DDA Meeting 1.10.24

Detailed briefing

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY — January 10, 2024 ATTENDEES: The transcript indicates the full board was present, along with city staff and the city attorney. • The DDA approved its 2024 regular-meeting schedule: 8 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, with no July meeting. The board also corrected a prior-meeting record, stating that a tied vote means a motion fails. • Gail Brown was elected DDA chair for 2024, and Cora Smith-Waite was elected vice chair. The board also set committee membership for Downtown Enhancement and Events and Promotions. • The board approved a one-year, 2024 DDA contribution of up to $5,000 toward administrative costs related to CBD sidewalk snow-removal enforcement. Staff said the existing ordinance places sidewalk-clearing responsibility on property owners, while DPW may clear snow after other city snow priorities. Property owners may be billed for physical snow removal; the proposed DDA funding is for administrative work that staff said cannot be billed to owners. One member stated a no vote, saying more answers were needed. • Staff and board members acknowledged the snow-removal system is not settled. Discussion included possible ordinance revisions, obtaining private-contractor pricing, and surveying downtown businesses on whether they would support a different service model or added contribution. A private contractor quote discussed was approximately $30,000 and included sidewalk salting, making it different from the DPW approach. • Ice Fest planning continues for February 9-10. Organizers reported about 15 sculptures at the meeting and said the event commonly has 30 to more than 40 sculptures when live demonstrations are included. Plans discussed included wagon rides, dueling chainsaws, trivia on Friday evening, a children’s scavenger hunt, park activities and s’mores, plus a possible Parks Board hot-dog offering. • On the Merchants Walkway project, the city attorney said refurbishing the iron fence is an allowable DDA expense because it serves safety purposes along the easement. Staff said the engineer was told to continue toward bids; the design was described as roughly 90% complete. Worth watching: • Whether the city changes or clarifies the sidewalk snow-removal ordinance and how enforcement operates this winter. • Whether the DDA develops a contractor option and business survey for future snow-removal service. • When Merchants Walkway bids are issued and what project costs come back. Upcoming: Ice Fest is planned for February 9-10; the Ice Fest committee plans to finalize sculptures and scheduling at its January 23 meeting. Why it matters: The board’s actions affect downtown governance, winter sidewalk access, a major winter event, and progress on a public-walkway improvement project.

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.