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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEDA MIN 04-18-00COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (EDA) REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 18, 2000 CALL TO ORDER - The Regular Meeting of the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority (EDA) was called to order by President Ruettimarm at 6:32 p.m., Tuesday, April 18, 2000, in the Parkview Villa Community Room B, 965 40t~ Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, Minnesota. ROLL CALL Commission Members Present: Commission Members Arriving Late: Staff Present: Robert Ruetfimann, Patricia Jinclra, Marlaine Szurek, Gary Peterson, Julienne Wyckoff, and John Hunter Don Jolly (7:12 p.m.) Walt Fehst, Executive Director Ken Anderson, Deputy Executive Director Michelle Chalin, Parkview Villa Public Housing Administrator Randy Schumacher, Community Development Assistant PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO MEETING AGENDA - There were no additions or deletions to the agenda. CONSENT AGENDA (These items are considered to be routine by the EDA Board of Commissioners and will be enacted as part of the Consent Agenda by one motion). A. Adopt the consent agenda items as listed below. 1) Approval of Minutes - regular meeting of March 21, 2000 Move to adopt the minutes of the March 21, 2000 regular meeting as presented in writing. 2) Financial Report and Payment of Bills a. Financial Statement - March, 2000 b. Payment of Bills - March, 2000 Move to approve Resolution 2000-04, Resolution of the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority (EDA) approving the £mancial statements for March, 2000 and approving payment of bills for March, 2000. 3) Approve Payment to Millar Elevator Service Company Move to accept the work for Pay Application #1 and to authorize payment of $59,400.00 to Millar Elevator Service Company of Cleveland, Ohio. MOTION by Marlaine Szurek, seconded by Patricia Jindra, to adopt the consent agenda items as listed. All ayes. MOTION CARRIED. REPORT OF THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY A. Michelle Chalin, Parkview Villa Public Housing Administrator. Ms. Chalin reported that the plumbing problems at Parkview Villa should be all resolved by Wednesday or Thursday of this week. The 4-plex at 4607 Tyler has a vacancy that she is having trouble filling due to the fact that she needs someone to move into the unit quickly. Michelle has taken out advertisements in the Focus Newspaper to help fill the vacancy. She has akeady received 4 or 5 calls in regards to the unit. Ms. Chalin also addressed the security issues that were raised last month at Parkview Villa concerning the garage and door locks. Michelle has been working with Ken Anderson on security locks quotes. The quotes are averaging about $950.00. As far as the security cameras issue for the garage area, she reported that she is working with Mr. Brace Vogelsang of Trans Alarm and he could possible quote the camera and installation at a lower cost. When she gets the final quote from him she will present it to the Board for review. In discussion, President Ruettimaun requested again that Michelle Chalin work with Walt Fehst and Management on the getting quotes for the security cameras. Keyless entry systems, such as the City currently uses is also a possibility. Economic Development Authority Minutes April 18, 2000 Page 2 CITIZENS FORUM TO ADDRESS MATTERS NOT ON AGENDA Parkview Villa residents asked about the City plans for sidewalk replacement. An eldefly resident reported that she fell on the sidewalk and broke her shoulder bone. Another resident commented that the mall parking lot is full of cracks and potholes. A gentlemen asked about the garbage in the alley behind Parkview Villa, it seems to be a continual problem. Executive Director, Walt Fehst assured the residents that these were issues being handled by a different department in the City Hall and that these issues have already been addressed and the sidewalk & parking lot repairs are being scheduled for sometime this summer. RECOGNITION~ PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS~ GUESTS - None. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Adoption of a Policy and Criteria for Granting Business Subsidies. This Policy and Criteria for Granting Business Subsidies is a state mandatory Policy in granting Business Subsidies in the City of Columbia Heights. Mr. Anderson explained that these forms would be filed for each new Business Subsidy in the City of Columbia Heights. This Policy and Criteria for Granting Business Subsidies was brought before the EDA Commissioners last month of which the consensus was to have the City Attorney's take a look at it before adopting the new Policy. Mr. Anderson assured the EDA Board that the City Attorney has approved this Policy as written. President Ruettimaim questioned if this was all of the Policy requirements or would there be more to come? Mr. Anderson reported that this was the complete Policy. Ruettimarm also requested that we put the subsidy forms in the computer. Ken Anderson verified that with the addition of personnel to the Community Development Department staff, we could probably handle this added duty. MOTION by John Hunter, seconded by Marlaine Szurek to adopt the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority Business Subsidy Policy and Criteria. All ayes. MOTION CARRIED. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION A. Other Resolutions. a. Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS). Community Development Assistant, Randy Schumacher explained the Public Housing Assessment System (PI-LAS) to the Board. HUD has requested a new form number 50072 be filled out by the City of Columbia Heights EDA Department. HUD would evaluate the Public Housing Authority by their physical and f'mancial conditions, management operations, resident service and satisfaction of residents in the program. This is HUD's new system to evaluate each government housing unit to be sure that they are adequate and maintained well. MOTION by Julienne Wyckoff, seconded by Gary L. Peterson, to adopt Resolution 2000-05, confaming approval of the Public Housing Assessment System, management operation program certification, and furthermore, to authorize the Executive Director to sign the same. All ayes. MOTION CARRIED. B. Bid Considerations - None. C. Other Business. 1) 4401 Quincy Street NE. Randy Schumacher, Community Development Assistant, reported that the owners of the property at 4401 Quincy Street NE. met with him today and they have made a decision to go ahead and sell their home to the Columbia Heights EDA based on previous negotiations. More specifically, the Columbia Heights EDA would acquire 4401 Quincy in the amount of $103,500. The Pikala's have agreed to sign a waiver of relocation rights under the Uniform Act because the sale is strictly voluntary. A lump sum moving fee of $1,500 will be paid to the Pikala's. The EDA will use $70,000 from its Anoka County Home Funds Grant, $17,500 of previously budgeted EDA funds, and $21,000 from Habitat for Humanity to pay for the above expenses. The Pikala's also wanted to thank everyone for all of their time spent on studying the buildings structural stability and its historical significance. Economic Development Authority Minutes April 18, 2000 Page 3 MOTION by Robert Ruettimann, seconded by Pat Jindra, to approve the purchase of the property by the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority at 4401 Quincy Street NE. from the Pikala family and authorized the EDA staff to execute the necessary documents required to implement the sale. Six Ayes, Commissioner Sulienne Wyckoff voted Nay. MOTION CARRIED. In discussion, Commissioner Julienne Wyckoff expressed her discouragement about the whole property purchase agreement. She feels that the City should have worked more on saving the building due to its historical significance. The Pikala's were put under too much pressure and should have been given more time to make a decision. Gordon Awsumb wasn't able to get the contractor to submit a quote in time, and that the family was lead to believe that they only had until Tuesday, April 10~ to make a decision on selling the home. She feels that if the house was renovated it could have been a historic building to draw people into the City of Columbia Heights. The Heights Theater is a good example of how the EDA Board was going to tear down the theater at one point and now there is an owner restoring the building back to its original, historical architectural character. Commissioner Marlaine Szurek expressed her concerns that residents of Columbia Heights don't always move into the Habitat for Humanity Homes and she thought that was the whole reason behind the City selling property to Habitat in the first place. John Hunter explained' the program to the best of his knowledge from when he helped a lady that was having f'mancial problems on finding a home for her a couple of years ago. A number of families may be working on a home but in the end only one will receive it. There is also some qualifications that they must comply with before being awarded the home. President Ruettimann would like to see that City create a program of its own similar to Habitat so that it could operate with more local control and the residents of Columbia Heights would be the only ones eligible for the home. This will be talked about in the furore as to how we can accomplish starting this program. 2) Transition Block Redevelopment Project. MOTION by President Ruettimarm, seconded by Marlaine Szurek, to table the Transition Block Redevelopment Project until the May 16, 2000, EDA meeting as further information isn't available at this time. All ayes. MOTION CARRIED. 3) Crest View Management Contract. Mr. Anderson presented the Crest View Management Agreement for renewal. He reported that on or about June 1997, the EDA entered into a Management and Maintenance Agreement with Crest View Corporation. It was approved by the U.S. Deparlment of Housing and Urban Development, then amended in May of 1998 to allow for the extension of the term of the Agreement to include the initial time frame of two years with three, one year options for an extended maximum term total of five years. The Board was asked to authorize the second of the three, one year options at this meeting. MOTION by Gary L. Peterson, seconded by Don Jolly, to have Commissioners Pat Jindra and Marlaine Szurek work with residents of Parkview Villa to go over the Management Contract and bring their changes to the next EDA meeting on Tuesday, May 16, 2000. All ayes. MOTION CARRIED. 4) Adopt CDBG Program Housing Rehabilitation Procedural Guide. Mr. Anderson explained to the Board that this Procedural Guide was brought before the Board at the March 2000, EDA meeting and the Board chose to table the Guide until this month after the City Attorney has had a chance to look over the Guide. Ken Anderson reported that the City Attorney, Jim Hoeft, after reviewing the Procedural Guide came up with the following concerns with the document: 1) There is a statement in the guide that says the subject property to be f'manced with CDBG Funds is required to be a conforming property to remain eligible for this program. This means that if there is a single family home in a Commercial District because of the zoning, the family would not be eligible for this program, and 2) He suggested that their should be a definition for dwelling unit, and 3) If there can be any extension to the contract, if reasons justify, that they be limited to the time limits imposed by the building permit. He said we generally try to have all of our Building Permit inspections done within a six month period, however, the Building Official can extend that period to a one year period due to certain situations. So it is his feeling that we make some changes to the Procedural Guide in that area. Economic Development Authority Minutes April 18, 2000 Page 4 President Ruettimann would like to change the Procedural Guide to read that the City would authorize CEE to use up to 14% of the CDBG Funds available, but not to exceed $875. MOTION by President Ruettimann, seconded by Pat Jindra, to adopt the Columbia Heights Housing Rehabilitation Grant Program Procedural Guide dated March, 2000, as amended as follows with the addition of.' 1) The subject property does not need to be a conforming property, 2) adding a def'mition of a dwelling unit as only consisting of a single family residential home, and 3) should any extension to the contract be requested, the extension should be determined by the Building Official, and that this contract does not supersede our contract. All ayes. MOTION CARRIED. 5) Community Development Block Grant/Grant Loan Approval. Ken Anderson submitted the Grant/Loan application which needs to be submitted to Anoka County. The Grant/ Loan is for 589 37~ Avenue NE. in the amount of$11,684 with five different contractors to do the work on the property. MOTION by Marlaine Szurek, seconded bY Julienne Wyckoff, to approve the CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Grant/Loan Application for Grant #C 1997-02 in the amount of $11,684 for housing rehabilitation to Schmidt Contracting, American Waterworks, On Track Garage Door, O'Brien Ornamental Iron, Montgomery Wards, and Center for Energy and Environment subject to meeting all program requirements; and furthermore, to direct staff to submit the loan application to Anoka County and to authorize all related expenses to be reimbursed from Fund 202- 46350-4600/3050. All ayes. MOTION CARRIED. 6) Section 8 Report. Ken Anderson submitted the Section 8 Report for approval by the Board. He also pointed out that the administration fees should actually be $53.25, effective October 1, 1999 and this report will be modified for our records. The Board acknowledged receipt of the report. In discussion, President Ruettimann requested that next month he would like to have an update of thc Section 8 Transfer to Metro HRA. 7) Independent Product Conversion, Inc. Mr. Anderson explained he received a phone call and information from Larry Pietrzak, from Northeast Bank in regards to a Loan issued to Independent Product Conversion, Inc.~ which has merged with Midwest Converting, Inc. a corporation owned by Joseph Genosky. The Bank is asking for the Board to acknowledge the change of ownership. MOTION by Gary L. Peterson, seconded by Marlaine Szurek, to acknowledge acceptance of the Business Revolving Loan Fund name change from Independent Product Conversion, Inc. to Midwest Converting, Inc. a corporation owned by Joseph Genosky. All Ayes. MOTION CARRIED. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS A. Report of Executive Director - None. B. Report of Deputy Executive Director. Mr. Anderson reported the Community Development Block Grant Program has $118,000 in funds left from the 1997 funding year and these loans must be submitted by May 9, 2000 in order for the funds to be disbursed. He received a call from Donna Krech of the Center for Energy and Environment that one of our loans for $18,000 will be completed in July of this year. In discussion, President Ruettimann requested staff contact Anoka County to set up a meeting for our EDA Commissioners to meet with other EDA's on a periodic basis. MEETINGS The next EDA meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 16, 2000 in Community Room B at Parkview Villa. Economic Development Authority Minutes April 18, 2000 Page 5 ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Petcrson, seconded by Wyckoff, to adjourn thc meeting at 8:05 p.m. All ayes. MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl Bakken Recording Secretary H:\EDAminutes\mtgnotes4-18-2000.wpd