2020-10-13 Community Development Agency MeetingCity of Blair Community Development Agency
October 13, 2020
The Community Development Agency members of Blair, Nebraska, met in regular session
in the Blair Public Library on October 13, 2020 at 6:30 PM. The following were present: Mayor
Hansen, Council members Brad Andersen, Kevin Hall, Mindy Rump, Kevin Willis, Frank Wolff,
and Jon Stewart. Absent: Chris Jensen and Marty Shepard. Also present were: City Administrator
Storm, Assistant City Administrator Barrow, Director of Public Works Schoemaker, Police Chief
Lager and City Attorney Solomon.
The Mayor publicly stated to all in attendance that a current copy of the Nebraska Open
Meetings Act was available for review and indicated the location of such copy posted in the room
where the meeting was being held. Notice of the meeting was given in advance thereof by
publication in the Enterprise or the Pilot -Tribune as shown by the affidavit of publication filed in
the City Clerk' s office. Notice of the meeting was simultaneously given to all members of the
Community Development Agency, and a copy of their acknowledgement of receipt of notice and
the agenda is filed in the City Clerk' s office. Availability of the agenda was communicated in the
advance notice and in the notice to the Community Development Agency meeting. All proceedings
hereafter shown were taken while the convened meeting was open to the attendance of the public.
Agenda Item #1 — Mayor Hansen called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. followed by a
roll call of members.
Agenda Item #2 — Motion by Brad Andersen, second by Kevin Willis to approve minutes
of the July 14, 2020 meeting. Agency members voted as follows: Brad Andersen: Yea, Kevin
Hall: Yea, Chris Jensen: Absent, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard: Absent, Jon Stewart: Yea,
Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff. Yea. All Agency members voted: Yea: 6, Nay: 0, Absent: 2.
Chairman Hansen declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #3 — Chairman Hansen opened a public hearing to consider and possibly take
action on a redevelopment plan entitled: "Redevelopment Plan for the Hayden Place
Redevelopment Project" that will consist of two phases, consisting of the construction of a hotel
and convention center. City Administrator Storm stated the proposed redevelopment plan includes
a Holiday Inn Express Hotel and convention center to be located on Holly Dr. near Wal-Mart in
the Hayden Place Subdivision. The developer in the project SAI Properties V is seeking Tax
Increment Financing (TIF) for the hotel and convention center. The project will be completed in
two projects with the hotel being constructed first. The hotel will be three stories approximately
38,000 to 45,000 sq. ft. The second phase convention center would be approximately 4000 sq. ft.
This hearing is the first in the process for the developer to us TIF funding. The Planning
Commission consider this plan on their meeting on October 6 finding the plan is in compliance
with the city's comprehensive plan. The CDA is then required to adopt the plan referring it on to
the City Council for adoption. The redevelopment contract will be presented to the CDA and City
Council at a meeting later this month. Storm reviewed the future land use map from the
comprehensive plan and the city's current redevelopment area map that have both been previously
approved for use in planning and zoning. A map was then presented outlining where the hotel will
be constructed along with the proposed area for the conference center. If the conference center is
constructed, it would require a replat of that lot. Discussion was held regarding access to the hotel
and the strip mall to the west. Each phase is distinct and separate on its own merit if the developer
chooses to move forward with that project. Storm reviewed the proposed estimated costs noting
those costs would be verified prior to any bond for a TIF development. Sources of funds and the
cost benefit analysis relation to the project were also reviewed. Council member Stewart asked if
this project was like the Two Rivers TIF project. Storm stated that both the Two Rivers and
Woodhouse TIF projects are like this project making the developer responsible and not the city.
Michael Sands, Baird Holm, and Special Attorney for the City of Blair, 1700 Farnam St, Ste 1500,
Omaha, was present to answer questions stating the proposed plan meets all the statutory
requirements for a TIF project. Mayor Hansen questioned the land costs in the plan due to the
difference between the fair market value of the property what was listed verses the Assessor's
value. Sands stated he could not speak to the negotiations of the property between the developer
and the seller and how they arrived at those costs. If they are overpaying for the land or the
numbers are inflated, the developer will be required to prove those costs prior to bonding and all
expenses are subject to an audit. Dave Drew, Attorney for Maria Gordon Investments, LLC 1612
Lincoln St., Blair, spoke in opposition of the plan because his client previously had an agreement
with this same developer. His client still plans to move forward with a hotel and convention center
at a development being proposed at Highway 30 and 1St Street. He presented an argument as to
why this project should not be approved noting the community could not support two hotels and
encouraged the Mayor and Council to consider if this is the best location for a hotel and convention
center requesting they deny the redevelopment plan. Heather Carver, attorney for SAI Properties
V, 12910 Pierce St. #200, Omaha, presented a picture showing a model of what the hotel will look
like. She noted the convention center is part of the overall plan, but it still being negotiated. The
plan includes good faith estimates because the developer has built previous hotels before and is
familiar with costs. It is not uncommon for those costs to come out different when they are
certified to the city after they are expended. The developer currently has a commitment from a
financial institution if TIF is obtained for the project because it is not feasible without TIF. Carver
outlined several other benefits to the city if a hotel is constructed and encouraged the council to
approve the plan. She also noted letters of support from Cargill, Memorial Community Hospital,
and Washington County Bank expressing the need for overnight lodging in Blair for economic
development as opposed to guests going to Omaha. The developer is not opposed to any other
hotel in the city or if TIF is provided to any other hotel project. Mayor Hansen asked City Attorney
Solomon if financials fiom the developer from 13 months ago was acceptable. Solomon stated
there is no requirement for updated financials if nothing has changed in the developer's financial
situation during that time. There were no comments in writing. Chairperson Hansen closed the
public hearing.
Agenda Item #4 — Council member Wolff introduced Resolution 2020-4 to approve the
Redevelopment Plan as recommended by the Planning Commission for Hayden Place
Redevelopment Project and consider its conformity with the general plan for the development of
the City as a whole, including the cost -benefit analysis. Motion by Brad Andersen, second by
Frank Wolff to adopt Resolution No. 2020-4 as presented. Agency members voted as follows:
Brad Andersen: Yea, Kevin Hall: Yea, Chris Jensen: Absent, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard:
Absent, Jon Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis: Yea, Frank Wolff. Yea. All Agency members voted: Yea:
6, Nay: 0, Absent: 2. Chairperson Hansen declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #5 — Motion by Brad Andersen, second by Mindy Rump to adjourn the
meeting 7:26 p.m. Council members voted as follows: Brad Andersen: Yea, Kevin Hall: Yea,
Chris Jensen: Absent, Mindy Rump: Yea, Marty Shepard: Absent, Jon Stewart: Yea, Kevin Willis:
Yea, Frank Wolff. Yea. All Council members voted: Yea: 6, Nay: 0, Absent: 2. Mayor Hansen
declared the motion carried.
Richard Ha en, Chan rson (Mayor)
ATTEST:
Brenda Wheeler, Secretary (City Clerk)