[Downtown Area Tax Increment Finance Board on October 27, 2021.]
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WE'LL CALL IT A SESSION TO ORDER.FIRST ORDER ON THE AGENDA IS TO GO OVER THE MINUTES FROM JULY.
IS THERE ANY, DID EVERYBODY GET A CHANCE TO READ OVER THOSE? IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR AMENDMENTS MR. CHAIR? COULD YOU SEE IF YOUR MIC IS PICKING UP? ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE'LL EIGHT THEN THE SESSION FOR THE TIP BOARD ONE IS CALLED THE ORDER.
AND THE FIRST, UH, ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM JULY 28TH, 2021.
ANY, ANY, UH, AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE TO THOSE MINUTES.
THEN THE NEXT ORDER OF, UH, THE AGENDA IS TO APPROVE THEM ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES.
ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, THEN MAN, A MINUTE SUSTAINED, APPROVED, AND THEN UPDATE ON THE SQUARE, THE REDESIGN AND TIF FUNDING.
UM, SO AS WE HAD MENTIONED AT OUR LAST MEETING, WE JUST WANTED TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD AND GIVE YOU A HIGH-LEVEL BROAD OVERVIEW OF THE SQUARE REDESIGN PROJECT, WHERE WE'RE HEADED AND THEN SPECIFICALLY FOCUS IN ON HOW THE TIF WILL BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROJECT.
SO I'D LIKE TO JUST KIND OF, AGAIN, WALK THROUGH AN UPDATE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THESE YET, I WERE EXCITED TO SHARE SOME UPDATED ARTISTIC RENDERINGS WITH YOU.
THE LARGER IMAGE IS A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THIS SPACE.
AND SO JUST STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER, WE'LL WORK OUR WAY COUNTER-CLOCKWISE AROUND, AROUND THE, THE DOWNTOWN SQUARE, SOME ON THE BOTTOM LEFT, YOU SEE, WE HAVE SPACES FOR SMALL PROGRAMS OR PATIOS THAN THE LARGE RECREATIONAL AND EVENT LAWN.
SO THIS IS FLEXIBLE SO THAT IT CAN ACCOMMODATE DAILY USE AS WELL AS OUR SPECIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THEN YOU'LL SEE A SHADED PAVILION RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE PLAZA THEATER.
THIS IS A SPACE INTENDED FOR IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCES AND AGAIN, SMALL PROGRAMMING, BUT IS THIS A VIEW TOWARDS THE NORTH? THIS IS AS IF YOU WERE STANDING ABOVE THIS AND LOOKING TOWARDS THE SOUTH.
SO IT'S A VIEW TOWARDS THE SALE.
AND MY MOUSE IS NOT HOVERING WELL, BUT IF WE'RE, LET'S JUST START HERE.
SO YOU HAVE THE SMALL PROGRAM AREA HERE, THE RECREATIONAL LAWN, AND THEN THIS SHADED PAVILION HERE'S, WHAT'S INTENDED FOR SMALL IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCES AND SMALLER PROGRAMS THAT IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SEE HERE.
UM, BUT THERE'S AN URBAN WATER FEATURE YOU INTO THE IMAGINATIVE PLAY AREA AND THERE'S, UM, A REALLY AWESOME TREEHOUSE SLATED FOR THE D THE REDESIGN THAT WOULD BE ACCESSIBLE BY KIDS OF ALL AGES.
UM, AND, AND EVERY ABILITY THE SPACE ITSELF IS OUTLINED BY AN ARTFULLY ILLUMINATED PROMINA THAT REALLY MOVES, UM, PEDESTRIANS FROM ONE SPACE TO THE OTHER THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE PLAZA.
YOU'LL SEE HERE IS OUR LARGE PERFORMANCE PLAZA WHERE WE'LL BRING IN A SPECIAL, A TEMPORARY SPECIAL EVENT STAGE, UM, AS NEEDED, BUT MAINTAINING THAT FLEXIBILITY SIMILAR TO THE RECREATIONAL LAWN AS WELL, JUST BEING ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE DAILY USE AS WELL AS LARGE-SCALE SPECIAL EVENTS.
AND, AND THEN HERE AT THE CORNER OF MAIN AND FIFTH, WE'LL HAVE OUR GATEWAY FEATURE AND I'LL SHOW YOU A CLOSER UP VIEW OF THAT HERE SHORTLY.
SO THIS IS A VIEW FROM THE INTERSECTION OF SIXTH AND MAIN LOOKING TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST OR TOWARDS CITY HALL.
AND AS YOU ENTER THIS SPACE FROM THIS CORNER, YOU'LL SEE THE TREE HOUSE THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER WITHIN THE LARGER PLAY AREA, WHICH AGAIN IS INTENDED FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES AND INSPIRE, INSPIRED, OR INTENDED TO EXCUSE ME, INTENDED TO INSPIRE IMAGINATIVE PLAY IN THE BACKGROUND ON THE LEFT.
YOU CAN SEE THE URBAN WATER FEATURE AS WELL AS MUSICAL CHIMES.
AND THEN YOU CAN ALSO SEE A GREAT VIEW OF THE AREA UNDER THE PAVILION WHERE YOU'LL HAVE THOSE IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCES.
THIS IS FROM THE MID-BLOCK CROSSWALK ON STATE STREET, AND IT'S A VIEW TO THE SOUTHWEST.
SO JUST IMAGINE YOURSELF SITTING
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AT THE PATIO, ENJOYING A CUP OF COFFEE, UM, A LOCAL BEER AND HEARING A SMALL BAND PLAY UNDERNEATH THE SHADED PAVILION WHILE YOU CAN ALSO ALMOST PEOPLE WATCH INTO THE, THE PLAY AREA AS WELL.AND THEN NEXT I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU A CLOSE-UP VIEW OF THE GATEWAY FEATURED THERE AT FIFTH AND MAIN.
SO AS YOU APPROACH THE SQUARE FROM THE INTERSECTION OF FIFTH AND MAIN, THIS IS THAT MOMENT OF ARRIVAL IN DOWNTOWN GARLAND.
SO FROM HERE, YOU'LL SEE, WE HAVE VARIOUS VERTICAL ELEMENTS RANGING IN HEIGHT FROM, I BELIEVE, 16 TO SIT FROM SIX TO 16 FEET IN HEIGHT, THEN WE'LL HAVE MORE THAN, UM, 40 ELEMENTS.
THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY VERTICAL ELEMENTS MADE OF ACRYLIC FORMS THAT WILL BE IN AN ARRAY OF COLORS AND HAVE NOT ONLY A DAYTIME EXPERIENCE, BUT A NIGHTTIME EXPERIENCE AS WELL.
SO DURING THE DAY, THE SUN WILL PLAY OFF THE DIFFERENT TRANSPARENCIES OR TRANSLUCENCIES RATHER OF THE FORUMS. AND THEN AT NIGHT THERE'LL BE ILLUMINATED TO CREATE AN, A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND DYNAMIC EXPERIENCE.
I WOULD EXPECT A LOT OF INSTAGRAMABLE MOMENTS HERE AND A LOT OF INTERACTIVE PLAY AS WELL.
SO THIS RENDERING, UM, REPRESENTS OR ILLUSTRATES RATHER THAN DOWNTOWN URBAN DESIGN STANDARDS.
SO THIS IS AN APPROACH WE'RE TAKING IN DOWNTOWN, UM, THAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN AREAS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN REDEVELOPED, BUT IT'S REALLY AN INTENTION TO BRING THE DISTRICT TOGETHER FROM A, TO, FROM A PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE, THROUGH AN ESTABLISHED SIDEWALK PATTERN, AS WELL AS THE COLOR PALETTE THAT'S APPLIED TO STREET FINISHINGS OR IN SIDEWALK, FINISHINGS, AND FIXTURES.
THE NEXT MAP I'LL SHOW YOU IS THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE BROADER STREETSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS.
SO THE BLOCKS THAT YOU SEE HERE HIGHLIGHTED IN MAROON, THAT'S WHERE WE'LL BE APPLYING ALL OF THOSE DOWNTOWN URBAN DESIGN STANDARDS.
SO, WHEREAS BEFORE YOU WOULD STAND AT THE INTERSECTION OF SEVENTH AND MAIN, FOR EXAMPLE, EFFICIENT TAILS AND LOOK DOWN TO THE SQUARE AND FEEL QUITE DISCONNECTED ONCE THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE IN PLACE, IT'LL REALLY PROVIDE THAT COHESIVE DISTRICT WIDE FEEL THE AREA THAT YOU SEE HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN, IMMEDIATELY AROUND THE SQUARES WE ACTUALLY HAVE, WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE SIDEWALKS IN SOME CASES, ALMOST DOUBLE THEM.
SO THERE WE'LL HAVE SPACE FOR BUSINESSES TO REALLY EXTEND THEIR PERSONALITY OUT TO THE SIDEWALK, HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTDOOR PATIO DINING AND STILL AMPLE AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF SPACE FOR PEDESTRIANS TO PASS BY.
WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED AN IMAGE OF THE DOWN THE EXISTING DOWNTOWN GATEWAY SIGN THROUGH THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ALLEY PROJECT THAT WERE RECENTLY COMPLETED.
WE'LL NOW HAVE THE UTILITIES OR ACCESS TO THE UTILITIES NEEDED TO REALLY FINISH OUT THAT PROJECT WITH, UM, A LANDSCAPE FEATURES SURROUNDING IT.
AND THEN THE TWO RED CIRCLES THAT YOU SEE HERE.
THERE ARE TWO RED DASH CIRCLES INDICATE WHERE KCS AND THE CITY, UM, COMPLETED PEDESTRIAN PATHS ACROSS PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RAILROAD CROSSINGS OVER THE SUMMER.
THE PUBLIC RESTROOMS WE'RE ALL VERY FAMILIAR WITH, BUT JUST KIND OF WANTED TO BE A CHERRY CAP THERE.
THE TIF IS CONTRIBUTING THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT.
WE CUT THE PO FOR THE RESTROOMS THIS WEEK, AND THESE ARE GOING IN, UM, AT ONE 16 SOUTH SIXTH STREET.
SO BEHIND MILL HOUSE, AND THAT SAME LOT WHERE WE RAN THROUGH THE PILOT PROGRAM AND DEMONSTRATED THE NEED FOR THIS AMENITY IN DOWNTOWN, THESE ARE REALLY GOING TO BE A STATE-OF-THE-ART AMENITIES, WE'LL FEATURE.
UM, WOMEN'S, MEN'S A FAMILY UNIT PROVIDES SOME ADDITIONAL STORAGE IN DOWNTOWN AND FACILITATE UP TO 405 USERS PER HOUR.
SO NOW JUST TO KIND OF WALK THROUGH EXACTLY WHAT THE TIFF WILL BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE SQUARE REDESIGN ITSELF.
I WANTED TO ALSO ADD THAT COUNCIL HAS RECENTLY ADDED $5 MILLION TO THE DOWNTOWN PROJECTS.
AND 2.5 MILLION OF THAT IS, UH, INTENDED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SQUARE.
THE TIF IS CONTRIBUTING JUST OVER 1.7 MILLION TO THE DOWNTOWN SQUARE REDESIGN.
AND THE ELEMENTS THAT THIS WILL ALLOW INCLUDE THE URBAN WATER FEATURE, THE PLAY EQUIPMENT, OR THOSE MUSICAL CHIMES THAT I MENTIONED, I'M AN ELECTRICAL UPGRADES.
SO GOING FROM SINGLE PHASE TO THREE PHASE ACCOMPANY SWITCH, SO THIS WILL BE THE ELECTRICAL PLUGIN FOR LARGE PERFORMANCES, DEDICATED POWER CIRCUITS FOR VENDOR TENTS.
AND SO I, I FAILED TO MENTION EARLIER THE PROMENADE THAT MAKES IT WAY IT'S WAY THROUGHOUT THE SPACE IS WIDE ENOUGH THAT IT WILL ALSO ACCOMMODATE PEDESTRIAN FLOW, BUT THEN BE THE SPACE AT THE PERFECT SPOT FOR
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10 BY TENTS, FOR EVENTS SUCH AS URBAN MARKET AND ANY OTHER SORT OF INTERFERES THAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN, THE ART FULLY ELIMINATED STONE SEAT WALLS, ALONG THE PROMENADE FOOD TRUCK, CONNECTIONS AROUND THE SQUARE AND A DRINKING FOUNTAIN WITH A JEFF BILLER AND A PIT BULL.SO THAT WAS A VERY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW, BUT I JUST WANTED TO, UH, STOP AND SEE IF YOU HAD ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SQUARE REDESIGN AND HOW THE TIF IS CONTRIBUTING TO THAT.
SO I'D JUST LIKE TO ASK, UM, IS THERE A TIMEFRAME FOR FINISHING OF THIS PROJECT? YES, IT'S ANTICIPATED TO TAKE UP TO 24 MONTHS.
COUNSEL JUST APPROVE THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT ON LAST TUESDAY, NOT YESTERDAY, BUT LAST WEEK.
SO WE ARE SLATED FOR A GROUNDBREAKING FOR THIS PROJECT IN MID NOVEMBER.
UM, I'VE HEARD, UH, THAT THERE'S SOME FUNDING CONCERNS JUST BECAUSE OF MAYBE NOT FUNDING CONCERNS, BUT JUST THE PROJECT COST HAS INCREASED BY A LARGE PERCENTAGE.
AND I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT HURDLES THAT MIGHT PLAY OUT.
WELL, THE, SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT WITH THE ONCE WE WENT OUT FOR BID AND THEN THOSE BIDS CAME BACK, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED, BUT THE $5 MILLION THAT COUNCIL APPROVED, UH, THREE WEEKS AGO, I BELIEVE ADDRESSED THAT FUNDING GAP.
UM, I ALSO NOTICED ON THE TREE HOUSE PORTION, IT SAID DOWNTOWN SQUARE.
I WAS, I WAS JUST KIND OF WONDERING IF, UM, THE DESIGNERS HAVE MADE A SUGGESTION ON WHAT TO NAME THE SPACE, OR IF WE'RE JUST CALLING IT THE SQUARE OR THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATION BACK AND FORTH, AND HONESTLY NOT A FINAL DETERMINATION.
IT SEEMS THAT IT IS HEADED THE DIRECTION OF, UM, YOU KNOW, KEEPING AS IS AS FAR AS THE DOWNTOWN SQUARE, BUT ANY SORT OF NAMING CHANGE WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD, UM, ABSOLUTELY BE DETERMINED BY OUR COUNCIL.
UM, AND THEN ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT EARLY ON WHEN WE WERE CONSIDERING ANY SORT OF DESIGN WAS, UM, CURBS AND STREET CLOSURES, I THINK WE ENDED UP KEEPING THE CURBS FOR WATERSHED, BUT I HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN ANY SAYING ABOUT HOW TO MAKE STREET CLOSURES, YOU KNOW, MORE EFFICIENT AND NOT HAVE TO BRING IN THE BARRICADES AND WHATNOT, BUT WHAT WE ARE LOOKING INTO AND, UM, ESSENTIALLY MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR REMOVABLE BOLLARDS.
SO NOT RETRACTABLE THAT ACTUALLY GO INTO THE GROUND THEMSELVES, BUT MOST LIKELY REMOVABLE BALLARDS, I'D HAVE TO COME BACK WITH A FINAL UPDATE ON THAT IN JANUARY TO YOU.
UM, BUT THE INTENT WAS TO AVOID WATER BARRICADES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
WHAT WE RAN INTO WERE CHALLENGES, WHETHER YOU WENT WATER BARRICADES OR REMOVABLE BOLLARDS, A CHALLENGE FROM NOT ONLY A STORAGE PERSPECTIVE, BUT A STAFF PERSPECTIVE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE A WATER BARRICADE OR A BALLER, THE BOLLARDS ARE SUPER DUPER HEAVY.
UM, I BELIEVE LIKE 250 POUNDS.
AND SO YOU'RE INTO AN ISSUE OF NOT ONLY THE STAFF THAT WOULD BE, IT WOULD TAKE TO TAKE THOSE IN AND OUT, BUT EVEN THE TRAILER THEY WOULD LOAD ON AND STORAGE.
BUT WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO THAT VERSUS WATER BARRICADES, THE INTENTION WAS TO GO WITH THE MORE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING OPTION OF THE BOLLARDS.
IS THAT KIND OF LEADS INTO THE NEXT ONE? WHAT IS THE BATHROOM STORAGE FOR BATHROOM SUPPLIES OR IS THAT BATHROOM SUPPLIES? AND, UM, GIVEN THAT WE HAVE LIMITED STORAGE AROUND DOWNTOWN IN GENERAL FOR OPERATIONS AROUND THE PLAZA ITSELF.
SO LIKE A QUICK SPOT TO STASH STUFF, BRINGING IT TO A DIFFERENT WAREHOUSE OR, UM, YEAH, THAT'S IT.
I HAVE TO, UH, ONCE ON PARKING, SO I NOTICED THAT'S COMING, SO I'LL SAVE THAT AND TO HIS OWN ACCESS DURING CONSTRUCTION, WILL THERE BE ANY SENSITIVITY TOWARDS THE TENANTS ON THE SQUARE DURING CONSTRUCTION? ABSOLUTELY.
WE CAN SEND YOU A VERY THOROUGH UPDATE AND PHASED PLAN AS FAR AS CONSTRUCTION AND HOW PARKING WILL ROTATE PER PHASE AROUND THE SQUARE.
BUT THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MAIN GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF OUR APPROACH TO CONSTRUCTION PLANNING.
AND PHASING HAS BEEN TO IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE PARKING LOCATIONS FOR THE BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNERS ON THE SQUARE, AS WELL AS THEIR PATRONS.
WELL, IT WILL BE THE MAXIMUM TIME THAT EACH TENANT WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ACCESSING THEIR PROPERTY.
YOU'LL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO ACCESS YOUR PROPERTY THERE.
THEY'LL NEVER BE A TIME THROUGHOUT THIS PR.
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WITH THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK AND HAVE BEEN SUPER SENSITIVE TO MAINTAINING ACCESS TO YOUR BUSINESS THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT ITSELF, AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC PARKING IN FRONT OF YOUR PROPERTY.AND WHEN THAT WILL BE LIMITED IS WHENEVER WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON THE STREET SCAPES.
SO WHEN WE'RE MAKING THOSE SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS, THE CONTRACTORS HAVE TO HAVE ROOM TO WORK IN.
AND SO THE PARKING IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF YOUR BUSINESS WILL BE CLOSED AT THAT TIME AND OUR SLATED PROPOSAL.
AND THIS IS TENTATIVE PENDING HOW EACH PHASE ROLLS OVER INTO THE NEXT.
AND IF WE SEE COMPLICATIONS ALONG THE WAY, AND IF THAT DELAYS A ONE BLOCK TO THE NEXT, BUT THE TIMEFRAME IS A GOAL OF THREE TO SIX MONTHS.
SO THEY'LL ARE THE FRONT DOOR OF OUR BUILDING WILL NEVER BE BLOCKED.
AND YOU'LL BECOME VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK AND DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT WILL ALWAYS BE PRESENT AS WELL.
AND IF YOU EVER RUN INTO ANY ISSUES WITH THAT, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HUNTER AND I ARE HERE FOR IS FOR YOU TO REACH OUT AND LET US KNOW.
I FEEL LIKE I MAY HAVE MISSPOKE ON THREE TO SIX MONTHS.
I'D LIKE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION.
THERE ARE SO MANY MOVING PARTS.
I BELIEVE AS FAR AS THE STREETSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS TO SAY THE THREE MONTH MARK WAS OUR GOAL, BUT WE'LL SEND YOU A LINK TO A VERY EXCITING PRESENTATION THAT WALKS THROUGH ALL OF THAT IN DETAIL.
IT'S ABOUT 25 MINUTES LONG, AND YOU CAN HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND IDEA OF WHEN WE'LL ACTUALLY BE WORKING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR BUSINESS AS WELL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? UM, SO AS FAR AS THE SPACE FOR IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCES, WHAT'S KIND OF THE, UH, IDEA BEHIND, LIKE THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY KIND OF PA SYSTEM OR ANYTHING ALREADY, YOU KNOW, SET THERE RIGHT.
SO IS IT, IS IT FOR LIKE MUSICAL PERFORMANCES OR WHAT'S KIND OF THE IDEA OF ROUNDING THAT IMPROMPTU SPACE ACTUALLY THROUGH OUR STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK WHEN WE FIRST, UM, SO WE COMPLETED THE PARKING AND INFRASTRUCTURE STUDY.
I BELIEVE IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO NOW.
AND WITH THAT COUNCIL GAVE US A DIRECTION TO GO OUT AND MEET WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS AROUND THE SQUARE THAT WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY IMPACTED WITH THOSE BUSINESSES AND DISCUSS WITH THEM WHAT THEIR VISION WOULD BE FOR THIS SQUARE AND HOW IT WOULD BEST SERVE THEIR BUSINESS.
AND WE HAD A MAJORITY FEEDBACK, UM, SUPPORTING A SPACE FOR IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCES WHERE FOLKS COULD JUST PLUG AND PLAY ESSENTIALLY.
SO THERE WILL BE, UH, ON A LIMITED SCALE ELECTRICAL SUPPORT THERE FOR ACOUSTICS.
THAT WAS THE ONLY QUESTION TO FURTHER ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
THE INTENT IS FOR IT TO BE IMPROMPTU, THERE WILL BE SOME SMALL PROGRAMS AND, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY THE SPACE MIGHT BE RESERVED FROM TIME TO TIME AND WE'RE STILL FINALIZING THOSE DETAILS AS FAR AS WHAT THAT RESERVATION SYSTEM OF LIGHT.
SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A FORMAL RESERVATION SYSTEM WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE TO COME IN AND I GUESS, BOOK THE SPACE OR LIKE BOOK THE USE OF THE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT THERE.
NOT SPECIFICALLY IT'S THE INTENTION IS FOR IT TO BE, UM, AND PROMPT, BUT IF THERE'S COORDINATION AND ADVANCED TO HAVE, LET'S SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T ACQUIRE, THE AUDIO SUPPORT, A YOGA CLASS OR LIBRARY LIBRARY PROGRAMMING THERE, THEN THERE'D BE SOME INDICATION THAT THAT SPACE WAS RESERVED THAT DAY FOR THAT TIME, AS FAR AS SIGNAGE.
I'D IMAGINE LIKE WHEN THERE'S THE MARKET, THERE'S ALWAYS A LIVE PERFORMER.
IF WE USE THAT SPACE OR THE PICKERS, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THEM THAT ARE THERE ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAYS THEY'LL GO WHEREVER THEY WANT TO GO.
JUST TRYING TO GET SOME MORE CONTEXT AROUND THE, WANTING TO MAINTAIN THE FLEXIBILITY BY FAR.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE A LINK TO THAT? UM, DETAILED PRESENTATION OF THE PHASING? YES, PLEASE.
SPARE I'LL JUST SEND THAT TO THE BOARD.
IT'S NOT THE ONE YOU DID IN LIEU OF THE DOWNTOWN THING.
YOU SHOULD HAVE POPCORN READY.
THIS COMPUTER IS LIKE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE.
I'M NOT SEEING ON MY SCREEN WHAT YOU GUYS SEE? SO GIVE ME JUST A SECOND.
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IT'S LIKE UNTHINKING ON IT.AND SET THE SETTINGS WE HAD CHANGED.
SO OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS JUST A STAFF REPORT ON THE CITY CENTER GARAGE.
AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING, THE BOARD REQUESTED THAT STAFF LOOK INTO A PROPOSAL FOR COVERED PARKING ON THE FOURTH FLOOR.
THE RESEARCH REQUEST INCLUDED, UM, LOOKING INTO COVERED PARKING FOR 88 SPACES ON THE TOP DECK OF THIS GARAGE RIGHT HERE BEHIND CITY HALL.
OUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE TOOK THE LEAD ON DEVELOPING THAT ESTIMATE.
AND THE NUMBERS THEY CAME UP WITH WERE, UH, 13, JUST OVER $13,000 PER SPACE, INCLUDING A TOTAL COST OF PROJECT COST OF ALMOST $1.2 MILLION.
THIS WAS SHARED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE WHO MET IN AUGUST THE COMMITTEE THEN TOOK NO FORMAL ACTION, BUT DETERMINED NOT TO PURSUE THE PROPOSAL DUE TO COST THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE REPORTED, UH, THAT FEEDBACK TO CITY COUNCIL AT WORK SESSION IN SEPTEMBER AND NO FURTHER ACTION WAS RECOMMENDED OR TAKEN.
SO AT THIS POINT, THE CITY IS, IS NOT PURSUING THE PROPOSAL ANY FURTHER.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK TO THE BOARD.
I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE PARKING, WHEN THE CITY STUDIED PUTTING UNDERGROUND PARKING AT THE SQUARE UNDERNEATH THIS NEW FACILITY, WHAT WAS THAT COST? I WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT, SIR.
I DO NOT HAVE, UM, I'M NOT UP TO SPEED ON THAT ASPECT OF RESEARCH.
I MEAN, I, I DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY STUDIED IT OR NOT, BUT IT WOULD SEEM TO BE THE LOGICAL PLACE FOR PARKING, GOING TO BE DOING CONSTRUCTION THERE ANYWAY.
CAN JUST TAKE TWO ISSUES AT ONCE.
SO WOULD YOU LIKE THAT WE COME BACK WITH, UM, A PROPOSAL ON THAT OR RESEARCH THAT WAS COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE, IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW, UH, IF IT'S FEASIBLE TO PUT PARKING ON THE SQUARE UNDERGROUND AND TO IF WHAT THE COST IS.
AND MAYBE THEY COULD HOLD UP A LITTLE BIT BEFORE SPINNING THIS $8 MILLION TO SEE IF YOU CAN ALSO PUT IN PARKING.
WERE THERE OTHER, UM, ADDITIONAL PARKING PROJECTS BEING LOOKED AT? I HEARD SOME, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT BY THE FOUNDRY CHURCH AND BEHIND THE OLD GARLAND FURNITURE ABOUT MAYBE A GARAGE THERE, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS AS, AS THE EXISTING CITY PROPERTY, THAT PROPERTY THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WILL BE USED FOR STAGING.
AS FAR AS WHAT ITS DESTINY IS POST THIS 24 MONTH PROJECT.
IT JUST SAVES IT FOR BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE SQUARE.
I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WALK, BUT IF THE PEOPLE HAD A PLACE TO PARK THAT WOULD SEEM TO BE STEP ONE IS PARKING AND THEN STEP TWO IS THE ATTRACTION.
SO ANYWAY, THAT'S WHY I ASKED.
THE, SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE MEANTIME WITH EXISTING INVENTORY IS MAKING A STRONG PROMOTIONAL PUSH TO ENSURE THAT FOLKS KNOW OF THE PUBLIC PARKING LOTS THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN, THAT ARE ALREADY IN USE AND AVAILABLE NOW, AS WELL AS FURTHER PROMOTE WHAT'S AVAILABLE HERE AT THE CITY CENTER, PARKING GARAGE ALONG THE FIRST FLOOR IS PUBLIC PARKING.
AND THEN THROUGH THOSE BROADER STREETSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS AND REALLY APPLYING THE SAME PALETTE FROM BLOCK TO BLOCK IN THE STRAP, ESTABLISHING A MORE COHESIVE FEEL THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
UM, THOUGH THAT MAY NOT OPEN UP ADDITIONAL SPACES RIGHT AROUND THE SQUARE PROPER, IT WOULD MAKE ONE FEEL LESS DISCONNECTED AS THEY WALKED FROM ONE BLOCK OVER TO THE CORE OF DOWNTOWN.
[00:25:01]
WELL, ONE PROBLEM WITH THAT WITH THE CITY PARKING GARAGES IS THE CITY EMPLOYEES DON'T EVEN USE THEM.SO THEY'RE TAKEN UP SPACES RATHER THAN USING PARKING SPACES WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO FART.
WHAT WE CAN DO IS COME BACK TO YOU WITH FEEDBACK ON THE RESEARCH THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO LOOK INTO UNDERGROUND PARKING UNDERNEATH THE SQUARE.
AND IF THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT, AS FAR AS THE TIMELINE WITH IT IN SYNC WITH THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, WHEN WE HAVE COUNCIL DID AN AWARD THAT BID THAT CONSTRUCTION BID LAST WEEK, AND WE'RE SET TO BREAK GROUND IN NOVEMBER, BUT WE'D BE HAPPY TO GO BACK TO OUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE AND COME BACK TO THE NEW RESEARCH THAT'S BEEN DONE TO DATE.
WELL, IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO STOP AND TAKE ANOTHER LOOK, EVEN THOUGH A CONTRACT'S BEEN AWARDED.
IF, IF, IF THERE WAS NO RESEARCH DONE ON UNDERGROUND PARKING, MAYBE WE OUGHT TO DO IT BEFORE WE MAKE THE FINAL COMMITMENT AND IT CAN'T BE DONE.
AND I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHETHER THAT RESEARCH WAS DONE, BUT WE'LL ABSOLUTELY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT.
IT CAN ENTRY OVER ON THE EAST SIDE OF STATE STREET, GO UNDER STATE.
I GUESS THAT WOULD BE WHAT ABOUT 70, 80 PARKING SPACES? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? ALL RIGHT.
AND THEN FROM THERE, UM, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS TO JUST GIVE OUR STANDARD UPDATE ON EXISTING STAFF PROJECTS.
AND I'D LIKE TO HAND THAT OVER TO HUNTER WILLIAMS, WE INTRODUCED HUNTER AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING.
HUNTER IS NO LONGER A TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE WITH THE CITY.
HE IS NOW FULL-TIME AND ON BOARD THROUGH THE FY 22 BUDGET PROPOSAL.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION ON THAT TO FORD, WE'LL BE SHARING HUNTER 50 50 WITH THE CVB, UH, BUT WE'LL TAKE HIM ANYWAY.
SO, UM, HE'S A FABULOUS ADDITION TO OUR TEAM, AS I MENTIONED LAST TIME AND IT'S REALLY PUSHED DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
AND AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO HAND IT OVER TO HUNTER.
UM, BEFORE I GET INTO SORT OF OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING, UM, IF YOU WILL, UM, AS FAR AS UPDATES GO, I DID WANT TO JUST MENTION TO THE, TO FORD THIS AFTERNOON, UM, THAT TODAY IS THE DEADLINE TO RSVP FOR THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS DINNER.
UM, IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY AND ARE INTERESTED IN BEING THERE.
UM, SO DO, LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT OR, UM, IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE THAT AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE, UM, CONNECTED WITH THAT RESOURCE.
UM, SO JUST TO SORT OF HOP RIGHT IN HERE, UM, WE'LL START WITH AN UPDATE ON MANAGED DISTRICT SERVICES.
UM, I'LL START BY SPEAKING TO, UM, SORT OF CURRENT PROGRESS TO DATE ON THE MARKETING ASSESSMENT, UM, THAT WE SPOKE TO A LITTLE BIT LAST TIME.
WE ARE CURRENTLY CONTINUING ALONG IN THIS ASSESSMENT WITH SIDDIQ BRAND, OUR MARKETING CONSULTANT, UM, WITH THAT OVERALL INTENT OF PROVIDING A VOICE FOR DOWNTOWN IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER CITY AND MERCHANT ENTITIES.
UM, AND SO TO DATE WE HAVE, UM, OR CIVIC BRAND HAS CONDUCTED A DOCUMENTARY SERIES, UM, GROUP AND ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS AS WELL AS MOOD BOARD EVALUATIONS, UM, TO ANALYZE BRAND AESTHETICS OF OUR DOWNTOWN.
AND SO WITH THAT CIVIC BRAND HAS RECENTLY FINALIZED OUR BRAND AUDIT AND ARE CURRENTLY IN THE FINAL STAGES OF PREPARING THE BRAND STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
WE ALSO ARE WORKING ON SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY.
UM, AGAIN, THIS YEAR, YOU MAY RECALL THAT IN PAST YEARS, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS ONLY IN GARLAND AND WE'LL BE CONTINUING ALONG WITH THAT EVENT.
UM, BUT REALLY FOCUSING ON THAT MESSAGE AS SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, AND THAT WILL BE OCCURRING, UH, THIS YEAR ON NOVEMBER 27TH.
THAT'S TWO DAYS AFTER THANKSGIVING AND THE DAY AFTER BLACK FRIDAY AS WELL.
AND THE FOCUS THERE IS REALLY TO PROMOTE SHOPPING AND EATING LOCAL HERE IN DOWNTOWN GARLAND.
UM, AND THE INTENT IS OF COURSE ON THAT DAY TO NOT ONLY OF COURSE, PROMOTE SHOPPING AND EATING LOCAL ON THE 27TH, BUT TO REALLY ENCOURAGE AND FOSTER A MONTH LONG CAMPAIGN TO MAKE SURE TO DRIVE FOLKS DOWNTOWN, UM, TO DO THEIR HOLIDAY SHOPPING, UM, AS WELL AS JUST TO VISIT THE VARIOUS DOWNTOWN ATTRACTIONS.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THAT EVENT, OTHERWISE, UH, WE DID WANT TO PROVIDE JUST A VERY QUICK UPDATE ON TEAM DOWNTOWN.
UM, WE SPOKE TO THIS A BIT LAST TIME.
THIS IS THE VOLUNTEER AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, UM, SCHEDULED TO BE UNVEILED OR SORT OF ROLLED OUT OFFICIALLY HERE IN DOWNTOWN IN JANUARY.
WHAT THESE VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PROVIDING IS ESSENTIALLY CONCIERGE SERVICES AND NAVIGATIONAL SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO NOT ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO A SENSE OF PLACE IN DOWNTOWN, BUT ALSO TO HELP FOLKS NAVIGATE.
[00:30:01]
UM, AND TO ALSO, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY COMMUNICATE A MESSAGE OF DOWNTOWN GARLAND BEING COMPLETELY OPEN FOR BUSINESS THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.WE ARE INITIATING OUR TRAININGS IN THE COMING WEEKS AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THIS PROGRAM OFFICIALLY SORT OF ON THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN, UH, COME JANUARY OF 2022.
AT THIS POINT, WE'D LIKE TO MOVE ON, UM, TO AN UPDATE ON THE REVITALIZATION PROGRAM, UM, AND PROGRESS TO DATE, UM, AT THE BOARD'S REQUEST AT OUR MOST RECENT MEETING PRIOR TO TODAY, UM, WE'D LIKE TO JUST GO AHEAD AND INITIATE A STAINING PROGRESS REPORT ON THE REVITALIZATION PROGRAM MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AND SO, BECAUSE THIS IS OUR FIRST BOARD MEETING DOING SO, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO BACKTRACK TO PROJECTS APPROVED UNDER THE FACADE PROGRAM AND MOVE FORWARD, UM, THROUGH TODAY.
UM, SO IF YOU'LL SEE ON THIS SLIDE HERE, UM, YOU CAN SEE OUR PROJECT LIST TO DATE.
UM, NOTE THAT THE FIRST TWO PROJECTS LISTED HERE WERE APPROVED UNDER THE FACADE PROGRAM ON THE PROGRAM HAS RECENTLY BEEN EXPANDED, UM, TO BECOME THE REVITALIZATION PROGRAM AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE.
AND SO WITH THAT, YOU'LL NOTICE PROJECTS THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE LISTED ON THIS SLIDE, UM, ARE A PART OF THAT EXPANDED PROGRAM.
AND SO WITH THAT, UM, JUST TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO SOME FIGURES HERE, UM, TO DATE WE HAVE, UM, IN TOTAL COMMITTED ABOUT $244,000, UM, IN PUBLIC FUNDING, UM, TO THESE VARIOUS PROJECTS ACROSS BOTH THE FACADE AND NOW THE EXPANDED REVITALIZATION PROGRAM.
AND SO WHAT THAT TRANSLATES TO IN TOTAL INVESTMENT PROPOSED FOR THIS MATCH GRANT PROGRAM IS APPROXIMATELY $488,000.
AND SO WITH THAT, UM, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE INVESTMENT AND THE REVITALIZATION THAT THESE PROGRAMS, UM, ARE, UH, BRINGING TO OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE SURE TO CALL ATTENTION TO, UM, ONE PREVIOUS, UM, UH, OR I GUESS WE'LL START BY, BY LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR PROJECTS APPROVED UNDER THE FACADE PROGRAM.
UM, YOU CAN SEE HERE, UM, THE INTRINSIC PROPERTY, WHICH WAS, UM, WHICH MOVES THROUGH THE FACADE PROGRAM, UM, UH, AS OUR FIRST APPLICANT, AS WELL AS THE IOF BUILDING, WHICH MOVED THROUGH, UM, AS OUR OTHER FACADE PROGRAM, UM, APPLICATION.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE HERE THOSE BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS.
NOW WE'D LIKE TO MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST PROGRAM OR FIRST PROJECT APPROVED WITHIN THE EXPANDED REVITALIZATION PROGRAM.
UM, THIS ACTUALLY IS, COMES FROM THE SAME PROPERTY.
UH, THAT IS A PART OF THE, UH, THAT FIRST IOF PROJECT THAT MOVED THROUGH THE FACADE PROGRAM.
UM, AND WHAT THIS, THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION WAS MEANT TO DO, UM, WAS TO INSTALL A RESTROOM ON THE SECOND LEVEL OF THE PROPERTY TO INCREASE MARKETABILITY AS WELL AS THE FLEXIBILITY OF THAT SPACE.
UM, AND SINCE THEN THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS BROUGHT IN, UM, TENANTS THAT HAVE BROUGHT IN ESSENTIALLY A WELLNESS, UM, AND A YOGA STUDIO, UM, WELLNESS, COLLECTIVE, ADDITIONALLY LATHAM BAKERY IS ANOTHER PROJECT THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS.
UM, THE IOWA FRESH ROOM IS ALSO CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS, BUT WITH THE LEATHAM BAY BAKERY, UM, PROJECT, UM, YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN UTILIZED AS RETAIL SPACE, THE NEW TENANTS, HOWEVER, WILL UTILIZE THE SPACE AS A RESTAURANT.
UM, AND WE'LL CREATE BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS RENDERING OF WHAT THE PROPERTY AT 700 MAIN STREET WILL LOOK LIKE.
ADDITIONALLY, UM, THE FOLKS AT THE FOXY AND THE KAREN WISEMAN COLLECTION, UM, A RETAIL TO RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS THAT SHARE A PROPERTY HERE ON THE SQUARE.
UM, YOU'LL SEE HERE, THEY ARE DOING INTERIOR WORK IN ADDITION TO, UM, INSTALLING EXTERIOR NEON SIGNAGE, THIS PROJECT, AS WELL AS THOSE OTHER TWO REVITALIZATION PROJECTS ARE ALL IN PROGRESS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE TO CALL ATTENTION TO, UM, ONE PARTICULAR FEATURE OF THE NEW PROGRAM, WHICH ALL THREE OF THESE PARTICULAR PROJECTS SHARE IN THAT THEY ALL INVOLVE INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS IN ADDITION TO, UM, EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS FOR LIFE AND BAKERY.
UM, AND THEN THE FOXY AND KAREN WISEMAN COLLECTION MOVING RIGHT ALONG HERE.
UM, WE'LL DISCUSS JUST SOME ENHANCED SQUARE PROGRAMMING AND WHERE, UM, THAT HAS BEEN IN RECENT MONTHS.
UM, FIRST, UH, I'LL CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO FAIR FAIR.
UM, WE ENJOYED A SUCCESSFUL SECOND YEAR OF THIS CAMPAIGN, UM, AND IN TOTAL, OUR DEPARTMENT WORKED, UM, TO PLACE ADS AND STORIES, UM, IN TEXAS MONTHLY IN THE DALLAS OBSERVER, UM, AND IN THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, UM, WITH THAT WE COLLABORATED WITH OUR VISIT GARLAND, UM, PLATFORM, WHICH REALLY HELPED US TO ANCHOR, UM, THIS CAMPAIGN.
UM, AND JUST TO SHARE SOME OF THE MARKETING ANALYTICS, UM, FOR THIS YEAR'S CAMPAIGN.
UM, WE REALLY DID, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH REALLY GREAT HELP FROM OUR VISIT GARLAND PLATFORM,
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UM, PROMOTE A STRONG ONLINE PRESENCE, UM, WITH GRAPHICS ADVERTISEMENTS AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, UM, AND JUST REALLY UTILIZING THE VISIT GARLAND WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, TO PROMOTE THIS CAMPAIGN.UM, IN TOTAL, WE SAW SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT AT 1,400 INDIVIDUALS, UM, PAGE TRAFFIC ON VISIT GARLAND AT 4.7, UM, UH, OR 4,700 INDIVIDUALS.
AND IN TERMS OF JUST INDIVIDUALLY INDIVIDUAL INTERACTIONS AND IMPRESSIONS IN TOTAL, WE SAW 14,500 OR FOUR, UH, FOUR 14,500, UM, INTERACTIONS, UH, INDIVIDUAL INTERACTIONS IN TOTAL.
I COULD ADD HUNTER THAT THAT'S NOT INCLUDING WHATEVER ENGAGEMENT ARE PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS THAT MADE THE FAIR, FAIR CAMPAIGN, THE SUCCESS THAT IT WAS, WHATEVER EXPOSURE THEY EXPERIENCE ON THEIR OWN PLATFORMS AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING ATTENTION TO THAT.
AND SO WITH THAT, UM, JUST TO REALLY ECHO, UM, LATISHA'S POINT, THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS CAMPAIGN WAS REALLY TO DRIVE TRAFFIC TO OUR RESTAURANTS INTO DOWNTOWN AS A WHOLE.
UM, AND WITH THAT, UM, WE ARE, WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THIS CAMPAIGN AND THE ENGAGEMENT AND TRAFFIC, AND AS WELL AS JUST THE SORT OF FUN THAT IT BROUGHT TO DOWNTOWN THROUGHOUT THAT MONTH OF DECEMBER, ADDITIONALLY, UM, TO KICK OFF OUR FAIR FAIR CAMPAIGN THIS YEAR, WE HAD OUR FIRST ANNUAL FAIR, FAIR FIX OF THE YEAR EVENT.
UM, THIS WAS REALLY MEANT TO SORT OF ADD A NEW COMPONENT TO THIS YEAR'S CAMPAIGN TO KICK IT OFF AS WELL AS TO GENERATE BUZZ, UM, IN DOWNTOWN AND THEN AS WELL, UM, ON THE VIRTUAL SIDE AS WELL.
AND SO WITH THAT, WE HAD THREE LOCAL JUDGES.
UM, YOU CAN SEE HERE A PHOTO OF THE MAYOR VISITING MAIN STREET DELI, WHICH WAS OUR WINNER IN THE SAVORY CATEGORY.
UM, AND WE HAVE THREE LOCAL JUDGES TO SAMPLE FOOD, UM, AND, AND CHOOSE THOSE WINNERS, UM, IN THOSE SWEET AND SAVORY CATEGORIES.
AND IT WAS JUST A FUN WAY TO START THE CAMPAIGN ITSELF.
ADDITIONALLY, UM, WE RECENTLY INITIATED THIRSTY THIRD THURSDAY 2.0, UM, AFTER THE COMPLETION OF A YEAR-LONG PILOT PROGRAM THIS PAST AUGUST, UM, WE REALLY HAD A GOAL TO SORT OF BUILD UPON THE EXISTING EXTENDED HOURS CAMPAIGN, REALLY DESIGNED TO PROMOTE SHOPPING.
WE HAD A GOAL TO BUILD UPON THAT, TO JUST THINK ABOUT NEW WAYS.
WE CAN REFRESH OUR DESIGN CONTENT PROMOTIONAL CONTENT AND JUST TO CONTINUE TO BRING PEOPLE DOWN, UM, FOR THAT MONTHLY EVENT.
AND SO THIS YEAR WE HAVE, UM, BEGINNING IN SEPTEMBER IMPLEMENTED A BUSINESS GIFT CARD RAFFLE, UM, TO ENCOURAGE VISITORS TO VISIT ALL OF THE PARTICIPATING RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS OF WHICH WE HAVE 10 IN THIS CURRENT CAMPAIGN, AS WELL AS TO REALLY JUST ENCOURAGE SHOPPING AT EACH OF THOSE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS.
ADDITIONALLY, UM, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN ON YOUR DRIVE IN TODAY, UM, THAT WE HAVE SEASONAL DECOR THAT WE HAVE INSTALLED ACROSS THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT.
THE GOAL HERE IS REALLY TO ACTIVATE THE DOWNTOWN SPACE ON THROUGHOUT THE FALL SEASON, AS WELL AS JUST TO CREATE THOSE INSTAGRAMABLE PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES, UM, AND CONTRIBUTE TO A SENSE OF PLACE FOR THE DISTRICT.
UM, THIS YEAR WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH A NEW VENDOR AND ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE NEW VARIETY.
UM, AND LOOK THAT HAVE COME WITH THIS YEAR'S FALL DECOR DISPLAYS.
ADDITIONALLY, UM, I'VE MENTIONED ALREADY OUR SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY EVENT, UM, SLATED FOR NOVEMBER 27TH.
UM, AND I BELIEVE I MENTIONED THAT THAT IS REALLY MEANT TO BE OUR KICKOFF TO A MONTH LONG CAMPAIGN TO REALLY PROMOTE SPENDING YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR HEART IS.
AND SO WITH THAT, UM, WE'LL HAVE, UH, OUR PARTICIPATING MERCHANTS HANDING OUT, UM, WITH PURCHASE ON THAT DAY, ESSENTIALLY LIMITED EDITION ORNAMENTS, UM, JUST TO REALLY ATTRACT FOOT TRAFFIC ON THAT DAY.
THIS IS OF COURSE IN SYNC WITH THE NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY.
UM, WITH THAT GOAL OF PROMOTING SHOPPING LOCAL.
IN ADDITION, WE WILL ALSO BE COORDINATING A HOLIDAY STOREFRONT CONTEST TO JUST FURTHER BRING FESTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
WE WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR, OUR MERCHANTS, UM, TO COORDINATE THAT AND FACILITATING A PUBLIC VOTING PROCESS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE GARLAND DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, OR THE GDPA WILL ALSO BE, UM, IN A ROLE PROVIDING A REALLY ROBUST HOLIDAY PRESENCE IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAMS. UM, THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, THEY WILL BE HOSTING BOTH A HOLIDAY SHOPPING, A SIP AND STROLL AS WELL AS AN EVENT CALLED CURLERS ON CORNERS WITH CONFECTIONS, REALLY JUST TO CREATE, UM, A FULL MONTH OF DOWNTOWN EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING, UM, THROUGHOUT THAT HOLIDAY SEASON.
FINALLY, AS FAR AS THIS ACTION, AS FAR AS THIS AGENDA ITEM IS CONCERNED, UM, WE ARE CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE URBAN MARKET, UM, SPONSOR WHO BY SPONSORING COMPLIMENTARY FIRST COME FIRST SERVE PROMO ITEMS FOR VISITORS TO THIS EVENT, WHICH HAPPENS ON THE SECOND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH HERE IN DOWNTOWN.
AND JUST MOST RECENTLY, UM, WE'VE PROVIDED PUMPKIN'S FOR THIS PROMOTIONAL AS WELL AS, UM, FAIR, FAIR COUPONS,
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UM, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.AND IN THE COMING MONTHS, WE'LL BE PROVIDING SOME FALL SEASONAL FLOWERS, AS WELL AS POINSETTIAS AROUND THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
WE ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK A BIT TO OUR PUBLIC ART.
UM, IN RECENT MONTHS, YOU MAY RECALL AT OUR JULY MEETING, SPEAKING TO THE BIG ART DATE PLANNED, UM, HERE IN DOWNTOWN.
UM, SO BIG ART DAY DID OCCUR ON SEPTEMBER 18TH AT THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
IT WAS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT, UM, BOTH ART AS WELL AS JUST TACTICAL URBANISM PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT THAT OUR TEAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPING FOR SOME TIME.
UM, AND SO YOU CAN SEE IMAGES HERE OF SOME OF THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS, UM, THAT OCCURRED HERE IN SEPTEMBER.
UM, WE'LL START WITH THE COMMUNITY MURAL.
UM, THIS WAS A REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO, AGAIN, INSTALL A NEW COMMUNITY MURAL AT 5 0 6 ART IN COLLABORATION WITH AN ARTIST HERE IN GARLAND.
AND SO THAT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS ARTIST TO WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON BIG ART DAY, WHO HAD A PART IN INSTALLING THAT PARTICULAR MURAL.
AND SO IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO GET NEW ART HERE IN DOWNTOWN, AS WELL AS TO GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED.
UM, ALSO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY, UM, WE OFFICIALLY UNVEILED THE PILOT PROGRAM OF OUR OUT OF THE BOX DUMPSTER BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM.
UM, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED ON YOUR WAY IN, UM, AND YOU CAN SEE PHOTOS HERE OF THOSE THREE DUMPSTERS THAT WERE PAINTED BY LOCAL ARTISTS, UM, IN THE AREA.
AND THIS, OF COURSE, LIKE I SAID, WAS A PILOT PROGRAM.
UM, AND THESE THREE DUMPSTERS WITH THESE ART INSTALLATIONS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AROUND THE DOWNTOWN CORE.
UM, AND WE DO HOPE FOR FUTURE ART INSTALLATIONS, UM, IN THAT TACTICAL URBANISM SPIRIT AS BUDGET ALLOWS AND SEEING HOW, UM, THAT PAINT WILL WITHSTAND THE WEATHER OVER THE LONGTERM.
FINALLY, UM, WE HAVE, UM, ALSO UNVEILED OUR PLYWOOD PICASSO'S PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP, AGAIN, WITH THE OPPOSITE OF NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY.
UM, THESE HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, UM, ON THE MAIN STREET ALLEY BEHIND LAMONDS REALLY TO ACTIVATE THAT SPACE, UM, ON BIG ART DAY ITSELF, THESE WERE PAINTED BY LOCAL ARTISTS AND WE'RE ACTUALLY, UM, POSITIONED IN AN UNACTIVATED LOT, UM, FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES AND TO SORT OF GENERATE BUZZ IN THAT REGARD FOR PUBLIC ART.
UM, AND IT'S AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR TACTICAL URBANISM, BUT ALSO JUST TO REPLACE THAT REPLACE THE DILAPIDATED PLYWOOD, UM, PREVIOUSLY EXISTING IN THOSE SPACES, UM, AND TO FEATURE OUR LOCAL ARTISTS, UM, AND CONTINUE TO ACTIVATE THAT MAIN STREET ALLEY SPACE.
AND LASTLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO UPDATE FOLKS ON THE MONTGOMERY PARK, UM, PROJECT.
THERE IS NOT TOO MUCH OF AN UPDATE SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, BUT WE WILL UPDATE YOU THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY MOVING THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS WITH THE GOAL OF BEGINNING CONSTRUCTION IN 2022 DESIGN EFFORTS ARE CURRENTLY AT 90% CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENT PREPARATION.
AND THE GOAL IS REALLY WORKING TOWARDS THE FOLLOWING AMENITIES AS PART OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.
THE AMENITIES INCLUDE PERMANENT RESTROOM, BUILDING A SECURITY LIGHTING STAGE AND GAMING AREA AND IMPROVED SOCCER FIELD AS WELL AS OTHER SITE AMENITIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CERTAINLY.
OH, AND THEN HERE'S JUST A TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY AND CONCEPTUAL SITE DESIGN FOR MONTGOMERY PARK OR FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T SEEN IT QUITE YET.
OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 27TH, 2022.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH THE TISHA AND I'M SORRY, I'VE FORGOTTEN YOUR FIRST NAME.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORTS.
UH, IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR AGENDA ITEMS THE BOARD WISHES TO, UH, ASK OF STAFF OR ANYTHING BEFORE WE ADJOURN? I WAS JUST WONDERING, UM, HOW MUCH OF THE BUDGET LEFT WAS IN THE, UH, I KNOW IT'S NOT THE FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM ANYMORE, THE, UM, IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM REVITALIZATION PROGRAM.
UM, I FORGET WHAT THE BREAKDOWN WAS.
WAS IT THIS PER YEAR? I JUST WONDERED IF YOU HAD THAT IT WAS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR.
AND AS OF OCTOBER ONE WITH THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND BEING REPLENISHED, WE CURRENTLY TODAY HAVE, UH, JUST OVER $153,000 AVAILABLE.
AND IS THAT AFTER FUNDING? THE 438? CORRECT.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF WE NEEDED TO, IF THAT PROGRAM IS DOING REALLY WELL, IF WE MIGHT CONSIDER SHIFTING FUNDS AROUND, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION BY STAFF OR THAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT AT ALL? OKAY.
YEAH, 153 AVAILABLE IN CASH, BUT ISN'T THE BUDGET, THE BUDGET AND TOTAL IS 4 98, CORRECT.
SO WE HA WE HAD CASH AVAILABLE 153.
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IS DOING A MECHANISM WHERE WE KIND OF BORROW FROM THE CITY'S TREASURY.IF THAT PROGRAM TAKES OFF, LIKE IT IS, IS THERE IS 490 PROJECTED OUT OVER THE LIFE OF THE TIF OR THE SPECIFIC ITEM.
IT'S JUST LOOKED DOWNTOWN, THROWN IN THE MIX OF IT.
OUR CASH IS LOW AND WE HAVE 150 AVAILABLE NOW, BUT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WORKING ON A BANK THAT'S WHERE YOU WOULD JUST BORROW FROM THE CITY'S TREASURY AND REIMBURSE OURSELVES.
SO TECHNICALLY YOU HAVE ROUGHLY 400, CORRECT, AS FAR AS, SO, AS FAR AS AVAILABLE AND AS FAR AS THE PROJECT PLAN.
SO THE PROJECT PLAN APPROVED BY THE BOARD BY COUNCIL SHOWS 400,000 TO BE SPENT TOWARDS THAT PROGRAM.
AND WE'VE DISCUSSED BEING ABLE TO FIX OUR CASH FLOW ISSUES, LET US DO.
AND THAT'S AFTER THE 430, THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED, THAT'S THE TOTAL ALLOCATION.
SO DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WE JUST SPEND? I BELIEVE THE TOTAL ALLOCATION IS 4 98.
UM, AND THEN THE TOTAL OF WHAT'S BEEN SPENT TO DATE, OR AT LEAST BEEN EARMARKED FOR SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN PROGRESS IS 244,000.
SO THAT BALANCE IS WHAT WE HAVE LEFT.
SO AFTER ALL THESE PROJECTS WERE DONE, WE HAVE 10,000 LEFT.
SO THE NUMBERS, SO THE 244,000 IS SPLIT BETWEEN WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN REIMBURSED OR WHAT'S BEEN EARMARKED FOR APPROVED PROJECTS.
BUT AS OF TODAY, CONSIDERING THAT WE HAVE 153,000 AVAILABLE TO STILL THERE'S, AS FAR AS WHAT'S AVAILABLE TODAY, AS FAR AS ADDITIONAL REVENUES, WE AREN'T ANTICIPATING ANY ADDITIONAL REVENUES FROM TIP, BUT WE COULD LOOK IT, OR WE HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER OPTIONS AS WELL AS USING OTHER FUNDING SOURCES TO KEEP THAT PROGRAM GOING.
THE, SO ARE WE ESSENTIALLY HALFWAY THROUGH BASICALLY, CORRECT.
YOU DON'T HAVE 153 LEFT, BUT THEN WE'RE STILL SLATED FOR, I BELIEVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND MORE ON OCTOBER ONE.
SO I WAS TRYING TO GET THAT UP.
AS FAR AS THE COMPLETE, BY 2024, WE HAVE 498 98 SLIP SLATED, AND WE'VE SPENT A HUNDRED AND WE'VE SPENT 244 AND WE HAVE 153 AVAILABLE TODAY, WHICH I THINK IS ABOUT 3 97.
I CAN JUST IMAGINE LIKE THE LAITH AND BAKERY PROJECT, THEY MUST BE DOING A LOT OF GOOD STUFF THERE.
UM, IT'S 50% MATCH, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW MUCH IS GOING ON THERE.
BUT THE, AND WE'RE WE'RE FROM ALONG WITH NUMBERS, BUT JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROGRAM.
IT'S FOR ME, IT'S, IT'S WORKING, THAT'S WORKING IN TANGENT.
WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE SOURCES.
AND YOU'VE GOT CARLIN FURNITURE AND MAYBE THE JONES BUILDING AND I'D LIKE DO SOMETHING AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, I FELT BUILDING YEAH.
AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH JUDGE THE ASSISTANCE ALREADY CAUSE THIS PROGRAM, UH, DOESN'T NEED TO BE LIMITED JUST BECAUSE TIFFANY RUNS OUT OF MONEY.
LONG-TERM PLAY, WE'LL KEEP BRINGING PROJECTS FORWARD.
WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
THE TIF BOARD STANDS ADJOURNED AT 1256.