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Board of Directors Board Minutes

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    12.11.2007 Medford Urban Renewal Agency Board of Directors - Minutes


    A.
    Executive Session

    A meeting of the Medford Urban Renewal Agency Board of Directors was called to order in Executive Session at 6:30 p.m., on the above date, in City Hall Conference Room 338 of the City of Medford by Chair Eric Stark, with the following Members in attendance:

    BOARD MEMBERS:
    Present
    Eric Stark, Chair
    Gregory Yechout, Vice-Chair
    Bill Dames
    Dick Entinger
    Jim Kuntz, Council Representative
    Skip Patterson, Secretary
    Joy Pelikan

    Absent
    Jason Anderson

    STAFF:
    Present
    Jackie Rodgers, Executive Director
    Errin Sills, Office Administrator
    Dan Thorndike, Attorney
    Don Burt, Project Manager

    Pursuant to ORS 192.660(2) (e), ?The governing body of a public body may hold an executive session to conduct deliberations with persons designated by the governing body to negotiate real property transactions.?

    Pursuant to ORS 192.660(2) (h), ?The governing body of a public body may hold an executive session to consult with counsel concerning the legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current litigation or litigation likely to be filed.

    EXECUTIVE SESSION CLOSED AT 7:15 P.M




    B.
    Open Session
    I.
    Roll Call

    1.1 A meeting of the Medford Urban Renewal Agency Board of Directors was called to order in Open Session at 7:20 p.m., in City Hall Council Chambers of
    the City of Medford, on the above date, by Chair Eric Stark, with the following Members and Staff in attendance:

    BOARD MEMBERS:
    Present
    Eric Stark, Chair
    Gregory Yechout, Vice Chair
    Bill Dames
    Dick Entinger
    Jim Kuntz, Council Representative
    Skip Patterson, Secretary
    Joy Pelikan

    Absent
    Jason Anderson

    STAFF:
    Present
    Jackie Rodgers, Executive Director
    Errin Sills, Office Administrator

    II.
    Minutes

    2.1 Minutes for the November 27, 2007 Medford Urban Renewal Agency Board Meeting were submitted.

    Chair Eric Stark inquired whether there were any corrections to the Medford Urban Renewal Agency Board Meeting Minutes of November 27, 2007. Hearing no corrections or additions, Mr. Stark stated that the Minutes stand approved as submitted.



    III.
    Communications from the Audience

    There were none.

    IV.
    Communications from Staff

    4.1 Project Updates

    Staff reported that the Bella Vita project is still in the negotiations stage.

    The Bartlett Street/RCC/SOU projects are all on target. Staff stated that a packet was handed out to the Board earlier this evening which contained information about the RCC/SOU Joint Education center.

    The Middleford Commons project is on schedule. Lithia is scheduled to break ground in late January, early February 2008.

    Staff reported that the Greyhound property purchase is on target to close on or before December 31, 2007.

    V.
    Written Communication

    5.1 Thank you from the Naumes Family

    Chair Eric Stark reported that there was a communication from the Naumes Family regarding the contribution made to the foundation on the behalf of Pete Naumes.

    Staff reported that there was also a personal communication from the Naumes Family thanking the Agency for the contribution that was not included in the board packet.

    VI.
    Reports from Chair

    Chair Eric Stark announced that it is time for the annual personnel and contract reviews and would like to initiate the process and appoints Skip Patterson to begin the process.

    Skip Patterson appointed Dick Entinger to assist with the annual personnel and contract review.



    VII.
    Reports from Committee

    7.1 Parking Committee

    Staff reported that the Parking Committee usually meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, however due to staff situations; the Parking Committee has been moved to Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 8:00 a.m.

    7.2 Marketing Committee

    Staff reported that there will be no Marketing Committee in December and the Marketing Committee will meet again Wednesday January 16, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.

    VIII.
    Business

    8.1 Consideration of Resolution No. 07-12-22 approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Medford Urban Renewal Agency and the Rogue Valley Transit District for the construction of a new Greyhound Bus Terminal on the RVTD downtown transit site.

    Staff reported that the purpose of the Intergovernmental Agreement is to give the Agency permission to construct the new building on the RVTD site and secondly, RVTD will sign a lease with Greyhound for that building

    The Agency will construct a new building for Greyhound, remodel the public restrooms facilities and the existing RVTD bus driver lounge that are currently located within the current RVTD structure.

    Bill Dames inquired if the Agency will have any ownership rights to the building or the land after the newly constructed building is completed. Staff responded that RVTD will acquire 100% ownership upon the construction of the building being completed.

    Skip Patterson inquired why the Agency moved on this so quickly. Staff reported that the Commons Project DDA requires the Agency to purchase the property and to move Greyhound station to a new location.

    Skip Patterson inquired as to whether or not Greyhound had their own Property Manager come to Oregon to do their own search. Staff reported, yes.

    Gregory Yechout inquired if there would be bus storage at the new facility. Staff reported that there will be no bus storage at the new facility. The new facility is only a bus station.

    Chair Eric Stark stated that even though this is not a public hearing, he would like to open the floor to comments from the audience. Mr. Stark invited the audience to approach the Board.

    John Hamlin of 5200 Aerial Heights, Medford, OR 97504: Downtown property owner and long time Medford resident. Mr. Hamlin approached the Board to state his concerns regarding the relocation of the Greyhound bus station to the Front Street site. Mr. Hamlin stated that he has two major concerns; the first concern being that there is no correlation between the relocation site and the interstate. Because Greyhound has chosen to relocate to this site, this will cause increased pollution and traffic congestion in downtown. His second concern is that in his opinion, a thorough search for property was never completed by Greyhound.

    Mr. Hamlin stated that he would like to see the Winetrout Project take off. Mr. Hamlin stated that in his opinion, moving a bus station to Front Street will only hurt other businesses in the downtown core.

    Gregory Yechout inquired if Mr. Hamlin owned a business that was located downtown; Mr. Hamlin replied, yes.

    Bill Dames reported that Portland, Eugene and Salem all have Greyhound bus stations located in the downtown core; they seem to all be working just fine.

    Mr. Hamlin stated that in his opinion Greyhound was only given two possible location options to choose from. Chair Eric Stark reported that the Front Street site is the site that Greyhound chose to relocate to. The Agency purchased the current station and bus terminal, and because of that purchase, the Agency is required by law to relocate them to their preferred site. A complete property review study was done when RVTD applied for the ConnectOregon grant in 2005.

    Mr. Hamlin thanked the Board for their time.

    MOTION: It was moved by Jim Kuntz to approve Resolution No. 07-12-22 approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Medford Urban Renewal Agency and Rogue Valley Transit District for the construction of a new Greyhound bus terminal on the Rogue Valley Transit District downtown transit site. Gregory Yechout seconded the motion.

    VOTE: The following Board members passed the motion with a unanimous affirmative vote: Skip Patterson, Dick Entinger, Eric Stark, Joy Pelikan, Bill Dames, Gregory Yechout and Jim Kuntz.


    IX.
    Comments from City Council Representatives

    Jim Kuntz stated that he is very happy to see that the resolution presented at tonight?s meeting passed. He likes the architectural design and thinks that this is a good step forward.

    X.
    Comments from Board

    Dick Entinger reported that he has been out of town during the last few meetings during the passing away of Peter Naumes. Mr. Entinger stated that Pete was a good personal friend and will be missed. Pete did a lot of good things during his service on the Agency Board and to the Community.

    XI.
    Adjournment

    The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. The proceedings of this Board meeting were recorded on tape and filed in the Medford Urban Renewal Agency office.


    ______________________________________
    Submitted by:
    Errin L. Sills
    Office Administrator


    _____________________________________
    Approved by:
    Eric Stark, Board Chair
    12.11.2007 Agenda

    A. Executive Session
    1. Pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(e), ?The governing body of a public body may hold an executive session to conduct deliberations with persons designated by the governing body to negotiate real property transactions.?
    2. Pursuant to ORS192.660(2)(h) ?The governing body of a public body may hold an executive session to consult with counsel concerning the legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current litigation or litigation likely to be filed.?

    B. Open Session
    1. Attendance
    1.1 Roll Call
    2. Approval of Minutes
    2.1 Board Minutes of November 27, 2007
    3. Communications from Audience (Non-Agenda Items)
    4. Communications from Staff
    4.1 Project Updates
    5. Written Communications
    5.1 Thank you from Naumes Family, re: Contribution to St. Mary?s Foundation
    6. Report from Chair
    7. Report from Committees
    7.1 Parking Committee (Agenda, December 13, 2007)
    7.2 Marketing Committee (Next meeting, Wednesday, January 16, 2008)
    8. Business
    8.1 Consideration to approve Resolution No. 07-12-22 approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Medford Urban Renewal Agency and the Rogue Valley Transit District for the construction of a new Greyhound Bus terminal on the RVTD downtown transit site.
    9. Comments from City Council Representatives
    10. Comments from Board
    11. Adjournment

    NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING: TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2008
    NO MEETING ON DECEMBER 25, 2007 DUE TO THE HOLIDAY
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