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TDIA Board Meeting Minutes 02-27-2023.pdf.docx
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Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority Board of Directors Monday, February 23, 2023– 12:00 PM

City Hall, 300 S. Adams Street Board Meeting

Board members are asked to attend in person to ensure quorum.

Board Members Present:                                                Staff Present:

Patty Swain, Vice Chair                                                Elizabeth Emmanuel, Chief Executive Officer

Sha’Ron James                                                        Alexis Bondi, Admin. Aide

Gus Corbella                                                        Landon Pokela, City Budget & Finances

Cynthia Tunnicliff                                                Louis Norvell, City Attorney’s Office

Devan Leavins

Commissioner Jeremy Matlow

AGENDA

  1. Welcome/ Meeting Called to Order

A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order at 12:02 PM.

  1. Comments from Members of the Public (3-minute limit)

There was no public comment.

  1. Approval of Board Minutes

Sha’Ron James motioned to move the January 20, 2023 minutes; Gus Corbella seconded. Board vote was unanimous in favor.

  1. Department Update (20 Minutes)

The DIA was successful in getting Parks and Rec to move two trash cans that were previously housed in Kleman Plaza to College Ave to help with litter abatement. We also noticed some user issues for the trash compactor and recycling bin on College Ave that many of the downtown businesses use, so to mitigate user issues we plan to distribute a handout/signage that shows how to properly use it.

We’ve gotten a new market logo to celebrate the first market of the year and Tallahassee’s 199th birthday. And while the retail component has been temporarily postponed, we will have Tallahassee themed merch for sale.

  1. Event Updates- Elizabeth noted some upcoming events in the Tallahassee community. She updated everyone that we plan to have a stakeholder meeting with the downtown businesses to discuss some of the bigger events like Springtime Tallahassee and how that will affect the downtown businesses.

  1. Merchandise Update- As previously mentioned, we plan to launch some Tallahassee and Tallahassee Downtown themed merch to help foster community pride and act as a small revenue source for the DIA. We plan to have several new shirt designs, stickers, postcards, and other items while also selling off some of the old inventory we already have.

  1. Presentation from Hammerhead Communications                 Skip Foster and Handley Mikec
  1. Discussion with Big Bend COC                                Johnna Coleman

Hammerhead was brought in to help the DIA create a resource guide to help answer some of the questions of how to handle certain situations regarding individuals experiencing homelessness and what resources are available to them. Johnna Coleman from Big Bend COC has helped to create the content for what will go into the guide.

DIA and Hammerhead sent out a survey to downtown businesses to better inform what kind of content needs to go into the resource guide. Over 20% of people responded. The results showed that 80% of responses noted they encounter individuals experiencing homelessness frequently or even daily. Most have said the situation has gotten worse in the last 6 months and that they aren’t sure when to call the non-emergency number. 89.1% of survey results said that a resource guide would be helpful.

DIA then had a meeting with BBCOC, the Kearney Center, the Apalachee Center, TPD, Leon County Police, Leon County, LCSO, and the TCC Police. We then synthesized information from the meeting into 5 buckets and with Johnna’s help have been able to have a clearer picture of what will go into the resource guide we distribute.

Johnna also explained that the biggest difference on when to call the non-emergency police number vs. COC would be when an issue needs to be enforced. COC does not have the authority to enforce anything but will come out to help. Sha’Ron then suggested that the DIA consider creating a short video to distribute in addition to the resource guide.

        Gus Corbella then thanked Johnna for everything that the BBCOC is doing, but also pointed out that business owners are feeling frustrated and worried that if someone doesn’t step in to do more, something dangerous could happen. Johnna shared that the county is also working on a bigger resource guide and that it will take time to move forward with some of the solutions. Commissioner Matlow then told everyone to bring this forward to the city commission so that we can see if something can be done at that level.

  1. FY 23 Budget Update (10 Minutes)

Landon Pokela updated the board that there has been an issue with the process for collecting the property taxes, but the real amount that we have received so far is $228,000 which is on schedule. We will also have the $50,000 from the CRA coming in for events. The temporary wages category is a little higher than expected but will be balanced out by the salaries budget. Right now, there is a surplus of $138,000 which is also on track for what was expected.

  1. Ideas and Discussion, Board Member Comments

Patty Swain updated that the Tallahassee Center has been receiving a bit of an exterior refresh which should take 6-8 more weeks. Some owners are concerned about the trash on College Ave. and would like to donate 6 trash cans to go along College Ave. to the City. Elizabeth has said that she will connect Patty with Parks and Rec.

Louis Norvell then brought up the fact that the amphitheater in Kleman Plaza is not ADA compliant and has not been in use for a long time. He asked if the board had any ideas on what that space could be used as instead. It currently serves as a convenient staircase that bridges the gap between the civic center and Kleman Plaza. He also brought up the recent noise ordinance discussion that has been brought up in recent city commission meetings regarding College Ave and All Saints Neighborhood. He noted that the current cut off isn’t until 2 AM and that there are a lot of conversations as to what the solution is. The commission can make some adjustments, but to enforce what they want to see could be a problem to the city. Cynthia Tunnicliff pointed out that the noise is part of living downtown. The board discussed the fraternities and college parties that take place in downtown need to be regulated.

Gus Corbella then updated everyone that the Florida Retail Federation and Poco Vino will both be getting some major exterior renovations, and that the Governor’s Inn is projected to be done in the summer. These exterior updates will hopefully make downtown more pedestrian friendly and even attract more retail to the area. He also shared that business owners have come together to purchase gates for Gallie Alley to hopefully address some of the downtown business’s concerns.

  1. Board Member Comments

Patty Swain adjourned the meeting at 12:59 PM.

Dates to Note: