Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutBID Minutes 8-17 Downtown Business Improvement District Board Meeting Minutes August 16, 2017 Attending: Mike Basile, Jolee Berry, Susan Neubauer, Chris Naumann Absent: Eric Bowman, Ileana Indreland, Eric Sutherland, Erik Nelson **NO QUORUM** Public Comments: None Minutes The June minutes will be considered for approval at the October meeting. Finance Report Chris presented the financials as of August 15, 2017. He noted that revenues were tracking as expected with just over $72,000 received, which includes $3,000 in past due flowers sponsorships. Considering only 45 days of the Fiscal Year 2018 have occurred, all expenses were as would be expected. Chris reported between the checking account and CDs, total cash equaled $149,803. The board had no further questions about the finance report. Executive Directors Report Maintenance Program Update We are fully staffed for the summer season. Mike Grant is our full-time general maintenance employee. We also have two flower watering employees; one works five days a week and the other works two days a week. One of the flower watering employees also cleans the parking garage 5 days a week. Below are the maintenance statistics comparing year-to-date figures from this year (FY17) to the statistics from the same period last year (FY16)--July through June. FY2016 FY2017 Total Ave/mnth Total Ave/mnth Difference Trash Emptied 2998 250 2550 213 -448 Recycling Emptied 399 33 302 25 -97 Graffiti Removed 437 36 387 32 -50 Building Project Updates Lark Addition (corner of Grand and Main) 4 story building with 28 new Lark hotel rooms. Construction began in December 2016 to be completed Spring 2018. 5 West Building (northwest corner of Mendenhall and Tracy) Construction began on October 2016. First floor businesses scheduled to open in July and August 2017 and the upper floors completed in August 2017. Etha Hotel (old Armory building) first phase of foundation work complete. No date for when construction will resume. Rialto Theater under construction to be completed by November 2017. Black & Olive Apartments application is currently scheduled for the City Commission on October 2, 2017. “OSM” Building 5 story mixed use building proposed on southwest corner of Babcock and Wallace—schedule unknown BG Mill Building 5 story mixed use building proposed on southwest corner of Mendenhall and Broadway—schedule unknown New Businesses Update • Union Market—39 North Rouse—old Service Electric space opening date unknown • Stuffed Waffles—26 West Main—former Tonsorial Parlor • Intrigue Ink—12 East Main—former Headroom • Backcountry Burger Bar—127 West Main—former Bistro space • Boho Boze—129 West Main—former Jewelry Studio space • Evergreen—16 East Main—former F-11 space • Montana Silversmiths—14 West Main—former Mountain Lodge space • Reflections space—240 East Main—being remodeled for women’s clothing store • Knife—411 East Main—former Rockford space—being remodeled as sandwich shop • Fire—243 East Main—former Artcraft Printers—being remodeled as wood-fired pizza • Urban Kitchen—5 West building—opening in September • Salted Carmel—5 West building—opening in September • Little Star Diner—548 East Babcock—former Frank’s—opening early September • Squire House—27 East Mendenhall—Element Hotel restaurant—Opening August 19th • Opportunity Bank—5 West building—OPEN Planning Updates In this section I will provide update about several ongoing City planning processes. Transportation Master Plan www.bozemantmp.com Consultants: Peccia & Associates (Helena), Alta Planning (Bozeman) Timeline: September 2015 (kickoff) Update: Final draft released 4/25/17. Adopted by CC May 1st UDC Revisions http://bozeman.net/Projects/UDCCodeupdate/Home Consultants: Makers (Seattle), Leland Group (Portland), Studio Cascade (Spokane) Update: CC working session August 17th and first public hearing August 24th City Vision & Strategic Plan Consultants: HDR Timeline: March 2016 (kickoff) Update: draft plan adopted by CC on May 15th 2017 Community Plan (City Growth Policy) Update Consultants: City release RFP for consultants January 2017 Timeline: October 2017 through late 2018 NCOD Design Guidelines—Chapter 4B Re-adoption Timeline: Numerous public meetings before CC hearing November 2nd Discussion and Decision Item Bozeman Creek FEMA Floodplain Map Update Brian Heaston from the City Engineering Department provided an update on the two-dimensional floodplain analysis being performed by Allied Engineering. He highlighted the results of their mapping efforts which show some notable differences from those of FEMA. In particular, the Allied analysis show more water flowing north along the street network, primarily Rouse Avenue. Brian said the current discussion with FEMA is about the agency using Allied’s data set in the standard one-dimensional mapping model. Brian anticipates if they do so it will not produce a dramatically different map but we could see some reductions in the floodplain hazard zones. The board asked about the timeline moving forward. Brian said he hopes to hear back from FEMA in the six to eight weeks about using our 2D data. He said a revised map would most likely be released by FEMA this winter. Downtown Plan Update Process Chris presented an overview of potential elements of the Downtown Plan update process. He said the process would considerably different than that used in 2008 and 2009, with much more emphasis placed on public and stakeholder engagement. The first step would be to compile a progress report on the accomplishments since the 2009 plan was adopted. Chris said this would be an internal process that he would complete. A potential next step would be to conduct a robust visioning exercise like the R/UDAT project recently completed for Bozeman’s northeast neighborhood. The third component would be to select a consultant to develop a downtown design district and corresponding design guidelines as suggested in the City’s 2016 NCOD analysis. Lastly, the consultants would compile these components into the new downtown improvement plan. The board agreed that high level of public involvement would yield a better plan with broader support. Downtown Parking Requirements Chris said he had a discussion with Eric Bowman about downtown parking requirements and that Eric had asked that the board consider whether the requirements needed to be updated sooner rather than later. The board asked if there are any plans currently to evaluate the requirements. Chris said parking is not part of the current UDC update scope, but that City staff have said that parking and signage requirements would be “next” to be reviewed and revised. **Meeting was adjourned at 1:00pm** DOWNTOWN PLAN UPDATE PROCESS COMPONENTS 1. Downtown Plan Progress Report [September – October 2017] Document what objectives have been accomplished, what progress is being made on other objectives, and which objectives still need to be initiated from the 2009 (and possibly 1998) Downtown Improvement Plan. 2. Downtown Design Assistance Team (DDAT) [January – March 2018] Conduct a highly transparent all-inclusive public workshop to create a vision for Downtown Bozeman. Essentially follow the American Institute of Architects “Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team” (R/UDAT) format and process using a strategically selected panel of architects/planners to lead a series of community workshops and collaborative events ultimately yielding a revised 10-year vision for Downtown Bozeman. “Created in 1967, the R/UDAT program pioneered the modern charrette process by combining interdisciplinary teams in dynamic, multi-day grassroots processes to produce community visions, action plans, and recommendations. The R/UDAT process generates creativity and new connections in a community. We engage diverse local expertise at all levels and provide an objective outside perspective.” This process and product would be analogous to the AIA R/UDAT project completed in 2017 for Bozeman’s Northeast Neighborhood: https://www.bozemanrudat.com/ First step would to assemble a multidisciplinary team of experts selected to address our specific needs. The DDAT team would immerse itself in the downtown community for four days, listening and gaining insight from the community. On the last day, the team would present a comprehensive report and recommendations at a public meeting. Potential DDAT Members: All would have granular familiarity with Downtown Bozeman in addition to considerable outside perspective, but not have any real conflicts of interest. • Dan Harding (Architect and Associate Professor and Director of Community Research and Design Center Clemson University) • Don McLauglin (Architect at Place Architecture, Bozeman MT and San Diego CA) • Jimmy Peppers (Retired Architect and former Urban Design Professor at UC-Santa Cruz) • Ralph Johnson (Architect and Professor School of Architecture at Montana State University) • Randy Hafer (Architect at High Plains Architecture, Billings MT) 3. Downtown Design Overlay District & Guidelines [January – June 2018] Using standard RFP process, select consultants to develop a downtown design district and corresponding design guidelines as recommended in the City of Bozeman 2016 NCOD Report. The Design District would: • Identify characteristics to protect and specific characteristics of enhance or create. • Establish Design Guidelines to achieve the desired outcome for the intent and purpose: including but not limited to massing, desired densities, streetscape attributes, material pallet, signage, respect to open/green space, preserving sightlines or view-sheds, and lighting standards. 4. 2018 Downtown Improvement Plan [April – June 2018] With the assistance, assemble the 2018 Downtown Plan to incorporate all of the components completed to date: 1998 and 2009 Downtown Plan Progress Report; Downtown UDAT Report; and Downtown Design District and Guidelines. The 2018 Plan would also include contextual analysis of various urban planning best practices; national and regional economic trends; and recommendations for actionable next steps. BACKGROUND NCOD Report: Design Overlay District PURPOSE To provide an overlay design district for the purpose of achieving a high level of design and consideration of particular areas, features or districts that have had or are intended to have a particular purpose or a defined neighborhood character. CRITERIA • Contain a minimum of eight “standard size” blocks. • Follow similar protocols for Special Improvement Districts with respect to voluntary formulation and 51 percent of all property owners agreeing to district boundary and guidelines. • Clearly stated intent and purpose for the Design Overlay District. • Identify characteristics to protect and specific characteristics of enhance/create. • Establish Design Guidelines to achieve the desired outcome for the intent and purpose. o Including but not limited to massing, desired densities, streetscape attributes, material pallet, signage, respect to open/green space, preserving sightlines or view-sheds, and lighting standards. • Define boundary of properties to include in district. • Create ad hoc district committee (property owner delegates, planning staff and neighborhood coordinator) to oversee the development of the district Initial Concept of Downtown Design Overlay District Brown area represents existing Main Street Historic District that would be governed by historic preservation standards. Green area would be the Downtown Design Overlay District. Gold areas would be potential gateway districts with different design objectives. All of these areas and associated boundaries are subject to change. RESOURCES AIA R/UDAT Program https://www.aia.org/pages/2896-regionalurban-design-assistance-team-program-rudat https://communitybuilders.org/what-we-think/blog/another-perspective-on-small-town-character Urban Renewal & Community Engagement http://thecityfix.com/blog/public-spaces-10-principles-for-better-urban-renewal-hint-community-engagement-paula-tanscheit/ Create “Shared Value” Urban areas do not belong to a single group or individual but should offer value to many actors. All those who are part of the broader community as a whole – from workers and tourists, children and students, to the underserved and investors – should benefit from urban renewal. Plan With Input From All Delivering this shared value requires engaging with communities. Decision-making techniques such as cost-benefit analysis should be explained and employed to also promote “non-financial values,” helping communities feel a sense of ownership. The researchers also suggest the creation of a common platform where information about the process and the progress of the project can be shared transparently. Build a Long-Term Vision In any extensive process of urban renewal, the initial goals of the project may change over time. Even so, a long-term vision should be locked in and changes for the sake of short-terms gains resisted, with flexibility growing as the timeline extends further into the future. Establish Clear Development Goals The planning process should develop and affirm clear objectives, not just desired outcomes. The best goals will be specific and measurable, and anticipate the physical, economic and social results of the project. Establish Options to Achieve Development Goals There are often multiple options for achieving the same development goals and they should be compared to one another as well as to baseline scenarios of what might happen without any intervention. Incorporate a Sense of “Localness” Local characteristics and peculiarities should be captured and incorporated into the new plan. These details may come from local standards, services offered in the region, the environment, the climate or other socio-cultural specificities. Evaluate Options With the Goal of Maximizing Net Community Benefits Cost-benefit analyses are often viewed with skepticism, but there are well-documented techniques that allow for the inclusion of things communities care about most, like open space, social capital and heritage.