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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-28-1997 1 Minutes of the Economic Development Commission City of Mounds View Ramsey County, Minnesota Regular Meeting August 28, 1997 City of Mounds View, Council Chambers 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:35 a.m. by Chairperson, Dan Nelson. 2. Roll Call: Members Cindy Carlson, Dan Nelson, Ron Schmidt, Brian Sjoberg and Delane Welsch were present. Dir. of Economic Development Cathy Bennett and Building Inspector Rick Jarson were present. Member Rosemary Goff, EDA Liaison Duane McCarty and Alternate Liaison Gary Quick were absent 3. Approval Of Minutes: Motion/Second: Welsch/Carlson moved approval of Minutes from July 24, 1997 as amended by Carlson. Motion Carried 5 ayes 0 nays 4. Special Business New Brighton/Mounds View Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carol Frey gave an overview of the Chamber mission, membership benefits and programs. Ms. Frey passed out materials included the Newsletter, Membership Directory and Marketing Brochure. The current membership includes approximately 140 members. Carol attends the New Brighton EDC meetings and would like to be a more regular guest at the Mounds View EDC meetings. Chair Dan Nelson gave an open invitation to Carol to attend the meetings as they are a public forum. Ms. Frey encouraged the business representatives on the EDC to join as chamber members. She noted that the chamber is an excellent venue to learn business issues and keep in close contact with the businesses. 5. EDC BUSINESS A. Consideration of Application for Marketing Funds through the New Brighton/Mounds View Area Chamber of Commerce Director Bennett passed out a draft of the application for charitable gaming funds through the New Brighton/Mounds View Chamber of Commerce. She explained that the application was for funds in support of the production of the Mounds View Community Profile and an Advertising Supplement to highlight the Mounds View business who was the recipient of the Business of the Year award. The City has budgeted approximately $1,500 for the production of the brochure. The application would be for $2,000 - $3,000 to enhance the brochure and increase the quantity printed. 2 Chair Dan Nelson asked how the brochure was distributed and suggested that we use the brochure more proactively. Bennett explained that the brochure is handed out to all new residents and businesses and is used in the material for attracting new companies to the area. By increasing the quantity Mounds View will be able to give the brochure to the chamber to mail out to businesses that contact them. Nelson suggested that we increase the amount printed to be able to mail to all Mounds View businesses. Carlson noted that the brochure could be beneficial to businesses in attracting workers and that we should have enough to assist the businesses in attracting a quality workforce. Nelson suggested that if we do not get the additional funds that the EDA support increasing the budget to allow for the additional quantity to be printed. Ms. Frey, Chamber Executive Director noted that the City may want to use members for printing and designing. Bennett mentioned that they will be using a local printer Action Press. Motion/Second: Nelson/Welsch moved to recommend applying for Charitable Gaming Funds for 3,500 copies of the Community Profile and Advertising Supplement and to encourage the EDA to increase funding for the Profile if needed. Motion Carried 5 ayes 0 nays B. Discussion of Establishing a Loan Program for the Improvement of Multi-Family and Manufactured Homes Bennett explained that City staff is requesting that the EDC review possible loan programs, using TIF, for the rehab of Manufactured Home Additions and Apartments, Triplexes and Duplexes. Building Inspector Rick Jarson gave a brief overview of the current situation in Manufactured Homes Parks with faulty and illegal construction of additions. Carlson talked to a Chamber member who owns a Manufactured Home Park in New Brighton and a member of the Minnesota Manufactured Home Association. She mentioned that trying to assist in the rehab of older mfg homes is very risky. Recently, some lenders have liberalized the financing criteria for mfg home additions and/or purchases and a larger number of these loans tend to go into foreclosure. Carlson suggested that staff try and develop some criteria for a loan in conjunction with the park owner\manager and that they should buy into and support the City in its efforts to improve the living conditions in the park. Schmidt felt that the loan should not be forgivable and that any work should be supervised by a licensed contractor. Nelson suggested that the Planning Commission review the possibility of revising our code to allow construction of additions following the UBC. Motion/Second: Carlson/Nelson moved to direct staff to draft a loan program with the assistance of Western Bank and Chamber Member Bev Aplikowski to bring back to the commission for review. Motion Carried 5 ayes 0 nays Bennett gave an overview of the change in the tax law that reduces the multi-family tax rate and hopes that this savings will encourage property owners to make improvements. As an additional incentive the City may consider developing a loan program that would be an additional incentive to provide improvements to property. Carlson noted that there are several City programs out there and that we should research other programs prior to developing our own. Carlson also mentioned that both of these ideas are expensive 3 proposals because you must deal with the servicing of the loan, possible foreclosure costs, collection costs and that the EDC needs to take into consideration what the actual benefit the programs will be in relation to the costs. Motion/Second: Carlson/Welsch moved to direct staff to research other City programs and bring back information to the EDC for review. Motion Carried 5 ayes 0 nays C. Consideration of Assigning an EDC Member to participate in the Development of the Design Theme for Highway 10 Corridor Bennett explained that staff solicited proposals from over 15 consulting firms to assist in developing design themes for Highway 10. Of the 8 proposals that were received 4 were interviewed by Planning Commission members Jean Miller and Bobbie Brooks. Two firms were chosen to reinterview by a larger group that includes a member of the Council and EDC. These firms were SRF Consulting and Hoisington Koegler Group. The Council delayed taking action on this item until decisions could be made with regards to the ring road concept. If Council decides to proceed with the ring road concept a task force will be formed to work with one of these firms in developing a design theme. Staff is requesting an EDC member to participate in this process. Motion/Second: Nelson/Sjoberg moved to nominate member Ron Schmidt with member Delane Welsch as alternate to represent the interests of the EDC on the task force when it is formed. Motion Carried 5 ayes 0 nays 6. Reports From Chair, Commissioners and Staff: Commissioner Welsch mentioned that he will be unable to attend the meetings on Thursday morning since he teaches a class on Tuesday and Thursday mornings throughout November. Bennett mentioned that the Commission could change the meeting to evenings or another morning to accommodate Welsch. Nelson suggested that another morning be chosen. Carlson said that mornings are much easier since she has many other evening obligations. Sjoberg and Schmidt agreed. Motion/Second: Nelson/Schmidt moved to move the EDC meetings to Friday mornings at 7:30 a.m. through November. Motion Carried 5 ayes 0 nays 7. Adjournment There being no further business before the Commission, this meeting of the Economic Development Commission adjourned at 8:45 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, Director of Economic Development