Redevelopment Commission - Regular Meeting

meeting order. Good evening. Welcome to the city of Charlestown Reevelopment Commission meeting for September 2nd, 2025. Everyone will please rise as we begin with the pledge of allegiance. I alian to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Do a roll call vote. Bait here. Holly Brooks here. John Spencer here. Chuck Peyton here.

Derek's also present. We have a quorum. Uh next item on the agenda for this evening is our presentations. We have four presentations tonight. First one is um for 106 facade grant improvement for 106 industrial way. And Colin receiver is here to speak to that. Welcome Colin. Thank you.

I'm Colin Receiver. uh purchased the property 6 months ago or so and um I don't know if you know the history on the property. There was a a lady uh I guess the widow had sold the property. The husband had died and he had owned and operated the business there for a number of years. And the business uh the building's in I guess okay shape but but it's uh not had a lot of upkeep over the years. So looking to do um some improvements to it and uh brought some before and after renderings if that would be helpful to see.

Oh, there we go. Is the current business still in there? Yes. Yeah, the business was sold um local gentleman bought it. that does similar business. I think he was a competitor of some kind of synergy and yeah, they're still operating out of that building. And Colin's asking for at least you have a number of improvements that you plan to make for this facility, but as far as the facade grants concerned, it's the exterior painting and then the um parking lot, the paving of the parking lot. Correct. As well,

yeah, I outlined some things that I'm improving in there that I didn't necessarily make a portion of the grant for the calculation, but that are going to be or are already made. It's about $100,000 worth of improvements you planned what you said on the Yes. overall. Yeah. Yeah. The rendering looks really nice picture. Thank you. Have you decided whether you're going to are you going to completely redo the parking lot or you just going to clean it up and then resurface it? Decided. I think it's beyond saving kind. Well, that's kind of what I interpreted from some of the stuff in your packet in the packet. I wasn't sure. So,

yeah. I mean, you could you could squirt some sealer on it, push it around, but I don't I don't think that's it's a little rough to do that. So, yeah, we'll mill it all out, redo it, mill and reboot. Yes, sir. Yeah, that difference. So, we can act on this now or we going to wait until we

You can act on it now if you wish to do so. Uh so he is applying for the full amount $10,000. Uh he's expending or at least provided expenses for over the 20,000. And Tony Jackson has approved all of these. I think in my pack the packet I sent out. I was still waiting on that. This morning Tony blessed all of these. So I make a motion we award the facade grant for $10,000 maximum amount based on packet we received from Jill. I'll second that. We have a motion, a second. Is there any further discussion? Ask for a vote to approve. All those in favor, please.

Motion passes. Thank you. You keep those. Yes. Thank you. Thanks, Joe. Thank you. Next presentation is for 500 Pike Street uh for a facade improvement grant for Superior Vault. Um, they told me someone would be here. They're not here yet. So, I can talk about this or we can come back to it. Whatever you want to do. Might as well just Is there someone from the next one? Are you here? No. Okay. There's not anyone for the next one either. Um,

so, um, Superior Vault on Pike Street. They had come to us uh maybe last year or so and they you can see where they've replaced the fencing in the back side of the property. Uh what this application will do and there are some pictures in here of the existing fencing along Pike Street that they'd like to replace and a gate with what is the a similar side or similar style

just oh a little bit. So, that used to be an entrance for those of you that remember. They used to go in and out of that entrance right there uh between the buildings. That's where the office is at and that's where the uh vaults are made and painted and everything. So, that used to be an entrance. They closed that off and what they're doing is they're coming in the backside now through Hux. So, I do know that, Jill. I can I can tell you that. That right there goes to uh the lefthand side of the office between that and uh Superior Crematory. So that's the older fence that's been there for years. It's on a gate and it's been cut up and uh to where they can make the improvements to the front of their building that I think that we've done a facade for last year. So I just know the building very well. And something that I noticed and I did email them about just so they were aware um in their application they estimated the project cost $11,500 and they requested $10,000 and that's $10,000 is not something they're eligible for. So they're eligible for half of that $11,500 uh upfront. And then just to remind you all when they come in with their expenses that's when we look at that and if they spent less than 9115 then you can reimburse them half of what they spent up to $10,000.

I did talk to Steve. I don't know why they're not here, but I talked to him same day I talked to you about the the sign and everything, but uh I've also talked to the state of Indiana and what he's going to try to do from Hutch to where they took out Pike Street or where where Big G is. That's really grown up right there. What he's wanting to do is take that fence down completely, get rid of all that through there, that dish line, fabric it, put rip wrap on there. He wants to clean all that up and I believe Jill he's going to he wanted to make that a part of this. I think I mean I don't know if he talked to you about that or not. I did speak to to Steve as well. Okay.

But he mentioned that and I don't know I think he might have put this in before we got a hold of somebody with the state to where he figured out he could do it or not. And the state said it was okay. They said he can do it but I mean that's not something that they would be really interested in doing but he could do that. So I thought he may make this part of it. So there may be an amended right. Would you like me to? Um, and I think if if you're amendable to what he's proposing now, then kind of give the go-ahhead to to move forward on that, but then also have me reach out to him and see if he wants to amend it in any way. That makes sense. Yeah. Other than waiting until October. Yeah. Yeah.

To come back with it. I know they want to get started as soon as they can. Okay. I mean, we're we're only going to give the grant if he meets all the conditions. Anyway, so right. Yeah, that's correct. So, we can go ahead and move on as far as I'm concerned. So, then uh we would need a motion to move forward with the facade grant as presented along with uh me checking with them to see if they'd like to amend it to include the improvements that Chuck talked about. I make a motion to approve that with the suspected amendments come potentially. Motion by Bobby. Is there a second?

I'll second. Second by Chuck. Any further discussion? As for a vote to approve. All those in favor, please I.

Motion passes. Thank you. The next one is the fire department um and they had a conflicting meeting. Fire chief has a business meeting today um and asked if they could come next month, but that's the same issue. So, I offered to just present them this on their behalf. Uh they're requesting uh with a total project cost of $3,592 uh to replace the four awnings that are on the outside of that building. and they are torn and are old. If you haven't driven by there to look at them and so they're asking for your approval to move forward with that, we would be looking at $1,796 of the city's portion to do that reimburse. So, they're just going to purchase the awnings and mount them themselves, I guess, is what's

Yes, there was there were two um there was one to purchase them from and I did they did send me an additional quote this morning u just in case um there's installation and labor from Homebuilders Plus. Okay. So, they're going to purchase these uh from Home Depot and then have someone install it. So, that's the those two added together make up the 3592. Anybody else? I make a motion we approve this facade grant. I second. Motion a second. Any further discussion? Ask for a vote to approve. All those in favor, please. I I.

Motion passes. Thank you. Next present presentation is Taylor Secret Williams with the shortlet street parklet and common presentation.

All right. And I've asked Amy to present now and then we can talk about this later on the agenda. But just so good. Um no was a number of months ago, not too many I guess that we went through kind of that vision plan for the commons and uh now we're kind of have the next step to talk through. Um, so what we've been working through is to take that concept we have and actually start to move it through the design process. Um, so what we have to present to you, I was going to give you kind of an overview of what it is now. Um, and then there's also three design al alternatives or you know adults that you can add on potentially if you would want to. Um, but we tried to structure that to keep again that base of what we need and intent within there. And then those three kind of additional things. So this first one, I'll start with the stage area. We've got a couple things to explain, but the number one in there is the performance pavilion. That's kind of the central feature of the whole park, big purpose of the park or this park lit. Uh, two is a design kind of feature wall with some plantings and signs. So, you can kind of see that there, the wing walls that kind of come out there with the um the triangle type shapes. And this is the commons at um Charles Town. That's also something we've talked about. You could use it as a sponsor opportunity. It could be ABC or whoever maybe would want to sponsor that. Um number three is again that uh that storage building behind it. So, it is a kind of a semi block split face building back behind there, but basically we're leaving that empty more or less. Um, it will have conduit that's run to it from Short Street and it will have a commissioning unit in there, but it's supposed it's intended to be your future, uh, you know, the brain for all of things that are Christmas uh, here in Charles Town. So, uh, then number uh, and there is a sidewalk back behind there. I wanted to point that out there, too, just for access and whatnot. Um,

and then number four is kind of a paved area. So, if you go back actually a couple of slides. Um, so you can kind of see there's decorative pavers and we'll do a zoom in on that in a minute. But again, it gives a little bit of a fun area that maybe is in front of that lawn space that people can kind of utilize. So, now if we go to the next one, um, I'll go kind of through the lawn area features. So, five is uh it's it's grass lawn space um with some trees kind of on the outsides of that, but it is irrigated. So, that's I think a good plus for you from a maintenance perspective. Number six, we have sidewalks that kind of again kind of flanker or kind of are on the outsides of those uh the lawn space. Um, and we have some feature pavers in there and it also is uh we have lighting within those as well. Um, and then number seven is uh along Market Street. So, if you kind of think that south the bottom of your drawing is Market right there. Um, we've got kind of uh angled uh benches that you'll be able to see here in a second. And then plantings. We also did add into that a fence or railing and we can kind of define that later. We want to make sure that can get designed in there to where it's not like weird and awkward, but want to make sure the purpose of that railing was that people aren't especially kiddos or maybe our our folks who aren't as steady on their feet. Um there is a little bit of a level area behind those, but somebody doesn't try to go through the plantings or jump over the bench and then like tumble down the hill. So now we go to the next one there. This is just kind of a bird's eye some of those things. So you can see where that number seven is. We've got kind of three benches space there and then the kind of lighter brown area. We would do plantings there um to help kind of again hold you into that space or kind of define it a little bit better. Um if you go to the next one as well. Um these are our pavers. So again the the intent here is to um build upon what you guys did with the placemaking project for the the little parklet area. And the whole idea there was this sawtooth

pattern. So that's coming from a lot of the historical um interpretation of some of the older um industry buildings here that had that kind of sawtooth pattern. So building upon that and I pulled the three paper staples there. So again, it's not a bright blue as you see that in the those are from the drawings. That's just so the contractor sees you know A, B, and C. Um but it would be that kind of like grayish uh cool gray bluish hues as you can kind of see. So those would be your three um color patterns and that's an example of maybe how the colors would kind of come together in that is a honeybre actually picture as well. So those could kind of come together and again interpret. So um those are that is your stage area that is kind of three areas on both sides of the sidewalk and then it is in the little parklet the placemaking parklet as well. So go to the next one for those are just an example of those benches that we had shown. So it's kind of again not just a standard bench. just a little bit more fun um than than some just convert or traditional bench. All right. And then um this area is the sidewalk leading in. So the right side of that drawing, if you kind of envision a future development, that would be awesome and great. And it could interact with that sidewalk. We can have outdoor dining there and all that nice uh stuff. But you can kind of see it's nice that is a 15oot walk. It's also going to serve its thicker concrete so that it can serve as a service drive for that future development. um and also for getting things to and from that stage area as well. So that removable baller can come in and out there. So we go to that next one as well. So then some of the features of that short street area, we've got a couple things going on here. That is your pergola structure. So that is the placemaking project. If you remember, it was maybe initially thought of closer down to Maine. Um bringing that in. So it was kind of brought in to maybe be more integrated into the park area. um that we thought was a really good design feature. Then we also have a

feature wall and a lighted sign there. We'll show you in here in a second. Uh there are three picnic tables underneath that. Uh and the intent of that is you have sold three sponsorships for those. So we want to make sure those sponsors get their picnic tables underneath there. Um and you can also that's where you can sit and have lunch or or whatnot. Um we do have street trees there as well um within that kind of red dashed area. And then that sidewalk will get replaced with a new curve, just a straight standard curb there as well. Um, so if you go to the next one for us. Thank you. There is your um kind of that pergola structure. So it's the same design intent that was um, you know, done with that placemaking. Um, it's been refined just a little bit to make sure we kind of meet some of the codes that we need to there. Um, that sign you can see. We'll image that in a minute, but you can kind of see where that 11 is your street trees and then 12 is that new curve. Again, just kind of standard curve. We do have one ADA ramp up in there. So, you could strike one of those spaces as ADA if you wanted to. But, um, depending upon how you want to function with that. You'll notice the stairs though, we're not replacing the stairs. So, I'll point that out. We're just going to tie back into them and that's going to stay your standard stair that you have today. Purpose of that, too, is all of this uh is staying out of right away. that was very key um to not bringing that process out a lot more in terms of a timeline. Um so we are staying out of there right away on everything you see here. The next one for us that's just a quick rendering um looking at you know again how that kind of pergola view underneath next we go there. This is your feature wall kind of on that pergola structure. So you see we have Charles Town. Um we've got the different sawtooth kind of uh cutouts there. One thing too is in the placemaking project. Um the big difference here is that was uh intended to be I think a little bit of a lighter,

quicker, cheaper installation, right? So it was a CMU block wall and these things were painted on. So we know that is not a long-term uh maintenance ideal kind of maintenance situation. So, what we've these are all um these are actual steel cutout. They're going to be mounted surface. So, you are going to be able to have those long term and that is not that is a concrete um wall that is not going to be a CV wall. So, again, being kind of your big front door, we want to make sure that that's uh really what you need and it's not going to be a long-term maintenance issue either. Go to the next one. And this is um back lit letters. So, they would be LED. you can change them to red and green at Christmas or you can change them to, you know, uh, high school colors when they go to the state championship, uh, or whatever it may be. So, that kind of is a good I think that'll that'll be kind of a big, uh, a big selfie spot, too, hopefully, um, that everybody can kind of identify with. So, some of the uh design alternatives that we've included, they're not included in that base proposal, uh but they are included as a separate line item for you there. A up at the top there, that's a switchback that goes down to Water Street. And you see kind of towards the far left of the drawing, it has a little drop off area. So, there's a few benches. It does have a new curb so that you could drop somebody off and then they can go up that ramp up if that's the case. Um, it also as people will likely park for big events, you know, maybe at gateway or somewhere else, they don't need to walk all the way around the block. So, that was an alternative that we did list in there. Um, if you want to go to next, there's just a quick rendering of that. And then,

and the reason for the drop off as opposed to the parking was also the end right away. Correct. Correct. So, um I know like in the vision plan it has redoing the whole curb of Water Street and adding all those parking spots. Uh right now we've stopped so that we don't get into the induct rightway. In the future you could extend that sidewalk and you could extend the parking and everything else of that nature if you wanted to. But yes, you are correct.

Thank you. Um, alternative B is upgrading the lawn, uh, so just grass to an ADA compliant artificial turf, something similar to what you guys have out at the depot right now, where you have some artificial grass out there, I believe. Now, um, so that would be al alt B basically. And then C is our last alternative, and that is extending the sidewalk all the way down to Main Street. So, it includes the sidewalk, curb, and three light poles. It brings that streetscape all the way down. So again, um if you wanted to kind of finish out that piece of the block, you could. Um the one on the top side of that drawing in front of the the new development will get done and what we would anticipate that should get done when that building gets constructed because the footer will likely get into that area too. So um you wouldn't want to build that to them have to tear it out uh later on. So that's the third alternate that you guys can add in if you'd like. So, I can go into any other details. I was trying to at least highlight the big things within that. Um, I think we've stayed within all of the intent and the direction of that vision plan and tried to make sure that those items were really hit on. We did bring in that sawtooth pattern and those papers into the park when the parklet kind of got mixed in with that because I we want to make sure there some consistency within that. Um, so that's kind of one thing that did get built into that a little bit. um and keeping those kind of like more triangular patterns uh versus you know a round or anything like that pattern. So just to keep some of that consistent so I can answer any questions. I think Jill said I did need to stay for later. I can if you guys need me to as well. Um but I am more than happy to answer questions now or

but one question I do have because I was involved in the visioning process. uh the stage area. Is there any acoustic um design in included in that or is it basically just a place for performance? It is your it is your pavilion. So like if you're meeting do we have places where they can do AV you know what I mean um items. It is just kind of the pavilion structure um at the moment. Right. And it wouldn't so I guess like it doesn't have built-in speakers and all Yeah, but but is it is it something that could take the place of um hiring estates for let's say KIP? That's what the goal is. Yes, the goal. So, they would still need to bring in their own 80 equipment. Okay. Did we Yeah, we talked about that. So,

that's one of the big goals right there. Okay. Thanks. So, it is on a little bit of a concrete riser basically. Um you flip to maybe like even the first image or one of the the little bird's eyee one wherever that may be. Um, sorry. I think it might it or it might be the last one, too. I think I moved it up. There you go. Uh, you can kind of see where there's some steps up to that stage area again. Um, that is going to provide you again a little bit of a vertical separation for the performance folks. So, question the wall like you talked about with sponsorship, is that behind the pavilion? I guess. Yes. If you want this picture is behind it. Another one. It was in front

or it looked like in front. Keep going up a couple slides. Very deceiving. I think it's like slide four and five maybe. I'm not driving. So I'm like I'm point right there. Yeah. There we go. There. Okay. So the stage and if you if that wall basically is offset a bit from the um storage building and it's only m it's meant for backstage access. So you can access the stage one over front and that's on the back side then. Cor I mean it's it's there is I think five foot between that and the building. It's five or six feet. But basically on the side it says the commons there's a ramp coming up right so that you could get up to the stage and on the other side on the left of this drawing there are stairs.

I asked because that looks very deceiving with it being out front. Yeah. So if you go back maybe one more. I just seen the wall that we just looked I'm going to walk up here if that's okay. I'm going to do um this um you're good. Okay. So those the wall is right here and then right here. Okay. So this part of the stage there is again and then from here over is that storage building. Um so there is a walkway again. This is the ramp and then you'll see stairs right here so that they can go stage right or left like whichever way they need to exit. Um

but majority of it's like there is some stage behind it but the majority of the stage is in front of that. Um So, if you don't do the switch back and maybe you said it and I didn't hear it because I was really thinking about that part. What would you do? You would just it would kind of end. I'll jump right back. Sorry. Just since I can't far away. Um, basically your sidewalk would just tie in straight and it would just be a corner. Yeah. So, nothing at the bottom. Yeah. And so, yeah. The only difference here, we do have a retaining wall on this section right here, right?

Because of that gray change and, you know, trying to chase it back. Some of the trees in this area because we did not extend the retaining wall from a cost perspective. Um, there are some trees here. These are going to be replanted with new trees. Um, they're going to if they have to chase that grade and likely I would just plan on the trees being gone. If we can save some, we can, but we're going to replace those if they have to be torn out. And you mention add some color behind there so fall you see like colors, you know. While you're up there, you mentioned the turf. Is that turf in the whole lawn area? Uh, it is in this area here. The entire area. Yes. So, it is not going to be outside. Not the outside. Just the inside.

Just the inside. Yes. It's turf is the whole area, which is it's a it's a big it's a big area. And the turf is is alternative. It's an alternative. Yes. So it should be on like that second. I just wonder about the heat of turf. When it's hot, turf's hot. It gets hot. It's real hot. But that drainage and drainage. Yes. I mean, and I know like your one you have here, I don't believe it's open all times of the day. Um pets and that sort of thing. You've got to account for that. the the what you have at the depot is fenced in and it's not I mean because this is going to be open to everyone all the time

24/7 the problem with turf and you play I play a lot of baseball and softball and once it gets hot it's hot it's it's that's a bad thing but when it gets cold or rainy you can make you can do whatever you want to do 15 minutes later so yeah I just Okay yeah there's your kind of be area everything inside of there that's not palers would turf and those are all new trees inside that we've got four trees here and four trees that would be new trees. Yes. One question I had. So we talked about the end dot rightway. What road or street is that adjacent to?

So the INDOT rightway is so if you see this little white line right here that's approximately our end dot right ofway. It does do some and then it basically ends because this is your right of way. That's city. That's water street. That's water. So we can do whatever we'd like as long as the city approves it. We are good there. But if you guys see this little line across that's highway three. Okay.

So we are if you notice like we are staying right out of their right ofway and that includes we can't do grading in the right of way and things of that nature which is why we also have we're not chasing that uh grade to regrade it down to you know the bottom of the hill there. That's why the parklet is pulled into the sidewalk area because that initial placemaking um project it would have been located in the right of way. Um at a minimum the footers would have been in the right of way for that structure. And so we've made sure we can steer clear of of that just to limit that process. Grading it's not as bad when we get structures in the right way. They're a little more uh we just have to go through some different considerations. I like the location of the park in proximity to the rest of the project.

Yeah, I do too. And I think again you can it's still outside of it for like an average day. I'm just going to go sit and have lunch or whatnot. Um and it's still very visible from the street or market. So what size is that stage? I will I can let me I can label our our plan set

try to compare to what we get. I'm going to pull that up for you. Are there others while I'm pulling this up? Make sure I People don't like me to fill up. People don't like me to feel

far away. Yeah, I can mention that this meeting is being live streamed this evening by under production. Good sight. Wait. Back from our commercial. [Music] Good time. That's better than commercial break.

I'm almost there. You're fine. I think that civilian will allow people to rig their equipment to it, right? Set up.

Yeah. I mean, when I can get you those specifications on that. Um, so it is a somewhat prefab, but a custom prefab building. So it's basically it comes it's manufactured off site comes together and it gets put together here on site. Let me scroll to the right page here and we will still have to contract with sound technicians for our festivals but the stage will be there. So sound and lighting. We're not going to leave lighting up all the time. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I never even thought about that. I was talking about more about the the

size. Well, and and the size because so like the Crashers that would accommodate them. You think you might as a sponsor for the Crashers? Yeah. Well, I heard that's what I heard. Yeah, I'm sure. Sure. That's what you heard. But do you think that so a band like that would could fit on there with all the necessary autra

and if there's a specific band we can look at what maybe their requirements are in particular if it is a crash course um and see what that would be. Okay. So, um, from the back of the building to the front of the, um, structure, the covered structure is about 22 is 22 ft. Yeah.

to Yep. The front of the structure where it's going to lean out is 22 feet. um for the actual coverage structure portion and then and it is the structure itself between post to post is 30 ft. So again there's some overhang on that plan. Let me get a layout plan.

How do you think that compares? They're pretty [Music] see your your stage is about Yeah. 30ish maybe more wide and then front of that wall is having this printed out scale. See here you probably got to get a little less than probably it's probably about 15 ft in front of that wall. So if you need that bigger, we can look at something of that nature too.

The dimensions of the stages we usually get. Is that what you're looking at? I was trying to find it. It may not come up.

Obviously, I wouldn't think we needed to come to everything, but I just I know that I do know past experience that getting things too small is correct can becomes a waste. You might as well size it to what you really need it. So if you have specific sizes um we can look into that and just see what that would be. Sure. Yeah. So the stage that we usually get It's a 24 by 20. Okay.

So, this is better. 2 foot by the back and 6 foot. Not a whole lot. And I can we pull those exact dimensions for you if you like. I can you say that's a preab building? Uh yes. So, it's a Rome techch is the the provider and you and that one you can see is basically got a roof line. It's got uh two poles kind of in the front end to kind of hold those two posts. Um and then the building on the back end trying to keep it slim and open on the front so we don't construct. Yes.

Did you guys look at any examples that were similar to this anywhere built out? I mean like in terms of the construction uh materials that kind of thing have you seen those somewhere else? Yeah, I mean it's it's a pretty standard. It's it's it's not um it's a well the building itself is just split phase. So that's you kind of see what that is. That was done from a cost savings. Sure. Just to make sure that um we'll make it a backdrop, let it blend in kind of thought process. Um and the the other again it's it's pretty much if you look at I'm trying to think of some in the area that have um would you do one of those on Hingburg? Yeah. I mean it wasn't ROM tech but it's the same. Yeah. you show us pictures of that back when

it's any of those. I mean, so it's it's not going to be it's not wood, it's a steel construction. It's a it's a quality durable material, not it's not wood and paint. Um so you're going to get u again the idea is less maintenance. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. Absolutely.

Um versus having something that's like the the current square. We've got a great pavilion, but it's uh you know, it needs some love after a few years because of the materials. So Jill, what's what's the agenda as it pertains to this presentation tonight? Um what we want what I wanted to discuss with with the commission is whether you wanted to move forward number one, what alternates you might want to include and then getting uh some recommendation from you to move forward with uh looking at some short-term financing. uh as the crisis came in and I met with the mayor and looked at cash flow projections, the 2025 pay 26 revenue that we thought we were going to get in from some of the new development in and around the city is not coming in as quickly as we thought because of delays or the assessments. And so that money is going to roll in 26 pay 27. So it leaves you a little short to pay for all of this at this price in cash. And so that's what I wanted to talk to you all about. Just kind of get your thoughts and feelings. But wanted Amy to present what was included in the base so you could see it and then talk through the alternatives so we can have that discussion

or if there are things like the stage area. It looks like based on mayor you said 24 by 20 were wider but a little bit more narrow, you know. So, by the time you put that wall in, you're probably about 18 feet, but you're instead of I don't know which your dimension, which way it was, but um like 18 by 30 by the time you take that wall into account the middle area between the wall obviously that's 22 ft. So, you get a little more like Yes. Thanks for Could that wall be shortened a little bit or where didn't come out as far on the stage and open up that area between a little bit?

It could be. So the yeah the proof is the wall is not a structural thing at all. Um it's very much a visual thing. Uh the intent is like people are coming upside stage right or stage left. They're kind of somewhat blocked. Wings. They're in the wings. Correct. Um so we could pull that back a little bit off of the stage a couple of feet each way and make that opening kind of in the middle. If you see that leave your stage the full 22 by 30. Okay. And do you want we could start those wing walls kind of at the edge of the stage over? Um I would I would think so because that would give you that's just me but I'm already thinking about going a couple feet bigger but if you do that

the other use the other primary use of this will not just be for big festivals but for things like our Shakespeare festival in the park. And so when you're theater performance you have wings but that can be accomplished with drapery as well. So um it it's not a make or break. Yeah, it's not a make or break on this. It can they can shorten that wall and provide family space. It's not right. Yeah. Okay. So, so Jill, uh, but we're, if we say move forward,

what I think I heard you say was presumably moving forward with exploring possible financing. We're not necessarily approving project as it stands and choosing the alternatives at this moment, or are we? Even if you did all of those things that you just said, uh, redevelopment commission does not have the authority to award a b agreement, right?

That has to go through the city council. There has to be a public hearing advertised. City council has to pass resolution. So, but what I think the city council would want is some recommendation from redevelopment commission. So, if we can get your thoughts on this, then we can work through some of those issues along with how we're going to pay for this prior to having a public hearing and presenting to city council. Does that make sense?

Um, if the if you as a commission are not in a position to say let's move forward by saying let's move forward forward then we can work through issues that you may have like this. We can talk about wing walls. We can talk about size of pavilions. We can do all of that at the same time we're looking at financing. But if you say to me, please move forward in this manner, then I can do that between now and the next time that we meet and provide information back to you as we go through the process. You want to talk about offers. Sure. If you're ready to

I am. Uh I think the switchback is the only one I'd go with cuz I don't think turf's a good idea in the summer and when it gets hot it gets hot. I think it would help maybe in the fall or something, but I think all of our events really are more pressed towards the summer. The city uh Christmas in the city, I'm sure people come up there, but then again, I mean, nobody will go over there and set in the winter either. So, I don't see where the turf would be cost effective for any of us or help us. And I don't think uh with what we're already looking at and what we want to do that the sidewalk really would help us too much. Not for another $80,000

extending that to 80 million. Yeah, I'd rather save that money and we talk about sound and stuff like that. I'd rather I'd rather look into something like that or the brainchild of Christmas City. I mean, I would rather do that than I would put a sidewalk in that we know our people can do and they do a very good job of. So, there's already a sidewalk there. There's a sidewalk there. I'm not there. It's just in poor condition. Busted up badly.

But I think I think our people can fix that sidewalk if they do a good job now. I mean, I don't want to take that away from them. So, I think just in that right there, what is that? I'm $190,000. I think I think the only I think the only alternate that I would be happy with is a switchback. And I think that is very vital to a lot of things. I think the bands I think uh anybody in wheelchairs that can't park up top campaire or if it's closed off I think it it helps it on a lot of different aspects. I don't want to close it off like you said whenever if we don't put it in. I agree the water street. Yeah,

I think I think closing that completely off is a mistake and retrofitting that retrofitting that switchback is going to be a lot more expensive than building it at the time. Yeah, I would assume so. Yes, it's going to be more expens.

That's just my thought. I mean, I agree. I think the switch back is vital, especially as, you know, we're we're very conscious of being ADA compliant with a lot of our projects throughout the city. This adds to that component of the theme that we've established. And John, me and John were in meetings with you at the very beginning and the mayor and Jill and the mayor brought up talking about closing that off. I mean, so if you close that off, then you can make everything down below handicap. That way you've got that access there. And like those spaces, they're not formal spaces along the water, but you could

again come in and mark those if you wanted to or stuff like that. Yeah. I mean, that's just better access for everybody. So maybe one sign that says Councilman Chuck, I've already got I don't need those phone calls.

We No, I was just wanted to if anyone else had any questions or thoughts about what you wanted to do. So the exploration of financing would be just for the shortfall we have for the project, right? Just Okay. Either some type of bond anticipation note or BT being the financing

or B being the financing mechanism. One or the other. um and have some type of make sure that we have language in that allows us to prepay without any penalty because I I feel like we can we can certainly you certainly have the cash flow to do the interest payments or some type of financing payment. I just wouldn't feel comfortable and at some point you would not have any money if we went along the schedule next year. So, we could even put some cash into it to make that financing, you know, or the payments or interest a little lower if we needed to. Um, but in the time period and Amy, I would put you on the spot here because I can't remember if we started this. So, the earliest we could probably do any type of EOT agreement would be sometime next month with special meetings and such depending on the type of financing. um looking at starting something at the end of this year but really hitting it next year construction be done in July or something like that.

Chris, so the only um and I did ask follow up with Sam on that too. The only long lead time item we have is the ROMtech building, the structure. Um and right now that's a long lead time. Um, you know, I think the estimate that Ron Techch gave Sam when Mac when we were talking through that was I think they were assuming if they could have a purchase order by November, which is right along probably your lines, that they have it on site by May. So then it still has to actually be built. Yeah.

Um, so we can look at some options with that. I mean, again, there are multiple Avengers. We could take the same again structure and say let's see if we can find something else at the same price but would get us a better lead time but um right now that's definitely we do a the cost is in there for it and it's based on ROM tech and may they were saying they would anticipate delivery in May. So basically they fabricate it and then they ship it to us. And is that for the pavilion and for the parklet structure as well?

Uh it was the pavilion that was a long time. All right. from what I what um Sam was saying. So he said that was the bonus that was going to be the biggest hold up is that so the park cost is included. Yeah. The park is in here. Yes. So the structure the furniture and there's $100,000 give or take a few dollars. There's probably more than $100,000 that was raised through selling sponsorships and through the patronicity grant. So that's going towards the the park itself. So you can think about that and this price

you're getting that and that was definitely the cost estimated on that one um is not what we actually designed if that makes sense versus again seeing you like just a block wall there versus actual concrete wall and um your surfaces were all painted like so your your kind of sawtooth design on the the ground plane that was a painted surface now we've got papers. Yeah. So, um, and we've got actual, you know, cut letters, not painted on. So, there were some definite cost differences probably in that. Um, but it's all in this the base price. That is all in the base price. Yeah. Thank you.

So, can we proceed with scoring? If you'd like, can we jump or do we need to wait till that part of the agenda? Um, we can jump. Okay. Thank you. So, um, we can let her sit down so she doesn't stand a little. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Hey, thank you very much. That's excellent presentation. Appreciate it. Appreciate all the support. Absolutely.

So, even if we move forward and we have some tweaks that we need to make, then we can do that. Um, if you just give me some direction on how to do that, then there would be more of an official here's what we've got uh at a meeting where you all would agree and then recommend that to go to the city council to through the public hearing process agreement. So, you're looking for a motion to a motion to say whether you want to move forward and and if you're prepared to say what alternatives you'd like to include. We know that Chuck is

I've been part of it. So, I'll try to word this right. I will make a motion that we move forward looking at uh alternative funding and everything that we need to do move forward with the park on Short Street with the switch back alternate only. Leaving the other two up. Good. Motion by Chad. Is there a second? Could we amend that slightly to look for alternative funding after the 17th of the month? After the what? The 17th. After the 17th of this month. Okay.

Um there's a federal rate meeting. So think of cost on funding or financing I should say. Be cheaper for us to wait after the 17th. Are you okay if we just explore the processes? that we won't lock any financing yet until we do the BOT agreement. Of course. So, okay, I'll add that. Okay, we take that motion and explicit it twice. We have a motion by Chap. Is there a second? I second. Second by Bley. Any further discussion? Ask for a vote to approve. All those in favor, please say I.

I. Motion passes. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks again, Amy. Thank you, guys. Thank you, Amy. So, that concludes our presentations and our um this our old business item funding topic. Yeah. Okay. Moving on. Moving on to approval of minutes. You provide a copy of the amendments from our August 5th regular meeting and August 20th special meeting. I ask for a motion to approve the minutes. So moved. I'll second. Motion a second. Any further discussion? Ask for a motion to approve. All those in favor, please say I. I.

I. Minutes are approved. We provide a copy of the claims for the previous month. Ask for a motion to approve the claims.

I have a motion to second. Is there any further discussion? Oh, I have a discussion item that I put in the I had forgotten to include the facade reimbursement for 1210 market uh and was not on the claims market that was for Todd Paxton's u but I provided the reimbursement request in that but um wanted to know he can add that to the claim docket so that that can be paid. I'll make a motion to be amend my motion to add that. We have a motion. Is there a second to that?

Second to amend it. Any further discussion? Ask for a vote to approve. All those in favor, please say I. I. Is there anyone time for public comment? Nobody. Uh, next item is the consult report with the Whitley Group.

Okay. I've got just a a couple of things. Um the Charlestown landing improvements we requested city requested funding u through uh Congresswoman Hman's office in the spring that uh passed the House of Representatives. We're waiting on Senate approval uh for that. So we'll keep you posted on that. you should in the October commission meeting, family activities park master plan, uh HWC will be here to present that to you. Uh and then Charles Town signage at the corner of highway 62 and three. Uh the gateway gateway sign at the intersection was best way I can say uh may or may have different uh words to say but compromised by the INDOT project that is going in um with the new sidewalks and crosswalks and such down there. So it was removed.

Could you elaborate on that mayor if you don't mind?

Sure. Um you can see where I end up has been making pedestrian improvements through there. Obviously where they had to place the sidewalk, it was within less than a foot of the sign and the grade difference between the landscape bed and the sidewalk was about 2 feet. And there was either going to have to be some kind of bizarre elaborate retention wall to hold that in. there was no way to slope it appropriately to connect it and the bottom of the sign would have been exposed. It actually ended up not being such a huge problem if you really want to look at the good side of it. Um the sign was almost 20 years old and was starting to deteriorate on its own. So two months ago, Brian Smith started looking at and talking to people about fixing it anyway. And um with the developments that are happening in that corner, it's actually not right sized anymore either. We want something that actually is a statement piece coming into the city so you can see that you're in Charles Town. It's worked. It's been a beautiful sign is a great addition for many years. Um but with the the greater building and and congestion around that corner, we needed to do something. So we looked back quickly at the comprehension and it called for that sign with a little bit of a bump out for that pedestrian rating. One of the other issues with it was line of sight. We have a lot of trucks that make that turn, large trucks that make that turn and they get up off of that curving into the sign area. And so for safety, we need to bump that back a little bit. So we need to figure out with the property owner if we can get that out of the rideway and get some land in there to redo that sign. So, as we were talking about all of this, um, a staff member asked if they could go talk to INDOT since they're on site and see if they would go ahead and tear it down so that

we would not have that cost to deal with. And I said, "That's a good idea." And so, he went and talked to them and they said they would do it. And we were anticipating it would be like the next week or two so that I had time to prepare everybody and they did it that day. So, it was kind of a surprise that they did it that quickly. However, we did save money and not have to tear it down ourselves. And in hindsight, we were going to need to do something anyway. So, we're making lemonade out of the lemons and are looking at alternative designs that would be more of a statement piece uh fitting with the growth and development we're seeing at that point. So, the So, there is a thought that some kind of signage would be on that corner at some point.

Absolutely. We're absolutely going to have signage on that corner. That's not question. Um it's just it might it will look different than what that was.

Sure. um and become more of a place of a node because we know that the plan is to improve Charles Town Landing Road and potentially put the interest of the state park down that road. So pedestrian traffic and getting people safely across not only from the Hux side across Market Street to the Blero. We've got those both apartment complexes on that side. The developer has purchased that corner by Valero intends to build a little center there. There are going to be people who are going to want to walk there from both sides of the road. So, um I guess if you want a way to compare it or think about it, we need to start thinking of that intersection more like we think about 10th Street in Jeffersonville than we think about Highway 62.

Yeah, that's a long time coming. That's a good thing. Sure.

Yeah. So, um, safety is first and foremost, but the we want people to know that they are in Trtown when they arrive there, and we want to work with the developer on that corner to make sure that it works well with the development that they want to build. Um, but we do want some signage, and the community being what it is, we've already had um a design group reach out and say that they would help at no charge do some conceptual designs of a sign for us for that. We've also had two material suppliers reach out and say that they want to help with supplying some materials for it. So ultimately um it will be an expense to replace it, but we were going to be we were going to be facing this expense regardless. Um and so I'm not mad I didn't thought I just wish that they had given us a little bit more of a heads up that they weren't going to do you get back in.

So uh but ultimately we're going to we're going to intimate something good because it was one of those community projects where the chamber was involved and so That's the only thing that concerned me was the like you said the rapidity with which it disappeared. Yes. And and that we fully understand and appreciate all the work that went into that and the other two signs. Uh we are moving forward with trying to get those other signs repaired because they're also suffering the same wear and tear. It's just that they're it's just dated. They're just older. The materials don't last forever. So this is an opportunity to to do something there that will not only provide for safety but have nice front in the city. Well, thanks for giving that. Yep. We appreciate that. Thank you, mayor. Thank you. That's all that I had on my report.

That concludes the consultant report. Moving on to old business. We have the Madison Street Green Alley improvement notice contract award.

So, um in your packet, you received the um information from HMBB professional engineers, five bids received and opened at your special commission meeting. U the bid tabulation and written recommendation uh states that lives paid in company, Inc. uh is the lowest responsive responsible bidder in the amount of $259,924.38. So I would ask for a motion um someone to make a motion to accept that recommendation and authorize the commission president to sign a notice of ask for a motion to approve and work contract with Liz B. Sounds like a motion.

Have a motion a second. Is there any further discussion? Ask for a vote to approve. All those in favor, please say I. I. Motion passes. Thank you. And I'd also like to uh ask for a motion to allow the commission president to execute the agreement outside of the meeting upon presentation of the bonds and review by legal counsel. I make that motion. Second. Motion a second. Any further discussion? Ask for a vote to approve. All in favor, please say I. I. Thank you again. Next award of cont. Is this Is this an award of contract? Um it's the uh same as Madison Street, Green Alley, but it's for 501 market

501 market street demolition parking lot construction at the old H&R Block property and with that the same thing. Um so we received four bids last week. Uh all of them complied with everything. So they were

which is wonderful. Um the lowest responsive responsible bid was Temple and Tipple excavating and paving. Uh the American structure point provided that in writing. They also reached out to Temple and Temple to make sure they understood the project as well as uh understood the time frame and they did. So u that bid was in the amount of $48,710. So I would ask for a motion to accept the recommendation and authorize the commission president to execute a notice of award. I'll make that motion and I'll second. We're making this all in one motion this time. Well, you can and then also allow the commission president to execute the agreement outside the meeting.

Amend that motion to include that language. I'll second that amended motion. Right. Is there any further discussion? Not for vote to approve. All clear, please. I I motion passes. Thank you. And for purposes of uh the meeting minutes, I would recommend that it when talked about the award that the award was made to the lowest bidder for each project. Thank you, Matt. And we've already discussed the common common short street, correct, Joe? Yes. Yes. So, moving on to new business, we have a purchase of a trolley Jill's going to explain that to us.

Yes. Um, so there's an opportunity for the city to uh purchase a trolley that was used by the city of Jeffersonville. Um, and for a very good price, the mayor and her team have done their due diligence to check the status of the trolley. Um, even talking to someone who used to drive the trolley. Um, and so what what I'm asking for tonight is for the commission to approve up to $20,000 to purchase to pay for the purchase of the trolley. Uh, the actual agreements between uh the city of Jeffersonville and city of Charleston will run through the board of works. But if this body would authorize up to $20,000 for the purchase of that trolley, then um that's what we're looking for tonight. So, I'll say I've talked to the mayor a little bit. I just want to talk on her real quick. I talked to the mayor a little bit, a couple other people within this city. Uh, I think we're going to see some times that things are going to be a little bit more difficult in the near future. I think this would be a u a pretty good purchase along with the other people I've talked to. It would be a good purchase to where the parks would see more things during events that we have and that income if they if they make that off that like they do the train and that can go back into the parks and help the parks and ultimately it would help the whole city as far as when you get into that budget stuff. I mean there's a whole lot I could talk about but I think it would be a good idea and I'll make the motion that we lot 20,000 to buy it. Motion by Chuck and second by Bobby.

Any further discussion? So my only discussion is uh mayor this is as an auxiliary item to the train. Another transportation method to the train or is it just substitution? No, we're not getting rid of the train. Well, look, I like my job. John, you made that comment. Yeah. Yeah. No,

we're not getting rid of the train. Um this would be supplemental, too. It would actually enhance. So, one of the questions we get about the train most frequently is people wanting to get off of the train at different stops. So, that's not possible with a train not safely and because it needs to have the the ramp that or the docking station at the station to be able to get on and off safely. This trolley would allow us to do that. So, the anticipation is that if um if approved tonight, if we can get the intergovernmental transfer approved quickly, then we would have this available for the season. It does run. and our staff have gone out and driven it. Um, it needs minor adjustments to make it Charles Town uh trolley and we would run it this year where people would be able to purchase tickets and have three stops. One on the square, one at the Family Activities Park or near the Family Activities Park and one at Greenway Park. That way people could get on at any location. It would, we think, decrease the amount of people driving around the city once they get used to it being here because they can park in different places and get on and ride around rather than having to move your car from the square to the activities park and so forth. So, um, and it is road ready, so it doesn't require the extra police and support or the safety like it's not an event like the train. It is road ready. It does require a CDL driver with a passenger endorsement and we actually have two of those drivers that have expressed interest in contracting with us to drive that during the holiday season.

So with the price of one ticket you can ride endlessly during the day. Correct. On the travel you don't have to get off.

Correct. And it would not provide right now daytime transportation. The goal is nighttime for Christmas for the season. Um they would purchase tickets. We we've talked about it internally today. They purchase tickets online. um show a QR code or their ticket, drop off their ticket to the driver and then they're they're riding to the different stops for that evening. Um the other daytime use we have talked about um we have long for a long time we have wanted to make it easier for senior citizens to engage with the activities that happen on Tuesday at the arts enrichment center. And so for some of our seniors, transportation is difficult. Um some people at river crossings would like to attend but river crossings cannot. they would be overwhelmed trying to get them there on their own. We also have people up in the housing community that would attend who don't have access to vehicles and cannot walk. This trolley does have a lift on it. Um the reason I've asked for the 20,000 and provide a little bit of extra money to handle licensing and tagging, but we will have to repair the lift. It doesn't work at this moment. However, the people we talked to that know this probably said that it was capable of being repaired. So, it would be able to accept a wheelchair as well.

That'll be a different budget item at a different time. Okay. Okay. Thanks. Was there reason why Jeff got rid of it? Did they get something better or um I don't know the reason they sold their other trolley. Um they had one kind of for parts and then this was the one that ran. Um and they I guess for for their uses it was not it was no longer prudent. But I think for um the difference in the communities and for what we would want with our Christmas display and the way that it spread um I think it makes sense for Charles Town. Won't they bring the canal back? Just have I'm sorry. bring the canal back and just use that like 10 minutes or something. Sorry. Couldn't resist.

Um yeah, I just think that for for what we do, um it makes sense to have it. We've we've wanted to increase capacity for transportation around the city, the train only holds 40 people and there's only so many rides a night you could do. Um this also is heated and cooled. So for some of our more vulnerable populations that may want a different kind of ride around the city, um this could provide that as well. Awesome. Thank you. Thank you, mayor. I believe we have a first and a second. Is there any further discussion? I'll ask for a vote to approve. All in favor, please say I. I.

Motion passes. Thank you. Is there any new discussion? You like to pass tonight. Reminder, our next meeting is scheduled for October 7th, 2025 at 6 p.m. a motion to second. Second. All in favor, please.