Board Meeting Minutes - August
Board of Directors Meeting Downtown Chattanooga Alliance
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Time: 2:00-3:05 p.m.
Location: TN IMAX Theatre, 201 Chestnut St, 2 nd Floor Board Room, Chattanooga, TN 37402
1. Call to Order
Kelly Fitzgerald, Chair of the DCA, called the meeting to order. Board members attending were Keeli Crewe, Steve Hunt, Adam Kinsey, Lisa Maragnano, Tom Marshall, Donald O’Connor, Charles Perry, Darian Scott, Gordon Stalans, and Councilman Darrin Ledford.
Not attending were Kevin Love, Matt McGauley, Councilwoman Dotley, and Representative Martin.
Also attending was Steve Brookes, Executive Director of the DCA.
The following minutes were approved: Board minutes, June 15, 2022; Finance Committee minutes August 3, 2022; Executive Committee minutes, August 10, 2022.
2. New Business
(a) The following motion passed unanimously: The DCA permanently waives
the assessments on the church buildings of Second Presbyterian and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
The motion passed in principle, pending a review of the final language. Assessments on the parking lots of the two churches will continue to be collected.
The DCA budget will be presented to the City Council at 3:30, August 30, 2022.
(b) A. Kinsey and S. Hunt will serve on a nominating committee to replace individuals leaving the Board as of December 31, 2022. The individuals leaving include one large property owner, two small property owners, and one residential property owner.
The goal is to vote on the nominees at the October Board meeting.
3. Finance Committee Update
(a) G. Stalans reported on the healthy state of DCA financials. A projection indicated that for 2022 revenues will be approximately $1,020,000 and expenses $1,070,000. Collection of 2019 assessments is complete.
(b) A motion to approve the 2023 budget as presented passed unanimously.
(c) A motion to waive eight 2020 assessments under $125 (a total of
$485.72) and two 2021 assessments under $125 (a total of $100.16) passed unanimously.
(d) In future a governmental audit of DCA financials will be required. The firm of Mauldin and Jenkins has been engaged to carry out the first such audit.
(e) Work continues on bringing the DCA fiscal year in line with that of the City of Chattanooga. Such an outcome will require a change in the DCA corporate by-laws (Article 14.1).
4.. Executive Director Update
(a) S. Brookes reported on DCA participation in the Downtown Shines Day program (September 16, 2022) in co-operation with the United Way.
(b) Homelessness downtown is growing with recent incidents at the Volunteer Bank building, the old Carnegie Library building and the Tivoli Center. The CPD bike patrol is not yet operating two shifts/day seven days a week.
(c) The Saturday night youth program at Warner Park was discussed.
The meeting adjourned at 3:05.