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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/02/2000 EDAC MinutesAPPROVED CITY OF LINO LAKES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DATE: Thursday, March 2, 2000 MEMBERS PRESENT: B. Wessel, F. Chase, J. Schwartz, M. Haselman, H. Juni, J. Milbauer MEMBERS ABSENT: R. Jensen, D. Gorowsky, G. Rehbein OTHER PRESENT: M. Divine, D. Carlson, K. Sullivan, B. Johnson GENERAL/MINUTES Mr. Juni moved to approve minutes of January 6, 2000. Ms. Schwartz seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. OPEN COMMITTEE SEAT Mr. Wessel informed the board that Fritz Johnson submitted a letter of resignation from EDAC, citing business and personal commitments. He term expires in December of 2000. The staff directors discussed the process and will advertise for a replacement and the council will interview candidates. TOWN CENTER UPDATE Mr. Wessel informed the board that the city planner has been meeting regularly with the Planning & Zoning Board to go through the draft design standards for the Town Center. A public hearing on the standards is expected in April. Staff has also been meeting with the Rehbein group regarding a concept plan for a grocery store with adjoining retail on the shopping center site. Mr. Johnson stated that the P&Z was discussing how to make standards that ensure quality but keep some flexibility, and what should be mandatory versus preferred. Mr. Wessel said that McDonald’s will begin construction this spring. Ankeny Kell Architects met with staff and will begin doing preliminary site plans for the YMCA. EAST SIDE UPDATE Mr. Wessel stated that the city has not seen an application for the stadium. Mr. Sacco Babacus has not met with the city. Staff will be meeting with his representative, Michael Vincent, and KKE architects to discuss a preliminary concept plan. An escrow will be required before staff does any further work. SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATES Mr. Juni reported that several EDAC members toured commercial/industrial sites and will discuss recommendations for best use and prioritize according to importance. Mr. Johnson noted that the city owned sites were high priority for development and there is enough commercial land available for the future, but current industrial properties are limited. He added that with the growth in population, the emphasis should be on commercial development, with the Village a high priority. He stated that the city should not actively recruit development in areas that could compete with the high priority sites. Certain types of commercial, such as day care centers, should be actively pursued. Mr. Chase stated that the financial policy recommendations should be brought together with Comprehensive Plan recommendations and planning subcommittee recommendations. He suggested representatives from the committees meet to form a working document. The end result would include policies on land use priorities. A meeting was scheduled for 7 a.m. on Tuesday, March 14, and representatives were chosen to attend. Ms. Schwartz suggested that it would be helpful to have a book of C/I sites that showed surrounding zoning, street scenes and aerials. She questioned whether an intern could be hired to do the work. WILLARD MORTON REZONE REQUEST Ms. Divine reported that the property owner had made a rezone request on Lake Drive just north of the VFW. The 80-acre site is zoned for residential except for a very small parcel on Lake Drive. The owner is requesting that a larger area be zoned for commercial to provide a usable commercial area. Members discussed that it would allow more clustering of commercial by expanding the width of the commercial zone. Mr. Johnson noted more ROW dedication may be needed to provide a detached service road to eliminate driveways on Lake Drive. Ms. Schwartz suggested the city purchase ROW from owners as property is sold on Lake Drive to begin providing service roads. Action: Mr. Milbauer moved to recommend to the City Council approval of the rezone request. Ms. Schwartz seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Wessel noted that a new finance director has been hired and one priority will be to look at property the city owns, the amount the city owes on property, and the opportunities for purchasing land in the future. TIF POLICY UPDATE Ms. Divine explained the recommended changes made to the current TIF policy. The changes include: 1) TIF will not exceed 16% of the MMV unless the scope of benefit is significant and the city council approves a larger subsidy; 2) Subsidies will be on a pay- as-you-go basis with the exception of assessments which will be offered upfront in the Apollo Business Park; 3) the city will be reimbursed first, then the developer will begin receiving increment. These recommendations can be made a part of the EDAC recommendations to the city council for adoption. Ms. Divine said the criteria reviewed by the finance subcommittee will also be incorporated into use as a guide for providing TIF. Mr. Chase said the criteria should be a tool, but it’s not necessarily good to give more points to larger companies. Ms. Divine noted that the wage/job goals would be worked out with each development prospect. She said it is difficult for small companies that make a commitment to employ people within two years, since they risk losing the subsidy if they do not make the goal. Mr. Milbauer said companies should have enough working capital to expand into new facilities, and TIF shouldn’t be provided to companies that may not succeed. Action: Mr. Milbauer moved to recommend the policy changes in TIF as part of the EDAC plan to the city council. Mr. Juni seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. OTHER ISSUES Discussion regarding EDAC meetings included the role of EDAC. Mr. Wessel stated EDAC needed to be free to have an open exchange of ideas. He added he will encourage the mayor to keep attending because he has an excellent background in economic development issues. He stated that every time the council rejects a project the anti-growth perception gets stronger in the development community. Mr. Milbauer stated that it was important to have council representatives take an interest in what EDAC is doing and it might be appropriate for an EDAC member to represent the group at council meetings when there is an important economic development issue. Ms. Sullivan noted the code of conduct does not allow committees to represent issues. Mr. Wessel said the committee doesn’t advocate, but makes recommendations. Ms. Schwartz asked if EDAC could become the EDA. Mr. Wessel stated the responsibility for decisions made by the EDA should stay with the city council. If the committee wants to upgrade to the level of an advisory board like Planning & Zoning, it would require meeting in the council chambers in the evenings, being televised, etc. Ms. Carlson suggested taping meetings. Mr. Milbauer moved to adjourn. Ms. Schwartz seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned, 8:43 a.m.