City of Grand Forks, North Dakota

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	MINUTES/URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Tuesday, December 27, 1994 - 4:00 p.m. Members present: Beach, Hanson. 1. Matter of detox center. Chairman Beach stated that he has had several discussions in the past few days and understands that the citizen's committee has had number of people named to it already, that this committee should perhaps give them some direction, and outline some areas for committee to explore: one issue has been that of location and should start from the standpoint that no area of the city is exempt, no particular neighborhood if meet zoning would be exempt from hosting this institution; 2) issue of operation - that in the past they did consider this matter and designated Center, Inc. as the operator of such a facility, that decision is on hold; 3) matter of funding and 4) concern on part of council re. liability and how such a facility could be structured so City shielded from liability. Mayor Polovitz stated that the citizen's committee almost completely formed, that this is large committee of approx. 20 people, made up of broad base of citizenry (some council people, lawyers, Judge Noack); and they have named chairman, Mrs. Rose. He stated that the committee will probably be broken down into sub-committees - possibly into categories mentioned by the committee; and committee will bring their recommendations to council. Chairman Beach suggested including on the committee someone who has gone through process of treatment. Mr. O'Leary stated that the four issues looked at - location, operation, funding, and liability of City or other entities; that the liability issue is a function of the city attorney's office and ask Mr. Swanson to give council advice; that committee is working on funding issue so that issue being handled; that committee after taking proposals, etc. tentatively selected Center, Inc., although council has not acted on that, so that issue also been taken care of; and only issue unresolved at this time is location issue, and that it would be staff recommendation to charge committee with focusing in on location issue and ask them to specifically look at that, and to ask other groups or individuals, including this committee or city attorney or others to look at other three issues that might be involved and they would have very specific mission statement and task force would have specific goal in mind, and when goal completed, committee would disband; and that what the committee might want to do at this point is give citizens' committee a broad framework through which to function. Mr. Hanson questioned what functionally looking at - at an overnight type or more expansive in its treatment availability. Mr. O'Leary stated that he didn't know that committee would want to get involved in that but to look at model that is to be used - that when the committee interviewed Center, Inc. some of those MINUTES/URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE December 27, 1994 - Page 2 issues were looked at, that the way detox is handled by different service providers depends on which model they are using and how they perceive the treatment process to be most effective. He noted that it is against the law to pick up anyone for public intoxication, so Center, Inc. uses the detox process as a vehicle to try to encourage those people to get into treatment, and if repeat offender get others involved (Jamestown), and that length of time individual is in the detox center is a function of the model and also the individual and how well they respond to the encouragement they are given through the detox process to change the way they are living their lives. Moved by Beach that the Community Task Force for Social Detox presently being organized by the mayor be requested to examine various site options and to submit three prioritized recommendations to the council concerning site options, along with rationale explaining their decision; that in determining these sites that no ward be exempt from consideration as a possible site, consistent with existing zoning practices; and the site should be segregated from retail outlet and owner-occupied land uses as much as is practical; that the task force return their recommendations to the council no later than March 1, 1995 and that the task force conduct at least one public hearing before making their recommendation back to the council. Hanson seconded the motion. Chairman Beach noted that the committee's request of this task force does not preclude them from making other recommendations. Upon call for the question, the motion carried. 2. Discussion of recommendations for affordable housing. Mr. O'Leary reviewed committee recommendations. Moved by Hanson and Beach to refer recommendations on affordable housing as follows: A. Financial Incentives to lower cost. A-1 Reduce City charges for lots that would be devoted for houses costing less than $100,000 - Refer to Finance and Public Service Comms. A-2 Reduce 50% upfront cost for special assessments for lower cost housing. - Refer to Finance and Public Serv. Comms. A-3 Extend or increase new home tax abatements for modestly priced spec. homes to encourage more developers to look at this market - Refer to Finance. A-4 Encourage the development of new rental units by offering property tax breaks similar to what the City offers for new single family units. - Council resolution. B. Zoning Incentives. B-1 Allow housing development in extra-territorial juris- diction - Refer to Planning and Zoning Commission. MINUTES/URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE December 27, 1994 - Page 3 C. Building Codes. C-1 Lower infrastructure costs by allowing rolled curbs, narrower streets, asphalt streets, sidewalks on only one side of the street. - Refer to Public Service Comm. C-2 Request City Code enforcement staff to meet with repre- sentatives of the building and apartment industries to examine codes in an attempt to identify and eliminate unnecessarily restrictive regulations. - Refer to Public Service Comm. D. City Funding. D-1 City government or a non-profit agency could develop lots and sell them at cost for affordable housing. - Refer to Housing Authority. D-2 Encourage the redevelopment of older neighborhoods where existing lots may be under-utilized. - Held in Urban Development Department for study. D-3 Expand city program to assist lower income families with down payments - Held in Urban Development Dept. for study D-4 Ask banks to adjust income requirements for families moving into energy efficient homes - Council resolution. E. City Information. E-1 Conduct a comprehensive study of the impact base personnel have on the local housing market, and dis- tribute information to potential investors - Held in Urban Development Dept. for study. E-2 Encourage the development of additional rental units without amenities such as air-conditioning, laundry, garages; encourage the development of large (three and four bedroom) and small (efficiency and sleeping rooms) units. - Refer to Housing Authority. E-3 Contact our senators and congressmen regarding the problem and solicit their support in restoring the tax advantages lost to the 1986 Tax Act. - Council resolution. F. Alternate Housing. F-1 Explore the utilization of new investment vehicles such as real estate investment trusts. - Held in Urban De- velopment Department for study. Upon call for the question the motion carried. The committee will meet at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3, to review resolutions. 3. Purchase of VA house at 608 Oak Street. Mr. O'Leary reported that this house foreclosed upon by Veterans Administration, house sold twice with value decreasing each time, now being listed for $19,500, and VA accepting bids on the property. He stated house is located in nice older neighborhood on 50'x140' lot, that last year council approved program (Infill Housing) where go into older neighborhoods, demo. MINUTES/URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE December 27, 1994 - Page 4 house, construct new house and sell to revitalize neighborhood. He stated this house in poor condition (needs roof, windows, etc.) He also stated their intent is not to hire architect, to let Housing Authority construct and find tenant, etc. Moved by Hanson and Beach to authorize the staff to submit a bid on behalf of the City of Grand Forks on this property, not to exceed $19,500.00. Motion carried. 4. Amendment of architect's contract for the FTZ building expansion (Kent Anderson). Curt Siewert reported this contract for design, engineering, etc. for expansion of building through completion; that originally TAG did contract in 1993, and paid architect; and asked for approval of amendment to contract dated July 7, 1993, in amount not to exceed $55,000 (which is total amount of contact, including amendment in the amount of $29,000). Terry Hanson noted that all costs of this project are being passed on to TAG. Moved by Hanson and Beach to recommend approval of the amendment. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned. Alice Fontaine City Clerk Dated: 12/28/94.