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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-11-21 Minutes - Northeast Urban Renewal Board (NURB) NURB Meeting – March 11, 2021 1 Northeast Urban Renewal Board (NURB) Regular Meeting Thursday, March 11, 2021 The Northeast Urban Renewal Board met in regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 11, 2021, via Webex. Present: Absent: Voting Members: Ethan Barlow Bobbi Clem Corwin Dormire Natalie Van Dusen Jeanne Wesley-Wiese Non-Voting Members: EJ Daws Robert Pavlic Chris Nixon Commissioner Liaison: I-Ho Pomeroy Staff: Brit Fontenot, Economic Development Director Robin Sullivan, Recording Secretary Call to Order – Chair Bobbi Clem called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. At Bobbi Clem's request, the board members introduced themselves since several were not present at last week's meeting. Jeanne Wesley-Wiese stated she has been on the Board since its inception and has lived in the neighborhood since 1976. Ethan Barlow stated he is a property owner within the district and has been on the Board as a non-voting member; however, he has just been appointed a voting member. He is an architect and runs a design/build practice. Natalie Van Dusen stated she has owned Treeline Coffee Roasters since 2016 and has lived in Bozeman since 2011. She is excited to join the Board as a voting member. Chris Nixon stated he has lived in the neighborhood and operated a business since 1996. He has followed the process since its beginning and has attended a majority of the meetings; he is now a non-voting member. NURB Meeting – March 11, 2021 2 Corwin Dormire stated he works for ThinkTank Design group and has been on the Board for about two years. He has lived in Bozeman since 2013. EJ Daws stated he is a fourth generation Bozemanite. He works for Outlaw Partners, which is based in Big Sky, and is also involved in one of its sister companies, which is a real estate brokerage. He is currently a non-voting member on the Board. Changes to the Agenda. No changes were made to the agenda. Approval of Minutes – June 16, 2020, January 7, 2021 and March 4, 2021. It was moved by Ethan Barlow, seconded by Corwin Dormire, that the minutes of the regular meetings of June 16, 2020, January 7, 2021 and March 4, 2021 be approved as submitted. The motion carried on a 5-0 vote. Public Comment – NOTE: Brit Fontenot read a statement prepared by the City Attorney to ensure that this Webex meeting meets all of the legal requirements for an open meeting. He repeated the required statement throughout the meeting as needed. No comment was received under this agenda item. Discussion/Action Items – Update on financial status of NURB fund. Robin Sullivan stated a copy of the FY2021 revenues and expenditures to date was included in the board packet for this meeting. She briefly highlighted the report, noting there have been minimal expenditures this month and no changes in revenues. At the Chair’s request, Robin Sullivan and Brit Fontenot gave a brief update on the bond issue, how those monies were used, and how it impacts budgeting for the next several years. Further responding to Bobbi Clem, Brit Fontenot confirmed that the Board has not approved the budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022. He indicated that David Fine will present the recommended budget and work plan to the Board at next month’s meeting. The Board will then have the opportunity to modify it as it wishes; and that document will be presented to the Commission in June as part of the City Manager’s recommended budget. Responding to Jeanne Wesley-Wiese, Brit Fontenot stated the Board added $25,000 to the budget and work plan for this fiscal year to cover the costs of due diligence work on the proposed parking garage. He confirmed that additional monies are proposed in the upcoming budget to cover the costs of consultants to ensure the parking structure will provide benefit to the district and is financially feasible. Resolution 2021-01 - A Resolution of the City of Bozeman Northeast Urban Renewal Board Recommending the Bozeman City Commission Approve an Urban Renewal Project to Purchase Structured Public Parking at the Former Lehrkind Brewery Site to be Developed as Part of the Cottonwood and Ida/The Brewery Mixed-Use Project NURB Meeting – March 11, 2021 3 Located Within the Northeast Urban Renewal District and Finance All or a Portion of the Cost of such Project by the Issuance of Tax Increment Urban Renewal Revenue Bonds. Brit Fontenot noted that Erik Nelson is not in attendance and, therefore, no presentation of the Tinworks Project will be made. He stated next month’s agenda was to be devoted to the work plan and budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022; however, the Board may delay action on this resolution until next month’s meeting if it needs additional information or has unresolved questions. He then drew attention to the memo included in the packet, which provides background information on this resolution. Responding to Bobbi Clem, Brit Fontenot stated that this resolution is not part of a presentation on the Tinworks Project. He noted the Board can choose to act on this resolution at this meeting or delay action until after the applicant makes a presentation. He then stressed that the parking structure will become a City asset, not an asset of this district. He indicated that, if the Board wishes, he can review the memo included in the packet. Responding to Ethan Barlow, Brit Fontenot stated the plan is to begin construction this summer, so there is a sense of urgency. Responding to Bobbi Clem, Brit Fontenot indicated this resolution directs staff to start working on agreements and a financial analysis to ensure this district is in a position to protect its investment in the parking structure. He stressed that this analysis will require the retaining of experts in various disciplines. He noted that the resolution indicates the Board likes the project and acknowledges the need for parking in the district. He indicated that, when this request goes to the Commission, this resolution will reflect the Board’s support for the project. Responding to Ethan Barlow, Brit Fontenot stated he does not believe this Board’s action against this resolution would kill the Tinworks Project, but it would change the economics of it and would create a misalignment between the wishes of the Board and the project that the developer is pursuing. Responding to Bobbi Clem, Brit Fontenot confirmed that the parking structure would be paid for through a bond issue; and those bonds would be fully funded by the property taxes generated by this project. He stressed that one of the analyses to be completed is to ensure that this project would cover all of the costs of the bond issue. Responding to Jeanne Wesley-Wiese, Brit Fontenot indicated that the number of parking spaces and some of the other details are not yet firm because the final plans for the Tinworks Project and the Brewery Site have not been completed. He stressed that everyone is working off soft information; and that is part of the due diligence needed. Responding to comments from Jeanne Wesley-Wiese, Ethan Barlow acknowledged that having Erik Nelson make another presentation could provide for a more informed process. However, that presentation will not include finite information because the final plans have not yet been developed, and the need for due diligence remains. As a result, whether the Board votes at this meeting or in April, it will be voting on the concept and not specifics. He then asked if the Board is comfortable with backing a bond issue that will be paid back through the tax increment it creates. Brit Fontenot stated this resolution does not commit the Board to anything; rather, it identifies the need for public parking in the district. NURB Meeting – March 11, 2021 4 Responding to Bobbi Clem, Brit Fontenot stated that staff has already begun gathering information to do the due diligence necessary. He then indicated that no budgetary changes are needed since monies are included in the work plan to begin the process. Corwin Dormire voiced his agreement with Ethan Barlow’s suggestion that the Board may be able to take action at this meeting, and confirmed that no specifics will be available in a month. He noted that the issue is whether this Board wants to support public parking and support growth in the district. He cautioned that, without growth in the district, this Board will not be able to do any of the items it is interested in. Chris Nixon noted that he lives adjacent to the Brewery Site; and he has spoken with Erik Nelson a couple times. From those discussions, it is his understanding that the parking garage will be located toward East Tamarack Street and will be accessed from that street. He then noted that some of the design elements have changed over the months, but it appears the decision at this time is support for the parking garage. Jeanne Wesley-Wiese stated she lives on North Wallace Avenue, and this parking structure will not enhance her quality of life as a resident. However, she feels it is important to support a developer who wants to work with the neighborhood and this Board. She acknowledges what is happening in Bozeman and recognizes her fiduciary responsibility as a member of this Board. As a result, she is willing to support the resolution as explained by staff. Brit Fontenot read a statement prepared by the City Attorney to ensure that this Webex meeting meets all of the legal requirements for an open meeting. Following that statement, he asked if anyone from the public wishes to speak; no one spoke. Corwin Dormire stated that, while he has not worked on this project, he does work for ThinkThank Design Group. To avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest, therefore, he will recuse himself from voting on this agenda item. It was moved by Natalie Van Dusen, seconded by Ethan Barlow, that the Board adopt Resolution No. 2021-01, recommending that the City Commission approve an urban renewal project to purchase structured public parking at the former Lerhrkind Brewery Site to be developed as part of the Tinworks Project/The Brewery Mixed-Use Project and finance all or a portion of the cost by the issuance of tax increment urban renewal revenue bonds. The motion carried on a 4-0 vote. Looking forward/Set agenda for April 1, 2021 meeting. Items to be included on the April 1 agenda, in addition to the standard items, include action on the 2021-2022 work plan and budget, election of the Chair and Vice Chair for 2021, a possible update on the Tinworks Project if Erik Nelson has additional information to present, and possible discussion and action on setting a new meeting date for future board meetings. FYI/Discussion. Encroachments. Jeanne Wesley-Wiese stated that, as she walked along the trail through the neighborhood, she found several encroachments into the Front Street right-of-way at Bob Arnold's property. Those encroachments include a deck, various trailers and cargo. She also noted that several homeless people live there, and their activities are leading to semi- NURB Meeting – March 11, 2021 5 permanent structures. She stated a conversation with the Code Compliance Officer revealed that he has attempted unsuccessfully to deal with the issues. Brit Fontenot stated he will follow up on the issue. Lighting. Bobbi Clem stated the street light in the Aspen Street right-of-way park is burned out. Brit Fontenot stated he anticipates that NorthWestern Energy is the owner of that light; however, he will follow up on getting it repaired. Adjournment – 7:49 p.m. There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, Chair Clem adjourned the meeting. Bobbi Clem, Chair Northeast Urban Renewal Board City of Bozeman