HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-05-19 Minutes - Northeast Urban Renewal Board (NURB)
NURB Meeting – November 5, 2019 1
Northeast Urban Renewal Board (NURB)
Regular Meeting Tuesday, November 5, 2019 The Northeast Urban Renewal Board met in regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday,
November 5, 2019, in the Conference Room, Professional Building, 20 East Olive Street,
Bozeman, Montana. Present: Absent:
Voting Members:
Bobbi Clem Dan Doehring Corwin Dormire
John Usher (arrived at 6:33 p.m.) Jeanne Wesley-Wiese Non-Voting Members: Nolan Campbell Ethan Barlow
Robert Pavlic Commissioner Liaison: I-Ho Pomeroy
Staff: David Fine, TIF Specialist Robin Sullivan, Recording Secretary Guests:
Jon Gerster, 719 North Wallace Avenue Call to Order –Chair Jeanne Wesley-Wiese 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 – October 1, 2019. It was moved by Dan Doehring, seconded by Bobbi Clem, that the
minutes of the regular meeting of October 1, 2019 be approved as submitted. The motion carried on a 4-0 vote. Discussion/Action Items – Update on estimated tax increment within district. David Fine reported that Finance Director Kristin Donald has not yet calculated the estimated increment.
NURB Meeting – November 5, 2019 2
Staff updates on items of interest to the Board. David Fine reported that the Cottonwood and Ida project is currently in redesign and will go back through the public review process. These changes will delay the start date for construction of the project. He noted,
however, that the current development agreement remains in place and will not be impacted by the changes. Responding to Bobbi Clem, David Fine stated that approval of the off-site parking plan on the
Brewery Wall site must be received before review of the project can move forward. Jon Gerster noted that the parking lot plan is as he had anticipated and stated that the public comment period is now closed.
Update on financial status of NURB fund. Robin Sullivan distributed copies of the FY2020 revenues and expenditures to date and a copy of the revenues and expenditures from inception to date. She briefly highlighted the report, noting there are no revenues and limited
expenditures. The largest are for engineering services for East Peach Street and East Tamarack Street. She noted that tax increment revenues will probably not be included until the January update. Review of the urban renewal plan. Robin Sullivan distributed copies of the urban renewal plan, which was adopted in 2005, noting that several new board members have been appointed in recent years. She gave a brief overview of improvements in the area, noting that in the late 1970s or early 1980s, the City successfully obtained CDBG monies for improvements to
the water system because of the high percentage of low- and moderate-income residents in the area. These improvements were made after a warehouse fire along Broadway Avenue revealed the water lines were too small to provide adequate water flow to the fire hydrants. She then gave an overview of the creation of the urban renewal plan as well as projects considered
and implemented to date. The blight study identified the lack of curb, gutter and sidewalks and the need for other street improvements. Also, the dumping ground at the “Bermuda Triangle” of Front Street, Ida Avenue and East Aspen Street was identified as an eyesore. The blight study was met with concerns by
many residents, including concern that the designation would result in them being required to make improvements, such as painting and roof repairs, that they could not afford. Robin Sullivan noted that, at the public hearing on November 14, 2005, Assistant City Manager
Ron Brey estimated this district would generate $400,000 over the 15-year life of the district; to date the increment has generated over $1.1 million. Robin Sullivan stated that, over the years, the Board has identified infrastructure improvements, protecting the character of the area and enhancing the uniqueness of the district as key
objectives. Projects considered and completed are included in the project list that was distributed along with the urban renewal plan. She stressed that the Board’s highest priorities have been streets, pedestrian safety, and connectivity through an enhanced trail system. She noted that includes $20,000 to GVLT for completion of the Front Street trail and asked if anyone
knows that status of that project.
NURB Meeting – November 5, 2019 3
David Fine asked for contact information and indicated he will ask GVLT for an update on the trail project and how those monies have been expended.
Robin Sullivan concluded by drawing attention to the guiding principles of the plan, which include in part: ensure the health, safety and security of the District; balance commerce and livability in the District within the mixed-use framework; honor the unique character and vitality of the District; public open space is essential to a healthy and appealing urban environment; and
projects shall consider impacts on adjacent neighborhoods. Board ethics training. David Fine reminded the Board that annual ethics training is required for all City employees, Commissioners and board members. He acknowledged that
ethics training was just done six months ago; however, the training is now being moved from the spring to the fall. The training is now done as a board, which has been found more effective than the on-line training and allows for more in depth discussion. He indicated that this training session includes three scenarios, and are generally based on actual issues that have arisen
over the past year. They included two board situations and one resulting from a lawsuit filed over the safety center bond election. Following discussion on the three scenarios prepared for the ethics training session, Bobbi Clem raised an issue. She noted that the Bozeman Fiber backbone has been extended along
East Tamarack Street in conjunction with those street improvements. She has been approached with the suggestion that she request TIF monies to assist with the costs of extending the fiber to connect her commercial building to the network and asked if this would be acceptable under the City’s ethics code.
David Fine responded that one of the important parts of ethics is to disclose issues and discuss them. He noted that the Downtown Urban Renewal Board has developed a formal grant program under which a property owner may request assistance in covering the costs of
connecting to the fiber network. Under the program, one-half of the costs, up to a specific cap, will be reimbursed upon completion of the connection. That Board has also budgeted monies for the program; and it is administered by a staff person, so no board member incurs any conflict in taking advantage of the program. He indicated that a similar program could be created for this district, but there are currently no monies available to fund it.
David Fine stated that a similar situation was encountered in the Midtown Urban Renewal District. Under their redevelopment program, Andrew Cetraro sought monies for his building. His consultant made the application for the monies and, when that item came up on the agenda,
Andrew left the room and returned once it had been completed. David Fine stressed that there are ways to work within the system, but disclosure is critical. He acknowledged that when the board composition includes residents and business owners of the district, it should not be surprising that conflicts of interest and ethics issues arise. He then
encouraged any board member with questions or concerns to contact him.
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Set agenda for December 3, 2019 meeting or cancel meeting. Since there are no pressing items for the Board to consider, the December 3, 2019 meeting was cancelled. Following a brief discussion, it was determined the next meeting will be held on Tuesday,
January 14, 2020. To be included on the agenda are an update on the estimated tax increment, staff update on items of interest and the financial report.
FYI/Discussion. No comment was received under this agenda item.
Adjournment – 7:55 p.m. There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, Chair Wesley-Wiese adjourned the meeting.
Jeanne Wesley-Wiese, Chair
Northeast Urban Renewal Board City of Bozeman