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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-19-2016 Minutes of the Economic Development Commission City of Mounds View Ramsey County, Minnesota Regular Meeting February 19, 2016 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, Jessica Rieland, Gary Stevenson Members Absent: Dan Larson, Royal Dahlstrom & Laurie Shoop Staff Present: Business Development Coordinator, Brian Beeman & City Administrator, Jim Ericson Meeting Attendees: Gary Meehlhause 3. APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 19, 2016, AGENDA Motion/Second: Commissioner Freichels moved and Commissioner Stevenson seconded the approval of the February 19, 2016 EDC agenda. Motion Carried: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays 4. APPROVAL OF JANUARY 15, 2016, EDC MINUTES Motion/Second: Commissioner Freichels moved and Commissioner Rieland seconded the approval of the January 15, 2016 EDC minutes, as presented. Motion Carried: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays 5. EDC BUSINESS Administer Oath of Office Commissioner Stevenson took the Oath of Office. His term will end December 31. 2018. Review 2016 EDC Priorities Next, Business Development Coordinator Beeman reviewed the 2015 EDC priorities and explained what had been accomplished for each line item in the past year. Chair Helgemoe asked the Commission for comments to develop the 2016 priorities. Commissioner Freichels suggested adding the review of policies to the list. Stevenson suggested adding the review of the Comprehensive Plan. Beeman asked about the EDC Minutes February 19, 2016 Page 2 of 5 branding initiative. The Commission agreed to remove the branding budgeting and implementation from the 2016 priorities. Helgemoe suggested moving the monitoring of TCAAP to the number two priority. Motion/Second: Commissioner Freichels moved and Commissioner Stevenson seconded the approval of the 2016 EDC Priorities as modified. Motion Carried: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays Review EDC Bylaws Chair Helgemoe asked Business Development Coordinator Beeman to provide a background to the Commission. Beeman informed the Commission that Section 408.07 of the City Code indicates that the EDC Bylaws should be reviewed on an annual basis at the first regular meeting in February. The last time the Bylaws were amended was 2002. Beeman explained that a Resolution was passed in January establishing the meeting schedule for 2016 and this is compliant with the Bylaws. Beeman also informed the Commission that if there were any changes then he would prepare a Resolution for the next meeting, otherwise, no action would be needed. Chair Helemoe asked for any suggestions from the Commissioners. Commissioner Stevenson said he liked that they were simple and is advising they stay that way. Commissioner Freichels concurred. Council Member Meehlhause provided some institutional knowledge from being on the Commission in the past, stating that the Commission used to elect one Business Rep. to the Chair and one Resident Rep. as Vice Chair. Once the Chair's term ended, then the Vice Chair would take the Chair's positon. That way there would always be at least one Business and one Resident Representative as either the Chair or Vice Chair. Meehlhause said it got off track when one of the Vice Chairs didn't want the Chair position. Commissioner Stevenson informed the Commission that he has chosen not to become a Chair or Vice Chair because he is the Chair on other Commissions and didn't feel it appropriate to be the Chair on multiple Boards and Commissions. Freichels felt the EDC should make an effort to alternate as Meehlhause has suggested, but that it shouldn't be in the Bylaws. Commissioner Reiland agreed that this would be a good idea to try and implement each year but didn't think it should be included in the Bylaws. Beeman suggested that he would make note of it and put it into the staff report each year as a reminder. The Commissioners agreed. Hearing no further discussion Chair Helgemoe called for a motion. Motion/Second: Commissioner Stevenson moved and Commissioner Rieland seconded the motion accepting the Bylaws review as-is with no changes. Motion Carried: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays EDC Minutes February 19, 2016 Page 3 of 5 6. REPORTS OF STAFF Crossroad Point Redevelopment Project Business Development Coordinator, Beeman provided the Commission with an update on the Crossroad Pointe redevelopment site. Beeman stated that staff has met with The Beard Group and Ramsey County to discuss financing options regarding housing developments offered by the County. The meeting seemed to go well and The Beard Group is still planning to break ground in the August/September 2016 timeframe with the idea of opening the facility in 2017. The building will be built all at once, however internally the project will be completed in two phases. This means that the outside of the building will look completed but certain parts of the building will be leasable while other floors are being worked on. The Beard Group will be receiving their market study by the end of this month which will tell them how many studios, and two & three bedroom units should be built. Other steps will be meeting with the County to figure out the road situation since Greenfield Ave seems too close to the intersection of County Rd 10 & H2. Financing will still need to be determined as well as the formal development agreement. They still want to use the 1.76 acre parcel at their staging area. The predevelopment agreement gives them a little less than a year to work out the due diligence. According to their timeline, the project is on schedule to meet their goal of ground breaking in early fall 2016. Business Retention & Expansion Visit (BR&E) Updates Coordinator Beeman informed the Commission that he was able to conduct a BR&E visit with Fedor's Market since the last meeting. Fedor's has been in business for 55 years and Beeman spoke to brothers Paul and Gordy Fedor. One brother said he remembers the Army site getting build and has also seen it get torn down. They have seen businesses come and go over the years and when they first started, Mounds View was mostly trees and didn't have the development we have now. Their building once housed City Hall, the Police Station, and even a hospital. They have decided to eliminate the grocery portion of their business due to steep competition but will keep the meat portion of their business. They are open to the idea of leasing out the extra space or for someone to buy the building then lease back about 1,200 square feet to them to keep operating the meat market. Helgemoe asked what type of tenant they were looking for to fill the vacancy. Beeman said they didn't specify and they are open to hearing options as an exit strategy. Stevenson said he had seen an article from 1955 at his last Lions Club meeting where Gordy was working as a meat cutter for another grocery store at the time before it was Fedor's. So, he has been working in the meat market for more than the 55 years it has been Fedor's Market. It is a remarkable history and both of them have received the Citizen of the Year award for 2015 and will be represented at the city's annual festival. 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 there hasn't been much EDC Minutes February 19, 2016 Page 4 of 5 change since last month's report. The infrastructure portion of the project will begin this spring. A joint committee was formed to decide who the Master Developer will be for the project with the idea to start development in 2017. Snyder Building Beeman informed the Commission that there is no change with the Snyder building stating that last year he had several calls on the building, however he hasn't heard of any interest in the last few months. Bel Rae Senior Living Beeman provided an update on the Bel Rae Senior Living building stating that they are now reporting only 10 vacancies left for the second Memory Care facility. They currently have 50 employees and they seem to be doing well. They appreciated the city's involvement with their project. County Road 10 Addressing Next, Beeman updated the Commission that a meeting is scheduled for February 22 with city and county officials to discuss the County Road 10 signage and naming issues and he will provide an update to the EDC at its March meeting. Mounds View Business Council Meeting Beeman informed the Commission that the next Mounds View Business Council meeting is scheduled for March 9 at the Community Center, starting at 7:30 a.m. Helgemoe stated that they are working with the Chamber to get PRIME Design & Advertising to present at the next Mounds View Business Council meeting. Commissioner Rieland informed the Commission that the company creates the companies profile, enters it into their system, and then it serves as a constant presence so clients can instantly find them through the electronic pins and addressing. It has really helped Biolife's clients in finding them. Helgemoe suggested that Beeman move forward in arranging the speaker even though we haven't heard from the Chamber. As soon as it is confirmed, Beeman will inform the Commission. Zep Manufacturing Beeman provided an update stating that Carley Foundry has moved into the old Zep Manufacturing building as an expansion of their existing company in Blaine. As soon as they get settled in, Beeman will schedule a formal BR&E visit and try to include the EDC. Other Upcoming Events/Reports Beeman informed the Commission that the EDA approved the appointments of the EDC Chair and Vice Chair at their January 25, 2016 meeting. The City Council and EDA also approved the Business Subsidy Policy. In addition, the City Council and EDA approved resolutions adopting the Public Financing Policy & Application at their February 8, 2016 meeting. EDC Minutes February 19, 2016 Page 5 of 5 7. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS Chair Helgemoe asked for updates from Commissioners. Hearing none, Helgemoe informed the Commission that he is trying to get a speaker for the Mounds View Business Council meeting. The Chamber will be holding their annual Gala next Thursday at the sports center with a sports theme. The Legislative Breakfast is being held this morning. Beeman mentioned that the Economic Gardening meeting is also this morning and is normally held at the Northeast Bank in Minneapolis. The Polar Plunge went well. It was about 40 degrees that day and in about 4 feet of water. It was a fun day and money was raised for a good cause. 8. NEXT REGULAR EDC MEETING Chair Helgemoe asked about the upcoming EDC meeting. Beeman informed the Commission that the next meeting is March 18. Beeman said since the annual administrative formalities are out of the way, the March meeting will be as-needed. If there is a meeting, Beeman will provide an update on the County Rd 10 meeting and any progress on The Beard Group development at Crossroad Pointe. Both Reieland and Stevenson will not be available for the March meeting. Helgemoe said historically, the EDA's March meeting has not been well attended due to spring break and MEA week, etc. Beeman will let the EDC know if there will be a March meeting as it gets closer. 9. ADJOURN There being no further business, Chair Helgemoe adjourned the February 19, 2016, meeting at 8:25 a.m. Respectfully submitted, 9Y& Brian Beeman Business Development Coordinator