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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEDA MIN 11-20-01COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (EDA) REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 20, 2001 CALL TO ORDER - The Regular Meeting of the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority, (EDA) was called to order by President Ruettimann at 7:01 p.m., Tuesday, November 20, 2001, in the Parkview Villa Community Room B, 965 40th Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, Minnesota. ROLL CALL Commission Members Present: Commission Members Absent: Staff Present: Robert Ruettimann, Patricia Jindra, Marlaine Szurek, Gary Peterson, Julienne Wyckoff, Bruce Nawrocki, and Bobby Williams Walt Fehst, Executive Director Randy Schumacher, Acting Community Dev. Director Anita Kottsick, Parkview Villa Housing Administrator Cheryl Bakken, Secretary ADDITIONS, DELETIONS TO MEETING AGENDA - Ruettimann announced that 9-A-3 under Items for Consideration, Other Resolutions, was deleted for lack of necessary information for discussion. CONSENT AGENDA Adopt the consent agenda items as listed below. 1) Approval of Minutes - regular meeting of October, 2001 Move to adopt the minutes of the October, 2001 regular meeting as presented in writing. 2) Financial Report and Payment of Bills a. Financial Statement - October, 2001 b.' Payment of Bills - October, 2001 Move to approve Resolution 2001-17, Resolution of the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority (EDA) approving the financial statements for October, 2001 and approving payment of bills for October, 2001. MOTION by Nawrocki, second by Williams, to adopt the consent agenda items as listed. Ail ayes. Motion Carried. REPORT OF THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY Kottsick indicated that an inspector from the insurance company was out to inspect the new boilers and stated that they did not meet code. Therefore, the units were shut down until the contractor adds individual relief valves and shut off valves to each boiler. The hot water was out of service on November 8'h due to cloggedpipes, which made the unit overheat. Repairs were made on the 9'h. There was some vandalism at 4607 Tyler to the fence gate on the week of November 5th, which has been repaired. Trans Alarm replaced two cameras in the parking lot. There are only five residents left to issue security cards to and this should be done by next week. She will then have the system turned on. The strike on the middle door isn't very good, so Trans Alarm has been called to adjust it. Administrative Report- Kottsick is experiencing problems with HUD's new system for submitting the 50058family reports. Our software vendor is working with a representative from HUD to resolve the problems. The guidelines and procedures for the voluntary floor-checking program that will begin on January 1, 2002, are being discussed at the Resident Council meetings. At the November Resident Council meeting, residents were asked how many currently use the beauty Economic Development Authority Minutes November 20, 2001 Page 2 of 5 salon and how satisfied they are with the services, prices and quality. Twenty-eight female residents polled use the services. The majority of residents in attendance, were satisfied with the current services received. Nawrocki felt that twenty eight residents polled at Parkview Villa was not enough ora percentage to determine if they are satisfied with the salon services and wanted staff to check into what the reasoning is for the residents that don't use the salon. Jindra stated that at the Resident Council meeting some of the residents stated they still prefer to go to the beautician they have been going to for years at another location. MOTION by Peterson, second by Williams, to make theYesident satisfaction of the salon services at Parkview Villa a non-issue, as this is something that should be brought before the Resident Council. Upon Vote: Jinda-Aye, Peterson- Aye, Nawrocki- Nay, Szurek- Aye, Williams- Aye, Wyckoff- Aye. Motion Carried. Contract l"or Snow Removal Kottsick stated she contacted a number of contractors in the area to bid on the snow removal for Parkview Villa and the Tyler Street locations. Three contractors responded, Clean Sweep, Inc. at $84. 70per hour with plowing beginning at 1.5 to 3 inches, Fridley Snow Plowing and Removal responded with a no bid, but stated their hourly rate was $58.00, and Professional Building Maintenance Services, Inc. of Columbia Heights at $50 per occurrence for 1 to 4 inches and $60 per occurrence for 4- 8 inches of snow. Nawrocki felt that $40 for 1 to 4 inches of snow was too high for 4607 Tyler Street when we are only paying $50 at Parkview Villa for a much larger parking area. MOTION by Williams, second by Peterson, to approve the contract for snow removal services to cover year 2001-2002, to Professional Building Maintenance Services; and furthermore, to authorize'the President and Executive Director to enter into an agreement for the same. All ayes. Motion Carried. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION. Other Resolutions. Resolution 2001-18, Transferring Authority from EDA to HRA. Schumacher indicated that at the EDA meeting on February, 2001 it was suggested the Board consider transferring all City housing responsibilities, ownership, and operations to the Columbia Heights Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HIL4) thus allowing the EDA to focus on community development and redevelopment issues. Then on October 22, 2001 the City Council approved the second reading of Ordinance number 1442, determining the City's overall housing and redevelopment objectives would be best served if certain housing powers are allocated to the HRA, and redevelopment and economic development powers are allocated to the EDA. By approving Resolution 2001-18, this would transfer the control, authority and operation of all housing programs and projects from the EDA to the HtL4, as well as all real estate property and contracts. Nawrocki felt the City does not need two agencies (HRA/EDA). Economic Development Authority Minutes November 20, 2001 Page 3 of 5 MOTION by Peterson, second by Szurek, to approve Resolution 2001-18, a resolution relating to the transfer of certain projects to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority from the Columbia Heights Economic Development Authority; Modifying the Purchases of Services Agreement. Upon Vote: Jindra- Aye, Peterson- Aye, Nawrocki- Nay, Szurek- Aye, Williams- Aye, Wyckoff- Aye. Motion Carried. Resolution 2001-19, Decertification of Parcels from the CDB TIF District Schumacher indicated the Anoka County Auditors Office contacted staff to advise us that when the Transition Block Redevelopment TIF District No. 9 was certified in 1999, it included two parcels of land, the Locksmith Shop and the Professional Building, that h,ad previously been included in the Central Downtown Business TIF District. Therefore, the two parbels that were a part of the Transition Block Redevelopment TIF District No. 9for the 50 unit Senior Assisted Living facility need to be removed from the original Central Downtown Business TIF District by decertification. Resolution 2001-19 would decertify the two parcelsfrom the district. MOTION by Williams, second by Wyckoff, to approve Resolution 2001-19, a Resolution Decertifying Parcels 35-30-24-14-0092 and 35-30-24-14-0091 from the Central Downtown Business TIF District. All ayes. Motion Carried. Other Business. One Year Extension for Agreement with Center for Energy and Environment Schumacher indicated in 1999 the EDA entered into an agreement with the Center for Energy and Environment to administer comprehensive housing rehabilitation services for the Community Developznent Block Grant program. At the same time, the City entered into an agreement with CEE for administering the MHFA loan programs. Both agreements were extended for an additional year and expire on December 31, 2001. In the past year, CEE has not processed the CDBG loans in a timely matter. Therefore, staff recommended City Council approve the renewal of a one-year agreement with CEE to administer the MHFA loan housing rehabilitation programs and authorize staff to negotiate an agreement with ACCAP for administering the Community Development Block Grants for 2002. MOTION by Wyckoff, second by Szurek, to authorize staff to negotiate an agreement for administrative services with ACCAP for the Community Development Block Grant Program and bring it back to the EDA for consideration. All ayes. Motion Carried. MOTION by Wyckoff, second by Jindra, to recommend City Council approve the agreement for administrative services between CEE and the City for the MHFA Home Improvement Loans based upon their proposal. All Ayes. Motion Carried. Commercial and Housing Redevelopment. Gordon Awsumb with Minnesota Development, Harlan Jacobs with Genesis Corporation, and John Lampland, SavvyNet Inc., presented three items for consideration by the Board. Fiber Optics- Next spring when the downtown streets are upgraded the City would substantially save money by installing Fiber Optic Access at the same time. The advantages of installing Fiber Optic Access in Columbia Heights is that it would put Columbia Heights ahead of other cities installation, enhance the tax base, create more jobs and development in the City. With Fiber Optic Access the City and developers could build higher buildings to facilitate businesses in the Downtown Columbia Heights area. Awsumb stated that his firm and Genesis would be willing to donate to the addition of Fiber Optics in the City. The total cost of the access link, Economic Development Authority Minutes November 20, 2001 Page 4 of $ phase L project engineer, administrative costs, data communication equipment, reserve funds, and phase II would be $965,308. Wyckoff stated that the Telecommunications Committee Technicians- Dennis Stroik, Reuben Ruen, and Dan Swee should be contacted to discuss the Fiber Optic issues. Ruettimann suggested presenting the plan to Public Works Department, the Telecommunications Committee and then to bring it before the City Council. Development- Awsumb stated he has plans to develop another 50, 000 sq. fi. office unit above his bank building if the City should put in the Fiber Optic Access, which would enhance bio-medical companies to move into Columbia Heights. A Joint Partnership with the City for a Townhome Development- Awsumb proposed a joint partnership with the City of Columbia Heights to development the Gould Avenue and Central Avenue areas with a new Townhome Development. Currently Minnesota Development has an agreement with the City of Minneapolis to develop the same kind of project. MOTION by Nawrocki, second by Ruettimann, to recommend the Telecommunications Commission review the Fiber Optic plans, check with Qwest as to what their plans for Fiber Optics in the future are, Check with the City of Minneapolis on their intentions for Fiber Optics on Central Avenue, and to set up a meeting for January 2002 with City Councilmembers to discuss the issues presented, with Bruce Nawrocki chairing the steering committee. All ayes. Motion Carried. Establish a Business Revolving Loan Fund Review Committee. Nagel indicated that with the sale of the Neilsen and Chartraw loans, and the early payoff of the Warrick Loan, and an undetermined amount of funds from outstanding Business Revolving Loans that the City shouM establish a Business Revolving Loan Fund Review Committee to revise and update the Bylaws and Plan for all BRLF loans before processing any new ones: Nagel asked for a committee of three members to review the documents. Ervin Bednard, Wyckoff and Ruettimann, along with staff member Mark Nagel will be the three-member committee to review the documents. MOTION by Peterson, second by Williams, to establish a three-member committee of Bob Ruettimann, Julienne Wyckoff and Ervin Bednard, to work with staff memberl Mark Nagel to review the BRLF Loan Review Committee Bylaws and Plan and submit recommended revisions to the EDA Board. All ayes. Motion Carried. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS. Scheduling of December Meetings Schumacher requested an additional EDA meeting be held on December 17~h at 6p.m. prior to the City Council meeting to approve agreements such as the CDBG application for Anoka County that is due January 11th, and the agreement with ACCAP to administer the CDBG loan program for 2002. The Board agreed to the December 17~ meeting to be held at City Hall, Conference Room 1, prior to the City Council meeting. Review of Parking Ramp Condition Studies. Ruettimann indicated that the Parking Ramp studies have been done and there are three issues that he felt the Public Works department could take care; 1) grate missing shown in picture #5, 2) cable on the