OPEN TOWN MEETING
An Open Town Meeting was held on February 3, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Hutchison presiding. Members of Council present were Mr. Carey, Mr. McGlumphy, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Ritter, Mr. Ruane, Mr. Salters, Mr. Truitt, and Mrs. Williams. Mr. Speed was absent.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS
Mayor Hutchison requested that item #1E, Greater Dover Arts Council, be presented first, and for all other items to follow in sequence.
Mr. Salters moved for approval of the agenda, as amended, seconded by Mr. Truitt and unanimously carried.
BRIEFING BY VARIOUS CITY ORGANIZATIONS
Greater Dover Arts Council
On behalf of Mrs. Jane Richter, Chairperson of the Greater Dover Arts Council, Mrs. Lynn Appel spoke of the mission of the Greater Dover Arts Council, which is to advocate, on behalf of the visual and performing arts in Dover, to educate the community about the arts and the arts opportunities. The Greater Dover Arts Council is an all volunteer organization whose board members are appointed by Mayor Hutchison; three of the board members also serve on the Delaware State Arts Council. The Greater Dover Arts Council receives no funding nor do they fundraise or provide grants.
Since reporting last year, Mrs. Appel stated that the Greater Dover Arts Council was invited to participate in the Americans for the Arts National Impact Study. Once complete, the results of the study will be made available for review so that Dover can be compared to approximately 75 other similar communities. The results will provide valuable indicators of the economic, social, and aesthetic impact of the arts in Dover.
Mrs. Appel praised the services provided by Carolyn Courtney of the City of Dover’s Parks and Recreation Department. She stated that Ms. Courtney was responsible for gathering 75% of the data necessary for the Americans for the Arts National Study.
A goal, developed last year, of the Greater Dover Arts Council was to establish a quarterly visual and performing arts calendar. She was pleased to announce that this calendar is now included in the City of Dover’s Parks and Recreation brochure. The calendar is also distributed to schools and residential homes in Dover. A future goal is to bring the Greater Dover Arts Council, Main Street, and the Downtown Dover Development Corporation together to explore the possibility of additional avenues and opportunities to partner business in the arts. Mayor Hutchison agreed that such a meeting would be beneficial to all involved.
Mayor Hutchison expressed his gratitude to all members that serve on the Greater Dover Arts Council and thanked them for their efforts.
Kent County Levy Court
Mayor Hutchison introduced and welcomed Mr. David Burris, President of Kent County Levy Court. Mr. Burris displayed a plan depicting the proposed Kent County Administration Building. The proposed building will be constructed on the former Acme site on Route 13, adjacent to the Blue Hen Corporate Center. The proposed state of the art building, parking lot, and land will comprise nine (9) acres and is estimated at $18.3M. The building would yield 75,000 square feet of office space; which would hopefully allow for all Kent County employees to be located in one building.
Mr. Burris stated that all mechanical systems will be located in the basement of the building; therefore enhancing the aesthetics of the building. He indicated that Governor Minner has allotted $3.7M in the State’s budget for the purchase of the O’Brien Building, which is currently housing Kent County’s Administrative offices.
Responding to Mayor Hutchison, Mr. Burris indicated that the Construction Manager’s Contract has been in the process for four and a half months and, once the Construction Manager is on board, the demolition of the former Acme Building can begin.
Mayor Hutchison thanked Mr. Burris, along with all Kent County Commissioners, for keeping their building within the City of Dover. He stressed the importance of all governments in Kent County working together to reach the ultimate mission of protecting the quality of life in Delaware.
Central Delaware Economic Development Council
Mr. Daniel Wolfensberger, Director of the Central Delaware Economic Development Council, reported that appropriated funds were used to design a marketing brochure to attract potential industrial/commercial customers, as well as new residents, to the City of Dover. He thanked members of the working committee (Mayor Hutchison, Mr. DePrima, and Mr. Pitts) for their assistance. The full color ad will appear in National and International Economic Development publications.
Mr. Wolfensberger reported that Monster Racing Enterprises, Inc. has purchased Lot 16 at the Kent County Aero Park (located in City of Dover limits). The company provides “ride around” experiences at the Dover Downs Race Track. The company will construct a 10,000 square foot building and staff approximately five (5) full-time employees and as many as forty (40) employees during the race season.
Through the Stoltz Group, located in Philadelphia, the Central Delaware Economic Development Council continues to market the former Sara Lee site. In the last year, the site has been shown to approximately twelve (12) potential tenants.
Responding to Mr. Pitts, Mr. Wolfensberger stated that efforts are still being made to market the Garrison Farm property.
Mayor Hutchison stated that although there may not be a company on the site, it is producing revenue. Since the City purchased the Garrison Farm approximately three (3) years ago, the first two (2) years the farm was leased for $16,000 per year, and the third year the farm was leased for $28,000. He added that the City of Dover has received $500,000 from the State of Delaware to begin the infrastructure for the Garrison Farm.
Mayor Hutchison expressed his gratitude to Mr. Wolfensberger and thanked him for his time.
Downtown Dover Development Corporation
Mr. Gerald Street, Vice-Chair of the Downtown Dover Development Corporation (DDDC), stated that the Corporation is a non-profit, private Corporation. The membership of the DDDC is comprised of various members of the community, including council members, retail business, law, and engineering.
Mr. Street stated that the success of the Corporation has been partly due to City staff and an outstanding working relationship with the City of Dover. The DDDC’s mission is to promote the public welfare of the residents of the City of Dover by promoting and furthering, in any way consistent with its public welfare purposes, the enhancement and development of the economic resources of the City of Dover and its residents, to the extent that the common good and general welfare of the community is served, and, in particular, to improve the opportunities for job creation and broadening of the tax base through the development of the commercial and residential potential of the Central Dover area.
Mr. Street presented slides of the Long Range Plan Study, completed by the DDDC. He stated that networking meetings were held with Wesley College, Bay Health, Kent County Tourism, and Main Street, to get their input on common issues.
The goal criteria for the Long Range Plan is to attract businesses that compliment existing businesses in Downtown Dover. The DDDC assists with the development of the arts and cultural center for downtown, attract businesses downtown to encourage a return of shopping, address parking issues, promote home ownership in the downtown area, develop relationships with established investors, and promote long term business owners.
Mr. Street thanked the Mayor and his predecessors for bringing diversity and people who think outside the box when appointing members to boards and commissions.
Mr. Pitts requested that the DDDC address housing issues when developing the growth of businesses in the downtown area.
Responding to Mr. Ruane, Mr. Street indicated that periodic networking meetings with Main Street, Dover Arts Council, and Dover Parking Authority are included in the DDDC’s Long Range Plan.
Mayor Hutchison thanked Mr. Street and the Downtown Development Corporation for their hard work and dedication.
Main Street Dover
Mr. Tim Slavin, President of Main Street Dover, on behalf of the Board of Directors, expressed his sincerest gratitude to the Mayor, City Council members, and appointed city officials for their continued support in efforts to revitalize historic downtown Dover. The mission of Main Street Dover is to develop a strong public/private partnership that will work to enhance and preserve the unique historical character of Downtown Dover; all the while developing an economic niche that will encourage reinvestment in a community that is safe to work and live in. This is done through a concerted effort of four (4) committees: Design, Promotion, Organization, and Economic Restructuring.
In the last year, Main Street has accomplished the hiring of Mr. Edwin Perez, Main Street Director, established a central Main Street office at 14 The Plaza, developed four (4) working committees as mentioned above, developed a Capitol Arts and Business Alliance Project, and completed a Leakage Study. The study summarizes household shopping and spending patterns, and detailed information on products and services provided in downtown Dover. In order to understand the dynamics of economic strengths and weaknesses of the downtown market, a market analyzes will be done to identify these trends. The project will provide downtown merchants the opportunity to voice their opinions and offer feedback regarding the economic stability of our downtown area.
Future projects will include development of a Main Street web site, the development of a recruitment package, and the creation of a micro-enterprise program in collaboration with the City of Dover.
Mr. Slavin thanked the City of Dover for replacing portions of the sidewalks downtown. The replacement of the sidewalks and lamp posts sent a clear message to the merchants that our downtown is safe, well lit, and aesthetically pleasing.
Responding to Mr. Ruane, Mr. Perez stated that the miro-enterprising is tied in with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding and is currently in Phase I of the plan.
Mayor Hutchison thanked both Mr. Slavin and Mr. Perez for their leadership in the community.
Dover Human Relations Commission
Dr. Maisha D. Britt, Chair of the Dover Human Relations Commission, stated that Mayor Hutchison and City Council officially established the Dover Human Relations Commission (DHRC) by enabling legislation adopted on February 11, 2002. The Commission was established as an advisory body to carry out the objectives as described in Chapter 2, Article I, Division 6 of the Dover Code. Following the selection process, fifteen (15) commissioners were appointed in April 2002. The Commission is broadly representative of racial, religious, gender, and ethnic groups residing in the City of Dover.
The commissioners received intensive training, participated in a Study Circle, and dedicated an enormous amount of time developing the bylaws and operating procedures that would establish how the commission would function. The commission adopted Robert’s Rules of Order for the conduct of its meetings. All members actively participated in training on Parliamentary Procedures utilizing video, audio, and written materials.
The Mayor and City Council approved a budget of $10,000 for operating expenses, training, and programs. As the commission expands its programs in the community, additional funds, sponsors and partnerships will be considered and explored.
On behalf of the fifteen (15) commissioners, Dr. Britt expressed her sincere appreciation to the Mayor and Council for their vote of confidence in designating the named members to serve on the Dover Human Relations Commission.
Mr. McGlumphy and Mr. Salters thanked Dr. Britt for taking the lead in this new venture and wished her and the commission well in the future.
Responding to Mr. Ruane, Dr. Britt reviewed the proper filing procedure for anyone wishing to file a concern or complaint with the Dover Human Relations Commission.
Mayor Hutchison thanked Dr. Britt for her leadership and for the services each commissioner has provided over the past year and recognized each commissioner that was present.
Kent County Tourism
Ms. Mary Skelton, Director of Kent County Tourism, explained that when she was hired in 1990, the lodging tax which funds the Kent County Tourism was $70,000; today it is $255,000. Tourism is made of small businesses, including hotels, motels, restaurants, retail, parks, museums, florists, banking institutions, and campgrounds. Thanks to the Dover Air Force Base, Kent County has done well in the tourism business because of the diversity it offers to consumers.
Future goals of Kent County Tourism are to update their web site, hire a professional photographer to develop a library of updated photos, develop a new brochure, develop a driving tour through the county, an advertising campaign, and to continue updating the informational notebook that is located in every hotel in Dover.
Upcoming events will include the following: 70th Annual Old Dover Days, Delmarva Chicken Festival, Amish Country Bike Tour, Nascar Races, Fireman’s Conference, and the World War II Troop Carrier Reunion.
Mr. Pitts thanked Ms. Skelton and Mr. Zachary Carter for their concerted efforts in keeping Dover an active City.
Mr. Salters mentioned that the African American Festival is scheduled for June 28, 2003.
Mayor Hutchison thanked Ms. Skelton for her time and complimented the working relationship between the Kent County Tourism Office and the City of Dover.
Subject Matter Presented from the Floor by Citizens
Mrs. Rose Brien, South State Street resident, expressed her concerns with the recent decision made by the City of Dover’s Historic District Commission. She indicated that during a January 16, 2003 Historic District Commission Meeting, members voted to recommended the erection of a three (3) story, brick office building near the intersection of State and Water Streets. She believes that Dover’s Historic District Commission is not sensitive to the charge of their duties.
Ms. Juana Fuentes-Bowles, Director for the State Human Relations Office, applauded the Mayor and Council for their acceptance, approval, and establishment of the Dover Human Relations Commission. She thanked Mr. Ruane for his invaluable input during the meetings, Dr. Britt for her dedication to the Commission, and Chief Horvath for his time, input, and ideas.
On behalf of City Council and the citizens of Dover, Mayor Hutchison thanked Ms. Fuentes-Bowles for her support and leadership in bringing the Dover Human Relations Commission to fruition.
Mr. McGlumphy moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Ritter and unanimously carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:35 P.M.
LISA C. GARDNER
SECRETARY
All orders, ordinances and resolutions adopted by City Council during the Open Town Meeting of February 3, 2003, are hereby approved.
JAMES L. HUTCHISON
MAYOR
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