St. Marys Downtown Development Authority (DDA)

Board Of Directors

Meeting Minutes for December 7, 2009

The regular meeting of the St. Marys DDA was called to order by Walt Natzic at 9:00 AM. 

Members Present: Craig Root, Charlie Smith, Barbara Ryan, and Walt Natzic

Members not Present:  Tom Monahan, Bill DeLoughy and Jim Lomis

Guest in attendance:  Chris Daniel; Camden Chamber of Commerce, Keith Post; incoming Council Member, John Morrissey; incoming Council Member

Staff:  Alyce Thornhill; Executive Director, and Renée Coakley; Executive Assistant  

Minutes:  Natzic presented the November 2, 2009 meeting minutes.  The minutes were approved with a motion by Smith and a second by Ryan.     

Treasurers Report:  Smith presented the November city and DDA financial reports.  Smith noted that there were no unusual line items.  The financials were approved with a motion by Smith and second by Root. 

Additions to the Agenda:   Alyce requested to add Sign Ordinance in C-1 District to the agenda under the Directors Report.  This change was approved with a motion by Smith and second by Ryan.

Business discussion:

Promotions Committee-Live Nativity:  Alyce mentioned that TDS has agreed to sponsor The Live Nativity again this year with a $1600 sponsorship to cover the cost of the animals.  Alyce will have a thank you to present at the January meeting to TDS.  Main Street Conference:  Alyce mentioned that the City of St. Marys will host the 2010 Main Street Conference.  This conference will be held the 17^th-19^th of March and will be coordinated with a reception at Plum Orchard and a partner’s reception at the Cumberland Island Visitors Center.  The Osprey Cove Garden Club will assist with decorations for both events.  Christmas in the Park:  Alyce mentioned that there were approximately 1500 people in attendance at this year’s event.  Ryan suggested that the DDA do a thank you for the Dixon family.  Alyce mentioned to the board that this department assists with this event in many aspects as well as preparing the thank you notes for all of the volunteers.  On recommendation of the board Alyce will also prepare a letter to the Dixon family as a thank you from the DDA board.

Economic Development Committee-Alcohol Ordinance: Alyce mentioned that this committee has had two meetings, one to discuss the ordinance in regards to the C-1 district and the other the C-2 district.  Alyce has also presented the draft ordinance to several civic groups for their input.  SCORE client Updates:  Alyce mentioned that the group has had six clients for the month of November.

Film Society:  Ryan mentioned that she is working with the state to identify film locations.  There will be three events coming up.  A pilot series filmed in St. Marys and Fernandina on the Coast Guard Auxiliary.  Open casting call will begin on January 16, 2010.  On February 19^th there will a prescreening for Amelia Island Film Festival.  The final event will be a group of film executives arriving in town to tour the area with a small reception.  The group will be looking for people to be scouting areas for filming that will possibly be loaded to a website for film producers.  Keith Post mentioned that the theater department at the high school may be able to assist the society.

DIRECTORS REPORT:

Conference Update:  Alyce mentioned that this was discussed earlier under Promotions Committee.

Presentation from Bugslayer for Park:  Alyce mentioned that representatives from this company made a presentation recently to the City Manager, City Planner, Public Works and Economic Development Director.  This local company would like to install their product in the waterfront park to create a bug free zone around the stage.  Alyce will coordinate a site visit with several council members and the meeting attendees to a location that has purchased this product.  The costs of maintaining this system may be recouped with funds from park rentals for events.

Façade Loan Pool:  Alyce mentioned that this idea was talked about before with the board.  She received a call recently about whether or not the city had a loan pool to assist businesses with signage.  Alyce asked the board if they would be interested in reviewing a proposal of guidelines for either a loan pool or grant product.  Alyce reminded the board that there is money in the accounts from the rental property.  The cities of Kingsland and Brunswick have programs with a match of $700-1500.  Smith made a motion that the Design Committee present a proposal/recommendation to the board at an upcoming meeting.  Motion was second by Ryan.

Strategic Planning Session:  Alyce mentioned that the City may be administering their annual Strategic Planning Session on February 9, 2010.  She asked the board if they would like to have theirs prior to the city.  The board requested that the session be held in lieu of the February board meeting from 9-1 PM.  Alyce will contact Peggy Jolley to see if she would be able to facilitate the meeting.

Business Survey Coalition:  Alyce mentioned that the Chamber, Joint Development Authority (JDA) and the Economic Development Departments from the three cities are working on this initiative.  It was thought that two interns were in place to be utilized from Armstrong University. It was later learned that there would be a cost of $20,000 for this service.  College of Coastal Georgia will now provide the interns instead.  Keith Post suggested that Alyce contact their business department as well because occasionally they have to complete an internship before they can complete their course. 

Meeting with Trustee: Alyce mentioned that the trustee for the Mill site will be in town and she and the JDA director will be meeting with him.  She has talked with Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to determine if they would be able to create a Masterplan for this project but the students will be unavailable until September 2010.  It was asked where the plans were that the Land Mar group put together.  Alyce will talk to the City Planner and the City Clerk to determine if the city possibly has possession of copies of the plans.

Conference Room Laptop:  Alyce mentioned that the current laptop is very outdated and may be looking at replacing it in the near future. 

New Speaker System:  Alyce thanked Natzic for his assistance with the installation of the new speaker system in the large conference room.

Sign Ordinance in C-1 District:  Alyce mentioned that she has received calls regarding the new sign at the Urgent Care clinic in downtown.  As per the current ordinance, all of the guidelines were met and the owner did not break any rules of the ordinance.  The board asked Alyce if they could make recommendations to the Planning department for signage as it pertains to the C-1 district outside of the Historic District. 

Ryan mentioned that the tree ordinance was defied with the construction of the new CVS building on the corner of Osborne and Spur 40.  She has spoken with the City Manager and Planning Director regarding this.  Alyce mentioned that when the reverse subdivision was passed by council all of the trees removed were between the two properties.  The St. Marys Tree Board would have been able to take action had an easement been in place on the private property.  With the passing of the reverse subdivision, this made the property one large lot with no easement.  Root asked Alyce to email him the tree protection ordinance.  Ryan recommended that the board attend the upcoming council meeting on the 14^th of December to voice their opinion about the removal of the live oak trees on that property.  Recommendation was to have mature trees designated as heritage trees to prevent this from happening in the future. 

Businesses and Updates:   Alyce mentioned that Cumberland Financial has relocated to downtown and is now located in the old Family Matters Building.  Family Matters has moved to their new location across from the Elementary School.  The Secret Closet has closed and a new business, The Consignment Cottage is opening in that location.  Cedar Oak Café and Java Joe’z is now open downtown.  Alyce also mentioned to the board that Totally Free mailed an invitation to the board for their open house on December 14^th from 5-8 pm.

Adjourn – Meeting adjourned at 10:05 AM with a motion by Ryan and second by Root. 

_____________________________

Charlie Smith, Secretary

Prepared by Renée Coakley, Executive Assistant