GOVERNMENT

Downtown Medford

Board of Directors Board Minutes

  • Minutes
  • Agenda
    6.12.2007 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 6:05 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
    Peter Naumes, Vice-Chair
    Jim Kuntz, Council Representative
    Bill Dames (arrived 6:30 p.m.)
    Jason Anderson, Council Representative
    Dick Entinger (arrived 6:40 p.m.)
    Skip Patterson
    Joy Pelikan
    Gregory Yechout

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

    GUESTS:
    Dan Thorndike, Agency Attorney
    Terry Cook, Cook Development Corporation
    Natalie, KOBI News 5
    Vic Nicoleseu ,Keller Williams Realtor (for CDC)

    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.”

    EXECUTIVE SESSION CLOSED AT 7:05 P.M



    A.
    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 7:10 p.m., in City Hall Council Chambers of
    the City of Medford 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
    Peter Naumes, Vice-Chair
    Greg Yechout, Secretary
    Jim Kuntz, Council Representative
    Bill Dames
    Dick Entinger
    Skip Patterson
    Joy Pelikan
    Jason Anderson, Council Representative

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


    II.
    Minutes

    2.1 Minutes for the May 22, 2007 Medford Urban Renewal Agency Budget Committee Meeting were submitted.

    Chair Eric Stark inquired whether there were any corrections to the Medford Urban Renewal Agency Budget Committee or Board Meeting Minutes of May 22, 2007. Hearing no corrections, Mr. Stark stated that the Minutes stand approved as submitted.


    III.
    Communications from the Audience

    There were none.

    IV.
    Communications from Staff

    4.1

    A. The Bartlett Street Improvement:

    The landscape architect input has been added to the base drawings, which are complete. The Agency is preparing cost estimates with options such as pavers in the alley. The Agency concentration right now is on underground utility needs. The Agency is incorporating this project into the 8th, 9th and Riverside Streetscapes of the RCC project. The Agency reported the project is on schedule.

    B. Middleford Commons

    The next meeting will be held Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. The agenda will include updates on the DDA by the legal departments of all entities involved. Transportation facilities, demolition, Greyhound acquisition, infrastructure, park blocks, headquarters and alley vacation will be discussed at the June 13th meeting.

    Dick Entinger inquired if Lithia has completed all of their design work. Staff reported that the Agency does not have the final drawings, only the drawings submitted to the Agency by Crandall Arambula.

    Dick Entinger inquired as to whether or not the Park Block drawings included kiosks for displaying items, or if the drawings included strictly grass, trees and water. Staff reported that there are a variety of amenities that have been addressed at this point; it has been designed to incorporate items such as a kiosk, if that’s what the final decision is.

    Dick Entinger inquired if the City of Medford will have any say in how the park looks or if the final outcome is strictly between the Agency and Lithia? Staff stated that the City, MURA and Lithia all have a say because they are partners. However, MURA may have more input because of its Design Committee. Jason Anderson stated that since the park is going to be a City park, the Park Commission will have some say in the design composition. Staff stated, as will the water commission.

    The Agency received a grant for the design work and the Community was involved in that physical design. For the infrastructure, a great deal of input will come from other City departments.

    C. Bella-Vita

    Staff reported that there was a press release by Cook Development Corp; it is included in the board packet along with a Mail Tribune article that was sent out by the real estate agent that is representing the developer.

    The press release was presented by Staff to the Medford City Council on June 7th, 2007.

    D. PARC Grant Writers

    The grant writer that has been hired by the Agency has made preliminary contacts with two grants, the Small Community Incentive Fund and the Economic Administration grants.

    The Small Community Incentive Fund grant usually opens up late summer or early fall. The Economic Administration grant is thru the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the grant writer is in ongoing discussions with the federal agency’s local regional office regarding the MURA projects.

    V.
    Written Communications

    There were none.

    VI.
    Report from Chair

    There were none.

    VII.
    Reports of Committees

    7.1 Parking Committee

    Staff reported that included in the Board packet is a list of Parking Committee task forces and their status. These subcommittees have proven to be very effective, Mr. Miles stopped by the office Monday June 11, 2007 and complimented the Agency on the changes that have been made. He said that he has not heard any dissent or complaints on the street and he was very pleased.

    Staff reported that the subcommittees have resolved these issues and implemented these changes very rapidly and effectively.

    Draft minutes from the May 9, 2007 meeting were included in the Board packet for. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday June 13, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. at the Agency office. This meeting is open to the public.

    Jason Anderson wanted it noted for the record that he applauds the Parking Committee for their efforts. It isn’t often that there is a subcommittee doing this much work; it is really appreciated. Staff stated that the appreciation would be conveyed to the Parking Committee at the June 13 meeting.

    Joy Pelikan stated that she was really impressed with the amount of precision and coordination it has taken and the number of task forces; there was so much detail and time put into these task forces.

    7.2 Marketing Committee

    Staff reported that the Taste of History event was held on June 9, 2007. The event received a large turnout and was deemed a success. There were fifteen venues of music, food and wine tasting. The event coordinators and volunteers should be complimented.

    Taste of History was created through the Agency’s Marketing Committee and was handed off to the event coordinator group and they joined with the Heart of Medford Association to make the event successful and anchored.

    The 2007 Medford Cruise event will be held June 14 through 17, 2007. Copies of the flier were distributed.

    The next Marketing Committee meeting will be held Wednesday June 20, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. at the Agency office.

    Bill Dames is the Board Liaison to the Marketing Committee. The Agency recognized that Bill as the person behind the idea for the Taste of History.


    VIII.
    Business

    8.1 Public Hearing and Consideration to approve Resolution No. 07-06-11 adopting the budget for the Medford Urban Renewal Agency for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2007, making appropriations thereunder and categorizing the tax.

    Staff reported that on May 22, 2007 the Agency Budget Committee met to review the Medford Urban Renewal Agency Fiscal Year 2007-2008 Budget. At the conclusion of that meeting, the Budget Committee forwarded a favorable recommendation to the Agency Board of Directors for its approval of that budget. The Fiscal Year 2007-2008 Budget totals $14,336,800, and is summarized in the Board packet.

    A summary of the budget items are as follows: Capital Projects (General Fund): Personal Services $339,800, Materials and Services $467,700, Capital Outlay $5,489,800, Debt Service $63,500, Contingencies $186,130, Transfers $325,000. Total Capital Projects Fund $6,871,930. Debt Service: Debt Service $3,884,070, Inappropriated Fund Balance $3,580,800. Total Debt Service Fund $7,464,870. Total appropriation of all funds is $14,336,800.

    The Board had reviewed the Draft Budget at the May 22, 2007 Meeting and issued a favorable recommendation as part of the Budget Committee.

    Chair Eric Stark opened the Public Hearing for public comment. There being no comment, Chair Eric Stark closed the Public Hearing.

    MOTION: It was moved by Skip Patterson to approve Resolution No. 07-06-11 adopting the budget for the Medford Urban Renewal Agency for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2007, making appropriations there under and categorizing the tax. Greg Yechout seconded the motion.

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


    IX.
    Comments from City Council Representatives

    9.1 Jim Kuntz reported that the City of Medford has passed its budget, much like MURA just did. Part of the budget was a partial pickup of the Agency’s South Interchange obligation due to The Commons project.

    X.
    Comments from Board

    10.1 Jim Kuntz reported that he and his wife attended the Taste of History event and stayed the entire length of the event. He stated that he and his wife went on both history tours and fully enjoyed themselves; they had a lot of fun and will be back next year.

    Chair Eric Stark asked Jim Kuntz if he heard favorable remarks from other attendees at the event. Jim Kuntz stated that he did hear many favorable remarks from other attendees, and many of the businesses stated that there were more participants than last year.

    Staff stated that the Agency’s contribution to this project has not only been providing the venue for the creation of this project. The Agency has created street lamp banners that advertise the event; donated funds used to purchase the wine glasses that were a part of the event bags; and paid for the marketing video that aired on television.

    Bill Dames reported that there were more people in attendance than last year. Financially it came off well. There were a lot of good comments made regarding the availability, specialty and quality of downtown stores.


    XI.
    Adjournment

    The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 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, Chair
    6.12.2007 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.”

    B. Open Session
    1. Attendance
    1.1 Roll Call
    2. Approval of Minutes
    2.1 Budget Minutes of May 22, 2007
    2.2 Board Minutes of May 22, 2007
    3. Communications from Audience (Non-Agenda Items)
    4. Communications from Staff
    4.1 Project Updates
    a. Bartlett Street Improvement
    b. The Commons
    c. Bella Vita: Press Release
    5. Written Communications
    6. Report from Chair
    7. Report from Committees
    7.1 Parking Committee (Draft Minutes, May 9, 2007; Agenda, June 13, 2007)
    7.2 Marketing Committee
    8. Business
    8.1 PUBLIC HEARING and consideration to approve Resolution No. 07-06-11 adopting the budget for the Medford Urban Renewal Agency for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2007, making appropriations thereunder, and categorizing the tax
    9. Comments from City Council Representatives
    9.1 Council Minutes, All Council Minutes since April 19, 2007
    10. Comments from Board
    11. Adjournment


    NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING: TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2007
Signup for our free Newsletter to get event updates and information: