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EDC Minutes July 31, 2002 Page 2 C. NB-MV Chamber of Commerce Update: Dr. Belting was not present for report. Backman will discuss under Staff Report. D. Report of Staff: 1. Twin Cities North Chamber Merger Activities: The general membership of the New Brighton- Mounds View Chamber and the Southern Anoka County (SAC) Chamber voted overwhelmingly on June 25th to approve the merger documents. Backman mentioned that the appropriate legal documents have been sent to the Attorney General’s office and the Secretary of State for approval. SOS approval is expected shortly. On July 23rd the first meeting of the newly constituted Board of Directors of the Twin Cities North Chamber occurred at Kuether Distributing in Fridley. A Board retreat, facilitated by Dennis Egan, formerly Director of the Rochester Chamber, and David Olson, President of the Minnesota Chamber, was held following the Board meeting. Backman distributed to the EDC members a handout regarding Chamber accomplishments for the previous year. On July 25th the new map for New Brighton-Mounds View area was delivered to City Hall. It was begun last spring but was only completed now. It will be used for visitors and new residents, and will complement the existing Chamber map that covers Columbia Heights, Fridley, and Spring Lake Park. 2. Mermaid Retention Pond Redevelopment Grant Activities: Backman briefly described the history of the project. As part of the project to expand the Mermaid to include a hotel and banquet center, three buildings were acquired and demolished in order to provide space for parking, landscaping, a stormwater retention pond and other improvements. In 1998 a Redevelopment Grant Application was submitted by Kevin Carroll to the Minnesota Dept. of Trade & Economic Development. In 1999 the state approved $333,333 for the “Edgewood Jr. High Regional Pond project”. The engineering company SEH undertook the planning and design work for the ponds and lines in early 2001. Veit installed the stormwater line on the south side of County Rd. H and excavated the two ponds in the fall of 2001. The project is about 90% complete at this time. Last week Backman requested nearly $197,000 be drawn from the state grant to reimburse the City for expenditures incurred. The City received the check from the Dept. of Finance on Monday, July 29th. There is approximately $104,700 left in the grant to be dispersed for the retention pond project. Backman commented that he had talked to Cindy Winegarner, Director of Sales, regarding the status of operations at the newly expanded Mermaid. She indicated that occupancy rates at the hotel are running 10 to 15% above projections, however, the banquet sales have been lagging. McDonald asked about the Mermaid’s marketing activities and Backman discussed them. McDonald asked if there was anything we can do to promote the business. Sonterre mentioned that there should be greater cooperation and coordination between the Mounds View Community Center and the Mermaid. Backman will bring this matter up to Dabney Bradley, Community Center caterer, and with Ms. Winegarner. 3. Met Council Livable Community Grant Application: The Metropolitan Council administers two types of grants from its Livable Communities Fund—Opportunity Grants and Development Grants. The Opportunity Grants fund early planning or predevelopment costs to develop project-specific and site-specific land use plans. Backman submitted on May 23, 2002 an Opportunity Grant Application for the Aggregating Amoco Area (or Triple A) adjacent to Hwy 10 and Silver Lake Road. There are seven fragmented parcels in the 5 acre site, several of which are vacant. The funding request was not approved by the Met Council. Christy Stark, Met Council Planner, encouraged the City to re-submit an application for the next round.