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| | | | This will be a virtual meeting conducted via GoToMeeting. Should you wish to join this meeting from your phone, tablet, or computer you may go to https://meet.goto.com/759475445. You can also dial in using your phone United States: +1 (312) 757-3121 and Access Code: 759-475-445. | | | |
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| | 1. | | Call to order.
Minutes note: 9:08 A.M. | | | |
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| | 2. | | Roll call.
Minutes note: Present: George Hinton, Natasha Dotson, Johonna Duckworth, Ald Lewis and Robert Dodds (approximately 9:35 A.M.)
Excused: Neva Hill
Absent: Jennifer Rath
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| | 3. | | Review and approval of the previous meeting minutes from April 6, 2022.
Minutes note: Ald Lewis moved, seconded by Ms. Duckworth, for approval of the minutes. There were no objections. | | | |
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| | 4. | | Discussion, update, or review on Granville Development District RFPs, listings projects, programs, initiatives, events, grants, plans, activities, or other aspects.
Minutes note: a. Fletcher School site
Ald. Lewis said they have been trying to develop this site for 3-4 years and have gone through a number of developers. Greater Holy Temple Academy wishes to use this site to expand its school, but Ald. Lewis wasn't supportive as she wanted the site engrained into the community, rather than a closed site. The school will engrain itself in the community and serves a number of children in the neighborhood.
Edward DeShazer present. He said the school has been in operation since 2003 and has been looking to expand and they hope to open this fall with the remodeling of the building. They plan to add an Early Learning Academy at this site; there is a need for high-quality earning learning (beginning at 4 months at this site). They want to clean the neighborhood up and be a part of the neighborhood and are planning a clean-up near the school. They also want to create a center where kids can spend time there on the weekends.
Ms. Duckworth wants to ensure there is a cohesiveness with the community, which the school does intend.
Ms. Duckworth moved to approve, seconded by Ms. Dotson. There were no objections.
b. Popeyes
Mr. Mir Ali present on this item, as well as Atty. Brian Randall.
Ald. Lewis did meet with Mr. Ali, who is the new director of operations and she believes he will improve the operation. She is hopeful a lot of good changes will be occurring in the next couple of weeks. He manages Popeyes in 3 states and is confident he can turn this location around and he is committed to the city. The biggest challenge at this site is both hiring enough people and training them on how to do their jobs. Since he took over, customer complaints have decreased significantly.
Ms. Duckworth hopes the training will be continual, rather than a one-time event and if any thing is in writing on how they plan to support the community.
Ms. Dotson had also met with Mr. Ali and she will be doing recruitment sessions with him. Mr. Ali has created a 30-, 60- and 90-day plan to address issues, which the parent corporation is also very concerned about.
Ald. Lewis would like those plans submitted to this committee. Mr. Ali is also willing to meet with committee members one-on-one.
Ald. Lewis moved to approve, seconded by Ms. Dotson. There were no objections.
Chair Hinton encouraged presenters to speak on how their proposals will impact the community.
c. Menards
Tyler Edwards present on this matter.
Ald. Lewis said that Menards was coming before the committee to expand its storage unit to stop the dumping and monitor the remaining area. Ald. Lewis is not a fan of storage units and would like to see an expansion of the current store.
This item was discussed at the last meeting and Chair Hinton summarized what was discussed then. They were waiting to hear how Menard's would address their concerns.
Mr. Edwards said the store is essentially out of room to expand. The storage units are to provide at least some-sort of use for the vacant land around the store. Menard's has not had staffing issues and wants to grow its employees into managers. They don't anticipate having the storage units there forever, but it does provide activity at the site and some use of the land.
Tanya Fonseca, Dept. of City Development, said this is going before BOZA tomorrow. She also asked how this storage would be removed or converted to an alternative use.
Mr. Edwards did note 2 Menards stores that converted storage space into home-improvement space. Mr. Edwards noted that it would be fairly easy to make a conversion. Menard's hires a security consultant to patrol the parking area 24 hours a day.
Ald. Lewis would like to discuss with Mr. Edwards what "community involvement" looks like besides just hiring local workers.
Ms. Duckworth would like to have things in writing as relates to the materials, hiring practices within the community and community involvement so that they can be held accountable, as well as provide details of what will be done. When people get on the agenda, any agreements must be followed up with a letter of commitment as a standard part of appearing before this committee.
Mr. Dodds moved to approve, Ms. Duckworth seconded with the contingency that a written document be submitted addressing the committee's concerns be sent to BOZA with a cc to DCD and this body. There were no objections.
The committee may wish to add time limits for items.
d. KISS Ultra Lounge
Jennifer Garcia present for KISS.
Ald. Lewis said they are trying to obtain an adult entertainment license.
Ms. Garcia wants to do a burlesque show with professional dancers and a male review, for ladies. She is not trying to be a gentleman's club. She would also like to offer male strippers for wedding parties, for example. The license has always had a cabaret license, which covers strippers
Ms. Duckworth moved to deny, seconded by Mr. Dodds. There were no objections, with Ald. Lewis abstaining.
e. Bellagio Soul Food Restaurant
Darryl Simmons present on this item.
Ald. Lewis said this was brought back as there was basically a stripper event planned the day of the licenses committee hearing. She said it is supposed to be a restaurant and it seems to be turning into other stuff that is neither licensed nor planned. The event the day of committee was a time when they weren't even licensed.
Mr. Simmons said he hired someone just to bring exposure to the restaurant and this guy, unfortunately, had his own agenda and was a promoter. He will not be renting the space out, but will be remodeling the space. He will not be renting out the space to promoters or having a comedy show, but will use the space for in-store dining. This will solely be a restaurant.
Ms. Duckworth moved to approve as a restaurant only, seconded by Mr. Hinton. There were no objections with Ald. Lewis abstaining.
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| | 5. | | Public comments.
Minutes note: No public comments. | | | |
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| | 6. | | Old business.
Minutes note: No old business. | | | |
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| | 7. | | New business.
Minutes note: a. Next meeting date(s) and time(s)
i. Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 9 a.m.
Ms. Duckworth would like meetings run 9-10:30.
The chair recommended a timeline for how long people can talk. He will talk with Mr. Lee about setting something up and test it out. Going forward, they will try to schedule their meetings from 9-10:30.
b. Agenda items for the next meeting
To be determined. | | | |
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| | 8. | | Announcements.
Minutes note: No announcements. | | | |
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| | 9. | | Adjournment.
Minutes note: Adjourned: 11:11 A.M.
Linda Elmer, Staff Assistant
Edited by Chris Lee, Staff Assistant
Council Records Section
City Clerk's Office | | | |
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