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MINUTES/URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Wednesday, May 10, 1995 - 4:00 p.m.

Members present: Beach, Glassheim, Hanson.

1. Matter of location of a detox center.
Member Glassheim stated that one of the crucial points holding back a detox center was the location, trying to find a place that was suitable, inexpensive, not in residential areas; that today looked at different sites, that there is a building on the back part of the City Center Mall which opens onto the alley, 1500 sq.ft., City owned, and has been rented in the past for approx. $350 and seems to be suitable for a detox center. He stated it is on main level, opens onto an alley, in center of business district, however some rental houses that back onto that alley, inebriated people frequent the area, wouldn't interfere with Mall. He stated that Terry Mercer of Centre, Inc. in Fargo, looked at and finds suitable. Copies of floor plan and est. cost of renovation in approx. amount of $36,000, were presented to the committee. He stated he would like to move the location back to the council for consideration; two other committees working on detox and not ready to report back to council: finance committee, and public safety looking at how to structure proposals or operations.

Mr. O'Leary reviewed various site recommended by the Citizens' Committee: fire training site on North 81, Sweet Clover Dairy building, various locations in central business district, Mission, Valley Motors building, Northwestern Bell building, several basements that were offered, the Y Annex, United Hospital or site near United, Piece of Cake building on S. 3rd Street, another building north of that, some RR land along DeMers Avenue, a site at the Fairgrounds (Gibbs property); that after a number of meetings the Citizens Committee narrowed it down to the fire training site, the Fairgrounds site (Gibbs parcel) and the Grand Forks Mission. The Committee selected number of criteria on which to judge the adequacy of those sites: availability of the site, compatibility with neighboring uses, cost, and ended up making a recommendation that the site as the fire training site (that site readily available, already owned by the City, and was secluded from other residential and most commercial uses.) The site presently being considered was not available at that time, and if they use CDBG monies, trying to avoid relocation of tenants because relocation expenses can get to be very high.

Chairman Beach also noted other locations suggested: Lucky Inn Motel, location at intersection of 9th Ave.N. and N. 6th Street, and possibly others. Member Hanson reported he had received petitions with 75 signatures from residents around Lewis & Clark School and Elks Park protesting the location of the Lucky Inn, and filed for the record. Mrs. Sande reported she received two phone calls from people who reside in the same block as Lucky Inn Motel.


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May 10, 1995 - Page 2

Member Glassheim reported that it appears that something called a detox center is non-existent in the Zoning Code, not authorized to be in any zone in the city. He stated that in a B-2 Zone and all of its uses may appear in a B-4 Zone, but in a B-2 Zone allowed to have apartments on second floor, lodging houses, boarding houses, hotels and motels; however, a detox center does not specifically fit under any definition, it comes close to fitting the definition of hotel if compensation is charged. He stated if a detox center is not permissible, there are two processes that would have to be gone through: under the uses in a B-2 Zone there is a special category uuu) which is any use deemed compatible to the permitted uses by the P & Z Commission; so either the City or an operator might request the P & Z at their June meeting to find that a detox center is compatible with the uses already permitted in a B-2 Zone; anything permitted in a B-2 Zone is permitted in a B-4 Zone (Central Business District Zone);
He stated that they may want to include detox center, with definition, into the Zoning Code and make it allowable in possibly B-4 and Industrial Districts; and in order to do that would take several votes by both Planning Commission and Council.

The committee reviewed floor sketch and est. rehab. costs as prepared by the Urban Development Office.

Terry Mercer, Centre, Inc., stated he reviewed floor plan with Curt Siewert, some minor adjustments in est. costs and floor plan, security locks, etc. There was some discussion re. meeting ADA requirements; food service at facility and Mr. Mercer stated no food preparation at the facility. It was also noted that would need hard surface floor, linoleum in dorm area, etc. There was some discussion re. utilities, and Mr. O'Leary stated City owns building, and area would be rented at approx. $400/mo which includes utilities.

Moved by Glassheim and Hanson that we recommend the rear of the Berg Building as the location of a detox center and that we request Planning and Zoning to make finding of compatibility with existing uses in a B-2 Zone.

Beach suggested that a copy of the estimates be provided to council members. Curt stated if look at ADA figures may change and re-arrange floor plan, committee deleted shower from staff bathroom; Mr. Mercer stated that staff work 8-hour shifts. It was noted that even if detox operator made improvements, would still have to meet ADA requirements. It was also noted that this location is expandable, that there is additional 25 ft. of space available. Mr. O'Leary stated they tried to come up with rough estimate, still talking about number less than $40,000.

Upon call for the question, the motion carried.

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May 10, 1995 - Page 3

2. Matter of consolidated plan.
Sue Redman reported she did receive several comments on the plan and submitted copy of summary of comments and those will be done in the final draft: 1) Comment re. wording in the software, to change "handicapped services" to "services for persons with disabilities" and will be forwarded to HUD as part of the comments section in the Plan. 2) A comment from Quad County Community Action Agency suggesting that the City have a licensing procedure for rental property; that Quad County had not talked to City re. problems their clients having in rental housing; and they discussed certificates of occupancy and code enforcement, and that they would contact the City but still would like City to increase its efforts in code enforcement. 3) Adult Abuse made several comments - wanted better explanation of their services in project description, and also mentioned that the strategic plan which addressed supportive housing or special needs doesn't specify victims of violence and that she would clarify, that they addressed that type of housing under Homeless Persons. 4) HUD requested additional information and clarification on targeting area for future projects. She also presented maps of target areas and proposed projects and areas of minority population. It was noted that the target area bounded on west by North 15th Street, on south by 8th Avenue South, on east bordering river (page 19 of plan specifies boundaries); low income determined by census. Mr. O'Leary reported that the Slum and Blight area was hard, and City approved as designated area. Ms. Redman stated they try to target most funds within these areas. It was noted that there are no areas with greater than 15% minority population, and area around University has greatest concentrations of minorities.

Ms. Redman reported that before CHAS which in order to do housing projects within the city, had to have one of the housing priorities in CHAS; this plan includes economic development, community development activities which are funded by HUD and CDBG, this is guide. She stated there is a change happening in HUD and they will be using this plan as a gauge of the City's performance, and future CDBG allocations will be based on how well meeting goals and objectives.

Ms. Redman stated that shorter term community development objectives is that normally the City has not used its CDBG funds for economic development, that the Growth Fund works quite well, but did say that the City would be able to use CDBG funds for economic development only if closure or down-sizing of the Air Force Base causes economic hardships in the community. She reported that rehab. of commercial or industrial structures is also a high or medium priority. She also stated that one of the goals under affordable housing is to do study of impact of Base on housing in Grand Forks, have intern starting within next week or so to do that study.
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May 10, 1995 - Page 4

Moved by Hanson and Glassheim that the consolidated plan be adopted. Motion carried.

3. Budget amendment.
A budget amendment in the amount of $645,355 to reflect cash balances at end of 1994 in Growth Fund was presented. Moved by Glassheim and Hanson to approve the budget amendment. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m.

Alice Fontaine
City Clerk

Dated: 5/10/95.