HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_DTPG_08.12.2019Minutes of Meeting of the
Downtown Parking Garage Stakeholder Steering Committee Meeting
City of Georgetown, Texas
August 12, 2019
The Downtown Parking Garage Stakeholder Steering Committee met on Monday, August 12, 2019 at
3:00 PM in the Community Room at City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr Street, Georgetown, Texas.
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Rpard Memhers Present:
Michael Walton, Co -Chair
Linda McCalla, Co -Chair
Mickie Ross
Scott Firth
Larry Olson
Shawn Hood
Kay Briggs
Beard Members Absent:
Chris Damon
Others present:
Justin Bohles
Legislative Regular Agenda
City Staff Present:
Wayne Reed, Assistant City Manager
Sofia Nelson, Planning Director
Eric Johnson, CIP Manager
Amanda Still, Arts & Culture Coordinator
Danella Elliott, Executive Assistant
Kim McAuliffe, Downtown Development Manager
Jackson Daly, Assistant to the City Manager
Cari Miller, Tourism/CYB Manager
Eric Lashley, Library Director
Eric Nuner, Parks & Rec Asst Director
Trish Long, Facilities Superintendent
Michael Walton, Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m.
A. Consideration and possible action to approve the July 22, 2019 Downtown Parking Garage
Stakeholder Steering Committee Meeting minutes - Danella Elliott - Committee Liaison
Motion to approve minutes by Larry Olson; second by Linda McCalla. Approved 7-0. Chris Damon
absent.
Michael informed the committee that Laurie was attending a conference today but she asked him to
prepare a status report and update for the August 27th Council Workshop. The presentation will
include clarification on comments from the July 22 meeting (... need to understand expectations and
clarification about what is expected from this committee....) He asked everyone to send him any
questions or information that they wanted to be included and he would prepare the presentation. He
said that this the committee's opportunity to ask any questions, get clarification on expectations, and
get Council's response.
Linda noted conversations that have come up during previous committee meetings, as well as
comments from outside the committee, about the reasoning for building a parking garage in this
location when there is a bigger and better site at another location. Linda asked if this site had already
been decided, and Wayne Reed said that based on previous discussions from Council, that is a fair
assumption. Linda also reminded everyone that there is a finite dollar amount to do this project and
reminded everyone to be mindful of what is possible when compiling wish lists and ideas. She feels
that there is a definite need for this parking garage, and she sees the comments about utilizing other
sites as "yes/and". If there is an opportunity to construct a garage in a location that will serve the
needs of downtown, and we have the money to do it, then the time is now. Later, if there is another
site and funds available for something bigger and better with more bells and whistles, then that can
be discussed at a later time. The most important thing to her is that this garage is designed to be a
beautiful building, noting that best practices for infill in a historic district is for the building to "not"
look like a historic building, but look like a building that was built in 2020, honoring the massing
scale, setbacks etc. and be architecturally compatible with the area around it.
Larry said that the neighborhood is talking a lot about it. Some of discussion he is hearing is about
whether it makes sense to build a garage with the electric issues, etc. He disagrees and believes that
is should be built. He has explained that it is a necessity, not a luxury project.
Wayne said that it may be a good time to educate the public by providing a site with accurate terms
and facts. He explained that one reason this site was chosen was not only its proximity to the square,
but the cost to construct efficiently can be supported by the Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment
Zone (TIRZ) with approximately $3M on this project plus the use of CO's; the cost will not affect
the General Fund. Larry said he talked to Laurie last week and got additional information and facts
to send to those in the neighborhood that were asking questions.
Micki told Linda that her points were well -said. She noted that in reference to Larry's comments,
she lives on the other side of University, and everyone she has talked to thinks it is a great idea. She
said that the "facts" or FAQ's would benefit everyone. She said that this garage is not really being
constructed for Georgetown residents, but for others coming from out of town. Linda said that she
believes it will be used by those driving in to work downtown during the weekdays, and then used
by a completely different group in the evenings and during the weekends and events.
Scott said that when he was asked to be on this committee, he asked if this site was already fully
decided, and was told that it was not and that this decision would be within the scope of this
committee. He feels this need to be clarified as well.
Michael said that these were all valid points, and these questions could be answered during the
workshop.
B. Public Engagement Plan Presentation - Sofia Nelson, Planning Director
Sofia Nelson thanked everyone for completing the survey she sent out. She gave her presentation
and said that she reviewed the minutes from the May 14 Council meeting (when this committee
was created) so that she could fully understand the background and scope. She said that the main
focus of this committee is to lead the public outreach and review the design of the exterior of the
parking garage. Sofia showed a slide from the 2015 Downtown Parking Study that showed existing
parking we had at that time. Larry suggested that this slide should indicate that it was 2015 and note
that parking is much worsenow.
Sofia went over the goals for engagement, which were to seek broad public input, utilize business
owners as ambassadors and utilize up to date collection methods, combined with traditional meeting
methods, for collecting input. Sofia reflected on previous conversations and needs for the topics,
which included education (where/what/why for the garage and the goals and benefits), as well as
outreach (including material influences, streetscaping, public art, mass and scale and architectural
character). She reiterated the need for providing positive interaction vs. negative, making sure that
a key component is the total education factor.
Larry said that he agreed with Wayne's suggestion on providing FAQ's. Michael said that his
thoughts on the outreach topics were that streetscaping should be ornamentation (plants and
lighting), and activating ground level should be a separate item.
Larry said that including a pictorial survey might be helpful to clarify meaning the meaning of the
questions (i.e., pictures of brick, stucco, etc.).
Sofia went over the stakeholders (those near to downtown churches, merchants, nearby residential
owners, nearby community building owners, customers, people who work downtown, PG, DGA,
and citywide neighborhood associations, young professionals, residential and commercial owners in
the area, Downtown and Old Town Overlay, which extends out to Chautaqua Park, noting that this
group might have a different prospective since they are further away from the downtown area).
Larry confirmed that he will do an article to be included in Steve Fought's newsletter.
Sofia then went over the engagement strategies and clarified how the group would like the public
outreach to look, including public meetings, online participation and building on existing outreach
opportunities, both in person and in writing. She discussed the committee's preferences on how
they wanted to engage each stakeholder group so that both education outreach and engagement
strategies allow opportunity for the most productive feedback. Sofia discussed some options and
asked for feedback for specific ideas about how to engage each stakeholder group:
Merchant groups - postcards by the register of downtown businesses;
Meetings - (DGA, PG, open house or meeting in a box for instant feedback); interactive and real
time survey such as Mentimeter; use shortened URL's that can be easily shared to find where the
information is located and utilizing Instagram polls. It was suggested to put the public in a setting
where people are comfortable speaking out to get honest suggestions. Everyone thought that the
HARC survey was effective and a postcard could be sent out directing the public to an online survey.
Nearby residential owners: HARC survey was effective; send postcard and directing people to go
online to survey.
Merchants/anyone on the square and residents; Set up some type of scheduled meeting listing the
date, time and location, such as Breakfast Bites or a meeting before HARC, in the early evening or
morning. Outside business owners will want opportunity to ask questions, etc.
Breakfast Bites: September I I (next scheduled date and possibly do a presentation)
On the Table: Allows for conversation for Young Professionals.
Neighborhood Associations: Email blasts from the neighborhood association lists
Neighborhood Night Out: First of October (good opportunity to ask those who register to distribute
information).
Market Days: Mickie said that the Courthouse could provide space to provide information.
Downtown churches; all churches most likely a have mailing list; some may not, but someone could
go to their churches to provide information such as an in -person announcement at a service.
Newsletters.
Send an email through the County.
Cost: Questions arose about a budgeted amount and noted that mailings would be effective, but
expensive. Another suggestion was a "stuffer" in utility bills.
Sofia thanked everyone for their responses/suggestions and said that she would take their
suggestions and strategies, discuss with staff and come back with ideas and suggest alternatives if
needed.
Timeline for Outreach:
DGA Meetiniz on September 20th
Market Days: 2nd Sat of October
First Fridays: October 4;
Neighborhood Night Out: October 1
Breakfast Bites: September 11
Wine and Music Festival: September 28th
Sofia asked the committee ifthey thought it was practical to have the survey cut-off by mid -October
with the process finishing up by the end of October. Michael asked if this was enough time to get
results and come up with recommendations, and Sofia said that staff would have to evaluate and see
if it wasfeasible.
Sofia thanked everyone for their input and Michael reminded everyone to e-mail him with any
information or questions that needed to be included in the August 27th presentation to Council.
Wayne asked for questions to be included in a FAQ list and said that we could start compiling the
information. Some questions included:
• How many total parking spaces will be in the garage; how many "net" new parking spaces?
• Will it cost money to park in the garage?
• How is it funded? (with explanation of TIRZ vs. CO's; explaining that it was not part of past bond
authorization).
• Tentative schedule.
• Why are we building at this location? (include information from Downtown Master Plan and
Parking Study).
• Is this the only garage the City will ever build? (explain that this is the first phase and recognize
the need for additional parking; provide update on other parking improvements and locations).
• Why are we considering a parking garage now?
• Where can I park during construction (explain parking lot will be used as staging area during
old Council Chamber remodel).
• Will renovations at 101 E 7thaffect parking?
• What will happen to spaces next to Galaxy Bakery?
• Provide update on surface parking lot construction north of Library?
• Why was the parking garage not built on the County property? How many spaces were available
in downtown in 2015 vs 2019?
Kay said feedback she is getting is people are excited we are getting it; they like the location, close to
downtown.
Sofia reminded the committee to bring their calendars to next meeting to sign up for the outreach events.
Dates were discussed, and it was decided to meet again on September 5th at 3:00 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m.
lM�A `G II
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Linda McCalla
Board Co -Chair
Date