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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-18-2015Minutes of the Economic Development Commission City of Mounds View Ramsey County, Minnesota Regular Meeting December 18, 2015 City of Mounds View, Council Chambers 2401 County Road 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Jason Helgemoe called the meeting to order at approximately 7:30 a.m. 2. ROLL CALL Members Present: Chair, Jason Helgemoe, Vice Chair, Jim Freichels, Commissioners, Gary Stevenson, Jessica Rieland, and Dan Larson Members Absent: Royal Dahlstrom & Laurie Shoop Staff Present: Business Development Coordinator, Brian Beeman & City Administrator, Jim Ericson Meeting Attendees: Council Member, Gary Meehlhause 3. APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 18, 2015, AGENDA Motion/Second: Commissioner Freichels moved and Commissioner Stevenson seconded the approval of the December 18, 2015 EDC agenda. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays 4. APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 20, 2015, EDC MINUTES Motion/Second: Commissioner Stevenson moved and Commissioner Larson seconded the approval of the November 20, 2015 EDC minutes, as presented with the correction of Jason Helgemoe's last name. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays 5. EDC BUSINESS Approve EDC Meeting Schedule for 2016 Chair Helgemoe presented the 2016 EDC Meeting Schedule. Helgemoe asked if the meeting date was set by the EDC. Business Development Coordinator, Beeman informed the Commission that the annual meeting dates are established by the EDC Bylaws. If the dates are changed then the EDC can amend via a Resolution. If the EDC chooses to change the time, this can be done by a motion. Helgemoe asked for input by the EDC. The Commissioners were in agreement that the proposed meeting times will work for 2016. Helgemoe asked for a motion. EDC Minutes December 18, 2015 Page 2 of 5 Motion/Second: Commissioner Freichels moved and Commissioner Helgemoe seconded the approval of Resolution No. 15 -EDC -39 establishing the calendar of meeting dates for 2016 starting at 7:30 a.m. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays EDC Applications Next, Chair Helgemoe presented the background on the EDC Applicants, stating there are three seats open and there were three applicants. Commissioner Freichels, and Helgemoe submitted applications for the two Business Representative openings, and Commissioner Stevenson submitted an application for the Resident Representative opening. Helgemoe stated that all three openings were for the term starting January 1, 2016 and ending December 31, 2018. Helgemoe called for a motion. Helgemoe thanked Commissioners Freichels and Stevenson for serving on the EDC and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve. Motion/Second: Commissioner Larson moved and Commissioner Rieland seconded the approval of both Commissioner Freichels and Helgemoe as the Business Representatives and Commissioner Stevenson as the Resident Representative for terms starting January 1, 2016 and ending December 31, 2018 and made a recommendation to the EDA on same. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays 6. REPORTS OF STAFF Crossroad Point Redevelopment Prosect Business Development Coordinator, Beeman provided the Commission with an update on the Crossroad Pointe redevelopment site. Beeman stated the EDA heard comments from The Beard Group on November 23, 2015 who requested to build a three level apartment structure as Phase I, the square shaped 2.05 acre area and use Phase II, the 1.78 acre triangular shaped property next to County Road 10 as a staging area. Phase I would be a 119 units with underground parking. The EDA reviewed and discussed the idea and ultimately decided to approve The Beard Group constructing in phases. One EDA Member expressed his concern with allowing apartments on this site and that the site was to be a destination and in his opinion, apartments are not a destination. However, with the TCAAP site being developed, the EDA unanimously approved allowing a phased development for apartments. The next step is to approve the pre -development agreement, then the actual development agreement. Once approved, The Beard Group is hoping to start construction at the end of the first quarter in 2016 or the beginning of the second quarter. It is assumed that the Beard Group will be submitting an application for a Redevelopment TIF which is why the EDC and EDA are reviewing and approving updates to all of the financial incentive policies. EDC Minutes December 18, 2015 Page 3 of 5 Business Retention & Expansion Visit (BR&E) Updates Coordinator Beeman informed the Commission that he has completed three business visits since the last meeting. The first, was Sky's Salon. They have one employee and are happy were they are. They were pleased that the city was considering going to a collective garbage service. They gave the city 7 of 10 possible points for serviceability. Next, was Raymond Vandeveer Realty who started in 2008 and services clients in a 50 mile radius. They have three office spaces available. There are several other businesses in the same facility and they gave the city 8 of 10 points. Last, was Midwest Medical Services. They have been in Mounds View since 1006, just completed a $120,000 renovation and purchased the building about a month ago. They are looking for 25,000 more square feet and would like to own versus lease. They have looked as the vacant Zep Manufacturing building but the owner in unwilling to sell the property. They are a good stable company employing 142 fulltime and 42 part-time employees. The company is growing and they are looking to expand in other states. Rice Creek Commons (TCAAP) Development Update Next, Coordinator Beeman provided an update on anticipated improvements relating to Rice Creek Commons. He informed the Commission that the Ramsey County project manager spoke at the last Mounds View Business Council meeting. Stating the soils corrections were originally to be remediated to a commercial grade, but later decided to upgrade the remediation to a residential grade. This increased the costs another $1.5 mill but overall the County felt that it was worth the money. The aquifer is still contaminated but they removed 49 miles of material including 400,000 tons of concrete and asphalt, 43,700 feet of railroad track, 39,000 feet of fencing, and nearly 178,000 feet of piping from the gas mains to sanitary pipe. Ninety three percent of all these materials were recycled and can be reused for other projects. Chair Helgemoe stated that he had attended a New Brighton Chamber meeting and Heather Worthington, County Administrator spoke more in depth on the project and said they were up for an award because of the remediation activities. There were massive amounts of wood and steel recycled. They are going to start talking to a Master Developer in the first quarter of 2016 and they will begin construction on the site in 2017. It is a very big project that will affect Mounds View. Helgemoe suggested that the EDC possibly have Heather speak at an EDC meeting at a later date to go more in depth on some of the details of the project. Helgemoe stated they were proposing about 4000 residents and new projections are about 2500. Commissioner Freichels stated that the biggest project for Mounds View will be the interchange improvements starting in 2016. Learning how business will be the least impacted, and inlet and outlets and alternate routes were also good information. Beeman stated, that by 2030 they are expecting 20,000-30,000 in traffic counts and will be looking for a large grocer as an anchor. Helgemoe, added attracting a grocer was also brought up in his New Brighton meeting. The area is devoid of a large grocer and they would also expect more retail to follow this type of anchor business. EDC Minutes December 18, 2015 Page 4 of 5 Beeman said the Twin Cities North Chamber would like to combine a few cities and hold all future Business Council Meetings quarterly. Beeman said this last meeting had a good turnout and so the quarterly meetings may end up being a success. The next Business Council meeting will be held March 9, 2016 and the location has not been determined. Mounds View Prosect Updates Beeman provided an update on the Bel Rae occupancy levels stating they are now 60% leased. There are no changes with the Snyder building. The business addressing issue came up again at the Mounds View Business Council meeting. The responsibility is the County's and they would need to come up with the resources to change out the signs with a new agreed upon address. Until then, there is not much the city can do besides lobby the County officials. Beeman encouraged the Commissioners to try to attend one of the upcoming Economic Gardening meetings stating they have CEO's from all over the region that meet to discuss issues they are dealing with in their companies and they always have good speakers. The last speaker was an angel investor and two other entrepreneurs who explained how they went through the process of attracting money to start their companies. One business owner was an expert in defense contracts and government contracts and the other was an entrepreneur from Ireland who explained the various hoops he had to go through to be successful. Chair Helgemoe asked when the next meeting will be held. Beeman said with the holidays we wasn't certain but he was expecting another meeting in mid-January. 7. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS Chair, Jason Helgemoe asked for reports from Commissioners. Commissioner Rieland stated that Bio Life is experiencing difficulty with clients not being able to find them do to the confusing addressing. Bio Life has signed an agreement with a company that drops a pin and inputs the data once then all of the other on-line mapping companies are able to sync with the correct address location on their mapping systems. Helgemoe asked if Coordinator Beeman could send this information out to the local businesses. Beeman said he would send out the information once received. Helgemoe said that getting the signs replaced would still be nice. Helgemoe asked Rieland how Bio Life was doing. Rieland said they are growing and hope to do well again in 2016. 8. NEXT REGULAR EDC MEETING Hearing no further comments from Commissioners or the audience, Helgemoe stated the next meeting will be held January 15 at 7:30 a.m. Beeman added that for the January meeting the EDC will be reviewing the TIF & Tax Abatement policies assuming they are back from the City Attorney in time for the next meeting. Beeman said he is hoping to have the policies approved by the EDC and EDA before the developer submits an application. The EDC will also be conducting the Oath of Office for the new Commissioners and appointing a Chair and Vice Chair. For the February 19, 2016 meeting, the EDC will be reviewing their 2016 priorities and the EDC Bylaws. Helgemoe . EDC Minutes December 18, 2015 Page 5 of 5 9. ADJOURN There being no further business, Chair Helgemoe adjourned the December 18, 2015, meeting at 8:00 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Brian Beeman Business Development Coordinator