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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFDEDC Minutes 08-13-2024fpu's Friendswood Downtown Economic Development Corporation (FDEDC) Meeting Minutes of August 13t", 2024 — 4:00 P.M. City Hall Council Chambers 910 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas 77546 1. Call to order The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. with a quorum present. Present: Dr. Rebecca Hillenburg, Vice President; Arden Trey Hill, Member; Paul Marx, Secretary/Treasurer; Scott Mackenzie, Member; Ron Cox, Member; Chris Richardson, Member Staff members present: Steven Rhea, Assistant City Manager; Karen Horner, City Attorney; Aubrey Harbin, Director of Community Development; Kristina Cuellar, Secretary Councilmembers: Sally Branson Absent: President; Elmer "Bubba" Johnson 2. Citizen comments None. 3. Approval of Minutes A. Consider the approval of the minutes of the Friendswood Downtown Economic Development Corporation Meeting held on June 11, 2024. Motion to Approve: Richardson Second: Marx Vote: 6/0 Approved 4. Work Session Topics A. Receive a presentation and discuss the Keep Friendswood Beautiful Electrical Box Artwork Project. Megan Childers with the City's Parks and Recreation Department presented a Keep Friendswood Beautiful project that would like to place artwork on electrical boxes within the City and would like FDEDC to consider funding the project of $30,000 for six electrical boxes in the Downtown District. The project aims to transform ordinary traffic signal boxes into captivating works of art that beautify our City and celebrate its rich history using artists from Up Art Studio in Houston. The committee questioned why we needed to paint the boxes; Meg informed the committee that there had been complaints about the electrical boxes not being painted like nearby cities. The committee also asked if the Texas Department of Transportation had given written permission; Megan will verify with James Toney to see if this has been received. The committee also questioned whether local artists would be considered; Meg stated that the artists would be selected from Up Art Studio due to the durability of the painting and for maintenance purposes; however, there are local artists from Friendswood through the Up Art Studio. B. Discussion regarding future Friendswood Downtown Economic Development Corporation projects. Rhea updated the committee on the possible overhead wire relocation project; an estimate of $565,000 was received from Comcast to relocate the lines, AT&T gave a broad estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000 to relocate lines, and the City is currently looking into the cost to relocate the City's fiber optic line, used for emergencies between City Hall, Public Works, and Public Safety Buildings. There is the issue of once lines are removed, how do you keep lines from going back up. Staff is currently researching possible resolutions for this. One idea that TNMP gave was to install a large duct bank, which is expensive and would possibly destroy the new sidewalks upon installation. The committee brainstormed and decided they would like staff to continue researching different alternatives, pricing for installing duct banks, what options are available to remove poles permanently, and what can be done not to allow the lines back up. Rhea will have the engineering department look into Duct Bank solutions and alternate routes outside the Downtown District to relocate poles. 5. Reports A. Receive and discuss the TxDOT Curbs, Ramps, Sidewalks, and Traffic Signals Project report. Rhea announced that TxDOT has completed all the needed corrections the project is now 100% complete. B. Receive and discuss the FM 518 Illumination Project report. Rhea states that 10 of the 35 properties requiring easements due to site conditions and or obstruction are still pending. The new easements will be marked for pole installation this week, and work should begin soon. TNMP has approved service locations, and the pole manufacturer sent replacements for the mounting brackets that failed. He also thanked FDFA for their help in getting owner information for the properties that required easements. C. Receive and discuss the Friendswood Downtown Economic Development Corporation Financial Report for January 2024. Rhea presented the updated financial report with a $2,585,528 Beginning Fund Balance for July 2024, added revenue of $68,564 and expenditures of $1,330 including staff services. The Ending Fund Balance is $2,803,875 with an Unencumbered Fund Balance for July 2024 of $1,948,558. 6. Adjournment With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 5:21 p.m.