Board Meeting Minutes - March

Board of Directors Meeting Downtown Chattanooga Alliance
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Time: 2 - 2:57 p.m.
Location: By Zoom

1. CALL TO ORDER

Steve Hunt, Chair of the DCA, called the meeting to order. Board members attending were Adam Kinsey, Kevin Love, Lisa Maragnano, Matt McGauley, Donald O’Connor, Charles Perry and Gordon Stalans.

Not attending were Pierre Dabit, Kelly Fitzgerald, Darian Scott, Erskine Oglesby, Todd Gardenhire, and Robin Smith.

Also present was Steve Brookes, Executive Director of the DCA.

2. The Board minutes of February 17, 2021 and the Executive Committee minutes of March 10, 2021 were approved.

3. OLD BUSINESS

(a) Ember Souchet has resigned from the board. Thirteen individuals have applied for the position. A nomination to replace Souchet will be put forward at the April meeting,

(b) Future discussions will be held with the four non-profits which have applied for abatements. It was pointed out that approximately a dozen other non-profits in the district have not applied for abatements.

4. NEW BUSINESS

(a) A motion to waive interest and penalties for six property owners who paid their assessments passed unanimously. The amount waived was $230.29.

(b) In regard to property owners who have not paid their assessments, the following plan was put forward: first, a friendly reminder would be sent; second, a follow-up letter (copied to R. Ruiz) would be sent explaining the lien process; third, failure to pay will result in filing a lien on the property.

(c) A motion to engage Q Strategies as a public relations firm for the DCA passed unanimously. This firm is located inside the BID.

5. FINANCE COMMITTEE UPDATE

(a) G. Stalans reviewed the financial position of the DCA as of 2/28/2021. At the end of February approximately $656,OOO including reserve accounts was in the bank. $426,000 was in the operating account. Approximately $400,000 in February collections is expected from the City of Chattanooga.

It was pointed out that collections are front-loaded in the calendar year, while expenses run throughout the year.

5. FINANCE COMMITTEE UPDATE

(a) S. Brookes addressed the Cash for Trash Program, which will be launched on March 24th. A list of participating merchants is to be compiled, and measurables will be tracked.

(b) The DCA Business Spotlight program has begun with Pinball Museum and Cadence Coffee as the next businesses to participate.

(c) Ten Sidewalk Butlers have been installed.

(d) A discussion of future projects, including animation (with M. McGauley, A. Kinsey, and K. Love), a landscape master plan, and holiday programming took place.

The meeting adjourned at 2:57.