April 8, 2005 Minutes
Members present: Linda Coates, John Cosgriff, Helen Levitt, Pat Zavoral, Charles Pace
Members absent: Herb Snyder, Michael Sebille
Others Present: Mayor Bruce Furness, Mike Williams, Marcia Pulczinski from Image Group, Lowell Wolff of Fargo Public Schools, Terry Schaunaman, City of Fargo staff, public and media
I. Minutes
Helen Levitt moved to approve the minutes of March 30, 2005. Charles Pace seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Pat Zavoral moved to approve the minutes of March 18 and 29, 2005. Helen Levitt seconded the motion; the motion carried.
II. Discussion
Pat Zavoral, Richard Moorhead, and Charles Pace met with real estate representative Konrad Olson to discuss possibilities at Northport and the Skills and Training Center. Northport has approximately 4,000 square feet (SF) available at the rate of $10 per SF plus $1.75 per SF for common area maintenance (CAM) charges. They were uncertain if the space was available immediately.
The Skills and Training Center has 4,800 SF available on the east end in what was formerly the garden center of the Kmart plaza.
Between the Skills and Training Center and the National Guard along University Drive a new branch bank building plus small strip mall is going to be developed. Opportunity may be there for 5,000 SF in a newly constructed strip mall.
They also inquired about the 19th Avenue strip mall. Space would be considerably more there than at Northport.
The consultants suggested other communities around the nation were able to secure strip mall space at much reduced rates in turn for a long term lease. Charles will contact Bob Rohlfe regarding national trends of increased traffic where a library facility is located. Our community has a limited number of retail spaces on the north side and space is at a premium.
The facilities plan called for 5,000 SF on the north side. Helen Levitt was concerned about the size of the spaces available. The north side is anticipating growth with new housing developments. She does not want to box the library in and be in the same position ten years from now.
Pat Zavoral also spoke with other property owners regarding downtown sites. The US Bank plaza and parking ramp may be a possibility. US Bank representatives are carrying forward feasibility studies with MS&R regarding a new bank, parking ramp, and library.
Pat Zavoral will meet with another property owner this afternoon regarding another building on Broadway. He is encouraged by the public support and interest in the downtown library.
At the next public forum April 19, Linda Coates will state the purpose and expectations of the public forum. The public is seen as advisory. The ultimate decision is with the elected officials. The architects will graphically analyze the Northport site and discuss Yunker Farm and Washington Elementary. They will analyze graphically Ed Clapp Park, Stonebridge Park, and the proposed school site at 52nd Avenue South. Downtown may have new possibilities, but the current sites to be analyzed include the current site, Civic parking lot, and the area north of the transit station.
A bus tour to the possible sites will be held Tuesday. The meeting with MS&R representatives will now be at 9:00am with a bus tour immediately following.
Terry Schaunaman stated Kim Christianson from the North Dakota State Department of Commerce Energy office will be in Fargo April 19-21 and is willing to meet about possible funding related to geothermal ground source heat pumps. Linda Coates, Pat Zavoral, Helen Levitt, and Richard Moorhead will meet with him tentatively scheduled April 20 at 4:00pm.
Another possible location for the downtown site could be incorporated into the Cityscapes project dependant on the outcome of the vote May 3. Additional NDSU classroom space may be included in the development.
John Cosgriff did not have a written response regarding bonds pledged to parking lots. The City of Fargo does have the ability to sell the parking lots at fair market value. Proceeds would then go toward the pledged bonds. Several issues would be involved with potential parking lot sites. The parking commission is looking to maximize the potential as a city. Mike Williams suggested a possibility with the Civic parking lot would be to utilize sub-grade and grade level parking, increasing the total number of current parking spots within the same footprint. Other parking funds may be necessary for such a project.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be Tuesday, April 19, 2005 at 9:00am. The next public forum will be that evening at 7:00pm. A follow up meeting will be Wednesday, April 20, 2005 at 9:00am. The meeting was adjourned.