2026-09-22 - Aurora Downtown Development Authority board

00:28started. My name is Ally Jackson. I am

00:31one of the atlarge Aurora City Council

00:33members. Uh we are here today on

00:36Tuesday, September 22nd for our Aurora

00:38Downtown Development Authority Board uh

00:41meeting. I'm calling this meeting to

00:43order.

00:45Um just some logistics out of the way.

00:49Uh we do have a Spanish interpreter uh

00:52in the back corner. If you need uh

00:54Spanish interpretation,

00:56uh please find uh one of the city

00:58staffers or go straight to the back to

01:00uh get set up there. Um and then before

01:05we approve the minutes, I did just want

01:06to acknowledge that Mayor Mike Coffin is

01:09in the room with us and so I will give

01:11him a few minutes to just uh share a

01:14couple words with us.

01:21Okay. Well, want to thank everybody for

01:23being here and and just want to say to

01:26the um DDA board members who got

01:28appointed, uh obviously uh my myself, uh

01:32Mayor Brutam Kums, uh and our deputy

01:35city manager,

01:37um Laura Perry saw something in you that

01:41we believed would make a difference in

01:43moving this process forward. Uh there

01:46are people that say I'm obsessed with

01:48this area of Kfax. Well, I am, but in a

01:51good way. Uh that that I really think

01:53that this is the heart of the city and

01:57um it it doesn't reflect well right now

02:00on the city, but I think that it can. uh

02:03having grown up in Aurora uh in I came

02:07here in the mid 1960s

02:09uh when uh this was really the um

02:15uh the city center uh the retail center

02:19the business center and also the

02:21government center of our city and uh

02:24I've observed the decline since the

02:26early 1970s and so it is our opportunity

02:29to bring it back uh it will never come

02:32back in the way that it was. Uh that's

02:35okay. Uh it will come back in something

02:37different and something unique and

02:39something great that will not only be a

02:42great not only will be an asset to the

02:44city of Aurora, but I will be believe

02:46fundamentally will will be an asset to

02:49the state of Colorado. And so uh I just

02:52want to commend you uh for serving all

02:54of you for serving and uh um expect

02:58great things from you. Thank you.

03:01Thank you so much, Mayor Confin. Yeah, a

03:04round of applause for those inspiring

03:07words. This area of town for sure has a

03:09rich history. So, with that, we'll move

03:12forward to approval of the minutes. Do

03:14any of my fellow board members object to

03:16the approval of minutes from August

03:1914th?

03:21Okay.

03:28That needed to be made. Um, give me two

03:31seconds.

03:54um under item number three public

03:56comment

03:58um are metra little John's um comments

04:03the second sentence says she asked why

04:06some in initial board member terms were

04:08shorter than others or metra is a

04:10gentleman um So just need to correct

04:12that to heave.

04:18City staff grab that. Good. All right.

04:23Any other amendments, changes,

04:26objections.

04:30Sounds good. So with that um accepted

04:33amendment, we will move forward with the

04:36approval of the August 14th meeting

04:38minutes. And so with that, that brings

04:40us to public comment. And we have one uh

04:44participant signed up, Caitlyn Matthews.

04:46You can just step up to the podium. And

04:48that mic is on.

04:51>> All right. Good morning. Um hello to the

04:53Aurora DDA board, Council Member

04:55Jackson, Mayor Kaufman, and the City of

04:57Aurora staff. Thank you for the

04:59opportunity to make comment today. My

05:02name is Caitlyn Matthews. I'm one of the

05:04founding members and current executive

05:05director of Food Justice Northwest

05:08Aurora. As a representative of Food

05:10Justice Northwest Aurora, I have

05:12participated on the working group with

05:14Puma and the city of Aurora throughout

05:16the development of the KPAC Kfax

05:18community vision and action plan. And

05:21I've also been actively involved in

05:23conversations and activities which

05:25eventually led to the creation of the

05:28Aurora Downtown Development Authority

05:30since the summer of 2023.

05:33Uh, Food Justice Northwest Aurora is

05:35also a member of the Grassroots

05:37Leadership Council, also known as GLC.

05:40GLC is a coalition of resident leaders

05:42and nonprofit organizations on the East

05:44KFax corridor. GLC works collaboratively

05:47to develop a collective vision for

05:49community-driven solutions committed to

05:52defending our neighborhoods against

05:54displacement. In 2025, the JLC members

05:57focused on the development of the Kfax

05:59community vision and action plan as

06:01their primary priority for the full

06:03year. Um and members agreed that the

06:06investment in the Kfax corridor should

06:08really focus on supporting the current

06:10residents and small businesses to be

06:12able to remain and thrive here in the

06:14Kfax corridor rather than prioritizing

06:18accelerated development rising costs

06:20that displace uh longtime residents or

06:23and legacy business owners.

06:26Throughout 2025, GLC mobilized

06:29approximately 300 people, including

06:31residents, business owners, and

06:33nonprofit staff to attend meetings both

06:36hosted by Puma and the city of Aurora,

06:39as well as GLC hosted our own public

06:42meetings, invited Puma. We're great

06:44grateful that they attended. And between

06:46February and May of 2025, GLC members

06:49identified five major focus areas that

06:52they wanted to see in the Kfax plan.

06:54These areas include access to basic

06:57goods and services, support for small

06:59businesses, housing conditions, housing

07:02affordability, and community safety.

07:04This last uh topic, community safety, is

07:07GLC's primary focus in 2026.

07:11You will note that there is significant

07:13overlap between these five focus areas

07:15and the draft plan compiled by Puma. So,

07:18we're really happy to see that. In May

07:21of 2025, uh GLC hosted a public meeting

07:25during which GLC members presented

07:27testimony on these five priority areas

07:29and recommended a suite of 39

07:32recommendations for the KFAX plan. We're

07:35very proud that 27 of these

07:38recommendations are included in the

07:39draft plan.

07:41Um, so as the DDA board gets underway,

07:44we really encourage you all to

07:46prioritize the needs and interests of

07:48the current residents and small

07:50businesses in the DDA area as the DDA

07:54begins to collect and utilize tax

07:56increment financing. We especially

07:58encourage this knowing that the initial

07:59funding is slim in comparison to all of

08:03the things that we'd like to do here in

08:06the corridor. Um, so the DDA board will

08:09have to make choices. We also implore

08:12that the city of Aurora, the planning

08:13commission, the urban uh renewal

08:16authority respect these priorities that

08:18are from the community and from the Kfax

08:20plan in other realms of decision-m that

08:23affect the people and businesses that

08:25live and operate in the Koffax corridor

08:28such as city planning, the planning

08:31commission, and the Aurora retail

08:33strategy.

08:34So, I wanted to just wrap up by saying I

08:37have copies of the recommendations that

08:39GLC submitted to Puma and would have be

08:41happy to share with them share them with

08:43you so you can look at them in more

08:45detail. Thank you. Thank you so much,

08:47Caitlyn. And yes, can you uh drop those

08:49off with staff and they'll be sure to

08:51distribute them to the board members.

08:55All right, that was our um only public

08:59comment speaker. So we will move on to

09:01agenda item number four uh which is

09:03general business 4 a rda

09:06rules of procedures discussion adoption

09:09of resolution 2026-01.

09:13Good afternoon or still good morning

09:15commissioners. I'm Robin Flechman. I am

09:18one of your DDA at staff liaison. I'm

09:21also the manager of urban renewal. Uh,

09:23but I'm here today to walk you through

09:25the um highlights of the rules of

09:28procedure. Uh, just want to say a couple

09:31things. This is I'm going to do just the

09:33highlights. You have the full packet,

09:35the full excuse me, rules in your packet

09:38and I'm here to answer any questions.

09:40Also, today to assist, we have Bria May,

09:43who's with our outside council. You met

09:45Hillary, her associate last time. Bri is

09:47here today who's and Rachel Allen, city

09:50uh deputy city attorney who can also a

09:53answer any questions about um the rules

09:57of procedure. I just want to give a

09:59little background. The statute requires

10:02rules of procedure and these are very

10:04standard rules of procedure very similar

10:07to what most downtown development

10:09authorities in Colorado use. Um, so we

10:14looked at rules of procedure across the

10:17community or across the state and

10:19brought the highlights and the best

10:22practices to this. Um, the other thing I

10:25just wanted to point out in your packet

10:27is something that is a little bit

10:28different than you saw last time. The

10:31city of Aurora uses something called a

10:33commentary. It's a document to summarize

10:37an action where a board is being asked

10:39to make a decision. So today you are

10:41being asked to approve rules of

10:44procedure as presented or amended if

10:46you're ready to do so. So you'll see

10:48like this two or three page memo within

10:51the packet that describes that in the

10:53legal justification. I just wanted you

10:55be aware of what you're seeing because

10:56you have not seen it before. So I'll do

10:59a quick run through and please uh stop

11:02and ask questions. Again, Bria or Rachel

11:06and I are all here to answer any

11:08questions that you might have. And the

11:09only thing I ask is that we get your

11:12voice on the recording is to pass the

11:14microphone down or ask for the

11:16microphone when you want to ask a

11:17question. So if you're ready, I'm ready

11:21to go.

11:22>> And if you if you can pause after each

11:24article for the board to provide any uh

11:27comments or questions, everyone I'm

11:29going to bring this down a little bit.

11:31>> And then I'll just add for my board

11:32members, this uh rules of procedure

11:35starts on page 13 of your agenda packet.

11:37And if you're online, check your email

11:40for back from Baxter Richardson and it

11:42will have the hyperlink to our agenda

11:44packet.

11:46So article one is just the establishment

11:50language basically why you have rules of

11:52procedure

11:54that will be outlined in what follows

11:56and also highlights that the attard will

11:59consider and approve an annual budget.

12:02And just so you know, staff is

12:04recommending that there be a financial

12:07overview discussion at the October

12:09meeting so that you can begin to have

12:11the discussion of what you would like

12:13your initial budget, annual budget to

12:16be. Any questions on article one?

12:23Great. Next slide, please. Oh, yes.

12:28under purpose at the the last first

12:32paragraph

12:33last portion. I'm just curious when it

12:36says the long-term success and then it

12:39says in alignment with the KFAC

12:41community vision and action plan and any

12:43adopted plan of development for the

12:46authority adopted by the by the DDA or

12:50adopted by the city or what does that

12:52mean adopted plan and when when does

12:55that arise? I believe that can be both

12:59and can be in the future. You might

13:02choose to have a strategic plan or and

13:05you will have annual work plans or there

13:07could be other plans that you work on

13:09with other entities in the city. So I

13:12think it's a general catchall. The plan

13:14of development is what gets the add

13:15aboard started. But there can be other

13:19plans, agreements that could fall under

13:22that clause. And attorneys, if I've

13:26missed something, let me know.

13:30>> So, it's the the purpose is the stated

13:33purposes and then any other purpose that

13:36we could eventually adopt. So it's

13:38basically just broadening anything that

13:40we can do

13:41>> that fits in with the plan of

13:42development because everything that you

13:44that a board and the out of board does

13:47reflects the plan of development. That's

13:50your overarching document.

14:04This is this language is just meant to

14:05be a catchall. There's the possibility

14:07that um the board should have

14:08subcommittees and maybe the

14:10subcommittees are focused on one

14:11particular aspect of the plan of

14:13development and that maybe there's a sub

14:15plan that's uh put forth by that

14:17subcommittee that would be covered by

14:18this.

14:26I'm just asking like when so we're we're

14:29looking at alignment with the

14:30predetermined KFAC community vision and

14:33action plan and then any adopted plan

14:36when we're referring to that it's an

14:38adopted plan that is adapted by this DDA

14:42board. Okay. I don't know how clear that

14:46is but maybe I'm

14:52Next slide please.

14:55So this so I just want to say the the

14:58plan by the way I'm sorry the rules of

15:01um development refer back and forth

15:03among different articles. So the article

15:06two is the relationship of the city to

15:10Aura and it outlines like it says the um

15:14coordination of

15:18various activities not activities like

15:20plan of development like how you get

15:22posted on the city website. So it's how

15:24basically how the city is supporting the

15:29Aurora downtown development authority.

15:32So something that we have mentioned in

15:34the past is um for now city is providing

15:38staff Baxter and me uh our city attorney

15:42plus IT communications financial and so

15:46forth and we would recommend that you

15:49look into and consider having an

15:51intergovernmental agreement in IGA for

15:54the initial existence of ADA to cover

15:58that type of support and because is

16:01there a way

16:02remove that little thing at the bottom

16:03so we can see the bold.

16:07So I just want to point out that again

16:09in these initial days it's hard to cover

16:12everything all the logistics all the

16:14critical sort of components to get the

16:16board starting and we are proposing that

16:19the administrative support by the city

16:22to the board be discussed in depth in a

16:25future meeting but that the rules of

16:27procedure allow that to happen. Now,

16:35>> any questions, thoughts, comments,

16:38clarifications?

16:44And Robin, can you just explain what a

16:46intergovernmental agreement is?

16:49>> Sure. So, the downtown development

16:51authority board is a component of city

16:52government. And when various entities of

16:55government work together, they have

16:58intergovernmental agreements to outline

17:01their respective responsibilities,

17:02rights and responsibilities. So Aurora

17:05has many intergovernmental agreements

17:08with many entities, city of Denver, you

17:11know, other Adams County, all kinds. And

17:15so this is a way just to memorialize

17:17those rights and responsibilities. It's

17:18a very standard um type of document.

17:22Thank you. Last call for article two.

17:29So, article three, you uh last at last

17:32month's meeting, Hillary Graham went

17:33over this a little bit. The statute lays

17:36out um how the board is set up, that

17:40there have to board members have to meet

17:42the eligibility requirements set forth

17:44in the act, that there are staggered

17:46terms to allow for consistency

17:49throughout the life of the um authority.

17:53And that board members are expected to

17:55attend regular and special meetings of

17:58the board. Which is why, by the way, we

18:00ask like, are you coming? Let us know.

18:03you know, want to make sure we have a

18:04quorum, that type of thing.

18:12Any questions? Sounds good.

18:16All right. Thank you. Next slide,

18:18please. Article four is officers. So

18:22again, the statute requires

18:26one question.

18:30There's been some discussion and I think

18:31there should be some clarity brought

18:33forth on the idea of the terms and how

18:36the initial terms were established.

18:39Uh there's some question as to why only

18:41two years or one year for certain people

18:43and you know spread I know it was part

18:46of trying to stagnate you know not

18:49stagnate but stagger the terms but is

18:52there any reason as to how that was

18:54determined

18:55>> meaning who got what length of term? I

18:58am do not have that information.

19:06Uh, thank you for the question, J. Lor

19:07Perry, deputy city manager. So, that was

19:09a uh determination in the appointment

19:11process through city council for the

19:13board members. So, two board members

19:15have a one-year term on the board, and

19:19that was made um in alignment with the

19:23process that a CDC board member would be

19:27added to the board and that the CDC

19:31would be well on its way in a year and

19:33in place for that appointment, for that

19:36consideration at that point in time.

19:40The staggered terms are a requirement by

19:42state statute for DDA board members and

19:45those are set forth by ordinance

19:48>> because you would not for example want

19:50all board members to turn over in the

19:52same year because that would lead to a

19:53lack of consistency of operation

19:56>> and cl a point of clarification I'm

19:59assuming that the assignment of board

20:01members to the terms was random. I I I

20:05believe so. Yeah. Thank you.

20:10So going back, oh sorry, go ahead.

20:13>> If there's

20:15a desire to extend or change the

20:18staggered terms, do does that have to go

20:21through city council? Does the DDA have

20:23the ability to make a recommendation or

20:26how does that work?

20:28>> The terms are determination by city

20:30council. So city council, the mayor uh

20:33appoints, council confirms, and so um

20:36that is set forth. But I I do want to

20:38note that you know one thing that Robin

20:41did not mention the there is a chance

20:43these rules of procedure will need to be

20:45amended again as we move forward as um

20:48the board moves forward and and matures

20:50in processes procedures and so the

20:53reappoint process um appointment process

20:57uh that is something that the board will

20:59need to circle back on obviously in

21:01alignment with the council appointment

21:04and reappointment process. So there is

21:06some work there that will get sorted

21:08through. But I I did want to note that

21:10in response to your question as well.

21:15>> Yeah, just to reiterate this is just a

21:17starting point and we are more than

21:18welcome as the board to come back and

21:20look at our bylaws at any point. Yes.

21:25Next slide, please.

21:32Oh, okay. Sorry. Still talking about

21:34officers. So later on this agenda there

21:37is going to hopefully be an election of

21:39a chair and a vice chair. Um so we're

21:42looking forward to that to get started

21:44and I think that's such an important

21:45part. This is just to get started and

21:47all of this can be tweaked as the board

21:50really gets underway. Um there also uh

21:53the statute contemplates that there'll

21:54be a secretary and a or a treasury

21:57sometimes a secretary/treasurer

22:00another topic to be discussed in the

22:02future. And again the whole going back

22:05and forth the iterative nature of the

22:07rules procedure is the statute

22:09contemplates that there will be an

22:11executive director and for the time

22:13being the city is providing

22:17sort of casual executive director and

22:19staff um services.

22:22But at such time as a decision is made

22:25about an executive director, that person

22:27could also serve as the treasury,

22:30treasurer, and secretary.

22:33The last item is sort of funny. Right

22:35now, the standard um time of year to

22:40elect board members is the first meeting

22:42in any calendar year. You could choose

22:45that or you could not choose that. Do

22:47you have a do you have a preference? So,

22:49for example, based on what uh deputy

22:52city manager just said, depending on the

22:55cadence of when council um appoints

23:00members, you might want to choose after

23:03new members get appointed so that those

23:06folks have the opportunity to raise, you

23:09know, their hand if they would like to

23:11be chair or vice chair. But to get

23:12started, it might be simplest to pick

23:15the first meeting of the year or any

23:18other. So our question to you is how do

23:21you feel about keeping elections at the

23:24first meeting of the calendar year or at

23:26this time would you like to change it to

23:28a different month?

23:32>> I saw Katie's hand then I'll come to

23:34Amanda.

23:36Um I'm just going to suggest for the

23:39sake of um consistency

23:42that we um put our election of officers

23:46in we're in September in August which

23:48would have been our first meeting

23:50collectively as a board just so if we're

23:53appointing a chair and a vice chair

23:54today that those people have an

23:57opportunity to work for 12 months on

23:59behalf of the board in those capacities.

24:02Um, I think it might be slightly

24:04disruptive uh just to have to go back

24:07through elections in January. Just my

24:09two cents.

24:14I I think similar to Katie's point,

24:16aligning it with when you have new

24:19terms. So, I'm not sure what those dates

24:21are because you would have like we're

24:25how many months into several of our

24:27terms and these questions are coming up

24:32as we determine who's going to be in

24:34these officer roles like how long are

24:36they in the role, when does it end? It

24:38should really be aligned with the end of

24:41a term and then starting the next term.

24:44Otherwise, you end up in an awkward

24:46place.

24:52And I'll just add Oh, we have a question

24:55or a response.

25:01And um so for and I did want to clarify

25:06um for the chair and the vice chair that

25:08will occur annually. So those terms will

25:11be annually. And then I also just wanted

25:15to kind of clarify what the chair and

25:18the vice chair's roles are. So the chair

25:21is going to be the person that kind of

25:23presides over the meeting, manages the

25:25flow and kind of ensures that um

25:28conversations stay on track. So that's

25:31the main role of the chair. Um but the

25:34chair can also sign documents um

25:37resolutions, contracts, and things of

25:40that nature.

25:41um the vice chair is simply stepping in

25:45whenever the chair is not available. So

25:47if there's a meeting in which the chair

25:49cannot attend, the vice chair can assume

25:51the roles and responsibilities of the

25:53chair for that specific meeting. So that

25:55is what the vice chair is doing. So just

25:58wanted to clarify that.

26:05And then just yeah clarifying because it

26:06sounds like we're going to have chair

26:08and vice chair elections annually but

26:10some terms are staggered but if we're

26:14having the election yearly it should

26:16cover cover that. And when do the

26:18reappoints

26:20of if someone's term is up and then they

26:23get we have a new member is that going

26:25to happen at the same time every year.

26:28I'm gonna defer to

26:30deputy city manager because I'm not

26:32exactly sure how I could

26:34>> as the terms are staggered. They will

26:36come at different times. So, there's two

26:39uh board members that have one-year

26:42terms. And so, at that point, there will

26:45need to be a reappoint process through

26:47city council andor an appointment of new

26:50members. That's to be determined. Uh, so

26:53it could happen there could be, you

26:56know, once a year typically. I believe

26:58the terms go through summer. I'm looking

27:00at Rachel. I don't have the list of

27:02terms for members typically. Thank you.

27:10>> Uh, so followup. So, hypothetically,

27:12June is is let's say when it ends. So

27:14then we would have about a month to

27:16reappoint somebody and then to Katie's

27:19point, hold that election in August for

27:21vice chair and chair and that would give

27:23everybody who's new and returning uh

27:26time to adjust. Okay.

27:34If someone is in a in a officer role and

27:39they are being termed out in June and

27:42they're not reelected, then you end up

27:44with a vacancy until August.

27:48So that's what where my questions are

27:50coming from. So if, for instance, I'm in

27:54a one-year term and if I'm nominated to

27:56be in a in a position right now, how

28:00does that work in terms of, you know,

28:02are you making a decision in May? So you

28:04know whether or not the transition

28:07really should be at the point of

28:10reelection that first meeting at the

28:12same time.

28:16>> Great question Amanda. So um the ideally

28:19the process would start prior to the

28:21term expiring. That way there's

28:24continuity on the board uh with either a

28:27new member being appointed or a current

28:30member being reappointed. So there's not

28:32that gap. and uh staff can work closely

28:34with the board and obviously with mayor

28:36and city council to align those two

28:39processes.

28:45And just a quick followup based off of

28:47that then so if we held the elections in

28:49May um would could we hold the elections

28:53and then they take office when the

28:56current um person turns out? Like could

29:00there be a delay? We have the election,

29:02but it doesn't go into effect until the

29:04current member steps down in a month.

29:09And then

29:12I just wanted to say um and for this

29:14year especially that you all will hold

29:17office until your successor can take

29:20over. So that's not something that we

29:21have to worry about.

29:23>> Yeah.

29:25>> Why don't you just

29:25>> a quarter with me? get the I was gonna

29:27say why don't you rest me be here with

29:29me and we can share this microphone in

29:30that way.

29:31>> Okay, that's great.

29:34>> Great point. Thank you so much for that.

29:36All right, any thoughts, comments,

29:38questions?

29:40Yeah, go.

29:41>> So, am I hearing that you would like to

29:43change the month from the first month of

29:45the year to May or August?

29:57Does it have to be a date or does can it

29:59be based on the date that a new elected

30:01or reappointed person starts? The whole

30:05the whole slate starts.

30:08>> Can you repeat? I'm sorry. So, so you

30:11have it as a does it need to be a date

30:13or can it be is does it have to be a

30:15date certain or can it be upon the

30:18election of the new slate of officers

30:20and a term transition or something like

30:22that? I do not believe it has to be a

30:24date certain.

30:25>> I think that's

30:28>> so what I'm hearing from Amanda is um

30:31that's on the floor is changing it from

30:34a date to the condition in which a new

30:40um member can step into the vice chair

30:43chair role.

30:46So

30:48changing.

30:49>> So rather than saying, "Okay, we're

30:50going to hold it every August," we say,

30:52"We're going to hold the election when

30:53the current person Well, because it

30:56happens every year, though."

30:58>> I think we I think that for

31:01I think we should do a date certain. I

31:03don't think it has to be, but I think

31:05just for clarity and for to be for

31:08continuity, I think we should choose a

31:10date certain. Okay.

31:17If you do a date certain, then if you

31:19haven't elected the new slate of

31:21officers, pursuant to what you just said

31:23previously, that that could change. So,

31:26the current officers could stay on if it

31:28takes city council longer to make the

31:30change. So, it really should be upon the

31:34new slate of officers coming in at the

31:37next presiding DDA meeting.

31:40>> Okay.

31:40>> Does that make sense? Are you saying it

31:44should be based on when the officers are

31:46elected? So the next state should be

31:49based upon that.

31:50>> Not the officers, the board members. So

31:53pursuant to the the election of the new

31:56slate of board members or the reelection

31:59of board members. So once you know who

32:00the board members are going to be the

32:02next year, now you make the decision on

32:04officers. Otherwise, if you pick August,

32:07it puts pressure on the city council and

32:09the mayor to make the decision earlier

32:11and they may not do it. But what you

32:13guys just said is that you the person

32:15the the group that's already in the

32:17board that's already in is going to stay

32:19on until the next board comes in. So

32:22really the condition precedent is the

32:25election of new board members.

32:26>> I would say appointment of board

32:28members.

32:28>> Appointment. Exactly. That's a better

32:30word.

32:33Unless the person isn't term limited,

32:36correct? They would just step down and

32:38then we'd run an election

32:42if because let's because we're basing

32:45this off of if the person is term

32:47limited, right?

32:51Okay.

32:56Okay. And by the way, it might not be

32:59that someone's terminous. Somebody may

33:00choose not to serve anymore. There could

33:03be many reasons. So, would it be okay if

33:06we

33:08crafted some language um not on the spot

33:11to reflect all of these this

33:14information?

33:18I think it would be helpful because

33:20ultimately there's um a transitional

33:22period and we want that transitional

33:24period to be very smooth and you know

33:27flowing so that it doesn't cause an

33:29abrupt um pause in the progress that

33:32we're making on the board and so um yeah

33:35language I think will really help with

33:36that from uh having a prior meeting to

33:41understand who is going to be off the

33:42board whose term is ending and who will

33:45be

35:14is um then once you get going and you

35:17have a regular executive director

35:19whoever whatever that turns out to be

35:22you will periodically review their

35:24performance. Um, and then in terms of

35:29not sure what's happening there, but um,

35:32in terms of day-to-day operation,

35:35it's good for the board to give

35:37direction to the executive director to

35:40be able to um, spend money when it comes

35:42time to spend money and approval of

35:45expenses. So we are proposing that for

35:48expenses up to $9,999

35:53that the executive director be able to

35:55approve those administrative expenses

35:57which would have already been directed.

35:59You know let's say for example the board

36:02decides to do a clean and safe trash

36:04pickup program. I'm just giving an

36:07example. So there could be a monthly

36:09invoice. So, you want to be able the

36:11board to the executive director to be

36:14able to um with staff keep the business

36:17going and be able to pay invoices as

36:19they come in. So, we're proposing that

36:20if it's essentially less than 10,000

36:23that the executive director approve it

36:25and if it's more than that, there would

36:28be a combined signature of the executive

36:30director and the treasurer if there's

36:31two different people. In addition, per

36:35the statute, an executive director will

36:38provide periodic financial reports on

36:41expenditures, programs, uh, money coming

36:44in, money going out, that type of thing.

36:46And then the policy question for you for

36:49these rules of procedure is, are you

36:52comfortable with what staff has proposed

36:54in this section of the rules of

36:57procedure? And again going back to after

37:01some years of operation this can be

37:04changed Okay.

38:17that uh we that it can be remote or um

38:21in-person attendance for regular

38:23meetings, agenda, uh field trips, and

38:26executive sessions. And it's just that

38:30it's good to attend and we ask that like

38:34I said to a few if it's possible to let

38:36us know if you are unable to attend a

38:38meeting just so we know whether or not

38:40there will be a quorum because it's

38:42always better to let board members and

38:44the public know if for some reason a

38:46meeting has to be cancelled due to a

38:48lack of quorum.

38:53Any questions on that any question on

38:56this slide? Do you want to

38:59>> and um a quorum is just a simple

39:02majority. So um in order to take any

39:05official official action or to vote on

39:09anything, you all will need a quorum. So

39:14which for now is six or more.

39:18Next slide please.

39:21Again more um article nine about quorum

39:24voting conflicts of interest. Uh Hillary

39:27talked a little bit about conflicts of

39:29interest. There's more detail. There's a

39:31lot of detail in the statute and in the

39:33um uh rules of procedure and I just like

39:37to note that board members vote when

39:39they attend a meeting. There's no proxy

39:41voting. If you're not able to attend,

39:43you don't tell another board member, you

39:45can vote my vote. It's just good

39:48management.

39:51Um, so I know that Hillary spoke with

39:53you all about um, conflicts of interest,

39:55but I just wanted to kind of talk about

39:57it just a bit more. So, um, a conflict

40:00of interest would look like any specific

40:03financial interest in something that you

40:05all are seeing. So, um, if you do have

40:10that conflict of interest, it's best to

40:12disclose as soon as you know to, um, the

40:15board to staff and you can still attend

40:18the meeting. you would still be counted

40:20in the quorum that's needed. You just

40:23would refrain from voting. Um so, uh you

40:27can still come, you just wouldn't

40:28participate in any matter in which you

40:31have a specific financial interest. So,

40:34um yeah, just want to clarify that.

40:43We're good to move on. Next slide,

40:45please.

40:48Oh, sorry. We already at the next slide.

40:49I apologize. So, article 10 and article

40:5311 outline public participation,

40:56public comment. Um,

40:59and uh, article 11 talks about um,

41:03outlines for procedure, public meetings,

41:06motions, and resolutions. So for

41:08example, it's fine that it didn't happen

41:10this time, but I would say at a future

41:12meeting when it comes to approving

41:14minutes, there should be a motion and a

41:15second for approving minutes. And for

41:18anything else, always a motion and a

41:20second. So our policy question to you is

41:23right now are we have been following

41:26city council guidelines for public

41:28comment. Is that something you would

41:31like to follow or would you like to have

41:33a different way to manage public com

41:36comment especially with respect to a

41:38time limit? Right now it's 3 minutes. Of

41:41course if there's time um it can be

41:43longer but it's good to have an official

41:45policy. Are you comfortable with the

41:47three minutes? Would you like something

41:48else?

41:51I would like to open it to five minutes

41:54and then as far as signing up, I think

41:58we should cut sign up off once the

42:01meeting has started.

42:04Those would be my two recommendations.

42:16All right. So, I will motion to extend

42:19the public comments from 3 minutes to

42:21five minutes. Can I get a second?

42:24Okay, Katie second.

42:27And then um as far as signups, is that

42:30can we do that one as well? Okay, I

42:32would um motion to cut off sign up for

42:36public invite to be heard once the

42:37meeting has started. Can I get a second?

42:42Okay, not second.

42:46Oh, okay. And then, sorry, I skipped a

42:48step for the first one. For five

42:50minutes, is anybody opposed or is there

42:52any discussion?

42:56City council normally does three.

43:00Why would you want it to be five? Just

43:03I just want to understand.

43:06>> Yeah, really good question. I think

43:08because um from what we've seen at the

43:11past two meetings, we haven't had too

43:12much too many people sign up and this

43:14one seems more specific this meet public

43:17meeting and so what people have to say

43:19might take a little bit more time.

43:20They're going in depth. They're bringing

43:22us reports. So 5 minutes just seems like

43:24a sweet spot. Um we could put a limit on

43:28like no more than

43:3030 minutes worth of the meeting can go

43:32towards public comment and that can

43:34limit it that way as well.

43:43Okay.

43:45Is there a limit currently on how much

43:47>> we have proposed or slided 30 minutes or

43:50so if needed?

43:51>> Okay. So, 30 minutes is a starting

43:53place.

43:56Any further discussion or comments?

44:02So, am I hearing five minutes instead of

44:04three and sign up before the meeting

44:07starts?

44:08>> Correct.

44:10Is anyone opposed? Does anyone want to

44:12object or want your vote to be opposed?

44:17>> All right, I see none.

44:19>> We'll make that change.

44:20>> Okay, perfect. And then for the signing

44:21up uh cut off [clears throat] once the

44:24meeting has started, is there any

44:26discussion, questions, objections?

44:32All right. And then uh we did a motion

44:35and I got a second. So yes, we're good

44:38to go. All right. Beautiful. Well, that

44:40will be our standard for public comment.

44:43And again, this is just a starting

44:44place. So we can always come back and

44:45adjust if we realize we need to.

44:52Okay, now we're getting more into the

44:54meat of what the authority does, but the

44:56other items are also very important. So

44:58article 12 discusses contracts finance

45:01budget and procurement. Um the goal is

45:04to be completely transparent with

45:06revenues, expenses and budgets.

45:08Financial reports detailing all of that

45:10shall be provided to the board at the

45:13intervals established by the board. And

45:15our policy question to you is how

45:17frequent would you frequently would you

45:20like to receive financial reports?

45:23It could be as frequent as monthly for

45:25your monthly meeting or it could be

45:27something less than monthly, whatever

45:29you prefer.

45:30>> All right, board. How often would we

45:32like our financial reports? Any uh

45:35comments?

45:40>> I'm going to suggest quarterly reports.

45:46I will suggest monthly reports. The

45:49reason with the monthly portion my is

45:51we'll stay on top of what budget get a

45:55report whether from the executive

45:57director or treasurer but it gives us

46:00the opportunity to you know be aware of

46:02any changes.

46:07>> I I agree. I think monthly reports

46:10really important.

46:16I I feel like we passed over committees,

46:19but I also think having an executive

46:21committee or a finance committee that

46:23goes over that stuff with the executive

46:26director is critical. And I agree with

46:28the monthly.

46:31Absolutely. Two things um to the

46:34committee. We will be coming back in the

46:36fall to have a deeper discussion on

46:38that. So, um, we will dive deep into

46:40that and then I will keep this going so

46:43we can get our, um, our proposed propos

46:46our proposals on the floor. Um, I also

46:50agree with the monthly just uh, for uh,

46:52clarity and also to be able to plan

46:54ahead of time of where we designate that

46:56finance those those finances.

47:01>> Agreed. Monthly sounds pretty wise.

47:05And you do have one commissioner online,

47:08Natasha, I believe.

47:09>> Oh, and Cynthia. Awesome.

47:14>> Okay. Um, we'll just take it one at a

47:16time. Um, and then folks on the line

47:20online, Cynthia or Natasha, you can

47:21always raise your hand and we'll be able

47:23to see it. Um, if you have anything to

47:25add. Uh so starting with um monthly

47:31uh any discussion or questions or

47:34objections to monthly timeline for how

47:37frequently we get our financial reports.

47:44All right. Um,

47:48so then do I have a motion uh or I'm

47:51going to do I have a second to the

47:53motion to bring our reports our

47:55financial reports monthly?

47:58Uh, I saw Tao and Johnny.

48:03Okay. So, it sounds like majority of the

48:05board is comfortable moving forward with

48:07monthly uh frequency

48:10of financial reports for now. Thank you.

48:16So going back to now the first talked

48:18about the executive director in terms of

48:20authorization limits but just to be

48:22clear anything that an executive

48:24director may approve to an expense has

48:26already been approved by the board and

48:28that's where article 12 also talks about

48:30contracts

48:32any contracts that the board would enter

48:35into or the executive director might

48:37enter into on behalf of the board would

48:39be only subject to board direction and

48:41approval. So this is sort of logistics.

48:44Um it we have proposed and again you

48:47could um have a discussion whether this

48:49feels appropriate that the executive

48:51director may con execute contracts up to

48:5425,000 consistent with the adopted

48:57budget. And by the way when you get to

48:59adopting a budget, you'll have a line

49:00item budget with various programs,

49:02policies, reserves, and that type of

49:05thing. And any spending of decisions

49:08that you make would be in alignment with

49:10a budget that you had previously

49:11approved. But in terms of just sort of

49:13the daytoday, are you comfortable with

49:16the executive director executing

49:18contracts up to 25 and then above

49:2125,000? The approval um and signature of

49:24the chair and director would be required

49:27for anything larger than 25. Again, in

49:30alignment with your adopted budget and

49:32plan of development priorities.

49:36I I have kind of an overarching question

49:39for the board and I think goes to all

49:41the questions you're asking is I didn't

49:45have the opportunity to do the

49:48the um trips to other DDAs and the

49:52learnings that everyone did and are

49:54there usually work are there usually

49:57executive directors that are executing

49:59on behalf of the DDA or are there

50:01sometimes DDAs that are working boards

50:04that are in committee and actually doing

50:07the execution of what the plan and what

50:11the board is is charged to do. Those are

50:14very those are very big overarching

50:16questions that would change the

50:18structure of what you're setting up. But

50:19since we're doing this right now, I I'm

50:21asking the question and I think when you

50:24put it out in that as a board, do we

50:26even have authority to say we want a

50:28working board that is executing that has

50:32a little bit of a different control than

50:33having one executive director that's

50:36executing on behalf of a board. That's a

50:37very big structural change and I'm sorry

50:40to ask the 101 question right now, but I

50:43don't know any other time to do it.

50:46>> Okay.

50:48So in my but I'll refer in my experience

50:50in Colorado there is an executive

50:52director not a working board and they

50:54are invested with that responsibility by

50:57the board to carry out the goals

50:59missions vision of the board according

51:01to the plan of development. Sometimes

51:04executive directors are come from city

51:06staff. Sometimes they are uh people

51:09hired directly by the board, but they

51:12are the ones doing all of that dayto-day

51:14work and executing those contracts

51:17depending on the timelines and carrying

51:18out the work of the board along with any

51:21other staff.

51:25I am not aware in Colorado of a separate

51:29working board that does the work.

51:31There's a Yeah, but I'm going to

51:37Um I since Naomi from Puma's here um and

51:40I know that they've worked on DDAs not

51:42just in the state of Colorado but I

51:43think elsewhere um can we invite Naomi

51:46up to give more color and background for

51:48I think it's a great question Amanda

51:52>> and I also want to suggest because

51:54there's no money and I don't understand

51:57what we have financially that maybe the

52:00the hiring of an executive director

52:02happens later and that you do have a

52:04working board that's able to execute. I

52:06don't know. I I'm sorry to be so outside

52:09the box, but yes, I agree with the Fuma.

52:13>> So, I I just wanted to jump in. I also

52:16have not seen a downtown development

52:18authority without an executive director.

52:21I think it might be required by statute.

52:24I'm going to double check, but I'm

52:26pretty sure that you all it does require

52:28you all to have an executive director,

52:30but I will double check really quick

52:31with the statute. Um, but I have not

52:34seen a working DDA without an executive

52:36director.

52:42>> You can come up, Naomi. Why don't you

52:43just come up here?

52:45>> All right.

52:50>> Um, I'm not sure I have much else to

52:52add. I do believe in statute does

52:53require an executive director to exist.

52:56I think overall um it's up to you to

52:59consider how

53:02effective each type of leadership

53:04structure is. You mean you do meet

53:06monthly as a board. You would be meeting

53:08monthly with your executive director and

53:10having I you know oversight um and being

53:13reported to monthly on what they're

53:15doing. And it's just up to you if you

53:17know sometimes having that if you're

53:19only meeting once a month and that's the

53:21only time you have available to make

53:22decisions um it could slow down the work

53:25that's being able to be done. Um so

53:27that's just a consideration.

53:30So not unique to DDAs but just any board

53:32and executive director structure.

53:35>> Thank you Naomi. Um and just a point of

53:37clarification for following up. Um, how

53:40long do we have to decide if we uh want

53:42to hire an executive director?

53:45>> As long as you want and as long as the

53:47city of Aurora is willing to provide

53:50staff support, there is no rush.

53:52>> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions,

53:55comments?

53:59>> I've just got a quick question. So, if

54:02we um approve those amounts for now,

54:06there's they're subject to change if we

54:08feel like we need to revisit that. So,

54:10this isn't like nailed in stone or

54:11anything. Okay, good.

54:16>> Um in October, we will have that

54:18financial discussion like we were um

54:20discussing way earlier. Um, with that

54:23being said, um, we will probably have

54:26better clarity of where we're at in

54:28order to kind of understand when that

54:30transitional period from what City of

54:32Aurora is willing to provide us for the

54:34executive director and everything and

54:36when, you know, that deadline might end

54:39up being. So, like you're saying,

54:40there's plenty of time, but I think

54:42there would be a good time for us to

54:45have like a concrete deadline so that we

54:47know where we're at financially to be

54:50able to start staffing, right? So, just

54:53to have that transition. Thank you.

54:57Um, so one thing for the board to

54:59consider here, you all can lower this

55:00threshold.

55:02Um, and as I said earlier with the rules

55:06of procedure, we fully anticipate you

55:08all needing to update these again as you

55:10all get into business and start

55:12operating. Um, and and through the plan

55:14of development and recommendations and

55:16implementation of your work. And so one

55:19consideration for you all today for

55:21staff is lowering these amounts to a

55:23much lower amount as a starting place

55:26and then the board can circle back and

55:29amend later if you all shall choose to

55:32do that once we work through the

55:34financials the work plan etc.

55:40How's that sound? Does anybody have a

55:43suggestion for lowering the threshold

55:45from 25,000?

55:48>> Hello, this is Cynthia. Can you all hear

55:50me?

55:51>> Yes.

55:52>> Okay. I'm currently driving uh to MLK,

55:54but I apologize for my um tardiness, but

55:58yeah, I think for me, I I would feel

56:00comfortable lowering the threshold. Um I

56:03didn't overhear exactly what the

56:05timeline is in terms of like hiring an

56:08executive director. Um, but for me, even

56:11not knowing where we're at financially,

56:13the 25,000 just seems a little bit too

56:17much. I think starting as low as like

56:195,000 10,000 seems for me more

56:22comfortable.

56:26>> Thank you, Cynthia. So, with that, I

56:28will bring forward a 10,000 uh threshold

56:32limit to the floor. Uh, any discussions

56:35or questions on a $10,000 uh dollar

56:37limit for contracts?

56:40Yeah,

56:42maybe this is somewhere else. But the

56:4510,000 makes it hard for the 10,000

56:48isn't as concerning as for me as time

56:51frames and how procurement or contracts

56:54are made. So I think as a board we

56:58probably all would be interested in

57:00larger longer term contracts contracts

57:03being being you know

57:07like are we deciding that all contracts

57:10are going to be procured within Aurora

57:13and within the DDA I mean how are we

57:15executing the contracts and I I think

57:17the reason for my question is this is so

57:20new and we're all elected so moving into

57:23a executive director director position.

57:27It does remove some movement and

57:30momentum. And I don't know if I

57:32understand like we have we have a group

57:35of city officials that are helping

57:37execute this stuff and you're going to

57:40be doing it until someone's appointed

57:41for free. Who's the person who's our

57:44point? Who is that person that's acting

57:46as an executive director? Is it you? H

57:49is it you? I you're on the board. Like I

57:52don't really know how this is working.

57:59I did want to say so an executive

58:02director is not working for free. So

58:05they would be employed and you all would

58:08set what they are paid.

58:11>> Oh, the city staff

58:19>> as the executive under the city manager.

58:22I believe my name is the executive

58:24director. However, Robin and Baxter and

58:29Rachel are supporting in kind from the

58:32city for legal services as well as

58:36administrative support and financial

58:38support which AUR works closely with our

58:41department of finance.

58:46So right now if this is approved you

58:48could do a contract at 25 or 10,000

58:52without conversation or without I mean

58:55I'm just trying to understand what's

58:56going on in the interim.

58:59So if the board approves what's written

59:01on the screen then you all are giving

59:03the city the opportunity to up execute

59:05contracts up to $25,000

59:08plus you all gave us direction to

59:10provide monthly financial reports. So

59:12that monthly financial reports will show

59:14those funds clearly obligated and that

59:17gives the board the opportunity

59:19to have a discussion about those items.

59:22So everything will be trans

59:24transparently presented to the board.

59:27It's just that execution threshold is

59:30what you all are deciding on here with

59:32this question. And I also want to say

59:34that for example, Laura Perry would

59:37never execute a contract that you had

59:39not approved. Like yes, we want to again

59:41going to the clean and safe services. If

59:43you wanted to hire a company to pick up

59:45trash, you would say we want to hire a

59:48company to pick up trash. Will you find

59:50us candidates that we can evaluate? And

59:52then would you know you create a

59:54contract to retain those services and

59:57then you could pay the monthly invoices.

1:00:00And and Robin, correct me if I'm I'm

1:00:02wrong. I believe a lot of those

1:00:04conversations happen during the budget

1:00:06development conversation and the work

1:00:08plan conversation.

1:00:09>> Yes.

1:00:12>> And I just want to clarify, so the

1:00:14executive director is acting

1:00:18at you all's pleasure. So the executive

1:00:21director is not just going out and

1:00:23unilaterally signing contracts and

1:00:25spending money. it will be at you all's

1:00:28direction after you all have made a

1:00:30decision and voted on something. So the

1:00:32executive director doesn't just have

1:00:34cart blanch um power to just go execute

1:00:37things without you all's approval and

1:00:39say so. So I just want to say that

1:00:43uh I'll come to Johnny but real quick

1:00:45follow up on that. Uh do the boards

1:00:48approve all contracts that the uh

1:00:50executive director would be ex paying

1:00:53for paying on behalf?

1:00:56it would be subject to the spending

1:00:57limits that you put in. So, if it were a

1:01:00smaller amount, the executive director

1:01:03would approve it. If it's a larger

1:01:04amount, the board would approve the

1:01:07contract. It sort of depends on what it

1:01:09is. Like, if you said, would you go out

1:01:10and buy some garbage bags because we're

1:01:13going to have a community cleanup day.

1:01:15Well, you would just say to the board

1:01:17direct executive director, it's okay to

1:01:19go buy $100 worth of garbage bags. You

1:01:21probably not a decision that the board

1:01:23would need to make. But if it's hiring,

1:01:25let's say, a contractor to provide

1:01:28again, the clean and safe services for

1:01:30$32,000,

1:01:32you would approve that. And then the

1:01:34executive director would manage the

1:01:36contract according to the best practices

1:01:38of the city of Aurora for, you know,

1:01:40contracting, submit an invoice, put it

1:01:42through the finance system to pay

1:01:44various approvals. The way the good

1:01:47management of expenses takes place.

1:01:49>> Got it. But in the selection of the

1:01:51vendor, the board would have that power.

1:01:54>> If it were something higher than the

1:01:56threshold, some significant thing,

1:01:58again, buying garbage bags, no, hiring,

1:02:02again, I'm making these up, a PR person

1:02:05or something, you would have the board

1:02:08would make that decision.

1:02:09>> Okay. And then I think Bria,

1:02:11>> just me if it's at the amount of the

1:02:12threshold that you all set. Okay.

1:02:14>> Yes.

1:02:15>> Okay. Gotcha. And then I'm going to go

1:02:17to Johnny and then I'll come back over

1:02:18to Matt.

1:02:23Well, [clears throat] I have some

1:02:24concern with the $10,000 limit because

1:02:27right now we've already agreed that the

1:02:30executive director can sign for $9,999.

1:02:35Is that correct? So,

1:02:38making this $10,000, that's what that

1:02:41doesn't really make a a whole lot of

1:02:43sense. in a sense I think $15,000 or

1:02:46something like that just to say

1:02:49$10,000$10,000

1:02:50that doesn't that kind of defeats the

1:02:53purpose.

1:03:02>> Well, for example, again, if you had a

1:03:04contract, you hired somebody and you

1:03:06agreed to pay them $32,000 over the

1:03:09course of some period, they would submit

1:03:11periodic invoices. is and if an invoice

1:03:14came in that was $9,999

1:03:18or less, the executive director could

1:03:20authorize its payment. If an invoice

1:03:22came in at $10,01,

1:03:25the executive director and the chair, I

1:03:27now don't would approve that specific

1:03:30payment all in accordance with whatever

1:03:34contract that was um executed governing

1:03:39whatever expenditure or program or

1:03:41policy that is being covered by that

1:03:43contract. So again, clean and safe, you

1:03:45hire somebody to provide trash pickup

1:03:48services for six months.

1:03:50bill periodically that kind of thing. It

1:03:53just allows the contract limit has to do

1:03:56with the larger question of what does

1:03:57the board want to do in accordance with

1:03:59the plan of development and the spending

1:04:02authority is just the day-to-day

1:04:04management and so forth so that the work

1:04:07of the board again executed by the

1:04:10executive director can just keep moving

1:04:12because again it kind of makes more

1:04:15sense to give your executive director

1:04:16some ability to make payments. is kind

1:04:18of like having a business, right? You

1:04:20know, higher expenses are approved by

1:04:22the CEO, lower expenses are can be

1:04:26handled administratively.

1:04:38>> Okay. So, that amount 25,000

1:04:41is that per contract?

1:04:44>> Yes.

1:04:44>> Okay.

1:04:45Um and I would agree with the concern

1:04:48that it could stifle some momentum

1:04:51um to lower it from that uh just for

1:04:55point of discussion. [snorts]

1:05:01So I think full circle the concern is

1:05:04more I don't I think the the amount is

1:05:07fine as long as it's aligned with other

1:05:09things and I don't know if those other

1:05:10things need to be put in this section

1:05:12and other things meaning is it a

1:05:14multi-year contract is it a is there a

1:05:18process of procurement that we want the

1:05:21executive director to do in community

1:05:23like those type of things if they're

1:05:25added like it doesn't matter whether or

1:05:27not it's 25,000 or 10,000 to me I'm more

1:05:31concerned with how the procurement and

1:05:32the length the size of contracts and who

1:05:35they go to.

1:05:41>> So to Amanda's point, are we able to

1:05:43write those things into this our bylaws

1:05:46>> a procurement process?

1:05:48>> Um I believe the answer is yes. I mean

1:05:51generally again in my experience DDA's

1:05:54follow whatever city's procurement

1:05:56process already exists. So, City of

1:05:58Aurora has a very detailed in-depth

1:06:00procurement process describing

1:06:03RFPs and competitive bidding and

1:06:07opportunities for all versus soul

1:06:09sourcing. And I would recommend and what

1:06:11what I've done in the past, but you

1:06:12could do something different is that the

1:06:15add aboard follow the city of Aurora's

1:06:18procurement process which was robust and

1:06:21strong and has a lot of safeguards. You

1:06:23could do something else if you want.

1:06:26My suggestion is to do what the city of

1:06:28Aurora does.

1:06:39Okay. So, um, procurement is listed on

1:06:42number eight and it does say the city

1:06:44policies and stuff. Um, I'm going to go

1:06:47out on a limb and say that nobody

1:06:49sitting at this table with me has read

1:06:51those procurement policies and

1:06:53procedures from the city. So, I'm going

1:06:56to ask that those be provided to us at

1:06:58the next meeting um so that we can then

1:07:02look at that process for future dates to

1:07:05amend our bylaws going forward.

1:07:12So, I I think we could I mean I think

1:07:14there's established pro we do federal

1:07:17grant and state grants and county

1:07:20grants. So we have a lot of procurement

1:07:22baselines

1:07:24as a board. You can take a baseline and

1:07:26add. So

1:07:29I'm sure that the Aurora one is

1:07:32commensurate and similar to all the

1:07:34other municipalities which are like

1:07:36these federal requirements that you have

1:07:38to be at a baseline. I think as a board

1:07:40we could take that and then add in well

1:07:43we want preference to go into the DDA

1:07:47itself. We want multiple year contracts

1:07:50to go to the board. I think there are a

1:07:52couple different ways to take the

1:07:54baseline and I agree with you. I'd love

1:07:55to see it too.

1:07:58Yeah.

1:07:59Yeah.

1:08:05Yes.

1:08:07Yeah.

1:08:20Are we able to delay this to the next

1:08:22meeting?

1:08:23>> The rules of procedure?

1:08:24>> Yes. Although I would as our attorney I

1:08:28think if they don't approve the rules of

1:08:30procedure, they are not able to elect a

1:08:32chair and vice chair today. So, just

1:08:36FYI, we can bring this back with more

1:08:38language, but one of the agenda items

1:08:40will go away on this meeting.

1:08:43>> All right. So, um we've got a couple

1:08:46options. Let's start with that. Delaying

1:08:48the vote to next meeting uh so we can

1:08:51review the procurement process that the

1:08:54city of Aurora does. I'll put that on

1:08:57the floor. Any discussions, questions,

1:08:59or objections?

1:09:08Yeah, I'm just questioning the process

1:09:11here.

1:09:12If we're seeing and hearing that most

1:09:15cities and counties all work on similar

1:09:18procurement processes,

1:09:21are we going to have our attorney review

1:09:24the procurement process or are we each

1:09:27individually going to try and make

1:09:29changes to the process? I think that's

1:09:31my my question. I can understand we have

1:09:34two legal people on the board, but then

1:09:37again, just to say you're going to have

1:09:39everyone review and make a decision

1:09:41based on that, I think it's time

1:09:44consuming and really doesn't get to

1:09:45where we need to go.

1:09:48That's why we would use our attorney. Is

1:09:50this a problem for us? And then make a

1:09:52decision.

1:09:55Um, I was just going to add a point of

1:09:57clarification that my suggestion about

1:10:00getting the policies for the procurement

1:10:02was not in response to saying we should

1:10:04delay adopting this. Um, similar to

1:10:07asking for earlier or add additional

1:10:09language on one of our other sections.

1:10:12That's I was just asking for something

1:10:13so we could get more information to

1:10:15amend in the future, not to delay the

1:10:18approval of this.

1:10:22I just one other thing is I agree. I

1:10:25think we don't delay this. We adopt the

1:10:29city. I'm not agreeing. I don't know who

1:10:31said that, but I'm I think we adopt the

1:10:33city's procedures because they're

1:10:36baseline and decide amongst us the

1:10:39additional language that we want to add

1:10:41as a prerequisite to I mean you can say

1:10:45this is the baseline and preference

1:10:47needs to be given which means they have

1:10:49to show the executive director needs to

1:10:51show that they have gone to exhausted

1:10:55all local local meaning within the DDA

1:10:58or the CDC. see communitybased

1:11:02companies or organizations that could do

1:11:04the similar work. So I would just add

1:11:06that into it instead of delaying it.

1:11:09It's my suggestion.

1:11:11Can I ask a point of clarification for

1:11:12staff? So uh the current language

1:11:14currently states authority purchases and

1:11:16contracts are complied with applicable

1:11:18law and to the extent applicable city

1:11:21procurement policies and procedures

1:11:22unless the board adopts separate

1:11:25procurement policies that are consistent

1:11:27with law in any agreement with the city.

1:11:29So point of clarification for staff is

1:11:32the board would like to possibly

1:11:35entertain adopting a separate

1:11:37procurement policy upon review of the

1:11:40city's policies. But I think question is

1:11:42are you okay with the language as is in

1:11:46the rules of procedure for now

1:11:52>> and we will put on our list of future

1:11:55agenda items a presentation on the

1:11:57city's rules of procedure and we will

1:11:59get folks who are the expert I mean we

1:12:02use it every day but we can arrange with

1:12:04per some city staff in procurement to

1:12:08come speak with you and then you can

1:12:10make those separate rules, procedure

1:12:12with those additional add-ons,

1:12:14preferences, whatever you would like.

1:12:17>> Lovely. Okay. So, back to the amount. We

1:12:20kind of had our discussion around the

1:12:2110,000. It seems like a lot of people,

1:12:23majority of the board spoke out against

1:12:25it. So, let's come back to the 25,000.

1:12:29Um, do we have any objections to this

1:12:32amount?

1:12:35All right. Uh so we will move forward

1:12:37then with 25,000 as the threshold for

1:12:40contracts.

1:12:40>> Thank you so much.

1:12:45Okay. Article um 13 records, minutes,

1:12:49transparency.

1:12:51So um so thank you for approving minutes

1:12:53today. We'll make that change that

1:12:56Commissioner Goldman asked and then

1:12:57we'll start posting them on the city's

1:12:59website just like other boards do the

1:13:02council and so on and so forth. um

1:13:05something that we've talked a little bit

1:13:06before um Miss May's colleague Hillary

1:13:09discussed last month about an open

1:13:12records policy. So that needs to be

1:13:14adopted not at this meeting but we will

1:13:17be bringing an open records policy to

1:13:20you a little bit later for you to adopt

1:13:23which covers all of those things. One

1:13:27thing we are asking you to consider

1:13:29adopting today is it's a very small

1:13:33little thing and that is the posting

1:13:35place resolution. So meeting notices

1:13:38have to be posted. We recommend that

1:13:41they be posted on the city's website

1:13:44which is what we've been doing so far

1:13:45and which is where the city everything

1:13:47else gets posted. So, a little bit later

1:13:49on the agenda, we are going to ask you

1:13:51to consider approving a resolution

1:13:55on on a posting place be the city's

1:13:57website. But that's sort of why we're

1:13:59we're asking you that because it's

1:14:01required in the rules of procedure based

1:14:04on state statute.

1:14:08Any questions or comments?

1:14:13All right, sounds good. We'll move

1:14:14forward.

1:14:18Okay. So, article 14, if I'm counting

1:14:20right, is plans, projects, and work

1:14:23program. So, remember your overarching

1:14:27document is the plan of of development.

1:14:30And then annual work plans are

1:14:33recommended. So, you take the overall

1:14:35plan of development and then you

1:14:36determine based on priorities that can

1:14:39change over time what you want to

1:14:41concentrate in the first year, the

1:14:42second year, the third year. And then

1:14:44there becomes an iterative process. You

1:14:47look back at the first year, what was

1:14:48accomplished? What do you still want to

1:14:50work on and so forth. So again, later in

1:14:52the fall after the plan of development

1:14:55is um adopted, which again is a

1:14:59multi-step process that involves

1:15:01council, we would come back with a

1:15:03proposed work plan, which would align

1:15:05with a proposed budget. So that you're

1:15:09you would have a discussion about your

1:15:10highest priorities based on the

1:15:13financial overview. what's available,

1:15:14what you you want to um really work on,

1:15:18partnerships, collaborations, and

1:15:20together you would want to consider a

1:15:23work plan and a budget that align with

1:15:26each other. And also just want to um

1:15:28note that projects, work plans, and

1:15:31everything are highlight that there is

1:15:33an equity and anti-displacement

1:15:34considerations for added to support

1:15:36equitable revitalization and help reduce

1:15:39displacement pressures. that will all go

1:15:42into the policies related to your work

1:15:44plan and budget.

1:15:50>> Any questions on this article?

1:15:55>> All right. Thank you. You're welcome.

1:15:57>> So now this is all of the legal stuff. I

1:16:02mean other legal stuff limit. We're

1:16:04working on getting the board insurance.

1:16:06The board has to be insured not

1:16:08individually but the board does for

1:16:10actions. Rules procedures require

1:16:12twothirds votes of all members and votes

1:16:14are filed with the city clerk. Rules of

1:16:17procedure may be amended from time to

1:16:20time dime again with a twothirds vote

1:16:22according to public notice requirements

1:16:25so the public knows what's going on. And

1:16:27then

1:16:30at some point in the future it was

1:16:32determined that the authority no longer

1:16:34needed to exist. There could be a vote

1:16:36to dissolve the authority again by a

1:16:39twothirds vote and then it would go to

1:16:42council and then article um what is that

1:16:4619 is the adoption of the rules of

1:16:48procedure

1:16:50and I think that is the last slide

1:16:52overall on the rules of procedure.

1:16:56All right. Thank you so much, Robin, and

1:16:58everybody. Uh, board members, any final

1:17:01thoughts, questions, or concerns about

1:17:03our, uh, rules of procedure.

1:17:11All right. So, the proposed uh, motion

1:17:13language on the floor is to adopt the

1:17:15resolution uh, 2020601

1:17:19adopting the procedure rule, the

1:17:21proposed rules of procedure.

1:17:25Um, does everyone need to go through and

1:17:27say that or Okay, raise your hand if uh

1:17:30you're in agreement with that statement.

1:17:32We'll take a vote. Is that

1:17:34>> for a second? Sorry. Can I get a second

1:17:36for that? All right. Johnny second.

1:17:44>> I brought it. Yes.

1:17:46>> And then second by Johnny. And then

1:17:49Okay. Any comments, questions, or

1:17:51discussions?

1:17:53Were

1:17:58we adopting it as is or

1:18:00>> we could what is the thing where we make

1:18:02some language changes but they're not

1:18:04substantial like could you come talk

1:18:07about

1:18:09>> um I'm not sure this is exactly that

1:18:12>> can you come here we can't get you on

1:18:14the recording thank you

1:18:18>> um if there's a situation where there's

1:18:20a typographical error um in In that

1:18:23instance, we can come back and just

1:18:24administratively approve a change. It's

1:18:26called a scrivener's error.

1:18:29>> There was some language requested to be

1:18:32changed.

1:18:33So, could it be that they approve as you

1:18:37decide?

1:18:38>> I wouldn't say that the language that

1:18:39they're suggesting to be changed at this

1:18:41point would fall under a typographical

1:18:44error.

1:18:46>> That was in the minutes, but for these,

1:18:48I don't think we can do it that way. Can

1:18:50we go back to that section and

1:18:52potentially come up with a a solution?

1:18:55It was such a small thing. It's like

1:18:57>> we go back to

1:18:58>> it was the question of

1:19:02>> Yeah.

1:19:04>> I don't think we should delay due to

1:19:06that probably come up

1:19:08>> the the time for the year.

1:19:11>> Yeah.

1:19:12>> Of electing chair and electing officers.

1:19:16And you had asked, I believe, not to

1:19:18have a it was a question of a date

1:19:20certain versus after

1:19:23>> upon the election of the new slate of

1:19:26board members,

1:19:28>> appointment of the new slate of board

1:19:30members that we do the election of

1:19:32officers. I mean, I think it's a pretty

1:19:35simple

1:19:37change.

1:19:39>> Is that Did you all want to make a

1:19:42motion to change that language?

1:19:44>> Yeah. Good. I'd like to make a motion to

1:19:47amend section

1:19:52>> article 4 paragraph 7 election of

1:19:54officers.

1:19:56Um, the board shall elect a chair and

1:19:59vice chair

1:20:01after the election appointment, excuse

1:20:04me, after the appointment of the new

1:20:08slate or the reappointed slate of board

1:20:13members

1:20:17by city council.

1:20:24I heard Donnie second.

1:20:27Um, any comments, questions, objections

1:20:31to those amendments.

1:20:34All right, we're going to take a vote on

1:20:35it. All in favor say I. I.

1:20:39>> I.

1:20:42Thank you. All right, the motion passes.

1:20:47All right, we're going to go back to the

1:20:48full um proposed motion on the floor.

1:20:54Um, so I will

1:20:57Oh, as amended. Perfect. Perfect. Y'all

1:21:00are prepared. Okay. So, um, I motion to

1:21:04move to adopt the resolution 20261

1:21:08adopting the rules of procedure as

1:21:10amended. Um, opening it up for a

1:21:13comment. Oh, sorry. Can I get a second?

1:21:17All right. I saw your hand. Sorry. And

1:21:20then um any questions, comments,

1:21:23concerns

1:21:24for the adoption of the rules as

1:21:26amended?

1:21:29All right, I see none. We'll take a vote

1:21:30on it. If you're in favor of the

1:21:32adoption, raise your hand and say I. I.

1:21:38>> Okay.

1:21:39And uh Natasha online.

1:21:43>> Hi.

1:21:45>> Perfect. Thank you. Okay. So it passes

1:21:48and these are our adopted uh amended

1:21:51rules of procedure.

1:21:53>> Thank you very much.

1:22:02>> All right. So with that we are finished

1:22:04with agenda item 4 A and we are moving

1:22:07into agenda item 4B which is our vice

1:22:10and chair vice chair elections. Um just

1:22:14wanted to set the stage real quick. Um,

1:22:16if anybody still wants to be considered

1:22:19for nomination, you can throw your name

1:22:21in the hat and self-nominate yourself.

1:22:24Um, currently we have three uh

1:22:26nominations on the floor.

1:22:29Um, let's see. I don't want to get them

1:22:31wrong. Okay, perfect. So, as chair, we

1:22:34have a nomination for Katie Goldman and

1:22:37a nomination for Johnny Watson. And then

1:22:40as vice chair, we have a nomination for

1:22:42Amanda. And then again, if anybody wants

1:22:44to uh throw your hat in the ring, let me

1:22:48know.

1:22:52All right. So, with that, we'll move

1:22:53forward. Each uh nominee has been asked

1:22:56to prepare a statement for why they're

1:22:58interested in this position, and they

1:22:59will give their statements, and then the

1:23:02board will cast your vote. So, we'll go

1:23:04ahead and start with Katie um under

1:23:07chair.

1:23:19Um, give me just two seconds. Sorry.

1:23:26Trying to see if my

1:23:34Sorry, I had written my statement down

1:23:35so I could like remind myself what I

1:23:38wanted to say to everybody. and that

1:23:40didn't work. So, there's no Wi-Fi in

1:23:42this room. [laughter]

1:23:44So, um yeah, I guess I'll wing it. Um if

1:23:47it's okay, can I go over there so I can

1:23:49actually look at everybody because this

1:23:51is weird sitting in my

1:24:05everybody. So, I'll just, you know, I'll

1:24:07just be me. So, it'll be fine, right?

1:24:10Um, one, I just want to say thank you

1:24:12for the nomination. I think that that's

1:24:15a huge honor. Um, and um, I take that

1:24:18very seriously. So, I appreciate the

1:24:20nomination. Um, I feel like I would be a

1:24:25um, I'm excited to serve in the capacity

1:24:27of the chair and I feel like I would be

1:24:29um, helpful in the capacity of of that.

1:24:32um because I have worked with a lot of

1:24:34startup organizations in terms of

1:24:36structure and making sure that everybody

1:24:39feels comfortable with what the rules um

1:24:42are of of the organization itself,

1:24:45making sure that things are clear. Um

1:24:48and then just helping to make amendments

1:24:49to those things as we move forward. And

1:24:52I think that in the first couple of

1:24:54years, which is what my appointment is

1:24:56for currently, that's the most important

1:24:59thing is that we as a board learn how to

1:25:02um structure ourselves uh and work

1:25:05together even when we're in opposition

1:25:07with one another um to serve our

1:25:10community. Um I don't think that there's

1:25:14um you know, I I can't say anything uh

1:25:17negative against my fellow nominee, Mr.

1:25:21Watson. Um I am aware that he's going to

1:25:24be serving on our board longer. Um and I

1:25:26think that that's a great thing and he's

1:25:28a wealth of information. Um I am also a

1:25:32wealth of information. Um I'm very

1:25:34connected to the business community and

1:25:36um I'm just very excited to serve in

1:25:40this capacity in all of the things the

1:25:43reason we all said yes to doing this in

1:25:44the first place. So it's me

1:25:52All right, we'll go with Johnny Watson.

1:25:54If you want to go up to the podium, that

1:25:55would be the best.

1:26:12>> Well, thanks. I did write a brief

1:26:14statement. I tell you, computers have

1:26:15their way of working and not working

1:26:17when you need them. So I do put things

1:26:19in notes sometimes. The reality is I

1:26:22would love to have the opportunity to

1:26:25serve as chairman of the b board for the

1:26:28DDA here in Aurora.

1:26:31One of the reasons is because I feel

1:26:33I've taken the time out of everyone's

1:26:36busy busy schedule. You know, people who

1:26:38are in this room, myself, my family to

1:26:41make sure that we got to this area, this

1:26:44the situation that we're in. people like

1:26:47Caitlyn Matthews who took us on a trip

1:26:49to Boston to review what other cities do

1:26:53in their development process and working

1:26:56up to this point to where now had an

1:26:59election. Well, that took work. It took

1:27:02time. It took knowing and working with

1:27:05people who have the opportunity and want

1:27:07to see change here in this area. We sit

1:27:10here 30 years of being left behind.

1:27:15So, I feel that right now we're at a

1:27:18great time period and I want to be a

1:27:20part of that. What have I been doing to

1:27:23get here? I know you probably saw what

1:27:26my resume says. If you check GPT, my

1:27:30bio, it'll probably go on for a little

1:27:32while. But what I'm here to talk about

1:27:35is this community, particularly the

1:27:38businesses.

1:27:40What we're getting ready to do this

1:27:41downtown development authority, it's

1:27:44developing the downtown for the city of

1:27:47Aurora, not developing Kfax. That's not

1:27:51what this is about.

1:27:53What this is about is all the six wards

1:27:56that we have. People who land at the

1:27:58airport and say, "I want to go see

1:28:00Aurora. I heard so much about Aurora."

1:28:02Well, how do how do we do that?

1:28:05How do we do that? We engage the entire

1:28:08community. Yes, I hear a lot about the

1:28:10diversity of Aurora. That's great. But

1:28:13I'll ask you business people, you're all

1:28:15business people here on this board. If I

1:28:17say to you, is your role for the next

1:28:20four or five years to say we want to get

1:28:23all of the people from 25th over down to

1:28:26six and we want those people to come to

1:28:29our business or would you much rather

1:28:30say to come up with a strategy to get

1:28:34all the people in the six wards to come

1:28:36to this spot right here? You think you

1:28:38make a little bit bit more revenue from

1:28:41that type of process working in that

1:28:44type of vein? That's what I that's what

1:28:46I I think about. Those are the type

1:28:48ideas that we have to work toward. Let's

1:28:51not think small at this point. Let's

1:28:54think large. I say let's have an

1:28:57international business district right

1:28:59here in this quarter between the DDA and

1:29:02the CDC.

1:29:03I think that's the type of thing that

1:29:05will get people engaged, involved. We

1:29:07have enough people from different

1:29:09countries to do that, I'm sure.

1:29:11So, those are the ideas that I look at

1:29:14doing. And when I say I want to be the

1:29:15chairman, give an example. The CDC's

1:29:18have been meeting. They're putting their

1:29:21stuff together. I've made every one of

1:29:22the CDC meetings with the exception of

1:29:24the last one. I don't want to get into

1:29:26that one, but I I've making those

1:29:29meetings because the DDA and the CDC

1:29:32have to work together. And the only way

1:29:35we'll know and I can bring information

1:29:36back from those meetings, that's who I

1:29:39am and that's what I do. So yes, I'd

1:29:42love to be chair. I appreciate your

1:29:44vote. Thank you.

1:29:51>> All right, we'll go to the vice chair

1:29:53with Amanda.

1:30:15Members of the board and city

1:30:17leadership, I am honored to accept this

1:30:19nomination for vice chair of the Aurora

1:30:21Downtown Development Authority Board.

1:30:24Downtown Aurora is at a pivotal

1:30:26crossroads. It is more than a commercial

1:30:28footprint. It is the civic heart and

1:30:31cultural anchor of our community.

1:30:33Realizing its full potential requires

1:30:35intentional economic stewardship, strong

1:30:39partnerships with our small business

1:30:40owners and community members who call

1:30:43this area home, and close alignment with

1:30:45city staff to turn strategic vision into

1:30:49tangible progress. As vice chair, my

1:30:52priority is straightforward. to provide

1:30:55proactive, reliable leadership. Whether

1:30:58partnering closely with our chair and

1:31:00city staff in agenda setting and

1:31:02strategic planning, facilitating focused

1:31:04and productive board meetings, or

1:31:07stepping in seamlessly whenever called

1:31:09upon. I will I will bring steady

1:31:12governance, transparency, and

1:31:14accountability to the table. Our

1:31:17downtown should be a dynamic destination

1:31:19where businesses thrive, residents

1:31:21gather, and investments take root. I am

1:31:25ready to put in the work alongside each

1:31:27of you to champion that vision, and I

1:31:29would be proud to earn your vote and

1:31:31your trust as your next vice chair, and

1:31:33I have no one um elected against me. So,

1:31:37I'm pretty much your only choice. But I

1:31:39do want to say that I am concerned that

1:31:42I'm only on the board for a year and I'm

1:31:45very hesitant to do this because I think

1:31:47continuity of leadership is critical. I

1:31:50want to put on the record that I don't

1:31:52like the staggered leadership. I

1:31:53understand the other the staggered

1:31:56appointments and it makes it difficult

1:31:58to really get traction especially when

1:32:01you're meeting once a month and you're

1:32:04trying to elect a a executive director.

1:32:06here. I mean, we could be halfway

1:32:08through this. And part of wanting to do

1:32:10this is because I don't want there to be

1:32:12a vacancy in the vice chair role. And I

1:32:14think that I add a lot to this, but

1:32:17again, I want to make sure it's

1:32:18something you all want rather than

1:32:20someone who's going to be on the board

1:32:22for sure. I understand there's

1:32:24reappoints that are that are possible,

1:32:26but I do think having a vice chair

1:32:28that's consistently over years in the

1:32:31role is a good idea as well. But without

1:32:34that being present, I would be willing

1:32:36to and honored to take this position.

1:32:39So, thank you.

1:32:46All right. So, we've heard from all of

1:32:48our nominees. So, uh, everyone has one

1:32:50of these. Okay. Everyone has a ballot in

1:32:52your packet. So, we'll take about five

1:32:54minutes to reflect and, uh, they should

1:32:56turn them into the staff. All right. All

1:33:00right. staff will collect them and then

1:33:02we will have an announcement after. Oh

1:33:04yeah, question real quick. Um Katie,

1:33:08were you able to pull up your

1:33:11your your what you wrote? I think it it

1:33:14would be really important for us to

1:33:16really hear what you like had your heart

1:33:20written out for it, you know. So I would

1:33:23hope that we make time to listen to what

1:33:26Katie had written

1:33:30if that's okay with everybody. Of

1:33:32course. Yeah.

1:33:39>> Um thanks for that opportunity. I

1:33:41appreciate it. Um

1:33:43so um I am interested in serving as the

1:33:46chair because I believe the DDA is an

1:33:48important point in its development. We

1:33:51have an opportunity not only to make

1:33:53decisions about downtown Aurora today,

1:33:55but to establish the structure,

1:33:56expectations, and culture that will

1:33:59allow this board to be successful for

1:34:01many years to come. That means creating

1:34:04a board where different perspectives are

1:34:05genuinely heard even when they are

1:34:08uncomfortable or conflicting, but also

1:34:11recognizing that listening cannot become

1:34:13a substitute for making decisions and

1:34:15getting the work done and good

1:34:17governance requires both.

1:34:20Um, I've had experience doing this type

1:34:23of work before um in creating new

1:34:26structures and I think we need to be

1:34:28thoughtful about how we talk about

1:34:30growth and change as we develop that

1:34:32structure.

1:34:34um our community has been um

1:34:38overshadowed,

1:34:40neglected, um lots of other words and

1:34:43how we uh move forward should matter

1:34:46deeply to all of us and ensuring that

1:34:49the community is engaged.

1:34:51Um

1:34:54our responsibility is to understand the

1:34:56difference as address critical risks and

1:34:59make decisions based on evidence rather

1:35:01than allowing the fear of change to

1:35:02prevent progress for our area for our

1:35:05communities

1:35:07um in every way. Uh my perspective comes

1:35:10from being a business owner um and from

1:35:12working in design, development,

1:35:14hospitality and community building. I

1:35:17know how decisions made in rooms like

1:35:19this affect the people trying to invest,

1:35:20operate, and build something here. If

1:35:23elected chair, I would work to create

1:35:25space for honest discussion, keep us

1:35:27focused on our responsibilities, and

1:35:29help build the strong governance that

1:35:31the governance structure that the DDA

1:35:34needs for long-term success. I

1:35:36appreciate the nomination, and I would

1:35:38be honored to serve.

1:35:44Thank you so much, uh, Katie. Uh, all

1:35:47right, we change of plans, everybody.

1:35:49Uh, so for we got advice from our

1:35:52attorney's office and we need to

1:35:53actually do a live vote by raising our

1:35:55hands. Um, and so as board, we will take

1:35:58a vote right now. So decide uh who

1:36:02you're casting your vote for. Uh, and

1:36:04we'll start with the chair and then I

1:36:06also am acknowledging Natasha online. uh

1:36:09we will include your vote as well. You

1:36:11can use the raise hand function or you

1:36:14can unmute. Uh we will start with the

1:36:17chair. So all the or our two options are

1:36:20Katie and Johnny. Uh we'll start with

1:36:22Katie. All those in favor of Katie

1:36:24Goldman as our chair, please raise your

1:36:26hand.

1:36:31All right, I count one, two, three.

1:36:36Staff got it. All right. And then all

1:36:39those in favor of Johnny as your chair,

1:36:41raise your hand.

1:36:46Two, three, four, five, five.

1:36:51Oh, and Natasha six.

1:36:56Did I count that right? Okay. Can you

1:36:58keep your hands raised for Johnny?

1:37:05Okay. Seven.

1:37:07forgot myself. Okay. All right. And then

1:37:11uh just for record purposes, we'll move

1:37:14on to the vice chair elections. All

1:37:16those in favor of electing Amanda Blah

1:37:19as our vice chair, please raise your

1:37:21hand.

1:37:25I see one. Yeah, Laura's got it. You can

1:37:28vote.

1:37:33Nine. And then did you get Natasha?

1:37:35Okay. Nine.

1:37:37Perfect.

1:37:46Okay.

1:37:48Beautiful. All right. That was our first

1:37:51uh chair and vice chair election. So we

1:37:53will moving forward.

1:38:00Moving.

1:38:02Oh, okay. I have to hand it over to our

1:38:05newly elected chair. And before I do, I

1:38:09do just want to say we could have

1:38:11further elections for a treasurer and

1:38:13secretary as well. And with that, it's

1:38:16great honor to hand this mic over to

1:38:17you, Mr. Watson.

1:38:19>> Thank you very much. I appreciate

1:38:21council members.

1:38:25>> Wow. Let's see. Thanks so much for your

1:38:27vote. I appreciate your confidence.

1:38:30And what I said I meant and a reality

1:38:32for me is that we're at a time period

1:38:36where this community will shine in

1:38:39Colorado. And I just want to say that.

1:38:42So I get back to the idea of the agenda.

1:38:51So at this point, did we decide on the

1:38:54posting? We did decide that it was going

1:38:56to be at city hall and that was item

1:38:58number 4 C.

1:39:11Okay.

1:39:13Go to item 4 C

1:39:16and we agree to take that to the vote.

1:39:21All in favor with the presentation.

1:39:24>> The Good morning. My name is Baxter

1:39:27Richardson. and I'm a project manager

1:39:28for the Aurora Urban Renewal Authority

1:39:30and I've been helping out with the

1:39:32packets and memos and slides and all of

1:39:35that for the for Atta. The this

1:39:38resolution is fairly simple. We

1:39:40explained it earlier. It's just a

1:39:41posting place for where we'll post our

1:39:44notice of quorums, our agendas, and our

1:39:47approved minutes. Um that right now it's

1:39:50on the city website on the DDA web page.

1:39:54And then we needed an alternative site

1:39:56which in this case it is a bulletin

1:39:58board within the city hall foyer. We

1:40:00thought that'd be a good spot one

1:40:02because it's easy um to get to and it's

1:40:05publicly accessible during the daytime

1:40:06hours. Um we don't imagine having to use

1:40:09that because we'll be able to have

1:40:11access to the city website, you know,

1:40:13247 365.

1:40:26Thanks for that report. Uh at this

1:40:29point, any any uh concerns with not

1:40:32posting at city hall on the web page?

1:40:36Any objection to the report?

1:40:42So I then ask for a motion to approve

1:40:45item 4 C.

1:40:47All in favor, can I see a raise of

1:40:49hands?

1:40:53>> A second.

1:40:55>> Was I'm just hoping so much.

1:40:57>> Thank you very much.

1:41:00So, a raise of hands again, please.

1:41:05Looks unanimous.

1:41:07So, thanks for the report. Go back.

1:41:11I've been uh informed that we're running

1:41:13out of time.

1:41:15[laughter]

1:41:16So that presents a challenge for us.

1:41:19One of the options is to have a a

1:41:22special meeting

1:41:25and I'm just wondering how many people

1:41:27would be in favor of something like that

1:41:29or the question I would have also how

1:41:32much time

1:41:34we're really just talking about voting

1:41:36on the plan of action. Is that correct?

1:41:41Has has everyone had an opportunity to

1:41:42review that plan of action?

1:41:46No. Can someone raise your hands who

1:41:48have not had a chance to really review

1:41:50that? Can you can I see

1:41:53just the plan of action that we were

1:41:55supposed to vote on today?

1:42:00Has everyone reviewed that plan?

1:42:06Well, here's here's here's what I'm

1:42:08thinking. We're going to have to try to

1:42:09guess with the silence that we'll

1:42:11probably need to set up a special uh

1:42:13meeting

1:42:16That way everyone will get an

1:42:17opportunity and then we can then get a

1:42:18report from from staff at that time at

1:42:22this time. Any dates in mind?

1:42:25>> No. So what I'm hearing, am I hearing

1:42:27correctly that you'd like to postpone

1:42:28the discussion of the plan of

1:42:30development to another meeting or

1:42:32another time?

1:42:34>> Probably another meeting would be good.

1:42:37>> So we at the October meeting.

1:42:40>> Yes. But

1:42:41>> I mean we could do whatever you would

1:42:42like. So the answer is of course if you

1:42:43would like to postpone and have Miss

1:42:45Lacewell come back at October at the

1:42:47October meeting which is October 13th

1:42:49happy to do that or we could have a

1:42:51separate meeting just on the plan of

1:42:53development whichever you prefer. I mean

1:42:55I'd have to I can't say right now when

1:42:57it would be I'd have to find a place and

1:42:59we'd have to do a poll. We would want to

1:43:01do a poll about availability of the

1:43:03board and find a location for a public

1:43:05meeting and so forth. So whatever you

1:43:07prefer is fine. Well, here here's here's

1:43:09a quick question and and this is on my

1:43:13we're all here. How much time is it for

1:43:16the presentation that you're planning on

1:43:18doing on getting to the vote?

1:43:21>> About an hour

1:43:22>> about an hour

1:43:23>> to go over you've heard you've know a

1:43:26lot about the plan of development and

1:43:28Miss Lisel is going to do a very indepth

1:43:32dive into the meat of the plan of

1:43:34development, not the history of how it

1:43:36got to be there. you know that you're

1:43:37very familiar and whether or not you

1:43:40want to just go over all the priorities

1:43:42that have been outlined in the plan

1:43:44already and whether there's any a desire

1:43:47to tweak it, make changes, do additional

1:43:49engagement and so forth. But that would

1:43:51be a lengthy meaty discussion.

1:43:54>> So 1 hour

1:43:55>> I would say at least an hour.

1:43:57>> Yeah.

1:43:58>> So our choice is to stay for one hour or

1:44:02set up another study date. So

1:44:06>> you I don't think it's a possibility to

1:44:07stay an extra hour today. We would need

1:44:09to either do it at the October 13th or

1:44:12another meeting or find a separate time

1:44:15that worked for the board to just have a

1:44:18discussion on the plan of development

1:44:20>> and then at a meeting an open meeting

1:44:23you would

1:44:24>> so so I leave it up to the board then to

1:44:26make a decision. So is the board

1:44:28recommendation then to move to a special

1:44:31another date or the Octo October 13th

1:44:34meeting?

1:44:38>> So I see a raise of hands for October

1:44:4113th meeting.

1:44:42>> You have a motion and a second.

1:44:48>> Please.

1:44:52I know that the agenda for the October

1:44:55meeting is very packed. Is that when

1:44:57we're doing the special budget

1:44:59conversation and committee conversation

1:45:01as well?

1:45:02>> Well, I would it could be that our

1:45:05recommendation is to have a discussion

1:45:08of the financial overview of of ADA, not

1:45:11necessarily the committee. uh there are

1:45:14many things to get started but I would

1:45:17say it's more critical to um understand

1:45:22whether you want to move ahead with a

1:45:24plan of development because there are

1:45:26other steps after the at a board

1:45:29approves the plan of development and the

1:45:31board essentially cannot do anything

1:45:33until the plan of development is

1:45:35approved both by this board and by city

1:45:38council which with a step at planning

1:45:40commission. So I would say that is the

1:45:42most uh critical urgent thing to do and

1:45:46then we could also if there's time in

1:45:48October have begin the financial

1:45:50overview hold off on committees. We

1:45:53really would like to get the plan of

1:45:54development approved when the board is

1:45:56ready because that then allows the board

1:45:58to do many other things.

1:46:00>> Okay. And then sorry just a followup. Is

1:46:02it possible to do a special meeting uh

1:46:05virtual 100% virtual that's open to the

1:46:07public?

1:46:08>> Yes.

1:46:08>> Okay. Just wanted folks know that's

1:46:10>> you did want an option to have the plan

1:46:13of development discussion not at the

1:46:15October board meeting. There could be a

1:46:18sort of a workshop virtually completely

1:46:20hybrid open to the public. You would not

1:46:22be making any decisions. It would just

1:46:25be asking questions like providing some

1:46:28input direction but not approving or

1:46:30not. That has to be at a board meeting

1:46:32and we have attorneys here to verify.

1:46:35But there could be a separate 1-hour

1:46:37virtual meeting for everyone for that

1:46:40presentation on the plan of development.

1:46:42>> Thank you.

1:46:47>> I think my opinion is just to have a

1:46:51special meeting before October because

1:46:53we can discuss uh the plan what we are

1:46:57going to do. Uh maybe at October maybe

1:46:59we don't have enough time. Uh so my

1:47:03suggestion is just to have uh one

1:47:06special meeting if it is uh allowed by

1:47:08the law.

1:47:12>> I I agree with that suggestion because

1:47:16October 13th is a long ways off and

1:47:18we'll be pushing other items farther and

1:47:21farther down the agenda. So is there a

1:47:24date in mind that

1:47:25>> we'd have to do a poll. We we would do a

1:47:28poll and ask everyone. I mean it's all

1:47:30virtual. We don't have to find a room,

1:47:32but I think people might want to take a

1:47:35chance to check their calendars before

1:47:37deciding today.

1:47:38>> So, [snorts] you're doing an online

1:47:39poll,

1:47:40>> an online poll,

1:47:42>> and then we would publicly notice the

1:47:44meeting just like it's a special

1:47:46meeting. We would publicly notice it

1:47:48just like we do any other meeting with

1:47:50an agenda and so forth which basically

1:47:53we would take the section of this agenda

1:47:55that was devoted to the plan of

1:47:57development discussion and make it its

1:47:59own special meeting.

1:48:02>> Well, thank you for that. So board will

1:48:04be receiving information from staff to

1:48:07set up a date mainly. But I would ask

1:48:10that as a part of the review, the plan

1:48:14of development is is in the packet that

1:48:18we have. Please review that because

1:48:20that'll help us uh you know move forward

1:48:23a lot faster and get this vote

1:48:26processed. you know, the delays that

1:48:28we're I don't we need to sort of stay

1:48:31away from any delays because we're only

1:48:33meeting once a month and that's really

1:48:35not enough time to do the type business

1:48:37that we have in front of us. So, the

1:48:41other thing I might start asking is is

1:48:43or would there be ways to have some

1:48:46online discussions on particular topics?

1:48:50Online seems to be a a functional way,

1:48:52but we can also do in-person meetings.

1:48:55So these are some of the things that we

1:48:57may want to look at as a board. Is

1:48:59meeting once a month the most efficient

1:49:02way to function?

1:49:05That may be something to think about as

1:49:06we look at the next, you know, the study

1:49:09session that we're going to have online.

1:49:16And with that, since we're going to be

1:49:17moving item 4 C,

1:49:21we got that one. Excuse me. We'll be

1:49:23moving item

1:49:28So, Chair Watson, to confirm, the

1:49:30direction to staff is to from the board

1:49:34uh follow up with this group to identify

1:49:37a workshop meeting date to focus on the

1:49:40plan of development and that could be a

1:49:44virtual meeting that's been is that the

1:49:46virtual meeting desired for that.

1:49:51There was a motion

1:50:02the procedural close closing needs to

1:50:04happen.

1:50:08>> In reference to the motion with the

1:50:10concurrence of the second, would we then

1:50:14hold that motion

1:50:17or table that motion at this point? And

1:50:21Any

1:50:26opposition to that to that? You're

1:50:29basically both postponing that motion or

1:50:32in this case table.

1:50:34Correct.

1:50:40>> The motion

1:50:43on the planning

1:50:45um the plan development discussion to

1:50:47our regularly scheduled meeting in

1:50:49October. And that motion was second. So

1:50:52we need to either approve or or not

1:50:56deny. What's the other word? Oppose.

1:50:59Thank you. That and then if that does

1:51:02not carry then somebody else needs to

1:51:05make a motion for the special meeting

1:51:14again.

1:51:26to the October 13th meeting. That's has

1:51:29to be either voted on or opposed. That's

1:51:32what they're explaining.

1:51:33>> So that's the motion on the floor then.

1:51:35Okay. So is there any objection to propo

1:51:39the proposal to

1:51:43who approves

1:51:45the vote? Yeah. So who who

1:51:48>> for October 13th?

1:51:52>> Uh anyone else? How many else for

1:51:55October 13th meeting or should we do the

1:51:59special meeting?

1:52:01>> No. Ask

1:52:04>> there's only one vote. If there's

1:52:06anybody in opposition to having a plan

1:52:08discussion, I'm sorry, this is a

1:52:10procedure for October 13. Are there any

1:52:14who's anybody

1:52:15>> any anyone opposed to it? And then we

1:52:20>> So we're imposing two.

1:52:40Okay. So that's four.

1:52:44Five.

1:52:48I think she might not be there. Oh, no.

1:52:51There is Nashi.

1:52:57>> Well, five five votes is is enough. Over

1:53:00two/3. So, we we're good with that.

1:53:03So, where are we now? We're at having to

1:53:07vote on a special day. Selecting a date

1:53:11and a special meeting will be well

1:53:15A motion. Can I get a motion to ask for

1:53:18a special day for the council of the

1:53:20board to meet online and staff will

1:53:24reach out to us? Is there a motion to do

1:53:27that? Move to a special day online so

1:53:31that we can discuss that plan of action.

1:53:38>> Yes.

1:53:40A mo. So your motion, Council Member

1:53:43Jackson, seconded.

1:53:45>> Right. So any comments, question,

1:53:47discussions on that motion?

1:53:52>> Seeing none, all in favor, I'll take a

1:53:55vote for I.

1:53:58Thank you. Sorry for the confusion on

1:53:59this vote.

1:54:01>> Did you get a count back, sir?

1:54:04>> Everyone raise hands.

1:54:05>> Seven. The top.

1:54:08>> Do you raise your hand?

1:54:14Sorry for the sorry for the confusion.

1:54:17All those opposed

1:54:21one.

1:54:23Thanks again board for the confusion.

1:54:27Uh sorry about the confusion. How's that

1:54:30challenge? So where are we on the agenda

1:54:32at this point then?

1:54:35Uh up to number five, commissioner

1:54:37comments

1:54:38>> miscellaneous items for

1:54:42consideration. Any any ideas? So at this

1:54:45point coming from the board, any any

1:54:48ideas that you have to bring forth? Any

1:54:51suggestions that you might have? Any

1:54:52comments?

1:55:03I just wanted to continue um the

1:55:06discussion about bringing forward a

1:55:09presentation on the procurement process.

1:55:11Just making sure that was definitely

1:55:12noted. Um and I just also want to add

1:55:16that commissioners on this board. If

1:55:19there's any we need your guidance, we

1:55:21need your input. You are the folks that

1:55:23are on the ground in this community. Um

1:55:26you're showing up giving us your time.

1:55:28So, this agenda item number seven um is

1:55:31your time to give us that feedback and

1:55:34ask your questions and direct the board

1:55:36into where it can go. So, if you're ever

1:55:38like, I want to say something, but it's

1:55:40not on the agenda. Um item number seven

1:55:43is forever standing on the agenda. So,

1:55:45that's your time as a board member to

1:55:47bring anything forward to us.

1:55:59very much for those comments. Uh, right

1:56:01now we're on step number seven. We're ne

1:56:03excuse me, number six. Any next steps

1:56:05that board might have in mind? And we do

1:56:08know that you're working on setting up a

1:56:11meeting, a special meeting online.

1:56:13>> Yes, sir.

1:56:13>> So, that'll be one of the next steps.

1:56:16Any other ideas from the board members?

1:56:20>> So, here are some items, but that'll be

1:56:23a very it's a very robust list. We will

1:56:26make we will winnow that down to a

1:56:29better um to fewer but the ones that are

1:56:33critical the critical next steps.

1:56:36The first thing would be a potential

1:56:38approval

1:56:40or adoption of the plan of development

1:56:43but we'll work on an agenda for the

1:56:45October meeting as well as set up the

1:56:47special meeting in the interimm.

1:56:51>> Thanks miss.

1:56:53>> Yes. Um, regarding number four, um, and

1:56:57I understand that the the staff will

1:56:59look at whittling down in terms of

1:57:01making sure the agenda for the next

1:57:03meeting works. Um, if if that if that is

1:57:09under scrutiny in terms of time, um, I

1:57:12would like to ask the city to at least

1:57:14present, you know, a fivem minute

1:57:16presentation on the Fletcher Plaza, the

1:57:19existing Fletcher Plaza urban renewal

1:57:22district. um what and provide a report

1:57:26um on what funds have been collected

1:57:29since the start of that um that

1:57:33that TIFF district and how much of those

1:57:37funds have been spent. Um so just a five

1:57:40minute report on those highle things

1:57:42from that urban renewal authority. Um,

1:57:45if if time allows for more than that,

1:57:47great. But I would like at least to see

1:57:49five minutes presented on that high

1:57:51level of how much has been collected to

1:57:53date. What money, if any, has been

1:57:55spent, where, and what remains?

1:57:59>> I'm happy to do that. I'm the urban

1:58:00renewal manager.

1:58:03>> Uh, thanks very much for that. And

1:58:06moving on,

1:58:09item number seven says, commissioners

1:58:11comments and questions.

1:58:15You've already done that.

1:58:16>> Good.

1:58:17So, staff reports.

1:58:22>> These are some additional steps that you

1:58:26will want to take over the next period

1:58:28of time.

1:58:39Well, again, again, thanks very much.

1:58:41Any other board comments?

1:58:44If not, I'd like to say we're adjourned

1:58:48and at what time? 10:05.

1:58:54>> Well, first off, I'd like to say thanks

1:58:56so much for the board's confidence

1:58:58there. Sorry about the confusion. Maybe

1:59:01I was just a little unprepared, but I

1:59:04promise to be more prepared in the next

1:59:06few meetings. And thank you.