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ITEM 1 - CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Steve Burkholder called the meeting to order at 8:18 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Lakewood Civic Center, 480 South Allison Parkway, Lakewood, Colorado.
ITEM 2 - ROLL CALL
Members in attendance: Steve Burkholder, Cheryl Wise, Tom Booher, Mike Stevens, Debbie Koop, Carol Kesselman, Barbara Martin, Ray Elliott, Jean Saum and Jackie Herbst
Absent: Bob Murphy
Staff in attendance: Executive Director Mike Rock, Director Frank Gray, and Attorney Malcolm Murray
Chairman Burkholder stated that Barb Martin is the Vice-Chairman of the Lakewood Reinvestment Authority. He stated that the members of City Council are also the members of the Lakewood Reinvestment Authority as voted upon by the electors.
ITEM 3 - PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
ITEM 4 - APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Barb Martin made a motion to approve the minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lakewood Reinvestment Authority of December 17, 2001 and January 28, 2002. It was seconded by Ray Elliott. Vote: all Ayes. No Nays. The motion carried.
ITEM 5 - RESOLUTION LRA 2002-4 - AMENDING THE BYLAWS OF THE LAKEWOOD REINVESTMENT AUTHORITY
Barb Martin made a motion to adopt Resolution LRA 2002-4. It was seconded by Ray Elliott. Vote: All Ayes. No Nays. The motion carried
Executive Director Mike Rock stated that Resolution LRA 2002-4 amended the Bylaws to recognize the function that has been in place for some time with the Lakewood Reinvestment Authority. The Authority/Council acts as the Board of Directors which is a decision the voters made. The City has a choice of either having a separate board of directors for the Lakewood Reinvestment Authority or having the City Council also act as the board of directors. The voters decided that Council would also be the Authority. The Resolution simply adds the position of Clerk which is filled by the Lakewood City Clerk and the Clerk function is similar to the function handled by the City Clerk for City Council in terms of keeping minutes, records, and attesting signatures. The Resolution also recognized the position of Director and the Director position is held by Frank Gray and Frank Gray has the staff responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the LRA. This Resolution just brings the bylaws into sync with the actual functions that are being performed.
ITEM 6 - RESOLUTION LRA 2002-5 - AUTHORIZING A COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Barb Martin made a motion to adopt Resolution LRA 2002-5. It was seconded by Ray Elliott.
Mike Rock stated that in the years 2001 and 2002, the City has extended a $350,000 line of credit for each of the urban renewal areas, which are the Villa area and Colfax/Wadsworth. Full funds have not been utilized. For cash flow purposes, the City pays the costs for the LRA and then is reimbursed over time. Out of the $700,000 letter of credit, the City has been reimbursed for all except $88,000. It has not been a financial drain on the City at all. In addition to direct reimbursement, there has been a fee charged for the Villa project which is a fee over and above any expenses the City has incurred. While the Colfax and Wadsworth agreement is yet to be negotiated, he stated he anticipates there will be a fee that will go to the City for that one as well.
Cheryl Wise stated that when urban renewal was voted into effect in Lakewood, it was very clear on behalf of the voters that they wanted City Council to serve as their voice on urban renewal issues. On first reading of the Resolution, it gave what could have been, the appearance of a staff-controlled vs. council-controlled entity. However, after asking questions and delving into it much further, she requested to go on record stating that she feels very reassured that the Authority has looked at this and it's not just the money, it is that the best people are overseeing this. The City has qualified staff and City Council is still at the helm of this and there is a lot of accountability. Ms. Wise stated that this is a very physically prudent way to do business and it maximizes very limited resources. She stated she would be supporting the Resolution.
Vote: All Ayes. No Nays. The motion carried
ITEM 7 - RESOLUTION LRA 2002-6 - REVISING THE RELOCATION POLICY FOR THE COLFAX/ WADSWORTH REINVESTMENT PROJECT
Barb Martin made a motion to adopt Resolution LRA 2002-6. It was seconded by Ray Elliott.
Frank Gray stated that there are two changes on the revised Relocation Policy. One is to bring the Colfax/Wadsworth Area into conformance with what was found to be a practical reality over at Villa and that is to allow 180 days for the residential residency relocation. It appeared that the 90-day period was much too short. There will be more residential relocation in this particular case than before. The second change is very specific to the Colfax/Wadsworth project and that is making Vance Terrace available for relocation payments.
Attorney Malcolm Murray stated that the agreement being negotiated between the developer of the Colfax/Wadsworth project and the Lakewood Housing Authority regarding Vance Terrace specifically provides for relocation assistance for the residents of Vance Terrace. A provision has been placed in the revised Relocation Policy that indicates that if they accept relocation benefits under that agreement that they are not eligible for relocation benefits under the Relocation Policy. They are eligible for relocation benefits under one of the policies, but not both. They cannot get relocation benefits from two sources.
Vote: all ayes. No Nays. The motion carried
ITEM 8 - AUTHORITY MEMBER COMMENTS
Barb Martin asked Director Gray to explain to the viewing audience the boundaries
of the two urban renewal projects.
Frank Gray stated that one project area runs from Allison east along Alameda to Sheridan. It is known as the Alameda Urban Renewal Area. That includes Phase II of the area which is the Villa Italia Site, which is a much larger area. The second project area is a more limited project area which is the northeast corner of Wadsworth and Colfax. It runs from approximately Teller Street to Wadsworth and from Colfax back to 16th/17th Avenue. Urban renewal powers exist throughout the City and as the Council sees areas that need attention, further project areas can be defined in the future.
Barb Martin asked if a vacant parcel could be dedicated for urban renewal.
Frank Gray stated that vacant parcels are found quite often within an urban renewal project area and if the land is being underutilized or kept from redeveloping as a result of ownership patterns and other things, frequently portions of the areas are vacant land. Vacant land can be designated as long as the findings of blight exist for the area as a whole. They don't have to exist for every property within the area.
Mike Rock stated that for all of the urban renewal project areas they are relatively
large areas and there is a very lengthy and public process involved and there
is not a case where anyone should be concerned that the City would come in and
pluck a single small parcel out and designate it as an urban renewal area. There
would be lots of opportunity for public participation and legal hurdles to review.
It would be a comprehensive approach of what the area should be and what the
problem is that needs to be solved.
ITEM 9 - STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 10 - ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Authority, Chairman Burkholder adjourned the meeting at 8:32 p.m.
Submitted by
Margy Greer, City Clerk
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