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IT'S FOREVER.[1. CALL SESSION TO ORDER]
6 0 1.START THE WORK SESSION FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5TH, 2024.
[3.1 Downtown Assessment Report by Texas Downtown (Kristi Barnes)]
IS DOWNTOWN ASSESSMENT REPORT BY TEXAS DOWNTOWN.GOOD EVENING MAYOR IN COUNCIL.
UM, THIS EVENING WE HAVE SHELLY ASHCROFT AS, UH, REPRESENTATIVE FOR TEXAS DOWNTOWN, UM, FORMERLY KNOWN AS TEXAS DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION, UM, WHO WE ARE MEMBERS OF.
AND THEY CAME OUT IN APRIL, CONDUCTED, UM, AN ASSESSMENT FOR OUR DOWNTOWN, UM, AND FINALIZED THE REPORT BACK IN JUNE.
SO, UM, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WILL LET MS. ASHCROFT TAKE OVER.
IT IS SO GREAT TO BE BACK HERE IN HU.
WE HAD A DREAM TEAM, WHICH I'LL INTRODUCE TO YOU IN A MINUTE.
UM, BUT IT'S JUST GREAT TO SEE DOWNTOWN HU AS WELL AS THE CO-OP DISTRICT LED UP FOR CHRISTMAS.
BUT I DO WANNA THANK, UH, THE CITY OF HURO FOR BEING A MEMBER FOR TEXAS DOWNTOWN.
AND, UM, MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WANNA THANK CHRISTIE FOR Y'ALL LETTING CHRISTIE SERVE AS A TEXAS DOWNTOWN BOARD MEMBER.
SHE WAS A GREAT LEADER ON THE BOARD AND SO GREAT THAT WE MAY HAVE TO CIRCLE BACK AND BE LIKE, HEY, DO YOU WANNA COME BACK FOR A SECOND? ROUND
BUT BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I, I WANNA MAKE Y'ALL MORE FAMILIAR WITH, UM, TEXAS DOWNTOWN, JUST IN CASE Y'ALL AREN'T FAMILIAR.
SO WE ARE ALMOST 40 YEARS OLD.
WE WERE FOUNDED IN 1985 BY THE SAME FOUNDER OF THE TEXAS MAIN STREET PROGRAM, WHICH Y'ALL MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH AT THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
SHE, UM, WAS A VISIONARY AND SHE FIRMLY BELIEVED THAT DOWNTOWN'S FOR THE HEART AND SOUL OF COMMUNITIES.
AND SO, UH, TEXAS DOWNTOWN IS THE ONLY STATEWIDE NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO DOWNTOWNS IN TEXAS.
UM, WE ARE COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT.
WE DON'T RECEIVE ANY TYPE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
WE, UM, ARE FUNDED MAINLY THROUGH OUR MEMBERSHIP, UM, DUES, OUR SERVICES AND OUR, UH, EVENTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
UH, THE GREAT THING, AND I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST STRENGTHS FOR TEXAS DOWNTOWN IS THAT WE ARE OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS.
WE HAVE EVERYONE FROM, UH, MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AS MEMBERS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, CORPORATE BUSINESS OWNERS.
UM, SO WE HAVE A REALLY WELL-ROUNDED MEMBERSHIP AND THEY ARE VERY OPEN TO HELPING ALL OF US ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS STRENGTHEN OUR DOWNTOWNS, UM, TO MAKE 'EM MORE VIBRANT.
THEY'RE VERY OPEN ABOUT SHARING INFORMATION AND HELPING OUT.
AND SO, UM, THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS THE STRONGEST THING ABOUT TEXAS.
WE HAVE OVER 380, UH, ACTIVE MEMBERS AND, UH, SOME OF THE MEMBER SERVICES AND BENEFITS THAT WE PROVIDE CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE AT TEXAS DOWNTOWN.
SO CHECK IT OUT IF YOU WANT MORE DETAILS.
BUT, UM, WE ARE MISSION DRIVEN.
OUR FOCUS IS TO PROVIDE OUR MEMBERS WITH, UM, ADVOCACY, EDUCATION RESOURCES, AND OF COURSE, THOSE CONNECTIONS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT, UM, TO LOWER THAT, UH, LEARNING CURVE WITH DOWNTOWN.
EVERYBODY SEEMS TO HAVE VERY SIMILAR ISSUES IN THEIR DOWNTOWNS, NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR BIG PARKING BEING ONE OF 'EM.
AND SO WE ARE REALLY GREAT ABOUT LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER.
UM, ONE OF THE MEMBER SERVICES THAT WE OFFER OUR DOWNTOWN ASSESSMENTS, AND SO IF Y'ALL ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS, UM, BASICALLY WE START WITH A DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDER SURVEY, WHICH WE, UH, SENT TO CHRISTIE AND SHE SENT IT OUT TO HER DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS.
SO WE WERE GATHERING INFORMATION ON HUDA, UH, BEFORE WE EVEN ARRIVED.
UM, AND THEN Y'ALL HAD A DREAM TEAM, LITERALLY A DREAM TEAM.
UM, IN BETWEEN THESE THREE PROFESSIONALS, THERE'S PROBABLY 60 TO 70 YEARS WORTH OF EXPERIENCE IN TOURISM AND DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE.
SO THEY BY FAR WERE MY FAVORITE DOWNTOWN ASSESSMENT TEAM I'VE EVER BEEN ON.
UM, BUT ONCE WE ARRIVED IN LATE APRIL FOR THE DAY LONG VISIT, WE STARTED OFF WITH, UH, STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS.
WHAT OUR GOAL IS FOR THAT DAY WHEN WE ARRIVED IS TO ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND LISTEN AND TAKE NOTES.
AND FROM THOSE NOTES, UM, THESE PROFESSIONALS MADE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT'S HOW THE DOWNTOWN ASSESSMENT REPORT
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WAS, UM, CREATED.SO, UM, SARAH PAGE, IF YOU DON'T KNOW SARAH PAGE ON THE VERY LEFT, SHE'S WITH THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION'S HERITAGE TOURISM PROGRAM.
SHANE, WILLEM, UM, IS WAS WITH THE TEXAS TRAVEL ALLIANCE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, KIM IFF IS A NEIGHBORING DOWNTOWNER WITH THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN.
AND SO, UM, WE DO WANNA CONGRATULATE HUDA.
Y'ALL HAVE OBVIOUSLY MADE HUGE STRIDES IN DOWNTOWN AS WELL AS THE CO-OP DISTRICT.
UM, AND Y'ALL'S LOCATION IS FABULOUS.
Y'ALL ARE KIND OF IN BETWEEN THE TWO BOOKENDS OF TAYLOR AND SAMSUNG AND THEN OF COURSE ROUND ROCK AND GEORGETOWN, AND THEN AUSTIN IS SO CONVENIENT.
SO, UM, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE TRAFFIC COUNTS AT 79 AND UM, EAST STREET, I WAS SHOCKED THAT THERE ARE OVER 37,000 TRAFFIC COUNTS.
UM, SO MANY OF OUR DOWNTOWN MEMBERS, IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET TO THEIR DOWNTOWN.
YOU KIND OF GET LOST BEFORE YOU GET THERE, AND THE TRAFFIC COUNTS ARE WAY LOWER THAN THIS.
SO IF I WAS AN INVESTOR AND I SAW THOSE TRAFFIC COUNTS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD CATCH MY ATTENTION AS FAR AS THE LOCATION OF WHERE I WANNA INVEST MY, MY MONEY.
UM, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HEARD AND WHILE WE WERE HERE AND WE'RE, YOU KNOW, GETTING FEEDBACK IS THAT PEOPLE LOVE THE SMALL TOWN CHARM OF HUDU.
THEY LOVE THE HISTORIC FABRIC THAT Y'ALL HAVE IN DOWNTOWN.
THEY LOVE, THEY'RE VERY PROUD THAT THERE ARE STILL PHOTOS AND IMAGES OF DOWNTOWN BEING USED ON WEBSITES AND OTHER MARKETING MATERIALS.
UM, AND THEY WANT TO PRESERVE THAT FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AND THEN OF COURSE, UM, YOUR BELOVED HIPPO.
I MEAN, WE COULDN'T GET AWAY FROM THAT.
AND THEN ALSO THE FACT THAT THAT MASCOT IS IN EVERY SCHOOL IS NOT JUST AT THE HIGH SCHOOL OR JUST AT, AT ONE OF THE SCHOOLS.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S VERY, THAT'S SOMETHING UNIQUE THAT WE DON'T SEE ALL THE TIME.
SO, UH, JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE, WE BROKE DOWN THE DOWNTOWN ASSESSMENT REPORT, WHICH Y'ALL HAVE A COPY OF INTO FOUR POINTS.
AND THEY'RE BASICALLY THE MAIN STREET FOUR POINT APPROACH.
IT'S ORGANIZATION DESIGN, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION.
AND SO THAT'S HOW WE BROKE DOWN OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, WE'RE IN THOSE FOUR POINTS.
SO JUST A REAL QUICK OVERVIEW, THE ONES THAT WE ENDED UP IN THIS POWERPOINT ARE THE ONES THAT WE HEARD THE MOST FEEDBACK ABOUT.
AND SO THE FIRST THING THAT WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE MOST UNDER ORGANIZATION IS A DOWNTOWN AND TOURISM PROGRAM MANAGER.
UM, THAT WAS BROUGHT UP SEVERAL TIMES THAT IT'S BEEN SEVEN YEARS SINCE THERE'S BEEN A DEDICATED STAFF PERSON FOR DOWNTOWN.
I MEAN, THANKFULLY Y'ALL HAVE CHRISTIE AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS WHO DOWNTOWN HAS, HAS COME UNDER THEIR PURVIEW, BUT NOT REALLY ANYONE WHO'S SOLELY FOCUSED ON DOWNTOWN, ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH DOWNTOWN PROPERTY OWNERS, WITH REALLY BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS, UM, WITH MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE MARKETING AND PROMOTING DOWNTOWN AND REALLY POSITIONING IT FOR TOURISM.
AND SO THAT CAME UP, UM, THE MOST UNDER ORGANIZATION.
AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, YOU DO HAVE THE REFERENCE OF YOUR 2040 COMP PLAN, UM, CHAPTER EIGHT OF JUST THAT BEING AN IMPORTANT PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S PROGRESS ON IT IN THAT CHAPTER OF MAKING SURE THAT THOSE GOALS AND RESPONSIBILITIES GET DONE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, A POSITION WOULD BE ABLE TO DO.
UM, AND THEN ANOTHER ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUE THAT, THAT JUMPED UP A LOT IS THAT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THAT STRONG CITY LIAISON FOR DOWNTOWN, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE OUT OF THE LOOP.
THAT EVEN IF THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON WITH DOWNTOWN, THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
UM, AND SO THEY, I THINK THEY JUST FEEL LIKE, UM, YEAH, DISCONNECTED.
THEY JUST FEEL A LITTLE BIT DISCONNECTED.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SUGGESTED IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE, WE DID WHEN I WAS IN DOWNTOWN GEORGETOWN, IS THAT WE JUST HELD WHAT WE CALLED A DOWNTOWN LOWDOWN MEETING.
WE GOT ALL OF OUR CITY, UH, DEPARTMENT HEADS OR DIRECTORS.
THEY MADE A PRESENTATION IF THEY HAD ANY TYPE OF WORK OR PROJECTS GOING ON THAT WERE RELATED TO DOWNTOWN.
SO WHETHER IT HAD TO DO WITH PUBLIC WORKS, STREET CONSTRUCTION CLOSURES, YOU KNOW, OR IF IT HAD TO DO WITH ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE, UM, BECAUSE THEY WOULD TRACK THE, UM, THEY
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WOULD WORK WITH THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE TO TRACK TA TAX REVENUE THAT WAS COLLECTED FROM THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, AND THEN THEY WOULD REPORT ON THAT, UM, AT THESE MEETINGS AS WELL AS HOW IT COMPARED TO THE YEAR BEFORE.UM, SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S JUST AN HOUR LONG MEETING.
IT GETS EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE.
IT TALKS ABOUT WHAT IS, WHAT HAS HAPPENED, WHAT'S COMING UP, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S, UM, TOURISM SPECIAL EVENTS, JUST SO THAT THEY'RE PREPARED.
AND AT THE VERY END OF THE DOWNTOWN LOWDOWN MEETING, WE WOULD INVITE OUR NONPROFITS THAT ARE ENGAGED IN DOWNTOWN, WHICH WERE LIKE THE PALACE THEATER, THE WILLIAMSON MUSEUM, SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.
THEY WOULD ALSO CHIME IN AND GIVE UPDATES ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, UM, WITH THEIR NEXT PERFORMANCE OR ACTIVITY OR THE NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS.
SO IT'S JUST BUILDING THAT TRUST AND BUILDING THAT COMMUNICATION, UM, THAT I THINK IS WHAT THEY WERE REALLY LOOKING FOR IN DOWNTOWN.
UM, WE'RE BACK TO H HU ISD, UM, THE FUTURE OF HU AND ALL OF OUR SMALL TOWNS IN TEXAS ARE OUR STUDENTS, OUR YOUTH.
AND WE ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT BEHIND GETTING YOUTH AT THE DOWNTOWN TABLE.
AND WE ALSO WANT, YOU KNOW, TEACHERS, WE WANT STAFF.
UM, WE WANT THEIR INPUT BECAUSE, UM, THEY'RE THE FUTURE OF, OF WHAT IS GONNA BE.
UM, WE WANT THEM TO GO AWAY AND GO TO COLLEGE, BUT WE WANT THEM TO COME BACK AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES AND, AND GROW HETO, UM, AND BECOME LEADERS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE HAVING HIGH SCHOOL, UM, ART CLASS, UM, DO A PUBLIC ART PROJECT IN DOWNTOWN, OR HAVE MAYBE CULINARY STUDENTS DO A SPECIAL EVENT THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE CULINARY ARTS IN DOWNTOWN.
WE HAVE HAD ALL THOSE EXAMPLES ACROSS THE STATE WHERE STUDENTS HAVE DIRECTLY GOTTEN INVOLVED WITH THEIR DOWNTOWN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
AND IT'S MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR BUY-IN.
UM, AND, AND ONCE THEY HAVE THOSE REALLY STRONG MEMORIES IN DOWNTOWN AND, AND THAT OWNERSHIP, THEY DO, THEY, THEY WANNA COME BACK, THEY WANNA LIVE IN HU BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUCH GREAT MEMORIES.
SO WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE GETTING, UM, YOUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT INVOLVED WITH DOWNTOWN.
UM, AND THEN FLIPPING TO DESIGN, UM, WE WERE ALWAYS TAUGHT, YOU KNOW, QUALITY OVER QUANTITY AND UM, WAY FINDING SIGNAGE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT
UM, BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE HIGHWAYS THAT RUN NEARBY OR THROUGH IT.
SO WE ALWAYS STRONGLY ENCOURAGE TO GET TEXT.AT THE TABLE EARLY ON, UM, TO SEE IF THEY HAVE FUNDING, TO SEE IF THEY HAVE GUIDELINES THAT THEY'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE TO MEET, UM, THAT YOU DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A, UM, VISIBLE GA GATEWAY TO DOWNTOWN.
I KNOW FOR ME, UM, WHEN I ORIGINALLY CAME IN APRIL, I KEPT DRIVING TO THE STOPLIGHT AND THEN I HAD TO TURN AROUND AND COME BACK.
'CAUSE YOU JUST KIND OF, YOU KIND OF MISS EAST STREET.
I MEAN, YOU SEE IT COMING FROM THE OTHER WAY, BUT I WAS COMING FROM AUSTIN, SO THERE WAS THAT COMMENT ABOUT WE NEED DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE.
WE NEED TO SHOW PEOPLE WHO ARE BRAND NEW HERE.
WHERE ARE PUBLIC RESTROOMS? WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED? WHERE ARE PUBLIC, UH, PARKING LOTS? UM, YOU KNOW, WHERE DO YOU FIND CITY HALL IF YOU START IN DOWNTOWN? UM, SO WAYFINDING DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE IS, IS DEFINITELY WORTH AN INVESTMENT FOR LOCALS AND FOR TOURISTS.
AND, UM, LIKE I HAD MENTIONED BEFORE, PEOPLE ARE VERY PROUD OF THEIR HISTORIC FABRIC.
THEY LOVE THOSE HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THEY'RE MAINTAINED, UM, AND THAT THEY ARE PRESERVED FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AND SO, UM, SEVERAL OF OUR DOWNTOWN MEMBERS ARE ALSO CLG MEMBERS.
THEY'RE CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEMBERS.
AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER PROGRAM, UM, THROUGH THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION WHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE, UH, PRESERVATION STANDARDS FOR YOUR DOWNTOWN ASSETS.
THEY ALS ALSO HAVE A GRANT, UH, THAT'S AVAILABLE.
AND SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN IS A CLG MEMBER AND THEY ARE ALSO A MAIN STREET COMMUNITY AND A TEXAS DOWNTOWN MEMBER.
AND THEN WHERE WOULD I BE IF I DIDN'T BRING UP PARKING
SO USUALLY ONCE WE, UM, LOOK AT DOWNTOWNS AND STUDY THEM, TYPICALLY WHAT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS, IS THERE'S NO MANAGEMENT OF THE DOWNTOWN SPACES.
SO THEY ARE NOT BEING USED AT THEIR HIGHEST AND BEST USE.
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UM, AND MAYBE THEY'RE BEING USED BY EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AND THEY'RE PARKING IN THOSE PRIME ON STREET PARKING SPACES THAT SHOULD BE FOR CUSTOMERS ONLY WHEN THEY'RE SHOPPING.SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
MAYBE HU'S NOT THERE RIGHT NOW, UM, BUT MAYBE LOOKING AT A DOWNTOWN PARKING ORDINANCE THAT WOULD NEED TO BE ENFORCED, UM, RANDOMLY AND REGULARLY.
BECAUSE OF COURSE IF
UM, SO IT'S AN ONGOING, IT'S AN ONGOING CHALLENGE.
OKAY, SO FLIPPING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, AT THE TIME IN APRIL WE WERE DISCUSSING DISCUSSING DETER, AND I KNOW THAT Y'ALL HAVE SINCE THEN HAD, UM, MEETINGS WITH VIRGINITY AND SO Y'ALL HAVE A WHOLE SEPARATE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THEM AND A WHOLE SEPARATE MEETING.
BUT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF TOUCH ON AN EXAMPLE, A REAL WORLD EXAMPLE FROM, UH, DOWNTOWN MESQUITE.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF Y'ALL ARE EVEN KNOW MESQUITE HAS A DOWNTOWN, UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID WITH THEIR TURS IS THAT THEY INCLUDED IF THE DOWNTOWN TURS ALSO WENT UP AND INCLUDED THEIR MALL.
SO ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR MALL, ALL THAT REVENUE COULD ALSO BE USED FOR DOWNTOWN.
SO WE WERE THINKING KIND OF IN THAT SAME CONCEPT, YOU KNOW, WHY NOT EXPAND THE EXISTING CO-OP DISTRICT CHURCH TO INCLUDE DOWNTOWN IN THE COTTONWOOD DISTRICTS SO THAT THE FUNDING THAT IS GENERATED BY ALL OF THEM COULD BE USED IN, IN, IN ALL THE DISTRICTS.
UM, THAT'S JUST A, A THOUGHT FROM FROM ONE OF OUR OTHER TEXAS DOWNTOWN MEMBERS.
UM, AND THIS IS ANOTHER REAL WORLD EXAMPLE FROM GEORGETOWN THAT IS KIND OF, UM, ONE OF THE BEST STORIES THAT I'VE HAD IS THAT WHEN I STARTED IN GEORGETOWN, UH, IN LIKE 2003, THAT'S WHEN, LET ME SET THE TONE BACK THEN.
AND SO ALL THEIR, UM, MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLIERS WERE LOOKING AT CENTRAL TEXAS TO FIND LOCATIONS TO EXPAND.
AND SO WE DIDN'T KNOW THIS, BUT TOSSES OUT OF THE MIDWEST, WHICH IS A SUPPLIER FOR TOYOTA, WAS IN GEORGETOWN, AND THEY WERE KICKING TIRES WITHOUT US KNOWING.
UM, AND THE CFO UM, CAME TO DOWN TO THE GEORGETOWN SQUARE, UM, DINED IN DOWNTOWN, WALKED AROUND, SHOPPED.
I SPENT SOME TIME AND WHEN SHE ANNOUNCED AT THE RIBBON CUTTING, UM, THIS IS WHY WE MOVED TO GEORGETOWN, IT WAS BECAUSE THE GEORGETOWN SQUARE REMINDED HER OF HER HOMETOWN AND SHE HAD THIS EMOTIONAL CONNECTION AND SHE SAID, BECAUSE THE CITY HAS INVESTED SO MUCH MONEY IN THE DOWNTOWN AND MAINTAINED THEIR DOWNTOWN SO WELL, I KNOW THAT Y'ALL WILL HELP PRETTY MUCH TAKE CARE OF MY EMPLOYEES.
AND, AND SO THAT'S A REAL WORLD EXAMPLE OF EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURING LOCATION IN DOWNTOWN, THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT DECISION THAT SHE MADE BECAUSE OF THE DOWNTOWN GEORGETOWN SQUARE WAS TO MOVE TULSA AND EXPAND IN GEORGETOWN.
UM, BACK THEN, UM, ALSO IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I THINK THESE ARE KIND OF THE, THE TWO CATALYST PROJECTS THAT WE THOUGHT, OH MY GOSH, IF THIS HAPPENED, THIS IS A BIG GAME CHANGER.
SO I KNOW EVERYBODY'S KIND OF USED TO SEEING THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE OF EAST STREET, UM, YOU KNOW, BEING INTACT AND SO, AND SO HISTORIC, BUT THE CONVERSATION THEN TURNED TO THE EAST SIDE OF E STREET AND WHAT THAT COULD BECOME.
IF YOU DID SOME GREAT INFILL AND SOME GREAT NEW CONSTRUCTION OF MIXED USE PROJECTS, UM, PEOPLE WOULD DIE TO THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND, AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE BEEN IN IN HUTTO FOR YEARS, YOU'RE PROBABLY USED TO SEEING, YOU KNOW, IT JUST ALWAYS BE THIS SIDE OF THE STREET.
BUT IF YOU DID HAVE NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT, UM, MIRRORED, NOT DUPLICATED, BUT MIRRORED IN A 20 24, 20 25 WAY, UM, THAT COULD BE A HUGE CATALYST FOR DOWNTOWN AS FAR AS, UM, A BOOM.
UM, AND THEN ALSO LOOKING DOWN FARLEY STREET, UM, WHICH ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF JUST LOOKING AT, UM, THE PLANTINGS, THE TREES.
UM, IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO WALK IN BETWEEN THE CO-OP DISTRICT AND DOWNTOWN, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SHADE 'EM.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PROVIDE SHADE.
EVEN IN APRIL WHEN WE CAME, IT WAS, IT WAS PRETTY WARM.
SO Y'ALL DID A GREAT JOB OF THAT.
BUT THERE'S ALL THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR INFILL OF REALLY GREAT MIXED USE INFILL ALONG BARLEY STREET OF WHETHER IT BE DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL
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OR LODGING OR MIXED USE, YOU KNOW, OR BREWERIES, WINERIES, ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT WOULD ATTRACT PEOPLE.UM, THOSE WERE KIND OF THE TWO MAIN CORRIDORS THAT WE WERE THINKING, HOLY COW, THIS COULD BE A REAL GAME CHANGER FOR DOWNTOWN HEAD AND THE CO-OP DISTRICT.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY THE LAST POINT, UH, PROMOTION AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
UM, THE GREAT THING ABOUT HUDA AND THAT Y'ALL MAY NOT KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE LUCKY ABOUT IS THAT Y'ALL ALREADY HAVE SEVERAL GREAT LOCAL RESTAURANTS IN DOWNTOWN.
THERE'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS DOWNTOWN STRUGGLE WITH ARE WHERE IS A, A GREAT PLACE TO EAT.
AND SO Y'ALL HAVE SEVERAL OPTIONS.
AND THEN AS WELL, THE CO-OP DISTRICT, WHICH IS JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY, UM, HAS GREAT, UH, YOU KNOW, REGIONAL CHAINS.
AND SO PEOPLE WILL DRIVE FOR FOOD, THEY WILL DRIVE FOR DRINKS, THEY WILL DRIVE FOR GREAT BEER.
I MEAN, YOU'D BE SHOCKED AT HOW LONG PEOPLE WILL DRIVE FOR IN TEXAS TO GET A GREAT MEAL.
SO I THINK RIGHT NOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD COMPLETELY PROMOTE IMMEDIATELY THAT THIS IS A FOODIE DESTINATION, UM, THAT IN BETWEEN THE TWO DIFFERENT DISTRICTS DOWNTOWN AND, AND THE CO-OP THAT YOU'VE GOT MULTIPLE OPTIONS OF FOOD AND DRINK, YOU KNOW, WITHIN A FEW BLOCKS.
UM, AND THAT'S A GREAT WAY, YOU KNOW, TO TIE THOSE TWO TOGETHER.
AND THEN WE COME BACK TO THE GREAT HIPPO.
UM, Y'ALL ARE THE HIPPO CAPITAL OF TEXAS.
I MEAN, WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE Y'ALL JUST TAKE IT UP EVEN MORE NOTCHES.
I LOVE SEEING ALL THE ART OUT HERE IN CITY HALL, BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE PUBLIC ART IN DOWNTOWN IF THERE'S A PAINTED WALL OR UM, IF THERE'S A BLANK SPACE.
I MEAN, WE WOULD LOVE FOR Y'ALL TO CAPITALIZE AND JUST OWN IT, NOT JUST IN TEXAS, BUT IN THE NATION.
LIKE PEOPLE KNOW Y'ALL BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A UNIQUE AND RICH STORY.
PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR THAT STORY.
AND PEOPLE, IF THEY FIND A UNIQUE CONNECTION LIKE THAT AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU JUST CAN'T FABRICATE,
SO WHETHER IT BE CAPITALIZING AND ON WORLD HIPPO DAY OR GETTING MORE INVOLVED WITH, UM, SOME OTHER NATIONWIDE ORGANIZATIONS, I WOULD, WE WOULD JUST HIGHLY RECOMMEND JUST TAKING IT UP EVEN MORE OF A NOTCH.
BUT Y'ALL ARE DOING A FABULOUS JOB OF, OF KEEPING THE HIPPOS, UM, UPFRONT AND CENTER.
AND THIS IS JUST ONE DEPARTING, UM, THOUGHT THAT I LOVE.
UM, BECAUSE FOR TEXAS DOWNTOWN WE ALWAYS EMPHASIZE THE LOCAL, THE LOCAL IS THE ABSOLUTE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON, UM, AS FAR AS YOUR PUBLIC FROM THE CITY PERSPECTIVE.
AND SO IF YOU DO IT FOR THE LOCAL, THE VISITOR WILL COME.
IF YOU DO IT FOR THE VISITOR, YOU WILL LOSE THE LOCAL AND EVENTUALLY THE VISITOR BECAUSE IT'S THE LOCAL THAT GIVES A PLACE CHARACTER READ JANE JACOBS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND.
UM, SO THAT ENDS MY PRESENTATION.
UM, WE, YOU KNOW, THOSE WERE JUST REALLY HIGH POINTS AND OVERUSED, BUT IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR POINTS, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR 'EM.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
WHAT, COULD YOU EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT IS? IS THAT A YEAH, THE TEXAS OF HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY HAVE SEVERAL OTHER PROGRAMS LIKE THE TEXAS MAIN STREET PROGRAM, CER CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS FOCUSED MORE ON COMMUNITIES WHO, FOR EXAMPLE, MAY WANT TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE TAX CREDITS, THEIR STATE AND FEDERAL TAX CREDITS THAT YOU CAN APPLY FOR.
AND TEXAS HAS A ROBUST STATE TAX CREDIT.
A LOT OF OTHER STATES ARE LOOKING AT OUR CREDIT PROGRAM.
SO IF YOU DO ANY TYPE OF, UM, RESTORATION OR REHABILITATION AND YOU FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES, YOU CAN GET, UM, GOSH, I THINK IT'S A 10% TAX CREDIT, UM, THROUGH FROM THE STATE.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S A FEDERAL, THERE'S A TWO PART FEDERAL ONE DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU USE THE PROPERTY FOR.
UM, AND SO CLG KIND OF LAYS OUT, UM, IF YOU WANT TO, TO ESTABLISH A HISTORIC DISTRICT, WHICH ONCE YOU DO A HISTORIC DISTRICT, IT ALLOWS THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN THAT DISTRICT APPLY FOR THOSE TAX CREDITS MUCH EASIER.
IT IT SHORTENS THE TIME TO GET APPROVED FOR TAX CREDITS.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, REHABILITATIONS AND RESTORATIONS CAN HAPPEN MORE QUICKLY ON HISTORIC PROPERTIES.
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A HISTORIC DISTRICT.
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NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT.SO CLG IS ESPECIALLY GOING TO LEAN TOWARD ANY PRESERVATION STANDARDS OR DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR YOUR DOWNTOWN.
THEY CAN HELP WITH THAT AS WELL.
AND IT'S REALLY, I MEAN, SOMETHING LIKE TAX CREDITS, TEXAS REALLY DOESN'T TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF 'EM.
UM, AND, AND IT'S BECAUSE THEY JUST WE'RE, WE'RE NOT DOING A GREAT ENOUGH ROLE OF EDUCATING AND RAISING AWARENESS OF HOW DEVELOPERS CAN TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE.
UM, I KNOW DOUG DOUGLAS MOSS OVER IN TAYLOR HAS USED TAX CREDITS, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THEM, THEY, THEY CAN BE SCARY, BUT THEY'RE VERY, VERY ADVANTAGEOUS.
AND SO THE CITY IS THE ONE THAT JOINS.
THAT AND THEN THE, THE DEVELOPERS WHO WOULD COME IN AND WANT TO REHABILITATE THIS, UH, BUILDING WITHIN THE DISTRICT MM-HMM
THEY WOULD WORK WITH THE CITY TO APPLY FOR THE GRANTS.
IS THAT HOW THAT WOULD WORK? THEY HAVE, THERE'S LIAISONS AT THE STATE THAT CAN HELP WALK 'EM THROUGH THE TAX CREDIT PRO, YOU KNOW, THE TAX CREDIT PROCESS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS ON THE STATE LEVEL.
THEY HAVE TO DO CERTAIN APPROVALS.
THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE CHECKING ALL THE, YOU KNOW, DOTTING THE I'S AND CROSSING THE T'S AND MAKING SURE THAT ON THE STATE LEVEL THEY'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
SO THEY WOULD PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES THEN APPLY FOR THE GRANTS AND GET SOME KIND OF A REBATE FROM THE STATE DIRECTLY FROM THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
WE JUST, WE, WE'VE GOTTA DO A BETTER JOB OF, IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE REALLY DRY TOPICS THAT PEOPLE ARE LIKE, UH, THIS IS HARD.
UM, AND NOT TOO MANY ACCOUNTANTS KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH TAX CREDITS, BUT I MEAN, EVEN IF YOU DON'T USE THE TAX CREDITS, YOU CAN SELL TAX CREDITS.
AND SO THERE'S, THERE'S A WHOLE WORLD, UM, AND DOUGLAS MOSS AND TAYLOR IS PROBABLY YOUR BEST RESOURCE RIGHT NOW 'CAUSE HE'S USED THEM.
UM, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T MET DOUGLAS MOSS, HE IS, HE OWNS, UM, ONE OF THE MAJOR DOWNTOWN CORNERS OF TAYLOR AND THEN HE ALSO BOUGHT THE TALBOT UM, CHURCH AND HAS TURNED IT INTO UM, LAUNCHING.
SO WHAT QUESTION, WHENEVER Y'ALL WENT AND LIKE WALKED THIS LIKE DOWNTOWN AREA, DID Y'ALL JUST STAY, UH, JUST OVER HERE ON THE NORTH SIDE OR DID Y'ALL GO ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE, THE TRACKS? WE DIDN'T AND DO LIKE THE ORGA ORGA DISTRICT I GUESS IS WHAT THE COMP CLASS, WE DIDN'T CALL 79.
I THINK I LITERALLY, BECAUSE OF THE INTIMIDATION OF WHAT IT WOULD BE FOR SOMEONE IF YOU WERE A TOURIST, I JUST WOULD NOT FEEL SAFE CROSSING THAT STREET.
UM, SO DO YOU THINK LIKE FUTURE, LIKE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE THAT THEY SHOULD KINDA BE DIVIDED UP, NOT LIKE VIEWED AS LIKE HOLISTICALLY AS A HISTORIC DOWNTOWN, JUST LIKE, IT'S JUST LIKE THIS IS THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN AND THEN THIS JUST HAPPENS TO BE LIKE A DIFFERENT DISTRICT.
YOU COULD DO THAT, YOU COULD DO THAT THAT WAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK JUST THERE'S A SCIENCE TO HUMANS AND HOW THEY WALK AND DISTRICTS AND IF THEY LOOK DOWN THE SIDEWALK AND THEY DON'T SEE SOMETHING THAT'S INTERESTING OR THEY SEE KIND OF A DROP OFF, THEY DON'T CONTINUE GOING DOWN.
THEY TURN AROUND AND GO BACK MM-HMM
UM, AND SO THERE'S A SCIENCE TO UM, IT'S JUST EASIER FOR THEM TO LOOK DOWN FARLEY STREET AND GO, OH, THERE'S TREES AND THERE'S A SIDEWALK AND THERE'S LIGHTS AND BANNERS AND I'M GONNA KEEP GOING.
IT'S JUST MORE, I THINK YOU WOULDN'T BE ROLLING THE BOULDER UP THE HILL AS MUCH TRYING TO GO ACROSS 79 THAN JUST CONNECTING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 79 FIRST.
AND THEN ONCE YOU GET THAT ROCKING THEN YOU KNOW, MAYBE LOOK ON THE SOUTH SIDE, IT'S JUST 79 IS LIKE A DIVIDING MALL.
I MEAN JUST A SAFETY ISSUE AND UM, YEAH,
ALL OF OUR HIGHWAYS ARE CHALLENGES FROM SAFETY PERSPECTIVES.
GOSH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I KNOW THIS IS A BUSY TIME OF THE YEAR, SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AND LOOKING OVER THE ASSESSMENT REPORT.
YEAH, NO OTHER DISCUSSION FOR THREE ONE, BUT WILL THIS BE PROVIDED TO US? CAN WE GET IT LIKE IN OUR DROP IN OUR, IT'S IN YOUR PACKET.
IT'S IN THE PACKET AS WELL AS THE FULL REPORT, ONE TO THREE, TWO DISCUSSION
[3.2. Discussion and possible action related to Work Session topics ]
AND POSSIBLE ACTION RELATED TO WORK SESSION TOPICS.SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE STAFF MAYBE LOOK INTO THIS, UH, CLG
[00:30:01]
MEMBERSHIP AND TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT WOULD TAKE AND IF THAT, IF THAT'S A GOOD FIT FOR US.SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFITS THAT'D BE TIED TO IT THAT WE'RE MISSING OUT ON.
YEAH, I'D SECOND THAT IT WOULDN'T HURT
YEAH, I MEAN THEY'RE, THEY'RE A GREAT RESOURCE TO HAVE AND WE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, A HISTORIC DISTRICT THAT'S ESTABLISHED.
WE'VE GOT A HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION WHO, YOU KNOW, IF IF SOMETHING CHANGES WITHIN THAT DISTRICT, THEY HAVE TO APPROVE IT AND THEY GO THROUGH A PROCESS.
AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE KIND OF MEETING SOME OF THE REPORTS.
AND I MEAN, I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE TAX CREDIT
SO IF YOU COULD GET PEOPLE IN TO HELP EDUCATE YOUR COMMISSION MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC JUST TO SPREAD THE WORD, THEN YOU KNOW, THE MORE THEY KNOW, UM, THE MORE THEY'RE GONNA USE IT WOULD BE GREAT.
COULD YOU RESTATE YOUR MUSHROOM, UM, TO, I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS MAKING A MOTION.
BUT, UH, JUST ASKING CITY STAFF TO LOOK INTO BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION.
I GUESS I SECOND THAT STAFF TO LOOK INTO CLG MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS.
ONLY THING I WOULD ASK IS IF WE COULD CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT MORE TO WHERE I SAY JUST LOOK INTO LIKE STAFF WHATEVER, GET THE, I'D LIKE TO SEE PERSONALLY STAFF GET THE INFORMATION, BRING IT TO THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION, GET SOME INPUT FROM THEM, AND THEN BRING BACK A RECOMMENDATION BY A DATE.
BECAUSE IF WE JUST SAY KINDA LOOK INTO IT, UH, THAT'S USUALLY THE THINGS THAT A YEAR LATER WE'RE WONDERING WHERE'S THIS AT? AND I THOUGHT STAFF IS GONNA LOOK INTO IT, BUT THAT'S FINE.
DO YOU WANNA WORD IT THAT WAY? STAFF TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION? SO DOES IT NEED TO GO THROUGH HPC JAMES OR APPROPRIATE? I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW FOR LOOKING INTO MEMBERSHIP OF THE LCG, WHY IT WOULD NEED TO GO THROUGH THE HPC.
UM, BECAUSE WE DICTATE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT COMMISSION DOES.
AND IF WE HAVE, IF WE HAVE THIS MEMBERSHIP THAT NOW ADDS ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ON THEM, THEN THEY MAY NEED TO THEN DO GO DO WORK TO DO THAT.
BUT THAT WOULD BE COUNCIL GIVING THEM GUIDANCE, UM, IN MY OPINION IN THAT, IN THAT REGARD.
SO THE CLG HAS THINGS TO DO WITH PRESERVATION OF DOWNTOWNS.
THEY HAVE GRANT FUNDING AND THEY CAN HELP, UM, KIND OF SET UP MORE FRAMEWORK AND STANDARDS FOR PRESERVATION GUIDELINES, UM, ANY IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE MADE TO BUILDINGS.
UM, SO IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE, UH, FOR ME, YOU'D REALLY WANT ANY EFFORT.
IT IS ALMOST LIKE WE'RE GONNA DO A NEW PARKS THING.
WE'RE NOT GONNA LET THE PARKS PEOPLE GIVE ANY INPUT ON IT.
AND SO TO ME, IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE HPC, WE GOTTA AT LEAST INCLUDE THEM AND THEN BETWEEN THEM AND STAFF COME BACK TO US BECAUSE OTHERWISE WHAT FLEX'S GONNA HAPPEN, STAFF WILL BRING A RECOMMENDATION.
AND WHAT WE DO AS A COUNCIL, WE SAY, OH, WHAT HPC SAY, WELL, YOU NEVER SAID GO TO THEM AND THEN WE'RE GONNA END UP ADDING ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO ON WHILE WE GO BACK TO HPC.
MEANWHILE, CURRENTLY THEY'RE OUT WRITING A BOOK OF OUR HISTORY.
I THINK THEY'RE ON LIKE VOLUME TWO.
IT'S LIKE A VERY, UM, IT'S NOT LIKE ENCYCLOPEDIC, IT'S LIKE MORE DETAILED THAN THAT.
AND SO THEY TAKE, THEY TAKE THAT STEP VERY SERIOUSLY.
WELL, I'LL LET YOU GUYS FIGURE OUT THE, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SECOND'S NOT ON BOARD WITH THAT.
SO WE'LL JUST STICK TO STAFF WILL LOOK INTO CLG MEMBERSHIP.
WELL, OKAY, SO I'LL RESCIND MY MOTION.
MAKE A NEW MOTION STAFF TO INVESTIGATE CLG MEMBERSHIP AND WORK WITH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION TO REVIEW REQUIREMENTS AND BRING TO COUNCIL.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT ONE? YOU'RE MUTED, RIGHT? YES.
I'LL SECOND THAT SECOND BY COUNCILMAN LAR.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? HEARING NONE.
WE HAVE CUSTOMER THOMPSON IS NOT HERE.
ANY OTHER ITEMS FOR WORK SESSION? UM, I HAVE ONE I WOULD LIKE, UM, WHEN WE GET INTO A
[00:35:01]
BUDGET CYCLE TO COUNCIL OR TO THE CITY MANAGERS AND STAFF TO LOOK AT ADDING A DEDICATED DOWNTOWN CO-OP DISTRICT PROGRAM MANAGER LIKE THEY RECOMMENDED INSTEAD OF PART-TIME WHEN IT MAKES A, A APPROPRIATE SENSE.BUT THAT WE, WE ALSO LOOK AT THAT FROM AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING TO COME BACK WITH, BUT JUST THAT, TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT, UM, IN, IN THE PLANNING OF NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
HEARING OTHER ITEMS, WE'LL ADJOURN AT 6 37.