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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/04/2002 EDAC Minutes 1 APPROVED CITY OF LINO LAKES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DATE: Thursday, April 4, 2002 MEMBERS PRESENT: H. Juni, T. Vacha, F. Chase, J. Schwartz, D. Gorowsky, MEMBERS ABSENT: R. Jensen, J. Milbauer, B. Hicks, K. Hansmann OTHERS PRESENT: D. Carlson, M. Divine GENERAL/MINUTES Minutes of March 7, 2002 were approved. UPDATES Redevelopment Districts: Ms. Divine advised the committee that staff proposed to the council that an engineering firm be hired to provide an assessment of the potential for creating two TIF Redevelopment Districts in the Town Center. The council agreed it was worth exploring and staff will bring back a proposal for the council to consider. Council asked for EDAC’s input on the issue. Ms. Divine showed a map with proposed boundaries of the two districts. One district would be comprised of the Tagg property and the overpass of 35W. This would provide potential for public assistance with the Village development, and a funding source for the city’s portion of the 35W bridge reconstruction. The second potential redevelopment district includes properties north of 35W near the Target project. The area is zoned commercial but consists mostly of homes. Several of the homes are for sale. A development proposal could provide an opportunity for removal, and realignment of Lilac Street to match up with the northern access to Target. These types of analyses are required for a Redevelopment TIF District. Seventy percent of the area must contain improvements, meaning structures, driveways, etc., and of the parcels with improvements, 50 percent must be found to be structurally substandard. The engineering report will be the documentation needed to justify such a district. Ms. Divine has asked SEH to provide a proposal for the project. 2 Ms. Schwartz said the time is right since some are already for sale. If some of the property owners would do this on a voluntary basis and forego their relocation benefits, the city saves money. Mr. Vacha said Lake Drive will need to be reconstructed eventually. Mr. Chase said redevelopment of Lake Drive has always been a goal. Mr. Gorowsky made a motion to recommend to the council that it authorize staff to obtain the advice of consultants regarding the feasibility of two redevelopment districts. Ms. Schwartz seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Spirit Hills Commercial: Ms. Divine stated that a proposal has been submitted for a commercial center on three acres of property on Birch Street next to the Spirit Hills residential. This abuts the Aptiz Garage property. The proposed land use is commercial, although this property is not yet zoned commercial. Members questioned whether Birch Street and Hodgson Road were equipped for the additional traffic. Ms. Divine noted that the Ware Road extension may actually alleviate some of the traffic at the intersection. STRATEGIC PLANNING Mission: Members discussed changes to the mission statement. Members concluded that the mission statement needed to address the need for a diversified tax base, stress the importance of existing businesses in the community, and EDAC’s goal to balance the tax base by increasing the commercial and light industrial uses. After several revisions, Mr. Gorowsky moved that Ms. Divine write up a draft based on the discussions and send it out to members for comment. Ms. Schwartz seconded the motion. During further discussion it was concluded that the mission statement should be finished at the meeting. Motion failed, all members voting nay. Members concluded the mission statement should read as follows: Lino Lakes Economic Development Advisory Committee Mission Statement Promote a diverse Lino Lakes tax base by:  Encouraging a balance of land uses  Maintaining and encouraging the growth of existing businesses  Actively facilitating the development and redevelopment of quality commercial and light industrial businesses. Mr. Juni moved to approved the mission statement. Mr. Vacha seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. EDAC Roles: Ms. Divine informed the committee that she had checked with various other cities regarding the membership of their EDA’s. Moundsview: The city council is the EDA Blaine: the city council is the EDA 3 Chaska: the city council is the EDA Woodbury: the EDA is comprised of five citizens with finance backgrounds and two council members. One member is a Fortis representative, since Fortis participates financially in a revolving loan fund. All recommendations still go to the council for a vote. Cottage Grove: The EDA is comprised of residents, up to two business persons that are not residents, and two council members. The EDA acts as the contracting body, i.e., it approves the development agreements, but the city council approves the business subsidy, so the council has overriding authority. Shakopee: The council is the EDA. Ms. Schwartz indicated she believed that in Cambridge, Chisago City and Forest Lake, the citizens are the EDA. Mr. Chase stated he believes EDAC should remain advisory, and not be making decisions involving the city’s purse strings. He noted many issues go to the council before they come to EDAC. It doesn’t seem relevant for EDAC to respond when the council has already made up its mind. Timing can be a problem. Ms. Divine said many issues have plenty of opportunity for EDAC discussion. Mr. Chase stated EDAC can do more to be proactive. Ms. Divine noted that the EDAC plan calls for identifying areas for redevelopment as they occur. Changes are occurring on this portion of Lake Drive, and that is why redevelopment is being studied. Ms. Schwartz stated she would bring up the issue of EDAC becoming the EDA in the future. Ms. Divine stated that the council asked for an update of TIF districts, which she will share with EDAC next month. Ms. Schwartz questioned if any money from the TIF districts could go to EDAC to fund projects. Ms. Divine stated the money from the TIF districts benefited economic development, i.e., new businesses, and the purpose was to get businesses on the tax rolls. Ms. Carlson stated the five-year financial plan shows a deficit. Mr. Chase said EDAC hadn’t identified a need or a benefit for having funds to work with, and if EDAC did identify a reason for needing funding, then a request could go to the council to be considered. Mr. Gorowsky noted that TIF was a financial tool that has been used, and now the city will be seeing the rewards of that investment, which is a good thing, and helped us meet the mission statement. Ms. Divine stated it also helps long term stability, part of the mission. As businesses go on the tax rolls, the city can afford to look at new investment opportunities. Ms. Divine reviewed the EDAC goals and progress made toward creating the balance of commercial and residential. She asked Ms. Schwartz if she and Mr. Hicks could get an update at the next meeting regarding the Design Review Task Force. Ms. Carlson stated that the city’s five-year plan includes a city survey. Meeting adjourned. 4