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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-18-2008 URBAN RENEWAL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES � MEETING MINUTES Special Meeting CALDWELL URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY December 18, 2008 - 12:00 pm City Administrative Offices, Conference Room A special meeting of the Caldwell Urban Renewal Agency was held December 18, 2008 at 12:00 pm in the Conference Room at the City Administrative Offices, with Chairman Waite presiding. The roll was called: Present: ElJay Waite, Garret Nancolas, Rob Hopper and Leona Fouts. Guests: Jesse, reporter for the Idaho Press Tribune Motion to amend the agenda to add item #SA, Consider Quit Claim Deed to City of Caldwell for Lots 9-12, Block 9, Caldwell Original Townsite, and approve the agenda as amended.• Hopper/Nancolas M/S/P Motion to approve the minutes from the December 2, 2008 meeting and the minutes from the December 2, 2008 Public Hearing: Fouts/Nancolas M/S/P NEW BUSINESS Chairman Waite introduced Resolution 2009-1 providing for judicial confirmation to issue • revenue allocation bonds for an educational facility. Chairman Waite stated that a Public Hearing took place on December 2, 2008 to gather public input on the resolution. URA has waited fourteen (14) days from the date of the hearing to act on the resolution, according to statute. Chairman Waite further noted that twenty-five (25) citizens signed up to speak in favar of the resolution. There were no dissenting speakers and no written or official objections to the resolution. One verbal objection from Paul Alldredge is noted. Mayor Nancolas stated that this action is an investment in children, students and families, and it is an investment from an economic development standpoint. He further stated that there is not a more legitimate and reasonable expenditure of funds than for our schools, businesses and economic development. Mayor Nancolas noted a comment made by the College of Western Idaho stating that there is far more demand for access to a community college in our valley than even TVCC and CWI can fill. A quality education with transferrable credits is essential, necessary and wise. Motion to sponsor and approve Resolution No. 2009-1: Fouts/Hopper M/S/P Chairman Waite presented final transfer documents for the Marble Front School site property. (Authorization to sign the documents was granted at the December 2, 2008 meeting.) Motion to accept the Marble Front School transfer documents: Hopper/Fouts M/S/P Chairman Waite introduced information from parties interested in utilizing the buildings at 215 and 217 South Kimball. The previous owners gave permission for the Caldwell Center for the Arts to use the building to display and sell art objects through January 3, 2009. A lease • agreement between URA and the Center for the Arts has been approved by the city attorney and signed by the Center for the Arts for occupancy from December 15, 2008 through January 3, 2009. Motion to approve the lease: Fouts/Hopper M/S/P Three parties have expressed interest in the parcels: 1. Informal Request: . • Business students at the College of Idaho wish to use the space to open a coffee house & bookstore, allowing the students the opportunity to build/run a business. 2. Written Requests: • Story & Co. — Retail Clothing • Arlene Yamamoto — Tax Accountant — short term lease Motion to authorize Chairman Waite and Mayor Nancolas to request further information from the College of Idaho and to pursue a lease with the tax accountant: Hopper/Fouts M/S/P Mayor Nancolas proposed an advisory vote election for the education building project and presented the following commentary: CEURA has consistently placed great effort and commitment in following both the intent and the spirit of the law. The difficulty with urban renewal law is that it doesn't provide for a vote for issuance of bonds. CEURA has always been transparent and open with the public on all issues and projects and, although it's not provided within the law, CEURA would be well served to consider an advisory vote by the public in February. As there is nothing prescribed in law, the question arises as to who should be included in the advisory vote (i.e. only citizens within the CEURA district? All property owners in the county? Out of state landowners? Etc.), and how the voting process would be administered. Mayor Nancolas suggested that our legislators be approached to provide urban renewal districts with direction and mechanisms to gain public approval of future bond issuances. For full disclosure and to gain input, an advisory vote should be seriously considered for this educational facility. Motion to ask Caldwell City Council to consider holding and advisory vote for the TVCC building project in February, with the offer of reimbursement for costs on behalf of CEURA to the City: Hopper/Nancolas M/S/P • . � Chairman Waite presented a proposal to offer relocation assistance of $129,000 to t1�e property owner for the sale of property to the City to complete the city center catalyst project. Motion to authorize CEURA to pay up to $129, 000 in acquisition of the Pilote property for relocation and business abandonment expense: Hopper/Nancolas M/S/P Chairman Waite proposed consideration of a second quit claim deed for the A-drain re- alignment to include an additiona1304 square feet of property to serve as an entrance. Motion to authorize Chairman Waite to sign the second quit claim deed for the A-drain re-alignment: Nancolas/Fouts M/S/P Chairman Waite presented a quit claim deed to the City of Caldwell for Lots 9-12, Block 9, Caldwell Original Townsite (the old car wash property on the corner of 10` and Arthur). Motion to approve quit claim deed and authorize Chairman Waite to sign on behalf of CEURA: Nancolas/Hopper M/S/P Mayor Nancolas proposed an amendment to increase the number of commissioners on the CEURA Board from five (5) to either seven (7) or nine (9) to broaden the representation from the citizens-at-large. A majority count of elected officials within Canyon County to ensure responsibility for tax dollars will be important. The statutes allow for up to nine commissioners. Motion to request a meeting or workshop for the City of Caldwell to consider a reconfiguration • of the board to increase the commissioner count to seven or nine to include additional citizens- at-large and allow for a majority count of elected officials, not city staff Hopper/Nancolas M/S/P There being no further business: Motion to adjourn: Fouts/Hopper M/S/P � Meeting adjourned 1:00 PM Respectfully Submitted, Leona R. Fouts Secretary • �