HomeMy WebLinkAboutLaurel Urban Renewal Agency Minutes 12.20.2010 MINUTES
LAUREL URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY
DECEMBER 20, 2010
THE OWL CAFE — 203 E. MAIN STREET
Members present: Shirley McDermott, Bruce McGee, Dean Rankin
Advisors present: Janice Lehman
Others present: Bill Kampfer, Mark Mace, Tom Nelson, Linda Frickel, Kurt Markegard, James Caniglia,
Dan Koch, Zak Allread (owner of Hair on Main)
Minutes approved as presented
Linda F. said there was no Laurel Alive meeting last month. The Caboose need lights yet and to have the
wires buried. The Chamber has many more new members and the Annual Meeting is January 13.
James says sign applications are $35 and show the history of the building. The Facade and Technical
Assistance applications are now available. We need to set up Committees for applicants for both.
Dean and Janice said Castlerock and Duffee are doing quotes for sewer tie in and the street
Mark Mace and Kurt said new businesses have requested angel parking. In 2000 the City was to have a
6 month trial for angel parking but it was never reversed. It appears you can get 4 more cars per block
but there is no signage or painting and no ordinance so there could be tickets given out. It was also
never determined whether business owners would pay to have the signs and painting done. There is
also the issue of length of trucks and tenant parking. Street Scape had addressed both problems.
Sweeping money is being cut to 1 day a. week from the current 2 days a week. Snow removal is also part
of the maintenance assessment but that money is now nearly enough.
The Mayor still needs to work out a long term lease with MRL and where would that funding come
from? Should LURA take the lead for the benefit of the City? City Council must give blessing to 1.
Request to mover for action to be taken and to plan, 2. To make funds available and 3. To have the
Mayor negotiate.
There may need to be a Business Improvement District to take care of plowing, plants, garbage funded
by a monthly payment thru property taxes approved by council. Kurt will talk to engineering to
determine the cost of a BID and then we need to find out if the business owners want these services.
We need to find out how many parking spaces a business needs and LURA may have to go door to door.
Zak Allread there are more parking spaces needed for customers, employees and tenants. Handicapped
parking on streets doesn't seem to be logical. Better access to buildings is needed.
It was suggested we go door to door with a letter to advise of a Town Hall Meeting. We should suggest
a 5 year tax freeze on commercial property downtown, we should have an estimate of the cost of new
parking both street and lots and we need to have some action by City Council and the Mayor on a MRL
lease. James and Kurt will prepare a letter
Unfinished Business: Motion to Council to amend LURA by laws to read if any member or advisor miss 3
consecutive meetings with unexcused absences they be removed from their postion. Bruce moved,
Dean seconded and the motion passed.
Old Business: 1. Sidewalk replacement on State routes, they are responsible and 2. Off 1 we can assess
business owners and LURA can then pay for new sidewalks.
The next meeting will be January 10, 2011 and will be a public hearing for LURA's annual work plan.
Also, a sad note, James Caniglia is going to working for Red Lodge and will be leaving Laurel January 14,
2011. He will be greatly missed.