We have determined that a quorum has been met.
The downtown Denton Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone No. 1 Board of the City
of Denton, Texas will now convene in a regular meeting at 12.01 p.m. this Wednesday, the
24th day of March 2021.
Our first order of business is to consider approval and/or corrections of the meeting
minutes from the February 5th, 2021 meeting of this TERS Board.
Are there any corrections to the minutes as distributed?
Do we have a motion?
I'll make a motion to approve them.
Do we have a second?
Then easily we'll second.
It is moved and seconded that we approve the minutes as presented.
I will call your name once called, state your name and your motion of adoption or opposition
with a form of yes or no, and don't forget to unmute yourself.
Ben?
Yes.
Connie?
Yes.
Eric?
Yes.
Jimmy?
Yes.
Melissa?
Yes.
Do I wait for Paul to come back or with the quorum's voting, it's enough?
We'll just mark him absent during this vote, so it's okay.
So the motion passes with a unanimous vote, five to zero.
The next order of business, we're going to actually go out of order of what was distributed.
So we'd like to move up one E. The chair would like to recognize Ron Minguita.
Hello, everyone.
Good afternoon.
I'm getting your presentation pulled up, Ron.
Give me one second.
Oh, I can.
I can try to share it.
I've got it.
Okay.
Yeah.
All right.
You're good to go.
Okay.
Great.
Well, again, Ron Minguita, principal planner with Development Services.
I appreciate the opportunity to present to the board on this important update.
We are calling it an update, but it's not a wholesale rewrite, as you probably already
know or have heard.
Jessica, next slide, please.
The Dem Plan 2030 is our comprehensive plan, and on February 3rd, 2015, about six years
ago, if you can believe that, we updated that plan, and right now, we're in the process
of revisiting some of the goals and the policies and actions that are related to a number of
different things that we do, obviously, throughout the city.
So as part of the comprehensive plan, we try to look at reviewing those goals and policies
and actions every five to seven years.
So we're right at that point of the plan itself.
So part of that update and the scope of work that you see here is that our consultants,
we've hired a consultant that is going to assist us in the update, is to assess what's
going on today.
What are the existing conditions?
What are some of the new values or new ideas that we didn't contemplate back in 2015 or
even before 2015?
We obviously are seeing a lot of different things happening, not only in downtown but
throughout the city itself, so a city-wide assessment report, just kind of bring us up
to speed on where we are today.
A lot of the information that we would want to incorporate is obviously going to come
from our citizens, so a big public outreach plan is part of the effort.
We want to hear from as many people as possible.
I think that some of you were part of the interviews that were held about a month ago.
Just kind of start us off on the process.
We are planning a couple of workshops next month.
In fact, there's a workshop tomorrow, and I'll fill you in on that on the next slide.
But again, public outreach is important, and we want to make sure, again, we hear from
as many stakeholders and focus groups as possible.
Some of the things that the consultants and staff is going to try to focus on are major
local issues.
We understand there's a lot of things going on, but we also want to address some of the
major local issues, and so part of the effort, again, with the stakeholder interviews and
the focus meetings is really to identify what those issues are and then address them with
this update.
In the end, we will have a comprehensive plan evaluation report.
Not only will it look at those major local issues, but again, assess the comprehensive
plan, propose new recommendations as far as goals, strategies, and actions as part of
the update.
One thing I wanted to mention, as we're talking to the TURS board here specifically for downtown,
part of the scope will also include a special topic discussion or analysis, and that is
of the downtown master plan.
We recognize that downtown master plan was about two decades old, actually, 2002 is when
I understand it was approved, so we are well past that review of that downtown master plan.
So part of this effort is also to incorporate it into the comprehensive plan update.
The slide that you see here is just a list of things that we want to capture and we want
to make sure we address and make sure we include in the update.
Obviously, there's a lot of things happening as far as progress.
We want to confirm those, update the context, where we are today, again, engage the community
as much as we can, assess our vision statement in the plan, and it will be in the next couple
slides.
Our vision statement, our community vision statement, which was drafted and approved
by city council back in 2015, we want to revisit that.
But again, I don't think a lot will change.
I know that a lot of it is still applicable and we want to make sure that we just want
to make sure that it's updated as much as we can.
Again, I talked about implementation strategies and other opportunities.
Update data that, again, back in 2013 through 2015, we were using data from that time, even
before that time, or actually in 2021.
So we want to make sure we update those information and those data as part of the comp plan update.
Goals, policies, and actions we've discussed that we will make sure we revisit and review.
If there are any goals or, I'm sorry, any plans and studies that we need to address
or prepare, again, as part of what we hear from the community, we want to make sure that
we prepare those so that we're educated on what we need to do as part of the city moving
forward.
Two things, the preferred growth concept map, I have a slide that has that as well as future
land use map.
That's also an important part of the comprehensive plan.
It helps guide not only the staff, but just everyone in general of where that growth should
be and our future land use map identifies where and what type of future land use that
area should be developed to.
So we want to make sure that we look at that as well.
Just the next slide.
Again, just to illustrate, it's not meant for me to read this slide, it's just to show
you that this is the community vision statement that's included in our comprehensive plan.
And again, the vision statement is a two pager, there's a lot there, but it does cover, again,
what the city should be in 15 to 20 years.
I won't read it, I'll just specifically focus on a couple of those areas.
So if Jessica can forward the slide.
This is one that I really like focusing on and describing to folks is really the character
of Denton.
Obviously, that we're authentic, we have a small town charm, our downtown represents
that, and we want to make sure that that's protected and enhanced as much as we can.
We want to see a balanced growth, we want to see smart growth as we continue growing
out in the periphery of the city with high quality.
That's one of the most important one that I think is important because we deal with
growth all the time, but we also want to make sure that we have that balance.
The other three there just talks about being sustainable, consciously green.
We have a safe and liberal community, we want to make sure we continue with that.
And again, we want to foster our creativity and business and education, again, with the
two universities and our growing business areas in the city, we want to make sure that
we also see that grow when the city grows.
Jessica, next slide.
This here, again, in the core, and this is reflective of where we're focusing on with
this downtown, sorry, not task force, but rather trust board, we want to continue with
the downtown being vibrant.
It has come a long way.
I joined the city 15 years ago, and 15 years ago, it's not what it is today, so I'm happy
and very proud of what staff has done to make it what it is today.
We recognize that it's vibrant, maybe not exactly during this time, but we certainly
would like to see it come back, and I'm sure it will.
And how do we do that?
How do we keep it vibrant?
How do we energize the retail, the entertainment, and also increase housing in the area?
And a lot of the other things too is not just the downtown, but it's also the areas surrounding
the downtown, areas to the north, towards TW, to the west, towards UNT.
Those are areas that we want to see improved, and we certainly feel that that will make
the downtown a lot better if we can not manage, but help design and help enhance those areas,
because I think they work hand-in-hand with the downtown.
The other two here, again, we talked about great neighborhoods, livable areas in the
city, and then our universities, and also other educational resources that we have.
The cultural resources specifically, I know that Jessica has obviously worked on the cultural
district, and that's something that, again, will help not only implement the comprehensive
plan, but also implement some of the other strategies that the city is working on.
Next slide, please.
So here's the preferred growth concept and the future land use map.
Both are in the comprehensive plan.
Both are things, are maps that we're going to visit with the update or during the analysis
of this update.
As you can see, I'll start with the focus growth concept, and that's to the left.
The major focus there, as you can see, is the downtown.
It's a bigger circle.
We recognize that that's an important focus area for the city.
Now, there are other focus areas.
You see them around the periphery along major intersections as well as, you know, further
out.
Ropes Ranch is one.
The purple there that you see is the industrial center area, but again, I want to emphasize
that the downtown is also a focus area, and we want to make sure that that's kept there.
Turning over to the future land use map, you see there, again, another map that we will
be revisiting.
We know that a lot of the future land use has changed or will be, needs to be revised
or needs to be updated based on development that has occurred already and/or is planned
for specifically to the north and northwest.
We see that there's a lot of activity there, so we want to make sure that those future
land use designations are consistent to what, one, the city wants to see happen, and two,
obviously planning ahead and making sure that we have the appropriate services and infrastructure
to accommodate that area or those areas.
Again, I want to bring your attention to the center of that map of what we refer to as
downtown Denton, again, a major focus area.
That specific area that's shown there in the dark brown or maroon area is zoned for mixed
use downtown.
So a lot of the proposed uses in that area and density is going to be a higher intense.
So again, not only to help enhance the area, but also to help plan that area as a mixed
use, multi-use type area.
The two universities that you see there, TW and UNT, surrounding the downtown and approaching
those universities, again, are areas we want to see come to a mixed use type development.
But again, this future land use map is a high level map.
When we get further down, obviously with the zoning and the TURS area, it can get a little
bit more detailed, but in general, the future land use map just identifies where and what
type of density, intensity that area should be.
So I'll go on to the next slide.
So what is the DEN Plan update?
We're calling it DEN Plan 2040.
We typically look 15 to 20 years out, and so that's why the title that you see there
is DEN Plan 2040.
We know we're growing.
We want to grow with a unified purpose.
We have a lot of, I wouldn't say conflicting interests, but we do have different interests
and we want to make sure that we put together a plan that takes account of all of those
interests and forms, again, strategies, goals, and policies that helps form and guide the
decisions that we make moving forward, again, 15 to 20 years is what we typically plan for.
That doesn't mean that this plan is going to remain the same plan 15 to 20 years out.
We're going to revisit this again in five to seven years.
Again, just a touch on where we are at that point and to make sure that we're correct.
So moving forward for this actual update, it's a nine-month process and we've already
started the process.
We're actually in month two or phase two.
We hope to be done by the fall, October 2021.
But between now and then, of course, we talked about the interviews, the focus group meetings,
community workshop number one is scheduled for tomorrow evening.
If you haven't already received an email or would like more information on how to register
and attend that workshop, please let me know.
It is going to be virtual.
So it's going to be a Zoom meeting similar to this.
And in fact, we have already approximately 150,000, sorry, wishful thinking, 150 residents
already registered for the workshop.
So we will have a good turnout, I believe we will.
The community workshop number two is set for sometime in May.
That is just to follow up again what we've heard from community workshop number one and
start to think about what we're drafting forward with this comp plan.
Then at the summertime, closer to I would say August, there will be a public open house
to share with the community that is with what we've put together.
We hope that it again addresses and acknowledges and implements a lot of what we've heard from
the citizens in both community workshops.
We will follow that with work sessions with our boards and commissions, planning zoning
commission specifically, and then public hearings with city council.
So you can see that the follow through here is similar to other plans that we've done
in the past, but I just wanted to share with you the process as well as some of the general
dates that we have identified with the comp plan update.
So I think that's the last slide, Jessica, if you want to forward that forward.
I'll be happy to answer any questions.
That completes my presentation.
And again, the information for me is there, you see, as well as if you need more or want
more information on the comp plan update, you can also visit that website we've dedicated
specifically for this effort.
Ben, you're welcome to ask Ron questions.
Oh, thank you.
This is a pretty simple one.
Ron, what are the last four digits of your phone number?
8328.
Thanks for that quick question.
Any other questions?
Connie?
Yes, Ron, on the businesses downtown, are they going to push to bring more businesses
downtown?
I think more businesses to downtown, because like I say, I grew up here and that was a
hub at one time downtown, nearly all the businesses were downtown.
I'm for pushing downtown, you know, to get businesses and other things that might want
to come down, you know, the square.
Right.
I think there's ample opportunity.
There's a number of different areas of downtown.
I know by the transit center is certainly an area that we want to see we develop.
But you know, along with, you know, trying to bring businesses downtown, I think we also
need to recognize that there are some areas that we want to protect as well.
A big part of the downtown is this historic and cultural nature and we want to make sure
that that doesn't, you know, diminish as we invite and bring in more businesses.
Thank you.
Ben?
Connie, you kicked off another question for me.
Have you already reached out to Main Street Association for interviews?
We reached out to a number of people.
I'll have to double check.
I know we spoke to Christine prior, as far as being invited to be interviewed, I'll have
to double check.
There was a list that was sent out and we did follow up with a number of different folks,
different number of stakeholders.
Can we go back to slide five?
I know it's come up in the TERS and also in the Dead Sea meetings on item two, and I know
that this isn't a business plan or a mission statement, but the item number two is Denton
is consciously green, we're the leader in commitment to sustainability, tree canopy,
network of parks, greenways.
I know I hear often enough and I'm not really an outdoors person, so it's not necessarily
coming from me.
It's just something that I'm hearing a lot is like missed opportunities for green space
on the Pecan Creek thoroughfare and taking back some more green space downtown.
I think I was in a discussion a couple of days ago about where the housing and urban
development, I believe, owns that property just south of downtown.
It's a large parcel and it's being wasted space, whether we decide we need housing there
or we decide we need businesses there or green space.
Green space was one that was brought up as something that could go there.
How does your department, how does this Denton plan 2020, can it override other departments
in the idea of if we're trying to capture as much green space as possible and that's
part of the Denton plan 2040, how do we not escape not implementing that?
Does that make sense?
Yeah, when you were speaking there, I had a couple thoughts.
One of the things is the parks master plan, parks and recreation and trails master plan,
which the city is currently working on is part of this comprehensive plan.
We want to be consistent.
We want to be coordinating the effort with their plan that they're working on.
Ultimately, we want a comprehensive plan and all plans to be cohesive.
We don't want them to be contradicting.
We're working with Gary on his plan as well as our plan in making sure that we have consistent
goals and policies.
Regarding that area that you're talking about, I know that that's part of a drainage project
that's being worked on as we speak.
But I think at that level where we start to identify areas of open space in the downtown,
I think the downtown master plan and possibly with the TERS board, that might be something
that we can get a little bit more detailed discussions.
But for the comprehensive plan, just know that it is a very high level, but at the same
time sets policies to what the city should be doing.
So I know with the open space component of the plan, we talk about, again, you read a
little bit of the vision, but also making sure that we have opportunities for open space,
not just for regional open space, but also all kinds of open space such as trails, linkage
parks.
Those are some of the things that I know we're working on as well.
The downtown, we would certainly want to see more pocket parks.
The one off of industrial is a great example.
We want to see more of that to give people the opportunity to enjoy the outdoor.
But that specific area that you referred to again, Melissa, I know it's being worked on.
There's a drainage study, drainage project there.
Hopefully when that is completed, there is an opportunity to partner or actually purchase
or maintain that area for open space.
Any other questions?
Raise a hand if you need a question.
I think we're done.
Thank you so much, Ron.
I appreciate it.
I hope everybody gets to get on one of the public forums.
I know I'm signed up for tomorrow.
Awesome.
Well, great.
I want to thank you guys for me moving up on the agenda.
I do appreciate that.
And again, if you have any further questions or comments, please reach out to me.
Thank you.
On our next order of business, we're actually going to go to 1D and we're going to receive
a report and hold a discussion, give staff direction regarding the downtown capital projects
update.
I'd like to welcome Rachel Wood to the floor.
Thank you, Madam Chair, and hello members of the TURS Board.
As the chair said, I'm Rachel Wood, I'm the deputy director of capital projects.
So we've got several different capital projects that are anywhere from initiation, more that
ideation phase all the way through to we've got projects that are wrapping up this year
with construction.
So myself as well as three of our project managers are going to go through those projects.
And the way we plan on structuring today's conversation, we're going to kind of be playing
musical chairs.
So I'm going to present on a few projects, we'll pause, let you ask questions about the
projects that I present on, then we'll go on to the next project manager once they get
through their projects, we'll pause, let you ask questions.
And then at the end, we'll of course, open it up for additional questions, but just because
we have so many speakers that are going to be presenting today and we're all going to
be presenting from this chair that I'm sitting in, it just makes it a little bit easier if
you can be thinking about your questions as you go so that as that presenter is seated,
they can go ahead and answer your questions rather than us having to continue the musical
chairs at the end.
So I'm going to pull up the presentation, I will note that we have one project manager
who wasn't able to join us today, his name is Kyle Pettigo, and he actually has the majority
of the active construction projects.
So I'm going to be going through Kyle's projects today, I will answer the questions that I'm
able to, but if there are questions that I'm not able to answer, I'll be coordinating with
Christina and Jessica to make sure that we're able to get specific answers back to you.
So I just want to make sure you're getting the most complete information possible, since
Kyle wasn't able to join us.
So I will really quickly pull up the presentation, and let's see here, okay.
So we'll start with one of Kyle's projects, that's the downtown storm sewer phase one
project.
This is an active construction project, the design firm was DEH and the construction contractor
is quality excavation.
The limits of this project are Bell Avenue to McKinney Street, and then also to Hickory
Street.
So the scope of this project is primarily a drainage project, it does have some pavement
repair associated with it.
The total project estimate at completion, and that's what we say kind of the all in
cost at the end of this project, once we get to close out will be roughly $1.8 million.
The project began in December 2020, construction actually began in December 2020, and is on
schedule to be completed by the fourth quarter of this calendar year, so by the end of calendar
year 2021.
We're doing a lot of coordination with this project, including with franchise utilities,
other city departments, as well as area businesses and TextDOT.
Kind of an offshoot of that downtown storm sewer, we've got a long standing 2014 bond
project for downtown quiet zones that we're going to be coordinating a significant amount
of the construction that's required for the downtown quiet zones with the downtown storm
sewer projects we've got a lot of nice synergy given the location and the fact that we've
got the same project manager assigned.
So those four crossings are at McKinney Street, Hickory Street, Sycamore and Prairie.
This project has been designed in house and then we look at as I mentioned, potentially
having quality excavation do a significant amount of the construction required to activate
these quiet zones.
So quiet zone repair and improvements include median improvements, sidewalk improvements
and then railroad crossing improvements.
The total project estimate at completion is $1.3 million.
We had the design finalized in January of 2021, we had to do some coordination with
area businesses and thank you to Jessica for helping us with some of that coordination
to get the design finalized.
And we should be in construction by quarter three 2021.
The construction itself is not significant.
It's like I mentioned going to be folded in with the downtown storm sewer phase one project.
Where we have wrinkles with this project is we have to get approvals from Union Pacific
Railroad and so we make the improvements, but then it's ultimately up to Union Pacific
Railroad to accept those improvements and activate the quiet zone.
So we're very motivated to get this completed.
I know we get regular requests on the status of this project.
We are proceeding with it.
We also have one of our at-grade crossing agreements in place, but we're having to work
very closely with Union Pacific Railroad to really get this project across the finish
line.
We're confident that we'll have the construction completed by the end of the calendar year.
What we're not confident in is the status of the negotiations and the approvals with
Union Pacific Railroad.
We're working very hard to get those synced up so that once we've completed the construction
that we can also have the quiet zones activated, but some of that is really going to be up
to the railroad themselves and we're working very hard on improving responsiveness and
those relationships there.
Also of course, once the railroad quiet zones are activated, that does not mean you will
never hear a train horn sounding at night.
If there is a pedestrian that's visible, the conductors do still have to sound their train
horns and so it will just be a quieter zone, if you will, but it will not mean that you
will not ever hear train horns.
City Council also just approved a design contract actually last night for what we're calling
kind of the Frame Street group of quiet zones.
It's going to be further up, kind of running parallel along Mingo Road.
So we hope to have these activated and then shortly thereafter within the next two-ish
years have the quiet zones activated further along the Mingo corridor so that hopefully
that can really give more respite to residents and business owners in the area because I
know again, we get a lot of feedback on those quiet zones.
So that is something that we're working towards and we are working very closely with the railroad.
This is something that we've initiated, not necessarily the railroad and so we're working
through some responsiveness issues there, but we are optimistic that we're going to
have these activated by the end of the calendar year and then as I mentioned shortly thereafter
within the next few years, we hope to have the Mingo Frame Street group of quiet zones
activated as well so we'll have a nice corridor with activated quiet zones.
So moving on to the next project that Kyle is managing, the downtown TIFF sidewalk and
lighting project.
The limits of this project include Elm Street from Parkway to Oak, Oak Street, Carroll to
Elm, and Hickory, Carroll to Elm.
This project was designed by Teagnell and Perkins and construction is being done by
Floyd Smith who's the city's concrete contractor that we have on call as well as our in-house
traffic operations crew for the signal improvements.
So the scope of the project is pedestrian lighting improvements as well as sidewalk
improvements for the extents that I just described.
Total estimate at completion is $1 million.
Traffic signal design is nearing completion with final construction scheduled to begin
after the traffic components are delivered and they have been ordered.
The project is estimated to be completed by the end of the second quarter, so the quarter
that we're actually just now starting of this fiscal year in 20, I'm sorry, of this calendar
year in 2021.
We're coordinating closely with our franchise utilities, other city departments, area businesses
to get this project completed as quickly as possible and definitely appreciate the use
of the TIFF funding to get this project completed.
West Hickory Street is another project in the general downtown area that Kyle is the
project manager for.
The limits of the current phase of this project are Welch to Carroll.
Design was conducted by Tignall and Perkins and the contractor is 2L Construction.
The project includes drainage upgrades, roadway reconstruction, sidewalk installation as well
as the installation of pedestrian lighting and should have a total estimate at completion
of right at $3 million.
It's scheduled to be completed by the end of quarter three of this calendar year, so
hopefully late summer, early fall we're shooting for completion and we've been coordinating
closely with residents, business owners on this project.
We've also been coordinating closely with DISD just because of the proximity to Calhoun
Middle School as well as with UNT just because that's a major corridor getting to and from
the campus.
We've got regular updates on our Improving Denton website and then we've had regular
mailers, door hangers as there have been service interruptions and that sort of thing for the
duration of this project.
We've also been coordinating closely with Atmos Gas just because they've been doing
some line work that's been conducted in concert with the construction that the city is doing
on this project.
So before I move on and the next few projects, Seth Garcia is the project manager for, so
he's going to be going through those slides.
Great to see if there were any high level questions that I could either attempt to answer
or we can have Kyle provide some written responses to give you all feedback on those first few
projects that I covered.
Rachel, I have a question.
This is Melissa.
I know on our last TERS meeting, Alex had asked about the coordination or the concept
of instead of just replacing a sidewalk is to expand sidewalks so that the walkability
of downtown is in line with what might be in the Denton 2030 plan, but you know that
it's a bigger, better sidewalk, not just a replacement of what was there.
Can you speak to that?
Absolutely.
So that's a really important point and something that we are working on coordinating.
I think the timing of Ron sharing the information on the update to the comprehensive plan and
then this coming afterwards actually worked really well.
So thank you, Jessica, for your flexibility with the agenda on that.
We actually, Robin Davis, who's going to be presenting in a little while, is the project
manager that's been assigned and kind of tasked as our sidewalk czar, if you will.
She's putting together a, you don't like that term, I'm sorry, Robin, our czarina.
Robin is putting together our five-year sidewalk work plan right now.
We're developing that in coordination, not only with streets and drainage to make sure
that we're planning for sidewalk needs as we're doing those roadway reconstruction,
major drainage and utility projects, but we're also coordinating with Gary Packen, who's
got the trails master plan.
And once we hire our new bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, we'll also be developing and
finalizing that sidewalk work plan with that person as well.
Absolutely, we're looking at some of the sidewalk segments that we have in design or in construction
right now are five feet, but we are definitely having the conversation as we look particularly
at those accessibility needs.
Does it make sense to have an eight-foot or a 10-foot in some areas?
As we're rolling out the sidewalk work plan, which we should be doing in May, the summer
timeframe, we do plan on presenting that not only to the parks board, but also to the committee
on persons with disability, to the traffic safety commission, as well as to the mobility
committee in addition to hopefully doing some sort of a road show so that we can get some
additional feedback from the community as well.
But we are absolutely wanting to be as inclusive as we can be, not just with sidewalks, but
we're just taking...
You'll hear Becky and myself use the term holistic a lot.
We're really wanting to take a true comprehensive holistic view as we're doing capital improvement
so that we're not just looking through the lens of what do we need to do to complete
this roadway or how do we connect the existing sidewalk segments.
But what are those long-term needs?
What's in our comprehensive plan?
What's in our mobility plan?
And then really what makes sense for our residents.
So that's absolutely a fantastic question and something that we're working towards.
Thank you, Rachel.
Okay.
Sorry, Rachel, just one quick question.
What's the TxDOT tie-in for the drainage project along Bell and Oak?
I don't see any TxDOT roadways right there in that area.
Or am I mistaken?
You're talking about for downtown storm sewer phase one?
Yes.
Yeah.
That's a good question.
It could be that I needed to update the slide and TxDOT shouldn't be on there.
You're correct.
That's not a TxDOT roadway.
We are...
We meet with TxDOT on a monthly basis.
I think actually Kyle asked me to update that to say Union Pacific Railroad and I did not
update the slide.
So that is actually my mistake on there.
So thank you for noting that it is actually Union Pacific Railroad that that's supposed
to say.
Thanks.
I just wanted to make sure I'm not the confused one here.
And Melissa, I would just add, as I was reviewing the downtown implementation plan, it actually
includes a lot of kind of artistic renderings of the types of sidewalk and street sections
and cross sections in the downtown area that long-term we'd like to move toward.
Especially that did a lot of work that goes from a specific design of specific areas.
But just wanted to let you know that.
To add in there, you had said the TxDOT should maybe not be on there.
Is that drainage system going to link up with the drainage that was...
Oh, I don't know if we're planning it still.
Along the south side of the square?
Could that be why TxDOT is on there?
Truthfully, it was supposed to be updated and that was a mistake with us having TxDOT.
We do coordinate with them on all things.
We are working towards the implementation of a stormwater master plan.
And of course, our stormwater is a network where it is all interconnected.
But again, I apologize, I think I may have sent Jessica the wrong version of this presentation
where that was just one edit that needed to be made.
So we always coordinate with TxDOT.
We are actually meeting on a monthly basis with our area engineer, Tina Massey, to make
sure that we're better coordinating on those projects.
And of course, she wants to know the status of projects just because we have so many TxDOT
roadways in the downtown area.
But on that slide in particular, just in full transparency, that was just a mistake.
And I think I sent the wrong version to Jessica.
Okay, so with that, no mistakes are allowed.
Just put it on the list Councilmember Meltzer, I'm sure I've got quite a list going right
now.
Okay, well, with that, unless there are other questions, I'm going to turn it over to Seth
to go through his projects that he has in downtown.
All right, good afternoon, Madam Chair, board members, Seth Garcia, project manager with
Capital Projects.
This afternoon, I'll be going over PEC 4 phases one and two that's under construction.
And then as well as PEC 4 phases three and four, that's currently under design.
So to start off PEC 4 phases one and two, the we installed dual 11 by 8 drainage boxes
from Wainwright up to Prairie and then across Elm and Locust, and they decommissioned right
behind the Ravel and Bakery.
We also did a quite a bit of utility relocation and replacement all the way up and down Elm
and Locust from Hickory to Eagle, and then quite a few side streets in that area as well.
The design firm for all of PEC 4 phases one through four is Freeze and Nichols.
So as I said, the scope was installing those dual 11 by 8 drainage boxes.
It also included some pretty substantial water and wastewater utility installation and relocation.
And then we are repairing parts of the roadways that were impacted and doing a full street
reconstruction.
So I don't know how frequently y'all drive the Prairie Street, but we did just open Prairie
in between Elm and Locust and then Prairie in between Elm and Pierce.
Those are getting finished up.
The estimated completion is 15.1 million on phases one and two.
That project began construction in July of 2019, and we are on schedule to be completed
by quarter three of 2021.
We've done some pretty extensive coordination with franchise utilities in the area to accommodate
the boxes this large, as well as local area businesses, and then coordination with Elm
and Locust being text out roadways.
The next project I'm going to cover is PEC 4 phases three and four.
So this project essentially takes the boxes from where we decommissioned behind the Ravel
and Bakery, north, crossing Sycamore and Stroud to Mulberry, and then from Mulberry we moved
west across Carroll all the way to Bernard, and then have a small piece south of Bernard
to connect to the existing channel.
Once again, this was also designed by Frieza Nichols, and we're currently at 90% design.
So the scope of phases three and four include 16 by 8, 12 by 8, and 10 by 8 box culverts.
Once again, we'll have some pretty substantial water and wastewater installation and relocation
just associated with the boxes this size, and then some pretty significant street reconstruction
on portions of Sycamore, Stroud, and Mulberry as those boxes actually transition into the
roadway from the current alignment of the rock channel.
Our estimate at completion for phases three and four is 17.7 million.
Our schedule right now is kind of dictated based off of easement acquisition.
We currently don't have funding for easement acquisition or construction funding.
So once we do have that funding identified and available, we'll be able to iron out that
schedule a little bit better.
Coordination for this one, we're working with Denton County on an agreement because we do
cross the Denton County property in between Sycamore and Mulberry and then kind of run
in front of the Carroll Building as well as multiple franchise utility relocations in
the University of North Texas to accommodate all the student living that we see there on
Mulberry that's west of Carroll Avenue or Carroll Boulevard, excuse me.
And with that, those are my two PEC-4 projects.
Any questions?
Okay, perfect.
Thank you.
Next is Ms. Robin Davis.
Good afternoon, I'm Robin Davis, and I'll be going over the next couple of projects
with you.
The first one is the all-way crossing around the Denton County Courthouse on the Square.
And this was just approved in council for the design of this project last week on March
16.
So what this will do, this will provide permanent all-way crossing and signal improvements at
each of those intersections around the Square.
It'll provide for some diagonal crossings as well as just the normal crosswalks that
you're used to seeing.
We have an estimate at completion for this of 662,000, and we anticipate design being
complete by quarter three of this year and a construction completion of quarter three
of next year.
We'll be coordinating, of course, with our Main Street Committee and also with all the
area businesses.
We'll have community meetings at 30% and 90% design, and we'll distribute mailers and everything
prior to construction and during construction efforts.
The next one is the Bell Avenue sidewalk connectivity.
This is sidewalk along Bell Street between Hickory and Sycamore, and it was designed
by Adams Engineering.
We're going to complete this probably, the estimated construction completion for this
is quarter one of next year.
The estimated completion is 116,000, and we'll be coordinating with real estate currently
on property acquisition if needed for any temporary construction easements or right-of-way
needs that we need prior to construction.
And the next one is the A train to UNT bike and pedestrian path.
This is going to be implementing a side path down Sycamore Street from the downtown Denton
Transit Center to Welch, and then on Welch Street, a bike lane between Hickory and Eagle.
And this is also a project that the design was approved by council on March 16th.
So this will be a bicycle and pedestrian improvements on route from A train station to UNT with
a 10-foot side path.
New traffic signal, bike radar, estimated completion is 2.6 million, and we expect design
to be complete by quarter one of next year and estimated construction completion by quarter
four of 2023.
We'll be coordinating with UPRR and DCTA on the relation to any of those pedestrian railroad
crossing requirements, and we'll be also having committee meetings.
Committee meetings will be held at 30%, 90% design, mailers will be distributed prior
to construction, and we'll also be working with other area businesses.
And that's it for me.
Does anyone have any questions about those three projects?
I do have a question.
The Bell sidewalk, that was between which streets?
Hickory and, that's all I've got.
Thank you.
Okay.
Anyone else?
Does the 10-foot side path look like?
What does that look like?
Well, it's currently under design, but it'll basically just be a 10-foot wide sidewalk
but it's considered a side path because of the width.
Okay.
And that's, that runs down Sycamore from the train station to UNT?
From the train station to Welch Street.
Wow.
Anyone else?
Okay.
I think Trevor Crane is next.
Good afternoon.
My name is Trevor Crane.
I'm a project manager with the city of Denton in the capital improvement department.
So today I'll be talking to you about two projects.
First one is Elm and Locust phase two.
The limits of this street are Elm and Locust street from US 380 to Hickory street.
It's currently under design by Half and Associates.
Scope of this project is a drainage system upgrades.
We'll also have some water and wastewater system upgrades as well.
Our estimate completion for this project is a little over $20 million.
The schedule, the design is probably within the next month, we're probably about 95% just
making some final tweaks to that design.
The construction schedule is dependent on funding.
We're currently trying to identify drainage funding for this project.
Once we get that locked down, we'll be ready to move forward with construction.
Coordination.
So project status updates will begin once funding has been acquired and the project
moves forward.
Our design consultant is currently doing survey work out there and working on some right of
way and then we'll also be coordinating with TextDOT on this project as well.
The next project is the Development Service Center parking lot improvements.
This is for the parking lot at 401 North Elm, which is our new development service center.
This was designed in-house and our contractor is MSB Constructors.
So the scope of this project is the actual parking lot reconstruction with some drainage
improvements as well as lighting, sidewalk, landscaping, and pavement striping.
SMS completion is $1.2 million.
Construction is scheduled for completion in quarter two of 2021, which is about two months
ahead of schedule.
Probably would have been done already if it hadn't been for the snow and the weather,
but we're moving and getting pretty close.
Coordination.
We have biweekly meetings with our contractor and our development services staff to provide
updates on the progress of that project.
And that is it for that.
Anybody have any questions on those two projects?
A question about the parking lot itself.
What kind of signage is going to be there so that evening parking might be available
as public parking and then the linkage between that parking lot and the square, what is that
being coordinated with or looked at?
So there's actually three entrances into the parking lot.
There's one off of Bolivar, one on Parkway, and then one onto Elm itself.
The way it's designed is kind of for people to come in off of Bolivar and then drive through
on and continue on through Parkway.
As far as signage, there will be some public parking signage though eventually not in this
current design, but in an upcoming design we're going to be working on an additional
parking lot that attaches to that, have electrical vehicle charging stations for the public as
well as the City of Denton vehicle that they use.
So as far as specific for public parking signs, there are some, but not necessarily a whole
lot.
And I think the question really is, is that going to be public parking and is there going
to be linkage from the largest public parking lot, potentially the largest public parking
lot, to the square?
Right.
So the purpose of that parking lot is for the community who's going to be using going
in and out of that building, there will be some spots for employees, but a lot of that
parking spot is going to be for residents that are coming in and dealing with the different
departments that are housed in that building.
All right.
We can further discuss that, but go ahead, Paul.
Yeah, just to follow on, I'm really glad you raised that, Melissa.
Isn't it more or less, I mean, the whole building, more or less replacing the rented space and
the old DATCA building on Oak and the parking behind that is, you know, is posted so that
after office hours, it's available to the public.
So wouldn't it be just the same deal?
Correct.
That's correct.
It's, we've, I know they've, the DATCA building, we've got rid of that.
So the actual, there's a lot of different services that are now housed in that building
that will be, you know, operating out of there, but after business hours, it will be open
to the public.
Yeah.
Which means weekends too, which is great for new time.
Thanks.
Yeah, I, I guess part of, of what I heard in Melissa's question was as far as linkages.
Right now, you know, there's no crosswalk directly across McKinney from that property.
So is the plan to route pedestrians over to Elm and what is the state of the sidewalk
there or, you know, since McKinney doesn't get a lot of traffic, is there an ability
to, to make a good crossing there essentially?
Sure.
So currently while the construction has been underway on that parking lot, we've had our,
the, the workers who are actually using that building now parking in that public lot across
McKinney.
So what we did is we, we rehabbed that, that crosswalk right there at Bolivar and McKinney
to allow for a safe space for people to walk across there.
We've ordered some of the flashing pedestrian lights, that will end up being, that will
stay there permanently.
Once we move on to that next phase of construction for that kind of small triangular parking
lot that's right on the McKinney and Bolivar, then we'll, we'll rehab that, that, that corner
some more to make it ADA compliant and make sure that we have connectivity for, through
all those sidewalks there.
And unrelated to that, when, when you mentioned coordination with TechStat on the Elm and
Locust projects, how does that align timeline-wise with the take-back program and are we going
to get ourselves in a situation where we risk tearing up a good street or are we confident
that we're going to get all that stuff done even though we don't have tons of funding
identified yet?
Yeah, that's, that's really a question for Becky and Rachel.
As far as I'm, as far as I know, that we will not be taking that street back until the agreement
we have with TechStat is that we won't take that street back until we are completed with
our utility work on that street.
So we wouldn't be taking that street back until we're a hundred percent complete with
it.
Okay.
Thank you.
Sure.
Anything else?
All right, thank you.
And I can really quickly just kind of add to what Trevor said, you know, as we're looking
at TechStat roadways, as I've mentioned earlier, we're meeting with them on a now monthly basis
directly with the area engineer and we are certainly open to having conversations about
potentially taking on roadways.
Our intent is not to take on any roadways that don't meet our current specifications
and requirements.
And so the expectation would be that TechStat would bring those roadways to our current specifications
before we would entertain those conversations.
So all preliminary in nature, but we want to make sure if we're accepting an asset that
that asset meets our standards.
We appreciate your time today.
I'm happy to share my contact information with those of you that don't have it.
We're happy to come back if you have other specific questions and we look forward to
speaking to you again in the future.
Hopefully we're able to share with you that several of the projects that we mentioned
as active construction today will be closing out so we look forward to that within the
next year having several projects that we can say have been completed.
So thank you again.
We don't need to have further discussion on that, right, but we're moving on to the next
item.
Okay.
So the next order of business is 1B, receive a report, hold discussion and give staff direction
regarding the 2021 annual meeting schedule.
Yes, as required by the boards and commissions handbook.
The board must adopt an annual meeting schedule.
Your typical meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of every month at noon.
And so those dates for 2021 are included in your backup, but we're already kind of a quarter
in.
So this is just for the remainder of the year at this point.
The board does retain any right to call a special meeting like we did in February to
adjust our schedule as needed.
We're just required by ordinance to adopt the official meeting dates, what will be the
regular meeting dates of the board.
I can pull it up if you think that'd be convenient, but the dates are moving forward March 26th,
July 28th, September 22nd and November 24th.
The November 24th date always falls on the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving and we almost
always end up moving and rescheduling, canceling the regular meeting and calling a special
called meeting.
Since we usually have quite a few people traveling on that date.
So do we vote on that or just give a thumbs up to yeah, let's move forward with the way
it is.
A motion and a vote would be the best way to go on this one.
Okay.
Do we have a motion?
Then easily we'll motion.
Motion what?
To accept our meeting as set.
Do we have a second?
I'll second.
Eric second.
It is moved and seconded that we do as Ben suggested where we keep the meetings as set.
And I'll call each name and again, go around the horn to get a yes or no or a version of
yes or no.
And so we'll start Connie There you go.
I'm still muted.
You did yourself again.
Yes.
You're talking so.
Can you hear me?
Yes, sir.
Okay.
Peter went up, you know, repeat what you were saying, please.
So we have a motion and a second to accept the dates for the next meetings as presented
and we're looking for yes or no vote.
Yes.
Okay.
Eric.
Yes.
Jimmy.
Unmute Jimmy.
His lips say yes, but does he?
There we go.
I'm new at this.
Yes.
Paul.
Primitive.
Ben.
Yes.
So the motion passes by unanimous vote.
Thank you all.
So on to the next order of business, one, see, receive a report and hold discussion.
Did you ask Eric?
I thought he had profound problems with it and I didn't hear his full argument.
Okay.
I didn't want to see.
Receive a report, hold discussion and give staff direction regarding the ongoing downtown
tax increment reinvestment zone number one study and analysis.
The chair recognizes Jessica.
Hi, everyone.
Well, it's so rare that I get to share all my presentation duties, so I'm always happy
to invite some guests in.
I'm going to go over just a really quick update over what we've been working on and what's
happened.
I shared with you a few weeks ago a summary of the council presentation as well as provided
the link.
I know many of you have watched it or participated in it, so I'm not going to relive that for
everyone, but let me pull up my presentation real quick.
So to just go background for our newer members, we hired TXP, that's Travis's company back
in late 2019 to complete a review of revenue projections of the downtown TERS fund.
Our initial focus was specifically looking at the PEC four phases three and four project
and could that be funded because that was associated with a specific development project
that was presented to us at the time.
That development project has since been withdrawn and with COVID and the pandemic, really we
started taking a more holistic view of the TERS itself.
So we really changed the timeline of the study and what the analysis parameters are.
So if you go back and look at the original scope of that study, we changed a lot of those
sort of in process and those are the various conversations we've had with the board over
the past year.
This is the summary in a nutshell of what we sort of found during the study.
So we reviewed all of the original catalyst studies, the project and finance plans and
all of the other sort of relevant documents that led to the creation and implementation
of the downtown TERS.
We worked with kind of the known limits of the TERS, which was it had a 30 year term.
It also has a revenue cap on it of $24.8 million.
It has a decreasing contribution rate, so the city steps down its contribution over
time and the city is the only participating jurisdiction.
What we found in this study is that the TERS has really performed fairly consistent with
the original finance plan.
The only thing that was really different is that growth occurred primarily through appreciation
as opposed to the new value.
And the TERS was formed really around expecting new growth and that occurred instead in appreciation.
At the end of the last fiscal year of FY1920, there had been about $3 million in revenue
that had been collected and about $21 million remaining.
And what we found when we ran pretty conservative revenue projections is that the TERS will
hit that revenue limit before it hits the term limit.
So it would expire with no changes and under those sort of scenarios we ran, we see it
ending somewhere around 2036, 2037, so a couple years early.
And again, we were using pretty conservative revenue projections for that.
So what this board talked about and what we presented to city council is that, you know,
with no changes, there's about $21 million in future revenues, or excuse me, there's
about $21 million including fund balance and future revenues available for projects.
So we looked at projects that could potentially be funded by the TERS.
So those included capital projects that were consistent with the project plan.
They were feasible given the TERS' financial performance.
We thought that we've heard from this board or we've heard through the project plan or
from council that these were sort of priority areas, areas to kind of focus our study.
We also reviewed these projects with developers.
We had some public meetings with downtown businesses, downtown stakeholders, the Main
Street Association.
We talked to relevant city departments and then we brought these projects forward to
the TERS board and to the city council.
This board provided us the direction to pursue funding PEC 4 phases 3 and 4 from the TERS.
The direction in October was to consider expanding the TERS boundary, consider removing the cap
to get that project fully funded.
But to continue to look for other funding sources for PEC 4 phases 3 and 4 in a way
that would limit and or reduce the impact to the TERS fund.
And that's important because if that project were fully funded by the TERS, it would really
take up pretty really significantly if not more than the existing financing that's available
through the TERS.
And the direction from the board was also to continue funding the downtown reinvestment
grant program and that secondary project, so if that cap was removed, what projects
would you look at doing with any additional revenue and those included smaller infrastructure
projects and incentives if they were financially feasible.
So we focused our additional analysis at that point.
We had our recommendation from the board and so that additional analysis we really focused
in on that PEC 4 project since it would have the most significant impact on the TERS fund,
which is why at the council presentation, we did a little bit more in depth look at
that project.
So we presented to city council on February 9th.
We presented this board's recommendations, the findings of the study and various options.
At that time, council gave us direction to fund some part of the PEC project from the
TERS fund, but not 100%.
So we're currently running through scenarios of what those would look like.
Council also said we want you to continue to review and explore those additional options
that will be needed to fund the remainder of the project.
So that's what you heard Seth talking about today in his presentation is we're still looking
at that project and how we can kind of get to that 100% funding goal.
And then also expanding the TERS boundary to get one phase of that project fully within
the TERS, which would make at least 50% of the project eligible.
Right now, the project broken down into those two phases, neither phase four or phase three
is completely within the TERS.
So not even 50% of the project could be funded today.
The other direction that we got was really to build out a plan that's going to lay out
projects that could be funded by the TERS and then move toward implementation.
So building what we would call something similar to a CIP or a financing plan for the TERS
with those projects and so we know what we're going to be executing on.
What we heard from this board and from council is kind of wanting to get past having this
conversation and, you know, not having to come back in five years and we haven't made
any motion or progress on these, but we want to really get to a firm plan of what we intend
to do and how we're going to implement it.
And then the last piece was completing additional analysis related to property values and impacts
in the area.
Obviously, pulling properties out of the floodplain can impact them.
It may not impact their direct value.
So if we look at something that's a residential property today and we pull that residential
property out of the floodplain, it may not have a significant impact on that property,
but it could increase its development potential.
So it's sort of the future value of that property becomes more.
So we're looking at doing additional analysis on what properties would be coming out of
the floodplain and what development potential exists in that area.
So set all of that to get to this point.
So what are we doing today and where are we going forward?
So capital projects right now is working towards updating their estimate at completion for
the project.
So we're getting a better idea of what we think the all in cost of phases three and
four will be.
That will then be able to be plugged into our financial analysis and we can come back
with more firm numbers of saying, okay, here are the options of funding components of that
project through the TERS.
They'll be presenting their stormwater master plan.
A part of that to city council in April of 2021 and their goal at that presentation is
to get feedback on whether council is going to want a comprehensive approach to the stormwater
master plan or a targeted needs assessment.
And then that could obviously influence the timeline of how they approach when prioritize
projects.
And then moving forward through the summer as the master plan is being developed at the
staff level, capital projects is going to work on prioritizing the drainage projects
that they know and developing a prioritization schedule of how they would move forward with
implementing those.
As many of you know, the PEC project is not the only drainage project that's impacting
downtown drainage and impacting properties in the floodplain.
So they want to take a holistic look and see where do we need to prioritize our work.
In terms of economic development, we are working to update our property value analysis.
This is a bit of a challenge.
We usually get files from the Denton central appraisal district that we can kind of plug
into our GIS system and say, pull every property on their value, their 2020 value that's within
the downtown tours and we get a nice little file that we can plug into our GIS system.
Unfortunately that that layer isn't yet complete with DCAD.
Now I haven't checked in with this week, so we'll check with them again and see.
But once we have that we right now instead we are having to click on parcel by parcel
data, which you can imagine gets pretty exhausting when there's a well over a thousand property
individual parcel levels at that in the kind of downtown area that we're looking at.
So ongoing we're looking at development projects that come forward in downtown when I'm referring
to development projects.
I'm talking specifically about mixed use type of development projects or business development
projects or things like that that are going to come in sort of on an as needed basis.
So as those projects come forward, we're not going to say, hey, no, we're waiting on this
additional analysis.
We want to go ahead and say, bring those in and we'll kind of evaluate those as part of
our overall process.
We're going to continue to look at possible infrastructure projects that could also be
continuing to look at that menu of possible infrastructure projects and really creating
a pro forma that could include a cash flow analysis and sort of a capital plan for how
we sort of program out the TERS funding over the life.
And then lastly, one of the interesting questions that got brought up and I think it was councilmember
Meltzer who brought this up is we really need to know what the all in downtown infrastructure
project costs.
You saw a lot of projects earlier today from capital projects saying these are all going
on in downtown and those aren't all of them.
We know that there are more, we know that there's additional work that needs to be done.
And so we really want to get our hands wrapped around if we want to kind of continue development
in downtown, what is that all in cost to get our infrastructure prepared to handle the
type of development that we want to see in downtown that allows properties to come out
of the floodplain that creates those sidewalks and pedestrian corridors and bike corridors
and you know our transit oriented development.
What would it take to get to that place?
And so that's that's pretty much all we have going on right now.
So I'm going to go ahead and take this down.
I'll happy to answer any questions or bring a slide back up if I need to.
There we go.
Now I'm unmuted.
Okay.
You had said in an earlier slide in regard to the end of the PEC4 project that your recommendation
from council was to move forward, assuming that some money would come from TURS, but
not 100%.
Was there a stipulation attached to that in regards to expanding the funding, like how
long the TURS could fund itself or the amount cap?
Is there any consideration for changes to those or updates to those?
So the direction we got from council was that if the kind of generally, let's say we presented
those three options, then kind of 0%, 50% and 100% funding, the comfort level was somewhere
of 50% or less, which would we would consider that to be one phase of the project.
To do any of the phases, so phase three or phase four, we have to expand the boundary.
So if council were to even consider a 50% funding of the project, the boundary has to
be expanded to get 50% of the project into the TURS.
So if there were no boundaries, like the physical boundary, yeah, the geographic boundary of
the TURS, we would have to capture additional properties in the TURS.
Okay.
Now what about what we had gotten from the consultant was if we funded some of this,
that's it, and the TURS is gone, the money's gone.
Yes.
And that same information was presented to city council of that at a 100% funding scenario,
you'd have to remove the cap to fund the project fully, and then you'd also have to expand
the boundary.
There's no way to get to funding 100% of the project without doing those additional actions.
But even with those additional actions, you use up really any future revenues.
Yeah, so it's still just, hey, we should look at spending out of the TURS, not let's go
for it and close this thing down.
No, I think that there was pretty clear direction from council that they want the TURS to fund
a portion of the PAC project, but not 100%, but they wanted a clear list of projects that
would be funded from the TURS.
So how do we get to 100% utilization of the TURS?
Okay.
So is that a conversation we can have going forward of expanding the timeline and expanding
the cap?
Yes, I don't think council, yeah, council didn't shut the door on changes and related
to the TURS.
It was more of kind of specific to that PAC project that they didn't want to find 100%,
but kind of come back with a menu of options that they can consider.
Okay.
And to the same point that Ben had, we had had a conversation about participating jurisdictions,
maybe including county in the future.
Has there been conversations with county?
Is that part of what we might be able to capture in the future?
It is, and council asked the same question.
We haven't approached them specifically.
We had very preliminary discussions with them and we sort of got the same direction from
them of when there's a list of projects and we know what we'll be participating in, we're
open to having the conversation.
So I think we need to get a little bit more refined on our projects before we approach
them.
So how fast does that happen?
So if in four months at the end of the summer, the list is there, city council said yes,
county said yes, we participate because we see where the funding is going to come from
for 100% and what the projects are.
And then how does that get, like, what's the timeline to expand TERS to include additional
footprint and or to include county?
Like I don't know what that process is for the expansion.
There's some public notification and public hearing requirements.
I don't remember the days off the top of my head, but it's usually a 30 to 60 day.
And then I know Mac is here with the Sarsity attorney, but there's usually a 30 day like
notice requirement and then we have to post the public hearing notice and then there has
to be action taken.
So I would say it's probably somewhere in the 30 to 90 day range of the process legally
has to take.
Great.
Paul, I saw your hand.
Thanks.
I just wanted to clarify at least, you know, what I heard that I agreed with.
So I don't know if it's, you know, entirely the will of council was as far as picking
between the parts of PEC, the PEC project, that there's one part, I don't remember if
it's three or four, it's one part that's more, you know, evidently in kind of the business
area and one part that goes more into what's residential today.
And so just to the conversation, as I said, at least the part that I agreed with was to
focus on the part that, you know, that was more kind of within, you know, within the
east-west boundaries that we're accustomed to thinking of as the business area and that
that would therefore point us toward the 50%.
That's correct, council member.
Phase three, one is primarily already about 75% of phase three is already within the boundary
per se and it also is the piece that runs along Sycamore kind of through the county's
historic park and then turned south towards Stroud.
Thanks for confirming that and then actually, while we've got the mic, what do you envision
as the process for picking through the menu of projects?
Will that be a task for this body initially to make a recommendation?
Absolutely, it's a pretty comprehensive analysis already, but what we're doing is trying to
narrow the focus.
I think we heard a pretty good consensus, you know, the list of projects, that shortlist
of things that we have seem to be generally acceptable.
Those are kind of projects we know need to happen and they're all feasible downtown TURS
funded projects.
There's not one that's 60 million or 70 million dollars.
They're all small scale projects and so we're using that to say, okay, you know, if we accept
as PEC is kind of one a priority, we can actually run the scenarios of saying, okay, you can
do PEC and this project or you could do PEC and this project and this project, which can't
do that.
So we're actually going through that and building that out right now with the data we have.
Once we have the updated estimates at completions, once we get the updated data from DCAD, we'll
be able to plug those numbers in, but the formulas will essentially be the same.
So we're building that pro forma right now and then kind of forecasting out the TURS
revenue.
And so if there's going to be debt issued, we have to make sure that our debt lines up
with our cash flows for the TURS so that we're able to pay that debt service.
So that's the process we're going through right now.
Great.
Thanks.
So that's what we have to look forward to.
Yes.
Eric?
Yeah, I guess I really resonate with what was said about let's figure out what the all-in
plan is for how to transform a growing downtown essentially.
I know a couple of years ago, it's not a scientific study, but I saw a popular question from our
state representative, Lynn Stuckey, and he was asking, you know, where's the first place
you take friends or family when they come visit Denton?
And over 90% of the people who responded said downtown, right?
So I think downtown is really at the heart of what people enjoy about Denton.
It's really important to sort of be the fiscal engine, if you would, of our city.
I guess when I see what we could do, I try to think of it more of what are the necessary
pillars to complete in order for the development potential that we envision being unlocked,
right?
And so certainly PEC 4 seems like one of those things.
But if that's the only thing that's done, then I'm not convinced that it's just going
to flip the light switch and everything's going to happen, right?
There's still, you know, sidewalk connectivity issues.
Some of that's being worked.
What does that corridor look like in the southern area?
Another thing is, you know, there's a lot of those properties in that southern south
of the current towers actually had an all-street parking requirement exemption in the old code
and the 2019 code pulled that away from them.
So there's lots of sort of project/policy actions that might be necessary in order to
quote unquote unlock some of that area.
And I think I'd be interested in seeing what staff envisions for what that menu would be.
You know, I think the PEC 4 is a lot of money and certainly, you know, the numbers that
were shared last year, sorry, if you want to stop me, Melissa, please do.
I'm kind of coming in from, you know, new from all the discussions last year.
And the numbers I saw last year were, you know, increased valuation of around 17 million
or so.
And to me, that alone doesn't really justify the project, right?
You have to figure out how to unlock this area for development so that you have a lot
more than that, right, so that it can actually repay those bonds in a reasonable timeframe.
And then I guess the only thing else I'll say is that, you know, I think one question
I guess I have for you, Jessica, is I heard a lot of talk about office and we need to
reactivate sort of the daytime activity and downtime, and I'm assuming that's what that's
getting to.
But then at the same time, the comments seem to say that getting office development is
really hard, especially in the current situation.
Are there any out of the box ideas that we can come up with to sort of reactivate daytime
activity downtown that don't involve, you know, waving a magic wand and getting more
office space that people don't necessarily want to occupy right now?
It's a challenge.
It's really about the TERS can be a powerful tool.
It's not the only tool that you can use to encourage office users.
A lot of it is, you know, proof of concept.
And so when you're looking at really changing the profile of development and area, you have
to have someone who's going to be first in the door.
Usually that has to be someone who's a much more sophisticated developer who might understand
who also is willing to take a risk, but there might be a price associated with that risk.
And they may ask for an incentive to mitigate that and say, you know, we're willing to come
in and take the risk to change the profile of an area, but we're looking for, you know,
some assistance and there are some creative ways that communities are doing that.
I would say I think we've looked at, I want to say city of Allen, maybe one that has an
office space program where the city is, you know, helping to offset some of those rent
prices and things like that.
There are creative ways to get there, but it's just one way to get there.
There's some of the traditional economic development tools that are available.
But I would say anytime you're looking at this type of change, we have an area that's
very, you know, nighttime, evening, weekend population, and we're hearing that we need
to increase that daytime user, that's a change.
And so we have to be willing to use the tools at our disposal to encourage that type of
development.
Lots of things go into that.
One is going to be part of what you've heard today, right?
Making sure that that's part of the comprehensive plan is that if that's something we want to
do, we have to make sure that we're building our codes around allowing that type of development
to occur.
So whether that's changing the parking requirements or changing something in the building requirements
in that area, then the other part of that is the capital projects.
We have to have the sidewalks and the lighting and the trees and the green space that make
those daytime uses attractive.
And then the last part is the financial and economic component, which is where we come
in and say, well, we can help maybe offset some of that risk or mitigate that risk or
encourage or incentivize that type of development to occur financially.
And so it's everyone working together without that, it's not as effective.
Paul?
Yeah, I just want to reflect on a couple of points that Eric raised, not your whole holistic
point, but the idea that the increase in value associated with the PEC project would be $17
million.
I mean, that's part of what we hear is going to be ongoing, is figuring out what the built
out potential is, but I think that's not even going to be anywhere close to the result.
If you look at something like the rail yard down by the police station, that was like
a $500,000 property before, $400,000, and it's now probably a $20 million property.
So I'm not saying it's going to be all $20 million properties, but that's a lot of space
that becomes possible to develop.
And another point I wanted to follow on was you started your comments by referring to
a survey that our state rep had done, which I wasn't aware of, but I wonder if that, what
was the point of that?
Is there some, is he doing some advocacy for us with the state for some kind of funding
that might help with our big holistic downtown redevelopment vision?
Is there anything forthcoming there, or is the state too anti-city to expect anything
there?
Yeah, so that was somewhat dated, that was pre-COVID, so I think it doesn't speak to
any current events going on, but I just found it interesting that everybody seems to like
downtown.
Yeah, my question was ultimately to Jessica there, like, is there anything, is the state
of any interest, does our state representative or the state in general have any interest
in investing in our cities?
I don't know of anything off the top of my head, I know that this legislative session
might be a challenge financially for the state, so I, but I don't know of anything other than
the normal programs, obviously you've heard us talk about, you know, there are federal
grants that we may, that we're continuing to work on, and explore the possibilities
for those public works improvements, so at that level, but I'm not sure of the state
level.
Too many other questions, comments related to this item in our agenda?
I'll just close it out by saying, you know, as with many things, this is ongoing, and
we will be back, and hopefully have something a little bit neater and wrapped up in some
additional analysis work, I know what I'm doing this summer, so if anyone had any questions
or wants to participate in downtown property value analysis, I love company.
Might give you a little help if you asked.
What's this summer going to look like anyway?
Thank you Jessica, I think definitely an important part of this discussion today, thank you.
The next order of business is 1f, receive a report, we'll discuss and give staff direction
regarding the downtown reinvestment grant program, and the possible funding of COVID-19
response health and safety improvements as eligible grant expenses.
Jessica, I'm assuming this is you as well?
This is me.
Let me get everything pulled up, alright, so the objective for this item is just to
quickly go over a question that we received of whether or not health or safety improvements
made at businesses would be eligible grant expenses funded through the downtown TURS.
So sort of to set the stage for everyone, just a reminder that to be eligible for the
downtown reinvestment grant, there are three key areas that all expenses must be eligible
under.
Sort of the narrowest is the downtown reinvestment grant program guidelines.
It says if used there because that was if that becomes the funding source for any sort
of project or any other applicable ordinance or policy that the city might have.
The second kind of layer is the project plan, so we couldn't adopt a program that wasn't
compliant with the city's project plan for the TURS.
And then lastly is that it has to be eligible under Chapter 311 of the Texas Tax Code, which
is the Tax Increment Financing Act.
And so based on any direction or discussion we need to that we get today, if the board
wants us to move forward with anything, that we have to go back and review any direction
to be compliant with all three of those.
So just a reminder, since this is sort of the narrowest scope that we have to comply
with is the downtown reinvestment grant program, what are the existing eligible project categories?
That includes facade rehabilitation, building renovation.
We included the definitions for that, I won't read all of that, but it also includes awnings
and signing signs, impact fee reimbursements, utility upgrades, and interior code improvements.
If you'll remember just last year we updated that interior code improvement section to make
it clear that any type of improvement made with the Americans with Disabilities Act should
be included as an eligible expense under that interior code improvement section.
So really the point of this today is if a business that would be eligible under the
downtown grant program could include improvements and health or safety related improvements
as eligible expenses under that downtown reinvestment grant program.
So first we looked at eligibility, we think one option would be that it could be, we would
have to redefine interior code improvement, so we'd have to add something to that definition
to make it really clear, because it doesn't really fit into any of those definitions as
they exist today.
A second option would be to draft a new category of eligible expenses, so to make an additional
category that says businesses that made those improvements, that's just a separate category
and it wouldn't count in any of those others, it might also change how we score it.
Some additional considerations for just eligibility would be that properties that have already
reached their $25,000 max would not be eligible unless we waived or amended that part of the
policy as well, so that's a challenge, and then also it must still meet the chapter 311
and the project plan requirement, so in and of itself, without that grant program, it
might be a little bit more of a challenge to include health and safety improvements
unless we could point to a specific part of chapter 311 and the project plan that say
those are eligible.
The other consideration that we wanted to talk to the board is funding, would you want
that included in the existing $100,000 annual allocation or if this is something that you
would recommend increasing the downtown grant maybe temporarily as businesses are still
responding and making changes, and then additional consideration with that would be if we did
make some amendment, would it be effective in the current fiscal year, a future fiscal
year, we haven't received any grant applications this fiscal year to date, so right now we
still have $100,000 available.
And then the last option, which, and I'll kind of get into the specifics of that would
be you could make a recommendation to city council to create a new grant program or policy
specifically related to health and safety improvements, the caveat with that is that
we received specific direction from city council in December of 2020 that they did not want
to pursue a separate grant program specific to health and safety improvements, there are
a lot of federal funding that was made available through various things far beyond what the
TERS could feasibly fund and so we relied on the county's grant program, federal grants,
the PPP, EIDLs and now we have additional shuttered venue grants and the restaurant relief
fund that are now coming online.
Now obviously if we move forward with creating any additional grant program or policy it's
going to take more time to develop and implement, we're going to have to go back to city council
and ask them to reconsider their previous direction as well as develop drafts, make
sure it's legal, you know, I started to use cross before we bring it back to the board
for any type of consideration.
And so I just want to be clear with the board on the timeline to get something like that
it's it's obviously more significant when we're starting from scratch.
And so that that's pretty much I wanted to kind of just have a really brief summary before
we kind of get into the central question is it is this something that that the board wants
to consider and sort of and then if the answer is yes we can kind of talk through those pathways
of what the challenges are and how we could get there.
And we're not voting on this we're just having a discussion correct?
Correct just just want to get direction and then we'd have to make the changes and then
and bring it back okay does anybody have anything to add or questions to ask with Jessica related
to this.
Paul?
Yeah I mean just to kind of help the discussion because you know I mean Connie and I will
get another bite at this potentially but what exactly are we talking about in terms of what
kinds of things might people want to have grants for and are they things that there
wouldn't be CARES or Rescue Act money for?
I think we're talking about interior improvements things like installing the plastic shields
or the sneeze walls or the beautiful like separative walls like we have in in here in
the work session room to kind of give that protective space no you know touchless fixtures
doors those sorts of improvements but I would point back to sort of the the a lot the same
discussion we had with the ADA change was in and of itself if somebody was already making
an improvement would those be considered eligible expenses and that's why we wanted to clarify
that definition we thought that they were but it wasn't explicit in the policy.
So the same sort of thing if a space was being renovated today and those items were being
installed we think those things those improvements might be eligible but do we want to make the
language align with that?
Okay I'll just ask one more question if I may just on timing you know you kind of laid
out that there'd be a lot of steps to it you know I don't know if these kind of changes
would be considered enduring improvements or temporary and if you believe what we hear
from other levels of government that maybe we're kind of out of this thing in July you
know how much time would would even be sort of relevant you know for for downtime businesses
to act on it and get it and get a benefit before we're kind of post-COVID.
I think that's a great point and question you know we would have to make the changes
redraft it bring it back to this board get it back in front of City Council so if you
know it could be summer before we would even have something an ordinance in front of City
Council thanks anyone else Eric yeah I guess you know it sounds like a good idea to allow
people to be a little bit more flexible the big concern I have well I guess as I look
back over the last year right there were a lot of things we didn't know last March right
and and maybe if we had had this tool there it could have benefited some people but we
may have also made you know some improvements that that the science later turned out to
say that it wasn't that big of a deal to me I think the big the big question is whether
a program like this could help the businesses get back on their feet in terms of making
more people feel more comfortable coming back downtown right now certainly improving their
safety is is number one right but there are other benefits that that has as well I really
can't imagine exactly what types of solutions they might come with for the grant at this
point but when I look at at sort of what what would the downside be of not doing this given
like you said that there hadn't been any applications in this fiscal year yet that there's just
not a lot of capital running around to do new investments like that I kind of see it
as well what's the downside to trying and just saying at least for this fiscal year
maybe not an open-ended thing but if you have an idea to make your business jump back a
little bit faster than it would otherwise and there's some way that we can assist that
it sounds like a good idea to me Eric I'd like I'd like to respond a second for that
so I'm on the Dead Sea group as well and I've been surprised that nobody's taken advantage
of the street the parklets and the other street that what I would consider would be a safety
enhancement to be able to bring people back down and I'm not sure and you know there's
a couple you know Jimmy and Ben might be able to speak to why those weren't taken advantage
of and was it capital and if there was a 50/50 grant to be able to pay for the implementation
of that or the the you know the wood to put up the outdoor parks like maybe that would
have been a good a good place to go to as to that that grant as a safety type but it
would I think I think it also in in our in in terms it should be something that's more
substantial than a splash guard or a station where hand sanitizers are something that actually
changes the value of the property increases the tax basically the return on investment
would would be to increase the value of the property my two cents anybody else have anything
to add or ask
So is the direction to look at that definition and and see if there's a change that we could
make to maybe make it a little bit more broad so those types of things could be considered
or okay I mean Ben and Jimmy if you I would love to hear from y'all and see what like
the the parklets or what what infrastructure could a grant that would include health and
safety as Jessica described work well if if we're talking about adding help for bouncing
back or putting safety in place I don't think we could get that approved and through council
and get get presentations submitted to us before the world goes back to normal so I
don't know if that really helps but as far as ADA and disability accessibility goes I
think that should that should definitely be in there yeah that's my two cents
And I think that I think there's maybe a balance just thinking through this of maybe being
more clear of adding in parklets or street areas as to something that would be eligible
in the grant long term because that's something businesses may continue to want or pursue
beyond COVID COVID yeah yeah I think that's a great idea I'm not certain but I think the
the program that was passed by council last year may have expired because I think maybe
it was a pilot program so that maybe that involves seeing if council wants to renew
that I don't know but it's certainly something I would be in favor of using TURS funding
to to help smooth the way forward I think they extended it but I will I will check on
that and get and get back with the board so let me ask you a question you mentioned the
parklet is that correct if we could make it a little more general value of the property
I think that would be a smart smart wording to put in oh sorry did I freeze up all right
we'll get Jimmy the floor all right the parklet are you talking about the parking spaces being
part of the restaurants or the bar that what you're referring to yes yes and nobody took
advantage of that we received one application but I don't know that it's actually been implemented
who was it just can you say it was mulberry street cantina oh yeah they didn't they didn't
it was it because they were going to pour concrete was that right patio I'm neighbors
with them that's all but yeah yeah I'm not sure what the status is that's the only application
we received okay well is that is that a permanent thing is that ongoing or is it a temporary
or it was a pilot program I'm not sure if it's still I know it was extended beyond its
initial kind of deadline but I'm not sure if it's still ongoing I'll have to look was
there funding for it or no no just the permission to use street property yes but it would be
interesting to see if we tie that in with a reimbursement grant if it would have wings
that it didn't I mean I'm quite frankly shocked that it didn't have wings especially in light
of the conversation of wanting to use tourist funding for things like the new streets because
essentially this created a meet you know the parklets would create new streets without
going through creating new streets could not would but could but it would be interesting
if it was tied into a ringer I think we're getting a little bit off point for posting
safety discussion and if we want to talk about parkless we can come back at another meeting
okay I meant part of safety but I understand your point thank you okay so I think it sounds
like we're not wanting to move forward from what I can tell or and look in looking at
adding item 1f to future recommendation to council so what I hear could we add language
it's a little more broad you you had tapped on this something that if it adds to the value
or the function of the business it could be included or it could be a reason or is that
getting too general I think that there the point would be there we could add general
language to the interior code improvements that would say something like an improvement
made for health and safety that increases the value we I'd have to you know work with
Mac to get kind of what would be legal language under the statute and the project plan and
I could bring that back I think I think then the question would be in the board's evaluation
and use of the grant that you know we've kind of shied away from doing a lot of grants that
where it's a singular improvement it's usually you're kind of hitting all of the categories
or if not it's a very small level grant some of like the mural grant that we just did was
much smaller than the maximum grant because it's an isolated category so while we can
add this into the grant in terms of scoring it it may not score very high unless it's
done as part of a larger project well larger project being recreating spaces in a particular
building restaurant yeah the larger rehabilitation and renovation projects kind of much like
sweet water you know received was very different than the h2o grant which was specific for
the mural and so Christina it was only what seven thousand dollars not sure I apologize
I don't have that number in front of me but so if it was a health and safety specific
language that was added to those interior code improvements or to the building we could
find some language to get it in there but it would still not change how a grant would
be evaluated that may not be scored very highly in and of itself Paul I'm just kind of processing
hearing from everyone you know it it may be a little too late to be you know what it's
explicitly defined as and a little too early to say what our business is going to feel
the need to do to jump start and make people feel comfortable to come back in the only
thing that I can think of that might even fall you know sort of along the lines that
Eric described this health and safety thing that people might sort of still want going
forward and I'm just speculating would be like those air filtration systems I mean I
don't I don't I mean I'm just my opinion is I don't think people are going to be looking
so much for sneeze guards and spacing like I think you're super ready to go back to whatever
the pre-covid life was to the extent possible but maybe there's still be some lingering
feeling of if we're 75% immune there's still some people wandering around you know with
the virus so you know I'm totally speculating maybe businesses will have that as an advertisable
feature that they've got the filtration but I but I still kind of feel like it's we don't
know yet what like the more important thing in what you said to me was businesses are
going to want something that are going to want help restarting and and and I think kind
of whatever falls under that category is more significant than necessarily be about you
know yeah yeah so I don't know if that helps anyone that's just some reflection and Jessica
I think you said that there are other essentially funding opportunities and grants for businesses
have been in the past I like the open grant which is closed but there are other opportunities
yes yes and particularly as it relates to to restarting because you know looking at
the intent of the downtown reinvestment grant it's about historic preservation it's about
that rehabilitation and generating economic activity kind of where it isn't where there
isn't one or where you know someone has taken on renovating their space but preserving some
of those historic elements and so this particular grant may not be the place for those restarting
grants to occur if that makes sense yes I personally think it belongs somewhere else
so I'll make that statement personally
so I think the direction is we're good with the with the grant firm now but there may
be a need to re-approach it later if we hear kind of what a specific need coming forward
I agree with that yeah just to just say one more thing you know I think there's a little
bit of a lesson in and I'm looking at Matt carefully here in the discussion about streeteries
and parklets and that you know we had some some very appealing I think guesses at what
businesses ought to want but it didn't seem like anyone wanted it except for Mulberry
Street and I'm wondering if this is you know if we need to somehow be following a little
more in our leadership you know I mean like like I think we need to be maybe drawing some
of our clues more directly from what the businesses you know see as opportunities so it's a little
embarrassing having spent that many hours debating the bloody thing and then have nobody
act on it yeah maybe one possible follow-on would be to to check with Main Street and
other organizations you know before our next meeting to see what what do they see as needs
right sure we'll tell Mac that that one is a concluding item but no I think that's a
great idea we could do a check-in with Main Street and see what they're hearing any other
further discussion next order business is 1g received staff activity report the chair
recognizes Christina Davis who's been waiting patiently that's a great conversation happening
here today just really quick since our last meeting we haven't had any openings or closings
so we're good there we didn't have those posted as far as coming soon we're still waiting
on h2 oak and caskies both of those people are working through their business plans and
and deciding how they want to proceed with their businesses but so far everyone's still
moving forward so that's good news and then on our our currently active reinvestment grant
that 104 McKinney I did reach out to that property owner I haven't heard back from them
but I was able to get with development services and find out they are trying to get some of
their final inspections completed they're running into a few little hiccups but they're
working through those and they have their next scheduled inspection for the end of April
so hopefully we'll have some good news soon on that property and then the remaining item
is just our next meeting date is May 26th is that right Jessica May 26th is our next
meeting date yes give any questions for me about my report no onto concluding items thank
you Christina concluding items item two is there any other business to discuss please
raise your hand I heard a main street briefing that's what I heard right now I think that's
a great idea we'll reach out to Christine Gossett and John Cartwright and maybe invite
them at our next meeting I think it's a great idea I did send Christine the link to it's
been sorry because we've been talking that Christina Davis and I should be updating the
main street board a little bit more but Christine Gossett said she'd like to just sit on these
quietly and just take notes so I'll try to send those to her earlier than the day of
next time any other concluding items there's no other business the regular meeting is adjourned
at 159 p.m. thank you all very much thank you