Committee Minutes

MINUTES/URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Wednesday, May 27, 1998 - 12:00 Noon

Members present: Beach, Bouley, Polovitz.

1. Matter of beautification funds.
Mr. Siewert presented the Beautification Program Fund report for review (one expenditure in 1998 for downtown banners). He reported that Contingencies is at $65,000+; and listing shows projects that are obligated and which they will be trying to clean up this year and maybe coming in for reallocation of funds where projects that aren't going to be done (walkway bridge lighting, etc.) He stated he has had contact with Chamber of Commerce and they are in process of putting in aplication for $25,000 to do an improvement in front of their parking area - would redo their parking lot and sidewalk and make a big impact over there. He reported that University had sent an application for paving stones in median east of Columbia Road, in the past budgeted $15,000 for those projects, and could act on that; their second request is for funds in budget to use for tree planting along I-29 in the Aurora area. He stated that he has been working with Ken Polovitz and John Staley on this and is to come back in a couple weeks with suggestions where could use these funds for the Summer Youth Program to do some beautification throughout the city where needed; they have other funds for the labor of that project; and this would be to buy materials, etc. He stated they've set up that program in conjunction with Park Dist. and Urban Dev. and each agency has 50 people plus supervisors and coordinators, so between two agencies putting close to 130 young people to work under that program this summer (last year 250 and too hard to keep under control and in useful projects). He stated one of the projects they discussed would be known as "flood of 1997 youth program project" and look at putting in from 6 to 12 gazebos around the community with the same design and dedicate to youth with plaques that built by youth and request beautification funds or donations to pay for the actual gazebos, and he has received positive response from industrial tenants.

It was noted that funding for University was $5,000 for University Ave. brick and planters and $9,805 tree planting -DeMers Ave/I-29.
Polovitz stated that one of the projects they had adopted was to do pavers in the median on University Avenue and give more of a park appearance down University, that they started 3 years ago and did small area in front of Gamble Hall with the idea of moving east, and not sufficient money one year, last year put on hold, and this year on the east side of University Ave by the parking lot.

Committee asked if they could obligate 1998 funding; Mr. Siewert reported this was only applica-tion they received, and is getting late to start projects; Beautification Commission didn't meet. Mr.
Siewert reported that if council members see good projects they have some funding that's not obligated, and still working with the State on the screening on the public works building, waiting to get in writing that can or can't put in screens (State said no but want in writing so can go to plan B).

MINUTES/URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
May 27, 1998 - Page 2

Moved by Polovitz and Bouley that we approve carryover of $5,000 for the University Ave-brick and planters in addition to that $15,000 for a total of $20,000 for pavers and the $9,805 for tree planting. Motion carried.

Mr. Siewert stated he will bring youth projects at next meeting.

2. Budget amendment.
a) Urban Development - $45,408.05
Terry Hanson reported this is for Human Needs projects that were not finished last year so carry funds over. He explained Human Needs for Member Bouley - that Human Needs is a fund that was established by the City about 8 years ago; prior to that a lot of public service type projects were submitting applications for CDBG funding and because of the type of entity there was difficulty for those entities to meet low-mod benefit and City started putting $100,000/yr. into a Human Needs fund that would fund those projects (non-profit) that didn't qualify for CDBG funds; and this is a carry-over of last year's funds that were not totally disbursed.

Moved by Polovitz and Bouley to approve the budget amendment.

Mr. Hanson reported that in 1998 they used supplemental flood money and approved all public-service projects that were approved in prior year; and are now in the process of re-applying for 1998, have to meet qualifications/requirements of CDBG funding; and because low mod benefit was waived, they have advantage of not meeting that but other requirements, etc. (number of people assist, and ethnicity of family, female head of household, etc.), and if don't meet requirements, don't get funds.

Upon call for the question, the motion carried.

3. Information:
Beach reported that he had discussion with city attorney re. government reorganization and at earlier meeting of council members this morning this came up and whether it's really required to be done this year or at a later date, there are different interpreta-tions, and clarified that with the city attorney. He stated that if the council does not wish to deal with the subject this year, they don't have to, and it's his perception that the mayor and council don't want to deal with this now so can be let go until year 2000. It's due from counties this year but not municipalities, and unless different feelings, let this go for now.

Moved by Bouley and Polovitz to adjourn; meeting adjourned at 12:25 p.m.

Alice Fontaine, City Clerk

Dated: 05/27/98