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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-04 2014 URBAN RENEWAL MINUTES CALDWELL URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY Regularly Scheduled Meeting February 4, 2014 12:00 Noon City Hall, 411 Blaine St. A meeting of the Caldwell Urban Renewal Agency convened at 12:00 Noon on February 4, 2014 in the at City Hall, 411 Blaine St., with Chairman ElJay Waite presiding. Roll was called: Present: ElJay Waite, Theresa Hardin, Rob Hopper, and Scott Syme Absent: Kathy Alder, Leona Fouts, and Garret Nancolas (Ex-officio Member) Guests: Ken Wien, Independent contractor with the City of Caldwell Chris Allgood, Chief of Police and Optimist Club board member Bob Kafka, Optimist Club treasurer and secretary Dolores Schamp, Optimist Club vice-president Justin Dalme from the Idaho Press Tribune the agenda Motion to amend by adding Item 5A to discuss a proposal from the Jefferson Charter School as presented by Matt Dorsey: Hopper/Hardin M/S/P Executive Session to Discuss Land Acquisition Motion to enter into Executive Session (Title 67-2345.C&D) at 12:05pm: Hopper/Hardin M/S/P Exit Executive Session 12:45pm OLD BUSINESS #1 CEDC Report and FTZ Update Steve Fultz reported on the current activity within the CEDC Department. Project Plane Formal application has been submitted with the potential of 60 jobs. Project Revisit Discussions continue consolidation of two businesses. Looking at reconsidering their options dealing with location. Project I-way Working with an existing manufacturer on the expansion of their current operations. Potential of 50 to 70 jobs with consideration of site at Sky Ranch. Project Aim Firearms Company still under negotiations CEDC will be meeting with them next week on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at the Caldwell Industrial Airport. Project White This is a project from 2012 that has become active again. Would build 47,000 sq. ft. facility with approximately 100 jobs. They are currently looking at two sites in Caldwell. Decision in March. Project Aspen This is a project from 2012 that has become active again. Looking for a 100,000 sq. ft. facility with the potential of 100 jobs They are in town this week to meet with parties. Page 1 of 7 Project Ram Will meet with the Red Carpet Committee on Thursday. Looking at two possible sites for a new distribution center (12,000 sq. ft. to start). DL Evans Things are progressing on this new building. They are working with P&Z concerning design. Project CW New project looking for site to construct small warehouse/distribution and assembly site. Will be in discussion with them this week. Former Idaho Athletic Facility Working with the owner. Southwark Manufacturing Company Looking to hire a new plant manager. They currently have 45 full time employees. CAM- New innovative efforts in maintenance and design. Project Greenhill Bag manufacturer looking at a site off Cleveland Boulevard with access to rail. Foreign Trade Zone Update: Two applications have been submitted this week to the National Foreign Trade Zone Board in Washington, D.C. It was noted that Mr. Fultz will present a spreadsheet next month outlining all of the projects and their status for members of the Urban Renewal board. NEW BUSINESS #1 Consider LOI from project Revisit No action taken. #2 Consider Optimist Club fi Chris Allgood reported that members of the Optimist Club met with City staff and the building was toured. A list of items that need to be accomplished before the building can be occupied was discussed. The list was not as extensive as the club originally thought. Renovations include clean up of the building, adding a fire door, moving the restrooms and put up a wall to block off rooms. There will be on occupancy limitation of 49 persons within the building. The building will be used for training purposes only. Any larger group would require the building to include a sprinkling system. Bob Kafka noted that the PAL Boxing Club has been in operation for approximately 27 years in Caldwell. Currently the Optimist Club is paying out a large amount for rent and the PAL Boxing Club will not be able to continue at its current location. He reported that several citizens, who are assisting with the potential new PAL building, are former boxers within the PAL program. Ken Wien presented a draft plan of the proposed Caldwell PAL Recreation Center which was generated by Architect Adam Garcia. R & M Steel has donated framework materials for a 7,000 sq. ft building. Foundation materials and interior components would need to be sought from the community. The plan is being refined to include recreational facilities and office space. It would serve as a community youth center. Page 2 of 7 The committee includes two contractors and they are actively looking at what can be done through donations and volunteer labor. The potential site is near the existing tennis courts and across from the Caldwell Swimming Pool on City-owned property. Chief Allgood reported that the City Engineering Department has calculated the layout of the building on the parcel. It will be a total youth sports complex to include the tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, and the swimming pool. It is hoped to that the Caldwell Police school resource officers and the bike patrol unit could operate out of the front offices. There will be 6,000 sq. ft. of recreational space plus 1,000 sq. ft. of office space at the site. In response to questions, Mr. Kafka reported that the boxing program is not sustainable at this point if there is a large outlay for rental space. The local Optimist Club hosts the Idaho Silver There are fifty members within the Optimist Club and approximately twenty members within the boxing club. Ms. Schamp reported that it is the desire of the Optimist Club to clean up the outside of the building with a power washer and possibly paint the exterior. Artwork could be done on the windows by students of TVCC. A sign which is currently being used at the building at Kimball ptimist Youth Boxing Training Concern was expressed by Commissioner Hopper that the facility would only be available for a limited period of time. Even knowing that the building might be a temporary solution, Ms. Schamp expressed that it was worth the risk since they must move from their current location by the end of February. Discussion followed. Commissioner building site inasmuch has there had already been discussion by the URA board to demolish the building. Mr. Kafka recommended that a document be drafted to the extent of the temporary nature of the Chief Allgood stated that the cost associated to update the building for usage by the boxing club has been estimated at approximately $2,000. Chairman Waite explained that he was contacted by members of the community about placing a plaza on the site at Arthur and Kimball. In January a public workshop was held with City Council in which those citizens attended but did not address a change in plans for the plaza to be located City Council Members have reiterated that the Framework Master Plan should be followed. If the building comes down and nothing happens, how does that affect Urban Renewal? Chairman Waite reported that it is better to wait for demolition bids Page 3 of 7 to be gathered when a secure plan is in place noting that the building is going to come down someday. th Discussion was held about the Framework Master Plan providing for a downtown plaza at 7 and Arthur and a commercial retail devel Chairman Waite reported that the City is looking to hire someone to promote the Framework Master Plan as it has been approved by the community and City Council. Chairman Waite expressed his support of the Optimist Club for coming forward with a plan and It would be sad if the building sat vacant for 18 months while the Optimist Club struggles to find something else. Discussion followed concerning the timeframe for when bids for demolition should be received and the cost involved with that process. It was noted that if the building was removed, the lot would sit vacant at this time. Commissioner Hopper stated that if the Optimist Club was willing to take the risk with the understanding that the parcel could be developed in the future, he was in support of the request. Ms. Schamp stated that it would be worth taking the risk because there are no other options at this point. She reported that their board meets tomorrow morning to finalize plans for the boxing club. Motion to allow the Optimist Boxing Club, based on their approval, to use the building as a boxing facility until their new building is constructed or until a decision is made to bring the MOTION by Hopper; SECONDED by Hardin Roll call: Those voting yes: Hopper, Waite, Hardin, Syme. M/S/P It was stated by Chairman Waite that the building needs to be attractive; it needs to bring parents and patrons downtown, and should be a catalyst to have more participation in the boxing club. Urban Renewal will do its best to keep the boxing club in the facility for as long as possible; however, it is understood that the URA board will move forward with their plans to help revitalize downtown. Mr. Waite asked to hear from the Optimist board members after their meeting on Wednesday morning. #3 CEDC MOU committee meeting update Chairman Waite reported that he had forwarded to members a copy of the job description for the CEDC Administrative Assistant. This information will be submitted to the ad hoc committee for their review. He asked the Urban Renewal Commissioners to forward suggestions to him as to the duties that would fulfill the need of Urban Renewal. Discussion followed concerning the process in submitting FTZ applications by the CEDC director. Page 4 of 7 #4 Thomas Jefferson Charter School Proposal Matt Dorsey, board member from the Thomas Jefferson Charter School presented information to expand their facility by adding an auditorium and lab facilities with two additional classes. The school covers grades K-12. They have received funds from The Albertson Foundation that promotes collaboration with local colleges and businesses. The expansion of the building could assist with additional learning opportunities for the students. Student enrollment would not be increased. The school board is looking to locate a neighboring parcel to expand the facility. Discussion followed concerning options including the usage of property located to the south of the school site. The parking area could be expanded by the City for duel use by the area park. Mr. Dorsey stated that Thomas Jefferson board members will continue this discussion with the URA board at the March meeting. #5 Approve BIG-002 reimbursement request #4 Chairman Waite noted that he had received the grant application and outlined the report. All criteria has been met for first quarter funding. Motion to approve the report and authorize payment for the fourth quarter period of $25,000: Hopper/Syme M/S/P #6 Approve BIG-003 reimbursement request #1: Chairman Waite reported that this report was already approved last month. #7 Review 2013 Audit Report Chairman Waite presented the 2013 Audit Report and outlined the report as written. th Commissioner Hopper will present the Audit Report to City Council on February 18. #8 Finance report provided by Rob Hopper . Bank of the Cascades Business Ckg Ending Balance Earnings January 31, 2014 $4,024,610.55 -0- Bank of the Cascades Time CD#1 Ending Balance Earnings December 31, 2013 $250,000.00 -0- Local Government Investment Pool Ending Balance Earnings December 31, 2013 $108,301.26 $8.77 Zions Bank (Bond Debt Service) Ending Balance Earnings December 31, 2013 $3,772,973.75 $25.56 Motion to approve the financial report: Syme/Hardin M/S/P #9 Invoices presented for payment presented by Rob Hopper. $1,150,000.00 to Pioneer Title for the Freehold Development land purchase $3,100.00 to Eide Bailly for the 2013 audit fees $107,842.16 to City of Caldwell for the completion of Skyway 7 Challenger Way Projects. Page 5 of 7 $28.00 to City of City of Caldwell for reimbursement lunch expenses board meeting 1/7/14 $125,162.15 to SunTrust for 2007 Revenue Notes $25,000.00 to Southwark Metal for BIG-002 payment #4 Ratifications: $2,000.00 to Zions for the annual trustee fees/bonds 2012 (Check #1698) $1,000,000.000 to YMCA for 2014 pledge amount (Check #1699) Motion to approve the invoices for payment: Hardin/Syme M/S/P #10 Report of Activities demolition: Discussion was held concerning the history and progress of demolition bids for the s building. In response to questions from Commissioner Syme, Chairman Waite reported that demolition bids should be sought when a viable plan is in place for the use of the parcel. Commissioner Syme expressed concern with the lack of funding with the Optimist Club to rehabilitate the building and therefore bids for demolition should move forward. Commissioner Hopper expressed concern of expending tax funds for the project rather than a developer demolishing the building when the site is developed. Syme suggested that the Optimist Club could contact local businessmen about the possibility of them donating a building for their use with the boxing club. Discussion was held concerning the costs associated with gaining bids, paying permit fees, and the actual demolition costs. Chairman Waite estimated that the cost to gain bids would be approximately $500 and $30,000 to demolish the building. It was emphasized by Chairman Waite that City Council is in support of the Framework Master Plan and the stipulated use of the parcel located at Kimball and Arthur as outlined within the Plan. Commissioner Hardin stated that the local business would like to see a viable use for the parcel. Commissioner Syme concluded by stating the importance of the building being demolished. Conflict of Interest: Chairman Waite expressed the need for each commissioner to address any potential conflict of interest at each meeting concerning issues brought before the Urban Renewal Agency board for consideration. Report concerning Skyranch Landscaping Assessment. Chairman Waite reported that a document will be brought to Urban Renewal in the March meeting concerning landscaping assessments along Smeed Avenue. Page 6 of 7 1 Commissioner Reports: #1 Commission Syme reported that realtors are predicting that property values will remain flat on residential properties this year. These values appear to be similar to the market in 2001. He noted that there was a 30 percent increase in property values from December 2012 to June 2013. #12 Motion to Adjourn Motion to Adjourn: Hoper/Hardin M/S/P Meeting Adjourned at 2:09 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Debbie Geyer Caldwell City Clerk Page 7 of 7