Committee Minutes
Meeting Minutes
Nov. 25, 2008
7:00 p.m.
City Hall A101
Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Sharon Bures, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Melinda Leach, Cory Lien, Sandy Slater
Others: Joe O’Neil, Office of Urban Development; Peg O’Leary
Gunderson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.; a quorum was present.
Motion:
to approve the minutes of the Oct. 14, 2008, meeting as presented.
(Slater, Leach)
Motion carries.
Office of Urban Development
– Joe O’Neil
O’Neil explained that he was bringing 2009 CDBG and HOME funding proposals for initial Section 106 review by the Commission.
3393 and 3397 Primrose Court, built 1992 – These two 24-unit apartment complexes will be acquired and rehabbed to provide additional housing for low to moderate income families. The units are of various sizes and include two- and three-bedroom units. They are located in the area immediately south of Century Elementary School.
Motion:
to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by the purchase and rehabilitation of these two properties. (Slater, Leach)
Motion carries.
Antenna Club, 401 N. 7
th
St., built 1941 – The only work will be replacement of the existing roof with a more durable .60 mil rubber membrane roofing material. The building has experienced changes to its windows and the addition of an entry but is otherwise original. It is within a couple blocks of two NRHP properties.
Motion:
to concur with a determination of no adverse effect resulting from the replacement of the roof of the Antenna Club building. (Flemmer, Lien)
Motion carries.
Northlands Rescue Mission, 420 Division Avenue, built 1936 – The building is a contributing element in the Downtown Historic District. The proposed installation of a fire suppression system and card key entry apparatus for the rooms is all internal work.
Motion:
to concur with a determination of no adverse effect resulting from the work proposed at 420 Division Avenue. (Slater, Bures)
Motion carries.
YMCA Family Center, 215 N. 7
th
St., built 1968 – New ADA compliant hardware will be installed on the existing two sets of entry doors on the east face of the building.
Motion:
to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by the proposed work at 215 N. 7
th
Street. (Leach, Flemmer)
Motion carries
Northside Infrastructure Repairs – Work will include installation of curb cutouts, and address safety hazards, repair alley entries as necessary, and provide general improvements to Midtown Park (in conjunction with the GF Park District). The affected area is from University Avenue to Gateway Drive, and from Washington Street to N. 3
rd
Street. Flemmer said he thought it was a great project for an older neighborhood, which contains several NRHP properties.
Motion:
to concur with a determination of no adverse effect resulting from the projected work in this neighborhood. (Leach, Lien)
Motion carries.
Red River Valley Community Action HOME Cents Program – The program provides funding to be reallocated for home improvements for qualifying homeowners. Individual projects that RRVCA proposes funding will be brought back to HPC for Section 106 review at the time of the loan processing. This is a continuation of an existing program.
Motion:
to concur that this is an appropriate use of the funding with the understanding that individual projects will be brought back for review. (Slater, Bures)
Motion carries.
Slater noted that the house at 1214 University Avenue, previously using this funding source, looks very good with the work that has been done.
Chair Report
– Marsha Gunderson
MPO Downtown Report – Gunderson has been serving on the Steering Committee for the GF/EGF Downtown study. She explained that they have been looking at various ways to address concerns and the potential of our downtown. Information on the draft study is on the MPO web site at
http://www.sehinc.com/online/gforks/index.htm
A main focus of the study is to make the area more viable while retaining its historic nature. During these discussions it became clear that the Kennedy Bridge is scheduled for rehabilitation in 2014 and the Sorlie Bridge will be replaced in 2016. In both cases, the MNDOT is providing the impetus for the work. O’Leary noted that the Technical Steering Committee, on which she serves, discussed the possibility of moving the Sorlie and using it as the much needed walk/bike bridge between the two downtowns.
Coordinator Report
– Peg O’Leary
Downtown Design and Review Board (DDRB) – O’Leary said the Committee of the Whole had discussed the function of the DDRB at its 11/24/08 meeting. Jim Galloway, a former chair of the committee, presented some background and explained that he and other downtown business people appreciate the work of the Board.
Riverside Neighborhood Historic District Certificates – The State Historical Society sent each owner of a listed property in the neighborhood an attractive certificate acknowledging the listing.
Riverside Plaque – O’Leary passed around copies of the latest iteration of the proof for the plaque. It is hoped that one more proof will be the last.
County Fairgrounds Nomination Update – Following Steve Martens’ presentation in Bismarck, Gunderson authorized the release of the final payment, per the contract stipulation.
Motion:
to approve the final contractual payment to Steve C. Martens, for the Fairgrounds Nomination, in the amount of $430. (Flemmer, Leach)
Motion carries.
Donor Time Sheets – Members completed donor time sheets for Oct-Nov, 2008.
MPO 4
th
Ave./MN Ave. Corridor Report to the CoW – Nancy Ellis had presented the MPO study conclusions to the Committee of the Whole at the Nov. 24 meeting. The report was fairly well received.
Chautauqua ’09 – O’Leary has provided the County Historical Society with a letter of support to assist them in bringing the Chautauqua back to Grand Forks in 2009. That program will focus on Abraham Lincoln’s impact on the state.
HPC 2009 Meeting Dates – O’Leary asked the commissioners to decide on meeting dates for 2009.
Motion:
to continue to meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month except as noted on the attached list. (Flemmer, Slater)
Motion carries.
Other Business
312 Kittson Avenue – Gunderson said the owners are considering expanding their business to the upper floor of the building and have talked to her about the code requirements for sprinkler systems, etc., that would be necessary in that event. Gunderson is researching the situation with the Fire Department and Inspections.
Masonic Temple – Lien noted that the Temple had experienced some theft of several small items and some limited vandalism. The building itself was not harmed.
Meeting adjourned.
8:45 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 9, 2008, room A101, City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Peg O’Leary
Coordinator