MIDDLETOWN CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

TUESDAY, February 16, 2016

BUSINESS MEETING – 5:30 pm – COUNCIL CHAMBERS – LOWER LEVEL

1. MOMENT OF MEDITATION/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

2. ROLL CALL

3. CITIZEN COMMENTS, GUESTS, ORGANIZATIONS’ REPORTS Julie Joyce Smith- Butler County Auditor Update

4. CITY MANAGER REPORTS Alexis Fitzsimmons- Employee Recognition Program 5. CONSENT AGENDA. . . Matters listed under the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion and one vote of consent. There will be no separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed and considered separately.

(a) Approve City Council Minutes: January 23 & February 2, 2016

(b) Receive and File Board and Commission Minutes: Board of Health- March 10, 2015 MidPointe Library Board- November 17, December 15, 2015 Park Board- January 4, 2016

(c) Confirm Personnel Appointments: Jeffrey Green- Zoning Administrator, Community Revitalization Department Deborah Lindsey- Part-time Bus Driver, Community Revitalization Department, Transit

MOTION ITEM

(a)    To authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with R.A. Miller Construction Co., Inc. to proceed with the 2016 Urban Paving Sidewalk, Curb & Gutter Program.

COUNCIL COMMENTS

LEGISLATION

1. Ordinance No. O2016-03, an ordinance establishing a procedure for and authorizing an amendment to the contract with O.R. Colan & Associates for the acquisition services associated with improving Yankee Rd (Phase III) and declaring an emergency.

2. Ordinance No. O2016-04, an ordinance establishing a procedure for and authorizing a contract for the transfer of CITY owned property located at 1316 Vail Street to Liberty Spirits, LLC for redevelopment, and declaring an emergency.

3. Resolution No. R2016-05, a final resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter a contract with the State of Ohio, Department of Transportation for the resurfacing of a portion of State Route 4 (Verity Parkway) and declaring an emergency.

4. Ordinance No. O2016-05, an ordinance authorizing a contract with Buick GMC of Beachwood for the purchase of a GMC Sierra 15 Automobile.(1st Reading)

EXECUTIVE SESSION Under the authority of O.R.C. 121.22 (G) (2) To consider the purchase of property for public purposes, or for the sale of property at competitive bidding, if premature disclosure of information would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage.

OOOPS…Them boys down at City Hall sure are a sneaky bunch of little boogers.
When you read the report the only address used is 1316 Vail…however…when you look at the drawings this business will go all the way over to Central Ave.
Sooo not only will Mr. Robinette be getting 1316 Vail…he will be getting 1329 and 1341 Central Ave properties also.
I remember City Hall purchased the mission property for $125,000 on Central Ave and then demolished the building. They also demolished Barbs Pub.
Anyway you want to add up these numbers Mr. Robinette is getting over $200,000 worth of property for $1…Talk about a sweet deal.


S T A F F  R E P O R T

For Business Meeting:

DATE February 1, 2016

FROM: Doug Adkins, City Manager Transfer of City Owned Building for Redevelopment

PURPOSE To transfer 1316 Vail to Liberty Spirits, LLC to be redeveloped into a retail distillery related business including, barrel aging storage, finished product storage, retail sales, gift shop sales or other sales activity authorized by the Developers distilling license upon the Property. The final actual use will ultimately be dependent on changes currently pending in state law. The business could include just a tasting counter & retail sales, or it could include by-the-glass sales of liquor on premises.

BACKGROUND AND FINDINGS As part of demolition activities during the recession, the City demolished two buildings along Central Avenue, which in turn opened up the old Cabinet shop facing Vail. Liberty Spirits wishes to use the Vail building for retail sales of distilled liquor products including an open patio area in the green space created during the demolitions. This new business would be within the new Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, allowing patrons another place to enjoy downtown entertainment. The building has been owned by the city for several years and there are no other foreseen uses in the near future.

ALTERNATIVES Keep ownership of the building until another use is presented. FINANCIAL IMPACTS Little. The city is not maintaining the building. Transfer to a new owner for redevelopment offers us a chance to not own the building and to offer additional development and employment opportunities downtown. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends transfer of the property to Liberty Spirits, LLC consistent with the attached development agreement.

EMERGENCY/NON EMERGENCY This is requested as a first reading, second reading Emergency Passage at the March 1, 2016, City Council meeting.

Goetz Tower Project:

Mr. Adkins provided an update on the Goetz Tower Project. He stated that the plan calls for 18-20 market rate studio and one bedroom apartments and ground floor commercial space. He explained that right now there’s a funding gap of $784,203 in the project. Without financial support from the City the project won’t start; he discussed options of cash/ occupancy guarantees and waiving of fees to get the project completed. 

Is Mr Adkins suggesting that City Hall may give Robinette a HUD backed loan to complete this project like they did for HEP-Cincy State?

allH

Manchester Inn/Sonshine Building.

Mr. Adkins provided an update on the Manchester Inn/Sonshine Building. He explained that Mr. Grau, Sonshine Building had requested additional assistance from the City to move the project forward but that many of these requests were significantly over and above the terms stated in the Development Agreement that was executed on May 20, 2014; there was additional discussion.

Hope House

Mr. Adkins discussed plans to relocate the Hope House Mission from Main Street to open up additional property for downtown redevelopment. Some of the locations currently being considered are Tytus Avenue and the former Abilities First Building on Grove Street. He explained that the Model Group is an integrated property development, construction, and management company with a passion for revitalizing urban neighborhoods. The Model Group is a recognized leader in historic preservation, mixed-use urban development, senior living communities, and affordable housing that is indistinguishable from market-rate housing. Depending on the final location selected, the Model Group could assist Hope House in the new construction or a redevelopment of a men’s shelter away from Main Street. This new shelter would, theoretically, require the use of HUD funds and include some defined amount of permanent supportive housing, such as Section 8 vouchers, to assist chronically homeless people in Middletown. The ongoing influx of HUD funds, along with other financing that could include LIHTC funds, make this project viable without City funds in support. He provided information about the work that the Model Group had done in Cincinnati on Burnett Avenue. He reported that in a short period of time the Model Group helped to lead a major transformation of Burnett Avenue from crime and blight to commercial activity, retail activity, green space, streetscape 7813 improvements, and high quality residential living.
You can bet that those on Main celebrated this news. THOSE PEOPLE will soon be out of sight and out of THEIR DOWNTOWN.

Rose Furniture

Mr. Adkins explained that with Hope House relocated, the Model Group would have interest in exploring a mixed-use, market rate, residential/commercial project using the strip of historical buildings along Main Street including the Rose Furniture Building.

Reed Klopp

Mr. Adkins discussed potential options of another long-term project. If the owner will not stabilize and renovate the Reed Klopp Building, the City could attempt to take title in lieu of abatement and foreclosure and utilize the building in a second round of residential redevelopment with Steve Coon.

Posted: 5:46 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016

Middletown micro-distillery closer to opening

By Mike Rutledge

Staff Writer