HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-03-2009
ACITY FDOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE
WASHINGTON March 3, 2009
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Sue Singer called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Conference Room
located on the first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA. Committee
Members present were: Vice Chair Sue Singer and Member Gene Cerino. Chair Lynn Norman
was excused.
Staff present included: Mayor Pete Lewis, Planning, Building & Community Director Cindy Baker,
Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy, Economic
Development Manager Dave Baron, and Planning Secretary Renee Tobias. Audience members
present were: Bruce Alverson, Gail Spurrell, Mike Savage, Allison Vandenberg, Troy Humphrey,
Gary Hahn, and Ronnie Roberts.
II. MINUTES
Member Cerino moved to approve the February 10, 2009 minutes as read; Vice Chair Singer
seconded.
The minutes were approved as submitted unanimously 2-0.
III. ACTION
A. City Hall Plaza Redevelopment Master Plan
This item has been rescheduled for a future March meeting.
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Auburn Downtown Association Design Committee
Auburn Downtown Association (ADA) Design Committee Chair Gail Spurrell and Vice Chair
Allison Vandenberg announced that the Design Committee for the ADA is being revived.
They are looking for ways to partner with the City.
Ms. Spurrell shared a copy of the Request for Proposals that will be sent to business owners
in the Business Improvement Area (BIA). The ADA has earmarked $2,000 for facade
improvement grants; fifty percent of the costs must come from the businesses awarded the
grants. The design committee has set their focus for this improvement at the corners of
Auburn Avenue and Main Street.
The Downtown Committee shared information about the City Hall Plaza, corner building
setbacks and intersection plans with Ms. Spurrell and Ms. Vandenberg. Ms. Spurrell asked if
the ADA Committee could work with the City to have similar features of the glass umbrellas
and basalt columns for the B Street Plaza; Committee liked the idea and there was discussion
about whether B Street Plaza has been designated a pocket park. Ms. Spurrell asked about
available funding to partner with the City and at this point there are no additions planned for B
Street Plaza.
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Downtown Redevelopment Committee Minutes March 3, 2009
Ms. Spurrell stated that the ADA is eligible to receive B&O tax credit funds and they are
actively working on getting the information out to businesses. The tax credit would be
financially beneficial to the businesses; however, the first year would be a donation to the
ADA. Ms Spurrell asked for the City's assistance in getting this information out to business.
The Committee acknowledged the City could assist the ADA on this project.
ADA Committee asked about if black awnings for downtown, such as those on Safeway, are
required within Downtown. Ms. Chamberlain responded that the Downtown Design
Guidelines set the parameters for such items but not specific colors. Staff will send the
Downtown Design Guidelines to the ADA Design Committee.
V. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Downtown Redevelopment Committee, Vice
Chair Singer adjourned the meeting at 4:57 p.m.
APPROVED THIS 17th DAY OF March, 2009.
e Singer, Deputy May r Re ee S. Tobias, Planning Secretary
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