DDP Special Board Meeting Packet - Revised
Downtown Dover Partnership Board. Sep 5, 2024.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Thursday, September 5, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.
ZOOM:
https://zoom.us/j/98293747423
Meeting ID: 982 9374 7423
AGENDA
Revised 9-3-24
1. Welcome
2. Agenda
3. Minutes (August Special Meeting)
4. Action items (Contracts/agreements/MOU’s for grants awarded and services pending)
i. ARPA Agreement
ii. Mobility Center Design Build Agreement
iii. FY 25 Bond Funds MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)
iv. New entity formation (Capital City Transformation Alliance, Inc.)
v. Annual Insurance binding agreement September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025
5. Executive Session (property/land acquisition)
6. Updates
i. Grant in Aid $250,000 awarded
ii. West Street transfer of property to Inner City Cultural League
7. Public Comment
8. Adjourn
Upcoming DDP board meetings:
September 25, 2024 – City Hall Conference Room
Agenda items as listed may not be considered in sequence. Pursuant to 29 DEL. C. 10004(e)(2), this agenda is subject to
change to include the addition or deletion of items, including executive sessions, which arise at the time of the meeting.
Downtown Dover Partnership Special Board Meeting
Agenda – September 5, 2024
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Special Meeting
MINUTES
Board members in attendance: Mayor Christiansen, Councilman Neil, Senator Trey Paradee, Codi
Canasa, Donny Legans, Todd Stonesifer, Linda Parkowski, Will Grimes, Sharon Duca, John Van Gorp,
Pete Bradley, Sarah Keifer, Stacy Downtown, Dave Hugg, Kim Adams
Other attendees: Kathleen Baker, Benjamin (DE State News). Scott Kidner,
Team and Staff in Attendance: Leslie Smallwood, Jed Hatfield, JD Barlett, Tripp , Diane Laird, Ken
Anderson
Welcome
Agenda Codi Canasa moved to approve, Fred Neil seconded, unanimous approval
Minutes (June) Mayor Christiansen moved to approve, Fred Neil seconded; Stacy Downing indicated
correction needed to reflect that she was present (not Quiana Hutchins), and amended minutes were
accepted unanimously.
Presentations
• 1:35-2:05
Downtown Dover Pathways/Loockerman Street Design – Presented by Marilyn Smith, Executive
Director Dover Kent MPO and Jeff Riegner, Senior Principal Engineer for Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
https://doverkentmpo.delaware.gov/downtown-dover-pathways-loockerman-street-design/
Recommendations:
Recommend over time to remove and replace just a few trees at a time.
• Consider some improvements at east and west end of Loockerman into downtown to make
them more pedestrian friendly, and more welcoming.
• DelDOT was involved in the outcomes of this presentation and approved.
• Talk with City Staff re: agency review and approval and ensure collaboration on the
outcome, especially considering infrastructure and road upheaval.
• Many offered on next steps, what is recommended priority, etc.
Other discussion: Loading zones, and trucks loading on Loockerman St. cause dangerous situation
for drivers. Can we consider one specific loading spot for each block? Possibly some space on each
block in the alternating side could be a loading zone.
Master plan was the guiding document for the Dover Kent MPO plan that we’ve seen today.
Downtown Dover Partnership – Special Board Meeting
Agenda – August 12, 2024
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Will there be hubs at the anchors for bikes, and other transit for good connectivity?
There are two different types of systems (bike share) – take one bike and leave at another (or the
same) dock; or take one bike and leave the bike wherever you are done, so bikes can be
everywhere...good for those that drop off, and good for those that need to pick up. Dock system
requires someone to redistribute bikes among docks. City bikes are being used more because
people are not preferring to use the subway. Biking may be a more pleasant experience.
Ages 25-35, only 78% say they can afford car/58% can afford affiliate expenses, so that other
options are very important to consider.
Dover Kent MPO board of directors has blessed this study. Dover Kent MPO completed the study
on behalf of DDP, and was sponsored by DDP, the State (DelDOT), and Dover Kent MPO. This is a
plan, and accepting it means that DDP will assume responsibility and/or will support others that
will assume responsibility for implementation of the plan or various components of the plan.
Federal grants typically ask for formal feasibility, including public engagement, local/State DelDOT
engagement. Attaining federal grants for this kind of work would be far more difficult, possibly
even unlikely, without this kind of plan. The Dover Ken MPO has approximately six DelDot
representatives on it who have blessed the process and the plan.
Linda Parkowski moved and Donny Legans seconded a motion to approve the plan.
Is the 22’ street width locked in? The city could change the lane widths. Fire marshal is now
requiring 24. This was confirmed by Mayor.
To motion on the table: Mayor abstained (Chair of Dover Kent MPO). Unanimous approval.
• 2:15-2:50
S. Bradford/S. Governor’s Mobility Center Project - Jed Hatfield, President of Colonial Parking Inc.,
J.D. Bartlett, Operations Manager of EDiS, and Leslie Smallwood, Principle, Mosaic Development
Partners will present progress of the Mobility Center project to date and discuss the Design Build
agreement for services. Doesn’t face on Loockerman but is just one block off.
792 parking spaces is the target along with a multi-modal transit center. 200+ downtown as well as
300-400 in the planned mobility center. There are significant goals of the master plan. The location
of this center is ideally in the heart of the downtown business district. Mobility center will be the
center of transportation, connections to car sharing, bus, mobility, etc. Not just parking cars.
DDP- as well as city-owned properties will coalesce over time. Two properties on S. Bradford St.
are now under contract for demolition (vs. the originally targeted property on S. Governors Ave.)
This center will lie directly across the street from 120 S. Governor’s Ave. where the mixed-use apts.
will be located and which will be available for use of residents, shoppers, merchants, visitors, and
everyone who uses downtown.
There was confusion about the outparcel, so the area is now called 145 S. Governors Ave.
Contemplating moving the entrance to S. Governor’s and eliminating Minor St. alley as an
entrance. There will also be entrance and exit on S. Bradford St. Easier to exit on S. Bradford.
Downtown Dover Partnership – Special Board Meeting
Agenda – August 12, 2024
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Five levels are anticipated, for approx. 400 spaces.
Functional design is evolving well. Now geotechnical survey has been completed and structural
engineers are now working on footing needs/design. Planning pre-cast/prefabricated construction.
There is great considering going on now regarding the design process and ensuring that it is
appropriate within the downtown Dover Victorian district, i.e.; cornice lines, colors, details, etc. and
could include murals similar to those that are now on the south side of Minor St. alley that faces the
current surface parking lot.
A dry-standing system is being considered for fire suppression.
There will be two-way traffic within the garage. Those that live in apartments access the street:
Will there be a designated (reserved) space? There will be adequate parking for residents, by
overall reservation/management, but not necessarily a specific dedicated space “owned” by a
resident.
Colonial Parking will manage the parking (in mobility center, as well as throughout downtown) to
ensure efficiency. In addition, this will involve crime reduction methods, keeping in mind that the
City of Dover Police Dept. will work hand in hand to ensure public safety.
With two lanes exiting onto S. Bradford, there will be significant amount of traffic on Loockerman St.
Additional concerns about S. Bradford and Loockerman Street, and then the block and a half to
Division without Loockerman St. – both are intersections without traffic lights.
Whatever happened with having 146 units of apts. on S. Bradford/S. Governors? The residential
units will still be in play, at a later phase.
Request to keep website updated with current info on the mobility center, etc.
Resident parking on S. Bradford, it is anticipated that approximately three spots will be lost. There
will be opportunities to offer free parking or reduced fee parking within the overall downtown
parking plan.
Design/Build Agreement – this is the structure of agreement for the building. DDP is contracting
with DDP/EDiS to design and build this structure, and it will be returned fully to DDP once the
building is completed.
Other Business N/A
Public Comment N/A
Adjourn Fred Neil, Codi Canasa; unanimous approval.
Next DDP board meeting:
Downtown Dover Partnership – Special Board Meeting
Agenda – August 12, 2024
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September 25, 7:30 a.m.
City of Dover Conference Room
Downtown Dover Partnership – Special Board Meeting
Agenda – August 12, 2024
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