Meeting Minutes HIGHLAND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STUDY SESSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2007 The Highland Redevelopment Commission (“Commission”) met in Study Session on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 6:31 PM in the Second Floor Conference Room within the Municipal Building at 3333 Ridge Road, Highland, Indiana. The Study Session was called to order by Commissioner Adam Gawlikowski. The minutes were prepared by Cecile Petro, Redevelopment Director. ROLL CALL: Present on silent roll call included Commissioners: James Kessler, Adam Gawlikowski, Brice Johnson, and Dominic Noce. Richard Garza participated through speakerphone. Also in attendance were Economic Development Commissioner George VandeWerken, Town Council President Dan Dernulc, attorney David Westland, and Town Manager Rich Underkofler. Council Vice President Joseph Wszolek and Plan Commission member Tom Agler entered during the meeting. GENERAL SUBSTANCE OF THE STUDY SESSION Redevelopment Commissioners reviewed the agenda for the Special Public Meeting. The Redevelopment Director stated that the meeting was called to act upon a contract with Neighborhoods Inc. to provide a Best House on the Block Contest for 2007. Commissioners stated that this year’s contest would target a smaller area, Wicker Park Estates, and that the Commission will evaluate whether or not this program meets the goals of restoring and maintaining the neighborhoods in Highland. The Commission stressed that they expect entrants to make significant improvements on their property. The Commissioners discussed the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the corner lot on Kennedy and Highway Avenues. Attorney David Westland reviewed the RFP with the Commissioners and suggested date changes within the RFP timetable. The new due date for proposals will be May 23, 2007. Commissioner Gawlikowski stated that he is looking forward to receiving the responses to the RFP. Commissioner Johnson asked the Director to correct any changes and/or errors before the document is sent out. Commissioners discussed the future of the Wi-Fi project in the downtown area. Commissioner Noce and the Director gave a history of the project and stated that it was originally meant to be a means to attract new business to the town by becoming one of the few places in the U.S. with Wi-Fi in the downtown area. A number of problems developed and the program was not able to meet its original goal; however, it is an amenity for the town. The Commission directed Mrs. Petro to communicate with our IT Specialist, Ed Dabrowski, to have him follow through on installing a Wi-Fi cell in the Main Square Park and to lower the cell at the Fire Station, as soon as possible. The Director will also begin the development of a publicity campaign for the Wi-Fi once the coverage of the downtown is complete and dependable. ADJOURNMENT: The study session adjourned at 7:08 PM HIGHLAND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION PUBLIC MEETING APRIL 25, 2007 The Highland Redevelopment Commission (“Commission”) met in a Special Public Meeting on April 25, 2007 at 7:14 PM in the Second Floor Conference Room of the Municipal Building at 3333 Ridge Road, Highland, Indiana. Redevelopment Commission President Adam Gawlikowski called the meeting to order. ROLL CALL: Present on roll call included Redevelopment Commissioners James Kessler, Adam Gawlikowski, Brice Johnson, and Dominic Noce. Commissioner Rich Garza participated through speakerphone. Also in attendance were Town Manager Rich Underkofler and Economic Development Commissioner George VandeWerken. Taking minutes for the meeting was Redevelopment Director Cecile Petro. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS SESSIONS: None ACTION TO PAY ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VOUCHERS: None SPECIAL ORDERS: None COMMUNICATIONS: None UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND GENERAL ORDERS: None NEW BUSINESS: Commissioner Noce made a motion to approve the contract with Neighborhoods Inc. for a 2007 Best House on the Block Contest for the Wicker Park Estates Area of Highland. Commissioner Kessler seconded the motion. During the discussion on the motion, Rich Garza stated that a realtor from McColly Realty will provide information on the value of the average single family home in Highland, Hammond, Munster and Griffith to the Commission. He also stated that he will put together a check list of items that Neighborhoods Inc. will do for the participants, so we know the extent of service provided by Neighborhoods Inc. Lastly, Mr. Garza stated that he would like to see this program used to “turn around” the Wicker Park area. Motion carried 3 ayes, 0 nays, 1 abstention, and 1 absent. BUSINESS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS: None PUBLIC COMMENTS: None NEXT MEETING: The next public meeting will take place on May 9, 2007 and the next study session is scheduled for May 23, 2007. There will also be a study session before and after the May 9th public meeting. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Noce made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Kessler seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned by voice vote at 7:32 PM. HIGHLAND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STUDY SESSION RECONVENED APRIL 25, 2007 The Highland Redevelopment Commission reconvened the Study Session at 7:34 PM in the Second Floor Conference room of the Municipal Building at 3333 Ridge Road, Highland, Indiana. ROLL CALL: Present on silent roll call were Redevelopment Commissioners Adam Gawlikowski, Dominic Noce, Jim Kessler, Brice Johnson, and Richard Garza was on speakerphone. Also in attendance were Town Manager Rich Underkofler, Economic Development Commissioner George VandeWerken, and Redevelopment Director Cecile Petro. GENERAL SUBSTANCE OF THE RECONVENED STUDY SESSION 1. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between the Hammond Redevelopment Commission and the Highland Redevelopment Commission and Resolution 2007-06 which supports the MOU The Commission reviewed the joint meeting with the Hammond Redevelopment Commission that was held on April 19, 2007. Commissioner Garza stated that President Adam Gawlikowski did an excellent job chairing the meeting. There were no changes to the MOU, and Resolution 2007-06, which affirms, ratifies, authorizes and approves the Memorandum of Understanding between the Redevelopment Commissions of Hammond and Highland. It will be placed on the public meeting agenda, May 9, 2007. 2. Environmental Grant/loan from the Northwest Indiana Forum The Director reviewed her meeting with Kay Nelson, Environmental Specialist with the Northwest Indiana Forum. This grant/loan will cover the cost of the local match for Phase I of an Environmental Protection Agency cleanup. When the state provides funds for a project, we may be able to repay the loan to the Forum and then this loan program will become self-sustaining. This grant/loan program may become helpful in our light industrial area. 3. Riverfront Development District update The Director updated the Commission on the new legal definition for the Riverfront Development District based upon information from the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (IAT). We are trying to substitute language in the law to include “towns” as well as “cities”. Once that is completed, we will submit our application for the District to IAT. This may not happen until the next session of the State Legislature in January 2008. 4. Redevelopment District Loan Program (RDL) The Director stated that we have $30K budgeted for the RDL program in 2007 and described the history of program which started at the end of 2005. Commissioners and the Town Manager discussed how the program might be organized this year. The Commission may consider charging interest for a loan, emphasize code upgrades, and/or mandate adherence to design objectives, as a requirement for the loan. In some areas, loans are based upon how much a lendee contributes to the effort, for example, 50% of the cost would be born by the lendee and 50% would be provided by the Commission. The Commission directed Ms. Petro to look at models in other areas and bring them back to the Commission for their review. 5. Updates on other issues The Director stated that Wight is currently preparing information in-house for a May 5, 2007, meeting with the town department heads to discuss design objectives. The Commission requested that the Director contact Ms. Gail Barenie to ask if the developer in South Holland would attend a study session with the Commission. The Commission is interested in asking him questions about the potential for development of the corner lot and surrounding parcels. ADJOURNMENT President Gawlikowski adjourned the study session at 9:12 PM by general consent. Minutes were prepared by Redevelopment Director, Cecile Petro. BACK TO MAIN MENU