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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-16-2016Minutes of the Economic Development Commission City of Mounds View Ramsey County, Minnesota Regular Meeting December 16, 2016 City of Mounds View, Council Chambers 2401 County Road 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 2. 3. 4. CALL TO ORDER Chair Jason Helgemoe called the meeting to order at approximately 7:35 a.m. ROLL CALL Members Present: Chair, Jason Helgemoe, Vice Chair, Jim Freichels, Commissioners, Jessica Rieland, Gary Stevenson & Laurie Shoop Members Absent: Dan Larson Staff Present: Business Development Coordinator, Brian Beeman, City Administrator, Jim Ericson Meeting Attendees: Gary Meehlhause APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 16, 2016, AGENDA Motion/Second: Commissioner Freichels moved and Commissioner Stevenson seconded the approval of the December 16, 2016 EDC agenda. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 18 2016, EDC MINUTES Motion/Second: Commissioner Rieland moved and Commissioner Shoop seconded the approval of the November 18, 2016 EDC minutes, as presented. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays 5. EDC BUSINESS Establish EDC Meeting Calendar for 2017 Business Development Coordinator Beeman provided the Commission with the meeting dates for 2017 stating that none of the dates seem to conflict with any holidays. Beeman informed the Commission that Section 408.07 of the Mounds View Municipal Code and also the EDC Bylaws require that all EDC meetings shall occur on the third Friday of each month and the EDC has traditionally met at 7:30 a.m. Hearing no further comments, Chair Helgemoe asked for a motion to approve NO. 16 -EDC -41 establishing the calendar of meeting dates for 2017 and confirming the time of day. EDC Minutes December 16, 2016 Page 2 of 6 Motion/Second: Commissioner Stevenson moved and Commissioner Freichels seconded the approval of Resolution NO. 16 -EDC -41 establishing the EDC meeting calendar for 2017, as presented. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays Review Applications to the EDC and Make Recommendation to the EDA Coordinator Beeman informed the Commission that both Dan Larson and Laurie Shoop have terms expiring December 31, 2016 and both have resubmitted their applications for another term which would begin January 1, 2017 and end December 31, 2019. After posting notice online, through social media, and the local access channel, as well as the City newsletter, these two applications were the only applications received. Beeman reminded the Commission that the opening to fill Royal Dahlstrom's position on the Commission who resigned November 2016 remains open and encouraged Members to ask people in the community and have them contact staff for further information on the application process. Beeman informed the Commission that a motion would need to be made in order to make the recommendation of Commissioners Larson and Shoop to the EDA. Chair Helgemoe asked for a motion. Motion/Second: Commissioner Freichels moved and Commissioner Rieland seconded the motion accepting the applications and making recommendation to the EDA to appoint the two Resident Representatives to the EDC with terms beginning January 1, 2017 and ending December 31, 2019. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays 6. REPORTS OF STAFF Crossroad Pointe Redevelopment Project Business Development Coordinator, Brian Beeman provided the Commission with an update on the Crossroad Pointe redevelopment site. Beeman reminded the Commission that The Beard Group had backed away from their project and as a result, the City Council held a Council Work Session December 5, 2016 to discuss the vision for the Crossroad Pointe Site. Members of the EDC and Planning Commission, as well as other residents were present at the meeting and allowed to provide their comments on the site. A summary of the Council's vision is as follows: They prefer 100% market rate apartments, but if it is a good project with mixed-use, they may consider up -to 20% affordable with the remaining 80% all market rate. They still like the mixed-use concept and believe the Stantec report is still viable for today's market. They prefer one large project to utilize the entire 4.25 acres, but they are open to doing it in phases. The current zoning allows for three stories. They are willing to allow a more vertical development to around four to six stories high, but also open to a detached mixed-use development. The Council is willing to work with a developer in the design, type, and possible financing, if they have a very good development. EDC Minutes December 16, 2016 Page 3 of 6 Beeman mentioned that Sherman and Associates, after hearing that the Council did not desire an 80% affordability project decided to also back away from their plans at Crossroad Pointe and said that if the Council decides to change the vision to allow for more affordable housing, then they would be interested. However, until then, they would need to back away from the project. According to the Stantec report, the median income for residents in the Mounds View area is below the national average and therefore, the market for an all market rate apartment project is not feasible. The current demand in the area is for Senior and Affordable Housing although, those market trends could change. Chair Helgemoe asked if any other developers have shown interest. Beeman said, he has received several inquiries but nothing serious. He has received calls from developers wanting to put in a retail strip mall, more senior housing, and even things like a day care facility and restaurants. Commissioner Rieland asked if there was still a demand for more senior housing even with the Bel -Rae Senior Living facility being built. Beeman said according to a very reputable senior housing developer, they have conducted their own market studies and they have stated that even with the Bel -Rae facility being built; the demand for more senior housing is very strong. Beeman said that more senior housing didn't seem to fit the vision for the Council. Commissioner Stevenson thought that possibly more senior housing could replace the 20% affordable aspect in a Housing Tax Credit situation. Commissioner Freichels didn't think a developer could designate the 20% to only seniors. He thought it would need to be open to anyone that qualified. Commissioner Rieland said the seniors could help support the retail concept. Beeman said that Sherman & Associates was proposing a mixed-use concept that would have both market rate and affordable and some retail units on the main floor. He mentioned that The Beard Group has a similar concept proposed at one time although; theirs was more directed towards the Millennials and some empty nesters. Freichels said what he got out of the Council Work session is that since the City owns the property, we have plenty of time to wait and get what we want and we have the ability to be more flexible. Helgemoe asked if the wait and see approach would be beneficial because of the Rice Creek Commons development. Beeman said, that is one way to look at it. He said if we wait then we may be able to attract a nice development to the site because of the regional influence and interest with so many developers wanting to get in on the action. Business Retention & Expansion Visit (BR&E) Updates Next Beeman updated the Commission on the business retention and expansion efforts. Beeman informed the Commission that most of the near 150 businesses have been visited. The remaining businesses have wished not to participate. Beeman said this is their choice and he can respect that. Some have not participated because their main corporate offices are out of state and they don't see the point in a BR & E visit if they can't make decisions at the local level anyway. Others would rather remain silent and have sensitive proprietary equipment and therefore, they would prefer not having visitors, especially from a governmental organization. Beeman said that since he has visited every company except for a half dozen or so, that his plan for next year is to revisit a few of the larger companies and not conduct a full BR EDC Minutes December 16, 2016 Page 4 of 6 & E survey, but to stop in so that they don't forget who we are and keep the relationships between the City and local businesses going strong. Beeman's goal was to visit every business in the City at least once and this has been nearly accomplished with the exception of a few. Helgemoe thanked Beeman for his service to the businesses stating that it was good for the City to have someone out their contacting businesses and taking care of their needs. Beeman said he has received very good comments from most of the businesses stating that they are pleased with the City services and how the City has handled issues. Beeman likes to get ahead of any problems before they become bigger problems and he has been able to do that for the most part. Rice Creek Commons Development Update Beeman informed the Commission that the County Road H intersection and bridge project is now open and there is access to the Rice Creek Commons side of 1-35W. The roundabouts are open and there is access to 1-35W. While the City of Mounds View's walking trail has been completed, Beeman contacted Ramsey County and they informed Beeman that the trails on the Rice Cree Commons side are closed until the construction workers can fix some safety concerns. However, the County didn't provide a timeline. Construction for the most part has quieted for the winter, but will start up again in the Spring of 2017. Beeman said he had talked to a few businesses in the area and once the road opened up, they experienced an immediate increase in customers which nearly doubled right away causing them to get back to their normal customer base. Website Update Beeman provided an update on the website stating that the Council had approved a Website Task Force and the Task Force has been interviewing six companies from the initial dozen or more initially contacted and unanimously agreed to recommend Revize. At its December 12, 2016 meeting, the Council approved Revize and a contract has been signed by the City and Revize for five years. The design phase will take approximately 5-7 weeks depending on how long it takes staff to get back to them and entire project at a best case scenario is expected to take 15-17 weeks. Before launching the site, staff will have a chance to test, monitor, and edit the site then once it is considered acceptable, the site will be launched. Commissioner Rieland who is also on the Task Force said the group approved Revize as the company to construct a new website because it was thought that they could do what we desired for them to do at a reasonable cost. The City also gets a refresh every three years. She is excited for the project to be completed. Beeman said staff reviewed another company that provides an aftermarket meeting video feature that was not originally part of the website Task Force and staff will be evaluating the product to see if it is something that can enhance what we will already have at a reasonable price. Beeman said the project kick-off meeting will most likely be in mid-January 2017. Mounds View Boulevard Next, Beeman updated the Commission on the address change from County Road 10 to Mounds View Boulevard stating that the first sign has been installed at the intersection of County Road H and Mounds View Boulevard. Council Member Meehlhause, who was in EDC Minutes December 16, 2016 Page 5 of 6 the audience said that he saw other Mounds View Boulevard signs going up on the north side of the street. Beeman said when he has conversed with business owners along the corridor, many of them have stated that they will be waiting to change their address and letter head until the new signs are installed. Helgemoe asked about the Post Office, and Beeman said he believes the issue of miss delivery has been corrected. Some businesses initially questioned the cost and process, but most of them are very pleased with the change. Beeman said that Google Maps changed the address right away, but Garmin and Tom Tom still haven't changed theirs. Both of those companies use third party GIS companies and they have internal processes of approval and some need the approval from the County before they will make the change. North Metro Business Council The Mounds View Business Council which has changed its name to the North Metro Business Council to include Arden Hills and Shoreview met December14 at the Mermaid Event Center to discuss issues with Adam Dunick, a Met Council representative. Helgemoe said there were approximately 30 or more in attendance with many businesses and government officials and the joining of the three cities has improved the focus and number of attendees of the meetings. The price of water treatment was brought up and the Met -Council will be looking into this issue. The next meeting will be March 8, 2017 and the theme will be Community Policing and Engagement. Police Chief, Nate Harder has volunteered and is available to speak and the group is still trying to get a representative from the Met -Transit Authority and Ramsey County as well. Upcoming Events/Reports Beeman reminded the Commission that there is still an opening on the EDC to fill Royal Dahlstrom's seat and to contact residents if they are interested in filling the seat which ends December 31, 2017. The Member must be a Resident of Mounds View in order to be considered. If anyone is interested, they are to send their application to Brian Beeman. Beeman informed the Commission that he has been in contact with another developer who is interested in the Cynthia Johnson properties to construct a 52 unit affordable housing project with Housing Tax Credits. The developer will be discussing the project at the January 3, 2017 Council Work Session. The developer will be asking for a Housing TIF and a waiver to the three acre minimum Planned Urban Development (PUD) requirement for rezoning. Another project right before the housing crisis was allowed this waiver, so there is precedence for this type of waiver. Since the project is not at Crossroad Pointe and the City doesn't control the property, this type of project may make sense in that area. However, the Council will need to make a determination and discuss the matter in January. 7. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS Helgemoe asked Commissioners if they had any reports. Hearing none, Helgemoe said the next meeting is January 20, 2016 at 7:30 a.m. where the Commission will be considering appointing the Chair and Vice Chair. Beeman said the current Chair Helgemoe would need to sit out a year before considering becoming Chair again EDC Minutes December 16, 2016 Page 6of6 because the Bylaws do not allow more than two consecutive years as Chair. Beeman encouraged the Commission to be thinking about which Commissioners they would like to be Chair or Vice Chair and also to remember to forward any names to staff who may be interested in filling Royal Dahlstrom's open seat. 8. NEXT REGULAR EDC MEETING Chair Helgemoe reminded everyone that the next EDC meeting will be held January 20, 2017 at 7:30 a.m. 9. ADJOURN There being no further business, Chair Helgemoe adjourned the December 16, 2016, meeting at 8:17 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Brian Beeman Business Development Coordinator