HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-17-09 TIF Minutes
Downtown Tax Increment Finance District
Board Meeting Minutes
2/17/2009
February’s regularly scheduled meeting was cancelled by a unaminous vote of the board
members due to the lack of any action items or pending board decisions.
Executive Director’s Report
Tax Increment Finance District Board
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February 17 2009
Downtown Improvement Plan
Mark Hinshaw and Sarah Durkee of LMN Architects were in Bozeman February for a
series of technical meetings as part of their background research and analysis for the Downtown
Improvement Plan.
The Advisory Committee met with Mark and Sarah to discuss the project timeline and the
scope of the consultant team’s stakeholder meetings in March.
The other meetings included:
GIS Mapping and Inventory with Jon Henderson (City of Bozeman GIS Manager)
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Economic Development with Peter Bertelsen and Bob Hietala of Prospera
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Business Network
Planning Department with Andy Epple (Director), Chris Saunders (Assistant
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Director) and Allyson Bristor (Historic Preservation Planner)
Public Service and Infrastructure with Debbie Arkell (Director) and Rick Hixson
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(City Engineer)
Residential and Commercial Real Estate with Ileana Indreland and Mike Delaney
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(Delaney & Co.), Joe Cobb (Grubb & Ellis), Mike Basile (Montana Prudential)
Each meeting was positive and productive. If any board member is interested, I
have a series of notes from each meeting and would be glad to share.
The entire consulting team will be in town from March 8 until March 12 for a series of
intensive stakeholder meetings, public forums, and team work sessions. The stakeholder
meetings will include: property owners; business owners; City staff and commissioners; bank
officers; architectural professionals; arts and culture representatives; plus downtown residents
and adjacent neighborhood representatives.
The planning process will include background research, analysis of existing conditions,
public input and stakeholder interviews, presentation of a draft plan, further public input, and
formulation of a final plan. We anticipate having a final plan for review and adoption no later
than July 1, 2009.
Parking Garage Update
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The completion of the parking garage is progressing as planned since the March 15
date was announced several months ago. The crack on the main deck was analyzed by an
independent third party (Carl Walker and Associates). There is consensus regarding the
necessary repairs, but disagreement about which party should pay for the repairs. At this point,
the crack should not delay the opening of the facility.
The retail spaces are scheduled to be turned over to the owner by March 2, 2009.
The garage is still scheduled to be turned over from Martel to the City by March 15, 2009.
I have continued to work with a Parking Commission sub-committee on the soft and
grand opening of the facility. We have recruited the help of Ellie Staley to involve DBA
businesses in promoting and welcoming the public to the facility.
Streetscape Assistance Program
I am developing a Downtown Streetscape Assistance Program as an incentive for
property owners to implement the elements prescribed in our Downtown Streetscape
Improvement Plan as engineered by TD&H.
According to Montana statute, Tax Increment Funds can be used for “public projects or
the public portion of private projects” including:
The creation or improvement of public spaces, plazas, greenspaces and streetscapes that are
part of or adjacent to the proposed development.
This program would reward private entities for making substantial investments in the downtown
urban renewal district by helping fund prescribed public streetscape improvements associated
with new development and redevelopment of existing sites.
For instance, the program could be as specific as reimbursing a developer 15% of the
cost to purchase and install sidewalk lamp posts and luminaries. If each lamp installed cost
$6000, then the TIF reimbursement would equal $900.