MINUTES  COUNCIL DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE  Wednesday, June 12, 2024-4 4:00PM City Hall Council Chambers  Members Present: Gary Daniel, Chair, Council Member  Pamela Holder, Vice Chair, Council Member (left at 4:45 pm) Nicole Bentley, Exec Dir. Heart of Brevard Billy Parrish, Heart of Brevard Representative Lee McMinn, Citizen Member Parker Platt, At-Large Member (Leftat5:13pm) Mayor Maureen Copelof, Ex-Officio Paul Ray, Planning Director Emily Brewer, Senior Planner  Staff Present:  Dean Luebbe, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Becky McCann, Communications Coordinator Alex Shepherd, Assistant to the City Manager  Guests:  Vicki Eastland, Land of Sky (via Zoom); Douglas Miller; Kevin MacDonald; Monica Driscoll; Dee Dee Perkins (via Zoom); Leslie  Logemann; and Al Platt jon Rich, Transylvania Times  Media:  A. Welcome & Call to Order  Committee Chair Gary Daniel welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at  4:00 PM.  B. Certification of Quorum  Quorum was certified by Assistant to the City Manager Alex Shepherd.  C.A Approval of Agenda  Motion by Ms. Bentley, seconded by Ms. Holder to approve the agenda as presented.  The motion carried unanimously.  D. Approval of Minutes ofl May 8, 2024 Meeting    Motion by Ms. Holder, seconded by Mr. McMinn to approve the minutes of the May 8,  2024 meeting as presented. The motion carried unanimously.  E. Traffic Circulation Study  Mr. Rayintroduced Vicki Eastland ofLand of Sky who explained that Land ofSky submitted an application to NCDOT: seeking state planning and research funding to conduct a downtown circulation study. The purpose of the study is to explore different scenarios to [4:20] provide free efficient throughput for individuals and freight traveling along US 64 and US 276 and also to provide safe efficient access to downtown destinations fora all modes oft travel. This is an opportunity for the City of Brevard and Transylvania County and all thei interested parties to look at what could be future transportation projects toj potentially make things function better, saferand more efficiently. One potential scenario would be to consider converting the existing unbalanced couplet that serves US 64, that would be the north and south Broad and Caldwell, to convert that to a one-way pair and also provide right-of-way for continuous bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. That would alleviate the opposing left turns that are: slowing the lanes of travel in each direction currently. The goal of the study is to balance the demands of through-traffic to efficiently access points beyond downtown and the need to provide fora safe and connected downtown experience. She reviewed Land of Sky's scope ofworki in conducting the study and noted that the City and the County, as well as the public will bei involved in the process. She emphasized that itis just a study; there is no project funded or plan for construction anytime soon. This is notan NCDOT initiative, but one that Land of Sky suggested to City and County leadership as a way to make a plan for the future and how we might need to addressa number ofo conflicts we are having in the downtown area. She reviewed safety data regarding bicycle and pedestrian crashes in' Transylvania County from 2007 to 2022.  F. Times Arcade. Alley Update  Mr. Ray provided an update on the Times Arcade Alley project. The City held a stakeholdermeeting last week to acknowledge that the project is behind schedule, mostly due to utility delays, and toj provide an updated schedule on when certain things willl be done. The general contractor was there to answer questions and listen to attendees who requested that certain accommodations be made to try to relieve some ofthe pressuresthey are experiencing as a result of the prolonged construction, including more frequent inspections by staffand the contractor for safety hazards, which we have started doing. Most recently the concrete was poured from Jordan St. to the Chocolate Shop and they are making their way toward Main Street. Mr. Ray added that Duke Energy has been the biggest cause of the delays and they have al little more work to do, which will unfortunately cause another overnight power outage. Mr. Ray shared the updated schedule with the committee but noted that we are awaiting a new completion date from the contractor. He noted that with the delay in the project, we are recommending postponing planting oflandscaping until the fall to avoid planting in the hottest part of summer. He also noted that when they extend thel bumpout on Main Street, which was approved on the Downtown Master Plan, it will take one more  Minutes - Downtown Master Plan Committee Meeting - June 12, 2024  Page2of5    parking space. We recognize that parkingi is important downtown and one thing we could discuss is shrinking down or eliminating the loading zone on Jordan Street thatis rarely used by large trucks and takel back two or three parking spaces. There was consensus to shrink the loading zone to accommodate al box truck and take back two  parking spaces. G.S Sidewalk Usage Policy  Emily Brewer reviewed an updated version oft the proposed amendment to the Code of Ordinances regarding sidewalk usage and obstruction. She explained that NC General Statutes gives municipalities the responsibility to keep public sidewalks "open for travel and free from unnecessary obstructions." This is a staff-initiated staff amendment to ensure that all of the objects on sidewalks are placed in a way where the City is covered byi insurance and to make sure we: meet minimum clearance requirements. As part of this process Staffconsulted with the North Carolina Leage of Municipalities (NCLM), the City'sinsurance provider, and they advised that, in order to be adequately covered, all items placed in the public rights-of-way need to bej permitted with insurance naming the City as an additional insured and an executed hold harmless agreement. The proposed changes also aim to reduce the burden on business owners by makingita  one-time permit rather than an annual permit.  She reviewed the following elements oft the proposed amendment:  Permitted. Space for Obstructions on the Sidewalk: Ms. Brewer noted that the biggest change is that the current regulations have different requirements for merchandise and for permanent or semirpermanent objects that stay outside at all times. The proposed amendment requires a business to secure a permit fora a space in front oft the establishment where objects may be placed to meet the clearance requirements. In consultation with NCLM and the City Attorney Staff has prepared an updated Encroachment/Hold Harmless Agreement that the City and business owner will sign to place objects in a permitted space. The one big change in terms of the placement of objects is that merchandise and objects Sidewalk Dining: Sidewalk dining is governed by a separate agreement between the City and NCDOT, which has very specific regulations and permitting requirements. The minor changes include expanding the allowable furnishing A-Frame Signs: No changes are proposed to these regulations at this time. A business will still be able toj place its A-frame sign in the bricked area. Ms. Brewer recalled that the Committee had previously reviewed and discussed draft amendments on April 10th and May 8th and this draft reflects the changes that were recommended. Staffi is requesting a recommendation from the Committee today asi itis  would no longer be permitted in the bricked utility strip.  materials and consolidating the setback requirements.  Minutes- Downtown Master Plan Committee Meeting June 12,2024  Page 3of5    scheduled to go for publichearing before Council on June 17th, She said iti isi important to have the public hearing as soon as possible because oftheo outstanding liability During discussion, it was recommended to clarify that the bricked paved area is not considered part oft the sidewalk. There was also discussion regarding newsracks and the need to clarify whether they fall under free speech, and it was recommended that Section 62-2 Newsracks should be deleted until that can be clarified. Mr. McMinn moved, seconded by Mr. Platt to recommend approval oft the proposed amendment with the removal of Section 62-2 Newsracks. The motion carried unanimously.  questions, especially as we start moving into the busy season.  H. White Squirrel Debrief  Ms. Bentley said we are working on getting surveys from all of our downtown businesses as well as vendors, and also on balancing the P&L for that event. It was our 20th anniversary and it was a great success. We have 2 full-time and 1 part-time staff members and about 115 volunteers who make that happen every year. She said she has heard from folks that this year was the best maybe ever. We had more vendors than in the past and the variety/quality oft the vendors were improved. The downtown business community did a great. job ofhosting this event and their feedback sO far has been overwhelmingly positive. She expressed appreciation to Public Works and their additional efforts to make sure the alley was ready to go and ensure connectivity from West Main St. to W. Jordan Street. She said we do hire our own trash management company for that event, but we are getting to a place where it will likely require that company plus Public Works as wej just can't quite keep up withit. The Public Works crew do a lot for me to get ready for that event and I appreciate everything they  do to make that happen beforehand and after.  Public Comment  Leslie Logemann of Highland Books said Heart ofl Brevard did a great job with White Squirrel. Icame because I wanted to hear about the traffic circulation study, and Ia am happy tol hear that it is just a study and is just starting. Iti is my understanding that that type of traffic diversion in downtowns isn'te ever really something that benefits businesses. Ithink Hendersonville did something similar and I would be curious what that did to them. The reason for me coming is that, not just to listen to what was being said, but also just to say that Brevard doesn't have a parking problem, we have a walking problem. Ithink it is really important for me as a business owner to say to you that Brevard has aj perceived parking problem, andi it is hurting your businesses. Atl least once a week someone comes in with their hair on fire about the parking. Ialways refer them to the City, but II have lost customers who tell me they. just aren'tcoming downtown anymore. There are other businesses that are having the same problem. Iknow there is parking at various lots in downtown and there people with mobility issues, sO that is a separate situation. Idon'tknow what the answeri is, but as al business ownerl Iwould ask that you take what has already been done into consideration before you start diverting traffic. It'sapereption and when you havea a perception, it becomes reality. Ibelieve communication is the key to everything.  Minutes - Downtown Master Plan Committee Meeting June 12,2024  Page4of5    Doug Miller ofNewfound Artisan said wel have al bike and pedestrian plan already and it does call for al lot oft these things that would improve safety and help improve accessibility for a lot oft the folks that we're talking about. I urge you tol keep looking at that asi it is a great plan. lappreciate the effort to add more parking on Jordan Street. Ireally came to listen to the sidewalk discussion, and Ia am al little disappointed that there wasn'tmore consideration to using the brick area as aj part oft the sidewalk. The strip being excluded from the sidewalks affects us. Itis going to affect our ability to have the benches we have there now that will have to go away as a result oft this policy ifit passes Council. Wel have people using those benches all the time. There is not al lot ofs seating on Jordan Street right now asi it is and people like to take breaks and have al beverage; we' re in the Social District sO they can  do that now.  Setl Date for Next Meeting  The next meeting of the Council Downtown Master Plan Committee was scheduled for  Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 4:00 PM.  K. Adjourn  There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:36 PM.  Minutes Approved August 29,2024  Gary Chair, CounciiMemnber xbuiddude Denise Hodsdon Assistant tot the City Manager  se  Minutes - Downtown Master Plan Committee Meeting - June 12,2024  Page5of5