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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-21-2011Minutes of the Economic Development Commission City of Mounds View Ramsey County, Minnesota Regular Meeting October 21, 2011 City of Mounds View, Council Chambers 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Torri Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:34am. 2. ROLL CALL Members Present: Chair Torri Johnson and Commissioners Greg Belting, Dan Larson, Gary Meehlhause and Jim Paron Members Absent: Vice Chair Jennifer Wagner-Harkonen and Commissioner Helgemoe Staff Present: City Administrator Jim Ericson and Economic Development Specialist Heidi Steinmetz 3. APPROVAL OF OCTOBER 21, 2011 AGENDA Motion/Second: Commissioner Larson moved and Commissioner Belting seconded the approval of the October 21, 2011 EDC agenda. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays 4. APPROVAL OF JULY 15, 2011 EDC MINUTES Motion/Second: Chair Johnson noted that the word "was" should be added in the last bulleted item under Item 7. Commissioner Belting moved and Commissioner Meehlhause seconded the approval of the July 15, 2011 minutes as amended. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays 5. SPECIAL BUSINESS Commissioner Larson wished his daughter a happy 21St birthday. 6. EDC BUSINESS A. Discuss Future of EDC Economic Development Specialist Heidi Steinmetz provided background information about the formation and makeup of the EDC. EDC Minutes Oct. 21, 2011 Page 2 of 3 Chair Johnson stated that the EDC had received word that the Economic Development Specialist position would be eliminated at the end of the year. She said the news has created confusion about the EDC's role moving forward. Chair Johnson requested that the EDC discuss the issue before Ms. Steinmetz's departure and wondered who on City staff would assume Ms. Steinmetz's duties. Commissioner Paron asked City Administrator Jim Ericson why the City would eliminate the position at this particular time. Mr. Ericson responded that this discussion may be premature because the City Council has not yet discussed this issue publically. He explained that the City Council will discuss the Economic Development Specialist position at the November 7th Work Session. He invited the EDC to attend the meeting. Commissioner Belting said that the EDC has been clear about their goals over the years and that the Economic Development position is important. Mr. Ericson agreed. Chair Johnson agreed that now is an important time to maintain the position because the economy appears to be recovering. Commissioner Meehlhause asked for clarification on how the position is budgeted. Mr. Ericson responded that the position is funded entirely by Tax Increment Financing (TIF), not the City's General Fund. Ms. Steinmetz mentioned that the City's TIF Districts will be expiring in a few years, which would eliminate the funding source for the position. Mr. Ericson responded that if the position is worthwhile and a benefit to the community, the City Council would find a way to fund the position. Referring to the Medtronic District, Commissioner Meehlhause added that not all of the City's TIF Districts expire by the year 2015. Commissioner Belting said that the City can't afford to be without both an Economic Development Specialist and a Community Development Director. Commissioner Larson agreed. Mr. Ericson concluded by reminding the EDC that although the budget presented to the City Council at the October Work Session did not include the Economic Development Specialist position for 2012, it is not a foregone conclusion that the position will be eliminated. The Council will be discussing it at the November 7th Work Session. The EDC decided to discuss the future of the EDC after the November 7th Work Session. Motion/Second: Commission Meehlhause moved and Commissioner Paron seconded a motion to recommend that the EDA retain the Economic Development Specialist position especially in light of recent developments in neighboring cities and continued needs in our own city for 2012 and beyond. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays 7. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS There were no commissioner reports. EDC Minutes Oct. 21, 2011 Page 3 of 3 8. REPORTS OF STAFF Ms. Steinmetz said that most recently, Governor Dayton has proposed calling a special session to discuss Vikings stadium funding but a date has not been set. Commissioner Meehlhause added that the Ramsey County Charter Commission recently voted not to hold a referendum on the proposed half cent sales tax for Ramsey County. Commissioner Meehlhause provided a recap of the October Mounds View Business Council meeting where two Edgewood Middle School teachers provided information on Edgewood possibly becoming a magnet school next year. He suggested that School District representatives should attend a future City Council meeting to provide information to the community and the City Council. He also discussed a document that Chamber president distributed to the Mounds View Business Council regarding how most stadiums throughout the country were funded through a public/private partnership. He added that he plans to distribute the document to the City Council on November 7tn Ms. Steinmetz and Mr. Ericson provided updates regarding EI Loro Mexican Restaurant, the two pending senior housing projects, Zero Gravity trampoline park and Allina's ambulance base of operations. Ms. Steinmetz urged people to visit the City's Website to view a list of available business sites. Chair Johnson asked Mr. Ericson about residential remodeling permits. He said the City has processed about the same amount as was processed last year at this time. Commissioner Larson asked if the City keeps track of who buys foreclosed properties. Mr. Ericson said that the City knows who owns each property due to utility billing and that the residential licensing program allows the City to maintain records of who may be renting single-family properties within the City. 9. NEXT REGULAR EDC MEETING The next regular EDC meeting was scheduled for Friday, November 18, 2011 at 7:30am. 10. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the October 21, 2011 meeting adjourned at 8:35am. Respectfully submitted, Heidi Steinmetz, Economic Development Specialist