The meeting convened at 5:05. Volm moved to approve the agenda with the item regarding Economic Development deferred to the next meeting, seconded by Lumley, carried by unanimous vote. Dozier moved to approve the minutes of the December 18, 2002 meeting; seconded by Volm, carried by unanimous vote.

OFFICER'S REPORT/CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION. No Council items to report.

CHANGES TO THE MTA'S OPPORTUNITIES THRU TRANSIT PROGRAM. Bob Schulte and Sheri Kyras presented changes proposed by the MTA to their Opportunities Thru Transit subsidized ticket program. Schulte said the MTA plans to refocus on the program's original goal, which was transportation to work.

Among the changes is a four-year limit on participation. Volm said she felt that might be unfair to some clients, particularly the handicapped and the elderly, as their situation might not change in four years. Schulte said the MTA felt that there were so many applicants they needed to find a way to give more people a chance to participate. Volm asked if clients could petition to stay. Schulte said seniors and the disabled were able to access different programs, but it was probably possible to petition the MTA and have a case-by-case determination. Walden said there was a program for seniors, but it was limited to the hours 9:00-3:00. Schulte said another change is to go from getting tickets every month (up to 40) to a pass once per quarter.

Dozier said participants might use the tickets to go to a job outside the city limits; therefore the suburbs should also subsidize the program. Kyras said the suburbs already contribute through the County, but she could discuss it with the MTA board. Muldoon said she would like to see a survey of where the people are working and who in the household will use the program.

Dozier moved to accept the proposed changes and continue the program, with the recommendations to approach the suburbs and survey destinations; seconded by Sadler. Kyras asked if this motion meant the Board was comfortable with the four year cutoff. Volm said she would vote against the motion because of that.

CONTRACT SALES UPDATE. Neiderbach gave the Board an update on the contract sales inspection program which went into effect on January 1. She distributed copies of the form being used, and said the Council for International Understanding was volunteering to do translating for a fee.

Neiderbach said refinements of the form continue to be made now that people have had a turn at using it. A mailing went out to make people aware of the ordinance change, and a question and answer sheet. A brochure is in the works, and Commercial Federal will pay for the printing. The Board will receive another update around April.

Volm said she was thrilled that the year's hard work had paid off so well and the program was now in place. Muldoon asked how the department would cross check between sales recorded and inspections requested. Neiderbach said she would check into that. Dodge asked if his staff could be provided training on the new requirements.

Muldoon said there had previously been discussion about providing the buyers with the assessed value and the estimated cost of repairs, and wondered what had been done about that. Dozier and Kahoun said it was a state requirement that any buyer be provided the assessed value. Kahoun and Dodge said a buyer would have to get a contractor on their own to provide cost estimates. Neiderbach said it was possible that Neighborhood Conservation Services could provide general cost information through their Technical Assistance program.

CAPITOL EAST HISTORIC STUDY. Neiderbach showed a map of the city's historic districts and discussed how the historic studies the Board had funded through the years had led to other districts being formed and considerable spinoff for revitalization of the surrounding properties. Linden Heights and Waterbury are both working on National Register nominations, and Waveland is showing interest as well.

She said Jim Jacobsen had finished his report on the Capitol East neighborhood and copies would be distributed to interested parties. Staff will begin working with the property owners of potential Register properties if they wish to pursue registration.

Dozier asked if NFC loans could be passed to the next owner if the property was sold, and whether the NFC made sure that proposed repairs were in context with the property and the neighborhood. Dodge said the NFC discussed historical context with the owner, but unless the house was on the National Register and the proposed repairs would be submitted for approval to the Historic District Commission, the ultimate decision was the owner's.

NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT. Kahoun said the annual neighborhood association surveys had gone out along with the forms to sign up for SCRUB. She asked the Board to call associations and encourage them to send their forms back in. After further discussion, they decided to wait a couple of weeks and see how the response was going.

Kahoun distributed the Neighborhood Update and said she would be putting items on the agenda to keep the Board apprised of some major happenings in some of the neighborhood plans. She also distributed copies of the proposed ordinance changes the Board requested. Hogate said the NDC proposed sending Executive Director Carol Bower as their representative.

The changes proposed will:

The Board discussed the nomination process for new members, and whether for the corporation seats the person should be a member of their board, or just a person they choose to represent them. Hogate said it was necessary that it be a board member, otherwise the representative wouldn't have access to enough information.

COMMITTEE/REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS. Muldoon asked for an update on the sale of Housing Services properties. Dodge said the nonprofits are sending their comments and position on the issue to HUD. Muldoon moved that the Board send a letter to HUD in support of the nonprofits' position and the task force report recommendations regarding Housing Services' disposition plan; seconded by Lumley.

2000 CENSUS INCOME DATA REQUEST. Dozier asked for information regarding low income block data from the census, saying the nominating committee needed it so they could tell if candidates were eligible for low income representative seats. Kahoun said staff had census data; however the City cannot use this data to designate HUD low-income income areas. Dozier also asked when neighborhood evaluations would be done. Kahoun said staff would be working on it, but it would have to wait awhile.

OTHER BUSINESS. None

The meeting adjourned at 6:43 p.m.

Betty Volm, Secretary