---
date: 2023-12-21
title: Downtown Development Authority- SCM Agenda Packet
source: 2023-12/2023-12-21_Downtown Development Authority- SCM_Agenda Packet.pdf
pages: 1
---

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT Downtown Development
AUTHORITY OF THE
CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE Authority Special Called
BOARD MEMBERS Meeting Agenda
Frangela Merritt, Chair December 21, 2023 6:00 PM
Vacant, Vice-Chair
Robert Swygert, Secretary
Barbara Richardson, Treasurer
Robert Anderson, Board Member
Warren Washington, Board Member
Councilman Elton Alexander

ADMINISTRATION
Kim Allonce
Economic Development Director
Kira Harris-Braggs
Main Street Manager

Vanessa Holiday STOCKBRIDGE WELCOME CENTER

Recorder 130 M L KING SR. HERITAGE TRAIL

STOCKBRIDGE, GA 30281
Blake Sharpton
Website: www.stockbridgega.org
Attorney
Phone: 770-389-7900

Fax: 770-389-7912
AGENDA
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING
CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2023 6:00 PM

I. Call to Order
1. Roll Call
2. Approve Agenda
3. Approve November 14, 2023 Minutes
II. Officers Reports
4. Chairman's Comments - Merritt
5. Treasurer Update - Financial Report - Richardson
6. Secretary's Updates - Swygert
III. Executive Session (if needed)
7. Executive Session - Real Estate
IV. City Staff & City Council Reports
8. Main Street Advisory Board Updates - Braggs-Harris / Allonce
9. City Staff Updates - Director Allonce
10. City Council Updates - Councilman Alexander
V. Adjourn
REGULAR MEETING
SUMMARY MINUTES
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 @ 6 PM
130 MLK Senior Heritage Trail
Stockbridge, GA 30281

Board Members City Staff
Elton Alexander, Stockbridge City Council - Present Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk - Absent
Frangela Merritt, Chair - Present Kim Allonce – Economic Development Director - Present
Roger Custin, Vice Chair - Present Kira Harris-Braggs, Main Street Manager - Absent
Barbara Richardson, Treasurer- Absent
Bob Swygert, Secretary - Present Guest Speaker
Robert Anderson, Board Member – Present Kirby Glaze, President of 4PM
Warren Washington, Board Member - Present

Chair Merritt called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.

Secretary Swygert proceeded with a roll call. All members were present except member Barbara
Richardson.

Chair Merritt called for a motion to approve the meeting Agenda. Motion made by Board member
Custin and seconded by Board member Swygert. The motion passed 5-0.

Chair Merritt Chair called for motion to approve the October 17 meeting minutes. Board member
Custin made that motion and Board member Swygert seconded. Motion passed 5-0.

Officer Reports

Chair’s Comments-Merritt
Chair Merritt noted that Board member Custin needed to leave the meeting at 7:30pm to attend
another engagement and that guest speaker Kirby Glaze would be leading the Board in a “brain-
storming session” to discuss how to implement possible DDA projects. In the interest of time,
Chair Merritt deferred her comments.

Treasurer Update-Richardson-Financial Report
In Bord member Richardson’s absence, Chair Merritt presented the Registration Report for the
September 30th Downtown Stockbridge Muscle Mystique Car Show for which the DDA had
provided $3,200 in funding. Chair Merritt noted the DDA still owed $230 of that amount and that
Board member Richardson would be making that payment.

City Staff Reports

City Staff Updates- Kim Allonce, Stockbridge Economic Development Director
Director Allonce said in the interest of saving time for the brainstorming session he would email
his updates to the Board.

Council Updates
City Councilmember Elton Alexander noted that four television cable poles along East Atlanta
Road have been moved and the remaining poles will be removed very soon as part of the road
improvements along East Atlanta Road and North Henry Boulevard. Councilmember Alexander
also noted that Council had had just approved the townhome project at 55 Valley Hill in Downtown
Stockbridge and that Costco would have its ribbon-cutting opening on Thursday,
November16th as part of the I-75 and Jodeco Road development.

Page 1 of 3
REGULAR MEETING
SUMMARY MINUTES
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 @ 6 PM
130 MLK Senior Heritage Trail
Stockbridge, GA 30281

New Business
Chair Merritt presented the draft of a resolution approving a $250,000 Revolving Loan under the
Georgia Department of Community Affairs Revolving Loan Fund Program. The loan from the
Georgia Department of Community Affairs would be to the proposed “NOLA Bistro and Daquiri
Bar LLC” to construct and operate a restaurant and lounge at 132 MLK Sr. Heritage Trail in
Downtown Stockbridge. The DDA would be the conduit for the loan. After the Board reviewed
the draft, Chair Merritt asked for a motion to approve the resolution. Board member Custin so
moved and Board member Swygert seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0.

Next, Board member Custin presented a proposal from local business owner Linda Jones (who
owns a beauty salon downtown) to install solar-powered string lights on the trees on either side of
MLK Sr. Heritage Trail in order to provide some decorative holiday lighting. He said the lights
could be used year-round. If approved, the City Public Works department could install the lights
and Main Street would help manage the installation. Member Custin also suggested perhaps
a small sign could be installed informing passersby that the lighting was funded by the
DDA. Mr. Custin requested $700 as funding for 22 light sets to be installed on the eleven
trees. Board Member Washington motioned to approve the $700 funding proposal and Board
member Swygert seconded the motion, which was approved 4-0. Mr. Custin abstained since he
had presented the proposal to the Board.

Next, Chair Merritt introduced guest speaker Kirby Glaze, President of 4PM a business located at
205 Corporate Center, Suite B in Downtown Stockbridge. 4PM provides project management and
developmental expertise to various public facility projects around the state. Mr. Glaze said his firm
has helped develop $90-million worth of projects around Georgia—including the renovation of an
old fire station in Jonesboro which was turned into a successful restaurant, the renovation of a
historic church in Gainesville into a public/ private events facility, and the re-building of burned-out
buildings in Clarksville which now house successful retail businesses.

Mr. Glaze said 4PM helps manage projects through four phases: (1) the initial conceptualization,
(2) the preliminary design, (3) the establishment of a guaranteed fixed price contract and (4)
construction. 4PM charges a fee as it helps complete each phase, working with construction
firms, architects, the local DDA and local government entities as well as financing firms.

Mr. Glaze asked what ideas the DDA had for Stockbridge. Board members mentioned the art
project to honor MLK Sr. as well as relieving the blighted condition of several buildings downtown
including the poor appearance of the “alleyway” behind the buildings on MLK Sr. Heritage Trail
and Love Street. Mr. Glaze received a copy of the RSVP downtown development plan and said
he would review it and would like an opportunity to meet with the Board again to discuss how his
firm might help implement some of those ideas. Chair Merrit thanked Mr. Glaze for his time and
said the Board looked forward to meeting with him again.

Board member Custin had left the meeting at 7:30pm as planned.

Chair Merritt called for a motion to adjourn. Board member Washington, seconded by City
Councilmember Alexande, made this motion. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned
8:01p.m.

Minutes written by Board Secretary Bob Swygert.

Page 2 of 3
REGULAR MEETING
SUMMARY MINUTES
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 @ 6 PM
130 MLK Senior Heritage Trail
Stockbridge, GA 30281

Executive Session Criteria GA Code
Discuss or vote to authorize the settlement of a matter covered by the attorney-client 50-14-2(1) and
privilege. Identify the case or claim discussed but not the substance of the attorney-client 50-14-3(b)(1)(A)
discussion.
Discuss or vote to authorize negotiations to purchase, dispose of or lease property. 50-14-3(b)(1)(B)
Discuss or vote to authorize the ordering of an appraisal related to the acquisition or 50-14-3(b)(1)(C)
disposal of real estate.
Discuss or vote to enter into a contract to purchase, dispose of, or lease property subject to 50-14-3(b)(1)(D)
approval in a subsequent public vote.
Discuss or vote to enter into an option to purchase, dispose of, or lease real estate. 50-14-3(b)(1)(E)
Discuss or deliberate upon the appointment, employment, compensation, hiring, 50-14-3(b)(2)
disciplinary action or dismissal, or periodic evaluation or rating of a public officer or
employee.
Meeting to interview one or more applicants for the position of the executive head of an 50-14-3(b)(2)
agency.
A meeting otherwise required to be open was closed to the public in order to consult and 50-14-2(1)
meet with legal counsel pertaining to pending or potential litigation, settlement, claims,
administrative proceedings, or other judicial actions brought or to be brought by or against
the agency or any officer or employee or in which the agency or any officer or employee
may be directly involved and the matter discussed was [identify the matter but not the
substance of the discussion.
Staff meeting held for investigative purposes under duties or responsibilities imposed by 50-14-3(a) (1)
law.

Page 3 of 3
