---
date: 2024-03-08
title: Main Street Advisory Board Agenda Packet
source: 2024-03/2024-03-08_Main Street Advisory Board_Agenda Packet.pdf
pages: 1
---

MAIN STREET Main Street Advisory Board
ADVISORY BOARD Meeting Agenda
BOARD MEMBERS
March 8, 2024 9:00 AM
Willie Hopkins, Chair
Shomari Furtch, Vice-Chair
Camill Reynoso Mason, Secretary
Anika Potts
Andrea Burnett
Vanessa Gibson
Linda P. Jones
Crystal Park
Councilman Alphonso Thomas
Frangela Merritt (DDA Liaison)

ADMINISTRATION
Vacant
Main Street Program Manager ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
MAIN STREET OFFICES
Lisa Fareed 130 Martin Luther King Sr. Heritage Trail
Main Street Program Coordinator
STOCKBRIDGE, GA 30281

Kim Allonce
Website: www.cityofstockbridge.com

Economic Development Director Phone: 770-389-7900

Fax: 770-389-7912
AGENDA
MAIN STREET ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2024 9:00 AM

I. Call to Order
1. Roll Call
2. Reading of the Mission Statement
3. Welcome - MSAB Members / City Staff / Guests
II. Review and Approval of the Agenda
4. March 2024 Meeting Agenda
III. Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes
5. February 2024 Meeting Minutes
IV. Review and Approve Financial Statement
6. February 2024 Financial Statement
V. Main Street Managers Report / Discussion
7. Housekeeping Items
8. Updates
- Program Updates
- Downtown Updates
VI. Economic Development Report
VII. DDA Report
VIII. Announcements / Concerns
9. Next Meeting:
Annual Retreat – Saturday, April 13, 2024 9:00 a.m. – 4:00p.m.
Merle Manders Conference Center 111 Davis Rd. Stockbridge, GA -
Downtown
IX. Adjourn
Mission: The Stockbridge Main Street Program's mission is to design and
support an identifiable downtown historic district that promotes economic
vitality, cultivates artistic expression, encourages cultural enrichment, and
nurtures community spirit.
Stockbridge Main Street Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
February 9, 2024
9:00 a.m.
Mission: The Stockbridge Main Street Program's mission is to design and support an
identifiable downtown historic district that promotes economic vitality, cultivates
artistic expression, encourages cultural enrichment, and nurtures community spirit.

On February 9, 2024, the Stockbridge Main Street Advisory Board (hereinafter Board)
meeting was held at the Stockbridge Main Street Program Office and was called to order
with an official roll call at 9:05 a.m. by Mr. Willie Hopkins, Stockbridge Main Street
Advisory Board Chairman. The Main Street Mission Statement was also read by Mr.
Shomari Furtch. Mr. Hopkins took a moment to welcome everyone to the meeting and
acknowledge the staff members present. A quorum was reached at 9:30 a.m.
Board Members in Attendance: Andrea Burnett, Shomari Furtch, Vanessa
Gibson, Willie Hopkins, Linda Jones, Camille Mason, and Alphonso Thomas
Board Members Absent: Anika Potts and Frangela Merritt
City Staff and Guests in Attendance: Kira Harris-Braggs, Main Street
Manager, Lisa Fareed, Main Street Program Coordinator, and Terezy Ochoa,
Economic Development Department intern.

Review and Approval of the Meeting Agenda
Mr. Hopkins gave everyone time to quickly review the Board meeting agenda that had
been distributed via email prior to the meeting.
A motion to approve the February 2024 Board meeting agenda was heard.
The motion was properly approved.
Motion: Shomari Furtch
Second: Vanessa Gibson
Discussion: None
Vote: Unanimous

Review and Approval of the Meeting Minutes
Mr. Hopkins gave everyone time to quickly review the December 2023 Board meeting
minutes that had been distributed via email prior to the meeting.
A motion to approve the December 2023 meeting minutes was heard.
The motion was properly approved.
Motion: Shomari Furtch
Second: Andrea Burnette
Discussion: None
Vote: Unanimous
Office Address: 130 M.L.K., Sr. Heritage Trl. ∙ Stockbridge, GA 30281 ∙ 678-833-3306
Mailing Address: 4640 N. Henry Blvd. ∙ Stockbridge, GA 30281
Stockbridge Main Street Advisory Board Meeting – February 2024 Page 2

Review and Approval of the Financial Statements
Mr. Hopkins gave everyone time to quickly review the Main Street Program Financial
Statements for December 2023 and January 2024. Both had been distributed via email
prior to the meeting.
A motion to approve the December 2023 Financial Statement for future auditing purposes
was heard. The motion was properly approved.
Motion: Camille Reynoso Mason
Second: Linda Jones
Discussion: None
Vote: Unanimous

A motion to approve the January 2024 Financial Statement for future auditing purposes
was heard. The motion was properly approved.
Motion: Shomari Furtch
Second: Vanessa Gibson
Discussion: Mrs. Harris-Braggs noted the negative balances on the financial
reports from 2023 (Copier, AT&T, and Georgia Power) have been
reconciled. Mrs. Mason noted that it looked like a sufficient
amount was budgeted for the Copier and Georgia Power, but she
feared that the AT&T account is not going to be enough based on
what was spent last year. Mrs. Harris-Braggs agreed, noting that
only $3,000 has been budgeted, and $889.98 has already been
charged to the account.
Vote: Unanimous

Main Street Manager’s Report
Mrs. Harris-Braggs wished everyone Happy New Year and thanked everyone for their
attendance at the February 2024 Board Meeting. She then discussed the following:
Housekeeping Items:

• Board Member Oaths: Per a request from the City Clerk, Mrs. Harris-Braggs
distributed copies of the Board Member Oaths of office to several members.
These were supposed to be signed at the January 2023 City Council meeting,
but were inadvertently missed.

• Board Member Terms & Vacancies: Mrs. Harris-Braggs reminded everyone
that two Business Outside of the Main Street District positions are still
available. The Main Street staff has approached two qualified candidates and
have heard from one, Crystal Parks, who is a co-owner of Angie’s Beauty,
located in the Wal-Mart shopping plaza on Hwy 18. Both she and Ms. Fareed
were very complimentary of her participation in the 2023 Small Business Blitz.
Mrs. Harris-Braggs also announced that the new DDA Representative on the
Board will be Frangela Merritt, who was the past DDA Chairwoman.

Office Address: 130 M.L.K., Sr. Heritage Trl. ∙ Stockbridge, GA 30281 ∙ 678-833-3306
Mailing Address: 4640 N. Henry Blvd. ∙ Stockbridge, GA 30281
Stockbridge Main Street Advisory Board Meeting – February 2024 Page 3

Housekeeping Items (continued):

• Bio Sheets: Board Members were asked to complete and return updated bio
sheets before leaving the meeting that day.

• Board Member Properties Inventory: Mrs. Harris-Braggs passed around an
inventory sheet and asked everyone to indicate whether they needed a new
name badge or Board Book. She also asked everyone to indicate their t-shirt
size.

• Officer Nomination: Mrs. Harris-Braggs noted that, with Prayre Finley’s Board
resignation, the office of Board Secretary was vacant. Mr. Hopkins entertained
nominations from the floor to fill the secretary position. Mrs. Jones nominated
Mrs. Mason, who accepted the nomination.
A motion to approve Mrs. Mason as Board Secretary was heard.
The motion was properly approved.
Motion: Linda Jones
Second: Vanessa Gibson
Discussion: None
Vote: Unanimous

• Main Street Program Budget: Everyone reviewed the FY 2024 Budget that had
been distributed via email prior to the meeting. Mrs. Harris-Braggs again noted
the amount allocated for the AT&T line expense. She explained that she had
requested more funds for several expenses, including the AT&T cost, Downtown
Beautification, Entertainment, training, and promotional supplies. However, the
request was not successful.

• Geogia Downtown Association Dues: The GDA has introduced a new
membership renewal program that allows for multiple people to be covered by
one membership. In the past, the first member had to pay $250, then each
additional member had to pay $200. This year, they have a tiered program.
Organizations with 10 or more members will be $750. Mrs. Harris-Braggs
recommended to the board that the Main Street Program renew at that level. This
would cover Staff plus all of the Board members, with a substantial cost savings.

A motion to renew the GDA Dues at the $750 level was heard.
The motion was properly approved.
Motion: Linda Jones
Second: Shomari Furtch
Discussion: None
Vote: Unanimous

Office Address: 130 M.L.K., Sr. Heritage Trl. ∙ Stockbridge, GA 30281 ∙ 678-833-3306
Mailing Address: 4640 N. Henry Blvd. ∙ Stockbridge, GA 30281
Stockbridge Main Street Advisory Board Meeting – February 2024 Page 4

Housekeeping Items (continued):

• Training Opportunities: Any Board member interested in any of the following
trainings should contact Mrs. Harris-Braggs:
- National Main Street Conference – Birmingham, AL (May 4-9, 2024)
Mrs. Harris-Braggs reminded everyone that this year the conference will be
held in the closest proximity to Stockbridge since it was held in Atlanta in
2016. Board Officers will receive “first refusal” for conference attendance.
Officers were asked to let her know by Wednesday, February 14th, if they
planned to attend. Registration will definitely be covered for all interested
in attending. Lodging coverage will depend on how many people plan to go
to the conference.
- Georgia Downtown Conference – Thomasville, GA (August 26-29, 2024)
Mrs. Harris-Braggs reminded everyone that this state-wide conference is
also an option.
- The Essentials – Athens, GA (April 9th / 8am-4pm)
Several Board members have already taken this training and gave it a
very positive review.

• Annual Downtown Planning Meeting and Board Retreat: Based on the feed-
back received from the Board, the Retreat will be held on Saturday, April 13th
from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Like in year’s past, the session will include the
DDA, Main Street, and the City Council. Everyone was asked to Save the Date.

• Program Updates:
- Holiday Festival: Main Street’s Hot Cocoa Booth was a success even
though there were fewer in attendance than last year. She thanked Andrea,
Vanessa, Camille, Linda, Willie, Lisa, and City Staff members, Vanessa
Holiday, and Cassandra Lester. She felt that the low turn-out was due to the
event date having to have been postponed. Only 884 cups of cocoa were
served, in comparison to 1,553 cups served last year.

- Volunteer Appreciation: Mrs. Harris-Braggs thanked everyone who
attended City’s volunteer appreciation event that was hosted in December.
She apologized to everyone because she heard that they ran out of food.

- Local Love Campaign: Ms. Fareed offered a brief update on the Local
Love shopping campaign, which she stated was modeled after Main Street’s
popular Small Business BLITZ. Ms. Fareed explained that Local Love is
held throughout the month of February to encourage shoppers to show love
to locally owned shops and restaurants. She stated that the digital passport
had been updated to reflect the current campaign, and that a $25 gift card
would be awarded from a drawing of participating shoppers who submitted
selfies at businesses they patronized. Finally, she stated that the winner will
be announced on March 1, 2024.
Office Address: 130 M.L.K., Sr. Heritage Trl. ∙ Stockbridge, GA 30281 ∙ 678-833-3306
Mailing Address: 4640 N. Henry Blvd. ∙ Stockbridge, GA 30281
Stockbridge Main Street Advisory Board Meeting – February 2024 Page 5

- Program Self-Assessment: Mrs. Harris-Braggs gave the Board a
homework assignment. She explained that all Georgia Main Street Programs
were required to complete a Community Self-Assessment survey. She
included that she had already turned in the form to the state for the
Stockbridge Main Street Program. She indicated that she thought it would
be a good idea for the Board to see the standards that the National Main
Street Center would like for All Main Street Programs to Strive for, and to
determine how the Board feels we are doing. She asked that everyone be
prepared to initiate a discussion about these standards at the March Board
Meeting, and then plan to complete it at the Annual Retreat and Planning
Session.

• Downtown Updates:
- Alleyway Improvement Project: All, but one, of the property owner’s
offer letters have been returned. This property recently changed owners
which caused the delay. We are waiting for the new deed to be registered.
We are still waiting for the design for the Burke Street Breezeway (Phase 2)
to come back from the City’s engineers.

DDA Report: Mr. Robert Anderson has been named the new DDA Chairman. The
vacant DDA position has been filled by Mr. Darrell Stamper. Mrs. Frangela Merritt is the
new DDA Representative on the Main Street Advisory Board.

Economic Development Report: In Mr. Allonce’s absence, Ms. Ochoa updated
everyone about the Utility Box art project.

Announcements / Concerns:
- Councilman Thomas shared a flyer and explanation of his upcoming
initiative, “The 13th Annual African American Heritage Celebration”. The
function will be a Black History Month event which will be held at the
Merle Manders Conference Center on Saturday, February 24, 2024, from
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Councilman Thomas also stated that he will be
hosting the “Young and Gifted” event honoring students on Thursday,
March 28th.
- Linda Jones shared information about an upcoming function hosted by
Feeding God’s People food pantry. The event will be held on Saturday,
February 17, 2024, where foods featuring produce and protein items will be
distributed. There will also be coats, hats, gloves, and socks available.
- Main Street Program Manager, Kira Harris-Braggs, announced that she has
accepted a position outside of the City of Stockbridge. Mrs. Harris-Braggs

Office Address: 130 M.L.K., Sr. Heritage Trl. ∙ Stockbridge, GA 30281 ∙ 678-833-3306
Mailing Address: 4640 N. Henry Blvd. ∙ Stockbridge, GA 30281
Stockbridge Main Street Advisory Board Meeting – February 2024 Page 6

stated that her last day as Main Street Manager will be March 1, 2024. Mr.
Hopkins and others congratulated her and wished her well.
There being no additional business to conduct, a motion to adjourn the February 2024
Stockbridge Main Street Advisory Board Meeting was heard.
The motion was properly approved. The meeting concluded at 10:53 a.m.
Motion: Alphonso Thomas
Second: Shomari Furtch
Discussion: None
Vote: Unanimous

Respectfully Submitted by:

Lisa Fareed
Stockbridge Main Street Program

Office Address: 130 M.L.K., Sr. Heritage Trl. ∙ Stockbridge, GA 30281 ∙ 678-833-3306
Mailing Address: 4640 N. Henry Blvd. ∙ Stockbridge, GA 30281
