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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-18-2009 Minutes of the Economic Development Commission City of Mounds View Ramsey County, Minnesota Regular Meeting September 18, 2009 City of Mounds View, Council Chambers 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Gary Meehlhause called the meeting to order at 7:30am. 2. ROLL CALL Members Present: Chair Gary Meehlhause, Vice Chair Jennifer Wagner-Harkonen (arrived at 7:36am), Commissioners Jackie Entsminger, Jason Helgemoe, Torri Johnson & Dan Larson Members Absent: Commissioner Greg Belting Staff Present: Community Development Director Ken Roberts & Economic Development Specialist Heidi Steinmetz 3. APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2009 AGENDA Motion/Second: Commissioner Johnson moved and Commissioner Entsminger seconded the approval of the September 18, 2009 EDC agenda. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes 0 Nays 4. APPROVAL OF AUGUST 21, 2009 EDC MINUTES Motion/Second: Commissioner Larson moved and Commissioner Entsminger seconded the approval of the August 21, 2009 EDC minutes. Motion Carried: 6 Ayes 0 Nays 5. SPECIAL BUSINESS There was no special business. 6. EDC BUSINESS Economic Development Specialist Heidi Steinmetz summarized her staff report about the Burger Time concept for the former Premium Stop site located at 2390 County Road 10, which the Mounds View EDA owns. She asked the EDC for input on the concept and if the EDC Minutes September 18, 2009 Page 2 of 5 EDC had a recommendation for the EDA on setting an asking price for the property. She said staff’s recommendation would be for the EDA to set an asking price. Commissioner Johnson asked if the Burger Time concept for the former Premium Stop site would “wreck” the City’s goals to redevelop the area into a multi-use project. Ms. Steinmetz responded that the highest and best use of the area would be to combine at least two of the area’s parcels and preferably more. Chair Meehlhause noted that there are no property taxes currently being generated from this parcel since the EDA owns it. He asked what a potential Burger Time building would generate in taxes if it were to locate on the site. His said that the EDA is not going to be able to sell the property for the amount they invested in it because the EDA’s investment included the land price, the appraisal, the building demolition and the site cleanup. Chair Meehlhause is wondering how long it would take for the new taxes that would be generated from a Burger Time building to break even with what the EDA might receive as a realistic purchase price. Ms. Steinmetz said she has not run the numbers on that scenario but will do so before the EDA/City Council’s discussion on the topic. She added that if the parcel is ever developed as a single-use parcel (no matter what the use) that the building is going to be a small building since the parcel is only 1.28 acres. Commissioner Larson said that Burger Time is a good concept for that area because it will spruce up that corner and bring more traffic into that area. Community Development Director Ken Roberts said that the EDC should discuss whether it is worth waiting several years for the area to attract a more comprehensive redevelopment project. Vice Chair Wagner-Harkonen said if Burger Time is hoping to open forty stores in the next four years that it would be good for Mounds View to be on the cutting edge by offering a site to Burger Time. She also said that community members should be educated on the extraordinary costs of redevelopment. Commissioner Helgemoe said that if Burger Time were willing to purchase the property at a reasonable price, then it would clean up the corner and spur more redevelopment. He went on to say that community members would rather have sit-down restaurants and a larger redevelopment project for the area and that Burger Time does not fit that model. He concluded by saying that it could take years for a larger redevelopment project to occur in that area. Chair Meehlhause mentioned that the property located at the corner of County Road 10 and Woodale Drive has been for sale for years. Commissioner Entsminger said that it would be good to get the earth moving on the former Premium Stop site. Commissioner Johnson said that she would prefer to wait for a larger redevelopment project because it would be better for the City in the long-term; however, a larger project is not realistic right now. She said that the City should at least talk with Burger Time because it would spur the discussion of an asking price for the property. She suggested that we pull the file on Snyders to compare what Synders paid for their property on County Road 10 versus what someone might pay for the former Premium Stop site. EDC Minutes September 18, 2009 Page 3 of 5 Commissioner Helgemoe did some quick math and said that if it is true that Burger Time typically pays $250,000 for land, that equates to $4.00 per square foot for the former Premium Stop property. Ms. Steinmetz said that $4.00 per square foot is low for outstate Minnesota, let alone the Metro area. Motion/Second: Commissioner Johnson moved and Commissioner Larson seconded a recommendation to the EDA that they proceed in discussions with Burger Time or others interested in purchasing the former Premium Stop parcel located at 2390 County Road 10. Motion Carried: 6 Ayes 0 Nays Motion/Second: Commissioner Helgemoe moved and Commissioner Johnson seconded a recommendation to the EDA that the EDA set an asking price for the former Premium Stop parcel located at 2390 County Road 10 based on the mid-point of value ranges that at least three appraisers provide to City staff at no charge. Motion Carried: 6 Ayes 0 Nays 7. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Helgemoe reminded the Commission there was still time to participate in the Twin Cities North Chamber’s “Nine is Fine” golf tournament on Friday, September 18, 2009. Chair Meehlhause asked Community Development Director Ken Roberts to provide an update on Robert’s Sports Bar’s farmer’s/flea market. Mr. Roberts told the Commission that Robert’s Sports Bar is no longer holding flea markets this year but they plan to start again in the Spring. Chair Meehlhause also asked how business is going at Roberts because he noticed a lack of cars in the parking lot at 9pm on a Saturday. Mr. Roberts answered that he has noticed the same thing during the week after evening Council meetings but he is unaware of the status of the business. Commissioner Johnson promoted the Irondale Youth Hockey Associations 5K and Kids Fun Run for Saturday, September 26, 2009. The run begins at The Mermaid and travels around Silver Lake. A pancake breakfast also begins at 8am that morning and the public is welcomed to attend. Commissioner Johnson added compliments to Irondale football, boys and girls soccer and the marching band. Commissioner Helgemoe complemented the Mounds View Police Department for their help responding to a police call yesterday at Western Bank in Mounds View (Commissioner Helgemoe’s place of employment). He explained that Western Bank’s staff and the police officers were able to detain a person who was trying to cash false checks. He continued by saying that Western Bank has had nothing but positive experiences with the Mounds View Police Department. He added that the Mounds View Police are good at patrolling the area and that they have quick response times. Commissioner Entsminger said that the Festival in the Park was very successful this year. Commissioner Johnson added that she thought the fireworks were the best she had seen all summer. EDC Minutes September 18, 2009 Page 4 of 5 8. REPORTS OF STAFF A. Former Let’s Get Graphic Building (2442 County Road 10) Available Ms. Steinmetz said that the owner of Let’s Get Graphic tried to purchase the building but the negotiations with the building owner fell through. Now that Let’s Get Graphic has moved to Coon Rapids, there is about 14,000 square feet available at their former location of 2442 County Road 10. Ms. Steinmetz said that more information about the building is on the City’s Website in addition to all of the available business sites in Mounds View. B. Recap of City Council Mini-Retreat on August 31, 2009 Mr. Roberts stated that the City Council and Staff Department Heads met on Monday, August 31, 2009 for their semi-annual retreat. He highlighted the discussion topics that were most relevant to the EDC, which were “Review and reaffirm the 2009 City goals and priorities” and “County Road 10 redevelopment and revitalization - aggressively pursue redevelopment opportunities.” He said that the Council provided direction to City staff at the retreat that they (the Council) are not interested in offering any new TIF for redevelopment projects but that the Council is still interested in renaming County Road 10. Mr. Roberts mentioned a few other topics discussed by the Council at the retreat including foreclosure response efforts, code enforcement, the 2010 City budget and the new location for the City’s annual Town Hall Meeting. He expanded on the City’s code enforcement efforts, stating that the amount of code enforcement cases that the City’s Code Enforcement officer has opened this year is three times more than last year at this time and the compliance rate is 80%. He credited the increase in cases to the new Code Enforcement software that the City purchased. He added that City staff could not monitor as many cases without the new software, not to mention that the City’s Code Enforcement officer has other duties besides Code Enforcement. Commissioner Larson asked if renaming County Road 10 would be a financial burden on the City. Mr. Roberts said that it could be but that City staff has not delved into the process yet. He added that Mounds View would also need the participation from adjacent cities. Commissioner Larson stated that it is important for the City to move forward now with renaming County Road 10 and that the City has been talking about doing so for years and years. Chair Meehlhause asked if the Council’s opposition towards the redevelopment of County Road 10 is unanimous. Mr. Roberts and Ms. Steinmetz agreed that the consensus of the Council is not to assist financially towards the redevelopment of County Road 10. Commissioners Johnson and Newsmonger said that they do not understand this reasoning. Commissioner Newsmonger added that County Road 10 is the first thing that people see when driving through Mounds View and that potential businesses do not see the internal improvements of the City, such as trails and new residential roads. Commissioner Helgemoe said that Western Bank’s clients have difficulty locating the bank because of the confusion between State Highway 10 and County Road 10. He added that he could not imagine other Mounds View businesses do not have the same problem. EDC Minutes September 18, 2009 Page 5 of 5 Ms. Steinmetz stated that she doesn’t believe County Road 10 in Mounds View will be redeveloped unless the Council is willing to use the financial tools that the State legislature has afforded to cities in order to conduct redevelopment. She told the EDC that she hopes the City Council will strongly consider developing Citywide goals in the Spring of 2010 that can truly be achieved. Commissioner Entsminger left the meeting at this time (8:45am). C. City Council Denied Business Registration Program Ordinance on Sept. 14, 2009 Ms. Steinmetz said that twelve Mounds View businesses provided input to City staff about their opposition towards this program, which is the main reason why the City Council denied the program. She added that there was an editorial in the Star Tribune today in favor of such a program. D. New Businesses: Mounds View Family Dental, Consulting Firm, Right Fit Running Ms. Steinmetz alerted the EDC about new businesses coming to Mounds View. Commissioner Johnson noted that all three businesses are planning to locate in either a new building or a newly renovated building in Mounds View. E. EDA to Review City Tagline Ideas on October 12, 2009 Ms. Steinmetz reported that City staff had received sixty tagline ideas from the public as of today, which brings the total of possible tagline ideas to around 100. 9. UPCOMING EDC MEETING The next regular EDC meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 16, 2009 at 7:30am. 10. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Commission, Vice-Chair Wagner-Harkonen moved and Commissioner Helgemoe seconded the adjournment of the meeting at 8:53am. Respectfully submitted, Heidi Steinmetz Economic Development Specialist