Organizers of Leadership Bismarck-Mandan announced the students who will participate in the 2009-10 program.

They are Alicia Berger of Bismarck State College, Mary Cooper of Aetna, Brian Fettig of Montana-Dakota Utilities, Kara Geiger of the North Dakota Community Foundation, Beth Holwegner of Pathways Chiropractic and Wellness, David Mason of American Bank Center, Emily McKay of Basin Electric, Jeffrey Nelson of the Vogel Law Firm, Barb Schantz of Rasmusson College, Tonya Schlaht of Eide Bailly, Mike Schoepp of MDU, Kayla Shafer of Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson and Randy Ziegler of the Bismarck Police Department.

Classes start Sept. 16 and run through March 3.

The group will meet twice a month and will cover topics such as diversity, communication, natural resources, local issues, community characteristics, human services, law, education, economic development, agriculture, faith, ethics, values, servant leadership, legislative affairs and political involvement.

Mandan parking

A small slice of Mandan's Dykshoorn Park will be used to create 18 more parking spaces within the coming year.

It was one of a series actions the Mandan City Commission adopted Tuesday from parking plan outlined by consultant Rich and Associates.

The city has been working on steps to shave off expected parking shortages after lots remediated from the diesel contamination are redeveloped. Many residents are now using the empty lots for their parking.

The new Dykshoorn Park parking area will be run across the 400 and 500 blocks of west Main Street. Estimated cost of the project is $110,000.

It will take up about 20 percent of the green space from the park, but few trees will be removed. Several park user groups have submitted letters of support for the new parking.

Mandan Business Development Director Ellen Huber hopes the parking spaces can be completed before next summer's activities at Dykshoorn Park.

Other parts of the parking plan are:

n Converting south Main rental areas, owned by the city, to free public parking.

n Striping maintenance. Much of that has been completed in recent months. "We've had a positive response from business owners on this. It's more efficient use of parking space," Huber said. She said this gives an extra two parking spaces on each street.

n Enhancing enforcement.

n Revising its fine structure. This will raise parking fines from $5 to $10 for 90-minute spaces and overnight parking bans.

n Providing hang tags to identify motorists who live in the downtown area.

Huber said these early actions will give the city a little more time until they need to consider a future parking ramp facility.

Tax increment

The Mandan City Commission also approved a tax increment property tax exemption for CRT Investments for the redevelopment of the empty commercial lot at 200 W. Main.

The city acquired the lot as part of a remediation settlement through the Mandan Remediation Trust. The MRT oversees the $24 million settlement for a diesel spill from the Burlington Northern Railroad.

CRT Investments agreed to build a $3 million residential/commercial site there and will receive the property for $1.

The four-story, mixed use building will receive a TIF exemption for years six to 15 on the residential portion of the project. The total tax exemption on the $1.75 million residential portion of the project is estimated to be $371,875 for years six through 15.

Earlier this summer, the commission approved a Renaissance zone tax exemption on the whole building for its first five years after completion. Renaissance zone exemptions are expected to total $228,438.

The street level of the project will feature about 6,780 square feet of commercial/retail space. Floors two through four will hold 30 one-and two-bedroom market-rate apartments.

Its construction is expected to begin by Nov. 1.

Storefronts

Mandan city commissioners approved renewing its Storefront Improvement program Tuesday.

Some $37,000 remain for 2009 business facade improvement projects. There is a Nov. 1 deadline to apply for those. Any unused funds will be rolled over to 2010.

Commissioners agreed to put in $30,000 for similar projects in 2010. A Feb. 1 deadline has been set to apply for these funds. Applicants must match the funding dollar for dollar. There is a $10,000 cap for money received on storefront improvement projects.

The Storefront Improvement funds come from the city's sales tax revenue.

(Reach reporter LeAnn Eckroth at 250-8264 or leann.eckroth@;bismarcktribune.com.)