Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council’s Finance & Legal Committee, Building, Planning & Zoning Committee and Civic Center & Promotion Committee met Tuesday afternoon at City Hall.

 

FINANCE & LEGAL COMMITTEE:

Mayor Heinrich proclaimed as read by Council Member Buchanan  April, 2019, as Fair Housing Month and urge all citizens to understand and exercise their right to equal housing opportunity.

An Informational presentation was made by Great Plains Housing and the High Plains Housing Center regarding housing in Jamestown and fair housing practices.

It was stated that the North Dakota Century Code is inclusive of the rights of those seeking housing without discrimination, and is enforced by the agencies and includes advocacy and education, and how to file a complaint.

Cases that were filed were also presented to the committee.

The committee considered developing  a resolution directing with concurrence of the Stutsman County Commission that the Jamestown Stutsman Development Corporation in the future forward all requests for funding from the South Central Dakota Regional Council directly to the City and County without recommendation.

The committee recommends approval of a Resolution as moved by Mayor Heinrich.

Recommended for approval, was the updated job descriptions for the City Forester, City Assessor, City Building Inspector and City Engineering Technician II.

Considered was the application from Timothy Prescott for a property tax abatement for 2018, on Lot 3, Block 10, Curtin’s Addition, 1105 7th Ave SE, by reducing the True and Full Value from $58,646 to $30,810.  City Assessor, Jamison Veil said the structure was extensively damaged in a  July 2018 fire. He said the owner plans to rebuild the structure.

The committee recommends approval of the abatement.

The committee considered the appointment of a second alternate municipal court judge.

No candidate has been chosen, and no action was taken.

Recommended for approval was the request from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Mindak Inc., for a site authorization to conduct gaming at the Gladstone Inn & Suites (Ballrooms) on April 13, 2019.

The committee recommends approving the renewal of the Montana-Dakota Utilities Company franchise agreement for the right to construct, maintain and operate within and upon, in and under the streets, alleys and public grounds of the city a gas distribution system for transmitting and distributing natural or manufactured gas, or a mixture of both, for public and private use in the city for a period of 20 years.  The present franchise agreement expires at the end of this month.

A period of 10 years was suggested.  City Attorney Leo Ryan said the agreement terms will be reviewed and MDU contacted concerning the language changes.  The City Council will act on the matter at the April 1 meeting.

Recommended for approval  was  the request from the National Buffalo Museum to enter a lease agreement for January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2029.

Considered was the request from Otter Tail Power Company to lease city property next to the National Buffalo Museum for the purpose of erecting a solar photovoltaic energy generating facility.

The Museum has no problem in the city leasing adjacent property to Otter Tail.

The committee recommends tabling the issue pending additional information.

Consideration of the request from the Frontier Village to renew lease agreement for the period January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2025, was denied for lack of second for discussion purposes.

BUILDING, PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE

Recommended for approval was scheduling a public hearing at the April 1, 2019, City Council meeting, concerning the failure to comply with the notice of dangerous building condition at 617 3rd Avenue NW owned by Jonathan Satrom and Gate City Bank.

Informational: The Building Inspector Report regarding the notice of dangerous building condition at 609 4th Avenue NW owned by Buffalo City Rentals, LLC. Tom Blackmore said the owner intends to demolish the structure.

CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE

No agenda items at this time.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67 followed by replays.

CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE

No agenda items at this time.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67 followed by replays.