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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEDA MIN 06-20-00COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (EDA) REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 20, 2000 CALL TO ORDER - The Regular Meeting of the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority (EDA) was called to order by President Ruettimann at 6:32 p.m., Tuesday, $une 20, 2000, in the Parkview Villa Community Room B, 965 40~ Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, Minnesota. ROLL CALL Commission Members Present: Commission Members Absent: StaffPresent: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Robert Ruettimann, Patficia Jindra, Marlaine Szurek, Gary Peterson, Julienne Wyckoff, and John Hunter Don G. Jolly Ken Anderson, Deputy Executive Director Randy Schumacher, Community Development Assistant Michelle Chalin, Parkview Villa Public Housing Administrator Anita Kittock, Temporary Housing Administrator ADDITIONSfDELETIONS TO MEETING AGENDA CONSENT AGENDA A. Adopt the consent agenda items as listed below. 1) Approval of Minutes - regular meetiag of May 16, 2000 Move to adopt the minutes of the May 16, 2000 regular meeting as presented in writing. 2) Financial Report and Payment of Bills for May, 2000. a. Financial Statement- May, 2000 b. Payment of Bills - May, 2000 Move to approve Resolution 2000-08, Resolution of the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority (EDA) approving the f'mancial statements for May, 2000 and approving payment of bills for May, 2000. 3) Agreement for Financial Advisory Services. Move to engage the services of Ehlers and Associates, Inc. as the EDA's financial advisor and authorize the completion of all necessary Tax Increment Cash Flow Projections, State Audit Reports, Compliance Reviews, and implementation of the Quick TIF Program. And furthermore, to authorize the President and Executive Director to enter into an agreement for such services. MOTION by Gary L. Peterson, second by Pat Jindra, to adopt the consent agenda items as listed above. All ayes. MOTION CARRIED. REPORT OF THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY B. Michelle Chalin, Parkview Villa Public Housing Administrator. Ms. Chalin gave a update &the Elevator Modernization Project. An inspection of the smaller elevator is scheduled for,Wednesday, June 14, 2000. The large elevator is scheduled to be shut down on Wednesday, June 21, 2000. The elevator will be up and running in October sometime. The upgraded smaller, elevator will serve the residents until the large elevator is complete and comes back in service. Annual unit inspections for the South building occurred on May 23, 2000. Four units failed the inspection and will be re-inspected at a later date. Of the ten units in the North building that did not pass the original inspection of April 17 and 18, 2 units did not pass the re-inspection. All of the units that did not pass inspection will again be inspected at a later date by the Fire Department. Ms. Chalin reported several internal moves have occurred. She is also trying to fill Unit #511 in addition to the three apartments that she has listed in the newspaper for rent, excluding the unit being used by Millar Elevator for their equipment. Four more vacant notices have been received. Currently, at Parkview Villa North they have 23 residents of Columbia Heights, and 24 non-residents occupying the units. The four-plex will have another opening in the next month or so. Ms. Chalin gave an update of the security issues. Leonard Olson of Sentry Communications submitted a proposal Economic Development Authority June 20, 2000 Page 2 for security cameras and other miscellaneous hardware of $2000 and a labor estimate of $4000. Bruce Vogelsang of Trans Alarm will be submitting a proposal for the same items soon. She did receive a bid already of $400 to re- key the doors in the garage area. Ms. Chalin and her staff researched the actual cost of an internal move to be about $400. This cost would include painting, carpet cleaning, staff time, but does not include any major repairs to the unit. Currently, residents pay only $125 damage deposit. Ms. Chalin also reported on the Adam's Pest Control and Trugreen Lawn Care service at Parkview Villa and Tyler Street. She reported that Adam's Pest Control was out on 5-30-2000 and Trugreen Lawn Care was out on 5-16-2000 to do the maintenance contract requirements. She will be returning to Park-view Villa the week of Monday, July 17, 2000. The week of July 102 she will be at seminar. Residents will have to page her for assistance for ttiat week. No staff will be on-site that week. In discussion, Julienne Wyckoff reported that she has received many phone calls from residents that the geese are gone from the park outside of the Parkview Villa residents area park. Kevin Hansen, the Public Works Director said that they aren't trying to remove all of the geese at once, but, they will be moving a few at a time. CITIZENS FORUM TO ADDRESS EDA ON MATTERS NOT ON AGENDA-NONE. RECOGNITION, PROCLAMATIONS~ PRESENTATIONS~ GUESTS - None. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION Co Other Resolutions - None. Bid Considerations. 1) Agreement for Lawn Maintenance and Snow Removal Services. Ken Anderson reported that staff is asking for the EDA Board and the City Council take action to approve a private contract agreement to provide the lawn maintenance and snow removal services for the City owned properties. In the past the EDA has used a company called Lawn Maintenance and Snow Removal, Inc. and was done on a pay as you go plan. The agreement identifies a fee of $28.50 per person-hour for services. If the EDA Board approves this agreement, the staffwould then present this agreement to the City Council on Monday, June 26, 2000 for their approval. He provided a list of properties with the agreement. The City owns one of the properties and the EDA owns the balance. In discussion, President Ruettimann questioned if the staff had gone out for bids for the Lawn Maintenance and Sn6w Removal Agreement. Mr. Anderson reported that they had not. The City hall currently has a contract agreement set up for this work with,Lawn Maintenance and Snow Removal, Inc. There has been no problems with their performance. The Public Works department does not have enough manpower to provide services to the EDA for these properties. President Ruettimann and Gary L. Peterson's understanding of the city policy is that we need to go out for bids. Gary L. Peterson responded that the City had awarded the contract for lawn maintenance to Lawn Maintenance and Snow Removal, Inc. based upon their equipment and performance. President Rueittmann would agree to this agreement if the City Council approves the agreement also. MOTION by Marlaine Szurek, seconded by Jolm Hunter, to award the contract for lawn maintenance and snow removal services to Lawn Service and Snow Removal, Inc.; and furthermore, to authorize the President and · Executive Director to enter into an agreement for the same. All Ayes. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Peterson questioned if the City still owns the property at 4216 Central Avenue NE? Mr. Anderson stated that the City does still own the property. Mr. Nedegaard was going to purchase the property but, has recently withdrawn Economic Development Authority Minutes Sune 20, 2000 Page 3 on the purchase of the property. The EDA's agreement with Mr. Nedegaard expired in April oft/tis year. It will be reviewed before next month. Mr. Peterson felt that because the City has held back on the sale of the Central Avenue location, that we should be reimbursed for the expenses for that land. Mr. Anderson and Randy Schumacher will meet with Mr. Nedegaard to discuss the agreement. E. Other Business 1) Status Report - Acquisition of Central Avenue Properties. Randy Schumacher gave a report to the EDA Board dealing with non-conforming/blighted slructures along Central Avenue. Presently, two owners are interested in selling their property to the City. Mr. Schumacher has received estimated market values for the properties. Two policies must be sent to Anoka County prior to formal offers being submitted to the property owners. One is a one to one repla'¢ement plan and the other is a funding and acquisition of property. A historical review has also been completed. He expressed two concerns in the purchasing of these properties. One is the ability to negotiate a reasonable market value for the two properties; and 2) would be possible the relocation issues. In discussion, President Ruettimarm asked if there were any renters at these locations? Mr. Schumacher stated that there are people occupying the units which means that the EDA would have to a limited relocation liability. If that would be the case, the EDA would not be interested in the property. John Hunter has worked with a couple of properties with relocation. He suggested that we see what the actual relocation fees would be. He worked with the NCDA to relocate a couple of units in the past. His experience was that there was a relocation fee based upon a percentage of the cost of the home. Randy Schumacher responded that if the unit is vacant for 90 days, then there would be not relocation fees involved. We would have to be concerned with meeting the Federal Requirements of relocation for residential structures. In addressing the issue of the redevelopment sites and the HUD requirements for commercial development, Mr. Anderson stated two points of interest to the board; 1) He did not believe that we have to actual, hire people that are low to moderate income but, the employer has to keep records of jobs that have been offered, and the people that are hired qualify for the low to moderate income; and 2) We need to look at the reporting requirements before we go ahead with the acquisition, so that we know what strings are attached with the purchase. Mr. Anderson's understanding during the time he has worked for the City of Columbia Heights was that we are required to provide relocation fees but could put maximum limits on these costs. We need to find out what our maximum relocation fees would be before we go ahead with the purchase of the properties. Dan Wilson has worked with the City in the past for relocating residents in these particular type of property transactions. Pres. Ruettimann requested that our Attorney look over any potential purchase agreements before the EDA Board considers executing same. Randy Schumacher stated that we also need to do the Environmental assessment prior to acq"uisition. 2) Section 8 Report. Ken Anderson reported that we have 37 Vouchers, 9 Certificates issued for a total of 46 which is an increase of one from last month. This mak"es our utilization at 92%. Last month we were at 90%. By October of this year all participants will be using housing choice vouchers. The Certificates are being fazed out. Staff is in the process of submitting some forms to HUD. We have hired a retired individual from Metro HRA to help staff get the program ready for the transition. Over the Memorial weekend a family emergency came up which forced her to tender her resignation. This Friday, June 23, 2000, Kathy Kline from Metro I-IRA will be meeting with the Community Development Department to make an assessment of where the Section 8 program is at and what the EDA needs to do to get the program moved back to the Metro HRA. MOTION by Ga~ L. Peterson, Seconded by Marlaine Szurek to approve the Section 8 report as stated. All Ayes. MOTION CARRIED. Economic Development Authority June 20, 2000 Page 4 ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS A. Report of the Deputy Executive Director Ken Anderson reported on the Transition Block Redevelopment staff has had meetings with EDA financial advisor Springsted, and the developer, Real Estate Equities. They still do not have a purchase agreement signed by all of the property owners. In regards to NEI, we have received from their attorney authorizing the City to commence rezoning of the property from an R-2 District to an R-4 district. Mr.'Anderson will be meeting with the City Attorney tomorrow to see if we are ready to go ahead with Council preliminary reviewal and approval of the PUD, as recommended by the Commission. Ken Anderson will be working with both Springsted and the developer over the next month to help formulate an agreement with the EDA Board. In discussion, President Ruettimann suggested that we do need to come to a conclusion. Mr. Anderson gave an update of the Transit Hub2 He met with Aaron Isaacs at the site on Monday and he said that they are about two weeks behind. The hub should be finished by the end of July. They would propose to reroute the bus that is currently stopping on Van Buren by the parking ramp over to the Transit Hub until mid-September when they do their route changes. So that by mid-September the Transit Hub will be in full service. City Planner- the City has made a offer for the new City Planner position. We will know by next week if he has excepted this offer and passed the drag testing and screening required for the position. Mr. Anderson then passed out a letter to Gary Peterson, Mayor that B. Report of the Executive Director. C. Committee/Other Reports. Pat Jindra reported that she met with the residents council. 1) The software for Parkview Villa -what is the status of this program. The understanding is that if we don't get it entered, we will not be able to have our Public Housing Program at Parkview Villa. Randy Schumacher reported that the Nan Mc Kay software program is not installed. Currently, the Community Development Secretary has entered a total of 55 Family Reports and submitted them to HUD. All of the forms will be submitted to HUD by the end of the month. 2) Things are not getting done at Parkview Villa. Residents are moving to another apartment to get repairs done (clean carpet, paint, etc.). She asked if there was a limit in the resident agreement for how many times that they can move. Ken Anderson responded that he did not believe that there was anything in the agreement. A couple of residents reported that they have moved into their units and cleaned them their ' selves. The north side of the building units do not have carpets in them a resident reported. Pat Baker reported that approximately in 1995 there was a Laotian family that came in and painted the apartments and painted poorly. 3) The residents would like to see more maintenance people hired to maintain the complex. Pat Jindra met with Shirley Barnes, Crest View Corporation to see if more help could be hired. Ms. Barnes stated that she could not have the Bakers work overtime due to the funds available. One resident reported that a lot of the residents are moving to another apartment because of the smells to the backside of the building. Donna Hams stated that she lives on the first floor and she hears the noise of the tracks and garage macks. Mel Collova, City Building Official was present and was asked if this is correct. Mel Collova reported that yes there is noise and garbage smells but there basically isn't anything that can be done about these problems except the use of enclosed garbage dumpsters. Pres. Ruettimann asked Mr. Collova to get with the Public Works Department to see when they inspect the alleyways behind Parkview Villa and report on it next month. Economic Development Authority June 20, 2000 Page 5 Pres. Ruettimann requested that Pat Jindra meet with Cheryl Bakken, Community Development Secretary to draf~ up some minutes for records on the meeting that Pat had with the residents of Parkview Villa. He also requested that Pat get a 6 month record of how many people moved, how many units were painted in the transition, and how many were incoming new renters. Pat Jindra will meet with the residents once a month and report any issues at the EDA Board meeting. In other discussion, Mr. Hunter reported that he had attended the Pohce Picnic for the City residents with 132 people participating. Mr. Ruettimann reported that there were 2 apartment complexes for sale across from the Post office. The price for the units was $159,000 which was very reasonable. When he called the realtor she responded that she had already sold the units. He asked the realtor to call Ken Anderson whenever she would have any more units for sale, as the City would be interested in purchasing them. Mr. Anderson reported that he had not received a call from the realtor yet. MEETINGS The next EDA meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 18, 2000 in Community Room B at Parkview Villa. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Donald O. Jolly, seconded by Pat Jindra, to adjourn the meeting at 7:56 p.m. Ail ayes. MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl Bakken Recording Secretary H:~EDAminutes\ mtg6-20-2000