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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/11/2023 - Meeting Minutes MINUTES FOR THE BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD Wednesday, October I Ph, 2023 1. Roll Call The following members of the Business Advisory Board were present: Jeff Carleton, Chair Andy Robertson, Vice-Chair Alfonso Brito Jocelyn Kearl Abudujannah Soud Sue Rice Karen Gunn Pook Carson The following members of the Business Advisory Board were absent: Darin Piccoli Siliveninusi Niu Scott Lyttle Also Present: Veronica Cavanagh, Department of Economic Development; Roberta Reichgelt, Department of Economic Development; Peter Makowski, Department of Economic Development; Will Wright, Department of Economic Development; Cathie Rigby, Department of Economic Development; Ibrahim Ramazani, Department of Economic Development, Andie Feldman: Department of Economic Development; Allison Rowland, City Council Office; Dan Dugan, Salt Lake City Council; Andrew Johnston, Mayor's Office; Amy Thompson, Planning Division;Nancy Monteith; Engineering Division;Nicole Horst, Wenk Associates; Tom Klein, Wenk Associates. 1. Approval of the minutes A. No minutes for approval 2. Briefings by the Staff Ms. Cavanagh gave an update on the renovations that are happening with Economic Development and the Redevelopment Agency. She said they will be done by November and the next BAB meeting will be held in the RDA conference room. EDLF Updates Ms. Reichgelt said there are currently no new loans, but they are working on four potential loans with businesses and hopefully will have more progress in the next month. Construction Mitigation Program Ms. Reichgelt said that they have sent out more than $200,000 in Construction Mitigation Grant funds since July. Ms. Reichgelt emphasized not only disbursing funds but also supporting communities impacted by construction. She mentions efforts to inform the public that businesses are open and accessible despite ongoing construction. The focus is on areas like 300 West, highlighting the small businesses there that rely on community support. Chairperson Carleton raised a concern about comments suggesting that the $3,000 grants might not be sufficient. Ms. Reichgelt explained that they received $500,000 this year due to increased commercial corridor density. She clarified that the cap is in place to prevent the grants from being used as replacements for lost revenue, emphasizing their purpose in supporting businesses with communication efforts to navigate construction challenges. Additionally, Ms. Reichgelt mentioned that this is the third year of the program, and the grants are offered each construction year. She provided examples of businesses pooling funds for joint marketing efforts and mentions the feedback-driven decision to let businesses decide how to use the funds. The grants started at $2,000 and were increased to $3,000 based on feedback from businesses. Vice-Chair Robertson suggested leveraging social media as a tool to communicate effectively about the completion of construction projects and highlighted the potential for using various social media channels owned by the City to amplify the message. He emphasizes the opportunity to create engaging content, such as fun reels or videos showcasing the completion of projects and encouraging people to return. Open Streets and Main Street Pedestrian Mall Update Mr. Makowski said that Open Streets has been going well and the last weekend to attend will be October 28tn Mr. Makowski discussed the ongoing Main Street Pedestrian Mall study, highlighting the launch of a second round of stakeholder engagement. He encouraged feedback on the proposed street closure options through a survey, with the data collection period extending until October 31 st. Mr. Makowski shared the survey link: Mainslc.com and emphasizes the importance of community participation. The next round of public engagement is set to begin on October 19th and 20th at Gallivan and virtual reality options will be available for visualizing proposed changes. Mr. Makowski stressed the critical nature of this phase, seeking public input to inform decisions on street closure options. Chairperson Carleton asked about the projected timeline for breaking ground on the Main Street Pedestrian Mall project, to which Mr. Makowski explained the need for public support and the ongoing public engagement process to gauge interest and feedback before they can get to the point of breaking ground. 3. Business A. Council Member Dugan Introduction Council Member Daniel Dugan introduced himself, shared his background, and discussed priorities, including housing affordability and mental health challenges for Salt Lake City. He asked for everyone to get their flu shot and don't forget to vote for the elections in November. Chairperson Carleton asked what the priority of the City is right now. Council member Dugan answered it is a combination of the homelessness crisis on top of the affordable housing problem. Ms. Sue Rice asked if there was any update regarding the Train Box discussions which Council member Dugan answered that he will be getting briefed on the study in the coming week. He said it is getting a lot of traction and hopefully more information will be coming out soon. B. Board Member Terms Update Mr. Makowski provided an overview of the current board terms, mentioning that some members are up for reelection and some members who have reached their two term maximum. Ms. Rice and Ms. Gunn have reached their maximum and Chairperson Carleton can do one more term. Mr. Piccoli said he will be stepping down. Mr. Makowski said the BAB will be electing a new chair and vice chair in January of 2024. Ms. Reichgelt explained the process of selecting new board members, including the need for a variety of representations from different districts and industries. She encourages current board members to recommend potential candidates, and Mr. Makowski shared the link to the board portal for applications: https://www.slc.gov/boards/. Vice-chair Robertson asks about applicants for District 6, and Ms. Reichgelt said that there are currently none, and downtown(District 4)has the most applicants. Ms. Gunn and Ms. Rice expressed interest in recommending candidates for District 6. C. Adaptive Reuse Text Amendment Presentation Amy Thompson, Salt Lake City Planning Manager, gave a presentation on the Adaptive Reuse Text Amendment. She discussed Adaptive Reuse of existing buildings and emphasized the significance of Adaptive Reuse in preserving historic buildings, reimagining sites, and maintaining a neighborhood's character. Ms. Thompson discussed the proposed text amendment which would create a new section in the Zoning Ordinance, 21A.52.060: Incentives for Preservation of Existing Buildings. The preservation of existing buildings incentives is proposed to have two sections: • Adaptive Reuse -Additional Uses in Eligible Buildings- allows for additional uses in Landmark Sites, buildings individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, schools, hospitals, and places of worship. • Development that Preserves an Existing Building: offers zoning incentives for existing buildings that are 50 years or older, additional height, reduced parking, and administrative approval process for a development that retains an existing building. Ms. Thompson said they have had briefings with the Landmark Commission and Planning Commission and the next steps will involve seeking recommendations from those commissions before reaching City Council, which has the final decision-making authority. Feedback from recognized community organizations is also sought. D. Green Loop Project Presentation Ms. Nancy Monteith introduced herself as the Senior Landscape Architect in Salt Lake City Public Services Department and gave a presentation on the progress made on the design for the Green Loop in Salt Lake City, a conceptual project aimed at adding up to 60 acres of green space to downtown. She highlighted the project's origins in a temporary park space initiative and the importance of community engagement. The project, spanning 5.5 miles, is intended to encircle downtown, contributing to Salt Lake City's green space and addressing various utility and emergency service requirements. Consultants Nicole Horst and Tom Klein from Wenk Associates detailed the project's vision, emphasizing elements like an urban forest, active transportation, and improved water quality through stormwater management. They drew parallels with other successful projects in Boston and Indianapolis, citing economic benefits, increased property values, and enhanced public engagement. The presentation delved into the project's framework studies, comparing two alignment options (west-aligned and center-aligned)to optimize green space and address utility needs. The team emphasized the potential economic impact on downtown businesses, increased green space accessibility, and the overall transformation of downtown streetscapes. Ms. Reichgelt highlighted the potential positive impact of the Green Loop on ground-floor retail. The project could contribute to a vibrant street level by attracting more customers to the area, fostering economic development. E. Homelessness Update Mr. Andrew Johnston, Director of Homeless Policy and Outreach, discussed the City's plans for addressing homelessness, particularly focusing on winter shelter options and the development of a temporary shelter community. The focus is on expanding overflow shelters, anticipating over 500 beds, addressing the challenge of individuals moving around due to limited shelter options. The State is concurrently developing a permanent shelter community expected to open in April, providing 50 to 100 beds with minimal City responsibility. In the interim, the City allocated $500,000 for a temporary shelter community at 255 S 600 W. This six-month initiative will feature custom-built units, accommodating 50 individuals, and run by professional staff 24/7. Couples won't share units to ensure a manageable and secure environment. Mr. Johnston emphasized collaboration with the business community for accurate information dissemination and public education on homelessness. This approach aims to empower the community with knowledge to understand and discuss the issue effectively. Vice-chair Robertson suggested collaboration between the City and the business community to share case studies and resources on homelessness. Mr. Johnston said he would get the resources to the BAB and would provide more updates at future BAB meetings. 4. City Council Announcements Ms. Rowland provided a high-level summary of the following items: • Utah Transit Authority TechLink Study—Ms. Rowland said the UTA presented a study focusing on East-west transit connections in downtown Salt Lake City. • Housing Affordability Policies and Plan—Ms. Rowland discussed two major housing policy proposals: "Thriving in Place" and "Affordable Housing Incentives." • Station Center Vision and Implementation Plan- The Redevelopment Agency(RDA) gave a briefing on the Station Center vision and implementation plan, covering an area between Fifth and Sixth West and Second for South. • New Funding Through Budget Amendments—Ms. Rowland gave a brief overview of budget amendments and new funding including: - Open Streets funding approval. - Federal infrastructure grants for Jordan River bridges and the 2100 South Reconstruction in Sugar House. - Consideration of a new position in the Department of Economic Development for business districts. 5. BAB Member Announcements A. Community Outreach Hours Vice Chair Robertson discussed the importance of members acting as liaisons between the City and small business owners. He suggested creating a single repository on the agenda to streamline information about programs, open houses, and ways to do business with the City. The goal is to provide board members with a centralized place for updates, avoiding the need to sift through various emails. B. Utah Ale Trail Fall Crawl Ms. Kearl invited the BAB to join the 5th annual Utah Ale Trail Fall Crawl, a self-guided tour of breweries that is free for participants and breweries. Adiournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. je e� C c('7waoir Jeffrey t tar[eWn(Jan 23,202411:22 MST) Jeff Carleton, Chairperson This document and the recording constitute the official minutes of the Economic Development Business Advisory Board meeting held on October 1lth, 2023. BAB Minutes 10. 11 .23 Final Audit Report 2024-01-23 Created: 2024-01-10 By: Veronica Cavanagh(veronica.cavanagh@slcgov.com) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAA_R7UX51ZK6WzNQkpT9wgaZEwrdC6QdNQ "BAB Minutes 10. 11 .23" History Document created by Veronica Cavanagh (veronica.cavanagh@slcgov.com) 2024-01-10-5:06:28 PM GMT Document emailed to jeff.carleton@hotmail.com for signature 2024-01-10-5:06:55 PM GMT Email viewed by jeff.carleton@hotmail.com 2024-01-23-6:21:48 PM GMT Signer jeff.carleton@hotmail.com entered name at signing as Jeffrey C Carleton 2024-01-23-6:22:19 PM GMT ;., Document e-signed by Jeffrey C Carleton (jeff.carleton@hotmail.com) Signature Date:2024-01-23-6:22:21 PM GMT-Time Source:server ® Agreement completed. 2024-01-23-6:22:21 PM GMT Powered by F Adobe lC /r' Acrobat Sign