02/07/2002 EDAC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 Mr. Milbauer questioned if applicants for EDAC saw the description, and if people knew the role and duties when they signed up. EDAC is brainstorming, a communication conduit to the city council. He said he didn’t know if the committee had adhered to the description recently. Mr. Chase thought the committee had gotten bogged down in specific projects. Mr. Jensen stated the role is visionary and a sounding board. Mr. Hicks said he thought giving sound economic counsel was the role. Mr. Chase said if a project was asking for an incentive, EDAC should be involved in the decision making. Mr. Milbauer stated EDAC’s role is to encourage development, not stifle it, or micro-manage it. Mr. Rafferty stated EDAC should find creative ways to let things happen and be proactive. The Environmental Board usually looks at development as a negative because it is putting something into a natural environment. The P&Z has a set of rules and sees it from an “own it or zone it” role. EDAC has to help tax base, create development, and protect environment. Mr. Chase stated EDAC should be reviewing and, in some cases, recommending a zoning change if it makes sense. Mr. Milbauer stated the liaison’s job is to take information back to the P&Z. He suggested the staff and the EDAC chair go to P&Z occasionally, along with Environmental Board chair, to discuss issues. Ms. Hansmann stated EDAC had no power to make decisions. She thinks the role is to bring information forward, even if it differs from EDAC’s. Ms. Carlson gave an example of a request council received from a landowner to change his property to commercial. EDAC opinion would be helpful in these situations. Mr. Milbauer suggested expanding the EDA (Economic Development Authority), which is currently the city council, to include members from EDAC. Ms. Carlson suggested finding out what other cities are doing. Mr. Jensen said all cities do it different. In some cities, the council doesn’t want to make the hard decisions, so the EDA had just one council representative. It’s a way to get the project done without the council taking the political heat. Other councils want complete control. EDAC is an advisory committee only. Mr. Rafferty asked if he could get minutes from other boards. Ms. Carlson said the city clerk can send them out with packets if she gets a request. Ms. Hansmann said the minutes don’t really tell a person what’s going on. Mr. Vacha asked if staff and council should revisit what they think EDAC’s mission and role of members should be. Discussion will continue on this topic next meeting. Mr. Jensen wants to have a visionary meeting about what is going on in the Twin Cities, what Lino Lakes has that is special and what should be protected. Ms. Divine suggested doing this with the site inventory. Ms. Carlson mentioned that Hugo, Centerville and Lino Lakes met and discussed the 35E interchange. They hope to work together to get the interchange moved up on the priority list. Meeting adjourned.