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Downtown Development Steering Committee Minutes - 06/04/2018 M INUTES OF THE DDSC(DDSC) OWNTOWN EVELOPMENT TEERING OMMITTEE June 4, 2018 P: RESENT Mayor Stephen Santellana, Chair § DeAndra Chenault § Dusty Potter § Cody Magana § Scott Poenitzch § Ripley Tate § Rick Hatcher § Dave Clark § Christy Whiteley § Darron Leiker, City Manager § City Staff Paul Menzies, Assistant City Manager § Dana Schoening, Director, Community Development § Jim Dockery, Deputy City Manager § R. Kinley Hegglund, Jr., City Attorney § Marie Balthrop, City Clerk § John Burrus, Director, Aviation, Traffic & Trans. § Karen Montgomery, Planning Administrator § Lin Barnett, Director, MPO § Russell Schreiber, Director, Public Works § Pat Hoffman, Property Management § Blake Juracek, Director, Information Services § Rita Miller, Code Enforcement § Delores Culley, Wichita Co. Heritage Society § Henry Florsheim, Chamber of Commerce § A: BSENT Jessie Brown Danny Ahern ______________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order Mayor Santellana called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. 2. Approval of Minutes of Meetings of February 5, 2018 3:34 p.m. Motion made by Mr. Hatcher to approve the minutes of the February 5, 2018 meeting. Motion seconded by Ms. Chenault and carried by the following vote: DDSC Minutes of June 4, 2018 2 Ayes: Santellana, Chenault, Magana, Hatcher, Poenitzsch, Whiteley, Tate, Potter, Clark Nays: none 3.Committee Reports 3:34 p.m. Streetscapes Scott Poenitzch stated there had been no meeting and no action. Historic Preservation Delores Culley distributed a summary report from the Historic Preservation Subcommittee. Ms. Culley discussed the Texas Main Street Program requirements, registration dates, fees and advantages of the program. Main advantages are to small businesses that are looking at starting a business downtown in a historic building. The subcommittee recommends implementing a Main Street Program with implementation through the Downtown Proud Downtown Wichita Falls Development organization. Ms. Culley discussed the Texas Historical Commission Tax Credits which are an advantage to new business owners interested in restoring historic structures. She met with Caroline Wright, who is the head of that program. The Wichita County Heritage Society is currently completing a tax credit application for restoration efforts on The Kell house Museum. Ms. Wright expressed that she would be happy to visit Wichita Falls and supply information to interested applicants. Ms. Culley also met with Gregory W. Smith, Texas Historical Commission National Register Coordinator, and he recommended that we do not expand the current Depot Square Historic District, but begin creating a new district with a national designation, and acquire a state designation at a later date. Mr. Smith is currently reviewing the area we have as our core, and suggested selecting a name that would coordinate with the current Depot Historic District. Lifestyles Cody Magana stated there had been no meeting and no action. Regulatory Danny Ahern was absent and no report was provided. Marketing DDSC Minutes of June 4, 2018 3 Dusty Potter stated there had been no marketing completed since the election and that the subcommittee is waiting on direction. Finance Dave Clark stated the finance committee has not met but that a couple of items have come up such as a Public Improvement District and Opportunity Zones. There was brief discussion about Opportunity Zones which are designated by the Governor and currently East Side and Downtown are potential Opportunity Zones. 4Present Downtown Zoning Diagnostic Report . 3:45 p.m. Dana Schoening presented the Downtown Zoning Diagnostic Report. There are 14 priorities in the report. This report will go back to the subcommittee for further vetting. Staff was available for questions. There was discussion on current eye sores in the downtown area such as abandoned vehicles and large dumpsters and it was asked what can be done. Mayor Santellana discussed current policies and ordinances. It was suggested that citizens and board members utilize the app available to report code violations, and responses will be made through the app if there is zoning or policies that allow the issue to exist. Rita Miller, Code Enforcement & Housing Administrator, discussed current zoning issues in the downtown area that allow storage, and keep Code Enforcement from having an avenue to have these items removed. Code Enforcement has recently rearranged their zones and the downtown area is now included in a smaller zone so that the Code Enforcement Officer over that area will have more time to address issues in the downtown area. Dana Schoening stated that current zoning includes light industrial areas, which allows for storage on these properties, which can create issues. 5.Discuss Downtown Development Master Planning Process Moving Forward 4:19 p.m. Dana Schoening, Director, Community Development discussed that Freese and Nichols is still under contract, streetscapes plans are completed, and that we are moving forward looking for funding for this project since the bond election failed. Freese and Nichols will come in and work with subcommittees, and will also help us move forward with public improvement districting if we choose. Mr. Schoening stated that downtown development is still occurring. 6Public Comments . 4:34 p.m. There were no public comments. DDSC Minutes of June 4, 2018 4 7. Other Business 4:35 PM Mayor Santellana discussed the fencing ordinance and concerns that have recently come up. He also stated that the council is currently in the middle of the budget process and budget constraints that exist, but that despite the lack of city funds, downtown is still developing. Mayor Santellana discussed the 20 plus different avenues of funding for the downtown area. 8. Adjourn There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:37 PM. ______________________________ MayorStephen Santellana, Chair Downtown Development Steering Cmte.