Meeting Minutes HIGHLAND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STUDY SESSION MINUTES JANUARY 11, 2006 The Highland Redevelopment Commission met in study session on Wednesday, January 11, 2006, at 6:30 PM prior to the Public Meeting in the upper meeting room of the Highland Municipal Building, 3333 Ridge Road, Highland, Indiana. The meeting was called to order by President Pat Popa. The minutes were prepared by Cecile Petro, Redevelopment Director. ROLL CALL: Present on silent roll call were Commissioners: Rex Burton, Edward Dabrowski, Brice Johnson, Keith Magiera, and Pat Popa. Also present were attorney David Westland, Town Council President and Liaison Joseph Wszolek, The Times newspaper reporter Charles Haber, and Director Cecile Petro. GENERAL SUBSTANCE OF THE STUDY SESSION Town Council Liaison Report Town Council Liaison, Joseph Wszolek, stated that representatives from the Town will meet with representatives of Hammond, Indiana on January 12, 2006, to discuss the possibility of a loan from Highland to Hammond. If the Highland Town Council believes that an Interlocal Governmental Agreement can be reached, it will take the necessary steps to loan Hammond $2,000,000.00. Mr. Wszolek explained the steps that would take place. He stated that the loan will originate with the Redevelopment Commission and because he feels that the elected officials of the Town should be the ones to defend this policy decision, and if necessary, suffer any negative repercussions, the Town Council has decided that it will temporarily appoint the Town Council as the Redevelopment Commission until this loan is completed. Throughout this process the Town Council will interview any current Redevelopment Commissioners and any other residents who have an interest in serving on the Redevelopment Commission. That group will then serve as a task force or advisory council to the Town Council/Redevelopment Commission. Once the loan is approved, the Town Council will step down from the Redevelopment Commission and appoint the task force/advisory council to the Commission. However, he stated that the current Redevelopment Commission must organize and choose officers tonight and serve until the Town Council acts to appoint themselves as the Redevelopment Commission HIGHLAND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2006 The Highland Redevelopment Commission (RC) met on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 at 7:17 PM for a Public Meeting after the Study Session in the meeting room of the Highland Municipal Building, 3333 Ridge Road, Highland, Indiana. The meeting was called to order by commission President, Pat Popa, and recorded and transcribed by Cecile Petro, Redevelopment Director. ROLL CALL: Present on roll call were Commissioners: Rex Burton, Edward Dabrowski, Brice Johnson Keith Magiera, and Pat Popa. Also present were Attorney David Westland, Town Council Liaison Joseph Wszolek, and The Times reporter Charles Haber. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS SESSION: The minutes of the Public Meeting/Study Sessions of December 14, 2005, were introduced. Commissioner Burton made a motion to approve the minutes as posted. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion. Motion passed 4 ayes 0 nays 1 abstention. Commissioner Magiera abstained. SPECIAL ORDERS: Election of officers Commissioner Johnson made a motion to appoint the following slate of officers to the RC and to close the nominations: Keith Magiera, President, Pat Popa, Vice President, and Brice Johnson, Secretary. Commissioner Burton seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 ayes 0 nays. Commission President Pat Popa handed the gavel to newly elected President, Keith Magiera. Appointment of Commission Attorney Commissioner Burton made a motion to appoint David Westland as Redevelopment Commission Attorney for 2006. Commissioner Popa seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 ayes 0 nays. Resolution 2006-01: Authorizing Compensation for Certain Employees to be Derived From the Proper Fund of the Redevelopment Department of the Town Of Highland, Lake County, Indiana. Commissioner Popa made a motion to approve Resolution 2006-01 which would set the salary for the Redevelopment Director, Recording Secretary and compensation for the Redevelopment Commission Attorney. Commission Burton seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 ayes 0 nays. COMMUNICATIONS: None UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND GENERAL ORDERS: None NEW BUSINESS Commissioner Popa made a motion to retain Cecile Petro as the Interim Recording Secretary for the Redevelopment Commission until a replacement could be found. Commissioner Dabrowski seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 ayes 0 nays. BUSINESS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS: None ACTION TO PAY ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VOUCHERS: Commissioner Burton made a motion to pay accounts payable vouchers. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 ayes 0 nays 1 abstention. Commissioner Dabrowski abstained. 094 REDEVELOPMENT GENERAL $ 15,464.32 096 REDEVELOPMENT CAPITAL 835.67 097 REDEVELOPMENT BOND & INTEREST 372,644.00 TOTAL $388,943.99 PUBLIC COMMENTS: None NEXT MEETING: The next Public Meeting will be held on February 8, 2006, at 7:00 PM following a Study Session at 6:30 PM. The Study Session will reconvene following the Public Meeting. The next scheduled Study Session will be held January 25, 2006, at 6:30 PM. ADJOURNMENT: At 7:32 PM Commissioner Popa made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Dabrowski seconded the motion. The motion carried 5 ayes 0 nays. Respectfully submitted by Cecile L. Petro HIGHLAND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STUDY SESSION RECONVENED JANUARY 11, 2006 The Highland Redevelopment Commission reconvened its Study Session at 7:50 PM in the upper meeting room of the Highland Municipal Building, 3333 Ridge Road, Highland, Indiana. The meeting was called to order by Commission President Keith Magiera. The minutes were prepared by Cecile Petro. ROLL CALL: All Commissioners from the previous Public Meeting were in attendance. Also present was Town Council Liaison Joseph Wszolek. GENERAL SUBSTANCE OF THE STUDY SESSION Best House on The Block Program for 2006 The Commission discussed the results of the previous year’s BHOTB program and directed the RC Director to meet with the Director of Neighborhoods Inc. to begin negotiations. The RC discussed changing the loan program to a per client basis. The RC also instructed the Director to survey lenders in the area to see if there is interest in a loan fair. Commissioner Burton will assist with this effort. The RC also suggested contacting the Community Action Program, Dial-A-Ride, and other state and federal funded programs to gauge interest in participating in this type of program. The RC also discussed providing business seminars to businesses in Highland. The Director will seek out information on this topic. Arsh Group—Comprehensive Plan The RC discussed the written comments from the Director on the contract and scope of work from Arsh Group. RC President Magiera instructed the Commissioners to review the contract and the scope of services and email comments to the Director by January 18th. She will then email them to Arsh Group. The RC also instructed the Director to contact Arsh Group and request the presence of the entire Arsh Group team for the next Study Session. The RC gave this following timetable for the contract: January 18—RC comments on contract and scope to the Director January 20—Comments on contract and scope back to the RC and to Arsh Group January 25—Arsh Group to discuss questions with RC at the Study Session with project team and to come to an agreement on the contract January 26—Send contract to Attorney, David Westland January 28—Send contract to Arsh Group February 8—RC votes on contract Redevelopment District Loan Program (RDL) The RC directed the Director to develop a flyer and distribute it in person to businesses within the Redevelopment District. The flyer and a short talk will be given at the next Chamber of Commerce meeting by the Director and the RC President. The Director will also give information on the RDL to the Downtown Association meeting on January 25, 2006. The RC stated that a deadline of April 15, 2006 will be set for the RDL applications. After that date, it will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Goals and Objectives 2006 Update Director Petro stated that the goals and objectives for 2006 which were sent to the Town Council in August 2005 needed to be updated. The RC will send their suggestions to the Director by January 18, 2006. She will compile and resend them to the RC by January 20, 2006. Strategic Plan Commissioners Dabrowski and Burton will email their review of the strategies to RC President Magiera by January 13, 2006. Wi-Fi Commissioner Dabrowski stated that three additional cells were purchased for the Wi-Fi program. The cell located on the Fire Station needs to be lowered in order to increase the signal. The RC directed the RC Director to contact Jim McShane at Lake County Integrated Services Delivery Board and Sims Engineering to request the return of the Wi-Fi equipment, if it is not currently being utilized. The RC is continuing to work on a business plan for the Wi-Fi. Beautification Program Series The RC Director distributed the new “2006 Highland Gardening Series” brochures which outline eight programs designed to improve the residential properties within Highland. This program is co-sponsored with the Highland Library. The following are the program dates for 2006: February 9 and 16, March 9 and 16, April 6 and 20, June 8, and November 9. First Fridays in Highland Commissioner Pat Popa outlined the concept of First Fridays of the Month. She stated that each participating business would be open in the evening of each First Friday. The business would have a banner outside of its property to designate it as a First Friday business. She also stated that the RC is also working to include the fine arts within the concept. Kiosk update The RC directed the RC Director to write an ordinance which would allow private advertising on the kiosks and send it to the Plan Commission for review. She was also directed to copy the Council Liaison and the RC President for their comments. Once changes are complete, she was instructed to send it to the attorney for review. The Director was also told to contact J&S Music to see if that business would be interested in advertising on the kiosks once the ordinance problems were resolved. Joint Meeting of Town Boards and Commissions The RC commented that the Joint Meeting in December was an excellent first attempt at interaction among the various boards and commissions. They suggested that the Town Council use a round table to facilitate discussion and have a smaller agenda so that all of the material can be covered. All Commission members would like to see semi-annual meetings in the future. Other discussion items The RC Director was instructed to contact the Public Works department and request that the sign on the vacant lot at the southeast corner of Highway and Kennedy be removed. It currently violates the sign ordinance. The RC Director was directed to ask the Public Works Director when the “drop dead” date for the Kennedy Avenue project was projected. BACK TO MAIN MENU