Urban Renewal and Economic Development Committee

Regular Meeting

Charleston, WV · December 5, 2019

Minutes

MINUTES URBAN RENEWAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING 5:30 P. M., DECEMBER 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., DECEMBER 5, 2019, in the Audio/Visual Room in City Hall. Committee Members Present: Brent Burton, Chair (arrived 5:37) Ben Adams Naomi Bays Caitlin Cook (arrived 5:34) Jennifer Pharr Bobby Reishman 1. Approval of Previous Minutes – Councilmember Adams moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting on 11-7-2019. Councilmember Pharr seconded. There was no objection and the minutes were approved. 2. Itinerant Vendors (fairs and festivals) - (5:34) Councilmember Bays introduced Mallory Richards and Maria Belcher from FestivAll. Councilmember Bays stated that in past years, FestivAll artists were not required to register as businesses and report their earnings. They were required to do so this year, and FestivAll was not expecting this last-minute expense. Those licenses were able to be pro-rated. She added that there needs to be a fair and equitable system in place for artists that sell goods during events such as FestivAll. Chief of Staff, Matt Sutton, added that when the year started the new Administration determined that the process of registering businesses was not standardized. As a result, they directed the Collector’s Office that absolutely every business should be registered and filing B&O taxes per City Code for a fair and even system. The current City Collector is now working on setting a threshold that would apply for the types of business to which Councilmember Bays was referring. While this is still a work in progress, the thought process is to credit these businesses for next year so that they do not have to obtain another business license. Mayor Goodwin added that the City is willing to help any business that is found to owe past B&O taxes, and have been by in part, but offering payment plan. They are currently working on a two-page info sheet to clarify the process of setting up and paying B&O taxes. From the audience, Councilmember Bailey suggested having a box on the 2nd quarter tax form to include the $20 fee to streamline the process. Councilmember Bays suggested having a license for the physical year (instead of the fiscal year of July-June) to prevent vendors from potentially having to obtain two licenses to attend various events. Councilmember Pharr asked if the vendors needed to carry insurance. Sutton answered that it depended on the event (Live on the Levee, for example, requires it). Mallory Richards from FestivAll stated that smaller groups would not be able to afford that. 3. Administration Updates – Councilmember Pharr confirmed that the proposed food vendor bill was being reworked by the City Attorney with the Committee’s recommendations. They will most likely be presented to the updated draft early 2020. The next scheduled meeting will be January 23, 2019 at 5:30, at which time the Committee will again take up Bill No. 7836. Councilmember Reishman motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Bays 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 December 5, 2019 at 5:30 PM, in the A/V Conference Room, City Hall, Room 308. The agenda will be as follows: Approve Previous Minutes 1. 11‐7‐2019 DISCUSSION ‐ Itinerant vendors (fairs & festivals) Administration Updates THIS AGENDA WAS AMENDED 12‐2‐2019 *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., NOVEMBER 7, 2019 A/V CONFERENCE ROOM Tiffany Wesley-Plear, Vice Chair, called the meeting of the Charleston City Council Committee on Urban Renewal and Economic Development to order at 5:30p.m., NOVEMBER 7, 2019, in the Audio/Visual Room in City Hall. Committee Members Present: Tiffany Wesley-Plear, Vice Chair Naomi Bays Ben Adams Naomi Bays Caitlin Cook Jennifer Pharr 1. Approval of Previous Minutes – Councilmember Bays moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting on 9-5-2019. Councilmember Adams seconded. There was no objection and the minutes were approved. Page | 2 of 2. Bill No. 7836 Councilmember Wesley-Plear introduced Director of Planning, Dan Vriendt. He explained that the process of creating the plan had been progressing for around 1 ½ years. The process had slowed in order to get input from the public. He reminded the Committee that it is a living document that can be amended even after approval and passage through council. Councilmember Wesley-Plear introduced James Yost and David Gilmore (GAI Consultants, Inc.) and Adam Krason (ZMM Architects & Engineers). Krason stated that they conducted 10 different stakeholder meetings as well as a tour of the Housing Improvement Zone to meet with individual homeowners. The plan represents a visual representation of various goal and strategies. Yost described the plan’s contents, previously presented to the Committee. Reverend Matthew Watts commented that the presented plan is more user-friendly than the previous one. He and several other community organizations have conveyed to developers of the plan that they believe it violates the 1952 Urban Renewal Law. He further stated they believe a budget of estimated costs is required to be submitted with the plan along with redevelopment demolition plans and housing redevelopment plans. City Attorney, Kevin Baker, responded that he has reviewed the law, and believes the plan does comply. He stated he would be willing to review the law again before the bill went to Council. Ricardo Martin asked what specific projects were planned that he would be able to tell the people in his community about. Baker responded that the budgetary requirements are for specific projects, of which the proposed plan does not include. Ron Butlin (CURA) added that that it is a strategic plan to come up with ideas that could be implemented throughout the entire West Side. The catalytic idea is to focus on the home improvement zone. Bob Hardy asked what will happen to the original 2008 plan, specifically the plan’s mention of advocacy groups. Krason responded that the basis of the original document has been incorporated into the amended plan, and referenced Article 7.7. Councilmember Cook asked what had been accomplished from the 2008 plan. Yost answered that Chapter 1 shows what was done and the associated costs. A representative from the Kanawha Valley Foundation stated that the plan is a conceptualized road map of what the area could be. The next phase should involve detailed plans and costs. Page | 3 of Councilmember Adams motioned to postpone Bill No. 7836 until the next scheduled meeting. Bays seconded. With the ayes being in the majority, Bill No. 7836 was postponed. Councilmember Adams motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Pharr seconded. Meeting adjourned. Page | 4 of