Inter Governmental Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Inter-Governmental Committee met on October 13, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. The meeting included two informational agenda items: a presentation on DDA Role/Responsibilities by Tate, and an update on committee items. During the meeting, the committee heard four public comments and took one motion to a vote. The session focused on providing information to committee members regarding departmental responsibilities and ongoing committee business.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on October 13, 2009:

• James
• Crosbie
• Myers
• Gray
• Blues
• Beard
• Henson
• Feigel
• Lawless
• Martin

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

Motion to Adjourn

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Mr. Beard and seconded by Ms. Lawless 1:17:44. The motion passed by voice vote, with no recorded abstentions.

Public Comment

Four speakers addressed the council during the public comment period, raising concerns about governance, planning resources, board composition, and development policy.

Transparency and Council Awareness

Ms. Lawless 1:00:12 expressed concern that the council should be informed early about Downtown Development Authority (DDA) projects and developments before they are publicized in the press. She emphasized the need for front-end involvement rather than reactive awareness of DDA initiatives.

Board Size and Representation

Mr. Beard 1:11:14 raised questions about the current size of the DDA board and suggested expanding it to include representatives from institutions like the University of Kentucky and Bluegrass Community Technical College.

Development Policy and the CenterPoint Project

Mr. Martin 1:09:38 highlighted that the failure of the CenterPoint project was due to city rules allowing demolition before redevelopment. He emphasized the need for policy reform to prevent similar losses in future development projects.

Investment in Urban Planning

Mr. Martin 1:36:13 also stressed that Lexington must not fall behind other cities in planning and development. He urged increased resources for the DDA to help invigorate the city through strategic planning.

Contested Items

Transparency in DDA Projects

A heated discussion emerged regarding the DDA's obligation to inform the council before publicizing projects. Ms. Lawless advocated for early council involvement in the project announcement process, emphasizing the importance of transparency and advance notification. Mr. Martin countered by defending the need for confidentiality, arguing that premature disclosure could jeopardize business prospects and pose real risks to economic development initiatives.

The disagreement centered on balancing two competing interests: the council's need to be informed about DDA activities and the DDA's concern that early public disclosure might undermine negotiations or discourage potential business partners from engaging with development projects.

DDA Role/Responsibilities - Tate

Harold Tate presented a comparative analysis of Downtown Development Authorities (DDAs) across multiple cities to inform discussions about the local DDA's role and responsibilities 4:00.

Presentation Content

Tate examined organizational structures and operational models of DDAs in San Diego, Boise, Memphis, Miami, Portland, and Louisville. The presentation included analysis of:

• Organizational structures used by comparable DDAs
• Funding mechanisms, with particular emphasis on Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
• Staffing levels and configurations
• DDA roles in planning, economic development, and urban design activities

Key Recommendations

Based on the comparative analysis, Tate recommended several actions for consideration:

• Revitalizing the Downtown Design Center
• Exploring direct development activities as part of the DDA's scope
• Securing a greater share of TIF revenues to support DDA operations and initiatives

Outcome

The presentation was informational in nature, providing the meeting participants with data and recommendations regarding DDA structures and potential roles that could be adopted locally.

Update on Committee Items

50:15

The committee received an update on two key initiatives: the East End Implementation Schedule and the Guiding Principles for the Central Sector.

East End Implementation Plan

Harold Tate presented the District Development Authority's (DDA) plans for the East End. The DDA outlined a comprehensive approach to neighborhood development that includes three primary components:

• Development of an ND1 application
• Creation of a pattern book
• Development of a retail strategy

Project Goals and Timeline

The committee discussed the objective of creating a replicable model for the East End that could be applied to other neighborhoods. The DDA set a completion timeline of May 2010 for these planning documents and strategies.

Outcome

This agenda item was presented as informational, with no formal action required at this time.