DDA meeting Nov 10, 2022

Detailed briefing

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING — Nov. 10, 2022 ATTENDEES: Roll call listed Jim Knapp, Matt Bagheera, Jody Eubank, Amy Gillard, Nikki Law, Cora Smith, Rocky Badoun, Rachel Morford, Sarah Eschelbrenner and Ella Reddy; some attendance responses were not clearly attributable in the transcript. • The DDA approved its previous minutes with a correction stating that the DDA does not work directly with the RRC, while the RRC takes some DDA directives into its work. The RRC was scheduled to meet the next day to discuss website progress and responsibility for updating city fees online. • Ice Fest planning continued for Feb. 10-11, 2023. Rock on Ice and sleigh rides were confirmed, while insurance documentation remains needed for the sleigh-ride provider. Holy Childhood Community Center was confirmed at $500, reduced from $750, with a $250 anonymous donation reported toward that contract. Chili cook-off restaurant outreach, sponsorship packets, city-event approval, road closures and snow-removal planning remain in progress. • The Merchants Walkway committee reported that updated documentation for the area has been recorded with the county. A preliminary landscape concept will return to committee review before pricing and fundraising discussions. Early work may include speaking with adjacent parties about removing plants and trees. • City Council had voted to move the proposed special assessment to a public hearing on the tax roll. The hearing was expected at the start of the Dec. 19 City Council meeting. The reported proposal would align with the downtown development plan for 15 years at $1 per day. • The director reported more than 50 children participated in downtown trick-or-treating. The DDA set a $1,000 donation to the National Honor Society for maintaining Main Street gardens. Three Third Street lights were out, with repairs expected late that week or early the following week; Main Street lights were to be turned on Nov. 26 with the tree lighting. • Financial reporting showed $61,993.35 in TIF capture and $20,753.87 in special-assessment revenue received so far. The DDA reported a $18,444 year-end net figure and a $126,000 fund balance. Members also received a lead on a possible SPARK grant for public recreation, enhancement or redevelopment projects. Worth watching: • Whether City Council approves continuation of the special assessment after the public hearing. • Completion of Ice Fest permits, insurance, vendor commitments, road-closure arrangements and snow-removal planning. • Committee review, pricing and potential funding for the Merchants Walkway plan and possible SPARK grant. Upcoming: Main Street tree lighting is planned for Nov. 26; the special-assessment hearing was expected Dec. 19; the next DDA meeting is in December. Why it matters: The DDA is advancing winter-event planning, downtown improvements and a proposed long-term funding mechanism while managing year-end finances.

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