MINUTES OF THE MEETING URBAN REVITALIZATION AGENCY March 27, 2018 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Dale Mahugh called the meeting to order at 8:31 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dale Mahugh, Stephen Coe, Robert Brown, and Jim O Neill MEMBERS ABSENT: Bob Worley STAFF PRESENT: Karen Byrnes, Dave Palmer, Chief Executive, Brianne Downey, and Susan Powell CONSULTANT: Adam Benson, Director of Loan Services, Butte Local Development Corporation; Jeff Kanning, Collaborative Design Architects; Erik Sletten, President of Sletten Construction; Cliff Garness, Division Manager of Sletten Construction; Matt Mclaughlin, Sletten Construction; George Everrett, Mainstreet Uptown Butte; Debbie and Bill Nokes GUESTS: Mary McCormick, Historic Preservation Officer, Cindy Shaw, Commissioner, Rick Chappel; Mike Smith, The Montana Standard APPLICANTS PRESENT: Tom Cronnelly, Applicant 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Robert Brown suggested some corrections on the minutes from February 27, 2018. On Page 1 under APPLICANTS there were no Applicants at the meeting, change to None; on Page 3 under Parking Garage the fourth line down at the end of the sentence change from to to ; on Page 3 second paragraph under Parking Garage fourth line change garage is to garage are ; and Page 4 fourth paragraph in line five change lose to loose. Robert Brown made a motion that was seconded by Stephen Coe to approve the minutes from the February 27, 2018 meeting, with the corrections suggested by Robert Brown. The motion carried unanimously. 3. FINANCIAL REPORT A copy of the Financial Reports is made part of these minutes. Brianne Downey, URA Financial and Project Manager, went over the Financial Reports with the URA Board.
Stephen Coe made a motion that was seconded by Jim O Neill to accept the Financial Reports as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Brianne Downey updated the Board on the new GMS program that was purchased. 4. DIRECTOR S REPORT Karen Byrnes talked about the trip to Cincinnati for the Site Guild Conference. Karen reported to the Board that we received three proposals for redevelopment of 40 East Broadway. The proposals are from Wishrock, Eric Fulton, and Cameron Moylan. They will be making presentations to the Council of Commissioners on April 4 th. This in informative presentation to the Council about their proposals and then we will refer those proposals back to our committee for a recommendation back to the Council. 5. GRANT REQUEST a. 17 North Main Street Crogs Group, LLC Tom Cronnelly Building Signage Project Cost - $3,900 The Applicant, Tom Cronnelly, was present at the meeting. A copy of the application is made part to these minutes. The Applicant is seeking matching grant funds to complete the exterior signage for the OMG! Mongolian Grill. The Applicant has provided the necessary documentation. The costs include the actual sign, the lighting that goes with the sign, and the electrical to install all of the lighting. The Applicant has consulted with the Historic Preservation Officer and has provided the necessary documentation. The Historic Preservation Officer has provided tentative approval. The next Historic Preservation Commission meeting is April 3 rd. URA Staff recommended funding in the amount up to $975, or 25% of the eligible costs. Jim O Neill made a motion that was seconded by Stephen Coe to approve a 25% matching grant in the amount of $975 to Tom Cronnelly for OMG! Mongolian Grill at 17 North Main Street contingent upon approval from Historic Preservation Office. The motion carried unanimously. 6. PARKING GARAGE DISCUSSION Karen Byrnes talked to the Board about the parking garage. Karen stated that the garage was opened on February 15 th for public access. At that time, we knew the garage was not totally complete, we knew that it was a soft opening, we knew that there were items that were left that needed to be worked out and finished and cleaned up and we have a list of those items. We heard really good feedback in terms of people liking the garage and using the garage. It URA Minutes of March 27, 2018 Page 2
has been almost full every single day since it has been opened. Karen mentioned a few items that she knows that need to be finished up. There is the kiosk and the sign on the front of the garage, it is still coming. We will have to shut down the garage sometime in April or early May to do some paving and painting and asphalt work around the garage. None of the gargoyles that were stolen off the benches have shown back up. We are considering some cameras to be installed near the bus stop in the garage as a deterrent and for public safety. There are other items of concern. Jeff Kanning, Collaborative Design Architect, talked about the parking garage process. Jeff stated that they started this process in 2008 and it has been a very public process from the very beginning. His firm responded to an RFP and competed for the job and were selected. Jeff mentioned that they are not done with the parking garage yet because there are so many remaining items that are weather dependent. We have to do things after it reaches a certain temperature. Jeff mentioned that the tile that was used for the garage is now discontinued. Jeff explained that the way the parking garage was built, it was all cast in place, the forms for the beams are not perpendicular, they are tapered a little bit. On top of it, we have a concrete barrier wall so we literally have a section of straight concrete that follows the taper in of the form and then goes back out. Jeff was afraid if they tried to skin coat it, the skin coating would eventually break lose and the tile would come off and there is no more of these tiles for us to get anywhere. That is why it looks like it does. The tile too that is on the garage moves and shakes and that garage will change in length probably by an inch or inch and a half seasonally. We are not done with all of the work on the parking garage. Erik Sletten, Sletten Construction, stated much of work remaining is weather sensitive work. We could have kept the garage closed until we are able to finish all of the work, but they were not life safety issues. We just want to be able to do all of the work at once. The final bill for this project has not been submitted until all of the work is completed. Robert Brown commented that the building turned out way better than he thought it was going to turn out. Stephen Cole agreed with Robert Brown. Jim O Neill commented that the parking garage is a beautiful structure and the tile is noticeable but he respects Jeff Kanning s expertise and explanation of why it looks the way it does but it would be nice we could do something with the way it looks. 7. PUBLIC COMMENT Dale Mahugh asked Rick Chappel if there was anything that he would like to ask of the engineering and architectural firms with the garage that you feel still needs to be addressed. Rick Chappel was present at the meeting and he stated the reason why he was present at the Board meeting. Rick explained that he wanted to discuss the process here because Sletten they do not understand what has happened but in the course of this conversation, Rick has contacted at least 69 people in the government asking for a chance to be heard and there has been no response. Rick said that he did not have the chance to speak about this until today. Rick Chappel talked about his concerns and that he followed every appropriate route to be URA Minutes of March 27, 2018 Page 3
heard and asked the architect to respond but did not hear from them. Rick Chappel had a concern about kids walking on the upper ledges of the parking garage and that something should be done to prevent this. Rick Chappel stated a concern that he cannot see the parking officers when he comes out of the building. He thinks it should be looked at and the path to travel should be established that is safest path of travel for them to go in and out of the building. It is hard to see them as you are coming in and out of the building. Rick stated that the gargoyles clearly need to be protected by elevation. Rick stated that he appreciates the chance to be heard and responded to. Robert Brown stated to Rick Chappel that Rick called him at home before the February URA Board meeting and told him that he had some concerns about the building and sent him some email chains that Rick had sent out. Robert Brown told Rick that he gave him his email address, home phone number, and street address and told him that the meeting was going to be in February but Robert was going to be out of town but there is always a public opportunity to comment or share anything and Robert encouraged Rick to go to the meeting and he did go to the meeting in February. Robert told Rick that he agreed that when he looked across the top of the front of the building where the tile is, it looked a little weird to him too. Robert stated that he told Rick what the resources were that he told him to talk to Karen Byrnes, to go to the County, but as an individual Board member he does not deal with these things, he only deals with the group when they are at the Board meeting. Robert Brown wanted to make it clear that Rick Chappel had an opportunity and that Rick had at least one opportunity to go forward back in February before the February Board meeting. Bill and Debbie Nokes stated their concerns regarding the parking garage. Their concerns included the tile on the front of the building. Bill Nokes talked about the tile and that it needs to be finished. Debbie Nokes stated that aesthetically, she thinks the building looks pretty slipshod. Dale Mahugh stated that we appreciate the comments that were made. Jeff Kanning responded on the kids walking on the upper ledges of the parking garage. Parking garages have a requirement for jumpers, for people committing suicide. Our parking garage is lower than the requirement, after you get over six stories, it is required by code that you provide a six-foot high barrier across the top level. Our garage is not tall enough to trigger those requirements. We cannot protect every bit of the garage unless we put a chain link across every opening. Jeff Kanning respond to Rick Chappel in terms of him not responding to him. Professionally, Jeff said that his correspondence has always been with just the owner and that protocol contractually he is working for Butte-Silver Bow and this whole process has been very public. Everything is done by certain protocol and it is just not appropriate for him to communicate with people without running it back to whom he is contractually obligated to. So, Jeff told Rick that he could not respond to him. It is just not professionally standard. Tom Cronnelly commented that when he was looking at his project on North Main and talking to other business owners, the first sentence that came out of a friend of his, was that parking uptown is terrible. It really did cause him to pause and reflect but when he learned URA Minutes of March 27, 2018 Page 4
of the parking garage and the location, he said that okay I can go forward with this. Just a kudos on the big picture. Secondly, Tom Cronnelly stated that the first day the parking garage was opened that almost immediately the ability to find parking near restaurants and bars in uptown Butte was dramatically improved. 8. OTHER ITEMS Robert Brown thanked Mary McCormick and her people for being integrated in this process and bringing your perspective to it. Robert thanked Sletten Construction, Collaborative Design, for working with us and cannot think of any questions we have had that we have not gotten answer for. Robert thanked the County people that made this happen that own the building but he mostly wanted to thank Karen Byrnes because he thinks that Karen s leadership on this, he does not think the project would have happened and certainly come off like it has come without her unrelenting and devotion to this project. Robert said that he was very grateful and just wanted to say thank you. Jim O Neill commented that he concurred with Mr. Brown. Being a public servant can be challenging at times and that he is the shortest tenure Board member but in the time he has served on the Board he has never found Karen Byrnes to be anything but transparent, responsive, professional, and ethical. We are lucky as taxpayers to have her working for Butte-Silver Bow. Dale Mahugh commented that everyone stole all his thunder and that he was going to say the same things. Stephen Coe agreed with the statements made by Robert Brown and Jim O Neill. Stephen said that Karen Byrnes does a good job and is incredibly transparent and works with people and always has Butte-Silver Bow s best interest. Stephen thanked Karen. Dave Palmer, Chief Executive, responded that when Rick Chappel was talking about the contact information for Board members, when you go to one section of our website on the Boards and Commission it does list the members there but it does not list it if you just go to the other part of it if you are just looking for the URA. That can be corrected and it will be corrected. We will try and make it as easy as possible. Dave thinks something can be done to improve the tile and is confident pending work and cleanup will get done. 9. ADJOURN Stephen Coe made a motion that was seconded by Jim O Neill to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 a.m. The motion carried unanimously. URA Minutes of March 27, 2018 Page 5
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