HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.17.22 Minutes
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CITY OF LAKE ELMO
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES
May 17, 2022
Call to Order/Roll Call
Mayor Cadenhead called the meeting to order at 6:06pm.
PRESENT: Jeff Holtz, Charles Cadenhead, Ninna Waldoch and Tony Manzara. Paul Ryberg
arrived at 6:24pm.
ABSENT: Linda Larson,
Staff Present: City Administrator Handt
Election of Officers:
Motion by Cadenhead, seconded by Manzara to nominate Paul Ruberg as President. Motion carried.
Motion by Manzara, seconded by Cadenhead to nominate Tony Manzara as Vice President. Motion
carried.
Motion by Cadenhead, seconded by Waldoch to nominate Ninna Waldoch as Assistant Treasurer.
Motion carried.
Motion by Cadenhead, seconded by Holtz to have City staff (Kristina Handt) serve as Secretary and
Treasurer. Motion carried.
October 28, 2021 and February 15, 2022 Minutes:
Minutes were accepted as presented.
Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Survey Updates
Some members have not yet begun contacting businesses but they have identified those they will
contact. Waldoch and Manzara met with a number of businesses. Folks working in offices without
the need to expand seemed happy with city services. Others who have land and need changes or
expansions commented they have challenges with the city process for things like CUP, IUP, etc.
Manzara offered to manage the list of business contacts and will send out regular updates noting
who contacted which business and if they have completed the visit/survey.
Paul Ryberg joined the meeting.
2023 Budget Requests
Handt gave an update that Washington County CDA will be completing regional labor market
studies and Lake Elmo will fall within the one between TH 36 and I-94. There is no local
contribution required to participate.
The commission discussed whether additional staff was needed or if a consultant could fill the
needs. Items that a consultant might cover if hired would be staffing the EDA meetings, community
development and promoting activities within the city. Estimated costs for 40 hours a month was
$85-95,000 annually. The commission asked that Chris Eng be invited to their next meeting to help
them identify what tasks a consultant could help with and what should be included in a Request for
Proposals for such work.
Solar Farm on City Landfill Property
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Manzara provided updates in the packet about the folks he had talked to. He would like permission
to bring folks to the site to make sure it would work from a technical perspective and mentioned he
may need to talk to the city attorney. It was mentioned that Anderson windows is looking for a
solar project to obtain carbon credits. Ryberg mentioned he would reach out to the U of M about
carbon sequestration.
Future Agenda/Reports
The next meeting will be Tuesday, August 16th at 6pm. Agenda topics will include a discussion on
what they want in a consultant and an invitation will be extended to Chris Eng for this.
Commissioners will also provide BRE updates.
Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 6:50 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kristina Handt