REGULAR MEETING

CITY OF ELKO REDEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 4:00 PM, THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2023 ELKO CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1751 COLLEGE AVENUE, ELKO, NV 89801 I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Jon Karr, Chairman of the City of Elko Redevelopment Advisory Council (RAC), at 4:01 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Jon Karr, DBA Lina Blohm, RAC Member Giovanni Puccinelli, Councilman Jeff Dalling, Planning Commissioner (arrived at 4:29 p.m.) Absent: Vice-Chairman Catherine Wines, ACAB Ex-Officio - Non Voting Member Corey Rice, Elko County Ex-Officio - Non Voting Member Annette Kerr, ECVA Ex-Officio - Non Voting Member Joyce Helens, GBC Ex-Officio - Non Voting Member Steven Smith, Elko County School District City Staff Present: Cathy Laughlin, City Planner Rachel Randall, Planning Technician III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IV. COMMENTS BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC Lina Blohm, stated Morris Gallagher had called her to ask if his business would qualify for the Storefront Grant to do the side part of his building. Cathy Laughlin, City Planner, responded that she had also spoken with Mr. Gallagher. He wanted to use it for an outdoor patio area, which would not be eligible. Building facades that face or abut a public right-of-way would be eligible. For a corner building with an alley, three sides would be eligible. The guidelines restrict eligibility to once per parcel. Ms. Blohm stated she would like to see more flexibility and asked how many applications have been received for the Storefront Grant for this application period. Ms. Laughlin stated none at this time. January 26, 2023 Redevelopment Advisory Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 4 V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. October 27, 2022 - Regular Meeting - FOR POSSIBLE ACTION ** A motion was made by Secretary Blohm, seconded by Council Member Puccinelli to approve the minutes as presented. * Motion passed unanimously. (3-0) VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Review, consideration and possible action to elect officers. FOR POSSIBLE ACTION RAC Bylaws Article III, Section 1 states: The RAC shall elect a chairperson, a vice- chairperson, and a secretary from its members in January of each year. There is no minimum or maximum on the number of times a member may serve in one of the elected offices. ** Giovanni Puccinelli nominated Jon Karr for Chairman; a vote was taken and passed unanimously. ** Lina Blohm nominated Catherine Wines for Vice-Chairman; a vote was taken and passed unanimously. ** Giovanni Puccinelli nominated Lina Blohm for Secretary; a vote was taken and passed unanimously. VII. REPORTS A. Budget - INFORMATION ONLY - NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN Ms. Laughlin went over the budget report that was included in the packet. Under Expenditures, a new line item was added for the Infrastructure Grant Program. Two thousand dollars was dispersed to the Elko Art Foundation for a grant writer for the art pedestal project. Ms. Blohm asked Ms. Laughlin to refresh her memory on the Infrastructure Grant Program. Ms. Laughlin stated the agency approved it to be funded up to $60,000 per year, with two application periods. The maximum per project would be $15,000. Eligibility would be for buildings that have lost their legal non-conforming status, have had a change in use, or don't comply with City code or state law. Examples include a fire sprinkler system, water line and street cut permit, ADA sidewalk, restrooms and doorways. There would also not be a minimum for the grant. C. Infrastructure Grant Program - INFORMATION ONLY - ACTION WILL NOT BE TAKEN Ms. Laughlin reported the five documents for the program have been written. They are currently being reviewed by the legal team. She anticipates the Agency accepting those documents within the January 26, 2023 Redevelopment Advisory Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 next two to three weeks. Once accepted, the grant will be available for application during the next application period. There will be $60,000 available. Any funds not used in the first cycle will be pushed into the second cycle. Ms. Blohm asked if the Committee would know what would be the final criteria. Ms. Laughlin responded that she could provide that. After completing the reports for the Downtown Art Pedestals and the Storefront Grant Program, Ms. Laughlin continued. She stated that there would be participation agreements that would be recorded against the property for three years. If a lessee applied, the property owner would be obligated to complete the maintenance if the lessee were to leave before the three years was up. Ms. Blohm asked for an update about the Downtown Corridor project. Ms. Laughlin reported that some of the area had been surveyed and that Mr. Thibault is working on the design. After attending a training on special assessment districts (SAD), she learned that it is not a tax on the property, but rather an assessment. The Agency voted to look into a SAD, but the process couldn't be started until it is know what each property is going to be assessed, based on an engineer's estimate. Mr. Dalling stated the 600 block was completed by special assessment between the property owners, the Redevelopment Agency, and the City, and suggested looking back at those records. Ms. Laughlin stated that project was under a different NRS, under a General Improvement District, not a SAD. D. Downtown Art Pedestals - INFORMATION ONLY - ACTION WILL NOT BE TAKEN Ms. Laughlin reported the RDA contributed $2,000 toward a grant writer to write a grant for the art pedestals. Unfortunately, the writer wasn't aware the grant was only available to government agencies. When the Elko Art Foundation applied for the grant it did not get it. Mr. Karr asked if he understood correctly - that the Agency paid $2,000 to a grant writer who didn't read the instructions, so we didn't get the grant. Ms. Laughlin confirmed. Ms. Blohm expressed that she did not like spending money and not getting a return. She suggested somehow letting the Arts and Culture Committee know that those kinds of actions aren't acceptable. Ms. Laughlin stated she was not at the last Arts and Culture meeting and had hoped Catherine Wines was here today to find out what went wrong. Mr. Puccinelli stated he would like to find out what was said in that meeting and Ms. Blohm agreed. He went on to state that at the least, not use the same grant writer again. Ms. Laughlin responded that she would reach out and get more information. January 26, 2023 Redevelopment Advisory Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4  B. Storefront Grant Program - INFORMATION ONLY - NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN Ms. Laughlin expounded on the spreadsheet provided in the agenda packet. Funding years 2017 through 2020 have been completed. Funds for Braemar Construction were deobligated. The Tedesco Foundation received a 1-year extension that ends April 26th. Glennon & Sandoval is under construction. She has received some inquiries regarding this year's funds, but from experience, everyone submits their applications on March 30th or 31st. She reiterated that Mr. Gallagher would not eligible for anything other than the facade of the building. Ms. Blohm enquired about Scott Ygoa's property. Had any of the exterior patio or iron railing been included? Ms. Laughlin responded in the negative - just the balcony. Ms. Blohm suggested that as funds increase, the Agency's vision for Storefront should be expanded. Ms. Laughlin stated that she thinks there will be more interest in the Infrastructure grant than the Storefront grant. Ms. Blohm stated that she agreed, until the opportunity for Storefront was expanded. Jeff Dalling arrived at 4:29 p.m. Ms. Blohm asked about Todd Wendell's project. Ms. Laughlin stated that he and his wife were not ready for construction. They could reapply for the grant when their plans were ready. E. Downtown Idea Exchange - INFORMATION ONLY - NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN VIII. COMMENTS BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC There were no public comments made at this time. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Jon Karr, Chairman Lina Blohm, Secretary January 26, 2023 Redevelopment Advisory Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4