HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_DTPG_09.17.2019Minutes of Meeting of the
Downtown Parking Garage Stakeholder Steering Committee Meeting
City of Georgetown, Texas
September 17, 2019
The Downtown Parking Garage Stakeholder Steering Committee met on Tuesday, September 17, 2019
at 3:00 PM in the Community Room at City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr Street, Georgetown, Texas.
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Board Members Present:
Michael Walton, Co -Chair
Linda McCalla, Co -Chair
Mickie Ross
Scott Firth
Larry Olson
Shawn Hood
Kay Briggs
Board Members Absent:
Chris Damon
Others present:
Legislative Regular Agenda
City Staff Present:
Laurie Brewer, Assistant City Manager
Wayne Reed, Assistant City Manager
Soria Nelson, Planning Director
Eric Johnson, CIP Manager
Danella Elliott, Executive Assistant
Kim McAuliffe, Downtown Development Manager
Jackson Daly, Assistant to the City Manager
Cari Miller, Tourism/CVB Manager
Eric Lashley, Library Director
Eric Nuner, Parks & Rec Asst Director
Trish Long, Facilities Superintendent
Keith Hutchinson, Communications Manager
Michael Walton, Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m.
1. Approval of the Downtown Parking Garage Stakeholder Steering Committee Meeting
minutes from the August 12, 2019 meeting — Danella Elliott — Committee Liaison
Motion to approve minutes by Linda McCalla; second by Scott Firth. Approved 7-0. Chris Damon
absent.
2. Provide an update from the September 10, 2019 City Council Workshop presentation —
Laurie Brewer, Assistant City Manager and Michael Walton, Committee Co -Chair
Michael reminded everyone that in addition to participating on this committee, they are also
supposed to be a connector to citizens or public that have comments, and relay status and
information to those citizens. Someone reached out to Michael and presented an idea of putting a
greenhouse on the entire top floor of the parking garage. Michael asked the citizen to present more
detail, which he will receive later. We will e-mail his idea out to committee and discuss, if decided,
at a future meeting.
Michael provided an overview of the Council presentation on September 10". He said that Linda,
Mickie, Scott were also present. Overall, it went as expected. Laurie and Sofia's presentations
were great. Michael presented a summary of each of the previous 3 meetings. He put 3 questions
on the screen for Council to respond:
1. Choosing an alternate location: Everyone except Rachael felt the location was not up for
discussion, and it was not part of the committee's initiative. At the current time, with current
funds and the current feeling, this was specified as the location. Rachael did quantify her
statement and said that she felt that there were some recommendations in the parking study that
had not been considered, and said that staff might possibly consider those options, (i.e., if there
was more money, time, etc in the future, maybe another location was possible);
2. Size: Everyone agreed that the size was fine, as long as we are maximizing the number of
narkine snots with the best use of space within the budeet:
3. Retail. Steve seemed more intrigued than the others; Valerie leaned toward more display cases
instead of actual retail spots, but everyone seemed to be on board to engage the bottom level
with some type of retail space or something similar if it did not take away from parking spots.
Tommy was ok with it, but he definitely does not want the City to be a landlord. Michael said
that he felt that it was positive and that all (except Kevin) were on board with some type of
ground level engagement but were not in favor of doing this at the sacrifice of parking spaces.
Top 3 goals for project. Parking and more parking, making sure it fits the architectural integrity,
reflects downtown and is welcoming, but the main consensus was to have a net increase in the
number of parking spaces.
Expectations of the committee: They are ready to get it done and feel it should not wait. Valerie
mentioned that she felt the committee was the "pre-HARC" and "pre -Council" group. Mike
Triggs said that he would like the committee to address security considerations. Discussion
followed on what that might mean.
Michael said that he believes the committee should keep doing what it has been, and engaging with
Sofia on the input and outreach efforts.
David Morgan expressed his appreciation to the committee. He said that the impact of this project
is significant and we definitely want to get the maximum value with it not taking away from the
integrity of the downtown. He reiterated that Council said that the form (in terns of scaling and
height) are not as critical as the net new spaces. The number of spaces that Kevin stated was 150
spaces, and nobody disagreed with that. Steve Fought was consistent saying that the current form
was good; Tommy said that the challenge of the group is to get the maximum number of spaces.
David wanted to make sure that there wasn't any misunderstanding on Council's expectations, and
it was specifically stated that the number needed was 150 net new spaces.
Scott said that Laurie's presentation to Council told a story, and he appreciated that. He said that
one of the main drivers, in addition to growth, for constructing the parking garage in this location
is the ability to use the Downtown TIRZ funding, and this should be highlighted and emphasized
in the outreach and education. Larry emphasized the need to really concentrate on the handicap
accessibility, and Laurie suggested that we should try to exceed basic ADA requirements.
3. Discussion and possible action on receiving additional feedback an finalizing the Engagement
Plan Process — Sofia Nelson, Planning Director
Sofia went over her presentation and outreach and education information. She asked the committee
if she had captured all of their suggestions and asked for feedback. She asked members, as
ambassadors, to volunteer and agree to take the lead on selected engagement methods, groups, etc.
Scott mentioned including visual examples of conceptual pictures for streetscape, mass and scale,
retail, finishes, materials, etc. for the survey. Sofia said those ideas were captured in the notes and
would be incorporated into the survey. It will be structured for giving options vs. giving feedback.
Discussion followed on including retail space, and how it might compete with current retailers on
the square. Michael noted there were really four deliveries regarding suggestions for retail:
1) no retail, 2) display cases, 3) storefronts, 4) kiosks, and all could be offered as options. Larry
noted that according to Council, consensus was that they are not opposed to retail as long as it does
not take parking spots away, but including retail would most likely be at the expense of parking
spots, and almost rule retail out.
Sofia gathered the list and thanked everyone for their willingness to act as ambassadors (member
ambassador list attached). The survey will be completed by the end of October and the target date
for completion of the outreach/education portion is the end of November. Then the committee will
make recommendations to Council.
4. Provide an update on parking initiatives — Laurie Brewer, Assistant City Manager
Laurie gave a quick synopsis of everything that had been done to date with the Parking Study
recommendations (list is attached). Laurie mentioned that 14 additional head in parking spots will
be created at Blue Hole by the drainage pond. Laurie and Sofia also clarified the question that there
will be no new parking spots created for the new Palace Theater at 2nd and Rock.
5. Provide an update on design construction contract and timeline for construction of the
Downtown Parking Garage — Eric Johnson, CIP Manager
Eric reminded everyone of the funding sources for the parking garage: one-half of the $5 million
budget comes from the TIRZ, and the other half from Certificate of Obligation bonds. The current
Opinion of Probable Cost (OPC) is $5.4 million, through the initial phase. Based on public input
and current budget, Eric will provide recommendations to get the cost estimate closer to the actual
budget. He noted that we will take a little step back in the schematic design and consider public
input on aesthetics, size and massing, art opportunities, streetscaping, and street level activation.
The Legal department feels that instead of issuing another RFP, the work already done with WGI
makes them uniquely qualified and they could make an immediate impact.
The estimated timeline is:
• Design
o 24 weeks
• HARC/Site/Building Plan Review
o 18 weeks
• Bidding and Award
o 10 weeks
• Construction
o 1 year
R Public able to park in the garage
o Estimated December 2021
The internal team will meet and come up with reasonable expectations regarding the timeline for the
survey and outreach materials. Staff feels they can come up with a simple but effective survey that will
capture all relevant information the committee would like included and have it available for distribution
by October 1st for National Night Out.
The target date range for the next meeting is first to mid -November. Information will be sent via e-
mail.
The meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
Michael tan Linda McCalla
Board o- hair Board Co -Chair
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