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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-15-2006 Minutes of the Economic Development Commission City of Mounds View Ramsey County, Minnesota Regular Meeting September 15, 2006 City of Mounds View, Council Chambers 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Torri Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:38 a.m. 2. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Greg Belting, Jason Helgemoe, Jerry Jaker, Gary Meehlhause Members Absent: Jackie Entsminger, Tom Field, Torri Johnson, Staff Present: Economic Development Coordinator Aaron Backman Others Present: None. 3. APPROVAL OF EDC MINUTES: Motion/Second: Belting made a motion to approve the May 19, 2006 minutes. Seconded by Jaker. Approved 4 to 0. 4. SPECIAL BUSINESS A. None. 5. EDC BUSINESS A. Transportation Constitutional Amendment. Backman introduced the featured speaker, Bruce Nustad, President,Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Nustad presented a power point presentation that discussed the constitutional amendment that will be before the voters of Minnesota this fall. A coalition of businesses has been lobbying for its passage. Currently only 54% of the existing motor vehicle sales tax revenue is being spent on transportation and there is no dedicated revenue source for public transit. If the amendment is approved, 100% of the revenue will go to highways and public transit. More than $300 million per year will be available and it would be phased in over five years. The allocation of funds would be up to 60% for roads and bridges and at least 40% for public transit. During the presentation Johnson arrived to the meeting. Backman and Nustad responded to commissioner questions regarding the amendment. Questions pertained to phase-in process, the allocation of resources and potential effects on other state programs, such as education. Following discussion, Johnson moved to recommend to the Mounds View EDA that it support the passage of the proposed transportation constitutional amendment. Seconded by Belting. Motion passed 5 to 0. EDC Minutes September 15, 2006 Page 2 6. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS, STAFF AND EDA LIAISON A. Report of Commissioners. None. B. Report of Staff: 1. Update on Medtronic CRM Corporate Campus: Backman distributed the latest photographs of the campus construction. The Topping Out ceremony for the Central Building occurred on August 22, 2006. Most of the glass windows for the North Building have been installed. For all the buildings, over 4,000 windows are being installed at the campus. Various contractors are applying for construction permits. At this time these are plumbing and mechanical permits that are under review or waiting to be issued. To date, about $1.46 million in permit fees have been paid to the City for the Medtronic project. Of that amount, approximately $700,000 was paid to the Met Council for the SAC fee. Roughly $182,000 in permit fees are currently in process. The valuation of the building permits issued or applied for to date for the Medtronic CRDM campus totals nearly $147,000,000. Backman mentioned that County Road J at Interstate 35W was closed today as the old bridge is being torn down to make way for the new one. 2. Medtronic Workforce Collaboration: During the summer of 2006 Backman began working with several workforce agencies to look at ways of assisting Medtronic with its workforce needs as it moves forward with its new campus in Mounds View. The partners include Anoka-Ramsey Community College, the MN Dept. of Employment and Economic Development, Metro North Adult Basic Education, Metro Consortium of Customized Training, Ramsey Workforce Investment Board, Workforce Center of Anoka County and the Workforce Center of Ramsey County. Last week a joint letter on behalf of the Workforce Collaboration was sent to the Vice President of HR for Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management. Backman will keep the EDC informed as to this effort. 3. Oops Dinner Theatre: The Oops Dinner Theatre concept was presented to the Mounds View City Council at its July 17, 2006 Work Session. At the July 24th City Council meeting the Council instructed City staff to prepare an Interim Lease Agreement between the City and the dinner theatre. The dinner theatre would operate in the Event Center at the Mounds View Community Center. A short-term lease of seven months that would run from September of 2006 through March of 2007 was discussed at the August 14th City Council meeting. Several areas were discussed including the revenue model and scheduling considerations. A sixth version of the Interim Lease Agreement (and one that had legal review and the support of Oops Dinner Theatre) was presented to the City Council at its September 5th Work Session. The Council decided not to pursue the Interim Lease Agreement with Oops Dinner Threatre. 4. Active Living Ramsey County!: Active Living initiatives in the U.S. create and promote environments that make it safe and convenient for people to be more physically active. Initiatives include the promotion of trails and sidewalks, bike lanes, safer intersections, benches, and events. Active Living Ramsey County! (ALRC) was formed in 2005 to promote active living principles in Ramsey County. It is a collaborative effort with representatives from organizations like the county, cities, schools, transportation, public health, etc. The co-chairs are Jan Parker, Ramsey County Commissioner and Sue Gehrz, mayor of Falcon Heights. Backman and Heidi Heller, M.V. Planning Associate have been representing the City and participating in the main ALRC planning group. EDC Minutes September 15, 2006 Page 3 5. Premium Stop Site: Backman briefly reviewed the history of the property. The Premium Stop gas station and convenience store was deteriorating. On June 26, 2006 the EDA approved the purchase of the property for $625,000. The price includes demolition and cleanup costs. The gas station facilities were demolished on 9/6 and 9/11/06. Also on September 11th the City Council approved hiring DSU to undertake planning services at a cost of up to $14,000. The purpose is to provide a market overview of the property (and adjacent parcels) and concept plans of how the property could be redeveloped. 6. Sysco Minnesota Parking Lot Expansion: After various approvals by the Rice Creek Watershed District, Ramsey County and City, site work began on August 25, 2006 on the parking lot expansion. The stormwater pond is being moved to the south and east to allow for additional trailer parking south of Sysco’s distribution facility. 7. Other—Following the EDC meeting (approx. 8:20 a.m.) members left for Coral Sea Street for a tour of the new Medtronic CRDM Campus under construction by Opus Northwest. 7. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Commission, Johnson adjourned the September 15th meeting of the Economic Development Commission at 8:24 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Aaron A. Backman Economic Development Coordinator \\Trout\CommDev\Economic Development\EDC\Minutes\Min06\9-15-06.doc