The meeting convened at 5:10 without quorum. In the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair, Secretary Volm opened the meeting and informational items were discussed until a quorum could be present.

OFFICER'S REPORT. Kahoun reported on recent City Council actions, including the resignation of Jeannie Shannon from the NRB, setting the date of hearing on the Consolidated Plan, and presentation of the NRB's Consolidated Plan recommendations.

Neiderbach said Community Development staff met with the Legal and Manager's Office staff to discuss writing out a draft ordinance requiring inspections for contract sales. The NRB will have a chance to review it and provide comments to accompany the ordinance to Council. In the meantime, an update letter about the issue will be sent to the Council. Dozier was concerned that the Manager and Legal staff are not understanding the Board's position on the issue, since they are not recommending the inspections be performed by the City. Pulliam agreed, saying if private inspectors are used, sellers will shop around to find the easy-going ones.

Volm wanted to know what would trigger the enforcement of this ordinance, since the sales didn't have to be recorded for 180 days. Neiderbach said at first the City would have to be proactive in finding the sales and enforcing the requirement, but eventually the climate of the market for contract sales would change and the courts would react more seriously to violations. Lumley wondered if a requirement for inspection could be imposed on all sales, with the inspection to be filed within 24 hours of the completion of the sale, and then City could spot-check the properties at will. Neiderbach said that was a possibility. The Board discussed further strategies that could be employed at the City, County, and State level.

With the arrival of Muldoon, a quorum was present. Pulliam moved to approve the agenda; seconded by Muldoon; carried by unanimous vote. Dozier moved to approve the minutes of October 3; seconded by Pulliam; carried by unanimous vote.

NEIGHBORHOOD FINANCE CORPORATION PRESENTATION REGARDING CDFI DESIGNATION. Gary Dodge told the Board the NFC had been certified as a Community Development Financing Institution, which means it is eligible to apply for grants from the Treasury Department. NFC applied for $3 million and received $2.5, which is the second highest award in the nation. Such a large award to Des Moines is very unusual, as these grants usually go to major cities like New York and Boston.

Dodge reported on the NFC's recent activities including the Phase Nine offering for $29 million, and the upcoming renewal of the 28E agreement with the City and the County. Volm asked how banks make a profit on the business they do with the NFC; Dodge said they offer to buy NFC's loans and they get CRA credit.

Dodge said the NFC has completed $80 million in loans since the beginning of the program and was having an excellent year up till September 11, which slowed down the entire market. Pulliam asked about the NFC's marketing efforts, saying it was surprising that some neighborhoods, like Drake, weren't more familiar with the NFC. The Board discussed ways to let people know about the NFC's programs and Pulliam offered his marketing expertise to help find new ways to get the word out. Volm said it was time to spend more money for marketing and buy billboard space.

NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION UPDATE. Carol Bower discussed the NDC's current projects, new projects they will be taking up through the next few months and sources they plan to use for financing them. Bower said they are working with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the Institute of Economic Development. A meeting will be held with the Casey Foundation, McCormick & Barron, and neighborhood stakeholders to discuss development plans for the East Grand and Sixth Avenue commercial corridors. Pulliam asked to be invited so he could tie in the results of the work he, Don Till, and Dave Discher are doing at Harvard in Annie E. Casey-sponsored think-tank sessions.

Kahoun suggested the Board members take a drive along 6th Avenue to see how it looks now that some of the worst buildings have been demolished and houses are being moved for the grocery store. Kahoun said it's taken a long time for the neighborhood plan to get going in that area, but it's nice to see the elements finally coming into place. The Board discussed other barriers to projects in the area, including a homeowner whose house is to be moved but he hasn't settled on a lot to put the house on, and extending the Forest Avenue Corridor through King Irving and Mondamin. Volm asked if River Bend would be chartered when the grocery store was completed. Kahoun said she planned to discuss chartering with the Board in a few months. Bower said Anawim and CHDC were discussing housing projects along the Corridor. Muldoon asked Bower how she was doing since she was now managing the NDC as well as CHDC. Kahoun said she thought an excellent working relationship had developed between City planning staff, the NDC and the NFC and between them some excellent projects were getting done.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS. The Board reviewed the CIP subcommittee's recommendations for the upcoming Capital Improvements budget. Lumley asked if the list of commercial corridors impacted by the I-235 improvements included all of them; Neiderback said it wasn't meant to be all-inclusive as she was sure there would be others. Volm asked to change the wording to "such as…" Lumley also said she thought all the funding was already in place for the Highland Park Streetscape Project; Kahoun said there was a possibility it would be expanded.

Dozier moved to approve the recommendation as amended and forward it to Council; seconded by Pulliam.

NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT. Kahoun distributed the County's comments on neighborhood selection. The County supports the City's choices for selection, but has some concern about NFC financing in Greenwood Historic neighborhood. Kahoun said the County doesn't want to be seen as approving using money set aside for low income people to benefit the well-off. Muldoon asked if high income people could apply for NFC; Dodge said eligibility was based on the area, not on the client's income. Kahoun said the Board would be approving the neighborhood plans when they were written, and if the Board wanted to restrict NFC eligibility to only certain areas of a neighborhood, that had been done in the past and could be done again. Dozier was concerned that the County's characterization of NFC as being for low-income people didn't reflect the Neighborhood Revitalization Program's intent to use the NFC to improve and maintain the city's housing stock. That was the reason no income limits were imposed on its loans. Kahoun asked that someone from the NRB go to the Council meeting in case the members have questions about the selection, and Volm volunteered since she would be attending on another issue.

Volm asked if the curb work she saw going on in Waveland Park was related to their selection as a designated neighborhood; Kahoun said she thought it was just their turn on the regular Public Works schedule.

Kahoun distributed a list of recognized neighborhoods that have not sent in their annual surveys and asked the NRB members to contact them.

COMMITTEE AND REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS. None

OTHER BUSINESS. None

The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.

Betty Volm, Secretary