Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-07-15 NURB min NURB Meeting – April 7, 2015 1 Northeast Urban Renewal Board (NURB) Regular Meeting Tuesday, April 7, 2015 The Northeast Urban Renewal Board met in regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2015, 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: John Usher Commissioner Liaison: I-Ho Pomeroy (arrived at 7:05 p.m.) Staff: Brit Fontenot, Economic Development Director Robin Sullivan, Recording Secretary Guests: Chris Nixon, 719 North Wallace Avenue Call to Order – Chair Tom Noble called the meeting to order at 6:38 p.m. and welcomed John Usher as the newest member of the Board. Public Comment – Chris Nixon announced that the NorthEast Neighborhood Alliance (NENA) meeting has been set for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, in the Commission Room at City Hall. He will give an update on the agenda for that meeting at this Board’s May meeting. Consent Items – Approve minutes from March 3, 2015 meeting. It was moved by Dan Doehring, seconded by Jeanne Wesley-Wiese, that the minutes of the meeting of March 3, 2015, be approved as submitted. The motion carried on a 3-0 vote. Discussion/Action Items – Discussion regarding the trail proposal submitted by Gallatin Valley Land Trust and a possible letter of support. Jeanne Wesley-Wiese stated she sent a letter of NURB Meeting – April 7, 2015 2 support for the grant application. Economic Development Director Brit Fontenot stated the letter of support has been sent to the TOPS Committee. He forwarded an update from Kelly Pohl, Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT), noting the trail corridor project has passed the rough cut and is now in the official Committee review process; and the likelihood of funding currently looks good. The Director noted that Ms. Pohl also reiterated the possibilities for this Board to contribute monies to the project through $200 for totem signage or $2,000 for a kiosk. He noted that the first side of the kiosk would be devoted to providing information about the community’s trail system; however, the Board could use the second side of the kiosk to provide information about the tax increment financing district and the projects being undertaken with its financing. He concluded by noting there is currently an $18,000 gap in funding for this project. Chair Noble stated he feels this trail connector would have a positive impact on the district and, as a result, would be willing to consider a contribution in addition to signage or a kiosk. Jeanne Wesley-Wiese voice her concurrence with the Chair’s comments. She then noted that this proposed trail actually extends the depot trail. Responding to comments from Chair Noble, Erik Nelson noted that the trail does touch the edge of this district. He also reminded the Board that tax increment monies can be used to fund infrastructure improvements outside the district as long as those improvements benefit the district. Chair Noble suggested that the Board consider a $10,000 donation to the trail improvements, noting that the donation could include monies for a kiosk. He then indicated that further discussion about monies should be deferred to the budget discussion. Continued review of Request for Proposals for street lighting in district. Chair Noble reported that Liz Galli-Noble contacted NorthWestern Energy with questions about the costs for head replacements and whether those heads could become LED compatible in the future; however, she was unable to get any definitive answers on costs. He noted that this lighting issue is two-pronged, with the short-term being mitigation of the existing fixtures to make them dark skies compliant and the long-term being a lighting plan for the district. He reported that Liz Galli-Noble also asked which lights are owned by NorthWestern Energy and which are City leased; and the answer is that the poles for the lights that are City leased have codes on them. He noted that the next time she walks the dog, Liz will check the light poles. Jeanne Wesley-Wiese noted that some of the business lighting is as much of a nuisance as the street lighting and suggested that educating businesses about their outside lighting could also have a positive impact on the area. NURB Meeting – April 7, 2015 3 Chair Noble expressed his interest in replacing the heads and his concern that creation of a special improvement lighting district will make this district something it is not at this time. Economic Development Director Fontenot voiced his appreciation for Liz Galli-Noble’s work on this Request for Proposals, noting it has provided a valuable basis from which staff can proceed. Report on straw poll for North Wallace Avenue street improvements and percentage split on ownership of street frontages. Economic Development Director Brit Fontenot reported that Director of Public Service Craig Woolard has previously conducted a straw poll of property owners along a street being considered for improvement administratively. He will, however, talk to the Commission at next Monday night’s meeting about the process he has been using and seek their approval of it for the Grand Avenue project. North Wallace Avenue is the next project on his list and he is prepared to send out letters for that project as soon as he receives Commission support for the Grand Avenue project. He anticipates that he will have the responses back in mid-May. The Director concluded his presentation by suggesting that further discussion on this issue should be deferred to the budget discussion since it involves funding of one-half of the engineering costs for street improvements. Discussion regarding proposed term contract concept. Economic Development Director Brit Fontenot reminded the Board that he distributed copies of a draft term contract at last month’s meeting. This contract is based on the contracts used by the Department of Public Service and would aggregate engineering projects into a single contract for the next three years. He stated this would allow for multiple projects to be undertaken concurrently and would allow for a wider scope of work than the previous engineering contract. Responding to Chair Noble, Director Fontenot stated the City Attorney would not allow the addition of a project to the contract with Morrison-Maierle because it was not in the original contract. He then noted that, since that firm has done the engineering work within the district to date, he anticipates it might have an advantage over other firms. He indicated that a committee will review the proposals received and make a recommendation for award of a contract. That committee will include someone from the City’s Engineering Department and should include someone from this Board. Further responding to Chair Noble, the Director stated that, as long as the committee uses legitimate criteria, it can reject all proposals. He then stressed the importance of the Board being comfortable with its consultant. Responding to Dan Doehring, Director Fontenot confirmed it would be possible to go through the bidding process for every project; however, going through this proposed term contract NURB Meeting – April 7, 2015 4 concept would streamline the process. It was moved by Tom Noble, seconded by Dan Doehring, that the Board direct staff to proceed with the term contract concept. The motion carried on a 3-0 vote. Discussion regarding proposed contract for bond counsel services. Economic Development Director Brit Fontenot noted this concept was also introduced at last month’s meeting. He stated this contract would make bond counsel available to this Board as it proceeds through the bonding process for infrastructure improvements. He stressed that the bonding process takes time and costs money, estimating that the initial costs will be $25,000 to $30,000. He reminded that Board that the reappraisal process takes place every six years, and it is anticipated this reappraisal will result in a decrease in property values. That information should be available in August; and it is important to have the new numbers prior to proceeding with bonding. Responding to Chair Noble, the Economic Development Director stated the contract would be with Dorsey-Whitney, the bond counsel that has been used by the City for many years. He confirmed that this Board could seek proposals for bond counsel services; however, this it also has the option to sole source these services. Responding to John Usher, the Director stated this firm’s services would be limited to bonding for infrastructure improvements. It was moved by Tom Noble, seconded by Jeanne Wesley-Wiese, that the Board direct staff to proceed with the contract for bond counsel services for this district. The motion carried on a 3-0 vote. Discussion/set budget for Fiscal Year 2015-2016. Economic Development Director Fontenot stated all tax increment financing districts are scheduled to make their work plan and budget presentations to the Commission at a work session on Monday, June 1. He encouraged the Chair to make that presentation, noting that having other members of the Board present would be helpful. Recording Secretary Sullivan distributed copies of the draft budget and last year’s work plan, with the introductory portion revised to reflect this year’s activities and the projections for next year’s activities. Jeanne Wesley-Wiese questioned the amount to be budgeted for engineering of the North Wallace Avenue improvements, particularly in light of the minimal changes that are to be made. Chris Nixon suggested that engineering of North Wallace Avenue improvements will give an opportunity to look at designs at intersections similar to those they painted at East Fridley NURB Meeting – April 7, 2015 5 Street a few years ago. He noted that project was not successful because of the bad road surface and use of the wrong type of paint. Chair Noble stated he feels Director of Public Service Woolard wants to have improvements to North Wallace Avenue designed as a single package to ensure a uniform project; and utilizing district monies helps to make that project a reality. Jeanne Wesley-Wiese noted that including this district in the overall project also helps to ensure successful creation of a special improvement district for those improvements. She then indicated she is not excited about improving the street and encouraging more traffic to use it. Economic Development Director Fontenot stated he will try to get more information on how the $25,000 is to be used and how those street improvements will improve this tax increment financing district. Chair Noble requested that further discussion on this item be delayed to next month, since two board members are missing from this meeting. Set agenda for May 5, 2015 meeting or cancel meeting. Chair Noble asked that the budget and work plan be the only items on the agenda. Neighborhood News. Jeanne Wesley-Wiese noted people are concerned about the stakes on North Rouse Avenue at East Peach Street, since they are so close to some of the existing structures. Chris Nixon noted he heard all the big trees along East Peach Street have to be torn out and it looks like Audrey’s Pizza will lose a lot of its parking lot. He noted it also looks like the right-of-way is almost to the door of the Help Center. John Usher stated the pink ribbons on East Tamarack Street are the same way, noting it appears the right-of-way will cut right around the house on the southeast corner of North Rouse Avenue and East Tamarack Street. Adjournment – 7:57 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