HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-04-14 Northeast Urban Renewal Board MinutesNortheast Urban Renewal Board (NURB)
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
The Northeast Urban Renewal Board met in regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4, 2014, in the
Conference Room, Professional Building, 20 East Olive Street, Bozeman, Montana.
Present: Absent:
Voting Members:
Tom Noble, Chair Erik Nelson
Daniel Doehring Robert Pavlic
Jeanne
Wesley-Wiese
Non-Voting Members:
Commissioner Liaison:
I-Ho Pomeroy
Staff:
Chris Saunders, Assistant Director of Community Development
Robin Sullivan, Recording Secretary
Guests:
Chris Nixon
Call to Order – Chair Tom Noble called the meeting to order at 6:38 p.m.
Public Comment – No comment was received under this agenda item.
Consent Items –
Approve
minutes from February 4, 2014 meeting. It was moved by Jeanne Wesley-Wiese, seconded by Dan Doehring, that the minutes of the meeting of February 4, 2014, be approved as submitted.
The motion carried on a 3-0 vote.
Discussion/Action Items –
Discussion regarding work plan and budget for upcoming fiscal year. Recording Secretary Robin Sullivan reviewed the
changes that she has made to the work plan and budget for Fiscal Year 2014-15 based on discussions at the February meeting.
Chair Noble stated the revisions reflect the changes made
at the February meeting, and he is comfortable with the undesignated reserve.
Recording Secretary Sullivan asked for Board comment on the wording for some of the new items in the work plan.
Jeanne Wesley-Wiese noted the existing street lighting within the district
does not meet the dark skies standards, and many of them blink on and off. She suggested that at some point, this Board should consider the proper kind of lighting, at least in a few
key places. She noted the new lights should have character and appropriate shielding to direct the light downward. She then proposed that further discussion on this issue be delayed
to the next meeting so that the absent Board members have an opportunity to provide input.
Chair Noble suggested the Board could budget for a lighting study as the first step in the
process.
Assistant Director of Community Development Saunders stated NorthWestern Energy is trying to get out of the lighting district business. He then noted the City is doing an
LED study on Durston Road at North 11th Avenue, and the investment return on changing out the fixtures is estimated to have a four to five year payback. He suggested the Board may wish
to consider use of that type of head in this district, particularly since it can be used in about any type of fixture.
Jeanne Wesley-Wiese stated she is interested in lighting that
supports the character of the neighborhood.
Chair Noble stated his support for looking at lights in strategic places, particularly since the Board has budgeted monies for engineering
of the street designs, and lighting is part of the streetscape along with sidewalks and gutters. He proposed that $10,000 be included in the budget for a district wide study, since
he feels all streets should be considered and not just the ones for which street designs are being developed.
Chair Noble briefly reviewed possible changes in wording in the work plan
and budget for Fiscal Year 2015.
Set agenda for April 1, 2014 meeting. Chair Noble asked that continued discussion on the work plan and budget for Fiscal Year 2015 be placed on the
agenda.
Recording Secretary Sullivan stated that Kevin Jacobsen has indicated he will be prepared to give the Board an update on the East Tamarack Street/Front Street/North Ida Avenue
designs.
Neighborhood News. Chris Nixon announced that on Thursday evening, a four-hour block has been set aside for members of the NorthEast Neighborhood Association (NENA) to stop
by the Lehrkind Mansion to look at the Story Mill Park proposal and vote on it. He noted this park proposal is tentatively scheduled before the Commission on March 24.
Chris Nixon
reported on his discussion with Chief Building Official Bob Risk about the brewery wall; noting it appears the wall will be taken down. He stated there was a gentleman surveying the
wall and the site yesterday.
Jeanne Wesley-Wiese voiced her frustration that the property owners have succeeded in manipulating the City to get what they have wanted to do all along.
Chair Noble expressed agreement,
noting a similar situation arose in his hometown when the strategy of the new owners of a general store was to let the building sit until it was determined a hazard then tear it down
to build condominiums.
Adjournment – 7:15 p.m. There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, Chair Noble adjourned the meeting.
Tom Noble, Chair
Northeast
Urban Renewal Board
City of Bozeman