Renaissance Zone Authority - April 25, 2018 Minutes
Regular Meeting: Wednesday: April 25, 2018:
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, April 25, 2018.
The Renaissance Zone Authority members present or absent were as follows:
Present: Commissioner Dave Piepkorn, Bruce Furness, Cari Luchau, Chad Peterson, Steve Swiontek
Absent: Deb Mathern, Dr. Dean Bresciani, Commissioner Tony Grindberg
Acting Chair Commissioner Piepkorn called the meeting to order.
Item 1: Approve Order of Agenda
Member Furness moved the Order of Agenda be approved as presented. Second by Member Peterson. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 2: Minutes: Regular Meeting of November 15, 2017
Member Swiontek moved the minutes of the November 15, 2017 Renaissance Zone Authority meeting be approved. Second by Member Luchau. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3: Review application from Ruby Rules, LLC (Rehabilitation) located at 321 4th Street North: APPROVED
Planning Director Nicole Crutchfield presented the proposal to rehabilitate the existing commercial office building at 321 4th Street North. Ms. Crutchfield stated staff is recommending approval as the proposal does meet the guidelines and all required approval criteria.
Member Swiontek moved to recommend to the City Commission approval of the application submitted by Ruby Rules, 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 Peterson. On call of the roll Members Piepkorn, Luchau, Furness, Swiontek, and Peterson voted aye. Absent and not voting: Members Bresciani, Mathern, and Grindberg. The motion was declared carried.
Item 4: Other Business
Ms. Crutchfield presented updates regarding the following: recent staff changes and reorganization within the Planning and Development Department; increased activity concerning the EPA Brownfields Grant; and the need for an updated downtown slum and blight study as it relates to the Downtown Master Plan.
Board discussion ensued requesting staff to present information at the next meeting about the new Federal Opportunity Zones and what that means for Fargo, and possible satellite blocks that may be suitable for future Renaissance Zone projects.
The time at adjournment was 8:20 a.m.