CALL TO ORDER: 5:47 P.M.
ROLL CALL: City Commissioners present: Randy Gray, Bill Beecher, Sandy Hinz, Diane Jovick-Kuntz and John Rosenbaum. Also present were the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, Directors of Community Development, Planning, Public Works, Chief of Police, Acting Fire Chief, Acting Directors of Fiscal Services, Library, Park and Recreation, and the Deputy City Clerk.
Sheila Rice, Executive Director of Neighborhood Housing, presented to the Commission the Neighborhood Housing Services mutual self help program. Currently, ten families are working together building each others homes. She added that no one can move into their homes until all houses are finished. The project allows the participants to get to know each other and creates a bond of trust between these new neighbors. The next project will consist of twelve homes in the Castle Pine area. Neighborhood Housing Services was asking the City to bless the project and allow the utilities to go into the area first before the area would be annexed into the City.
Corrina Andrews shared her experiences with receiving her floor plan and the signing on her new home. She stated that she had gained knowledge in building a house and fixing things that might go wrong with her home. She knows who her neighbors are and has established a bond with them.
Melinda Lindsay, Group Coordinator for Neighborhood Housing Services, stated that this program helped her mother out when Melinda was a child. She added that her mom was able to afford their home and put Melinda through college due to the affordable housing. The program provided skill and knowledge to fix their home when issues arrived.
This program assists families with an income of $25,000 or lower with an average house payment of $600. Ms. Rice added this program allows families to receive loans for their homes as low as one percent. Once all the houses are completed the families are able to move in. Upon moving into their new homes they will have $14,000 in equity. Ms. Rice stated that the City benefits from the new homes being added to the City tax base. Mayor Gray asked if this program is for rural areas only. Ms. Rice stated yes. She added that the homes must be completed within 12 months. There are two different floor plans. One of the floor plans was a 1600 square foot split level and the other floor plan was a 1100 square foot 3-bedroom. Mayor Gray stated that this was a great opportunity for families and supported the program.
Code Enforcement Technician John Cameron presented the Commission an update on sign code enforcement. He stated that the new sign code became effective on May 5, 2005, and reported the effect it has had in the first three months of enforcement. Within the first two months the majority of temporary banners and temporary signs that advertise alcohol, cigarettes and soda had been removed from businesses. He added that he notified businesses, and they complied within a short time frame. Some of the businesses cleaned up their property and painted the buildings to be more presentable. Most bars had at least two or more temporary signs.
Mr. Cameron stated that he has documented all signs on the major thoroughfares with digital photograph, and there were over 600 slides that contained the inventory for future references. Each sign is photographed with its license next to it. He added that there were several signs that were being grandfathered in, and a picture of the signs must be turned in with the applications.
Mr. Cameron is currently working on a plan to notify all business owners of the new sign code regarding one third allowable window signage coverage. He added that he was drawing up a simple diagram and explanation to be mailed to all owners. The explanation would include the distinct window signage that was allowed.
The temporary banners were the most controversial part of the sign code. Banner placement was restricted to a location halfway between the building and the public row. The problem they were coming up against was the halfway mark was in the middle of paved parking lots. He suggested that maybe placing in the code language that states "attached to a permanent structure" would work for businesses. Commissioner Beecher suggested possibly tweaking the code for the banners that would allow the banner to be placed on the wall of the business or on the property frontage.
The next issue to be addressed was the billboard signs. Mr. Cameron added that he was concentrating on multi-tenant premise; to get the owners to devise sign plans for their premises. He added that he would need to continue to educate people on the rules regarding use of temporary banners.
Mayor Gray suggested giving summary reports to the City's News Letter and honoring the places that were making a difference.
Commissioner Jovick-Kuntz asked if sponsors were allowed to place banners for advertisement during a community event. Mr. Cameron stated that the banners are allowed 10 days prior to the event and must be removed 72 hours after the event. He added that further education was needed for businesses regarding banners.
There being no further business to come before the Commission, the regular work session of August 2, 2005, adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
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