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MINUTES/JOBS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Monday, December 15, 2003 - 7:00 p.m.__________

The city council of the City of Grand Forks sitting as the JDA (Growth Fund Authority) met in the council chambers in City Hall on Monday, December 15, 2003 at the hour of 7:00 p.m. with President Gershman presiding. Present at roll call wee Council Members Brooks, Hamerlik, Glassheim, Christensen, Kerian, Kreun, Gershman - 7; absent: Mayor Brown.

The city auditor presented the matter of the request from UND Faculty Seed Research Program, with staff report under separate cover. It was noted that copies were being made for council members as staff report had not reached them. The city auditor read the recommendation from staff to hold a public hearing on the proposed funding to the University of North Dakota for its Faculty Research Seed Program and to approve the request of the University of North Dakota to provide a grant in the amount of $100,000 for its Faculty Research Seed Program in one installment.

Council Member Christensen stated there were four council persons at the meeting when Dr. Sheridan and Dr. Jensen gave their report, that it was a very detailed report in a concise format and demonstrated that the $100,000 appears to be well spent, and report is on the first grant and how it has progressed through the system. It noted that the number of graduate students per year is approx. 27 and generated approx. $345,000 in revenues that have gone to either the grad. students or to professors in revenue salaries and progression as to technicians that are paid, that the were looking for the report to justify the expenditure from the Growth Fund and recommended approval and will have data to support the recommendation. to approve and allocate $100,000 from the Growth Fund monies to the University of North Dakota for their grant and regranting program. Council Member Glassheim seconded the motion.

Council Member Glassheim stated that they did find that they got "good bang for the buck" on this, the City in the first round of the seed money gave $125,000 and that led to research by faculty which led to grants of $8.6 million over a three-year period, and 41 positions among grad students, technicians, etc. and partial support of 26 faculty as well, and totals were very good but also got for it helping faculty build their reputation, helping retain good faculty and increasing likelihood of future grants by faculty - payoff was an economic development investment and qualified as such.

Upon call for the question and upon voice vote, the motion carried 7 votes affirmative.

ADJOURN

It was moved by Council Member Glassheim and seconded by Council Member Brooks that we adjourn. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

Respectfully submitted,



John M. Schmisek
City Auditor


RECONVENE MEETING OF JDA

Following adjournment of the city council meeting Council Member Gershman moved to reconvene the meeting of the JDA, seconded by Council Member Christensen.

Greg Hoover reported that the notice of public hearing was published in the Grand Forks Herald three days prior to the meeting which meets requirements of the Code that the JDA Authority would meet on the request of the University of North Dakota for funding for the grant program.

Upon call for the question and upon voice vote, the motion carried 7 votes affirmative.

President Gershman reported that the JDA meeting had been reconvened and a motion was needed to waive the public hearing on the request by the University of North Dakota.

Council Member Christensen stated that a question was raised by a member of the city council/JDA as to whether or not the publication had been made in a timely fashion as required under the Code, and that Mr. Hoover has now informed us that publication was made in a timely fashion in the Grand Forks Herald and that it gave notice of the proposed action of the JDA, and would like to conclude that the appropriate publication was made and adjourn.

Mr. Swanson stated that the concern is not the publication, the concern is that you did not call for a public hearing nor did your agenda identify a public hearing, and not questioning the publication, the motion here is to waive the call for the public hearing. It was so moved by Mayor Brown and seconded by Council Member Christensen. Upon call for the question and upon voice vote, the motion carried 7 votes affirmative, Council Member Hamerlik voted against the motion.

ADJOURN

It was moved by Mayor Brown and seconded by Council Member Kreun that we adjourn. Carried 8 votes affirmative.

Respectfully submitted,



John M. Schmisek
City Auditor