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

FINANCE & LEGAL COMMITTEE

Considered was the request from Commonwealth Company for a tax abatement under N.D.C.C. Sec. 40-57.1 for a period of fifteen (15) years for the development of a low to moderate income based multi-unit residential building with green space, parking and some commercial space downtown.  (The former Eagles Club Building, on 2nd Street and 2nd Avenue, Southwest).

Eagle Flats, involves demolishing the current vacant Eagles building and constructing a multi-story housing unit.

Commonwealth’s Erin Anderson said the business, based in Wisconsin, is expanding into North Dakota and Minnesota, with affordable housing utilizing existing structures, or new construction.   She said the tax abatement is necessary, because without it, there would be a negative cash flow.   She requested a letter of support from the city.   City Attorney Leo Ryan said negotiations need to take place and include a member of the Jamestown Public School District.  He added, which can be started.  It has 30 days to reply.

The developer has requested to pay $35,000 per year for 15 years rather than the normal property taxes estimated at almost $80,000 per year.

Earlier this month the Stutsman County Commission took no action regarding the payment in lieu of taxes request for the planned low and moderate income housing project planned for downtown Jamestown.

Stutsman County Auditor/COO Nicole Melland, estimated that Stutsman County revenue would be reduced by about $141,000 over the 15 year period.

The Finance Committee on Tuesday, moved that the matter be place on the October 7 City Council meeting agenda without recommendation, which Anderson said could possibly delay the start of the project by a year.

The committee recommends sending a letter to the developer to indicate pursuing the start negotiations.

After the vote Joel Trasier ask if the market they are planning to serve has the capacy in town. David Klein of Great Plains Housing Authority stated a need in Jamestown for accessible housing.   Beth Dewald from Freedom Resource Center for Independent Living in Jamestown, agreed.  Jamestown Downtown Association also supports the housing for downtown development..

The committee then considered the request from Commonwealth Company requesting the preliminary approval to lease 20 city-owned parking spaces for one dollar/year for the Eagle Flats, LLC Project. That request was also moved to the October  7 City Council agenda without recommendation.

Considered was the request from the Jamestown Community Correction Program, a not-for-profit regional community service and restitution program organization, to fund the program in 2020 in the amount of $6 for each hour of community service ordered by municipal court, an increase of $2 per hour ordered, $20 per noncompliance report, an increase of $10, and consider approval and authorize the signing of the Jamestown Community Correction Program Agreement for January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Pam Phillips stated that she is and Ex-Offico member of the board, and the committee voted to let her participate in the vote.

The committee recommends approving as amended.

Considered was the City’s request approved by the JSDC board for Economic Development Funds for the City of Jamestown to acquire for the City/County 80/20 split for the National Guard a one-time payment of up to $350,000 for a 40-year lease for 16 acres of land at the airport industrial park.   JSDC Business Development Director, Corry Shevlin said, a number of approval need to come forth as part of the proposal. The committee recommends, approval.

Preliminary estimates place the cost of the National Guard armory at between $26 million and $28 million.

With the 40-year lease of the land by the city of Jamestown the National Guard will pay the JSDC the share of the development costs of the land and then construct a building.

Considered was reclassifying the positions of Administrative Assistant Finance and Appraiser. Human Resource Director Jay Sveum said the step in the range would increase in the future, for the Administrative  Assistant Finance position.

The Appraiser position range will be increased.

The committee recommends approval.

INFORMATIONAL: City Council Public Hearings for the following special assessment projects, are scheduled at the October 7, 2019, city council meeting:

  • 5th St NE Paving Improvement District 16-42
  • 20th St SW Paving Improvement District 16-43
  • NW Watermain Rehabilitation District 17-61
  • Safe Routes to School Sidewalk District 18-21
  • Seal Coat, Patching, Construction & Reconstruction District 18-41
  • Retaining Wall Assessment, Frontier Village District 18-42

INFORMATIONAL: The public hearing and second readings of Ordinance No. 1521 and 1522, pertaining to the 2020 Budget are scheduled at the October 7, 2019, city council meeting.

BUILDING, PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE

The Committee recommends approval of the Minor Subdivision, Preliminary/Final plat of Fallgatter Addition, Lot 1 and 2, Block 1, a re-plat of Lots 5,6,7 & 8, Block 3, Leapaldt Addition within the SE ¼, Section 24, T140N, R64W, City of Jamestown, ND. The property is located at 1507 – 1517 12th Ave NE, Jamestown, ND.

CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE

Tina Busch of the Frontier Village Association addressed the committee regarding the Frontier Village. The FVA is Asking for a five year lease, from the city for improvements.

Council Member Phillip said Jamestown Tourism has invested dollars in infrastructure projects.  She added The Buffalo Museum improvements have increased visits to the Village and to Jamestown.  She said tourists need a reason to stay in Jamestown over a longer  period of time, with a unique experience.

She said the FVA proposal does not include a dollar amount. She added the National Buffalo Museum wants to expand the their lease to include all of Frontier Village.

She said she is frustrated with  the Frontier Village Board in the past.  Tina said there is a “power struggle” going on between the board and the city, to which Ms. Phillips said a change is needed in the way the Village board is running the operation.

Buffalo Museum Director, Ilana Xinos said, the Museum is interested in leasing the entire Frontier Village Space.

City Administrator Sarah Hellekson said the current FVA lease expires at the end of this year.

Mayor Heinrich said the FVA and the National Buffalo Museum need to each present a proposal to the city, with their future plans, for consideration.

Don Williams of the National Buffalo Museum Board said, if the FVA lease is not renewed, the Museum would like to look at options before any decision is made.

No decision was made on the issues at Tuesday’s meeting.

Council Member Brubakken said the matter will be forwarded to the October 22, committee meeting.

Discussion was held, on the city’s investment of the rodeos held at the Civic Center.

Civic Center Manager, Pam Fosse said the Civic Center has paid the rental costs for the rodeo the past few years, and she outlined costs incurred by the city from the rodeo.  She said other conventions and events are also not self-sustaining with the Civic Center paying their rent.

She added the Civic Center in the future will be more protective of the new bleachers concerning damages from the rodeo events.

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