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DDA presents budgets: Rotary Square, Farmers Market pavilion and Boardman-Ottaway restoration funded
Summary
The Downtown Development Authority presented its three-fund budget emphasizing grant-funded projects (NOAA river restoration, Rotary Square, Farmers Market pavilion) and district services; the DDA will roll over previously budgeted funds into next year for major projects and coordinate with city-led capital work.
The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) outlined its fiscal plans and major projects during the May 11 study session. Harry Burkholder, DDA executive director, and Lauren Bohack, deputy director, reviewed the three DDA funds (general, TIF 97 and Old Town TIF) and highlighted key projects and grants.
Lauren Bohack said the DDA is a subrecipient on a NOAA grant supporting the Boardman-Ottaway River restoration and confirmed work is under way. She also outlined a $1 million Rotary Charities grant designated for Rotary Square (with roughly $258,000 currently budgeted to roll forward), and explained that the Farmers Market Pavilion has roughly $2.7 million in budgeted dollars rolling into next year to complete construction and management.
Bohack explained fund mechanics, noting many of the DDA’s grants are reimbursement-based and that TIF 97’s largest single ongoing obligation is the Hardee parking-deck bond payment. She said the DDA’s capital focus includes stormwater and two-way State Street pilot funding, North Union Street bridge repairs and transformational projects to activate downtown.
Commissioners asked for a consolidated income-and-expense statement and fund-balance details; staff confirmed those items are available in the budget book and will be provided for adoption briefing.
What happens next: DDA staff will continue to coordinate with city capital planning and present additional details in the budget book; several projects are slated for design or construction in 2026–27, with Rotary Square anticipated to go to bid in 2026 and construction to start in 2027.
Provenance: Topic introduced SEG 1536; DDA talk and Q&A SEG 1536–1870.
Ending: No action was taken; commissioners requested consolidated statements and fund-balance information ahead of budget adoption.
