NOVEMBER, 2001 URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY MEETING MINUTES:
NOVEMBER 14, 2001
1. Roll Call: Chair Moore called the meeting to order at 5:30
p.m. Chair Moore and Members Church, Welch, Peterson, and Woodruff answered the
roll. A quorum was present.
2. Citizen Comments and Concerns: Jacquie Tunturi asked if
this were the only opportunity to speak at the meeting. She addressed the Agency
in regards to the actions of the Economic Development Committee. She stated that
she felt they have accomplished a lot of work, including meetings and
statistical research. Her question in regards to the Waldport Motel site was
whether the recommendation of the Committee was going to be considered. Chair
Moore noted that it would be. She stated that there were two purposes to the
Committee, downtown revitalization and the disposal of the Waldport Motel site,
and reviewed the history of the decisions regarding the Motel site. Chair Moore
noted that the report said sell the property. She responded that the petition,
with over 500 signatures, indicated that the citizens wished to keep the lot for
parking, etc., and she hoped that this would be taken into consideration. She
also had concerns about the wording of the survey on the water bills. Chair
Moore responded that he and Member Welch had written it, and they had obtained a
consensus among the Council, although the decision had not been made at any
formal Council or Urban Renewal meeting. Maggie Rivers also addressed the
Agency, as a citizen, regarding the Motel property. She indicated that she was
not a proponent of one or the other of the options on the waterbill survey, but
would like the Agency to consider other alternatives. There were ways to put
property back on the tax rolls and still use it for parking, such as leasing.
She complimented the agency on its foresight in buying the property.
3. Agency Member Comments and Concerns: None.
4. Minutes: The Agency considered the minutes from the
October 11, 2001 meeting. Member Welch moved to approve the minutes as
presented, Member Woodruff seconded, and the motion carried
unanimously on a voice vote.
5. Sam Balen's Layout: Chair Moore asked permission of the
Agency to move Mr. Balen's presentation up on the agenda. Consensus was
favorable. Mr. Balen noted he was present at the behest of both the Agency and
the Economic Development Committee. He had prepared a conceptual drawing of the
Motel property, noting that he had incorporated quite a few of the features
which the Committee had proposed, and reviewed the features of the proposal. The
estimated cost would be $103,025.00 for the improvements he had proposed. The
piece of property which could be sold would fetch at least $85,000 if it were
sold outright, and possibly more since it was prime highway 101 frontage.
Included in that would be a suggestion that the parking for the structure be
incorporated into the City's parking in the rear, and although it would require
a variance granted by the Planning Commission, he felt that this would be easy
to accomplish. Following a brief discussion, the Agency thanked Mr. Balen for
his efforts.
6. Patterson Parking Lot: Chair Moore asked that the
discussion regarding the Patterson Parking Lot be moved up on the agenda.
Consensus was favorable. Chair Moore noted that they had an opportunity to
acquire public parking downtown, and Ms. Patterson would agree to lease the
property to the Agency for an extended period of time. The City would pick up
approximately 30 parking spaces. With the Agency's permission, he would like to
continue negotiations. He noted the basic terms would be $65 per month to cover
taxes, blacktop and striping and signage for around $7300. This would be a
5-year lease with a 5-year renewable. If the property were sold during that
period of time, Ms. Patterson would have to pay back the Agency. Member Welch
noted that this was an idea well worth pursuing, and moved to empower Mr.
Moore to negotiate the lease and come back to the Board for approval. Member
Peterson seconded. Member Church stated that he would rather see the
property purchased for the purpose. His concern was that if Ms. Patterson wanted
to further develop her property, the parking would not be available for the
expansion. Member Woodruff mentioned that parking requirements may be revised or
reviewed through the SMART process, and that may help with some of the issues
Member Church raised. The motion then carried unanimously on a voice vote.
7. Motel Property: Chair Moore noted the Agency voted last
year to sell the property, and then it was pointed out that the Committee had
been formed and the report forthcoming, so they agreed to wait until the report
was obtained. Two months ago, the majority of the Agency had voted to sell the
property. The issue had been tabled, pending decision of whether to list through
a local realtor or contact the property broker in Portland. His question was
whether they should go with the decision of two months ago, and if so, whether
to go with the realtor or the broker. Discussion ensued. Member Church noted
that the Agency had postponed the sale of the property to hear from the
Revitalization Committee. He moved to accept the recommendation from the
Committee to investigate what the front could be sold for, get some firm numbers
on the work on the back, and proceed along those lines. The motion died
for lack of second. Member Welch agreed that the Agency should continue to
consider the recommendations. It was not necessary to accept or reject the
recommendations, but he would like more information on how it could be
developed, and the broker seems to have some reputation in finding developers.
He would be interested in putting a $6000 limit on the review and assessment of
property. Member Woodruff was also in favor of having the broker involved in
some way, whether in conjunction with a local realtor or not. Discussion ensued.
Member Peterson noted the money has to come back to the Urban Renewal Agency at
some point, so that it can be utilized for other such projects. Member Church
stated that the proposed plan presented by Mr. Balen appeared to fulfill all the
requirements. Member Welch indicated that he would like to at least explore the
potential for finding a buyer, and moved to empower himself and Member
Woodruff to contact the broker, Mr. Leverton, to ascertain what he might be able
to do, and at what price. Chair Moore seconded. The motion carried, with
Chair Moore and Members Peterson, Woodruff and Welch voting "Aye", Member Church
voting "Nay". The Agency would expect a response within 30 days.
Respectfully submitted,
Reda A. Quinlan
City Clerk
APPROVED by the Waldport Urban Renewal Agency this 6th day of
December, 2001.
SIGNED by the Chair this 7th day of December, 2001.
Gene Moore, Chair