 seconds there okay sorry about that let me let me try to i'll stop the video again maybe that'll help um [1:29:15, 1:29:16]: I [1:29:17, 1:29:37]: I'm not sure where it dropped off, but uh we have we've uh Bob and Alan and I have revised the uh consolidated the uh paperwork and application that's on the public website for the facade grant um program. And we have um the only thing that remains on that is the actual online application. And once we get access to that. [1:29:37, 1:29:57]: And we'll revise the online application, then that should be um ready to go with the updated information. Um, the I will bring it to vote in our next meeting because we did make a few tweaks to the uh program procedures, and I want to make sure that that's um um. [1:29:57, 1:30:03]: you know, that that the board agrees with the uh recommended changes. Um so we should have that ready for our next meeting. [1:30:04, 1:30:11]: Any any questions or comments? Yeah, as you mentioned the social media manager, she's applied already. So [1:30:11, 1:30:14]: Are we waiting on the vote or I mean is it [1:30:15, 1:30:17]: plausible to just go ahead and move forward with it. [1:30:17, 1:30:37]: Yeah, I mean I have I mean I I've reviewed the um I've reviewed the proposal. Bob's taken a look at it as well. Um I, you know, I I I didn't give the you know yourself um and uh Mr. Sears uh a long time to uh review the uh proposal, but um I think it looks fine. [1:30:37, 1:30:57]: I think she uh meets the basic needs. I've not seen the cost portion of the proposal. And I understand that Mr. Peterson will get that. So I'm not really comfortable asking for a vote until we know what the cost would be. But on the merits of the proposal itself, I think that she does fit and she's very much in line with what with what we're [1:30:57, 1:30:58]: We're looking for. [1:31:00, 1:31:01]: And I agree with that. [1:31:01, 1:31:07]: Right. Certainly. I I I d I thought we were gonna be able to have the cost information, so certainly we would. [1:31:07, 1:31:17]: need that I would have thought that that would have come with the presentation, but how soon do we expect that, Ms. Peterson? Oh I I can I can request the cost information. [1:31:17, 1:31:21]: Uh tonight I do know that she has uh different packages. [1:31:22, 1:31:22]: And [1:31:23, 1:31:26]: And packages the package that you get determines the cost. [1:31:27, 1:31:27]: Um [1:31:27, 1:31:31]: We could also see if we could, you know, put together our own little package, piecemeal it. [1:31:32, 1:31:38]: to see. So I'll um I'll contact her and um we can discuss that and she can get that over right right to us. [1:31:38, 1:31:39]: Okay, thank you. [1:31:40, 1:31:40]: Okay. [1:31:41, 1:31:42]: Anything else on the facade group? [1:31:43, 1:31:49]: All right, uh city staff updates. So Alan, that uh that's for you. You have anything to share with the group? [1:31:50, 1:31:53]: All right, everyone. Um everything is everything has been. [1:31:54, 1:32:13]: uh discussed so far dating back to dating back earlier this this meeting uh mr gardener discussed uh what we're doing with the dca the the ddrl and the opportunity zone him and i have been discussing that we're working on that um also we have uh the cid feasibility study that's going on [1:32:14, 1:32:26]: Even though that's not in our downtown development authority district, that is sort of a gateway to the DDA. So uh that's that's very, very important and it it is going to benefit the DDA. [1:32:26, 1:32:27]: Um [1:32:27, 1:32:34]: Georgia Tech has received all the documents for the market study. We just had Ebony present uh for the social media. [1:32:35, 1:32:41]: And everything is going well, everything is going as planned. We're moving right along. We're moving actually rather quickly. And everything that we're doing. [1:32:42, 1:32:42]: Uh [1:32:43, 1:32:46]: Serves as as as an incentive for businesses to come. [1:32:46, 1:32:49]: So I I think we're we're moving along and um [1:32:50, 1:32:53]: You know, we're we're doing a great job right now. Things are things are moving smoothly. [1:32:56, 1:33:00]: Very good. Um, all right, any questions for Alan? [1:33:02, 1:33:06]: All right, uh that brings us to city council updates. So councilman, you have the floor. [1:33:07, 1:33:13]: Uh thank you. You know, it was really exciting to have the Henry County School Board come. [1:33:14, 1:33:17]: And unveil the sign in downtown. [1:33:18, 1:33:18]: I'm sorry. [1:33:22, 1:33:27]: Uh yes, it was extremely exciting to have the Henry County School Board and the Superintendent come. [1:33:28, 1:33:31]: And unveil the sign for the new Henry County STEM School. [1:33:32, 1:33:35]: They were as excited as we were about the project. [1:33:36, 1:33:38]: They're fully engaged. We now know that. [1:33:39, 1:33:46]: Uh without a doubt, knock on wood it is coming. It should open in twenty twenty six uh is the uh turnaround time. [1:33:47, 1:33:55]: And they've committed to uh, you know, the total overall package, which includes a new gymnasium for the [1:33:55, 1:33:59]: Stockbridge elementary and the actual refurbishing. [1:33:59, 1:34:10]: of Stockbridge Elementary, not just uh the new facility. So uh when everything's all said and done, uh Stockbridge Elementary will be fur refurbished with a new gener with a new [1:34:11, 1:34:12]: uh gymnasium. [1:34:12, 1:34:13]: With this forty five. [1:34:14, 1:34:15]: million dollar project. [1:34:15, 1:34:19]: And you know, sometimes things just align in the universe. [1:34:19, 1:34:22]: Who would have thought we when we started [1:34:22, 1:34:28]: And we uh uh worked on the project of aligning North and South Lee Street. [1:34:28, 1:34:30]: We had no idea that the [1:34:31, 1:34:33]: uh stem school was gonna come. We were [1:34:34, 1:34:39]: We were actively throwing our name in the hat to make sure they knew we were in interested in it. [1:34:39, 1:34:41]: But it certainly will. [1:34:41, 1:34:43]: work'cause if you look at the [1:34:43, 1:34:46]: Construction is going on on North and South Lee Street. [1:34:47, 1:34:50]: It's taken pretty much the majority of the park there. [1:34:50, 1:34:52]: And they're moving the [1:34:52, 1:35:09]: uh South Lee Street over. So where it actually s lines up with North Lee Street, there will be a four-way intersection that is stalled installed there. And there will be the new those black iron post signal holders that you see. [1:35:09, 1:35:12]: Like in the Cumberland Galleria area, no wooden poles. [1:35:13, 1:35:13]: And then [1:35:14, 1:35:19]: The crosswalks will have actually the brick pavers to go across. [1:35:19, 1:35:21]: Uh at that intersection. [1:35:21, 1:35:25]: And at the uh East Atlanta Road intersection. [1:35:25, 1:35:28]: And along with East Atlanta Road are garnering a new [1:35:28, 1:35:32]: Uh, turn lane that runs from North Enry Boulevard all the way back. [1:35:32, 1:35:35]: uh to the railroad tracks. Those two intersection will [1:35:36, 1:35:37]: Both have the brick pavers. [1:35:38, 1:35:38]: Crossings. [1:35:39, 1:35:41]: They'll have the black mask post on signals. [1:35:41, 1:35:44]: And ten foot walking pass connecting [1:35:44, 1:35:47]: Uh, the two campuses. So it's extremely exciting. [1:35:47, 1:35:49]: And we're not just talking. [1:35:49, 1:35:51]: The council just approved the funding. [1:35:52, 1:35:55]: Uh for the addition of the mass post arm signals. [1:35:56, 1:35:59]: The stamp papers and the side and everything in that project. [1:36:00, 1:36:01]: uh the final funding. [1:36:01, 1:36:03]: The sidewalk for all will extend [1:36:04, 1:36:06]: From South Lee Street now. [1:36:06, 1:36:08]: All the way down to Bryant Street. [1:36:08, 1:36:11]: Pass the amphitheater all the way down. [1:36:11, 1:36:14]: uh in a ten foot walking path connecting those [1:36:14, 1:36:16]: uh two trails so [1:36:16, 1:36:18]: That's extremely exciting. [1:36:18, 1:36:20]: That that's coming and that is uh [1:36:20, 1:36:24]: uh on our plate right now. So the times are very, very good. [1:36:24, 1:36:26]: Uh they uh we talked about [1:36:26, 1:36:27]: Uh [1:36:27, 1:36:31]: The the ride that Mr. Peterson and I had with uh Cherie. [1:36:31, 1:36:33]: Uh Michelle Bennett, right? [1:36:33, 1:36:34]: It's been it, right? [1:36:35, 1:36:35]: That's fair to [1:36:38, 1:36:39]: Mr. Peterson, are you there? [1:36:41, 1:36:41]: I believe it's Bennett. [1:36:42, 1:36:45]: Bennett, okay. Miss Bright, Sheree Bennett. It is Bennett. [1:36:45, 1:37:05]: Okay, right. That we wrote with down uh through downtown and the exciting she uh was so blown away by her tour of the amphitheater and that she saw it, she's excited. And the one thing that she said that really stuck with me is she said, you know, that not only do uh [1:37:05, 1:37:15]: uh we have a solid plan, but the officials understand where where we're trying to go and that we understand um [1:37:15, 1:37:24]: The process and how effective it is. When we were riding in the car, she said, You know, you guys will qualify for that$3,500 tax credit. [1:37:24, 1:37:43]: And man, I wanted to I I wanted to sc scream hallelujah. She gets it. She knows where we're trying to go with this. And uh her actual assistant should help us uh to move across the gold line on that particular project. So I'm extremely excited about that. And then I think Kira and uh Alan. [1:37:43, 1:37:45]: Are talking uh about the uh [1:37:46, 1:37:48]: The main the welcome center now. [1:37:48, 1:37:56]: Which is also awesome detail. And I look forward to talking about projects that we know are in the pipeline. [1:37:56, 1:38:11]: that will bring new restaurants and new residents into downtown that we can't discuss fully right now, but it's an exciting time to be in downtown Stockbridge. [1:38:11, 1:38:16]: And uh with that with that works. I would like to make I would like to say this as well. [1:38:17, 1:38:19]: We gotta get on to this picture where [1:38:20, 1:38:24]: When we have uh ribbon cuttings or we have sign unveilings like that. [1:38:25, 1:38:28]: We have to have representation from this board. All of us can't come. [1:38:29, 1:38:31]: But we gotta coordinate it between us that [1:38:31, 1:38:34]: When significant events happen like that. [1:38:34, 1:38:37]: Then we need to least have two to three people there. [1:38:37, 1:38:41]: representing the DDA because there are some there are business people there. [1:38:42, 1:38:45]: And we need to have those conversation. The development authority was there. [1:38:46, 1:38:48]: Uh you know, Josh Finn was there. [1:38:49, 1:38:50]: Uh the chamber was there. [1:38:50, 1:38:53]: When we didn't have any representation there. [1:38:53, 1:38:55]: We certainly need to make sure that we [1:38:56, 1:38:58]: Have somebody there. Main Street was there. [1:38:58, 1:39:10]: as well. So we certainly now and I know I think we we kinda like dropped the ball on a communication because I think Mr. Gardner said he wasn't notified and I was like, Wow, that was that was mind blowing. But [1:39:10, 1:39:13]: Uh we just need to make sure that we're represented because [1:39:13, 1:39:18]: Anything that comes in our area, we want to make sure that we show our faces. [1:39:18, 1:39:19]: And we show that we are [1:39:19, 1:39:23]: leaning forward for this type of development to come to the community. [1:39:24, 1:39:24]: So [1:39:25, 1:39:29]: I appreciate that and uh we look forward to the police department. [1:39:29, 1:39:40]: And uh I don't know if you guys had a chance to see that the new police building at 4545 uh is going on a complete renovation. We're spending four million dollars. [1:39:41, 1:39:42]: To renovate the building. [1:39:42, 1:39:45]: Uh, the old Henry County North Precinct. [1:39:45, 1:39:49]: It's gonna be a new uh completely refurbished facility. [1:39:49, 1:39:52]: Uh inside and then the outside will have [1:39:52, 1:39:55]: A new sign and new rendering. [1:39:55, 1:39:56]: Uh new um [1:39:57, 1:39:57]: Oh. [1:39:57, 1:39:59]: You know, uh curb appeal. [1:39:59, 1:40:03]: uh add it to it so it will add additional attraction. [1:40:03, 1:40:11]: to downtown because it will be now be a beautiful building itself, in addition to City Hall and the amphitheater, a new four million dollar [1:40:11, 1:40:19]: uh enhancement to that facility and the funding again has already been approved. So we don't need to say, well, is it gonna happen? [1:40:19, 1:40:26]: I I understand that the dil for according to Chief Tramer, the demolition is already underway inside. [1:40:26, 1:40:28]: And that they expect the project to be [1:40:28, 1:40:30]: Moving forward and uh [1:40:30, 1:40:34]: Hopefully finishing maybe about September, October area. [1:40:34, 1:40:35]: So thank you. [1:40:37, 1:40:40]: Thank you, Councilman. Any questions for Councilman Alexander? [1:40:43, 1:40:55]: All right, I appreciate your work on very exciting news on all the new development that's happening. Um all right, under new business, so there was um there was there the the [1:40:56, 1:41:16]: The let me let me back up a step. So um there was a uh a legal a title uh legal issue with the uh Sylvain deal that was um that was uh that you know that was transacted last April. And um in the process of straightening out that title deal uh or that [1:41:16, 1:41:28]: that title matter, it was discovered that um the the the the s city of stockbridge has referred to the downtown development authority it's its downtown development authority [1:41:30, 1:41:50]: Inconsistently in far as its legal name in certain legal documents over the many years. The recommendation and what I was going, what I was uh asked to bring to this council was a resolution to adopt or to um accept the um approve the resolution for an [1:41:50, 1:41:55]: An amended intergovernmental agreement with the DDA and the City of Stockbridge. [1:41:57, 1:42:17]: Utilizing the recommended name, which was used during that land deal. The name in the land deal was Downtown Development Authority of the City of Stockbridge. We have been commonly referring to ourselves as Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority, which is shorter. [1:42:17, 1:42:37]: And it it just, you know, we're talking about marketing, uh, the DDA. Um, it's a lot of words. And um, and I just in good conscience, I just didn't feel right asking for the board's approval to um really support this. [1:42:37, 1:42:57]: This elongated name. I will say I don't want to do anything to slow down straightening out this title issue with the uh land deal, but I would like to ask the city council consider straightening out the DDA's name. It's the city council's decision, ultimately, but I would like to ask you know, Councilman Alexander, I briefed you on this. [1:42:57, 1:43:13]: This prior to the meeting, and you concurred, so I fired your response right, that we uh pitch for the shorter name, which we have been commonly using since I've been with this DDA, uh, to just call it Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority, SDEA. [1:43:13, 1:43:31]: Let me let me let me let me step in there. Okay. What I concurred with, I thought I was concurring to just accepting what had been recommended to us, which is not going back and just using what was recommended by the legal counsel. I always try to fall in line with what [1:43:32, 1:43:35]: the legal counsel was I'm sorry if I did um [1:43:35, 1:43:37]: Mistake that, but [1:43:37, 1:43:46]: I don't want to back up. I don't always like to keep moving forward. If the recommendation of the attorney is to change the name consistent with [1:43:47, 1:44:05]: What what's already been done as the city has already made this move. As a city representative, I gotta stand behind the city's decision to issue that document in that particular name. Cause what all that's gonna do is gum up the process of moving along. [1:44:06, 1:44:09]: With the next business and go back to all of this. [1:44:09, 1:44:12]: This business owner has been waiting long enough already. [1:44:13, 1:44:14]: And we certainly want to delay. [1:44:15, 1:44:16]: The process with him. [1:44:17, 1:44:21]: Uh you know, it's really embarrassing that we don't have title to. [1:44:21, 1:44:23]: this business owner at this point at this point. [1:44:24, 1:44:32]: And he's trying to move forward with his project. Matter of fact, they stopped by the food drive to say hello today to see what I thought we had it resolved already. [1:44:33, 1:44:33]: So [1:44:34, 1:44:44]: Yeah, whatever we can do to move forward with this, I certainly wanna do that. I certainly don't want to throw another thing where we gotta go back to the city council and ask them to change the document. [1:44:44, 1:44:49]: Again, it just seems overkill. So what I thought I was concurring to was that [1:44:50, 1:44:51]: To agree with the [1:44:51, 1:44:55]: Uh the advice of the attorney. That's certainly what I would like to uh [1:44:55, 1:44:57]: The saying you know, the [1:44:58, 1:45:02]: City is the development author the the development authority. [1:45:03, 1:45:05]: Of the city of Stockbridge is not. [1:45:06, 1:45:09]: overcome some and then he made the recommendation of what? [1:45:09, 1:45:13]: The well that was shortened it in terms of an acronym, correct? [1:45:15, 1:45:35]: Right. Yeah. Yeah. The the the he he added that we, you know, he could recommend using a a brand a brand acronym of SDDA, which the letters SDDA only makes sense if it is an acronym for the Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority. [1:45:34, 1:45:41]: explicitly said that we may not use the words spelled out, which makes no sense and makes for [1:45:42, 1:46:02]: No, I don't, you know, I mean I'm just expressing my opinion here, but it it makes marketing the DDA very difficult because you can't actually say the name without all eight words or that acronym that doesn't align with the name. So, you know, we're kind of putting ourselves in this really kind of weird um. [1:46:02, 1:46:22]: uh position from a marketing perspective, but you know, I it it it it creates a challenge from a marketing perspective. I don't want to gum up the you know the the progress on this title thing but this you know I I certainly want to move forward with um you know a a um uh [1:46:22, 1:46:32]: you know, with something that's at least um, you know, legally clear. Um uh so you know, whatever whatever we need to do straighten out the names, then then let's do that. [1:46:32, 1:46:35]: Right. The advice of the attorney was to use [1:46:35, 1:46:41]: This name, which was the development authority of the city of Stockbridge. That's what that's again, that's what I thought I was a [1:46:42, 1:46:43]: concurring with so I [1:46:43, 1:46:45]: That's what I recommend and that [1:46:46, 1:46:49]: We don't slow things down. And then in the end, it's like [1:46:50, 1:47:04]: uh it is the development authority of the city of Stop Raven. That's what we've been doing. And then because the the city is probably referred to the development authority in that way in other documents. So [1:47:04, 1:47:07]: Let that can of worms lay. [1:47:09, 1:47:14]: All right. Um well I have um [1:47:15, 1:47:35]: I guess in order to move this forward and uh and and Vanessa, I might lean on you for just you know points of order to make sure that we do this correctly. I have the uh resolution documentation, which I have not shared with you know the other members of the board except for uh Councilman Alexander. Um, but you know, in the interest of [1:47:35, 1:47:55]: You know, bringing this to a conclusion, um, you know, I'm happy to entertain a motion to vote on the resolution, but I also want to give the opportunity for the board members to read the legal um um, you know, the the detail of the resolution that we're asking to uh [1:47:55, 1:48:09]: be voted on. Um, should I, I mean, I'm happy to share it with it now, but I don't know that you're able to feasibly read a three-page legal resolution and come to a conclusion. So can we vote on this and then make it? [1:48:09, 1:48:11]: contingent upon [1:48:12, 1:48:12]: Um [1:48:13, 1:48:23]: You know, if somebody doesn't like something that's in the resolution, they can retract or something. What what you know, how how do we move forward? Why why don't I why don't I make a recommendation that [1:48:23, 1:48:27]: We we don't have are we in a rush to go somewhere just [1:48:27, 1:48:28]: Put it on the screen. [1:48:28, 1:48:30]: Let's read through it. [1:48:31, 1:48:31]: That's it. [1:48:33, 1:48:45]: Let me bring up first the um this clarification. Is this resolution directly directed specifically towards that one? [1:48:46, 1:48:47]: Particular [1:48:47, 1:48:48]: Transaction. [1:48:49, 1:48:50]: Or [1:48:50, 1:48:53]: Is this going to change the name going forward? [1:48:56, 1:49:02]: It's both. So let me share my screen and um I think this should do it. [1:49:07, 1:49:09]: So are you able to see the Word document? [1:49:12, 1:49:32]: Yes, well yes. All right. So it's it's actually three documents. One is for the city uh the one our attorney prepared on behalf of the uh city council to adopt. Um two of them are for the uh DDA. So this is the first one. [1:49:32, 1:49:46]: This is the one really, it's a resolution of us the downtown authority to authorize a second intergovernmental agreement. So let me back up a step to describe what this one is. [1:49:48, 1:50:08]: To proceed with the land deal last year for Sauvain, we entered an intergovernmental agreement between the Downtown Development Authority and the city of Stockbridge. And it was a limited intergovernmental agreement that addressed our interaction between the two parties for that land deal. Because that intergovernmental [1:50:08, 1:50:28]: Agreement, you know, because there's an inconsistency in the name, this is basically in a second intergovernmental agreement to clarify the name. Um, so it's just really adding on to that to say we're now referring to it. So the, you know, references the first intergovernmental. [1:50:28, 1:50:48]: Agreement. And then it talks about the subject property. This, I believe, clarifies the uh the the title and as well, you know, as far as where the boundaries are. And the authority is found and determined and does hereby find and determine that the aforementioned aforementioned title issues. [1:50:48, 1:51:02]: jeopardize the project and therefore jeopardize the receipt of this of the city and the authority of the public benefit that they intended to receive the above described transactions. [1:51:05, 1:51:10]: They desire to enter into a second intergovernmental agreement to straighten this out. [1:51:11, 1:51:18]: And I'm obviously abbreviating here and I'm happy to share this with you via email if you prefer to read it in person. [1:51:24, 1:51:29]: Um, let's see, approves the, first of all, we would approve the second IGA. [1:51:33, 1:51:35]: Yeah, champ is on the fixations. [1:51:37, 1:51:45]: So because this is an IGA, if the DDA approves this tonight, then it would need to go over to the council for the council to approve it on the airplane. [1:51:46, 1:51:49]: Has the city's legal seen this document? [1:51:52, 1:51:57]: I believe so let me double check what was in the um [1:51:59, 1:52:02]: Let me see what was in the email thread. [1:52:02, 1:52:03]: I came with this. [1:52:24, 1:52:24]: Yeah. [1:52:28, 1:52:36]: Yes, to answer your question. So the our attorney said that attached to the documents that the city group is reviewing, meaning the city's attorneys. [1:52:43, 1:52:44]: Thank you. [1:52:45, 1:52:47]: Let me go ahead and forward these to everyone. [1:53:20, 1:53:30]: That should be on its way too. So let me move on to the other um the other document that's for us to um review. And that would be. [1:53:31, 1:53:35]: This is the actual second inter intergovernmental agreement. [1:53:39, 1:53:54]: This is the Stoppridge DDA and this is version three of the uh and if you you know I mean Dan was available on call if we wanted to bring him into this part of the um meeting and I'm happy to do that. [1:53:59, 1:54:14]: Yeah, it looks like these lawyers get paid by the word, man. But you know, really it's just saying plain and simple that we're correcting the error that was done last year. The language is consistent with what the first agreement was, is just changing that. [1:54:14, 1:54:17]: subject of whether boundary survey was [1:54:17, 1:54:20]: And it's good that we got to this because [1:54:20, 1:54:25]: Now uh those adjoining properties we should have the same issue. [1:54:25, 1:54:29]: And we should have a survey of all of downtown uh from Falcon design. [1:54:29, 1:54:32]: Uh at this point, not just that property. [1:54:35, 1:54:39]: Um, do you wanna see if Mr. uh Sm McQuery is available to jump in on a call? [1:54:40, 1:54:51]: I think he would do a much better he or Danny will do a much better job at explaining this for us than than I'm than I'm obviously doing. So uh if you'll bear with me, let me see if he's available. [1:55:31, 1:55:35]: Is anybody unclear about what this document is doing? [1:55:41, 1:55:46]: So my understanding, uh councilman, is basically this is doing two two two things. This is [1:55:47, 1:55:51]: This is clarifying the boundary the Sylvain property boundary. [1:55:51, 1:55:51]: Mm-hmm. [1:55:52, 1:55:55]: And secondly, it's clarifying that the name of our [1:55:56, 1:55:58]: Our downtown development authority [1:55:58, 1:56:02]: is the downtown development authority of the city of Stockbridge. [1:56:02, 1:56:03]: Deposit the only two. [1:56:04, 1:56:05]: Um [1:56:05, 1:56:06]: Changes, if you will. [1:56:07, 1:56:11]: Yeah, and I and I think that's that really sums it up right there. And I think [1:56:12, 1:56:16]: Honestly, I think it would be a good idea to change the name because what that does to us. [1:56:17, 1:56:27]: Is it gives us a new brand. We're going with new social media, new website. It sh it differentiates the actions of the previous DDA, which [1:56:27, 1:56:32]: Uh we don't with six million dollars and all of that. Well we're starting fresh in a new [1:56:32, 1:56:36]: With uh even changing the name of the organization because [1:56:37, 1:56:41]: of some things that have happened in the past. I I think it'd be a good idea. [1:56:41, 1:56:45]: We c to d disassociate this DDA from the previous DDA. [1:56:54, 1:56:58]: So I certainly don't want anybody thinking we gave away six million dollars in property. [1:56:59, 1:57:00]: Fine. [1:57:00, 1:57:01]: Right. [1:57:01, 1:57:21]: I I wasn't able to reach the uh Dan on moments notice like this, but I my understanding is the same as Bob that that you described, which which this is doing two things. It's clarifying clarifying clarifying the title for, you know, the property that was part of the land deal last year. [1:57:21, 1:57:28]: And it clarifies the name of the DDA. And so um [1:57:30, 1:57:50]: Maybe, maybe, you know, in in the interest of, you know, I I'll express my own opinion. I don't like the name. It's a bit of a marketing nightmare. Um, to try to, but you know, maybe we can get creative and somehow work around that. But um in the interest of moving this forward, then maybe what we'll [1:57:50, 1:58:06]: do um is you know if i may recommend a motion that we um accept the resolutions as presented by our attorney with the understanding that it essentially clarifies two points. [1:58:06, 1:58:26]: the the title for the property uh for the uh sylvain deal last year and it clarifies the name of the DDA. And if there's more to this than um is involved in here then um you know I guess I wouldn't I would want to [1:58:26, 1:58:32]: limit my my approval or the motion to approve on those two points. [1:58:33, 1:58:38]: I have a question, Chair. Yes, please go ahead. This name change. [1:58:40, 1:58:46]: Taking the DDA's name to where it was established by the General Assembly. [1:58:46, 1:58:48]: Because if not all those documents. [1:58:49, 1:58:54]: will say something different. I'm I'm just I haven't seen this, so I don't know. [1:58:54, 1:59:02]: Yeah, it's it's a great question. And let me show you another document that was shared with me. Uh the attorney prepared a worksheet. [1:59:02, 1:59:22]: Showing, I'm have it here. These are all the different versions of the DDA name that have been used in legal filings over the last many years. So from 1983, it was constituted as the downtown development authority of the [1:59:22, 1:59:42]: City of Stockbridge. Okay. It was repealed and there's some question on what name was used for that. It was reactivated as Downtown Development Authority of Stockbridge, not of the city. There was a legal documentation. [1:59:42, 2:00:02]: appointing members to the Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority, which is the brief name that from a marketing perspective I personally prefer. And then in um there were other, there was another document of appointed members, appointing members, and it used [2:00:02, 2:00:22]: The name that's being recommended now that I believe was also used in the Silvane deal. Yeah, but let listen that 2013 time is the time they gave away the six million dollars. That's what I'm saying. We need to change the name. You just said it exactly what I said. In 2013, that's when they gave away that's what that's. [2:00:22, 2:00:38]: That group gave away$6 million in city property. We, that's why I think it's a good idea to change the name because again, it might that that might have been the optimum uh thing, but to be disassociated from that group. [2:00:39, 2:00:42]: is a good thing. I certainly don't want to be associated with them. [2:00:42, 2:00:43]: Because [2:00:43, 2:00:50]: They literally put the city in lit lit litigation for years. And then when the city got it back. [2:00:50, 2:01:02]: Uh uh they changed it. Basically the name was looks like the name was reverbed back to what it what it was. But that twenty thirteen name is associated with the group that [2:01:02, 2:01:07]: gave away six million dollars on this downtown development. Be cognizant of that the citizens know. [2:01:08, 2:01:09]: Okay, share. [2:01:10, 2:01:11]: Yes. [2:01:11, 2:01:13]: Okay, so it looks like and it [2:01:13, 2:01:15]: I believe you're correct, Councilman Alexander. [2:01:16, 2:01:25]: If you look at 1983 as when it was activated, this downtown development authority of the city of Stockbridge, that's what you're talking about reverting to now, correct? [2:01:25, 2:01:33]: Where those members where all of those members were appointed, that's by resolution. That's easily remedied. [2:01:33, 2:01:36]: You can repeal the resolution and and redo it. [2:01:36, 2:01:43]: That's easily riveted, but the activation is going back to the name that it was currently activated under. So [2:01:44, 2:01:45]: I think that's your answer. [2:01:46, 2:01:52]: So to your point, councilman, it's actually going back to the original name. Activation. [2:01:53, 2:02:13]: That's what's being recommended. And disassociating ourselves from twenty thirteen. Let me say that again. When you talk to anybody in stock bridge, they don't learn nothing about that six million dollars. So that's that's a big deal. Twenty thirteen is when the D DA was, I guess, activated again. Great activated. But [2:02:13, 2:02:16]: That that's the group. That's the group, but that's the group. [2:02:17, 2:02:26]: But they wasn't much. The establishment at the General Assembly was nineteen eighty-three. That's that's where it was established. It just went um [2:02:26, 2:02:36]: It it it was just uh and not operating in all those other years. But the establishment by the General Assembly is what happened in nineteen eighty three. [2:02:38, 2:02:42]: And that was the downtown development authority of the city of Stockbridge. Right. [2:02:43, 2:02:44]: Uh [2:02:45, 2:02:52]: I mean I I I agree with Roger. I mean I I I I would prefer Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority just because it's shorter. [2:02:52, 2:02:53]: Бат [2:02:53, 2:02:55]: To to Elton's point. [2:02:55, 2:03:01]: You know, uh if people say, Well, well, you know that Stockbridge downtown development already back in twenty thirty I said, that ain't [2:03:01, 2:03:02]: Very nice. [2:03:03, 2:03:05]: You know, that's not who we are. [2:03:06, 2:03:06]: Um [2:03:07, 2:03:12]: And so I can I can certainly live with the downtown development authority of the city of Stockbridge. [2:03:12, 2:03:13]: Um [2:03:15, 2:03:17]: If it moves things forward. [2:03:21, 2:03:22]: All right. [2:03:26, 2:03:28]: Any other thoughts or questions? [2:03:29, 2:03:43]: No, um based on that, I certainly couldn't vote for that twenty thirteen name. As being a city representative, I couldn't vote for the twenty thirteen name, knowing what happened. And I know the backlash from the council would be like, why'd you vote for that? You know. [2:03:43, 2:03:44]: What's going on? So [2:03:45, 2:03:50]: I'm prepared to move forward with the downtown development authority of the city of Stockbridge. [2:03:50, 2:03:52]: Based on the nineteen eighty three [2:03:52, 2:03:53]: Um [2:03:54, 2:03:54]: Oh. [2:03:55, 2:03:55]: Well [2:03:55, 2:04:00]: The um legislation pass legislation pass an establishment. [2:04:01, 2:04:03]: uh from the city uh and the legislature. [2:04:04, 2:04:08]: That that would be most appropriate. And I think that's exactly why this attorney [2:04:08, 2:04:12]: Established that he wanted us to be legally sound and to go back to [2:04:12, 2:04:15]: where the base base baseline was. [2:04:16, 2:04:36]: All right, so Stockbridge resolution. So let me move back to Stockbridge resolution. So I think this is the this is the one that applies to us. The others I think were um uh meant for the uh one is for the city council. [2:04:36, 2:04:45]: Um so I let me just got an email. Let me check to see if it might be a tiny or something. [2:04:45, 2:04:46]: Oh, sorry. [2:04:50, 2:04:51]: All right. [2:04:54, 2:05:01]: Okay, so um Mr. Sears has I believe Mr. Sears, are you with us still? [2:05:04, 2:05:06]: Oh yes, yes, you are. [2:05:09, 2:05:15]: I see he's on the meeting, but I don't see him and I and he I got an email from saying that he has to leave. [2:05:16, 2:05:18]: So oh here you are. [2:05:19, 2:05:37]: Mr. Sears, we're not hearing you. Um, so we um I guess I'd like to go ahead and if you know at least put this on the table. So I'd I guess I'd like to make a motion to approve the resolution. Thank you, Mr. Sears. I'm I'm here. My computer doing like yours is slowing down, so that's why. [2:05:37, 2:05:46]: Oh, very good. That's fine. I got your email and I wasn't sure if that meant that you were leaving, but we'll go ahead and move forward. I wanna I wanna leave without saying goodbye. [2:05:46, 2:05:54]: All right, very good. Um, so I'll go ahead and and and put a motion or you know offer a motion that to accept this resolution. [2:05:56, 2:06:08]: in that with the understanding that it clarifies two points, the title to the property uh for the land deal last year, as well as clarifying the name for this downtown development authority. [2:06:10, 2:06:10]: Second question. [2:06:11, 2:06:15]: All right, I think I heard a second from Mr. Swiger. Thank you. [2:06:16, 2:06:16]: All right. [2:06:20, 2:06:21]: Any further discussion? [2:06:24, 2:06:35]: All right, so then we'll go ahead and put it for votes. All those in favor, go ahead and raise your hand. I see your hand, uh Mr. Swigert. I see your hand. Okay, so the motion passes. Thank you. [2:06:38, 2:06:40]: All right. [2:06:40, 2:07:00]: That was on the legal name, so thank you. I'll move on to the next item, which is all business. Um, I don't have much to share there. Um, we have engaged the uh Georgia Tech for the um uh market study. Um the and uh so that's in motion. I um uh Alan, I I'm not sure if you [2:07:00, 2:07:03]: Do you have any further update on that? Anyone share? [2:07:03, 2:07:08]: No, they're they're working on it. They've received everything. We've provided them with everything that they asked for. [2:07:08, 2:07:12]: It's in motion. We should receive uh an update next week. [2:07:12, 2:07:13]: I believe you [2:07:13, 2:07:21]: Went on took him on a tour as well, right? Oh yeah. I did. Yeah, yeah. We we took a tour um just so he could [2:07:22, 2:07:22]: Um [2:07:23, 2:07:26]: You know, get that first hand view of [2:07:26, 2:07:32]: the downtown development district, as well as the city, I took them all around so we could see exactly what we're trying to do. [2:07:32, 2:07:34]: That way he could relate. [2:07:35, 2:07:37]: Um, everything that we sent him. [2:07:37, 2:07:39]: Which was a lot of information. [2:07:39, 2:07:43]: So um yeah, he he's had a tour and and they're working. [2:07:43, 2:07:44]: Right. [2:07:44, 2:07:47]: Thank you. Any questions for Alan? [2:07:48, 2:08:08]: All right. And next item is the downtown strategic work plan. I don't have much to offer there. We did um the you know we uh a couple of our internal meetings had had to be canceled um due to other uh scheduling conflicts. Um so not much to report out on that item. Uh the next uh [2:08:08, 2:08:28]: The last final item is the uh committee to draft an intergovernmental agreement with the IJ. And then not to cause any confusion about the discussion we just had, but um the DDA has uh developed a draft for a standing intergovernmental agreement. That would be just the standing uh, you know. [2:08:28, 2:08:45]: rules of the road, if you will, between the DDA and the city of Stockbridge. We've drafted that, we've handed it over to the city and we're waiting for their review and approval. So um either Alan or Councilman, any any any feedback on what's been submitted as a draft? [2:08:48, 2:09:07]: Okay. I'm seeing no I'll just wait till I don't think I think our attorney would need to finish the review and then I would be able to get back to you. Before that, I wouldn't want to make a comment. All right, very good. Thank you. And that's the final item on the agenda. Um I'll open it up for any general comments or questions. [2:09:11, 2:09:15]: All right. Uh well with that to entertain a motion to adjourn. [2:09:17, 2:09:18]: Second the motion. [2:09:19, 2:09:30]: All right, thank you. And did you uh El Elton, I saw or councilman, I saw you say yes, all right. Uh any further discussion? [2:09:30, 2:09:41]: All right. Those in favor to adjourn, please raise your hand. Very good. All right, that's unanimous. Thank you everyone. I know it was a longer meeting than usual, but I appreciate everyone's work on this. Have a great evening. [2:09:42, 2:09:43]: Thank you too.