Meeting Minutes HIGHLAND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STUDY SESSION MINUTES MAY 1, 2006 The Highland Redevelopment Commission met in Study Session on Monday, May 1, 2006, at 6:40 PM in the upstairs Conference Room within the Municipal Building at 3333 Ridge Road, Highland, Indiana. The Study Session was called to order by Commissioner Bernie Zeman. The minutes were prepared by Cecile Petro, Redevelopment Director. ROLL CALL: Present on silent roll call were Commissioners: Bernie Zemen, Rex Burton, Adam Gawlikowski, Dominic Noce and Brice Johnson. Also in attendance were Town Manager Rich Underkofler and Attorney David Westland. GENERAL SUBSTANCE OF THE STUDY SESSION Redevelopment Commissioners reviewed the agenda for the Public Meeting. The Redevelopment Director requested that the Commission review the minutes and claims. No comments were made on the minutes. The Director pointed to two claims with which the Commission may be unfamiliar. The first is a claim from Mega-Path in the amount of $600. She stated that this was an invoice for the final month and termination fee for the T-1 line for the Wi-Fi service which was cancelled last year. She also stated that the invoice was reduced after a discussion with MegaPath. The second claim involves our membership in the regional marketing program with the Northwest Indiana Forum. This is a new Forum program to regionalize marketing efforts in northwest Indiana among seventeen units of government. Director Petro stated that the Clerk Treasurer’s office has stated that this item needs to be put on the Public Meeting agenda because we did not receive an invoice. Clerk-Treasurer Michael Griffin entered the study session in progress and explained the procedure. The Commission President may add this to the agenda by stating it at the beginning of the Public Meeting. The Commission discussed the organization of the Redevelopment Commission for the remainder of the year. A discourse among the members ensued. Commissioner Zemen stated that he would step down as President. The members talked about a possible slate of officers for the Public Meeting. The Commission reviewed the proposed meeting schedule for the remainder of 2006. After studying the calendar, the Commission talked about eliminating the May 10, 2006 meeting and the November 22, 2006 meeting (which had been eliminated in the proposed schedule). ADJOURNMENT: The Study Session was adjourned at 6:55 PM for the Public Meeting. Before the Public Meeting started the Commissioners were sworn in by the Clerk-Treasurer. HIGHLAND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION PUBLIC MEETING MAY 1, 2006 The Highland Redevelopment Commission met in a Public Meeting on May 1, 2006 at 7:05 PM in the Upstairs Conference Room within the Municipal Building at 3333 Ridge Road, Highland, Indiana. Redevelopment Commission President Bernie Zemen called the meeting to order. ROLL CALL: Present on roll call were Redevelopment Commissioners Bernie Zemen, Rex Burton, Adam Gawlikowski, Dominic Noce, and Brice Johnson. Also in attendance were Attorney David Westland, Town Manager Rich Underkofler, and Clerk Treasurer Michael Griffin. Town Council members Daniel Dernulc, Mark Herak, Robert Helmer and Joseph Wszolek entered at different times during the meeting. Members of the public and media were also present. Taking minutes for the meeting was Redevelopment Director Cecile Petro. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS SESSIONS: Commissioner Burton made a motion to approve the minutes of April 3, 2006 and April 17, 2006. Commissioner Gawlikowski seconded the motion. Motion carried with a voice vote with no opposition. SPECIAL ORDERS: Commissioner Zemen removed himself as President of the Redevelopment Commission. Commissioner Burton made a motion for the following slate of officers: Brice Johnson, President; Adam Gawlikowski, Vice President, and Dominic Noce, Secretary. Motion passed 5ayes and 0 nays. Commissioner Noce made a motion to retain David Westland with Tauber, Westland, and Jasaitis, P.C. for the Redevelopment Commission Attorney for the remainder of 2006. Commissioner Zemen seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 ayes and 0 nays. Commissioner Zemen made a motion to appoint Cecile Petro as Interim Recording Secretary for the Redevelopment Commission. Commissioner Noce seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 ayes and 0 nays. UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND GENERAL ORDERS: None NEW BUSINESS: Commissioner Burton made a motion to accept the proposed Redevelopment Commission Meeting Schedule for the remainder of 2006 with the elimination of the May 10, 2006 meeting date. Commissioner Noce seconded the motion. Motion carried 5 ayes 0 nays. Commissioner Burton made a motion to authorize $2500.00 for the Northwest Indiana Forum’s region wide marketing program which involves seventeen communities in Northwest Indiana. Commissioner Gawlikowski seconded the motion. Motion carried 5 ayes and 0 nays. BUSINESS FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION: Commissioner Noce reported that there was a potential problem with the Bult Oil property on the corner of First Street and Condit Avenue. Lake County currently owns the property and has agreed to deed the property to the town of Highland once it is remediated. The County had inadvertently placed the property on the Commissioners’ sale list for the month of June 2006. Commissioner Noce worked with the Director and called the appropriate personnel at the County and the Bult Oil site was taken off of the sale list. Town Manager Rich Underkofler stated that the Town Council will discuss the possibility of establishing an Economic Development Commission. This Commission would review and formulate recommendations on applications for property tax abatement, an economic development incentive intended to attract new businesses and promote expansion of existing businesses. He will ask the town attorney whether this Commission may be staffed by the Redevelopment Director and whether members of the Redevelopment Commission may be appointed to the Economic Development Commission. Town Manager Rich Underkofler also informed the Redevelopment Commission about the possibility of establishing a passenger train depot in Highland. He added that if one is placed in Highland, then we need to prepare the area for possible mixed use development. ACTION TO PAY ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VOUCHERS: Commissioner Burton made a motion to pay claims. Commissioner Zemen seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 ayes and 0 nays. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Town Councilman Daniel Dernulc congratulated the new Redevelopment Commission on their appointments. NEXT MEETING: The next full Study Session will be May 24, 2006. The next Study Session and Public Meeting will be June 14, 2006. All Study Sessions begin at 6:30 PM and Public Meetings begin at 7:00 PM. Study Sessions may reconvene after the Public Meeting. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Noce made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Zemen seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote with no opposition at 7:40 PM. HIGHLAND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STUDY SESSION RECONVENED MAY 1, 2006 The Highland Redevelopment Commission reconvened the Study Session at 7:45 PM in the upper Council Chambers within the Municipal Building at 3333 Ridge Road, Highland, Indiana. ROLL CALL: Present on silent roll call were Redevelopment Commissioners Bernie Zemen, Adam Gawlikowski, Noce, Rex Burton, and Brice Johnson. Also in attendance were Clerk Treasurer Michael Griffin, Town Manager Rich Underkofler, Redevelopment Director Cecile Petro and Town Council members Daniel Dernulc, Mark Herak, Joseph Wszolek and Robert Helmer. GENERAL SUBSTANCE OF THE RECONVENED STUDY SESSION 1. Redevelopment Director Petro updated the Redevelopment Commission on a number of ongoing projects: A. Hammond Loan Agreement and Bond The Director updated the Commission on the progress to date. She stated that Hammond Redevelopment Commission will open bids for demolition on May 2, 2006. This will provide us with a better idea on the total bond amount needed for this project. B. Best House on the Block Contest The Director stated that as of today, thirteen residents have signed up to participate in our Best House on the Block contest. She stated that Neighborhoods Inc. will probably accept forty-two into the contest, because several usually drop out before the end. We want to achieve forty entrants, if at all possible. C. Loan Fair Review The first Loan Fair was held on April 22, 2006 at the Lincoln Center. Fourteen lenders were present. Twenty seven people attended the Loan Fair and three people called for information because they could not attend. The Director distributed a draft follow-up questionnaire which will be emailed to all of the lenders. The purpose of the questionnaire is to provide information on improving the Loan Fair, if the Redevelopment Commission decides to offer it again; and to request feedback from the first Loan Fair. D. Redevelopment District Loan (RDL) Applications The Director reported that three applications have been received for the RDL program. The former Redevelopment Commission appointed the Clerk-Treasurer, the Town Manager, and the Redevelopment Director to review and recommend the finalist(s) to the full Redevelopment Commission. E. Comprehensive Plan The second Community Consultation Forum will be held on May 31, 2006 at 7:00 PM at the Lincoln Center. The consultant, Arsh Group, will provide the results from the surveys and interviews it has conducted since the first Forum. Also, the consultant will provide conceptual schemes for the Redevelopment District. F. Riverfront Development District The Director provided an updated map for the proposed Riverfront Development District. She explained the importance of this District for the development of Kennedy Avenue and Indianapolis Avenue. This special district allows the town to attract upscale and/or unique restaurants by allowing lower priced three-way liquor licenses in a circumscribed area along the riverfront. These are location specific and cannot be bought or sold. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 PM by general consent. Minutes were prepared by Redevelopment Director, Cecile Petro. BACK TO MAIN MENU