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EDC Minutes ,ter February 21, 2003 Not Approved Page 2 B. Report of EDA Liaison: Backman requested and the EDA considered naming a liaison to the EDC at its February 10th meeting. At this point, this was left open with no specific representative. C. TCN Chamber of Commerce Update: During the past month Backman participated in various meetings, including the Gaming Oversight Committee (1/22/02), the Board of the Directors Meeting and the Membership Gaming Meeting on 1/24/02. On February 14th he attended the Public Policy Task Force meeting in Fridley where the focus was on the legislative session and the budgetary cuts that are expected. The TCN Chamber is holding its Annual Gala at the Mermaid on March 1st in the evening (the Home&Garden Show occurs earlier on the same day at the M.V. Community Center beginning at 10:00 a.m.). [Show LGA projected cuts] D. Report of Staff: 1. Rob Carlson Builders Activities—Hwy 10 Business Center: Redevelopment of the former Perkins property by Rob Carlson Builders,the developer,continues to move ahead steadily. As you are aware the Perkins building was demolished the week of November 19th. The invoice for the demolition was received the last week of January. The City Council approved this TIF expenditure for$24,985 a week and a half ago. Concrete panels went up the week of January 20th and now one can get a sense of the general shape and size of the building. During this past week the supporting beams for the roof of the building were installed. Abbey Carpet, the largest tenant, is looking forward to moving to Mounds View in June. Several prospective businesses have been looking at the remaining 11,000 sq. ft. of available commercial space. 2. Metro North CVB Annual Meeting: On January 23rd Backman attended the CVB's Annual Meeting at the Earle Brown Center in Brooklyn Center. Overall lodging tax receipts are down 7.8% from the previous year. Post 9/11 effects and the softer economy continue to impact the convention and business traveler side of the hospitality industry. Amateur sports, a strategic advantage for our CVB, continues to perform well. Backman,who has served on the CVB Board of Directors for a year,was elected to the Executive Committee and will serve as Treasurer during 2003. On February 12th,the new Executive Committee held its meeting at the Edinburgh USA facility. This was immediately followed by a Strategic Planning Session facilitated by Joseph Strauss, I-35W Coalition. Currently nine communities are members of the Mpls. Metro North CVB. Four additional cities were discussed as potential candidates for entry—Plymouth, Roseville, Arden Hills, and Ham Lake. The first two have the most number of hotel properties and may not wish to join. 3. 2003 Public Finance Seminar (Ehlers): On February 6 & 7 Backman attended the annual TIF seminar that is put on by Ehlers. It was held at the Earle Brown Center in Brooklyn Center. Some of the sessions Backman attended were: TIF and Abatement Basics, Mixed Use Development, Land Assembly and Eminent Domain, TIF Legal Issues and Redevelopment, and TIF Management. 4. Developer Activities—Community Development Group (Amoco Site): I spent considerable time regarding this project during the past month and there has been significant progress. For several years the former Amoco gas station located at 2800 Co. Highway 10 has been closed. It has been consistently viewed by the EDC as a high priority for redevelopment. In September of last year Community Development Group(CDG),a developer from Michigan, began looking for various locations in the Twin Cities to build on for a national retailing company. The Company, headquartered on the East Coast, wishes to expand to the Twin Cities this year. Tony Strauss,the broker representing the BP Amoco site,indicated that the