Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-16-2002 Minutes of the Economic Development Commission City of Mounds View Ramsey County, Minnesota Regular Meeting August 16, 2002 City of Mounds View, Council Chambers 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Greg Belting called the meeting to order at 7:42 a.m. 2. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Dr. Greg Belting, Torri Johnson, Dave Fox, Jason Helgemoe, and Stan McDonald Members Absent: Tom Field Staff Present: Economic Development Coordinator Aaron Backman Others Present: EDA Liaison Rich Sonterre 3. APPROVAL OF EDC MINUTES: Motion/Second: McDonald moved and Fox seconded the approval of the July 31, 2002 EDC minutes. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes 0 Nays 4. SPECIAL BUSINESS No Special Business Scheduled. 5. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS, STAFF AND EDA LIAISON A. Commissioner Reports: McDonald indicated that he had received comments complimentary of Backman’s work with the Mermaid and Abbey Carpet projects. B. Report of EDA Liaison: No report. C. TCN Chamber of Commerce Update: Backman noted that he had invited Shannon Meyer, President of the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce, to make a presentation to the EDC later during the meeting. Helgemoe mentioned that the Chamber was having a fall golf tournament on September 13th at the Links course in the City of Ramsey. EDC Minutes August 16, 2002 Page 2 D. Report of Staff: 1. Manufactured Home Park Revitalization Application Process: Backman is concerned about not losing the construction cycle for upgrading these units and has been trying to push the process along. A draft of the homeowner application form was completed at the end of July and is being reviewed by Ramsey County. He has been in contact with Jennifer Bergman, Program Director of the Housing Resource Center in Shoreview. The role of the HRC will include application processing, income verification, loan documentation, construction monitoring, and other administrative activities. Backman is encouraging Ramsey, HRC, and the City to have another meeting next week to finalize the application format, etc. Belting inquired about the amount of financial assistance available per manufactured home. Backman replied that up to $3,000 would be available for rehabilitation of existing units. 2. Silver Lake Pointe Developer Concurrence on Revised TIF Payments: Backman noted that this TIF project entails an 83 unit senior housing facility. He distributed a handout to the members—a letter originally from Backman to Heartland-Mounds View Common Bond. CommonBond Communities & MSP Real Estate have agreed that an overpayment by the City of $14,469 was made regarding Silver Lake Pointe project during the previous five years. A partial payment for February was approved by the City Council, but not released until early this month after the developer signed off on this letter. 3. August Developer Payments for TIF Projects: Members were sent in the meeting packet a copy of an August 8th memo to the City’s Finance Director requesting that four developer payments be processed this month. They are for Building N, Silver Lake Pointe, Midwest I.V., and Zep Manufacturing. These were approved by the EDA at its August 12th meeting. 4. Twin Cities North Chamber: Backman mentioned that the Secretary of State gave approval to the merger for TCN on July 23rd and that this was received by the Chamber on the 29th. On August 6th Backman attended the first meeting of the Public Policy Task Force where various activities were discussed—surveying the membership re top 3 or 4 issues, policy development, and holding candidate forums. At this point Backman introduced Shannon Meyer, President of the Twin Cities North Chamber. In her presentation, Meyer discussed the merger process, potential legislative issues and that the chamber serves as an advocate for the business community. She mentioned that she would be having quarterly meetings with mayors/managers of member communities. Sonterre encouraged the Chamber’s involvement in the I35W Corridor Coalition. Meyer indicated that she intended to get involved with the Coalition. 5. Community Resource Guide—NovoPrint USA: One of the projects that the TCN Chamber started last year (but held up due to the merger) was a Quality of Life marketing piece or Resource Guide. It will be printed by NovoPrint and will encompass all five member communities of the new Chamber. Backman showed a similar piece that was done for Anoka and indicated that New Brighton had committed $1,200 for advertising/narrative space. Mounds View has committed to $600 and will receive 200 copies of the Guide. Our cost will be split with the YMCA and Elegant Thymes, the Community Center caterer. 6. Blooming Prairie Natural Foods: Blooming Prairie moved from Minneapolis to Mounds View in the middle of July. Backman visited its newly renovated distribution facility on August 14th. He toured the facility with Steve Lumsden, General Manager, and Jill Johnson-Kizer, representing the TCN Chamber. Lumsden is quite pleased with the quantity and quality of space. In early August Backman learned that the nation’s largest natural food distributor, EDC Minutes August 16, 2002 Page 3 United Natural Foods, a Connecticut-based corporation was planning to acquire Blooming Prairie. The buyout does not threaten the M.V. facility and could lead to more local jobs than the initial 65 employees. 6. EDC BUSINESS A. Community Center & Mermaid Collaboration Discussion: At the previous meeting Backman was asked to look into facilitating greater cooperation and coordination between the Mounds View Community Center and the Mermaid Event Center. Backman discussed this matter with Dabney Bradley, Community Center caterer, Shannon Roepke, YMCA, and with Cindy Winegarner, Director of Sales for the Mermaid. All three were open to additional collaboration efforts. Ms. Winegarner suggested having a meeting about this in September. The intent of initial meeting would be to discuss current marketing activities, current collaboration, and what could be done. Backman will followup. B. Abbey Carpet—Development Activities: The Mounds View EDA approved on July 22nd up to $25,000 for demolition of the old Perkins. Since that time several developments have occurred. Mr. Kopas, Abbey Carpet, and Mr. Carlson, Rob Carlson Builders, have been working with Lampert Architects, a Ham Lake architectural firm, on the building site plans for a 22,000 sq. ft. commercial building. Mr. Kopas and Backman viewed several buildings that Lampert designed. Yesterday, Jim Atkinson and Backman met with Kopas and Carlson to review the initial site map or footprint of the building on the irregular-shaped parcel. Backman showed the current map to the EDC members. Carlson expects to submit more detailed building drawings and plan application by the end of next week. Their goal is to go before the Planning Commission at the September 4th session and present to the City Council on September 23rd. Barring any changes, demolition would occur shortly thereafter. C. Colonial Craft—Prospect Activities: Colonial Craft is one of the world’s largest producers of wooden door and window grills, mouldings, and picture frames, and about a year ago was purchased by Quanex, a large building products company based in Houston, Texas. As was mentioned last month, Colonial Craft is the prospect interested in Building I in the M.V. Business Park. Over the past month the company has been reviewing the proposed lease. On August 12th when Backman talked to John Boich, the RREEF broker interacting with Colonial Craft, he indicated that at this point it looks good, that it’s out of Colonial Craft’s hands, and that Quanex lawyers are talking to the building owner’s lawyers. The terms of the lease (as relayed to me) are attractive. Hopefully in two weeks we will have some indication of the decision. D. Culver’s Restaurant—Prospect Activities: Backman worked out a meeting time this week between Wendell Smith, broker for the property owner, and Steve Sparks, the Culver’s franchise owner. The hour and a half meeting, which Jim Ericson and Backman attended, was productive. Both sites near the Carmike Theater were considered and discussed. (Backman distributed to the members a copy of a map showing Outparcels A & B. Anthony Properties has readjusted its pricing on the properties from $10 to $8 per sq. ft. The more attractive pricing has increased Sparks interest. At the June meeting it appeared that just the Long Lake Road site would be considered. At this week’s meeting, both parcels were looked at. Sparks and his partner continue to interact with St. Anthony on adding a restaurant there, however, the process there has not been smooth. Depending on what happens with St. Anthony, Mounds View could be the third or fourth location for Sparks. Backman inquired if the Commission would want to provide other financial assistance for this project. Johnson stated that given both sites' other advantages (no redevelopment required, 1 ½ acre of buildable space along Hwy 10, utilities on site, PUD EDC Minutes August 16, 2002 Page 4 designation and Rice Creek drainage approval), she was not inclined to do so. The consensus of the members was the same. E. Other: McDonald asked if the City had a marketing brochure or packet of information for businesses. Backman responded that we do have a community profile, however, he would like to develop a business packet to promote business development over the next six to twelve months. Backman informed the members that a Commission Appreciation & Recognition Banquet has been set for Wednesday, October 16, 2002 at 6:00 p.m. in the M.V. Community Center. Spouses are welcome to come. 8. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Commission, Chair Belting adjourned the August 16th (McDonald moved, Johnson seconded motion) meeting of the Economic Development Commission at 9:04 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Aaron A. Backman Economic Development Coordinator \\Ntserver\CityHall\DATA\GROUPS\ECONDEV\EDC\Minutes\Min02\8-16-02.doc