2022-06-08 DDP Design Committee Packet

Design Committee Meeting AGENDA June 8th 2022 12:00 pm, Via Zoom • Roll call • Volunteer to take minutes • Approval of minutes • Approval of agenda • New banner discussion • New Business • Public Comments Next Meeting Date: TBD- Take off in July and August? The Design Committee will work to improve the appearance of the downtown Dover area and to educate the public and private sector about good design principles.

Design Committee Meeting Tina Bradbury is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: DDP Design Committee Monthly Meetings Time: Jun 8, 2022 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Every month on the Second Wed, until Dec 14, 2022, 7 occurrence(s) Jun 8, 2022 12:00 PM Jul 13, 2022 12:00 PM Aug 10, 2022 12:00 PM Sep 14, 2022 12:00 PM Oct 12, 2022 12:00 PM Nov 9, 2022 12:00 PM Dec 14, 2022 12:00 PM Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system. Monthly: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZMrceitqzgqH9GWbDdEO_t9yTG5IRqphc8f/ics?icsTo ken=98tyKuGvqD0rH9GWsByCRpwEBI_od- _wmHZfgvp6qx3BBwV8XRevL9ZlZ5tNAcjY Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87661553055?pwd=cjZ2OE05dkFSVGRLL1JPUVMxZkhLUT0 9 Meeting ID: 876 6155 3055 Passcode: 255026 One tap mobile +13017158592,,87661553055#,,,,*255026# US (Washington DC) +13126266799,,87661553055#,,,,*255026# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver) Meeting ID: 876 6155 3055 Passcode: 255026 Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kf5odnO71 The Design Committee will work to improve the appearance of the downtown Dover area and to educate the public and private sector about good design principles.

Downtown Dover Partnership Design Committee Meeting May 11, 2022 12PM via Zoom Attendance: Carrie Hart, Rosie Mujica, Kristin Pleasanton, Jennifer Gunther, Canzetta Young, Elena Stewart, Roger Ridgeway, Reginald Daniel, Laura Parks, Tina Bradbury, Jordan Resh Stewart opened the meeting at 12:05PM. Resh volunteered to take the minutes for the meeting. Pleasanton asked for corrections to the minutes to edit a quote that was attributed to Jennifer Gunther, who was not in attendance. Pleasanton motioned to approve the minutes with the discussed corrections, Stewart seconded the motion, and the committee unanimously approved the amended minutes. Hart discussed adding to the agenda Resh’s façade grant research. The committee approved the amended agenda. Banner Laird presented Parks’ new banner designs. Parks explained that the pinks and oranges were changed into tans to better reflect the DDP colors. Hart responded that the orange was more eye catching. Stewart responded that after last discussion, she sees the benefit of using either color scheme. Muijca shared support of using tan to be consistent with DDP branding. Laird suggested adding pops of orange in some banners, such as for the Farmer’s Market, to add vibrancy. Bradbury shared that she does not think the letters will be readable. Parks suggested printing one of the signs at full size to see the lettering. Laird offered to print a sample banner at DDP. Bradbury offered to request the size of the banner from the company that will be hired. Laird clarified that four-destination banners would be printed, and one farmer’s market banner. Laird suggested using the orange for the Farmer’s Market banner, and the committee agreed. Laird suggested adding an additional banner to add color for St. Patrick’s Day, such as adding green to the bottom. Parks offered to work on that design. Pleasanton asked if adding a new banner would cause issues in scheduling. Laird said she would want to avoid upsetting people with extra work if it is too difficult to accomplish appropriately. Stewart asked when the banners would be printed and from what company. Pleasanton responded that she does not think a vendor or timeline had been discussed. She added that in her previous experience, it took only a couple of months after the design was approved to have the designs printed. Stewart asked for Bradbury to connect Parks to the vendor to proceed with the order. Laird asked how many holiday variations will be ordered, and Pleasanton responded that three designs were discussed to be ordered. Pleasanton added that she thought the pink would not compliment the red and green lights. Stewart agreed that the tan fits DDP’s brand colors better. Laird said that she liked the pink banner trio as a pop of color. Young added that she preferred the pink trio too.

Daniels noted that the burgundy made the wreath design difficult to see. Muijca suggested adding the cranberry red from the tan trio palette to the pink trio to balance the color schemes. Parks noted that she used the pantone official colors from the branding package. Stewart added that the vendor would need to confirm an ability to print the specific colors requested. Bradbury suggested four banner designs, and Stewart responded that it had been previously decided to create three holiday banners. Stewart noted that Parks’ banner for DSU included the red and the blue from DSU’s branding package. Pleasanton asked if “Explore” could be shortened. Parks suggested that she could change “Explore” to “Visit” to allow for a larger size to be printed. Melson-Williams asked if diverging from “shop, eat, explore, repeat”, DDP’s slogan, is appropriate. Laird responded that it may be useful to allow for a larger print. Parks shared that “Explore” is at 160 font size. Melson-Williams said she prefers “Explore”, and the committee decided to print a draft to ensure that the letters are readable. Stewart clarified that they have the capacity to print the banners, and the DDP will not need to. Stewart offered to print the banner and bring it to the DDP for viewing, and Laird invited other committee members to stop by and see the banners as well, and sending pictures. Ridgeway said they would be able to use the bucket truck to temporarily display a banner to allow for the committee to view the draft from the street view. The committee planned to meet in the afternoon at the DDP to view the banner designs. Pleasanton shared that she saw poles with a bottom arm that is on a spring, allowing movement and preventing them from breaking off. Pleasanton said she could not find information on these kinds of poles online but recommended discussing the arm with the vendor to see if it is possible. Façade Grant Budget FY23 Laird shared updates on the State of DE Community Reinvestment Fund in which the DDP is applying for façade grants, safety in sustainable design, parking, property acquisition, and infrastructure planning. Laird added that a final plan should be available by fall, so it is important to look at the infrastructure that exists and then make necessary changes. Laird shared that the DDP is applying for “Critical Improvements to Downtown Dover Properties” and has received a letter of support from Kent County Economic Development Director, Linda Parkowski and Dave Hugg, City Manager. Laird added that $1.275 million is being requested, with a property owner match of $500,000 and DDP match of $100,000 split over two fiscal years. Funding from the DDP would come from the Economic Vitality Committee and the Design Committee’s funds, and would allow for $1.6 million in improvements to downtown Dover. Laird shared that if funding is acquired, significant improvements can be made to both the exterior and interiors of buildings, such as updating outdated electrical wirings, install fire suppression, add ADA compliance, repair restrooms, add handrails and ramps, widening doors and corridors, and look at facade and exterior improvements (not signage), and architectural services. Laird shared that they also hope to establish commercial kitchens, which would allow for restaurants to more readily move downtown than what is available in the existing infrastructure and would allow for the property to be

leased more easily as a restaurant. Laird noted that a major component of economic development – more restaurants. Laird added that the process would be like current grant programs, but that the DDP would need to consider staff and committee resources to ensure that the DDP has the capacity to handle the improvements in the two-year time period. Laird shared that she received responses from 8-10 property owners with ideas about improvements they would like to see. Laird added that 16-18 buildings could be improved with the funds awarded and could leverage 25%+ to come to $1.6 million in improvements. Laird added that she will know in July if the grant was approved. Laird suggested inviting an architect to the committee to help provide additional insight if the funding is approved or contract an architect to consult the ideas for the grant. Laird added that having an architect may help to streamline the process and hiring a consultant may be an approved use for a portion of the funding as well. Stewart shared her excitement for the program and asked if Mountain Consulting/Kim Adams would have an architect available. Laird responded that they are engineers, and Melson-Williams added that she believes that Adams only staffs engineers. Hart asked if the funds could be used for staffing, and Laird responded that the funding cannot be used for operations, but that funding is put in the budget to hire additional staff next year. Laird shared that the Farmer’s Market will not continue, but there may be a Food Truck Alley on Wednesdays and that First Fridays have transitioned to First Saturdays, which promotes existing programs, which helps to allow the DDP staff to prioritize different efforts. Hart asked if the building that was in the fire would be eligible to receive the funds from the grant. Laird responded that a different grant pool may be required to repair that building, and that property acquisition may be useful to start repairs to that property. Laird clarified that there would not be funds for construction – only for acquisition or repairing/cleaning up existing sites, but not building new sites. Stewart said she emailed Becker Morgan about architects available to serve on the design committee. Laird responded that it would save money to have a volunteer, but that stipend can be available if expertise is needed. Laird noted that Becker Morgan has a longstanding relationship with the DDP. Bradbury added that Bill Byler is consulted often, and Laird suggested offering him a payment for his time if he did not wish to join the committee. Hart suggested tabling discussion of façade grants, from Resh’s research, until the funding for Critical Improvements is determined. New Business Laird shared a draft of the Work Plan for next year and asked if Hart and Stewart would continue to serve and both agreed that they would continue to co-chair the committee for next year. Laird presented the committee members, which was copied from last year. Stewart asked about an attendance policy and Laird said there is no attendance policy in the bylaws but that attendance can be enforced and the DDP can ask if people want to continue to participate. Stewart shared that she

believes that last year they attempted to remove inactive committee members. Pleasanton clarified that last year they had “do not reply if you do not wish to continue” and then removed people who were inactive in the committee. Bradbury added that Adams does not attend meetings consistently. Daniels offered to provide a phone number, 302-678-9400 (NCALL), for his committee seat. Pleasanton asked for the names to be clarified to reflect that everyone is a committee member, instead of “resource partners.” Laird presented the budget and noted that the façade grant is placeholder until funding is determined from other grant applications. Laird added that they are anticipating a match from DSU for the cost of holiday banners. Laird shared that conceptual and marketing of design improvements is given $4,000 that can be used for banners but added that ideally it will be used to promote façade improvements and advertising DDP’s efforts. Laird noted that Line 5 of the budget is free, but if grant funds become available, Resh could create a banner to promote façade improvement programs. It would not cost money because the banners would be created in house. Pleasanton asked if everything related to banners, including the arm hang and other materials necessary for install, is reflect in the $15,000 budget request. Pleasanton said she believes up to 55 poles need the arm support repaired. Bradbury added that the city may cover half the cost of making the poles banner ready. Stewart discussed Penny Marshall’s presentation, and asked if her mural could be funded with the DDP budget, which would then allow the DDP to influence the final design. Laird asked about grant opportunities from the DE Division of Arts, and Pleasanton responded that the grant can be awarded to individual artists to be able to share their work, like renting equipment or framing for a exhibition. Pleasanton added that if an artist is commissioned for a mural, they can apply for funds to cover paint and expenses under $750. Laird asked if it could be applied for jointly, such as from DDP and from Marshall, and Pleasanton said she would need to consider it further. Stewart asked if the DDP could commission a mural for the building. Gunther suggested connecting with students to look for opportunities to engage the community, such as a mural class that was offered pre- covid in the summer, or other options that could be taken to the Art Program to recruit members of the community to participate. Gunther added that cloth for bird mural was designed as a “paint by number” in which community members, such as Dover High School, were invited to paint. Stewart added that Marshall was told by Bradbury that she needed to consult the DDP for mural approval, and that the DDP wanted to have an additional mural too and could benefit from DDP’s support and grant funds. She suggested that Marshall does not have the mural expertise in accomplishing the large project without support. Young said she liked the idea of working with Dover High/Capital School District, and that a mural would be a great community project. Stewart added that a Dover High alumnus and art educator did the leaves on the bird mural, Josh. Young added that Josh had a “Paint by Community Night” that allowed for the

community to participate in a paint by numbers on a wallpaper/cloth that was then adhered to the building. Young said she liked that idea. Laird noted that public murals/art and beautification in public areas are suitable for funding for community investment/crime prevention because public art creates beautiful environment that engages people, creates visibility, and reduces graffiti. Young added that the mural behind Rita’s is frequented by students for photos, but that it does not include DSU. Young suggested including DSU in the mural to make students feel included. Public Comments None Stewart adjourned the meeting at 1:15PM Next meeting: Wednesday June 8, 2022 at 12PM via Zoom.