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Commuinity Development Authority - MINUTES - 12/21/2010 CITY OF MUSKEGO Approved 1/18/11 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (CDA) MINUTES TUESDAY, December 21, 2010 Chairman Glazier called the meeting of the Community Development Authority to order at 6:00 p.m. Those in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance. STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE The meeting was posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law. PRESENT: Commissioners, Rob Glazier, Gail Konkel, Larry Lefebvre, Ald. Harenda, Ald. Soltysiak and Executive Director Muenkel ABSENT: Kathy Chiaverotti (excused), Steve Whittow GUESTS: Ald. Neil Borgman APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF October 19, 2010 Commissioner Lefebvre moved to approve the minutes of October 19, 2010 meeting Commissioner Konkel seconded. Ald. Harenda requested that the recording of the meeting be reviewed as he was looking for Commissioner Konkel’s questioning of the CDBG funds and projects that can be funded and that did not appear on page 3 of the minutes. Upon a voice vote, the motion to approve the minutes failed. Ald. Harenda moved to defer approval of the minutes until the clarification of his issue could be confirmed. Commissioner Lefebvre seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. PUBLIC INPUT: None NEW BUSINESS #1 Janesville Road Grant Request (Muskego Mobil) Executive Director Muenkel presented Hardi singhbhatti grant request for the site improvements he had done to the Muskego Mobil facility/site. He was requesting matching funds up to $3,000 for the asphalt resurfacing and painting of the front façade of the structure and gas canopy areas. Mr. singhbhatti may be back next year to request additional grant money as he is considering building a new str ucture in the fu ture. Ald. Harenda would like to see the fence that was knocked down reinstalled as a condition of approval for the grant. Executive Director Muenkel had spoken with him in the past about the fencing panels. Ald. Harenda moved for approval of the $3,000 grant request on the condition that the fence be put back in place. Commissioner Lefebvre seconded. Commissioner Konkel voiced her concern about $3,000 being invested in the facility and then it is not going to be there after awhile. What is the owner’s intention for this area after building the new facility? Executive Director Muenkel did not know if he was going to build the new building. The owner will have some drawings for the city to look over and based on the drawings, the owner will figure out the cost. Ald. Soltysiak stated every property along Janesville Road could be torn up in the future due to the construction traffic. Executive Director Muenkel could not say how the Janesville Road project will affect this property. He believed the pumps would stay in the same place. Commissioner Konkel did not want to spend money towards something that would be destroyed in a year. Ald. Soltysiak said there was no stipulation on this for the grant money. This project fits into the grant program. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. OLD BUSINESS RD #2 Plan Amendment Process CDA Minutes Page 2 December 21, 2010 Executive Director Muenkel went over some of the items in the redevelopment district. He mentioned there was minimal attendance at the meeting with the owners/residents along Pioneer Drive on November 16. The city is looking for some owners that want this redevelopment which may involve cleaning up their premises, or revamping their site with landscaping and some signage. Owner of Maule Flooring expressed that they want to redo their façade, new colors and one of their buildings is near the road and he will provide rendering of signs and look at some grant money. Marx Pioneer Inn owner is trying to get people motivated. Talked about helping them out with signage of the businesses that reside along Pioneer Drive. Group talked about reconstruction of Pioneer Drive in the near future, possibly next June. They expressed their needs such as water. One business shares a well with their neighbor. One major concern voiced by the residents was that with the redevelopment district, they were afraid the city would take their property. They want to keep meeting with this Pioneer Group and Executive Director Muenkel has agreed to send out a newsletter as to what is going on in the area. A copy of the first newsletter was included with the CDA packets and members expressed their appreciation of the time and the effort put into the publication. Ald. Soltysiak would like to come up with a design guide for the Pioneer Drive area. Executive Director Muenkel informed the CDA members that they already have a design guide for the historic district. Some of the architectural practices may apply and some may not when you consider the age of some of the buildings along Pioneer Drive. It might just require more landscaping or cleaning up the property. There was discussion on the parks vacant property on Pioneer Drive and the possibility of putting it back on the tax rolls through this redevelopment. Also, the vacant properties along Pioneer Drive can be improved and marketed. Ald. Harenda cautioned the CDA members that there was a lot of opportunity for redevelopment but they must keep in mind that there are private residences as well as businesses in the area. He was concerned about the home owners on Pioneer Drive. Executive Director Muenkel said the ideas were opportunities or possibilities on how properties could be redeveloped, not necessarily that the city would be involved. Chairman Glazier stated it was important to keep in touch with the property owners so they understand what the CDA can do for the area and help the property owners. In the matter of the signs, it was discussed that the signage have the businesses listed, the signage indicate it is a historic area. Commissioner Lefebrve recommended that to show the area residents/owners how serious the CDA is about their historic area would be to have a sign on each end of Pioneer Drive and the sooner, the better. Ald. Harenda would like some costs for the signs brought forward at the next meeting. Commissioners further discussed the need of a plan, a vision for the Pioneer Drive area which would be useful in soliciting for new businesses to locate in the area. In regard to the residential grant program, two issues needing to be addressed are:  What does the CDA expect from residential properties receiving money?  How does the CDA guarantee that the city’s investments are protected (that money towards landscaping or façade improvements are maintained)? Executive Director Muenkel stated the CDA would have to define their expectations for the residential program. Should it be something that creates a physical improvement to the property that is very visible to the general public. In his research, he found a couple places where they require an easement or façade agreement so the property owner would maintain the improvements during the life of the redevelopment district area in exchange for the city’s investment in their property’s improvement. Ald. Soltysiak offered that if there is a plan in the area, then those that are making improvements in line with the plan could apply for the residential grant money. Chairman Glazier said if the CDA was giving money towards facades/awnings and it doesn’t fall into dilapidation the next year, then it’s a good investment. Commissioner Konkel wondered in those communities that have the easement requirement, if the property owner had a hard time selling their property? She felt that an easement was an encumbrance on a property. Executive Director Muenkel could not say as the inquiry had not yet been made. Commissioner Konkel refreshed the members that one of the things that had been brought up at Common Council was using public funds for private purposes. She would like to see how the CDA was addressing the public purpose in the residential grant program as the program cannot happen without the approval of the Common Council. Chairman Glazier asked if the CDA should be questioning if they should have a residential component to this at all; if they do, then where does CDA go and how do they structure it. Ald. Soltysiak commented that in some districts, based on residential percentages, it is needful and in others, not. CDA Minutes Page 3 December 21, 2010 On Pioneer Drive because it is so dense, he thought the residential properties, and the age of the properties, that has a more impact on the area as a whole, than do the homes on Janesville where they are so far away that they are barely seen and newer construction, he thought that was the difference in the areas. Where residential programs should be in place is Pioneer Drive where the CDA is trying to create a certain type of district where the public good is to develop, wholly develop the area, which becomes your public good. Chairman Glazier voiced his opinion that residential properties are important in this district and they have an impact on the neighboring businesses more so than the subdivisions along Janesville, the CDA needs to preface it in such a way that it is clear; be clear that the residential component is something CDA wants to include, why it is that the CDA needs to include it; and what are the mechanisms to make sure it is a good investment. Commissioner Lefebvre said as the area is defined as historic, this then allows the CDA to determine what a historic area can be. Ald. Soltysiak added that would be the need to have a cohesive plan for this special district so all would be following the same motif. There was some discussion of the CDA purchasing the vacant properties along Pioneer Drive and offer them for development. Executive Director Muenkel shared that he is currently working on a master business contact list. He felt this would not only help for economic development in the city but also for the redevelopment districts. Executive Director Muenkel reported that he has been keeping a log on TID 8 funds. The log of the contacts he made relative to how these funds can be used was included with the CDA packets. His contact with Pick ‘n Save and Pick ‘n Save Retail Center was positive and they will be forthcoming with plans for façade modernization and upgrade of the parking areas. He expected this to be an ongoing process of involvement with the businesses and the beneficial use of these funds. RD#1 Plan Amendment Process Executive Director Muenkel announced that the public hearing on the Redevelopment District#1 plan amendment will be January 18. Final drafts were sent to the CDA members in November and few added some changes. Next Steps to take in RD #3 Executive Director Muenkel advised that the Public Works Committee reviewed the request to create dead-end with turnaround or cul-de-sac at end of Apollo Drive. The city engineer determined that the possible cost could be $45,000 to construct. Basically, the Public Works Committee determined that it would not be feasible to include in the 2011 road program. They recommended getting more input from surveys in 2011 and then revisit the construction project a year from now. On the issue of implementing longer/wider turn lanes at Gemini/Racine and Saturn/Racine, the city engineer determined it would cost approximately $45,000 to install right turn lanes at these two intersections. The Public Works Committee determined that this project would be feasible for the 2011 road program and further requested that the CDA allocate $10,000 for the project. Ald. Harenda moved to allocate $10,000 towards the project of the $45,000 total from the account RD3 to assist in the implementation of longer/wider turn lanes at Gemni/Racine and Saturn/Racine. Commissioner Konkel seconded. The design work will be done by city staff. The work will be done by an outside contractor. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. Executive Director Muenkel stated, on behalf of the CDA, owners in the redevelopment district will be advised about grant and loan programs available to them through the city. CDA Minutes Page 4 December 21, 2010 NEW BUSINESS New Redevelopment District along Racine Avenue from Janesville Road to College Avenue Ald. Soltysiak updated the CDA members on what is transpiring at the quarry in New Berlin. He felt there was an opportunity for the city to act now to create a redevelopment district in the area. Ald. Harenda would like to have a map available at the next meeting. Executive Director Muenkel shared that there is a sub-committee working with New Berlin’s committee as their development is dependent upon City of Muskego sewer and water. There is the possibility of an inter-government agreement. After limited discussion on the issue, Chairman Glazier stated as a group, they would like to move forward with sketching out what a redevelopment district would look like with the first step, establishing the boundaries and initial measures the CDA would want to implement. CDA Responsibility Discussion Chaiman Glazier introduced the item by what CDA has purview over. There have been a couple questions regarding the CDBG funds and Building, Site and Operational plans. Executive Director Muenkel brought up the following:  What is the expectation for the CDA for staff in bringing BSOs (new and amended) to the CDA. Should the process be different than this past year? Does the CDA expect more?  How does the CDA prefer to be apprised of actions under consideration by the Common Council, within the redevelopment districts, whether we have a direct role or not? Chairman Glazier refreshed the members on what the CDA requested relative to the extension and expenditure of the CDBG funds. Executive Director Muenkel apprised the CDA that the authority over the CDGB funds is with the Common Council. After a lengthy discussion, using what transpired on the CDGB funds as an example, Chairman Glazier would like the CDA apprised of any actions under consideration by the Common Council, as the CDA is an advisory unit to the Common Council and anything that is going on within the redevelopment districts. In regard to direction on BSOs, Chairman Glazier is to be contacted on new or amended requests so he can determine if the issue needs to come before the full CDA. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW Redevelopment District Development Updates In his supplement, Executive Director Muenkel reported that Bush Gardens is now modifying the parking lot (due to an agreement with the school district) and was now not razing the eastern end of the building. In all, this was an unsubstantial change to the original approvals as the use and predominant portions of the architecture and site were remaining the same. Next Meeting Date The next meeting date will be Tuesday, January 18, 6:00 PM. The meeting will include the public hearing on the amendments to Redevelopment District #1. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Commissioner Lefebvre moved for adjournment, Ald. Harenda seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:52 PM. Stella Dunahee, CPS Recording Secretary