City To Reorganize Main Street, Renaissance Boards

At Tuesday night's Paducah City Commission meeting, an ordinance was introduced to abolish the Main Street Department and Paducah Renaissance Alliance Advisory Board, and create a Main Street Board of Directors.



In December 2013, City Manager Jeff Pederson made a presentation about the reorganization of the city’s Main Street Department, also referred to as PRA, with the goal of spending limited resources more effectively. At that time, the executive director had resigned, and the department was undergoing a transition period in staffing. Since December, the city has created two new positions and reorganized responsibilities. The Parks Department hired Molly Tomasallo as a Special Events Coordinator with the responsibility of planning and coordinating major events and activities including the Farmers’ Market. Melinda Winchester is the city’s Downtown Development Specialist housed in the Planning Department. Winchester promotes and administers financial assistance programs such as the roof stabilization program, recruits businesses, and is a liaison between associations, stakeholders, and the Main Street Advisory Board.



The Main Street Board of Directors, a board of five citizens, will have the responsibility of assisting with the Main Street accreditation process, coordinating with Winchester in promoting the four-point Main Street approach, participating in planning and awareness campaigns, and forming citizen and volunteer committees as necessary. The Main Street Board of Directors will be appointed at an upcoming meeting.



Winchester currently is meeting with stakeholders and updating the Paducah Main Street’s logo, website, newsletter, and social media presence.



In other action, planning director Steve Ervin also updated commissioners on the latest home rehabilitations, demolitions, and new construction in downtown and LowerTown in addition to an update on the Paducah School of Art & Design and other downtown development. The Commission will vote on this ordinance on May 13.



The mayor and commissioners approved a municipal order to apply for a 2014 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant to begin the development of the 14th Street Park, which is currently a large open area that has the community garden at one corner. The grant request is for $75,000 which will require a match of $75,000. The first phase of the project would consist of excavating and grading of the property to create a smooth open area for field sports and for community events.  Planning Director Steve Ervin said, “There are several utilities in that area. It has to be cleaned up, graded, and reseeded.”  At this time, events cannot be held in the area due to the numerous holes and utilities in the way. The first phase of the project is estimated to cost nearly $161,000. The city held a public meeting on April 10 at the Robert Cherry Civic Center regarding the project, and Ervin said it was well-attended.



An ordinance was introduced to repeal Section 42-46(c) of the Paducah Code of Ordinances regarding enhanced standards for the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood Revitalization Project. The enhanced standards were adopted in 2006 to bolster the project. The project has been successful over the past eight years with 62 homes undergoing rehabilitation in excess of $50,000 and 22 new homes that have been constructed in the neighborhood. The Planning Department hopes that lifting the enhanced standards will encourage even more investment by existing property owners and developers. With the repeal of the enhanced standards, all one and two-family dwellings will fall under the same Residential Code currently adopted by the city of Paducah. The Fountain Avenue Neighborhood will continue to fall under the design guidelines accepted for the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood Services Zone. Planning Director Steve Ervin says that exterior features such as new roofs still will need to be submitted to and approved by the Historic & Architectural Review Commission. A vote on this ordinance is expected May 13.

 

Other highlights:



Wanda Moore of the Woman’s Club of Paducah invited everyone to see the 201 paintings by 120 artists currently on display at City Hall.  The art exhibit will be through May 2.  This weekend, City Hall will be open 1-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.



Paducah Dogwood Trail Chair Dabney Haugh presented the 2014 Dogwood Trail awards and the awards for the Dogwood Art & Photography Contest.  Haugh says, “I want to thank everyone for participating.  It really does make Paducah shine.”  A reception for the winners was held prior to the meeting.  Mayor Gayle Kaler presented Haugh and Carol Vanderboegh each with a Duchess of Paducah for their work on this year’s event.  This is the 50th anniversary for the Dogwood Trail.  For more information, visit http://paducahky.gov/paducah/dogwood-trail.

    

Municipal order approved to apply for a 2014 Port Security Grant in the amount of $167,700 for the purchase of radios.  The grant requires a match of $55,900.

    

Municipal order approved to apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) on behalf of Four Rivers Behavioral Health to be used for salaries at CenterPoint Recovery Center. The grant request is for $250,000. Local matching funds are not required.  An administration fee of $12,500 will be paid to the City of Paducah.

    

A municipal order approved for the acquisition of right-of-way and a public utility easement at 3346 Olivet Church Road from Joy Skidmore in the amount of $3100 utilizing State funds. This is for the Olivet Church Road Improvement Project. City Engineer-Public Works Director Rick Murphy says utility relocations will be occurring soon with the road construction to start later this summer or early fall. He expects the project to be completed by the end of summer 2015.

    

Ordinance introduced (vote May 13) for the purchase of two diesel dump trucks from TAG Truck Center in the amount of $91,866 each for use by the Streets Division.  These trucks will replace two 14-year-old trucks.

    

Ordinance introduced (vote May 13) to accept the grant funding in the amount of $21,000 from the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. The funds will be used to continue to present the “Heads Up Don’t be In’text’icated” program the Police Department offers with the help of Hillary Coltharp who was seriously injured in 2007 in a collision caused by her texting while driving. No local cash match is required for this grant. To date, the Paducah Police Department has presented this program to at least 4000 people.

    

Ordinance introduced (vote May 13) to amend Chapter 126-76 Sign Regulations of the Paducah Code of Ordinances to reflect that event banners over Broadway, Broadway pole banners, Jefferson Street pole banners, and Lowertown pole banner will be coordinated and permitted by the Parks Department rather than the Planning Department.

    

Ordinance introduced (vote May 13) for an intent to annex the 4.9 acre tract that contains the Hucks Food and Fuel located at 3025 Olivet Church Road.  The property owner requested the annexation.  After this intent to annex ordinance is approved, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to assign zoning.

    

Ordinance introduced (vote May 13) to amend the annexation ordinance originally adopted in 2002 by adding a set time of ten years that the city will reimburse a developer. The amount being reimbursed will not exceed the total cost of the construction of qualified municipal facilities (streets, gutters, and other public infrastructure) or the total sum of all ad valorem real property taxes collected from the development property, whichever is less, over a ten year period.

    

Ordinance introduced (vote May 13) to amend the infill development ordinance originally adopted in 2005 by adding a set time of ten years that the city will reimburse a developer. The amount being reimbursed will not exceed the total cost of the construction of qualified municipal facilities (streets, gutters, and other public infrastructure) or the total sum of all ad valorem real property taxes collected from the development property, whichever is less, over a ten year period.