Committee Minutes

MINUTES/FLOOD RESPONSE COMMITTEE
Wednesday, November 12, 1997 - 5:00 p.m.

I. Call to order:
Members Hafner, Bakken, Carpenter, Glassheim, Polovitz.
II. Matter of Mortenson update.
Tom Nonweiler, M.A.Mortenson, reviewed the following bids and change orders:
a) Security Building Project (demo, debris removal and backfill) - 6 bidders with low bid submitted by Magnus Trucking and Ceres Environmental, JV in the amount of $174,700 and recommended award. (They are doing Belmont and Lincoln Schools) Moved by Glassheim and Bakken to accept low bid as recommended. Motion carried.

b) Abuse Center and Valdak Bldg.
Mr. Nonweiler reported they received 1 bid for abatement for both projects, Environmental Abatement in the amount of $14,878; received 5 bids for demolition, Peterson Construction low bidder in the amount of $35,659, and recommended award to the low bidders. Moved by Bakken and Carpenter to accept low bids as recommended. Motion carried.

Mr. Nonweiler reviewed the following change orders:
c) City Hall (conference seating - 64, and 6 special need chairs for new conference room, $17,460) - Gaffaney's $35,912. Moved by Bakken and Polovitz to approve change order. Motion carried.

d) City Hall (additional steel sinks/faucets, added fixtures in Room 150/151 bathrooms) Air Mechanical - $2,840
e) City Hall (duct work) - Air Mechanical - $11,473.
f) City Hall (installation of fresh air louver for boiler combustion air - Code compliance) Lakehead Contractors, $2,567.
Moved by Glassheim and Polovitz to approve change orders. Motion carried.

IV. Matter of housing rehabilitation volunteer update.
Pat Berger, United Way, distributed copies of updates from Upper Red River Valley Unmet Needs Committee and the flood recovery report . She stated that the update from Upper Red River Valley Unmet Needs Committee included listing of agencies involved and flow chart outlining how cases referred to them. She reported that the non-profits have been doing an on-going case management study and this is primarily to help low income, elderly individuals who are still having trouble getting themselves back from the flood, that case management can involve various things - helping to rebuild, involved in Phase III, and United Way coordinating and work with the groups.

She stated that the actual flood recovery report will be done on a weekly basis - that presently have 672 families/individuals who have requested assistance and of that number 492 have been referred MINUTES/FLOOD RESPONSE COMMITTEE
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to case management for clean-up, rebuilding, replacement of ap-pliances, etc., that they get new cases every day. She also reported that the North Star Inn is filled with volunteers (Vic-tory, LDR, CRWC and Church of the Brethren). She reported that last week Northwest Airlines flew up a small group of 34 volunteers from Habitat for Humanity volunteers (skilled labor); the Salvation Army provided 907 families (and 2,896 individuals received vouchers worth $50 or more to purchase winter clothes at K-Mart or Wal-Mart, donated clothing was also available; and the United Way received a $28,000 grant from the St. Paul Foundation to purchase appliances for low income and elderly (purchased at Maury's who provided free delivery and installation). Info. only.

III. Matter of flood protection study update.
Ken Vein, city engineer and dir. of public works, reported their weekly review sessions are continuing in St. Paul, number of staff people are attending as needed, and probably continue through this year. He stated that Acres International continuing to assist in technical areas. He reported that in dealing with diversion aspect of the project there was some concern about what should have for design profile, water surface profile through the city, and earlier had used 49' as desired water surface profile at least at the gauging station on the south side of DeMers, that staff (in-cluding Acres and EGF cons. engineers) made a modification to 51 ft. through town, that there is some fluctuation but that matches the existing high ground line through the city and would still be relying on a levee system for freeboard and risk of uncertainty. He reported this would allow the diversion ditch to be somewhat smaller and still gives the city a close protection for water flowing through the city, this is for design flow for this year's flood, and will still have significant freeboard built into the levee system. He reported they are designing system through the city for a 100-year protection and will have even more protection that what needed with 51' water surface profile.

Mr. Vein reported that neighborhood meetings are continuing, that the levee alignments for the northern portion of the city (north of Minnesota Ave.) will be brought to public meeting around first week of December and probably mid-January come up with alignment to the south.

It was noted that amount of water that would be taken out by diver-sion was still in the process of being evaluated, and that this will all determine alignment of the levees. Mr. Vein reported that existing dikes upgraded to above 50 ft. but that won't be future levee alignments. Information.

V. Matter of engineering agreement with Acres International
for technical advisory services for diversion study.
Charles Grotte, asst. dir. of public works, presented excerpts from the agreement reviewing their scope of work with a
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max. fee of $82,000, that this is an hourly contract with reim-bursables, and they will be acting as City's technical advisor on diversion study, attending meetings, reviewing various documents and providing City with advice and finally with consolidated report. He reported they have taken timeline established by SCH, Corps' consultant, and looked at elements of work and when hap-pening, and based on their schedule have determined their need to be involved, and he has reviewed that with them. He stated that their work coordinated with work diversion consultant is doing and will be attending Corps' meetings. Committee stated City would get bulk of direction from Corps on setback levee or diversion, Mr. Grotte stated Corps working with this group, and more in an advisory position.

Moved by Glassheim and Polovitz to approve the agreement. Motion carried.

VI. Matter of ordinance establishing Downtown Development Comm.
John O'Leary, exec.dir. urban development, reported that the subcommittee appointed by the city council to examine the downtown development committee met and offered some recommendations to the council of the structure of that committee; that HUD consultants offered some recommendations to city attorney office and a prelim. draft of the DDC ordinance developed and distributed by attorney's office, but that the city attorney's office not aware of the recom-mendations developed by the council's committee and so some dif-ferences in structure of that committee. He reported that the draft of the ordinances would have the DDC much more independent autonomous group than what the mayor's committee recommended. He reported that the recommendation of the Tri-chairs is that Flood Response Committee ask the city attorneys office to redraft the ordinance to reflect recommendations of the advisory committee; this would bring the two into sync and then could go back to council for first reading. He distributed Memo outlining recom-mendation of the subcommittee.

Carpenter moved to direct the city attorney's office to draft appropriate ordinances to implement the Memo of November 3, 1997 to implement Memo of November 3, 1997 with intent of forwarding to council for first reading on Monday, November 17, 1997. Glassheim seconded the motion. Motion carried.

VII. Matter of request to amend Commercial Rehabilitation first
priority boundaries to include Metropolitan Theater.
Dale Siccles, 2414 West Fallcreek Court and rep. Grand Forks Historical Preservation Commission, stated that the purpose of the request is to change the priority line to include the Metropolitan Theatre because 1) they were working to put on Historical Register and 2) the owner in the process of making plans to rehab building and to give them the advantage of that money plus investment tax credits on the building; the owner planning to do restaurant/bar
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with meeting room/ballroom and rehab/upscale (15-20) apartments. He reported that the building was built in 1890 (the Aurora of that era) and is intrical part of our history, and Historical Society wants to make sure that building is preserved for the future. He reported that law states that even though not on the Historic Register still meets the qualifications as historic structure; and are asking that the priority line be moved to include the Met.

Mr. O'Leary reported that the boundary lines were drawn to focus resources on the corner of 4th and DeMers, which was the recom-mendation of the ULI as well as the envisioning downtown committee, to try to focus resources where have most significant impact; areas outside of that would be considered if they contributed to the overall redevelopment efforts of the city in redoing downtown; that there are some registered buildings that are not included in the primary area but would be included in the secondary area; and not sure being included in the primary or secondary areas has huge impact, that they budgeted enough money in this program to con-centrate around 4th and DeMers because according to consultants have about 100,000 sq.ft. of potentially commercial space within that area. He stated that if that area doesn't consume al of the 100,000 sq.ft. and don't have enough interest in the program to satisfy the need then would go outside. He stated this project has other implications as well, the County is looking for space adjacent to the Court House to expand and the County is talking to the Parking Authority about the other half of that block, and if that building were rehabbed it would lose some off street parking which would impact east side of that block as well. He stated that there are some other considerations other than focusing resources on the corner of 4th and DeMers, it's what other uses you want to put to that block, and one of his concerns with the proposal is that it takes a long time to package a deal like this, that they have window with HUD funds on where and when spend them, and how long funds available, and in the meantime other decisions being made by adj. property owners re. expansion and reuse of block, if tie money and land up, could negatively impact other redevelopment processes that are underway.

Bakken stated that they should leave things as they are, let things progress before doing anything with this proposal.

Gary Malm, representing Grand Forks County Commission, reported they approached the Parking Authority about week ago when begin looking at where put new administrative building, that they were looking at area along Court House, but then because of concern that if you build a modern-day building next to the Court House remove integrity of that building, then approached Parking Authority across street and have been approached by NE Human Services (est. 200 employees) who would rather relocate and have approached the State of North Dakota about relocating and size of building too
large so looking at entire area from the RR tracks between 3rd and
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4th could locate and collate NE Human Services and bring 200 jobs downtown. He reported they discussed funding and may be able to issue revenue bonds and rent space to the State, would be between 5-6 story building with about 400-500 employees. He stated they would like that option left open so they could proceed to see if put pieces in place, will be meeting with Mr. O'Leary and with State reps., and want to be ready to go in the spring. He stated it looks possible if they can run the revenue bonds. He stated that according to their architect in order to take care of parking, etc. which is key issue, and may be dependent upon their building across the street, that they are in process of trying to do some-thing with that building to return to non-profit agencies and return to private ownership (if buildings came down would be all parking. (Sheriff's Office will be demolished), and other bldg. discussing to see if can turn back to non-profits without infrin-ging on FEMA and HUD money, if that doesn't work out will have to demolish. Mr. Malm stated that by end of December should know.

Moved by Bakken and Polovitz to leave boundaries as they are and revisit when have more information on projects that are on-going.

Polovitz stated he would like to see County to come in when have answer to questions re. proposed project, and then make decision whether to include Met. Opera House into boundaries.

Carpenter stated he would like to see both projects happen and would like to. Mr. Siccles stated that the architect contacted the Commission and they would study working around the Opera House.

Committee asked how much public money would be needed to go into Opera House; Mr. Siccles heard figure of about $250,000, need to get submittals in for processing. Mr. Siccles stated that owner working on their financing package and will have that information shortly and proceeding with placing it on the Register, that this building is one they need to defend.

Carpenter asked if property acquired and demolished, what would cost be; Mr. O'Leary stated they don't know, that they have number of properties appraised and this property is on list to be appraised, and it was noted that it would cost more to demolish than to assist in rehab. Mr. O'Leary stated that they are asking all aps. to go through process for funding through this program (business plan, private funds, etc) and stated that it is important to bring jobs downtown, need jobs to revitalize downtown business district. Committee stated they wanted more information before making decision.

Upon call for the question, the motion carried.

VIII. Other business:
a) Duane Wheeler, owner of the property at 211 North 5th
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Street (across from Central High gym) asked if property outside the boundaries can still submit an application, and missed cut by block and a half, and was told no. He stated he had flood insurance, which he collected but that they didn't cover contents, (about $26,600 loss - less insurance), that he has restored property which is ready to be sold or rented, and asked if there was some help somewhere.

b) Mike Shea, representing Knights of Columbus and Columbian Club, 601 University Avenue, stated they are looking for some help, building completely gutted from main floor down, and only help they have received is in the form of an SBA loan, which was based on replacement cost but because remodeling have to bring building up to current City Code, and asked if there was any place they could turn to for help. He stated they have applied to everyone, that they are retail business like anyone else. Carpenter stated that at this stage probably not, and there's nothing to indicate there would be another program for other businesses outside the downtown area. Mr. O'Leary stated that even if programs out there, wouldn't be eligible because of nature of business with limited membership; Mr. Shea stated they are open to the public. Bakken suggested they apply for volunteer assistance through United Way.

c) Carpenter stated he has concern that they need additional legal assistance in the city attorney's office, that things aren't getting done as quickly as they should (not directed towards housing buyout) but that there's other City business that needs to go and not sure there's staff available, and would like city attorney to bring back some recommendations and need some discussion at next meeting.

d) Mr. O'Leary reported they have been getting requests from people who want to go into Lincoln, Riverside and Central neighbor-hoods to salvage materials, requests are coming from others than owners who want to go in and salvage material from house/structure that the City has purchased, that they have been declining those requests. He stated there are a number of reasons not to do this, concern with health and safety issues, buildings structurally unsound and not in position to have public go in and salvage, don't have staff to monitor that and going to be short-lived effort from now until time houses demolished. He stated they also have some questions from legal side because of agreements with HUD (would have to bid with funds to go back to CDBG program). He also stated that with the issue of salvage, there's sense of invasion of pri-vacy and to see house dismantled piece by piece. He stated they want to bring to committee's attention and unless hear otherwise, their intention is to continue to deal with. Info. only.

e) Kevin Dean, Info Center, reported that they conducted another survey of contractors in the area re. furnaces, that there are now about 20 furnaces remaining with just two contractors, and
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by this time next week, everything wrapped up (doesn't include those living in mobile homes), and will bring conclusion to something that was of great concern to a lot of people.

Moved by Carpenter and Polovitz to adjourn; meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.

Alice Fontaine
City Clerk

Dated: 11/13/97.