Loading...
4B Sales Tax Corporation Minutes - 04/01/2021 MINUTES OF THE WICHITA FALLS 4B SALES TAX CORPORATION (4BSTC) April 1, 2021 Present: Tony Fidelie, President § Members Glenn Barham, Vice-President § Rick Hatcher, Secretary-Treasurer § Dave Clark § Darron Leiker § Michael Mills § Nick Schreiber § Stephen Santellana, Mayor § Mayor and Council Bobby Whiteley, Councilor at-Large § Paul Menzies, Assistant City Manager § City Staff Blake Jurecek, Assistant City Manager § R. Kinley Hegglund, Jr., Cite :\ttorney § Terry Floyd, Director, Development Services § Linda Merrill, Recording Secretary § Jerry Skelton § Kari Skelton § Chelsea Plaza Matthew West § BYSP Architects 1. Call to Order. Tony Fidelie called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m. 2. Approval of Minutes of 2/4/21. Dave Clark moved. seconded by Rick Hatcher, for approval. The motion carried 6-0. (Michael Mills had yet to arrive.) 3. Financial report and other administrative actions, including, if necessary, induction of any new board members. Paul Menzies said the sales tax receipts are trending well; he advised that the Board look at year-to-date receipts, which are up 5%, rather than at a single month. The March receipts were up quite a bit, but it is not yet known if this is reflective of a trend or an aberration. If the Board did not encumber any more funds through the rest of the fiscal year, the fund balance would be $6.5 million. Glenn Barham complimented the staff on the updated spreadsheet. He noted that 2 °o of the year is gone, but already one-third of the funds for the downtown improvement grants have been expended. He wondered if staff anticipates a slowdown on this line item. Mr. Menzies said the Board spent almost 100% of the funds last year. He believes the Board may need to revisit this fund by summertime. It is a very successful program. 1 Mr. Barham asked if the radio maintenance came in under budget, as not all of it has been spent. Mr. Menzies said the funds from this line item are spent periodically, not in a lump sum. 4. Public hearing regarding a funding request from Backdoor Theatre to assist in fire suppression system repairs and upgrades as part of the renovation of the existing building at 501 Indiana Ave downtown. Mr.Menzies noted this item had been pulled from the agenda, but would most likely be before the Board at its next meeting,. 5. Public hearing regarding a funding request from Jerry Skelton, do Chelsea Plaza, LLC, to assist in sewer infrastructure upgrades as part of the renovation of the existing building at 909 8th Street downtown. Mr. Fidelie opened the public hearing at 3:05 p.m. Mr. Menzies noted that Jerry and Kari Skelton are the owners of the property and would address this request. Mr. Skelton said they purchased Chelsea Plaza from White Realty about 1.5 years ago. It was already occupied, but lost its main tenant (First Capital Bank of Texas) in December 2020. They have since entered into an agreement with 8th Street Coffee to occupy the space. It would provide that business with outdoor seating and a drive-through window. Unfortunately, they have since run into some roadblocks. They had hoped to tie into the sewer system for Chelsea Plaza, but there is not enough slope and no access to that plumbing. The alternate plan, to come down the driveway, across the front of the building to tie into the main line in the alley. is estimated to cost$55.700. This extra fee puts the project in peril and delays it by at least 1.5 years. They are requesting $60,000. He added that his daughter and son-in-law have purchased the Bank of America building behind Chelsea Plaza to renovate into two residential apartments. He and his wife are having plans drawn up for loft apartments they own behind Chelsea Plaza, with commercial space on the bottom floor. Kari Skelton said that when downtown is vibrant, it helps the entire city. Darron Leiker asked the estimated time frame should these funds be granted. Mr. Skelton said they are probably looking at a few more months. Mr. Barham asked if this portion of Chelsea Plaza was an add-on?Mr. Skelton said it was, probably in 2006. Mr. Barham said that explains the problem with the sewer. He asked if the sidewalk would have to be torn up to install the sewer. Mr. Skelton said that it would. There being no further discussion, Mr. Fidelie closed the public hearing at 3:15 p.m. 6. Update on the MPEC Conference Center/Hotel project. Mr. Menzies said this item would be discussed in executive session. 7. Executive Session. (Mr. Mills entered the meeting.) Mr. Fidelie adjourned the meeting into executive session at 3:16 p.m. pursuant to Texas Government Code section 551.087. He announced the meeting back into regular session at 4:13 p.m. The subjects posted in the Notice of Meeting were deliberated, and no votes or further action was taken on these items in executive session. 2 8. Motions Chelsea Plaza Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades Mr. Barham moved that the 4BSTC authorize the expenditure of$55,700, as the estimated cost for the sewer infrastructure. Seconded by Mr. Hatcher, the motion carried 7-0. 9. Adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 4:14 p.m. /4I Gu} A. "bony"Fidelie, Jr., President 3