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Community Development Committee

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Community Development Committee - February 21, 2017 Minutes

Regular Meeting: Tuesday: February 21, 2017:

The Regular Meeting of the Community Development Committee of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the City Commission Room at City Hall at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 21, 2017.

The Community Development Committee Members present or absent were as follows:

Present: Commissioner John Strand, Commissioner Tim Mahoney, Linda Boyd,
Jan Ulferts Stewart, Lynn Fundingsland, Thomas Hill (United Way), Mike Hahn (DCP)

Absent: Linda Klebe, John Paulsen, Bruce Grubb, Samantha McDonald

Item 1. Welcome
Chairperson Strand welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.

Item 2. Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting of January 17, 2017
Ms. Ulferts Stewart moved the minutes of the January 17, 2017 Community Development Committee meeting be approved. Second by Mr. Fundingsland. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.

Item 3. Review Storefront Rehab Application – 123 Broadway (formerly Metro Drug)
Community Development Administrator Dan Mahli introduced the proposed storefront rehabilitation project to be considered for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, adding this project has been reviewed and approved by the Historic Preservation Commission, with the condition that the elevation of the 2nd Avenue North storefront is raised to match the 1905 photograph of the property.

Mike Zimney, The Kilbourne Group, spoke on behalf of the project.

Ms. Ulferts Stewart moved to approve the request for $45,000 as presented. Second by
Mr. Fundingsland. On call of the roll Members Hahn, Ulferts Stewart, Boyd, Fundingsland, Hill, and Strand voted aye. Absent and not voting: Members Grubb, Klebe, McDonald, and Paulsen. The motion was declared carried.

Item 4. Review Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity request – 308 9th Avenue North
Mr. Mahli introduced the proposed request for the sale of the property at 308 9th Avenue North, noting the City purchased this lot through the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative. He stated the property is a good candidate for the next Habitat for Humanity home, where Habitat will make the site into a nice, affordable, single-family residence. He added the City would like to sell this property to Habitat for Humanity for the value of the land, which is $12,600, subject to any liens that may still exist on the lot.

Rob Rich, Executive Director of Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, spoke on behalf of the project.

Mr. Hill moved to approve the sale of 308 9th Avenue North to Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity for $12,600. Second by Mr. Hahn. On call of the roll Members Hahn, Boyd, Ulferts Stewart, Fundingsland, Hill, and Strand voted aye. Absent and not voting: Members Grubb, Klebe, McDonald, and Paulsen. The motion was declared carried.

Item 5. Update from the Fargo Neighborhood Coalition
Dawn Morgan and Jim Lashkowitz, Members of the Fargo Neighborhood Coalition, presented handouts to the Board and provided an update on a project the Fargo Neighborhood Coalition has been working on which include the following purposes: 1) advocate for common goals of strong and vital older neighborhoods; 2) integrate the core neighborhoods to form a network of mutual support for individual neighborhood problems and planning; 3) contribute to/participate in City planning; and 4) maintain and renew neighborhood vitality.

3:30 p.m. Member Hill absent.

Discussion was held regarding concerns including the need for early involvement of neighborhoods in the planning process; the increasing number of dilapidated houses in neighborhoods; the compatibility of new development to the surrounding neighborhoods; historic preservation in neighborhoods; and lack of zoning and code enforcement in neighborhoods.

3:42 p.m. Member Mahoney present.

Further discussion was held regarding incentives that drive development and the recent establishment of a City of Fargo Code Enforcement Task Force, which addresses issues/violations.

Item 6. Other Business
No other business was presented.

Item 7. Adjourn
The time at adjournment was 4:00 p.m.