Renaissance Zone Authority - January 25, 2017 Minutes
Regular Meeting: Tuesday: January 25, 2017:
The Regular Meeting of the Renaissance Zone Authority of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the City Commission Room at City Hall at 8:00 o'clock a.m., Wednesday, January 25, 2017.
The Renaissance Zone Authority Members present or absent were as follows:
Present: Chair Deb Mathern, Dr. Dean Bresciani, Bruce Furness, Cari Luchau, Commissioner Dave Piepkorn
Absent: Commissioner Tony Grindberg, Chad Peterson, Steve Swiontek
Chair Mathern called the meeting to order.
Item 1: Approve Order of Agenda
Commissioner Piepkorn moved the Order of Agenda be approved as presented. Second by Member Luchau. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 2: Minutes: Regular Meeting of December 19, 2016
Member Furness moved the minutes of the December 19, 2016 Renaissance Zone Authority meeting be approved. Second by Member Bresciani. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3: Review Application from DFI 1213 NP LLC (Rehabilitation), at 6 12th Street North: APPROVED
Planner Derrick LaPoint presented this item for a proposal to rehabilitate the existing two-story building at this site, for future commercial use by a single tenant. He added construction would begin this spring, with the goal of completion by the fall of 2017.
Mr. LaPoint stated staff is recommending approval as the proposal does meet the guidelines and all required approval criteria.
Project Manager Mike Zimney, Kilbourne Group, spoke on behalf of the application.
Member Bresciani moved to approve the application submitted by DFI 1213 NP LLC, and to grant the property tax exemption and the State income tax exemptions as allowed by the North Dakota Renaissance Zone law, contingent upon completion of the project and verification of costs. Second by Member Luchau. On call of the roll Members Luchau, Furness, Bresciani, Mathern and Commissioner Piepkorn voted aye. Absent and not voting: Members Swiontek and Commissioner Grindberg. The motion was declared carried.
Item 4: Legislative Update
Planning Director Jim Gilmour reviewed the following bills under consideration by the North Dakota State Legislature that directly affect the City’s existing Renaissance Zone program.
House Bill 1182 would eliminate the existing Renaissance Zone Program.
House Bill 1326 would require cities considering property tax exemptions to obtain approval from the County, School District, and in some cases other taxing districts prior to considering incentives.
House Bill 1388 would end the Renaissance Zone Program, the Tax Increment Financing, and the New Housing Property Tax exemption.
Senate Bill 2166 would prohibit property receiving benefits from both a renaissance zone and a tax increment financing district.
Senate Bill 2055 – would require that cities applying for designation of a renaissance zone submit letters of support from affected political subdivisions.
Item 5: Other Business
Derrick LaPoint noted staff is expecting Renaissance Zone applications for the February meeting.
The time at adjournment was 8:32 a.m.