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Council discusses VRDA appointments, DDA overlap and financial access for downtown projects
Summary
Council members debated whether to keep Villa Rica Development Authority (VRDA) separate from the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), whether members can serve both boards, and how to make VRDA funds available to downtown projects; discussion was informational and no appointments were made.
Council members and staff on May 6 discussed upcoming expirations of all seats on the Villa Rica Development Authority (VRDA), options for filling those seats, and whether to use Downtown Development Authority (DDA) members to serve both bodies or combine the two authorities.
Mister Drummond (identified in the meeting as presenting the topic) said all VRDA positions had expired and that under Georgia law members may hold over only six months, so the council must make appointments before July 1. He said VRDA requires a minimum of seven members who must be city residents and registered voters. Staff and council discussed three options: reappoint seven members, have qualifying DDA members serve on both boards and convene consecutive meetings, or allow the VRDA to go dormant — though dormancy raises issues because the authority continues to hold signatory responsibility for outstanding tax‑abatement bonds.
Council members asked for clarification about differences between DDA and VRDA. Staff explained the DDA focuses on downtown development and small‑business activity, while the VRDA (an industrial or redevelopment authority) focuses on industrial recruitment, large commercial projects and tax‑abatement financing for property in industrial parks. Council members noted some DDA members would not qualify to serve on VRDA because of different statutory eligibility requirements.
Council member comments emphasized that VRDA holds cash from earlier tax‑abatement activity while DDA has projects and programming expertise. One council member said a mechanism to let DDA access VRDA funds — for example through a joint commission or a shared oversight meeting schedule — had been discussed among staff, the city attorney and outside counsel. No formal decision or appointments were made; staff said the matter will return for appointments before July 1.
The discussion was explicitly recorded as "discussion only" and no appointment votes or formal actions were taken at the May 6 work session.
