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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-12-2008Minutes of the Economic Development Commission City of Mounds View Ramsey County, Minnesota Regular Meeting December 12, 2008 City of Mounds View, Council Chambers 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Jason Helgemoe called the meeting to order at 7:35am 2. ROLL CALL Members Present: Chair Jason Helgemoe, Vice Chair Gary Meehlhause, Commissioners Dr. Greg Belting, Jackie Entsminger, Torri Johnson (arrived at 7:40 a.m.), Dan Larson and Jennifer Wagner Members Absent: None Staff Present: Clerk -Administrator Jim Ericson, Community Development Director Ken Roberts and Economic Development Specialist Heidi Steinmetz 3. APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 12, 2008 AGENDA Ms. Steinmetz added and item to the agenda about a business leaving the City (under "Reports of Staff"). Motion/Second: Commissioner Johnson moved and Commissioner Belting seconded the approval of the amended December 12, 2008 EDC agenda. Motion Carried: 7 Ayes 0 Nays 4. APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 21, 2008 EDC MINUTES Vice Chair Meehlhause noticed under Item 2 (Roll Call), that Commission Belting's full name should be added. Under Item 4 (Approval of EDC Minutes) the letter "r" needs to be removed from the word "contact". Motion/Second: Commissioner Belting moved and Commissioner Meehlhause seconded the approval of the amended November 21, 2008 EDC minutes. Motion Carried: 7 Ayes 0 Nays EDC Minutes December 12, 2008 Page 2 of 5 5. SPECIAL BUSINESS Chair Helgemoe encouraged people to attend the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce's annual "Gala" fundraiser to be held on Saturday, February 7, 2009. He added that the Chamber would be accepting donated items for the silent auction. Chair Helgemoe also mentioned that the Chamber's holiday luncheon would be held on December 18, 2008 at the Mounds View Community Center. He added that local restaurants will be donating their time and food at the event and that the Chamber would be donating admission fees (for those to attend the luncheon) to charity. Community Development Director Ken Roberts arrived at this time. 6. EDC BUSINESS A. 2009 EDC Applications - Provide Recommendation to EDA/City Council Ms. Steinmetz said that there are two open EDC seats: a business seat and a resident seat and that the term for each seat is three years. She listed the applicants' names: Greg Belting, Nate Bjerke, Valerie Amundsen, Jackie Entsminger, Paul Schlitgen and Betty Johnson. Ms. Steinmetz stated that City Code requires the EDC to provide a recommendation to the EDA regarding who should serve on the EDC and that the EDC is comprised of three business representatives and four resident representatives. Ms. Steinmetz said that she distributed ballots to each of the seven EDC members this morning. She recommended that EDC members vote for the applicants that members believe would be the best fit. She explained that City Hall receptionist Mary Springer will collect the anonymous ballots, tally them and provide the results to Mr. Roberts. Mr. Roberts will then report the results later in the EDC meeting. Commissioner Johnson thanked staff for providing the EDC with the applications ahead of time. She added that the amount of applicants shows us that people care about the future of the City. Ms. Steinmetz said that the EDA/City Council will also receive the applications and she will report the EDA/Council's decision as soon as possible. As this time, Ms. Steinmetz left the Council dais while the EDC voted. Ms. Springer then collected the ballots. 7. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS There were no Commissioner reports. Chamber President Tim Roche arrived at this time. EDC Minutes December 12, 2008 Page 3 of 5 8. REPORTS OF STAFF A. Mounds View Branding Project Update Ms. Steinmetz reported that almost 700 residents completed surveys for this project. Commissioner Meehlhause said that based on 3,250 surveys mailed to residents in the City utility bills, the response rate is about a 20%. Ms. Steinmetz said that the business surveys will be distributed early next week and Risdall Marketing Group will be completing 25 developer/broker phone interviews. Commissioner Entsminger said that the residents' response rate shows that people are excited about the future of the City and the branding project and that Risdall Marketing Group did a professional job on the survey. Commissioner Johnson asked how many business surveys would be distributed. Ms. Steinmetz answered that Mounds View has about 125-130 businesses and they will all receive a survey with a pre -stamped return envelope. Commissioner Johnson asked if home businesses or businesses that conduct business with the City (but are not located in the City) would receive the survey. Ms. Steinmetz answered "no"; however, she encouraged home business people to contact her if they want to complete a survey. B. New Silver View Plaza Tenant - A Home Enhanced: Stager's Resource Outlet Ms. Steinmetz reported that the lease for "A Home Enhanced" is short-term. C. New Mounds View Square Tenant - Dealsmart Ms. Steinmetz reported that Dealsmart opened on December 5, 2008 and there is a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning at 11:00am. D. New Silver View Plaza Tenant - Fantastic Sams Will Open in Early Jan. 2009 Ms. Steinmetz reported that Fantastic Sams will open in early January 2009 and that City staff has heard that the residents of the nearby senior community (Wildwood Manor) are happy that Fantastic Sams would be within walking distance. E. County Road 10 Redevelopment Update Ms. Steinmetz referenced the December 8, 2008 EDA staff report that was included in the EDC's packet regarding a five-parcel/six-acre potential redevelopment project located in the Premium Stop Redevelopment Area. Ms. Steinmetz said that she has been talking with a developer since April 2008 about redevelopment opportunities in Mounds View and that the developer is most interested in the site located at northwest corner of County Road 10 and Woodale Drive. Ms. Steinmetz reported that the EDA is interested in discussing the potential project with the developer and is open to discussing the idea of potentially assisting the developer with redevelopment costs. Commissioner Johnson inquired about the current zoning of the property. Ms. Steinmetz answered that the property is currently zoned R-1. Community Development Director Ken Roberts added that the Comprehensive Plan update guides the future land use as commercial, which is consistent to the types of business that the developer is trying to EDC Minutes December 12, 2008 Page 4 of 5 attract to the site. He added that the EDA's December 8, 2008 discussion might be one of fifteen steps to accomplishing a project on that site because of the complexities of redevelopment. F. Housing Replacement Program Update Ms. Steinmetz said that the EDA discussed this item on December 8, 2008. She reported that the EDA had received an application for the EDA's Housing Replacement Program, which is a program that offers applicants two options: demolition assistance or acquisition assistance. She stated that the current applicant asked the EDA to purchase their home but since the home was not included on the EDA's list of eligible properties, the EDA had to consider whether to add the home to the list. Ms. Steinmetz said that the EDA decided to reconsider updating the list in Summer/Fall 2009 and denied the Housing Replacement Program application. Commissioner Johnson stated that she thinks it is odd that the EDA is required to have this list because it sets an odd tone for homeowners. She added that she understands that all of the homes on the list are not necessarily blighted. She asked why not simply add all Mounds View homes to the list. Community Development Director Ken Roberts stated that he thinks the State Auditor requires the City to keep a set list so that the list is not arbitrary because the City needs to have given the properties on the list some thought. Commissioner Wagner said that many of the homes on the list seem to be located in areas slated for redevelopment and that homeowners located on County Road 10 may not want to remodel because of their location on County Road 10. Commissioner Johnson asked why the list is not updated every year. Mr. Roberts responded that each time the list is updated; the City must go through a legal process, which is not cost effective for the City to do every year. He added that it seems as if the EDA's consensus on December 8th was that the list should be updated every four to five years and that it is better to update the list during the summer and fall months when the condition of the City's properties is fresh in the mind of the City's housing/code enforcement officer. CONTINUATION OF ITEM 6A: 2009 EDC Applications - Provide Recommendation to EDA/City Council Mr. Roberts reported the results of the EDC's votes for 2009 EDC appointments (to be recommended to the EDA/City Council). Mr. Roberts said that Commissioner Belting will be recommended to be reappointed as a business representative and that Commissioner Entsminger will be recommended to be reappointed as a resident representative. G. Incredible Edible Delights (this item was added to the agenda) Ms. Steinmetz reported that Incredible Edible Delights has vacated their space in Silver View Plaza. EDC Minutes December 12, 2008 Page 5 of 5 Other Chair Helgemoe asked for an update on the Select Senior Living project, the PAK building and Skyline Motel. Ms. Steinmetz said that the Select Senior Living developer has not applied for a building permit yet, so she is assuming he has postponed his building plans until Spring. She had no updates on the PAK building. She did say that the owners of the Skyline Motel are willing to sell their property and the property is listed on the City's Website as a redevelopment opportunity. Commissioner Johnson reported that on December 8, 2008, City staff held a surprise party for outgoing Mayor Rob Marty and she would like to thank City staff for coordinating the event. 9. UPCOMING EDC MEETINGS Ms. Steinmetz reminded the EDC of their upcoming meetings. 10. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Commission, Chair Helgemoe adjourned the meeting at 8:28 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Heidi Steinmetz Economic Development Specialist