1988 05-26
:7
MERIDIAN CITY COUNCIL MAY 26, 1988
Special Meeting of the Meridian City Council called to order by Mayor
Grant Kingsford at 7:30 p.m.:
Members Present: Bill Brewer; Ron Tolsma; Bert Myers; Bob Giesler:
Others Present: Bob Nahas, Jim Campbell, Bob Jossis, Laura Connors,
Dorothy Russell, Wayne Crookston:
Mayor Kingsford: The purpose of this Meeting is for the taking and
accepting public comments on the City of Meridian's Community Block
Grant Application. The amount of the Community Block Grant that is
being applied for is $500,000.00, these funds are to be used for
streets, water and sewer and other utilities including some landscap-
ing on the Simon-Nahas property to assist in the development of an
Industrial Complex. At this time we will open the Public Hearing, is
there anyone in the audience who wishes to offer testimony on this
application? There was no response, the Public Hearing was closed.
I would ask Mr. Bob Jossis of Montgomery Engineering who is preparing
the application to put on a presentation for the Members of the
Council and the audience.
Jossis: I have a copy of the pre-application for the Mayor &r~Council
and the City Clerk,. there. are also copies available for the audience
if they wish them. I will briefly go through the application and
explain the process and different items in the application. The°
Economic Development Projects, the pre-applications are invited
quarterly so this time they are due by June 1, 1988. The main intent
of this type of Grant F'nznding is for Economic Development creation
of jobs, which of course is what this project is about. I reviewed
the City of Meridian's Comprehensive Plan and tied some of the
information in the Plan to the application and showed that the
project was consistant with your Comprehensive Plan, this is ref-
erred to on page 6 of the pre-application. Jossis had a map and
pointed out the proposed improvements these funds would help finance.
These included the roadways with water and sewer lines installed in
them along with the drainage needed. The cost of these improvements
is approximately $890,000.00 of which $500,000.00 will be from the
Grant with the remainder of the funds coming from the developer.
The total overall estimate of the project is $5,542,000.00 again
these are preliminary numbers which will be refined more if the
project is accepted for a full application. On page 12 of the
application is where we speak to the new jobs that could be created.
Also on this page is a reference to the parent company of Computrol
who has a site in Texas if a site is not found in the Valley.
Mr. Jim Campbell of Computrol gave a history on Computrol as to how
they started and where they are at the present time.
Jossis: One of the items that points are awarded for as far as the
Grant is involved is the number of persons that would be employed
MERIDIAN CITY COUNCIL • •
MAY 26, 1988
PAGE # 2
at this facility who qualify in the low to moderate income bracket.
At the present time about 60o are low to moderate income and as the
employment grows this percentage would increase. That is about it as
far as the project goes, we will submit the pre-application next week
and the staff will review the application, evaluate and assign the
points to the application according to their point system and then
it will go to the Advisory Council which is made up of members from
across the State. They will make a determination as to which project
will then be asked to submit a full application. I think it is import-
ant that the City_ is interested in this project, I think it is import-
ant that.the City Council and the Chamber of Commerce show this support
by talking or being in contact with the local representative on the
Advisory Council. The more interest Meridian shows, the more interest
the Advisory Council will have in the project.
Mayor Kingsford: Are there any questions of the Council?
It was the concensus of the Council that the project should proceed
post-haste..
Mayor Kingsford: Just one question, you are suggesting that prior to
or just about the time the staff gets the pre-application that we
enlist the Chamber and etc. to write letters of support to the staff.
Later on it would be appropriate to write them to the Advisory Council
or the Governor.
Jossis: That is correct.
Mayor Kingsford: We will reopen the Public Hearing after the present-
ation if anyone would like to comment.
Two members of the audience present advised we should go for it.
Mayor Kingsford: I will now close the Public Hearing. I appreciate
very much your interest, I was very impressed when I went through
the Computrol Plant. We would certainly welcome you to Meridian if
we can get things put together.
The Motion was made by Myers and seconded by Tolsma to continue the
effort for the Community Block Grant and to authorize the Mayor and
City Clerk to execute any of the documents necessary to pursue the
application.
Motion Carried: All Yea:
Being no further business to come before the Council the Motion was
made by Myers and seconded by Giesler to adjourn the meeting at
7:55 p.m.:
Motion Carried: All Yea: (TAPE ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEAINGS)
ATTEST:
Jac Niem nn City Clerk
APPROVED:
GRANT KINGSFO , OR