Committee Minutes

MINUTES/URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, March 15, 1994 - 12:00 Noon

Members present: Lien, Hanson.

1. Public hearing on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
applications for funding of bricks and mortar projects:
Chairman Lien called for the public hearing.

1) Proj. #1 - Grand Forks Park Board - $65,000
Funding is requested for Youth Program. Joel Manske, Housing Authority, reported that Bill Palmiscno of Park Board, was unable to attend today's meeting; that funding is requested for Youth Center (to construct building) at University Square, low income housing complex in Richard's West Subdivision, 125 kids with no recreational equipment.

2) Proj. #4 - Grand Forks Housing Authority - $50,000
Funding is requested for Rehab of Grand Forks Homes, Phase B) Joel Manske, Housing Authority, reported project is to rehab. family housing complex located on 800 block of 4th Avenue South which is in need of substantial repair; and that funds will serve as match to Flexible Subsidy Rehab. Program through HUD, and that project could exceed $2.5 million.

3) Proj. #15 - Office of Urban Development - $130,000
Funding is for GF Affordable Housing Assistance Program; and it was noted this program started last year, to assist first-time home owners with down-payment and closing costs, other part of program involved in rehabbing; last year assisted 42 families, half with down-payment and half with rehabbing.

4) Proj. #18 - Office of Urban Development - $30,000
Funding is for Playground Equipment. Curt Siewert reported this will be third year for this program, which is to purchase playground equipment, with owner of site to provide site improvements.

5) Proj. #20 - Office of Urban Development - $75,000
Funding is requested for Housing Demo. Program. John O'Leary reported that under this program Urban Development would acquire substandard buildings near downtown area, demolish and use lot to encourage new construction.

6) Proj. #13 - Shelter for Homeless - $30,000
Funding is requested for Capital Improvements, Phase III. Mr. O'Leary reported that staff recommendation is not to allocate this year. Mr. Siewert reported that fire alarm system for both buildings was installed, they will add change order to update lighting, fire doors; that in last five year put $155,000 into Mission building and in addition to that put in $60-80,000 out of Community Needs Program.

7) Proj. #16 - Office of Urban Development - $40,000

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March 15, 1994 - Page 2

Funding is requested for Acquisition and Demolition Project. Mr. Siewert reported project consists of acquisition and demolition of buildings that are substandard - to remove property that is beyond rehab., and that emphasis has been on City-owned property.

8) Proj. #6 - Office of Urban Development - $33,000
Funding is requested for Riverbank Park project. Mr. Siewert reported this project involves summer youth program, with this summer's activities to include development of picnic area and walk area in Scripps Memorial Park near Chamber, to reclaim demolition site at 424 N. 3rd Street, and to purchase 20 concrete picnic tables.

9) Proj. #17 - Office of Urban Development - $30,000
Funding is requested for Storefront Rehabilitation.
Mr. Siewert reported this program provides $ for $ match for commercial storefront rehabbing in Central Business District.

10) Proj. #21 - Grand Forks Park District - $35,000
Funding is requested for park for handicapped (Independence Garden). John Staley of the Park Board reported they received $25,000 last year but project not started as it got too late in season (they did plant some shrubs and removed chainlink fence). He stated they are asking for $35,000 to do another installment of the project, and submitted drawings/plan to the committee. He reported project will provide garden space for those impaired and is designed for different types of impairments. He stated that the Park District will sponsor the project and will work with Forks Handicap Club, who was sponsor last year; that Park District has budgeted for restrooms for next year. He also noted that it was more efficient and less expensive to do two gardening beds at once. He also stated this project is in area with population of limited mobility, growing population in Grand Forks; and that this is good project and good site. He noted that in answer to committee's question that Sertoma Park has come up in discussion as location, but that will be in the distant future. He also stated that the total project cost is $120,000. The committee questioned future funding, and Mr. Staley stated they will be coming back to this committee and also to Beautification Fund, and will also solicit donations. Mr. Staley reported that the first $25,000 will do the first gardening bed, incl. drainage and some concrete.

Georgene Emard of the Forks Handicap Club, was present and stated that Diane Sheppard of ARC, Nancy Nupdal of Development Homes, residents at 110 Cherry Street, and members of Forks Handicap Club, are interested and support this project. Carla Tyce of ARC Upper Valley, also appeared in support of this project. Chuck Orange stated that one of the reasons for high cost of the project is the amount of paved areas that will be put in for MINUTES/URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
March 15, 1994 - Page 3

those in wheelchairs. Hanson stated that the balance of this project should be paid out of their own funding.

11) Proj. #11 - Habitat for Humanity - $18,000
Funding is requested for building project.

12) Proj. #5 - Development Homes - $14,261
Funding is requested for Refurbishing Group Homes.

13) Proj. #14 - Prairie Harvest Human Services - $14,100
Funding requested for handicapped accessible entrance construction at the Home Place Thrift Store and Prairie Harvest admin. offices.

Mr. O'Leary reported that two projects were not ranked by the Advisory Committee as they did not receive percentage of votes for ranking (ND Special Olympics Unified Sports Program and Senior Citizens Center for parking lot). He recommended that $20,000 be kept in Contingencies.

Chairman Lien closed the public hearing.

Hanson moved and Lien seconded a motion to allocate funding for bricks and mortar projects as follows:
Grand Forks Park Board (Youth Center Bldg.) $ 65,000
GF Housing Authority (Rehab of GF Homes, Phase B) 50,000
Office of Urban Development (GF Affordable Housing
Assistance Program) 95,250
Office of Urban Development (Playground Equipment) 25,000
Office of Urban Development (Housing Demo.Program) 60,000
Office of Urban Development (Acquisition and
Demolition Project) 25,000
Office of Urban Development (Riverbank Park) 20,000
Office of Urban Development (Storefront Rehab.) 15,000
Grand Forks Park District (Handicap Park) 18,000
$373,250
Contingencies 20,000
Administration 121,000
Total $393,250


2. Rental rehab. request for additional funds.
Terry Hanson reported that Terry Farder had submitted communication requesting an additional $60,500 in rental rehab. funds, which will be matched by the owner, and extension of time for repayment of original loan to January 1, 1995. He reported that funding was to complete renovation requirements of properties at 2603, 2523, 2529 7th Avenue South and 716, 736 25th Avenue South (RBJ Apartments), that project is about 90%
complete, but he has run into problem under-estimating costs. It was noted that the additional funding is for fire protection

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March 15, 1994 - Page 4

requirements made known to them after original loan made, and cost overruns; and project will be completed in June or July of this year. It was noted that the staff supports the request. Moved by Hanson and Lien to approve request for an additional $60,500 in rental rehab funds to be matched by the owner, and an extension of time for repayment of original loan to January 1, 1995. Motion carried.

3. Application for Housing Rehab. funds:
a) 413 2nd Avenue South
Curt Siewert reviewed application by Jill Knaus, 413, 2nd Avenue South, for $5,000 to update electrical service, glaze and replace missing storm windows. Moved by Lien and Hanson to approve application. Motion carried.

4. Slum and blight survey.
Curt Siewert presented survey report and delineated area boundaries. Mr. O'Leary reported this isn't urban renewal area, but area eligible for CDBG monies, that other areas can be eligible by going through designation process; and is a requirement of HUD. Mr. Siewert reported they visually surveyed area, approx. 28% commercial. Moved by Hanson and Lien to approve survey and delineated area as shown in the survey. Motion carried.

5. Matter of appointment of member to FY 1995 Budget Framework
Committee (chairman or his designee).
Chairman Lien appointed Mr. Carpenter to the budget committee; Hanson seconded motion. Motion carried.

6. Change order to Mission project.
Mr. Siewert reported that during inspection of fire alarm system project at Mission, they found that emergency lighting doesn't work and fire doors wedged open, that they asked contractor and engineer for estimates of cost to include those items in the project through change order - est. $10,000. Moved by Lien and Hanson to authorize change order to Mission project for $10,000 to cover emergency lighting and hold-backs on fire doors. Motion carried.

7. Request to purchase grass seed.
Curt Siewert expressed concern re. increase in price of grass seed this summer due to flood conditions last year, etc. and requested authorization to purchase seed, because they will need to reseed entire riverbank area, est. cost $5,096. Moved by Hanson and Lien to authorize purchase, contingent upon reim- bursement by FEMA. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned.
Alice Fontaine, City Clerk
Dated: 3/16/94.