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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-21-12 Downtown Tax Increment Finance District (TIF) Minutes A Downtown Tax Increment Finance February Board Meeting Minutes DoWntowN February 21, 2012 B 0 Z E M A N Attending: Bobby Bear, Paul Burns, Bob Hietala, Vonda Laird, Bob Lashaway, Bill Stoddart, Cyndy Andrus, Chris Naumann Absent: Public Comments None Disclosures None Minutes ACTION: Bob Lashaway moved to approve the January minutes as presented. Bill Stoddart seconded the motion. All voted in favor. Financial Report Chris presented the financial report. Chris noted the year to date revenue figures provided by the City Finance Department as totaling approximately $216,000.00. Chris reminded the board that the Montana Department of Revenue now disperses the increment on a monthly basis rather in one lump sum like years past. He reported the following expenses: Furniture and Park Maintenance $326.25 for streetlamp maintenance; Technical Assistance Grants $10,500.00; DBIP Implementation $2700.00 for A.R.T. project and entryway wayfinding. There were no questions from the board regarding finances. Program Director's Report None provided Executive Director's Report Technical Assistance Program Update As you can see from the chart below, nine Planning Grants or Facade Grants have been awarded so far this year. The total committed funds for these projects total $79,450 of the $125,000 budget. Keep in mind that the committed grant amounts are only tentative since the actual reimbursement amount will be determined as a one to one match upon completion of the grant work. As a reminder, the Planning grants have a $7500 cap and the Facade grants are capped at $3000. Downtown Technical Assistance Program Project Name Project Address Applicant Professional Grant Type Harringtons Building 612 South Wallace Thomas Winston Intrinsik Plaiming Owenhouse Building 26 East Main Larry Bowman Focus Plamling Owenhouse Building 26 East Main Larry Bowman Focus Facade 136 West Main 136 West Main Jeff MacPherson Intrinsik Plarming Avant Courier 1 East Main Brigette Tuller Focus Plaiming Avant Courier 1 East Main Brigette Tuller Focus Facade 33 South Tracy Bldg 33 South Tracy Eric Naiman/Bright Ideas Intrinsik Plaiming 122 West Main 122 East Main Stewberg Inc Intrinsik Plamling RMRG-Homepage 201 East Main Haj Javad Intrinsik Plaiming CMC Depot 626 East Main Library Foundation Intrinsik Plaiming 18 Miles to the Border 131 West Main Joe Billion Focus Plaiming Baxter Cellar 105 105 West Main David Loseff Intrinsik Plamling Klare Building 234 East Babcock Morris Klare Intrinsik Plamling Hotel Incentive Program Update I sent the press release for the Downtown Hotel Incentive Program on Wednesday, February 15, 2012. 1 was interviewed by two television stations and the Daily Chronicle, each ran the story. I have received two requests for the programs documents since the press release. DBIP Annual Report Update I sent the press release for the Downtown Improvement Plan Annual Report on Monday, February 13, 2012. 1 was interviewed by KBZK and the Daily Chronicle. I also distributed the Annual Report to the City Commission and Manager prior to their February 6th goal setting session. Subsequently, the City of Bozeman Draft Work Plan includes two downtown objectives: City of Bozeman DRAFT 2012 2013 Work Plan February 6 2012 Enhance Downtown Development Opportunities 1. Collaborate with the Downtown Partnership Montana Department of Transportation and Transportation Coordinating Committee to finalize design and implement the Downtown Urban Route Transformation Project. 2. Facilitate development of a downtown hotel as identified in the downtown development plan. DURT (Downtown Urban Route Transformation) Project I presented the DURT renderings to the Transportation Coordinating Committee (TCC) on January 25, 2012. The concept was well received. I informed the TCC that the DBP and COB would come back to them at a future meeting with a more complete plan to proceed towards implementation. Subsequently, the TCC representatives from the Pedestrian/Traffic Safety and Bozeman Bike Advisory Boards requested presentations indicating that their boards would be excited about the proposed multi-modal enhancements. The Bike Advisory Board was given a brief overview and the responses were favorable. I am certain they will support the project as it progresses. Downtown Impact Fees I submitted written comments to the City Commission for their February 13th work session with the Impact Fee Advisory Board. "Specifically, the transportation impact fee calculations should be reduced in consideration of the following reasons: Main Street, which carries the highest volume of downtown traffic, is a state highway and therefore maintained by the Montana Department of Transportation. Therefore, the City of Bozeman incurs minimal costs associated with this street as compared to other principal arterials. Montana Department of Transportation data shows that the traffic volumes along downtown's three primary arterials—Mendenhall, Main, and Babcock Streets—have not changed in 30 years. While they still have maintenance needs, the data below demonstrates that these streets have not seen increased impact in decades and fees should be calculated accordingly." Discussion and Decision Items Streetscape Program Chris told the board that the streetscape program does not have any projects scheduled in the upcoming construction season. While he admitted that the TIF board has absolutely no control over property owners pursuing site improvements, he did express his opinion that the board should consider increasing the incentive for side street lamps. He said he would like to see the incentive be raised to 50% reimbursement for street lamps installed along side streets. The board discussed how the additional incentive may very well be the tipping point in a property owners decision. They also asked if the program should be revised to be an incentive towards the cost of the entire scope of improvements: concrete, electrical, trees and streetlamps. On board member pointed out that the dollar amount would have to remain similar. Chris said that he wanted to bring it up in advance of the upcoming FY2013 budget discussions and a decision could be made at that time. Live-Safety Infrastructure Program Chris pointed out that the FY2012 budget might see over a quarter of a million dollars in program monies go unexpended. While this doesn't necessitate finding a something to spend the money on, Chris said he sees a growing problem with downtown development. He pointed out that the Downtown Improvement Plan emphasizes infill development and adaptive reuse along the side streets to the north and south of Main Street. He continued that perhaps the single biggest problem with side street development is life-safety infrastructure. Chris said that by and large most side street buildings do not have a dedicated fire line, yet most redevelopment would trigger some amount of sprinklers. Chris used the example of the Baxter wanting to revitalize the small basement space along North Willson. But one surprise was that it would need to be sprinklered and the Baxter does not have a dedicated fire line. Chris said he wanted direction from the board as he would like to research and develop a proposed financial assistance program that would offset the costs of installing dedicated fire lines into downtown buildings. The board asked if this was not the major issue with the buildings along South Tracy from Suelto to Insty-Prints. Chris confirmed that none of those properties have a fire line. The board agreed that Chris should research the issue and options to provide assistance. They asked him to specifically look into the following questions: 1. What would be the average cost of installing a dedicated fire line into a building from the main line? 2. How much building square footage does one fire line service? 3. Is there a map or list of buildings that do have fire lines versus those that do not? 4. What have other downtowns done to address this issue? Chris said he would provide a more in-depth report at the next board meeting. Calendar Items Chris noted that the Bozeman Creek Park(ing) Project public presentation was going to be postponed. Rather than be held on Wednesday, February 29th, it would most like be rescheduled for March 6th or 7th. With no further new or old business to discuss, Bobby adjourned the meeting.