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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-03-12 Northeast Urban Renewal Board MinutesNortheast Urban Renewal Board (NURB) Regular Meeting Tuesday, April 3, 2012 The Northeast Urban Renewal Board met in regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3, 2012, in the Conference Room, Professional Building, 20 East Olive Street, Bozeman, Montana. Present: Absent: Voting Members: Erik Nelson, Chair Daniel Doehring Tom Noble Robert Pavlic Jeanne Wesley-Wiese Non-Voting Members: Commissioner Liaison: Chris Mehl Staff: Robin Sullivan, Recording Secretary Guests: Chris Nixon, 719 North Wallace Avenue Megan Higgins Jessica Marks Megan Higgins stated that she and Jessica are in the MPA program at MSU, and they are observing and evaluating the system of citizen advisory boards associated with the Planning Department. They are reviewing the minutes from past meetings and, after observing this meeting, they will be interviewing some of the board members. They are also observing the North 7th Avenue Urban Renewal Board, the Beautification Board and the InterNeighborhood Council and, once they have completed their program evaluation, will present their findings to Planning Director Tim McHarg. Call to Order – Chair Erik Nelson called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. Public Comment – No comment was received under this agenda item. Consent Items – Approve minutes from March 6, 2012 meeting. It was moved by Tom Noble, seconded by Bob Pavlic, that the minutes of the meeting of March 6, 2012, be approved as submitted. The motion carried on a 5-0 vote. Discussion Items – FY2013 Work Plan and Budget – Review 2012 Work Plan and Budget and discuss priorities in preparation of the draft 2013 budget. Chair Erik Nelson asked if the Board wishes to retain the same three main categories in its work plan and budget; the Board members agreed that they wish to do so. Chair Nelson reviewed the categories and projects contained in the FY2012 work plan and budget, as follows: Parks, Trails and Greenspace Depot Pocket Park $ 3,000 Project complete East Aspen Street ROW/North Church Avenue Trail $ 13,300 Projects complete Depot Trail maintenance $ 3,000 Annual maintenance Aspen Street Pedestrian Bridge $ 22,000 Jeanne Wesley-Wiese suggested that monies be budgeted for maintenance of the projects that have been completed to date, noting that the actual maintenance costs for the Depot Trail were closer to $1,500. She feels that monies should be budgeted to maintain the improvements made rather than relying on City departments to do as they see fit. Chair Nelson stated he has been assured the Street Department and Parks Department have agreed to assume responsibility for weed spraying on the Aspen Street right-of-way. He recognized that budgeting monies for maintenance could be beneficial to ensure that the desired level of maintenance is achieved. He suggested that the amount budgeted for this item be set between $3,000 and $5,000. Tom Noble and Bob Pavlic stressed the importance of spraying the knapweed in the Aspen Street right-of-way to get it under control in addition to mowing it, along with any other regular maintenance of the improvements that have been made. Jeanne Wesley-Wiese noted last year’s final budget included $22,000 for the Aspen Street pedestrian bridge, and the Board made a commitment to add monies to this line item each year so that its estimated $60,000 cost can be fully funded in a few years. Responding to Commissioner Liaison Chris Mehl, Chair Nelson stated that Planner Keri Thorpe will take the Board input provided at this meeting and prepare a draft budget for consideration at the next meeting after talking to Finance Director Anna Rosenberry to ensure that the balance carried forward and the revenue figures are correct. Chair Nelson noted that the Board applied for a grant for the bridge last year but was unsuccessful in obtaining those funds. He suggested that the application be revised and submitted again. Jeanne Wesley-Wiese stated she would like to look at last year’s application in an effort to determine why it was not successful, revise it to include more discussion about connectivity and emphasize the attributes of Bozeman Creek and then submit it again. She noted that monies should also be added to this line item, particularly since the Board committed to doing so during last year’s budgeting process. Dan Doehring voiced an interest in adding $8,000 to this line item, noting that the resulting $30,000 would cover half of the estimated costs. Chair Nelson stated his main concern is that the pedestrian bridge does not provide connectivity; rather, it dumps pedestrians onto a busy street with no safe place to cross within a block. He concluded by noting that this bridge is essentially a shovel ready project since the engineering has been done. Chair Erik Nelson turned attention to the next section of the work plan and budget from FY2012, as follows: Neighborhood Development Planning Neighborhood Development Plan $ 2,000 Project complete Preserve America Grant $ 15,000 Redevelopment Incentive Program $ 15,000 The Board agreed that the $15,000 budgeted for Preserve America Grant matching funds should remain in the budget. Bob Pavlic stated he has given Planner Courtney Kramer the name of a lady in the Missoula office of Montana Rail Link who has been successful in shepherding applications and projects through the process; and it is his hope that a new grant application will be more successful. Chair Nelson stated that, even if the grant application is not successful, he wants to continue seeking options for use of the depot and/or its grounds. Chris Nixon noted that the depot needs a new roof; and several businesses and individuals in the area have indicated a willingness to donate the labor to reroof it. Chair Nelson suggested that reroofing of the depot building be used as a carrot to obtain stronger assurances that the building can be used as an asset to the community. Jeanne Wesley-Wiese voiced her interest in putting a new roof on the building, noting that it would be worth not having another historic building in the district fall into total disrepair. Chair Erik Nelson suggested that this issue might fall under the redevelopment incentive program. He stressed that once a project application is submitted and approved, the Board will have time to respond and budget monies for the redevelopment project since it will not expend those monies until after the project is complete. Responding to questions from Jeanne Wesley-Wiese, Chair Nelson stated he does not feel this Board needs to develop an exhaustive list of items that may qualify for funding; rather, he wants to keep the program very open and consider a formal application once it is submitted. In light of that approach, he does not believe additional monies need to be budgeted for staff time to establish that program. Chair Nelson noted that he feels rolling the $15,000 budgeted last year for the redevelopment incentive program is sufficient. He concluded by stressing that the Preserve America Grant monies can be used for planning only, not for bricks and mortar. Chair Nelson turned attention to the final category of the work plan and budget for FY2012 as follows: Infrastructure East Peach Street/North Ida Avenue $105,670 Engineering complete for Peach Chair Nelson noted there is a 50/50 grant for which the East Peach Street project could potentially qualify because of the stormwater drainage issues. He stated the estimated cost of the improvements is $300,000, so it may be possible to complete those street improvements for $150,000 in local matching monies. He suggested that, if there are not currently adequate monies to cover that entire cost, this Board has the option of borrowing against future tax increment financing monies. Chair Nelson noted a significant amount of the monies expended to date has been to complete open space and parks projects. He feels it is important to now concentrate on infrastructure improvements, and suggested that monies be budgeted to complete the engineering for improvements to East Tamarack Street from North Rouse Avenue to North Ida Avenue. He proposed that those improvements essentially mirror the East Peach Street design, particularly since that design has already been accepted as the standard for this district. He also is interested in a design for North Ida Avenue, which he characterized as the “orphan street” within the district. Following a brief discussion, Chair Nelson noted he has always viewed the North Ida Avenue corridor as a shared use space; however, he recognized that Front Street may be better suited for that type of facility since it is already used in that manner. He proposed that design of the intersection of East Tamarack Street/North Ida Avenue/Front Street and design of the entire length of Front Street be added to the work plan for the upcoming year. He also proposed that any monies not specifically budgeted for other projects be included in the amount budgeted for infrastructure improvements. Chair Nelson asked if there are any additional projects that need to be considered. Responding to questions from Jeanne Wesley-Wiese, Chair Nelson stated he feels the $15,000 budgeted under the redevelopment incentive program is adequate to cover any potential costs for the brewery wall, particularly since this Board will have time to respond to any formal application that may be submitted for its preservation. Responding to Tom Noble, Chair Nelson stated the projected amount of monies available for the upcoming fiscal year is $155,000 to $180,000. As a result of the above discussion, the rough budget for the FY2013 work plan is as follows: Park, Trails and Greenspace Depot Trail maintenance $ 5,000 Aspen Street Pedestrian Bridge $ 30,000 Infrastructure East Peach Street construction $ 38,000 - $ 63,000 East Tamarack Street engineering $ 15,000 Front Street design $ 15,000 North Ida Avenue design $ 15,000 Neighborhood Development Planning Preserve America Grant $ 15,000 Redevelopment Incentive Program $ 15,000 Administrative Staff Time $ 5,000 Noticing and Administrative Services $ 2,000 Proposal for zone code amendments to limit night time/weekend uses (or nuisances) and/or restaurants in the HMU District. Chair Erik Nelson asked for Board input on this issue. He noted that, after last month’s meeting, he was under the impression it is not possible to limit night time use in the HMU district except on a case-by-case basis through the conditional use process. Commissioner Liaison Chris Mehl suggested this is a neighborhood issue rather than a Board issue. He noted that zoning is not under the purview of the tax increment financing district; and it affects more than just the district. Chair Nelson proposed it may be more appropriate to address this issue through the NorthEast Neighborhood Association (NENA), which would be more representative of the entire HMU district. Bob Pavlic and Jeanne Wesley-Wiese raised questions about whether this is really a NENA issue. Bob Pavlic then proposed a survey instead. Chair Nelson voiced his support for a survey, stating he feels it should be broad but provide guidance to this Board. What to consider when creating a Redevelopment Incentive Program for the NURD. District Plan Principles and Goals. 2. Review of Applicable sections of State Urban Renewal Law in the Montana Code Annotated. 3. Allowable Costs to be paid with TIF. Chair Nelson stated he feels this program should be an open invitation to any person interested in submitting an application for redevelopment. He does not want to create a plan that may not fit a proposal, but wants to encourage all submittals. He stressed that the use of tax increment financing monies would be limited to the public portions of a project. He concluded by noting it is important to make people aware that this program is available and suggested that might best be done through a mailer. Board members provided no additional input. Neighborhood News. Bob Pavlic announced that the owner of the property across the street from him is going to build a house on his property. He observed that the Front Street area is turning into a residential cubby hole. Jeanne Wesley-Wiese announced the Brewery Wall Festival, scheduled for 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on August 25. She noted that streets in the immediate area will be closed, and people will be encouraged to take advantage of the interior green spaces that have been developed. Erik Nelson asked if anyone is talking about the trains, particularly in light of the potential for increased coal trains over the next few years. Responding to Jeanne Wesley-Wiese, Commissioner Liaison Chris Mehl stated the community has no direct say in the decision to run coal trains through Bozeman, but could have some impact on those who make the decisions. He then stressed that the running of coal trains will not start for at least five years and it may be as long as fifteen years before the increased rail traffic is really felt. Responding to Chris Nixon, Commissioner Liaison Chris Mehl stated the only way to eliminate the train whistles is to have underpasses or overpasses. He noted that Public Service Commissioner John Vincent has stated the City would be responsible for all of the costs of constructing such crossings. Adjournment – 8:03 p.m. There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, Chair Nelson adjourned the meeting. Erik Nelson, Chair Northeast Urban Renewal Board City of Bozeman