12-4-19 DDP Board Meeting Packet

BOARD MEETING AGENDA Wednesday December 4, 2019 7:30 a.m. City Hall Conference Room Light breakfast to be provided. 1. Agenda Additions/Deletions 2. Approval of Minutes – October 2019 3. Police report 4. Executive Session i. Item #1 5. Executive Committee Report i. DIMH relocation update 6. Committee Reports i. Parking Committee ii. Merchant committee 7. City Manager Update – Donna Mitchell 8. Planning Department Update - N/A 9. Other Reports i. Senator Trey Paradee 10. Quarterly updates i. Budget 11. Public Comment 12. Other business – Holiday events update: i. Dec. 5, 6 p.m. - Board to sing at LWP ii. Dec. 6 - First Friday iii. Dec. 16, 6 p.m. - Parade plus Marketplace at LWP 13. Adjourn Next Meeting Date: January 22, 2020 - 7:30 a.m. City Hall Conference Room The Downtown Dover Partnership is committed to driving an improved quality of life for the residents and visitors of Dover, Delaware, through collective collaboration, economic development and promotion of downtown Dover’s unique historic properties.

DOWNTOWN DOVER PARTNERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES October 23, 2019 in City Council Chambers DRAFT ATTENDANCE: Mayor Robin Christiansen, Senator Trey Paradee, Councilman Fred Neil, Lucy Findlay, Todd Stonesifer, John VanGorp, Kim Adams, Pete Bradley, Mike Harrington, Dave Hugg, Erin Thwaites STAFF: Diane Laird COMMITTEE CHAIRS, PRESENTERS AND OTHER ATTENDEES: Lori Llewellyn, Tom Smith, Mike Finney Call to Order: Todd Stonesifer, Vice Chair, opened the meeting 7:35 a.m. Agenda Approved – Motion duly made by RC, seconded by FN and unanimously accepted. Meeting minutes (September 2019 meeting) – Motion duly made by LF, seconded by FN, with minutes corrections to be provided to staff from John Van Gorp, and unanimously accepted. Police report: Sgt. Bernat Voluntary overtime officers have been patrolling downtown daily for several weeks. Several merchants voiced their positive thoughts and appreciation regarding these overtime police officers and appreciation for Mayor, Council, and CDPD who have made it a priority to place these additional officers in the downtown. They have seen improvements, and specifically a reduction in the number of loiterers and vagrants and the issues that coincide with same. Yet there continues to be problems with loiters, etc., on S Bradford Street and nearby Cendel parking lot, and the adjacent property owned by Val DeRocili. Sgt. Bernat indicated that there will be an increased number of foot patrols in downtown due to proposed changes at the library. Mayor Christiansen and Sgt. Bernat indicated that there remains a very limited number of weeks for which officers are available for downtown overtime, due to budget and human resource constraints. Several merchants and board members present requested that this kind of policing continue to be a priority for downtown even if the frequency of the policing must be reduced slightly in the near term. Sgt. Bernat indicated that he would take the concerns and requests back to Acting Deputy Stump. Fred Neil indicated asked if an LED system would help. Can police park downtown when bars let out at night? Mayor indicated that some funds have been repatriated to the homeless. Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing (DIMH) relocation update: Mike Harrington Property at 630 W. Division St (Cross Road Christian Church) is not an ideal location. The Walker Road/St. John’s Lutheran School (currently vacant) and the 1151 (Everett Building) which is 500 ft away could be good locations and offers are being made on both, though paperwork has not yet been signed. St. John’s is near a daycare, but daycares are now exempt from a required distance. Another possibility could be W. Fulton Street though LD Shanks- owned property is unavailable as the family does not wish to sell, but rather prefers a warehouse facility. Possibly consider real estate in country. Bus route is needed for transportation. Liquor store on S. Bradford: Mike Harrington offered $195,000 for the building; possible $150, for business (seek other than Mike Harrington for purchase of actual business.) DDP Board Meeting Minutes – October 23, 2019 1

Committee Updates: • Merchants Committee: Lori Llewellyn provided three updates: 1) new seasonal window decorating contest, with the holiday contest soon to come; 2) a promotional booklet “Shop Downtown Dover” to offer discounts and information about downtown merchants; 3) production underway for a Delmarva Small Town series episode focusing on Dover to highlight merchants and the downtown district (to air November 22 and 25 in time to highlight Small Business Saturday and holiday shopping.) • Parking Committee: Todd Stonesifer indicated that as a result of Loockerman Way Plaza being sold and construction to begin any day, DDP will lose LWP lot. The proposed parking garage is on hold. Merchants and building owners are involved in the committee’s recommendation to the board to further consider two solutions, one near term to address next +/- eight months, and one long term to address overall parking solutions parking management: 1. Require permits for both lots and to add 22 metered spots back into the Bradford Street lot; 2. Request parking solutions from experts within the parking industry to address the same footprint that was specified for the garage RFP. NOTE: Above are not “studies” but rather implementable solutions. Todd S motioned for acceptance. Concern expressed by JVG regarding charging customers when the DDP is trying to attract them to downtown. Unanimous agreement by board members to move forward with both of the parking committee’s recommendations. The short-term solution (#1) will buy time until a more encompassing and permanent solution (as a result of considering #2) is defined. Other discussion: Status or buyer of Wells Fargo Bank (WFB) is unknown. Nothing exists in planning department to identify status though a permit has been issued for an ATM on the premises. City will enforce sanitation of the lot owned by WFB. The State News has been providing a significant number of good news stories, and ToddS recognized and thanked report Mike Finney who was present. Mayor Christiansen indicated his commitment to find funding to continue foot patrols and consider additional solutions for downtown policing. Downtown is safe and he is committed to doing what needs to be done to keep it safe. He assured the board that standards have not been minimized and any concerns should be expressed to the mayor or council members as they value and need the input. Kent County Tourism – Pete Bradley Good news announced that KCT has been awarded the bid to host the Mid-Atlantic annual media marketplace, a 2-day conference in September 2020. They will organize 8 FAM (Familiarization) tours. This is a great opportunity! All are invited to annual Tourism luncheon. DDP Board Meeting Minutes – October 23, 2019 2

Mountain Consulting and Suds Bar - Kim Adams, Owner Has recently purchased Simon’s property to Tresses Hair Salon, submitted application for 225 (demo permit) and has plans for retail and commercial facade improvements, with 225 Loockerman targeted for completion by June 2020. Long term expansion at 215 for Mountain Consulting offices. Additional vision for properties to come. Legislative update - Trey Paradee DDD (Downtown Development District) grants continue to leverage funding for expansion. $3M for DSHA (DE State Housing Authority) is now a line item in the state budget. Budget looks good going forward. Public comment: Tom Smith indicated that the times are like the “early days of Main Street” in 1995 and that the DDP is leading and is positioned to do some “really good” things. He expressed that he is energized about the DDP’s activity and excellent progress. TS reminded that Black Friday parking will begin to be free through January 1. NOTE: Clarification after meeting regarding parking at holiday from Tina Bradbury: Free Holiday parking (metered/permit spaces only) is from Black Friday to January 6th. Adjournment: 8:37 a.m. Motion duly made by FN and seconded by TP, unanimously accepted. DJL DDP Board Meeting Minutes – October 23, 2019 3