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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-21-2003 Minutes of the Economic Development Commission City of Mounds View Ramsey County, Minnesota Regular Meeting November 21, 2003 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 8:03 a.m. 2. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Dr. Greg Belting, Jackie Entsminger, Tom Field, David Fox, Jason Helgemoe, Torri Johnson, Stan McDonald Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Economic Development Coordinator Aaron Backman Others Present: None. 3. APPROVAL OF EDC MINUTES: Motion/Second: Johnson moved and McDonald seconded the approval of the August 22, 2003 EDC minutes. Motion Carried: 7 Ayes 0 Nays 4. SPECIAL BUSINESS No Special Business Scheduled. 5. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS, STAFF AND EDA LIAISON A. Commissioner Reports: Field mentioned that yesterday he attended the unveiling of Split-Visions the Planbook of remodeling ideas for split-level and split-entry houses. It was held at the Builders Association offices in Roseville. The City will be receiving copies for the public. B. Report of EDA Liaison: None C. Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce Update: Backman noted the later time of the EDC meeting due to the TCN Chamber Board occurring at the same time across the street in the M.V. Community Center. Among the activities over the last month include the Public Policy meeting on November 12th where future education and health care forums were discussed. Ribbon cuttings were held for both Three Seasons & 4 Sunrooms and Abbey Carpet on November 14, EDC Minutes November 21, 2003 Page 2 2003. The following day Abbey Carpet held a well-attended Grand Opening Party at its new location in Mounds View. D. Report of Staff: 1. Developer Activities—LandCor / Long Lake & Hwy 10 Office & Retail: On November 3, 2003 building permits were issued for the LandCor projects near the theater. The next day earthmoving activities began for both the retail and office buildings. As more information becomes available regarding building tenants Backman will pass it on to the members. 2. Developer Activities—Velmeir Companies (Amoco Site): EDC members should have received a copy of the staff report that Jim Ericson prepared for the November 5th meeting of the Planning Commission. To facilitate the development of the site for CVS Pharmacy, the developer is requesting a variance to allow parking area encroachment into the front and rear setbacks of both Silver Lake Road and County Road 10. Backman reviewed the application and staff report with the Commission. The request was approved by the Planning Commission. Eventually the developer will need to submit to the City detailed site plans and an application for rezoning the site. McDonald asked if there were disadvantages granting the variance. Backman replied that the proposed retail site is complicated by irregularly-shaped lots, mixed ownership and limited lot depth in places. Most of the Planning Commission agreed there was a hardship for the developer. 3. Developer Activities—Pro Craft Homes (Woods of Mounds View): Backman presented the Revised Cost Estimates & Site Acquisition Estimates for the Woods of Mounds View housing project. Backman reviewed the line items with the EDC members. Over the past three months the developer, Pro Craft Homes, has been negotiating with the private landowners in the area (Mr. Fyksen and Mr. Vik). In both cases the developer has not been able to come to terms with the landowners. Backman has taken a hands-off approach to the negotiations, except to suggest that they try to conclude a deal with Mr. Vik first. The financial gap is currently too large with Mr. Fyksen. 4. Mounds View Community Center—Banquet Center Management: Backman noted an article in the local newspaper mentioned Mounds View’s approval of new banquet management at the MVCC. Backman has spent considerable time over the last three months regarding Banquet Center and Community Center issues. He was directed by the City Council to fill the space previously occupied by Community Education and to improve Banquet Center operations that have lost money. At the October 27, 2003 City Council meeting a proposed settlement agreement with current Banquet Center manager, Elegant Thymes Catering was discussed. Also a Request for Proposals (RFP) process for selecting an Interim Manager was discussed. On November 3rd the Settlement Agreement was approved by the City Council (4 to 1 vote). A lump sum payment occurred on November 17th and additional payments would occur in the first half of 2004. The RFP process approved on November 3rd limited applicants to Mounds View businesses with restaurant and liquor licenses (Robert’s Off Ten, Jake’s Sports Café, and the Mermaid). Two submitted the necessary paperwork to the City by the November 7, 2003 deadline—the Mermaid and Robert’s. Backman reviewed the proposals and provided a comparison for the Council at its November 10th meeting. The Mermaid was selected as the Interim Manager for the next 14 months. 5. Metro North CVB—New Meeting Planners Resource Guide: The new colorful resource guide has been published for the CVB. For the first time community centers of the member cities are listed. EDC Minutes November 21, 2003 Page 3 6. EDC BUSINESS A. Everest Development Request for Supplemental TIF Payments for Building N Project: Backman briefly reviewed the request from Everest Development and the various attachments. In early November Mr. Nelson submitted a request for supplemental TIF increment pertaining to Building N in the M.V. Business Park. The Developer Agreement, which is a pay-as-you-go TIF assistance, would be amended to allow for semiannual payments of $199,500 for four years starting in 2006. This request will be considered by the EDC at its December meeting. B. Other: Field asked about the status of the community survey and if the EDC’s position taken last month had been communicated. Backman did relay the EDC’s position to Kurt Ulrich. No decision has been made by the Council yet regarding the survey 7. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Commission, Belting adjourned the November 21st meeting of the Economic Development Commission at 9:04 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Aaron A. Backman Economic Development Coordinator \\Trout\CommDev\Economic Development\EDC\Minutes\Min03\11-21-03.doc