Committee Minutes

MINUTES/URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Wednesday, May 29, 1996 - 4:00 p.m.

Members present: Beach, Glassheim, Hanson.

1. Matter of clean-up of riverbank boat landing area.
Paul Lester was present. John O'Leary reported his office received response from Mr. Lester to communication relative to cleanup of the riverbank with substantial completion by today, and copies were provided to the committee. Mr. Lester stated it was his intention to do what is required in the lease but couldn't do in time allotted; that bikepath still under water as is retaining wall, and there is clay dike on upper portion of his property, and unable to get heavy equipment down there. Curt Siewert reported that the clay dike is on the property purchased by the Parking Authority, and he negotiated with contractor to leave clay there to be used for fill. Mr. Lester stated he will use as fill; and that he has removed 3 buildings from the area.

Mr. O'Leary reported to committee that Mr. Swanson, city attorney, feels it best not to terminate lease until cleanup issue addressed.

Mr. Hanson suggested that cleanup be completed by July 4 cele- bration, which is 5 weeks from now. Mr. Lester said that he will report to committee every 2 weeks.

Moved by Hanson and Glassheim to ask Mr. Lester to report back to committee on June 12 and to defer any action on the lease at this time. Motion carried. (committee action only)

Mr. O'Leary asked Mr. Lester to sit down with staff and to negotiate what's reasonable in repairs.

2. Request for authorization to call for bids for Industrial
Park expansion.
Mr. O'Leary reported this is expansion of the Industrial Park as required by the Cirrus project as well as the EDA grant, it's to run loop off 48th Street around Cirrus property and about half for Cirrus and other half available for future client; and the request before committee is to approve authorization to call for bids for infrastructure (sewer, water, street lights, storm sewer and paving), contingent upon review and approval by the engineering department and by EDA.

Mr. O'Leary reported that the project would include sewer, water, etc., funded by $1 million grant from EDA and balance from Growth Fund to be paid over 4-year period; that the $1.6 million in- cludes acquisition of land which is used as match; City would own property.

Moved by Hanson and Glassheim to approve the bidding of the Industrial Park expansion contingent upon engineering department and EDA approval. Motion carried.

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3. Matter of job-share position.
Mr. O'Leary reported that under Civil Service regulations there is provision to share jobs between more than one employee; for number of years they have had part-time secretary, and recently hired second part-time secretary (one of those individuals promoted to another position in the office); these are two permanent part-time positions and it seemed logical to make into one position, which would be job-share, with half of that position filled by present employee and other part of the position be advertised. He stated they looked over job description and under new study, position would be office specialist. He stated that the request before committee is to authorize creation of this position within the office of urban development and to establish that position under job-share provisions of the Code. Mr. O'Leary reported they receive $100,000 from the City each year with balance of payroll for the office from Community Development and other grants they administrate; that if reduction in administrative monies available they would reduce office staff; these positions as other positions in the office are dependent upon their ability to generate grants and other revenue streams.

Committee questioned advantage of 2 part-time positions vs. full-time position. Mr. O'Leary stated that lot of individuals not interested in full-time position (that Housing Auth. will be coming back to create second position like this). He stated major advantage to both employer and employee is flexibility, flexibility of working part-time, extra help available if needed; employee eligible to receive pro-rated share of health care if work over 1,000 hours, eligible to participate on pro-rated basis in retirement program and disability program.

Moved by Hanson and Glassheim to authorize creation of office specialist position in the office of urban development and to establish the position under job-share provisions. Motion carried.

Mr. O'Leary stated they would revise job description to reflect duties and responsibilities the individuals would perform in their office, Civil Service would rank the position, and funds would come out of existing administrative budget.

4. Request from Convention & Visitors' Bureau for grant under adopt-an-area program.
Mr. O'Leary reported request came from Convention and Visitors' Bureau; Mr. Staley couldn't be here today but supports request. He stated that this request differs from other adopt-an-area programs which are administrated by volunteers, this area would not be maintained by volunteers.

Ben Hart, CVB, stated they are continuing to upgrade their

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May 29, 1996 - Page 3

facility, have increased size of signs, added banners, etc. and have allocated $2,000 for additional landscaping around their facility; that he talked with Mr. O'Leary and he suggested this program but that they would need people to take care of the area; Mr. Hart stated that their staff has volunteered to maintain area on their own time. He stated they are requesting a grant to match their $2,000; that they received estimate of $3,195 from Shea's to do project.

Mr. O'Leary reported that under the program, groups adopt a small parcel of land , that they use $2,000 out of City's Beautifica- tion Fund to buy shrubbery, improvements, and that group agrees to maintain the area over the course of the summer months, and always been volunteers. He stated he misunderstood the maintenance portion and this would fit in under the program. He stated there is about $10,000 allocated to the Beautification Program each year. It was noted that the Park District is willing to relinquish $2,000 from that allocation for this request, and Park District will also assist in prep. time of the area. He stated that the Park District indicated that they will not be able to utilize all the adopt-an-area funds this year because they have not found good match for volunteers to maintain or locations.

Moved by Glassheim and Hanson to delete $2,000 from the adopt-an-area program and award beautification grant of up to $2,000 on a matching basis to the Convention and Visitors' Bureau. Motion carried. (committee action only)

5. Request from Housing Authority for amendment to Home Program for Phase A (110 Cherry Street)
Mr. O'Leary reported that they are under construction with renovation of project at 110 Cherry Street, project on schedule, but have run into problem with air conditioners in these units.

Joel Manske, director of Housing Authority, reported that there are 76 elderly tenants in that building, that majority of those tenants have purchased air conditioners and many have purchased the new vertical units that don't lay horizontally in an air conditioner sleeve (some at cost of approx. $500-600); that in rehabbing the building contractor installing air conditioner sleeves in the wall, vertical units do not fit in the sleeves and tenants very upset; that air conditioning factor in health condition of these families, HUD also considers it an issue. He stated he had call from Greg Schneider, Dakota TV, to whom he had directed these tenants to contact re. air conditioning, that majority do not have money to replace their units, and Dakota TV couldn't approve financing and therefore, these people cannot replace their units. He stated they are proposing to ask HOME Program for an additional $25,000 to provide air conditioners in the units, and to lease backto tenants at $50/per season; put a

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10-year useful life on the product and escrow the money and that would allow them to continue to provide air conditioning to the tenants.

There was some discussion re. disposition of air conditioners owned by tenants, some still owe money on their units; that tenant would be able to sell their units, that there is a market for them, that Dakota TV will take them all and reimburse tenant.
Committee questioned whether the HOME funds were programmed for other project(s); Mr. O'Leary stated they were unallocated funds.
Committee also questioned cost to tenants; it was noted that Housing Authority would maintain the air conditioners. Committee questioned whether all tenants would want air conditioners; Mr. Manske stated there is not air handling system in this building, and air becomes stagnant, hot, during hot weather, etc. It was also stated that air conditioning would be option for the tenants.

Moved by Glassheim and Hanson to amend the 1995 HOME Program grant in the amount of $25,000 to include installation of air conditioners for 76 apartments at 110 Cherry Street, with units to be leased to tenants at a cost of $40/per season. Motion carried.

Moved by Hanson and Glassheim to adjourn; meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.

Alice Fontaine
City Clerk

Dated: 5/29/96.