HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-02-19 Minutes - Northeast Urban Renewal Board (NURB)
NURB Meeting – April 2, 2019 1
Northeast Urban Renewal Board (NURB)
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
The Northeast Urban Renewal Board met in regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2,
2019, in the Conference Room, Professional Building, 20 East Olive Street, Bozeman, Montana.
Present: Absent:
Voting Members:
Robert Pavlic, Chair Bobbi Clem Dan Doehring (arrived at 6:31 p.m.)
John Usher
Jeanne Wesley-Wiese Non-Voting Members:
Dalton Brink Ethan Barlow
Nolan Campbell (arrived at 6:40 p.m.)
Corwin Dormire Commissioner Liaison:
I-Ho Pomeroy (arrived at 6:33 p.m.)
Staff: Brit Fontenot, Economic Development Director
Robin Sullivan, Recording Secretary
Guests:
Chris Nixon, 719 North Wallace Avenue
Call to Order – Chair Bob Pavlic called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Changes to the Agenda – No changes were made to the agenda.
Public Comment – No comment was received under this agenda item.
Minutes – March 5, 2019. It was moved by Bobbi Clem, seconded by Jeanne Wesley-Wiese,
that the minutes of the regular meeting of March 5, 2019 be approved as submitted. The motion carried on a 4-0 vote.
Discussion/Action Items – Staff updates on items of interest to the Board. Brit Fontenot reported that all board members have submitted their financial disclosure forms and thanked them for doing so.
NURB Meeting – April 2, 2019 2
Brit Fontenot announced that the City Commission unanimously approved the planned unit
development for the Cottonwood & Ida project. He noted there was a lengthy presentation,
discussion and public comment concerning parking and density, which were issues also raised
during last month’s Board meeting. He stated that all future approvals will be through the standard planning processes; and staff will inform the Board of those actions.
Update on financial status of NURB fund. Robin Sullivan distributed copies of the
FY2019 revenues and expenditures to date as well as the revenues and expenditures from inception to date. She briefly reviewed the information in those spreadsheets, noting that she
anticipates the remainder of the budgeted property tax revenues will be paid in May. She also
cautioned there will be additional expenses for the two major construction projects between now
and the end of the fiscal year. She drew attention to the current balance in the fund and noted that it is low because of the conscious decision this Board made to fund the East Tamarack
Street improvements.
Brit Fontenot noted that there are still outstanding items for the East Peach Street project and the East Tamarack Street for which additional billings are anticipated.
Jeanne Wesley-Wiese voiced concern that vehicles are driving onto the curb and boulevard on
East Peach Street at the Bronken’s site, which is destroying the improvements made in
conjunction with this project.
Brit Fontenot proposed that he look at the City’s cost share program for tree planting, noting that
trees could discourage driving onto the boulevard.
Bob Pavlic noted that many of the trees planted at the climbing rock have died.
Discussion regarding items to be included in work plan and budget for Fiscal Year
2019-2020. Robin Sullivan distributed copies of the draft work plan and budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020.
Bobbi Clem asked if the Board should budget for any improvements in Front Street, like conduit
for fiber, while it is torn up. Brit Fontenot stated that Front Street is being torn up this summer for the interceptor sewer
project. The work that was done in the East Tamarack Street project was in preparation for this
next step, and he does not know of any additional work to be done. He noted that the new interceptor sewer project is to resolve restrictions in the pipes that serve the hospital. He then cautioned that there are no district dollars to make any additional improvements at this time.
Responding to comments from Bobbi Clem, Brit Fontenot stated that the owners of the
Cottonwood & Ida project will cover the initial costs of the street improvements made in conjunction with that project and will then request reimbursement. He then cautioned that the
future of this district and its funding are largely dependent on whether the Cottonwood & Ida
project is completed as proposed and the amount of tax revenue that it generates. He then
reiterated that at this time, there are no monies to fund additional improvements.
NURB Meeting – April 2, 2019 3
Further responding to Bobbi Clem, Brit Fontenot stated the fiber network in the northeast sector
is not complete. The conduit was installed in conjunction with the East Tamarack Street project;
however, fiber has not yet been pulled through it. He stated that Bozeman Fiber and Blackfoot
are the two entities with current leases for the City’s conduit network.
Brit Fontenot noted he is trying to encourage the City’s Engineering Department to include
conduit in its future projects. One of those projects is the Davis Lane lift station project, which
will require boring under both the railroad and the interstate. He stated that including a conduit for fiber could slightly increase the costs of the project but would be significantly less than if it were done as a separate project. He recognized that project will not benefit this district
immediately but could potentially help with future network connections and extensions.
Responding to additional questions, Brit Fontenot stated that, since the installation of fiber conduit is not currently in the engineering standards for infrastructure improvements, several
opportunities for conduit extensions are being missed.
Responding to Bob Pavlic, Brit Fontenot stated that this tax increment financing district and this Board remain active for the life of the current bond issue, which is until January 1, 2042.
Bobbi Clem asked that the Board consider including a couple items in the work plan. She noted
one of Deputy Mayor Mehl’s priorities is looking at the street lights and trying to identify the best
way to upgrade existing light fixtures and add lights where needed.
Several board members responded, providing information on previous considerations and
actions by this Board. They noted that an assessment of the existing street lights and their
ownerships was done several years ago by Liz Galli-Noble; and her written information was submitted to the Board. That assessment revealed diverse light fixture ownerships, including the City and NorthWestern Energy and at least one instance where the power for the light fixture
is paid by a private landowner. At that time, it was also noted that the only way to establish a
consistent lighting ownership and fixture was to create a special improvement lighting district with everyone within the district paying their share of the costs; and the Board determined that was not an acceptable approach.
Dan Doehring, Jeanne Wesley-Wiese and John Usher indicated they support dark skies and are
not interested in increasing the number of street lights within the district. Responding to Bobbi Clem, Brit Fontenot stated that when Liz Galli-Noble contacted
NorthWestern Energy about light fixtures, there were only two options; and neither of those was
acceptable to the Board. Also, the City was moving toward LED lighting fixtures at that time; and NorthWestern Energy was not supporting that option.
Nolan Campbell suggested that, as NorthWestern Energy reaches its capacity on providing
electricity, they may become more interested in supporting LED fixtures.
Bobbi Clem stated that she has two tenants who work late at night; and the fact that there are
no street lights in the immediate area concerns the female owners and clients when they leave
the facilities.
Bobbi Clem asked if the Board wishes to include this issue in the work plan to ensure that this district is a part of the City’s overall discussion. Following additional discussion, board members
NURB Meeting – April 2, 2019 4
agreed to include reference to the City’s street lighting plan in the work plan, recognizing that no
tax increment financing monies will be expended on it this fiscal year.
Brit Fontenot suggested that, if the Board is interested, he can ask Heather Bellamy to come talk to the Board and possibly help navigate NorthWestern Energy’s labyrinth. The Board
agreed to have her attend an upcoming meeting.
Bobbi Clem noted that Deputy Mayor Chris Mehl has also proposed looking at a shuttle service that could ease parking issues. She noted that North Rouse Avenue is a state highway; and the Montana Department of Transportation does not want a bus using that street as a part of its
route. As a result, she suggested that this Board express an interest in having the bus route
include North Wallace Avenue and offer to fund covered bus stops within the district.
Brit Fontenot stated he attends the meetings where this issue is discussed; and he will update
the Board on those meetings.
John Usher suggested that both the lighting and the bus route be included in the work plan as possible future projects, with no monies attached to them at this time.
Brit Fontenot stated that, if this Board is interested in these two projects, it is important to get to
the table and be a part of the discussions through the entire process as well as a part of the
solution. He then agreed that these two issues could be included in the work plan. It was determined that these two items should be added under a separate header in the work plan.
Brit Fontenot noted there are some new development projects that should increase the annual
tax increment a little in future years. He stated that if the Cottonwood & Ida project is constructed, there will be a significant increase in the tax increment. He then encouraged the Board to consider both of those scenarios as it proceeds through future budget discussions.
Brit Fontenot noted that the City’s strategic plan includes “strategically invest in infrastructure as a mechanism to encourage economic development.” He stated that this Board’s commitment to improving the major street infrastructure within the district has been a key element in many of
the recent developments in this area.
Robin Sullivan led a review of the draft work plan and budget, identifying the changes that have been made in the base document used over the years. She noted that a new section has been added to highlight the infrastructure improvements made in the last three years. Also,
references to the proposed Cottonwood & Ida project and the Board’s actions in support of that
project are included in the work plan. Robin Sullivan turned attention to the budget portion of the document, noting that she does not
anticipate all of the bills for the East Peach Street and East Tamarack Street projects will be
paid by the end of this fiscal year, so she has included monies to cover those remaining costs.
She then stressed that any projects for which this Board wishes to consider funding this year must be included in the work plan and budget, or it must go through the City’s budget
amendment process. She also cautioned that, in light of the Board’s prior decision to proceed
with the East Tamarack Street project although it was well over estimates, the balance at the
end of the fiscal year will be very low; and there will be little money available to fund other projects.
NURB Meeting – April 2, 2019 5
Bob Pavlic identified the hobo problem in the area of the depot and the railroad, noting that he
has seen them at the picnic table in the East Aspen Street right-of-way and even had one
sleeping in his rear entrance recently.
Brit Fontenot stated that hobos are an ongoing issue for both the City’s Parks Department and
the police, including the garbage they leave behind.
Brit Fontenot asked if the Board wishes to retain the monies in the budget for the pedestrian bridge or if those monies should be reallocated, possibly to an undesignated reserve. The Board agreed that the monies should be left in the projects as proposed in the budget,
particularly since they have not identified any other projects that should be funded with those
monies.
Brit Fontenot turned attention to the monies budgeted for professional services. He reminded
the Board that the contract with KLJ for engineering services has expired and staff went through
the process of seeking a professional team to provide support for all tax increment financing
districts for the next four years; and that team is led by the engineering firm Sanderson Stewart. Those individuals are readily available and can do whatever tasks the Board requests; and the district will then bear the costs of the services provided. This budget includes $5,000 to cover
those costs in the event that the Board identifies a proposal that needs such services.
Set agenda for May 7, 2019 meeting or cancel meeting. To be included on the
agenda, in addition to the standard agenda items, is discussion and action on the work plan and
budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020.
FYI/Discussion. Bob Pavlic announced that he will be gone for the month of May to take care
of his father’s estate.
Dalton Brink reported that he will not attend next month’s Board meeting since it is immediately
after MSU graduation weekend.
Chris Nixon announced that May 10 is Migratory Bird Day. Chris Nixon asked what the trail maintenance monies can be used for, proposing that a portion
of them be used to eliminate the tansy weed along the North Church Avenue trail and potentially
replace it with perennials and pollinators.
Nolan Campbell announced that June 1 is Trails Day.
Adjournment – 8:30 p.m. There being no further business to come before the Board at this
time, Chair Pavlic adjourned the meeting.
Bob Pavlic, Chair
Northeast Urban Renewal Board
City of Bozeman