Urban Renewal and Economic Development Committee

Regular Meeting

Charleston, WV · September 5, 2019

Minutes

MINUTES URBAN RENEWAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING 5:30 P. M., SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 A/V CONFERENCE ROOM Naomi Bays, Committee Member, called the meeting of the Charleston City Council Committee on Urban Renewal and Economic Development to order at 5:30p.m., SEPTEMBER 5, 2019, in the Audio/Visual Room in City Hall. Committee Members Present: Brent Burton, Chair (arrived 6:07) Tiffany Wesley-Plear, Vice Chair (arrived 5:45) Naomi Bays Ben Adams Caitlin Cook (via phone) Jennifer Pharr Bobby Reishman (left 6:30) 1. Approval of Previous Minutes – Councilmember Reishman moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting on 5-9-2019. There was no objection and the minutes were approved. 2. Presentation of the CURA West Side Community Renewal Amendment Draft Ron Butlin introduced James Yost, Senior Landscape Architect at GAI Consultants, Inc., who has been working on the draft. His presentation is briefly summarized:  A new version of the draft will be available online starting September 6, 2019.  The process to date includes: 1. a project kick off meeting, presentation and data review. 2. Defined priority areas (housing, commercial areas, open green spaces and infrastructure). 3. Redevelopment Plan Recommendation (developed catalytic strategies and public improvements). 4. Implementation strategies  The current stage is Plan Adoption Process. The draft has been presented to the public and Municipal Planning Commission. They will present the final draft to CURA’s Commissioners. Once approved by CURA, the plan will be introduced to Council as a bill, where it will be referred to this Committee. Once approved by Committee, it will go to Council for final approval. Councilmember Adams asked what changes have been made to this draft. Yost answered there have been changes to the language concerning social health and more clarification of the catalytic strategy recommendations. 3. Discussion Concerning revisions to current street vending ordinances and regulations The Committee discussed that the proposed bill changed “street vending” to “street truck.” It was decided that the intention of the bill is to focus on food trucks and vendors and to make the rules and regulations for them clear. Other types of street vendors would need their own bill with specific rules to follow that would more accurately apply to them. Councilmember Reishman confirmed that the vendors have the responsibility to remove their own trash. Councilmember Cook asked if the stakeholders from both sides had been consulted. Chief of Staff, Matt Sutton, answered that the main concern the Administration has received is the potential noise the trucks create and parking in front of direct competitors. The food vendors are looking for clarification of rules. The public is concerned about parking spaces being used. From the audience, Councilmember Steele, asked what in the language has changed other than allowing approval of public right of way as approved by the City Manager. She didn’t think the language stating that a truck cannot operate in front of a restaurant store front is strong enough. A representative from the Charleston Restaurant Association asked the Committee to remember that the brick and mortar restaurants stimulate the economy and employ a significant amount of people. The noise and smell of the generators is a major concern for them. Sutton raised the possibility of having a food truck day or specified food truck location. Councilmember Wesley-Plear stressed the importance of having locations in every part of the City. Councilmember Bays agreed. Councilmember Bays added that when a food truck rents out a meter, the City needs to make sure it covers the length of the truck so crosswalks, etc. are not being blocked. She also added that bagged meters should be different colors based on events, etc. Councilmember Bays also stated that the proposed bill references external signage not being allowed, but that wasn’t clearly defined. Sutton answered that it references not being able to block sidewalks/public spaces. Councilmember Bays also proposed the City find a way to streamline the process of vendors getting a business license to encourage growth by not inundating people with unnecessary paperwork. Councilmember Adams stated that a separate classification could be given to a vendor that only wanted to operate during a certain event. 4. Administration updates Concerning the previous discussion about business classifications, Sutton mentioned that the Administration will need to fix the rules that currently aren’t being followed before they look to what is next. An equal playing field is paramount to the success of the City. Councilmember Pharr suggested inviting hotel staff to events/various tours to give them knowledge of the City and events to impart to their customers. Councilmember Bays motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Pharr seconded. Meeting adjourned.

Agenda

Packet

CITY OF CHARLESTON West Virginia Council Member – 13th WARD Brent Burton Urban Renewal and Economic Development, Chair 340 MacCorkle Ave SE Finance Committee Charleston, WV 25314 Parking Committee Telephone: 304.541‐0991 E‐mail: brent.burton@cityofcharleston.org TO: Urban Renewal and Economic Development Committee FROM: Brent Burton, Chair RE: Committee Meeting There will be a Committee meeting of Urban Renewal and Economic Development on September 5, 2019 at 5:30 PM, in the A/V Conference Room, City Hall, Room 308. The agenda will be as follows: APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES 1. June 13, 2019 RON BUTLIN ‐ PRESENTATION OF THE CURA WEST SIDE COMMUNITY RENEWAL AMENDMENT DRAFT DISCUSSION CONCERNING REVISIONS TO CURRENT STREET VENDING ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS ADMINISTRATION UPDATES (The previously scheduled meeting for August 15, 2019 was cancelled) *Meetings may be recorded and broadcast via internet https://charlestonwv.civicclerk.com BB/ns City Council | 501 Virginia Street, East | Post Office Box 2749 | Charleston, West Virginia 25330 www.charlestonwv.gov | 304.348.8179 | 304.348.8038 fax Page | 1 of MINUTES URBAN RENEWAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING 5:30 P. M., JUNE 13, 2019 A/V CONFERENCE ROOM Naomi Bays, Committee Member, called the meeting of the Charleston City Council Committee on Urban Renewal and Economic Development to order at 5:30p.m., JUNE 13, 2019, in the Audio/Visual Room in City Hall. Committee Members Present: Naomi Bays Ben Adams Caitlin Cook Jennifer Pharr Bobby Reishman (left 6:29) 1. Approval of Previous Minutes – Councilmember Pharr moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting on 5-9-2019. Councilmember Cook seconded. There was no objection and the minutes were approved. 2. Ron Butlin, CURA – Councilmember Bays introduced Ron Butlin, Executive Director of Charleston Urban Renewal Authority (CURA), who addressed the Committee. Highlights of the presentation included:  3 Renewal Districts – East End, Downtown and West Side  CURA’s goal is the elimination of blight. Their current focus is a more holistic approach compared to the past.  2 rehabilitation programs/loans: to promote stability in the West Side, currently available to homes in a small, select area. Their hope is that the program will be successful, attracting investors that will allow the program to expand.  Landlord to First Watch, Black Sheep and Subway. Their goal is to liquidate some of their other assets.  In the past, their focus has been primarily commercial, however the past few years have seen a slight shift toward residential as well. Councilmember Pharr asked Butlin to explain the makeup of the ownership of the mall. Butlin replied that the main building and retail spaces (except for the anchor stores) were developed by a Forest City entity. In the mid-1990s, it was refinanced which bifurcated the ownership of the mall and the parking garage. CURA owns the land under the parking garages, which is owned separately from the mall. From a previous agreement, they receive a small percentage of revenue from the mall’s tenants. The Page | 2 of owners of the parking garage also owns the former Macy’s building. The mall is currently owned by a bank, which is a trustee for several other banks. Councilmember Adams asked what other sources of revenue they receive. Butlin answered that they have issued a few small loans to aid in the purchases of historic buildings. The bulk of CURA funding comes from the mall parking buildings. Councilmembers Bays confirmed with Butlin that the new West Side Plan is an amendment as opposed to a new document. Councilmember Pharr confirmed that the plan will come to the Committee before final approval from Council. Councilmember Pharr asked how many people have taken advantage of the home ownership/rehab program. Butlin answered that they have received about 10 applications for rehab and around 11 for home ownership. Councilmember Adams asked if there were grants available to CURA. Butlin answered that there were hopefully grants available for project-specific activities, but not for general funding. Councilmember Pharr asked if they have encountered in issues in regard to rehab loan applications. Butlin answered yes, specifically, there are issues of how much money is required to get a home to a livable status and at what amount is it not worth doing so. Butlin explained that a Housing Inspector will visit the home for an inspection. If the homeowner meets the requirements, CURA will put the work our for bid, the contractors do the work and CURA processes the payment. Councilmember Bays asked how many houses were considered un-livable but had people living in them. Butlin said he didn’t know a specific number, but he would guess that it is a lot. They are working on a holistic approach with other agencies to try to address this issue. 3. Tonya Cotton, City Collector’s Office – The Department Head for the City Collector’s Office, Tonya Cotton, addressed the Committee with an overview of her department and its responsibilities. Highlights of the presentation were:  The office’s primary function is to collect all the funds that go through the City.  They process payments for and/or monitor: parking tickets, building permits, City Service fees, sign permits, building and planning violations, Business and Occupational taxes, business licenses, solicitation permits, street closures, hotel/motel occupancy taxes, utility taxes and amusement taxes.  They have a staff of 15 – 7 ½ auditors, 3 cashiers and 4 front of the house staff.  In 2018, they collected $63,278,268; $44 million of that was B&O taxes.  Half of the hotel/motel tax revenue is given to the CVB.  Cotton discussed the steps of getting a business license with the Committee. Councilmember Bays suggested having a more official welcome packet when a new business license is issued. Cotton and the Committee discussed their Revenue Tracking System, which meets the Collector’s Office’s needs, but they will most likely not be able to get technical support/repairs for much longer. They share the fire, refuse Page | 3 of and sewer billing system with the Sanitary Board, which does not fit the needs of the Collector’s Office. Councilmember Adams motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Pharr seconded. Meeting adjourned. Page | 4 of Page | 5 of